Name of the Remedy/Essence
|
Main Symptom which it helps
|
| Agrimony | Hiding problems behind a cheerful face |
| Aspen | Vague and undefinable fears |
| Beech | Intolerant of others, critical |
| Centaury | Weak-willed, easily led, unable to say no |
| Cerato | Not trusting one’s own judgement, always asking others for advice |
| Cherry Plum | Fear of Losing control |
| Chestnut | Bud Failure to learn from past mistakes |
| Chicory | Possessive, Over-protective |
| Clematis | Dreaminess, lack of interest in the present |
| Crab Apple | Poor Self-Image, Sense of uncleanliness |
| Elm | Overwhelmed by responsibility |
| Gentian | Discouragement, Despondency |
| Gorse | Despair, Hopelessness |
| Heather | Self-centered, Talkative, Always talking about one-self |
| Holly | Envious, jealous, hatred, lack of love |
| Honeysuckle | Dwells on the past,nostalgic |
| Hornbeam | Mental weariness, doubting one’s ability to cope, but doing well once taken up. |
| Impatiens | Impatience |
| Larch | Lack of confidence |
| Mimulus | Fear of specific known things |
| Mustard | Deep gloom with no origin, Depression |
| Oak | Exhausted but struggles on |
| Olive | Lack of Energy, exhaustion of body and Mind |
| Pine | Self-reproach, guilt |
| Red Chestnut | Fear or over concern for others |
| Rock Rose | Terror |
| Rock Water | Rigid, inflexible, self-denial |
| Scleranthus | Uncertainty, Indecision |
| Star of Bethlehem | After effects of Shock |
| Sweet Chestnut | Extreme Mental Anguish |
| Vervain | Over enthusiasm |
| Vine | Assertive, dominating,inflexible |
| Walnut | Protective from change and outside influences |
| Water Violet | Proud, Aloof |
| White Chestnut | Unwanted thoughts,mental arguments |
| Wild Oat | Uncertainty as to correct path in life |
| Wild Rose | Resignation, apathy |
| Willow | Self-pity, Resentment |
| Rescue Remedy | For emergency |
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Bach Flower Remedies and their Common Indications
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Wednesday, November 03, 2010
Diet based on Yogis - Yogic Diet
Yogis use food to detox and unblock their systems before starting meditation. The rest of us can borrow from their diet ideas to feel light and bright too.
"Most people dig their graves with their own teeth," writes Yogacharya Omkar Nath.
In Delhi you can hardly leave home without being assailed by food. Unfortunately, street food is all rajasik and tamasik. "Rakshasik," says yoga instructor Ashutosh Thakur, with a shudder: "Where there is swaad, there is no swasthya."
The body is composed of five elements: earth, water, sunlight or fire, air and ether or space. Food, too, is a combination of these elements and, taken in the right manner, is the best way of keeping a person healthy and energetic.
Your body should tell you when to eat, rather than the clock or your palate. Eating in a relaxed way -- around a table with your family -- is best. Watching a horror movie on HBO as you eat your dinner is a bad idea.
Eat satvik foods. Foods that increase age, intellect, strength, health, happiness and affection, those which are by nature pleasing to the mind are all satvik, according to the Bhagavad Gita.
Meat of any kind is strictly forbidden because it is acidic in nature. The body needs a balance of acid (20 per cent) and alkali (80 per cent), for which it needs the best combination of protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, natural salts and roughage.
Sprouts attract almost fanatical devotion from yoga practitioners. Since they are alkaline they help balance an acidic diet, and they contain every food group.
"Eat the liquids and drink the solids," says Omkar Nath. He means: chew solids into a paste, and hold liquids in the mouth for a moment before swallowing. If you chew and swallow too quickly, the work of the teeth and saliva remains incomplete. As a result, the stomach and intestine have to work harder. Besides, you might miss some of the flavour.
"After you eat, the stomach should be filled half with food, one-fourth with water and the rest with air," says Ashutosh Thakur.
Overeating results in food putrefying in the gut, and strains the intestinal muscles. If you eat simply, you'll be less likely to overeat.
In yoga, diet is just the starting point. Yogis do not progress to meditation without having first rid their bodies of toxins. This is the real purpose of the whole physical aspect of yoga.
Following a yoga diet will keep you feeling light and healthy. You will find new respect for your entire body, not just the parts of it that you can work on at the gym.
BREAKFAST:
1/2 grapefruit
1 slice whole wheat toast
8 oz glass skim milk
LUNCH:
4 oz lean broiled chicken breast
1 cup steamed zucchini
1 Oreo cookie
MID-AFTERNOON SNACK:
rest of the package of Oreo cookies
1 quart Rocky Road ice cream
1 jar hot fudge
DINNER:
2 loaves garlic bread
1 large pepperoni & mushroom pizza
1 large pitcher of beer
3 Milky Way candy bars
1 entire cheesecake
DIET TIPS:
1. If no one sees you eat it, it has no calories
2. If you drink a diet soda with a candy bar, they cancel each other out.
3. When eating with someone else, calories dont count if you both eat the same amount.
4. Foods used for medicinal purpose have no calories.These include any chocolate used for energy,brandy, cheesecake, and ice cream.
