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Over 1 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes every year and over 200,000 deaths are attributed to the disease. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, or if you simply want to take better care of how you eat, it is to your benefit to follow the American Diabetic Diet in order to keep your diabetes under control.


Both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics must learn to follow a diabetic diet plan in order to stay healthy. When following the right meal plan, such as the American Diabetic Diet, diabetic patients are able to effectively control their blood sugar without the need for medications.


The reason the American Diabetic Diet is so highly effective is because it comprises all food groups. The American Diabetic Diet plan recommends food high in mono unsaturated fats or polyunsaturated fats and low in saturated fats. Most of the calories recommended in the American Diabetic Diet come primarily from carbohydrates, second from fats, then from proteins.


The American Diabetic Diet is to be followed daily and carries the following recommendations:

-5 portions fresh fruit and vegetables (spinach, broccoli and carrots)

-6 portions whole grains (cereals, bread and pasta)

-2 portions (meat, fish or chicken)

-Dairy products (eggs, skim milk, non-fat cheese, yogurt even low-fat ice cream)


Everyone’s make-up is different, so too are their bodily requirements. Some require high calorie consumption. The American Diabetic Diet accommodates this group of people.


The American Diabetic Diet plan for the people requiring 1200-1600 calorie consumption includes:

-Three portions fruits and vegetables

-Two portions milk, yogurt and meat

-Three portions of fats

-Six portions of starches


The American Diabetic Diet plan for people requiring 1600-2000 calorie consumption includes:

-Three portions fruits

-Four portions vegetables

-Two portions milk, yogurt and meat

-Four portions of fats

-Eight portions of starches


The American Diabetic Diet plan for diabetic people requiring 2000-2400 calorie consumption include:

-Three portions fruits

-Four portions vegetables

-Two portions milk, yogurt and meat

-Five portions of fats

-Eleven portions of starches


Popular belief is that diabetic people are not to eat sweets. This is not always the case. The American Diabetic Diet recommends eating sweets but in limited amounts. It is important to eat low-calorie sweets or artificial sweeteners as a substitute for sugar.


The American Diabetic Diet plan is helpful not only for people suffering from diabetes, but for everyone. People who have diabetes have the same nutritional needs as everyone else. The need for regular exercise is also the same for those with diabetes as it is for those without.


Incorporating exercise and the American Diabetic Diet, along with individually prescribed medications, are essential for managing diabetes. By having a well-balanced diet and choosing the right types of foods, the diabetic can move their blood sugar back towards regular levels. Controlling blood glucose levels is the primary goal of the American Diabetic Diet.


Be healthy and live a longer, happier life through the American Diabetic Diet. Prior to implementing the American Diabetic Diet, please consult your health care physician.

Need a few more diabetic diets? Check out our blog at http://www.diabeticsource.org.
Get an expanded list of ingredients for the American Diabetic Diet

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Although not widely publicized, it is not uncommon for a high school student to be attending class day after day with signs of depression. Depression may strike at nearly any age, which is why parents of high school students need to know the signs and symptoms of depression.

The biggest hurdle parents, and many teachers, have in believing in high school depression is that they don’t see how a student who seems to have so few worries in life could possibly be depressed. What must be kept in mind is that people of any age may be affected by any level of stress, no matter how small it may seem to others. As well, when brain chemicals themselves are out-of-whack, from any number of situations, symptoms of depression may result.

Teachers usually know their students very well, through powers of observation, but many are not trained to deal with depression in high school students. ADHD kids, slow learners, the discipline problems or brilliant learners are the more common types of ‘out of the ordinary’ students dealt with in high school. Depression is less common although most teachers can tell when one of their students is having some kind of problem. Of course a student suffering from depression may also have teachers that are not interested in resolving those kinds of problems.

Depression in a student in class can manifest itself as apathy. A student who never seems to understand the lessons or never seems to pay attention may be suffering from depression. High school depression can render a student incapable of concentrating on any one thing at a time, as the doom and loneliness of depression takes over their thinking. These students do not deliberately try to ignore the teacher or try not to pay attention. It is just that the depression is overwhelming.

Depression can also manifest itself in students as shyness or false attempts to make friends. Many depressed students will do what ever they can to make temporary friends, including using drugs, smoking and alcohol. Some will join multiple sports in order to be in with certain clicks or to make an attempt to ignore their shyness. It is common for students with depression to be either quiet or very serious types who seem to have few emotions.

Teachers who know they have students suffering from depression usually respond in one of two ways. They may ignore the student’s problems and just assume they are a typical apathetic high schooler, or they may approach the student to have one-on-one conversations. To have a personal conversation is a risky endeavor for any teacher because of the student-teacher line we all hear about. Still, some teachers may attempt a conversation about the depression to get a better idea if that is indeed what the student is suffering from.

For the student with symptoms of depression, a comfortable classroom, where the teacher has spoken to them, is a much happier classroom. Having a verbal relationship with your teacher who is aware of your depression problems will speed recovery and convince most depressed high school students that school can be a positive experience.

