Jumat, 07 Desember 2012
A Guide to the C Vitamin
The c vitamin has got to be the most widely known vitamin these days. It is not surprising because the body needs c vitamin for over 300 functions. In fact, the c vitamin has been proved to help protect against heart disease, cancer and other serious illnesses. Without the c vitamin the body would not be able to heal itself either. This is because the c vitamin is vital for the formation of collagen. Whenever a person has a cut or an injury it is the collagen that helps repair the damage and without sufficient c vitamin this would be almost impossible. Collagen has a multitude of functions in the body, including keeping the organs in place, and it would not be able to do this without sufficient c vitamin.
The c vitamin is also an antioxidant for the body and helps other vitamins and minerals to be absorbed better. Folic acid and iron, for example, need the c vitamin to maximise their usefulness. The more c vitamin that the body has, the better its defence against colds and other common ailments and the c vitamin may not prevent a person catching a virus but it does help speed up the recovery process.
There is c vitamin in almost every fruit and vegetable but some have far higher c vitamin content than others. Cranberries and melons have high c vitamin content. In fact, tropical fruits have the highest c vitamin amounts of all fruit. Hot peppers are amongst the richest sources of the c vitamin when it comes to vegetables. The hotter the pepper, the higher its c vitamin content is. Unfortunately, the c vitamin is water soluble so many vegetables lose their effectiveness as a c vitamin provider if they are boiled for a long time. Steaming or quick stir frying vegetables ensures that more of their c vitamin content is retained. The recommended daily amount of the c vitamin is easily obtained from eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day if they are consumed raw or cooked quickly.
C vitamin supplements are extremely useful to ensure that people obtain sufficient c vitamin. However, with a balanced diet the amount of c vitamin the body receives is likely to be sufficient. However, if a person begins feeling tired or lethargic then a c vitamin supplement will help overcome this. There is no danger of having too much c vitamin as the body simply excretes the excess.
Causes and Symptoms of Leukemia
The word leukemia is derived from two Greek words when combined together means white blood. Leukemia is the cancer of the blood or the bone marrow and can be classified in two types:
Acute Leukemia:
This type of leukemia occurs where DNA of immature blood is damaged. This results in the immature blood cells growing disorderly. Blood cells die all the while and are replaced by new blood cells which the bone marrow produces. However, abnormal blood cells do not die quickly and quickly crowd out the newer blood cells. It is this crowding out that makes the patient ill. Acute leukemia mostly affects children.
Acute leukemia can further be subdivided into Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) and Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
Chronic Leukemia:
This is the rapid build up of mature but abnormal blood cells. Note that acute leukemia focuses on immature blood cells, chronic leukemia focuses on mature blood cells. This mostly affects older people and does not require immediate action compared to those suffering from acute leukemia.
Chronic leukemia can further be subdivided into Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
Symptoms of leukemia are:
1. Poor Blood clotting
The clotting of the blood will be poor. This is because the new blood cells which are essential in the clotting process are being crowded out. This will make the sufferer bruise quite easily or bleed excessively. Sufferer may develop petechiae which are pinprick bleeds.
2. Suppressed immune system.
Since the normal blood cells have been suppressed or crowded out by the abnormal blood cells, the immune system of the body will be compromised. Note that the body’s immune system is built around the normal white blood cells. The results in the sufferer becoming prone to many opportunistic infections
3. AnemiaDue to insufficient amounts of healthy blood cells in the body system, the patient will develop anemia. Symptoms of this are pale skin and difficulty with breathing.
4. Other symptoms of leukemia are nausea, fatigue, headaches or the feeling of fullness caused by an inflated spleen or liver.
If you notice any of the above symptoms of leukemia, it is advisable you seek help fast.
ABOUT SROKE
Is it a stroke?Stroke disease is a disorder of brain function due to blood flow to the brain is impaired (reduced). As a result, nutrients and oxygen to the brain dbutuhkan not met properly. Cause there are two kinds of stroke, the presence of blockages in blood vessels (thrombus), and the presence of a ruptured blood vessel.
Generally the stroke suffered by the elderly, because of the aging process causes hardening and narrowing of blood vessels (arteriosclerosis) and the fat that clogs the arteries (atherosclerosis). But some recent cases show an increase in cases of stroke that occurs in adolescence and the reproductive age (15-40 years). At this class, the leading cause of stroke is stress, drug abuse, alcohol, heredity, and an unhealthy lifestyle.
Causes of strokeIn the case of stroke adolescence, genetic factors (hereditary) is the major cause of stroke. Frequently encountered cases of stroke caused by blood vessels are fragile and easily broken, or the blood system disorders such as hemophilia and thalassemia disease is passed down from parents of patients. Meanwhile, if a family member with diabetes (diabetes), hypertension (high blood pressure), and heart disease, stroke likely to be larger in other family members.
The cause of stroke is a food with high levels of bad cholesterol (Low Density Lipoprotein) is very high. Koleserol this evil there is lots of junk food or fast food. In addition, other causes of stroke is a lazy habit of exercising and moving, lots of drinking alcohol, smoking, drug use and addictive substances, much less rest time, and prolonged stress. Rupture of blood vessels are also often caused by high blood pressure (hypertension).
Symptoms of a strokeEarly symptoms of stroke usually dizziness, head was spinning (such as vertigo disease), then followed with a speech impairment and mouth muscles. Other symptoms are tergangguanya taste sensor (can not feel anything, such as pinched or pricked needles) and the body feels paralyzed side, and the absence of reflexes. Often occur suddenly blind or blurred vision (due to the blood supply and oxygen to the eye is greatly reduced), disruption of taste in the mouth of the system and the muscles of the mouth (so often encountered people with a wry face), paralysis of the muscles of the body, and disruption system memory and emotion. Common people can not stop crying due to paralysis of the brain controls the emotions system. It makes people act like stroke sufferers of mental illness, but it's not. Things like this that need to be understood by the family of the patient.
