The Health Dangers of Soda | Is soda really bad for you and your grandkids?

The Health Dangers of Soda

Is soda really bad for you and your grandkids? Take our quiz to find out.

By Beth Levine

Q: Soda contributes to obesity?

TRUE. More and more evidence shows that drinking sugary drinks increases the risk of obesity or weight gain in children and adults, because of the sugar and high-fructose corn syrup in soda, says Julie Salz Greenstein, Deputy Director, Health Promotion Policy, Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). 

In fact, an extra soft drink a day increases a child's risk of obesity by 60%, she says. Why? When people eat solid food, they feel more full and are less likely to eat extra calories. However, when you drink you do not get that full feeling, so you eat in addition to drinking your soda, and end up consuming far more calories.

Q: You'd have to drink more soda than the average American to gain weight?

FALSE. First off, the average American drinks a lot of soda: According to studies, sugary drinks are the single largest source of calories in the American diet with the average American drinking about 40 gallons a year (which is about the weight of a preschooler!) 

The average American consumes 77 grams (6.1 tablespoons or 308 calories) of added sugar per day, and kids as young as three years old are consuming more than 12 grams (1 tablespoon or 46 calories). 

(Almost half of all added sugars comes from sugary drinks (soda, energy drinks, sport drinks, fruit drinks).) To put the numbers into perspective, the American Heart Association recommends that adults have no more than six to nine teaspoons of sugar per day, and kids have between three and eight teaspoons a day.

Q: There is no link between soda and cancer?

FALSE. The caramel coloring used in most colas is has been linked to two cancer-causing chemicals. In February 2011, CSPI petitioned the FDA to ban its use. The artificial brown coloring in sodas is made by reacting sugars with high pressure and temperatures. Chemical reactions result in the formation of 2-methylimidazole and 4-methylimidazole which in government-conducted studies caused lung, liver, or thyroid cancer or leukemia in laboratory mice or rats. In addition, several studies have found correlations between soda consumption and lymphoma, leukemia and prostate cancers.

Q: Drinking soda can lead to diabetes and stroke?

TRUE. Drinking just one to two sugary drinks per day increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by about 25%, according to a Harvard University study, and a study in the American Journal of Nutrition that found an increased risk of stroke in people who consumed more than one soda per day. If that’s not enough of a deterrent, diabetes also can lead to erectile dysfunction.

Q: Soda rots your teeth?

TRUE. Soda consumption nearly doubles the risk of cavities in children and increases the likelihood in adults. “The acid in soda and other sugary drinks causes erosion of tooth enamel, while the sugar in the beverages provide fuel for bacteria that cause tooth decay,” says Greenstein.

Q: Soda causes osteoporosis?

TRUE AND FALSE. A Tufts University study found that daily consumption of colas is associated with low bone-mineral density in older women. The link was not found in other carbonated drinks.

Q: Drinking soda can cause high blood pressure?

TRUE. A study by the Louisiana State University Health Science Center School of Public Health in New Orleans found that drinking too many sugary drinks can increase blood pressure levels, while the International Study of Macro/Micronutrients and Blood Pressure (INTERMAP) notes that for every extra daily sugary drink, subjects on average had a significant increase in blood pressure.

Q: You can avoid all these risks by switching to diet soda?

FALSE. While diet sodas contain few or no calories, they do have tooth-eroding acids, caffeine, and/or artificial sweeteners. In addition, a University of Miami study found that subjects who drank diet soda every day had a 61% higher risk of vascular events than those who reported no soda drinking.

Q: Switching to diet soda helps keep the weight down?

FALSE. INTERMAP reported that people who drank diet soda had higher body mass index than those who did not and had lower levels of physical activity.

How to Kick the Habit

If you or your grandkids can’t go cold turkey and give up your soda-fix, here's what you can do:

• Try drinking smaller serving sizes.  Order small serving sizes at restaurants, or split a can of soda with someone. Keep in mind that one twelve-ounce can has about 10 teaspoons (more than 3 tablespoons) of sugar. New York City’s Mayor Bloomberg has actually banned sales of 16-ounce sodas!

