High Protein Diets and the Risk of Dehydration

March 25, 2011 Nutrition 0 Comments

Dehydration is more than just the feeling of being thirsty, although doctors are quick to remind patients that once they have felt thirst, it is too late- they are already well on the way to dehydration. The actual condition of dehydration is an abnormal loss of body fluids which can be caused by a number of reasons. While low level dehydration can be remedied at home and typically does not cause any long term damage, moderate to severe dehydration can cause an electrolyte imbalance that can lead to a number of other more serious problems including:

- Irregular heart beat

- Shock

- Acidosis (depletion of the body’s alkali reserve which can in turn lead to acidemia)

- Acute uremia (a clinical syndrome related to renal failure)

- Possibility of death especially in infants, the aged and those in poor health.

The average woman loses about three pints of fluid each day in urine, an additional varied amount in the feces, and another two pints from the combination of perspiration and expiration (Source: MacLean 1993). Additional fluids can be lost each day through increased heat, increased activity and through mild bouts of diarrhea and vomiting. In most cases, these additional losses will cause the body to react by feeling thirsty and having a dry mouth, especially the lips and the tongue. Drinking additional fluids, especially those with electrolytes in them can replace this lost fluid with no physical consequences. However, if the fluid deprivation is serious enough or is prolonged, it will become more serious and medical intervention will quickly become necessary.

A high protein diet, especially when it is being used by an endurance athlete may be problematic for a number of reasons including the increased risk of serious dehydration. A moderately increased protein intake may be beneficial for the athlete in training, however, once it becomes greatly increased, the risk of serious dehydration becomes increased as well. Studies have shown that a possible three out of every four Americans are chronically dehydrated to begin with. A small loss in body fluid, as little as 2-3% can lead to a negative impact on cardiovascular health and athletic performance (Source Quinn, 2004).

The Many Roles of Protein in the Body

Most people think that protein’s only role is to build and repair muscle. These same people also think that protein is a magical element that you can eat all you want of and never get fat, but that is not correct either. Protein can be stored in the body as fat if you eat more than you need; that myth has been destroyed time and time again. Protein is also far more important than it is often given credit for, including some very vital roles that can be negatively impacted by dehydration. These functions include:

- Maintaining ph balance of the blood

- Formation of enzymes and hormones

- Plays a role in the immune system

- Builds connective tissues

- Forms the cell membranes

- Plays a role in the central nervous system

- Helps to maintain the fluid balance in the body.

(Source Nelson, 2009)

Acidemia is the abnormal acidity of the blood which can be caused by a number of factors including increased lactic acid in the muscles (Increased lactic acid build up is what makes you sore after an intense workout). Another cause for this condition is prolonged and severe dehydration especially when it is caused by intense athletic effort- for instance a strength training or endurance athlete.

Extreme Protein and Decreased Hydration in Athletes

A study working with endurance athletes showed that an average to moderately increased protein diet was acceptable but that once the intake reached what could be deemed “high”, dehydration risks increased greatly. Using 150 pounds as the average weight for the study, the participants were divided into three groups. The first group, the “low” protein group was given a diet that provided about 68 grams of protein per day. The second group, the “moderate” group were given about 123 grams of protein per day and the third group, the “high” protein group were given 246 grams of protein per day, the total making up about 30% of their daily calories, an amount that is consistent with that of the average high protein diet.

Upon conclusion of the study, researchers found that as the protein level went up, the hydration level went down. Standard blood work showed some troubling results as well. The blood urea nitrogen level (BUN) was abnormal, showing that there was a decrease in kidney function. Urine tests showed that the increased protein level also lead to a more concentrated urine as well (Source: Quinn, 2004).

Too much protein in the diet can be harmful for the endurance athlete as well as for the average person. The right amount of protein should be found and maintained for everyone. Increased protein can also lead to:

- Decreased levels of glycogen in the muscles and liver, further leading to dehydration as glycogen helps the muscles to retain water.

- Decreased endurance

- A lessened maximum effort

- Decreased serum glucose levels

(Source: Quinn 2007).

The American Heart Association recommends that the diet contain no more than 35% of its daily calories from protein, a safe amount for anyone, including elite athletes. There are some medical conditions that should get increased protein amounts, however those people should only do so on the advice of their own doctors.

