If you have been afflicted with any symptoms of the acid reflux condition for some time now, you will do well to think in terms of acid reflux and foods to avoid. If you are diagnosed with the acid reflux condition, it doesn't matter whether you show certain symptoms or not. Management of your condition will mean permanent changes to your diet. You should have a consultation with your doctor about dietary changes that will have long term consequences. Study those foods that bother you. As are all fingers of the hand dissimilar, same goes for people .The foods that affect some people in a certain way may not affect other people in the same way.
A list of certain foods, which you may need to avoid in your acid reflux condition are given below:
Fried and fatty foods Spicy foods Onions Citrus fruits Alcoholic drinks Coffee Chocolate Peppermint and spearmint Caffeinated drinks Tomato-based products
If you are not sure which foods and beverages trigger your acid reflux condition, begin by maintaining a diary. Whenever you feel irritation or trouble related to your acid reflux condition, write down what you have been eating. Keep the notes on your fridge or in some other place handy. you can then compile a list of those specific foods that affect your acid reflux condition adversely through your own research. Avoid caffeine-based drinks. caffeine can be found in coffee and tea as well as in certain sodas. It is advisable to read the text on food tins and food bottle labels carefully and make a note of their ingredients, before making the decision to purchase such food bottles and tins. Consuming caffeine can cause enhanced gastric acid secretion and thus lead to acid reflux. You need to avoid regular or decaffeinated coffee, all forms of alcohol (except in small dosages), and all forms of tea as well.
Studies have shown that coffee has a tendency to irritate the esophagus. It has also been proven that not only caffeine, but even other ingredients found in coffee beans are the culprits that aggravate the acid reflux condition. Therefore, coffee, no matter how it is prepared, can be a strong enemy of your health, if you are afflicted with the acid reflux condition. Therefore the fact remains that you need to avoid coffee completely. So, coffee is one of the important predisposing factors when you think in terms of acid reflux and foods to avoid.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Acid Reflux Foods
Acid reflux is a condition/disease in which excessive hydrochloric acid is produced by parietal cells and released into the stomach and this excess acid backs up from the stomach and enters into the lower half of the esophagus. The stomach is a vital organ of the human body.
In the stomach lining, there are parietal cells, which secrete hydrochloric acid required for the digestion of food in the stomach. There are other epithelial cells in the lining of the stomach known as mucus cells that produce mucus. This mucus protects the stomach lining from contact with this hydrochloric acid. The lining of the esophagus is not so much protected as is the stomach's and thus the cells lining the inside of the esophagus are irritated by the acid, although mucus also lines the esophagal walls.
At the junction of the stomach and the esophagus there is a band of muscles. This band of muscles is known as the lower esophagal sphincter. It acts like a valve. Normally, it contracts and prevents gas, food, and acid in the stomach from backing up (refluxing) into the esophagus. In the case of the acid reflux condition/disease, this sphincter relaxes and the gas and acid in the stomach back up (reflux) into the esophagus This reflux of stomach acid into the lower half of the esophagus causes inflammation of the lining of the esophagus as the acid irritates this lining. This condition is also known as esophagitis.
Symptoms of acid reflux Heartburn is the main condition. It is the most profound symptom. Even though it has nothing to do with the heart, it is a burning sensation at the sternum or breastbone as it is also called.
There is pain in the upper abdomen and chest , an acid taste in the mouth, a sick feeling, inflation of the stomach and a burning sensation when you consume hot drinks. The above mentioned symptoms come and go and tend to get worse after a meal. All these symptoms are fairly common.
Some uncommon symptoms can also occur. This makes the diagnosis pretty difficult. These uncommon symptoms include persistent cough, particularly at night .This is due to irritation of the windpipe by the refluxed acid. Asthma symptoms can sometimes occur due to acid reflux. Sometimes a sensation akin to severe chest pain may occur, one that is normally mistaken by the patient as that for a heart attack.
Tests to diagnose acid reflux Tests are conducted, if the patient does not show any specific typical symptoms. Many people are diagnosed with 'probable acid reflux' when they have common symptoms and the symptoms are eased with treatment. Tests become necessary, if the patient has severe symptoms or when these symptoms do not improve with treatment or are not typical of acid reflux.
A test to check the acidity level inside the esophagus may be done, if the diagnosis is not clear.
Alternative tests to rule out heart disease such as chest x-rays and ECG may be conducted, if the symptoms are not clear.