5. Cookie pieces contain no calories, because breakage causes the calories to leak out.
6. If you eat food from someone else's plate, the calories don't count.
7. Movie related snacks are much lower in calories because they are part of the entertainment, and not ones of personal fuel.
"Most people dig their graves with their own teeth," writes Yogacharya Omkar Nath.
In Delhi you can hardly leave home without being assailed by food. Unfortunately, street food is all rajasik and tamasik. "Rakshasik," says yoga instructor Ashutosh Thakur, with a shudder: "Where there is swaad, there is no swasthya."
The body is composed of five elements: earth, water, sunlight or fire, air and ether or space. Food, too, is a combination of these elements and, taken in the right manner, is the best way of keeping a person healthy and energetic.
Your body should tell you when to eat, rather than the clock or your palate. Eating in a relaxed way -- around a table with your family -- is best. Watching a horror movie on HBO as you eat your dinner is a bad idea.
Eat satvik foods. Foods that increase age, intellect, strength, health, happiness and affection, those which are by nature pleasing to the mind are all satvik, according to the Bhagavad Gita.
Meat of any kind is strictly forbidden because it is acidic in nature. The body needs a balance of acid (20 per cent) and alkali (80 per cent), for which it needs the best combination of protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, natural salts and roughage.
Sprouts attract almost fanatical devotion from yoga practitioners. Since they are alkaline they help balance an acidic diet, and they contain every food group.
"Eat the liquids and drink the solids," says Omkar Nath. He means: chew solids into a paste, and hold liquids in the mouth for a moment before swallowing. If you chew and swallow too quickly, the work of the teeth and saliva remains incomplete. As a result, the stomach and intestine have to work harder. Besides, you might miss some of the flavour.
"After you eat, the stomach should be filled half with food, one-fourth with water and the rest with air," says Ashutosh Thakur.
Overeating results in food putrefying in the gut, and strains the intestinal muscles. If you eat simply, you'll be less likely to overeat.
In yoga, diet is just the starting point. Yogis do not progress to meditation without having first rid their bodies of toxins. This is the real purpose of the whole physical aspect of yoga.
Following a yoga diet will keep you feeling light and healthy. You will find new respect for your entire body, not just the parts of it that you can work on at the gym.
DIET TO FOLLOW..
BREAKFAST:
1/2 grapefruit
1 slice whole wheat toast
8 oz glass skim milk
LUNCH:
4 oz lean broiled chicken breast
1 cup steamed zucchini
1 Oreo cookie
MID-AFTERNOON SNACK:
rest of the package of Oreo cookies
1 quart Rocky Road ice cream
1 jar hot fudge
DINNER:
2 loaves garlic bread
1 large pepperoni & mushroom pizza
1 large pitcher of beer
3 Milky Way candy bars
1 entire cheesecake
DIET TIPS:
1. If no one sees you eat it, it has no calories
2. If you drink a diet soda with a candy bar, they cancel each other out.
3. When eating with someone else, calories dont count if you both eat the same amount.
4. Foods used for medicinal purpose have no calories.These include any chocolate used for energy,brandy, cheesecake, and ice cream.
5. Cookie pieces contain no calories, because breakage causes the calories to leak out.
6. If you eat food from someone else's plate, the calories don't count.
7. Movie related snacks are much lower in calories because they are part of the entertainment, and not ones of personal fuel.
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
11 Great Ways to Reduce Stress
Stress is a big challenge in life now-a-days.
The sources of stress are many and the helpful ways to reduce stress are also plentiful.
Common symptoms of stress include skin problems, stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, fatigue, insomnia and frustration.
Common symptoms of stress include skin problems, stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, fatigue, insomnia and frustration.
We don't need to set a time to reduce stress, we need to incorporate some strategies in our daily life routine to prevent stress and reduce its effect on the body.
Here are 11 simple steps we can easily take to reduce stress:
1. Define your goals: we must define our life goals and begin to achieve these goals; this action will support us against stress because we will feel that we know what our life purpose is and why, and that we control our own lives.
2. Take control of your diet: we can use simple ways in our diet plans to reduce stress by avoiding some stimulants such as coffee, alcohol, tea and sugar and we can use chamomile tea as an alternative because of its calming and relaxing effect.
We need to eat slowly in a calm environment to allow our digestive system to work well.
We can use honey as an alternative to sugar but in small amounts (one or two spoonfuls per day).
We need to eat slowly in a calm environment to allow our digestive system to work well.
We can use honey as an alternative to sugar but in small amounts (one or two spoonfuls per day).
3. Take hot baths regularly: after a very busy day or when we feel that we need to relax (I do this three times a week).
You can take a hot bath by sitting in warm to hot water and the water level should be above the waist, using lavender oil can also enhance this relaxing experience.
You can take a hot bath by sitting in warm to hot water and the water level should be above the waist, using lavender oil can also enhance this relaxing experience.
4. Aromatherapy: in the office you can use aromatherapy to relax and avoid stress.
One of the best ways is to use lavender oil on a source of heat and take in the scent; this is a great way to relax during the day when you need it the most.
One of the best ways is to use lavender oil on a source of heat and take in the scent; this is a great way to relax during the day when you need it the most.
5. Exercise: This is one of the important things you can do which will reduce stress and bring happiness.
When we exercise, our brains release substances which bring feelings of happiness and relaxation; we need engage in some exercise regularly such as walking, dancing or swimming.