The Best Suggestion for Prevention of Dehydration

Protein is vital to everyone, from the couch potato to the weekend warrior to the marathon master- but everyone needs different amounts and levels of protein. It is very important to find the right amount for your own personal health and activity needs, however there is also a warning that should go to everyone – drink more liquids whether you are increasing proteins or not.

Unless you are on a fluid restriction from the doctor, you should be getting enough liquids every day. A bonus of drinking enough water is possible weight loss- many people mistake feelings of thirst for feelings of water and eat when all they needed was a glass of water (Source: Roizen and Oz, 2006).

How Protein Supplements Can Fit In

Although the suggestion of adding extra protein to the diet is not the goal, finding the right amount is. A protein supplement, especially one that has additional vitamins and other benefits, can be a good way to hit that intake goal without having to consume a lot of extra calories to do so. For the elite athlete, a quick protein supplement can be a great between-meal snack or can serve as part of the after workout recovery process.

Profect, from Protica is available in three sizes:

- 25 grams of protein in a ready-to-drink 2.9 fluid ounce vial

- 50 grams of protein in a ready-to-drink 3.4 fluid ounce vial

- 200 grams of protein in a 10 fluid ounce bottle

It is also available in several different flavors including:

- Blue Raspberry Swirl

- Grapefruit-Mango

- Fresh Citrus Berry

- Cool Melon Splash

- Passion Fruit

- Orange Pineapple

- Ruby Melon Twist

- Fuzzy Peach Nectar

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The Best Ways To Lose Weight

March 24, 2011 Nutrition 0 Comments

If you decide that you want to follow a traditional style diet, as a rule of thumb, you ought to find a weight loss plan that is rich in fresh fruit and vegetables; low-fat dairy products; white meat and fish; whole grain cereals and plenty of drinking water and by that I mean at least eight to ten 250mm glasses a day.

Being heavy can cause a lot of other issues, in addition it being a problem in its own right. Obesity makes rapid movement, stretching and reaching difficult. Surplus sweating can be an embarrassment and it can result in chaffing. The range of fashionable clothing available can be constrained too. In addition to these problems, studies have shown that being overweight invariably leads to health problems such as hypertension, cardiac issues, sleep apnea and diabetes.

The only resolution to this bundle of problems is to lose those extra pounds around your waist by starting on a healthy weight loss diet plan and following it faithfully. I will give you a few general pointers below to help you slim down and reduce the risk of spending your later years running in and out of hospital.

Almost all of the traditional weight loss diet plans proposed by dietitians and nutritionists start with the simple exhortation to reduce your food consumption to the amount you require to carry out your every day routine. The problem is that it sounds simple, but it is one of the hardest things to do. It takes a lot of determination on your part. However, you could start by eating and drinking three-quarters of what you normally eat. Once you can handle that, reduce the percentage again.

Try to make every calorie count. By that, I mean, if you are going to eat 200 calories, make certain that they are contained in food that will do you good and keep you feeling full. A bar of chocolate will give you a blood-sugar rush for 20-30 minutes, but a doorstep of a cheese and salad sandwich made from whole wheat bread washed down with a glass or two of water will give you plenty of fibre and vitamins and fill you up for a couple of hours.

It is always a good idea to keep a diary of what you eat and when. This way you can compare days and weeks and see what works best. It also helps if you are reducing your consumption in stages. Mark what you eat with the number of calories in that portion. If you do not know accurately, guess it. Writing something down is better than nothing.

The next part is the part I don’t like – exercise. Regular exercise. The good news is that it does not have to be too much. Two thirty minute walks a day is quite helpful. Once in the morning and once in the evening. Or walk in your lunch time and after your evening meal. If you like, frequent visits to the fitness center are even better, but they are also easier to skip or give up altogether.

Tags: advice, cardio, diet, exercise, family, fitness, health, men's issues, Nutrition, other, outdoors, recipes, supplements, women's issues

Breakdown The Truth Or Myth Of Colon Cleanse Detox

March 24, 2011 Nutrition 0 Comments

Hundreds, even thousands, of people can vouch on the positive effects of colon cleanse detox. Colon cleanse detox has helped a lot of people online, yet it is still an enigma for most people. Does it work? A lot of people swear by it, but there are also contingents that refuse to believe in it. The odd thing about it is that even the government is quite unsure if they will regulate colon cleansing or not.

