Med Help

Category: Dieting / Nutrition

  • Shellfish Bacteria

    What it is:

    Eating shellfish has been related to a number of diseases, including those caused by bacteria, viruses including hepatitis A and Norwalk agent, and those caused by toxins.

    Symptoms:

    Persons who eat raw or undercooked shellfish harvested from sewage contaminated waters may get diarrhea.  If the bad shellfish contains a neurotoxin called saxitoxin and it is eaten in high doses, it can lead to diaphragmatic paralysis, respiratory failure and death.

     Associated foods:

    Any edible, aquatic invertebrate with a shell such as clams, mussels, scallops and oysters

    Prevention:

    •  Shellfish foodborne infections caused by bacteria and viruses can be prevented by cooking seafood’s thoroughly, storing them properly, and protecting them from contamination after cooking. Traditional methods of cooking seafood’s, such as steaming clams only until they open, may be insufficient to kill all bacteria and viruses in them.

    •  Shellfish infections caused by toxins are different.  Shellfish containing toxins may look and taste normal, and usual cooking methods do not affect the toxin.  Some of the toxins or poisons that contaminate the shellfish are paralytic shellfish poison, neurologic shellfish poison, diarrheic shellfish poison, and amnesic shellfish poison.

    •   Consumers should be aware of the potential risk to their health, particularly if they eat shellfish from unapproved harvest beds.  For normal persons who eat raw shellfish from approved harvest beds, the risk is likely to be small, although there is no way to totally eliminate all risk.

    Treatment:

    There are no laboratory tests to detect toxins within an individual. There are no anti-toxins or antidotes available for treatment of shellfish poisoning, and no other chemotherapy has proven effective. Therefore, treatment is supportive care of infected person. Ingestion of alcohol increases absorption of the toxin.  Evacuation of stomach contents may help by removing remaining toxin-containing shellfish.

    People at risk:

    Persons with underlying disease such as liver disease, diabetes, or disorders of their immune system, are at much higher risk than normal persons for acquiring severe or even fatal illnesses from eating raw shellfish.

  • Sports Nutrition

    The concept of sports nutrition health involves several different
    elements in order to ensure that athletes perform to their very best
    ability.  A combination of good nutrition, physiology, and biology are
    essential to good strong muscles and overall health.  The concept of
    sport nutrition health includes extra elements such as supplements and
    strategies that are used to help enhance the body’s ability to excel
    athletically and to improve overall body composition (i.e. more muscle
    than fat).  There are many different positions in the field of sports
    nutrition health such as a sports nutritionist, registered dietician,
    or personal trainer.  All of these require special education
    backgrounds in a variety of subjects including medicine, anatomy, and
    nutrition.  The application of sports nutrition health can be seen
    largely in weight training but it is also prevalent in other sports
    such as cycling, running, or soccer to name a few.  Anywhere stamina,
    strength and endurance is needed, sports nutrition health becomes a
    major focus.

    Lose Fat, Gain Muscle: – Cardio free fat loss workouts using weight training.

    There is actually a lot of science involved
    in sports nutrition health.  The study of how amino acids work in the
    body is very important, since they play a role in muscular health. 
    Protein and protein complexes are also emphasized.  It is important to
    athletes to be very careful when taking any kind of supplement for
    sports nutrition health, and they should check with their doctor before
    doing so.  Insulin and protein levels should be checked as well as
    overall heart condition and oxygen levels.  If athletes follow a safe
    and very strict regimen, they can optimize their overall performance
    and be generally very healthy as well.  They can excel in their chosen
    sport by becoming stronger and having a leaner body mass (less fat). 
    This can help them run faster, lift more weights, and generally be
    stronger all around.

  • Vegan Diet

    The Vegan Diet is known to help with weight loss and is also healthy
    and nutritionally sound. Vegetarian diets are found to be one of the
    best known diets that often will help with coronary disease, diabetes,
    high blood pressure, and even some types of cancer.

    Fat Loss 4 Idiots: – Learn the 10 Idiot proof rules of dieting and fat loss.

    There are four types of Vegan Diets and learning about each of them
    will help you decide which one is best for you. Vegetarian dieting will
    mean no consumption of meat. One type of vegetarian diet is called the
    Total Vegetarian Diet consists of only foods from plants. This will
    include vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains, seeds, beans and peas. The
    Lacto-Vegetarian diet will include these plant foods plus cheese and
    dairy products. The third type of vegetarian diet is known as the Ovo
    Lacto-Vegetarian Diet which will include both foods from plants, cheese
    along with dairy products and eggs.  The last type of Vegan Diet is
    called the Semi-Vegetarian diet. This group will eat all of the above
    plus chicken and fish but no meat.

