Archive for the 'Nutrition' Category

Alcohol and Cigarettes Facts

Published on November 26, 2009 in Nutrition. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

alcohol_and_cigarettesMost adults would define cigarettes and alcohol as drugs. Fitness, physical health, mental health and long-term health all suffer as a result of medium- or heavy- drinking. Alcohol is also classified as a food because it contains calories. Cigarettes & Alcohol” is a song by British rock band Oasis, written by Noel Gallagher.

Alcohol and cigarettes account for 0. 9% of money spent on international trade. Adult men seem to be smoking less, women and teenagers of both male and female seem to be smoking more. Drinking modest, sensible amounts of alcohol, however, can be good for you. Smoking is responsible for nearly 1 in 5 deaths in the United States.

The average drink has about the same calorie count as a large potato but, unlike a potato or any other food, alcohol has no nutritional value. Many of the social effects of alcohol are psychological and cultural. Smoking causes cancer and increases the rate of ageing, by damaging the DNA inside cells. Continue reading ‘Alcohol and Cigarettes Facts’

Learn To Eat Healthy And Nutritious Food Outside

Published on November 26, 2009 in Nutrition. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

With the world growing at a faster rate and as per our busy schedule, it is not surprising that eating out has become a part of our life and is a very common occurrence or rather we are bound to eat outside. Eating out is a nice treat once in a while or a convenient option when you don’t have time to cook a meal.

But, if you have to regularly consume food from outside, you should be very cautious about the nutritional value of the food. Here are some tips for making your restaurant meals as diet friendly as possible.

  • Most fast food restaurants and restaurant chains post nutritional information about their food offerings on their web sites, check them out.
  • Keep it small. Portion sizes at fast food counters and restaurants are usually bigger than what you would normally eat at home. Share a large meal with a friend, or ask to take leftovers home.
  • Pick nutrition over value, order foods that have been steamed, baked, broiled, grilled, stir-fried or roasted. The hidden fat and calories add up quickly when food is fried, deep-fried, breaded or served with rich sauces and gravies.
  • If you ask for sauces and dressings on the side, you can control the amount that you eat. Often you can use less than is normally used and still enjoy the same taste.
  • Order much of vegetables and food rich in fiber- content.
  • Many of the restaurants have nutritional value menu, ask for it and make a smart choice accordingly.
  • When choosing, be aware of highly caloric additions such as salad dressings, cheese, sour cream, etc. Sometimes, making your choice healthier is as simple as removing the condiments.
  • Drink water, low-fat milk or 100% fruit juice instead of soda pop. If you drink alcohol, limit it to one or two drinks.
  • Remember that healthy eating is about balance and enjoying your food. If you happened to overindulge at a meal, then plan on choosing some healthier choices over the next few days.

However, eating the home cooked food is beyond comparison how much so ever health consciousness is adapted. But, owing to the nature and timing of our work, we cannot help it. And thus the only way out is to be aware of the nutritious value of the food and avoid consuming food with high calorific or fat intakes for which you must have some knowledge in order to make a choice.

Alcohol Addiction and Rehabilitation Explained

Published on November 26, 2009 in Nutrition. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Who needs alcohol rehab?

Alcohol rehab is the not discussed as much in the public domain as drug rehab, with stories most weeks in the press about celebrities going in to residential rehabilitation centres for drug addiction. Whilst drugs and drug rehab are discussed widely, it is in fact alcohol that is the much bigger killer. For every drug-related death, there are 10 people who die from alcohol-related illnesses, sudden death or accidents. Alcohol rehab in a residential environment is an intensive treatment method, which can stop the inevitable decline of the alcoholic towards a premature death. Whilst in alcohol rehab, other addictions are often uncovered as well and can be very successfully treated. In short, anyone with a dependence upon alcohol can benefit from alcohol rehab – you don’t have to lose everything before benefiting from specialist treatment for alcoholism.

What happens in alcohol rehab?