When we exercise, our brains release substances which bring feelings of happiness and relaxation; we need engage in some exercise regularly such as walking, dancing or swimming.
6. Breathing techniques: Yoga, meditation and Tai Chi all use deep breathing techniques.
To meditate, simply sit with closed eyes and concentrate on your breathing.
Breathing deeply regularly is great for health and from there, you can learn various other breathing techniques to gain enhanced benefits.
To meditate, simply sit with closed eyes and concentrate on your breathing.
Breathing deeply regularly is great for health and from there, you can learn various other breathing techniques to gain enhanced benefits.
7. Relaxation techniques and self hypnotherapy: we can easily do this after the hot bath to relax even more, simply sit or lie down in a comfortable place with your eyes closed, imagine there is a spot light above your head and concentrate on it, then concentrate on your body part by part and try to relax the body and feel the relaxation deepening -- you can also use a self hypnotherapy audio tape to help in this process.
8. Massage: this is a great way to reduce stress, I do this when other ways fail, I feel better after receiving a massage.
You can get a professional massage or you can simply ask your partner to massage you.
You can get a professional massage or you can simply ask your partner to massage you.
9. Spiritual healing: prayers and the act of helping others are very important components for happiness and stress reduction.
You will feel calmer and have a sense of inner peace.
You will feel calmer and have a sense of inner peace.
10. Talking through your problems: talking about your feelings acts as a releasing mechanism and you will soon find that talking about your problems with your partner or best friend may help the solution to the problem come to light and will help to release blocked emotions.
11. Multivitamins: I take a Vitamin B complex regularly to decrease stress and this has been a great help in my stress reduction.
I hope that you find these suggestions helpful, my hope in sharing this information with you is that you can benefit from it.
Lifestyle Changes reduce Diabetes Risk
Lifestyle changes like losing weight, reducing fat intake, eating more fibre and exercising 30 minutes a day help reduce the incidence of diabetes.
Researchers from the National Public Health Institute in Helsinki, Finland found that lifestyle changes not only reduce the odds of high-risk people developing type 2 diabetes but can also postpone the onset of the illness. An intensive lifestyle intervention lasting for a limited time can yield long-term benefits in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.
About 194 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes and public health experts predict the number could reach more than 300 million by 2025. Most cases are of type 2 diabetes, which occurs due to the inability to regulate glucose (sugar) in the body. Diabetes also raises risk of heart disease, stroke, blindness and kidney damage, so preventing or delaying the illness can have huge health benefits.
The researchers compared the effects of lifestyle changes on more than 500 men and women in Finland with impaired glucose tolerance, a precursor to full-blown diabetes. Half were given intensive diet and exercise counseling while the other half acted as a control group.
During a 7-year follow up of the patients, the researches found a significant difference between the two groups. There was about a 15-20 percent reduction in diabetes risk in the intervention group. The lifestyle intervention alone, even if successful, does not necessarily prevent type 2 diabetes in all individuals, but it does postpone the onset of the disease.
Stressing on the importance whole grains, experts have claimed that incorporating them in the diet can lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke and certain cancers.
Lona Sandon, assistant professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern Medical Center and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, says that it’s important for people to keep whole grains in their daily diet.
"Research shows that whole grains are good for your heart, lower risk of diabetes and stroke, and may help prevent certain cancers. They also help in managing weight," she said.
Sandon said that whole grains are chock full of good-for-you nutrients including fiber, folate and niacin, vital B vitamins, and magnesium.
"The phytochemicals found in whole grains have been shown to have health promoting and disease prevention benefits," she added.
Sandon recommended that adults aim for three servings, or 48 grams, of whole grains a day.
She advised that people should by rule look for the words "Made with whole grain" and "100 percent whole grain" on packages.
She gave other going-with-the-grain tips, which include swapping whole wheat breadstuffs for white rolls and breads, using whole wheat bread crumbs for stuffing.
Adding wild rice or brown rice to dishes as well as serving whole wheat crackers with hors d’oeuvres can also ensure that there is a good amount of whole grains in your diet.
Dietary considerations can present a Hobson's choice in diabetes. Even when the intake is nutritious, assimilating it can be another matter. Then there is the problem of progression of diabetic complications if one ends up with excess glucose or fat in the system. Excess carbohydrates in a meal, and the resulting uncontrolled blood sugar levels can be detrimental to any number of tissues, from the lens of the eye, to the neurons, small blood vessels and the kidneys. Fat is also a problem with increase incidences of atherosclerosis, large vessel disease and cardiac complications. What, then is the appropriate macronutrient for the diabetic population? Enough medical literature exists to suggest that in diabetes, proteins are probably the best bet.
Proteins are the natural choice of the body when faced with diabetes. In uncontrolled diabetes, muscle protein is broken down into amino acids to be converted into glucose by the liver. If left to fend for itself, this can create a commotion within the body. Since proteins have to supply enough energy to substitute for carbohydrates, proteins are broken down faster than they are made. The body ends up with a protein deficit, a situation with subtle, yet far-reaching effects on normal body functions. Importantly, for diabetics, a protein deficit has been shown to impair resistance to infections (Ganong WF). Replenishing the depleting protein stores is a vital requirement of all diabetic diets.
