Health and Fitness

Some fats are good for you

Essential fatty acids are unsaturated fats that can not be constructed within the body and need to be obtained via your diet. They are one of the most vital nutrients, required for the normal growth and functioning of nerves, cells, muscles and organs of your body. The EFAs are required as raw materials for a number of compounds and hormones like prostaglandins and leukotrienes that help in many important functions of your body. Dietary deficiency of EFAs causes major health problems like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer.

Depending on the chemical composition there are two classes of EFAs, the omega-3 fatty acids and the omega-6 fatty acids.

Sources of essential fatty acids

The omega-3 fatty acids are technically alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), stearidonic acid, EPA and DHA. These are mainly found in flaxseed oil, canola oil, walnuts, hemp seeds, soybeans and dark green vegetables. EPA and DHA are found in cold water fish like sardines, salmon, trout and cod.

The omega-6 fatty acids are technically the linoleic acid, gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and arachidonic acid (AA). They are found in olive, almond, soybean, sunflower, hemp, safflower and sesame. Evening primrose oil contains GLA while AA is present in meat and other animal products.

Experts recommend a balanced use of the EFAs in your diet. Dietary deficiency of EFAs cause various disorders like high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, dry or scaly skin, dry hair, fatigue, aching joints, frequent infections and allergies, depression and poor memory. EFA supplements are used to treat and prevent more than 60 health related conditions including asthma, eczema, arthritis and menopausal problems.

When you hear term Drug Rehab 1 or 2 celebrities probably spring to your mind, if we added Luxury to that you might conjure up a lot more celebrities many of whom have either relapsed or gone from one addiction to the next.

Whats the difference between luxury rehab and plain, bog standard rehab? Most modern rehab facilities use a combination of practices, these practices range from medicinal and clinical to psychotherapy, they may even incorporate complimentary, holistic medical practices.

A luxury Drug Rehab Clinic will do those same things and more, they will offer these facilities and treatments in style and comfort. How do you distinguish one facility from another? And more importantly how do you know what’s right for your needs? Why would luxury drug rehab be the right thing?

Rehab is a painful, disorienting experience, putting an addict in an unfamiliar environment, causing them to face some of their darkest demons and fears, rehab often involves significant physical discomfort in the form of withdrawals. Going through all of that in an institutional environment that has an atmosphere  resembling that of a prison offers the patient little hope for the future.

Luxury, means things that are pleasurable, things that are comfortable. Drug treatment involves providing a remedy or remedies to help an individual overcome and conquer their addiction. Combining rehabilitation with luxury, means you not only get the “traditional” treatments with holistic ones, you can also expect spa treatments massage and other complimentary therapies, provided in a hotel like setting,with the atmosphere of a fine resort.

If you’re looking for California Drug Rehab, why not enjoy the ocean as well? Whichever facility you choose, be sure they offer the best one-on-one clinical care with complimentary medicine like acupuncture and therapeutic massage.

Fats have always been associated with calories. Dietary fats play a vital role in your health and they should be included in your diet but within the recommended limit. Fats are high energy foods that provide 9 kcal of energy per gram of fat  in contrast to carbohydrates or proteins that provide only 4 kcal of energy. Proteins are largely spared from being used by the body to supply energy, as long as fat is present. Besides supplying energy, fats serve as mode of transport for the fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Fats support vital organs of the body like the heart, kidneys and the intestine. Fat is present underneath the skin which acts as an insulator against cold. But above all, the food becomes more palatable with the use of fat.

Fats are linked with weight gain and obesity. The US dietary guidelines restricted the intake of fats in diet as not more than 30 % of the total calorie intake for both adults and children. The reason was to prevent them from becoming obese, possible heart and other diseases. But it was seen that children having a low fat and low cholesterol diet failed to grow properly and on the contrary they became more prone to heart diseases. Children need a high amount of fat in their diet throughout for their proper growth and development of muscles, bones and brain.

Diets rich in EFAs reduce the chance of heart disease. Animal fats help to provide vitamin D and A and omega fatty acids that are required for the assimilation of protein, development of immunity to fight against infections, development of brain and vision, also the development of sexual functions and fertility is influenced by fat.

Eat Fiber block Fat

Fiber is the indigestible portion of all plants, its found in their cell walls and fiber provides the structural support to the plant. Dietary fiber comes from plant foods like grains, beans, fruits and vegetables. Animal products do not contain this dietary fiber. Most of the fiber rich foods are found to contain soluble and insoluble forms of fiber. Fibers, mainly the soluble fibers are medically potent as cholesterol reducers and help regulate blood sugar. While the insoluble forms of fiber are potent laxatives.

According to health experts diets consisting of more fiber help weight loss. The reasons fiberous foods fight against fat are,

• Fiber controls the intake of sugar and fat
• Fiber helps to regulate the level of blood sugar
• Fiber has a fat binding property

Most dietary fibers have zero calories in them. They have low sugar and fat content. So when you fill your stomach with fiber rich foods, there will be less space for fatty foods. As a  high fiber diet requires longer for food breakdown you do not feel hungry. The fibers bind to the fat you eat and help to remove them from your body before they are stored on your body as fat. Less Nutrients are absorbed from the food into your bloodstream as fiber slows down the production of insulin after a meal. Cholesterol is produced in our body by the liver. Food also provides a smaller portion of it. But as fat is blocked in the intestine by the fiber, most of the cholesterol does not get absorbed. Even the fat soluble vitamins are blocked by the fiber along with the fat.

Raw Food Diet

Extra Proactol Savings this weekend only

Proactol is a very effective fat binder that helps you lose weight by actually removing the fat from your diet.