Alcohol rehab clinics are very often residential programmes, where the individual stays in accommodation in or around the treatment facility. They provide addiction counselling to help dependent drinkers overcome their illness. The initial phase of treatment within an alcohol rehab is typically very intensive, running 7 days a week, with group and individual counselling, complementary therapies such as art, drama, and music, as well as social activities to help people learn how to interact with others without the need for alcohol.

Do alcohol rehab centres deal with other addictions?

The intensive nature of the treatment at an alcohol rehab will very often uncover underlying addictions. Once the individual has been detoxed from alcohol, other addictive behaviours may spring up – this is called cross-addiction, which is where the individual will become addicted to another substance or behaviour, when they stop drinking alcohol. Cross-addiction can be carefully monitored and managed within an alcohol rehababiliation clinic, with the individual who is affected learning about how to manage their condition. The most common legal behaviours and substances which alcoholics can cross addict to are:

Food / sugar

Either overeating or undereating can create a mood-altering effect. Alcoholism can mean that individuals are malnourished when they enter an alcohol rehab, so individuals are encouraged to eat three, well-balanced meals a day to restore nutritional balance to the body and promote mental and physical well-being naturally.

Nicotine

Where drugs kill one person and alcohol kills 10, cigarette smoking causes 100 deaths. It is by far the biggest killer in terms of addiction. People who stop drinking alcohol often report that in the early days of recovery they smoke more cigarettes, or even start smoking. This can be managed in the short term with good advice about smoking, and in the longer term by quitting altogether, once the alcoholism has been treated effectively by the alcohol rehab.

Prescription drugs

Most alcohol rehab centres will insist upon full monitoring of all drug ingestion, as some prescription and over the counter medications can be abused for a mood-altering effect. Codeine-based medications and benzodiazepines such as valium are commonly abused.

Caffeine

Some alcoholics report drinking 15 to 20 cups of coffee a day when they try to stop drinking. This can be dangerous for some alcoholics in the long term, as it can be used in a similar way to other drugs to mask feelings. When combined with sugar, the mood-altering effect is increased, so drinking caffeine-based energy drinks needs to be monitored carefully.

Sex, love and co-dependent relationships

This is a very common underlying addiction, often uncovered whilst the person is being treated in an alcohol rehab. This is where relationships are used in a mood-altering capacity. Sex is sought out to feel high and for personal validation. Love becomes addictive yet very unsatisfying just like alcohol or drugs. Co-dependent individuals take on other people’s feelings and emotions way beyond healthy boundaries and often expect to be taken care of, or conversely, try to avoid their own emotions and life situations by helping others compulsively and obsessively.

Exercise

The mood-altering effects of exercise, particularly in terms of endorphin production, can become addictive. However, moderate physical exercise is recommended, for its well-documented health benefits.

Work

Whilst in a residential alcohol rehab, individuals will not be working at their usual profession or place of employment. It is not unusual, however, for individuals to be preoccupied with matters relating to work, again as a method of avoiding having to think about their emotions. Successful treatment depends on the individual learning how to manage their emotions effectively, without the need for a mood-altering substance or behaviour, so very often alcohol rehab centres will place a ban in the first few weeks on mobile telephones, internet access, email devices, and other means of making contact with the outside world, so that people can completely concentrate on their recovery.

Overspending

Spending money recklessly, with little or no thought for budgeting, can be a very addictive behaviour. The associated high with buying something new is a similar mental process to the effect of taking the first drink. The down side is often feelings of guilt or shame for indulging in this behaviour, particularly when essential bills are not being paid as a result of spending too much. It is important that this behaviour is stabilised so as not to extend the chaotic lifestyle of the person beyond treatment

