Jul 03
Many still continue to invest in diet books promising rapid weight loss by restricting the intake of carbohydrates and eating unlimited amounts of meat and other proteins.
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| When you severely restrict carbohydrate intake, your body responds by converting available proteins into sugar. If you take too much, your body will store them as fat. |
Carbohydrates on a molecular level are a mix of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen that function as either simple or complex. Eventually, all carbohydrates turn into glucose, your body and brain’s main energy source.
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Any excess is stored as glycogen in the muscles or the liver for later use when you need energy again. When you decrease or eliminate the consumption of carbohydrates in your diet, you begin to feel sluggish, unable to exercise, lose focus and lack concentration.
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| Consume fibrous carbs by including more asparagus, broccoli, carrots, green and red peppers, spinach and lettuce in your meals. |
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\\ tags: carbohydrates, diet, Nutrition
Jul 01
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Antioxidants
Thyme contains the flavonoids apigenin, naringenin, luteolin, and thymonin, which have antioxidant activity.
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Anti Bacterial
The thyme extract thymol is one of the ingredients in the anti bacterial Listerine mouthwash, which in studies has exhibited potent anti bacteria properties.
The results of a study demonstrated that the thyme oil ingredients carvacrol and p-cymene could potentially be used as antimicrobial agents in unpasteurized fruit juices.
In preliminary studies thyme and the essential oils thymol and carvacrol inhibited the formation of Shigella, a food borne bacteria that can cause severe dysentery.
In a study of the antimicrobial properties of 21 plant essential oils against 5 bacteria, of which Salmonella and E. coli were included, thyme oil was one of the most inhibitory.
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Anti Inflammatory
The thymol in thyme inhibits elastase, an enzyme that breaks down elastin, and is considered a marker of inflammatory diseases.
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\\ tags: anti bacterial, anti fungal, bronchitis, health benefits thyme, herbs, natural mosquito repellent, Nutrition
Jun 27
Cholesterol
In a study on moderately obese male and female subjects, polyphenols extracted from apples significantly decreased total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels. Apples are also high in pectin, a soluble fiber with the ability to lower cholesterol levels, and it has been demonstrated that an apple a day lowered cholesterol levels by up to 16 percent.
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Dietary fiber
The high fiber content of apples is also of great benefit to the bowels. A 5-ounce apple can supply the body with more than 3 grams of fiber, 10 percent of the daily-recommended intake. The fiber in apples will be beneficial for losing weight, and the fructose will help to stabilize blood sugar levels. Apple polyphenols have demonstrated the ability to regulate fat metabolism.
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Heart disease
The quercetin found in apples is associated with reduced risk of coronary heart disease, and apple consumption has consistently been associated with reduced heart disease.
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\\ tags: anticancer properties, antioxidants, cholesterol, dietary fiber, flavanoids, health benefits apples, nutrient values apples, Nutrition, quercetin, Weight Loss
Jun 22
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Nutrients
Bananas are an excellent source of potassium and vitamin B6. They are a good source of vitamin C, riboflavin, magnesium, biotin and carbohydrates.
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Blood pressure
Bananas are high in potassium, an element important in the regulation of blood pressure.
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Diarrhea
The banana is an effective treatment for diarrhea, and in a study involving infants with persistent diarrhea, green banana and pectin improved small intestinal permeability and reduced fluid loss. Bananas are well known amongst travelers to third world countries for their anti-diarrhea properties.
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Prebiotic
Fructooligosaccharide is a prebiotic found in bananas and other foods. Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that stimulate the growth and activity of beneficial bacteria in the colon. These bacteria improve the body’s ability to absorb important nutrients.
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Stomach ulcers
Bananas have also been found to help eliminate bacteria in the stomach that cause stomach ulcers.
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\\ tags: bananas, cholesterol, diarrhea, nutritients, Nutrition, pectin, potassium, vitamin A
Jun 19
Dietary fiber
Although almonds are high in calories, they are exceptionally high in nutrition. They are a rich source of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, high in protein, potassium, magnesium and calcium, a good source of Vitamin E and Niacin, and an excellent source of fiber.
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Weight loss
There is some concern of weight gain from consumption of the fat content in almonds. A study of twenty women was conducted which demonstrated that ten weeks of daily almond consumption did not affect weight. In another 24-week trial, it was concluded that a low calorie diet supplemented with almonds was effective in a greater and more sustained loss of weight.
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Smoking
In another study involving 60 healthy male smokers and 30 healthy non-smokers, it was found that the antioxidant nutrients found in almonds could increase antioxidant defenses and reduce oxidative damage in smokers.
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Cancer
In preliminary studies, results suggest that almonds may be helpful in the prevention of colon cancer.