Importance of proteins in a diabetic has been well documented. The American Associations of Clinical Endocrinologists have made it clear that not much evidence exists to indicate that the patients with diabetes need to reduce their intake of dietary proteins. The AACE recommends that 10-20% of the calorie intake in diabetes should come from proteins (AACE Diabetes Guidelines). It is in fact believed that this is one nutrient that does not increase blood glucose levels in both diabetics and healthy subjects (Gannon et al).
Nutrition therapy for diabetes has progressed from prevention of obesity or weight gain to improving insulin's effectiveness and contributing to improved metabolic control (Franz MJ). In this new role, a high protein diet (30% of total food energy) forms a very pertinent part of nutrition therapy. One of the most important causes for type II diabetes is obesity. Excess body fat raises insulin resistance and higher levels of insulin are required to bring down blood sugars as the weight increases (Ganong WF).
Another problem with excess fat is the clogging of arteries with atherosclerotic plaques that is responsible for a wide range of diabetic complications. Any mechanism that reduces body fat decreases insulin resistance and improves blood glucose control. Parker et al have also shown that a high protein diet decreased abdominal and total fat mass in women with type II diabetes.
Other studies by Gannon et al. and Nuttall et al have verified that blood glucose levels and glycosylated hemoglobin (a marker of long term diabetic control) reduce after 5 weeks on a diet containing 30% of the total food energy in the form of proteins and low carbohydrate content. It is speculated that a high protein diet has a favorable effect in diabetes due to the ability of proteins and amino acids to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas. Thus, a high protein diet is not only safe in diabetes, but can also be therapeutic, resulting in improved glycemic control, and decreased risk of complications related to diabetes.
The benefits of a high protein diet do not end here. Individual protein components of such a diet, when aptly chosen, can have other advantages as well. Dietary supplements containing proteins like whey and casein come highly recommended. Casein is a milk protein and has the ability to form a gel or clot in the stomach. The ability to form this clot makes it very efficient in nutrient supply. The clot is able to provide a sustained, slow release of amino acids into the blood stream, sometimes lasting for several hours (Boirie et al. 1997). A slow sustained release of nutrients matches well with the limited amount of insulin that can be produced by the pancreas in diabetes. A protein supplement containing casein can thus increase the amount of energy assimilated from every meal and, at the same time, reduce the need for pharmacological interventions to control blood sugar.
Whey proteins and caseins also contain "casokinins" and "lactokinins', (FitzGerald) which have been found to decrease both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hypertensive humans (Seppo). In addition, whey protein forms bioactive amine in the gut that promotes immunity. Whey protein contains an ample supply of the amino acid cysteine. Cysteine appears to enhance glutathione levels, which has been shown to have strong antioxidant properties -- antioxidants mop up free radicals that induce cell death and play a role in aging.
Thus, development of a protein supplement containing casein and whey can provide an apt high protein diet and its health benefits to individuals suffering from diabetes, obesity and hyper-cholesterolemia.
By the time many type 2 diabetics (and often their doctors) realize action is necessary, the disease, with its destructive high blood sugars, has been silently damaging their body for years.
Complications to the blood vessels and tissues of your eyes, feet, heart, kidneys, and other organs, are likely well underway.
You visit the doctor because you feel bad, and you wish to feel better. You react to the symptoms of perceived illness. This is understandable, but does not allow much room for prevention or early detection of diabetes.
Of course this idea, "Don't see the doctor 'til it hurts," comes from our "busier-then-ever" lifestyles. But to blame, to point fingers after the damage has started is as pointless as is the leaping bungee-jumper's complaint that his equipment has just failed. It's a little late to talk about why. Some problems are better prevented.
If you have type 2 diabetes, you know most of the time you don't feel very bad. You might think that because you don't feel very bad, it isn't very serious, and you don't have to do anything about it just now. "I'll wait 'til it hurts" ...You couldn't be more wrong.
Diabetes damages your body with high blood sugars. It doesn't care whether your sugars are high from type 2, type 1, or some other cause - if they're up, they're doing damage. Type 2 diabetics who let their sugars run "because they don't feel bad" are doing serious damage to their eyes, kidneys, hearts, and nervous systems.
Suppose you have diabetes, and don't want the complications. Suppose you don't know you have diabetes, but you're from a high-risk group (maybe someone in your family has or had diabetes), and you want to cut the risks. Or, suppose you just want to feel better.
It's all the same - Your early detection, education, and prevention work best.
Don't wait 'til it hurts. Ask your doctor about diabetes and have your blood sugar checked several times a year.
Researchers from the National Public Health Institute in Helsinki, Finland found that lifestyle changes not only reduce the odds of high-risk people developing type 2 diabetes but can also postpone the onset of the illness. An intensive lifestyle intervention lasting for a limited time can yield long-term benefits in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.
About 194 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes and public health experts predict the number could reach more than 300 million by 2025. Most cases are of type 2 diabetes, which occurs due to the inability to regulate glucose (sugar) in the body. Diabetes also raises risk of heart disease, stroke, blindness and kidney damage, so preventing or delaying the illness can have huge health benefits.
The researchers compared the effects of lifestyle changes on more than 500 men and women in Finland with impaired glucose tolerance, a precursor to full-blown diabetes. Half were given intensive diet and exercise counseling while the other half acted as a control group.