The healing processThere are two main healing process which must be patient. First is the healing medicine in the hospital. Strict control should be done to keep the bad cholesterol can be lowered and did not grow up. In addition, patients are also prohibited from eating foods that can trigger a stroke such as junk food and salt (can lead to hypertension).
The healing process is fisiotherapy second, namely muscles exercises to restore muscle function and communication function so that approaching its original condition. Physiotherapy Physiotherapy conducted with instructors, and patients must adhere to the exercise performed. If Physiotherapy is not seriously undertaken, then the permanent paralysis can occur in the body which had suffered paralysis.
Healing in patients with stroke varies widely. There can be healed completely (100%), some are only 50% only. Healing depends on whether or not a severe stroke, the condition of the patient's body, in obedience to the patient undergoing the process of healing, perseverance and spirit of people to heal, as well as support and understanding from all family members of patients. Often found that stroke survivors can recover, but suffered from severe depression because their families do not want to understand and feel deeply troubled by illness (such as attitudes do not accept the circumstances of the patient, the harsh treatment because they have to clean up the patient, the nurse gave the patient who also treats patients with a rough, and so on). It is to be avoided if a family member who suffered a stroke.
Herbal Remedy for Papilla Mamae
What is Papilla Mamae?
Do you know what papilla mamae is? It is a name that is usually used to refer to nipple pain. On this article I will tell you a little about a home remedy to treat the pain. The medicinal plant that can be used to heal the pain is Zinniae Elegantis. It is a kind of flower that we often see in the garden. Look at the above photograph of the flower plant and you will be surprised to see that it is an effective remedy for various kinds of diseases or ailments. It is utterly insipid when you taste it. It also has a cooling effect or property when we drink or apply on the surface of our skin or nipple.
The Physical Appearance of Zinniae Elegantis
A few days ago I went to YAT Losmen to meet some Dutch tourists there. While waiting for them, I took some pictures of beautiful flowers around the lodge. In Indonesia, people call it kembang kertas meaning literally Paper Flower. Actually its names is Zinniae elegantis Herba. This flower plant likes to grow in open spaces that receive direct sunlight. We often see it in the park or in front of tropical houses. This is a popular decorative plant. It has also been cultivated as cut flower. Actually Zinnia elegance is originally from Mexico and can be found growing on the low lands to middle elevation ground up to 1,400 meters above sea level.
Zinnia elegans can grow up to 30-50 cm in upright position. The leaves and stalk are roughly hairy. Two leaves grow on opposite direction on each node of the stalk. The bases of the leaves hold the stalk like a node. The leaves are triangular with pointed tips. The bone of each leaf is slightly curved mostly covered with green color. Each stalk has single flower blooming on the top of it. The flower has various colors from dark red, to yellow. People grow Zinnia elegans by dispersing its seeds on the ground.
Indication
Besides having the ability to cure nipple pain, this herb can also be used to cure such diseases as dysentery, whooping cough, gonorrhea, and abscess.
Application
OK, now you know the plants and its use but you may wonder how to use the plant to treat the diseases. Depending on the type of illnesses, the herbs can be drunk or applied on the surface of the skin. For example, if you want to cure the whooping cough, you will need to drink the herbs. Boil 10 to 30 grams of the Zinnia herbs. When it is been boiling, turn off the stove and let it cool down for a while. After that you can drink it the water. For outer application, wash the fresh zinnia flower herbs and pound or grind them until they become soft. Apply them to the surfaces of your body that are being affected by such diseases as abscess, nipple pain and then cover them with bandage.
This article is not meant to replace the prescription from a doctor. This should be considered as an informative article which tries to explain that the diseases that we suffer from can be treated with certain medicinal plants. Please, consult your doctor or experienced herbalist to get better advice for your illnesses or ailments.
Studying Herbal Medicine in Kwau village of Arfak Mountains - the Scheme of Ecotourism Promotion
Last month, I went to Arfak Mountains that is located in Manokwari regency of West Papua Province, the Republic of Indonesia. I visited Kwau village. There, I met someone named Samuel Mandacan. He and his families have been learning herbal medicines using only plants that grow in the mountains. The village of Kwau is located far from the main road that connects the mountainous villages with the city of Manokwari. This makes the village quite isolated. So, the villagers or the indigenous people of Arfak mountains in Kwau village must rely on traditional medicines to cure the diseases. Until now the tradition of using herbs is still being preserved by Samuel Mandacan and his brother. Their local wisdom often amazed medical workers in the city because they are able to cure people in their worst condition. I am trying to promote the village to the world through eco-tourism scheme for people who are interested in studying herbal medicine.
Herbal Remedy for Abscess
Abscess is the accumulation of pus that develops under the skin of somebody as the reaction of his or her body to infection or to the presence of foreign material. I personally used to suffer from an abscess. I felt that it was very painful and it created a small swollen area. My skin where the abscess developed turned into red and was warm to the touch. The pus that formed or collected in a cavity created by the tissue of our body was part of infectious process.
If there is foreign object inside or near the pus area as the cause for the abscess, it has to be removed. If the abscess is not caused by it, the usual treatment is draining the pus.
Traditional Remedy for Curing Abscess
The indigenous Papuan people in New Guinea use resin from Orchid plant to drain pus from abscess. If we make a closer inspection to an tropical Orchid flower plant, we will see that it has a part which is called pseudo bulb. It is where the plant stores water and nutrients for it to survive when there is no rain. The water and the nutrients collected in the pseudo bulb is thick and sticky. Its viscosity is very high. This substance is used as herbal medicine for the treatment of abscess or boils.
