Archive for March 22, 2013

Beware 8 Foods With High Natrium

Excessive salt intake has been associated with various health risks, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. But often unaware of high salt levels in some foods.

Recommended salt intake for adults is 2,400 mg per day, and for people who are at a higher risk to be smaller this figure is 1,500 mg per day. Imagine if every food you eat contains about 300 mg of salt, could you exceed the recommended limits?

Well, so do not be fooled by high salinity foods, you should be aware of some of the following foods.

1. Bread

The bread does not taste salty, but it has levels of sodium (sodium) is high. Whole wheat bread is a type of bread is best because it contains the lowest levels of salt.

2. Frozen Food

Processed meats such as sausages and nuggets have a high salt content. The amount of sodium in foods can vary greatly. Some of them can reach 500 mg per piece.

3. Dressing on salad

Salad containing vegetables seem healthy, but when presented with the dressing, the levels of sodium in food is to be increased. One tablespoon of dressing can contain 214 mg of sodium.

4.Sereal

Certain cereals such as corn flakes contains about 300 mg of sodium per small bowl. And when eating cereal, people often not only take a small bowl.

5. Canned beans

A small bowl of canned beans contains about 1008 mg of sodium which is almost sufficient half of the recommended daily limit of sodium.

6. Spaghetti sauce

The average instant spaghetti sauce can contain 1,000 mg of sodium. So be wise when cooking pasta, you should cultivate their own spaghetti sauce because it will significantly reduce the sodium content.

7. Low calorie fizzy drinks

This drink is lower in calories than regular soft drinks, but the sodium content is higher. There are 28 mg of sodium in 350 ml low-calorie sodas, regular sodas while only 15 mg.

8. Canned soup

The canned soup can contain 1106 mg of sodium. If you had to choose canned soups, then choose labelled “low sodium”.

5 Steps to Becoming Vegetarian

Increased awareness of healthy eating make a vegetarian diet or consume only plant foods more and more enthusiasts. Diet is also considered to be more friendly to animals and the environment.

According to nutrition experts from the Mayo Clinic, a well-planned vegetarian diet can meet the actual good nutrition is needed, both in adults and elderly, even children.

If you are interested in becoming a vegetarian, here are five steps that can be done to bridge the current diet with a vegetarian.

Step 1
Write down whatever reason that you become a vegetarian. Although you are already know the reason, try to write it will help explore your deepest motivations.

Step 2
Commit on the date set for changing your diet. Start with vegetarian food shopping for the week or start getting rid of non-vegetarian food is still stored.

Step 3
Decide meal replacement that will be used to replace food animal products. Try soy milk or rice milk before deciding which one is preferred, for example. Gather as much information as possible about the nutritional content of various foods so you can choose the right meal replacement.

Step 4
Read the labels on food packaging. You can also shop at specialty stores that provide food for vegetarian products that do not have to always pay attention to the label.

Step 5
Celebrate your healthy choices. It takes power to make any decision and do not give up if there are people who criticize the decision. Most people are questioning something different to the value or the way they were raised. In fact, you can share experiences to enhance the understanding of people about healthy eating. Use positive words and do not need to force their opinions.

Having Excess Salt Can Trigger Autoimmune Diseases

Limiting salt intake of the daily diet not only keeps us from high blood pressure but also autoimmune diseases.

Autoimmune diseases are caused by health problems the immune system attacks the body’s own cells. Some types of autoimmune diseases such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, thyroid disorders, and so on.

In a study of mice in the laboratory known high-salt diets increase the levels of immune cells associated with autoimmune diseases. Even the mice that were genetically engineered to develop multiple sclerosis (MS) disease getting worse if they eat too much salt.

The results showed that salt has a role in autoimmune disease which has not previously been known triggers, such as type 1 diabetes or MS.

High salt intake alone is known to increase the risk of heart disease and hypertension. But experts assess factors triggering the autoimmune disease is not just salt.

“Vitamin D also plays a small though. Addition, smoking also increases the risk of autoimmune diseases,” said David HAFLER, imunobiologi experts from Yale University.

HAFLER interested in researching the link between salt and autoimmune disease when he was doing research on intestinal microbes, a census of the gut microbes and cell function in 100 healthy people.

The research team found that when people are eating at fast food restaurants more than once a week, they showed increased levels of inflammatory cells that damage. This means that the immune system of the same responses if there is a virus or bacteria, but healthy cells.

Tues the active autoimmune T helper cells known is 17 or Th17 cells. The cell was triggered inflammation that is so important in the fight against pathogens. But these cells are also associated with MS disease, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and so on.

In the medical world today, the treatment of autoimmune diseases, such as psoriasis, is to manipulate the function of T cells

Although the research team did not know exactly how the occurrence of autoimmune diseases and their relation to the activity of T cells before, but those who suffer from autoimmune diseases are advised to limit their intake of salt.

How to Make Your Cooking More Interesting

There are many simple and quick recipes that are found in cook books, magazines, and on the internet. You can create interesting and delicious meals by learning how to prepare different types of casseroles. Calphalon® cookware is perfect for beginners, as well as those who need to bring variety to the table.

Try dishes that are new, but have familiar ingredients in your Calphalon cookware. You do not want to stretch yourself too thin on the first time trying a new dish. Casseroles with chicken are perfect dishes for beginners. Look for ingredients that are new yet provide a different type of flavor. Calphalon contemporary cookware is perfect for creating meals – without a hefty clean-up.

Individuals who are on special diets can also find recipes to try. It is important to pay close attention to the nutrition facts, and stick straight to the recipes. You can still get creative with your dinner ideas; just as with any meal, make sure you know your serving size. It is easy to get carried away when eating one of these delicious casserole meals.

Plan your dishes out before preparing them. Keep the recipe close by in case you have to refer to it. Purchase a timer so you can time the meal while it is cooking. Make sure you give each dish a trial run before inviting guests over to help you enjoy it.

Small and Large Portions Snack Are Equally Satisfying

In the process of dieting is not nothing wrong with wanting a snack. To meet these desires, limit yourself just by taking a small portion snack. According to recent studies, snacking on small portions of the same turned out to be a rewarding experience if we take snacks in larger portions.

Similarly, according to the conclusion of a new study published in the journal Food, Quality and Preference. The study involved more than 100 adults who were given the same snack with different portions, namely small and large portions. Those large meals get 77 percent more calories than those who ate small portions.

Although number of snacks that go into the body of the two groups differ, but both reported strong desire to snack them satisfied 15 minutes after eating.

“This study supports the idea that eating enjoyment goal driven more by the availability of food and not on the amount of food eaten,” said study author Brian Wansink, a professor of economics at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York in a university news release.

These findings can also help people trying to lose or maintain weight.

“If you want to control your weight, here’s the secret: just nibble a little snack you, wait for 15 minutes. Remember that you are eating a delicious snack,” said Wansink.