Students dealing with depression should not be ignored by the teacher. It will be important to keep the mind of a depressed student active, interested in school and comforted, as they recover from the very real problem of depression. A caring teacher that helps a depressed student be more successful in homework or classroom activities will increase the chances that the student will get over the depression quickly.

Symptoms of depression in a high school student can’t be expected to clear up overnight, but they can be dealt with in a certain fashion that will help in the recovery. Depressed students view school as a negative place they must go to daily. It does not have to be that way once both the teacher and the student realize that symptoms of depression are real but curable for most students.

Mark D. Jordan is a long-time researcher and writer from Pennsylvania. Other useful depression and health information can be read at Depression Relief and Cures and Anxiety Problems

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Summer has been replaced by the sounds of fall – the wind rustling through the changing leaves, the cheers at football games, and the coughing and sneezing of congestion, colds and flus. When the weather turns colder, cold and flu viruses take advantage of weakening immune systems everywhere. Studies show that the average person contracts about three colds a year, with those who are in regular contact with children having an increased risk.

Because the common cold and influenza are viruses, antibiotics do not help, and there is no cure. You can get a flu vaccination nearly anywhere, but the best strategy remains prevention. With the worldwide emergence of the H1N1 virus, it is absolutely critical that you protect yourself and your family from one of the most highly-feared flu seasons in nearly a century.

Wash Your Hands

One of the simplest and most effective ways to keep from catching a cold or flu virus is through frequent hand washing. Antibacterial hand sanitizers give you a viable substitute for soap and water. Alcohol-based foams and gels are also recommended by the Centers for Disease Control for hand hygiene.

Eat Healthy

Nutritious food is absolutely essential to building surveyor and maintaining a healthy immune system. A well-balanced diet of fruits and vegetables will provide energy and nutrition for optimal growth and development. Taking a daily multi-vitamin will also ensure you are receiving an adequate dose of vitamins.

Sleep

Lack of sleep lowers your immune system’s ability to react quickly and efficiently, making you susceptible to viruses. It is recommended, especially in deep winter, to get seven to eight hours of sleep every night.

Clean Air

Since viruses can be transmitted through the air by coughs and sneezes, it’s a good idea to keep the inside spaces you occupy on a daily basis clean. This includes the air you breathe. A quality air purifier in your home, bedroom, and office is recommended to keep the air you breathe clean.

The Vornado® Air Quality System 500 Whole Room Air Purifier uses Vornado’s signature Vortex Technology to effectively circulate and filter all the air in the room for a new level of indoor air quality. The AQS 500 uses two filters designed to trap dust, pollen, pet dander, smoke, bacteria, mold spores and dust mite debris. This Energy Star qualified product is capable of six air changes per hour. For more information on Vornado’s AQS 500 Whole Room Air Purifier and their dynamic catalog of air circulators, fans, heaters, humidifiers, filters and fans, go to www.vornadocentral.com.

summer is replaced by the sounds of fall – the rustling of wind through the leaves change, the cheering at football matches, coughing and sneezing and congestion, colds and flu. When the weather turns cold, cold and flu viruses take advantage of weakening of the immune system everywhere. Studies show that the average person contracts about three colds per year, with those who have regular contact with children at increased risk. Because of the cold and flu viruses, no antibiotics not help, and not no cure. You can a flu shot almost anywhere, but prevention remains the best strategy. With the global emergence of the H1N1 virus, is essential to protect yourself and your family from one of the most dreaded seasonal flu in nearly a century. Wash Your Hands One of the simplest and most effective ways to avoid catching a cold or flu virus is frequent hand washing. Antibacterial hand sanitizers offer a viable alternative to soap and water. Alcohol-based foams and gels are also recommended by the Centers for Disease Control hand hygiene. eating healthy Food Nutritiongrowth and development. Take a daily multi-vitamin also ensure that you receive an adequate dose of vitamins. Sleep Lack of sleep reduces the ability of your immune system to respond quickly and efficiently, making it more susceptible to viruses

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You’ve read the articles, watched Oprah, and heard it from friends: Meditation is good for you. Meditation is good for the body and soul, it is used as an aid to healing in hospitals across the world, is responsible for lowering stress and high blood pressure, increasing creativity, and a host of spiritual benefits as well. And while this all sounds great you may be wondering: How can I learn to meditate when I can’t keep my body or mind still for more than a few seconds?

The solution is Active Meditation. When most people think of meditation they picture someone dressed in loose, earth-toned clothing, sitting cross-legged on a mat in the middle of a forest while they chant vowel sounds for an hour. And while sitting in this manner and speaking a mantra is certainly a common method of meditation, known as transcendental meditation, it is certainly not the only method. Active meditation allows for body movement, in fact, it requires some movement as part of the meditation process.

Tai Chi, walking meditation, and GGGG a Japanese writing meditation are all samples of meditation practices that use simple body movements to bring about a meditative state. And while I personally have enjoyed walking meditations and Tai Chi, my preferred method of active meditation is coloring. Any art form that you are comfortable with can bring about relaxation and meditation.

