Nature's remedies: How Long After You Eat Can You Workout?

Finding the correct time to eat small meals and snacks is just as important as choosing healthy foods to fuel your body before, during and after a workout. A personal trainer or nutritionist can help you choose a meal plan, including what foods to eat and when to eat them, that will help you reach your personal fitness goals.

Timing

The MayoClinic website suggests eating large meals at least three to 4 hours before working out. If you have a smaller sized meal, you can work out two to 3 hours after eating. Light snacks are typically fine when eaten right before and even during exercise. When you are done working out, you can enjoy a meal immediately.

Benefits

By waiting to work out for a few hours after eating a meal, you can avoid getting stomach pain, cramping and diarrhea, according to MayoClinic. Eating lots of food right before exercising can also cause you to feel heavy and tired because your digestive system and the muscles you use to exercise are competing for energy. However, it's important to eat something before you work out and avoid skipping meals. Passing on a meal before you exercise could cause you to become weak or slow your reaction times.

Considerations

Healthy carbohydrates are the best foods to eat before exercising. MayoClinic recommends getting carbohydrates from whole-grain cereals, pastas and breads as well as fresh vegetables. Avoid eating foods very high in fiber and fructose right before working out. Eating high-fiber legumes before exercising could cause you to develop uncomfortable gas, while fruit that is high in fiber and fructose could cause you to experience diarrhea after working out.

Misconceptions

Protein and fat are not the best sources of fuel for your body before you work out, according to MayoClinic. Fat and protein are important parts of any diet, but right before working out, it's more important that you fuel your body with healthy carbohydrates. You should avoid eating fatty foods right before working out since fat takes longer to digest and can lead to stomach upset during exercise.

Expert Insight

In an article on the ABC News website, sports nutritionist, Molly Kimball, suggests developing a schedule for eating and exercising that works for you. Kimball claims that you may be able to eat a meal and then work out immediately afterward without experiencing stomach upset or other ill effects. Try doing a test run by eating a meal and then performing moderate exercise. If you experience stomach cramps, stop exercising and try again later.

Read More

Nature's remedies: How Much Protein Is Right For You?

I grew up reading bodybuilding magazines. On page after page, they hammered home the importance of protein – how you need it to build muscle, how you should be consuming massive amounts of it, and how you should take X or Y supplement to make sure you’re getting enough of it.

When I went on to earn a Ph.D. in nutrition, many of the textbooks I read stated just the opposite: Protein isn’t all that important. In fact, it can be downright dangerous. Eat too much of it and your kidneys might explode.

This debate rages today. Fitness types often recommend megadoses of protein, sometimes as high as three to four grams per pound of bodyweight. On the other hand, the medical establishment argues that most of us take in more protein than we need. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, meanwhile, has a recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of 0.36 grams of protein per pound of body weight. So if you weigh 160 pounds, your RDA for protein is 58 grams. Eat a 12-ounce sirloin steak, and bam, you’ve met your goal for the day.

The problem with both of these estimates is that neither really describes a realistic need. The meathead bodybuilder protein portion might work if you want to look like Lou Ferrigno (although no one needs anywhere as much as three to four grams per pound of bodyweight). For the rest of us, it’s a touch much. And the USDA’s recommendation? The organization describes that as “The average daily dietary nutrient intake level sufficient to meet the nutrient requirement of nearly all (97 to 98%) healthy individuals in a particular life stage.” Basically, it’s enough to make sure you won’t die.

What we really need is a standard that tells us how much protein we should eat based on our own individual goals and aspirations. I prefer to call this the optimal intake level. And while that number might not be so high as the figures quoted in the pages of those magazines I used to read, it’s certainly greater than the recommendation from the USDA.

Protein: Finding Your Optimal Level

Suppose you want to lose weight. That means you should probably follow some simple guidelines like eating less sugar. But research also indicates that eating more protein can help you towards this goal.

Scientists at the University of Illinois designed a weight-loss program in which one group ate the RDA for protein, while a matched group ate two times the RDA recommended amount. Both groups also exercised. The RDA group lost 12 pounds of fat in 16 weeks, while the higher-protein group lost nearly 20 pounds during the same time period. The RDA group also lost two pounds of muscle. This suggests that you need more protein during a weight-loss program, both to lose fat and to preserve your muscle.

“But wait,” protein naysayers will bark. “Won’t eating all of that protein jeopardize your cardiovascular system? It’s bound to clog your arteries.”

To put that concern to the test, researchers pooled together a group of subjects with high blood pressure and less-than-ideal cholesterol, and tested the impact of adding more protein to their diets. (The OmniHeart study) No one was allowed to gain or lose weight during the test, so any changes couldn’t be chalked up to the benefits of dropping a few pounds. Some subjects ate a diet with 18 percent of their total calories coming from protein, which is pretty close to the USDA’s recommended amount. A second group upped their protein intake to 28 percent.

