http://www.articletrader.com/ Articles at ArticleTrader en-us http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/new-heart-health-findings-red-wine-for-gods-people.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/new-heart-health-findings-red-wine-for-gods-people.html Thu, 29 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600

In November 2007 the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a new study showing that after a month of drinking two glasses of wine each day, women had less inflammatory substances in their blood.


The researches looked at how wine may affect inflammation. Inflammation happens when the body responds to injury. Two major health risks--obesity and smoking--are two stressful things that cause inflammation in the body.


Although they do not cause as much inflammation as an injury, they cause enough constant low-level inflammation to build up plaque in the artery walls, according to the theories of researchers.


And it is believed that inflammation makes arteries more susceptible to rupture leading to blood clots which could cause heart attacks. Plaque and heart attacks are definitely two things you want to avoid.


These studies show how wine, and red wine in particular, may help heart health in a new way not known before now. Many studies have shown that wine drinkers tend to have lower incidences of heart disease than those who do not ever drink.


And research has shown that wine drinking raises good HDL cholesterol, which is one explanation for the lower rates of heart disease among wine drinkers. but is not the whole picture.


Researchers in this new study say they want to figure out just exactly how wine protects the heart. That way they can prove that there is a direct link between wine and heart health.


Studies have shown wine drinkers have better heart health, but wine may not be the reason. Wine drinkers may have a better diet or get more exercise or something else known to be a direct link to heart health.


In this study, 35 healthy women were taken, who were regular moderate wine drinkers. Each woman spent a month eating a heart-healthy diet without any wine at all.


Then followed a month of drinking a glass of red wine with 2 meals. Then a month of white wine followed the red wine. After the month of red wine their good cholesterol raised and inflammatory substances lowered.


Of course red wine had more of this good effect on the women than white wine. Red wine has more polyphenols which are the antioxidants famed to be found in it, and these may be what is reducing inflammation.


When you receive the Seal God will give you the ability to drink moderately--to truly drink to your health. More women die of heart disease each year than men, so anything to help heart health is needed.


If you have had trouble with drinking excessively and binge-drinking you may not feel you are able to drink red wine in moderate amounts. Of course you do not have to drink red wine for your health.


You could always drink green tea and get similar antioxidants. That will help your health too. But God wants you to break free of your addictions where you drank in an unworthy manner, and He will give you complete freedom from them when you receive the Seal.




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And now Jason would like to invite you to get your FREE report Are You Making These Mistakes as a Christian? and visit to learn about being sealed here
Jason Witt




Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/calorie-counter-the-easy-way-to-count-and-calculate-calories.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/calorie-counter-the-easy-way-to-count-and-calculate-calories.html Mon, 18 May 2009 19:18:32 -0500 What are Calories?

Calories are units of energy. They are measurements that will tell us the amount of energy that is released to our body when we eat. No doubt about it, to properly function, we do need calories and the energy they produce. Unfortunately, most people get too many, which then manifests itself in excess weight. A calorie is also the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius.
Why should we count calories?

The calories in our food come from sources such as proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Anyone who wants to lose weight will have to figure out where their calories are coming from and they will have to calculate the amount of calories allowed by their diet. This means, they will have to count calories to prevent overeating. A Calorie Counter can make this an easier task.

Many diets will suggest that portioning meals is the key to success. This may indeed be the case in a variety of weight management plans, yet it should not fly solo. Counting calories is equally important, because it will bring much needed awareness to what we eat. Just think about it, when it comes to our favorite foods, we often pretend to be blind or just don't know. Do you know exactly how much sugar, grease, and other weight-packing ingredients sneak into a triple chocolate fudge cake?

How can calories be counted?
The amount of calories consumed per day will largely determine how much weight a dieter will lose. Counting these calories can be accomplished in various ways. We can verify our daily calorie count by listing them on a piece of paper and adding them up every day, or we can use convenient, free food diaries and calorie counters online. These programs are easy to use, show great nutritional facts, and eliminate a lot of research and guesswork. Just type in any type of food and instantly the calorie counter will show you its calorie content. In addition, at alfitness.com.au you will find useful tables of exercises that can help you burn off these calories.

Calories and BMI
The best way to find out if you need to reduce your calorie intake is by checking your BMI, or Body Mass Index - a measure that compares our weight in relation to our height. This calculation will determine if you have too much body fat. A doctor or dietician can determine your body mass index, or you can type in your height and weight into easy-to-use online BMI counter. You will know your result instantly. Comparing it to a BMI chart will tell you if a diet would do you good. As you can see, knowing how many calories you consume will help reduce your BMI and can bring you back to a healthy weight range.