Drink The Wonderful Whey Protein Drinks

Published on November 26, 2009 in Nutrition. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Whey protein has been proven through scientific research to be very beneficial in keeping the body healthy and resistant to disease causing pathogens. Health conscious individuals besides keeping a healthy lifestyle, seek food supplements to meet their daily nutritional requirements of proteins, vitamins and minerals. These food supplements are in the form of tablets and concentrates. Whey protein shakes are very popular in the market. These products provide an individual with the essential amino acids that serve as building blocks of protein used by the muscles to gain mass. Whey protein shakes are formulated by food supplement manufacturers to meet the increasing demands in the market. They come in a variety of flavors such as vanilla, chocolate and strawberry to suit the different tastes of individuals. Besides adults, especially athletes, whey protein shakes are very appealing to children and may be given as healthy snacks. Whey protein shakes are also available as lactose free, calorie free and fat free products. These specialized products are for individuals who are intolerant to lactose, for those who are planning to reduce weight or at an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. The powder used in creating whey protein shakes is also suitable for cooking and baking. People who get tired of the usual preparation try out different recipes that incorporate whey protein powder. This breaks the monotony of drinking the same stuff everyday. The regular intake of whey protein shakes offers a lot of health benefits such as rapid recovery from diseases and fast wound healing. Whey protein boosts the body’s energy level and strengthens the immune system. It also regulates metabolism and reduces food cravings during weight reduction. However, there are some food supplement manufacturers that focus more on the taste of their products than on the nutritional value. People who find these shakes very delightful are actually loading their body with more harmful sugars. In choosing which product to buy, one should always take time to read labels and evaluate its composition. Be constantly informed through nutritionists and other health experts on what is useful to your body instead of being misled by elaborate advertisements and marketing strategies. Close friends and relatives who are also health enthusiasts may advise you of good products that are not only effective but are also kind to your budget. In case of existing medical conditions, consult with your physicians when taking food supplements as these may interact with your current prescription. Finally, keep in mind that being healthy not only means eating the right food but also having regular exercise and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Avoid hazardous habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol and always free yourself from unnecessary stress that may weaken your immune system.

Take Care Of Your Body And Avoid Alcohol

Published on November 25, 2009 in Nutrition. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , .

Alcohol is the universal drink whenever celebrations or get together comes. Although it is considered as a kind of chemical that has a formidable effect on the body and it is not labeled as food. There are several kinds of alcohol. There is alcohol that people use externally and another that the body use internally. Drinkable alcohol is ethyl alcohol. Fermentation is the process that is used to make the alcohol that people drink. Even though alcohol is widely drank by almost everyone, there are several health considerations on what alcohol can do to our body. How does alcohol affect the body? – If a person drank only a small amount of alcohol, it can make him feel relaxed. – If a person drank more than what is expected, there may have certain alterations with the person’s attitude and behavior. The person can do silly or violent things and their movements become uncoordinated. Truth is, when a person drinks alcohol, no matter how much the intake is, the only thing that is affected is that person’s balance and coordination. That’s it. It doesn’t affect the way people think and speak. When alcohol goes into a person’s bloodstream, it slows down whatever messages that are coming into the brain because alcohol is a depressant drug. That’s why when you feel depressed and you drink alcohol, you will feel more depressed. Alcohol affects the liver badly. Especially if you made alcohol drinking as part of your everyday living. When it goes to the system, it will take the liver about 24-48 hours to excrete every single alcohol inside the body. When the liver can no longer clean the alcohol, it stays on the liver, thus diseases like liver cirrhosis are produced. There are several factors that can influence a person to drink alcohol: – Peer pressure. If you’ve chosen a group of friends that drinks alcohol severely, it will seem that you’re out of place if you didn’t try even a sip. As long as you are within the group, you’ll start to enjoy the taste of alcohol and want more. – Socialization. Gathering and celebrations always entail alcohol drinking. It is very seldom that you encounter a party without alcohol. – Curiosity. Kids often get curious with the way adults drink alcohol. When they see their parents drinking, they will ask themselves a lot of things. And because the environment of laughter and cheers are very inviting, there will come a time when they will take the opportunity of trying too. – Depression. Your boss hates you. Your girlfriend dumped you. You’re completely broke. When you arrive home, there, you see the three bottles of beer sitting on top of your fridge. You grab it and start wondering how your life can end at the very moment. During sadness and melancholy times, a bottle of beer is your only best friend. Drinking alcohol can have its benefits and downfalls. It can greatly affect a person’s entire being and the way he deals with other people. One very good benefit of alcohol is that it can dilate blood vessels with the prescribed amount by the doctor. Thus, increasing the amount of blood that flows around the body which is good for the heart. Realizing all the good and bad factors alcohol bring, it would be safe to say that if you can’t avoid it totally, then for your personal health care, drink moderately.

