Monthly Archives: July 2010

The Glycemic Index – Basic Facts

Posted by admin on July 10, 2010 No comments

The glycemic index ranks foods on how they affect our blood glucose levels. This index processes how much your blood glucose intensifies in the two or three hours after eating. It equals carbohydrates on a weight for weight basis in particular foods or food items, in the physical state in which they are generally used up. Making a scheme to regulate your blood sugar is particularly important for people who struggle with this such as diabetic and hypoglycemic.

The glycemic index is about foods high in carbohydrates. Foods high in fat or protein don’t cause your blood glucose level to raise much. When you make use of the glycemic index to make fit meals, it helps keep your blood glucose levels under close control. This is specifically significant for people with diabetes, although athletes and people who are overweight also stand to take good advantage in knowing about this comparatively new idea in good nutrition.

Some of the benefits you can get from having a glycemic index are as follows:

• Decreases and lessens the hazard of heart disease
• Further improves the body’s reaction to insulin
• Aids the body in maintaining the ideal body weight
• Preserves the blood cholesterol level in close monitor
• Replenishes the carbohydrate the body had in store following any physical activity
• Intensifies the body’s endurance to strenuous exercises and activities.

Insulin is an important hormone that transforms glucose into energy for the body to use. Having a well-balanced insulin formation enhances the body’s response to insulin. Having a well regulated food index helps you monitor and level down the food you are digesting. If makes you see the amount and volume of calories as well as the sugar intake you are putting in. Some high GI food can be taken in balance to preserve a healthy blood sugar levels. Some of these foods include bananas, potato chips, honey, chocolate bars, watermelon, brown rice, ice cream, white rice, sugar, glucose, cheese, popcorn, and baked potato.

Each person has diverse body chemistry and his or her reaction to the Glycemic Index may fluctuate depending on insulin degree and blood sugar levels. The GI is seen to be effortlessly changed by numerous other factors as well, like the type of food being used up, its manner of planning, the loading medium, its enthusiasm, the protein content and salts in the meals.

For a non-diabetic, treating yourself in high GI foods after a vigorous physical activity is encouraged. After workout the insulin tends to push the glucose into the muscles for repair of tissues. Thus the body has an amplified necessity for carbohydrate rich food. There are various diet plans that can tell you how to lose weight fast. Some work well than others for fast weight loss, some are more stress-free to maintain and follow compared to others, and some are less costly. Find and discover the diet that is right for you, check with your doctor, and take note of his or her consent before taking in the diet.

What is Diabetes – 6 Things You Need to Know

Posted by admin on July 10, 2010 No comments

Food is one of God’s greatest gift to man. Who wouldn’t resist eating that box of delicious, mouth-watering chocolate or munching that big, juicy burger? Eating food is one of the most delightful things to do. But too much of everything is bad. Too much eating can result to diabetes. What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a type of metabolic disease in which an individual has very high blood sugar level. It can either be due to the body not producing enough insulin or the cells no longer respond to the insulin being produced. What is insulin anyway?

Well, insulin is a type of hormone produced in the pancreas that helps convert starch, sugar and carbohydrates into energy. Insulin is important in maintaining and controlling blood sugar levels.
Once the body has excess blood sugar levels, you will most likely experience frequent urination or polyuria. You will also experience being frequently thirsty and hungry most of the time. These symptoms already indicate diabetes.

Diabetes can happen to anyone. People from all size and ages can get this disease. Although studies show that this can be hereditary. People who are obese can also most likely contract this disease. Having a sedentary lifestyle can also contribute to diabetes that is why having an active lifestyle is recommended.

There are three types of diabetes. Here are the following:

1. Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

This type of diabetes is due to the body’s failure to produce insulin. A person with Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus requires insulin to be injected in the body either once or twice in a day. Insulin injections such as NPH insulin or synthetic insulin analog are injection into the bloodstream.

2. Non- Insulin Dependent Diabetes or Adult- Type Diabetes

This is a milder form of diabetes. Almost 80% of diabetics around the world fall under this type. This happens when the body does not effectively respond to insulin. People who became diabetic after they reached the age of 40 are usually diagnosed under this category. Treatment for this type includes a low calorie diet and oral anti-diabetic drugs are administered.

