Health | Understanding Diseases and Health

Keeping Kidneys Healthy

December 25, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Having healthy kidneys is essential to having a happy and comfortable life. Drinking plenty of fluids, eating healthy, and maintaining an active lifestyle, are all factors that help keep our kidneys working properly and strong. When you do not drink plenty of liquids, you may be susceptible to kidney infections, or kidney stones. Both of which are extremely painful, require medical attention, and can have lasting effects. Not eating properly can also lead to Ketosis which is an issue where the kidneys do not function well, and can lead to extreme fatigue and discomfort, and worst case, a total failure. Long term, if kidneys are not treated well, they can begin to shut down, requiring, as a last resort, dialysis, and transplant, which can drastically cut down on the quality of life of the patient, and be catastrophically expensive.
So, how do you prevent having kidney issues? Have the mindset that you are going live a healthy lifestyle. Drink 64 ounces of water a day, so that your kidneys can flush out impurities, and have a constant stream of fluid so there is no build-up of plaque, calcium deposits that lead to kidney stones. Have a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables, along with the right amount of carbohydrates, this prevents Ketosis which is highly fatiguing. And lastly, remain active. Our bodies were not designed for a sedentary life-style, and remaining active, and incorporating a good cardio work-out, allows for good circulation, and a healthy constant motion keeps our organs working as they should.
These life-style habits are not just good for your kidneys but for your mind and entire body. By taking care of your kidneys, you are protecting yourself from issues that can cut a quality life short. Take the steps today to stay healthy, so that you can have many healthy tomorrows.

Low Sodium Foods

December 17, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Low Sodium FoodsHaving a low sodium diet is a smart and healthy thing to do. The reasons for needing a diet such as this is to help maintain blood pressure, prevent bloating, and help to increase circulation. Having a high sodium diet can also increase your risks for stroke, heart attack, and can make losing weight a challenging and difficult task. Especially when it seems like the food choices are not plentiful, and you have to be proactive about reading every label.
The thing to focus on when choosing foods that have a low sodium content, is to use common sense. Ask yourself, “does it have a lot of salt?” If the answer is yes, then that food choice is not low in sodium. Not all low sodium foods need to be tasteless either. Fruits and vegetables have no sodium, and are easily doctored with non-salt spices, such as no salt spice mixes, and heart healthy no sodium butter. Beans are also a fantastic low sodium food. They are easily mixed in with other foods, providing a full and filling meal. Remember, steaming vegetables always helps to lock in flavor, so that you do not need to add anything in order to enjoy your meal.
Depending on the health issue, you can also find cookbooks that offer low to no sodium recipes. If you are just looking to cut down on the amount of sodium in your diet, you can always just avoid particular foods such as processed meats, or meats that have salty cures. Ham and pepperoni are meats that have a particularly high salt content, which is evident by the next day bloating, or the sense of feeling extremely thirsty for the rest of the day. Some of the big tips in regulating sodium intake is to just be conscious of what you are eating, and to have healthy portions.

Filed Under: Health, Health Care, Nutrition Tagged With: Food, Ham, Health, Salt, Sodium

Health Consciousness in America

December 13, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

I took a trip to Europe many years ago and as I walked the streets of Paris I could not help but notice the absence of obesity. It was rather surprising. I went with a group of 8 and within our small group 3 of us could have been classified as obese. Yet I could scarcely find one obese Parisian, I’m sure they exist but they were terribly hard to find. Now I’m not suggesting we pass laws against obesity or make the producers of food abide by certain laws as far as the amounts of sugar and salt used in their products but I do see the problem. Americans like to eat, in the land of plenty there is plenty to eat and it calls for our attention 24 hours a day.

The good news is that many people are waking up and with the onset of familial diseases such as diabetes and cancer people are making changes to not only the way they eat but what they eat and why. Shows like “The Biggest Looser” inspire millions to do something about obesity and give practical examples of how and what to eat. Magazines are loaded with glossy pictures of good food that are “low fat” constantly reminding that there is a beast inside we all must control.

