As part of a sugar addiction, some people refer to a sugar rush or a sugar high as if it were a psychological reaction to a drug and one linked to exhibited feelings of euphoria and pleasure. The actual sensation is less like a chemical reaction, but more like a reaction to elevated levels of energy provided by the ingredient. However, the initial burst of energy might fade fairly quickly, and will invariably lead to a “crash,” leaving behind headaches and a variety of other unwelcome side effects, which we disregard at our own peril.
When people turn to sugar, they may well be anticipating that additional burst of energy and the ability to “get it together” and face the tasks ahead. What most people just don’t seem to realize is that the consumption of sugar triggers a complex series of events within our bodies. The bloodstream becomes flooded with glucose from the sugars, which our body then realizes it must regulate. At this point, insulin flows out from your pancreas which then works on converting all of this surplus energy into fat reserves. In all likelihood, this probably comes from a time long ago when our bodies didn’t have consistent forms of energy available, and therefore fats are now – just as then, reserved for times of scarcity.
You certainly don’t need to have a degree in medicine to understand that an illness like diabetes should be avoided at all costs. Most nutrition professionals say that hypoglycemia is a precursor to diabetes, and it’s caused – at least partially, due to an ongoing cycle of intense sugar intake and insulin release, causing your body to establish a resistance to insulin, which is absolutely crucial for such regulation.
With sensible holistic health solutions, it’s essential for all of us to carefully watch the amount of simple sugars that we regularly consume. Most of us genuinely believe that we’re eating a fairly balanced diet, but in order to ensure that sugars aren’t masquerading within what may otherwise be thought of as a “healthy” approach, we should always be reading the food labels carefully. It is recommended that you only absorb a maximum of 40g of simple sugar per day. This can be found within one can of soda!
Few seem to follow a holistic nutrition approach to their diets, constrained as we are by our hectic lifestyles, schedules and what appears to be an inability to prepare wholesome meals creatively. We are constantly opting for the easy solution and loading our bodies up with excess fats, too many calories and those ever so sweet sugars. We know that the sugar rush will be followed by a sugar crash, but we do it anyway.
Many of us are proud of the fact that we do not resort to alcohol, drug abuse or cigarettes to get us through life and consider that our diets are sensible and realistic. However, while we may not have any of the more traditional addictions or vices, we may well have a sugar addiction without really realizing it.
Tags: addiction, Arthritis, Balanced Diet, binge eating, Bloodstream, Chemical Reaction, Cravings, diet, Euphoria, food, Forms Of Energy, health, Health Solutions, holistic, Holistic Health, Hypoglycemia, Insulin Release, Mood Swings, natural, nutrition, Nutrition Professionals, Nutrition Suggestions, Pancreas, pms, Precursor, Psychological Reaction, Scarcity, Simple Sugars, sugar, Sugar Addiction, Sugar Intake, Sugar Rush, Surplus Energy, Wellness
Our life can be full of paradoxes, sometimes representing our collective way of turning our back on problems, and our approach to sugar addiction is one such area. We invest a great deal of time, work and resources (and with good reason) into the ongoing war on illegal drugs, and in an effort to try and get our population to stop smoking. Smoking is surely the biggest single addiction in our society, we are told and is directly linked, quite vocally so, to many serious illnesses. Quite surprisingly however, when it comes to sugar, almost nothing is discussed in the mainstream media about its ability to cause a powerful addiction, ticking away in the background of our lives – day by day, causing debilitating health issues in people everywhere.
Professionals in the field of holistic nutrition say that our diets should be balanced, and that we should cut out any ingredients which are commonly known to be counter-productive or potentially dangerous. Government nutrition experts however do little to point out the significant problems caused by our over reliance on sugar and how this rather simple and unassuming product can cause an addiction as bad as some of the items listed within restricted schedules.
Just as with every other addictive substance, refined sugar has next to no value at all for your body. Quite the opposite actually, as ingestion of this substance tends to leach away vitamins and minerals from your bloodstream to be metabolized. We can see quite an analogy between some of the most addictive and dangerous banned substances and our innocent act of eating or drinking sugar. Each has the consequence of creating an unnatural “high” and each can cause long-term organ damage over time.
