Articles for Better Health


10 Ways that Sugar Can Harm Your Health


Are you still eating sugar?  The average American consumes 2-3 pounds of sugar each week!  It’s hard to believe but sugar comes in so many forms and is hidden in almost all processed foods. There is table sugar (sucrose), corn sugar (dextrose), and high-fructose corn syrup that is tucked into bread, cereal, mayonnaise, peanut butter, spaghetti sauce, ketchup, and most packaged and canned foods.  

Honey is a natural sugar and is included in my natural food cookbook.  However, honey has the highest calorie content of all sugars and the increased calories are bound to cause weight gain.

In 1992 I quit eating sugar. Although honey is a natural sugar, I also stopped eating it. Sugar has no nutritional value and actually can harm your body.  Here are just 10 ways, out of a multitude, that sugar can harm your health. 

1.  Sugar can increase fasting levels of glucose and can cause reactive hypoglycemia. (Dufty, William. Sugar Blues. (New York: Warner Books, 1975) This was my health problem!

2.  Sugar can weaken your eyesight. (Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica. March 2002;48;25. Taub, H. Ed. SugarWeakens Eyesight, VM Newsletter; May 1986;06;00)

3.  Sugar can lead to premature aging.  (Lee, A. T. and Cerami A. The Role of Glycation in Aging. Annals of the New york Academy of Science. 1992;663:63-70.)

4.  Sugar contributes to obesity.  (Keen, H.,et al.  Nutrient Intake, Adiposity, and Eiabetes.  British Medical Journal. 1989; 1:00 655_658.

5.  Sugar can cause varicose veins.  (Cleve, T. and Campbell, G. Bristol, England: Diabetes, Coronary Thrombosis and the Saccharine Disease: John Wright and Sons, 1960)

6.  Sugar can lower you Vitamin E levels.  (Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.  Aug. 2000)

7.  Sugar can interfere with absorption of protein.  (Simmons, J. Is The Sand of Time Sugar?  Longevity. June 1990:00:00 49_53)

8.  Sugar can cause food allergies.  (Appleton, N. New York: Lick The Sugar Habit. Avery Putnam: 1988.allergies)

9.  Sugar can damage your pancreas.  (Goulart, F.S. Are You Sugar Smart?  American Fitness. March_April 1991:00:0034_38. Milwaukee, WI)

10. Sugar can cause headaches and migraines.  (Grand, E. Food Allergies and Migraine.  Lancet. 1979:1:955_959.)


You’re probably wondering how you can possibly avoid sugar.  It’s easy… dump the sugar and exclude all processed foods from your diet. Read the labels carefully and eat only natural foods.
by Rebecca Passmore-Kwarciak



Are we eating the right food for a healthy immune system?

 

There was a time when the experts in the medical science field worried about influenza. Today the focus seems to have shifted to ‘afflulenza’. Lifestyle diseases, more than anything else, are snuffing out lives and shortening productive years of the population.

The mantra seems to be to get rich, buy cars, get houses and get meals out. When we chase such a lifestyle what we get in return is appalling. We get obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory problems and cancer. We fail to appreciate that despite the progress in medical science, there are sure cures for a very small number of ailments.

On top of it, there is an extraordinary level of reliance on the antibiotic alternative as patients and doctors are in a hurry to earn the next buck, which does not make things any better. Herbal antibiotics , on the other hand, treats ailments and boosts the body’s responses to illness.

Besides the visible physical problems, a prolonged illness can wreck mental health and can also affect immune system health negatively. It can hinder the body’s capacities to self-heal. Immune system is a relatively new area of study for the medical experts and not much is known about the mechanisms of its dysfunction.

However, it has been established that certain factors that there are certain factors that affect immune system health. The way we eat and what we eat is one of them.

The immune system, which is primarily responsible for recognizing foreign substances like bacteria and toxins must be in proper shape to perform its function of destroying such foreign material. A weakened immune system is an invitation to disease in two ways.

It is incapable of fighting infections and you are therefore susceptible to contracting diseases more often. The immune system also looses its capacity to recognize foreign invasions and starts destroying the body’s own normal cells, which causes autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes.

Food has been the most prominent of all causalities behind the gradual decline of traditional family patterns and eating practices. We may be eating more calories but we are obtaining them from poor sources, eating fat of inferior quality (trans-fats), more sugar, refined carbohydrates, more meat, chemicals and preservatives. This type of diet can adversely affect the body’s self-healing capacity.

Instead of the multi vitamins and dietary supplements that you may choose to add on to your food, opt to eat certain foods that help your immune system. Vitamin C in combination with magnesium and calcium resists infections. For people who have problems of heartburn, citrus fruits may not be advisable as they are highly acidic in nature.

Crabmeat, lobsters and oysters are rich in all three nutrients - calcium, magnesium and Vitamin C. Salmon is rich in a lot of minerals and vitamins along with a substantial quantity of Omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids are good for arthritis and heart disease and also aid immune system functioning. Other healthy sources of Vitamin C are broccoli, tomatoes, peaches and guava.

