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The Many Healing Properties Of Aloe Vera Juice

March 25, 2011 Nutrition 0 Comments

You already know that aloe vera is a great herbal remedy. You’ve probably put aloe vera on a sunburn at least once in your life. You might have also used it to treat wounds or to fight against fungi or bacteria and to relieve a variety of skin conditions. Did you know that aloe vera juice is also quite good? In fact, most of the time, the aloe vera products you use are based on aloe vera juice that gets mixed with a thickening agent. There are a lot of benefits to be had from Aloe Vera juice. Here are just a few of the ways that this stuff can help you.

Aloe vera is something that is simply very good for you in almost every way. The reason why this plant is so good for you is that it strengthens your entire immune system. You need a strong immune system if you want your body to be able to repel invasions of germs and bacteria, which create all kinds of disease. People take all kinds of vitamins and other things to preserve their health; the aloe plant can help more than most other supplements. If you want to improve your overall health, simply drink aloe vera juice or find a good aloe supplement in pill form.

Another very important benefit to taking aloe vera juice is that it can improve your digestive health. Eating a natural diet in general will help you in this regard. If you have any kind of problems with your bowels, a good way to treat this is by consuming more fiber. For your general digestive health, it’s also good to eat yogurt, which has beneficial active cultures. Aloe vera has been proven to help your whole digestive system, from the bowels to the esophagus. So this is something that can immediately help your regularity!

You can also greatly help your oral hygiene by taking aloe vera juice; this is another good reason to take it that is not well publicized. If you want your body as a whole to be healthy, the maintaining clean and healthy gums, teeth and tongue are very important. Most people use mouthwash and brush their teeth a couple of times per day, and perhaps floss as well. No one wants cavities or plaque, which is why almost everyone uses a fluoride toothpaste. You can take a powerful additional step by drinking aloe vera juice or consuming it in supplement form. Your teeth and gums will reap the benefits of this practice.

There are so many great things that aloe vera juice can do help you stay healthy. You already know it helps with things like sunburn; anybody who walks past a skin care shelf in the store can figure out that. But did you know how many other health benefits were and are associated with the juice from this simple plant? Aloe vera juice has been helping eastern people with almost every system in their bodies for centuries and for the last few decades more and more of the western world has been discovering its benefits as well. This herbal supplement and remedy is one that should not be overlooked.

Tags: Aloe Vera Juice, Anti Aging, disease, disease and illness, diseases, health, illness, Nutrition, skin care, supplement, vitamin, vitamins, women issues, women's issues

Redeeming Unsaturated Fat

March 25, 2011 Nutrition 0 Comments

The most dreaded word in many dieter’s vocabulary is ‘fat’. It is not uncommon to hear a dieter discuss their avoidance of eating fat as if it were something thoroughly unwholesome, or even life-threatening, like an allergen, or a contagious disease.

In one way, this impassioned hatred of fat is positive. It reflects a generally understood medical truth that overindulging in fat-rich foods often causes unwanted, and unhealthy, weight gain.

However, in another way, this fat-phobia is potentially dangerous, because awareness of fat is not enough; an understanding of how fat influences weight gain and overall health is required. Unfortunately, those who dread and avoid all fat “as a rule” are overlooking an important difference between saturated fat and unsaturated fat.

Saturated fat is often the real culprit when it comes to unwanted, and potentially unhealthy, weight gain. These types of fats, which are solid at room temperature, initiate the production of LDL cholesterol, or “bad cholesterol”. In addition to weight gain, as cholesterol increases, so does the risk of heart disease. In fact, saturated fats increase LDL cholesterol disproportionately more than dietary cholesterol itself; that is how powerfully bad it is to the human body [i]. Dreading and avoiding this kind of fat is therefore quite intelligent.

Some dieters, however, are motivated less by concerns about high cholesterol and heart disease than they are about cosmetic weight gain. This is not a criticism; the adverse health effects of excess weight are well documented, as are the emotional traumas and social stigmas that tragically affect tens of millions of overweight people, especially children [ii].

