Type 2 Diabetes – Does A Keto Diet Help Lower Blood Sugar Levels?

Is a ketogenic diet safe for people who have received a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes? The food recommended for people with high blood sugar encourages weight loss: a ketogenic diet has high amounts of fat and is low in carbs, so it is mystifying how such a high-fat diet is an option for alleviating high blood sugar.

The ketogenic diet underlines a low intake of carbohydrates and increased consumption of fat and protein. The body then breaks down fat by a process called “ketosis,” and produces a source of fuel called ketones. Usually, the diet improves blood sugar levels while decreasing the body’s need for insulin. The diet initially was developed for epilepsy treatment, but the kinds of food and the eating pattern it highlights, are being studied for the benefit of those with Type 2 diabetes.

The ketogenic diet contains foods such as… Continue reading “Type 2 Diabetes – Does A Keto Diet Help Lower Blood Sugar Levels?”

Gluten Free Diet Should Be Considered For Everyone With Neurological And Psychiatric Symptoms

Brain dysfunction may be the only or the main sign of gluten related disease. Dr. Mario Hadjivassiliou recently reported at the International Celiac Symposium that his neurology clinic has followed over 300 patients with gluten sensitivity presenting with various symptoms. In his clinic the most common gluten related neurological disorder is ataxia, a condition of impaired balance, present in almost half. However peripheral neuropathy, myopathy, headaches, and seizures are also neurological manifestations of gluten related brain disorders.

Gluten ataxia, the most common cause of previously unexplained ataxia, is associated with gut disease in only about a third. Usually there is an absence of the specific antibodies in the blood diagnostic for celiac disease but elevated gliadin antibodies. Brain tissue examined after brain biopsies or an autopsy has been found to contain deposits of gliadin and/or tissue transglutaminase in the absence of antibodies in the blood.

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What Vegans Should Know About B12

Symptoms of B12 Deficiency

Clinical deficiency can cause anemia or nervous system damage. Most vegans consume enough B12 to avoid clinical deficiency. Two subgroups of vegans are at particular risk of B12 deficiency: long-term vegans who avoid common fortified foods (such as raw food vegans or macrobiotic vegans) and breastfed infants of vegan mothers whose own intake of B12 is low.

In adults typical deficiency symptoms include loss of energy, tingling, numbness, reduced sensitivity to pain or pressure, blurred vision, abnormal gait, sore tongue, poor memory, confusion, hallucinations and personality changes. Often these symptoms develop gradually over several months to a year before being recognized as being due to B12 deficiency and they are usually reversible on administration of B12. There is however no entirely consistent and reliable set of symptoms and there are cases of permanent damage in adults from B12 deficiency. If you suspect a problem then get a skilled diagnosis from a medical practitioner as each of these symptoms can also be caused by problems other than B12 deficiency. Continue reading “What Vegans Should Know About B12”

Information on Gluten-Free Cake Recipes: What You Should Know About the Gluten Free Diet

Remember the time when you first discovered you have celiac disease? Remember how you scrambled at the food types that are good as well as bad for you? Looking for gluten free cake recipes can be frustrating. It is no laughing matter that such cake recipes were practically non-existent a few years ago. Even now, just take a look the ingredients on the grocery shelves. It is still hard to look for some gluten-free products, much more if you are looking for ingredients for your gluten-free cake recipes. Admit it, gluten-free cake mixes are hard to find. So it is better to have your own gluten-free cake recipe on hand, right?

Not that you are looking for the best gluten free cake, a simple chocolate cake would do without the pain.

Let’s begin with some Gluten Diet 101 Continue reading “Information on Gluten-Free Cake Recipes: What You Should Know About the Gluten Free Diet”

Feeling Bloated After Eating That Bagel? Read This!

Are you one of the millions of people who love bagels for breakfast or bread with dinner? Let’s face it bread is one of the staples in the food chain that has sustained hungry eaters for centuries.

Why then is there so much talk about the adverse affects of consuming gluten? Bread is supposed to be good for you, right? This may be true for most people but not for others who experience symptoms such as bloating and diarrhea. Some of my patients even complain of fatigue, weight loss, and perhaps muscle and joint pain. When I delve further into their eating habits to determine the cause of their problem, nine times out of ten I find their symptoms tied to gluten sensitivity.

What is gluten sensitivity and how do you know if you have it? If you are asking yourself this question, you are not alone. Let me explain.