Selenium is a trace mineral that is essential for immune system health, which you will not find in multi-vitamin supplements. Chicken and broccoli are healthy sources of selenium. Different types of edible mushrooms increase the production of white blood cells, which are essential for effectively combating disease.

A case also exists for the use of herbs for immune system. These are herbs that our ancestors used, to maintain health and vitality. These herbs are still an integral part of traditional therapies and the mainstay of homoeopathy

Article courtesy of Native Remedies.  To check out their site Click Here


Fast, healthy weight loss is actually slow

 

Those having a vested interest in selling products for weight loss solutions tend to conceal the fact that there is no way of losing weight quickly. Reducing weight is a slow process and that is the way it is meant to be. Remember that you did not put on all the flab in a day and therefore, there is no way that you will lose it immediately. Excess weight cannot be wished away. It requires a concerted effort towards eating right and exercise.

If you are looking for a natural weight loss solution and wish to avoid weight loss medications, you should pay attention to the following.

Water

Water is a natural appetite suppressant and keeps the body hydrated. Dehydration often gives rise to false signs of hunger. Moreover, water acts as a catalyst in the metabolism of stored fat so that the kidneys can process waste easily. If you do not drink water in sufficient quantity, the liver, starts helping the kidney in the elimination process instead of metabolizing fat. This diversion of a dedicated role of the liver stops the natural conversion of fat into energy, leading to accumulation of fat and lethargy. Additionally, drinking ice cold water, results in lowering the body temperature. The body has to work towards raising the body temperature, which results in burning more calories.

Breakfast and Lunch

Breakfast should be the most important meal of the day. Burning all the calories that you have consumed during breakfast is easy since you have a long day ahead of you, with specific tasks to perform. Lunch is also relatively early in the day and therefore can be a sizeable meal that you consume. But make sure that in this meal you keep a track of the calories you consume. Breakfast and lunch should be directly dependent upon the level of activity you indulge in at your job.

Fiber, Fats, Proteins and Carbohydrates

Insoluble fiber cannot be digested by the body and simply passes through the body. Fiber not only satiates but also provides the much needed bulk for easy bowel movements. Eat enough of fruits, broccoli, brown rice, beans and nuts to add adequate amounts of fiber to your diet.

Not all fats are bad for health. Good fats contain fatty acids, which actually help in burning fat and in preventing disease. Salmon, mackerel, herrings and sardines are excellent sources of fatty acids.
Similarly carbohydrates are good and bad too. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains give a feeling of fullness and also contain very moderate quantities of carbohydrates.

Proteins rich foods like shrimps, low fat cottage cheese, yoghurt and skimmed milk provide the much needed muscle mass and also help in burning more calories.

While choosing your foods try to stick to organic foods, as much as you can, rather than processed or fast foods. Organic herbs like ginger, garlic and ginseng form a part of herbal weight loss regime that can be effective in reducing weight naturally.

The emphasis should be on eating regularly but in small quantities. In as far as weight loss is concerned fast actually means slow because ‘quick and dirty’ weight loss will rebound.

Article courtesy of Native Remedies.  To check out their site Click Here


Natural Treatments For Anxiety - What Are My Options?

 

Anxiety attacks are manifested both mentally and physically. Thus, any natural treatments for anxiety have to take the needs of both the mind and body into account. Though you might be tempted to take prescription medications, you may want to look into alternative treatments.

If you are willing to spend some time and effort in treating your anxiety problem, the following anxiety relief tips can lead you in the right direction:

You Are What You Eat

Food has the ability to heal as well as nourish the body
� but natural treatments for anxiety don't include junk food! If you are suffering from anxiety attacks, you need to pay special attention to what you eat and avoid any items that are high in sugar, as they can lead to hyperactivity of the mind and body.

Many dieticians recommend limited intake of tea and coffee, which are part of a high-stress lifestyle. Stimulants should be avoided and this includes alcohol and chocolates as well!

Natural Treatments For Anxiety Include Exercise!

Sometimes anxiety attacks can happen when a person has worries about their health and overall fitness. The first thing to do to tackle this type anxiety is to start working towards good health. You can choose simple exercises such as walking on a regular basis or visiting a gym to get a personal trainer put together a program for you.

Taking up a sport is even better, as it provides you with a structured fitness program. A few days of regular exercise go a long way towards reducing your stress and anxiety levels.

Going Back In History
�Picking Up From Ancient Herbs

People in ancient civilizations seem to have a better understanding of how to cater to the well-being of their bodies and mind than we do.

Chinese and Indian traditions have some excellent natural treatments for anxiety which are prepared with the help of natural herbs, which can significantly reduce anxiety levels.

Aromatherapy, which has become a buzzword in natural remedy circles, has been around for centuries. Though the above anxiety relief tips sound simple, they take a good amount of will power to execute.

You can also include a multi-vitamin in your diet, which give you an extra boost of energy and help your body fight anxiety attacks.

Article courtesy of Native Remedies.  To check out their site Click Here



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