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Benefits of Water for Health

Friday, January 8th, 2010

benefits of water for healthDrinking two liters of water a day good for our health and beauty – natural and Drug medicine Todos’ve ever heard the phrase: “At least we should consume two liters of water a day” and while all consume and bring water to our body through other liquids such as soda, beer, wine or tea, we must be aware that consuming two liters of water a day is necessary to maintain balance in our diet. Drinking water is essential for hydration and prevention of many diseases such as fluid retention, hypertension and kidney stones, among others. In addition, consumption of two liters of water a day becomes essential for pregnant women and elderly, and the best medicine for those times when you suffer from infectious diseases, vomiting, diarrhea, burns, bleeding or fever.

Our body consists mainly of water, reaching a rate of 60 percent. Without water, the human body rapidly deteriorates, a process called dehydration which can cause death if we do not drink water. Also, if we do not properly moisturize the body deteriorates both inside and out, that is, our physical appearance is affected. The water thus improving both our health and appearance of the hair, skin, nails and eyes.

Benefits of water

The water, besides being necessary to hydrate the body, also helps eliminate toxins from the body, preventing urinary infections and kidney stones. Its use is particularly indicated in hypertensive persons with high blood pressure, as it facilitates the removal of the sodium we eat, usually in the form of salt. Also, it may seem incongruous, to facilitate the removal of sodium also prevents water retention.

It has been demonstrated that slows the aging skin and wrinkles as it helps the skin is smooth and firm muscle tissue and elastic for longer. By contrast, when the skin does not have adequate water level is more vulnerable to the appearance of lines and wrinkles due to dehydration. (more…)

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Nutrition and bone health throughout life

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

nutrition and bone health throughout lifeThe development and bone growth is a process that takes place from the womb to the last days of life of the individual. A lifetime for the bone can be enhanced or, conversely, to not reach their optimal development and will gradually weaken.

1. The diet is key throughout life

In this complex process, bone tissue has an array of nutritional requirements that will need to cover food through the individual ingest.

From this point of view, pharmacology or supplementation are unimportant because, if necessary, it will be only for short periods of time and of course, can never replace what food should be provided from birth of the individual or even before that.

It is known that properly organize food from early childhood brings great benefits in terms of health, including bone and quality of life. It is therefore necessary to always emphasize the importance of nutrition education.

2. Pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy. It is a stage of life where it is recommended to increase the intake of calcium.
During pregnancy and lactation produced a series of physiological and environmental constraints make it necessary to bring food contributions and lifestyles of this special impact on mother and child.

The change in the nutritional needs and, in particular, changes in phospho-calcium balance was largely due to hormonal changes that serve as substrate for all the processes of synthesis and maternal-fetal adaptation that develop along pregnancy, fetal maturation and during lactation to feed the child, always with the priority needs of the fetus or infant.

As a result of the changes that take place before fetal skeletal mineralization is favored progressive retention of calcium to meet the increasingly growing demand for fetal skeletal mineralization. (more…)

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Food for Bones

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

food for bonesWhile everyone seems to know that it is necessary, very few people consume minimal amounts of calcium, hence, bone diseases are so common.

Statistics show that in Argentina between 40 and 50 per cent of teenagers of both sexes, and between 30 and 40 percent of those over 25 years consume less than 50 percent of the recommended calcium dose for age.

This calcium deficiency and its persistence throughout life, warning about a widespread nutritional problem, it is one of the agents responsible for the high incidence of osteoporosis in adulthood, and the frequency of fractures, says Dr. Maria Luz de Portela, Professor, Chair of Nutrition Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, UBA.

The recommended calcium intake for adults is 1000 milligrams a day. However, according to figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INDEC) on the availability of foods that provide calcium in Argentina is less than 75 percent of the recommended per capita.

Nutritional studies showed that Argentines observe a high protein, low consumption of milk, and low fruit and vegetable. All this results in an inadequate intake of calcium and vitamin A. However, in comparison with previous work, in the last twenty years there was a gradual increase in calcium intake, a trend that manifested itself in increased sales of milk in the 90s, researchers say. (more…)

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Fibrous Dysplasia

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

fibrous-dysplasiaWhat is fibrous dysplasia?

Fibrous dysplasia is a chronic disorder in which bone expands due to abnormal development of fibrous tissue, often resulting in one or more of the following symptoms:
* Uneven growth of bones.
* Pain.
* Brittle bones.
* Deformity of the bones.

