Dr. David Lipschitz This has been a big month for the Lipschitz household -- in a three-week period, my mother and father-in-law came to town. At age 83 and 88, they are in excellent health. While each has a razor-sharp mind, the physical effects of aging have started to increase. My mother cannot walk far because of leg pain. My father-in-law also moves slowly and is more bent, now using a cane and worrying about falls. Both of them no longer exercise, and they don't get out as much as they used to. Unfortunately, both my mother and father-in-law are caught in a nasty cycle where walking difficulties make them more sedentary, leading to weakness and worsening gait problems. These signs of frailty may make them dependent on others and unable to live alone.
Can we do anything to improve the situation? Is frailty preventable or simply an inevitable consequence of reaching your 80s? Fortunately, weakness and problems with gait and balance are preventable.
Loss of muscle and bone is an unavoidable consequence of age. At age 80, total muscle mass is 40 percent lower than at age 20. Even if weight is unchanged, muscle is replaced by fat. Regardless of age, muscle cells become damaged and die every day. Special cells called myocytes replenish lost muscle. As we grow older, myocytes preferentially produce fat at the expense of muscle. This is an integral part of nature's plan, making the older animal weaker, less able to procreate and vulnerable to death by predators. Bone loss occurs in tandem with muscle loss, leading to osteoporosis that causes an increased risk of fractures. Although bone loss is greater in women, older men also develop osteoporosis.
Being overweight will make walking more difficult and osteoarthritis worse.
Regardless of the cause, impaired gait and balance will lead to an increased risk of falls and fractures. This can lead to dependency on others and an inability to live alone. Hip fractures are the most serious and frequently prove fatal within a year.
In addition to regular exercise, osteoporosis can be prevented by taking adequate calcium and vitamin D. Men should take 1,000 mg of calcium and 800 units of vitamin D daily, and women, 1,500 mg of calcium with the same amount of vitamin D as men. Where appropriate, consider screening for osteoporosis. My mother and father-in-law refuse to exercise. Excuses abound, and their physical health continues to deteriorate. Fortunately, there is always an exercise program that can improve strength and relieve joint pain. Research has shown that frailty can be improved in those over age 90, even those who have significant pain and serious difficulties with walking. If only all the baby boomers began a program of frailty prevention today, we would all be independent well into our 90s and beyond. If we don't, the future for America, with 72 million frail baby boomers, could be bleak.
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Saturday, 28 February 2009
Concern at Maori women smoking during pregnancy
A call was made today for Maori women to quit smoking during pregnancy. The Public Health Association's conference in Waitangi was told 50 per cent of Maori women still smoke and 80 per cent of this group continued to smoke during pregnancy.
Te Hotu Manawa Maori manager Irene Walker said the rate of Maori smoking during pregnancy must reduce."Even when pregnant Maori women quit smoking while they are carrying, their whanau may continue to smoke - exposing unborn children and their mothers to the dangers of second hand smoke.
"Given all of these factors it's hardly surprising then that Maori have the second highest rate of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in the world."Smoking during pregnancy also accounted for higher rates of asthma, burns and fire deaths, childhood cancer, pneumonia, and developmental delay.Ms Walker said an advertising campaign needed to be extended and traditional Maori practices could help."One of the things we are doing is revitalising traditional Maori birthing. This ritual is preceded by months of support for the mother, and this is the time when we can deal with issues like smoking.
"The ritual itself is far less traumatic for mother and child and involves whanau members. This means that we are placing the interests of the child at the centre of the extended family from the point of birth."
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
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Te Hotu Manawa Maori manager Irene Walker said the rate of Maori smoking during pregnancy must reduce."Even when pregnant Maori women quit smoking while they are carrying, their whanau may continue to smoke - exposing unborn children and their mothers to the dangers of second hand smoke.
"Given all of these factors it's hardly surprising then that Maori have the second highest rate of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in the world."Smoking during pregnancy also accounted for higher rates of asthma, burns and fire deaths, childhood cancer, pneumonia, and developmental delay.Ms Walker said an advertising campaign needed to be extended and traditional Maori practices could help."One of the things we are doing is revitalising traditional Maori birthing. This ritual is preceded by months of support for the mother, and this is the time when we can deal with issues like smoking.
"The ritual itself is far less traumatic for mother and child and involves whanau members. This means that we are placing the interests of the child at the centre of the extended family from the point of birth."
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
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Vitamin D helps with chronic pain, fatigue
GLENVIEW, Ill. (UPI) -- An analysis of 22 clinical studies of patients with varied chronic pain and fatigue syndromes found almost all patients lacked vitamin D, U.S. researchers said.