During a 7-year follow up of the patients, the researches found a significant difference between the two groups. There was about a 15-20 percent reduction in diabetes risk in the intervention group. The lifestyle intervention alone, even if successful, does not necessarily prevent type 2 diabetes in all individuals, but it does postpone the onset of the disease.
Stressing on the importance whole grains, experts have claimed that incorporating them in the diet can lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke and certain cancers.
Lona Sandon, assistant professor of clinical nutrition at UT Southwestern Medical Center and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, says that it’s important for people to keep whole grains in their daily diet.
"Research shows that whole grains are good for your heart, lower risk of diabetes and stroke, and may help prevent certain cancers. They also help in managing weight," she said.
Sandon said that whole grains are chock full of good-for-you nutrients including fiber, folate and niacin, vital B vitamins, and magnesium.
"The phytochemicals found in whole grains have been shown to have health promoting and disease prevention benefits," she added.
Sandon recommended that adults aim for three servings, or 48 grams, of whole grains a day.
She advised that people should by rule look for the words "Made with whole grain" and "100 percent whole grain" on packages.
She gave other going-with-the-grain tips, which include swapping whole wheat breadstuffs for white rolls and breads, using whole wheat bread crumbs for stuffing.
Adding wild rice or brown rice to dishes as well as serving whole wheat crackers with hors d’oeuvres can also ensure that there is a good amount of whole grains in your diet.
Dietary considerations can present a Hobson's choice in diabetes. Even when the intake is nutritious, assimilating it can be another matter. Then there is the problem of progression of diabetic complications if one ends up with excess glucose or fat in the system. Excess carbohydrates in a meal, and the resulting uncontrolled blood sugar levels can be detrimental to any number of tissues, from the lens of the eye, to the neurons, small blood vessels and the kidneys. Fat is also a problem with increase incidences of atherosclerosis, large vessel disease and cardiac complications. What, then is the appropriate macronutrient for the diabetic population? Enough medical literature exists to suggest that in diabetes, proteins are probably the best bet.
Proteins are the natural choice of the body when faced with diabetes. In uncontrolled diabetes, muscle protein is broken down into amino acids to be converted into glucose by the liver. If left to fend for itself, this can create a commotion within the body. Since proteins have to supply enough energy to substitute for carbohydrates, proteins are broken down faster than they are made. The body ends up with a protein deficit, a situation with subtle, yet far-reaching effects on normal body functions. Importantly, for diabetics, a protein deficit has been shown to impair resistance to infections (Ganong WF). Replenishing the depleting protein stores is a vital requirement of all diabetic diets.
Importance of proteins in a diabetic has been well documented. The American Associations of Clinical Endocrinologists have made it clear that not much evidence exists to indicate that the patients with diabetes need to reduce their intake of dietary proteins. The AACE recommends that 10-20% of the calorie intake in diabetes should come from proteins (AACE Diabetes Guidelines). It is in fact believed that this is one nutrient that does not increase blood glucose levels in both diabetics and healthy subjects (Gannon et al).
Nutrition therapy for diabetes has progressed from prevention of obesity or weight gain to improving insulin's effectiveness and contributing to improved metabolic control (Franz MJ). In this new role, a high protein diet (30% of total food energy) forms a very pertinent part of nutrition therapy. One of the most important causes for type II diabetes is obesity. Excess body fat raises insulin resistance and higher levels of insulin are required to bring down blood sugars as the weight increases (Ganong WF).
Another problem with excess fat is the clogging of arteries with atherosclerotic plaques that is responsible for a wide range of diabetic complications. Any mechanism that reduces body fat decreases insulin resistance and improves blood glucose control. Parker et al have also shown that a high protein diet decreased abdominal and total fat mass in women with type II diabetes.
Other studies by Gannon et al. and Nuttall et al have verified that blood glucose levels and glycosylated hemoglobin (a marker of long term diabetic control) reduce after 5 weeks on a diet containing 30% of the total food energy in the form of proteins and low carbohydrate content. It is speculated that a high protein diet has a favorable effect in diabetes due to the ability of proteins and amino acids to stimulate insulin release from the pancreas. Thus, a high protein diet is not only safe in diabetes, but can also be therapeutic, resulting in improved glycemic control, and decreased risk of complications related to diabetes.
The benefits of a high protein diet do not end here. Individual protein components of such a diet, when aptly chosen, can have other advantages as well. Dietary supplements containing proteins like whey and casein come highly recommended. Casein is a milk protein and has the ability to form a gel or clot in the stomach. The ability to form this clot makes it very efficient in nutrient supply. The clot is able to provide a sustained, slow release of amino acids into the blood stream, sometimes lasting for several hours (Boirie et al. 1997). A slow sustained release of nutrients matches well with the limited amount of insulin that can be produced by the pancreas in diabetes. A protein supplement containing casein can thus increase the amount of energy assimilated from every meal and, at the same time, reduce the need for pharmacological interventions to control blood sugar.
Whey proteins and caseins also contain "casokinins" and "lactokinins', (FitzGerald) which have been found to decrease both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in hypertensive humans (Seppo). In addition, whey protein forms bioactive amine in the gut that promotes immunity. Whey protein contains an ample supply of the amino acid cysteine. Cysteine appears to enhance glutathione levels, which has been shown to have strong antioxidant properties -- antioxidants mop up free radicals that induce cell death and play a role in aging.
