‘avocado pears’ Tagged Posts

chicken avocado burger

chicken avocado burger A healthy diet is not about how much you eat, it’s about what you eat. Get that right and your daily intake of food can be whatever you want it to be. If you are heavily ...

 

chicken avocado burger
chicken avocado burger

A healthy diet is not about how much you eat, it’s about what you eat. Get that right and your daily intake of food can be whatever you want it to be.

If you are heavily into takeaway foods, saturated fats and sugary drinks, reducing the amount you consume will have some effect. Unfortunately it will be marginal at best. Eating the right sort of food, on the other hand, will not only reduce weight it will increase your energy levels and enhance your life in general. But what is the ‘right sort’ of food? A sample list would look something like this:

High fibre breakfast cereals

Fresh fruits such as grapes, kiwi fruit, tomatoes and avocado pears

Grilled vegetables such as mushrooms, bell peppers, and zucchinis

Low fat yoghurt and snacky dips like hummus

Low fat meat, as in chicken, turkey, trimmed pork and fresh fish

One of the problems most people have with dieting in general is that, used to large portions, any reduction leaves them still feeling hungry. Which means they then snack throughout the day and often on unsuitable ‘convenience’ foods that are high in fats and sugars. Couple this pattern with lack of exercise and the dangers of obesity, heart disease and type 2 diabetes begin to loom large.

This doesn’t need to be the case. By adjusting the amounts that you eat you can begin to satisfactorily control the intake of those elements which cause the greatest problems. In other words, by eating the ‘right’ sort of food in any quantity you like, and the ‘wrong’ sort of food in limitation, you can counter this effect.

For example, if steak is your favorite meat by all means eat it, but limit your intake to once or twice a week. Trim the meat of all fat (or buy very lean meat) and make sure the amount of steak you consume is no bigger than the palm of your hand. Use this rule of thumb for any meat you eat, including chicken, lamb, pork and burgers. To compensate for the loss of bulk, increase the amount of vegetables and fruit and add in foods low on the glycaemic index such as pasta, rice, couscous and polenta. Because these foods break down over a longer period of time they leave you feeling fuller for longer. They also release glucose into the blood stream at a much slower rate than high GI foods, allowing your body to burn this extra energy instead of storing it as fat.

You can further assist this process by drinking plenty of water both with your meals and throughout the day. You can do a quick check on your health in this respect by observing the color of your urine. If it is yellow, you need to drink more water. The other thing you can do, of course, is to exercise more. Half an hour a day is all most people need to keep them in shape, and that could simply be a walk to work, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

By changing the balance of your diet, rather than opting for some difficult to follow regimen, you will improve your health without stress. In fact, you will hardly notice any difference in your life-style at all. But you will notice huge differences in your energy levels, your appearance and even in your sleep patterns, which will improve your quality of life beyond measure.

Remember, all you need to do is to identify those foods which have a high glycaemic index and reduce your intake. To replace the missing bulk, look for low GI foods and increase the amount of those you eat. Work at it. You will find that you can make the change surprisingly quickly and the rewards will far outweigh the effort required.

About the Author:

Michael Sheridan is a chef and an acknowledged authority and published writer on cooking matters. His website at All About Cooking contains a wealth of information, hints, tips and recipes for busy home cooks

Article Source: ArticlesBase.comEat Your Way To A Healthy Lifestyle

How to prevent or reverse hair loss is definitely a topic of concern for many people who experience intense hair fall. Anyone can become a victim of hair loss, young, old, male and female. We all lose some strands of hair on daily basis and you need not get worried, if you lose little hair regularly.

However, if hair loss becomes severe and spontaneous, then you need to find ways before the condition runs out of your hand. There are several reasons for hair loss, but it is equally possible to reverse hair loss, if you follow certain tips.

Important Techniques To Stop or Reverse Hair Loss:

1. Eat cool foods:

Researchers say that our body needs vital energy to remain fit and healthy. Chinese call this energy as Qi, which has two more forms of energy called Yin and Yang. Yin is cooling energy same as that of water and Yang energy is very hot such as fire. You need to maintain a balance of Yin and Yang.

The health of your hair is regularized by Yin energy. Foodstuffs that contain Yin energy are meat, nuts, fruits, tofu, cucumber, bananas, soybean, tomatoes, celery and avocado. Steer away from strong coffee, processed food or tea. Reduce the consumption of foods that contain heat such as burgers, fried chicken, pizzas and foods containing excessive oil.