3. Gestational Diabetes

Pregnant women who experience high glucose levels during their pregnancy fall under this category.
So, how can you make sure that the disease is manageable? Here are guidelines to follow to make sure that your diabetes is closely monitored:

1. Check your blood sugar levels regularly.

It is important to check your glucose levels before meals and before you to go to sleep at night.

2. Maintain a well- balanced diet.

Fresh fruit and vegetables are rich sources of vitamins and minerals that give you energy throughout the day.

3. Stick to your treatment schedule.

Take your insulin injections or oral anti-diabetic drugs on time or as prescribed by your doctor to prevent your sugar levels from shooting up.

Diabetes is manageable if you follow your prescribed treatment plan. Sticking well to your diet will help keep your sugar levels at a normal rate. Always remember that prevention is always better than cure.

Thyroid and Weight Loss – Bridging The Link

Posted by admin on July 10, 2010 No comments

Weight loss has always been one of the most controversial topics in the world. Wherever you go, people always go and look for ways that will help them lose weight in the least amount of time ever. If you think you have exhausted all efforts to get that extra fat out but were unsuccessful, then you better start thinking twice. Do you know that you already have a secret weight loss machine right inside your body? Want to know what it is? Then you better start reading this article to know more.

The thyroid gland is found at the lower part of the neck just below your Adam’s apple. This tiny gland is responsible in the production and storage of thyroid hormones. The thyroid is essential in regulating the body’s heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature. It also helps in maintaining the proper functioning of cells in the body. But the most important role of this gland is aiding in the conversion of glucose or food into energy.

If you really want to take those extra pounds out, then its time for you to get to know your thyroid gland more. Learning more about how this gland works can be of great deal to you and to your weight. So, does the thyroid gland affect your weight? Here are 4 things you need to know to build the link between your thyroid and your weight loss problem.

1. Learn and understand how your thyroid gland affects all the systems in your body especially its role in metabolism.

Since your main goal is to lose weight with the help of the thyroid gland, it is important to familiarize yourself as well as understand how this gland functions.

2. Know the relationship of the thyroid gland and weight loss.

This is the most important part. In order for you to obtain maximum weight loss with the aid of this gland, your basal metabolic rate should be ideally high. People with high metabolic rate absorb food faster and are generally skinny or slim. That is why it is important for you to ensure that you have a higher metabolic rate as possible. This will help you lose weight easily.

3. Help keep your thyroid gland healthy.

Maintaining a healthy thyroid is not that hard to do. Having a healthy, balanced diet is one way to help keep your gland healthy. Indulging in sports and having an active lifestyle will also help keep your metabolic rate high.

4. Take thyroid supplements.

If you have a lower metabolic rate, no need to worry because there are thyroid supplements that you can take to help regulate your metabolism. Thyromine and other supplements are helpful and safe to for you to take.
The road to weight loss is not always easy but before jumping into that next diet fad, it is important to check if this will truly help you shed those pounds off. Also, remember that maintaining a healthy lifestyle is key to a great body.

The Role of Your Hormones in Weight Loss

Posted by admin on July 10, 2010 No comments

Regular workout provides many physical, mental, and physiological paybacks. One set of benefits is the constructive effect that exercise has on many of your body’s hormones, causing in more efficient digestion, improved health, and weight loss. Basically, hormones are natural messengers within your body that affect almost all aspects of human function.

Our body becomes familiar to over eating or under eating due to adjustment in three metabolic roles. These three basic metabolic functions are resting metabolism, physical activities metabolic function and food digestion metabolism. So while you are experiencing the process of weight loss the metabolic rate of your body will have a habit to slow down which consequences in reduced rate of calorie burns. This factor, in turn, will slow down your development of losing weight or if you break your routine program you may reclaim all the lost weight.