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Australian Lifestyle & Fitness offers free online calorie counter tools. They offer a food Calorie Counter & exercise calorie counter. Calorie counters help take the guesswork out of dieting.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/the-colour-blue-is-not-good-for-you.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/the-colour-blue-is-not-good-for-you.html Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0500
Why you and your kids should void the color blue in your food and drinks. Because there is increasing evidence that food colourings cause hyperactivity, reflux, and gas in children. Some people believe that any parent who suspects their child's behavior and health is linked to foods containing bright food colorings, such as blue, should ban these from their diet. Foods which are causing concern include fizzy drinks, party cakes, luridly colored sweets and popular drinks.

Researchers examined the impact of six artificial colourings blue, yellow, carmoisine, red, tartrazine and ponceau. They found the activity of children who consumed a mixture of these colourings was measurably affected. Some food industries have already taken action to remove colourings from food and supermarkets have introduced labeling on products that are free from artificial colourings. Parents whose children show signs of hyperactivity and reflux might want to think about removing these artificial colours from their diets. Use of blue colourings should be restricted in all foods, not just those for children. Other additives below should also be eliminated from children¢s diets as well:

Tartrazine: Found in: Soft drinks, ice-cream, and sweets, fish fingers. What it is: Synthetic dye mixed with blue dyes to produce shades of green Effects: Linked to allergic reactions, migraine, gas and blurred vision. With benzoic acid may cause hyperactivity in children.

QUNOLINE: Found in: Sweets, soft drinks. What it is: Synthetic dye derived from coal tar? Also used in cosmetics and as pigment for tattoos effects: Linked to dermatitis. It is also believed to cause hyperactivity and temper tantrums in children.

SUNSET YELLOW: Found in: Sweets, yoghurts, packet bread crumbs, cheap jam. What it is: Coal tar dye Effects: Blamed for triggering stomach upsets, colic, nettle rash and swelling of the skin and has been linked for some time with hyperactivity in children CARMOISINE Found in: Sweets, yoghurts, ices, blancmanges, marzipan What it is: Coal tar dye Effects: Said to trigger reactions such as nettle rash and water retention in people allergic to aspirin. Campaigners have argued that it can cause hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder in children.

PONCEAAU: Found in: Sweets, tinned fruits, jellies, deserts, cough medicines. What it is: Derived from coal tar Effects: Linked to difficulties for asthmatics and for people allergic to aspirin, as well as being said to cause hyperactivity in children.

ALLURA RED: Found in: Sweets, soft drinks, and condiments. What it is: Coal-tar-derived dye, often mixed with yellow dyes to produce an orange colour Effects: Linked to adverse reactions to people intolerant to aspirin and to hyperactivity in children as well.A multitude of food colourings should be banned from use in food and drink products, which would force manufacturers to find healthy alternatives. The government should launch an investigation to re-evaluate the safety of all authorized food additives, with colours the first ingredients to be under review.

Maybe the food and beverage industry could supply data on food colours as part of a government review. Among the colours that should be reviewed are the infamous tartrazine, brilliant blue and sunset yellow, which some experts have linked to hyperactivity in children, asthma, migraines, reflux and certain rashes. Also in the spotlight is cochineal, a red dye obtained by crushing beetles. Many companies are unable to find a natural alternative to the artificial blue colouring. I read that a three year survey on the impact on children of additives such as blue, yellow and tartrazine had shown that children tested were better behaved when the substances were removed from their diet. But an independent expert stated this evidence was not conclusive.

Also, blue food colouring are popular in food and drinks because blue is described as a favorite color by many people and is the color most preferred by children. Blue is often described as peaceful, tranquil, secure, and orderly. Some weight loss plans even recommend eating your food off of a blue plate, but blue rarely occurs naturally in food aside from blueberries and some plums. Some researchers suggest that the color blue can also lower the pulse rate and body temperature. So maybe that is why food and drinks blue in color attract people to purchase them.

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Andrew is a father and author of numerous articles on childcare, education, natural health, parenting and pregnancy. He is a Western distributor of Colic Calm, the highly acclaimed all natural Gripe Water available for colic babies and baby gas. More information can be found by visiting http://www.coliccalm.com

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/selecting-the-right-probiotic-is-the-key-to-proper-digestion.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/selecting-the-right-probiotic-is-the-key-to-proper-digestion.html Sat, 05 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Although some kinds of bacteria do cause illness and disease in humans such as strep throat, the majority of bacteria do not cause disease. Instead, they are actually beneficial and are used in the manufacturing of food and beverages like buttermilk, yogurt, cheese, sausage, and acidophilus milk. These same kinds of “good” bacteria can also be found in our intestines, where they help keep the digestive system running by digesting food and processing waste. Probiotics, or live bacteria that is non-toxic and does not cause disease, are found in yogurt, intestines, and most natural supplements.

Up until the middle of the last century, bacteria found in food ingredients naturally were used to make fermented food products such as cheese. This process was known as wild fermentation. However, this process is no longer used, as the probiotic bacteria found in food and natural supplements now are harvested through a highly controlled fermentation process resulting in high numbers of bacteria and ensuring quality and purity of the bacteria.