Endoscopy is the usual test. A thin flexible tube that has a telescope (known as an endoscope) is gradually passed down into the stomach through the esophagus cavity. This allows the medical practitioner to look inside the stomach. In case acid reflux is present, the lower part of the esophagus lining looks red and swollen. However, the absence of this redness and swelling still does not rule out acid reflux completely, as some people are very sensitive to hydrochloric acid and can have other symptoms of acid reflux, with little or no inflammation to view.
Complications of acid reflux disease
Cancer: Your risk of developing cancer of the esophagus is slightly increased, if you have long-term acid reflux, as compared to the normal risk. Barrett's oesophagus: In this condition, the cells that line the lower esophagus undergo changes. These cells then become more prone than usual to become malignant, ultimately leading to cancer.
So, it is hoped that the above article about the acid reflux condition/disease may have helped you to have a much better understanding about its various aspects.
In the stomach lining, there are parietal cells, which secrete hydrochloric acid required for the digestion of food in the stomach. There are other epithelial cells in the lining of the stomach known as mucus cells that produce mucus. This mucus protects the stomach lining from contact with this hydrochloric acid. The lining of the esophagus is not so much protected as is the stomach's and thus the cells lining the inside of the esophagus are irritated by the acid, although mucus also lines the esophagal walls.
At the junction of the stomach and the esophagus there is a band of muscles. This band of muscles is known as the lower esophagal sphincter. It acts like a valve. Normally, it contracts and prevents gas, food, and acid in the stomach from backing up (refluxing) into the esophagus. In the case of the acid reflux condition/disease, this sphincter relaxes and the gas and acid in the stomach back up (reflux) into the esophagus This reflux of stomach acid into the lower half of the esophagus causes inflammation of the lining of the esophagus as the acid irritates this lining. This condition is also known as esophagitis.
Symptoms of acid reflux Heartburn is the main condition. It is the most profound symptom. Even though it has nothing to do with the heart, it is a burning sensation at the sternum or breastbone as it is also called.
There is pain in the upper abdomen and chest , an acid taste in the mouth, a sick feeling, inflation of the stomach and a burning sensation when you consume hot drinks. The above mentioned symptoms come and go and tend to get worse after a meal. All these symptoms are fairly common.
Some uncommon symptoms can also occur. This makes the diagnosis pretty difficult. These uncommon symptoms include persistent cough, particularly at night .This is due to irritation of the windpipe by the refluxed acid. Asthma symptoms can sometimes occur due to acid reflux. Sometimes a sensation akin to severe chest pain may occur, one that is normally mistaken by the patient as that for a heart attack.
Tests to diagnose acid reflux Tests are conducted, if the patient does not show any specific typical symptoms. Many people are diagnosed with 'probable acid reflux' when they have common symptoms and the symptoms are eased with treatment. Tests become necessary, if the patient has severe symptoms or when these symptoms do not improve with treatment or are not typical of acid reflux.
A test to check the acidity level inside the esophagus may be done, if the diagnosis is not clear.
Alternative tests to rule out heart disease such as chest x-rays and ECG may be conducted, if the symptoms are not clear.
Endoscopy is the usual test. A thin flexible tube that has a telescope (known as an endoscope) is gradually passed down into the stomach through the esophagus cavity. This allows the medical practitioner to look inside the stomach. In case acid reflux is present, the lower part of the esophagus lining looks red and swollen. However, the absence of this redness and swelling still does not rule out acid reflux completely, as some people are very sensitive to hydrochloric acid and can have other symptoms of acid reflux, with little or no inflammation to view.
Complications of acid reflux disease
Cancer: Your risk of developing cancer of the esophagus is slightly increased, if you have long-term acid reflux, as compared to the normal risk. Barrett's oesophagus: In this condition, the cells that line the lower esophagus undergo changes. These cells then become more prone than usual to become malignant, ultimately leading to cancer.
So, it is hoped that the above article about the acid reflux condition/disease may have helped you to have a much better understanding about its various aspects.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Health Insurance Helps Heal Your Finances
Health insurance seems to suggest that it is something that keeps you healthy. After all, it contains the word health, which means absence of disease or illness. It contains the word insurance, which means an assurance or guarantee. However, it doesn't quite work that way. Health insurance is designed to help you financially after you become sick or injured. This insurance can assist with expenses due to routine medical care, sudden illness, or accidents.