Thus, development of a protein supplement containing casein and whey can provide an apt high protein diet and its health benefits to individuals suffering from diabetes, obesity and hyper-cholesterolemia.
By the time many type 2 diabetics (and often their doctors) realize action is necessary, the disease, with its destructive high blood sugars, has been silently damaging their body for years.
Complications to the blood vessels and tissues of your eyes, feet, heart, kidneys, and other organs, are likely well underway.
You visit the doctor because you feel bad, and you wish to feel better. You react to the symptoms of perceived illness. This is understandable, but does not allow much room for prevention or early detection of diabetes.
Of course this idea, "Don't see the doctor 'til it hurts," comes from our "busier-then-ever" lifestyles. But to blame, to point fingers after the damage has started is as pointless as is the leaping bungee-jumper's complaint that his equipment has just failed. It's a little late to talk about why. Some problems are better prevented.
If you have type 2 diabetes, you know most of the time you don't feel very bad. You might think that because you don't feel very bad, it isn't very serious, and you don't have to do anything about it just now. "I'll wait 'til it hurts" ...You couldn't be more wrong.
Diabetes damages your body with high blood sugars. It doesn't care whether your sugars are high from type 2, type 1, or some other cause - if they're up, they're doing damage. Type 2 diabetics who let their sugars run "because they don't feel bad" are doing serious damage to their eyes, kidneys, hearts, and nervous systems.
Suppose you have diabetes, and don't want the complications. Suppose you don't know you have diabetes, but you're from a high-risk group (maybe someone in your family has or had diabetes), and you want to cut the risks. Or, suppose you just want to feel better.
It's all the same - Your early detection, education, and prevention work best.
Don't wait 'til it hurts. Ask your doctor about diabetes and have your blood sugar checked several times a year.
Some Common Diet Mistakes
You know it's diet time when your favourite jeans becomes 'difficult-to-breathe-in' tight.
Some do make it and are able to wriggle into those delicious figure-skimming dresses they've been eyeing for quite some time. Some try and change their lifestyle and eating habits, but their weight refuses to budge. Here's why. People tend to think they change their food habits way more than they actually do. Here are three of the most common diet mistakes most people make:
Sneaking in food (and not keeping track!)
Okay, so you are all resolute and don't order dessert. But what about the 'not just a couple of' bites you sneak in from your friend's rich chocolate gateaux? Doesn't that count? What about the tea and cookies you have when you drop in for a friendly chat at your neighbour's? How many cups of coffee do you guzzle while brainstorming at a business meeting? How many glasses of water do you drink in a day? Dietician and sports nutritionist Deepshikha Agarwal says, "Drinking less water is the mistake people make the most. It's a misconception that drinking a lot of water causes water-retention. Most of us live in denial, or are merely not aware, of the amount of food we eat."
Skipping a meal
Nutritionist Dr Pooja Makhija says, "Without a doubt, the biggest blunder you can make when it comes to dieting is to starve yourself. Just because you're dieting, it isn't acceptable to skip a meal. When you skip a meal, your blood sugar level drops, increasing your craving for saturated sugary foods, which are a lot fattening than a simple, home-cooked meal." Skipping breakfast is bad and you're likely to eat more calories during the day. Deepshikha says, "People on a diet tend to eat twice, once or not at all. In fact, one must eat small meals six times a day. It increases your metabolic rate, which in lay man's language is your calorie burning capacity," she says.
Looking at the short-term
You goal should be to reach to a healthy size and maintain it, instead of drastic weight loss. Sustained weight-loss requires systematic lifestyle changes. Eat a balanced nutritious diet that contains food from different groups and supplement it with exercise and an active lifestyle.
Maintain a food diary
The simple act of recording what you eat daily can strengthen your tenacity to see a diet to target. Psychiatrist Dr Harish Shetty says, "A food diary not only gives you a sense of regulation, but also keeps you alert, to psyche you into eating right. It is great for the dietician as well to keep track since it is a written testimony by the client himself."
— Record every morsel of food. It will give you a clear picture of how the extra calories come in your diet. You can also track emotional eating through this.
— You're less likely to binge or overeat (reaching out for a second helping of pudding) when you're fully aware that you're recording your actions. You will start listening to your real hunger pangs, and not your moody ones.
— Buy a pretty-looking journal that you anticipate writing in every night, and also carry around with you.
— Besides writing about what you eat, also jot down why you eat that particular food.
Keep it for a month and see how it works out for you. Most likely, you won't really need it after that.
You will be more aware of your eating patterns and avoid or manage confrontations that generate over-eating reactions from you.
You also know situations better. Do you eat the same amount while you order a la-carte and while in a buffet? You could make your food diary tech savvy and use an electronic log or a spreadsheet. In fact, if you're one of those techno freaks, you could tweet about your food if it helps you, for all anyone would care.
So forget the diets that promise weight loss, just opt for this self-controlling weight loss method. Needless to say, it is also the thriftiest diet aid ever!
Some do make it and are able to wriggle into those delicious figure-skimming dresses they've been eyeing for quite some time. Some try and change their lifestyle and eating habits, but their weight refuses to budge. Here's why. People tend to think they change their food habits way more than they actually do. Here are three of the most common diet mistakes most people make:
Sneaking in food (and not keeping track!)
