Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Digestion - Simple Tips to Increase Energy & Avoid Illness

Digestion - Simple Tips to Increase Energy & Avoid Illness

Are you so busy that you rush your food and snatch meals when you can?

Are you rushing your eating so much that it simply is not enjoyable?

Well if you do you will have poor digestion and this can be the cause of low energy levels and more seriously can cause a number of illnesses including:

Abdominal pain, inflammation, arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, yeast infections and allergies can then occur.

So if you want to avoid illness and get more energy take a look at your digestion and improve it with these simple tips.

1. Chew Your Food

Try and take smaller bites when you eat and chew slowly.

Thoroughly chew your food which allows amylase, the digestive enzyme present in saliva, to breakdown and digest the food properly.

2. Get More Fiber

Fiber is essential for healthy digestion and to cleanse the gut by keeping food moving through it; however most people simply don't get enough of it.

Aim for 25 - 30 grams per day (the average for most adults is just 8grams) fiber rich foods include strawberries, apples, brown rice, chick peas, potatoes (with skins) figs, dates and prunes.

As a bonus eating fibre is a great way to lose weight as it fills you up and curbs hunger pangs.

3. Beans and legumes

If you don't have time to cook dried beans, buy canned, but make sure you rinse them before cooking.

Lentils and split peas are less gas-forming than other legumes and are a great choice.

Ground flaxseeds are a gentle laxative. They are very useful for chronic constipation, damage to the intestine wall from laxative use, irritable bowels, and to soothe inflammation.

Sprinkle ground flaxseeds on any of your meals to make sure you get enough.

3. Good Gut Bacteria

There are over 400 different kinds of bacteria and yeasts in your digestive system.
Of these, the bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum are considered good.

"probiotic" bacteria because the help to maintain overall intestinal health.

Although good bacteria can be found in some yogurt, there is a wide variation in quality, so play it safe and look for good quality organic yogurt

Supplements containing acidophilus and bifidobacteria can be found in most health food stores.

They are especially helpful for the following conditions:

Irritable bowel syndrome

Diarrhea

Bloating, flatulence and gas

Vaginal yeast infections

4. Supplement to Restore Digestive Health

Enteric-Coated Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil can reduce abdominal pain and bloating and you can take it naturally or simply buying it as a supplement.

Digestive Enzymes

Enzyme supplements are believed to support the body's own digestive enzymes to aid digestion and help with other problems stemming from poor digestion.

Vitmain B12

Stomach acid naturally declines with age.

Too little acid can cause low vitamin B12 and folic acid levels you may want to consider a B12 supplement
to help restore balance. .

5. Drink plenty of water

We can't live without water!

We need it to live and you need to get plenty of it.

Drink 2 3 liters a day for hydration and to flush out impurities from the body.

Take care of ypur digestive system and

It will take care of you!

If you want to avoid illness, have more energy and have better looking skin, follow the above tips.

There simple and easy to do, so look after your digestion today.

Differences Between Vegetarian and Raw Food Diets

Differences Between Vegetarian and Raw Food Diets

There are a few distinct differences between vegetarian and raw food diets. Basically, a vegetarian is someone who is committed to not eat meat, fish, poultry or any animal products, but only consumes vegetables, pasta, and rice. On the other hand, a raw foodist is a vegetarian, but one who eats unprocessed, uncooked, organic, whole foods, like fruits, vegetables, nuts seeds, legumes, dried fruits, seaweeds, etc. It denotes a diet that is at least 75% uncooked! Raw foodist cooks very little and definitely doesn’t cook or process fruits and vegetables. Raw foodist simply eats them raw.

Raw foodist, vegans and frutarians are some of the different categories of vegetarians. Yes, raw foodist is a category of vegetarianism as mentioned earlier. However, to be a raw food purist, you should eat raw vegetables like raw broccoli, not steamed. To a vegetarian, who doesn’t eat meat or fish or any animal products, steamed vegetables are just as good, though every person would concur that steaming can take out nutrients from foods and turn them into less nutritious. A vegetarian might consume dairy or egg products but a vegan will not consume any animal products at all. The raw foodist then is a vegan who consumes only uncooked, unprocessed raw foods.

