5 Real Health Questions and Answers - Issue 2

--> Question 1:

The joints of my body and those of my elderly parents are not functioning very well, what about hyaluronic acid?

--> Answer 1:

Hyaluronic acid is a fairly recent phenomenon in the health industry. It is boasted as a successful therapy for joint and skin problems mainly. However there are not many studies to show that hyaluronic acid (taken orally) is effective in easing joint pain or increasing joint movability.

There have been some studies done where hyaluronic acid was injected into the knees of patients. In some of these studies the results were positive, while in others, patients showed no results at all.

With that said, many people claim that hyaluronic has had positive results on there joint pain or arthritis. The best way to find out is to try it for yourself. Keep in mind however that no long term studies have been conducted on hyaluronic acid taken orally - so we don't know for sure if it is completely safe or not.

Occasionally people using hyaluronic acid have reported breaking out in a skin rash.

With all the above in mind, I would suggest taking a joint supplement that includes hyaluronic acid, as well as more trusted and proven supplements, mainly glucosamine, and chondroitin sulfates, MSM, sea cucumber and grape seed extract. If you want a supplement that includes all of these I recommend Joint Power RX.

--> Question 2:

Clogged arteries - I know that good cholesterol i.e. olive oil, helps to reduce clogged arteries, however, I see commercials where platelets form along the walls of the arteries in small clumps and if broken loose result in a blood clot, often causing a heart attack or stroke.

Am I correct, in that, clogged arteries (the thick build-up on the artery walls) and platelets (in clumps in an artery wall) are two different things? Is there anything natural that can eliminate these platelets if they are different from clogged arteries? I have yet to find an answer anywhere.

--> Answer 2:

Platelets do indeed build up on the artery walls, and this was confirmed in a 2002 study. This platelet build up is in fact different from what we usually refer to as "clogged arteries" or high cholesterol. The platelets, normally responsible for blood clotting, get activated in the bloodstream and become sticky. Once this happens they are likely to form clumps on artery walls.

A healthy lifestyle in general will go a long way to prevent any arterial disease. With that said, there are a few vitamins, supplements, and herbs that will also help prevent the risk of platelet and cholesterol build up, in turn lowering the risk of heart attack and strokes.

Here's a brief list of helpful vitamins and herbs:

-Garlic

-Ginseng

-Three cups of gingko biloba tea can help counter any inflammation and prevent "hardening of the arteries" (oxidized cholesterol and platelet build up).
-Hawthorn berry (very efficient in lowering blood pressure safely).

-Spices such as ginger, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, cloves help dilate arteries and increase blood and oxygen flow.
-Antioxidant fruits or superfoods high in antioxidants.

-Vitamin E (400 IU daily) has been shown to have dramatic effects on reducing the risk of heart attacks by up to 77%

-EFA's (essential fatty acids) Omega-3 and Omega-6 are also important for healthy arteries.

-Grapeseed extract and Bromelain (pineapple derived enzyme) can also lower the risk of arterial disease.

Other then that, sauna therapy will help increase blood flow and reduce the chance of blood clotting as well as help to remove toxins in the body. Exercise will do the same, to a lesser extent.

--> Question 3:

how can I chart my daily meals and snacks. Are there any sites that have charts were you can monitor your daily intake of foods?

--> Answer 3:

There are many sites that allow you to do this, some free and some paid. However, I find many of the sites lack the features necessary to make it worthwhile.

The best free food diary/tracker is probably http://www.startyourdiet.com

The best paid food diary/tracker is, in my opinion, http://www.myfooddiary.com which costs $9 per month.

If you can afford the $9 a month, definitely go with http://www.myfooddiary.com as it has alot more options and is much easier to use and manage than http://www.startyourdiet.com

--> Question 4:

How can i stay away from sweets when i have a really big sweet tooth.. its not all that easy?

--> Answer 4:

First of all you have to realise that you have a sugar and carbohydrate addiction. Carb addictions are actually quite common in this day and age, and must be treated like any other addiction.

The first step in beating any addiction is admitting to yourself that you have one. From there, you must lay out a logical step-by-step plan to beat your addiction to sweet (high carb) foods.

