--> 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.