To take the medicine from the orchid, first we need to cut one of the pseudo bulbs. Using a sharp knife, we need to peel it off so that the part that contains the sticky medicine will be exposed. Then, with the same knife or other sharp object, we need to scrape it little by little. We will get the resin and fiber of the orchid. If the fiber is too much, we can remove it.
If there is foreign object inside or near the pus area as the cause for the abscess, it has to be removed. If the abscess is not caused by it, the usual treatment is draining the pus.
Traditional Remedy for Curing Abscess
The indigenous Papuan people in New Guinea use resin from Orchid plant to drain pus from abscess. If we make a closer inspection to an tropical Orchid flower plant, we will see that it has a part which is called pseudo bulb. It is where the plant stores water and nutrients for it to survive when there is no rain. The water and the nutrients collected in the pseudo bulb is thick and sticky. Its viscosity is very high. This substance is used as herbal medicine for the treatment of abscess or boils.
To take the medicine from the orchid, first we need to cut one of the pseudo bulbs. Using a sharp knife, we need to peel it off so that the part that contains the sticky medicine will be exposed. Then, with the same knife or other sharp object, we need to scrape it little by little. We will get the resin and fiber of the orchid. If the fiber is too much, we can remove it.
How to use the medicine on the abscess
Apply the sticky and thick resin on the surface of the skin that suffers from abscess. Some people suggest that the affected area should then be covered with a piece of clean cloth. This herbal medicine from the orchid plant will "suck" the pus out of the abscess. When the pus has been drained, the abscess will dry and the skin will restore itself naturally.
It is amazing to see that the beautiful orchid flower from the tropical rainforest has very good medicinal merit for our health. So, it is very important for us to preserve the forest because there are still thousands of species of plants that can be used as herbal medicine that are important for our life.
Apply the sticky and thick resin on the surface of the skin that suffers from abscess. Some people suggest that the affected area should then be covered with a piece of clean cloth. This herbal medicine from the orchid plant will "suck" the pus out of the abscess. When the pus has been drained, the abscess will dry and the skin will restore itself naturally.
It is amazing to see that the beautiful orchid flower from the tropical rainforest has very good medicinal merit for our health. So, it is very important for us to preserve the forest because there are still thousands of species of plants that can be used as herbal medicine that are important for our life.
Herbal Remedy for Bleeding
The Herbal remedy for the treatment of bleeding that I am going to discuss here is the cordyline leaves. If you see on the photograph, this plant has red and dark green as well as brown colors. The plant is usually used by people in Indonesia as border line land indicator. They plant cordyline at the corners or along the borders lines of their gardens or house yards because the cordyline has got bright red color. Cordyline can be found thriving in the lowland up to 1,900 meters above sea level.
Synonyms:
Cordyline fruticosa backer, C. terminalis planch., C.terminalis (L.) Kunth., Asparagus terminalis L., Dracaena terminalis Rich., Taetsia fruticosa Merr., convallaria fruticosa L.
The herbs name of this natural medicine is Cordylinae Folium (or Andong leaves)
The height of Cordyline is between 2 and 4 meters. The trunk is hard and round.
From the book about herbal medicine that I am reading at the moment, it says that young cordyline leaves can be eaten as vegetables. The mature leaves can also be used as wrappings for cooking rice which will eventually make the taste of the food delicious.
Synonyms:
Cordyline fruticosa backer, C. terminalis planch., C.terminalis (L.) Kunth., Asparagus terminalis L., Dracaena terminalis Rich., Taetsia fruticosa Merr., convallaria fruticosa L.
The herbs name of this natural medicine is Cordylinae Folium (or Andong leaves)
The height of Cordyline is between 2 and 4 meters. The trunk is hard and round.
From the book about herbal medicine that I am reading at the moment, it says that young cordyline leaves can be eaten as vegetables. The mature leaves can also be used as wrappings for cooking rice which will eventually make the taste of the food delicious.
Properties and medicinal function of the plant
The taste of cordyline is sweet and insipid (or no taste). The plant has the medicinal merit of stopping the bleeding or "resfreshing" the blood. It can even destroy the blood clot in the bruised areas.
Chemical contents
The cordyline leaves contain saphonine, tanine, flavonoid, polyphenol, steroide, polysakaride, calcium oxalat, and iron.
Parts of the plant that can be used as medicine
Leaves, flowers, and roots have medicinal properties. Use the fresh herbs or the dried ones.
Indication
The cordyline leaves can be used to cure:
Lung tuberculosis especially when the patient is suffering from blood cough
Blood spots that come out during pregnancy (possibility of miscarriage), too much blood during menstruation (menorrhagia), blood in the urine(hematuria), and bleeding wounds.
How to use the herb
For drinking herbs, boil the leaves (15 to 30 grams), dried flower (9-15 grams) or roots (6-10 grams).
For external treatment, wash the cordyline leaves, cut them into small pieces and add 1 gram of salt. Grind the leaves until they are pulverized or fine. Apply it on the wound and wrap it with bandage.
Example of treatment
For bleeding urinary, bleeding cough, and too much blood during menstruation, boil fresh cordyline leaves (60 to 100 grams) or dry roots (30-60 grams) with 3 glasses of water until they become only 1 glass. Let it to cool down and filter it. Divide it into two equal parts. Drink it in the morning and afternoon.
The taste of cordyline is sweet and insipid (or no taste). The plant has the medicinal merit of stopping the bleeding or "resfreshing" the blood. It can even destroy the blood clot in the bruised areas.
Chemical contents
The cordyline leaves contain saphonine, tanine, flavonoid, polyphenol, steroide, polysakaride, calcium oxalat, and iron.