When we choose to add sugar to foods or drinks or elect to consume processed items which are packed with simple sugars, then we’re choosing a quick boost energy and a feeling of satisfaction because of our “sweet tooth,” regardless of the subsequent crash we’re well aware of, and the conversion of the by-products into stored fat. While most of the illegal, scheduled drugs might be widely known to cause significant problems for our major organs, excessive use of simple sugar can lead to a pattern of repeated highs and lows of insulin production, which over a period of time, can lead to the onset of diabetes. All that stored fat will invariably lead to obesity and all the problems that condition brings with it.
When sugar was first introduced to our diet it was touted as the purest form of food and one which required very little in the way of preparation. It is this very simplicity that has undoubtedly caused simple and refined sugars to become one of the scourges of our modern diet. Drugs often represent the easy way out within any situation and sugar represents an easy, every day, “acceptable” fix.
In most instances, holistic health solutions focus our attention on eating a balanced, natural diet, leading a healthy lifestyle, exercising and avoiding any kind of excess. Moderating our sugar intake ranks very highly on a list of concerns and requires us to realize that our sugar addiction can be very damaging indeed.
Tags: addiction, Addictive Substance, Analogy, Arthritis, binge eating, Bloodstream, Boost Energy, Cravings, diet, food, Good Reason, health, Health Issues, holistic, holistic nutrition, Illegal Drugs, Ingestion, Innocent Act, Leach, Mainstream Media, Mood Swings, natural, nutrition, Nutrition Experts, Nutrition Strategies, Organ Damage, pms, Refined Sugar, Simple Sugars, sugar, Sugar Addiction, Time Work, Vitamins And Minerals, Wellness
Most people understand the importance of dietary fiber in their diet. Much has been said about its importance in heart health, diabetes, cancer prevention, and even weight control.
What is less well understood is how different types of fiber effect the body. Some provide fecal bulk, some are absorbed more quickly into the blood stream than others, and thus raise blood sugar levels more quickly, and yet others provide benefits to the heart.
Thus, despite the apparent simplicity, fiber is a complex topic. And whilst all types of fiber are important, if you are looking at preventing or managing specific conditions, its not enough to just look at the total dietary fiber as written on food packaging.
Dietary fiber is broadly classified into soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber is fermented in the colon, and plays a role in slowing the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream. It also encourages the growth of the ‘friendly’ bacteria that help break down bile, and are involved in the creation of B vitamins like folic acid, niacin, and pyridoxine.
Insoluble fiber, on the other hand, acts a bit like an intestinal broom. It provides bulk to the stools, and makes sure they pass through easily and quickly. This is the type of fiber that keeps you ‘regular’, not insoluble fiber.
Insoluble fiber does provide a feeling of fullness, however. This makes it great for weight loss and controlling hunger. It also keeps blood sugar levels more stable, although research into the rate at which carbohydrates enter the bloodstream have found there to be some significant differences within the foods that make up the fiber group. Dietary fiber can thus be rated by its Glycemic Index, which effectively ranks fiber foods with each other on a relative scale.
The idea is to try and include more low gylcemic index foods. Foods with a high glycemic index cause blood sugar levels to spike, providing too much energy to the blood in the form of carbohydrates, which in turn sets off the body’s sugar controlling hormone – insulin. You thus get a ‘high’ followed by a sudden drop. This in turn leads the body to want more carbohydrates to balance itself again, leading to cravings and overeating, as well as tiredness and moodiness.
Low glycemic index foods include lentils, chickpeas, baked beans, fruit loaf, salmon sushi, barley, milk, low fat custard, soy milk, yoghurt (not diet yoghurt), apples, strawberries, grapes, spaghetti, peas, carrots, fructose, strawberry jam, and chocolate milk.
Moderate glycemic index foods include pea soup, rye bread, porridge, muesli, ice cream, bananas, pineapple, kiwi fruit, new potatoes, beetroot, white sugar, honey, and mars bars.
High glycemic index foods include broad beans, bagels, white bread, brown rice, watermelon, udon noodles, desiree, pontiac and sebago potatoes, and glucose.
