Diabetes Symptom

What is a healthy eating plan? Healthy eating is important for
everyone, from babies to the elderly. Learning to eat well is
more than just eating a variety of foods so that your body gets
the proper nutrients. It is also about enjoyment of foods and
maintaining a healthy weight. Anyone can eat for good health. It
involves 2 simple steps. First is to eat foods from all the
different food groups. The second step is to eat a variety of
foods from each group every day. Sounds simple. However so many
people are not following a healthy eating plan. Busy lifestyles,
availability of fast food, advertising and a lack of
understanding of what healthy food is, all work against people
trying for healthier eating. Unhealthy eating causes illness and
weight problems. Type 2 diabetes is increasing dramatically and
is directly linked to the increase in obesity. Heart disease and
some cancers are also linked to obesity. A study by the Medical
Journal of Australia found that 56% of Australian adults are
considered overweight or obese. This is a 61% increase in
obesity since 1991 Un-treated obesity poses significant, even
life-threatening health risks. Everyone understands the
importance of having car/home/ insurance. Have you considered
the importance of nutritional insurance? This means eating the
foods that will protect you against future disease, and
understanding the benefits nutritional supplements can provide.
If you are currently not following a healthy plan you will be
surprised that you are most likely not eating enough. You may
need to increase the amount of food you consume.

Daily Food Suggestions Fruit 2-3 serves, Vegetables 5-7 serves,
Protein 3-6 serves, Whole grains 2-3 serves, Dairy 2-3 serves

Antioxidant Super Foods Antioxidants help prevent cellular
damage. Eat plenty of foods rich in antioxidants such as
almonds, berries, citrus, carrots, spinach, tomatoes, and bell
peppers. 1. Top your cereal with almonds or berries; add
tomatoes to sandwiches, soups or stews; layer your whole grain
bread sandwich with slices of peppers and fresh spinach. 2. Pack
a snack bag of nuts, baby carrots, grape tomatoes, and bell
pepper slices for a nutritious pick-me-up between meals. 3.
Protein snack bars carry easily for quick energy and a tasty
treat.

Calcium Calcium is the super nutrient that keeps bones and teeth
strong. Now research shows that low-fat dairy also helps people
lose weight! The best sources of calcium come from the cow. 1.
Start your day with a protein rich breakfast. Add a bowl of
whole grain cereal topped with skim milk and fresh fruit for a
breakfast of champions. 2. Snack on low-fat yogurt or cheese
between meals for an energizing treat. 3. Calcium-fortified
juices and cereals are excellent alternatives to meet your
three-a-day requirement.

Fibre Fibre does wonderful things for the body, from lowering
cholesterol levels, keeping you regular, and perhaps preventing
certain cancers. Grandma called it roughage and we need plenty
of it each day. 1. Read food labels to find whole grain breads
and cereals that provide three or more grams of fibre per
serving. A bowl full of bran or high-fibre cereal is a great
start to meeting your daily needs. 2. Eat whole fruits and
veggies for a healthy dose of fibre. Aim for five to nine
servings a day. Juices don’t contain as much fibre as whole
fruit. 3. Dried beans and lentils are loaded with fibre and
protein, so add them to soups, stews, salads, eggs, and salsas.

Soy Soy is a super nutrient and excellent source of protein. It
can lower cholesterol, which can help prevent cardiovascular
disease. 1. Tofu takes on the flavour of foods that it is cooked
with. Try a stir-fry of colourful veggies and cubed tofu with a
light Asian sauce for a quick meal. You can also find cereals at
the store loaded with both soy and fibre. Serve with skim milk
and you’ll get three super nutrients for breakfast. 2. Take a
soy protein bar for a quick snack or lunch during the day. Soy
nuts are another great portable snack option.

Water Most of us don’t get enough of this precious stuff. As a
result, we may look peaked and feel fatigued. Our bodies are
composed of more fluid than anything else, so water is a vital
nutrient for our well-being. 1. Fill up a 2 litre water bottle
each morning and keep it with you for quick and refreshing
drinks throughout the day. 2. Don’t rely on thirst; this
sensation diminishes with age. Drink often and choose from
nutritious liquids, including 100% fruit and vegetable juices,
skim or low fat milk, broths, water, and herbal teas.

