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October 20, 2007
Are you Lactose Intolerant?
If you suffer from nausea, cramps, bloating, gas, or diarrhea after drinking milk or eating dairy products, you may be lactose intolerant. This is a common reaction. According to some reports, between 30 and 50 million Americans are lactose intolerant.
Lactose is the sugar found in milk and other dairy products. The small intestine produces an enzyme called lactase whose job it is to break lactose down into two simple sugars called glucose and galactose. The glucose is then absorbed into the bloodstream for nourishment. If your body does not produce enough lactase, the unaltered lactose makes its way into the large intestine and begins to ferment, producing acids and gases.
ALLERGY OR INTOLERANCE?
Some think that they are allergic to milk when they have these symptoms. Usually this is not the case. Food allergies are rare. According to some experts, only 1 to 2 percent of the general population is affected by a true food allergy.
What is the difference?
Though the symptoms are similar, there are differences. With an allergy, the immune system produces a "histamine" to fight against foods you have ingested to which you are allergic. Some symptoms may be swelling of the lips or tongue, hives (rash), or asthma. Lactose intolerance will not cause these symptoms because the immune system is not involved. Lactose intolerance is the body's inability to assimilate a food properly, causing a reaction.
How can help you tell the difference?
If it is a real food allergy, the reaction will occur within minutes of ingesting the food that you are sensitive to. If the symptoms do not occur for an hour or more, it is most likely lactose intolerance.
FOODS TO AVOID
These foods may also contain lactose and could cause symptoms:
* Bread and bread products
* Cakes and cookies
* Candies
* Instant potatoes
* Margarine
* Some prescription drugs
* Some over-the-counter medicines
* Pre-mixed foods for pancakes, biscuits, and cookies
* Processed breakfast cereals
* Salad dressings
* Lunch meats
* Soups
TREATMENT?
At this time, there is no treatment that can cure the problem, but you can prevent some of the symptoms by ingesting a food enzyme dietary supplement just before taking your first bite of food. These contain lactase to assist the intestines in converting lactose. Products come in pill or liquid form. You can also take probiotics (opposite of antibiotics)on a regular basis. These help produce "good bacteria" in the body, promote good digestion and reduce the reaction your body may have to foods containing lactose.
Through trial and error, you may be able to determine which foods or what amount of foods cause you the most discomfort. By being observant of your body's reaction, you will find that you know how much you can or cannot digest.
You may have to cut out dairy products altogether. You should, however, find other sources of calcium that has been supplied through the dairy products. Certain green vegetables and some kinds of fish and nuts are high in calcium.
Lactose intolerance is not life threatening, just uncomfortable and sometimes embarrassing. Managing lactose intolerance can be challenging, but possible. Be observant of what you eat and take preventative measures once you determine what foods cause you the most problems. Then you should find that you are symptom free and can enjoy most of the foods you love, always in moderation of course. If your symptoms persist, there may be something more serious that requires a visit to your physician. Learn to read your body and know when you need to make adjustments in your diet and nutrition.
Posted by personalhealthnews at 12:14 AM | Comments (0)
October 02, 2007
Sushi Diet
Sushi, popular for centuries in Japan, has become immensely popular in the Western world in recent years. You may soon find yourself invited to enjoy sushi with friends at a sushi bar or restaurant. Despite the common reaction of distaste at the prospect of eating raw fish, sushi is actually a simple and delicious food that can easily be enjoyed by adults, children, vegetarians and even the extremely squeamish.
Although sushi’s history goes back to the 7th century, the popular form that is served in modern sushi bars came into popularity in 1820, Tokyo. Variations of the lengthy pickling process that was the original variety of sushi were made so that sushi could be enjoyed freshly made from a portable stall. This 'fast-food' approach has resulted in Sushi Bars gaining popularity all over the world.
Sushi is a very healthy meal made mostly with rice, fish and vegetables. Sushi should always be made with fresh ingredients. Not only for the safety of the eater but for the flavors. The delicate flavors of rice, vegetables and fish are enhanced with healthy soya sauce, ginger and wasabi.
What are the health benefits of sushi?
The thin, toasted seaweed sheets, called Nori, used in rolled (maki) sushi are high in Vitamin A, B-complex, Niacin and Vitamin C. It is also good for digestion.
