Health and Diet Articles

Archive for the ‘Health’ Category

Good Sex, it’s all in what you eat

Thursday, May 21st, 2009

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Shopping in our local mall may in fact, help us kick start our libidos, especially for some of us who need the help.

A candlelit dinner, a glass of wine, finished with a sexy dessert, may remind us of being on our first dates, would nowadays, finish with us putting our PJ’s on rather then climbing into bed for a marathon sex session. Our sex drives are driven more by what we eat and our lifestyles, rather then each other.

To be a tiger between the sheets, have led us, as consumers, to spend all sorts of money on items offering to make us better lovers. Hippo snouts and hyena eyeballs were known to be used by the Romans to spice up their love lives. Rhino horns were the preferred choice of Chinese people.

Pfizer took over $995 million dollars for sales of their drug Viagra, taking a huge chunk of the market at over 70%. GlaxoSmithKline are also currently marketing their drug in America called Levitra. This was developed by Bayer and is available to purchase alongside two other wonder drugs created by ICOS and Eli Lilly called Cialis and Schering-Plough.

Throughout the years and for many more years to come, we all seem to believe that we can reawaken our libidos and rekindle our passions with Aphrodisiacs. Items such as oysters, herbs and many other things, along with a quote from the Greek goddess of beauty herself, Aphrodite, have all failed to spark a flame.

By taking pills or playing around with any purchases, that offer to guarantee a pleasurable time, over 30% of men and under 50% of women sexual functions having a placebo effect. Many people think that by buying anything on offer such as food or tablets will be able to increase their sex drive, when really the mind is telling them that it can and will.

Changing your eating habits is one way of kick starting it. They say by eating Soy is good, as it keeps the vagina moist by decreasing hot flushes of menopause and joining estrogen receptors.

Men losing weight is considered a major factor in increasing their libido and in increasing sexual activity.

Men, who are considered overweight, according to reports, are showing their testosterone levels as being low and are having trouble getting erections. Too much of the wrong food can led to the clogging up of the arteries, which in turn can led to insufficient blood reaching the penis. Anxiety will then kick in, preventing the penis from getting an erection and in turn spoiling their sex lives.

We need all sorts of minerals and fats in our diets to help produce hormones which then in turn, help our sex drives to stay awake. Our everyday lifestyles from too much work, our marital and relationship problems and other complex issues, all combined together, will contribute to the lack of sex in our lives.

Colon Cleansing: Work with Nature for Best Results

Thursday, May 14th, 2009

diet-15The practice of colon cleansing dates all the way back to the ancient Greeks, but it only caught on in the United States in the early 1900’s and has had a resurgence in popularity in the past 20 years. The current trends are toward either irrigation (high colonic) or a combination of ‘natural’ products designed to force the colon to expel any buildup of waste and toxins.

Whether these remedies are effective or entirely necessary is still unconfirmed, but one practice that is almost guaranteed to maintain a healthy colon is a diet containing a substantial amount of the foods that have been proven to foster good health in general and specifically good colon function. What you eat, not what is occasionally or periodically flushed through your colon, probably influences your health to the highest degree.

To begin with, you should drastically reduce your consumption of caffeine, refined sugar and flour, and hydrogenated fats – stay away from deep-fried anything. These all tend to inhibit the body’s natural detoxifying processes, among other drawbacks.

Fiber, both soluble and insoluble, is the key factor in the pursuit of a healthy colon. A high-fiber diet has been proven to reduce the risk of a whole range of gastrointestinal problems, among them constipation, diverticulitis and cancer of the colon and rectum. The average American’s diet includes less than half the fiber content that is currently recommended by the American Medical Association.

Soluble fiber has been proven to increase the amount of beneficial bacteria that your body produces to fight toxins. It is also important in managing blood cholesterol and relieving both diarrhea and constipation, to name only a few of its benefits.

The greatest concentration of soluble fiber is found in psyllium husks, with oat bran a close second. Peas, pinto beans and potatoes are rated highest in the vegetable category, and “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” is not just folklore – apples rate as the best of the fruits in soluble fiber content.

Insoluble fiber does not dissolve in water but should be ingested with plenty of water, which serves to soften and speed up the flow of solid waste. Insoluble fiber is found in foods such as wheat bran, oat bran, linseed, all sorts of beans and (aha!) cocoa powder, among many others. Insoluble fiber is an absolute necessity for healthy bowels.

There are a few other essentials for ‘natural’ colon cleansing. Water is the first and most obvious, and four to six glasses a day is the recommended minimum for proper digestive function. Chlorophyll, which is found only in plants, is another vital ingredient in a healthy diet. Spinach is known to have the highest concentration found in ‘ordinary’ foods, but any green vegetable offers some of this highly desirable element.

Thousands of reports and studies have confirmed the value of a healthy digestive tract in every aspect of life. Colon cleansing is just one more aspect of the body’s natural processes that can be hampered or assisted, depending on the kind of nourishment you choose to take.

Controlling Type 2 Diabetes With Diet

Thursday, May 14th, 2009

diet-13It is estimated that of the 23 million people in the United States who have been diagnosed with diabetes, between 90% and 95% are type 2 diabetics. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic but non-progressive disease. Though there is no effective cure known at this time, treatments have been found to control the disease and minimize the risk of severe consequences.

The causes of diabetes vary, but the disease is closely linked to obesity and dietary habits.

In type 2 diabetes, the body produces insulin, but not enough or not properly utilized. This means that sugar (glucose) builds up in the blood instead of going into the cells, which in turn means that the cells cannot function properly. The result of this insulin resistance may be damage to the eyes, kidneys and heart, among other problems.

Type 2 diabetes is known as a non-insulin dependent form of the disease, because if managed properly it does not progress or result in the severe symptoms that define type 1 diabetes. In fact, it has become established that the onset of type 2 diabetes can be prevented with some fairly simple ‘common sense’ adjustments in diet and lifestyle.

The main factor in control and prevention of diabetes is maintenance of an acceptable, consistent blood sugar level. Reducing (preferably eliminating) the intake of sugar and simple carbohydrates in the form of candy, sodas and pastries, for instance, is probably the first requirement. Not only will the blood sugar level be lowered, some weight loss usually accompanies this dietary change. Most diabetics are overweight, and the loss of even four to five pounds can make a significant difference in the body’s ability to use insulin effectively.

Another simple and painless step in controlling or preventing the onset of type 2 diabetes is avoiding big meals. Too often, many people get in the habit of snacking ‘on the run’ and then eating one large meal, usually late in the day. To maintain a steady blood sugar level and avoid the ‘spikes’ that can be so hazardous, the ideal practice is to eat less, and at regular intervals.

Substituting fruit or vegetables and juice for candy and Coke can become second nature with just a little practice. Lean meat, poultry, fish, and nuts, for example, provide necessary protein and complex carbohydrates to keep energy levels up and blood sugar levels on an even keel.

Besides diet, the other key factor in the control of diabetes is physical exercise. This does not mean a marathon workout once a month; rather mild, frequent exercise such as a brisk 45 minute walk every day.

Consistency is the key here, not extremes. Just taking the stairs instead of the elevator and walking at a rapid pace instead of an amble whenever possible can foster a substantial improvement in blood sugar levels and good health in general.

Screening for a pre-diabetic condition and subsequent adherence to a h