Vitamin E Benefits
In order for the body to function at its best and for a person to feel good a variety of vitamins and minerals are needed by way of nutrients. One of these is vitamin E which is not only good for your general wellbeing, but also great for the skin.
It’s an antioxidant which means it helps the body to fight against the free radicals produced from the pollution of our environment like smoking, the foods and chemicals we take in, and the anti-aging process in general. Vitamin E neutralises free radicals before they get the opportunity to do any damage and stops them creating havoc as far as cancer and heart disease are concerned.
Vitamin E comes in many forms. For example, you can get your daily dose from foods such as nuts, seeds, vegetable oils and wheat germ. However, if you choose not to take your vitamin E in foodstuffs the best kind of vitamin E to get your hands on is the alcohol form of alpha-tocopherol. Alternatively, you could opt to take a supplement of concentrate vitamin E to benefit the whole body or to use creams and lotions applied directly to the skin.
It goes without saying food is the best source of vitamin E. Nonetheless, care needs to be taken as many processed foods lose vitamins and minerals. For this reason it is necessary to eat as much food in its natural form in order to achieve the required levels of vitamin E and glean the most benefit. (This goes along perfectly with eating an alkaline diet, as it supports a diet of lots of natural foods, and few processed foods.)
Vitamin E is extremely important for our bodies as it is capable of incorporating itself into the cellular wall. From this position it offers the body protection from cell and body tissue breakdown. It also looks out for vitamin A while it gets on with its role in taking care of our bodies. The following aspects of health are prevented or can be treated with a regular intake of vitamin E.
* Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease
* Asthma
* Cataracts and other eye conditions
* Cancer in various forms
* Heart disease
* Menstrual cycle cramps
* Metabolic conditions such as diabetes
* Skin conditions
As a rule people tend to take vitamin E for their skin. Because it is an antioxidant it helps to minimize the aging signs such as psoriasis, age spots, wrinkles and other marks. Vitamin E assists the skin to look healthy and vibrant by maintaining the balanced moisture level which from time to time becomes unbalanced when cleaning solutions are regularly used. It is also used to reduce the appearance of scars from burns, stretch marks or surgery. It does so by softening the skin and speeding up the healing process.
Vitamin E has a major role to play as far as the health of your body goes. It is best taken in food form, so go out there and get some fresh, natural foods. Your body will love it!
Minerals: How important are they for our health?
As you get more comfortable with an acid alkaline diet, you can start to incorporate other concepts into your eating habits. One of these concepts is to ensure you are getting all the proper nutrients!
In a similar way to any other complex machine, our bodies need the right kind of fuel in order to function properly. Minerals play an essential role as far as this goes so it is important that we learn about them and how they help us to live healthy lives.
For the most part, our bodies are made up of water carrying all manner of substances throughout the vessels. This can be likened to passengers traveling along on a bus. Upon arrival at the location where they are needed, substances such as minerals, amino and fatty acids, hormones and vitamins pass through the vessel lining and take up position in the organs and cells.
So, why are minerals so important? The reason we need minerals in our bodies is all about electrolyte imbalance. Taking a general view, minerals are present in the fluid which makes up cells. Electrolytes are the minerals and mineral salts present such as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and sodium, the majority of which are actively involved in muscle, tissue and bone building.
If we do not have enough minerals in our bodies, changes begin to occur. When certain minerals are in short supply it would not be unusual to experience pain in the lower back, a poor skin texture, a brittleness of the finger and toe nails, a weakness in your hair, and maybe dental, heart and depression problems.
Let’s take a look at iron. Iron forms hemoglobin in the blood. It is the mineral which is responsible for blood being red in color and it transports oxygen to the various cells of our bodies. A low level of iron is often the reason why females feel tired during their menstrual cycle when they lose quite a lot of blood.
There are several foods we need on a daily basis which supply the necessary minerals and vitamins to the body and by eating a variety of these foods we can rest assured that our mineral and vitamin intake is as it should be. For example, iron is provided by animal products like chicken, fish and red meat, and seafood not only gives us iron but many other essentials, namely, calcium, copper, iron, potassium, phosphorus, selenium and zinc. Seeds and nuts contain selenium too.
An assortment of metabolic processes is driven by minerals working alongside enzymes. When minerals are taken into the tissues of the body they play their part in regulating everything from muscle growth to nerve function. The federal government has come up with an RDA (recommended daily allowance) of the minerals and vitamins we need to keep the body functioning in good working order.
Where else can these minerals be found? For those who don’t eat red meat and fish, the good news is that fruit and vegetables are a great source of minerals. Citrus fruits and berries are just what’s needed for the necessary intake of calcium, copper and iron just as the leafy green variety of vegetables will supply us with copper, iron, magnesium, manganese and phosphorus.
