Archive for the ‘Food and Nutrition’ Category

Important Reasons for Acne

Wednesday, June 9th, 2010

Without doubt, the most prevalent skin problem among youth and teenagers is acne. You have tried all the possible means to cure this frustrating problem that demolishes the charm of your face. Most probably you have also wanted to know why you are affected by this. Here is the what happens : acne appears when your body is unable to remove toxins normally through the urinary and digestive systems. The toxins that your body may accumulate to include fats stored as a result of problems with their digestion or due to taking lots of them. The other reasons for acne include food allergies, reactions to chemicals and the build up of hormones. This build up of chemicals and other toxins will result in the malfunctioning of your primary waste removal organs , and you face acne when your body seeks to remove these toxins through other organs such as the lungs and skin.

 

The type of food that you usually eat may also cause skin problems . Do you constantly eat red meat, dairy products and other food items that contain lots of saturated fat? Research shows that you will increase the chances of getting acne if these foods are your main diet. The cases of experiencing the acne problem are very low if you consume vegetable and plant based foods combined with little meat products.

 

You may also experience acne as a result of the hormone levels in your body. The levels increase during some stages like puberty, and this is why you may currently have acne. When the hormones increase, your skin will produce a lot of sebum. Sebaceous glands generally produce oils which keep your skin soft by lubricating it, and they are numerous in your face, back, shoulders and chest. But , if the oil produced by these glands does not leave, bacteria will multiply in the follicles resulting in inflammation of the skin and this causes pimples. The pimples then get an infection and form pustules leading to skin problems including acne.

 

For women, the hormone levels in the body increases during menstruation and pregnancy, and they can experience acne because of the increased levels of the progesterone hormone that the body releases after ovulation. Your body’s reaction to medications like anabolic steroids, anti-tuberculosis drugs like isoniazid and rifampin, anti-epileptic drugs, lithium and other medications containing iodine can cause acne. You may also experience acne if you exert a lot of pressure to your skin as may happen when carrying a heavy backpack or by wearing a helmet.

 

Do you know that your work environment can also contribute to the acne problem? If you work in industrial environments where you are in constant contact with chemicals like chlorinated dioxins, oils, dust and pollution, you may experience this skin problem . You can also get breakouts if the level of stress in your lifestyle is high. An instance is if you lack sufficient hours of sleep. Remember, , some skin care products can also cause acne particularly those that do not allow your pores to breathe adequately .

 

Is there anyone in your family who has experienced acne or other skin problems? If there is , it can happen to you as well, because heredity is one of the reasons for acne. Oily skin types are generally prone to acne. Anther reason for acne is if you do not have foods that contain essential nutrients that are needed for skin care. Drinking insufficient amounts of water and not doing exercise also can contribute to the acne problem.

Successful prevention of acne demands proper knowledge about the reasons that cause it. There are scientifically proven vitamin treatments for acne including vitamin b5 treatment. Acne problem can be cured simply if you treat it properly.

The Dangers Of Quick Fix Detox Diets

Saturday, October 24th, 2009

Many people use detox diets to quickly shed those unwanted pounds, but are quick fix detox diets safe? Read on to find out more about this dangerous dieting trend, and how it could effect your health.

Celebrity fad diets seem to be all the rage at the moment, but are a few pounds of weight loss worth risking your health? Health care professionals are now advising dieters to avoid all forms of detox diets, due to adverse health effects associated with these fad weight loss programs. It was recently reported that a women was hospitalised and actually suffered minor brain damage, just by following this type of diet.

Detox diets often require that the dieter drinks excessive amounts of water, in order to lose weight. Drinking too much water can actually have an adverse effect on the body, and eventually reduces the amount of essential salt needed in the blood. In severe cases, the additional water can cause organs such as the brain to swell, which can lead to a number of very serious health problems, such as seizures.

In addition to this, regular detoxing and antioxidant detox products has recently been linked to an increase in diabetes. The sharp increase of antioxidants can be just too much for our bodies to handle, and can in some cases, end up damaging our cells.