Probiotic bacteria are very important for digestive health. Normal microflora (intestinal bacteria) is associated with good health, as an imbalance in this natural microflora is linked to various disease states including yeast infections and cancer. By eating foods or taking a nutritional supplement containing probiotic bacteria, one can help support and modify the composition of the intestinal bacteria. These bacteria will offer protection against disease-causing bacteria, and stimulation of the immune system.

Lactose is an important sugar that is converted to lactic acid by lactic acid bacteria. Lactose intolerance results when there is an inability to digest lactose because of a failure of the small intestine mucosal cells to produce lactase, which is an enzyme needed in order to digest lactose. This is often caused by genetics, gastrointestinal disease, or a decline in the amount of intestinal lactase levels associated with aging. People who are deficient in lactase accumulate non-absorbed lactose in the GI tract, drawing water and electrolytes into the gut and speeding waste through the intestines which leads to bloating, cramping, and diarrhea. About 50 million people in the U.S. have partial or complete lactose intolerance. Lactic acid bacteria have been shown to help the breakdown of lactose by enhancing the activity of lactase and improving lactose digestion and tolerance.

Digestive enzymes including protease, amylase, and lipase act upon food by breaking it down into simpler components that can be used by the body for energy. Without these enzymes, digestion could not take place and the food that we eat could not be absorbed and utilized by our bodies. Probiotics help the digestive enzymes to digest food and process waste, working together to ensure that the digestive tract is running smoothly. When they are taken together, enzymes ensure greater levels of digestion and absorption of your food while probiotic bacteria aid the enzymes in the digestion while keeping problems in check.

However, ensuring a healthy digestive system is not the only use for probiotics. Probiotic bacteria have been found to prevent vaginal yeast infections in women that suffer from these reoccurring infections. Probiotics keep levels of Candida, a fungus component of the normal GI microflora, in check, preventing overgrowth which is associated with vaginal infections, oral thrush, or even serious systemic yeast infections. Probiotic bacteria have also been shown to have anti-cancer properties and significant benefits for inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Along with the above, probiotic supplementation can improve and prevent skin diseases such has eczema and actually control inflammation that is associated with skin conditions.

In order to ensure optimal support of the digestive system, probiotics should be replenished by consumption of foods containing probiotic bacteria or by taking a probiotic natural supplement, as probiotic bacteria do not permanently colonize in the body. Whatever form you choose to replenish the intestinal probiotics, they should be ingested daily to ensure their health-promoting effects. The critical factor to a good supplement is not how many bacteria that supplements contains, but how many bacteria reach the intestines healthy, vigorous, and ready to work. A good supplement will deliver at least 1 billion living, healthy probiotic bacteria to your intestines with each dose. The critical key to a good quality supplement is, once again, that the bacteria are alive and can colonize in the intestines. A good quality product will have guaranteed levels of live bacteria at the point of consumption rather than at the point of manufacture. To ensure that the bacteria are live at the point of consumption, look for a product that has a “use by” or “expiration” date clearly stated on the package. It is also important to look for a probiotic supplement that does not require refrigeration, as those that do have often been subjected to warm temperatures during shipment and storage that will kill off some or even all of the bacteria. Along with this, it is important that the label guarantees live bacteria at the time of purchase, not at the time of shipment or manufacturing. There is one scientifically validated process truly delivers live bacteria to the intestines by suspending the probiotic bacteria in a moist paste that seals the bacteria in a gelatin ball, completely protected from air and dryness, so the bacteria are alive until the specialized gelatin dissolves in the intestines. Because probiotic bacteria are anerobic, they do not require oxygen to live, and the presence of oxygen can actually injure or kill them. In addition, this coating which seals in the bacteria eliminates the need for the nutritional supplement to be refrigerated. However, it can be kept in the refrigerator if desired. By protecting the bacteria on the shelf and in the body, the probiotic can successfully reach the intestine, resulting in a greater number of healthy, intact bacteria to colonize in the intestine.


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Visit VitaNet Health Foods, VitaNet sells high quality supplements like Kal brand Best Probiotic to help aid digestion and reduce gas. Please link to this site when using this article.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/anti--aging-nutrients-for-your-body.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/anti--aging-nutrients-for-your-body.html Mon, 14 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Though there are some anti aging products in the market today, it is easy to ease the effects of aging by following a healthy diet of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Smoking should be refrained from and alcohol consumption should be maintained to moderation. Staying away from deserts and packaged foods help in slowing the aging process.

Some of the most famous anti aging products available in the market today are Superior Greens, Superior Reds and Superior Purples. These products provide the body with its required nutrients everyday. They help in detoxifying the body, improve the immunity system of the body, strengthens the muscles and tissues of the body, helps control stress, improves memory, improves the skin and circulatory systems and supports cardiovascular, neurological and eye functions.