Enzymes are the life force of a food and that every food has its own perfect combination as believed by raw food diet advocates. These enzymes help us digest foods completely, without relying on our body to produce its own cocktail of digestive enzymes.

The cooking process is thought to destroy food enzymes. It can take so much of the basic nutritional value away. Other than that, cooked foods not only take any longer to digest, but they also let the partially digested fats, proteins and carbohydrates to block our gut and arteries.

Below are some health benefits cited by the raw diet followers:

• Improved digestion
• Increased energy levels
• Reduced risk of heart diseased
• Improved appearance of skin
• Weight loss

Diet Tips – to Increase your Brain Power

Diet Tips – to Increase your Brain Power

Did you know that poor diet does more than make you fat? It also makes you stupid!

According to Dr. Alan Logan, in his new book “The Brain Diet”, he finds the people in the United Sates and Canada eat foods that do not contribute to healthy brain function.

In other words, eating well can make you smart, and opposite is also true, eating poorly can make you stupid.

Dr. Logan concluded that the overall diet in the US and Canada is based on an excess of nutritionally poor calories, and a lack of consumption of the proper foods that protect brain cells.

In other words, the foods that make us fat also make us stupid; and not only, also he found these foods contribute to neurodegenerative diseases.

Doctors and books have been reminding us for decades now how a proper diet can help protect our bodies from cardiovascular disease and cancer, but now the link to mental and neurological health needs also to be stressed.

Dr.Logan is a naturopathic physician and professor at Harvard University’s Mind-Body Medical Institute.

He pointed out in his book that it appears to have overlooked how many nutrients are directly linked with alternation in both psychiatric and neurological conditions.

Quite interestingly, he concluded that although we have our genetic predispositions, they can be somehow influenced by the way and what we eat. Also to blame is that doctors are not taught this fact in medical school.

Can an incorrect diet lead to Alzheimer’s?

According to Dr. Logan, yes.

Things like eating packaged candy when one is tired in the afternoon, can certainly increase the diabetes and heart disease, but he pointed out that the increased insulin secretions associated with a sugary diet increase the risk for Alzheimer’s and depression.

It seems the most harm is done by eating the combination of the wrong types of fat with too much sugar in the same diet.

This diet produces a fat that becomes part of brain cells surrounding membranes. Brain cells are normally flexible.

However, a diet that includes an excess of trans fat, Omega-6 fatty acids, and saturated fats, can cause the brain cells to be inflexible. What does this do? It disrupts brain cell communication and affects our cognitive abilities.

Dr. Logan sited one study where animals that consumed an excess of trans fats had a much greater risk of getting Alzheimer’s and had a much decreased cognitive ability. He mentioned that a poor diet sets the stage from anything like ADHD to schizophrenia.

Dr. Logan’s Brain Diet.

There is a very good brain diet cited, but of utmost importance, if nothing else is done, is to increase one’s intake of Omega-3 fatty acids.

These will help not only one’s cardiovascular system, but also protect a person from neurological disorders.

Dr. Logan also states that increasing your Omega-3 fatty acids can have a good effect on your mental abilities, mood and act as an anti-depressant.

Citing recent studies, Dr.Logan concluded that nutrition can have both positive effects (if correct) and very negative ones (if incorrect) on your cognitive abilities.

Examine what you eat. Are you foods full of trans fats?

Are you eating only processed and packaged foods with over-doses of sugars, wrong fats, and chemicals? T

hese could not just be making you stupid, but could be setting the stage for early mental decline and even an untimely death.

Diet Choice

Diet Choice

The following paragraphs summarize the work of diet experts who are completely familiar with all the aspects of diet. Heed their advice to avoid any diet surprises.

If you find yourself confused by what you've read to this point, don't despair. Everything should be crystal clear by the time you finish.