Routine or preventive medical care is an important aspect of health insurance. It may sound contradictory to visit the doctor when you are not sick. There are two ways that this helps. When you visit the doctor without being sick, the doctor knows what all your normal readings should be, and can compare them when you are really ill. The other reason is that the doctor may discover a problem that you haven't detected yet, and cure it quickly. Health insurance tends to cover this type of visit, because it keeps you healthy and reduces the costs of the health insurance company.
A sudden illness can cause more costs than simply medical costs. There may be missed work and wages, prescription drugs, hiring child care while you are ill, and more. Health insurance works to defray these costs for you. The amount paid by your particular health insurance depends on your plan, but expect to receive reimbursements for hospital stays, medications, and possibly some of the non-medical costs. Non-medical costs such as child care, rental cars, and other unexpected expenses might require a special addition to your health insurance policy.
The dreaded serious accident can put a huge strain on family finances without health insurance. If one or both salary earners are incapacitated for a while, there is loss of wages, ambulance expense, emergency room expense, drugs, nursing, and maybe at-home care. If you have really comprehensive health insurance, your plan might cover up to 100% of these expenses after you have paid a given amount out of pocket.
Health insurance is a necessity. Even a moderate medical expense can cause financial hardship for many people. Look at your finances carefully and compare various insurance plans. Determine how much you are willing to pay per incident, and what kind of monthly premiums are available. Analyze your doctor visits and medical bills from the previous year and use that as a starting point. Health insurance is more than just a life saver. It can save your finances too.
Medical Insurance News:
| MEDICAL INSURANCE CONTRACTOR (6 month contract) Bayt.com | Jobs in UAE - MEDICAL INSURANCE CONTRACTOR (6 month contract) Job Description: Responsibilities * To administer company medical insurance scheme by * Adding and removing scheme joiners and leavers * Administering claims ... |
Massachusetts Health Insurers Question Minimum Requirements Under State's Health Care Law EUR¦ insurance to comply with the state's new health insurance law, because the minimum threshold set for Massachusetts employers to avoid an assessment is too low, the Boston Globe reports. |
Medical Insurance Is Used More By Unhealthy People
Medical insurance cannot prevent illness or disease, but it does help to reimburse you for the costs incurred by these health problems. In return for your fixed monthly payments, the medical insurance company agrees to pay your future medical bills. The amount paid toward each bill by the medical insurance company varies by several factors. The primary factors that influence how much your medical insurance pays towards your medical bills include the premiums, the type of policy, and the deductible.
One of the main dilemmas faced by most medical insurance companies is that it is the unhealthy people that tend to buy it and use it. Certain healthy people see insurance as an unnecessary cost. The healthy people may prefer to pay a few hundred dollars for a couple of doctor visits each year, rather than paying that amount each month for a medical insurance policy. These so-called healthy people are gambling with their health, because a sudden accident or illness could strike at any time. Then it is too late to obtain reasonable medical insurance.Benefits that are paid to you from your medical insurance policy are influenced by how much per month you pay to the insurance company. Your willingness to pay higher premiums generally means the medical insurance company is willing to pay higher benefits when you submit claims. Policies with higher monthly premiums tend to cover more illnesses and other specific health related problems. Therefore insurance customers willing to pay higher monthly premiums can expect to regain some of their medical insurance investment through higher claim payments.
The type of medical insurance policy you take out also determines the frequency and also how much you are paid for your health claims. Basic policies may cover a strict list of medical procedures and illnesses. More expensive medical insurance programs offer wider coverage for illnesses and medical procedures. Some policies cover additional things such as vision and dental problems, which are often not available from the lower priced policies. Medical insurance covering a spouse, dependents, or a whole family costs much more than an individual policy, but is likely much cheaper than insuring each person individually.
The medical insurance deductible is another factor that determines how much your health benefits pay you after you make a claim. The deductible is the amount that you pay out of your own pocket before the medical insurance takes effect. Choosing a large deductible means that your monthly premiums will be less, but you will pay much more of your own money in order to make use of your medical insurance. Conversely, a small deductible can often be met by a single doctor or emergency room visit, although the resulting premiums will be higher.
There are many factors that influence the medical benefits paid out by insurance companies. A good insurance agent will balance your insurance needs as well as your budget to create a medical insurance plan that is right for you.