What happened?

The higher-protein group showed better health across the board. People in that group had greater decreases in blood pressure, LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. What’s more, their estimated 10-year risk of heart disease decreased compared to those on the lower protein track. Had these subjects been allowed to lose weight, the results may have been even more dramatic.

So what is optimal? If you go by science, about 30 percent of your calories should come from protein. At that level, you won’t have to worry about deficiencies, and you’ll know you’re getting enough of the nutrient to lose fat while also improving your heart health. Have some protein at each of your meals and snacks, and you’ll hit the target with ease.

Protein and Energy

Allow me to pause our protein discussion to talk about your blood sugar. When you eat a meal, your body breaks down carbohydrates into individual sugars and dumps them into your bloodstream. It doesn’t matter if those carbs come from broccoli or biscuits. Your body needs energy, and this is how it’s produced. The result is an increase in your blood-sugar levels.

Now, your body is very particular about blood sugar, just like Goldilocks was particular about her porridge – it wants your blood-sugar levels to be just right (70 to 99 milligrams per deciliter, for those of you interested in numbers).

When you eat a big meal, your blood sugar increases a lot. This makes your body freak out. Your pancreas responds by releasing the hormone insulin. Insulin’s job in this case is very simple: Get the excess sugar out of your blood. It does this by going “door to door” throughout your body, knocking on the entry points of muscle and fat cells to see if they’ll open and take in some sugar until blood levels return to just right.

If your body overreacts, your pancreas will release too much insulin. That insulin will knock on too many doors, pulling too much sugar out of your blood. Now you have a new problem: hypoglycemia (hypo = low; glycemia = sugar). You’ll start to feel tired, or hungry, or perhaps both. You get tired because your body’s most immediate energy source, the sugar in your blood, is suddenly depleted. You want to eat because low blood sugar is one of your body’s most powerful hunger signals. Your body will crave carb-rich foods to get your blood sugar back up again, even if you just ate.

Here’s how protein plays into the equation. Protein can help displace those carbs. The amino acids that form the building blocks of protein provoke a much-lower insulin response than the one triggered by a high-carb meal. So consuming more protein will have a less dramatic affect on your blood sugar.

Protein also triggers the release of a hormone called glucagon. Glucagon is the yin to insulin’s yang. While insulin takes sugar from your blood and pushes it into muscle and fat cells, glucagon gets your fat cells to release stored fat into your bloodstream, where it provides fuel for your muscles, brain, and everything else that uses energy. Meaning that of all the types of food you can eat, protein is the most efficient for your body: It controls insulin and helps incinerate fat.

A Better Burn

When we talk about about burning calories, we tend to focus on exercise. But our bodies are constantly using energy throughout the day and night. Even when we’re sleeping, we’re still breathing and pumping blood. Our brains are dreaming. We’re still digesting food and finding places to store it. And not all foods are digested equally.

The components of food—protein, carbohydrates, and fats —require different amounts of energy to digest and process, just as different types and intensities of exercise burn more or fewer calories. Scientists call this metabolic cost the thermic effect of food (TEF). Protein has a much higher TEF than carbs or fat. That is, simply eating more protein means your body is burning more calories during the process of digestion. In some cases, doubling your protein intake will bump up the number of calories you burn throughout the day. That’s one reason why protein, all by itself, helps you lose weight.

The Building Blocks of Muscle

During digestion, your body breaks down protein into individual amino acids. It uses them in many different ways, putting them together like a child combines Legos to build a castle. (Fortunately, your body does this in a more consistent way than your average elementary schooler.) These castles are your muscle tissue. To build them, you need an adequate supply of building blocks.

But imagine that the Legos did more than just stack on top of each other – they took part in your castle construction by telling you when to build your towers and walls. That’s what the amino acids in protein do. They aren’t just inert pieces of food waiting to be broken down. They actively signal your body to build muscle.

The most important amino acid in this process is leucine, which is found in just about every protein-containing food you’d ever eat. But in order for leucine to optimize and maximize your ability to turn protein into muscle there needs to be a certain amount present—a protein threshold, if you will. Scientists estimate that this threshold is about 30 grams of protein. You can build muscle with less than this amount or more, but this dosage is what research has found is ideal for optimal functioning.

Once built, muscle is metabolically active, meaning it burns more calories than fat even while you’re at rest. (It scorches through a lot more when you’re active.) And the more muscle you have, the more effective and efficient you become at every activity, which helps you burn more calories.

Read More

Nature's remedies: Eat Fat To Burn Fat

 

For a long time, we thought avocadoes were good for nothing but ready-made guac and a decent California burger every now and then. But these little nutritional hand grenades were having an explosive impact on our diets for all that time. How so? They’re infused with a key nutrient for maintaining healthy weight: fat.

Wait…fat can help us maintain our weight? Fat doesn’t make us fat? In a word: exactly.