Parts of the plant that can be used as medicine
Leaves, flowers, and roots have medicinal properties. Use the fresh herbs or the dried ones.
Indication
The cordyline leaves can be used to cure:
Lung tuberculosis especially when the patient is suffering from blood cough
Blood spots that come out during pregnancy (possibility of miscarriage), too much blood during menstruation (menorrhagia), blood in the urine(hematuria), and bleeding wounds.
How to use the herb
For drinking herbs, boil the leaves (15 to 30 grams), dried flower (9-15 grams) or roots (6-10 grams).
For external treatment, wash the cordyline leaves, cut them into small pieces and add 1 gram of salt. Grind the leaves until they are pulverized or fine. Apply it on the wound and wrap it with bandage.
Example of treatment
For bleeding urinary, bleeding cough, and too much blood during menstruation, boil fresh cordyline leaves (60 to 100 grams) or dry roots (30-60 grams) with 3 glasses of water until they become only 1 glass. Let it to cool down and filter it. Divide it into two equal parts. Drink it in the morning and afternoon.
The tropical rainforest has got a lot of species of plants that have medicinal functions. It is sad to see that at the present moment this rich natural environment is being cut for the exploitation of its wood and for the conversion of its land for monoculture plantation. We can help preserve the rainforest if we are able to exploit its non-timber forest product and improve the living condition of people living in and around the rainforest.
Vitamins D and the Diet
Vitamin D helps bones and muscles grow strong and healthy. Low levels of vitamin D can lead to problems like rickets and osteoporosis. Rickets is a deformity mainly found in children. Osteoporosis is the thinning of bone, a common problem as people, especially women, get older.
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Studies in recent years have suggested that vitamin D may also have other uses. Studies have shown that low levels of D may increase the risk of heart attacks in men and deaths from some cancers. Other studies have shown that people with rheumatic diseases often have low levels of D.
The easiest way to get vitamin D is from sunlight. The ultraviolet rays react with skin cells to produce the vitamin. But many people worry about skin cancer and skin damage from the sun.
Also, darker skinned people produce less vitamin D than lighter skinned people. Production also decreases in older people and those living in northern areas that get less sunlight.
Not many foods naturally contain vitamin D. Foods with high levels include oily fishsuch as salmon, tuna and mackerel, andfish liver oils. Boston University researchers reported in two thousand seven that farmed salmon had a lot less vitamin D than wild salmon.
Small amounts of D are found in beef liver, cheese and egg yolks. And some people take dietary supplements containing the vitamin. But most of the D in the American diet comes from foods like milk with the vitamin added.
These days, more doctors are testing for vitamin D levels in their patients. But as research continues, some experts worry that if people take too much D, it might act as a poison. Also, skin doctors warn people to be careful with sun exposure.
How much vitamin D does a healthy person need? Nutrition experts who advise the American government set the current recommendations in nineteen ninety-seven. The daily amount is two hundred international units from birth through age fifty. Then it rises to four hundred I.U.s through age seventy, and six hundred for those seventy-one and older. But some groups say these amounts are not high enough.
The nutrition experts are taking another look at how much vitamin D and calcium people should get. The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies expects to release a report by this coming May. 22 September 2009. This is the VOA Special English Health Report written by Caty Weaver. I'm Bob Doughty
Massage and Its Health Benefits to Our Body
I like hiking and camping in the tropical rainforest for days. While traveling in the jungle, I and my friends usually walk up the slopes and down the ravines for around 5 hours per day. When I return home, I usually experience tensions and pains all my body. I need massage to relieve muscular spasm and tension. I often experience muscle pains after hiking in the rainforest because I overuse and stress my muscles particularly in the leg areas.
Release of muscle tension
When pressure is applied on certain area of my legs that suffer from pain, the nerve system will activate my body or muscle to release the tension.
The Warming of hard tissue in the pained muscles
When I rub my leg muscle that suffers from tension, I transfer heat from my palm to the tissue of the muscle. The transfer of heat is usually called thermodynamic effect. Such effect will soften my muscle tissue that has been tight and hard.
Stimulate local nerves
When I rub and press my stressed muscle, the local nerves will be stimulated or soothed. They will release the stress or contractions and make the muscles in my leg relax or soft again.
This is a simple therapy that I usually apply on my legs after spending several days hiking and camping in the jungle. So, I believe that massage can give positive implications to our health, well-being and even longevity.
Massage in Sports
For hundreds of years athletes have known the importance of massage in maintaining and improving their performance. After an exercise or real competition, a football player or a runner will usually be handled by a massage therapist to release tensions in his or her muscles.
The food we eat influences our blood glucose level
People with diabetes need to control their blood glucose closer to normal level. Whether they are patients of type 1 or type 2 diabetes, they must know it everyday. Our blood glucose is normal if it is between 70 and 110 mg/dl measured at 8 hours fasting. But it is not easy for patients of diabetes to keep their blood glucose at these levels. It is realistic if we can control our fast blood glucose and 2 hours after meal to be under 200 mg/dl. If the level is too low (typically less than 70), patients will experience hypoglycemia. In this condition, patients will tremble, feel weak and very hungry. Sweet food or drinks such as sprite and fanta or coca cola coke soft-drinks, fruit juice, biscuits or glucose tablets will be needed to raise the blood sugar level. If the blood sugar level is too high, then insulin injection is needed to lower it. Fast-acting carbohydrate such as apple or orange juice, grapes and regular soda can raise our blood glucose back to normal.
The levels of blood glucose are not always the same after meal. They depend on the kind of foods that we usually eat. If we measure them by ourselves, we will able to understand why our blood glucose is rising or falling. We can also know when the level is at its highest point or at its lowest point. Then, we will be able to take action to balance it.