2. Massage your scalp using coconut milk:

Massage your scalp using coconut milk for few minutes, leave it on for at least half hour and rinse it off with warm water. Repeat this process three times a week.

3. Use hibiscus flowers:

Take few flowers of hibiscus and boil them in coconut oil. Then filter it and apply on the scalp to prevent hair loss and hair thinning.

4. Aloe Vera:

Take out the extract from the leaves of Aloe Vera and apply on your scalp every night. Aloe Vera extract comprises of enzyme called as superoxide dismutane, which produces nitric oxide. Nitric oxide stimulates re-growth of hair.

5. Use Pumpkin seeds:

The main reason for hair loss is increase in levels of Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is a hormone that triggers hair loss. You can decrease the production of DHT by consuming pumpkin seeds, as they contain magnesium as well zinc. These two essential minerals block the enzymes that produce DHT, thereby reducing hair loss.

Other Important Hair Loss Tips:

Watch your eating habits:

Your body will work using whatever nutrients you provide to it by consuming the foodstuffs. Avoid foods that contain oils and saturated fats, as they promote hair loss. Instead, eat lean meat, multi-vitamins such as biotin as well as zinc and high fiber foods, because they accelerate hair growth.

Reduce Your Stress Level:

It is a well-known fact that depression, pollution and stress cause hair loss. These factors contract the muscles of your scalp and prevent the blood circulation to the roots of hair. Blood contain essential nutrients that promote hair growth and make them stronger. If blood does not reach hair roots, your hair follicles will die ultimately, resulting in hair loss.

Medications also cause hair loss, so if you are under medication, there is a possibility that this might be the reason for hair loss. Finally, if these techniques do not work for you, then you need to immediately consult a physician to look for other effective treatment options.

About the Author:

Danielle Bryce is the in-house hair stylist for HairCareHints.com where she provides professional hair care advice and how-to-articles on maintaining healthy hair, the right products to use and how to determine the best hair style. Find out more by checking out her website at www.haircarehints.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.comHow Can I Prevent Or Reverse Hair Loss?

avocado pears cholesterol

 

avocado pears cholesterol
avocado pears cholesterol

Have you been avoiding avocados because you’ve heard that they are high in fat? Well, it’s time to take another look at the avocado. Creamy, soft and delicious, avocados are rich in heart healthy monounsaturated fat, packed with 20 vitamins and minerals and low in calories. When you consider all of the nutritional benefits and think of all of the great ways they can be served, surely you will agree that avocados deserve a place at your table.

Heart-healthy fat?

Avocados have taken a beating because of their high fat content – In some circles they are known as a “butter pear”. Avocados do contain 30 grams of fat, but the fat in avocados is monounsaturated, the good fat recommended by the American Heart Association. Recent studies have shown that people eating an avocado a day for a week can lower blood cholesterol by as much as 17%, raise HDL or good cholesterol levels and lower LDL or bad cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

Avocados, nuts and olives are the only plant foods that contain monounsaturated fat. A serving of avocado is 1 ounce – 2 tablespoons or about one-sixth of an avocado, and contains 5 grams of fat and 55 calories. But when you compare that to butter, cheese or mayonnaise, all weighing in at around 200 calories and 22 grams of fat per 2-tablespoon serving, avocados look pretty good. Plus, avocados are a delicious replacement for cheese and butter on sandwiches, in salads, on toast and with spicy foods.

20 Vitamins and Minerals

Avocados bring 20 vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients to the table, making them a nutritional superstar. Naturally rich in their own right and full of vitamin E, vitamin C, folate and beta-carotene, avocados are also known to be a nutrient-booster, helping the body to absorb more of the nutrients in other foods when they are eaten with avocados.

How Do I Know When It’s Ripe?

Look for firm, slightly soft avocados. They tend to be more black then green when they are ripe. Avocados don’t start to ripen until after they are picked, so often hard avocados are all that is available. If they are hard when you buy them, put them in a paper sack for a day or two and let them ripen. Don’t store uncut avocados in the fridge, keep them on the counter on in a sunny window and use them within a day or two.

To store half of an avocado, replace the seed and store in an airtight bag or re-useable plastic container in the refrigerator. Storing the avocado with the seed will keep the flesh from turning black. Black avocado flesh won’t hurt you, it just isn’t very pretty.

