Archive for the ‘Health Nuggets’ Category
Is Seaweed the Next Big Superfood?
I got this from Yahoo! Shine and it made me curious so I read the article and here’s what I came up with…
Varieties of seaweed like kelp, nori, hijiki, wakame and others are rich sources of iodine. A quarter of a cup packs a whopping 275 percent of the daily value. Why do we need iodine? It’s because too little of it can trigger hypo or hyperthyroidism, fatigue, weight gain, and depression. Iodine is also a good source of magnesium, which can improve sleep and alleviate hot flashes in women going through menopause.
No wonder seaweed is so “in” these days!
5 Foods That Can Trigger a Stroke
Seeing as to how three siblings of my dad already suffered mild stroke in a span of two months when I saw this article from Yahoo! Health, I immediately thought I’d share it here. So here are the 5 Foods That Can Trigger a Stroke:
1. Crackers, chips, and store-bought pastries and baked goods
Muffins, doughnuts, chips, crackers, and many other baked goods are high in trans fats (are hydrogenated oils popular with commercial bakeries because they stay solid at room temperature, products of which require no refrigeration)… found in all kinds of snack foods, frozen foods, and baked goods, including salad dressings, microwave popcorn, stuffing mixes, frozen tater tots and French fries, cake mixes, and whipped toppings. The worst offenders are fried fast foods such as onion rings, French fries, and fried chicken.
Why it’s bad: trans fats are artery-blockers, according to the article. It increases concentrations of lipids and bad cholesterol in the blood and lowering good cholesterol in the process.
What to do: Limit intake of food with trans fats to no more than 1 or 2 grams a day. Or none!
When I read this one the first thing that came to mind was… OMG! I eat a lot of the worst offenders! Onion rings, French fries, and fried chicken. Most especially the last one. It just made me feel scared all of a sudden for the state of my health.
2. Smoked and processed meats
…pastrami, sausage, hot dogs, bacon, or a smoked turkey sandwich…
Why it’s bad: The sodium and the preservatives (sodium nitrate and nitrite) used in these processed meats have been shown to directly damage blood vessels, causing arteries to narrow and harden. Damaged blood vessels will surely lead to a heart stroke.
What to do: Add variety to your diet. Avoid having smoked or processed meats regularly.
I love hot dogs and sausages and bacon! Good thing I don’t eat these stuff regularly.
3. Diet soda
Of the 5 foods listed, this one made me go “What???” I thought diet soda is a healthier choice. Clearly, I was wrong.
Why it’s bad: There is no clear reason why drinking diet soda increases a person’s stroke risk by 48% but studies have shown that it is so.
My personal take on this is that people have this misplaced idea that drinking diet is healthier (as what I thought so and stated above), therefore making them complacent enough to drink diet soda more regularly.
What to do: Water is still the best when it comes to our daily diet. If not water, there’s lemonade, iced tea, or juice.
4. Red meat
Why it’s bad: The saturated fat in red meat slowly (but surely) clogs arteries with a buildup of protein plaques.
What to do: Eat more poultry (white meat) and fish. Also, get your protein fix from beans, legumes, nuts, tofu, and nonfat dairy which are healthy options.
5. Canned soup and prepared foods
Why it’s bad: One can of canned chicken noodle soup contains more than 1,100 mg of sodium, while many other varieties, from clam chowder to simple tomato, have between 450 and 800 mg per serving. Yes, it’s the sodium in these foods that make it bad for the heart.
What to do: Make your own soup! Avoid canned prepared foods as much as you can.
I do hope the information I shared with you here will be able to help you guys prevent a heart stroke from happening to you or anyone you love.
Green Tea
If there is one thing I can’t live without that would be a cup of coffee in the morning. I wake up, go do my morning rituals, and then I fix myself a steaming cup of coffee. I drink coffee while checking my emails. But the past few weeks, I’ve been noticing the increase in my hyper acidity level. I get the jitters and it’s not good.
So what alternative to coffee can I get myself in the morning? Green Tea! It has slightly less caffeine than a cup of coffee but it can give you the kick you need in the morning. Plus, as well all know, green tea is packed with health benefits as it contains powerful antioxidants and potent disease fighters meant to boost our immune system.
So next time you think of fixing yourself a cup of coffee in the morning, think of going for the green tea instead!
Health tip: Eat healthy
Eat healthy.
Evidently, a well- balanced diet provides the minerals, vitamins and other nutrients essential for healthy teeth and gums. Among the minerals, fluoride is the most well-known nutrient that is essential to keeping healthy teeth. If you live in an area where your water is cleaned, then fluoride has most likely been added. Fluoride supplements are also available. However, you need to be careful as too much fluoride can cause mottling of the teeth.
In addition to fluoride, calcium and Vitamin D help the body absorb calcium to keep your teeth strong and gums healthy. Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin A and Beta Carotene are also needed and easily obtained through a daily multivitamin intake.
Keep your sugar intake in check, as sugar is one of the leading causes of cavities and tooth decay. Limit your intake of sweet drinks and snacks.
Health tip: Cleaning the tongue
Clean your tongue.
Starting to clean your tongue on a regular basis can be the single most beneficial treatment for halitosis or bad breath. A toothbrush or a specialized tongue brush can be used to clean your tongue. To do so, start as far back as possible and then make brush strokes outward, toward the front of your mouth. You need to use some pressure but of course not enough to cause irritation to your tongue. Many people find that scraping their tongue with a tongue cleaner is more effective.
Health tip: Toothpaste
Use appropriate toothpaste.
In most cases it is the malo dorous volatile sulfur compounds produced by anaerobic bacteria that are the actual cause of a person’s breath problems. Using a toothpaste that contains neutralizing agents such as chlorine dioxide or zinc can help to alleviate these problems. If the toothpaste you are using contains antibacterial agents such as chlorine dioxide or cetylpyridinium chloride, you will both dislodge and kill odor-causing bacteria.