    Vegetarian Diets are found to be healthy as long as it’s providing
    enough nutrients. Protein is essential in everyone’s diet. When using a
    Vegan Diet plan keep your intake of sweets to a minimum. Try to vary
    your choice of vegetables and fruits daily as this will be your source
    for vitamins C and A. Choose whole grain products whenever possible.
    Many vegetarians have been found to have an iron deficiency. Beans and
    spinach can both provide this necessary supplement. To ensure your
    health, adding a multi-vitamin can be beneficial to anyone on a Vegan
    Diet.

    Studies have shown that a Vegan Diet is found to have many benefits.
    Vegetarian diets offer lower risk of coronary heart disease and chance
    of obesity are two of the benefits that should make your decision
    easier when choosing a diet.

  • The Best Life Diet

    If you’re looking for an easy to follow diet, then The Best Life Diet
    could be the perfect diet for you. This diet is described as a life
    style change and not a diet at all. Emphasis is put on regular exercise
    or physical activity. Many find that making these lifestyle changes
    will help you gradually lose weight and keep it off. The basic plan of
    this diet is to control your calorie intake. The more active you are,
    the more calories you are allowed to consume but there is no calorie
    counting on The Best Life Diet. This diet will help you monitor portion
    control and making wise food choices.

    Burn the Fat: – Fat burning secrets of the world’s best bodybuilders and fitness models.

    The Best Life
    Diet is really a simple plan helping you slowly get rid of unhealthy
    food choices and replacing them with healthy ones. There are many
    healthy recipes that appeal to dieters on this plan and help keep them
    motivated to stay on this diet. Slowly cutting out sugary foods and
    drinks, pasta, white bread and high in fat dairy products will help you
    succeed on this diet.

    To successfully lose weight, you’ll need to learn about the Three
    Phases of The Best Life Diet. Phase One takes up to four weeks and
    focuses on increasing exercise or activity level while changing your
    eating habits. Eating healthier and becoming more physically active
    will be included in Phase two of the program. The last part is
    life-long maintenance. Learn how to adjust your calorie intake to
    include favorite foods. Emotional eating is also addressed while The
    Best Life Diet plan is designed to work well into your lifestyle.

    Diets like The Best Life Diet that include lifestyle changes are found
    to be more successful than fad diets. Lifestyle changes will help you
    lose weight in a safe pace while keeping it off forever.

  • Special K Diet Plan

    You’ve probably seen the commercials for Special K cereal but did you
    know they also offer a Special K Diet Plan? This diet is so easy and
    simple to follow that you’ll no longer have an excuse for not dieting.
    If you want to drop a whole dress size in as little as two weeks, this
    plan may be perfect for you!

    Burn the Fat: – Fat burning secrets of the world’s best bodybuilders and fitness models.

    The Special K Diet Plan
    is simple, just eat one bowl of Kellogg’s Special K cereal with semi
    skimmed milk for breakfast and again for either lunch or dinner. That’s
    all there is to it! There’s nothing else to change in your diet. Of
    course it’s recommended that you eat healthy vegetables, fruits and low
    fat foods, but even without a change in your usual snacks and drinks,
    you are bound to lose weight.

    The Special K Diet Plan offers several cereal choices for the optimum
    weight loss. Those are Kellogg’s Special K, Kellogg’s Smart Start and
    Kellogg’s Special K Red Berries cereal. Eating fresh vegetables and
    fruit along with the cereal and for snacks will help keep hunger pangs
    to a minimum. Kellogg’s also offers Special K snack bars and breakfast
    bars. This can also help curb your appetite between meals. This healthy
    whole grain cereal is a much better choice than fatty bacon and high
    cholesterol eggs.

    Those using the Special K Diet Plan have found that calcium has been
    added to their diet. Studies show that calcium can help you to lose
    weight. Also most people don’t eat breakfast on a regular basis. Eating
    a Special K breakfast every morning will help start your metabolism and
    also aid in weight loss. Many diet conscious people prefer this diet
    over others since there’s no calorie counting or too many products to
    purchase, making it an easy diet to follow and lose weight successfully.

  • South Beach Diet

    In simple terms, the South Beach Diet works by simply substituting
    bad carbohydrates and fats with the good ones. This is a very basic
    concept to follow. Those who plan to try the South Beach Diet should
    know that it works in three phases.