So go ahead – make guacamole. Add avocados to your BLTs. Have a slice or two on your sandwich. Avocados are good for you!

About the Author:

Want more tips on saving your waistline along with your budget? Check out The Deceptive Diet for great results!

Article Source: ArticlesBase.comThe Healthy Benefits of Avocados

If you want to have a healthy heart, you have to learn how to eat a healthy heart diet. All of the food you eat affects the health of your heart. Gone are the days when a healthy heart diet meant filling up on tasteless, boring meals. The latest advice to help us lower the risk of heart disease actively encourages us to create meals with delicious, fresh ingredients like salmon, avocado, olive oil, oats, whole grains and an array of fruit and vegetables.

Heart healthy Diet

Eating less sodium can help lower some people’s blood pressure. This can help reduce the risk of heart disease. Sodium is something we need in our diets, but most of us eat too much of it. Much of the sodium we eat comes from salt we add to our food at the table or that food companies add to their foods. So, avoid adding salt to foods at the table.

Meat, poultry and fish along with low-fat dairy products and eggs are some of your best sources of protein. But be careful to choose lower fat options, such as skim milk rather than whole milk and skinless chicken breasts rather than fried chicken patties.

Vegetables and fruits are low in calories, are good sources of vitamins and minerals, and are rich in dietary fiber. A diet high in soluble fiber, the kind found in fruits and vegetables, can help lower blood cholesterol and reduce your risk of heart disease. Vegetables and fruits also contain phytochemicals, substances found in plants that may help prevent cardiovascular disease. Eating more fruits and vegetables — and in doing so satisfying your hunger — may help you eat less high-fat foods, such as meat, cheese and snack foods.

Better food habits can help you be healthier. The American Heart Association recommends that you eat a wide variety of foods daily from all of the basic food groups.

Cholesterol comes from the foods you eat and from your body itself. However, your body alone creates the appropriate amount of cholesterol for you, so it doesn’t need any additional cholesterol from your food intake. In order to minimize the amount of cholesterol in your diet, you should limit the amount of red meat that you eat. Instead of red meat, you can eat fish and poultry. Use egg whites or substitutes instead of the whole egg. As a rule of thumb, if it’s greasy, you probably shouldn’t eat it.

Eat more fresh foods: processed foods are more likely to be high in fatty and sugary elements, while fresh foods are low in these and high in beneficial vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.

A high intake of fibre helps lower cholesterol levels. The fibre thought to be the most helpful is ’soluble’ fibre, a gluey substance found in lentils, kidney beans and other pulses, apples, pears, strawberries, blackberries and cereals such as rye, barley, rice and oats, whole grain bread and pasta. Starchy vegetables such as potatoes, peas, squash, corn, yams and sweet potatoes are other good sources.

In contrast, HDL carries excess cholesterol away from the arteries to the liver, where the body gets rid of it. As a result, high levels of HDL cholesterol are thought to protect against heart disease and so, are sometimes called ‘good’ cholesterol.

Stress management includes relaxation through meditation or yoga. Having a support team to cheer you on and encourage you is a big part of his program. To follow this diet program at home you need the support and encouragement of your family. The average person consumes about 40 percent of calories as fat.

About the Author:

Read about Herbal Natural Home Remedies and Girls Discussion Forum. Also read about Beauty and Makeup Tips

Article Source: ArticlesBase.comEat Healthy to Help Prevent Heart Disease

pears avocado

 

pears avocado
pears avocado
I am on a strict raw fruits and veggies diet can I still lose weight eating 2 avocados a day?

I pretty much am only eating organic bananas and pears and salads w/ nothing but veggies in it. Avocados are the only thing keeping me from starving and going crazy. So will two a day still provide me with the results im looking for?
Im 5′5 135 lbs and im trying to lose 15 pounds by memorial day weekend which is in about 6 weeks

That sounds good!
Just limit your calories to about 1200 intake or 1000 if you don’t exercise.

You will lose weight doing this, 1-2 pounds a week.
So your gonna lose between 6-12 pounds, not 15.
But you will lose weight!
So go for it :)

x

Avocado is also known as Alligator Pear originated in southern Mexico. It has become a useful ingredient for our daily skin care routine. It is rich in fat as well as protein. These fats are monounsaturated which is good for a healthy heart. The provision of vitamin E in avocado helps the heart to remain fit. It is also known to supply 60% more potassium in comparison to banana.