It can affect any bone. It is possible that several bones are affected at once, and when that happens, it’s not unusual that everyone is on the same side of the body. However, fibrous dysplasia does not spread from one bone to another. The bones most commonly affected include:
* The femur (thigh bone).
* The tibia (shin bone).
* The ribs.
* The skull.
* The facial bones.
* The humerus (the bone of the upper arm).
* The pelvis.
* The vertebrae of the spine (less frequently).

Some people develop hormonal problems and a condition called McCune-Albright syndrome. This syndrome, another form of fibrous dysplasia, includes different symptoms, such as early onset of puberty and skin spots called cafe au lait spots.

Fibrous dysplasia usually occurs in children ages 3 to 15, but sometimes not diagnosed until adulthood. It is found equally among men and women. (more…)

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Osteoporosis: prevention of long-term

Monday, January 4th, 2010

osteoporosisWith increasing life expectancy, osteoporosis will become a condition becoming more common. It’s a good reason to implement a number of simple preventive measures, since childhood.

The bone tissue is constantly renewed. Its mass increases until the end of adolescence, usually remains stable until the fifties, then declined steadily, especially in postmenopausal women. More on bones is important at the time of menopause and the subsequent risk of complications of osteoporosis is low. This means that the prevention of osteoporosis should be in reality throughout life, to preserve bone stock.

Prevent from childhood to old bones

Osteoporosis: the prevention during childhood and adolescence is important to ensure an adequate intake of calcium (1.2 g/d) milk and dairy products. This is the age that the sport is most beneficial, provided it is practiced in a reasonable manner. Indeed, among the daughters of intensive training can cause amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) and estrogen deficiency, source of bone loss. Anorexia nervosa, involving food deficiency and amenorrhea, is responsible for brittle bone development. Until menopause, prolonged periods of amenorrhea, signs of estrogen deficiency should be avoided.

As adults, we must be careful to maintain proper calcium intake (1 g/d), avoid smoking and limit alcohol consumption. Indeed, tobacco and alcohol act directly on cells that form bone and smoking is associated with earlier menopause. Also watch your diet, because salt increases the elimination of calcium.
Keeping your muscles against resistance

Exercise is an essential factor in prevention throughout life. The muscles in contracting, pulling on the bone ends, which stimulates the bone to strengthen it. All exercises are not equivalent. (more…)

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Child Nutrition: Tips for children…

Saturday, January 2nd, 2010

nutritionTo develop their optimum potential, it is vital to provide children a balanced diet. Diet and exercise adopted during childhood and adolescence can mean the difference between health and disease risk later in life. Different age groups also have special dietary needs. Top ten tips for children and adolescents:

1. Eat for pleasure
Try eating different foods every day. Share meals with family and friends.

2. The breakfast is a very important meal
Your body needs energy after a long night of fasting. The breakfast is vital. Foods rich in carbohydrates such as bread, breakfast cereals and fruit, are the first and the right choices. Skip meals, especially breakfast, can lead to a loss of control hunger, often resulting in a “gluttony” negligent. Skipping breakfast also decreases the concentration at school.

3. Eat varied
Different foods each day is a recipe for health. You constantly need 40 different vitamins and minerals for good health and no food can provide all. There is no “good” or “bad” food, so do not be fixated only on the foods you love. Just make sure to eat balanced and varied. Balance your choices over time!

4. Base your diet on carbohydrates
These foods provide energy, fiber, vitamins and minerals. Foods rich in carbohydrates include pasta, bread, breakfast cereals, legumes, fruits and vegetables. Try to include foods from this family at each meal, for more than 50% of daily calories should come from carbohydrates.

5. Eat fruits and vegetables at every meal
Throw yourself on fruits and vegetables, as well as meals for snacks. These foods are packed with vitamins, minerals and fiber. You must have at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. (more…)

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Phosphorus

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

phosphorusIts name comes from phosphoros Greek and means “light bearer” when it glows in the dark and burns when combined with oxygen from the atmosphere.

This mineral belongs to the macro (those that the body requires greater quantity) and is about 1 to 1.5% of the total weight of a person. The major portion of this element (approximately 85%) works with calcium in building bones and teeth, while the remainder is distributed throughout the human body, performing many different functions.

Thus, it is noteworthy that this is one of the core members of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ie, the molecule that are encoded in our individual qualities and is essential in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), made the body uses to store energy. Also part of all cell membranes, mainly in neural tissues (some people call it “brain food”) and allows for proper utilization of carbohydrates and fats.

To make matters worse, phosphorus is also involved in milk secretion, cellular regeneration, kidney function, muscle contraction, blood chemistry balance, growth during childhood and adolescence, maintaining the regularity of the heartbeat and conduction of nerve impulses.