Fat is not something to avoid. For starters, it’s essential for normal growth and development. Dietary fat also provides energy, protects our organs, maintains cell membranes, and helps the body absorb and process nutrients. Even better, it helps the body burn fat, says nutritionist and owner of Nutritious Life meal system, Keri Glassman, RD, who recommends that about a third of any weight-loss plan’s calories come from dietary fat.

Before you grab a deep-fried hot dog, consider this: not all fatty foods are created equal. The foods you choose can mean the difference between a trim body and one plagued with obesity and disease, Glassman says. While a diet of stereotypically fatty foods like pizza, French fries, and hamburgers can contribute to weight gain and deterioration of health, the dietetic community is learning that the overall nutritional content of these foods—not their saturated fat—is what’s to blame. Sure, research from 50 years ago found that saturated fatty acids, a type of fat that’s “saturated” with hydrogen and typically solid at room temperature, raised LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.

But a reevaluation of that research has shown that they raise HDL (good) cholesterol just as much, if not more, protecting the body from unhealthy cholesterol levels and heart disease, says nutritionist and national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association Tara Gidus, RD. “Instead of making any one thing in the diet a villain, we need to look at total caloric content as well as quality of food, what are we eating that is ‘good’ and helping our body’s immune system and cells to stay healthy.”

Most of the fat that you eat—especially if you want to lose weight—should come from unsaturated sources, both monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA), Glassman says. Why? These good-for-you foods (like fish, seeds, nuts, leafy vegetables, olive oil, and, of course, avocadoes) pack tons of nutrients. Besides removing LDL cholesterol from arteries and promoting a healthier heart, unsaturated fat can help you burn fat big time without cutting calories. A 2009 study in the British Journal of Nutrition, found that participants who consumed the most unsaturated fatty acids have lower body mass indexes and less abdominal fat than those who consumed the least. Why? The unsaturated folks ate higher-quality foods.

Not long ago, the low-fat/no-fat diet craze swept across the food landscape. Manufacturers marketed low-fat and no-fat everything, and consumers responded by chowing down. It’s healthy, right? Wrong. All wrong. Besides stripping our bodies of a much-needed nutrient, low- and no-fat diet movements have increased obesity rates. Why? It turns out that fat provides a big component to the foods we love: Taste. When food manufacturers removed fat from their foods, they had to load the foods with sugar and salt, which are nutrient-free, to increase flavor. For example, the second most prevalent ingredient Kraft Fat-Free Catalina salad dressing, for instance, is high fructose corn syrup, packing 7g of sugar per serving. And just one ounce of the saucy stuff packs 350mg of sodium—that’s 15% of your recommended daily value—and who eats just one “serving,” anyway?

And that’s just the start. Here are other crucial ways fat can help you slim down:

“Instead of making any one thing in the diet a villain, we need to look at total caloric content as well as quality of food, what are we eating that is ‘good’ and helping our body’s immune system and cells to stay healthy"

Tara Gidus, RD and national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association

What to eat – and what to skip – when adding fat to your diet

*Unsaturated Fatty Acids: Consisting of both monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), they are important for health. MUFAs are found in vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, olives, and avocadoes, while PUFAs are found in vegetable oils, fish, and seafood. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are two PUFAs that can only be obtained through diet and are called “essential fatty acids.” Adjust your diet accordingly.

*Saturated Fatty Acids: Found primarily in foods from animal sources such as meat and dairy products, like butter and cheese, they are usually solid at room temperature. Some vegetable oils such as coconut, palm kernel, and palm oil also contain saturated fat. Eat limited amounts as part of a healthy diet – and always try to consume healthier sources. For example, grass fed beef is a much better option than, say, popcorn popped in oil.

*Trans Fatty Acids: Chemically processed vegetable oils, they are semisolid at room temperature and are used in some margarines, fried foods, and processed foods to enhance flavor, texture, and shelf life. Also called “partially hydrogenated” oils, they should be avoided like the plague they are.

Fat Burns Fat

The body needs three macronutrients for energy: Carbohydrates, protein, and fat. A gram of fat packs more than twice the energy of a gram of the other two. “When you don’t have any fat in your diet its like you don’t have fuel to burn calories,” Glassman says. The body requires energy to keep its metabolism properly functioning, and a 2007 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that consuming fatty acids can boost metabolic health.

What’s more, “old” fat stored in the body’s peripheral tissues—around the belly, thighs, or butt (also called subcutaneous fat)—can’t be burned efficiently without “new” fat to help the process, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Dietary fat helps break down existing fat by activating PPAR-alpha and fat-burning pathways through the liver.

Think of mealtime like baseball spring training: young, hungry players (new fat) hit the field and show the general manger (the liver) that it’s time to send the old, worn-out players (subcutaneous fat) home. And away they go.

