Archive for the ‘Food and Nutrition’ Category

Learn about food: peas, beans and broad beans

Monday, July 19th, 2010

Fresh Peas

There are several sizes of this plant, whose range is the most sought after small, known as “French.” They are rich in phosphorus and fiber. Most shops will get canned, frozen, as part of flower bags, alone or in mixtures for stews.

Green beans

It is an easy vegetable to grow, providing a highly nutritious food. Its origin is probably in Central America, but has been cultivated in North America and South by the natives since ancient times. Because of this vegetable seeds are easy to transport and store because, well, beans can thrive in varied climates, is widely distributed throughout the world.

The Indians ate this vegetable in the beginning when fresh or dry bean varieties to chaucha were fibrous with many threads. Tender varieties, without wires or fibers that we know today were developed in the last 50 years. It provides great amount of fiber, calcium, potassium and iron although the latter is poorly utilized by the body. (more…)

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The avocado a food that strengthens the body

Thursday, July 15th, 2010

The avocado is a plant of the laurel family, which originated in Central America especially in Mexico, where it is quite abundant.

Each serving of avocado equals 50 grams of bread, a bowl of noodles to tomato and carrot salad with oil, an egg filling, but in none of these replacements bioenergy reached levels that owns this plant, especially if we go to refer to its minerals and vitamins, in addition to its high protein.

The consumption of 100 grams of avocado a day gives us 20% of all the needs of minerals and proteins that our body also has a 100% cover the requirements for vitamin D.

On the other hand, the avocado has more vitamin E than any other fruit, and this vitamin is an excellent antioxidant that works directly with the process of premature aging of cells and reduces sun exposure effects. (more…)

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Factors that rob nutrients from the body

Monday, July 12th, 2010

Many times we maintain a truly balanced diet, exercising, but do not know why we have deficits in some nutrients or lack of vitamins in the body.

However much we may worry about maintaining a healthy life, where not miss any of the nutrients in the pyramid, there are real habits that act as thieves stealing the contributions we give to our body.

* Cigarette: Beyond that is extremely harmful for our health, it robs the body of vitamin C, people who smoke 20 cigarettes a day, need to incorporate into his body at least 40% or more of vitamin C.

Dependence: In excess alcohol impairs the absorption of vitamins C and B, to be built as in the case of smoking, extra amounts.

* Anti-inflammatory and analgesics: Many times we think are harmless, and we abuse them, but really are not, and they steal our body vitamin C and K. so be careful when you use them.

* Sleeping pills: These impair the absorption of vitamins A and C, in addition to the absorption of minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium.

* Antibiotics and antacids: Do not allow the B vitamins and some minerals work on body processes.

* Laxatives: These involve the absorption of vitamins A, D, E, and K and minerals like calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and sodium.

Be careful, avoid smoking, alcohol, and lead a healthy life, without abuse of any substance.

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Recommendations for potassium in the body

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

Most of the excretion of potassium and control of quantities of this mineral in the body are functions of the kidney, therefore a good renal function is necessary so as not to alter potassium levels in our body and avoid accumulation of this mineral.

Remember:

* If you feel you need to eat sweet foods, this may be due to a deficiency in potassium levels.

* With the sweat, you lose potassium and magnesium, to replace fruits and vegetables consumed, hours after intense training.

* If you suffer from hypoglycemia, can retain water and lose potassium, take enough magnesium to restore your body’s mineral balance.

* Diabetics and people with kidney disease, should monitor potassium intake with a medical indication.

* The intake of potassium supplements may be of interest to treat hypertension and to compensate for the loss of this mineral, which is produced by taking diuretics, but in either case, this treatment should only be performed under control and medical approval .

* Never eat potassium supplements if taking certain medications for high blood pressure, heart problems or anti-inflammatory treatments for pain.

Check with your doctor you trust, to doubt.

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Silicon an essential mineral for the body

Monday, July 5th, 2010

Silicon is an important mineral in our bodies involved in the formation of cartilage, bones and connective tissue, especially collagen fibers

The collagen fibers are primarily responsible for preserving the elasticity of major blood vessels of our skin. Therefore you should not miss in our daily diet, and also very good treatments for osteoporosis and its prevention.

Silicon is a mineral that is rapidly absorbed by the intestine and can be found in different foods such as whole grains, which have high amounts of fiber, vegetables, especially those of green leaves or stems, which should be included in our diet, to gain a better quality of life. It is also present in some fruits.

On the other hand we find it present in the sugar, rice husk, oat bran, soy flour and brewer’s yeast.

Do not hesitate to consult a specialist you trust to assemble your diet properly and can get the most benefit for your body what nature provides us.