It is worth mentioning that this mineral is also used and valued by other forms of life on earth. For example, to the plant kingdom is essential in the process of photosynthesis, which involves the transformation of nutrients and sunlight into complex molecules that store energy, while for the animal kingdom is essential in harnessing and developing food movement skills and attention. (more…)

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Can you take too much calcium?

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

calciumDid you know that the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) varies by country? For example, in America, the RDA for adults is 1200mg of elemental calcium per day while it is only 800mg per day in Europe and several Asian countries. If, as we claimed Canada’s Food Guide, this contribution is made according to the most rigorous science, then how is it that varies from one country to another? Scientific data, however, cross the borders! The most curious in all this is that osteoporosis is more common where the RDA for calcium is lower … Moreover, researchers have shown in young women, a higher intake to 800mg of calcium daily did not provide any additional benefit on bone development.

Several authors argue that in America, the RDA for calcium was increased due to significant political pressure lobbies milk (such as the Dairy Farmers of Canada). Thus, it is now, for all practical purposes, impossible to achieve the recommended intake without consuming milk and its derivatives.

A maximum absorption

The concept of maximum absorption, yet very important, is too often overlooked when it comes to calcium. The maximum absorption is the maximum that can be absorbed by the intestine. When the intake is too high, the intestine can not absorb the surplus beyond this limit. This concept is well accepted when it comes to vitamin C, magnesium or glucosamine. Indeed, Health Canada issued a dose limit for vitamin C 2000mg per day. This limit is based on the maximum absorption is 1000mg per dose (2 doses per day = 2000mg). In fact, if you take more than 1000mg of vitamin C per dose, you run the risk of having loose stools. When the dose exceeds the absorptive capacity of the intestine, the amount of vitamin C remains unabsorbed in the intestine and can cause loose stools. However, establishing a dose limit by Health Canada seems to imply that to exceed this dose of 2000mg per day is dangerous, what is wrong. (more…)

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Lowers cholesterol levels and reduces heart disease risk

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

fiberAccording to the World Health Organization, about 17 million people die from cardiovascular disease. Mexico is estimated that approximately 71 people die per 100,000 population due to heart disease.

A balanced diet and regular exercise are important steps to heart health. Additionally, research shows that people with healthy hearts eat more whole grains as part of a diet low in fat and a healthy lifestyle.

Traditionally it was thought the cereal was healthy to be a rich source of fiber, but is now known as only one component of the grain, fiber alone does not offer all the benefits that whole grains can lead to health. The advantage of the comprehensive cereal fiber, with the first, you get more than just fiber.

The whole grain consists of three elements forming the grain: the bran, endosperm and germ. Whole grain consumption protects the body against many diseases including those of the heart as it contains: antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, complex carbohydrates, and phytonutrients.

Recent studies have shown that increased consumption of whole grain could have enormous public health benefits by reducing the incidence of heart disease. (more…)

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Bone Health Exercise and Nutrition

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

bone healthHave been tested that exercise at an early age by promoting games and sports from kindergarten, gives effects on bone mineral density are more stable and higher than in subjects who were not stimulated early.

The normal daily physical activity, not subject to specific programs is insufficient stimulus to improve bone mass. Definitely overload exercises allow significant improvements in both sexes and any age on BMD

Excessive physical activity and often highly competitive sport beyond the tolerances of bone stimulation causing negative effects on both physiology and structure of bone.

The effects of exercise on bone tissue are possible only when a food base is established. The effects of recommended intakes of calcium are enhanced by the addition of exercise. This effect is most evident in aged subjects and in women in perimenopausal period.

INTRODUCTION

Osteoporosis is a systemic disease characterized by low bone mass and architecture poor, both increase bone fragility leaving it susceptible to fracture.

One in three postmenopausal women in particular have advanced osteopenia francs osteporosis values. Interestingly, this decline in BMD was significantly correlated with levels of sarcopenia, ie loss of muscle tissue, which characterizes the sedentary elderly. This correlation is less significant in men and women of the same age but who remain physically active. Per year in Europe is recorded about 650,000 hip fractures, which cause a 20% mortality and 50% partial or complete disability.

Other variables or factors that may affect bone metabolism, bone would be the use of psychoactive drugs, loss of muscle strength. In rlacion to fractures, loss of stability and balance, and lost some senses like hearing and sight, predispose to falls and fractures.

In this article we will discuss the relationship between exercise and bone and try to give some idea about the intensity of exercise for optimizing exercise and diet for bone health. (1) (more…)

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