Super Foods For Diabetes

6 02 2010

   What are super foods? Science and research have anointed them as anti-stress, life expanding and disease preventing foods. They are legumes, fruits and vegetables that have been around forever. The super foods listed below can be quite beneficial to a diabetic.

Almonds and walnuts. Almonds and walnuts are rich in monosaturated good fat that contains many micro nutrients, Vitamin E and fiber. They are known to lower the risk of heart disease. In addition walnuts also contain omega-3 fatty acids which are known for their health benefits.

Blueberries and strawberries, besides being delicious, they are loaded with properties such as low in calories, rich in iron, fiber and Vitamin C and high in antioxidants.

Dark green, They are delicious, satisfying and rich in nutrients. If looking for calcium, folate, Vitamin C, potassium, carotenoids and fiber, your mantra should br GO GREEN. The choice is plenty, broccoli, soinach, kale, etc to name a few.

Beans, they are rich in protein, fiber slow metabolizing complex carbohydrates and folic acid.

Garlic, This spice lower cholesterol and blood pressure. It also reduces the risk of heart attacks and retards growth of harmful bacteria.

Yellow fruits, Apricots, sweet potatoes, citrus fruits, carrots, peaches and butternut squash. They are loaded with carotenoids, the powerful heart protectors. In addition they contain fiber, Vitamin A and C, beta-carotene and potassium

Fish, Wild salmon and other fatty fish caught in wild contain the beneficial omega-3 fatty acids that lower cardic risks.

Olive Oil, this monosaturated fat is beneficial in lowering cholesterol and fighting heart disease.

Dark chocolate, contains flavonols and antixidants that improve the flow of blood throughtout the body and reduce blood pressure.

Green tea, low in caffeine, and if drunk on regular basis it is known to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

If included in the daily diet theses super foods can improve one’s life phenomenally and help fight diseases.



Diabetics Avoid These Foods Now

26 01 2010

   Diabetes is caused by excessive glucose in the blood and it is one of the most common chronic disease in the adult and child. Most of the persons even don’t know that they have this disease. With India having highest number of diabetic people, this disease is converting itself from epidemic to pandemic. Thanks to our hectic life style and bad habits which are working as a fuel to the fire.

   Our body uses glucose as a source of energy. After we have our meal the amount of glucose increase in our blood. A special type of enzyme called insulin converts this glucose to the energy and after that conversion the level of sugar in our blood comes to normal. But in a diabetic person either pancreas cell either don’t make insulin or unable to use insulin. Without insulin our blood can absorb glucose directly and this excess glucose accumulated in the blood cell and can cause harm to blood vessels, eyes and nerves.

   Food is primary source of energy and it plays an important role in determining the level of sugar in the blood. Having diabetes it is essential for you to plan your diet meticulously. For this first step would be to consult with your doctor or physician regarding the diet. Your foods should be:

1. Low in fat…

2. Low in sugar…

3. Low in salt…

4. High in fiber…

    Now this could be a daunting task for a diabetic person who is used to of having all of this. But nothing is above your health and if you want to get rid of this diabetes then you have to adopt an balance diet. Eat alot of fruits which is rich source of fiber. Fruit dissipates energy in the blood in a controlled manner. Eat vegetables like onion, garlic, ginger, radish, spinach, kale, cucumber, carrot, tomato, cabbage and cucumber are excellent in the treatment of diabetes. Drink alot of water and Exercise daily. A little exercise helps the blood cells to use insulin effectively.

   Food To Avoid:

Sugar Rich Food; Sugar rich food is scurge of the disease hence it is advised to ignore those food which are high carbohydrate like- ice cream, donuts, pastries, chocolates, cookies, artifical sweeteners.

High Cholesterol Food: High cholesterol food like egg yolks, high fat dairy products, poultry, should be avoided because it makes a person vulnerable to the heart disease by increasing the bad cholesterol in presence of diabetes.

Alcoholic beverages: Consumption of excess alcohol can damage the liver which is responible for storing the glucose in the body hence should be strictly avoided.

Fried Food: Friend Food increase bad cholesterol in the blood and hence it should be avoided and if you are planning to have this then fried it in olive oil.



3 Foods All Women Should Eat Now…

18 01 2010

   Foods all women should eat and are important for your health will be discussed in this article. The are certain things we should all be eating if we want to stay healthy. Read this article below to find out what those food are.