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\\ tags: Alzheimers disease, antioxidants, cancer, corn, dietary fiber, eyesight, Health, lutein, Nutrition, thiamine
Jun 17
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Osteoporosis
Studies have indicated that intake of cola is associated with low bone marrow density in women. Another study concluded that high consumption of carbonated beverages and the declining consumption of milk are of great public health significance for girls and women because of their proneness to osteoporosis in later life. The phosphate content of some sodas is high, and this leads to high phosphate and low calcium levels in the blood. When phosphate levels are high and calcium levels low, calcium is pulled out of the bones.
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Diabetes
Consumption of soft drinks is associated with weight gain and an increased risk for development of type 2 diabetes by providing excessive calories and large amounts of rapidly absorbable sugars.
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Gout
Findings from a study of adults suggest that sugar-sweetened soft drink consumption is associated with high levels of uric acid, which may significantly increase the risk of gout.
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\\ tags: artificial sweeteners, diabetes, empty calories, gout, kidney stones, Nutrition, obesity, osteoporosis, phosphate, sodas, soft drinks, weight gain
Jun 15
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Nutrients
Chickpeas are an excellent source of the essential trace element molybdenum. They are a very good source of fiber, folic acid, and manganese. They are a good source of protein, as well as minerals such as iron, magnesium, copper, and zinc.
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Glycemic Index (GI)
In a study to determine the GI of various foods, it was concluded that chickpeas have a low GI of 28 - 32.
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Protein
Pulses such as chickpeas are an important source of macro nutrients, containing almost twice the amount of protein compared to cereal grains.
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Cholesterol
The fiber in chickpeas helps to decrease blood cholesterol levels by binding bile acids in the small intestine, and preventing re-absorption to the liver.
47 participants took part in a study to compare the effects of a chickpea-supplemented diet and those of a wheat-supplemented diet on human serum lipids. The inclusion of chickpeas in the diet resulted in lower serum total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.
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\\ tags: chickpeas, cholesterol, diabetes, diet, folic acid, garbanzos, glycemic index, Health, heart disease, molybdenum, Nutrition, protein
Jun 12
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Nutrients
Garlic is an excellent source of vitamin B6. It is a very good source of manganese, selenium, and vitamin C. It’s a good source of phosphorus, calcium, potassium, iron, and copper.
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Heart Disease
In a 3-year study of 432 people who had suffered a heart attack, the participants who were given garlic oil extract showed a significant reduction of second heart attacks and about a 50% reduction in death rate as opposed to those who consumed no extract.
One study concluded that benefits from garlic preparations might lead to the reduction of cardiovascular risk in diabetic patients.
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Cold Prevention
In a 12-week, double blind, placebo-controlled trial, 146 people received either placebo or a garlic extract. The results showed that participants receiving garlic were almost two-thirds less likely to catch cold than those receiving placebo, and the participants who did catch cold recovered faster in the garlic group.
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\\ tags: ajoene, allicin, anti fungal, athletes foot, cancer, colds, garlic, heart disease, Nutrition
Jun 11
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Nutrients
Grapes are very good sources of manganese. They are good sources of vitamin B6, thiamine, riboflavin, potassium, and vitamin C.
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Glycemic Index (GI)
In a study to determine the GI of various foods, it was concluded that grapes have a low GI of 40 - 50.
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Alzheimer’s Disease
The 2006 Kame Project study published in The American Journal of Medicine concluded that fruit and vegetable juices consumption play an important role in delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, particularly among those who are at high risk for the disease. In a follow up study the total phenolic content of 13 fruit juices were evaluated, and it was determined that purple grape juice contained the largest number of individual phenolic compounds and also the highest concentration of total phenolics.
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\\ tags: Alzheimers disease, cholesterol, grapes, Japanese knotweed, Nutrition, piceid, resveratrol, wine
Jun 11
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Nutrients
Pineapple is an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese. It’s a very good source of vitamin Bl. It’s a good source of vitamin B6, copper, magnesium, and dietary fiber.
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Glycemic Index (GI)
In a study to determine the GI of various foods, it was concluded that pineapples have a low GI of 46 - 51.
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Digestion
Bromelain in pineapple aids and promotes digestion due to its protein digesting capabilities, and may relieve symptoms of stomach upset or heartburn.
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Sinusitis
In Germany, where bromelain is approved by the German Commission E for the treatment of sinusitis, a clinical trial demonstrated that children diagnosed with acute sinusitis recovered significantly faster when treated with pineapple bromelain compared to other treatments.
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Thrombosis
Studies have shown bromelain from pineapples to display fibrinolytic and antithrombotic activity, and two clinical trials on heart patients have shown a practically complete elimination of thrombosis.
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\\ tags: anti inflammatory, bromelain, glycemic index, Mucha Habermanns disease, nutrients, Nutrition, pineapple, sinusitis