Nutritional Supplements: Yes or No?

Published on November 25, 2009 in Nutrition. 0 Comments Tags: , .

Nutritional Supplements are a mainstream product in the health and wellness marketplace.   We would like to explore the idea of whether or not they good or bad; and, are they necessary or un-necessary?

 

To stay healthy, the body requires a good mix of antioxidants, vitamins, bioflavonoids, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, essential fatty acids and other supplementation.   Our eating habits can provide many of those Nutritional Supplements but it is virtually impossible to obtain all of them from our daily routine diets.   Because one feels relatively good does not mean they are healthy.   Many illnesses like cancers are present before any visible symptoms appear.   Preventing illness is always better than having treatments and waiting for a cure.

 

There are essential nutrients composed of vitamins and minerals necessary to sustain life or if you go just a little bit farther they will make you feel really fine; even healthy with a zest for life.   Proper eating can provide you vitamins and minerals along with the other nutrients but these can be less than sufficient for a truly healthy life.   However, unhealthy eating or junk foods can cause diseases or a just plain unhealthful feeling, knowing something is wrong but not knowing what it is.   This is one of the reasons why we take Nutritional Supplements, to enhance what our normal eating regimen does not provide.

 

Healthy eating includes avoiding an unbalanced diet and the over-utilization of refined carbohydrates, salt, coffee, alcohol and saturated fats, all of which are largely responsible for a number of serious diseases, including, but not limited to, cardio-vascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer.   One thing to understand and be aware of is the fact that the human body contracts diseases not because it doesn’t have the corresponding drug in the system but from a long period of malnutrition.   Decades of a lack of essential nutrients results in the breakdown of the immune system.   Most people aren’t aware that we have cancer cells circulating our bodies our whole lives but we also produce Natural Killer (NK) cells that destroy them.   When the immune system is weakened its capacity to produce NK cells is less effective and cancer cells can overtake ones health.

 

Due to our normal eating regimen, food quality and other environmental factors in our society, nutritional deficiency is a reality that is difficult to avoid. Therefore, taking Nutritional Supplements is absolutely necessary.   Our body’s needs for Nutritional Supplements is directly associated with one’s current lifestyle, their age, their sex, their current health conditions and the degree of their physical activity.  

 

Since the revolution of Fast Foods, our eating habits have changed to become low in nutritional foods and extremely high in convenience foods and unhealthy fats.   Fresh and /or organic foods are always preferable but expensive and not always easy to obtain in this day and age.   Furthermore, modern processed foods are loaded with sugars and fats and even vegetables and fruits have become of a lower quality the past number of years.   Such diminished levels of vitamins and minerals must be enhanced through the use of quality Multivitamin/Multimineral.   Dealing with the incidence of stress and pollution, which can and will lead to a variety of preventable health problems, along with the weakening of our immune system, can all be minimized or overcome with the use of multivitamins and multiminerals.

 

From a fresh foods standpoint organic products and natural foods are generally the better choice when shopping because they have so many essential nutrients that are not always found in the other supermarket products.   Some of the sources of proteins are fishes, meats, dairy foods, nuts.   On the other hand, carbohydrates are found in vegetables, fruits, grains, seeds (preferably sprouted seeds) and other food products.   For fats it is preferable to use virgin olive oil or flax seed oil.    Since we see that it is not easy to get all of the essential nutrients from a daily diet, supplementing those nutrients is necessary.   In summary we know now that Nutritional Supplements are absolutely essential to balance one’s diet in today’s world, primarily in the west where natural foods are no longer the norm.

 

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