The reason you have a sugar addiction in the first place is because you eat too much sugar. When you eat sugar your body tends to overproduce insulin. This excess insulin causes your blood sugar to drop. Your body then craves more sugar in order to raise your blood sugar level back to normal.

You find yourself caught in a vicious circle. The only way out of this never-ending sugar addiction circle is to break stride - that means eliminating sugar from your diet, or at least cutting down on it dramatically. The less you eat, the less you will crave.

Now as you said, it's not all that easy. Well, to make it easier, you must replace the bad refined sugars with something else.

Some good natural sugars are fruits (low sugar fruits such as kiwis are best), unpasteurized honey, and stevia (very sweet, no calories, no aspartame).

Your first step in cutting down sugars should be to stop drinking any soda pops and fruit juices. Both pop and fruit juices are loaded with sugars - usually refined (bad) sugars.

Beating a sugar addiction is akin to quitting smoking (which I myself went through not long ago). Just remind yourself of why you want to cut sweets out of your diet, and use that as your motivation. Sugar cravings generally only last from 5-10 mins, so take each craving one at a time. The longer you go without sugar, the less you'll crave it, and the closer you'll be to no longer craving sweets at all!

--> Question 5:

Which food is good for health?

--> Answer 5:

This article is getting long, so I'll try and keep this one short.

Generally speaking any food that is organic is "good" for your health. However, good is a relative term. Some organic foods, such as fruits and vegetables are healthier for you, then say organic bread.

When it comes to eating healthy, moderation is key. Too much of anything is not good for the body.

A healthy diet should consist of plenty of fiber, protien, essential vitamins and nutrients, fresh fruits and vegetables (washed and peeled), organic chicken and fish, organic free range eggs, and plenty of unroasted, unsalted nuts and seeds.

Many people think dairy is necessary for a healthy diet, I tend to disagree with this, but I'll keep that issue in wraps for another day.

You should avoid any foods that contain MSG, Aspartame, pesticides, heavy metals, chemicals and preservatives.

What's So Special About Raw Honey?

Raw honey is the concentrated nectar of flowers that comes straight from the extractor; it is the only unheated, pure, unpasteurized, unprocessed honey.

An alkaline-forming food, this type of honey contains ingredients similar to those found in fruits, which become alkaline in the digestive system. It doesn't ferment in the stomach and it can be used to counteract acid indigestion. When mixed with ginger and lemon juices, it also relieves nausea and supplies energy. Raw honey is the healthiest choice amongst the various forms of honey as it has the most nutritional value and contains amylase, an enzyme concentrated in flower pollen which helps predigest starchy foods like breads.

Most honeys found in the supermarket are not raw honey but "commercial" honey, which has been heated and filtered so that it looks cleaner and smoother, more appealing on the shelf, and easier to handle and package. When honey is heated, its delicate aromas, yeast and enzymes which are responsible for activating vitamins and minerals in the body system are partially destroyed. Hence, such honey is not as nutritious as raw honey.

Characterised by fine textured crystals, raw honey looks milkier and contains particles and flecks made of bee pollen, propolis, honeycomb bits, and broken bee wing fragments. Raw and unfiltered honey is relatively low in moisture content (14% to 18%) and has a high antioxidant level. It will usually granulate and crystallize to a margarine-like consistency after a month or two. Many people prefer to spread it on bread and waffles, dissolve it in hot coffee or tea, or use it for cooking and baking.

You may also find raw honey that are unprocessed but slightly warmed to retard granulation for a short period of time and allow light straining and packing into containers for sale. In this case, the honey will not be considered 100% "raw" because it has been heated slightly and therefore rightfully should not be labeled as such by the supplier. There's a very simple way to tell if honey has been heated or not: hold it up to the light. If the honey is clear, then it's been heated.

Source: http://www.benefits-of-honey.com/raw-honey.html

How to Use Ginger in a Detox Diet

Ginger is a very popular spice used in oriental and far eastern cuisines.   Not only is it a spice, it is a very useful item in a detox diet.  It has properties that are very helpful in cleansing the body of toxins.  There are many ways it can be used in detoxing,  including as a food, a bath additive, and a tea.  Here are some ideas:

Ginger Bath:  Add 3 or 4 tablespoons of dried ginger to a tepid bath ( not hot).  Soak in it to promote perspiration, relieve tired achy muscles and to relieve congestion.