    Burn the Fat: – Fat burning secrets of the world’s best bodybuilders and fitness models.

    The first phase of
    the South Beach Diet you will an almost normal diet which will consist
    of chicken, beef, turkey, fish, lots of vegetables, eggs, cheeses, and
    salads. On your salads, you must be sure to use 100% olive oil as your
    dressing. If you have not guessed yet, no carbs, all bread, rice,
    pasta, baked goods, fruit, candy, cakes, cookies, ice cream and sugar
    is out during this phase. However, you can have it back later. You will
    stay on phase one of this diet for two weeks. And please, do drink all
    of the coffee and tea you want along with the recommended amounts of
    water daily.

    In phase two of this diet is unique in the
    fact that for each individual person the time spent in phase two is
    different, and is determined by how their body reacts. It is normal to
    have lost between 8 to 13 pounds by this point in the diet. By this
    point in the diet cravings for those bad foods you use to eat should be
    nonexistent, and you are heading towards the pattern of maintaining
    good eating habits. Now comes the good part you are now able to start
    adding some of the foods you took out of your diet back in. In phase
    two of the South Beach Diet if you would love to have a piece of
    chocolate cake, go for it, but just one piece and not on a daily basis.
    Moderation is the key. Your weight loss will not be as much as with
    phase one but you will see a reduction.

     

    The
    last phase of the South Beach Diet is phase three, once you have hit
    your target weight you are ready to move on to this phase. In this
    phase is where you will stay for a lifetime, as you will be working to
    maintain your desired weight. By now, your new way of eating has become
    a way of life, so if you find at times your weight has started to creep
    upwards, just a little modification of your daily meals will get you
    back on track.

  • Slim Fast Diet

    When it comes to dieting, Slim
    Fast Diet is a name that is widely recognized. It works by replacing
    breakfast and lunch with one of their well-balanced shakes, which are
    high in nutrition and gives you a sense of fullness after you drink
    them. You also have a choice of eating a meal bar instead if you
    prefer. The Slim Fast Diet shakes and bars are very important as they
    contain one-third of your daily nutrient requirements to stay healthy,
    and they include up to five grams of fiber. Being that the shakes and
    meal bars are made nutritionally sound, you are able to safely replace
    the most important meal of the day with them.

    Fat Loss 4 Idiots: – Learn the 10 Idiot proof rules of dieting and fat loss.

    The goal of
    the creators of the Slim Fast Diet is for you not to get bored with
    eating the same thing day in and day out. Therefore, they have given
    you the option to combine some of your favorite healthy lunchtime foods
    in with your shake or meal bar. You are allowed to add 200 calories
    along with your shake or meal bar at lunchtime. An example of this
    would be having half of a turkey sandwich with your shake, or eating a
    meal bar along with a mini pizza, that is right pizza. If you prefer to
    eat on the lighter side for lunch eat a meal bar with some low fat
    yogurt and fresh fruit, or a salad. By being able to include these
    extras while you are on the Slim Fast Diet does not seem so restrictive.

    Now
    the time of day you have been waiting for is dinnertime. Again, you
    need to be reminded that you are working towards calorie reduction with
    the Slim Fast Diet, so the same principle follows suit even when you
    are dinning at dinnertime. With that in mind, that maximum calorie
    intake at dinnertime should only be approximately 500 calories. Your
    500 calories should not all come from one source, rather should be
    portioned out. The suggested portions are to fill one-quarter of your
    plate with lean protein, which may include skinless chicken, turkey
    fish, or beef. Another quarter of your plate will be starches such as
    potatoes, corn, pasta/noodles, and whole wheat bread, and it is
    preferred that whole grains are used when at all possible. Then the
    other half of your plate that is left you will fill with vegetables.
    Add a salad on the side and one serving of fruit or fruit salad for
    dessert and you will forget you are even on a diet.

  • Mayo Clinic Diet

    Nobody knows exactly where the Mayo Clinic Diet got its name since it
    did not actually originate from the Mayo Clinic. This diet offers
    combinations of foods that claim to induce fat burning. Eating
    grapefruit as part of this diet is thought to be an important catalyst
    in that it helps burn fat away. Many have found that they lose as much
    as 1 to one and a half pounds a day while following the strict regimen
    of this diet. This diet plan asks that you use their guidelines for
    twelve days straight then stop for two days. In other words you will
    take every other weekend off from the diet.