Fat Keeps You Full

Fat isn’t the easiest nutrient to digest, so it sticks around in the digestive system for more time than many other nutrients. MUFAs may also help stabilize blood sugar levels, according to Mayo Clinic. That means you feel full longer, and you won’t feel the stomach-growling urge to raid the refrigerator after mealtime.

In fact, diets with high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, a type of MUFA that the body can only acquire through food, create a greater sense of fullness both immediately following and two hours after dinner than do meals with low levels of the fatty acids, according to a 2008 study from University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain. It’s no surprise that dieters who consume moderate levels of fat are more likely to stick with their eating plans than dieters who consume low levels of fat.

The result? More weight lost.

Fat Makes You Happy

Everyone says that dieting, not to put too fine a point on it, stinks. Eating yummy foods makes you happy, and it turns out low-fat versions just don’t do the trick for one surprising reason: We can taste the fat—not just the salt, sugar, and other goodies in food.

Recent research from Purdue University shows that our taste buds can detect fat in food, which helps explain why low-fat foods don’t curb our fat cravings. According to the research, fat may be an entirely different basic taste than what we’ve long considered the four mainstays: sweet, salty, sour, and bitter. On an even happier fat note, omega-3 fatty acids can boost serotonin levels in the brain, helping to improve mood, increase motivation, and keep you from devouring a large pizza like it’s your job. 3.5% of women and 2% of men have suffered from diagnosed binge-eating disorders, while millions more people are occasional emotional eaters, according to the National Institutes of Mental Health.

Fat Builds Muscle

“Eating good fats along with an effective exercise program can increase muscle,” says trainer and owner of Results Fitness, Rachel Cosgrove, CSCS, who notes that increasing muscle mass is vital to increasing metabolism and burning calories both in and out of the gym. In a 2011 study published in Clinical Science, researchers examined the effects of eight weeks of PUFA supplementation in adults ages 25 to 45 and found that the fat increases protein concentration and the size of muscular cells in the body. Previous studies have found that omega-3 fatty acids stimulate muscle protein synthesis in older adults and can mediate muscle mass loss due to aging.

Fat Makes Food Better For You

Many nutrients including vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat-soluble, meaning that the body can’t absorb them without fat. If your body isn’t absorbing nutrients properly, that can lead to vitamin deficiencies and bring on dry skin, blindness, brittle bones, muscle pains, and abnormal blood clotting, according to Gidus.

These vitamins are also key to maintaining energy, focus, and muscle health, all of which contribute to a healthy weight. Vitamin E, for example is a powerful antioxidant and helps maintain your metabolism, while the body’s levels of vitamin D predicts its ability to lose fat, especially in the abdominal region, according to a clinical trial from the University of Minnesota Medical School. So while you can pile your salad high with nutrient-rich spinach, tomatoes, and carrots, you really need to thank the olive oil for sending the salad’s vitamins your way.

Read More

Nature's remedies for Ear Infection

Ear infection also known as acute otitis media is a kind of health condition caused by bacteria or virus that affects the middle ear. The infection occurs more commonly in children as compared to adults. Some of the main causes of ear infection are buildup of wax, upper respiratory infections, food allergies, environmental allergies, fetal alcohol syndrome, genetics, nutritional deficiencies and internal injuries. The common symptoms of an ear infection are pain in the ear, tugging at the ear, difficulty in sleeping, headache, poor response to sounds, high fever, drainage of fluid, vomiting, diarrhea and so on.

A human ear can detect sounds that are in the range of frequency between 16 Hertz to 16384 Hertz. The ear is divided into three parts: outer, middle and inner (see diagram) and each part have specific functions that help in the process of hearing.
You can see in the diagram that the outer ear which shape like a leave captures the traveling sound waves. In the outer part of our ear, there is a section called as pinna and through this section the sound waves enter into the ear canal. Through the ear canal the sound waves reach the eardrum which is located in the middle part. In addition, the middle section of the ear also has other important ear organs like hammer, anvil, stir up, semicircular, and middle canal. Through the canal, sound waves travel to the inner section of our ear. In the inner part of the ear, there are important ear parts like cochlea, Eustachian tube, and nerves. Sound waves from the canal are sent to the nerves so that the brain can process the sound.  After that we are able to recognize the sound and understand it.
Ear infection can happen in any of the three parts. Infection in the inner ear is the most serious type of ear infection. Treatment is important to treat ear infection or else it can lead to other complications, including damage or rupturing of the ear drum. Also untreated ear infection can become chronic and can even lead to deafness! It is important to consult a doctor but at the same time you can try some natural treatments also. There are many time-honored simple and easy home remedies for ear infection that can help to get rid of the pain and other symptoms of ear infection.

Here are top 10 home remedies for Ear Infection.

