Health Information

January 11, 2008

Diabetic Food Doesn’t Have To Be Boring And Tasteless

Filed under: Health-and-Fitness

People who suffer from diabetes, on top of the other issues that they must deal with, often find that the diabetic food that is available to them is quite bland and uninspiring. If you have diabetes, there’s a good chance that you’ve become bored with the options that are available to you, but there is hope! Today, there are plenty of foods that can make a diabetic diet more enjoyable and tasty; all you need to do is know it is out there and go looking for it!

One of the biggest things that you will have to adjust to in terms of a diet that is suitable for your condition is the lack of sugar. While people with mild cases of diabetes might be able to have a nibble of sugared food from time to time, this is definitely out for medium to severe cases. Instead, replace your sugar with fruit. Guava, fig, apple and citrus fruits are surprising sweet, and similarly do not carry the same issues as refined sugar. If necessary, forgo white sugar and replace it with palm sugar, or add honey to your diet. The important thing to do is to make sure that you don’t find your food completely unappealing.

When it comes to vegetables, remember that things like onion, ginger and garlic all add a great deal of taste to your food while serving you quite well in treatment. Similarly, look to add kidney beans, carrots, tomatoes and cucumber to your diet as well. These foods add both fiber and vitamin C, and can lessen your need for insulin. You might want to take a look at Italian cuisine if you’ve not had much experience with it before; use substances like fats and olive oil to prepare your food.

A quick tip to keep in mind is that you should remember to eat raw vegetables as much as you can; cooking the food raises the level of your blood sugar quickly. Try starting your day off with a cup of plain yogurt mixed with healthy fruit. Some people who love bread fear that this food group will need to be eliminated entirely, but all you need to do is to find great recipes! Potato bread, buttermilk cornbread and even sweeter breads like cranberry muffins all have diabetes-friendly versions, so take a look around.

If you are a bit at a loss, you can always pick up one of the many excellent diabetic cookbooks out there. The Diabetic Gourmet Magazine gives you fresh recipes every month, while The New Diabetic Cookbook by Mabel Cavaiani receives excellent reviews. The American Diabetes Association Cookbook is an excellent place to get started, as is Fix and Forget It Diabetic Cookbook by Phyllis Good. You’ll find that with a little bit of work and research, diabetic food doesn’t have to be nearly as dreary as you feared!

For more information on diabetic food visit http://www.diabetes-diabetic-diet-plans.com, a popular website designed to help those with diabetes live healthier lives. You’ll find tips to help you set up a diabetic diet plan, as well as information you should know about complications of the disease.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis - A Serious Complication Of Diabetes

Filed under: Health-and-Fitness

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a very serious medical condition that can prove to be fatal to the individual suffering from it. Many assume that this condition affects only those who experience some form of diabetes, however this simply is not true. Anyone is susceptible to acquiring this condition. While it is true that those who experience diabetes that is considered "type 1" are more likely to get it, there are other situations that may result in the development of this serious medical condition. Individuals who experience extremely severe levels of dehydration, serious bacterial and/or viral infections, and those who experience similar illnesses may develop this ketoacidosis.

In order to effectively understand this condition, you must first understand a few simple necessities of the body. The human body depends on glucose that is contained within the blood. Many refer to glucose as "sugar". This is an appropriate reference. This substance is absolutely necessary when it comes to providing "fuel", or "energy" that the body requires to properly maintain itself. If the glucose levels become low in the body, the healthy cells will zoom in on the fat that is stored in the body, as well as the muscles. Slowly, it will break these areas down in order to develop the energy that is required for basic human maintenance.

As the body continues to break down these components, the bloodstream becomes overwhelmed with ketones. Ketones are small deposits of acid that are considered to be "fatty". This results in a natural imbalance of the substances and chemicals that are produced within the healthy human body. Many medical professionals refer to this as "metabolic acidosis". The individuals most susceptible to this condition are those that are infected with high levels of a bacterium or virus. This condition has been found in individuals that suffer from high levels of severe dehydration as well. Naturally, those that experience diabetes may also suffer from this form of ketoacidosis.