Stewart B. Leavitt, editor of Pain Treatment Topics and author of the report, said when sufficient vitamin D supplementation was provided, the aches, pains, weakness and related problems in most of the patients either vanished or were at least helped to a significant extent.
The peer-reviewed report by a panel of eight experts also said:
-- A surprising majority of people in many parts of the world do not get adequate vitamin D from sun exposure or foods.
Why such deficiencies are associated with pain in some persons but not others is not always known.
-- The currently recommended dose of vitamin D -- up to 600 IU per day -- is outdated and too low. Most children and adults need at least 1000 IU per day, and people with chronic musculoskeletal pain would benefit from 2000 IU or more per day of supplemental vitamin D3, also called cholecalciferol. -- Vitamin D supplements interact with very few drugs or other agents and are usually not harmful unless extremely high doses -- such as 50,000 IU or more -- are taken daily for an extended period.
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
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Stewart B. Leavitt, editor of Pain Treatment Topics and author of the report, said when sufficient vitamin D supplementation was provided, the aches, pains, weakness and related problems in most of the patients either vanished or were at least helped to a significant extent.
The peer-reviewed report by a panel of eight experts also said:
-- A surprising majority of people in many parts of the world do not get adequate vitamin D from sun exposure or foods.
Why such deficiencies are associated with pain in some persons but not others is not always known.
-- The currently recommended dose of vitamin D -- up to 600 IU per day -- is outdated and too low. Most children and adults need at least 1000 IU per day, and people with chronic musculoskeletal pain would benefit from 2000 IU or more per day of supplemental vitamin D3, also called cholecalciferol. -- Vitamin D supplements interact with very few drugs or other agents and are usually not harmful unless extremely high doses -- such as 50,000 IU or more -- are taken daily for an extended period.
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
Watch our video
Have a look at your Body Mass Index (BMI)
The trillions of cells in our bodies produce the energy that keeps us alive.
The trillions of cells in our bodies produce the energy that keeps us alive. As they process food and oxygen to create energy, they also release dangerous molecules called free radicals or oxidants. These oxidants can do a lot of damage. What happens inside our bodies is similar to what happens to an apple when it is cut open and exposed to oxygen: it turns brown because oxygen is corrosive. Our bodies have a defense mechanism in the form of antioxidant enzymes, which neutralize free radicals. This defense mechanism works well until our 20's, but as we get older our cells produce more free radicals than our defenses can neutralize. Oxidative stress caused by free radicals has been linked to over 200 illnesses, so this is a major medical concern. Some experts predict that people will soon monitor their oxidative stress as routinely as they are now monitor cholesterol. Scientists have been researching ways to boost our natural antioxidant enzymes. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables helps, but many experts say it's not enough.
Another natural and powerful remedy is the plan called Aloe Vera that most of us have heard or know of. However, are you all aware of its true use and power for our health? This plant is used in numerous remedies but really one quick and easy way to have Aloe Vera in your fridge for everyday health consumption is not always obvious. We would recommend this product which has tremendous benefits.
Unlike many products on the market, this one was made from premium-quality Aloe Vera, Herbal Aloe is loaded with important enzymes, amino acids and vitamins. It is also completely free of Aloin, a bitter substance found in the Aloe Vera plant.
The health-enhancing nutrients found in Aloe Vera are captured in Herbalife`s Herbal Aloe Drink. This refreshing, pure beverage helps soothe the digestive system and assist the natural self-cleansing action of the body.
Made from premium-quality Aloe Vera, Herbal Aloe is loaded with important enzymes, amino acids and vitamins.
Includes added benefits of the extraordinarily versatile Chamomile plant. Chamomile, known for its gentle and soothing qualities, was used by the Ancient Greeks and was considered a sacred herb by the early Anglo-Saxons.
Is a good source of Calcium and Magnesium, and is a source of Vitamin A.
Completely free of Aloin, a bitter substance found in the Aloe Vera plant.
Enjoy the natural flavour of Herbal Aloe Drink as a supplement to your everyday diet.
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
Watch our video
Have a look at your Body Mass Index (BMI)
Another natural and powerful remedy is the plan called Aloe Vera that most of us have heard or know of. However, are you all aware of its true use and power for our health? This plant is used in numerous remedies but really one quick and easy way to have Aloe Vera in your fridge for everyday health consumption is not always obvious. We would recommend this product which has tremendous benefits.
Unlike many products on the market, this one was made from premium-quality Aloe Vera, Herbal Aloe is loaded with important enzymes, amino acids and vitamins. It is also completely free of Aloin, a bitter substance found in the Aloe Vera plant.
The health-enhancing nutrients found in Aloe Vera are captured in Herbalife`s Herbal Aloe Drink. This refreshing, pure beverage helps soothe the digestive system and assist the natural self-cleansing action of the body.
