Diet for Asthma - Easy Way to Avoid Asthma

Asthma is the condition in which lungs are inflamed and airway swells to block the passage. Kids suffering from asthma attack may feel breathlessness, tightness, cough and whistling sound on breathing. The sensitive airway tightens the muscles of the respiratory tract and it reduces the amount of air passing through the lungs. It can affect anybody from a kid to adult. According to certain research, it has been found that people who consume greater amount of vitamin C, Vitamin E, magnesium, flavonoids, selenium, omega 3 fatty acids and beta carotene suffer less from asthma. Kids who ate more of Mediterranean diet which included a number of apples, grapes, nuts and tomatoes suffered less from asthma.

The cases of asthma have risen in the last three decades and researchers believe the change in diet and environmental conditions has a direct effect on asthma triggers. In children a number of food products can trigger an attack. It is assumed that if the body is not provided with all the needed nutrients the body is more susceptible to the attacks of certain respiratory viruses and it can trigger asthma.

Certain foods products which can trigger an attack are

1. Food which contains benzoates, gallates and sulphites and food prepared from certain coloring agents or beer or wine can trigger the attack. It is advised to avoid alcohol and stop smoking to prevent it.

2. Cow's milk, fish, eggs, cereals, soy and nuts can also trigger allergic reactions.

3. Certain food products which can help in thinning the mucus in the respiratory track include garlic, hot mustard and onions.

There are certain food products which contain anti inflammatory properties such as fatty fish, onion and fruits which contain Vitamin C can also be included in the diet. The diet for asthma must include the following

1. Take a diet rich in vitamin B and magnesium.

2. Take a good amount of green leafy vegetables, pulse, sunflower seeds, figs and broccoli.

3. One should try to find out the food items which may trigger an asthmatic attack and avoid it.

4. One should take small meal at one time and take meals many times in a day. Take more of fat, proteins and carbohydrates to stay healthy.

5. Vitamin A found in carrots, broccoli, winter squashes, and pumpkin should be included in the diet because it contains a good amount of beta carotene. The color of these vegetables comes from beta carotene and more the color more is the content of beta carotene.

6. Vitamin B6 is needed to improve the immunity of the body and to get the needed strength. It is helpful in the production of hemoglobin and it is found in legumes, whole grains, cereals, fish, meat, nuts and breads.

7. Take a good amount of vitamin C which is found in fresh fruits and vegetables. One can include apples, avocadoes, melons, blueberries, peaches and kiwifruits to get a good amount of vitamin C.

8. Corn, germ, spinach and green leafy vegetables can be taken. Zinc is found in almonds, peanuts and mixed nuts and it can be included in diet.
By  Jeramey Thompson

Bean Nutrition Facts

Bean Nutrition... Very low in calories, very low in fat, high in dietary fiber and protein. It would be fair to call beans the near perfect type of food.

Interesting Bean Facts:

• Beans are one of the longest-cultivated plants.

• Brazil, India and China are the biggest producers of dry bean. China, Indonesia and Turkey are the biggest producers of green bean.

• They are inexpensive and delicious, possibly the biggest bargain in the supermarkets, considering their health and longevity benefits.

• Beans contain 22 percent protein. Beef contains only 18 percent and eggs 13 percent protein.

• There are all kinds of beans available for different tastes unless you really dislike them.

• Chinese long beans may be up to 18 inches long.

• Newlyweds are given a bowl of beans for good luck in Nicaragua.

• Boiled beans mixed with zinc phosphide are used as a means of cheap rodenticide-rat poison in Aruba.

Bean Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits:

• Low glycemic index and high fiber content help stabilize blood glucose levels, making them a great choice for diabetes, insulin resistance or hypoglycemia sufferers.

• Low GI value also means beans provide steady and slow-burning energy.

• They can also help increase your energy by replenishing your iron stores. Unlike red meat, beans are low in fat and calories.

• Beans have more fiber and protein than any other vegetable.

• A cup of beans provides almost half of the recommended daily intake for fiber.

• Thiamin- B vitamin in beans is critical for brain cell - cognitive function, skin health, nerves and digestive system.

• Manganese is an essential element in a number of enzymes important in energy production and antioxidant defenses.

• Potassium helps reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke.

• Calcium is essential for strong bones and teeth.

• Weight loss: if you'd like to reduce your calorie "price" by 10%, add an extra 14 grams of fiber. This means that if you eat 2,000 calories per day, and add 28 grams of fiber to your meals, those calories will only "count" as 1600.