 Use the Below Voucher codes and save more

BKPRO1 for 10% off 3 month deal
BKPRO2 for 18% off 4 months and above deal

Click here to read more about reducing excess body weight

Offers ends Monday night (date 25th August 2008)

Fluorine is an element that is most abundantly found in nature. Being highly reactive it is only found in a combined form and not in elemental gaseous form. Fluorine is very essential for our body as it maintains the proper mineralization of the bones and helps to form the enamel of our teeth. A major part of the element, about 96 per cent, is found in the bones and teeth of the human body.

Dietary sources

Drinking water is the main source of fluorine to humans. The level of fluorine in drinking water varies from 0.5 mg/L to 2 mg /L. In the fluorosis-endemic areas the level may be as high as 3 mg/L to 12 mg/L. Many foods also contain trace amount of fluorine. But a few foods like sea fish, tea, and cheese have a rich content of fluorine in them.

Dietary deficiency/ excess

Proper balance of fluorine intake is very necessary as it is like a two edged sword. Deficiency of fluorine can cause dental caries whereas, in excess of the daily recommended dose of fluorine may lead to a condition of the bones and teeth called fluorosis. However, fluoride is the most effective means that can prevent dental caries in human.

Requirement

 In the areas where water intake is more the recommended level of fluorine in water is 0.5 to 0.8 mg/L. In the temperate climates the accepted level is 1 to 2 mg/L, as the water intake is low in these areas.

Vitamins what they do and why you need them

All the vitamins with an explanation of why you need them, recommended amounts and deficiency symptoms.

Vitamin A For healthy eyesight amongst other things.
Vitamin B1 Thiamine A water soluble Vitamin.
Vitamin B2 Plays a major role in the process of cellular oxidation.
Vitamin B6 Pyridoxine One of the most important vitamins among the Vitamin B complex.
Vitamin B12 Helps in the synthesis of DNA.
Vitamin C The most famous vitamin, found in oranges amongst other things.
Vitamin D For strong bones.
Vitamin E Tocopherol a natural antioxidant.
Vitamin K Helps blood clot.
Niacin Essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system, skin, and intestines.
Pantothenic acid An organic acid that serves many physiological functions.

All the above Vitamins help make up a healthy balanced diet.

The pharmaceutical preparation of folates is called folic acid. It is alternatively known as folacin. Folic acid plays a vital role in the production of nucleic acid which makes the chromosome. It is also required by the body to help in the development of blood cells in bone marrow. Folates are found in two different forms in foods, they are free folates and bound folates. The free folates are easily absorbed in the body from the small intestine while regarding the availability of the bound folates, it is uncertain.

Dietary sources

The name is derived from the Latin ‘folia’ meaning leaf, so the leafy vegetables are obviously a rich source of folates. However, other sources like meat, liver, eggs, milk and other dairy products, cereals and fruits are equally good sources of it.

Deficiency disorders

Overcooking generally destroys folates present in the foods leading to folate deficiency. It can also occur from a poor diet intake. During pregnancy and lactation the requirement increases and can cause megaloblastic anemia, glossitis, cheilosis, and some other disorders like diarrhea, flatulence and distention. Severe folate deficiency can cause infertility, abortions and birth defects in the fetus.

Requirement

Body storage of folates is not large. It is required largely in the growing children and during pregnancy. It reduces the chance of low birth weight babies. Daily recommended doses are

 Why do I need Zinc in my Diet?

Zinc is an important trace element that is required actively in the metabolism of protein and carbohydrates. It is an active component of various enzymes. Most importantly zinc is required in our body for the production of insulin by the pancreas and for the proper functioning of the immune system. All tissues of the human body contain zinc in small amounts. About 1.4 to 2.3 mg of zinc is present in an average adult body.

Dietary sources

Zinc is widely available in many food stuffs. Both animal and vegetable foods contain zinc but the bio availability of zinc from plant sources is low. Dependable sources of zinc are found in dietry consumption of foods from animal origin like fish, meat and milk.

Deficiency disorder

Although little data is available showing the prevalence of zinc deficiency, there are reports to suggest that zinc deficiency may be common in man. Reports suggest that zinc deficiency causes loss of taste, sexual infantilism in adolescents, growth failure and delayed wound healing. Also low levels of zinc in blood circulation are found in the disorders like myocardial infarction, liver diseases, pernicious anemia and thalassaemia.

 Daily recommended dose

The daily intake for an average adult is about 15.5 mg. For the pregnant and the lactating women and also the growing children need a higher dose of zinc.

Iodine is an essential micronutrient which helps in the formation of two different hormones – Triiodothyronine (T₃) and thyroxine (T₄). In minute quantity, iodine helps in the growth and development of the human body.The Adult human body usually contains about 50 mg of iodine. The normal blood level of iodine is 8-12 micrograms/dl.

Dietary sources

Sea foods are by far the richest sources of iodine. Any sea fish, sea salt, cod liver oil, halibut liver oil contain sufficient amount of iodine. Other foods like meat, beef, vegetables and cereals are also good source of iodine. More than 90% of the total iodine intake comes from the food we take; rest comes from drinking water.

There are some substances called ‘Goitrogens’ – which interfere with the uptake of iodine by the thyroid gland. Thus, enough amount of thyroid is not produced leading to a disease called ‘Goitre’. The brassic groups of vegetables (cauliflower, cabbage etc.) contain goitrogens.

Deficiency

The most important disease in iodine deficiency state is called ‘Goitre’. There is less amount of thyroxin hormone in the blood, growth retardation, hypotension, cretinism, dwarfism and mental retardation are the main features of a goitrous state.

Daily requirement

A healthy young adult requires about 150 micrograms of iodine daily, which mainly comes from his food intake.