Never skip meals. It is important for your metabolism t eat 3
meals a day plus 2 snacks.

By following a healthy eating plan you will maintain your body
in optimal fitness. You will decrease your risk of developing
life style diseases. Your body will reward you by being in peak
condition.

About the author:
Cheryl Haining is a skin care, body shape and nutrition coach.
She has her own successful business. Contact Cheryl at
www.uloseweight.net To create an income stream throgh work from
home visit www.keybusinesstips.info

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eating disorders.

Obesity is a disease that affects approximately 60 million
people in the United States, and women are especially affected.
Over o­ne-third of women between the ages of 20 and 74 are
obese, the majority of them being African American or Mexican
American. With more and more pre-packaged food and less and less
activity, the number of obese people in America has steadily
increased since the 1960’s.

But what is obesity? Many people think obesity means that a
person is overweight, but that’s not exactly true. An overweight
person has a surplus amount of weight that includes muscle,
bone, fat, and water. An obese person has a surplus of body fat.
Most health professionals concur that a man is obese if he has
over 25 percent body fat, and a woman is obese if she has over
30 percent. Women physiologically have more body fat than men,
so that why there’s a difference in percentage.

It is difficult to determine the exact percentage of body fat a
person has, but estimates can be made in a number of ways.
First, using a tweezer-like tool called a caliper, you can
measure the thickness of skin folds o­n different points of your
body and compare the results with standardized numbers. You can
also use a small device that sends a harmless electrical current
through your body and measures your body fat percentage. The
most commonly used method to determine if a person is obese is
to look at his/her Body Mass Index (BMI). A person with a BMI
over 30 is considered to be obese, and a BMI over 40 is
considered to be severely obese. It’s important to remember
though that BMI could be misleading in pregnant or lactating
women and in muscular individuals.

With obesity, comes the increased risk of diseases such as high
blood pressure, Type II Diabetes, heart disease, and breast,
colon, and prostate cancer. In addition, obesity has been linked
to mental health conditions such as depression or feelings of
shame and low self-esteem. Health experts say that even losing
10 to 15 percent of your body weight can dramatically decrease
the risk of developing these serious conditions. In addition,
many obese people are discriminated against and targets of
insults and other verbal abuse.

A number of factors, such as poor diet, lack of physical
activity, genetics, and certain medical disorders, cause
obesity, but it can be conquered. The following information
seeks to educate about obesity and the methods used to treat it.
It does not take the place of a physician.

Obesity and its Relationship to: Anorexia, Bulimia, and Other
Special Eating Disorders

Obesity itself is not an eating disorder, but people who are
obese or who fear becoming obese may develop o­ne. Let’s take a
look at obesity and its relationship to special eating disorders.

Binge Eating Disorder – The most common eating disorder is binge
eating disorder. Approximately 4 million Americans have this
disorder. Binge eating disorder is more than just occasionally
overeating. It is characterized by eating uncontrollably,
quickly eating an unusually large amount of food at o­ne
sitting, even when the person is not hungry, and eating in
secret because the person is embarrassed about the amount of
food he/she eats.

More women than men have binge eating disorder, and most of the
people who have it are overweight or obese. Binge eaters eat
mostly sugar and fat, and as a result, they may be lacking
certain vitamins and nutrients. Many of them are also depressed.
Treatments for this disorder include therapy and medications
such as antidepressants.

Bulimia Nervosa – Binge eating is also present in another eating
disorder, bulimia nervosa. It is estimated that 1.1 to 4.2
percent of females will have bulimia nervosa in their lifetime.
Bulimics are caught in a binge/purge cycle. They binge eat,
usually in secret, then purge to get rid of the calories just
eaten. Purging may involve either self-induced vomiting after
eating or using laxatives, diuretics, or enemas. People with
bulimia may also exercise intensely for long periods of time in
attempt to burn off the extra calories taken in during binge
eating, or they may go for long periods of time without eating.
Many bulimics do a combination or all of these things.

Bulimia affects more women than men and more young women in
their teens and twenties than older women. These women are
usually obsessed with their weight and truly believe that they
are overweight even though most have a normal body weight. It
can cause a number of serious health effects, including anemia,
dehydration, heart problems, ruptured esophagus, stomach ulcers,
and even death. Like binge eating disorder, bulimia is treated
with therapy and medications.