Ginger Cough Syrup: 1/4 tsp. Cayenne Pepper, 1/4 tsp Ginger, 1 Tbsp Honey, 1 Tbsp Vinegar,  2 Tbsp warm water.  Mix all ingredients and use as often as necessary to relieve chest congestion.

Tea:  Add three thin slices of Ginger to a cup of water that has been boiled.  Steep for fifteen minutes.  Drinking this tea while soaking in a Ginger bath will further the perspiration process to release toxins.

Ginger can be freshly grated or put through a garlic press and added to salads, soups and noodle dishes. Ginger's cleansing properties will aid in the detox process because ginger acts as  cleansing agent in the kidneys and the bowel.  It also stimulates the circulatory system and removes congestion from the sinus cavities.  Because it acts as a digestive agent,  it helps the body in digesting other foods for their nutrient value.

Adding ginger to the detox diet will enhance the body's ability to rid itself of toxins.  It will also enhance the flavor of the foods that are eaten in the detox diet, which sometimes can seem bland.

Lose Five Pounds in a Week - Secret of Losing Five Lbs Exposed!

People all across the globe spends time to get that smart & fit body. The fact is that you can lose five pounds in a week with some little efforts and determination. This is a safe and natural technique of weight loss.

Here are techniques to lose 5 lbs. in a week without any expense:

Diet to Lose 5 lbs. in a Week

· On an average an adult needs 1200 to 1500 calories per day. Shop wisely and read the labels of the food you purchase. Plan your diet to take a stipulated amount of calories per day.

· Divide it in to 6 short meals in place of 2 major ones.

· Have your meals on time and do not skip them.

· After a fixed time in the night do not eat anything.

· Do not sleep just after a meal.

· 20 minutes before the meal take a handful of nuts. It reduces your appetite.

· Focus on taking raw fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, soy milk, skimmed milk, and nuts.

· Avoid unsaturated fat and excess of carbohydrates.

· Avoid oily food, junk food, rice, sugar, white flour & potatoes.

· Take honey and apple and sweeteners.

· Replace tea & coffee with herbal ones like green & white tea.

· Use cayenne pepper, honey, low sodium salt, maple syrup and lemon to garnish your salads. These are natural detoxifying products.

· Avoid smoking & alcohol.

· Drink anti oxidant rich juices or consume such fruits in the breakfast. Some of these are acai berry, blue berry, goji berry, etc.

Exercises To Lose 5 lbs. in a Week

· The best time to exercise is early in the morning or just before you sleep at night.

· If you can't do intense exercises do the moderate ones like jogging, swimming, walking, cycling, etc.

· 30 minutes workout in the day is a must.

· You may also choose to do yoga, meditation and aerobics.

· The impact of the exercises would almost double if you drink a detox drink before the workout. You may have a glass of warm water with honey & lemon or a glass of water with cayenne pepper, maple syrup and lemon.

· Another helpful tip to lose 5 pounds in a week is taking Acai Supplements. Combining Acai with the above mentioned tips you can even lose 15 to 20 pounds healthily.

Type 2 Diabetes - Does Honey Raise Or Lower Blood Sugar Levels?

Do you think you can't eat honey because you have type 2 diabetes? And your doctor did tell you to avoid all sweets! It is true honey is a sweet... but this is true also: one tablespoon of honey contains approximately the same amount of carbohydrate as a quartered amount of a raw apple.

Research also shows that consuming honey produces a much lower blood sugar response than the equivalent amount of sugar or other glucose enriched starches.

Of all the natural sweeteners with clear nutritional value, honey has the least effect on blood sugar levels. Different diabetics, however, react to honey in different ways and different kinds of honey can have different effects on your blood sugar levels.