1. Warm Water Bottle

   As soon as you suffer from an ear infection, apply some heat on the affected ear. This will help to get quick relief from the pain and will also prevent from getting microorganism infestation. Take a warm water bottle or warm bag of salt and press it against the ear. You can also use a heating pad. Another option is to get a dry and warm wash cloth and dip it into lukewarm water, remove the excess water and then place the washcloth against the infected ear. You must not apply heat on the ear for a very longer time period. Do it for five minutes, take some rest and then repeat the process again.

2. Tea Tree Oil

   Tea tree oil is also very effective in dealing with ear infection. The mild anti-bacterial properties present in tea tree oil can give instant relief from earache. For treating ear infection mix together three drops of tea tree oil with two tablespoons of olive oil, a teaspoon of colloidal silver and a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. Warm the mixture slightly and then lie down on your side with your head on a towel. Now with the help of a dropper fill your ear with this mixture and after five minutes lie down on your other side and allow the mixture to drain out of your ear completely. Follow this remedy two to three times in a day for two days.

3. Garlic

   Garlic has antimicrobial properties and natural pain-relieving qualities and so it is highly effective in the treatment of ear infection. Get some fresh garlic juice and with the help of an ear dropper put them in the infected ear two to three times of day. You can also use garlic oil instead of fresh garlic juice. Another option is to boil two or three fresh garlic cloves in water for five minutes, take them out and crush them and add some salt. Put the mixture in a piece of clean cloth and place it against the affected area. This will give you relief from earache. You must also consume two to three cloves of raw garlic daily to speed up the healing process.

4. Mango Leaf Juice

   Mango leaf extract can also be used to treat ear infection in a quick and effective manner. Take two to three soft and tender mango leaves and then crush or grind them to take out the juice. Slightly warm this juice and then with the help of an ear dropper put three to four drops of this juice into the infected ear. Within a few minutes you will get relief from the pain. Follow this remedy two to three times a day to completely get relief from ear infection.

5. Salt

   Take one cup of salt and heat it in a microwave for about three to five minutes. Make sure the salt is hot. Now put the hot salt inside a thick sock. Close the opening of the sock with the rubber band. Now lie down and put the sock under the affected ear for five to ten minutes. The heat generated from the sock will help to draw out the fluid from the ear and give you relief from the swelling and pain. Instead of salt, you can also use one cup of rice. Repeat this remedy as many times as needed daily to get relief from earache.

6. Onion

   Onion is a very common ingredient used in kitchen. Now you can use onion to treat ear infection. Take one small sized onion and chop it and put it in the microwave for one to two minutes. Allow it to cool and then take out the onion juice. Now with the help an ear dropper put two to three drops of onion juice in the infected ear and after sometime drain out the juice. Another option is to bake an onion for half an hour, cut it into half and put it in a thick cotton cloth. Now place the cloth on top of the infected ear for five minutes. Repeat it again after ten minutes.

7. Apple Cider Vinegar

   To get rid of the fungus which causes the ear infection, you can always rely on apple cider vinegar. Take one part of apple cider vinegar and mix it with equal amount of water or alcohol. Soak a cotton ball in this solution. Now, plug your ear with the cotton ball for about five minutes. After that lie down on opposite side to drain out the ear and with the help a hair dryer make your ear dry as much as possible. In case apple cider vinegar is not available, then you can use white vinegar also. If the cause of ear infection is affected Eustachian tubes, then gargling with apple cider vinegar can also help a lot.

8. Basil

   You can also use holy basil to treat minor earache and ear infection. Take four to five fresh holy basil leaves and crush them gently to extract the juice. Now apply the basil juice on or around the infected ear. It is advisable not to put the oil in the ear canal. This remedy will relieve ear pain and reduce infection. Another option is mix a few drops of holy basil oil with equal amount of carrier oil like coconut oil. Soak a cotton ball in this mixture and gently wipe just inside the ear, around the outer edge and behind the ear. Repeat the process twice daily.

9. Olive Oil

   One of the main causes of an ear infection is that the wax present in the ear catches some fungal or bacterial undesired growth leading to blockage in the Eustachian tubes. Well, you can easily clear the obstruction in the Eustachian tubes with the help of olive oil. Take olive oil and slightly warm it. Now put a few drops of this warm olive oil into the infected ear. This will allow the wax to soften and you can easy remove the infected wax with the help of an ear bud. Instead of olive oil you can also use mustard oil for curing ear infection.

10. Breast Milk

    Breast milk has natural antibodies that can help to speed up the healing process of any kind of ear infection. So, when suffering from ear infection, breast milk can also be used. With the help of a dropper put a few drops of breast milk into the affected ear. Repeat the process every few hours as necessary. This will alleviate swelling and discomfort and give you relief from ear infection. You can get rid of ear infection within one or two days. This remedy works for both children and adults. Also breast milk can be used to treat eye infection, regular cuts and minor burns.