   Eat Berries, are good for you and full of important antioxidants. They contain more antioxidants than many other foods. The antioxidants will enable your body to get rid of harmful toxins and will not allow your arteries to corrode. You should try to eat at least one cup of berries three time a week. If you can eat much more. Add them to your favvvvorite cereals, yogurts and even salads.

   Consume Salmon you should be eating alot more fish products than meat products. Eating fish is more healthy and better for you. Salmon is a great source of omega-3s, which are important healthy fats that will reduce your chances of developing heart disease. You should eat fish three times a week. You can eat tuna once a week.

   Eat alot of Greens, make should you eat a fair share of green vegetables. You can eat spinach and romaine lettuce, and chard. Green leafy vegetables have a good source of Vitamin C and fiber. They also contain Vitamin B, which guards your heart disease. Leafy green vegetables will also improve your memory.



7 Tips For Lowering Blood Sugars

20 12 2009

   Here is a short list of some particular foods that help the person to lower blood sugar level. Full control of blood sugar level is critical for diabetics to stay away from diabetic complications and for living a longer and healthier life, it is important that all diabetics must be aware of tips and tricks for managing the blood sugar level.  The simplest way is to eat the foods that are helpful for lowering the blood glucose level.

French Beans. These  are also termed kidney beans. if french beans are cooked properly they taste amazing. The beans are full of protein and fiber content.

Brussels Sprouts. A best Natural remedy for diabetics is to have the juice of Brussels Sprout with an equal amount of juice of French Beans. This juices work great to lowering your blood sugars.

Bean Decoction. Another great effective Natural Cure for diabetics is termed “Bean Decoction”. This is prepared by boiling 3 1/2 liter of water with 50 gm fresh beans. Then strain this mixture with a clear strainer and allow it to cool for a few hours.

Lettuce. The American Diabetes Association said that lettuce and other foods that have lower cholesterol level help to prevent the diabetics from cardiovascular problems.

Tomatoes. It is great treat of nature that can be taken by diabetics who wish to lose their weight. Tomatoes helps diabetics to control the amount of sugar in urine.

Soya Bean. It helps tp put a check on the level of bllod sugar. And again is a vegetable that is low in carbohydrates but high in protein content.

Onion. Onion is great for diabetics. It helps in lowering down the level  of blood glucose in diabetics.  Onion has an antidiabetic compound.



Superfoods for Getting You Moving

21 10 2009

   It’s no wonder so many Americans suffer from constipation. Our diet of meat and processed food contains little fiber. Most of us are lucky if we’ve getting half of the 30 grams of fiber that we should each day. Without the bulk in our diet, it can make bowel movements practically immovable.

   Our digestive tract was designed for unprocessed plant foods that are loaded with dietary fiber, beans, leafy greens, fresh and dried fruits, vegetables and whole grains. High levels of dietary fiber increase both the frequency and quantity of bowel movements, decreasing the transit time of stool’s as well as the absorption of toxins from the stool.

   Drink at least eight to twelve 8-oz glasses of clean water per day. Hard, dry stools are a classic sign of dehydration. A good rule of thumb is to drink a glass of water when you wake up and then every hour after that.

   Try adding some wheat or barley grass to your daily routine. Mix two to three teaspoon of a nutrients rich blend of dehydrated wheat or barley grass in water and have another serving later in the day. These drinks have a restorative action on the intestinal tract and are especially good for constipation.

   As a supplement to a healthy, high-fiber diet, bran and prunes are particularly effective in relieving constipation. Whole prunes and prune juice possess good laxative effects. Eight ounces is usually an effective dose. A similar amount of aloe vera juice is also helpful.

   Vitamin C rich foods can help as well as they help with food and nutrient absorption. Try parsley, broccoli, bell pepper, strawberries, oranges, lemon juice, papaya, cauliflower, kale, mustard greens, and Brussels sprouts, as they’re all great sources of Vitamin C.

 



Superfoods For Food Poisoning

18 10 2009

   Food poisoning is an all encompassing term involing the consumption of contaminated food, stomach flu, stress, drug interactions, nutrient deficiencies or their excess. It can come on rather suddenly after eating, diarrhea or votmiting can begin 30 minutes to one hour after eating foods that are chemically poisonous, within one to 12 hours with bacterial poisoning, and 12 to 48 hours with viral or salmonella poisoning. Food poisoning can be serious and a medical professional should be contacted especially if it is accompanied by a difficulty in swallowing, speaking or breathing, if there is a fever of 100 degrees F, if the person can’t even hold down liquids if there is severe diarrhea of more than two days.