The food that we eat will certainly raise our blood glucose. One to two hours after meal, the blood glucose will rise to its highest level. So, we have to measure the amount of food that we eat. We need to control our daily meal, and our lunch, and dinner time so that we will be able to know when and how our blood glucose rises or falls. By doing that, we will be able to adjust the amount of insulin injection or medicine that we need to overcome hyperglycemia.
Various kinds of food causes various blood sugar level. Our food contains carbohydrate, protein, and fat. These three components raise the glucose level. But carbohydrate is the strongest component that raises the glucose level
The levels of blood glucose are not always the same after meal. They depend on the kind of foods that we usually eat. If we measure them by ourselves, we will able to understand why our blood glucose is rising or falling. We can also know when the level is at its highest point or at its lowest point. Then, we will be able to take action to balance it.
The food that we eat will certainly raise our blood glucose. One to two hours after meal, the blood glucose will rise to its highest level. So, we have to measure the amount of food that we eat. We need to control our daily meal, and our lunch, and dinner time so that we will be able to know when and how our blood glucose rises or falls. By doing that, we will be able to adjust the amount of insulin injection or medicine that we need to overcome hyperglycemia.
Various kinds of food causes various blood sugar level. Our food contains carbohydrate, protein, and fat. These three components raise the glucose level. But carbohydrate is the strongest component that raises the glucose level
The Relation Between Diabetes and Blood Sugar
The most important thing which patients of diabetes must do is learning how to control their blood sugar. Food consists of protein, carbohydrates, fat, and also fiber. All of us have to combine these elements in ratio that is suitable for our bodies. Everybody has his or her ownfood ratio. Next time, if we want to eat something, we can start making changes in ourfood intake ratio. One or two hours after eating our foods, we can measure our blood glucose level. Make sure that it is within the allowable range. If it is always above 200 mg/dl, it means we have suffered fromdiabetes.
Glucose always exists in our blood. Our body needs it as fuel to function well. Glucose is a simple form of sugar. It is derived from the food which we consume everyday. When the food has reached the stomach, it will be digested and processed. Carbohydrates, protein, and fat from our food are processed by our digestive system to generate energy. Excessive energy is changed into fat. Glucose can easily be obtained from carbohydrates.
Foods that are categorized as the source of carbohydrates arebread, rice, grains, pasta and fruit. Some foods such as palm sugar and refined sugar are classed as simple carbohydrates whereas others such as grains and tubers are classed as complex carbohydrates. Foods such as honey, white rice, French bread release their energy quickly. They have high glycaemic value. If we plan to work hard during the day, we will need such foods to supply us with sufficient energy so that we will not become weak during and after work. However, if what we do are typing and filing, we should choose foods which contain low glycaemic value such as oats, basmati rice and raw carrots.
When we eat foods of high glycaemic value but we don't work hard, the excessive amount of sugars that are released will be stored in our body. To do this we need the insulin. This hormone is produced by pancreas. Insulin maintains our blood sugar to anacceptable level. If we always eat high glycaemic foods, we will need more insulin. More insulin is also needed if we frequently drink alcohol. Eating fast-releasing energy foods such as cereal, a cup of coffee or apple juice will cause our blood sugar rises rapidly. It will trigger the release of insulin.
Pancreas may become exhausted. Failure of insulin producing cells in the islets of Langerhans of pancreas leads to diabetes. To avoid this disease, we need to balance our foods so that they will not always bring pressures to pancreas. Our meal should be the combination of foods that contain complex carbohydrates, fiber and some protein.
Type 2 Diabetes
There are millions of people around the world who are suffering from Type 2 Diabetes now. Many of them do not realize that they have blood glucose levels that are above the normal level. People will suffer from diabetes if their fasting plasma glucose test equals or above 126 mg/dL. Type 2 diabetes is the result of metabolic abnormalities in our body. Most often this condition has occurred for years and caused various complications to our body before we realize it. In general, type 2 diabetes is caused by two causal factors:
- the development of insulin resistance
People who are overweight usually have more fat cells in their body. They also cannot move their body easily. This is worsen by the rapid changing in their lifestyle. In the past people have to work hard to obtain food. They work in the farmland, go hunting or row their boat to catch fish. Now efficient mass production of food has replaced all the physical activities that are good for body metabolism. Modern people tend to sit in front of the computer typing all day and at the end of the month receive wages that are enough to feed all the family members. Machines and automation have replaced most of the physical labor in factories and trades causing people to spend much less energy in their efforts to earn money. Sedentary lifestyle is a common scene in most of the modern society. We work less but eat more. Our food contains high amount fat, sugar and salt. According to a number of books that I read about diabetes, fat cells produce chemicals that resist the work of insulin. When our blood sugar is high, insulin will be secreted from our pancreas to transport the excessive glucose into cells in our body. The storage of the glucose in the cells is known as glycogen. If insulin cannot work properly due to high fat cells in our body, long term accumulation of high blood glucose level in our blood vessels will cause complications in our eyes, kidneys and nervous system. Therefore it is important for overweight people to increase their physical activity to lose weight and to improve their body metabolism so that they can reduce the amount of fat cells in their body to enable insulin to work well in transporting glucose and maintaining the blood glucose to normal level.
- the decrease of insulin secretion
When glucose is high in our blood vessels, beta cells in pancreas will produce more insulin to bring or transport the sugar into our body cells. Continues overwork in producing insulin will cause pancreas to lose its ability. The pancreas of people with obesity, advancing age and sedentary lifestyle, might still make insulin but the amount it produces is not enough to keep the blood sugar levels within the normal range. Over time, the blood sugar level drifts up to pre-diabetes condition and then to diabetes condition.
