Friday, September 23, 2011

Worried About Heart Disease? Then Check Out These 4 Flavonoid Benefits

The flavonoids are a group of phytonutrients (plant based nutrients with health boosting properties) that can be found in fruits, nuts, vegetables and teas. Their health benefits have generated a great deal of interest in recent years with studies suggesting that they can prevent heart disease, regulate estrogen levels and more. In this article I will be taking a more detailed look at this topic and discussing 4 flavonoid benefits.

1) MAXIMISING YOUR METABOLISM:

One of the interesting flavonoid benefits is that they can increase your metabolic rate. They do this by helping your body produce the metabolism boosting hormone triiodothyronine (also known as T3) which means by consuming these plant based nutrients you can burn a greater amount of calories each day.

2) LOWERING YOUR HEART DISEASE RISK:

Heart disease is one of the largest reasons for premature deaths in the UK. The good news is that the flavonoids can keep your heart in perfect working order. They do this by directly boosting your heart health and also by preventing blockages in the blood vessels which ensures there is always a health supply of blood going to your heart.

3) REGULATING ESTROGEN LEVELS:

Estrogen is the main sex hormone in females. In women it supports the growth of sexual characteristics and the reproductive system. In men it is used in much smaller amounts to break down testosterone (the primary male sex hormone). Whilst this hormone has benefits for both genders, it can be dangerous if estrogen levels in the body become too high. High estrogen levels can lead to cancer (a disease that causes your cells to grow in a rapid, uncontrollable way), heart disease and osteoporosis (reduced bone mineral density). Fortunately, 1 of the useful flavonoid benefits is that they act as phytoestrogens (substances that control estrogen levels in the body) and minimise these harmful effects.

4) TREATING DIABETES:

Diabetes is a nasty disease which causes your blood glucose levels to become extremely high. It is caused by either your pancreas failing to produce enough insulin (the hormone that allows your cells to take glucose from the blood) or body's cells failing to respond to insulin. The good news is that the flavonoids can have a positive effect on diabetes. They do this by stimulating the production of insulin, allowing your body's cells to take glucose from the blood (in a similar way to insulin) and reducing the damage that diabetes can cause.

SUMMARY:

As you can see, the flavonoids pack a powerful punch when it comes to health. So make sure you consume these plant based nutrients. Pick up some fruits, have a handful of nuts, mix vegetables in with your meals and have regular cups of tea to fully enjoy these flavonoid benefits.

What's The Need For MS Diet?


Among the initial things many physicians will suggest for their recently-recognized multiple sclerosis patients is a change to an MS diet. There are a selection of diets that are known as being good for affected individuals affected by MS, for a selection of reasons.



In multiple sclerosis, the immune mechanism turns on one's body itself, destroying the central nervous system so that the myelin sheaths that secure nerves are diminished. This makes gradual nerve problems, which, eventhough it isn't terminal, can considerably decrease a patient's well being. There is no remedy for multiple sclerosis yet, so all sorts of MS treatment involve healing a patient's signs and symptoms, and delaying how the disease increases. If it is seen quick enough, and treatment methods are initiated immediately, then affected individuals are often able to live full, satisfied lives. If there is a lapse in identifying the issue, or a lapse in starting remedy, then the immune system can certainly still attack nerves in the meantime, resulting in a lesser prediction for the patient.

Harmful Effects of Anorexia and Bulimia

Anorexia and bulimia are type of a common eating disorder that may yield severe repercussions and also lead to mortality. These two disorders are opposite to each other as in anorexia, a person eats insufficient diet due to the obsessed fear of putting on weight. On the contrary, bulimic eats compulsively excessive and then does purging to get rid of the calories consumed through meals.

There is another sub type of eating disorder namely binge eating disorder, whereas person eats frequently and also in a huge amount regardless to the appetite or body requirement. There are tremendous malign effects of anorexia and bulimia on a long run. Hence, to curb the symptoms and disorder initially is very important for complete and fast resolution of the condition.

Effects of Anorexia and Bulimia:

These disorders are common in women or young girls as compared to the men especially anorexia, as women are preoccupied with the extra consciousness about the body shape and the figure. Following are some of the severe ill effects of these Anorexia and Bulimia diseases:

A person suffering from anorexia may find it difficult to manage the daily routine activities as the body falls short of required nutrients. Even in-patient care may be required for people who suffered malnutrition following prolonged anorexia disorder.

Anorexic person may become pale, underweight and lack energy levels

Bulimia may also be risky for life of a person due to the discrepancy in the massive eating and then excessive exercise. Maintain the balance between the food intake and work out is important for a normal person to live a healthy life. However, a bulimic person is not able to strike the balance and may indulge in overeating and then over exercising that can risk life.

Depression, lack of self-esteem and other mental health related problems are also common and prevalent in patients suffering from any of the eating disorders.

A person may inculcate ill behavior and may get isolated due to negligence by the society and friends. This is the time, when, the patients need personal attention and care to help them combat and cope with the eating disorder.

Eating disorders are common, although, people rarely like their near and dear ones or the doctor to know about this. However, it is vital that one informs doctor about the changes in the eating habits that is way far from the normal routines. The underlying cause for the disorder is not yet clear but causes obsession for food in the patients. Malign effects of anorexia and bulimia may include death due to malnutrition. Such a condition needs a treatment with mental and nutritional therapy to control the ill eating habits.