The New Year is approaching and many men and women will make resolutions having to do with health, weight or nutrition. I believe this is a good thing, that we are conscious of what ails us and deep down really do want to make a change. Who knows how many of these resolutions will be kept but at least we will be striving for something better and we will all know that deep down we have what it takes to make it happen.

Filed Under: Child Health, Health Tagged With: Health, New Year, Obesity

Eating Healthy on Halloween

December 10, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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Ask any kid the purpose of Halloween, and you’ll get one of two answers: trick or treating or dressing up. Even if the kid says dressing up, you can bet the driving motivation behind that answer is a pillowcase or a plastic pumpkin full of candy. While it’s easy to let this philosophy slide because you’re talking to a kid, it’s important to remember to eat healthy during this holiday.

This is sound advice, even for adults who may be long past the heyday of getting free candy. Many snacks, such as pumpkin cake or roasted pumpkin seeds, sound healthy. Until you consider the truth about these choices. Most cakes are going to have sugar packed into them. Add frosting to the top, and you’ll double or triple sugar consumption.

What about pumpkin seeds? Some people have health reasons why they should avoid pumpkin seeds. From a nutritional point of view, a person can take a healthy treat and make it unhealthy by saturating the seeds in butter and layering on salt.

So what can you do to stay healthy with your eating habits during this holiday? Here are a few suggestions.

Celebrate the harvest festival. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying corn, pumpkins, squash, and other healthy vegetable options. Focusing on the harvest element may make it easier for you to put candy and sweet treats out of your mind.

Limit candy consumption. Your success with this may vary depending on where you are with your goals. Some people find it useful to put the candy in the fridge and have one piece a week. If you do this right, you can have an after-dinner dessert for months to come. Others limit candy consumption to one piece each day.

Look for healthy alternatives to processed sugars. Natural sugar often gives kids the sugar high they want without the added calories. Plus, treats like 100 percent juice boxes fulfill one fruit serving for the day.

Filed Under: Health, Health Care Tagged With: Cake, Candy, Food, Halloween, Health, Health care, Pepita, Pumpkin, Sugar, trick-or-treat

Keeping up the fight against Aids

December 9, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Since coming on the scene Aids has affected the lives of more than 33 million people. HIV positive patient in Berlin received a stem cell transplant in 2007 after suffering in his health due to leukemia. His doctors unveiled their findings that suggests a cure for the HIV infection has been found. Many believe this could pave the way for a cure using genetically engineered stem cells.

However many stop short of calling the doctors’ research a medical miracle. While it is a “very good sign” according to Nobel Prize winning researchers many admit that it may be a fluke. At any rate though not calling it a cure those in the field believe a cure is on the horizon. Patients used to anti-retroviral medicine are waiting for this breakthrough and wondering if it will ever come. Till then, journalists and those in the media should not be lax in their coverage. There was a time when Aids awareness was more than a teaching about “diversity” We need to be seriously reminded of the causes and effects of Aids and HIV. Young people must be made aware of the risks of their sexual choices.

The fight against Aids is definitely about finding a cure but it should also be about giving this disease the attention it needs through the media. It’s one thing to lament the spread of Aids and the millions of deaths but then quite another to address the risky sexual practices of our populations. Teenagers especially receive conflicting messages through television programs, movies and music that encourage them to do what they feel like without thought of precaution and then receive condoms from their school as the highest form of sexual responsibility. If we are going to win this fight then the media must realize their responsibility as well. This is a fight that can be won but everyone including the media must play a part.

Filed Under: Child Health, Health Tagged With: Aids, Berlin, Health, HIV

How to choose a healthy cereal bar

December 6, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Concerned about your health and nutrition? Well you are not alone,more and more Americans are starting to become aware of what types of food they put in their bodies and what these foods contain. Taking a tour down the grocery store aisle in order to find healthy snacks can be overwhelming. Everything looks good and the packaging makes sure to display positive facts such as “less sodium” or “more fiber”. How can an average everyday shopper know which cereal bars are truly healthy?