It has been explained above that obesity and sedentary lifestyle should be avoided in order to fight diabetes. Regular exercises, cycling or walking to work can greatly improve our body metabolism. In addition, eating foods that contain more fiber, and less fat and sugar will be beneficial for maintaining our body weight within an ideal level
Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes
The two main forms of diabetes are called type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Although they have different causes and, to a great extent affect different categories of people, they share three main features.First, type 1 and type 2 diabetes are both characterized by metabolic abnormalities that include high levels of blood sugar in the circulation, as well as increased levels of other nutrient breakdown products that are released from their storage sites. See Table 1.1. Second, decreased insulin secretion or a decreased sensitivity to insulin action is the reason for these metabolic abnormalities. In the case of type 1 diabetes, the body makes no or very little insulin because the insulin-secreting islets have been harmed and destroyed. In type 2 diabetes, the body cannot meet the increased insulin demands brought on by a condition called insulin resistance.
Third, both types of diabetes can result in long-term complications that affect the small vessels of the eyes, kidneys, and nervous system. These complications are related to the high levels of blood sugar that are sustained over time and can result in serious damage such as blindness, kidney failure, foot ulcers and amputations and the dysfunctions of other organs. Both types of diabetes also substantially increase the risk of developing heart disease and stroke. In the short term, very high blood sugars, if not treated, can lead to severe dehydration and can cause confusion, coma, and even death.
Even with their shared features, the two types of diabetes are quite different in many respects. Type 1 diabetes characteristically occurs in children and young adults (it was once called juvenile-onset diabetes) and requires treatment with insulin for survival (type 1 also used to be called insulin-dependent diabetes). In type 1 diabetes, the body's immune system attacks the pancreas. This autoimmune attack destroys the beta cells, leaving them unable to make insulin.
The causes of type 1 diabetes are not fully understood. We don't know what triggers the immune system to start attacking the pancreas, although certain inherited genes can make you more vulnerable. However we do know that type 1 diabetes is not primarily caused by lifestyle, being overweight, or obesity; however, controlling body weight and exercising regularly are important parts of the treatment. Maintaining blood-sugar levels as close to the non-diabetic range as possible is critical to avoid long-term complications
Controlling Stress and Blood Sugar by Eating Healthy Foods
Blood glucose level always goes up when patients of diabetes face stress. When in stress, the pituitary gland at the base of our skull stimulates the adrenal glands by the kidneys to release adrenaline. This triggers the muscles and liver to break down the glycogen stores into glucose. It then is released into the tissues to enable the body to fight or flight the potential danger. This release increases the blood sugar level which sometimes exceeds the normal range.
So, diabetes is closely related to our emotional condition. City dwellers always live in the environment that will inevitably create stress. Traffic jams, pollution, overwhelming workloads, and selling targets and problems in personal relationships are some of the causal factors for stress. So, it is easy to say to everybody that stress is unavoidable.
The easiest way is through recreation. Unfortunately, we cannot always do that. City dwellers who are in stress condition usually try to relax their emotional condition by going out and eating out with friends.
Eating more food and drinking alcohol or coffee are the typical reactions which we usually experience. To reduce the negative effects of stress, we must try to avoid foods that are bad to our body. Even though we can do that, the food and drinks that we consume in general contain excessive fat, salt, sugar, and alcohol and cafein. These deplete vital nutrients such as magnesium and vitamin B5 – the nutrients that are important in combating stress.
Eating foods that contain fiber can help improve our blood sugar. We will feel full due to the volume of the food but the calories intake is lower. In addition, our body cannot digest fiber. Fiber binds cholesterol and lowers its absorption. Food that contains fiber reduces our blood sugar as it slows down the absorption of sugars into the bloodstream.
To minimize the negative effects of stress, we need nutrients such as magnesium and vitamin C as well as vitamin B. They are essential in supporting our body especially the adrenal glands to bust the stress. Foods that are rich in magnesium are almonds, cod, soya beans, sunflower seeds, nuts, dark leafy vegetables, blackstrap molasses. Foods that are rich in vitamin c are citrus fruit, strawberries, potatoes, berries, peppers, blackcurrants, kiwi fruit, cauliflowers, guavas, mangoes, and papaya. Foods that contain vitamin B are green vegetables, brown rice, dairy products, eggs, liver, wheatgerm, lentils and corn.
Diabetes and Sedentary Lifestyle
The number of people with type 2 diabetes has been rising rapidly since the last fifty years. In addition, more and more people have blood glucose levels, although they have not been categorized as diabetes, are too high for good health. This condition is known as glucose intolerance or pre-diabetes.
The increase in the number of people suffering type 2 diabetes around the world is mostly caused by sedentary lifestyle or a way of life that does not excel much physical activities.
In the morning after waking up, we open the faucet of water container to fill it. In the past, people had to walk for several meters to take the water in a river and bring it home in containers. After taking a bath and getting changed, we do not have to walking to paddy fields for working with hoes on our shoulders. Comfortable public transportation or our private cars will take us to our offices. Arriving at work, we do not need to climb the stairs to floor 3 or 4. By pressing buttons, the lift doors will open and the lift will take us up to our workplaces. There are no hoeing and plowing works which the traditional farmers do that we do in our workplaces. Most of us spend the whole day typing in front of the computer and answering telephone calls.
In the afternoon, when we get home, there are not many physical activities that we do. After taking a shower, most of us will sit on a sofa with a cup of sweet tea or coffee on the table. We will watch tv until dinner time. After that probably we will read books or talk to our spouses before going to bed.
These sedentary lifestyle have been going on and on for years without us realizing that our bodies are getting heavier. We are now overweight due to the lack of sports and finally our blood sugar levels reach more than 200 mg/dL when examined using Oral Glucose Tolerance Test. And at the very moment we’ve just realized that we suffer from Diabetes Type 2.