Medical Insurance News:
| Having Health Insurance Increases Odds of Detecting Cancer Early, Study Shows (InteliHealth) (The New York Times News Service) -- Cancer death rates have been dropping since 1991 with better screening and treatment -- but people without health insurance are apparently not benefiting from those trends, according to a new national study... |
| Expatriate International Medical Insurance For US Expatriate health care insurance is something that you need to think about long and hard before you move overseas. A large number of individuals travel overseas every year on holiday and find themselves falling in love with their ... |
HCC Insurance Holdings at NYSSA 12th Annual Insurance Conference . - Insurance News Net (press release) |
Friday, February 1, 2008
Simple Steps For Being Healthy Always
1. Be a Weekday vegetarian, weekend carnivore
Vegetarians typically suffer fewer degenerative diseases and cancers than their carnivore cousins. It's been approximated that a third of all cancer patients developed their disease as a result of insufficient whole plant fibre in their diets. Nevertheless , you don't have to give up meat entirely to enjoy longevity - limiting your intake or eating meat only on weekends is a perfectly balanced and healthy approach.
2. Stay alive: Stop eating dead foods
Ever question what Wonder Bread is really made of, or how many miles that head of limp lettuce has traveled? There's nothing like fresh, whole, organic foods to maintain your health and well-being. Farm-fresh produce and meats go directly from the source to your table, allowing little time in between for nutrients to be lost. Many foods at your supermarket have been picked or slaughtered weeks or even months before they make it onto the shelf. These items are preserved by nitrogen or additional artificial means, making them seem fresh. Moreover, foods treated with pesticides and artificial fertilizers have lower nutritional value than foods grown organically.
3. Ginger Snaps you back
Best known in the West for its antinausea properties, ginger has probably been in the longest continuous use of any botanical remedy in the world. The Chinese use it for both medicinal and culinary purposes, frequently in cooking seafood, since it acts as a detoxifier to prevent seafood poisoning. Besides its popular application for digestive distress, ginger has been detected to contain geraniol, which may be a potent cancer fighter. It likewise possesses anti-inflammatory properties that facilitate pain relief, prevent blood clots, and inhibit the onset of migraine headaches. Since ancient times, Chinese physicians have regularly consumed ginger tea to keep their vitality fired up.
4. Brown rice for a good long life
White rice begins as brown rice. When the outer coating of rice bran is hulled off, however, not a lot of nutrients remain. A thousand years ago, Chinese physicians found that eating only refined white rice, devoid of the B vitamins in the bran, led to beriberi, a deficiency in thiamine (B1). Modern research has identified a wealth of nutrients in the bran coating of brown rice. It is remarkably good in lowering high blood sugar and so serves as an excellent food for diabetics. Rice bran contains more than 70 antioxidants, including the well-known age fighters vitamin E, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), coenzyme Q-10 (CoQ-10), proanthocyanidins, and inositol hexaphosphate (IP6). It is no wonder that rural farmers in Asia, who eat brown rice because white rice is too expensive, live longer and develop fewer health problems than their city-dwelling counterparts, who eat mostly white rice.
5. Eat your sea vegetables
Seaweed and marine algae are vegetables from the sea that have long been considered to possess powers to prolong life, prevent disease, and impart beauty and health. Common types of seaweed include nori (sushi), kombu, kelp, dulce, and Irish moss. Containing more calcium than milk, more iron than beef, and more protein than eggs, seaweed is also a rich source of micronutrients. Traditionally, its healing properties are said to include shrinking goiters, dissolving tumors and cysts, detoxifying large metals, reducing water retention, and aiding in weight loss. So eat your sea vegetables! They have more concentrated nutrition than vegetables grown on land.
6. Open sesame! is the password to the treasure
The most common oil consumed by Chinese centenarians, sesame oil is enjoyed for its refined, nutty flavour but possesses therapeutic properties as well. Chinese medicine lists sesame as a kidney and liver tonic, a blood builder, and a bowel protector and regulator. Sesame is rich in phytic acid, an antioxidant that may prevent cancer. The oil of one kind , lignan sesamin, was found to drastically reduce cholesterol levels in the liver and bloodstream of rats. To enhance flavours and improve health, sprinkle sesame seeds and oil in your food regularly.
7. The ultimate longevity food
In Asia, mushrooms are favoured for both their taste and their therapeutic value. Chinese legend is filled with stories of those who discovered the 1,000-year-old mushroom and became immortal. An underground stalactite cave museum outside of Kungming, China, displays a reishi or ganoderma mushroom that measures 4 feet in diameter and is estimated to be approximately 800 years old! There are more than 100,000 varieties of mushrooms, about 700 of them edible. Many mushrooms, particularly shiitake, maitake, reishi, and wood ear, have superb anti-aging properties. Based on the type, they may contain polysaccharides, sterols, coumarin, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that boost immune function, lower bad cholesterol, regulate blood sugar, and protect the person from virus and cancer. And you don't have to dig for them in the mountains any longer -- they're readily available in your local health or specialty food store.