Anorexia Nervosa – o­n the opposite side of binge eating is
anorexia nervosa. It affects around 1 to 2 percent of the female
population. Anorexia is characterized by self-starvation and
obsession with food, weight, and appearance, weight loss of 15%
or more below the normal body weight, and an intense fear of
being fat. Many of them look emaciated, but they’re convinced
they are fat.

Because anorexics literally starve themselves, their bodies are
severely depleted of nutrients. As a result, they develop
muscular atrophy, dehydration, low blood pressure, and brain and
organ damage to name a few. As many as 10 percent of anorexics
die. Most anorexics deny they have a problem until the problem
gets so bad that they have to be hospitalized. Because anorexia
is so life-threatening, the first stage of treatment is getting
body weight back to normal. o­nce this is o­n track, therapy and
medications are used.

Eating disorders are serious disorders and should not be taken
lightly. If you suspect you have o­ne or think someone you love
does, please seek help. It could be a matter of life and death.

About the author:
Mahesh Bhat is Web Master of http://info-diet.com a Wellness
Community site that provides information on Diet
Pills Visit the site to learn all about obesity &
free weight loss tips!

This article may be freely distrinuted electronically or in
print as long as the Author bio is unchanged.

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Compelling evidence shows that certain lifestyle behaviours can
improve health, prevent premature death and may even prolong
life. The problem is that people often drift along, continuing
their unhealthy ways – maybe vowing to stop smoking or drink
less “some day soon” – until a disease or health problem strikes
and it may be too late to reverse the damage. Assessing your
lifestyle and how it affects health before illness occurs is a
wise precaution. (However, changing one’s lifestyle even after
illness can sometimes improve health – for instance giving up
cigarettes and exercising more after a heart attack.) Why assess
lifestyle risks? Accumulating scientific evidence shows that a
few simple lifestyle habits can directly improve health and
decrease disease risks. Much disability and premature death from
today’s foremost killers – heart disease, stroke, cancer,
diabetes, liver cirrhosis, suicide and unintentional injuries -
stem from everyday habits. Over half the premature deaths in
North America are blamed on unhealthy behaviours such as
cigarette smoking, insufficient exercise, excessive alcohol
intake and a fat-laden diet. Only six per cent of premature
deaths are considered avoidable through better medical care. A
California study has demonstrated that disease risks can be
reduced by not smoking cigarettes, moderating alcohol use,
eating breakfast, having regular physical activity, maintaining
desirable weight, getting enough (7-8 hours) nightly sleep and
having close social networks. The effect is cumulative: the
greater the number of good lifestyle habits, the greater the
chance of better health and a longer life. A recent Canadian
study confirmed a lower chance of premature death by avoiding
cigarette smoking, high blood pressure (related to obesity and
insufficient exercise), adult-onset diabetes (due to obesity,
poor diet, lack of exercise) and excess alcohol consumption.
(However, some everyday influences are an unavoidable part of
the environment, over which individuals have little control -
such as air pollution or traffic noise.) To evaluate your
lifestyle, ask yourself a few key questions about everyday
activities such as the amount of fat you eat, smoking and
drinking habits – see checklist below – and evaluate which might
be improving your health or perhaps damaging it. Consider
seeking advice from a health professional about habits you wish
to change. Quick, easy computer programs help rate your
lifestyle To help people assess the health impact of various
lifestyle activities, a new Computerized Lifestyle Assessment
(CLA) program, developed by the Addiction Research Foundation
and the University of Toronto, provides a practical, quick,
confidential and easy method of evaluating lifestyle strengths
and weaknesses. The computer program, which takes 20 minutes to
run, asks detailed questions about 16 lifestyle activities, with
graphic feedback along the way and a printed report at the end.
Identification and feedback about risk activities that undermine
health often lead people to improve their lifestyle and seek
advice from a health professional. For details about the CLA
program, call (416) 978-8989 or contact the publisher,
Multi-Health Systems, at 1-800-268-6011. The computer program
asks questions about. * substance abuse; * health maintenance; *
preventive activities; * social and intimate relationships; *
mental and emotional wellbeing. The program feeds back