We need both soluble and insoluble fiber, however. A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that in a group of 6000 French men and women, those with the highest levels of soluble and insoluble fiber in their diet had a lower risk of being overweight, a lower risk of having blood pressure problems, cholesterol problems, and they had better levels of triacylglycerols and homocysteine. The last two are measure3 of heart health.
Fiber from cereals was linked to lower body fat, lower blood pressure, and lower levels of homocysteine. Those with a higher intake of vegetables, also a source of fiber, had lower blood pressure and lower homocysteine levels. Fiber from fresh fruit was associated with a lower waist to hip ratio (good news for dieters!), and lower blood pressure. And fiber from dried fruit, nuts, and seeds (like sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds) was also linked to a lower waist to hip ratio, lower body fat, and a better fasting glucose concentration. Fasting glucose relates to having a steady level of glucose between meals. If it dips too low, we crave things, often sweets.
Fiber has another interesting benefit. In people with type 2 diabetes, it has been found to lower the levels of ‘bad’ cholesterol, and increase the levels of ‘good’ cholesterol. It has already been established that fiber supplements will lower the levels of bad cholesterol in people, whether they have diabetes or not. But this new study found that fiber supplements also decreased the reabsorption of cholesterol from meals.
To get this benefit, it is important to time taking the fiber supplement in synch with meals. The study participants took a fiber supplement drink before mealtimes, and this ensured that the fiber was in the intestines when the meal was being eaten. The people in the study participated for 90 days and their average age was 59 years old.
References:
1. Australian Healthy Food, November 2005
2. nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?id=64759
3. nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?id=57887
4. nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?id=64462
5. nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?id=59737
To build bigger muscles and achieve your ideal body, visit: weight training guide. Follow this weight training guide for better results. Read and learn more at weight training guide.
Tags: Apparent Simplicity, B Vitamins, Blood Stream, Blood Sugar Levels, Bloodstream, body, Broom, Cancer Prevention, Diabetes Prevention, Dietary Fiber, Fiber Foods, Fiber Group, Food Packaging, General Health, health, Health Diabetes, Heart Health, High Glycemic Index, Niacin, nutrition, Relative Scale, Soluble Fiber, Stools, Supplements, vitamin
While a vegetarian diet is among the healthiest ways to eat, certain nutrients can be lacking on a diet that contains no animal products at all. In particular, many people are concerned that vegans may not get enough protein, calcium and iron from plant-based foods. This is because most people think of eating dairy products for calcium and meats for iron and protein. But it is possible to consume adequate amounts of these nutrients on vegetarian diet. It just takes bit of effort and knowledge about plant-based sources the nutrients.
Iron is an important mineral because it plays a vital role in transporting oxygen through the bloodstream. People who do not have adequate iron intake can suffer from iron deficiency anemia, a condition characterized by extreme fatigue and weakness. Adult men and post-menopausal women need about 10 mg of iron per day, while women of child-bearing age need about 15 mg per day. There are two types of iron – heme iron (from meat) and non-heme iron (from plant sources). Though non-heme iron is generally not as easily absorbed as heme iron, the incidence of iron deficiency anemia is no higher in vegans than in the general population. Dried beans and dark leafy green vegetables can provide adequate amounts of dietary iron if consumed on a regular basis. To boost absorption of iron, iron-rich plant foods should be consumed with vitamin C supplements or foods rich in vitamin C. Since vegans diets tend to be high in vitamin C naturally, iron consumption is really not as much of a problem for most vegans as might be expected. In fact, some foods, like broccoli and bok choy, are high in both iron and vitamin C. These foods are often eaten with other iron and vitamin C-rich foods, such as beans and tomato sauce.
Another important nutrient for vegetarians to consider is calcium. Adults need about 1000 mg of calcium per day. Most people think of dairy products when they think of calcium, which important for strong bones and teeth. But vegans can get plenty of calcium from dark greens, tofu processed with calcium sulfate, and other foods or from calcium supplements. Soymilk and rice milk are often fortified with calcium as well. Other good sources of calcium for vegans include blackstrap molasses, fortified orange juice, tahini and almonds. It is important to note that a compound known as oxalic acid, found in vegetables like spinach, rhubarb, chard, and beet greens, can bind with calcium and prevent it from being well absorbed. Therefore, greens like broccoli and collards are better sources of calcium for vegans.
