How to Deal With Diabetes?

Wikipedia defines diabetes as a group of metabolic disorders in which a person has a high blood pressure. There may be two reasons for this; the first reason the body does not produce enough insulin or the other reason may be that the cells do not respond to the insulin that is being produced. The third type may be when women suffer from high blood glucose during pregnancy.

Some interesting stuff which I recently read relating to diabetes might prove useful to you. Most people who are infected with cytomegalovirus are not affected with any symptoms. But when the dormant virus becomes active and the person’s immune system is weak there is a great likelihood that the person may be affected with diabetes.

Scientists have found a new biosensor with the help of which minute traces of glucose in saliva, tears and urine can be detected. Researchers at the Jadavpur University have found that seeds of Mahogany may be a potent non toxic addition to treat diabetes naturally.

Now regarding the diet of diabetes limit highly refined carbohydrates like bread, pasta, rice, soda, candy and snack foods. Include brown rice, whole wheat pasta, cauliflower, sweet potato, whole wheat bread, oats and rolled oats. Including non starchy vegetables, fruits, unbroken grains, brown rice, whole barley and millet would be hugely beneficial. Beans, fish, skinless chicken, olive oil, nuts and avocadoes are some of the best foods for diabetes. In a nutshell avoid or reduce the intake of concentrated sweets, white potatoes and saturated fats and you should completely eliminate hydrogenated fats that includes trans fats too.

Take care,

Swarnam

How to Deal With Kidney Stones?

 Fruit flies do get kidney stones. Funny is it not? Their kidney tubules are so transparent that scientists find it easy to study about them. Kidney stone is an aggregation of crystals formed from dietary minerals. They affect mostly 80% of the men. If the stones grow to a considerable size they cause obstruction of the ureter which leads to pain.

The reasons of kidney stone formation include drinking less amount of water, high intake of animal protein, sodium, refined sugars, grape fruit juice, apple juice and colas. Super saturation of urine and fluoridation of drinking water can also cause kidney stones.

Researchers have found that genes can also play a role in increasing the risk. You know what? Drinking iced tea can increase the risk of getting kidney stones, because it contains oxalates in high concentrations. Today, even children as young as 3 years are suffering from kidney stones the reasons health professionals point out are; sugar filled drinks, fast foods coupled with a sedentary lifestyle.

Scientists say that a healthy diet helps prevent kidney stones. Including more of nuts, fruits, vegetables, low fat dairy products and whole grains and limiting foods such as salt, red and processed meat and sweetened beverages can prevent kidney stone formation. If you are suffering from kidney stones your first goal would be to remove it naturally. 

First drink plenty of water up to 3 liters daily. Include foods such as asparagus, watermelon, cantaloupe, celery and grapes in your daily diet.  You can drink linseed tea to break up kidney stones into small pieces. If you want to try herbal medicines there are some really beneficial methods in Siddha medicine.

Take care

Swarnam

photo courtesy of MedicineNet.com

How to Deal With Fatty Liver?

Fatty liver is a disease that can be reversed. Triglyceride fat accumulates in liver cells due to the process of abnormal retention of lipids which leads to this condition. People who drink excessive alcohol and people who are obese are likely the sufferers. If the fat make up of the liver is more than 5%-10% it may lead to alcoholic or non alcoholic liver disease.

Dietary consideration is an important factor in dealing with fatty liver. You should eat healthy and balanced diet and be more physically active. You should limit foods such as bread, grits, rice, potatoes, corn and concentrated sugar which is found in sports drinks and juice. It is wise to avoid un-necessary medication. Foods which are rich in vitamin E, selenium, betaine and metformin are very good for fatty liver.

Detoxifying foods such as onion, garlic, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, Brussels sprouts and spices such as turmeric and cinnamon are very good for this condition. If you are confused about fatty liver then, be rest assured that a simple fatty liver does not require any treatment. Fatty liver as such does not damage liver cells or cause clinical disease. Normalcy can be restored with the reduction in weight and it less frequently progresses to non alcoholic fatty liver disease.

You can also treat this condition by following herbal medication of which a leading form of alternative medicine is Siddha which is practiced mostly in India especially in the Southern part. I had the privilege of visiting Siddha Central Research Institute Chennai http://crisiddha.tn.nic.in/ and found that there are some latest advanced medical treatments to treat this condition.

A word before we end this post, always eat healthy foods, never skip your exercise and always follow your doctor’s advice.

Take care,

Swarnam

How to Deal With Gall Stones?

One of my friends was diagnosed with gall stones and she made a great fuss as if it was the end of the world. This post is dedicated to her and all those people on the planet suffering from gall stones. So what are gall stones? Gall stones are small substances that are found in the gall bladder. The liquid stored in the gall bladder hardens to form gall stones. The gall stones are of two types’ cholesterol stones and pigment stones. These stones may be small as a grain of sand or as large as golf ball.

If you suffer from gall stones you should be very careful about your diet. Try to include fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet. Whole grains, lean meat, poultry, fish and low fat dairy products are the best foods for this condition. The foods that should be avoided are highly processed foods, whole milk dairy milk products and fatty red meat. Proper diet coupled with regular exercise can be very beneficial for those suffering from this condition.