Okay, so you are all resolute and don't order dessert. But what about the 'not just a couple of' bites you sneak in from your friend's rich chocolate gateaux? Doesn't that count? What about the tea and cookies you have when you drop in for a friendly chat at your neighbour's? How many cups of coffee do you guzzle while brainstorming at a business meeting? How many glasses of water do you drink in a day? Dietician and sports nutritionist Deepshikha Agarwal says, "Drinking less water is the mistake people make the most. It's a misconception that drinking a lot of water causes water-retention. Most of us live in denial, or are merely not aware, of the amount of food we eat."
Skipping a meal
Nutritionist Dr Pooja Makhija says, "Without a doubt, the biggest blunder you can make when it comes to dieting is to starve yourself. Just because you're dieting, it isn't acceptable to skip a meal. When you skip a meal, your blood sugar level drops, increasing your craving for saturated sugary foods, which are a lot fattening than a simple, home-cooked meal." Skipping breakfast is bad and you're likely to eat more calories during the day. Deepshikha says, "People on a diet tend to eat twice, once or not at all. In fact, one must eat small meals six times a day. It increases your metabolic rate, which in lay man's language is your calorie burning capacity," she says.
Looking at the short-term
You goal should be to reach to a healthy size and maintain it, instead of drastic weight loss. Sustained weight-loss requires systematic lifestyle changes. Eat a balanced nutritious diet that contains food from different groups and supplement it with exercise and an active lifestyle.
Maintain a food diary
The simple act of recording what you eat daily can strengthen your tenacity to see a diet to target. Psychiatrist Dr Harish Shetty says, "A food diary not only gives you a sense of regulation, but also keeps you alert, to psyche you into eating right. It is great for the dietician as well to keep track since it is a written testimony by the client himself."
— Record every morsel of food. It will give you a clear picture of how the extra calories come in your diet. You can also track emotional eating through this.
— You're less likely to binge or overeat (reaching out for a second helping of pudding) when you're fully aware that you're recording your actions. You will start listening to your real hunger pangs, and not your moody ones.
— Buy a pretty-looking journal that you anticipate writing in every night, and also carry around with you.
— Besides writing about what you eat, also jot down why you eat that particular food.
Keep it for a month and see how it works out for you. Most likely, you won't really need it after that.
You will be more aware of your eating patterns and avoid or manage confrontations that generate over-eating reactions from you.
You also know situations better. Do you eat the same amount while you order a la-carte and while in a buffet? You could make your food diary tech savvy and use an electronic log or a spreadsheet. In fact, if you're one of those techno freaks, you could tweet about your food if it helps you, for all anyone would care.
So forget the diets that promise weight loss, just opt for this self-controlling weight loss method. Needless to say, it is also the thriftiest diet aid ever!
Monday, November 01, 2010
Homeopathy and Ayurveda
Ayurveda is India’s traditional, natural system of medicine that has been practiced for more than 5,000 years. Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word that when literally translated means “science of life” or “practices of longevity.” It was the system of medicine developed by the seers (rishis) and natural scientists through centuries of observations, experiments, discussions and meditations. For several thousand years their teachings were passed on orally from teacher to student. However, in about the fifth to sixth century BC, elaborately detailed texts were written in Sanskrit, the ancient Indian language. There are over 500 remedies and 700 vegetable medicines.
Ayurveda emphasizes the prevention of disease, rejuvenation of our body systems and extension of life span. The profound premise of Ayurveda is that not only can we prevent heart disease and make our headaches go away, but we can also better understand ourselves and the world around us, live a long healthy life in balance and harmony, achieve our fullest potential and express our true inner nature on a daily basis.
In Ayurvedic philosophy, five elements combine in pairs to form three dynamic forces or interactions called doshas. The Ayurvedic practitioner may prescribe mineral or herbal remedies (usually prescribed in liquid form, dried herbs, powder or even tablets) to correct imbalances in the doshas. The ingredients are pre-prepared, but the blends are prescribed individually. Every ingredient is classified by the effect it has on increasing or lowering the levels of the doshas. One usually adds eight cups of water to the herbs and boils the mixture until the water is reduced down to one cup. The remedy is then taken two or three times per day.
Many Ayurvedic practitioners will also advise you on lifestyle, food and exercise. Yoga is emphasized strongly, as well as sweat treatments and oil massages. Sweat treatments are recommended in steam baths to further cleanse the pores of the skin, and massaging herbal oils into the skin help eliminate undesirable toxins.
Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine, first proposed by German physician, Samuel Hahnemann, in 1796. Since then, homeopathy has been widely used throughout the world for over two centuries.
Homeopathic healing is based on treating a person with nontoxic highly diluted substances normally in tablet form, which is expected to trigger the body’s natural system of healing. Based on their experience of symptoms, a homeopath will match the most appropriate medicine to the patient. It works on the principle of “like cures like” — that is, a substance that would cause symptoms in a healthy person is used to cure those same symptoms in illness. For example, one remedy, which might be used in a person suffering from insomnia is a remedy made from coffee.