Made from premium-quality Aloe Vera, Herbal Aloe is loaded with important enzymes, amino acids and vitamins.
Includes added benefits of the extraordinarily versatile Chamomile plant. Chamomile, known for its gentle and soothing qualities, was used by the Ancient Greeks and was considered a sacred herb by the early Anglo-Saxons.
Is a good source of Calcium and Magnesium, and is a source of Vitamin A.
Completely free of Aloin, a bitter substance found in the Aloe Vera plant.
Enjoy the natural flavour of Herbal Aloe Drink as a supplement to your everyday diet.
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
Watch our video
Have a look at your Body Mass Index (BMI)
Weight Loss Takes Pressure Off the Knee
Osteoarthritis is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. The disease progressively destroys the cartilage that acts like a shock absorber in the joints and results in pain, stiffness, and eventually loss of movement in the affected joint.
The study involved 142 overweight and obese older adults with osteoarthritis of the knee who participated in an 18 month weight loss program.
By the end of the weight loss program, the participants lost an average of nearly 3% of their body weight.
But when researchers measured the load on the knee joints, they found that each pound of weight loss was associated with a 4 pound reduction in knee-joint load.
Accumulated over thousands of steps taken each day, researchers say the effects of this reduction of pressure on the knees should have a significant impact on the progression of osteoarthritis of the knee.
By Jennifer WarnerReviewed By Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD, July 25, 2007
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
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The study involved 142 overweight and obese older adults with osteoarthritis of the knee who participated in an 18 month weight loss program.
By the end of the weight loss program, the participants lost an average of nearly 3% of their body weight.
But when researchers measured the load on the knee joints, they found that each pound of weight loss was associated with a 4 pound reduction in knee-joint load.
Accumulated over thousands of steps taken each day, researchers say the effects of this reduction of pressure on the knees should have a significant impact on the progression of osteoarthritis of the knee.
By Jennifer WarnerReviewed By Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD, July 25, 2007
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
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Wednesday, 11 February 2009
BodSolutions - Want Strong Bones? Eat More Greens!
Want Strong Bones? Eat More Greens!
A new study funded in part by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) suggests that an alkalising diet may be an important key to reducing bone breakdown, or "turnover," while aging. The study comes on the heels of several ARS-reported studies suggesting that consuming more-than-recommended amounts of calcium may not be the main answer to protecting bone.The study was led by physician and nutrition specialist Bess Dawson-Hughes at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, Mass. ARS is a scientific research agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Fruits and vegetables are metabolized to bicarbonate and thus are alkali-producing. But the typical American diet is rich in protein (meat and dairy) and cereal grains that are metabolized to acid, and thus are acid-producing.
With aging, such diets lead to a mild but slowly increasing metabolic "acidosis."The researchers conducted a placebo-controlled study involving healthy male and female volunteers aged 50 or older. Key measurements were taken at the beginning and end of the intervention, which lasted three months.A group of 78 volunteers had been provided either of two bicarbonates—potassium or sodium—along with their usual diet and exercise regimes.
Key bone mineral nutrients were controlled to reduce variation in study outcomes. The bicarbonate groups consumed an amount of bicarbonate equivalent to about 9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily. This allowed the researchers to look at possible acid-neutralizing effects from an adequate alkali load.
The results showed that the 78 volunteers in the bicarbonate groups had significant reductions in biomarkers that are associated with bone loss and fracture than the 84 in the no-bicarbonate, or control, group.The authors concluded that increasing the alkali content of the diet, for example by consuming more fruits and vegetables, merits further study as a safe and low-cost approach to improving skeletal health in older men and women.
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
Watch our video
Have a look at your Body Mass Index (BMI)
A new study funded in part by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) suggests that an alkalising diet may be an important key to reducing bone breakdown, or "turnover," while aging. The study comes on the heels of several ARS-reported studies suggesting that consuming more-than-recommended amounts of calcium may not be the main answer to protecting bone.The study was led by physician and nutrition specialist Bess Dawson-Hughes at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, Mass. ARS is a scientific research agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Fruits and vegetables are metabolized to bicarbonate and thus are alkali-producing. But the typical American diet is rich in protein (meat and dairy) and cereal grains that are metabolized to acid, and thus are acid-producing.
With aging, such diets lead to a mild but slowly increasing metabolic "acidosis."The researchers conducted a placebo-controlled study involving healthy male and female volunteers aged 50 or older. Key measurements were taken at the beginning and end of the intervention, which lasted three months.A group of 78 volunteers had been provided either of two bicarbonates—potassium or sodium—along with their usual diet and exercise regimes.