• Cut the soda with seltzer, gradually increasing the amount of seltzer.

• Switch to water, unsweetened tea, or seltzer. Flavor with lemon, lime, or fresh mint.

• Drink 100% fruit juice. While it does have sugar, it also has healthful nutrients, as opposed to soda’s empty calories. If you miss the carbonation, add seltzer.

SOURCE

http://www.grandparents.com/health-and-wellbeing/diet-and-nutrition/soda-bad-for-you

Diabetes | Natural Remedies for Diabetes | Diabetic? Not sure what to eat?

Natural Remedies for Diabetes

Diabetic? Not sure what to eat? Then this list is just for you. Read about the many offerings nature has, which will help keep your diabetes in check.

We understand that as a diabetic, your diet is of utmost importance. And that sometimes those sweet cravings are just way too hard to resist! So we bring you a list of natural goodies that tantalize your taste buds, are easy to find and as a bonus, are great for your health!

Pears

Rich in potassium and loaded with fiber, a pear is also low in carbohydrates! Add them in your fruit bowl or mix it up with spinach to get an instant fix for your hunger pangs. Despite the fact that fruits and vegetables are good for you, there's no denying the fact that some of them contain sugar and carbohydrates, albeit in small amounts. So keep your portions small and do check with your nutritionist before any major diet changes.

Cabbage

Cabbage has a low glycaemic index of 10 which is very diabetes friendly. It is also a rich source of vitamin C and K. However, keep an eye on the fat content if you are including cabbage in your diet.

Berries

Tempting red strawberries or indigo colored blueberries or just any berries for that matter. Experts’ advice that these little colorful fruits are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and fiber and are low-carb! So top off your breakfast with some strawberries or just toss them in your mouth. It adds a pop of color and a dollop of health!

Oranges

Despite the fact that an orange contains sugar, it also contains other compounds that help control blood glucose, which makes it good for a diabetes patient. The soluble fiber present in an orange thickens as its being digested. This in turn slows down the sugar absorption, offering better control of your blood sugar.

Beans

Kidney beans, black beans or lentils have been shown to have immense health benefits for a diabetic. They are low fat, low calorie and high protein! They make you feel full, slow down your digestion process and prevent blood sugar from spiking.

Spinach

Is there nothing this super food can't do? Research shows that green, leafy and fresh spinach is extremely low in calories and carbohydrates, which is especially good news if you are a diabetic. In fact, spinach is one of the rare things that a diabetic can eat almost freely!

Apples

Low in calories and carbohydrate content, this portable fruit can be toted around easily in your bag, making it the perfect snack. Fibrous, with tones of vitamins and antioxidants, this diabetes-friendly fruit will add a crunchy and healthy punch to your diet.

Okra (Lady's finger)

This vegetable is a sure shot hit with kids and diabetics! Like brinjals and oranges, the presence of soluble fiber in okra makes this humble vegetable one of the best things to eat if you are diabetic.

Brinjal

Non-starchy, low carbohydrate and soluble fiber, could a vegetable be more perfect for diabetes? Load up on this easily available vegetable and enjoy the goodness that it offers!

Cherries

If you have a sweet tooth, don't worry! Sweet cherries are good for you! The sugar in them is natural. To add to that, they have a low calorie count and a minimal carbohydrate level! But make sure you check the labels before you pick up a can of cherries as many of them are loaded with artificial sweeteners!

Diabetes is among the most debilitating of lifestyle diseases, often the precursor to many other types of health disorders such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases and chronic illnesses of the eye. Most diabetics tend to depend upon taking medications, many of which include hormone supplementation injections and drugs for controlling the sugar levels. Though these aids are often critical for managing cases where diabetes seems to have turned into an incurable condition, it is always better to seek natural cures. These natural remedies don't put forth the kind of side-effects associated with stronger medications and can be resourced from our everyday supplies.

Drink water

Water tends to mobilize the high sugar content in blood and thereby helps in preventing aggravation. Drinking 2.5 liters of water, on a daily basis, will not only regulate physical functions but will also lower chances of cardiovascular and diabetic ailments.