Read More

Nature's remedies For Diarrhea

When stools are loose and watery in nature and without consistency, the problem is defined as diarrhea. It is an effective way for the body to get rid of any undesirable substance that may have entered the body. When a person suffers from diarrhea he or she can also experience symptoms such as frequent bowel movement, vomiting, stomach pain, thirst, fever, nausea, loss of appetite and dehydration. Some of the common causes of diarrhea are stress or anxiety, some kind of infection caused by virus or bacteria, consumption of infected food or water, food allergy, excessive intake of alcohol, side effect from some medicines and so on.

See the above diagram of the human gastrointestinal tract to understand diarrhea in a better manner. Diarrhea happens when more fluid passes through the large intestine (colon) than that organ can absorb. In normal condition, the colon can absorb several times more fluid than is required on a daily basis. Generally diarrhea is caused by bacteria, parasites, or viruses that enter the intestine through food or water and attacks the lining of the digestive system and damages it. This makes the intestines unable to absorb fluid from the contents of the bowel and the bowel move through the digestive system too quickly. Diarrhea can be acute, which lasts one or two weeks, and chronic, which continues for longer than two to three weeks.
Be it acute or chronic diarrhea, it is often regarded as an unpleasant condition and can hugely affect your day to day life activities. But there is nothing to worry about. To get rid of the symptoms associated with diarrhea you can try some easy and simple home cures. For diarrhea home cures you need some common household ingredients and you even do not have to worry about side effects.
Here are top 10 home remedies for Diarrhea.

1. Water

   Staying hydrated is one of the most important things that you need to focus on while suffering from diarrhea. This is mainly because your body loses liquids and electrolytes which can cause dehydration. You can solve the problem easily by drinking plenty of fluids. The best option here is to drink eight to twelve glasses of water daily. For better result add half teaspoon of salt and four teaspoons of sugar into one liter of water and then drink it from time to time. At the same time you can also drink green tea, fruit juices, vegetable juices and even sports drink. Also you must stay away from caffeine and alcohol.
   

2. Brown Rice

   You can also consume brown rice to control the symptoms of diarrhea. The high amount of starch and B vitamins present in brown rice can help a lot to reduce the amount of fluid lost, restore intestinal flora and make the stool less watery. This in turn will help to fasten up the healing process. Take half a cup of brown rice and boil it in three cups of water for about forty five minutes. Once done, you can eat the rice by adding little salt to it and then drink plenty of the water. For the treatment of diarrhea it is highly recommended to use brown rice instead of white rice.
   

3. Yogurt

   Eating yogurt that contains ‘live cultures’ is another effective way to deal with the symptoms associated with diarrhea. ‘Live cultures’ are friendly bacteria that provide a layer of protection in the intestines and help to generate lactic acid to flush out bacterial toxins from within the body. You can eat yogurt as it is or make a smoothie and then have it. You can eat yogurt several times a day. However, health experts say that you should not begin to eat yogurt until the stomach calms down, as consumption of dairy products too early can worsen your condition.
   

4. Bananas

   Banana can also be consumed to solve the problem of watery stool. Pectin present in banana is a kind of soluble fiber that helps to absorb liquid in the intestines and thus solve the problem of watery stool. At the same time the high level of potassium present in banana helps to replace electrolytes that may be lost while suffering from diarrhea. Take one mashed ripe banana and add one teaspoon of tamarind pulp and a pinch of salt to it and mix it properly. Have this mixture twice daily to settle an upset digestive system. At the same time it is always a good idea to have one or two ripe banana for breakfast.
   

5. Potato

   Potato is another starchy food that can be used in the treatment of diarrhea. You must frequently consume plain boiled potatoes as it will help to restore the lost nutrients and comfort your upset stomach. Another option is to cook white rice and potatoes together in plenty of water until it has a thick consistency. Then consume it by adding little salt to it. You can have this simple dish for lunch or dinner. When suffering from diarrhea, do not make the mistake of eating French fries or fried and spicy potatoes as it will worsen your condition.
   

6. Orange Peel Tea

   Orange peel tea is another home remedy that can help to control the symptoms associated with diarrhea. For making a cup of orange peel tea, you need to first wash the orange properly to remove any pesticide content and then remove the peel and gently chop it. Put the chopped orange peel in half cup of boiling water and allow it to steep for some time. Once cooled, add some honey or sugar to sweeten it and then have it. This tea will help in the digestion process. You can drink this tea two to three times a day.
   

7. Chamomile

   Chamomile is often used in the treatment of various intestinal disorders including diarrhea. The antispasmodic property along with high amount of tannins present in chamomile can give huge relief from the symptoms of diarrhea. To make chamomile tea, take one teaspoon of chamomile flowers and one teaspoon of peppermint leaves and put them in a cup of boiling water. Allow it to steep for about fifteen minutes. Have this herbal tea at least three times a day to fasten up the healing process. You can also make a cup of chamomile tea from packaged tea bags.
   