Homeopathy treats the person rather than the named “disease.” So, potentially, it can help patients with a wide range of conditions, both acute and chronic. Illnesses commonly seen by homeopaths in clinic include recurrent infections (such as colds, tonsillitis and cystitis), skin conditions, chronic fatigue, migraine and stress related symptoms such as anxiety and insomnia.
Click here to know more
Ayurveda emphasizes the prevention of disease, rejuvenation of our body systems and extension of life span. The profound premise of Ayurveda is that not only can we prevent heart disease and make our headaches go away, but we can also better understand ourselves and the world around us, live a long healthy life in balance and harmony, achieve our fullest potential and express our true inner nature on a daily basis.
In Ayurvedic philosophy, five elements combine in pairs to form three dynamic forces or interactions called doshas. The Ayurvedic practitioner may prescribe mineral or herbal remedies (usually prescribed in liquid form, dried herbs, powder or even tablets) to correct imbalances in the doshas. The ingredients are pre-prepared, but the blends are prescribed individually. Every ingredient is classified by the effect it has on increasing or lowering the levels of the doshas. One usually adds eight cups of water to the herbs and boils the mixture until the water is reduced down to one cup. The remedy is then taken two or three times per day.
Many Ayurvedic practitioners will also advise you on lifestyle, food and exercise. Yoga is emphasized strongly, as well as sweat treatments and oil massages. Sweat treatments are recommended in steam baths to further cleanse the pores of the skin, and massaging herbal oils into the skin help eliminate undesirable toxins.
Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine, first proposed by German physician, Samuel Hahnemann, in 1796. Since then, homeopathy has been widely used throughout the world for over two centuries.
Homeopathic healing is based on treating a person with nontoxic highly diluted substances normally in tablet form, which is expected to trigger the body’s natural system of healing. Based on their experience of symptoms, a homeopath will match the most appropriate medicine to the patient. It works on the principle of “like cures like” — that is, a substance that would cause symptoms in a healthy person is used to cure those same symptoms in illness. For example, one remedy, which might be used in a person suffering from insomnia is a remedy made from coffee.
Homeopathy treats the person rather than the named “disease.” So, potentially, it can help patients with a wide range of conditions, both acute and chronic. Illnesses commonly seen by homeopaths in clinic include recurrent infections (such as colds, tonsillitis and cystitis), skin conditions, chronic fatigue, migraine and stress related symptoms such as anxiety and insomnia.
Click here to know more
Homeopathy & Alternative Treatment for Dealing with Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is said to be the most costly health problem in North America, with annual costs exceeding $100 billion including direct medical expenses, lost income, lost productivity, compensation payments and legal charges.
Chronic pain affects the ability of a person to put in a full day’s work or affects career advancement.
About 75 per cent of people with chronic pain have lived with it for more than three years, and nearly half of people with chronic pain delay talking with a health care provider, thinking the pain may go away or they can just live with the pain, according to a survey from the American Chronic Pain Association.
Chronic pain is also one of the most serious problems in modern medicine today because of the under utilized options out there for patients.
Millions of patients suffer from chronic pain, and many of them cannot relieve their pain without narcotics.
Many patients receive enough medicine to provide relief for four hours out of the day, and have to decide which 20 hours of the day they will spend in extreme pain.
There is something to be said for the benefits of modern pain medication if you suffer from an acute pain such as from an accident or surgery—it is almost miraculous.
But for people living with chronic pain, the painkillers that have been prescribed stop being effective or can be lethal with long-term use. In the past, many pain medications have been recalled due to safety issues.Chronic pain may be triggered by a disease or injury, or the cause may not be clear.
Among the more common pain conditions are migraine, back pain and fibro-myalgia, and while there are a number of pharmaceutical and over-the-counter pain medications, there seems to be a point where modern medicine has nothing more to offer a person to help with their ongoing suffering.
Increasingly, consumers are turning to complementary and alternative medicine such as homeopathy.
Homeopathy helps patients by making their systems less susceptible to pain.
Click link below to read more..
Homeopathy for Chronic Pain
Chronic pain affects the ability of a person to put in a full day’s work or affects career advancement.
About 75 per cent of people with chronic pain have lived with it for more than three years, and nearly half of people with chronic pain delay talking with a health care provider, thinking the pain may go away or they can just live with the pain, according to a survey from the American Chronic Pain Association.
Chronic pain is also one of the most serious problems in modern medicine today because of the under utilized options out there for patients.
Millions of patients suffer from chronic pain, and many of them cannot relieve their pain without narcotics.
Many patients receive enough medicine to provide relief for four hours out of the day, and have to decide which 20 hours of the day they will spend in extreme pain.
There is something to be said for the benefits of modern pain medication if you suffer from an acute pain such as from an accident or surgery—it is almost miraculous.
But for people living with chronic pain, the painkillers that have been prescribed stop being effective or can be lethal with long-term use. In the past, many pain medications have been recalled due to safety issues.Chronic pain may be triggered by a disease or injury, or the cause may not be clear.
Among the more common pain conditions are migraine, back pain and fibro-myalgia, and while there are a number of pharmaceutical and over-the-counter pain medications, there seems to be a point where modern medicine has nothing more to offer a person to help with their ongoing suffering.
Increasingly, consumers are turning to complementary and alternative medicine such as homeopathy.
Homeopathy helps patients by making their systems less susceptible to pain.
Click link below to read more..
Homeopathy for Chronic Pain
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