It is also rich in fiber, foliate (folic acid), vitamin B6, iron, copper and magnesium. Other than applying avocado on your skin, consuming it in salad form can also be beneficial for your skin. Avocado contains vitamins like A, D, and E which has penetrating qualities to improve your skin. Avocado oil is also very useful for skin care. The oil is useful to remove any sun damage or age spots. It also softens the skin and provides a moisturizing effect and can do wonders on damaged, undernourished and dehydrated skin.

Simple Recipes for Skin Care

Puffed Eyes

Cut avocado into slices and place it under each eye and relax with it for next 20 minutes. The changes would be remarkable.

Eye Cream

Make an eye cream by mixing 5 drops of almond oil in 3 ripe slices of avocado. Blend this mixture and dab it around your eyes. Keep it for five minutes then rinse.

Another method of making the eye cream is by using 1/4 cup avocado oil with 1/4 cup aloe vera gel. You could also use apricot kernel, grape seed or sesame oil.

Facial Mask

This facial mask is useful for dry skin. Mash half avocado and apply it leisurely on your face. Keep it for 15 minutes and then rinse it off with warm water.

Make a paste of ½ ripe avocado mixed with 1 tsp vegetable oil. Apply this paste on a washed and clean face. Leave it for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse it with warm water. This masque is very good for dry skin.

Smooth and Beautiful Hands

Make a paste by mixing 1/4 peeled

About the Author:

Sharon Hopkins maintains various sites providing information on hair and skin care. Avocado Uses For Skin Care. It is being widely used by everyone.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.comAvocado Great For Skin Care

avocado pears

 

avocado pears
avocado pears
My Stephanotis has grown a fruit! It looks like a x between an avocado& pear. Is it edible & should I pick it?

General information:
http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles1004/stephanotisfruiting.asp

All the sites I found said NO. Don’t eat it.

How Can Eating Bad Foods Help You to Lose Weight?

When you’re trying to lose weight seductive foods & treats seem to lurk everywhere you go which makes your quest for weight loss even more difficult.

However, while many foods that have gotten a bad rap in the past have in fact been shown not to be that bad for us after all – the trick however, is knowing which tempting treats can actually help you lose weight and keep it off.

3 Bad Foods That Can Actually Contribute Towards Weight Loss

  1. Eggs
    Everyone knows that eggs are taboo when it comes to healthy eating & losing weight, right?

    Well you will surprised to hear that recent research suggests that having an egg for breakfast is not only safe & nutritious for most adults, but you’ll boost your odds of losing weight as eggs are packed with protein, which takes time to digest which keeps your stomach busy with the result that you eat less during the rest of the day.

  2. Nuts
    While we all know that nuts are very high in fat, do not worry as it’s the good kind of fat, ie unsaturated. They are also rich in protein and fiber, which can help stabilize blood sugar & therefore assist in weight management. While you may gain a few extra grams of fat from munching on a handful of nuts, it’s far better than eating sweets & cookies.
  3. Avocado Pears
    Most of us have been warned to steer clear of this fatty fruit on account of its cholesterol boosting nature & the amount of calories it carries. So while this “forbidden fruit” is rich in fat, it is the monounsaturated type of fat which has beneficial effects on cholesterol levels in the body.

    Studies have also shown that a diet rich in monounsaturated fat helps to reduce levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol – the bad type of cholesterol traditionally associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and stroke – avocados have also been shown to help bring down the level of blood fats.

    To put the avacado fat into perspective, avocados (served with some olive oil and balsamic vinegar – not salad dressing) contain just five grams of fat per serving which is a level usually acceptable for inclusion in a low-fat diet.

These are just 3 of the traditionally bad foods that can actually assist you in losing weight, but there are more…

Furthermore you will be pleased to know that dieticians advise against abstaining from your favorite treats as depriving yourself of the foods that you crave could set you up for failure & a total binge out.

Go here to get the full report (free) of more bad foods & nutrition that can accelerate weight loss: Bad Foods – Weight Loss »

Browse our online store packed with Weight Loss Products »

About the Author:

The author is passionate about maintaining a fit & healthy lifestyle

Article Source: ArticlesBase.comWeight Loss – How These 3 Bad Foods Can Actually Contribute Towards Weight Loss

avocado pears recipes

 

avocado pears recipes
avocado pears recipes
baby food combinations….?