The truth is, even medical practitioners have mixed feelings about colon cleanse detox and all its derivatives. The science surrounding colon cleanse detoxification seems sound enough to be true. But first, you have to realize that not every natural remedy can be considered 100% safe just because it is called “natural”. That said, allow me to point out the real deal about colon cleanse detoxification.

There are a variety of ways that one can have colon cleanse detox. Laxatives can be used, enemas are also effective, and even anti-parasite capsules can do the job. There is also a service called colon irrigation that anyone can take advantage of.

Now, there are a lot of positive and glowing feedback about colon cleansing all over the web. A quick search will yield that colon cleansing helped a lot of people fight off the symptoms of sluggishness (low energy), constipation, acute headaches, and even weak immunity.

The negative side of colon cleanse detox is not that dark and foreboding. Simply put, some medical experts claim that such a method is useless since the body in general is cleansed by the liver and the colon alone is self-cleaning. In addition, toxins cannot escape the colon and enter the blood stream because of protective mucus surrounding the organ. This means that colon cleansing is completely unnecessary.

Although science-based medicine cannot prove or disprove the positive effects of colon cleanse detox, it is wise that we take it easy with the enema or the colon irrigation. In order to be safe when undergoing colon irrigation, you have to make it a point to trust only a licensed therapist.

If you want to cleanse your colon via non-controversial methods, then you should drink a lot of water and include lots of fiber in your diet.

Tags: alternative medicine, detox, Detoxification, detoxify, diet, fitness, Health And Fitness, Nutrition, weight loss

Simple Strategies To Reduce Caloric Intake Without The Hunger Pains

March 24, 2011 Nutrition 0 Comments

Losing weight is as simple as consuming less calories than you burn. In fact, it’s the only way to lose weight. But, of course it’s not that easy to pull off. Putting yourself in a reduced calorie state can be next to impossible for some people. But, by following a low calorie diet and using a few of the methods below you can effectively cut fat without even noticing.

Water-rich foods – Water-rich foods include fruits, vegetables and soups. Why should you include these in your diet? Because the water adds density to the foods making you feel fuller for an extended period of time but without the extra calories. Try eating water-rich foods at the beginning of each meal to help stave off your appetite before you dig in to the more calorie dense foods.

Liquid calorie no-no’s – Merely switching from drinking soda to drinking tea or water can really add up. The average 20 oz. soda contains 250 calories and if you drink only 1 pop a day that’s 1,750 calories cut out of your diet in 1 week.

Pass on processed foods – Overly processed items such as chips and crackers don’t satisfy hunger cravings and pass on little to no nutrients. Conversely, whole foods will keep you feeling fuller longer, supply more nutrients and are usually lower in calories.

Size of plates matters – It might sound silly, but research shows that people are content with eating whatever amount of food they are served, no matter the amount.

Adding each of these tips to your routine over time you will start to see your weight effortlessly melt away. But don’t stop there. Step back and take a look at your diet and see if you can make some more small changes to drop the pounds and feel great.

Lose weight for good by starting out on the right foot

Tags: diet, diets, fitness, General Health, health, mens health, Nutrition, weight issues, weight loss, woman's health

Is Dry Eye Syndrome A Serious Medical Condition?

March 24, 2011 Nutrition 0 Comments

Dry eye syndrome is a common ailment that many people deal with these days. The problem is caused by an individual not having the ability to produce enough fluid and mucus to keep their orbitals properly moisturized.

The problem persists when two different things occur. The first reason why an individual may suffer from this ailment is if their tear production is drastically reduced. The other culprit for this ailment is an imbalance in the amount of tear fluids that are typically located in our eyes.

A person that is known to have healthy eyes will consistently have a thin film that covers their orbs. Even though each and everyone of us has this thin film covering the external surface of our orbitals, it is possible for dry spots to begin to appear on the surface. It is fairly easy to recognize the symptoms of this condition.

Some of the first things that people that suffer from the ailment tend to notice is they repeatedly have extra burning, itching and stinging on their eyes surface. The first thing that an individual will do whenever their eyes begin to ache is to rub them. It will actually aggravate the problem more when the eyes are rubbed as opposed to leaving them alone. Sensitivity to light, wind, and smoke are also common problems that people with the condition tend to complain about.

Would you believe it if someone told you that your eyes naturally produce two types of tears, as opposed to the traditional tears that you are accustomed to seeing? Our eyes have the ability to produce both basic tears and reflex tears that are triggered by extreme emotion. The basic form of tears is what are generally used to keep the surface of the eye moist.

