Archive for the ‘Health’ Category

Lactose Intolerance Diet

Sunday, January 3rd, 2010

Many people develop lactose intolerance as they get older and will need a lactose intolerance diet to manage the symptoms. Lactose intolerance is caused by the body not producing enough of the enzyme, known as lactase, which breaks down the lactose to lactic acid. Lactose is a carbohydrate that is present in milk and products made with milk. This results in the distressing, but not dangerous, symptoms which include diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, flatulence and gas. The condition also has a genetic component and is more prevalent for some races than others. For instance Native Americans, Chinese and Southeast Asians have an extremely high incidence (almost 100%) while for the Dutch and Swedes it is only 1%.

Although lactose intolerance is not a serious condition it can be distressing and cause a great deal of discomfort. The amount of lactose in the diet that can be tolerated by someone with this condition varies and the only way to find out your own individual tolerance is to eliminate as much lactose as you can then gradually add small amounts until the symptoms return. Although some people will need to strictly eliminate almost all lactose many people find that they can tolerate quite large amounts.

What Foods Contain Lactose?

The main culprit is, of course, milk and products that contain milk but lactose is present in a wide range of goods that you might not think about. You will need to carefully look at the list of ingredients in any processed food you buy for whey, miulk by-product, curds, non fat milk powder and lactose itself. It is also present in many prescription and over the counter medicines.

A wide variety of processed foods contain lactose including many baked goods such as bread, pastries, cookies etc. Also look at breakfast cereals, instant soups, instant potatoes, meal replacement bars and powders, salad dressings, whipped toppings and non dairy creamers. Just because it says ‘non dairy’ doesn’t mean its OK!

Prescription medicines can be a problem as it may not be possible to find a non lactose containing substitute.

A Lactose Intolerance Diet

A diet for lactose intolerance should eliminate milk and other milk containing products. in many countries it is possible to buy milk that has been treated to decrease or totally eliminate lactose such as Lactaid (available in the US) or Lactofree milk (available in the UK). Although dairy products contain lactose cheese is virtually lactose free as the lactose is almost completely removed in the whey when the cheese is produced. During the maturation process the remaining lactose is converted to lactic acid, although modern cheese making methods do not usually include a maturation phase.

One product that lactose intolerant people can continue to enjoy is yogurt that has active bacteria present. These bacteria produce lactase and the yogurt itself contains lower lactose levels than milk as the bacteria have converted it to lactic acid. It must be yogurt with active bacteria however so frozen yogurt is not suitable.

Getting enough calcium and vitamin D

If you cut down on dairy products you may be short of calcium and vitamin D in your diet so be sure to increase foods that contain calcium, such as eggs, liver or orange juice and take a vitamin D supplement or make sure that the foods you substitute are fortified with this vitamin.

Lactase tablets

Tablets that contain the lactase enzyme are available and can be used to supplement the amount of lactose you are producing. They must be taken before eating any lactose containing food. They are particularly good if you need to take medicines that contain lactose or for the occasional treat of a lactose containing food.

Conclusion

If you have lactose intolerance you will need to use a lactose intolerance diet to eliminate the distressing symptoms. Although not easy it is more than worth it to be rid of the distressing symptoms that you are experiencing.

How to Get Rid of Athlete’s Foot

Saturday, June 6th, 2009

Athlete’s foot is a common infection and finding an athlete’s foot remedy that works for you is not always easy. It is caused by the fungus known as tinea pedis which affects the topmost skin layer. Fungus can infect any area of the body including hands, feet, the groin, the armpits and the scalp but usually occurs in places that are moist, so between the toes and in the groin area are very common places for fungus to grow and thrive.

Tinea pedis is a fungus of the ringworm class and can be picked up anywhere there are moist conditions so locker rooms and swimming pools are favorite places for it to lurk in waiting for a nice warm, moist foot to come along all ready to be infected! It will live for some time in socks and other clothing and can be spread directly between people or through infected objects including the floor. The swimming pool is an ideal place for the athletes foot fungus to lie in wait as the area is moist, warm and people walk around with bare feet.

Secrets of Hoodia Weight Loss Supplements

Thursday, May 21st, 2009

Hoodia Weight Loss Supplement

Sticking to that diet program is the farthest thing from easy that there is, anyone who has ever tried a diet knows this. No matter how good the intentions, cravings and hunger kick in at different points during the day, threatening to sabotage even the best laid plans. This is why many dieters find that success comes easier if they use a supplement that will help them gain control of their hunger. This is where a hoodia weight loss supplement comes into play. These supplements can provide the necessary appetite suppression to help dieters curb cravings and stay on track with their diet program.

 

What is Hoodia?

Hoodia is a cactus type of plant that is grown in the Kalahari Desert located in the southern regions of the African continant. For centuries, the natives of the area have eaten the stems of this plant while out on long hunting expeditions to ward off hunger. This plant was discovered by a Dutch anthropologist in 1937, but the plant became famous for its appetite suppression just a few short years ago when a 60 Minutes correspondent traveled to Africa to try the plant for herself. Today, dieters can find hoodia weight loss products on shelves of nearly every pharmacy and health food store, providing appetite suppression to help them reach their weight loss goals.