Im looking for different food ideas to feed my 8 month old.
Alot of the baby food recipes I read have very unusual combinations!
For example:
pasta and banana
peaches and potato
apples and carrots
chicken and pears
apple and avocado

I personally think they sound gross, so why do you think they recommend these sorts of combinations for babies??

I have a toddler and a 5 month old baby and can speak from experience – babies love sweet things – both breastmilk and formula are very sweet. The authors of these recipes and manufacturers of baby food are very aware of this and often add sweet fruit so that babies will love it and parents will keep buying their books and the baby food! Nothing wrong with this – it’s all good for them and they have no idea what is ‘wierd’ or gross, as long as it tastes good. I often used to add apple to many of the more bland baby purees I made at home, like brocolli, as my baby would then love it! Go for the wierd ones as your baby will probably love it and just get extra nutrients.

Anyone who has ever eaten a meal of raw fruit knows how intensely pleasurable this can be.  Fruit requires little to no preparation (all you need to eat a banana is opposable thumbs).  It is easy to eat and digests quickly, usually in just 30 minutes.

Best of all, fruit tastes great and completely satisfies the sweet tooth in the most healthy way possible.

Just like avocado and nuts, fruit is calorically dense.  However, fruit is also high in volume, like vegetables.  This means that a meal of fruit both provides enough calories AND enough volume to leave you completely satiated until the next meal.

Just Fruit?!?

The idea of eating only fruit for a meal is very strange to people.  Much of this confusion stems from the fact that we grow up thinking of raw fruit as a snack or part of a dessert.  The idea of eating more than a couple pieces of fruit in one sitting is completely foreign to us.

As a result, people who are new to a low fat, high fruit raw food diet often under eat on calories at first.

To make the transition easier for you, here is a simple example of a sufficient fruit meal…

*Fruit Meal*

Let’s say you need 2000 calories a day and you like to eat 3 meals a day.  If each meal is divided equally, one meal would be between 600-700 calories.

One medium banana contains about 100 calories.  In order to consume 600-700 calories in one meal from bananas alone, you would have to consume 6 to 7 bananas.

And that’s it!  It really is that simple.

Of course, if eating a meal of only one type of fruit seems much too boring to you, there are many alternatives.  You can combine your favorite fruits into a nice fruit salad.  A popular choice for beginners is to blend fruits into a smoothie.  This is an easy way to get enough calories from fruit.

Here is a delicious smoothie you can make in just a few minutes…

*Two Pears in a Peel*

  • 5 bananas
  • 2 pears
  • 1 cup of water

Blend ingredients together and enjoy!

There are many different combinations you can make.  You can also add greens, which will add some nice variety and counterbalance some of the sweetness.

Problems with Fruit

Many raw foodists believe that fruits should be severely limited, or even eliminated, because they contain simple sugars like fructose and glucose.  These simple sugars are believed to lead to such ailments as diabetes and Candida.

First, I want to clarify that the sugar in fruit does not cause sugar metabolic disorders.  It is an excess of fat in the body that coats the insulin, blocking it from reaching the sugar molecules.  The excess sugar in the blood leads to a high blood-sugar level.

Without the excess fat, the insulin will reach the sugar molecules and transport them out of the blood and into the cells.

Second, there is a huge difference between the simple sugars found in fruit and the simple sugars found in processed foods.  These refined sugars have been removed from whole foods (i.e. fruit, sugar cane) and further processed.  They no longer contain any nutritional value whatsoever.

On the contrary, the sugars in whole fruit have not been processed and are accompanied by necessary water, fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, phytonutrients, etc.

How Much Fruit?

I recommend that the majority of your calories come from fruit.  The best way to determine how much is to simply eat sweet fruit until you are full.  As a general guideline, our closest relatives the bonobos consume 95% of their calories from sweet fruit.  The other great apes consume between 70-90% of their calories from fruit.

Dr. Douglas Graham, a well-known leader in the raw food movement, recommends in The 80/10/10 Diet that 80% of our calories come from simple carbohydrates in the form of fruit.  You can check out this excellent book and the rest of Dr. Graham’s top-quality catalog at FoodnSport.

On average, I consume between 85-90% of my calories from sweet fruit.

Take Action

You can get started today by simply eating all fruit for your next meal.  Many people prefer to wait until breakfast, as it is the easiest meal to transition.

You could also begin your next meal with as much fruit as you can eat, and then finish the meal with your regular fare.  Just be sure to wait at least 30 minutes between your two meals so that your body has time to fully digest the fruit.