There are a number of symptoms that may indicate that an individual is experiencing ketoacidosis directly related to glucose levels in the body. Research has established that many people fail to experience symptoms until the glucose levels are displaying drastic figures in the body. The following details some signs and symptoms that may be associated with this devastating condition:

• One of the first symptoms that appear with this glucose condition appears in the skin. A person may seem pale or flushed. In addition to this, the skin may feel extremely hot and dry to the touch. Many individuals may even notice dryness in the lip area.

• When the chemicals in the body are drastically imbalanced, the vision may become affected. With this particular condition, it is not uncommon for an individual to experience blurred vision that is very troublesome.

• Many diabetics experience symptoms that are directly related to the smell of the breathe. This symptom is also present when the glucose levels in the body are at dangerous levels. The breath is almost always described as "sweet smelling".

• Many that experience this medical complication may feel extremely tired for no apparent reason. This may result in sleeping too much, or lack of interest in basic activities that were once enjoyed. For many, both of these situations are experienced.

• People who experience this condition may have no interest in eating, and may actually become physically sick.

• In severe cases, an individual may appear to be extremely confused, and/or disoriented.

If you experience diabetic ketoacidosis, there are some methods that can be used to prevent and treat this condition. The first preventive step that you can take is to ensure that you carefully monitor your blood glucose levels. If you take insulin, it is important to stay on top of these treatments. If you must visit a hospital for the condition, you will be admitted and provided with saline solution fluid to ensure proper hydration, as well as glucose to even out the imbalance that is occurring in your body. It is important to know and understand that this may not be a quick process, but it is an effective one.

To learn more about diabetic kedoacidosis visit http://www.diabetes-diabetic-diet-plans.com, a popular website with information on diabetes and some of the problems it can cause. You’ll also find information diet plans and diabetic cooking to help you live a healthier life.

Two Older Diabetic Brothers Successfully Outlive The Average Male 75 Year Lifespan

Filed under: Health-and-Fitness

Two older insulin dependent type 1 diabetics outlive the average male 75 year lifespan. "Believe it or not", 91 year-old Gerald Cleveland, of Syracuse, New York area. Gerald has endured his diabetes for over 75 years now. He was diagnosed back in 1925, at the ripe young age of 5. His younger brother Bob, also a Type 1 diabetic age 87, has experienced diabetes for for over 82 years now.

Between the two brothers Gerald is the eldest, Bob is younger but has had diabetes seven years longer than Gerald. They both have experienced some major medical changes through all of those years. Insulin had just been introduced commercially shortly after 1925 when Gerald was initially diagnosed.

Can you picture giving yourself insulin injections with a needle you have to sharpen with a whetstone. Back then they also did not have glucose monitors to check their blood sugars with. Today you can check your blood sugars without any needles in a matter of minutes. Urine was the only source they had to check their blood sugars with.

Just picture yourself not only dealing with this disorder but no extra help like all the up-to-date technology we have today. They also could not check their A1c, which averages your blood sugars for the past three months. Just remember when you are thinking things are really tough for you just remember all the amenities you have to work with today.

Both brothers have helped each other growing up with the same disease. They both admit that watching their diets, & good blood sugar control, is their secret to living a long successful diabetic life today.

Fonda is a type 1 diabetic of 36 years. Currently she is on an Animas insulin pump. Taking no other prescriptions besides insulin, she stays ahead of her medical disorder both mentally as well as physically. Natural solutions for better health is a secret she will share with you If you dare wish to learn to grow healthy.