Experiencing the unwanted effects of not getting enough minerals will be a thing of the past as long as a variety of the above mentioned foods are eaten on a regular basis. And they fit very nicely with an acid alkaline balanced diet 
More about an Acid Alkaline Diet
Hi all,
Here is a broad description of how an acid alkaline diet works. I realise that IBS Eliminated talks a lot about this, but I thought this would a useful point of reference.
The body is always trying to maintain a state of balance known as homeostasis. The alkaline acid diet is designed to help you reach this balance when the internal environment has become more acidic. Anybody suffering from IBS (or actually any health problem), should implement the alkaline acid diet.
The basics
Acidity and alkalinity are measured on the pH scale. Numbers from 1 to 6 are considered acidic with 1 being the most acidic. On the other end, numbers from 8 to 14 are considered alkaline with 14 being the most alkaline. The body maintains a neutral internal environment which corresponds to a pH of 7. The stomach contains a weak hydrochloric acid but it is maintained within the organ.
Your food
Have you ever had to take a Tums for a sour stomach? The formulation in acid indigestion pills is designed to be alkaline to neutralize the overabundance of stomach acid. Each cell in the body has to operate in a neutral environment. When the environment is acidic you can become more prone to diseases like IBS (of course!), cancer, digestive distress, obesity and heart diseases.
The culprit is the diet. Fast foods, processed foods, sweets and lots of meats can contribute to an unbalanced internal environment. The foods we eat contain sugar alcohols and other substances that tend towards the acidic side when they are digested.
Proponents of the alkaline acid diet contend that if the acidic environment is counteracted with more alkaline foods, disease and other chronic conditions can be avoided. This is the basis of the diet. By testing your saliva and/or your urine, you can determine the pH within your body. Normal levels for a homeostatic environment are around pH 7 ± 0.25.
What to eat
Changing the script is the way to combat an acidic internal environment. Most of your diet will be composed of alkaline foods. One of the most alkaline types of food is vegetables. You already know that vegetables are good for your body due to their low caloric content and high fiber and water content.
Other alkaline foods are fruit and grains. Itís no coincidence that all of these foods are also good for you normally. Early settlers survived on these types of foodstuffs before processed foods came into existence.
Foods to avoid
On the other side of the pH scale are the acidic foods. These foods unbalance the delicate internal environment of your body. If you eat them, and most of us can’t do without them, eat in moderation and in combination with mostly alkaline food.
The alkaline acid diet attempts to restore the neutral pH of your body. Many foods we eat contribute to a more acidic environment which can lead to disease. Eating alkaline foods in abundance will help you return to normal.
If you don’t remember the way to combine your foods when following this system, have a listen to the audio podcast I did recently which runs through it.
To your health,
Kimberly
Olive Oil – Why is it Better?
We all know that oils are fats – and generally we try to stay away from fats – so why is olive oil recommended as part of a healthy diet? It all depends on the type of fat we are talking about.
Broadly speaking, fats can be broken down into saturated, unsaturated and trans fats. Most people have heard how saturated and trans fats such as butter, animal fats, partially hydrogenated oils, as well as tropical oils can increase your risk for various heart diseases. The reason for this is how it increases your total cholesterol, including LDL or “bad” cholesterol levels. Let’s take a look how this works.
Trans fat is the worst type you can consume. It is mostly manufactured in a process forcing hydrogen into polyunsaturated fats. This hydrogenation process creates a solid fat product, such as margarine. It also gives foods containing trans fats a longer shelf life and stabilizes flavors.
Saturated fat is an unhealthy choice as the body turns it into bad cholesterol. This type of fat clogs arteries and is harmful for your heart. Saturated fat is most commonly found in animal products, such as the white fat along the edge of a piece of meat. It can also be found in the skin of poultry, and hidden in whole milk, tropical oils and products made with these ingredients.
Polyunsaturated fat is moderately healthy. It can lower LDL levels, but is also known for reducing the levels of “good” cholesterol or HDL. This fat is usually liquid at room temperature. Popular variations are soybean, safflower, corn and several other vegetable oils.
Monounsaturated fat such as olive oil is by far a healthier choice. This type can lower your risk of heart disease by reducing the total and LDL cholesterol levels in your blood.
Extra-virgin olive oil is produced from the first pressing of olives. It’s light tasting and contains the most complete array of antioxidants. The second pressing of olives produces fine virgin oil. This is still a good choice; however, extra-virgin oil is primarily recommended. Look for the words “cold pressed” on the bottle of olive oil you are choosing. Remember, heat destroys antioxidants, so cold pressed is best.
Additional health benefits of olive oil are being discovered at a rapid rate. Below you will find a few of the positive reasons for switching to olive oil in your diet.
Atherosclerosis, also know as hardening of the arteries, occurs when particles of LDL cholesterol adhere themselves to the walls of the arteries. Eventually, these particles build up until they form plaque. This results in narrowing of blood vessels, as well as increasing the work load of the heart. This creates more work to get oxygenated blood to the entire body. Unfortunately, the result of this can be heart attack or stroke.