8. Sea salt for essential minerals
Before we were born, we spent nine months in a bath of amniotic fluid resembling the primordial saltwater from which life arose. No wonder the human body contains fluids closely resembling the composition of the ocean. Sea salt contains nearly 60 trace minerals essential for the formation of vitamins, enzymes, and proteins that keep our bodies going. Salt helps in general detoxification, and its alkaline quality helps balance the overly acidic pH environments that breed degenerative and cancerous conditions.
Common table salt, however, is refined to nothing but sodium chloride and is devoid of all other essential minerals. I suggest using only unrefined sea salt such as that found in the salt beds of Brittany, which has a slightly grey hue. Of course, salt is to be used only in moderation, especially for those with hypertension. It is also crucial to balance salt intake with potassium to assure proper nerve and muscle function; potassium-rich foods include leafy vegetables, soy, whole grains, potatoes, bananas, and most fruits.
9. You eat naturally - does your food?
Conventional meat, poultry and dairy products contain high amounts of pesticides, hormones and antibiotic drugs that are harmful to your health. Add the risk that your meat comes from diseased creatures raised in stressful, inhumane conditions, and you have a good case for converting to vegetarianism. Commercial feed for animals is full of growth-stimulating hormones, colouring agents, pesticides and drugs. And that's not all -- of the 140,000 tons of poultry condemned annually as unfit to eat, mainly due to cancer, a considerable amount is processed into animal feed! More than 40 per cent of antibiotics produced in the United States is used as animal-feed additives. The ecological result, after we urinate and defecate the antibiotics, is the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria strains that can sicken or kill us. Whenever possible, buy only organic and free-range animals for your health, peace of mind and well-being.
10. Sugar's side effects aren't so sweet
The typical North American consumes nearly 240 pounds of sugar per year. Most of the excess sugar is stored as fat in your body, which elevates cancer risk and can suppress your immune function. When study subjects were given sugar, their white blood cell count decreased significantly for many hours afterward. This held true for a variety of types of sugar, including fructose, glucose, honey and orange juice. In an additional study, rats fed a high-sugar diet had a substantially elevated rate of breast cancer compared to rats on a normal diet. To live long, draw sweetness from other aspects of your life.
Vegetarians typically suffer fewer degenerative diseases and cancers than their carnivore cousins. It's been approximated that a third of all cancer patients developed their disease as a result of insufficient whole plant fibre in their diets. Nevertheless , you don't have to give up meat entirely to enjoy longevity - limiting your intake or eating meat only on weekends is a perfectly balanced and healthy approach.
2. Stay alive: Stop eating dead foods
Ever question what Wonder Bread is really made of, or how many miles that head of limp lettuce has traveled? There's nothing like fresh, whole, organic foods to maintain your health and well-being. Farm-fresh produce and meats go directly from the source to your table, allowing little time in between for nutrients to be lost. Many foods at your supermarket have been picked or slaughtered weeks or even months before they make it onto the shelf. These items are preserved by nitrogen or additional artificial means, making them seem fresh. Moreover, foods treated with pesticides and artificial fertilizers have lower nutritional value than foods grown organically.
3. Ginger Snaps you back
Best known in the West for its antinausea properties, ginger has probably been in the longest continuous use of any botanical remedy in the world. The Chinese use it for both medicinal and culinary purposes, frequently in cooking seafood, since it acts as a detoxifier to prevent seafood poisoning. Besides its popular application for digestive distress, ginger has been detected to contain geraniol, which may be a potent cancer fighter. It likewise possesses anti-inflammatory properties that facilitate pain relief, prevent blood clots, and inhibit the onset of migraine headaches. Since ancient times, Chinese physicians have regularly consumed ginger tea to keep their vitality fired up.
4. Brown rice for a good long life
White rice begins as brown rice. When the outer coating of rice bran is hulled off, however, not a lot of nutrients remain. A thousand years ago, Chinese physicians found that eating only refined white rice, devoid of the B vitamins in the bran, led to beriberi, a deficiency in thiamine (B1). Modern research has identified a wealth of nutrients in the bran coating of brown rice. It is remarkably good in lowering high blood sugar and so serves as an excellent food for diabetics. Rice bran contains more than 70 antioxidants, including the well-known age fighters vitamin E, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), coenzyme Q-10 (CoQ-10), proanthocyanidins, and inositol hexaphosphate (IP6). It is no wonder that rural farmers in Asia, who eat brown rice because white rice is too expensive, live longer and develop fewer health problems than their city-dwelling counterparts, who eat mostly white rice.