"No One Cares How Much You Know, Until They Know How Much You Care"

Diabetes Prevention - If You Are Diabetic, You Must Know This

Filed under: Health-and-Fitness

Diabetes is one nasty disease. Not only is it the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S., it is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It is a leading cause of non-traumatic amputations, blindness, end stage kidney disease, and neural defects. It costs $132 billion annually in medical and related costs.

The number of cases of type 2 diabetes is rising dramatically and the rate of growth nationally and globally is projected to double by 2050 and 2025, respectively. Type 1 diabetes accounts for only 5 or 10% of the total. It generally is first seen in children or young people, and may be due to genetics, autoimmune factors, or possibly infections or other environmental factors. We are discussing type 2 here. Type 2 diabetes used to be called "adult onset," but so many kids are getting it now, the name is no longer used. Type 2 is largely a lifestyle disease.

Pharmaceutical firms are busy developing drugs to treat type 2 diabetes. These can be useful and are required when the disease progresses too far. However, it’s better to not get the disease in the first place. Among the risk factors for type 2 are obesity and physical inactivity. In fact, these may account for the dramatic rise in numbers of cases. Aerobic exercise has been shown to prevent development of diabetes better than medication does. Even in the early stages, diabetes is often treated, and controlled, just by diet and exercise.

So if you’re obese and/or have a family history of diabetes, start right now working to head it off by doing regular aerobic exercise. Walk (or run, bike, skate, swim) at least 150 minutes a week. This can be half an hour 5 days a week or an hour every other day (or 10 minutes 3 times a day). (Exercise at least every other day.) Resistance exercise is important too, but at least start with aerobic activity. It may seem like a lot of trouble now, but you don’t want to regret not doing it if you eventually develop the disease and they’re trying to decide whether to cut your foot off.

For complete information read about Home Remedies for Diabetes at Herbal Home Remedies

May 3, 2007

How I Finally Got Over Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Filed under: Health-and-Fitness

I was a very loud snorer. I’m only 20 years old, but I already had to deal with an embarrassing problem: I snored so loud that it kept my girlfriend and friends awake at night, causing them to be irritable with me. It became such a problem that I became reluctant to visit friends and relatives for overnight visits, and I became afraid to fall asleep during plane rides out of fear of embarrassing myself.

My girlfriend finally convinced me that I might have a problem that she had read about in a medical journal called OPA, or Obstructive Sleep Apnea. I found out that OSA is a sleep and breathing disorder that blocks the airway and stops breathing while sleeping. My airway could be blocked, so my body could be deprived of oxygen repeatedly during sleep. I learned that this can also lead to other serious health effects, such as stroke, high blood pressure, heart disease, impotency, reduced mental function and diabetes.

After visiting the doctor, I found that I did have OSA. I was stunned. How could I have OSA? I was only 20 years old! After some moping, I decided to take action and do some research. OSA can strike anyone, of any age. For many people, simple lifestyle changes have made a significant difference, such as losing weight, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption and exercising. After making these changes, I still was a heavy snorer, and I feared for my health. I didn’t want to be a victim of all the serious health problems that result from OSA.

I decided it was time to take action. I had decided I was going to go in for surgery. I was getting ready to schedule my appointment, when my girlfriend discovered something interesting – a report that claimed it could claim my snoring quick and permanently. I was very skeptical, but the website offered a money back guarantee. I held my breath and gave it a try.

I was amazed. Within just a few days of applying the techniques I learned in the report, I had completely stopped snoring. For the first time in as long as I can remember, my girlfriend actually slept the entire night without waking up once from my snoring. We were both in heaven.

Months later, and I still don’t snore. This report fixed a problem that doctors couldn’t fix – to this day, my friends and girlfriend are still relieved that my snoring problem has literally disappeared.

The report I used is found at http://www.stopsnoring-exerciseprogram.com/. I can’t stress enough how much it helped me personally with my snoring problem. It’ll probably help you with your snoring problem, too.