Detox diets can be effective and in some cases beneficial, but they must always be followed properly. Many dieters are still taking their detoxes too far, by starving themselves and causing a whole host of health complications. The hydration based detox plans should be avoided at all cost, as these are often the most dangerous dieting programs.

Doctors are now suggesting that the detox fad is just another new way for the dieting industry to make money, and simply a waste of our time and money. Eating lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, and drinking enough water each and everyday, is far more effective than regular detoxes. Our bodies are well equipped to cope with the build up unhealthy toxins, and our livers and kidneys are able to get rid of them effectively, without the need for harsh and harmful detox plans.

Short term fad diets and detox plans can never offer long term solutions to weight loss, and dieters often find that they quickly re-gain the weight after using such programs. The best way to lose weight, is to follow a balanced diet and exercise regularly. Losing more than 1-2 pounds per week is dangerous, and can be damaging to your health.

There is still no real proof to suggest that detoxing your body, or fashionable celebrity cleanse diets actually work, or have any real beneficial effects on your overall health. Health care professionals have now suggested that plenty of water (tap – not bottled) and a enough sleep each and every night, is far more beneficial than any detox diet or plan out there. So, there’s no need to waste your hard earned cash on detoxifying foods, books or products. Instead, all you need in order to stay healthy is top up your tap water in-take, and get a good nights sleep.

Increase Your Metabolic Rate And Shed Those Unwanted Pounds

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

Have you ever wondered why you have trouble losing weight, whilst those around you seem to melt off those pounds with little or no effort? The answer is in your metabolic rate, and in the foods you eat. Read on to find out more about your metabolism, and how you can boost your weight loss efforts with just a few simple changes to your lifestyle.

Some folks just seem to be lucky enough to eat whatever they want, and never seem to gain an ounce of weight. Well, it has nothing to do with luck. It’s all to do with our individual metabolic rates. And when it comes to metabolisms, we’re all very different.

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The Importance of Omega 3

Friday, July 31st, 2009

Just about every isle in a grocery store contains a variety of products that are packaged with the words: “A good source of Omega-3″ boldly printed on the label. Food manufacturers have discovered that omega-3 sells product. Omega-3 is an essential body fat that is found in every cell in the human body, but the body can’t make enough omega-3 on its own, so our diet plays an important role in supplying enough of these essential fatty acids (EFA) to keep the body functioning properly.
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Diet and Hayfever

Monday, July 20th, 2009

There are a number of things you can eat and drink, or avoid, which may help curb your hayfever symptoms, including itchy eyes, itchy face and skin, sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion and lethargy.
Things to avoid are foods which stimulate the production of mucus. This includes dairy products, refined food, processed food, alcohol and caffine. Try an alternative to dairy like goats milk, goats cheese, sheep milk, rice milk oat or soya milk. Or even better, try a herbal tea with added benefits.

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The Power of Vegetables

Monday, June 15th, 2009

Vegetables are amazing foods, not only are they jam packed with vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants, but they are also rich in a particular type of nutrient called ‘phytochemicals’ which are specific to plant foods. These fascinating protective plant compounds have a health enhancing effect and help to protect us against a number of diseases such as heart disease and cancer just like they help to protect the plant from disease. Hundreds of different phytochemicals have been discovered in plant foods and are responsible for giving plants their colour, flavour and smell.

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Nutrition and Cancer

Monday, June 1st, 2009

Over the last few years there have been dramatic increases in the understanding of how cancer operates at a cellular level. There are now moves towards a more intelligent way of dealing with cancer that work with the body, and a gradual shift away from the toxicity of therapies like chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

This greater understanding has, in some quarters, changed the concept of what cancer actually is. A recent scientific paper suggests that a tumour has a lot of similarities to a wound, and has been likened to ‘a wound that doesn’t heal’. A wound induces rapid growth but then switches off the growth when the wound has healed – in cancer that ‘off switch’ fails.

We do know that a diet high in fresh fruit and vegetables can greatly reduce our chances of getting cancer, and also, being overweight can increase our chances of getting cancer. What has been missing up until now has been the fine detail of the processes involved.

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