About the Author:

For more information on the best raw vegan diet, be sure to visit Fit On Raw and subscribe to Swayze’s newsletter Peachy Keen Ezine. By subscribing, you will also receive the free report The 4 Principles of a Healthy Raw Diet as well as the 5-week mini-course The Fool Proof Transition to Raw.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.comA High Carb Diet for Raw Food Success

avocado gi level

 

avocado gi level

A healthy diet is not about how much you eat, it’s about what you eat. Get that right and your daily intake of food can be whatever you want it to be.

If you are heavily into takeaway foods, saturated fats and sugary drinks, reducing the amount you consume will have some effect. Unfortunately it will be marginal at best. Eating the right sort of food, on the other hand, will not only reduce weight it will increase your energy levels and enhance your life in general. But what is the ‘right sort’ of food? A sample list would look something like this:

High fibre breakfast cereals

Fresh fruits such as grapes, kiwi fruit, tomatoes and avocado pears

Grilled vegetables such as mushrooms, bell peppers, and zucchinis

Low fat yoghurt and snacky dips like hummus

Low fat meat, as in chicken, turkey, trimmed pork and fresh fish

One of the problems most people have with dieting in general is that, used to large portions, any reduction leaves them still feeling hungry. Which means they then snack throughout the day and often on unsuitable ‘convenience’ foods that are high in fats and sugars. Couple this pattern with lack of exercise and the dangers of obesity, heart disease and type 2 diabetes begin to loom large.

This doesn’t need to be the case. By adjusting the amounts that you eat you can begin to satisfactorily control the intake of those elements which cause the greatest problems. In other words, by eating the ‘right’ sort of food in any quantity you like, and the ‘wrong’ sort of food in limitation, you can counter this effect.

For example, if steak is your favorite meat by all means eat it, but limit your intake to once or twice a week. Trim the meat of all fat (or buy very lean meat) and make sure the amount of steak you consume is no bigger than the palm of your hand. Use this rule of thumb for any meat you eat, including chicken, lamb, pork and burgers. To compensate for the loss of bulk, increase the amount of vegetables and fruit and add in foods low on the glycaemic index such as pasta, rice, couscous and polenta. Because these foods break down over a longer period of time they leave you feeling fuller for longer. They also release glucose into the blood stream at a much slower rate than high GI foods, allowing your body to burn this extra energy instead of storing it as fat.

You can further assist this process by drinking plenty of water both with your meals and throughout the day. You can do a quick check on your health in this respect by observing the color of your urine. If it is yellow, you need to drink more water. The other thing you can do, of course, is to exercise more. Half an hour a day is all most people need to keep them in shape, and that could simply be a walk to work, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

By changing the balance of your diet, rather than opting for some difficult to follow regimen, you will improve your health without stress. In fact, you will hardly notice any difference in your life-style at all. But you will notice huge differences in your energy levels, your appearance and even in your sleep patterns, which will improve your quality of life beyond measure.

Remember, all you need to do is to identify those foods which have a high glycaemic index and reduce your intake. To replace the missing bulk, look for low GI foods and increase the amount of those you eat. Work at it. You will find that you can make the change surprisingly quickly and the rewards will far outweigh the effort required.

About the Author:

Michael Sheridan is a chef and an acknowledged authority and published writer on cooking matters. His website at All About Cooking contains a wealth of information, hints, tips and recipes for busy home cooks

Article Source: ArticlesBase.comEat Your Way To A Healthy Lifestyle

Copyright (c) 2009 Stephen Smith

Insulin is the hormone responsible for the control of blood sugar (glucose) and is manufactured by the pancreas. People who have type 1 diabetes produce very little (or even none) of this hormone. As a result, they must take regular injections of insulin in order to function normally.

Type 2 diabetes on the other hand is where the body produces insulin normally but the insulin doesn’t work in the body as it should so greater amounts of insulin are required. The body is said to be ‘resistant’ to insulin.

This article explains how insulin resistance (IR) is characterised by an inability of the body cells to bind insulin and allow nutrients to flow into the cells.

As a result, elevated levels of glucose remain in the bloodstream, leading to many serious health issues. Over time, it may result in blindness, peripheral neuropathy (damaged blood vessels and nerves in fingers and toes that may require amputation) and coronary heart disease to name a few.