Listen, before all the above things happen, let’s change our lifestyle by being physically more active and by eating healthy foods.
Beauty Tips
Beauty is an essence. Looking beautiful means having one of the most comforts of life. Looking beautiful means get noticed. And who don't' want to be noticed. The word 'beauty' has a number of synonyms, cute, smart, gorgeous, handsome, and good looking sexy, stylish and after all beautiful.
When we use word beauty or beautiful, it clearly indicates our inclination towards something or object which we like the most. Nature is most beautiful object we have in which we exist in general. The word beautiful is a feminine word. When we listen the word beauty or beautiful, we assume a pretty, cool, charming and good-looking face. Boys or men don't need to be beautiful rather they need to be handsome.
No matter either you are a cool pretty girl / woman or a handsome boy / man; you must need to be smart, intelligent, and diligent. Your smartness, intelligence and diligence all reflect in your personality. And your personality depends on the fact that how you carry yourself and how you associate with the objects or persons around you. Your personality is the integration of your body, mind and soul. Rather you are a big-hearted person having a high degree of IQ. And the amalgamation of beauty with your mind and soul make you a being of get noticed. And who don't want that.
A well groomed child get noticed in his or her prep class, a handsome is get noticed in playgrounds, a sexy lace is get noticed some time on the streets and some time on the discos. A smart and bold person is get noticed in the society. A smart / beautiful manager is get noticed in board meetings.
It means beauty has its place everywhere, it makes its' place, it exists. It exists in every being. Some time it didn't look even though it is there. This is because the person is not taking care of his / her body i.e. skin, nails, eyes, hair, etc.
Taking care of your body means taking care of your self and for that you don't need to put extra effort, you don't need to put extra hour of your work schedule. Only you need to put is the minimum required attention. You need to regulate your life style, you need to discover the ways of living, and you need to monitor yourself with proper care.
How do you do that?
Here are few tips that make you a noticeable personality in the crowd and your body healthy, sexy and overall beautiful.1. Drink 8 to 12 glasses of water everyday, having more water means feeling less hungry, consuming less food and hence being fit in shape and always looks energetic. 2. You can drink water in a regular interval of half an hour or so, while in office or traveling long, keep you water bottle with you. 3. Take balanced diet rich in carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and good fats.4. Cut on calories; don't take food that gives high calories and fewer nutrients.5. Nutrients are necessary to keep you away from sickness and thus helps in being beautiful6. Take some beet root, cut into small pieces and grind. Squeeze it and massage your face for 5 minutes with beetroot juice. Wash / shower after 10 minutes with mild soap or gram flour. You will feel relaxed and your face will glow. 7. Mix honey in water, and drink it daily in the morning. This will keep your skin shiney and smooth.8. Massage your body with milk. Moisturizer in the milk will keep your skin smooth and healthy.9. Keep room temperature moderate, using humidifiers. This will keep you skin away from dryness.10. If you take shower too long or a bit long, the dead skin of your body automatically gets removed. Don't rub your body with towel. Be gentle on your skin.11. If you go out in the sun, your skins will loss its fairness. Take cucumber juice and tomato juice and apply it to your skin, shower after 10 minutes. This will make your skin fair.12. Take rose petals, and grind them. Mix with cream on the top of milk. Shower after 10 minutes.
So take a little care of your body and stay healthy, handsome, beautiful, smart, and bold.
10 Tips To Healthy Eating
Experts agree the key to healthy eating is the time-tested advice of balance, variety and moderation. In short, that means eating a wide variety of foods without getting too many calories or too much of any one nutrient. These 10 tips can help you follow that advice while still enjoying the foods you eat.
1. Eat a variety of nutrient-rich foods. You need more than 40 different nutrients for good health, and no single food supplies them all. Your daily food selection should include bread and other whole-grain products; fruits; vegetables; dairy products; and meat, poultry, fish and other protein foods. How much you should eat depends on your calorie needs. Use the Food Guide Pyramid and the Nutrition Facts panel on food labels as handy references.
2. Enjoy plenty of whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Surveys show most Americans don't eat enough of these foods. Do you eat 6-11 servings from the bread, rice, cereal and pasta group, 3 of which should be whole grains? Do you eat 2-4 servings of fruit and 3-5 servings of vegetables? If you don't enjoy some of these at first, give them another chance. Look through cookbooks for tasty ways to prepare unfamiliar foods.
3. Maintain a healthy weight. The weight that's right for you depends on many factors including your sex, height, age and heredity. Excess body fat increases your chances for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, some types of cancer and other illnesses. But being too thin can increase your risk for osteoporosis, menstrual irregularities and other health problems. If you're constantly losing and regaining weight, a registered dietitian can help you develop sensible eating habits for successful weight management. Regular exercise is also important to maintaining a healthy weight.
4. Eat moderate portions. If you keep portion sizes reasonable, it's easier to eat the foods you want and stay healthy. Did you know the recommended serving of cooked meat is 3 ounces, similar in size to a deck of playing cards? A medium piece of fruit is 1 serving and a cup of pasta equals 2 servings. A pint of ice cream contains 4 servings. Refer to the Food Guide Pyramid for information on recommended serving sizes.
5. Eat regular meals. Skipping meals can lead to out-of-control hunger, often resulting in overeating. When you're very hungry, it's also tempting to forget about good nutrition. Snacking between meals can help curb hunger, but don't eat so much that your snack becomes an entire meal.
6. Reduce, don't eliminate certain foods. Most people eat for pleasure as well as nutrition. If your favorite foods are high in fat, salt or sugar, the key is moderating how much of these foods you eat and how often you eat them.
Identify major sources of these ingredients in your diet and make changes, if necessary. Adults who eat high-fat meats or whole-milk dairy products at every meal are probably eating too much fat. Use the Nutrition Facts panel on the food label to help balance your choices.