Allan B. http://www.stopsnoring-exerciseprogram.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Allan_Bollström  162
    

3 Top Tips to Help You Live With Fibromyalgia

Filed under: Health-and-Fitness

If you suffer from Fibromyalgia and its many devastatingly painful and sometimes debilitating symptoms, there are steps you can take to help you live a better life with Fibromyalgia. You may wonder if there is life after fibromyalgia pain, fatigue, brain fog, and other horrible symptoms of the condition. You may wonder if you will ever lead a full life again. Well, the answer is yes, let’s take a look at the three steps.

The first step is to accept your condition and not live in denial of it. If you live in denial you can’t fight it. Getting this terrible illness was not your fault and there is hope. There are steps that can help you eliminate the symptoms of Fibromyalgia. Living in denial you will shortchange your opportunities to healing. Living in denial will have you neglecting the actions that you can take to fight this condition.

Another important technique to help you live with Fibromyalgia is to adjust your activity levels to the limits your body is capable of. What I mean by this is you don’t want to be out training for a marathon when you are in pain or fatigued. Accepting your limitations can equate to setting priorities. Pacing is a term that is used often when dealing with chronic conditions. Pacing ourselves within our limitations so that we don’t throw ourselves into complete exhaustion. Prioritizing what must get done with our wants. Ruling out what we don’t have to do will help us reserve strength and wellness for the activities that are important. We gain a sense of wellness when we live within our limits. Try embracing the idea that it’s okay to have to adapt your life to this illness, all the while knowing, you can take steps to eliminating the symptoms of Fibromyalgia.

One of the most important tips I can offer you is to create a support system. Chronic illnesses can be isolating and depression can set in. Having a support system of people who care about you and are willing to help you is crucial in people with Fibromyalgia. One word of caution when seeking out a support system, know that not everyone will understand. Chronic illness is hard for some people to grasp and be compassionate about. Don’t set high expectations on everyone you know. However, keep in mind you will need support and take it when offered to you.

Keep an optimistic attitude and educate yourself. Arming yourself with a positive attitude along with educating yourself about everything regarding this condition can open countless doors that can aid you in your recovery.

Finally, one other thing you can do to help you through this in the best possible way is to rest. Get plenty of rest whenever you can. Even if you can’t sleep make sure your body gets plenty of rest. When your body is asking for rest, give it the rest it needs. It’s much easier to rest when needed than playing catch up when you are exhausted. If you overdo it and don’t get needed rest, you may find yourself in bed for hours and hours.

Living with Fibromyalgia can be hopeful and full of life when incorporating these simple life strategies. When implementing these you will allow yourself the opportunities to begin healing. You can take back your life and have joy again, even with Fibromyalgia. At ridfibromyalgia.com you can find strategies that can help you completely eliminate your fibromyalgia symptoms and take back your life.

Hailey Harris is an expert in dealing with Fibromyalgia after suffering for more than 8 years with health problems. She is now symptom free and living a pain free life. She developed Ridfibromyalgia.com found at http://www.ridfibromyalgia.com to help others learn to do the same. To receive tons of info, tips, and healing strategies for free visit http://www.ridfibromyalgia.com/how.html .

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hailey_Harris

Internet Paralysis Costing Us “Me” Time

Filed under: Health-and-Fitness

In a time not so long ago in my memory, hard working adults re-centered by experiencing “me” time to decompress from demanding jobs and get more in tune with themselves. There were no cell phones, beepers, or Internet. People indulged in good books, had ample stress free vacations, took self-improvement classes, meditated, and volunteered in their communities.

Fast forward to today. Well-we still read books (e-books), go on vacations (long weekends), and volunteer (hopefully not per a court order), but not as much and it’s much more hurried. We’re now part of a faster paced society that’s gotta have more, more, more. We’ve become alarmingly overstressed, depressed, and obese because of the lack of quality “me” time for health and wellness

One thing I blame is the Internet. If Al Gore actually did invent it, he forgot to include an automatic shut off devise so we could take some “me” time. In a term I dub as “Internet Paralysis”, we’re constantly glued to our screens for work, family, associates, friends, research, and more.

