Diet-Health-Nutrition.org

Childhood obesity is becoming more and more common and thus poses a
major health risk. Obesity involves accumulation of excessive amounts of
fats in the body. It is associated with many other diseases like
coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea and orthopedic
problems. Obesity can also cause psychological problems in children. In
the recent years, childhood obesity is on the rise. There are many
reasons behind this. Unhealthy eating habits and sedentary lifestyle are the
main factors that contribute to childhood obesity.

Childhood obesity has become one of the major health concerns.
According to the American Obesity Association and the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 30.3 % of children aged 6 to 11 years are overweight
and 15.3 % are obese and 30.4 % of adolescents aged 12 to 19 years are
overweight and 15.5 % are obese. In the last 20 years, the prevalence
of obesity in children has increased 4 times. Studies have shown that
obesity is much more common in boys than girls. These statistics
indicate that obesity is a major health concern.

The main causes of obesity are consumption of excessive calories and
sedentary lifestyle. Obesity may also be caused due to side effects from
certain drugs and due to hormonal imbalance in the body. However, these
account for only a small fraction of the cases. In recent years,
sedentary lifestyle has become more popular. With the rise in popularity of
computers, television and video games, children have become used to
sedentary lifestyle. At the same time, fast foods and soft drinks are
becoming popular. Both these factors have meant an increase in childhood
obesity.

The most effective treatment for obese children and adolescents is
behavior and lifestyle modification under the guidance of a weight
management specialist. Consumption of excessive amounts of calories should be
reduced. Soft drinks and fast foods should be avoided. Sedentary
activities like playing video games should be replaced with outdoor
activities like jogging and physical exercise. It is also important to setup
goals and monitor goal achievement through positive incentives. Most
important of all, obese people should be provided with extensive support by
involving the family and/or joining a weight loss group of peers.

Health benefits of green tea

The health benefits of green tea are numerous. No other food or drink
is said to have as many health benefits as green tea. Green tea has in
use in Chinese medicine for the last 4000 years. In China, green tea is
still very famous and widely used. It is used as a medicine to cure
headaches and depression. However, in the west it has only caught
attention only in recent years. Today, it is hip to drink green tea and show
others that you are health conscious as well.

The reason behind the numerous health benefits of green tea is the
presence of catechine polyphenols. Catechine polyphenols, most notably
epigallocatechin gallate, act as strong anti-oxidants. These substances
help the body in fighting cancer cells. These compounds also reduce
cholesterol levels in the blood and prevent formation of abnormal blood
clots. For this reason, drinking green tea keeps the heart healthy.

Of all forms of tea, green tea is most beneficial for health. Though,
different forms of tea come from the same plant, there is a difference
in the way they are processed. Green tea is steamed which keeps
catechine polyphenols intact. On the other hand, the other varieties are made
from fermented tea leaves which destroys the useful compounds present in
the leaves.

Green tea is also known to help in weight loss. For this reason, many
weight conscious women prefer green tea over other forms of tea. Green
tea also helps in keeping the teeth healthy. Compounds present in green
tea can kill bacterial cells that cause tooth decay. Most recently,
green tea has also been found to be beneficial to the skin. Cosmetic
preparations containing green tea extracts are becoming more and more
popular.

Health effects of caffeine

Most of us feel refreshed and rejuvenated after having a cup of coffee. This is because of caffeine that is present in coffee. Caffeine is a stimulant that is present in many foods and beverages like tea, coffee and cocoa. The health effects of caffeine are highly debated. Scientists do not agree completely whether the health effects of caffeine are positive or negative.

Caffeine belongs to a group of compounds called xanthines. These substances make one feel alert because they boost metabolic activities in the body. In some people, the effects of caffeine may not be the same. They may feel nervous, irritated and may have difficulty sleeping at night. People with heart disease should not consume foods with caffeine as caffeine interferes with the normal functioning of the heart.

One of the well known negative effects of caffeine is that it is mildly addictive. People who regularly drink large amounts of coffee or other caffeinated drinks may have difficulty thinking and concentrating if they do not have their dose of caffeine. Some people also get headache if they do not have their cup of coffee on time.

Caffeine is a mild diuretic. Diuretics cause increased urination and for this reason consumption of excessive amounts of caffeine can lead to dehydration of the body. The health effects of caffeine have been extensively studied. Studies have revealed that caffeine has no relation with cancer. Studies in pregnant women have shown that caffeine has no effect on the growing child. Caffeine is relatively safe for consumption by almost everyone.