Besides these Superior products, hope4healthonline offers other products that will help you improve your health like products meant to improve the health of children, men and women, joint and muscle support medication, antioxidants, eye care products and even weight loss products.

If you have a need for any of these products, or other health conditions, all you have to do is to visit hope4healthonline and choose the anti aging nutrients you need. You add them to your shopping cart, pay for the products and pretty soon you have all the products you need to look and feel younger without having to leave your home to get them.

When choosing an anti aging supplement, make sure it is a good quality supplement having certain important ingredients like Coenzyme Q10. This is an important part of healthy mitochondrial function that incorporates in the cell’s mitochondria to regulate the oxidation of fats and sugars into energy. On aging, a human beings level of CoQ10 reduces; this is why it is important to take this anti aging nutrient to become younger.

Alpha lipoid acid is a strong antioxidant that helps counteract the reactive free radicals found in the mitochondria. It is also effective in recycling antioxidants like Vitamin E into the original form after the detoxifying of free radicals.

Green tea is a very good anti aging nutrient with many biological benefits. It is very good in maintaining cellular DNA and membrane structural integrity with the antioxidants polyphenols and flavonols found in it. A cup of green tea gives ten to forty mg of polyphenols with antioxidant effects that are greater than a serving of strawberries, carrots, spinach and broccoli.

Acetyl L-carnitine helps boost mitochondrial energy by facilitating transport of fatty acid and the oxidation of the cell. This is basically a patented form of carnitine that is effective in stimulating the growth of neuritis in the brain. Vitamin E and C too are effective in restricting aging. This is because research has found that Vitamin E helps fight off free radicals.

While anti aging supplements can help supplement your body with important vitamins. Minerals and nutrients nothing will take the place of a healthy lifestyle and diet.

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Jon Phillips is an expert on Vitamins, Minerals and Herbs and Nutrients and Herbal Information.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/cutting-calories-for-a-healthy-diet.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/cutting-calories-for-a-healthy-diet.html Fri, 08 May 2009 14:02:32 -0500
One reason for the increased calorie intake is that more of us are eating out now than we used to. Fast food restaurants are everywhere, so it's cheap and easy to maintain a diet of high fat, high calorie foods. We are also eating out at traditional restaurants more often as two income families juggle busy schedules. Restaurant portions are typically large and contain high levels of unhealthy fats with little fiber or nutrients. These factors along with fewer opportunities for exercise, have all contributed to our expanding waistlines.

Below are a few tips for cutting calories on a daily basis.

The right combinations

One way you can deal with high calorie foods is to combine them with foods that are lower in calories. That way you will reduce total calorie intake. For example, combine a half of a sandwich with a large bowl of soup. Foods that are high in water content are a great way to lower total calories.

Smaller portions

Replace standard sized plates with smaller ones. Even though you fill up your plate, you will still be getting fewer calories. Eat more slowly because it can take several minutes for the brain to get the message that the stomach is full also, push away from the table before you feel completely full.

Start the day right

Just as your mother told you, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It can even be helpful to have a large breakfast. Some studies have shown that people who took in a greater number of calories early in the day, consumed fewer calories throughout the rest of the day. Conversely, those who had their biggest meal later in the day, consumed a greater number of calories throughout the day.

Snacking

There are a large number of unhealthy snacks available everywhere. Almost all workplaces have a vending machine in the break room. Most of this these foods are high in calories and low in nutrition. Take healthy snacks such as fresh or dried fruit to work so that you're not tempted by the unhealthy choices.

Eating out

When you do eat out, make better choices. Skip the soft drink and choose water instead. Order the cut fruit instead of french fries. Many restaurants now offer a "lighter" section that includes lower fat and carbohydrate entrées.

The healthiest diets are those that are rich in fruits, vegetables and fiber and are lower in calories. Select deeply colored fruits and vegetables such as spinach, kale, strawberries and blueberries. They have more vitamins and antioxidants. Check labels and be aware of how many calories you're taking in on a daily basis. Keeping a daily food log can help you see how many calories you're actually consuming each day.

By diluting high calorie foods with lower calorie ones, consuming smaller portions, eating breakfast and making healthier choices when snacking and eating out, we can all take steps to cut our daily calorie intake.



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Kevin Kielty lives in North Carolina and writes articles on health insurance. If you are looking for rate quotes on health insurance in North Carolina, visit Blue Cross Blue Shield NC (BCBSNC), also known as Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.


Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/weight-loss-miracle-self-hypnosis-plus-the-atkins-high-protein-system.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/weight-loss-miracle-self-hypnosis-plus-the-atkins-high-protein-system.html Mon, 17 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500
On this plan, dieters follow a very specific program based on limited carbohydrate intake. Emphasis is placed on the nutritional aspects of the diet over exercise and other factors, although getting physical activity is also a key to weight loss. There are four phases in the Atkins program:

Induction: During this two-week stage at the start of the diet program, dieters can only have up to 20 grams of carbohydrates per day. Dieters can ingest high protein foods such as meat and fish, fats such as oils and butter, and other foods with little to no carbohydrate content. Many foods containing carbohydrates are not allowed at all, including alcoholic beverages.

This initial phase is supposed to help the body switch from burning carbohydrates for energy, as it usually does, into burning stored up fat (the state known as ketosis). Most dieters start to see natural weight loss during this stage.

Ongoing Weight Loss: During this stage, dieters gradually increase their carbohydrate intake by adding 5 grams of carbohydrates into their diet every week. Dieters fine-tune their diet, losing weight to put themselves within 5-10 pounds of their target weight, before moving into the Pre-maintenance stage.

Pre-maintenance: Dieters use the Pre-maintenance phase to find out the maximum amount of carbohydrates they can consume without experiencing weight gain. During this stage, dieters increase carbohydrate intake by 10 grams a week. Once dieters reach their target weight and can keep it stable for a month, they move into the Lifetime Maintenance stage.

Lifetime Maintenance: For lasting results, the Atkins program is supposed to be maintained throughout the dieter's life. Using the strategies that helped the dieter reach their target weight, the dieter develops an eating and exercise plan to stay at their goal weight. Individuals can revert to previous stages if their weight starts to rise again.

Dieters who can commit to the Atkins diet are often successful in losing weight; unfortunately, many people are unable to keep following the program and end up quitting early on in the difficult induction stage. In general, most diet plans fail simply because dieters cannot stay on the plan.

Many people struggle with dieting because they experience strong food cravings, have problems with compulsive overeating, cannot control their appetites, or simply don't feel the motivation to lose weight. Overcoming these mental obstacles is the hardest part of losing weight.

One reason why many people cannot seem to control their eating is because they are emotional eaters. Such people eat in response to their emotions, such as when they are sad or angry. However, this eating style programs a "conditioned response" into the unconscious mind. This means that when individuals experience the same emotion that made them initially overeat, they will feel compelled to overeat again.

Hypnosis works by helping our unconscious minds disassociate our eating habits from our emotions. To eliminate the conditioned response to overeat, a hypnosis weight loss program is used to break the link in the unconscious mind between overeating and specific "trigger" behaviors.

For example, if you tend to binge eat when you get bored, hypnosis can disassociate boredom from eating in your unconscious mind. Hypnotherapy techniques can then be used to replace the compulsion to overeat with another activity, such as exercising. That way, the next time you suffer from boredom, instead of having an urge to overeat, you will feel motivated to engage in physical activity.

Hypnosis is an effective tool for stress relief as well, helping us deal with our stressful emotions and relieve tension without eating. As a relaxation tool, it calms the mind, helps you develop positive strategies to cope with stress, and boosts your self confidence to promote natural weight loss.

Hypnotherapy can also be used to remove the emotional stressors that keep you from losing weight. Many overweight people use their weight for emotional protection. For example, after ending a relationship, people often find themselves becoming overweight so they can avoid new relationships and avoid experiencing emotional pain again. Through hypnosis, we can turn our negative thoughts into positive ones and focus on having better health instead of becoming overwhelmed by our anxieties.

Not only is hypnosis an ideal motivation tool, it relieves tension, extinguishes the conditioned responses that trigger overeating, and can help you overcome the mental obstacles that prevent weight loss. Hypnosis techniques are extremely effective at helping people stick to a diet plan, such as the Atkins diet, and naturally lose weight.

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Alan B. Densky, CH is an NGH Certified Hypnotherapist. Visit the self-hypnosis website for Free NLP videos, newsletters, and downloads. He offers several ways to lose weight, including NLP to lose weight DVDs and weight loss hypnosis CDs.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/a-gluten-free-diet-can-affect-autism.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/a-gluten-free-diet-can-affect-autism.html Sun, 25 May 2008 00:00:00 -0500
The triggers of this disease are on the rise. More susceptible kids come in contact with triggers such as gluten. Kids exposed to toxins such as mercury, lead, pesticides, and second hand smoke have higher levels of autism. Some studies have reported many nutritional deficiencies in autism patients. Numerous studies have reported that supplemental nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, vitamins, and magnesium may provide moderate benefits to autism patients. Avoidance of glutens and other food chemicals may also provide some relief to autism patients.