“Gluten” is a family of proteins found in wheat along with oats, rye, and barley. Gluten sensitivity is caused by an immune reaction to the gluten. A simple blood test can determine whether you have specific antibodies to gluten. An inherited form of gluten sensitivity is called Celiac Disease and can affect 1 out of 133 people. Celiac Disease is often diagnosed by a biopsy of the small intestine that may reveal physical damage. Other forms of gluten sensitivity or allergy can develop as people grow older. Continue reading “Feeling Bloated After Eating That Bagel? Read This!”

A Healthy Flat Belly Diet

Belly fat is often viewed as a reflection of bad eating habits and no exercise. However, there is always the hope that you could reverse the fat by following a healthy flat belly diet. The most important part of a fat belly diet, is to reduce the intake of foods that contribute to the storing of fat, but most of all to avoid food sources that would generate excess fat.

There are a number of different types of flat belly diets available. All you need to do is make the choice for the diet you find most suited and enjoyable.

Some of the Foods You need to Include in your Flat Belly Diet

Fiber: A great way of getting the best out of fiber is to include two, especially at breakfast time. This is a sure way of getting you to be regular and stay that way. Bloating is one way of making your belly appear fat, hence, the fiber will take care of that. All Bran is the best for this purpose. Continue reading “A Healthy Flat Belly Diet”

Five Healthy Foods to Improve Nutrition After Weight Loss Surgery

Patients who lose weight with bariatric surgery generally set their sights on living a healthier life using weight loss surgery as a tool for weight loss and healthy weight management. Many patients are concerned they may suffer nutritional deficiencies as a result of the malabsorptive surgery such as gastric bypass because the surgery restricts the absorption of nutrients from food. Patients are prescribed dietary supplements to ensure their nutritional needs are met.

However, a mindful patient will also include healthy nutritional foods in every meal to increase their odds for nutrient absorption. Here are five powerful natural foods, that when included in the healthy post-weight loss surgery diet, may increase the nutritional absorption and overall health of the bariatric patient: Continue reading “Five Healthy Foods to Improve Nutrition After Weight Loss Surgery”

7 Essential Foods To Prevent Hair Loss

Like any other part of the body, you need to remember that even your hair needs to get the type of nourishment that it deserves to grow long and strong. When hair is healthy and nourished, it will be able to grow, but when hair is undernourished, it will be prone to breakage and hair loss can become quite the problem, if not handled well within time. However, there are certain food categories that are like a potent serum for your hair and can stop hair loss, or at the least reduce the same, easily.Here are the 7 essential foods that can help prevent hair loss: Continue reading “7 Essential Foods To Prevent Hair Loss”

Salads: A Great Addition To Any Meal

Salad: A Bowl of Health and Happiness

Salads today are full of flavor, not a bowl of wilted lettuce, over ripe tomatoes and little else. Salads today are full color, appetizing, full of fresh fruits and vegetables. They are appropriate for all occasions. You can create a salad for a family dinner, a light lunch or a dinner party. Salad can actually be your main course. The creation of salads is limitless. If you can dream it, you can create it.

Salads today can be prepared any time of year. They can be as simple or as complex as you like. Salads can be the main course by adding meat, seafood or poultry along with your greens, vegetables, nuts, fruit and cheese. Salads will fit very easily into you meal plans. As you get into the habit of adding Salads to your menu planning you will discover you are searching for the ingredients to the next type of salad you desire to place on your table. Continue reading “Salads: A Great Addition To Any Meal”

10 Protein-Rich Foods for Vegetarians to Include in Their Diets

If you’re a vegetarian looking for suggestions on how to include proteins in your diet, you must often meet disbelieving stares and standard replies such as, “Why don’t you just start having eggs”? A bunch of vegetarian foods come in with high quantities of protein to help you lead a healthy lifestyle without having to look over the egg counter for assistance.

Here are 10 protein-rich foods for you that can help in building muscle strength, promoting satiety and enabling weight loss

Seitan

Made from gluten, Seitan is a well-known protein source for vegetarians and vegans alike. It is also known as wheat meat or wheat gluten as it matches the texture and consistency of meat when cooked. Every 100 gms serving of Seitan contains 25 gms of protein. It also contains selenium and small quantities of iron, calcium, and phosphorus as well. You can pan-fry, sauté, or grill it to incorporate it in a recipe of your choice. However, if you are sensitive to gluten, or are suffering from celiac disease, you should avoid Seitan.

Greek Yoghurt

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