   The best remedy is to curtail eating until all the symptoms have subsided and the toxins have the chance to exit your system. Drink plenty of fluids Vitamin c and blackberry, and peppermint teas can be taken then to strengthen the stomach, along with yogurt that contains acidophilus to recolonize the lost flora in the bowel. Diluted sweetened drinks can also be consumed to replace the body’s lost fluid and electrolytes, and the BRAT diet ( bananas, apples, rice and toast) can also be helpful in getting the toxins cleared from the body.

   As a precaution against food poisoning, great care should be taken when preparing foods. Avoid over handling foods, and when in doubt, throw it out don’t take the risk with leftovers if you’re just not sure how long they’ve been in your refrigerator.

   Mint, Lemon, raspberry, chamomile or teas might also be helpful in easing the stomach pain associated with food poisoning or stomach cramping. Ginger tea is also good for settling an unsettled stomach, and promotes good digestion. Try to get plenty of rest as food poisoning can be an exhausting and nutrient-depleting chore for your body. Once you’re feeling better be sure to eat a well- balanced healthy diet that includes food rich in irons, zinc, vitamin C to help your body get back to it’s old self again.



Super Strategies for Acne

8 10 2009

   Most people with ance attempt to treat their irritated skin with external face washes, soaps, lotions and treatments. However, the best way to treat acne is by changing your diet and getting rid of acne-causing ingredients such as fried foods.

   A healthy diet rich in natural whole foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains and beans is the first recommendation for treating acne. Foods containing trans-fatty acids, such as milk, milk products, margarine, shortening and other synthetically hydrogenated vegetables oils, as well as fried foods, should be avoided.

   It seems the prevalence of acne in the United States is built into the typical American diet. Americans tend to eat fried foods in large quantities, usually cooked in the most harmful of fats and oils. Not all fats are bad, but the fats that typical Americans eat make them more prone to develop acne and skin problems, such as what’s in ice cream, cheese, bacon, and milk.

   Ance cannot really be treated using creams and soaps because the root of the condition lies breath the skin. Pimples and blemishes are caused by bacteria and other irritants embedded underneath the skin’s oil glands and hair follicies, which are generally caused as a result of imporper hygiene and poor diet such as too much processes, fatty, fried and sugary foods.

   A skin healthy diet emphasizes raw and lightly cooked vegetables, especially green leafy vegetables that contain valuable trace minerals and are rich in fiber. Fresh green vegetables are essential. Also include in your diet lean protein sources and complex carbohydrates, such as rice, whole-grain bread, and potatoes. These fiber rich foods help ensure a clean gastrointestinal tract, which is especially important in the management of acne. Eat three healthy meals daily to provide important nutrients and to decrease your appetite for sugary or greasy fried foods. Food rich in Vitamin A, like apricots, watermelon, and broccoli, as well as foods like lean beef, nuts, beans and whole grains that are rich in zinc can also be helpful in reducing acne breakouts. It’s also imperative to drink lots of water to help flush the toxins out that contribute to breakouts.

  

  



Superfoods For Great Skin

4 10 2009

   It’s been said we are what we eat, and that sentiment definitely holds true when it comes to our skin. It’s our body’s biggest organ, and it deserves all the nutritional TLC we can give it. So Take a look at what you’ve been feeding yourself, and therefore feeding your skin.

   One the most important components of skin health is Vitamin A, and probably one of the best sources of it is low-fat dairy products. It could be said the health of our skin depends on Vitamin A. Low-fat yogurt is not only high in Vitamin A, but also have an impact on the skin, since it aids in digestion. Other sources of Vitamin A include cod liver oil, sweet potatoes, carrots, leafy vegetables and fortified breakfast cereals.It’s important to also make sure you’re eating foods rich in antioxidants such as blackberries, blueberries, strawberris, and plums. The benefits of those food for healthy skin are plentiful. The antioxidants and other phytochemicals in these fruits can proect the skin cells, so there is less change for damage. This in turn guards against premature aging, and keeps skin looking younger longer. Other fruits and vrgrtables that are high in antioxidants include artichokes, black, red and pinto beans, prunes and pecans.

   Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are essential to your skin. Include salmon, walnuts, canola oil, and flaxseed. EFAs keep cell membranes healthy, and allow nutrients to pass through.

   We also need healthy oils, which contain more than essential fatty acids. Eating good-quality oils helps keep skin lubricated and keeps it looking and feeling healthier overall. Look for oils that are cold pressed, such as olive or extra virgin oil. We only need about two tablespoons a day of healthy oils, so use wisely.