1. Eat a variety of nutrient-rich foods. You need more than 40 different nutrients for good health, and no single food supplies them all. Your daily food selection should include bread and other whole-grain products; fruits; vegetables; dairy products; and meat, poultry, fish and other protein foods. How much you should eat depends on your calorie needs. Use the Food Guide Pyramid and the Nutrition Facts panel on food labels as handy references.
2. Enjoy plenty of whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Surveys show most Americans don't eat enough of these foods. Do you eat 6-11 servings from the bread, rice, cereal and pasta group, 3 of which should be whole grains? Do you eat 2-4 servings of fruit and 3-5 servings of vegetables? If you don't enjoy some of these at first, give them another chance. Look through cookbooks for tasty ways to prepare unfamiliar foods.
3. Maintain a healthy weight. The weight that's right for you depends on many factors including your sex, height, age and heredity. Excess body fat increases your chances for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, some types of cancer and other illnesses. But being too thin can increase your risk for osteoporosis, menstrual irregularities and other health problems. If you're constantly losing and regaining weight, a registered dietitian can help you develop sensible eating habits for successful weight management. Regular exercise is also important to maintaining a healthy weight.
4. Eat moderate portions. If you keep portion sizes reasonable, it's easier to eat the foods you want and stay healthy. Did you know the recommended serving of cooked meat is 3 ounces, similar in size to a deck of playing cards? A medium piece of fruit is 1 serving and a cup of pasta equals 2 servings. A pint of ice cream contains 4 servings. Refer to the Food Guide Pyramid for information on recommended serving sizes.
5. Eat regular meals. Skipping meals can lead to out-of-control hunger, often resulting in overeating. When you're very hungry, it's also tempting to forget about good nutrition. Snacking between meals can help curb hunger, but don't eat so much that your snack becomes an entire meal.
6. Reduce, don't eliminate certain foods. Most people eat for pleasure as well as nutrition. If your favorite foods are high in fat, salt or sugar, the key is moderating how much of these foods you eat and how often you eat them.
Identify major sources of these ingredients in your diet and make changes, if necessary. Adults who eat high-fat meats or whole-milk dairy products at every meal are probably eating too much fat. Use the Nutrition Facts panel on the food label to help balance your choices.
Choosing skim or low-fat dairy products and lean cuts of meat such as flank steak and beef round can reduce fat intake significantly.
If you love fried chicken, however, you don't have to give it up. Just eat it less often. When dining out, share it with a friend, ask for a take-home bag or a smaller portion.
If you love fried chicken, however, you don't have to give it up. Just eat it less often. When dining out, share it with a friend, ask for a take-home bag or a smaller portion.
7. Balance your food choices over time. Not every food has to be "perfect." When eating a food high in fat, salt or sugar, select other foods that are low in these ingredients. If you miss out on any food group one day, make up for it the next. Your food choices over several days should fit together into a healthy pattern.
8. Know your diet pitfalls. To improve your eating habits, you first have to know what's wrong with them. Write down everything you eat for three days. Then check your list according to the rest of these tips. Do you add a lot of butter, creamy sauces or salad dressings? Rather than eliminating these foods, just cut back your portions. Are you getting enough fruits and vegetables? If not, you may be missing out on vital nutrients.
9. Make changes gradually. Just as there are no "superfoods" or easy answers to a healthy diet, don't expect to totally revamp your eating habits overnight. Changing too much, too fast can get in the way of success. Begin to remedy excesses or deficiencies with modest changes that can add up to positive, lifelong eating habits. For instance, if you don't like the taste of skim milk, try low-fat. Eventually you may find you like skim, too.
10. Remember, foods are not good or bad. Select foods based on your total eating patterns, not whether any individual food is "good" or "bad." Don't feel guilty if you love foods such as apple pie, potato chips, candy bars or ice cream. Eat them in moderation, and choose other foods to provide the balance and variety that are vital to good health.
Health Advice
Do you like grapefruit?
The interaction between grapefruit juice and some medications can cause negative effects, especially on kidney level, and sometimes it can be fatal. A woman that uses birth control pills and then suddenly drinks too much grapefruit juice can get pregnant because this juice makes the effects of the pills disappear.
Grapefruit juice is not indicated to drink while taking anti-depressing medication, antibiotics and medicine for cardio-vascular diseases. A person that takes anti-depressives and adds to that grapefruit in huge quantities can feel that he has all of a sudden too much or too little energy, depending on the pills taken. Combining it with antibiotic can cause stomach sickness or can extend the illness you are taking medication for because the antibiotics will diminuate their effect. Heart drugs don’t work anymore, the blood pressure stays up and the heart beat irregularly. For those that love grapefruit juice, witch is more concentrated than the fruit itself, a recommendation would be to restrain from drinking it while they are taking medication.
Doctors try to raise attention upon avoiding and combating the combination of grapefruit with medicine especially because in some diets grapefruit juice is recommended in huge quantities.
Grapefruit is benefic to organism if used properly. It belongs to that class of aliments that burn calories, because it takes more calories to digest them than they have. Eating the fruit is not a problem, nor is drinking a glass of juice once in a while. The problem appears where human reasoning disappears. Wanting to loose more weight faster, people weaken their bodies and eat only grapefruits. It is efficient for a diet, but it also loosens the imunitary system. They become more vulnerable, more tired and nervous and if taking any medications they are risking their health in this combination.
So use this aliment wisely, go ask a specialist of its precise effects in your case and don’t abuse drinking grapefruit juice. Abusing something has never brought anything good, and it won’t in this case either. If you want to go on with your diet and keep your health find an alternative solution or make sure this does not affect your organism
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