Green Tea

Green tea is nothing less than a miracle cure for ailments. Consuming a cup of unsweetened green tea regularly will rid the body of free radicals and let the antioxidants, contained within, normalize the blood sugar levels. This will aid in reducing diabetes and help keep the chances at bay.

Vinegar

Vinegar is an excellent dietary compound responsible for diluting concentrated sugar-levels in the blood. Studies have shown that two spoonfuls of vinegar before a meal can reduce the glucose influx.

Fresh Fruits

Natural fruit sugars are the best options, as dietary supplements, since they provide all the necessary vitamins and minerals required. Studies have shown that an adequate intake of Vitamin A and C maintains blood and bone health. Include fresh citrus fruits like oranges, apples, pineapples, grapes and lemons in your diet. Consume bananas in moderation, since their sugar structure is more complex than that of citrus fruits.

Exercise

Soy

Soy proteins are one of the miracle cures for reducing diabetes among crucial patients. The isoflavones contained in them reduce the sugar content in blood and keep the body nourished, while accumulating much fewer calories, when compared to other foods.

Sun Light

Lean Meat

Cinnamon Powder

Powdered cinnamon, apart from spicing up your foods, has the ability to lower blood sugar levels, as well. Take a pinch of cinnamon with warm water every day and kiss diabetes goodbye.

Small, Frequent Meals

High metabolic rates are highly conducive in maintaining blood-sugar levels and nothing keeps metabolism more fired up than consuming small portions, frequently. Studies have shown that frequent meals result in greater absorption of nutrients and lesser deposition of fat. Without fat deposition, the insulin secretion is normalized.

Using Methi Seeds

Fenugreek or Methi seeds are considered the most effective of natural cures that can help alleviate typical symptoms of diabetes. Methi seeds should be soaked in water overnight. The water concentrated with the seeds' juices should be consumed early in the morning on an empty stomach. For making this natural concoction stronger, you can crush the seeds and sieve them through a cloth or filter paper.

Using Natural Juices

Aloe

SOURCE

http://www.funzug.com/index.php/health/natural-remedies-for-diabetes.html#5T5Md414dZd9KVwd.99

http://www.funzug.com/index.php/health/natural-remedies-for-diabetes.html

Cancer | Cancer Causing Foods

Cancer Causing Foods

When a person is diagnosed with diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, or kidney failure, dietitians and physicians will advise the patient on foods they should and should not be consuming.

For instance, a patient with heart disease would be told to follow a low fat diet.

With cancer patients, it seems they are given information on how to avoid weight-loss and nausea, but  they are not always informed about foods that COULD be feeding their cancer cells.

I fully believe there are certain foods out there that have carcinogenic effects and should be avoided by those who have cancer, are in remission, or have a strong family history of the disease.

The following is a small list of ingredients to avoid:

Foods to Avoid:

Sugar

Simple sugars provide the energy tumor and cancer cells need to grow and metastasize. Basically,  in both normal and cancerous cell growth, glucose (sugar) is utilized. By restricting glucose, you are slowing cancerous cell growth.

Cutting back on sugary snacks may not only be good for your waistline, but your longer term health.

AVOID: Doughnuts, crackers, chips, cookies, and ingredients: High Fructose Corn Syrup, sugar, sucrose, white pasta/rice/bread, and enriched bleached flour.

Acrylamides

These are chemicals used for industrial purposes and found in foods produced by high temperature cooking.

While it is uncertain if acrylamides pose a health risk, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), acknowledge that levels of acrylamides in food pose a reason for concern.

Asparagine is an amino acid (building block of protein) found in many vegetables, with higher concentrations in potatoes. When starchy foods like french fries are exposed to high heat (>120 degrees F), asparagine can transform into acrylamides and has been shown to cause cancer in rats.

While human studies are still incomplete, why take the risk? So, best to skip the fried foods.

AVOID: French fries and other fried food items.

Sodium nitrite (nitrates)

Nitrates and nitrites are chemicals used in pesticides, rodent repellents, and as food preservatives.

