Prevention Is Worth A Pound Of Cure

It seems like everywhere you look, there’s a new pill or medicine that will ‘instantly cure’ your sickness, disease or health issue.   

And while taking a pill to cure what ails you might be convenient and simple, maybe it’s really time to sit down and take a good, long look at what you’re feeding your body, or as it might be, not feeding your body.   

Are you truly giving your body the nutrients it needs to take care of itself? 

 Most of us find when we take a look at what we’ve been eating that the choices we’ve been making in the name of convenience, simplicity, or saving time have actually been detrimental to our overall health – body, mind and spirit.  
 
Our modern day diet largely consists of excessive consumption of starch, sugar, fried and fatty foods. 

As a result, diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer’s and some cancers are becoming more and more common.

Healthy foods and good nutrition can not only help keep you fit, but treat disease as well. 

You may not even have to go to a health food store. 

You can purchase them right at your grocery store, or make a trip to your local farmer’s market. 

And if you focus on basing a healthy, well-balanced diet on the 14 “Superfoods,” the detrimental effects of these diseases can be slowed, stopped or even reversed. 

And when you nourish your body physically with these nutrient-dense foods, your mental capacities increase, and your spiritual wellness is enhanced as well. 

 In addition, since your spiritual health is optimal, it will shine through to the outside, and people will notice you’re happy, calm, and that your stress levels have decreased dramatically. 

So look for ways to cut the junk out of your daily eating and replace it with members of the Superfoods group.  Your body, mind and spirit will all be healthier as a direct result.

Some Nutritional Hope For Schizophrenic Patients Explained

Schizophrenia is a difficult malady, both to diagnose and to treat. It’s defined as any of a group of psychotic disorders usually characterized by withdrawal from reality, illogical patterns of thinking, delusions, and hallucinations, and accompanied in varying degrees by other emotional, behavioral, or intellectual disturbances. 

Recent research suggests that those who suffer from schizophrenia could benefit from incorporating more B3 (niacin), essential fatty acids (EFAs) and eating more whole grain carbohydrates to help level out blood sugar levels so that bouts with hypoglycemia are lessened. 

Food sources high in niacin include light-meat chicken, tuna, salmon, turkey, enriched flour, peanuts, and fortified cereals. 

Niacin is an important player in the digestion process, and it aids in converting food into energy. 

Therefore, it also plays a role in the essential fatty acid metabolism of the brain, processes of which are disrupted in schizophrenia. 

Because these processes are disrupted in the brain, it’s imperative that essential fatty acids are a base in the diet of a schizophrenic patient.  

 Since they can’t be synthesized by the body, they must be obtained from food. Look to fish, shellfish, flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, dark green leafy vegetables and walnuts for EFAs.

 Essential fatty acids play a part in many metabolic processes, and there is evidence to suggest that low levels of essential fatty acids, or the wrong balance of types among the essential fatty acids, may be a factor in a number of illnesses, including schizophrenia.

Some schizophrenic patients also suffer from bouts of hypoglycemia, which can be greatly helped by choosing healthy, whole grain carbohydrates such as whole grain breads and pastas, as they help the body maintain a steady blood glucose level.   

Other research shows that some schizophrenic patients suffer from food allergies that greatly affect their thinking and behavior.   

For this reason, keeping a detailed food journal and paying close attention to moods and thinking patterns after eating is imperative.

Research has also shown that some schizophrenic patients suffer from high levels of copper, an essential metallic element that can adversely affect the brain in high doses.   

Vitamin B6, found in bananas, turkey and spinach, as well as zinc, found in red meats, peanuts, chickpeas and almonds, can help remove excess copper from the body. 

Foods For Getting Over Food Poisoning

Food poisoning is an all-encompassing term involving the consumption of contaminated food, stomach flu, stress, drug interactions, nutrient deficiencies or their excess.   

It can come on rather suddenly after eating; diarrhea or vomiting can begin 30 minutes to one hour after eating foods that are chemically poisonous; within one to 12 hours with bacterial poisoning, and 12 to 48 hours with viral or salmonella poisoning. 

Food poisoning can be serious and a medical professional should be contacted especially if it is accompanied by a difficulty in swallowing, speaking or breathing; if there is a fever of 100 degrees F; if the person can't even hold down liquids; if there is severe diarrhea of more than two days.

The best remedy is to curtail eating until all the symptoms have subsided and the toxins have had the chance to exit your system. 

 Drink plenty of fluids - vitamin C and blackberry and peppermint teas can be taken then to strengthen the stomach, along with yogurt that contains acidophilus to recolonize the lost flora in the bowel. 

 Diluted sweetened drinks can also be consumed to replace the body’s lost fluid and electrolytes, and the BRAT diet (bananas, apples, rice and toast) can also be helpful in getting the toxins cleared from the body.

As a precaution against food poisoning, great care should be taken when preparing foods.   Avoid over-handling foods, and when in doubt, throw it out – don’t take a risk with leftovers if you’re just not sure how long they’ve been in your refrigerator.

Mint, lemon, raspberry, chamomile or teas might also be helpful in easing the stomach pain associated with food poisoning or stomach cramping.  Ginger tea is also good for settling an unsettled stomach, and promotes good digestion. 

 Try to get plenty of rest as food poisoning can be an exhausting and nutrient-depleting chore for your body. 

  Once you’re feeling better, be sure to eat a well-balanced healthy diet that includes foods rich in iron, zinc, vitamin C to help your body get back to its old self again.

Foods That Fight Cancer

As the nation’s second most deadly disease, cancer brings with it several risk factors. 

Therefore, it’s logical that we take a good look at the foods we’re eating, and start introducing nutrient-rich foods that are known to help reduce the cancer risk.   

A diet rich in fiber, vegetables, and fruits, including juices made from 100 percent fruit juice, can make a big difference in your cancer risk. 
 

Foods rich in phytochemicals which are found in beans and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, and kale are strong choices. 

So are dark green leafy vegetables like spinach, romaine lettuce, and collard greens, which are packed with fiber, lutein, and carotenoids - all cancer-fighting substances. 

Focus on choosing foods that have abundant amounts of vitamins C, E, and A, all antioxidants themselves.

 These help protect you from cancer by preventing the growth of free radicals in your body.

Tomatoes are an awesome cancer-fighting superfood. 

Not only do tomatoes contain lycopene, the antioxidant phytochemical that also helps prevent heart disease, but they're a good source of vitamins A, C, and E, all which do battle against cancer-causing free radicals. 

  Add them to your salad or use as a topping on your homemade pizza. They’re also a great way of adding some zest to your favorite sandwich. 

Watermelon is also stuffed full of antioxidants, and includes about 80 percent of your daily vitamin C requirement. It is also a great source of vitamin A, or beta carotene. And like tomatoes, it also contains lycopene. 

Cabbage is a cruciferous vegetable, which help reduce the risk of colon and rectal cancer. 

Plus cabbage is rich in fiber and has almost 50 percent of daily requirement of vitamin C, making it a well-rounded superfood with cancer-fighting power. 

Carrots are also a wonderful source of fiber and beta carotene, and they have about three times the daily requirement of vitamin A.

Did you know that one-quarter cup of kidney beans has the same amount of fiber and protein as two ounces of red meat? 

Whole wheat pasta is also a good source of fiber, and broccoli will tip the daily scales for your daily vitamin A and C needs. 

Toss them all together with your favorite low-fat Italian dressing for a simple dinner of cancer-fighting proportions.

Strawberries and blueberries are rich in vitamin C and fiber. 

They’re quick and simple finger food, and easily be added to your favorite whole grain cereal oatmeal, or low-fat yogurt.