The rice used in making sushi, while not as healthy as brown rice, is still low in fat and sodium free while also being a complex carbohydrate which is needed as fuel for your body.
The various fish or meats used in sushi are excellent sources of protein and minerals.
Whether you’re eating vegetarian sushi or it is mixed with fish, the fresh, uncooked vegetables provide the vitamins and other nutrients you look for in a healthy diet.
Even the condiments served with sushi have health benefits.
While soya sauce has come under attack for certain additives that pose a potential health risk, naturally fermented soya sauce does not have this danger. Soya, the main ingredient in soya sauce, has been linked to lower breast cancer and fewer menopausal symptoms in Asian cultures who use soy as a staple in their diets. Soya is a source of high quality protein, low in saturated fats and is cholesterol free. Soya sauce is high in salt although low sodium versions are also available for those who require it.
Ginger, called ‘gari’, is often served alongside sushi and helps with digestion while also fighting bacteria. This is especially of interest to those concerned with the bacteria found in uncooked meat.
Wasabi, Japanese horseradish, can also kill bacteria found in raw fish and is often provided alongside sushi servings as a garnish or is included as in nigiri sushi.
If you are looking for a fast-food meal that is healthy or you just enjoy the flavors and art form of sushi, you are sure to benefit from a visit to your local sushi bar.
Posted by personalhealthnews at 04:31 PM | Comments (0)
October 01, 2007
Eat Seaweed? Why?
Have you ever thought of eating seaweed as a healthy nutritious food? Probably not. Grocery store isles are not exactly brimming with shelves stocked with seaweed. Quite the contrary, you would be lucky to find any seaweed product there. So it would be no wonder if this item were missing from your kitchen cupboard at home, and how many recipes in your cookbook are there that calls for seaweed as an ingredient. You won't find it in your average menu plan. It is not something people usually consider when thinking about food unless they are into sushi, which is often served with seaweed.
Statistics show that the people of Japan have better health than people living in the United States. Seaweed is a staple food of the island country of Japan and diet is often the factor determining good health and longevity. Seaweed has the high-fiber of vegetables, more protein than meat, and more calcium than milk. Eating seaweed is not a bad idea at all.
Replacing the fat of fast food burgers with the fiber of seaweed would go a long way to improving the way we eat. It could be done using seaweed extract without the burgers tasting much different.
A lot of modern food is over-processed and grown in depleted soil. That is not so if you eat seaweed. The ocean floor is rich in nutrient material and seaweed is a concentrated source of minerals. Supplementing your regular diet with seaweed is a good way to be sure you are getting the quantity and variety of trace minerals and vitamins you need.
There are many types of seaweed. You can find them in health food stores as well as stores that sell Asian food. Look for Agar, Dulse, Hijiki, Irish Moss (which saved thousands of people from starvation during the potato famine of 19th century Ireland), Kelp, Kombu, Laver, Nori, Sloke, and Wakame. Put them together and you have a low calorie sea-vegetable salad! Seaweed can also be used in seasonings, soups, teas, and assorted food recipes.
Seaweed may not be the name we want to call this food with such value. Sea plants, sea vegetables, marine flora, or ocean herbs may be more appropriate titles. Many scientific studies have been done on the medicinal properties of these ocean herbs.
Limu Maui is an exotic name, which translated means brown seaweed. There is a substance in brown seaweed called fucodian which a Japanese researcher claims to be similar to mothers’ milk in its effect on the human immune system. PubMed is a service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health and is a good place to look-up studies on fucodian, laminarin (also an immune-booster found in brown seaweed), or anything else. It is available at either pubmed.gov or pubmed.org on the world wide web.
If you have no inclination to eat vegetables let alone sea vegetables, you can still benefit by getting them in easy to take supplement form as in tablets, capsules, or liquid extract. In that way you can also get the smaller algae forms of seaweed like chlorella or spirulina. You would be getting plenty of beta-carotene, vitamin C, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and iodine. Again, studies on these can be found at PubMed.
Seaweed is a wholesome food that adds variety to your diet and is good for your health.
Posted by personalhealthnews at 08:36 AM | Comments (0)