What is Honey? Honey is a mixture of glucose and fructose. The fructose in honey makes it very sweet, and the glucose in honey makes it a great source of quick energy. Because honey also contains wax, antioxidants, and water bound inside crystals that have to be broken down in the stomach, it's not high on the glycemic index. Raw honey has a glycemic index of about 30, while heat-treated, processed honey has a glycemic index of about 75.

Amazing Raw Honey: Raw honey has about the same effect on blood sugar levels as leafy greens... as usual, as long as you don't eat too much! A tablespoon per meal is enough. And the antioxidant content of honey is so potent that American cosmetic surgeons literally use honey as an antiseptic dressing... because it's a better germ-fighter than other chemical treatments.

Processed Honey: Processed honey, on the other hand, has had its antioxidants broken down by the heat used during pasteurization, and is broken down into sugar in your digestive tract about as quickly as ice cream is broken down. Most diabetics, Type 1 or Type 2, don't have room for processed honey in their diets.

Lower Blood Sugar Levels: Research studies (on humans, not rats), indicate that the consumption of raw honey can result in lower blood sugar levels between 60 to 100 mg/dL (3.3 to 5.5 mmol/L) when tested 90 minutes after eating a similar amount of sucrose or sugar. This then means the HbA1c percentage would be lower by approximately 2 to 4%.

Keep It Down: The key to using honey in your diet in order to control your blood sugar levels is never to use too much. Even foods that are digested slowly still require insulin. As long as you don't eat too much, and you still have insulin production capacity in your pancreas, your body benefits from the energy and antioxidant content of raw, natural honey.

Picnic Food Ideas - Two Delicious Picnic Food Recipes For Chicken Dishes

Planning for a picnic can be a daunting task, especially if you are preparing for a lot of people, or maybe hosting people you do not know very well. In any case, it is important to prepare food that is pleasing to as many of your guests as possible, so that everyone enjoys your picnic - and good food is what makes a good picnic possible. Chicken is a fantastic choice for just about any picnic because it can be prepared in a variety of ways. The two picnic food ideas for chicken below will use this perfect poultry solution in two different yet equally delicious ways.

Picnic Food Ideas: Fried Chicken Tenders

Ah, chicken tenders. These are tasty, simple to make, easy to eat, and palatable to just about anyone. Plus, you can eat them with a wide variety of dipping sauces to please any guest you host at your picnic. To make these chicken tenders, you will need the following ingredients:

1 1/4 cup of flour
2 cups of Italian bread crumbs
2 beaten eggs
2 quarts of peanut oil (can use canola instead)
1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
Salt
Black pepper
Two dozen chicken tenderloins
2 tablespoons of water

To make, take a bowl or baking dish and put the flour in it. In another dish, place the breadcrumbs and mix them with both types of pepper and a dash of salt. In another small bowl, mix the eggs and water together. Then, take each tenderloin and dip it in the flour, then the eggs, and then the bread crumbs. After each has been dipped, take your peanut oil (it tastes the best, in my opinion) and heat it in a fryer to about 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Fry your chicken about 4 at a time until the crush is golden brown in color. Drain on a paper towel. For dipping sauces, you can use anything you wish. I prefer honey mustard and BBQ sauce, but ranch, ketchup, Dijon mustard, and other sauces are also used. For best results, bring several and let your guests sample them all!

Picnic Food Ideas: Sesame Chicken

With this recipe, we move away from the traditional chicken tender to the more exotic sesame chicken dish. For this recipe, you will need:

2 chicken breasts (whole and boneless)
2 tablespoons of soy sauce
1 1/4 tablespoon of cooking wine
1/2 teaspoon of sesame oil
2 tablespoons of white flour
2 tablespoons of water
2 1/4 tablespoons of corn starch
1 1/2 teaspoon of vegetable oil

Take all of these ingredients except for the chicken and mix them together. Cut your chicken into small chunks and let your chicken marinate in this solution for two hours. Then, gather these ingredients:

1/2 cup of water
1/8 cup of vinegar (white)a
1/4 cup of corn starch
3/4 cup of chicken broth
2 tablespoons of soy sauce
2 ¼ tablespoons of sesame oil
1 tablespoon of sesame seeds (toasted)
1 minced clove of garlic
1/2 tablespoon of cayenne pepper
Peanut oil for frying

Take your chicken pieces and deep-fry them in the peanut oil. While you are doing this, add the above ingredients together and bring to a boil. Then, reduce the heat and let it simmer while stirring occasionally. When your chicken has turned a nice golden-brown color, remove and drain the pieces on a paper towel. Bring the sauce up to a boil for about 10 seconds, then add a handful of sesame seeds and pour over the chicken.