A few hours of brisk walking, jogging or bicycling each week can reduce chances of undergoing gall stone surgery especially for women according to a study. The researchers found that almost any type of exercise is beneficial in this regard.  But researchers found that women who were severely obese did not benefit directly from exercise alone.

The reasons for developing gall stones are related to gender, metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Women have a higher percentage of developing this disease with an increased risk during pregnancy. Metabolic syndrome includes having low amounts of good cholesterol, high triglycerides and high blood pressure.

 If you are terrified hearing the word surgery doctors may prescribe a drug called Actigall or recommend treatments such as shock wave therapy or dissolution methods to remove gall stones. But they may work for some and are usually unsuccessful. These methods are rarely advised in clinical practices. The most famous and successful way is surgery. 

But still if you try to remove gall stones naturally then you may try Dr. Lai Chiu-Nan's method of removing gall stones. He advises to take four glasses of apple juice for five days. You can very well eat apples and follow a normal diet plan for these five days.

 On the sixth day you should avoid dinner and at 6pm drink a glass of warm water mixed with Epsom salt, repeat this procedure at 8 pm. Then at 10pm mix half cup lemon juice and half cup olive oil and drink it. The next you will find green stones in your stools which float.  Best of luck!!

A latest update about my friend, she tried Dr. Lai Chiu- Nan's procedure and found 30-35 green stones that floated and you know what she is now one of the most happiest beings on the planet.

Take care,

Swarnam

Health Benefits of Spinach

Spinach originates from Central and South Western Asia. The bright, vibrant and fresh spinach is loaded with high amounts of antioxidants and retains it when steamed or boiled.  It has been recently found that the fluorescent lighting in supermarkets increases the nutritional content of spinach. The famous Popeye got his super strength from spinach because it contains vitamin A, C, E and K, magnesium, folate, betaine, iron, calcium, potassium, folic acid, copper, zinc, niacin, selenium, omega 3 fatty acids and a new set of compounds called opioid peptides.

Spinach also contains health supportive nutrients called glycoglycerolipids which protect the lining of digestive tract from unwanted inflammation. Daily inclusion of spinach in your diet guards you against inflammation problems, oxidative stress, cardiovascular problems, bone problems and cancers. Spinach contains specialized flavonoids which fight cell division in stomach cancer cells and reduce the incidence of breast cancer. Spinach offers protection against aggressive prostate cancer.

Spinach is associated with decreased risk of atherosclerosis and high blood pressure.  Special antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin that are found in spinach protects retina and macula and protects the eye from macular degeneration. Spinach contains almost 200% of the daily value of vitamin K and this vitamin boosts bone health. Spinach also contains other bone supporting nutrients such as calcium and magnesium. Last but not the least spinach helps to improve your muscle tone.

Take Care,

Swarnam

The Health Benefits of Berries

Why should you include berries in your daily diet? The answer is very interesting and simple because berries provide a whole lot of health benefits. In this post we will discuss about blue berries, rasp berries and straw berries.

Blue berries – Research has proved that blueberry antioxidants are good for the nervous system and brain health. They protect the body from oxidative stress. The blueberries help to reduce total cholesterol, raise the good cholesterol levels and lower the amount of triglycerides. It prevents clogging of blood vessels and increases plasma oxidant capacity.

Regular intake of blue berries helps to maintain healthy blood pressure. Blue berries improve memory, increase cognitive protection by protecting the nerve cells from oxygen damage. Blue berries are very beneficial for persons suffering from diabetes, metabolic syndrome or insulin resistance because it regulates blood sugar levels. Blue berries improve eye health by protecting retina from oxidative damage.

Raspberries- Do you know an interesting thing about rasp berries? Organic raspberries have more antioxidant capacity than non organic rasp berries. Rasp berries reduce the risk of obesity and fatty liver.  Research done on animal models has proved that raspberries reduce the risk of breast, cervical, colon, esophageal and prostate cancers. The phytonutrients present in these berries lower oxidative stress, reduce inflammation and thereby reduce the development and reproduction of cancer cell.

Raspberry ketones which are also called rheosmin help in the management of obesity and type 2 diabetes. This ketone helps us to digest and absorb less fat. Raspberry extracts help to regulate blood sugar levels in patients suffering from type 2 diabetes. Raspberries are rich in magnesium.

Strawberries – The nutrients present in strawberries are at their best when the pink –red color of strawberry is most vibrant and lustrous. Strawberries are noted for their three topmost health benefits which include; cardiovascular support and management, regulating blood sugar levels and decreasing the risk of type 2 diabetes and preventing breast, cervical, colon and esophageal cancers.

Strawberries contain excellent amounts of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients. They are rich in manganese. If you consume strawberries on a regular basis you can be rest assured to have reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. The phytonutrients of strawberries ellagic acid and elagitannins have anticancer benefits. Strawberries enhance motor function and are very good for those suffering from inflammatory bowel disease like ulcerative colitis or crohn’s disease.

Having known all the health benefits of berries it is time for you to grab your basket and rush to your garden or market to fill it with these natural delicate wonders.

Take care,

Swarnam

References;

WH Foods and Wikipedia