Basic tears are always at work, trying desperately to keep the surface of our orbitals moist. However, reflex tears tend to come out in large quantities, and will not last for an elongated frame of time. Also, reflex tears do not have encompass any mucus, therefore they dry up a lot quicker than our basic tears do. Relex tears alone will not be able to solve your dry eye problem.

Even though there are millions of people that suffer from dry eye syndrome, many eye doctors admit that the problem should not cause a concern for everyone. The only time that you should seek help for the ailment is if it persists for a long period of time or if it interferes with your basic eye functions.

There are some people that suffer from severe forms of this condition that must be medicated to rectify it. In order to locate the best product for your ailment you need to be counseled by a licensed physician.

Tags: diet, eyes, fitness, health, Nutrition, supplements, vitamins

Some Uncommon Tips For Good Diet

March 24, 2011 Nutrition 0 Comments

Best Food regimen Tip

: Have a look at which sort you can add to your diet, not which sort you ought take away.

Start by specializing in getting the recommended 5-9 servings offruit and vegetableseach day. It seems like a lot, however it is well worth it, as a consequence all at once you’re meeting your fiber ambitions and feeling much more satisfied from the quantity of food.

Far better than Food regimen Tip: Consider even if you’re truly hungry.

Whenever you experience similar to eating, look for physical symptoms of hunger.

The underlying premise of the Atkins Diet is that diets too high in sugar and refined carbohydrates contribute to weight gain, and ultimately result in obesity. Such diets increase the manufacture of insulin (a hormone secreted by the pancreas). When insulin ranges are high, the food we eat is swiftly and simply transformed into fat, and kept in our cells. By proscribing the consumption of carbohydrates, the output of insulin is moderated. In addition, the insufficient accessible carbohydrate (the body’s desired fuel source) forces the body structure to burn stored fat as energy.

What do the critics say?

Many vitamin advisors disagree with the basic premise of the Atkins Food regimen – the notion that high-carbohydrate, low-fat diets contribute to obesity. For proof of the implausibility of the Atkins Diet, some nutritionists indicate that the old fashioned Japanese diet is extremely elevated in carbohydrates, low in protein, and very low in fat; however, prior to the introduction of high-fat and high-protein Western foods, being obese was uncommon in Japan.

Such results make sense by reason ounce for ounce, carbohydrates include far fewer calories than oils (4 calories from carbohydrates versus 9 calories from fat). These critics blame the over-consumption of calories (from any source) and shortage of physical exercise as the first causes of obesity.

The final result is that fat and protein retailers shall be used for energy. So you stuff your self full of almost limitless amounts of meat, cheese, and butter, and solely eat a small portion of carbohydrates.

Tags: cleanse, detox, diet, eating, food, health, healthy eating, Meal Plan, Nutrition, weight loss

Healthy And Balanced Eating For Children

March 24, 2011 Nutrition 0 Comments

With childhood obesity rising like an epidemic it is best that you teach your own children to live a healthy lifestyle. If you fail to do so, your kids will probably enter adulthood with higher risk for diabetes and heart problems. You don’t want that to happen because you want only the best for your children and that includes good health. [Read more...]

Tags: diet, disease, food, health, minerals, Nutrition, vitamins

Stopping Candida Before It Stops You

March 24, 2011 Nutrition 0 Comments

Stopping Candida Before It Stops You

It can be awkward for many people to talk about yeast infections, particularly for women with whom the most common form of yeast infection is vaginal. Since three quarters of women suffer from them though it is something that should not be felt embarrassed about. Treatment can be difficult though for many who turn to over the counter medications only to feel frustration when they are ineffective, so this article looks at what a yeast infection is and how it can be treated at home.

On everyone lives many different micro-organisms and the two we are interested in today are a fungus called Candida Albicans and the good bacteria. These two tiny things when in balance with each other means all is well and we are healthy, as the good bacteria keep the fungus at low and harmless levels. But if your immune system is not working at full strength, you are on antibiotics, pregnant, uncontrolled diabetes or other triggers happen that allow the fungus to overgrow, that is when a yeast infection happens. The vagina is most often the area of infection due to the ideal breeding grounds it offers of warmth and dampness. External signs are a swelling, redness, itching and burning.