You see it in the corporate world, executives and employees with blackberries and other PDA devices in that constant state of the slight head tilt sending emails for their job. It may even be after 6p, but the work stays with them long into the evening cutting down on “me” time. Or, once they get home from the office, it’s fire up the computer and login to the office email account and get some more work done.

You see it with your network of friends, family, and associates. Long threads of email conversations and responses that take so long to answer and respond to that before you know it, you’ve been “internet paralyzed” right through your “me” time. The time you should have taken to improve your health and wellness.

You see it when you want to plan a vacation. You insist on getting the best deal and researching online travel sites to book your itinerary. Instead of calling a travel agent, you’ve worked your way through any “me” time you would have had researching. Now you’re overstressed and really need a vacation. But, when you finally go on vacation, you find yourself going into withdrawals to check your emails…the thing that you were supposed to be getting away from. You just can’t help not knowing what’s going on out there in your job and network of friends and associates. So, you go to the hotel lobby to the room with the computer and internet instead of being on the beach meditating and getting more in tune with your spiritual self.

You see it with pop culture. Because of your computer, you know more about your favorite rock star, movie star, or celebrity through fan websites, blogs and chat forums than maybe they know about themselves. Do we really need to know what nightclub they were walking out of at 4a last Saturday night? Wouldn’t it be better to discover more about us and our own spirituality and strengths by having some quality “me” time. (next page)

Maybe the best thing we can do to improve this situation is set a daily reminder to pop up on our computer screens reminding us not to forget our “me” time and stay in touch with ourselves. But, then again maybe it’s just…”me”.

Contact:
Jack Witt, CPT
http://www.getfitwithWitt.com
818-760-3891

Fingernail Disorders - Paying Attention To Your Nail’s Health Might Save Yours.

Filed under: Health-and-Fitness

Fingernail condition has been used for thousands of years to accurately diagnose ailments and maladies in the body. Chinese physicians mastered this practice.

Fingernail changes may signify a number of disorders elsewhere in the body. These changes may indicate illness even before the rest of the body shows any signs. Although I will discuss later in this article what nutrients may help with actual nail problems you should always seek professional help if any of the below changes are observed on the nail.

• Thick nails may indicate a vascular problem.

• Ridges running lengthwise may indicate a kidney disorders.

• White moon area turning red may indicate heart problems. If it turns dark blue then lung problems may exist.

• Brittle nails may indicate possible iron deficiency.

• Yellow nails may indicate internal disorders.

• White nails may indicate possible liver or kidney disorders.

• Nail beading may be a sign of rheumatoid arthritis.

• Nails that chip, peel, crack, or break easily show a nutritional deficiency.

• Brittle, soft, shiny nails with no moon may indicate an overactive thyroid.

• Nails separated form the nail bed may indicate a thyroid problem.

• White lines across the nail may indicate a liver disease.

• Red, inflamed looking skin at the bottom of the nail may indicate a connective tissue disorder.

• Ridges across the nail may be a sign of the flu.

• Nails curving downward at the ends may indicate heart, liver, or respiratory problems.

• White lines show possible heart disease, or arsenic poisoning.

• Unusually wide, square nails can suggest a hormonal disorder.

These are a sampling of nails conditions that may point to serious health problems. These are not intended to serve a diagnostic tool. If in doubt seek the diagnosis of a physician.

Don’t wait if you suspect a problem. Seek help. Also consider looking at your eating habits, environment, and general well-being. Consider taking extra vitamin supplementation to balance out your system.

Chuck Lunsford is the owner and developer of EveryDayHealthmatters.com. He offers advice on how to get your health in order and start feeling great everyday. Visit his website and learn how to alleviate nail disorders with the right nutritional food supplement vitamins .

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chuck_Lunsford

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