Summer is the biggest time of year for people to travel, and stay busy. Many people wonder why they feel fine after eating, then shortly after eating, they feel tired and have no energy. One reason we feel fine right after eating is due to our blood sugar dropping. By keeping blood sugar steady you can avoid sleepiness, dizziness and other symptoms ( I will touch upon these later) . Eating small and frequent meals/snacks are some of the best ways to keep our blood sugar level steady.

Some foods that help keep our blood sugar level are:
• Dried fruits and nuts
• Whole-grain crackers or bread with peanut butter
• Yogurt
• Fruit
• Low-fat cheese or cottage cheese
• Baked potato
• Cut veggies with low cal dip
• Hard-boiled egg
• Hummus and pita slices

Diabetics, however, are different because they must control their diet very well to control their blood sugar. Suggestions for diabetics to gain control are:
• Have variety in your diet but have a balanced meal with all the food groups.
• Eat small frequent meals.
• Eat a whole fruit between two meals as a snack and not as a part of your meal.
• Eat the same amounts of food at same time of the day, but make sure you don’t leave a gap of more than 3 to 4 hours without eating anything.
• Eat more of complex carbohydrate foods, high-fiber foods such as whole cereals like wheat, ragi (finger millet), unpolished rice, oats; whole pulses like peas, cow pea, chick pea, green leafy vegetables and raw vegetables. All of these foods cause only a gradual rise in blood sugar because the fiber content slows down the release of glucose.
• Cut down on sweets, desserts, sweetened soft drinks, cakes, and chocolates. In such foods the sugar is absorbed quickly and therefore causes blood glucose level to rise more rapidly.
• Eat lots of fresh vegetables and some fruits for soluble fiber and vitamins. Fruits makes an ideal snack between meals, but beware of eating very sweet fruits such as mangoes, jackfruit, custard apple, sapota (chiku) or grapes because of their effect on your blood sugar level (rises rapidly). Dried fruits such as raisins & dates are a concentrated form of sugar and so should only be consumed in small quantities.
• Make sure you eat pulses and dals as part of at least two meals a day. People who eat non-vegetarian foods can include chicken, fish or egg instead.
• Cut down on eating excess of foods with high fat content, which may make you overweight and increase the risk of heart problems.
• Limit the intake of table salt and salty foods, because diabetics have an increased susceptibility to high blood pressure. Beware of hidden salt in many pickled, tinned and processed foods like pickles, papads, etc.
• Keep alcohol consumption at moderate levels. Even low-sugar alcoholic drinks may have high alcohol content. Alcohol should be consumed along with food or after food; else there is a chance of blood sugars going down.
• Artificial sweeteners can be used but special diabetes products are not necessary. Beware of diabetic products available in the market these days, which are made of artificial sweeteners but have a high fat content hence higher calories.
• Drink plenty of water or other sugar free, low-calorie beverages like diluted skimmed buttermilk or lime juice without sugar.

These are very useful for diabetics and people who aren’t diabetic but have problems controlling their blood sugar. By having a controlled diet, maintaining blood sugar will be a lot easier and it will allow you to be able to not feel the symptoms of low blood sugar such as:
• Trembling
• Clammy skin
• Palpitations
• Anxiety
• Sweating
• Hunger
• Irritability
• Difficulty in thinking
• Confusion
• Headache

Many of us hate making trips to the doctor’s office every time we’re sick or something doesn’t feel quite right. However, there are ways that we can help cure and reduce our symptoms without paying a fortune for doctor’s visits and prescriptions. The best part about this, there are hardly any side effects! How can we do this you ask? By using natural remedies with products we have at home.

Natural herbs, fruits and herbal supplements are rapidly gaining the attention of many customers as they look for natural remedies and cures for many conditions and diseases, such as: acne, warts, anti aging, arthritis, gout, migraines, nausea, and many other conditions. Home remedies are based on the premise of using natural ingredients and constituents found in many spices, fruits, grasses and herbs to naturally treat foreign bodies, dangerous viruses and bacteria that cause many problems. Before we begin to talk about some common herbal remedies, remember to have caution before beginning these remedies. Some herbs have can cause side-effects if taken in excess and can cause skins to be more sensitive to the sun, sleepiness etc.

Alfalfa has been known to be effective in healing ailments such as gas pains, pain and stiffness from arthritis and ulcers. Alfalfa herb tea possesses no adverse components and is safe for all people including children.

Garlic is also used as a herbal remedy, not just as a food or food additive. Garlic is mainly used clinically for hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Garlic contains alliin, which is activated by alliinase on crushing or chopping in the absence of heat or acid to form allicin. This reaction may take up to 15 minutes to complete and only then s the active compound heat stable. Also, keep in mind that one side-effect can be odoriferous skin and breath.