Key bone mineral nutrients were controlled to reduce variation in study outcomes. The bicarbonate groups consumed an amount of bicarbonate equivalent to about 9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily. This allowed the researchers to look at possible acid-neutralizing effects from an adequate alkali load.
The results showed that the 78 volunteers in the bicarbonate groups had significant reductions in biomarkers that are associated with bone loss and fracture than the 84 in the no-bicarbonate, or control, group.The authors concluded that increasing the alkali content of the diet, for example by consuming more fruits and vegetables, merits further study as a safe and low-cost approach to improving skeletal health in older men and women.
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
Watch our video
Have a look at your Body Mass Index (BMI)
BodSolutions - Optimal cellular nutrition
Optimal cellular nutrition
Many experts now agree that this is most easily done by boosting your natural defenses through optimal cellular nutrition.
This simply involves providing ALL nutrients to the cell at optimal levels, which allows it to decide what it actually does and does not need.
In this way, you can make sure there aren’t going to be any nutritional deficiencies – because nutrient levels will automatically be corrected within a few months of regaining optimal cell nutrition. Which nutrients are needed for optimal cellular nutrition?
Basically, getting optimal cellular nutrition means giving your body all the Research often shows that the antioxidants, in addition to the supporting B vitamins and antioxidant minerals. These also need to be ingested at optimal levels.
recommended daily allowance (RDA) of each nutrient may not be enough to prevent many health conditions.
That’s because the RDA levels were originally determined during the years of last century’s World Wars, and they really only apply to the minimum levels of nutrients needed to ward off certain acute deficiency diseases which are no longer particularly common (e.g. scurvy, rickets, pellagra).
As a result, they don’t account for conditions such as chronic degenerative diseases, which are far more prevalent today.
Optimal levels to prevent degenerative disease
Nowadays, the optimal levels of nutrients known to provide health benefits are significantly greater than those suggested by the RDA levels. For example, some studies show that the optimal level of vitamin C is approximately 1200 to 2000 mg daily, while the RDA is only 60 mg.
To benefit from the optimal levels of cellular nutrition, you’d need to eat 17 kiwifruit, or 18 oranges, or 160 apples!
When you look at it like that, it seems obvious that the best way to get these levels of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients is to take a good quality supplement. Think of cellular nutrition as a very wise way of using the supplement and your food as “preventative medicine” to stop the disease process before it even begins.
To find out more about herbal defences, please check this product: Multivitamin Complex
Leading nutrition authorities recommend that all adults should take a multivitamin daily.
Poor diet, poor digestion, stress and exposure to pollutants can result in your body lacking essential nutrients. As a result, you may look and feel tired, get sick quickly or have difficulty losing excess weight.
Multivitamin Complex with minerals and herbs is scientifically developed to provide nutritional support for individuals who may not obtain an adequate amount of essential nutrients from the daily diet.
For everyday good health.
Contains more than 20 essential nutrients.
Now with the essential minerals selenium, boron and molybdenum.
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
Watch our video
Have a look at your Body Mass Index (BMI)
Many experts now agree that this is most easily done by boosting your natural defenses through optimal cellular nutrition.
This simply involves providing ALL nutrients to the cell at optimal levels, which allows it to decide what it actually does and does not need.
In this way, you can make sure there aren’t going to be any nutritional deficiencies – because nutrient levels will automatically be corrected within a few months of regaining optimal cell nutrition. Which nutrients are needed for optimal cellular nutrition?
Basically, getting optimal cellular nutrition means giving your body all the Research often shows that the antioxidants, in addition to the supporting B vitamins and antioxidant minerals. These also need to be ingested at optimal levels.
recommended daily allowance (RDA) of each nutrient may not be enough to prevent many health conditions.
That’s because the RDA levels were originally determined during the years of last century’s World Wars, and they really only apply to the minimum levels of nutrients needed to ward off certain acute deficiency diseases which are no longer particularly common (e.g. scurvy, rickets, pellagra).
As a result, they don’t account for conditions such as chronic degenerative diseases, which are far more prevalent today.
Optimal levels to prevent degenerative disease
Nowadays, the optimal levels of nutrients known to provide health benefits are significantly greater than those suggested by the RDA levels. For example, some studies show that the optimal level of vitamin C is approximately 1200 to 2000 mg daily, while the RDA is only 60 mg.
To benefit from the optimal levels of cellular nutrition, you’d need to eat 17 kiwifruit, or 18 oranges, or 160 apples!
When you look at it like that, it seems obvious that the best way to get these levels of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients is to take a good quality supplement. Think of cellular nutrition as a very wise way of using the supplement and your food as “preventative medicine” to stop the disease process before it even begins.
To find out more about herbal defences, please check this product: Multivitamin Complex
Leading nutrition authorities recommend that all adults should take a multivitamin daily.
