updated health tips and articles

Showing posts with label diet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label diet. Show all posts

1/04/2012

Beware of Constipation Problems

Perhaps many people do not realize that among so many health problems experienced by humans, mostly initiated from an unhealthy digestive system, and constipation as a symptom is one cause of many serious diseases that we may have.

Why constipation can be a gateway for more serious health problems? This is because we naturally absorb everything that goes into the digestive system. If our digestive system is filled with waste our body will absorb it and consequently keep the heart, lungs, blood, skin, intestines and kidneys to work harder in an attempt to remove toxins from our body. Therefore we need eat healthy food, or choose the food that make us stay young and healthy.
Common symptoms understood in the natural healing of constipation are ones in which the stool becomes dry and hard in our digestive system. However, keep in mind that each person has a different metabolic pattern that their frequency of bowel movements were different too.

The experts tell us that a healthy digestive system absorbs food and nutrition normally and dispose of waste about 12 hours later. If waste of food remain in the digestive systems of more than 18 hours, toxins can accumulate in the blood stream and this can cause a variety of other health issues with other painful symptoms, too.

In principle, the natural healing maintains that the disease is an imbalance condition, so that healing is obtained if we return to balance; you can seek other infos about how balanced living is equal to healthy life. If we are constipated we need to do some things to bring our bodies back into a balanced and healthy state.

1) Drink plenty of water. Add the amount of water to your diet habits every day. These actions will help your digestive system do a lighter rehydration.

2) Get regular exercise. Active lifestyle will enhance the circulatory system and help us make a good elimination. you dont' need to think about costly fitness device. Just walk free to your office!

3) Do not forget to eat fibrous foods in addition to the daily meal.

4) Our digestive system also requires lubrication as the engine of our vehicle. Consume Essential Fatty Acids like Fish Oil and the like. Beside no side effects, you'll get a variety of benefits from it. Elimination will felt lighter and more relieved.

However it is better if we prevent the occurrence of constipation, and if it happens once, make sure to do the easy natural therapy as above and if not resolved, go to the reliable natural therapist who can suggest better ways and how to overcome your constipation problems with proper digestion prescription.

12/07/2008

When Shall I Eat?

Where would food be considered in the matter of maintaining good health? Yup, everyone knows food is an important factor. Not only when we eat, but what we eat, and how much of each kind of food is taken into the body are the key questions.

Almost everyone enjoys eating. After working hard or having exercise, we are often hungry. The simple fact is that hunger is a signal that our bodies use to tell us to look after definite need. The signals make us feel uncomfortable and we seek to change conditions so that we may feel satisfaction. We need respond the signals in ways that bring not only comfort but desirable results.

Hunger is a sensation which occurs when muscles in the stomach are contracting and there isn't any food to keep the walls of the stomach from touching. Of course, it does not tell us what kinds of food are needed.

On the other hand, appetite is created by tastes, odors, colors, and appearance of specific foods that we like. Appetite for the taste of a food sometimes leads us to eat so much of one kind that we neglect another which our body needs. Unless we learn which foods are necessary, then appetite alone may become poor guide for us.

Scientifical resources inform us the effects of foods on human health and the kind of diet that gives the best results. In fact, not all people have the same food supply or money to purchase food. Nor do they have the same likings or family customs. There is a minimum amount all foods without which life cannot be sustained, as there is also an optimal amount which promotes our feeling of well-being and health.

In this changing world, we are facing more choices than ever. We need have some information and be able to choose the right food, the healthy food. What kinds of food do we need everyday in order to maintain good condition? Shall I have junk food or organic one for my lunch, canned vegetables or the fresh one for my dinner?

11/13/2008

How to Choose Fresh Fruit


Eating the proper amounts and the right kinds of fruits is important to healthy living. Nutritionists recommend eating a minimum of five one cup servings of each per day. To make sure you select healthy fruits and avoid that of questionable quality, here are a few basic tips in your selection.

Though seems so simple, buying fruit can be complex. That's why if you look closely at most any grocery store produce section you'll notice people squeezing, sniffing and examining their fruit very carefully.