For relief from upset stomachs, colds, bronchitis, bladder troubles, and jaundice, Chamomile is recommended. This herb is also helpful in the regulating menstrual cycle’s rheumatic pains, and headaches. Chamomile has also been effective for babies with colic.

Dandelion increases activity in the pancreas, liver, and spleen and contains insulin substitutes. Dandelion has a high vitamin and mineral content that is used for treating kidney and liver disorders, along with skin disease and loss of appetite.

Eucalyptus is a major ingredient in many commercial medicines such as cough and sore throat medications. These plants also contain oils that are extremely potent antiseptics. The oil may be applied locally on wounds, sores and burns.

Ginseng has been used for more than 5000 years in the Chinese culture. This herb strengthens the heart and nervous system. In addition, it builds up a general mental and physical vitality and may be effective for treating colds, coughs, gout, diabetes, headache and backache

Hawthorn is known to cause the dilation of the coronary vessels. An improvement has been shown in patients and is helpful in insomnia. It has been used to treat high blood pressure when taken over a period of time.

A strengthening tonic for the entire system is Strawberry. It is helpful with diarrhea, night sweats, liver complaints, gout and jaundice. Strawberry is used internally for weak intestines and is also used for enema.

These are just some of the many herbal remedies that can be used for an array of conditions. If you have a condition not mentioned above, then by all means click on this link and find your condition on the page. Once you do that, it will give you recipes and herbal remedies that are known to resolve your problem.

With today’s society and the way people put such a priority on body images, eating disorders are on a rapid rise. Due to the prominence we put on body image and weight, it has driven many people to try and achieve the image they want in unhealthy ways. Such ways as Anorexia Nervosa, which is becoming more and more prevalent as our culture continues to put more of an emphasis on body images.

Currently anorexia is most present among females, as 9 out of 10 people with anorexia are female. Only in recent years has the attention been more focused towards men and their possibilities of having anorexia. Common characteristics of anorexics are: preoccupation with food, self-starvation, refusal to maintain body weight over a normal weight for age and height, strong fears of being fat, and even underweight they have a distorted body image. Anorexics deprive themselves of food except for controlled amounts of extremely low-calorie foods. Even intakes of these foods are extremely limited. After eating these very small amounts of food, hunger pangs subside after three to four days. Once the pangs subside and their appetite is suppressed, anorexics have reported feeling energetic making the strict fast easier to stick to. The body needs fuel to run and to compensate for the lack of fuel from food, the body turns inward for its fuel, slowly destroying muscle and fat tissue for energy.

Some physical symptoms that are associated with anorexia are:
• Wasting of the whole body, including muscle tissue and bones.
• Arrested sexual development and stopping menstruation due to loss of body fat, also known as amenorrhea (absence of at least three consecutive menstrual cycles).
• Drying and yellowing of the skin from an accumulation of a stored Vitamin A compound released from body fat.
• Intolerance to cold weather due to loss of subcutaneous fat.
• Growth of hair on the body, perhaps in response to a decrease in body temperature.
• Loss of health and texture of hair.
• Pain on touch.
• Lowered blood pressure and metabolic rate.
• Anemia.
• Severe sleep disturbance.
• Depression, possibly related to changes in neurotransmitter function in the brain.

At the same time as these physical symptoms appear, distorted psychological symptoms develop. When looking in the mirror, anorexics do not see the emaciated body others see, but continue to see themselves as being too fat. A preoccupation with death develops, accompanied by a frantic pursuit of physical fitness by means of stringent exercise routines. The anorexic deals with parents and family in a manipulative way so as to become the center of attention. Diet becomes so totally engrossing that the anorexic may be quite socially isolated except for friends who stick close by and worry without knowing how to help. By this time, the anorexic has reached absolute minimum body weight. The person is on the verge of incurring permanent brain damage and chronic debilitation or death. The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) estimated that of those with severe eating disorders, 6% die, usually because major organs- heart and kidneys- fail.

One thing many people don’t think about when they hear anorexia nervosa is that there are two subtypes of anorexia, which are restricting and non-restricting. The restricting type is when during the episode of anorexia nervosa, the person doesn’t regularly engage in binge eating or purging behavior while maintaining a low intake of foods. The non-restricting type is when during the episode of anorexia nervosa, the person regularly engages in binge eating or purging behavior while maintaining a low intake of foods.

After knowing the symptoms and types of anorexia, now the question is how they are treated? There are several philosophies regarding the treatment of eating disorders. The four major approaches are: individual psychotherapy, hospitalization, family therapy and behavior modification therapy. Most therapists use more than one method and treatment methods focus on identifying the societal and environmental pressures that triggered the eating disorder and exposing emotions masked by it. Length of treatment varies from two months to two or three years, depending on the patients readiness for change and the type of treatment used. For anorexia, the primary therapeutic goal is the normalization of body weight, and the restoration of normal nutrition. There are several early warning signs for anorexia such as, developing an exaggerated interest in food but at the same time deny their hunger and stop eating. They also have a distorted body image that makes them feel fat even as a weight loss continues. Then they begin to have sleep problems, show unusual devotion to schoolwork, and often undertake a program of unrelenting exercise.