Food companies add these chemicals to processed meats; hot dogs, lunch meat, bacon, etc., to aid in preservation and provide that fresh, pink color. Exposure can also come from contaminated drinking water and has even been found in fruits and vegetables.

During digestion, these nitrites are transformed into nitrosamines, which act as carcinogens. Nitrosamines can be found in any pickled, fried, or smoked foods, BEER, cheese, fish byproducts, and tobacco smoke.

While studies are non-conclusive on whether exposure of these nitrates is cancerous to adults, increased incidence of brain tumors, leukemia, and nose/throat tumors has been found in some studies with children (www.epa.gov).

AVOID: Processed meats, hot dogs, and bacon as much as possible.

 

Trans Fats

Beware! These super-hydrogenated oils don't occur in nature and manufacturers typically use them to stabilize food products. Yet when your body absorbs this manufactured substance, trans fats replace regular fats but don't do the same job because trans fats are so rigid and twisted up. The fat has been linked to all sorts of cancers from breast to colon cancer. Your body needs fats to survive - trans fats, it can do without.

Red Meat

Not only processed meat such as sausage, but eating red meats is linked to cancer risk according to researchers. For example, scientists found eating an extra 100 grams of red meat per day increased the risk of bowel cancer by 17 percent. Another study found that meat consumption increased prostate cancer by 12 percent.

Alcohol

The more alcohol you drink, the more likely you will get cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. While not exactly a food, alcohol remains a significant risk factor for cancer, according to researchers.

While I acknowledge that this information may sound harsh and restrictive, I still feel it is necessary for people to be aware that FOODS can cause cancer, just as much as they can prevent cancer.

I honestly believe that you can live a lifestyle of “moderation” IF you are 100% healthy.

However, when fighting off disease, “moderation” takes on new meaning because your body needs to defend itself 24/7.

For more information visit:

WHO: http://www.who.int/foodsafety/chem/chemicals/acrylamide/en

National Cancer Institute: www.cancer.gov

Source:

http://thehealthyapron.com/2010/04/22/343/
http://www.ibtimes.com/sausage-and-cancer-5-other-cancer-causing-foods-395524 

Apple | Health Benefits of Apple

HEALTH BENEFITS OF APPLE 




We're told that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but what exactly are the health benefits of apples? Here are ten reasons to heed the advice of that old proverb:

1. Bone Protection 
French researchers found that a flavanoid called phloridzin that is found only in apples may protect post-menopausal women from osteoporosis and may also increase bone density. Boron, another ingredient in apples, also strengthens bones

2. Asthma Help 
One recent study shows that children with asthma who drank apple juice on a daily basis suffered from less wheezing than children who drank apple juice only once per month. Another study showed that children born to women who eat a lot of apples during pregnancy have lower rates of asthma than children whose mothers ate few apples

3. Lung Cancer Prevention 
According to a study of 10,000 people, those who ate the most apples had a 50 percent lower risk of developing lung cancer. Researchers believe this is due to the high levels of the flavonoids quercetin and naringin in apples

4. Breast Cancer Prevention 
A Cornell University study found that rats who ate one apple per day reduced their risk of breast cancer by 17 percent. Rats fed three apples per day reduced their risk by 39 percent and those fed six apples per day reduced their risk by 44 percent

5. Colon Cancer Prevention 
One study found that rats fed an extract from apple skins had a 43 percent lower risk of colon cancer. Other research shows that the pectin in apples reduces the risk of colon cancer and helps maintain a healthy digestive tract

6. Liver Cancer Prevention 
Research found that rats fed an extract from apple skins had a 57 percent lower risk of liver cancer

7. Alzheimer's Prevention 
A study on mice at Cornell University found that the quercetin in apples may protect brain cells from the kind of free radical damage that may lead to Alzheimer's disease.