8. Blueberries

   Blueberries contain an element known as anthocyanosides, which have antibacterial as well as antioxidant properties. At the same time blueberries also contain high amount of soluble fiber pectin which can help a lot in dealing with the symptoms associated with diarrhea. The best option here is to chew dried blueberries several times a day. This will help to kill the germ causing diarrhea. Else you can make a cup of tea by boiling crushed dried blueberries in one cup of water for about ten minutes. Drink this tea several times a day. You can also make soup with dried blueberries to control your upset stomach.
   

9. Ginger

   As ginger is simply good for your digestive system, you can always use it in the treatment of diarrhea. You can use dry ginger or fresh ginger to make a cup of ginger tea. When ginger tea is consumed two to three times a day, it eases the cramps and abdominal pain that sometimes accompany diarrhea. Another option is to take equal amount of ginger juice and lemon juice and crush some pepper into it. Consume this solution at least three times a day to get rid of diarrhea quickly. You can also take ginger in capsule form or try foods such as gingersnap cookies, gingerbread, or ginger ale. Those suffering from high blood pressure should not try these remedies for diarrhea.
   

10. Fenugreek Seeds

    Due to high mucilage content present in fenugreek seeds it is also considered a useful natural cure for diarrhea. When you eat fenugreek seeds you will have bulkier stool and there will be significant improvement in the severity and discomfort of diarrhea. Take half a teaspoon of fenugreek seeds and grind it with little water. Drink this solution to get immediate result from the symptoms of diarrhea. Another option is to mix half teaspoon of powdered fenugreek seed in one glass of water and drink it immediately. It is essential to bear in mind that these remedies are not for small children suffering from acute or chronic diarrhea.
    

Read More

Nature's remedies: Maggots Better Than Antibiotic in Treating Foot Ulcers

University of Manchester researchers have discovered that maggots rid diabetic patients of an antibiotic-resistant infection called methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). You may be surprised to learn that this is not new as medical use for maggots has a very rich and long history.

Maggots: The World’s Smallest Surgeons

According to Professor Boulton, the lead author who published the results of the maggot study in the journal Diabetes Care,
“Maggots are the world’s smallest surgeons. In fact they are better than surgeons – they are much cheaper and work 24 hours a day,” Professor Boulton jokes. “They have been used since the Napoleonic Wars and in the American Civil War they found that those who survived were the ones with maggots in their wounds: they kept them clean. They remove the dead tissue and bacteria, leaving the healthy tissue to heal. Still, we were very surprised to see such a good result for MRSA. There is no reason this cannot be applied to many other areas of the body, except perhaps a large abdominal wound.”

Maggot Therapy

The medical benefits of maggots are astounding. History tells us that the use of medicinal maggots (“Maggot Debridement Therapy”) was first used during the time of Napoleon. Since scientific studies on medicinal maggot first began in the 1920s, it has been discovered that maggots help clean dirty and necrotic wounds by feeding on the dead tissue while leaving the healthy tissue unaffected. During the 1930s, thousands of surgeons used maggots to treat infected wounds such as abscesses, burns and infections.  After penicillin hit the scene, medical doctors began to steer away from maggot therapy in the 1940s.

Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

According to the Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, “The medical literature is rapidly growing with scientific evidence demonstrating the efficacy and safety of maggot therapy for a variety of problematic wounds.” Particularly, with the advent of antibiotic-resistant bacteria physicians are returning to maggots as a viable therapeutic option.
Increasing strains of bacteria are developing resistance to antibiotics that were once commonly treated with penicillin. The most pressing issue with antibiotic resistance is that bacteria are becoming resistant to most antibiotics on the market and infections by these bacteria may prove fatal. Examples include methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-TB).

3 Ways to Protect Yourself From Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

1. Minimize unnecessary antibiotics. Remember, antibiotics do not work against viruses; they are only effective in treating bacterial infections. Although your physician may prescribe them, treat antibiotics as a last-resort.
2. When you do take an antibiotic, be sure to complete the entire course of the prescription so that it can be fully effective and not breed resistance.
3. Practice good hygiene and eat a natural diet full of local, organic fruits and vegetables to support immune function.

Read More

Nature's remedies: 10 Super Foods for Strong Bones

A healthy set of bones provides structure to the body and at the same time it gives protection to the internal organs and anchors the muscles. At the same time, strong bones are required for good posture, balance and strength. To enjoy strong bones, certain key nutrients are required such as calcium, phosphorus, vitamins, beta-carotene, fiber, magnesium, proteins and minerals. There are many healthy foods that promote healthy and strong bones and reduce the chance of achy joints, inflammation, arthritis and so on.
So, if you wish to have strong bones throughout your lifetime, then it is very essential to keep a close eye on your diet plan. When you eat the right type of foods, you can definitely enjoy better bone mass and bone density at any age.
Here are top 10 super foods for Strong Bones.