• Evaluate the Diet
  
• Rebalance the nervous System
  
• Improve Intestinal Health

Allergies and intolerances to food and food additives may also play a role in autism. Elimination of potentially allergenic foods such as gluten has been tried on autistic children with mixed results. A Norwegian study found that 10 children with autism on a gluten-free diet for 1 year improved on autistic traits, cognition, and motor skills to a much greater extent than 10 children given a standard diet. Other studies have reported that children with autism have a significantly higher rate of increased intestinal permeability ("leaky gut syndrome") compared to controls.

I read that some researchers have suggested that oral probiotic bacteria supplements may be helpful in treating autism. The effect of refined sugar, food additives and gluten on autism patients is controversial, some studies showing that sugar and food additives can trigger worsened autism symptoms. A review of 16 studies with autism children found that sugar challenges were associated with worsened symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity in 4 studies, little change in 11 studies, and improvement in Autism symptoms in 1 study. Diets free of food coloring, food preservatives, and gluten have been widely used to treat children with autism since they were introduced in the 1970s. I also read that a meta-analysis of 15 double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in patients with autism reported that artificial colors such as tartrazine significantly increased autism symptoms. Of the 15 individual studies, 5 stated that food colors and gluten were associated with significantly increased autism symptoms, 8 showed that food colors and gluten were associated with no significant increases in autism symptoms, and 2 showed that food colors an gluten were associated with no significant decreases in autism symptoms.

Besides gluten and food colors, other dietary components that could possibly worsen autism symptoms include food preservatives such as benzoate, nitrates, and monosodium glutamate as well as food that naturally contains salicylates (such as almonds, oranges, raspberries, apples, cherries, grapes, peaches, strawberries, cucumbers, plums, and tomatoes).

Autism appears to involve a broad range of genetic, prenatal, social, developmental, nutritional, and environmental factors and it is unlikely that only 1 single cause will be found for either disorder. Multiple treatment modalities are probably needed to treat patients with autism and may include nutritional, environmental, pharmacologic, and psychosocial interventions.

All children born to this wonderful planet have obstacles to overcome. To children with autism, these obstacles may appear more difficult. These beautiful and wonderful children require tender coaxing back into the world so that they might experience the magnificence that life has to offer.

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Authors:

Andrew Van Vooren, a husband and family man whom firmly believes in natural colic remedies for infants. Andrew has authored numerous articles on the topics of colic in babies and infant reflux. He confidently believes in using homeopathic products to relieve many infant discomforts

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/insights-into-diet-and-health.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/insights-into-diet-and-health.html Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500
A de-based sense of taste can be redeemed, returned to its higher purpose.


There are different times of the day when the body craves different elements. It varies with each individual, but there is also a general pattern.

In the morning, the body most craves whole grain; at noon raw vegetables; in the evening lightly cooked vegetables, with greens as a staple nutrient-bearer.



The more “live” a vegetable or fruit is, the more enhanced is its etheric energy, the life force of the plant world. However, predominantly raw food diets are met best by a healthy etheric force in the individual eating them. If one’s etheric is depleted, by either illness or exhaustion, lightly cooked foods are easier to assimilate. For most people a balance of raw and cooked works best.

Experiments with live foods (raw, sprouted, and such) show that graying hair can be reversed. Also, there are numerous accounts of the reversal of debilitating illnesses.



Plants can be looked at as the inverse of the human form.

Root - head
Stem, leaves, - rhythmic system
Flowers, fruits - metabolic

If a person is suffering from an ailment that resides principally in the head region - headaches, etc - then the body will benefit from ingesting more root vegetables. If the lungs or heart are an issue, then more of leafy and stem parts of the plant. And if the issue entails the metabolic organs, or limb system, then the body can benefit from more fruits and “flower” vegetable portions - such as broccoli, cauliflower, etc.



The potato is not a root, but a tuber. Roots are far more optimal for nutrient needs.

The potato feeds a part of the brain that causes one to become more materialistic in one’s thinking. Further, potatoes are debilitating in a general way, and also specifically debilitating for eyesight. One would make out better if one ate the skins of potatoes and threw away the white portions - but unfortunately, the other way around is the usual custom.



Mass meat products, including “prison-raised” chickens, pigs, beef, and other crowded and abused species, carry negative karma for those engaged in the trade, support, or consumption. Is it really worth it to buy such products on the basis of “it’s cheaper”?

Further, the “cheaper” turns out to be quite the opposite - when one considers overall costs to health and shortfall of nutrients per volume purchased.

In the end, both the karmic price and the health price is exponentially higher than the monetary price.


The same is true for most non-organically raised food of all kinds. Do we want to contribute to depletion of the Earth, or sustain and amend the Earth? Even when one frames the issue purely in terms of self-interest, one only needs to consider the masses of overweight people who are continually stuffing themselves, yet always hungry - they are not getting the nutrients the body needs, so they keep eating, caught in a vicious cycle.


A further note on the meat industry: beef has been linked to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Because of the spongiform condition (Mad Cow related) created by both foolish cattle feed practices and long term debilitating animal husbandry, consumption of beef could be creating the spongiform condition in the human brain, a condition that may not show up for many years.

