Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure…

31 08 2010

   There is world of truth hidden in the old saying prevention is worth a pound of cure. Especially when it applies to type 2 diabetes. Since type 2 diabetes is caused by the body’s improper utilization of insulin available or the improper production of insulin in the body it is not an irreversible condition.

   Unlikely type 1 diabetes where the body is unable to produce any insulin at all and is doomed to be forever diabetic. If you can take a few remedial steps to keep the body producing and utilizing an optimal amount of insulin there is a good chance that you can keep type 2 diabetes at bay for life.

   This is true even for those of you who have greater risk for becoming diabetic. For instance if you have a genetic predisposition to be diabetic, that means that your parents or grandparents have also had diabetes and so you more likely to get the disease. But with proper preventive measure in place you can avoid this.

   That does not mean that if you have no history of the disease you will never develop diabetes. You may do so if you have an unhealthy lifestyle. So it is better to prevent it than to seek a cure later on in life.



Super Foods For Stress

30 08 2010

   Very often when we get stressed we start eating what is called “comfort food”. Such foods are generally high in fats such as ice creams or chocolates. This means that when you get stressed you eat food that makes you fat! Instead wouldn’t it be nice if you could eat something that made you more relaxed and did not make you gain pounds?

   Milk is high in antioxidants and can give a stress fighting start to the day. The proteins, calcium and vitamins B2 and B12 also give you a boost. Dairy product like cottage cheese is also a good way to get proteins without worrying about a blood sugar spike.

   Almonds are a great food to dig into when you feel stressed. The crunching will help you lose some aggression on a physical level and the Vitamin B2, Vitamin E will help solve the stress on a chemical level in the brain. You also get minerals like magnesium and zinc from almonds. Since they are high in fat don’t go overboard eating them.

   Tuna is also high in stress busting vitamins B6 and B12. It is also a good low fat protein source. Just don’t eat it with a dollop of mayonnaise. That would be over kill where fat and blood sugar are concerned.



‘4′ Myths of Diabetes

29 08 2010

Mtyh 1- People who are diagnosed with diabetes are doomed:

   While it is true that you will need to switch to a healthier lifestyle once you are diagnosed with diabetes is it possible to live a healthy and productive live with the disease. Many diabetic persons are international athetes.

Myth 2- There is just one type of diabetes:

   There are three different types of diabetes. Type 1 is also called Juvenile Diabetes. Type 2 is also known as LifeStyle Diabetes and Gestational Diabetes is what pregnant women develop. Gestational diabetes may recede after the birth of the child.

Myth 3- People with diabetes should not exercise:

   Those with diabetes are more likely to hurt themselves with heavy exercise, however light exercise is a must for those with diabetes. In fact going for regular walks is ideal for diabetic person.

Myth 4- People with diabetes have to eat special diet food:

   Those suffering from diabetes do not need to go buy special foods from the supermarket. The regular food is good enough. The trick is in knowing what is healthy and good to eat. For instance picking fresh fruits and vegetables over foods rich in preservatives and sugar.



Super Foods For Erectile Dysfunction

28 08 2010

   Erectile Dysfunction is a private problem which can cause emotional and psychological problems. It can come in the way of your having a satisfying relationship and can scare you for future potential relationship as well.

   This problem can have a whole range of reasons. It can be purely physical such as nerve damage in the penis region. Or maybe reduced blood flow to the penis may cause erectile dysfunction. There is also a chance that it is all in the mind and the symptoms are psychological.

   To solve the problem at a physical levels it is possible to show some improvement when zinc is added to the diet. Zinc is a trace mineral in the body which is needed for the proper functioning of the reproductive system organs.

   Adding zinc-rich foods in your diet such as red meat, fortified cereals, oysters, almonds, peanuts, chickpeas, soy foods and dairy products can actually help the condition. Another reason for poor blood flow is dehydration. That is why it is essential to drink a lot of water each day.

   There may be other reasons such as vascular disease, diabetes, hormone disorders, neurological disorders, radiation therapy, pelvic trauma, surgery or a venous leak which may be causing the problem. So it may be a good idea to visit the doctor and discuss the problem in detail.



Prevent Diabetes With Fitness

27 08 2010

   If you have a higher risk to develop diabetes because you are genetically predisposed to it, you have all the more reason to get proactive about preventing the disease. One of the ways that you can ensure this is by taking care of your fitness levels.

   The better shape you are in physically the less likely you are to get diabetes. It stands to reason because the disease called Diabetes is linked to the metabolic rate of the body. The higher your metabolism the better your body is able to utilize the insulin it produces.

   The more you exercise the higher your metabolic rate becomes. This happen because the more energy you use the more the body has to produce for you. This energy comes from the conversion of blood glucose in the body to energy.

   This means that the body is properly producing insulin. The insulin is helping to digest the blood glucose. The body is getting and using all the energy it can at an optimal level. This is a great deterrent to developing diabetes.

   This is why keeping up with a good fitness regime can prevent diabetes. So if there is one thing that you are going to do to keep diabetes at bay, stay fit.