1. Salmon

   Salmon is a kind of fatty fish that contains a wide range of bone-boosting nutrients such as calcium, protein, vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids. Both vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids help to increase the absorption of calcium in the body. Regular consumption of salmon helps to improve bone density and bone accumulation. At the same time salmon is also good for the heart. Salmon can be grilled, poached or baked and you can easily incorporate it into a wide variety of healthy dishes.

2. Milk

   Calcium is the most essential element for strong bones and the best source of calcium is undoubtedly milk. Along with calcium, milk also contain useful nutrients such as potassium, magnesium, riboflavin, phosphorus and Vitamins D, A and B12. All these nutrients are important for healthy bones. An adult person must consume two glasses of milk daily. When it comes to children and teenager they must consume more milk. Depending upon your preference level, you can choose skim, low-fat, or whole milk. Those who do not like the taste of milk can have it by blending it into a smoothie or sauce.

3. Cheese

   Cheese is loaded with good amount of calcium, along with Vitamins D, A, B12, potassium, magnesium, riboflavin, phosphorus and protein. All these nutrients are necessary to enjoy strong bones. Also as cheese is low in lactose, those who are lactose intolerant can also have it. When it comes to cheese there are different varieties available in the market such as cheddar, Swiss, mozzarella, goat cheese, Parmesan and cottage cheese. Regular consumption of small amount of cheese will give your body a healthy set of bones.

4. Yogurt

   Yogurt contains a good amount of calcium and experts say that one cup of yogurt daily is enough to fulfill the calcium requirement of the body. In addition to calcium, yogurt also contains a good amount of Vitamins D, A, B12, potassium, magnesium, riboflavin, phosphorus and protein. If you wish to have strong bones, avoid eating Greek yogurt varieties as they are high in protein content and generally do not contain adequate levels of vitamin D and often have less calcium as compared to traditional yogurts. Those who are health conscious can choose fat-free plain yogurt.

5. Sesame Seeds

   For healthy bone structure, you must also regularly eat sesame seeds which are available throughout the year. Sesame seeds have a nutty flavor and contain various nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and vitamin K and vitamin D. You must daily consume at least one forth cup of these crunchy seeds, in roasted or dried form. You can also sprinkle some sesame seeds on cooked vegetables, toss them into your favorite salad, and add them to stir-fry vegetables. If you do not like the taste of sesame seeds then you can also try sesame butter. Along with sesame seeds you must also include flaxseeds in your diet plan.

6. Collard Greens

   This leafy green vegetable contains a good amount of calcium along with magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin K. All these nutrients are essential to bone health. At the same time the anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, and anti-bacterial properties present in collard greens provide a variety of other health benefits also. One cup of cooked collard greens contains more than one forth of your daily calcium requirement. The best way to consume collard greens is to lightly steam them with fresh garlic and onions. You can also add this leafy green vegetable in salad and soup.

7. Spinach

   Spinach is another easily available vegetable that is high in calcium content. Along with calcium, spinach also contains a good amount of fiber, iron, potassium, magnesium and vitamin A and vitamin C. Just one cup of cooked spinach can provide one fourth of your daily calcium needs. There are different ways to cook this dark green leafy vegetable as it can be grilled, boiled, frozen, canned or eaten raw depending upon how you like to eat it. It makes a good addition to salads, sandwiches and appetizers. Along with spinach, you must also try to eat Chinese cabbage, kale, broccoli and cauliflower to enjoy better bone health.

8. White Beans

   White beans are also one of the best super foods for healthy bones. This legume contains a good amount of calcium, fat free protein, fiber and essential minerals like magnesium, phosphorus and potassium. All these nutrients are essential for bone health. Depending on the type of white beans you choose, one cup of cooked beans can provide a good amount of calcium that prompts healthy strong bones. You can include white beans in soups, salads, stews, bean spreads, casseroles, and baked vegetables. Along with white beans you must also try to eat pinto beans, navy beans and black beans.

9. Tofu

   Tofu is a kind of soy food that contains a very good amount of calcium and plant-based chemicals called isoflavones that are important to promote healthy and strong bones. Half cup of tofu contains more than 800 milligrams of calcium. So, you must regularly eat tofu and other soy-containing foods to increase your calcium intake. Also tofu is a popular choice of people who are lactose intolerant, and do not prefer to consume dairy products, or who want something delicious, nutritious, and different. Whether you get it plain or get it cooked, tofu is a healthy choice for your bones.

10. Sardines

    Another excellent source of calcium and Vitamin D is sardines. In fact, sardines contain good amount of calcium and vitamin D per serving as compared to milk and dairy products. Along with calcium, sardines also contain a good amount of omega-3 fatty acids, phosphorus and vitamin B12. As these little fish are perishable in nature, the most common way to enjoy sardines is from a can. The canned sardines can be added to pizza, salads or any mashed dish. In many places sardines are also available in fresh form and they can be easily added to salads, pastas and sauces.

Read More