Scientists have identified a compound in olive oil called oleuropein. This compound prevents the LDL cholesterol from oxidizing, and subsequently sticking to the walls of the arteries and forming plaque. With a simple replacement of the fats in your diet with olive oil, you can significantly reduce this risk.
Anti-inflammatory properties are naturally produced by the body using the healthy fats in olive oil. Cell membranes which aren’t inflamed are more fluid, thus better able to move nutrients into the cells as it moves waste products out of the system. It has been found that lower incidences of osteoporosis as well as dementia have been noted in cases where people consume larger quantities of olive oil.
The cancer-related benefits from olive oil are still under research. However, preliminary results have shown olive oil may play its part in the fight against cancer. Many professionals believe it can lower the risk of colon, prostate and breast cancers.
For diabetes, further research is taking place as to the benefit of olive oil towards maintaining blood sugar levels. One way patients can do this is by eating a diet low in carbohydrates. However, a possible link has been found with high levels of monounsaturated fats. This could mean olive oil may be even more effective for diabetics.
When you make the decision to switch to olive oil instead of other choices, you may be surprised at the price difference. However, the benefits to your health are well worth the extra money. Olive oil is one to add to that list. Flaxseed oil is another great choice and has the added benefit of essential fatty acids.
What is the story with Low Carb/High Protein diets?
We’ve all heard about high protein diets, right? There was a time not too long ago when they were the craze among everyone. Eat delicious foods and still lose weight! Drop 10 pounds in a week! We certainly heard claims like these. So, what is the story about this type of diet?
Some of the most popular high protein/low carbohydrate diets go by the names of Atkins, Zone, Sonoma and South Beach. They all follow a similar trend, recommending 30% to 50% of the dieter’s total calories be consumed in the form of protein, while stressing removal or drastic reduction of carbohydrate consumption.
Recommendations made by the American Heart Association, the National Cholesterol Education Program, and the American Cancer Society suggest fewer calories are received from protein. This provides the body with nutrients deemed essential to building, maintenance, and repair of body tissue.
How Do These Diets Work?
By restricting carbohydrates to a fraction of what Americans typically eat, the body goes into a metabolic state called ketosis. The body burns its own fat for fuel where it would normally burn carbohydrates instead. A person in a state of ketosis receives energy from ketones, which is the fuel created by the breakdown of small carbon fragments. This leads to the breakdown of fat stores. Bodies in ketosis tend to feel less hungry, resulting in eating less than you might otherwise. However, ketosis can also cause serious health problems.
This diet results in your body changing from being a carbohydrate-burning engine into a fat-burning engine. Instead of wanting carbohydrate-rich stores, your fat stores become a primary energy source. This in turn results in weight loss, which can occur quite rapidly.
Low-carb diets like Atkins, Zone, Sonoma and South Beach suppress appetite better than traditional diets because high protein levels decrease hunger better than carbohydrates or fats. Restricting carbohydrates eliminates often-indulged foods such as bread, cereal, soft drinks, French fries and pizza.† By simply excluding carbohydrate foods, patients following low carb/high protein diets typically reduce their caloric intake by approximately 500 calories a day. Water loss accounts for a large amount of the early rapid decreases in bodyweight and uses up carbohydrate stores in your muscles and liver.
Unfortunately, high-protein diets can cause a number of health problems. These include, but aren’t limited to:
1 – Kidney failure. Protein-rich diets put added strain on the kidneys, which makes them susceptible to kidney disease.
2 – High cholesterol. Diets high in protein are directly linked to high cholesterol. Studies have linked high cholesterol levels to an elevated risk of developing heart disease, stroke and cancer.
3 – Osteoporosis and kidney stones. High protein diets can cause people to eliminate more calcium than normal through their urine. Over extended periods of time, this can increase a person’s risk of osteoporosis and kidney stones.
4 – Cancer. Foods containing carbohydrates also contain vitamins, minerals, fiber as well as antioxidants. By avoiding carbs, you are depriving your body of these essential elements. It’s very important to obtain protein from a variety of foods. Eating whole grains as well as fruits and vegetables will ensure your need for protein is met, but will also help reduce your risk of developing cancer.
5 – Unhealthy metabolic state (ketosis). Low carb diets can cause ketosis, where your body burns fat instead of glucose for energy. This could result in potential organ failure or other problems such as gout, kidney stones, or kidney failure. Ketones can dull a person’s appetite, and cause nausea and bad breath. Ketosis can be prevented by eating at least 100 grams of carbohydrates a day.
Before you consider doing this, be sure to talk with your doctor to determine whether such a diet is right for you. Better yet, give an alkaline/acid balanced diet a try. Don’t take any chances with your health!
