Archive for March, 2010
Positive Effects of The Thighs and Buttocks Fat
First it was fat and therefore bad for health, later, was said to be less bad than the abdominal and now we know that is not bad and could soon be shown to be even good, to “catch” in it and neutralize substances harmful to our body. So, if we leave aside the questions of aesthetics (subjective, changing and secondary), fat butt and thighs has gone from villain to hero. By contrast, the belly is, increasingly, the bad guy.
Abdominal fat is made up of visceral fat cells tend to rupture and release substances harmful to health: free fatty acids which generate insulin resistance (with the consequent risk of diabetes, lipid disorders and hypertension) are detrimental to liver, pancreas, muscles and heart, which infiltrate fat and, finally, can cause heart failure and other circulatory problems, because they generate proinflammatory substances.
By contrast, fat thighs and buttocks does not have these problems. The International Journal of Obesity has published a review of research in this field. While such research is in its infancy, and can make several statements about fat thighs and buttocks. And all good, if we leave aside the aesthetic issues (always lower compared with health) and certain mechanical effects could be negative because of the increased weight would have to bear the joints.
Vitamins and Minerals for Health (Part 2)
How Much Do I Need?
You might think that all you need to get enough vitamins and minerals is to take a multivitamin once a day. Unfortunately it is not so simple. The amount of micronutrients in many of these pills are based on the recommended dietary amount (in English Recommended Dietary Allowance or RDA) established by the U.S. government.
The problem is that the amount established by the RDA does not represent the amount required for HIV-positive people, but that is the minimum amount needed by healthy people to prevent deficiencies.
HIV disease and some medications may decrease the levels of some micronutrients. One study showed that HIV-positive people need 6 to 25 times more of some nutrients. Still, a high potency multivitamin is a good way to get basic micronutrients.
What nutrients are important?
There has been insufficient research in HIV-positive people on this issue. However, one study showed that a multivitamin supplement had significant benefits in pregnant women in Tanzania. In addition, many nutrients interact with each other. Most nutritionists believe in designing a comprehensive program of supplements.
People with HIV may benefit from taking supplements of vitamins and minerals as follows:
* B Vitamins: Vitamin B1 (thiamin), vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B12 (cobalamin) and folate (folic acid).
* Antioxidants, including beta carotene (the body breaks down beta-carotene to vitamin A), selenium, vitamin E (tocopherol) and vitamin C.
* Magnesium and Zinc
Vitamins and Minerals for Health (Part 1)
WHY ARE VITAMINS AND MINERALS IMPORTANT?
Vitamins and minerals are also called micronutrients. The body uses them in small amounts to facilitate chemical reactions that cells need to live. Different nutrients affect digestion, nervous system, thought and other body functions.
Micronutrients are found in many foods. Healthy people can get enough vitamins and minerals from food. People with HIV or other diseases need more micronutrients to repair and heal cells. In addition, many medications can cause a deficiency of different nutrients.
Some molecules in the body are in a state known as rust, also are called free radicals. React easily with other molecules and can damage cells. High levels of radicals seem to cause much of the damage associated with aging.
Free radicals are products of normal body chemistry. Antioxidants are molecules that stop the free radical reaction with other molecules and thus limit the damage they cause. Several nutrients are antioxidants.
Antioxidants are important for people with HIV since HIV infection increases the levels of free radicals. In addition, free radicals can increase the activity of HIV. High levels of antioxidants can slow the virus and help repair the damage it causes.
Top Ten Tips for Normal People Diets (Part 3)
8. Replace “Bad” with “Good” food – This is a slightly different twist on the earlier advice on replacing bad addictions / habits with good. Since some food replacements are a matter of expense, and since you might be preparing food for a family rather than just one or two people, you can not always just reupholster your eating whole program at home.
But you can make some changes without too much extra expense, changes that will Affect your health, vibrancy and weight for the better. For example, replace white breads with whole grain, simple carbs with more complex ones, red meat with fish.
Even if you do not replace ALL your bad foods with good foods, make purposeful changes. For example, decide to have one night a week fish rather than meat network. Weight loss is a journey, where every step counts. So take one step in the right direction!
9. Prepare for Emergency Situations – They happen all the time. Once you start a weight-loss journey in earnest, you’ll see just what I mean. Every day, sometimes every hour it seems, something will try to sabotage your attempts to eat more healthfully and lose weight! The best way to avoid these pitfalls is to think through them and have an emergency plan.
Top Ten Tips for Normal People Diets (Part 2)
4. Groove and Move – Some people are more sedentary than other people, just by preference. Maybe you love hiking and mountain trekking. Or maybe your favorite idea of fun is just to curl up on the couch and read a book. Whatever your preference, you can certainly find some kind of movement you enjoy.
Think about it: the options are endless! Do you enjoy rollerblading? Hiking? Just getting outside on a beautiful day for a walk? How about kick-boxing? Downhill skiing? Swimming? Brake dancing with your blinds shut so the neighbors can not see? Whatever it is, if it gets your body moving, then do it! And do it regularly!
6. Get a Buddy – Sometimes this is easier said than done. But think about it. Do you have a family member or friend who is a little heavy and has ever mentioned, even in an offhand way, the desire to lose weight? If so, go talk to this person and just tell them that you’re planning to lose some weight.
See if they want to join you, and talk about ways you can Encourage one another in reaching your goals. There’s nothing as encouraging as having a friend to help you along in the journey!
7. Identify “Bad” vs. “Good” foods – How well do you really know what’s healthy for you? I found that when it comes to making food choices, a little education can go a long way. I looked through my cupboards and fridge, writing everything down, then went online to research whether or not I was eating as healthfully as I could.
Boy, did I learn something! Researching the foods that were a regular part of my diet helped my identify which ones were “empty” calories (basmati rice, white pasta just to name a couple) and which ones I could stand to eat a lot more of (like tuna and dark green leaf lettuce). Based on what I read, I felt more informed in making eating decisions.
Original Article by A. Kalyani
Top Ten Tips for Normal People Diets (Part 1)
What you need to do to lose weight? The take time to think through the process before you start, and you will have greater success in weight loss.
1. Replace the Addictions – The second step in weight loss is to replace your addictions. Why do I say “replace” instead of “Abolish”? Simple. You’re a real person, just like me.
If you are suddenly deprived of something that was offering a great deal of comfort, and you do not replace it with something else, you’ll likely get really depressed and just go back to the old addiction. So when you identify some bad habit that’s just got to go, replace it with something you still enjoy … something healthier.
2. Eat Lots of “Green” and “Yellow” - And no, we’re not talking about candy here! If you want to lose weight, you’ve got to drastically increase your vegetable intake, Particularly of the deep green and bright orange / yellow sort.
That stuff is so good for you, and plus it’s super filling with loading up your body with spare calories to store. For example, did you know that 1 / 3 cup of spinach has 120% of your required Vitamin A intake for a day? Wow! Now I admit, vegies are not always the tastiest thing, but you can experiment to find flavors you like.