Friday, June 26, 2009
Adequate Water In Your Diet.
It ranks high in offering true refreshment for the thirsty and plays a vital role in all bodily processes and general mechanisms. It is a universal medium in which various chemical changes of the body occur. It is important to balance the amount of water going into the body with the amount of water being lost by the body.
Water contains some amounts of minerals that are vital for life, such as sodium, potassium, calcium, copper and magnesium. These minerals must be in appropriate concentration to prevent them from being deleterious to the body. Minerals such as calcium are essential to bone formation and blood clotting, while magnesium is needed to produce energy and conduct nerve impulses.
The functions of water in the body cannot be over emphasized. Water Controls body temperature, Removes wastes, regulate the fluid balance, aids digestion, absorption, circulation, lubrication of body joints and the delicate balance of minerals. It also helps cushion joints.
Water in the body fluids helps in blood formation from the marrow. As a major component of blood, it helps to deliver nutrients to body cells and removes waste to the kidneys and the skin for excretion. Over 98% of the body enzymes essential to digestion are also primarily water, working to break down food particles so that nutrients can be absorbed into the intestine.
Some of the ways we lose water is through sweating, breathing, urinating, bowel movements and the extreme, through vomiting and diarrhea.
Water dehydration due diarrhea or vomiting could be dangerous and can be fatal in children. Dehydration could be mild or severe. Some of the problems caused by mild dehydration, are heartburn, constipation, kidney stones, and even kidney failure. Severe dehydration can cause your body to shut down and go into shock. So make sure you know the early warning signs of dehydration, so you can take action to protect your health. At all cost prevent dehydration
Drinking fluids in comfortable amounts, and paying special attention to fluids intake during warm weather and times of physical exertion or illness is very important. When you work hard or work out, also remember to monitor your own signs and symptoms of dehydration. Paying attention to your body can help you promptly determine whether you need to up your intake of water or supplement your diet with more foods with high water content.
The best treatment for dehydration is prevention. Exercising or working in a hot, dry environment can easily cause dehydration. Take water with you, and watch out for early signs of dehydration. To recover from and treat mild dehydration, slowly drink water or pure fruit juice until you no longer feel thirsty. The practice of salt-sugar water solution also proved to help.
Drinking several glasses of water a day will keep the body healthy. Even during meals, water is an important part of healthy diet. Raw water intake should not be substituted to water provided from beverages.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
How To Protect Your Brain From Weakness
You are what you eat and that really determines the wellness of your being.
Some of the factors mentioned below are not solely limited to food or diet intake but some practices which can help prevent brain damage and deterioration.
* Good intake of water
Human brain is about 80% water, any slight reduction in the total fluid tend to cause dehydration. Loss of brain fluids will affect most of the hormones and this will cause exertions in their functions which will result to stress. It is therefore advisable to take plenty of water during the day and at night before bed. Better still make your water free of sweeteners, sugar, caffeine, or alcohol. Lemon grass tea is good for brain functionality as it contains chemicals that enhances mental relaxation and alertness.
*Availability of Breakfast
Most people develop lack of appetite for food in the morning hours due to work and general over activities. They sometimes condition the body to postpone their break fast till noon and that reconditioning of the body will resultantly affect the brain health. Lack of breakfast causes a lower blood sugar level in the brain. This results to the brain deprived of enough nutrients, that is brain starvation causing brain degeneration.
*Overeating
Eating less for many times promotes longer life. As your weight is controlled, some dieseases in the body are prevented such as heart disease, cancer, and stroke from obesity. Normal eating helps certain mechanisms in the body to increase the production of nerve growth factors, which are helpful to the brain. The hypotalamus membrane should be kept balanced otherwise, overeating will damage it's fuctionality without noticable effect on the physical health. Overeating causes hardening of the brain arteries, leading to a decrease in mental power and alertness.
*Fish Oil and Fats are good for the Brain
Components of Omega-3 fatty acids in fish makes up a large portion of the gray matter of the brain. The fat in human brain forms cell membranes and plays a vital role in how our cells function. Children should be made to eating well enough fish like Tilapia for their brain development. Neurons are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids. DHA is also found in high quantities in the retina, the light-sensitive part of the eye. Diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids may help promote a healthy emotional balance and positive mood in later years, possibly because DHA (an essential fatty acid component of the brain's development) is a main component of the brain's synapses.
*Friuts and Vegetables for the Brain
Fruits and vegetables significantly contain good amount of antioxidants which reduce the risk of developing cognitive impairment. These antioxidants prevent free radicals from damaging body cells and tissues including the brain. Vitamin E and Vitamin C and beta carotene inhibit the production of free radicals. The Best Antioxidant Fruits and Vegetables (from the US Department of Agriculture): Blueberries, Blackberries, Cranberries, Strawberries, Spinach, Raspberries, Brussels sprouts, Plums, Broccoli, Beets, Avocados, Oranges, Red grapes, Red bell peppers, Cherries and Kiwis.
*Make Balanced Diets A Routine
The idea of eating protein and fat with low carbohydrate and fibre should be discouraged. It tends to create low calory and the brain will suffer it. Foods high in refined sugars, such as the low fat diets, encourage diabetes, tiredness, and cognitive impairment. Yet, to imply that bacon is a health food and that oranges and carrots are as bad as cake is not logical. The more balanced diets we take make sense from a body and brain perspective. Too much sugar consumption interfere with protein absorption and that can greatly impair brain development.
Balancing proteins, good fats, and good carbohydrates and protein at each meal is very essential. Add lean meat, eggs, cheese, soy, or nuts to a snack or meal limits the fast absorption of carbohydrates and prevents the brain fog that goes with eating simple carbohydrates, such as donuts. At each meal or snack, try to get a balance of protein, high fiber carbohydrates, and fat.
There are certain practices that must be discontinued to maintain a healthy brain.
Over working of the brain causes stress. Working hard is good but the brain should be allowed rest and aviod studying during illness to prevent ineffectiveness of the brain because many cells could be damaged in the process.
Instead make sleeping-well a normal thing and as at when due. Over sleeping is eqaully ill for the barin. When sleeping, avoid covering the head. Much carbondioxide is produced with less oxygen for normal breathing. This equally affect brain cell damage.
Avoid smoking and air pollution. Polluted air decreases the amount of oxygen supply to the brain causing brain ineffectiveness.
Nevertheless, there are some good habits that can promote good brain formation and development. These include, good thinking. "Good Thinking, Good Product", as the saying goes. Thinking right makes a right brain. There is equally the need of intellectual conversation. "He that walks with the wise shall be wise" - The Holy Writ. It promote the effectiveness of the brain.