First of all since the vagina is such an ideal moist and warm area for the fungus to overgrow and cause a yeast infection make sure you maintain excellent hygiene practices, keep it clean and dry. When using products in that area like sanitary pads or tampons use unscented. Chemicals will just upset the balance and cause an infection. Also try to let the area breathe by wearing loose clothing and cotton panties.

Dealing with the root of your infection is the way to permanently cure it but there are also two options in terms of soothing the symptoms, natural or over the counter/medicated. Severe infections need a doctor to look at them and prescribe a stronger drug, but there are some people that are happy with how over the counter treatments work. They are 1, 3, 5 or 7 day courses and come as a pill, cream or suppository. Natural remedies do not have side effects and are a lot cheaper. Examples are live bacteria plain yogurt, raw garlic, apple cider vinegar and tea tree oil.

Tags: candida, cure, diet, female, health, infection, male, Nutrition, Remedy, solution, symptoms, treatment, women, yeast

Nutritious Diet Plans That You Should Take So You Can Lose Weight

March 24, 2011 Nutrition 0 Comments

Did you know that it is possible to loose loads of wait by eating a lot? Okay the difference here is that you are eating cabbage soup that is known to help you loose those extra pounds you do not need.

The trick behind cabbage soup is that it has much less quantities of sugar content. This automatically means that your body switches back to fatty contents stored up and converts this into energy. The effect of this is that the well prepared, calorie free vegetable diet makes you reduce the body mass.

True, the body is starving, but the dieter is compensated with other water rich ingredients present in the cabbage and vegetable diet. Therefore, he is not at any risk. The dieter does not have to worry about one day collapsing under the strain that other starvation methods of loosing wait do. The hunger is canceled by health rich vegetable diet.

The aim of the new diet is simply to get your body to switch from sugar to a different health source and that is why switching to fruits and vegetables helps. These do not carry with them a lot of sugars.

On one day in this diet plan, you will have to make do with only vegetables, fruits and to the extreme, tubers and butter. This implies that there will be no time for protein and carbohydrates.

After the first day, take in some more vegetables and fruits and afterwards you can have this next to the cabbage soup you had planned to have.

The fourth day is reserved for that banana or any low starch fruit. Take this alongside a cold glass of milk or plain yoghurt. Make sure that you can wash down that acidic stuff that has been accumulating by having enough water.

If there is something you should avoid even in your last day of the program, it is candy and the fizzy drinks. It beats the point having a cabbage diet and still eating all these other stuff. Brown rice is a good bet though.

Tags: advice, attraction, beauty, beverage, diet, exercise, fitness, food, health, Nutrition, obesity, weight loss, women

Unexpressed Information About Zone Diet

March 24, 2011 Nutrition 0 Comments

Madonna, Demi Moore, and Jennifer Aniston swear by the results of the Zone Diet, which was produced by Barry Sears, PhD. The Zone Food regimen consists of 40% carbohydrate, 30% protein, and 30% fat and is referred to as the 40-30-30 plan. Good Weight reduction Diets.

The Zone Diet suggests that you need to have the right ratio of carbohydrates to proteins and greases as a way to manage the insulin within the bloodstream. Far too much of the hormone (insulin) can easily boost fat backup and inflammation in the body structure (conditions may possibly be associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease). Sears asserts that by using the Zone Diet, you are in reality optimizing the body’s metabolic function. Via the rule of blood sugar, you permit your body to burn extra system fat.

Sears says that you can test to discover even if you are ‘hormonally’ right by eating following the Zone food regimen and see the way you sense four long periods later. To simplify the Zone Diet, fill one-third of a plate with low-fat protein, after which two-thirds with fruits and vegetables.

Celebrities and some health advisors say that this Zone’s recommendations do not stray far from the USDA’s (United States Dietary Association) dietary rules and thus are advocates of the Zone Diet. Others argue that this Zone Food regimen has flawed ratios but Sears argues that this Zone diet is a low-glycemic-load food regimen that has adequate protein. Usual dietary.

Finally, attempt to locate a publication or weight loss discussion board to hold you informed and motivated. Getting steady guidance and support is essential to success and to find good diets that actually work.

Instead of cutting out your favorite meals altogether, turn out to be a slim shopper. Acquire just one fresh bakery cookie as opposed to a box, or a small portion of sweets from the majority bins as opposed to an entire bag.