The first rule to know is that the fresher the produce the better the quality. The best place to find the freshest and best selection of produce is at farmer's markets. Most farmers harvest their produce the day before or the day of the market. They also usually use minimal pesticides. This fact in itself provides you with better health while protecting the environment.

If you are not fortunate enough to have access to a farmer's market, just go to the grocery store and take care to pick only the healthiest produce. You need to use this grocery store produce within a few days. Try to locate a grocery store that has frequent deliveries of produce. Avoid grocery stores that have an extremely cold produce section. This makes it hard to check the texture and scent of produce. Convenience and corner stores more often than not have produce of poor quality due to the fact that it is not delivered fresh daily or it is not properly stored. Here is some of those fruits.

Bananas. Unlike most other fruits, bananas develop their best eating quality after they are harvested. This allows bananas to be transported great distances. Bananas are sensitive to cool temperatures and will be injured in temperatures below 55 F. For this reason, they should never be kept in the freezer. The ideal temperature for ripening bananas is between 60 and 70 F. Higher temperatures cause them to ripen too quickly.

Look for bananas which are firm, bright, and free from bruises or other injury. The state of ripeness is indicated by skin color. Best eating quality has been gained when the solid yellow color is specked with brown. At this time, the flesh is mellow and the flavor is fully developed. Bananas with green tips or with no yellow color have not developed their full flavor potential. Avoid bruised fruit (indicating rapid deterioration and waste); discolored skins (a sign of decay); a dull, grayish, aged appearance (showing that the bananas have been exposed to cold and will not ripen properly).

Oranges: When looking for a ripe orange, don't worry about color. Oranges with green or brown patches can be just as ripe (and some very orange oranges are even injected with food coloring to get that bright color). For the best flavor, seek for a firm, heavy orange with a thin, smooth skin.

The freshness of a bunch of grapes can be seen in the stem. If the stem is still green all the way to the grapes then their harvest was recent. A bunch with dried stems and soft, wrinkled or leaking grapes is decaying. Grapes do not ripen after harvest and should be served or freezed in an open container.

Cantaloupe: Be choosy when picking a cantaloupe because they're often picked while still unripe so they're not crushed during transportation. You can spot an unripe cantaloupe by its green tones. Instead, look for a cream-colored cantaloupe (with no green patches) that has a little soft end (the end opposite the stem). Also, give it a sniff and choose one that smells little sweet (but not overly so, which could mean it's too ripe).

Mangoes: Finding a ripe mango can be tricky because they can be yellow, red, green or orange in color. Those that are ready to eat will usually have a yellow hue and should be slightly soft to the touch. Ripe mangoes also have a sweet aroma near the stem end.

Berries should be brightly colored, plump and fragrant. To be sure the batch is good make sure the container hasn’t been stained or damp. Berries should not be handled much and only washed if necessary as that speeds mold. Berries have a very short shelf-life and should be consumed or refrigerated. They are best kept in layers on paper towels, covered by a moist paper towel or in an open paper bag. The smaller the size, the better the flavor.

Apples: A ripe apple will be firm and deeply colored. Apples should smell sweet and have strong, smooth and shiny skin. Apples can be stored in a freezer for some weeks. Depending on the variety, there should also be a slight rosy tone (such as with yellow and green apples). If you want to find apples with better flavor, buy them during apple season, which spans from late summer to early winter.

Papaya: Papayas with a red-orange skin are ripe and ready to eat. Those with yellow patches are still good, but will take a few days to ripen. Avoid papayas that are green or very hard, as they're not fully ripe and won't have a sweet flavor. May this information useful.


11/11/2008

Carrot Juice

Popeye the sailor eat spinach. Bugs Bunny eat carrot, and he played good performance too. But we don’t have to be bunny to get health benefits from this nice root . Most of us have heard that eating carrot will improve our health.

There are some facts on carrot. It contains rich beta-carotene, which help our body create vitamin A supply. And this easily absorbed by our body. You may know that vitamin A helps maintain healthy vision (especially night vision). Carrot may help prevent cataracts and increase the immune system too. They reduce the risk of some types of cancer, function as natural solvent for any ulcer. They keep your bone and teeth structure in strong condition. Carrot taste sweet too.