One of the most revolutionary diet ideas to come along is something called the Zone, which was originated by Barry Sears, Ph.D. The Zone is based on the idea that we should return to the diets of ancient peoples—diets which stress fruits, vegetables, and meat. The diet does not deny people carbohydrates, but simply limits their use. Dieters are encouraged to sharply curtail their intake of pasta and potatoes. The Zone works according to a formula of 40/30/30, meaning 40 percent carbohydrates, 30 percent fat, and 30 percent protein.
There is a physiological basis to the Zone. Dr. Sears developed the diet in an effort to limit the amount of insulin in the body. This is because a large amount of insulin can lead to a build up of fat, causing obesity and other medical problems. People on the diet are encouraged to obtain their carbohydrates from fruits and vegetables and their fat from olive oil and other monounsaturated fats.
The biggest advantage to the Zone diet is that it can lead to significant weight loss. It is also healthier than some diets, since it eliminates non-nutritious carbohydrates and emphasizes fruits and vegetables. The diet encourages people to eat often—at least every five hours. It is also a low-calorie diet; the typical female dieter will consume only about 1300 calories at most following the Zone. Another positive aspect of the Zone is that it discourages consumption of junk food, which may be the basis of much weight gain.
Some dieticians heartily endorse the Zone, while others dismiss it as being too difficult to follow. The diet can also be costly, because of its heavy reliance on protein products. In addition, some critics see the Zone as being too complex, forcing dieters to spend too much time trying to do various calculations.
But perhaps the biggest disadvantage of the Zone is its high protein content. Such a diet has been linked to heart disease and is actually condemned by the American Heart Association. In addition, the Heart Association questions whether the Zone is actually effective in enabling an individual to lose weight over the long term.
It has been said that the Zone diet is the polar opposite of a vegetarian diet. This is curious, considering that vegetarians are generally healthy and are less likely to suffer from heart disease. The fact that vegetarians tend to be slim also seems to poke a hole through Dr. Sears' theory that starchy vegetables can lead to weight gain.
People tend to gravitate to the Zone because it offers them the opportunity to indulge in foods that would be restricted on other diets. Also, the diet can be more filling than other weight loss plans. The problem, however, is that a number of the claims made about the Zone are unproven. As a result, despite Dr. Sears' research, the diet has been dismissed as a fad in some quarters.
Dr. Sears contends that people are overweight because of insulin resistance; however, it is difficult to verify his claims. It would appear that people are fat for all sorts of reasons—because of family history of obesity, eating patterns, emotional eating, and lack of nutritional knowledge. As a result, it might be said that Dr. Sears' diet is based upon a false assumption.
The Zone benefits from a number of celebrity endorsements. Actresses in Hollywood credit the Zone with helping them to lose weight. On average, a dieter can expect to lose five pounds during the initial two weeks and one pound a week after that introductory period.
Still, some critics charge that the Zone takes the fun out of eating. Whether this is true or not depends upon the opinion of the individual dieter. However, one thing is clear: the Zone is a diet phenomenon. Love it or hate it, it's one of the hottest diet trends on the market today. And it appears that, despite some negative publicity, the Zone is here to stay. As always, you should check with your physician before starting any weight loss regimen. He or she will closely monitor your progress and can determine whether you are suffering any ill effects as a result of your diet.

That's how things stand right now. Keep in mind that any subject can change over time, so be sure you keep up with the latest news.

Diabetic Neuropathy Treatment

Diabetic Neuropathy Treatment

Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of both Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Neuropathy plays a major role in the development of foot ulcers, which cause an enormous burden on quality of life for the patient (especially if amputation becomes necessary).Motor, sensory, and autonomic fibres may all be affected by diabetic neuropathy.
The peripheral complications associated with diabetic neuropathy like pain, disability, vascular disease, and nerve degeneration are considered progressive and irreversible. The prognosis is generally progression of the disease, ongoing pain, amputation of digits or limbs, and increased disability. Improvement is considered unlikely.