Though there is much concern about vegetarians getting enough protein, the need for protein is often overrated. The average diet contains far more protein needed for health. In fact, excess protein can damage the kidneys and contribute to the development of osteoporosis. The recommended daily allowance of protein is 8/10ths of a gram for every kilogram of body weight or about 10-15% of total calories. Foods like soy, rice and beans, and nuts and nut butters can provide adequate amounts of protein for vegans. In contrast, animal foods are so high in protein that non-vegetarians can easily exceed the upper limit recommended for protein intake, which is 4.5 grams of protein per 100 calories of food.
Protein is comprised of amino acids, which are often called protein building blocks. The body needs nine different amino acids from foods. Because the body cannot make these nine amino acids, they are known as essential amino acids. Foods that contain all nine essential amino acids are considered “complete protein” foods. Non-vegan vegetarians can easily get all nine amino acids from eggs and dairy products. For vegans, soy protein, which is a complete protein, is often considered the best source. The nine essential amino acids can also be obtained by combining whole grain rice and beans. Other vegan sources of high quality protein include the grain quinoa and spinach. Eating a variety of legumes, grains, nuts, and seeds daily ensures that vegans consume all of the protein they need.
More tips on how vegetarians can maximize consumption of key nutrients as well as more detailed information about the amounts of calcium, iron and protein found in a variety of vegetarian foods can be found in the ebook Vegetarian Cooking at www.d-vegetarian.com.
[Sponsored] Bryan Seawell is the proud owner of this article and he owns a site called: “dietrine review“. See how he can help you with his site: “dietrine review” and allow him to share with you his best known secrets here at his exclusive site, “dietrine review“. Thank you for your trust and belief in Bryan. Hope it will benefit you and others. Have a wonderful day ahead. [Sponsored]
Tags: Adequate Amounts, Adult Men, Animal Products, Bloodstream, Bok Choy, Dairy Products, Dietary Iron, Extreme Fatigue, finess, healt, healt and finess, Iron Deficiency, Iron Deficiency Anemia, Iron Intake, Leafy Green Vegetables, Menopausal Women, Non Heme Iron, Plant Sources, Tomato Sauce, Vegans, Vegetarian Diet, Vegetarians, Vitamin C Supplements
Very complex carbs (dietary fiber) also have a very complicated molecular structure, and also are resistant to most digestive enzymes produced by the human body. As a result, they cannot be broken down into glucose or other nutrients at all. This is why fiber transits the intestinal tract largely undigested. This has a knock-on effect on the speed of digestion of other carbs around them. For example, where certain starches are “protected” by indigestible fibrous wrapping, the enzymes cannot get to grips with the starch as fast as normal. Also, the presence of soluble fiber in the stomach and intestine typically creates a viscous mass of digesting-food in which carbs and enzymes take longer to mix. Result? Carb digestion slows down.
As we have seen, because the human body runs on glucose all carbs are converted into glucose in the digestive tract. The glucose then enters the bloodstream and thus contributes to a rise in “blood-glucose”.
Blood Glucose Must be Kept Within Limits
A very high level of glucose in the blood is toxic, while a very low level is detrimental to bodily functions. Therefore the body has a system to regulate the amount of glucose in the bloodstream to ensure that it remains balanced within safe parameters. This glucose balancing system depends upon two mechanisms: hunger and insulin.
Low Blood Glucose Triggers Hunger
If blood-sugar levels drop, the brain causes us to feel hungry. Result? We eat food that is then converted into glucose and our blood glucose levels rise. If we don’t eat and blood-glucose levels fall too low, we trigger the condition known as hypoglycemia.
If we eat a diet that contains too many high GI carbs (carbs that are rapidly converted into blood glucose) we force our body to respond by releasing equally large amounts of insulin into our bloodstream to cope with the glucose. Over time this excessively high level of insulin can cause the “insulin-receptors” in our cells to become less sensitive to insulin.