Unquestionably, an excess intake of saturated fat is linked to weight gain. This is because a fat gram contains more than twice the amount of calories as a protein gram – 9 calories versus 4 calories [iii]. As a result, dieters can eat more than twice as many protein grams as fat grams to achieve the same amount of caloric intake. For dieters who are steadfastly watching every calorie, this 125% calorie difference between protein and fat can have an enormous impact.

Fat cells, once created, cannot be removed [1]; they can only be made smaller through the body’s metabolic calorie-burning process [iv]. Since an individual’s rate of metabolism is determined largely by genetics, a dieter with a slower than average metabolism will spend months, perhaps even years longer struggling to shrink fat cells then would his or her metabolically-gifted counterpart [v].

It is quite easy to understand, based on the above discussion, why the very idea of fat is dreaded by dieters; both because of the health hazards it poses, and its capacity to create excess fat cells. And it is just as easy to understand why many people are so afraid of consuming this kind of fat that they strive to remove all fat from their diet. This, however, is a large nutritional oversight.

Fat is a macronutrient that the body requires for a number of important functions. Fat is a source of energy. It helps keep the body warm, it aids in the absorption of some vitamins, and helps regulate the proper functioning of the brain and nervous system [vi]. This appears, however, to be a contradiction.

On the one hand there are health and weight gain hazards associated with fat, and on the other hand, there are proven health benefits associated with fat. How can this be? The answer is easily understood when we differentiate between the two types of fat: saturated and unsaturated. The kind of fat associated with health hazards is the former; the kind that the body needs and uses effectively is the latter.

There are two sub-types of unsaturated fat: polysaturated fat, and monosaturated fat. Popular foods that contain polysaturated fat include safflower oil and corn oil, while monosaturated fats are found in such foods as olive oil and peanut oil. These unsaturated fats are those that provide the body with the most useful and efficient sources of fat that lead to the health benefits noted above.

However, though there is a clear benefit to eating unsaturated fats instead of saturated fats, both types continue to offer eaters the standard 9 calories per gram. As such, no eater should consume an excess amount of fat.

Equipped with the awareness and understanding that avoiding saturated fat is hazardous to health, and that there is such a thing as “good” (unsaturated) fat, it would be expected that most nutritional supplements on the market have created foods that reflect this understanding. This is, regrettably, not the case.

Most nutritional supplements contain some fat content; many even contain saturated fat for some inexplicable reason [2]. Tragically – and there is no other word – many dieters are deceived into eating self-described nutritionally intelligent foods that may be “low calorie”, and may even have some vitamins and nutrients, but they but they are adding to the individual’s limited capacity to ingest fat grams. Many people who seek to lose weight by eating nutritional supplements often gain weight. They erroneously believe it is the result of a slow metabolism, when the culprit is the amount of fat grams ingested.

Fortunately, there are several fat-free food supplements on the market today. There are several important benefits of this strategy that benefit dieters of all sizes.

The obvious benefit is that a dieter does not have to count fat calories when eating these nutritional supplements; they are 100% fat free, and do not add to their daily fat-intake limit.

Less obviously, however, is that a zero-fat nutritional supplement that contains protein can stimulate the digestive system and minimize fat storage. This is because the protein content can help regulate the body’s ability to effectively absorb the calories that it derives from carbohydrates and fats. For example, a dieter who eats a sugary, fat-filled cupcake can mitigate fat storage and increase nutrient utilization by eating it with a protein-rich nutritional supplement.

The world of nutrition has long since known the link between dietary fat and weight gain. Unsaturated fat can be a trusted ally in the fight against weight loss. Understanding how it differs from saturated fat helps demystify the stigma of unsaturated fats – a stigma that should be reserved for its unhealthy cousin, saturated fats.

[1] Fat cells can be removed externally, through such methods as liposuction and stapling, but these so-called solutions carry their own brand of risks and consequences.

[2] Actually, the reason is usually because of taste.

Tags: bariatric surgery, bodybuilding, cancer, diabetes, diet, exercise, fitness, liquid protein, Nutrition, Protein Supplement, supplement, weight loss, weight loss surgery

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