Yin and Yang Food - How Does it Affect You?

Did you know that Yin and Yang, the principle at the heart of Chinese philosophy, applies to Chinese food and cooking as well? In Chinese medicine, all food can be divided into four Qis: Hot, warm, cool and cold; or yang, mild yang, mild yin and yin respectively.

In general, yang food improves blood circulation and warms us up, but too much yang food (or eaten during the wrong season e.g. summer) will induce constant thirst, hot flashes, night sweats and constipation. In contrast, yin food quenches thirst, cleanses our systems and cools us down, but if eaten inappropriately it will lower our metabolism and weaken our bodies. In particular, according to traditional Chinese, pregnant women are traditionally advised not to eat yin food (e.g. crab, watermelon) as it may increase the chance of miscarriage.

So what are some examples of yin and yang food?

Grains and Beans


Mild Yang (warm food): glutinous rice, black rice, barley, sago, sorghum

Mild Yin (cool food): wheat, barley, green beans, buckwheat, millet

Right in the middle: Rice, corn (maize), sweet potato, sesame, soy beans, rice beans, oat, long beans, sweet peas, kidney beans, mung beans, lentil, broadbean

Meat and Dairy Product


Mild Yang (warm):beef, lamb (mutton), chicken, shrimp, lobster, mussels, goat milk

Mild Yin (cool): duck, abalone

Yin: duck egg, crab, clam, octopus, squid, escargots, raw food

Just Right: chicken egg and egg white, pork, scallop, fish, cow milk, yogurt

Fruits and Nuts


Mild Yang (warm): peach, almond, dates, lychee, long yan, lemon, papaya, pine nut, walnut, chestnut, cherry, mango

Mild Yin (cool):apple, pear, orange, strawberry, pipa

Yin (cold): Persimmon, pomelo, banana, starfruit, kiwi, water melon, sweet melon

Just Right: plum, pineapple, grapes, olive, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, coconut milk, peanut, hazelnut

Vegetables


Mild Yang (warm): spring onion, garlic, leeks, coriander / parsley, onion, pumpkin

Yang (hot): pepper

Mild Yin (cool): tomato, celery, egg plant, choy shum, spinach, asparagus, artichoke, cauliflower, tofu (including soy milk), gluten, lotus root, winter melon, cucumber, mushroom, needle mushroom

Yin (cold): bok choy, arrowhead, water spinach, watercress, bamboo shoots, seaweed, straw mushroom, bitter melon, water chestnut

Just Right: carrot, potato, taro, mushroom, turnip (very mild yin), black fungus (very mild yin)

Other Food and Ingredients


Mild Yang (warm): spices such as young ginger, clove, dill, rosemary, sage, turmeric, thyme, horseradish, cayenne, nutmeg, wild pepper, cumin, star anise; stimulants such as alcohol, coffee, black tea and other caffeinated drinks; red sugar, ginseng

Yang (hot): Cinnamon

Mild Yin (cool): green tea, honey, beer, chrysanthemum tea, mint

Yin (cold): Soy sauce, soy bean paste, salt

How Does This Apply To Us?

According to the Chinese, each of us are born yin, yang or somewhere in between. For example, if you always crave for spicy food you may have a "yin" body; and if you love watermelon anytime in the year you are likely a Yang.

Your health condition can also indicate the yin-yang balance of your body. Constant cold hands and feet? A Yin; Get soar throat easily and have a quick temper? A Yang. Seasonal and geographic variations will also affect our preference on yin and yang foods.

The Advice

When cooking yin food (applies to most veggies), add yang ingredients such as garlic, spring onion, ginger and coriander.

Eat seasonal food: let the nature guide us how to eat.

Balanced diet: if we eat a wide variety of food, the yin and yang will balance out.