I have a friend that is an amazing artist and she told me that when she paints she goes into a state of complete peace; she says everything around her becomes clearer, even the most mundane things like the colors of vase she may have had for years become bright and vibrant. Isn’t it worth giving active meditation a try knowing that such peace and happiness exists for you too?

The following is a coloring meditation reprinted from my latest book 30 Minute Celtic Mandalas Coloring Book: Easy Meditation through Coloring. If you wish to follow along you can download a free coloring page off my website www.30minutemandalas.com and give active meditation a try.

Following are the basic steps involved in coloring meditations. Even if you don’t adhere to these steps exactly, you will still enjoy the relaxation that coloring provides. So, set some time aside to experience the wonderful healing power of 30-Minute CELTIC Mandalas.

Step One: Gather your coloring pencils or markers and your 30-Minute CELTIC Mandalas Coloring Book; then choose a comfortable place where you can be quiet for approximately 30 minutes. (Note by adding details, shading, or even coloring outside of the design you can make this meditation stretch beyond 30 minutes. If you have the extra time, I highly recommend it.)

Step Two: Smile. Holding a light smile on your face will help put you in a receptive mood for the meditation. Don’t skip this step just because it sounds a little silly. Science has proven that smiling, even when you are not happy, can raise the level of endorphins (mood enhancing chemicals) in your brain. So, start smiling!

Step Three: Flip through your coloring book and pick the first design that peaks your interest. Don’t dwell on it, just accept your choice and move on.

Step Four: Choose your first pencil or marker and then begin to color. No need to over-think the colors, in fact I’m always amazed at the color combinations I come up with during a meditation and how wonderful they look together. I often find myself using colors I would normally ignore and then loving the end result. Whenever possible let the colors choose themselves.

Step Five: Watch the design take life with every stroke. Allow your self to experience the movements, hear the sounds of pencils on paper, or feel the markers as they glide across the page. As thoughts or pictures pop into your head (and they will) simply acknowledge them and then return your focus to the coloring. The coloring will always bring you back. With a little practice you will find it increasingly easy to get into a deeply relaxed, almost detached state.

Michelle Normand is a graphic designer and author of the 30-Minute Mandalas coloring book series. She also works as a freelance health and beauty writer and has been featured in New You magazine. Her next book, How to Meditate when You can’t Sit Still, is due for a winter release.


Her next book, 30-Minute Celtic Mandalas, is due for release this winter. To learn more about the author or the power of color therapy please visit Michelle’s site at www.30minutemandalas.com.

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ACE inhibitors stop the production of a hormone called angiotensin II that makes the blood vessels narrow. As a result, the vessels expand, improving blood flow. Tension in the circulation is also lowered by the kidneys filtering more fluid from the blood vessels into urine. This also helps reduce blood pressure. If your blood pressure is not easily controlled on simple medication, your doctor will probably use a medicine of this type.

While most cases of high blood pressure arise from an unknown set of factors, in some cases a definite cause is clearly identified. In these cases, treatment will have two different goals. First, to control the high blood pressure. Second, to relieve, if possible, the underlying cause. Someone with high blood pressure because of an underlying hormone disorder, for example, would likely be controlled on blood pressure medications but would also be treated in an attempt to resolve the hormone imbalance at the root of the problem.

The most commonly used diuretic to treat high blood pressure in the UK is called bendroflumethiazide (bendrofluazide) – but there are others. For example, chlorothiazide, chlorthalidone, cyclopenthiazide, hydrochlorothiazide, and indapamide. Diuretics work by increasing the amount of salt and fluid that you pass out in your urine. This has some effect on reducing the fluid in the circulation which reduces blood pressure. They may also have a ‘relaxing’ effect on the blood vessels which reduces the pressure within the blood vessels. Only a low dose of a diuretic is needed to treat high blood pressure. Therefore, you will not notice much diuretic effect (you will not pass much extra urine).

Even people who do not have hypertension know that diet plays a very important role in the cause or prevention of this health condition. And it is true. If your diet is high in fat and sodium, you have an increased risk of having high blood pressure. So you better avoid food that is high in salt, sugar and fat.

But before going on a diet, you should also put into consideration your age and weight. Not all types of diet programs can be applied to everyone. It is important that your diet should not only be healthy, but somehow it should also fit your tastes and lifestyle.

The preferred treatment of choice for those suffering high blood pressure is usually a change of lifestyle. For those who are overweight, smoke, lead highly stressful lives or seldom exercise, sometimes this is the only wake up call they need. Once they make the necessary lifestyle adjustments, they will often find their blood pressure symptom restored to a more normal range.

If you have high blood pressure, or have just been diagnosed with it, you may have concerns and questions about how it is going to be treated and how high blood pressure will affect you in your day-to-day life. You may also be worried about how high blood pressure will affect your future health.

Slightly raised blood pressure may not need to be treated so aggressively, but regular monitoring is important. If you have very severe high blood pressure, you may need to go to hospital for treatment. But it’s much more likely that you will be cared for by your GP and/or a nurse.

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