• Beans have 2-3% fat content: they raise your leptin-a protein hormone- levels and reduce appetite, while causing your metabolism to work harder and faster.

Bean Glycemic Index:

Low GI foods act as a constant supply of energy. Beans are low in glycemic index value, they provide energy over a longer period of time by releasing sugars into your blood stream slowly and steadily.

High GI simple sugar acts like a drug on the human system and many of us experienced that feeling of being sugar-high. Sugar is addictive, it is even compared to heroin by some scientists. High GI foods cause a spike in your blood glucose levels followed by a crash soon after, causing your appetite to return, making snacks irresistible.By Tim Karlilar

Health Benefits of Pomegranate Juice For Heart Health and Antioxidants

I just finished a delicious glass of Pom Wonderful pomegranate juice. It reminded me a little of cranberry juice but sweeter. Being an avid believer in juicing, I would ordinarily juice my own but sometimes I like to see what quality prepared products have to offer. In this case, I am very pleased.

The health benefits of pomegranate juice are quite a motivator. Being a nutritionist, I have a tendency to be motivated not only by taste, but also by the healthful properties of whatever I am eating or drinking. Pomegranate delivers not only in taste but also in nutrition.

When talking about the health benefits of pomegranate juice, the first point to mention is its antioxidants. Pomegranate fruit juice has antioxidants in abundance, a wide range of cell preserving goodness. Anthocyanins, punicalagin, tannins, and ellagic acid promote cardiovascular health.

Pomegranate fruit juice is also very heart healthy. In scientific studies, drinking 8 ounces of this wonderful juice lowered blood pressure, reduced hardening of arteries, improved cholesterol levels, and increased oxygen levels in the blood.

The health benefits of pomegranate juice also help with reducing the likelihood of breast and prostate cancer. Good news since these two cancers kill hundreds of thousands of people every year. Since both of these cancers are strongly related to hormonal levels, particularly estrogen, I would like to see some studies on pomegranate juice helping PMS, menopause, and other hormone driven imbalances.

All fruits and vegetables have tremendous health promoting properties, particularly the organic varieties. By being grown in more nutrient rich soil, organic fruits and vegetables are naturally higher in nutrients and phytochemicals, including antioxidants.

I would encourage everyone to try pomegranate fruit juice. If you have a juicer, you can juice your own. If not, try some Pom Wonderful pure pomegranate juice. It's delicious, refreshing, and makes your heart smile.

The best way to be happy is to be healthy. Enjoy.

By Patrick Ray

Vitamin D3 - 10 Reasons to Increase the Sunshine in Your Life

Vitamin D3 the sunshine vitamin is a fat-soluble and essential to bone growth and strength. It is found naturally in very few foods, the body makes it naturally when the rays from the sun reach your skin. It seems that your skin is a vitamin D3 production center for your body.

People wearing sunscreen, those that are house bound or have dark skin have more difficulty manufacturing enough vitamin D3 for needs of the body.

Vitamin D3 is found in from a few foods we eat and also from supplements. If you are house bound or extremely sun sensitive then supplementing your diet with high quality D3 capsule or spending a little time under full spectrum light or in tanning booth are the alternatives to naturally increasing the D3 levels in our bodies.

How does the body use this essential vitamin?

1. Promotes calcium absorption in the gut .

2. Helps maintain adequate serum calcium and phosphate concentrations to enable normal mineralization of bone and prevent hypocalcemic tetany

3. Is needed for bone growth and bone remodeling by specific bone cells called osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Without sufficient Vitamin D3, bones can become thin, brittle, or misshapen.

4. It helps balance blood calcium levels.

5. It helps increases absorption of calcium from the intestines to the blood stream where 95 per cent of the calcium is stored.

6. It stimulates calciferol to absorb phosphorus into the body.

7. It helps calcium calm the nerves.

8. It regulates muscle contraction and bone strength.

9. It helps regulate the immune system and reduce inflammation.

10. It also helps many genes make proteins that regulate cell multiplication, differentiation, and cell death especially in deficiency and rickets in infants and young children.

Vitamin D3 is obtained the following foods:

Butter, cheese, cod liver oil, eggs, liver, fortified margarine, milk (human and other animal), mushrooms, salmon, sardines, flax seeds, shrimp, tuna, sunflower seeds.

By Dr. M. Wolken