   Selenium plays an important role in the health of skin cells. Turn foods like Whole wheat bread, muffins and cereals, turkey, tuna and brazil nuts for this important nutrient. Recent studies show that if selenium levels are high, even skin damaged by the sun may only suffer minimal, if any damage.

   Choosing the whole grain versions of complex carbohydrates can have a significant effect on insulin levels. Processed and refined sugars can cause inflammation that may ultimately be linked to skin break outs.

   Green tea has anti- inflammatory properties, and it protects the membrane of the cell. It may even help prevent or reduce skin cancer risks.

   Water plays such an important role in your overall health, and it has a profound effect on your skin’s health as well. Well-hydrated skin is healthy, and it has a profound effect on your skin’s health as well. Well-hydrated skin is healthy and young-looking. It also helps move the toxins out of your system so they have less chance to do damage.



Superfoods for Fighting a Bladder Infections

10 09 2009

   Cranberries willhelp to fight off urinary tract infections (UTIs). They reduce the power of certain E. coli bacteria to adhere to and penetrate the walls of the bladder.

   In about half the cases of UTIs, the E, coli responsible have special little hairy tips called P fimbria. The bacteria use their fimbria to attach themselves to the bladder so that they can multiply and cause an infections. That’s where cranberries which contain a group of chemical called proanthocyanidins come in. They bind to the P fimbria of the E and hinder them so they are unable to sticking to the walls of the bladder. As a result, the E coli is flushed out in the urine instead of causing an infection. And because cranberries remove rather than kill the bacteria, there’s less of a chance for the E, coli to became resistant.

   It’s imperative that those who are prone ti UTIs eat cranberries or drink cranberry juice on a daily basis, because once the bacteria are able to adhere to the wall, the infection sets in, and the cranberries can’t help at that point.

  It’s probably best to use cranberry products twice a day if you are prone, as the effects of the cranberries wear off after about 10 hours.

   You should also be diligent about drinking lots of fluids in order to flush the bladder out on a regular basis. Citrus fruits and fresh vegetables high in Vitamin C are also good, as they help boost the body’s immunity and germ fighting abilities. Coffee, tea and other caffeinated beverages should be avoided, as well as alcohol. Be sure to complement your diet with plenty of foods rich in vitamin B, such as fortified cereals, lean proteins, asparagus, almonds and bananas, as they all assist the body in the digestive process and conventing food to energy, which your body will need if it’s working to fend off a UTI.



Nutritional Hope for Schizophrenic People

2 09 2009

   Schizophrenia is a difficult malady, both to diagnose and to treat. It’s defined as any of a group of psychotic disorders usually characterized by withdrawal from reality, illogical patterns of thinking, delusions, and hallucinations, and accompanied in varying degrees by other emotional, behavioral or intellectual disturbances. Recent research suggests that those you suffer from schizophrenic could benefit from incorporating more B3 (niacin), essential faty acids (EFAs) and eating more whole grain carbonhydrates to help level out sugars levels so that bouts with hypoglycemia are lessoned.

      Food sources high in niacin include light meat chicken, tuna, salmon, turkey, enriched flour, peanuts, and fortified cereals. Niacin is an important player in the digestion process, and it’ aids in converting food into energy. Therefore, it also plays a role in the essential fatty acid metabolism of the brain, processes of which are disrupted in schizophrenia.

   Because these processes are disrupted in the brain, it’s imperative that essential fatty acids are a base in the diet of a schizophrenic people. Since they can’t be synthesized by the body, they must be obtained from food. Look to fish, shellfish, f;axseed, pumpkin seeds, dark leafy vegetables and walnuts for EFAs. Essential fatty acids play a part in many metabolic processes, and there is evidence to suggest that low levels of essential fatty acids or the wrong balance of type’s among the essential fatty acids, may be a factor in a number of illnesses, including schizophrenia.

   Some schizophrenic people also suffer from hypoglycemia which can be greatly helped by choosing healthy, whole grains carbohydrates such as whole grain bread and pastas, as they help the body maintain a steady blood glucose level. Other research shows that some schizophrenic people suffer from food allergies that greatly affect their thinking and behavior. For this reason, keeping a detailed food journal and paying close attention to moods and thinking patterns after eating is imperative.

   Research has also shown that some schizophrenic people suffer from high levels of copper, an essential metallic element that can adversely affect the brain in high doses. Vitamin B6, found in bananas, turkey and spinach, as well as zinc, found in red meats, peanuts, chickpeas and almonds, can help remove excess copper from the body