5. Eat your sea vegetables
Seaweed and marine algae are vegetables from the sea that have long been considered to possess powers to prolong life, prevent disease, and impart beauty and health. Common types of seaweed include nori (sushi), kombu, kelp, dulce, and Irish moss. Containing more calcium than milk, more iron than beef, and more protein than eggs, seaweed is also a rich source of micronutrients. Traditionally, its healing properties are said to include shrinking goiters, dissolving tumors and cysts, detoxifying large metals, reducing water retention, and aiding in weight loss. So eat your sea vegetables! They have more concentrated nutrition than vegetables grown on land.
6. Open sesame! is the password to the treasure
The most common oil consumed by Chinese centenarians, sesame oil is enjoyed for its refined, nutty flavour but possesses therapeutic properties as well. Chinese medicine lists sesame as a kidney and liver tonic, a blood builder, and a bowel protector and regulator. Sesame is rich in phytic acid, an antioxidant that may prevent cancer. The oil of one kind , lignan sesamin, was found to drastically reduce cholesterol levels in the liver and bloodstream of rats. To enhance flavours and improve health, sprinkle sesame seeds and oil in your food regularly.
7. The ultimate longevity food
In Asia, mushrooms are favoured for both their taste and their therapeutic value. Chinese legend is filled with stories of those who discovered the 1,000-year-old mushroom and became immortal. An underground stalactite cave museum outside of Kungming, China, displays a reishi or ganoderma mushroom that measures 4 feet in diameter and is estimated to be approximately 800 years old! There are more than 100,000 varieties of mushrooms, about 700 of them edible. Many mushrooms, particularly shiitake, maitake, reishi, and wood ear, have superb anti-aging properties. Based on the type, they may contain polysaccharides, sterols, coumarin, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that boost immune function, lower bad cholesterol, regulate blood sugar, and protect the person from virus and cancer. And you don't have to dig for them in the mountains any longer -- they're readily available in your local health or specialty food store.
8. Sea salt for essential minerals
Before we were born, we spent nine months in a bath of amniotic fluid resembling the primordial saltwater from which life arose. No wonder the human body contains fluids closely resembling the composition of the ocean. Sea salt contains nearly 60 trace minerals essential for the formation of vitamins, enzymes, and proteins that keep our bodies going. Salt helps in general detoxification, and its alkaline quality helps balance the overly acidic pH environments that breed degenerative and cancerous conditions.
Common table salt, however, is refined to nothing but sodium chloride and is devoid of all other essential minerals. I suggest using only unrefined sea salt such as that found in the salt beds of Brittany, which has a slightly grey hue. Of course, salt is to be used only in moderation, especially for those with hypertension. It is also crucial to balance salt intake with potassium to assure proper nerve and muscle function; potassium-rich foods include leafy vegetables, soy, whole grains, potatoes, bananas, and most fruits.
9. You eat naturally - does your food?
Conventional meat, poultry and dairy products contain high amounts of pesticides, hormones and antibiotic drugs that are harmful to your health. Add the risk that your meat comes from diseased creatures raised in stressful, inhumane conditions, and you have a good case for converting to vegetarianism. Commercial feed for animals is full of growth-stimulating hormones, colouring agents, pesticides and drugs. And that's not all -- of the 140,000 tons of poultry condemned annually as unfit to eat, mainly due to cancer, a considerable amount is processed into animal feed! More than 40 per cent of antibiotics produced in the United States is used as animal-feed additives. The ecological result, after we urinate and defecate the antibiotics, is the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria strains that can sicken or kill us. Whenever possible, buy only organic and free-range animals for your health, peace of mind and well-being.
10. Sugar's side effects aren't so sweet
The typical North American consumes nearly 240 pounds of sugar per year. Most of the excess sugar is stored as fat in your body, which elevates cancer risk and can suppress your immune function. When study subjects were given sugar, their white blood cell count decreased significantly for many hours afterward. This held true for a variety of types of sugar, including fructose, glucose, honey and orange juice. In an additional study, rats fed a high-sugar diet had a substantially elevated rate of breast cancer compared to rats on a normal diet. To live long, draw sweetness from other aspects of your life.
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