Poor diet, poor digestion, stress and exposure to pollutants can result in your body lacking essential nutrients. As a result, you may look and feel tired, get sick quickly or have difficulty losing excess weight.
Multivitamin Complex with minerals and herbs is scientifically developed to provide nutritional support for individuals who may not obtain an adequate amount of essential nutrients from the daily diet.
For everyday good health.
Contains more than 20 essential nutrients.
Now with the essential minerals selenium, boron and molybdenum.
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
Watch our video
Have a look at your Body Mass Index (BMI)
Cellular Nutrition and the Oxidative stress concept.
Oxidative stress
In 1956, Professor Denham Harman propounded the famous "free radical theory of ageing." The theory holds that as we age and the oxidative damage the body has sustained over the years takes its toll, the level of oxidative stress itself rises.
That means that oxidative damage increases over the course of a lifetime and advances especially quickly in old age. At that point, we tend to see a prevalence of degenerative diseases, and the most obvious signs of ageing.
Oxidative stress and chronic degenerative diseases
In fact, scientists and doctors now widely agree that oxidative stress figures prominently in atherosclerosis and heart disease, cell transformation and cancer, all kinds of inflammatory conditions, eye problems such as cataracts and macular degeneration, as well as brain and nervous system conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.
Neutralizing free radicals and disease prevention
So how can we try to reduce or prevent free radical damage to the cells?
If oxidative stress increases when antioxidant defenses weaken, or free radical levels rise, it follows that we can decrease oxidative stress by bolstering the body's antioxidant defenses and reducing the amount of free radicals floating around the blood and tissues.
To find out more about herbal defences, please check this product: Rose Ox
RoseOx contains antioxidant properties, and is formulated to scavenge "free radicals" which can occur in the body.
"Free radicals" may be generated by lifestyle factors such as excess dietary fats, cigarette smoke, alcohol consumption, pollutants and stress.
RoseOx also functions as a liver tonic, helping to maintain a healthy digestive function and assists in the improvement of general well-being.
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
Watch our video
Have a look at your Body Mass Index (BMI)
In 1956, Professor Denham Harman propounded the famous "free radical theory of ageing." The theory holds that as we age and the oxidative damage the body has sustained over the years takes its toll, the level of oxidative stress itself rises.
That means that oxidative damage increases over the course of a lifetime and advances especially quickly in old age. At that point, we tend to see a prevalence of degenerative diseases, and the most obvious signs of ageing.
Oxidative stress and chronic degenerative diseases
In fact, scientists and doctors now widely agree that oxidative stress figures prominently in atherosclerosis and heart disease, cell transformation and cancer, all kinds of inflammatory conditions, eye problems such as cataracts and macular degeneration, as well as brain and nervous system conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.
Neutralizing free radicals and disease prevention
So how can we try to reduce or prevent free radical damage to the cells?
If oxidative stress increases when antioxidant defenses weaken, or free radical levels rise, it follows that we can decrease oxidative stress by bolstering the body's antioxidant defenses and reducing the amount of free radicals floating around the blood and tissues.
To find out more about herbal defences, please check this product: Rose Ox
RoseOx contains antioxidant properties, and is formulated to scavenge "free radicals" which can occur in the body.
"Free radicals" may be generated by lifestyle factors such as excess dietary fats, cigarette smoke, alcohol consumption, pollutants and stress.
RoseOx also functions as a liver tonic, helping to maintain a healthy digestive function and assists in the improvement of general well-being.
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
Watch our video
Have a look at your Body Mass Index (BMI)
Is poor cellular nutrition the true cause of degenerative diseases?
BodSolutions - What is the secret to cellular health?
Cellular Nutrition: When we think of health and nutrition, few of us imagine the cell. But actually, the cell is the source of the body’s energy supply; it’s what keeps you not only functioning at optimal health, but functioning at all.
In fact, as soon as the cells lose any of their capacity to produce energy for the body, the result is a decline in health and the emergence of degenerative conditions.
Healthy cell life produces what we call “vitality” – a healthy level of energy and resistance to stress.
But how do we make sure our cells are working at full pump on the energy front? Fortunately, it’s not as hard as it sounds, because scientific research shows that good nutrition is the key.
Cells and energy
To understand how eating a particular diet can affect your cells, and therefore your energy levels, it’s useful to have a rough idea of how the cells actually work: how the cell produces its energy.
That particular task falls to the mitochondria, the "power plants" of the cell. There are hundreds of these in a typical cell, every one containing a unique pattern of DNA, and their job is to facilitate cellular respiration, a process through which they transform oxygen and nutrients into energy and water.