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Main symptoms of the lack of phosphorus in the body

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

The match we’ve seen is a much-needed mineral for our body, and joined to it through food, why should not miss in our diet as food, fish, eggs, meat, low fat dairy, whole grains, cereals, nuts and vegetables.

Phosphorus deficiency in the body can lead to significant symptoms that are easily visualized, although it is unlikely a problem, if so it is necessary to consult a specialist trust.

Among the most common symptoms encountered, pain, body weakness, excessive fatigue, weak bones and teeth, lack of joint flexibility, anorexia, poor appetite, and incidence of recurrent infections.

Phosphorus is a mineral found in almost all foods, so it is not very common, with a deficit of it, but those people who are alcoholics, suffering from hyperthyroidism, or vitamin D deficiency, and renal diseases are high-risk groups.

In these cases it is very common that the patient has a weakening and softening of the bones, abnormalities in the nervous system that occurs with tingling and cramps, sleep excessively, a marked slowing of reflexes, tremors, mental confusion, and the blood has a low level of platelets, which can also lead to hemolytic anemia, so it is important to perform the query.

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Introduction and Function of Carbohydrates (Part 3)

Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

carbohydrates

2. What food are you?

In foods of animal origin, except milk, are relatively scarce. Foods rich in carbohydrates are basically plant a greater or lesser degree. So prevalent in cereals, bread and bakery products, pasta, fruits, dairy products, legumes and tubers.

3. Features

The main functions of carbohydrates are given below:

- Energy. They provide immediate energy, ie, 4 kcal / g. Glycogen (animals) and starch (in plants) are energy stores that move quickly to generate glucose when needed. Glucose is the only energy source used by the nervous system (normal) and blood cells, so that should eat carbohydrates every day.

- Structural. They are part of important molecules such as DNA and ATP among others (ribose and deoxyribose).

- Regulatory. Regulate bowel functions (dietary fiber). Dietary fiber plays an important role in the regulation of intestinal function with consequent health benefits because:

• Promotes bowel movement by absorbing water
• Increase the volume of stool and softens
• Decreases the absorption of certain substances (like cholesterol)

(more…)

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Introduction and Function of Carbohydrates (Part 2)

Monday, April 26th, 2010

carbohydrates1.3. Polysaccharides

Also known as complex carbohydrates and complex sugars to be made up of many molecules of monosacharides. From a nutritional point of view can be divided into two groups:

- Usable energy or digestible polysaccharides. Among the polysaccharides usable energy, starch and highlight glycogen.

The starch, also known as starch, vegetable and is made up of many glucose molecules linked together to form linear chains (amylose) and branched (amylopectin).

It is the most abundant carbohydrate in the diet, found in cereal grains, legume seeds, roots (cassava), tubers (potatoes) and other parts of the plants. The Glycogen is a polysaccharide of animal reserve which is located in the liver and muscle. The other and mussels are rich in this polysaccharide. However, during storage and culinary management loses an important part of their nutritional value.

(more…)

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Introduction and Function of Carbohydrates (Part 1)

Saturday, April 24th, 2010

carbohydratesCarbohydrates, also known as carbohydrates or sugars, are organic compounds consisting of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.

1. What are they?

Carbohydrates, also known as carbohydrates or sugars, are organic compounds consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and then we’ll see oxygen. A their classification on the basis of chemical structure.

1.1. Monosaccharides

They are the simplest carbohydrates. This group includes glucose, fructose and galactose.

- Glucose: Found in small quantities in fruits and vegetables, being relatively abundant in grapes. It is the most important monosaccharide in the field of nutrition to be the main fuel cell.

Most carbohydrate foods eventually converted into glucose after digestion. Glucose is added to some foods and beverages comes from the decomposition of starch. Glucose increases the energy content of food without increasing their sweetness, contrary to what I would do fructose or sucrose.

(more…)

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Green Chocolate Kills the Appetite

Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

Green Chocolate Kills the Appetite

A team of Spanish scientists has created a green chocolate that instantly kills the appetite. The novelty is a mixture of cocoa, jojoba and spirulina (an algae), which according to its creators, the body produces naturally a feeling of fullness after eating just one or two chocolates of 15 grams each, picked up the BBC today .

The end result, which received the approval of the Agro-Food Technology Institute of Spain, is a combination of biochemical that stimulates the production of phenylalanine, an amino acid in the brain that activates neurotransmitters such as cholecystokinin (CKK, by its initials in English ).

The CKK, a gastrointestinal hormone, stimulates enzymes segregation and sends messages to the brain and the digestive system to signal that the body is already filled, thus cutting your appetite. Professor of Chemistry at the University of Alicante and one of the creators of the new product, Armando Yañez, said that this chocolate is “so simple and tasty as any candy, with the difference that helps the body know when to stop. With him is just greed, “he concluded.

(more…)

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