 

Finding the Right Hoodia Weight Loss Supplement

With so many hoodia weight loss supplements on the market today, it might seem easy to find the right one for each individual dieter. However, not all hoodia weight loss supplements are created equal. In some cases, the hoodia used is not as potent as the original plants of South Africa, and in a few instances, the hoodia is not authentic at all. People that are dieting and want to protect themselves from receiving hoodia weight loss supplements that are not real can by simply looking for the certification that comes right on the product you are purchasing and the certification will show that the hoodia has come from South Africa only.

 

Because this plant is very fickle in its growing needs, this is still the only area of the world where hoodia can be successfully grown. Hoodia that you get from different areas is not nearly as strong as the original hoodia, and in some cases it may not be hoodia period. To see where the hoodia was farmed there is a certification that will show where the hoodia was farmed at, and provide the documents to show that it was shipped to the USA legally for manufacturing purposes. This is very important information when you are looking to purchase hoodia weight loss pills.

 

Since hoodia is only found in a particular area of the globe, authentic hoodia weight loss products are generally on the expensive side. In any case people dieting who have have had good results with hoodia weight loss supplements believe that whatever the ingredient is it is worth every dime if it helps them make there weight loss goals.

If you are looking for Hoodia Weight Loss information please visit our site as we the most up to date Hoodia Weight Loss Information.

The Advantages of Treating Depression

Tuesday, May 19th, 2009

You have to understand depression before you can treat it. Depression is no laughing matter because about 15 million people in America suffer from it. The most difficult part of it is that about 2/3 of those people won’t seek treatment. The most important is that adolescent depression should be treated as soon as possible. The old stereotypes of mental illness still bother too many people.  Their character is so important that they don’t want a label like “crazy” to tarnish it.  To treat depression first it has to be diagnosed. To be diagnosed, those that suffer have to seek assistance. That’s the terrible merry go round of depression.

Depression stems from many things. Biological, emotional, environmental and physical factors can result in depression. Don’t overlook the genetic link. Many diseases are passed on through a family. It’s not only genetics but how a family lives together. Daily life includes tremendous stress. The constant struggle just to survive bothers some. For others the stress comes from making it in the world. Despair can stem from people having been sexually abused, or even emotionally scarred. The list goes on and on. 

Depression is often hard to find in its early form. It’s hard to see the symptoms even if a loved one suffers from this illness. Everyone fights some mild distress once in awhile. It’s common. Real depression is a lot more permanent and serious. It’s already too late for early detection when the symptoms interfere with life. Those suffering from depression tend to feel all alone and disgusted with life. That is why they need depression help quickly before everything goes out of control. They no longer see a sign of hope in their lives. Sleep habits and enjoyment from life no longer exist. Treatment is now needed before the illness worsens. 

In treating depression you have to reinstall hope and purpose into those that are suffering. Psychotherapy often accomplishes this. This is a long term treatment that won’t have immediate results, but it works. Doctors can also administer drugs such as Prozac or Paxil or other anti-depressants. These medicines are effective but they come with some side effects. Fortunately, there are other safer solutions to overcome depression. Depression treatment with natural herbs has also proven to work well. There are also many depression support groups geared towards working with depressed individuals. Consult a doctor if you or someone you know shows signs of depression.

Build Bigger Muscles With Whey Protein Supplement

Friday, May 15th, 2009

When you want to live a healthy lifestyle and get in shape, it’s a good idea to invest in a good whey protein supplement so that you can get the protein you require. When you work out, you end up creating small tears in your muscles. You must ingest protein so that your body can repair those muscles. That’s how you build bigger muscles, but eating the required protein in order for your body to do the muscle building. You should try to get the protein from food sources, like beef, chicken, and fish. However, it can be hard to get all the protein you need just from eating food. You must then use a good whey protein supplement so that you can get more protein into your body. Will any whey protein supplement do? Not really.

Whey Protein Supplement – What To Look For

When you’re looking for the best whey protein supplementfor your money, you’re going to want a protein supplement that has at least twenty grams of protein per serving, but also one that doesn’t have a lot of carbs or fat. You also want to make sure the whey protein supplement doesn’t contain any sugar. You should know that your body does not need sugar for any purpose. You are not correct, if you think you need it for gaining energy. The human body uses carbs and fat and other nutrients for energy. Sugar it will use for energy but it goes through the body quickly and you’ll only end up crashing after a short boost. So make sure you get a whey protein supplement without sugar for best results.

Whey Protein Supplement: Taste

It’s a myth that healthy eating has to taste bad. You don’t need to forgo your taste buds in order to live a healthy lifestyle. The trick is to find healthy foods that taste great. They’re definitely out there. A case in point is the whey protein supplements that have flavors such as cookies and cream and chocolate fudge. Quit a few supplements are there that taste too good but they are almost not good for health. This can lead a lot of people to believe that the supplements aren’t good for them but that’s not true.

Whey Protein Supplement: Read Labels

To determine if the whey protein powder is a good one, you need to learn how to read labels. Make sure they’re not filled with junk and that they’re actually a healthy product you can use to supplement your healthy lifestyle with. Then you’ll get the results you want and deserve.



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