At the microscopic level, it is thought that neuropathy causes segmental demyelination of the peripheral nerve fibers. This means that the protective nerve covering called myelin is somehow broken down and stripped off the nerve fibers in a segmental fashion. Spirally folded Schwann cells form the myelin sheath and it is thought that the metabolism of the Schwann cell is somehow interfered with during the process of diabetic neuropathy. (Continued)
Autonomic neuropathies affect the nerves that regulate involuntary vital functions, including the heart muscle, smooth muscles and glands. Low blood pressure, diarrhea, constipation, sexual impotence, and other symptoms can be caused by autonomic neuropathies.

symptoms

Numbness.
Tingling
Diarrhea
Constipation
Loss of bladder control
Impotence
Facial drooping
Drooping eyelid
Drooping mouth
Vision changes
Dizziness
Weakness
Swallowing difficulty
Speech impairment

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Diabetic Diet Plan Guide

Diabetic Diet Plan Guide

Having been diagnosed as diabetic, you feel that it’s the end of the road for your taste buds; bland food would be the norm from now on. If you really think so, then you are truly mistaken, for a proper diabetic diet plan would ensure that you also get to satisfy your tasty food cravings.

A diabetic diet plan for the start has to be well balanced. That effectively means that you can have most things but in a very regulated manner. Obviously, the emphasis would be more on fibrous diet and less on a diet that’s rich in carbohydrates and fats.

As you constantly have to keep track of your blood sugar levels, any irresponsible behavior (eating loads of junk food) can be disastrous. After all, your health is your prerogative.

The easiest way to keep your blood sugar levels at optimum levels would be by breaking up the three big meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner) into 5-6 smaller meals. This way you would ensure that the blood sugar levels are well within the permissible limits all through the day. Even the American Dietetic Association (ADA) recommends the small meal plan, the other important recommendation of ADA relates to the class of food products that are best for the diabetics. As per the ADA foods that have high starch content are best suited for the diabetics and they are starchy vegetables, black beans, corn etc.

Another important criteria while deciding on a diet plan - your life style. If you were the lazy bones type then the regimen would be stricter for you as compared to people who lead a very active life style. The little bit more leverage in diet plan offered by an active lifestyle can help you take that special second helping of your favorite dishes.

Diabetics is surely not unconquerable, all that you need is some amount of self-control and a very active lifestyle. And, for your taste buds, rely on great cookery books dedicated to diabetic diet plan recipes. They surely are Yummy!

Diabetic Diet Plan Guide

Diabetic Diet Plan Guide

Having been diagnosed as diabetic, you feel that it’s the end of the road for your taste buds; bland food would be the norm from now on. If you really think so, then you are truly mistaken, for a proper diabetic diet plan would ensure that you also get to satisfy your tasty food cravings.

A diabetic diet plan for the start has to be well balanced. That effectively means that you can have most things but in a very regulated manner. Obviously, the emphasis would be more on fibrous diet and less on a diet that’s rich in carbohydrates and fats.

As you constantly have to keep track of your blood sugar levels, any irresponsible behavior (eating loads of junk food) can be disastrous. After all, your health is your prerogative.

The easiest way to keep your blood sugar levels at optimum levels would be by breaking up the three big meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner) into 5-6 smaller meals. This way you would ensure that the blood sugar levels are well within the permissible limits all through the day. Even the American Dietetic Association (ADA) recommends the small meal plan, the other important recommendation of ADA relates to the class of food products that are best for the diabetics. As per the ADA foods that have high starch content are best suited for the diabetics and they are starchy vegetables, black beans, corn etc.

Another important criteria while deciding on a diet plan - your life style. If you were the lazy bones type then the regimen would be stricter for you as compared to people who lead a very active life style. The little bit more leverage in diet plan offered by an active lifestyle can help you take that special second helping of your favorite dishes.

Diabetics is surely not unconquerable, all that you need is some amount of self-control and a very active lifestyle. And, for your taste buds, rely on great cookery books dedicated to diabetic diet plan recipes. They surely are Yummy!