This topic is one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. The prevalence of anorexia is increasing due to the increasing attention put on body images, especially in the adolescent stage of life. It is important to watch and make sure that your loved ones are healthy and if they want to lose weight then do it in a healthy manner. If you know someone that is struggling with anorexia be there for them because the more support they have the better off they will be in the long run.

Are you ready to become a vegetarian?

Many people have heard so many great things about how vegetarians are the healthiest people and that they feel so clean and refresh from not eating meat. Although these things are very true, there are also somethings that you should really consider before making that leap. There are many considerations to think of such as: how to prepare foods for adequate intake of nutrients, what are some substitutes, should I take vitamins to help, etc. One consideration not many people have, but truly should is if their bodies can handle the change and they know how to make the transition smooth and heatlhy.

From a personal experience, I went vegetarian for the month of November in 2010 for a project. I thought that I was ready and had everything I needed to maintain my health and weight, while being vegetarian. I could not have been any more wrong. First of all I live on campus, so there aren’t many food selections for vegetarians and I didn’t have a place to really prepare full meals. Yet, I still thought I could handle it.
The main concern for such a rigorous transition from a normal diet to a vegetarian one, is to make sure that you are consuming the proper amount of calories, and nutrients. Without meat, dairy, and eggs, it becomes really difficult to obtain the right amounts of nutrients. The main nutrients that vegetarians struggle to keep adequate are: Iron, Calcium, Protein, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, and Zinc.

Iron
Girls, particularly need to be concerned with getting adequate iron because some iron is lost during menstruation. Some girls who are vegetarians may not get adequate iron from vegetable sources and they may require a daily supplement. However, check with your doctor about your own iron needs. Some ways to get Iron into your new vegetarian diet are: Sea vegetables (nori, wakame, and dulse) which are very high in iron, Iron-fortified breakfast cereals, legumes (chickpeas, lentils, and baked beans), soybeans and tofu, dried fruit (raisins and figs), pumpkin seeds, broccoli, and blackstrap molasses. Eating these foods along with a food high in vitamin C (citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes, and broccoli) will help you to absorb the iron better.

Calcium
If you plan on being a true vegetarian, instead of a lacto-vegetarian then you want to look for tofu, fortified soy milk, calcium-fortified orange juice, green leafy vegetables, and dried figs in order to get the amount of calcium you need. However, if you’re a young teen or a woman taking a supplement may be necessary. This is because teens are building up their bones for the rest of their life and women have a greater risk of osteoporosis, so it’s important to make sure that the calcium levels are being met.

Vitamin D
Vitamin D is what gets the calcium into our bones. The body makes Vitamin D when your skin is exposed to sunlight, however you still need more Vitamin D than can be made from the sun alone. Fortified soy milk and breakfast cereals are the best way for vegetarians to obtain the requirement of Vitamin D. Vitamin D supplements may be necessary, especially in the winter months when sunlight is at a minimum.

Protein
Vegetarians need adequate amounts of all the essential amino acids. Since animal products contain ample amounts of essential amino acids, vegetarians need to pay close attention to their protein intake. Adequate amounts of amino acids can be obtained fro plant-based diet when a varied diet is routinely consumed on a daily basis. Mixtures of protein from unrefined grains, vegetables, legumes, seeds, and nuts eaten over the course of a day complement one another’s amino acid profiles, so that deficits in one are made up by the assets of another.

Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin found only in animal products. So, for vegetarians fortified soy milk and fortified breakfasts cereals also have this important vitamin. it is hard to get enough Vitamin B12 in your diet if you are a vegetarian, so a supplement may be needed.

Zinc
If you are being a full vegetarian and not a lacto-vegetarian, make sure fortified cereals, dried beans, nuts, and soy products (tofu and tempeh) are a part of your diet that way the daily requirement for Zinc is met.

These are the main concerns toward vitamins, minerals, and nutrient needs. To make sure you have an affective vegetarian diet and remain healthy, keep an eye on these intakes. Watching these intake levels will allow for you to have a very healthy and affective vegetarian diet. Outside of intake levels, in order to be ready for vegetarianism you need to be aware that going from an everyday normal diet to a vegetarian diet can lead to a potentially significant weight loss if not done properly. If you are already on a normal diet and are underweight or close to being underweight, then you need to be extra careful about you new vegetarian diet and make sure you’re getting adequate amounts of calories to remain healthy. Also, the urge to have some meat will stay with you for at least the first couple of weeks, but if you remain strong you will be able enjoy the new refreshing and clean you.