8. Lower Cholesterol 
The pectin in apples lowers LDL ("bad") cholesterol. People who eat two apples per day may lower their cholesterol by as much as 16 percent

9. Diabetes Management 
The pectin in apples supplies galacturonic acid to the body which lowers the body's need for insulin and may help in the management of diabetes

10. Weight Loss 
A Brazilian study found that women who ate three apples or pears per day lost more weight while dieting than women who did not eat fruit while dieting

With Dua
Aliwale Hussainwale
Motive is to get connected with Shia World
Healthremedies.awhw@gmail.com

Belimbing, Jengkol, dan Mengkudu Berbahaya untuk Penderita Ginjal

Belimbing, Jengkol, dan Mengkudu Berbahaya untuk Penderita Ginjal

Orang umumnya percaya pada obat-obatan tradisional. Selain lebih berkhasiat juga tak dicampur bahan kimia, sehingga aman dikonsumsi. Tetapi, tahukah Anda bahwa beberapa obat-obatan tradisional itu justru berbahaya bagi kesehatan, jika tidak diteliti lebih lanjut.


Buah belimbing atau Averrhoa carambola misalnya, yang dipercaya berkhasiat menurunkan tensi darah, justru sangat berbahaya bagi pasien sakit ginjal. Spesialis ginjal, Dokter Med Salim Lim dalam seminar "Ginjal dan obat tradisional" di Rumah Sakit Husada, Jakarta, Sabtu (13/12) mengatakan, belimbing mengandung asam oxalat di mana pada orang sehat, ginjal menyaring dan membuangnya.

Sedangkan pada pasien ginjal, racun ini tidak dapat dibuang dan memperburuk keadaan ginjalnya. "Karena terjadi obstruksi atau sumbatan di ginjal, sehingga menjadi gagal ginjal akut atau mendadak," ujar konsultan di Renal Medicine Singapura ini.

Belimbing juga mengandung neurotoksin atau racun saraf yang bisa mempengaruhi otak dan saraf dan banyak masyarakat yang belum mengetahui hal ini. Oleh karena itu, ia menyarankan masyarakat harus hati-hati dengan buah belimbing.Kenali gejala awalnya yakni, cegukan, mual-mual, muntah, penurunan kesadaran atau mati rasa, kejang, dan epilepsi. "Lebih berbahaya lagi menyebabkan kematian.

Belum banyak masyarakat yang tahu tentang itu, termasuk 99 persen tenaga medis dan dokter. Cegukan adalah ciri khas dari efek konsumsi belimbing bagi penderita ginjal, sebesar 93 persen," tambahnya.

Dokter yang berpraktik di Rumah Sakit Husada dan Rumah Sakit Medistra ini mengemukakan, sudah ada beberapa kasus. Salah satunya, SP (56), pasien dengan penyakit ginjal, diabetes, dan hipertensi. Ia dirawat di Rumah Sakit Husada karena cegukan terus menerus selama dua hari, mual dan sesak napas. Saat dirawat, pasien sempat koma. Seminggu baru diketahui, pasien selama ini mengonsumsi belimbing untuk menurunkan tensi darahnya.


Selain belimbing, dokter Med menyebutkan, buah jengkol (pithecellobium jiringa) juga berbahaya bagi pasien ginjal.

Makan jengkol bisa menyebabkan penyumbatan saluran air seni, karena endapan kristal asam jengkolat, sehingga akhirnya menjadi gagal ginjal akut atau mendadak. "Keluhannya nyeri perut (kolik) sesudah makan jengkol dan air seni menjadi merah atau hematuria," katanya.


Buah mengkudu (Morinda citrifolia) atau "noni juice" juga tidak dianjurkan pada orang yang sakit ginjal karena kandungan kaliumnya (K) sangat tinggi, yakni lebih dari 10 kali kalium darah atau sama dengan jus jeruk dan tomat.

Dokter Med menjelaskan, tidak semua obat tradisional atau herbal aman meskipun berasal dari tumbuh-tumbuhan. Hal ini karena beberapa hal antara lain, herbal tidak perlu uji klinis yang lengkap, tidak semuanya benar-benar distandarisasi dan mengandung zat yang aktif dan kontaminasi dengan pestisida, logam-logam berat atau obat-obat modern.

Selain itu, dosis minimal dan maksimal atau toksik jarang diberitahu, interaksi dengan obat-obatan lain tidak diketahui dan tidak diberitahu efek sampingnya. [DMF/L