Technorati : caffeine, coffee, health, tea

Diet planning

Nutrition is one of the most important factors that affects the health. The diet we consume is responsible for providing our body with energy, repair damaged cells and tissues and maintain all other vital functions of the body. For this reason, it should be ensured that the diet contains all the vital nutrients in the correct quantities. This can be achieved through a proper diet plan.

The term diet refers to the food that a person (or animal) consumes. Diet may also refer to a controlled intake of food and drink designed for weight control, for health or religious reasons, or to control or improve a medical situation. Different foods contain different nutrients in different quantities. For example, potatoes are rich in carbohydrates while carrots and leafy vegetables are rich in vitamins. To ensure that the diet contains all the essential nutrients, the diet should a combination of a wide variety of food items.

If the diet doesn’t contain the desired quantities of nutrients, it may lead to deficiency diseases. Deficiency of carbohydrates and proteins in the diet may cause protein-energy malnutrition diseases (PEM), characterized by wasting of muscles and low body weight loss. Deficiency of vitamins and minerals may affect vision, memory, metabolism and growth.

Overnutrition, in which nutrients are over supplied to the body, is also a concern these days. Proper diet planning can keep overnutrition under control. Consuming excessive carbohydrates can cause obesity. Consumption of excessive amounts of vitamins and minerals can cause hyper-vitaminosis or vitamin poisoning. Proper diet planning can take care of over nutrition as well.

Technorati : diet, diet planning, health, nutrition

Liquid Vitamin Supplements

Most people do not realize that the body can absorb the nutrients from liquid vitamin supplements easier than from tablets. It is estimated that liquid vitamin supplements are actually absorbed at least five times better than regular vitamin pills. Of course, there are many other benefits that liquid vitamin supplements have over pills. For example, the liquid vitamin supplements are easier to swallow. This alone makes liquid vitamin supplements preferable to pills, especially for children and anyone else who has trouble taking pills of any type.

Young children are often unable to gather sufficient nutrients from the foods that they eat but it is almost impossible for them to take vitamin supplements in pill form. Liquid vitamin supplements are ideal because they can be given by a dropper, straight into the child’s mouth or even added to their regular bottle of water or juice to ensure that they receive all of the vitamins that they need to grow. For exactly the same reason, liquid vitamin supplements are perfect for anyone who is unwell and not able to eat properly.

Despite the best efforts of most people it is likely that most are not getting sufficient vitamins and minerals from their diet and that is where liquid vitamin supplements are beneficial. The vitamins in many common pill supplements are actually packed too densely. This leads to a lot of the vitamins not being broken down and absorbed as they should do whereas liquid vitamin supplements do not have the same problem. The body is therefore able to absorb far more of the nutritional value from liquid vitamin supplements than it can from those in the traditional pill form. In fact, the body only absorbs about 10-20% of the nutrients from vitamin pills compared to around 80-90% that it can absorb from liquid vitamin supplements.

Another benefit of liquid vitamin supplements is that they often contain more than one type of vitamin and other nutrients. Vitamin pills traditionally contain only one which means that you are going to have to take a whole handful of vitamin pills to get the same benefits as you do from many of the liquid vitamin supplements. Liquid vitamin supplements offer far more convenience and effectiveness for supplying the body with the vitamins that it needs. The cost of buying the equivalent number of vitamin pills to obtain the same results is also far more than that of liquid vitamin supplements.

Technorati : liquid vitamins, vitamin, vitamin supplements, vitamins

Beta-carotene

Beta-carotene is the most active of the deeply colored pigments called carotenoids. After consumption, beta-carotene converts to retinol, a readily usable form of vitamin A. Beta-carotene’s beneficial effects include protecting the skin from sunlight damage, fighting early cancer cells, boosting immunity, and preventing cataract formation. It also stops the creation of free radicals (oxidants), which are DNA-damaging molecular fragments in the body.

Food sources of beta-carotene include carrots, spinach, kale, and broccoli, as well as animal sources such as liver, whole eggs, and whole milk. Since beta-carotene is fat-soluble, most fat-free milk has been fortified with vitamin A to replace what is lost when the fat is removed.

Vitamin A is stored in the body, and an excess amount can lead to acute symptoms, such as vomiting and muscle weakness, as well as chronic problems such as liver abnormalities, birth defects, and osteoporosis. In addition, beta-carotene supplements have been found in some studies to actually increase die risk of cancer in smokers. (Excess beta-carotene is not stored in the body, however.) Because of these dangers, the Institute of Medicine recommends that beta-carotene supplements are not to be used by the general public. The institute does advocate the use of such supplements for populations with inadequate vitamin A intake.