Instead of buying the bottled one, it would be better to make your own raw carrot juice. No preservative, no strange additives. Making your own raw carrot juice will make it feel that the gift is presented fresh from the nature.

If you experience some skin 'discoloration' after drinking such juice, be sure, it is not a bad news. Such phenomenon is indicating that your body is getting cleansing from within.

When preparing carrot juice, try to buy organic grown carrots. Remember, carrot skin and its surfaces are containing valuable nutrition, so you don’t have to peel it.

If the taste is not much acceptable, you can blend it with other fruits and vegetables you like. This is one of the great recipes from The Kiripalu Cookbook: Gourmet Vegetarian Recipes, by Atma Jo Ann Levitt (Berkshire House Publishers).


Carrot, Celery and Apple Juice

Preparation time 10 minutes

Makes 2 cups juice


Ingredients: 5 medium carrots, 3 stalks celery, 3 small apples, cored.

Instruction:Wash all ingredients well, chop and blend.

Drink immediately the juice as it is still in fresh and best condition ;)

11/07/2008

Counting Calories

Sometimes we try to count calories we take in our daily meals. Of course it is possible to count them by measuring this or that food. We can take a look at calories listed in book or manuals. While it is no possible to list all foods, you surely are able to find ones similar to those that you use.

Just estimate the energy value of everything that you have eaten during the last two days. Be sure that you include between-meal snacks, a treat atau the soda fountain, the cream and sugar you may have put in some coffee, the gravy on you potato, the jelly on your toast, and other seemingly small additions to the diet.

The sum of all these calories is an estimate of the energy value of your meals. It tells nothing about the building properties or other health provisions in food. Estimation of calories is limited in value, principally, for controlling or maintaing weight. After we understands which foods have high energy value and which have low, it is possible to select meals with this factor in mind. Then it becomes more practical to check our weight than to count calories.

11/01/2008

Make Your Own Herb Tea

You can make wonderful refreshing cup of herb tea. It can be done by using single herbs or herbs and spices in combination. Herb combinations can be found loose or in sachets in many retailing strore, especially in health-food stores. It tastes delicious, and you can choose what fit you. Some of the most yummy single teas include:

  • Peppermint. Good for settling an upset stomach

  • Lemon verbena or lemon grass. Both good tonics for your refreshment

  • Chamomile. Calms the tense nerves

  • Goldenrod (solidago). A good diuretic for those who retain water

  • Lime blossom or passionflower. Great for relaxing you


So what trick to making good cups of herb tea? First, find several herbs or herb combinations that you enjoy. Then, add one or several of the following things:

  • a teaspoon or so of lightly scented clear honey such as acacia or clover

  • a squeeze of lemon juice or a slice of lemon

  • a drop of goat’s milk or skim milk (especially nice with spicy teas)

  • a dash of powdered cinnamon bark stick

You can try making a strong pot of your favorite tea, and then add a sliced peach to it. Sweeten with honey, then chill for a couple of hours in the fridge, and drink iced.

10/07/2008

ADHD and Additives in Food


American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently reported that food additives and/or sodium benzoate (commonly used as preservative in soft drinks) may indeed increase hyperactive behavior in children. However, this should not lead parents to think that simply taking these substances out of food will prevent all hyperactive symptoms. Many other influences are at work but this additive at least is one we can avoid.

So if there are particular types of food that affect your child’s behavior, you can try eliminate that food, than see if there is difference for a period. We may think about limiting food with additives and sodium benzoate. After all, your child need healthy and balanced diet. Too restraining diet is not good, however. For the best result, consult with doctor before trying drastic diet.

One thing to note: diet and nutritional changes is one of several options to incorporate into an ADHD treatment strategy. There are other way: medication, coaching, exercises or aerobic, are options that are popular methods prescribed by ADHD therapists. These are the most frequently dispensed remedies, and you can always do things you find best.