The first step is to look for the ingredients that you want to avoid. If you are really going for the health aspect and not necessarily what your taste buds crave, avoid sugars and bars coated with chocolate. Cereal bars like most things these days are notorious for having long lists of ingredients. The less ingredients there are the better the bar and the more natural the ingredients. The second step is to look for the ingredients that you want. Real fruit, whole grains, fiber, nuts. These ingredients will do a lot more for a body health wise than those loaded with additives, sugars and fats. Certain cereal bars with these ingredients may taste good and trick the mind into believing the body is better off with a small snack but in actuality they are loaded with things we could all do without.

If all of this is still too confusing making tasty, nutritional snack bars at home is a very good option. There are tons of easy and interesting recipes to try on the internet. This way health conscious snackers can get the taste they crave and save a little money as well. If nutrition conscious shoppers are going to choose a cereal bar as a breakfast alternative why not be sure to choose something with whole grains, limited sugar and real fruit. It’s simple but simple things are where the battle is won. Happy snacking!

Filed Under: Child Health, Health, Nutrition Tagged With: Cereal, Health, Nutrition, Snack food

When Ticks Get Out of Control

November 20, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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In the United States, certain areas are more prone to certain pests than others. Typically, areas with forests and longer grasses have a higher risk of ticks than hot dessert climates. Areas with large wildlife populations can increase this risk as well. This might not be a problem if ticks didn’t carry and transfer Lyme disease to humans.

Lyme disease can impair the nervous system, making it so a person can’t even walk. In its worst state, it can kill. Because of the health risks, it is important for people to take precautions to help reduce the possibility of getting bit by a tick.

People who have dogs or cats should be using some type of over-the-counter treatment to kill ticks. These topical medications usually kill ticks for up to one month’s time. You can find the medication for different weights and animals. You can also keep your animal’s hair trimmed. Shorter hair makes it more difficult for ticks to stick on the animal as it passes nearby.

Adults should check themselves for any ticks when they return indoors. It’s also important to check younger children. Wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks can reduce the chances of getting a tick.

In some cases, these tips are enough to keep you and your loved ones tick free. However, it is possible for an infestation to occur. When this happens, preventative measure become less effective. Sometimes, it takes the state or the government jumping in to help with a problem.

Just as certain areas treat for mosquitoes every year, your area can treat for ticks. This will typically include spraying a pesticide over the infested area and repeating treatment as needed.

If you take preventive measures and the ticks keep coming back, it may be time for you to try a new route. Contact your local authorities to see what they can do.

Filed Under: Health Care, Sanitation Tagged With: Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Conditions and Diseases, Health, Infectious disease, Lyme disease, Spirochetal, Tick, United States

New Food Labels on the Way

November 18, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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Have you ever stood in the aisle at a supermarket juggling your groceries and trying to check the nutrition labels on products to help you make smart choices on your food selection? If you’re one of the many moms trying to shop while juggling a kid or two, you know how much this can complicate the matter. After all, it’s not exactly easy to read nutrition labels in the first place, let alone when a child is tugging on one arm.

As America begins to make strides toward reducing the obesity rate in the country, nutrition labels are back in the news. So, what’s the problem with food labels? For starters, food companies generally follow a set formula for what to include, but they don’t always include the information the same way.

If you pick up two cans of peas from different manufacturers, you’re liable to see similar ingredients. But, one might include several trace ingredients in one category, while another lists all the ingredients out. That’s only one difference. Then you have to look and see how many servings the chart uses, as well as the number of calories the company uses to base its food nutrition on. These can all vary from person to person.