Simple Foods

26 08 2010

   As a diabetic person you have a primary concern for eating healthy. It is natural to worry about your diet and read labels on cans and packages to see if what you are eating is healthy enough. There is also a tendency to browse the section where special diabetic foods are sold.

   There is really no need to go in for special food as a diabetic. Those suffering from diabetes can eat the same food that normal people can rather than go in for artically processed foods. In fact the simple fruits are the best way to get nutrients into your body.

   Here are a few fruits that a diabetic person can eat and benefit from:

   Strawberries are the best way to get Vitamin C into your body. They are readly available and do not need much consideration to buy.

   Peaches are again rich in minerals and vitamins. Just don’t stew them in sugar syrup before you eat them. Consuming them raw is the best way to go.

   Pomegranate is a rich source of iron. Also if you eat the seeds you will never suffer from constipation. If you do not like to much on the seeds go for juice from the fresh fruit.



‘4′ Myths of Diabetes

25 08 2010

Despite being a disease of such epic proportions there is a lot of misinformation about diabetes in the general public. A number of myths exist about diabetes and here we are about to dispel four of the most prominent ones.

Myth 1- Eating too much sugar causes diabetes;

   Diabetes is caused by insulin deficiency and not by eating too much sugar. although if you are eating too much sugar you will gain weight and that does put you in the higher risk group for developing diabetes later in life.

Myth 2- You can catch diabetes from someone:

   Diabetes is not an infection that you can catch like the common cold. True there is some genetic disposition to get diabetes from your parents but if it not an infectious disease. So don’t worry about sitting next to a diabetic.

Myth 3- Nothing can be done to prevent diabetic complications:

   If you keep your blood sugar levels under control even after being diagnosed with diabetes you can prevent diabetic complications. It all comes down to proper diet and exercise.

Myth 4- Overweight people only get diabetes:

   You do not have to be overweight to get diabetes. Even thin people suffer from diabetes if their pancreas stops producing insulin.



Getting Nutrition From Real Foods

24 08 2010

   It may easy to rip off the seal of a packaged food and eat thinking that you are providing enough calories for your body. Unfortunately the calories that you get from artificially processed food are not nearly as nutritious as the real food that you would eat even if you have diabetes.

   The real food, which you eat fresh or in as unprocesses a form as possible, is far healthier for you as a diabetic. Take the humble apple for instance. It is to be found stewed in cans, candied in sugar, baked in pies and cooked as sauce. Yet it gives you the most minerals and vitamins if you simply bite into it raw.

   This is true of most fruits and vegetables. Consider yet another example. Even if you intend to have orange juice, it is better to make it fresh at home and retain the pulp than to drink it from a tetra pack where it will have added preservatives and oxidized nutrients.

   Not all vegetables can be eaten raw and so some amount of processing is needed for them. Still keep in mind that repeated washing and long cooking times are all draining away the nutritional value of the food that you are cooking. So cook with care and eat with pleasure to get nutrition from real food.

  



Foods To Avoid As A Diabetic

23 08 2010

   There are a few basic types of food that you need to eat and avoid as a diabetic. Since they say there is no real treatment for the diabetes all you can ever done is keep the blood sugar levels under control. This is best done by manipulating your diet.

   Here are the kinds of foods that you need to avoid as a diabetic person:

1. Food high in fat

2. Food high in sugar

3. Food high in salt

4. Food low in fiber

   For examples of such foods take a look at these cake, jelly, jam, ice cream, pastries, doughnuts, cookies, in fact most bakery products would fall under the foods to avoid with diabetes category.

   Other food examples would be aerated drinks which give you 8 spoons of sugar in one glass and no nutrition at all.

   Also try and cut down on nuts, for awhile they have vitamins and healthy fats and fiber they do contribute to weight gain. So avoid hogging on walnuts, pistas, cashew nuts and ground nuts.

   Fruits which are rich in fructose such as Banana, Custard Apple, Dates and Coconut must also be restricted if not totally avoid.

   Mosts meats are also high in calories and fats so try to stick with white meat rather than red meat. Which means you need to avoid Mutton, Pork, Beef, altogether.



Alkaline Body or Acid Body! Diabetes

22 08 2010

   An alkaline body is one where disease cannot feature while an acid body is one which is hospitable to diseases. To develop an alkaline body it naturally follows that you need to eat an alkaline diet. Foods which produce an alkaline effect in the body include fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts, legumes, roots and tubers.

   However one has to remember that acids are also needed in the body. They do have their own role to play. For instance the stomach acids aid in digestion of food. So the key here is to get the alkaline and acid balance in the body right.

   A neutral solution would have a PH of 7. PH is potential of hydrogen and is the measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. Water is a neutral liquid and has a ph 7. It is also the most abundant compound in the human body. This is why we need to ensure that we get enough to drink.

   You can test the acidity or alkalinity of your body by using ph strips. These can be used on your urine or your saliva. It can be done in the privacy of your home and is not intrusive at all. A measure from 6 to 8 is usually found for most of us.