Technorati : beta carotene, diet, health, nutrition, vitamins

Not only do healthy, nutrient-dense foods nourish your body and help the cells grow and reproduce, they also help arm your body’s defenses to ward off attacks from germs that cause colds. Low-fat meats, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and whole grains all play a part in preparing your body to do battle.

Another important component of your anti-cold defense system is water. When your body is dehydrated, it’s at an increased risk of germs latching on and not letting go. So be sure to drink plenty of water and decaffeinated drinks to help your body stay hydrated and ready.

Just one cup of yogurt a day may work to keep the gastrointestinal track healthier, which can help ward off colds. It has to be yogurt with live cultures, as this is the key ingredient that helps keep the GI track ready to rumble. And an added bonus to eating yogurt - recent studies suggest regular dairy consumption helps you lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.

Garlic contains allicin, an antibiotic that has been shown to prevent complications from a cold in some research. Garlic can be added to many of your favorite dishes to spice them up and help you suit up to do battle against cold germs.

It’s been said an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Well, so can an orange. One orange a day provides your recommended daily allowance of vitamin C. Oranges are also abundant in flavonoids, which helps your body’s cells regenerate and stay healthy and strong. Green bell peppers are the vegetable family’s best vitamin C source. Add them to a salad, or simply slice one up and eat it raw. Flavonoids are also found in peppers. You may even want to prepare a green pepper dip seasoned with garlic for an added germ-kicking effect.

Lean ground beef, especially when prepared with a bit of garlic, can maintain cell health and fight off illness. It’s a good source of protein, selenium and zinc, and when eaten with a bit of tomato, is a great defense during cold season.

Technorati : cold, home remedy, nutrition, super food

Over the years, I’ve helped so many men and women build muscle and gain weight, but when they first came to me, many of them were afraid of getting fat. I understand that if you want to gain weight and change your weight gain diet, you might be afraid of looking like a big tub of lard! Before they came to me, most of the members tried to eat foods low in fat, did their share of aerobic exercises and did what they needed to do to keep their body fat low. If you’ve tried this you know you were or have been fighting a losing battle. If you want to build muscle and gain weight you cannot weight train and diet to lose fat!

You can build muscle and lose fat, but not at the same time. If you’re trying to gain weight, it is only naturally you will develop some fat! It’s a fact. Don’t believe anyone that tells you otherwise. You will be eating a lot more and your body will store some of the food as fat. There are steps you can take to minimize the gain in fat but for the most part, you will gain some fat.

But what about those men and women in those magazines that are building muscle and losing fat at the same time? We get this question a lot! Those individuals you see in magazines and on television are usually looking to lose fat, not gain weight. Their whole diet and weight training routine is designed to help them shred the fat and build muscle after wards. Their metabolism will let them build the muscle they need relatively quickly, once they shed their fat first. On the other hand, if you’re naturally skinny, you probably have a high metabolism and hence cannot gain weight and build muscle as easily as those people you see and read about!

What you need is a diet that first helps you gain weight and build muscle while keeping your body fat levels low.

Technorati : diet, fat, health, nutrition

Being a healthy eater requires you to become both educated and smart about what healthy eating actually is. Being food smart isn’t about learning to calculate grams or fat, or is it about studying labels and counting calories.

Healthy eating is all about balanced and moderate eating, consisting of healthy meals at least three times per day. Healthy eaters eat many different types of foods, not limiting themselves to one specific food type or food group.

Eating healthy requires quite a bit of leeway. You might eat too much or not enough, consume foods that are sometimes more or less nutritious. However, you should always fuel your body and your brain regularly with enough food to keep both your mind and body strong and alert.

A healthy eater is a good problem solver. Healthy eaters have learned to take care of themselves and their eating with sound judgment and making wise decisions. Healthy eaters are always aware of what they eat, and know the effect that it will have on their bodies.

When someone is unable to take control of their eating, they are also likely to get out of control with other aspects of life as well. They could end up spending too much, talking too much, even going to bed later and later.

You should always remember that restricting food in any way is always a bad thing. Healthy eating is a way of life, something that you can do to enhance your body or your lifestyle. If you’ve thought about making your life better, healthy eating is just the place to start. You’ll make life easier for yourself, those around you, and even your family.

Technorati : diet, dieting, healthy eating, nutrition