The hunger-or-insulin see-saw mechanism works well, provided that we don’t eat too many high glycemic index (GI) carbs that are rapidly converted into glucose. When this happens, when a LARGE amount of glucose enters the bloodstream (called a “sugar spike”), the system responds by releasing a LARGE quantity of insulin. (It thinks we’ve eaten a huge amount of food.) The amount of insulin is so large that not only does it disperse the food-glucose we have just eaten, it disperses a lot more. Result? Our blood glucose falls too low. So, within a short time (about 2-3 hours) the brain tells us to feel hungry and we recommence eating. This rapid rise and fall in blood glucose, caused by excess production of insulin, is not good for our health or our eating habits.
[Sponsored] Bryan Seawell is the proud owner of this article and he owns a site called: “caralluma burn review“. See how he can help you with his site: “caralluma burn review” and allow him to share with you his best known secrets here at his exclusive site, “caralluma burn review“. Thank you for your trust and belief in Bryan. Hope it will benefit you and others. Have a wonderful day ahead. [Sponsored]
Tags: Balancing System, Blood Glucose Levels, Blood Sugar Levels, Bloodstream, Bodily Functions, Dietary Fiber, Digesting Food, Digestion, Digestive Enzymes, Digestive Tract, finess, healt, healt and finess, Human Body, Hypoglycemia, Insulin Receptors, Intestinal Tract, Intestine, Low Blood Glucose, Molecular Structure, Soluble Fiber, Starch, Starches
It is a common fact that having a healthy body leads to a much more full filling way of life and an increase in life expectancy. Most of people in addition comprehend that overtime the colon can become blocked. In fact, this can cause numerous health issues and that is a reason why having a clean colon is the crucial step to having a healthier body. Lots of folks benefited from colon cleanse and if you have also decided to make your body more healthy then it will be useful for you to find out that one of the most common ways to clean the colon is by the use of a body colon cleanse program.
In fact it is extremely serious issue to deal with since in the case the colon isn’t clean then overtime you could find that waste starts to build up creating a number of potential health issues. To go into more details it should be pointed out that these include bloating, constipation, and diarrhea which can consequently lead to headaches, depression, halitosis, skin disorders and fatigue.
You need also to be aware of that when food is trapped in the intestine, overtime bits and pieces solidify to the wall of the colon. It is as well essential for you to know that this blockage can cause a couple of major issues the first constipation as food travels so slowly through the colon more water than usual is removed which causes the stools to become drier and harder to pass. The second critical detail that should be pointed out is that toxins from the food we consume and the air we breathe build up and are passed into the bloodstream. All these things may lead to the ailments that were before. But you have a way out as completing a body colon cleanse can really remove these blockages and toxins leaving behind a healthy clean colon.
You will find a lot of benefits after your colon is cleaned and one of the main is that you have more energy, you will no longer feel exhausted! Even more, you will be able to do things which before you simply could not be bothered doing. In addition, after cleansing the colon persons relief from constipation and feel less bloated. They as well notice that previous annoying skin disorders start to clear and the problem of bad breath disappears.
The truth is that there are many ways to complete a body colon cleanse. Some of them are: colon hydrotherapy and natural herbal cleansers. To make it more understandable for you, colon hydrotherapy means that water is inserted through the anus via plastic tubing. Don’t hurry to disregard this method, you see, in spite of the fact that it is rather unpleasant one, still, it is most likely the most effectual treatment available. Of course it should be also mentioned that it is the most costly and needs to be carried out at a clinic by professionals. You can besides use an alternative method – a natural herbal cleanse. There are a number of these available and they can be carried out in the comfort of your home. The only thing you need to make certain while taking a course of this treatment is that you need to stay near a bathroom all the time as bowel movements will be often and unpredictable.
Now you are almost certainly confident that a body colon cleanse is crucial for your body. Remember that it is really vital to keep your internals clean in order to prevent numerous health issues which can be caused.
Read about how to detox and herbal colon detox.
Get timely points of view about boosting immune system – this is your individual knowledge pack.
Tags: Ailments, Bits And Pieces, Blockages, Bloodstream, Colon Clean, Colon Cleanse, Constipation, Critical Detail, Diarrhea, Headaches, Health Issues, Healthier Body, how to detox, Intestine, Life Expectancy, Overtime, Potential Health, Skin Disorders, Stools, Toxins, Way Of Life