IR is a symptom of several diseases including type 2 diabetes, poly-cystic ovarian syndrome and obesity. It also appears to occur in people who use certain medications like antidepressants.

Why insulin is produced

When you consume a food containing carbohydrate, your blood sugar (blood glucose) increases. Depending on the amount eaten, the type of carbohydrate eaten and what has been eaten with it, insulin will be secreted from the pancreas. Insulin then binds with receptors on cell membranes and allows glucose (and other nutrients) to flow into the cells.

Over many years, the insulin receptors get bombarded with insulin and become de-sensitised to it’s action. This is the same mechanism by which a regular coffee drinker becomes de-sensitised to caffeine and requires greater amounts to get the same ‘hit’. Someone with insulin resistance requires more and more insulin to drive the nutrients into the cells.

It is interesting to note that in the past, type 2 diabetes was also called adult-onset diabetes because it took many years for the cells to become de-sensitised to insulin. Unfortunately though, IR and type 2 diabetes are now becoming prevalent in children so the term adult-onset is no longer used.

The causes of Insulin Resistance:

High intake of high-density or refined carbohydrates.

Concentrated sources of carbohydrates like sugars, bread, pasta, cereals, rice, pastries, etc. all cause a dramatic rise in blood sugar leading to insulin secretion and over time, IR.

High intakes of saturated and trans-fatty acids.

All of your body cells have membranes made of phospholipids, part of which comes from the fats we consume. A high intake of saturated and trans-fatty acids results in the cell membranes becoming less permeable, which makes the passage of nutrients across the cell membrane more difficult.

Nutrient deficiencies.

The body has a requirement for a whole range of nutrients: minerals, vitamins, amino acids and fatty acids. These nutrients have numerous functions in the body. Several minerals are involved in the transport of nutrients across cell membranes. These include: chromium, selenium and vanadium. A deficiency of any of these minerals impairs this function, resulting in IR.

Lack of exercise.

Any type of exercise involves muscular contraction, which means fuel is required by the muscle cells of the body. Furthermore, the transport of fuel into the cells means that the permeability of the cell membranes must improve for this to occur. A lack of exercise results in cell permeability staying the same or, over time, decreasing. This leads to IR.

Preventing insulin resistance:

Overcoming IR requires incorporating lifestyle habits that are the exact opposite of the causes. This means following a diet that is low in high-density and refined carbohydrates and high in natural (low-to-medium density) carbohydrates.

Replacing your existing fat/ oil intake with unsaturated (’healthy’) fats can make your cell membranes more permeable, which means nutrients can flow into the cells easier and wastes can flow out of the cells easier. Good sources of ‘healthy’ fats include: olive oil, fish oil, flax seed oil, avocadoes, nuts and seeds.

Selecting foods that are high in the minerals (chromium, selenium and vanadium) involved in nutrient transport through cell membranes is beneficial. These include foods like oysters, whole-grain cereals, fish and shellfish, raw onion, potatoes, egg yolk, beef, broccoli, nuts/ seeds, parsley and garlic.

Supplementing your diet with the previously mentioned minerals can also be beneficial in improving insulin sensitivity. There are also other nutrients that nutritional science has discovered that can dramatically improve insulin sensitivity.

These include: alpha lipoic acid (ALA), 4-hydroxyisoleucine (an extract from fenugreek seed), corosolic acid (from Banaba Leaf), Gymnema Sylvestre and extracts from cinnamon. [NOTE: Chromium, ALA, Gymnema Sylvestre and 4-hydroxyisoleucine are found in GI Factor ]

Finally, incorporating exercise into your lifestyle can reverse IR by increasing cell permeability. Find the type or types of exercise you enjoy doing and can see yourself doing long term. Make a commitment to perform it on a regular basis and get moving!

Most disease common in civilised societies are reversible through lifestyle choices. You are now at a cross-road with two possible paths to follow. One path will lead you to a life of fun, energy, passion and health. The other to a rapid physical decline, lethargy, reduced quality of life and an early death… The choice is yours.

About the Author:

Stephen Smith is the part-owner of Body Concepts, an Australian supplement company, and Focus On, a health and lifestyle magazine. Stephen has been involved in the health and fitness industry for over 18 years and has a science degree from UWA. Lots of free articles and interesting weight loss information can be found on his website: http://www.quick-weight-loss-principles.com

Article Source: ArticlesBase.comInsulin Resistance- Are You At Risk?