On the other hand, some of the hormones that assist in weight loss are:

• Human Growth Hormone

A hormone secreted by the pituitary gland, it is important for the growth and development of the bones, muscles and other arrangements in the body. This hormone also motivates protein synthesis and controls carbohydrate and fat metabolism. It supports in fat burn down and increases lean muscle mass. Regular exercise and a diet rich in amino acids has been known to increase the discharge of this hormone, which gradually declines after the third decade of life. This hormone increases energy and vitality in individuals and makes them physically and mentally active.

• Endorphins

Endorphins are opioid released by the pituitary gland. They normally decrease appetite, create a sense of well-being, decrease tension and cut pain. The level of this hormone rises after working out for thirty minutes by about five times. Since high levels of this hormone reduce appetite, it considerably helps in adjusting body weight

• Estrogen and Testosterone

Testosterone is found in both males and females and is important in constructing muscle mass. Growth in muscle mass, results in improved burn down of adipose tissue to produce energy. This helps in the development of weight loss. On the other hand, estrogen which is principally a female hormone expedites fat burn down. Both these hormones play a critical role in diminishing body fat.

• Insulin

This significant hormone released by the pancreas. Insulin raises the concentration of glucose by the body cells and reduces the transformation of glucose into fat cells. High levels of insulin in the blood tend to decrease weight and fat deposition in the body. Aerobics and regular exercise tends to increase the levels of insulin, which is needed for losing body weight. Have an adequate control of carbohydrates; eat enough proteins and fat which do not raise blood glucose levels. Eat more fruits and vegetables that are rich in fibers to help regulate insulin production.

Hormones normalize almost all aspects of a healthy lifestyle, from reproduction to looks and even the way in which fat is being burned down. Any kind of hormonal imbalance may prevent weight loss or an increase of risk of gaining weight. Ask your physician about it.

5 Ways to Reduce High Blood Pressure and Lose Weight

Posted by admin on July 10, 2010 No comments

It is believed that we increase weight when we eat more than what we can burn off. This conventional diet statement does not always prove to be right. Weight gain can also be triggered by certain health conditions like hypothyroidism and use of prescribed drug. On the other hand, there are certain dangers of being overweight.

High blood pressure is more common in people who are weighty or large. It is commonly known that losing weight has its advantages in minimizing high blood pressure. Losing weight may also support in the reduction of medicine intake needed to regulate and control high blood pressure.

One of the best and effective ways to lose weight is by getting as much exercise daily. By burning more calories than what is taken into the body reduces the risk of any health problems. Regular workout of at least 30 minutes every day can also help lower blood pressure and toughen your heart.

You can lose weight and lessen high bloods pressure through 5 easy ways:

1. Get more fruits and eat more vegetables

Having a vegetarian diet may lessen high blood pressure and defend the body against developing high blood pressure. It may not require you of getting a strict vegetarian diet. Eating more fruits and vegetables and low-fat dairy products may also result into lower blood pressure

2. Avoid sodium-rich foods

The central source of sodium that can harm the diet is the salt found in packed, processed foods and in foods from restaurants. Studies show a high-sodium diet increases blood pressure in some people. In fact, some studies show that the less sodium you eat the better blood pressure control you might have even if you’re taking blood pressure medications.

3. Minimize alcohol intake

Drinking an extreme amount of alcohol surges your possibility of mounting high blood pressure. If you drink too much alcohol, this will increase your blood pressure over time. Alcohol also holds a huge amount of calories which is responsible in gaining weight. This will also increase your blood pressure.

4. Exercise all the time

Regular aerobic exercise like walking or running for 20 to 30 minutes every day of the week can lower your blood pressure, although the result is not as noticeable among older adults. To keep this advantage, you must continue to exercise. It is also an efficient way to maintain and lower down you weight.

5. Maintain a well balanced diet.

Potassium, as well as calcium, plays a significant part in regulating high blood pressure. Bananas, beans, tofu and potatoes are all rich sources of potassium. Try baking, roasting or steaming when cooking vegetables. Avoid boiling as potassium filters out into the water during cooking. As for calcium, an average adult needs at least 1000mg of calcium daily. You can take milk before getting to bed.

Some people may not be keen of the calories they eat each day. Never underestimate how much food you ingest because it is very important to keep track of your food intake. Keeping a food diary or printed record of your daily food consumption is the finest way to know what you take in each day.