The many finger-like folds in the mitochondrial inner membrane house respiratory chains where this process happens.
The "bad" side of oxygen
So far, so good. Except that unfortunately, oxygen is actually toxic to biological molecules and cells. That means that all processes involving oxygen, including the oxygen used in cellular respiration, leads to the formation of free radicals.
It’s just a consequence of normal metabolism. The bad news is that these free radicals tend to oxidize biological molecules, just as iron oxidizes when it rusts. Eventually, this assault on the cells can damage them, and inactivate the cellular respiration, leading to the death of the cell.
The body’s response to all this is to unleash a grand defense mechanism, using antioxidant molecules (good guys) against the free radicals (bad guys).
It doesn’t always get the response right, however, or it can’t produce enough antioxidants for the task. The result is that free radicals ravage the body’s proteins, fats, and DNA/RNA. The body also removes and repairs some damaged macromolecules, but often the sheer volume of free radicals overwhelms the repair system.
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
Watch our video
Have a look at your Body Mass Index (BMI)
Cellular Nutrition: When we think of health and nutrition, few of us imagine the cell. But actually, the cell is the source of the body’s energy supply; it’s what keeps you not only functioning at optimal health, but functioning at all.
In fact, as soon as the cells lose any of their capacity to produce energy for the body, the result is a decline in health and the emergence of degenerative conditions.
Healthy cell life produces what we call “vitality” – a healthy level of energy and resistance to stress.
But how do we make sure our cells are working at full pump on the energy front? Fortunately, it’s not as hard as it sounds, because scientific research shows that good nutrition is the key.
Cells and energy
To understand how eating a particular diet can affect your cells, and therefore your energy levels, it’s useful to have a rough idea of how the cells actually work: how the cell produces its energy.
That particular task falls to the mitochondria, the "power plants" of the cell. There are hundreds of these in a typical cell, every one containing a unique pattern of DNA, and their job is to facilitate cellular respiration, a process through which they transform oxygen and nutrients into energy and water.
The many finger-like folds in the mitochondrial inner membrane house respiratory chains where this process happens.
The "bad" side of oxygen
So far, so good. Except that unfortunately, oxygen is actually toxic to biological molecules and cells. That means that all processes involving oxygen, including the oxygen used in cellular respiration, leads to the formation of free radicals.
It’s just a consequence of normal metabolism. The bad news is that these free radicals tend to oxidize biological molecules, just as iron oxidizes when it rusts. Eventually, this assault on the cells can damage them, and inactivate the cellular respiration, leading to the death of the cell.
The body’s response to all this is to unleash a grand defense mechanism, using antioxidant molecules (good guys) against the free radicals (bad guys).
It doesn’t always get the response right, however, or it can’t produce enough antioxidants for the task. The result is that free radicals ravage the body’s proteins, fats, and DNA/RNA. The body also removes and repairs some damaged macromolecules, but often the sheer volume of free radicals overwhelms the repair system.
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
Watch our video
Have a look at your Body Mass Index (BMI)
Sunday, 1 February 2009
Six things you need in a good diet part 2/2.
The basics of a good diet for a good mood, a long healthy life and the prevention of degenerative disease.
Today, consuming a good diet for maintaining your health is of paramount importance. In these times of higher pollution rates, soil degradation, pesticides, sedentary lifestyles and the wide availability of fatty, sugary and processed foods, we need good food now more than ever before.
Without the benefits of key components of a wide variety of natural, fresh foods, we’re likely to suffer from a range of chronic degenerative diseases as well as acute conditions that can make life miserable for us and those around us.
But what exactly constitutes a good diet? There are some key components nobody can live without, and they are as follows: vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, proteins and fibre. Here’s what they are and what they do:
Proteins
Proteins form an essential part of all living organisms and participate in every process within cells. They cause biochemical reactions to happen, and are vital to metabolism.
Many have structural or mechanical functions, such as building and maintaining bone and keeping cells healthy for good cellular nutrition. They play an important part in the immune system, which keeps us free of disease.
Now you can see why the name protein comes from the Greek πρώτα ("prota"), meaning "of primary importance"!
Fiber
Fibers are vital for holding body tissues together. Dietary fibers are the indigestible portion of plant foods that help move food through the digestive system.
Sources of fiber include corn, wheat, bran, flax seed, and vegetables. Fibre has clinically demonstrated properties of lowering blood cholesterol when it’s regularly included in the diet. It also stabilises blood glucose levels, helps synthesise cholesterol, helps with the absorption of minerals, improves immune function, and protects the colon.
On average, North Americans consume less than 50% of the dietary fiber levels required for good health. With a deficit of fiber, you are likely to end up suffering from one or more of: diabetes, obesity heart disease, high blood cholesterol, and numerous gastrointestinal disorders such as constipation, hemorroids, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, and colon cancer.