Many people want to take charge of their health and eating habits but find it too much of a hassle to wade through food labels. Because of this, watchdog organizations that focus on nutrition have been working to get food companies to make changes.

Finally, their efforts are bearing fruit. Two leading food companies, the Food Marketing Institute and Grocery Manufacturers Association, have agreed to make changes to food labels beginning in 2011. The revisions to food labels will fall under an initiative for straightforward nutrition information.

Shoppers can only hope the changes will help make it easier to decipher the statistics on the back of food packaging.

Filed Under: Nutrition Tagged With: Food, Food and Drug Administration, Health, Institute of Medicine, Marion Nestle, Nutrient, Nutrition, Nutrition facts label

Examining Mental Health in Palestine

November 17, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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Mental health problems can affect any person at any age regardless of gender, race, or social bracket. In most countries, treatment options for these conditions have continued to improve as researchers learn more about the conditions through study. However, the mental health treatments in Palestine are raising red flags with health watchdogs across several countries.

When a Palestinian has a mental health condition, the treatment options often include medications that research has proven to be ineffective. The country even uses electroshock to treat certain conditions. In a place where 33 percent of the population may be suffering from one type of mental health condition or another, this is a major problem.

The citizens in Palestine have such a high risk of developing a mental health problem in part because of the high level of trauma they can face from childhood through adulthood. Things that can elevate the risk factor include war, restricted movement, poverty, recurring humiliation, evictions, and imprisonment. Many people in the country suffer these things on a daily basis.

Acute and chronic stress can develop, further increasing the risk of mental disorders. Even if these don’t develop into anxiety or depression, the constant strain on the body can cause other health problems.

Adding to the problem is the stigmata surrounding mental health issues. Many people don’t want to seek treatment options because the local society still frowns upon them. The lack of health care options for these people often leads family members to become caregivers. Still, this can be a challenge for those without professional training.

Until the country overcomes its stigmata for mental health problems and updates the treatment options for these conditions, individuals will continue to suffer with problems they could handle with medication. Of course, it would also help the country as a whole to reduce the other factors contributing to the problem. With more watchdog organizations getting involved, many hope the situation will improve.

Filed Under: Health, Health Care Tagged With: Bipolar disorder, Disorders, Health, Mental disorder, Mental health, Palestine, Policy and Advocacy, Substance abuse

Aging Brain

November 16, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

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Brain like all the other parts of the human body begins to wither away after a certain age. It is quite difficult to completely stop this natural phenomenon since anything that is born has to get old and die. But what can be done is to keep this natural process under check form uncontrolled aging. An aging brain is not something that you should look forward to since this will cause you to loose your skills, complete memory loss and overall dearth in cognitive skills. Our body’s natural defense system can fight against these aging process but it requires many vital nutrients to stay put in the face of old age.

Antioxidant are like water of eternal youth. Thorough the body these antioxidants scavenge the different cells and get rid of free radical oxygen scavengers. Some of the known and most effective antioxidants are Vitamin C and E, Beta Carotens, lutein, zeaxanthin, cathechins, lucopene, etc. These can be obtained from fruits and green vegetables like grapes, blue berries, and green seeds. Wine has many valuable anti oxidants, that is why French people do not have brain related powers in old age. Sunflower oil, liver, green tea extracts, wheat germ and nuts are excellent sources of anti oxidants that help in fighting the aging brain. Lycopene can be found in vegetables such as tomatoes. More specifically tomato ketchup and cooked tomatoes are better sources of lycopene. Polyphenols are found in green tea and along with this anti oxidant it has many other valuable brain enhancing substances. Isoflavones can be found in soy seeds. Isoflavones are excellent sources of anti oxidants that balance the intensity of oestrogen. Almost all the vitamins are important for the normal functioning of the brain. Hence make sure you supply these nutrients in abundant quantities if you hade being old. Who doesn’t?

Filed Under: Health Care, Nutrition Tagged With: Ageing, Aging brain, Antioxidant, Health