    Lose Fat, Gain Muscle: – Cardio free fat loss workouts using weight training.

    Though the
    Mayo Clinic Diet is thought to help heart patients lose weight quickly
    and safely, it has not yet been proven. If you believe this may be the
    perfect diet for you, be sure to follow all of the guidelines for this
    particular diet. Cutting down on coffee, or giving it up completely, is
    essential along with no caffeine. No less than eight 8oz glasses of
    water should be consumed daily.  Though butter is okay to use in this
    diet, sugars and starches are all eliminated. There will no longer be
    breads, desserts or potatoes in your meals.

    Once you’ve made the decision to start the Mayo Clinic Diet you should
    research and learn about good and healthy Mayo Clinic Diet recipes.
    Many find this diet to be a healthy alternative from other diets while
    helping you lose weight quickly. This diet can be helpful in getting
    you to meet your daily weight loss goals. Many say if your a fan of
    creamy soups, you’ll enjoy this special diet. If you’re tired of the
    fad diets that stop working as soon as you discontinue the diet plan,
    this diet may work for you. With steps to helping you make healthier
    choices in your diet, the Mayo Clinic Diet is easier to continue for a
    lifetime of healthy eating.

  • Master Cleanse Diet

    Discover the Master Cleanse Secrets
    Lose Weight in 10 Days!

    The Master Cleanse Diet, also known as the lemonade diet has been
    met with good reviews and bad reviews. This diet is more of a fasting
    type diet as no food is eaten for at least 10 days. The master cleanse
    diet is a mixture of lemon juice, maple syrup, water and cayenne
    pepper, of which may taken hot or cold. Stanley Burroughs an
    alternative medicine practitioner created this diet back in 1941 and it
    is said to work by eliminating harmful toxins and congestion that can
    build up in your body. This is a detoxifying process that removes
    poisons from your body that causes the weight gain, symptoms of feeling
    tired, mentally drained, irritability and just an all around depressed
    feeling.

    Those who support the Master Cleanse Diet swear
    by it. Some have made claims of great weight lost on this plan while
    others reports having an increased amount of energy. Still others have
    reported that that while on the Master Cleanse Diet they have been
    relieved of various chronic illnesses.

    Despite what some
    critics may have to say about the Master Cleanse Diet, celebrities such
    as Beyonce, Robin Quivers, co-host of the Howard Stern show and Mark
    Chapman have lost incredible amounts of weight. Their weight lost range
    from 22lbs. – 72lbs. Because of these testimonials and the short amount
    of time it takes to lose weight, Hollywood gives this diet plan a big
    thumbs up.

    It is important to note that after being on
    this diet for the minimum amount of time that you will have to slowly
    build your tolerance back up to eating solid foods. Therefore, if you
    are looking for a fast weight loss diet, the Master Cleanse Diet may be
    the diet plan for you. However, caution is in order especially if you
    have stomach problems such as IBS.

  • You On A Diet

    The You on a Diet plan is one that focuses on loses inches off your
    waistline rather than losing weight. The goal of Drs. Oz and Roisen is
    to shrink waist sizes down to the ideal sizes of 32 inches for women
    and 35 inches for men. The reason their focus is on the waistline is
    that it has been found that many illnesses are due to excessive weight
    around the middle. They also want this diet to be a life long one that
    is so easy to maintain you will not feel as if you are on a diet.

    Lose Fat, Gain Muscle: – Cardio free fat loss workouts using weight training.

    Some
    of the basics of the You on a Diet Plan is that if you were to decrease
    your calorie intake daily by just 100 calories daily you would loose
    one pound a month. Eliminate from your diet all hydrogenated oils,
    sugar, enriched flour products, and white foods out of your diet and
    pantry. It is suggested that you only buy foods that have the four
    factor, that is four grams of saturated fat and four grams of sugar per
    serving. For those of you that have an incredible sweet tooth is
    suggested that you drink a glass of water, get a good night’s rest even
    an indulgence of sex can help you control your sweets cravings while on
    the You on a diet plan. If the need to snack is overwhelming, why not
    crunch on some carrots, apples, or nuts.

    The You on a
    Diet plan stresses the need and importance of a regular exercise
    program in your life as part of your lifestyle change to a healthier
    life. On a daily basis, it is suggested that you engage in at least 30
    minutes of weight training exercise and at least 60 minutes of
    high-density cardio exercise weekly for optimal health. The You on a
    Diet plan promises to be one so you can easily maintain through out
    your life.