Better options include bison, wild game, organic poultry, or fish. In the case of fish, the smaller the better, as toxins augment in the food chain (which means the lowly sardine is now king). Some tins of tuna now contain the maximum level of mercury recommended to ingest in a year (in a single tin!).

Even better than the above, go with the leading edge of evolution and make your diet increasingly vegetarian. Vegetarian diets require forty times less acreage than meat-eating diets, and the leading edge of human evolution is becoming more responsible in the arena of animal-human relationships.



Certain food habits create layers of waste in the intestines that act to block transfer of nutrients. White grains are akin to glue - rice, flour, all white grains. As well, the widespread habit of combining milk or cream with coffee or tea creates a substance that is equal to leather, it is indigestible and adds to the layers of “skins” that line the intestines. Colonics, and other cleansing practices, can re-establish a clear intestinal tract. Once clear, the amount of food required to meet nutritional needs drops, thus saving money and resources.

A big factor of the current world food crisis (2008) is due to the white grain issue. The vast majority of people in the world consume these watered down versions of grain. A person can eat three times as much white grain as whole grain, and still does not feel fed. Less nutrients, plus blockage, equals a wider net of starvation and illness.



Many foods are actually not ingested, but are reproduced, or “copied” by the bodily forces in the digestive tract. For example, when protein is eaten:

one) the body can only assimilate about 1/4 to 1/3 of a pound at a time - if more is consumed it is not only wasted, but can create a barrier to assimilation as it lies rotting in the intestines. And,

two) the forces of assimilation actually “copy” the protein that is passing by on the other side of the intestinal wall (versus assimilating it across the intestinal tract). The blood stream reproduces the protein molecules out of various components taken in else-wise (e.g, nitrogen and oxygen brought in through the lungs, hydrogen through drinking water, etc.). But because “memory” forces don’t inhabit the assimilation process, it has to have the protein passing through on a daily basis (unless the body learns to manifest memory forces in the assimilation process, that is. Voila! The breatharians! - so that’s how they do that. . . ).



Because the body can only assimilate1/4 to 1/3 pound of protein at a time, and the rest remains as waste, straining and toxifying the body, the notion of needing more protein when living a more active lifestyle may be partially true, but is over-rated. Even when a body is very active, working hard day by day, the1/4 to 1/3 pound limit still applies - it just means that instead of protein input once or twice a day, it calls for an extra serving.


A tomato picked ripe off the vine has significant life-enhancing forces, especially when eaten in tandem with other raw vegetables, as in a salad - the vitality of the other vegetables is synergistically enhanced. However, if picked green and allowed to ripen off the vine, the tomato’s forces are reversed, so that it becomes debilitating to the human system.

Yet, again, if subsequently cooked, it’s forces become neutralized, so that it is safe (although not the nutrient-enhancer of the fully vine-ripened tomato).



Raisins, and other dried fruit, soaked for 24 hours attain a higher level of etheric energy, become enhanced in vitality.


Fruits are “eliminants,” or cleansers, and are meant to be eaten alone, between meals, as most other food works in the opposite arena to eliminations - that is, as a binder.



When grain is “exploded” - as in puffed rice, wheat, etc - most of its nutrients are destroyed.



There is such a thing as getting too fussy with one’s food. A test study of blemishes on members of the brassica plant family (cabbage, broccoli, kale, etc.) revealed anti-cancer agents, and immune system boosting elements.



Wheat has, by and large, been ruined as a food. The original DNA chain on wheat was a basic 8-link chain. But because of excessive hybridization over decades for so many factors - drought, productivity, disease resistance, etc - wheat’s DNA has been stretched to a complex 30-something chain - too convoluted for the human body to digest without complications. Whether aware of it or not, most people are allergic to this product.

At this time, there are many good alternatives - spelt, kamut, and even rye is still fairly decent. Most other grains are fine, too, if grown organically (biodynamic is even better) and eaten in whole form.



Different grains have different influences on the human body. There is a continuum of effects on the quality of energy that runs through the various grains. On one end, there is rice, which has a light, airy, somewhat “ungrounding” effect, while the more bread-type grains – spelt, kamut, rye, have more of a grounding effect. Oats, barley and millet lie midway along the continuum. Every individual has to sense for themselves what combination of grains is optimal for their own system.



Alcohol once served a purpose in human evolution. Now it is largely passé. Alcohol sends the spirit out of the body, in effect, takes the place of spirit. (notice how hard liquor is referred to as “spirits”!) That’s one reason why it is so prevalent in a social fabric such as ours, with its materialistic bent, to the point of being considered a norm.