Fortunately, there are many types of soluble fiber supplements available to consumers for nutritional purposes, and despite what many people claim, fiber doesn’t bind to minerals or vitamins and restrict their absorption.
With all these available in easy-to-use supplement form, there’s no excuse for not getting enough.
Additionally you might like to obtain extra vitamins, minerals and enzymes by regularly juicing an array of organic fruits and vegetables.
You may want to take a closer look at the health benefits of juicing.
Whatever method you choose make sure you get your proper share of the essential compounds listed above!
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
Watch our video
Have a look at your Body Mass Index (BMI)
Today, consuming a good diet for maintaining your health is of paramount importance. In these times of higher pollution rates, soil degradation, pesticides, sedentary lifestyles and the wide availability of fatty, sugary and processed foods, we need good food now more than ever before.
Without the benefits of key components of a wide variety of natural, fresh foods, we’re likely to suffer from a range of chronic degenerative diseases as well as acute conditions that can make life miserable for us and those around us.
But what exactly constitutes a good diet? There are some key components nobody can live without, and they are as follows: vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, proteins and fibre. Here’s what they are and what they do:
Proteins
Proteins form an essential part of all living organisms and participate in every process within cells. They cause biochemical reactions to happen, and are vital to metabolism.
Many have structural or mechanical functions, such as building and maintaining bone and keeping cells healthy for good cellular nutrition. They play an important part in the immune system, which keeps us free of disease.
Now you can see why the name protein comes from the Greek πρώτα ("prota"), meaning "of primary importance"!
Fiber
Fibers are vital for holding body tissues together. Dietary fibers are the indigestible portion of plant foods that help move food through the digestive system.
Sources of fiber include corn, wheat, bran, flax seed, and vegetables. Fibre has clinically demonstrated properties of lowering blood cholesterol when it’s regularly included in the diet. It also stabilises blood glucose levels, helps synthesise cholesterol, helps with the absorption of minerals, improves immune function, and protects the colon.
On average, North Americans consume less than 50% of the dietary fiber levels required for good health. With a deficit of fiber, you are likely to end up suffering from one or more of: diabetes, obesity heart disease, high blood cholesterol, and numerous gastrointestinal disorders such as constipation, hemorroids, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, diverticulitis, and colon cancer.
Fortunately, there are many types of soluble fiber supplements available to consumers for nutritional purposes, and despite what many people claim, fiber doesn’t bind to minerals or vitamins and restrict their absorption.
With all these available in easy-to-use supplement form, there’s no excuse for not getting enough.
Additionally you might like to obtain extra vitamins, minerals and enzymes by regularly juicing an array of organic fruits and vegetables.
You may want to take a closer look at the health benefits of juicing.
Whatever method you choose make sure you get your proper share of the essential compounds listed above!
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
Watch our video
Have a look at your Body Mass Index (BMI)
Six things you need in a good diet part ½.
The basics of a good diet for a good mood, a long healthy life and the prevention of degenerative disease.
Today, consuming a good diet for maintaining your health is of paramount importance. In these times of higher pollution rates, soil degradation, pesticides, sedentary lifestyles and the wide availability of fatty, sugary and processed foods, we need good food now more than ever before.
Without the benefits of key components of a wide variety of natural, fresh foods, we’re likely to suffer from a range of chronic degenerative diseases as well as acute conditions that can make life miserable for us and those around us.
But what exactly constitutes a good diet? There are some key components nobody can live without, and they are as follows: vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, proteins and fibre. Here’s what they are and what they do:
Vitamins
Vitamins are nutrients needed by the body in very small amounts for many of its essential metabolic reactions.
Until the 1900s, vitamins were obtained only through food (fortunately we can now get them in supplement form, too). Different food sources contain various amounts of vitamins, so if the only source of vitamins is food, changes in diet will alter the types and amounts of vitamins you consume. Vitamins are essential for normal growth. Even in adults, vitamins are still essential for maintaining healthy tissues, cells, and organs.
They enable us to efficiently use chemical energy provided by food, and to process the fats, carbohydrates and proteins fats needed for breathing.
Extreme vitamin deficiencies happen when you either don’t get enough of a particular vitamin from your food or when you have an underlying disorder that stops you absorbing a proper amount of the vitamin.
Your lifestyle choices can affect the situation, for example, with smoking, drinking too much alcohol, or using drugs. Even athletes and sports people can become deficient in vitamins can become deficient in some vitamins due to excess oxidative stress
Restrictive diets can result in often potentially deadly diseases, such as beri-beri, pellagra, scurvy, and rickets; as well as more common ailments.