information about: * lifestyle strengths or activities to keep
up * areas of concern or factors that can threaten health * risk
areas requiring action to prevent disease The final printout
pinpoints health-harming behaviours, some of which may come as a
surprise, others that may be known to the person who might be
“thinking about” changing them. For example, a woman who thinks
she leads a healthy life – doesn’t smoke, drink or take other
drugs, eats a low-fat vegetarian diet and exercises three times
a week – may have emotional problems stemming from poor social
relationships and a perfectionist attitude. Or, a man who
doesn’t smoke, drinks little alcohol and has good work and
personal relationships may endanger his health by being
overweight with the beginnings of diabetes, hypertension and a
potential heart problem. Curiously, computers sometimes elicit
more personal information about sensitive lifestyle areas than a
doctors interview. For instance, many people find it easier to
report excess alcohol consumption to a computer than to a
physician. Women, especially, seem more likely to confide
alcohol, sexual and other problems to a computer than to a
doctor. Computerized psychiatric histories sometimes spot
problems missed by clinicians – such as suicidal thoughts,
anxiety, depression or phobias. Adolescent and student
lifestyles especially poor. One recent study found that seven
out of 10 people questioned were particularly worried about
nutrition and half were also concerned about physical
inactivity. A study of Queen’s University students found that
over 80 per cent fail to get regular medical/dental care, and
over half consume excess alcohol and have poor management of
work-leisure time. Study results show student health problems
with: * Alcohol: * Cannabis: * Cigarettes: * Stress: *
Inactivity: * Weight: * Sex: * Condom use: Adolescent eating
habits can endanger health. Many adolescents receive inadequate
nutrition due to poor diets, irregular eating habits and eating
disorders that stem from the wish to conform to society’s
idealization of thinness. “Weight control” techniques such as
self-induced vomiting and diarrhea are widespread. A recent U.S.
National Adolescent Health Survey found 61 per cent of
adolescent females and 28 per cent of adolescent males were
dieting, 51 per cent often fasted, 16 per cent used diet pills
and 12 per cent practiced vomiting. Teens had poor dietary
practices because of: * Excessive preoccupation with physical
appearance; * Western society’s obsession with thinness; *
Eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia. Lifestyle
habits can improve health: * not smoking tobacco; * maintaining
desirable weight (avoiding obesity); * good nutrition (following
Canada’s Food Guide); * exercising regularly and sufficiently
(at least 30 minutes three times a week); * getting enough sound
nightly sleep (7-8 hours); * avoiding accidental injuries by
taking safety measures (such as seatbelts and helmets); *
practicing motor vehicle safety; * moderating alcohol use; *
avoiding other recreational drugs; * getting regular dental care
and medical check-ups as advised; * fostering family, work and
social networks; * having safe and satisfying sexual
relationships; * avoiding or learning how to cope with excess
stress; * enjoining sufficient leisure-time activities and
relaxation; * getting any needed therapy for mental problems.
Lifestyle changes occur in five stages Stage 1:
Pre-contemplation – the health risk of a particular life-style
activity is (largely) unrecognized, denied or trivialized. Stage
2: Contemplation – admitting to a health risk and thinking about
making a change “some day. Stage 3: Preparation – motivated and
ready for change “soon”, planning how and what to do, often
setting an actual date. Stage 4: Action – active steps to change
behaviour – e.g., giving up cigarettes, walking to work instead
of driving, drinking less – setting a specific schedule and
definite goals. Stage 5: Maintenance – long-term change achieved
and kept up. Just asking can make a difference. Surveys show
that many people expect physicians or nurses to ask about and
give advice or information regarding health. Given the chance,
many people would like to discuss lifestyle concerns such as
nutrition, obesity, alcohol,other drug use, family conflicts,
elderly relatives, sexual problems and chronic pain – but often
hesitate to do so unless asked.

About the author:
Loring Windblad has studied nutrition and exercise for more than
40 years, is a published author and freelance writer.

This article is Copyright 2005 by http://www.organicgreens.us,
http://www.organicgreens.ca and Loring Windblad. This article
may be freely copied and used on other web sites only if it is
copied complete with all links and text, including the Authors
Resource Box, intact and unchanged except for minor
improvements.

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