There are those who laud alcohol - “a drink a day prolongs life.” But there is “life” and there is life. These kinds of drinker’s codes serve to enable the habit. There are plenty of alternatives to substances that will effectively prolong one’s life - Qi-gong, for one (and it has numerous other benefits to boot - see Enhancing Etheric Energy). Beware the remedy-popping/substance quaffing route - think, rather, in terms of attaining one’s optimal state as a result of one’s own efforts and disciplined practices.

As to longevity, Mozart lived to age 34, but his life was worth more than a thousand alcohol-soused lives living until age 94!

Give me life while I’m living, not some long-stretching stupor. . . .


Chi/prana/etheric energy - now lives in the thinking. Using the mind to enhance the subtle energy field that radiates through the chakras, one can direct freely-accessible universal energy to pour in and augment one’s own limited resource. When used with movement exercises, the practice brings the astral element into play, harmonizing the etheric and astral interweave, integrating, and enhancing.



Closing notes:

Periods of hunger through the day are beneficial for health. When in a state of hunger, the body creates white blood cells, boosting the immune system. It is known that overweight dogs have a greater incidence of tumors than lean dogs.

Opting for organic foods is actually cheaper in the long run, not more expensive. One needs less food, receives more nutrients. As well, there is less of a weight problem - people who eat substandard food are always hungry, eat all the time, but are not fed. Organic food has more nutrients. A person who buys unprocessed food saves money, too. Over 80% of the items in supermarkets are pointless, money-draining products.

Eating organic means less need to spend money on remedies for one’s health. More energy and well-being translate into more income at one’s work.

Also, karmic wealth builds as one goes more organic - caring for the land, the Earth, pays spiritual dividends.



As Steiner pointed out, to paraphrase, all healthy processes are natural, and all diseased processes are natural.

And the illness is the remedy for the soul. (See Anthroposophical Medicine.)

An example of an ailment as a cure for a soul level condition is a shoulder issue. If one is only concerned with regaining mobility and function, and trying to hurry through the healing, one can miss out on the metaphysical payout. In any event, all the efforts spent to overcome the ailment strengthen the will forces - later, one is able to “shoulder” things better, perhaps able to “shoulder what life hands out,” or “shoulder the feminine/left side (or masculine/right side) of life’s issues.”



To view the full article, visit the Insight21 website.



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J Graf is the coordinator of Earth Vision and Insight21 - doorways for the 21st Century - at http://www.evsite.net and http://www.insight21.net

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]> http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/diabetes-and-glyco-nutrients.html http://www.articletrader.com/health/nutrition/diabetes-and-glyco-nutrients.html Tue, 10 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500
Glyconutritionals are eight essential carbohydrates that have just recently been discovered to be essential for cellular communication. These simple sugars are actually monosaccharides which are responsible for cellular communication. Through these simple sugars, glyconutrients, allow your cells to communicate or "talk" with each other. This is extremely important because the body's cells are the building blocks of its entire structure and physiology.

Ever wondered why you feel tired? When your cells are healthy, your tissues and organs are also healthy. This allows to a healthy body and overall wellness. This means fewer health problems.

This means that no matter how poor your state of health, it does not matter because glyconutrients work to help the core of the problem: the trillions of cells in the body. They balance the body's make up and lay a solid foundation for good health. When the root of the problem is addressed, the body will have no choice but to be healthy. Glyconutrients and an improved diet may help anyone.

Studies show that the glyconutrients work to repair damaged cells and improve the communication between cells. This strengthens the immune system and rebuilds the body from the ground up. To learn more about glyconutrients, check out this site: http://www.ifoundhealth.com

Do not make the mistake of confusing sugar with these vital sugars. Glyconutrients are essential sugars and are necessary for proper body function. Additionally, there are several myths that surround diabetes that should be broken down. First of all,One falsehood is that many people believe that eating too much sugar will cause diabetes. This is false. While being overweight can be one contributing factor to developing health challenges, eating too much sugar does not. Of course, eating a healthy diet and maintaining regular exercise are very good for staying healthy though.

Another popular myth is that people with health challenges are not able to eat any sweets. This is false. While some sugar is OK, such a person does need to keep an eye on it somewhat. As long as the person maintains a healthy diet and engages in regular exercise, there is no reason that they can not have some sugar. In fact, people that are on insulin or medications may need to eat high sugar foods sometimes to keep their blood glucose levels from dropping too low.

With around 350,000 scientific, peer reviewed papers that are written about glyconutrients, many people wonder why they or their doctor have not yet heard of these life-changing products. The reason is because the discovery is so new. Before the electron microscope, this kind of discovery would never have been possible.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Glyconutrients are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. But there is a connection between proper health and a good diet.

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Contact Spencer Hunt at his site for a Free Phone Consultation: http://www.ifoundhealth.com

Spencer Hunt is a glyconutrients distributor who helps his clients to get the best results from their glyconutrition supplementation.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com ]]>