Today largely because of the degradation of the food supply we are not getting enough vitamins and nutrients for optimal health. Therefore we are not so worried about these deficiency diseases but more so about chronic degenerative diseases such as cancer, arthritis and heart disease.
Minerals
Dietary minerals are chemicals needed by the body for many of its processes.
These can be naturally occurring in food or added to the diet separately from food, as mineral supplements.
Examples of foods that contain minerals would be green leafy vegetables (for calcium); table salt and spinach (for sodium chloride); nuts, soy beans and cocoa (for magnesium); red meat, leafy vegetables (for iron); eggs, meat and legumes (for sulfur).
A large body of research shows we can often benefit from high quality mineral supplementation.
Vitamins and minerals are interdependent, which means they need the presence of one another to work properly. Taking a multivitamin without minerals is not nearly as effective as taking one with minerals.
Fats
Fats comprise a wide group of compounds that are important for human metabolic processes. Examples of edible fats are butter, margarine, cream and lard.
Fats can be good and bad.
They help keep you warm, for example, and play a vital role in maintaining healthy skin and hair. They insulate the body organs from shock, maintain body temperature, and promote cell function.
They also serve as energy stores for the body. In fact, they play a whole host of important and diverse roles in health and nutrition. Many are absolutely essential for life.The vitamins A, D, E and K can only be digested, absorbed, and transported in conjunction with fats, and fats are sources of essential fatty acids, which enable the body to carry out many of its vital chemical processes.
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
Watch our video
Have a look at your Body Mass Index (BMI)
Today, consuming a good diet for maintaining your health is of paramount importance. In these times of higher pollution rates, soil degradation, pesticides, sedentary lifestyles and the wide availability of fatty, sugary and processed foods, we need good food now more than ever before.
Without the benefits of key components of a wide variety of natural, fresh foods, we’re likely to suffer from a range of chronic degenerative diseases as well as acute conditions that can make life miserable for us and those around us.
But what exactly constitutes a good diet? There are some key components nobody can live without, and they are as follows: vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, proteins and fibre. Here’s what they are and what they do:
Vitamins
Vitamins are nutrients needed by the body in very small amounts for many of its essential metabolic reactions.
Until the 1900s, vitamins were obtained only through food (fortunately we can now get them in supplement form, too). Different food sources contain various amounts of vitamins, so if the only source of vitamins is food, changes in diet will alter the types and amounts of vitamins you consume. Vitamins are essential for normal growth. Even in adults, vitamins are still essential for maintaining healthy tissues, cells, and organs.
They enable us to efficiently use chemical energy provided by food, and to process the fats, carbohydrates and proteins fats needed for breathing.
Extreme vitamin deficiencies happen when you either don’t get enough of a particular vitamin from your food or when you have an underlying disorder that stops you absorbing a proper amount of the vitamin.
Your lifestyle choices can affect the situation, for example, with smoking, drinking too much alcohol, or using drugs. Even athletes and sports people can become deficient in vitamins can become deficient in some vitamins due to excess oxidative stress
Restrictive diets can result in often potentially deadly diseases, such as beri-beri, pellagra, scurvy, and rickets; as well as more common ailments.
Today largely because of the degradation of the food supply we are not getting enough vitamins and nutrients for optimal health. Therefore we are not so worried about these deficiency diseases but more so about chronic degenerative diseases such as cancer, arthritis and heart disease.
Minerals
Dietary minerals are chemicals needed by the body for many of its processes.
These can be naturally occurring in food or added to the diet separately from food, as mineral supplements.
Examples of foods that contain minerals would be green leafy vegetables (for calcium); table salt and spinach (for sodium chloride); nuts, soy beans and cocoa (for magnesium); red meat, leafy vegetables (for iron); eggs, meat and legumes (for sulfur).
A large body of research shows we can often benefit from high quality mineral supplementation.
Vitamins and minerals are interdependent, which means they need the presence of one another to work properly. Taking a multivitamin without minerals is not nearly as effective as taking one with minerals.
Fats
Fats comprise a wide group of compounds that are important for human metabolic processes. Examples of edible fats are butter, margarine, cream and lard.
Fats can be good and bad.
They help keep you warm, for example, and play a vital role in maintaining healthy skin and hair. They insulate the body organs from shock, maintain body temperature, and promote cell function.
They also serve as energy stores for the body. In fact, they play a whole host of important and diverse roles in health and nutrition. Many are absolutely essential for life.The vitamins A, D, E and K can only be digested, absorbed, and transported in conjunction with fats, and fats are sources of essential fatty acids, which enable the body to carry out many of its vital chemical processes.
For more information regarding better health through good nutrition, please visit our website.
Watch our video
Have a look at your Body Mass Index (BMI)
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