Entries Tagged 'Health' ↓

Obesity rates are skyrocketing among Americans, thanks in large part to fast food, larger portions, and sedentary lifestyles. Many people are acting to change their diets and include healthier options in their weekly menu, but just what are the best foods to eat to help maintain a healthy weight and fight off diseases? While most people just assume that more vegetables, fruits, and greens are the best answer; there are certain foods in these categories that provide the most bang for their buck. In particular, there are five superfoods that are even more nutrient rich than others and provide compounds to help protect against some cancers and increase heart health.

With a little investigation of local markets, Americans can find any of the following superfoods to add to their diet and boost their intake of nutrient rich produce.

1. Sweet Potato. The purple sweet potato in particular is packed with beta-carotene and contains 150% more antioxidants than blueberries. The purple sweet potato is consumed at breakfast, lunch, and dinner by the women of Okinawa, Japan and can be difficult to find in the U.S. Fear not though; our orange sweet potatoes contain many of the same nutrients and are very healthy.

2. Tumeric Tea. Again coming courtesy of the women of Japan, tumeric is a spice that the women of Okinawa add to their tea daily. The spice has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and is rich with antioxidants that can help in the fight against cancer. The women of Okinawa suffer from breast cancer at just one-fifth the rate of their American counterparts.

3. Mangosteen. The white, creamy flesh inside the mangosteen fruit is rich in Vitamins A and C and cancer fighting antioxidants. While the fruit itself can be hard to find, the juice is widely available and is nearly as valuable to the diet as the fruit itself. Mangosteen can also be found in a tea form.

4. Greek Greens/Mustard Greens. Greek Greens, including arugula, cabbages, and spinach, can be eaten raw, boiled, or cooked into casseroles. The people of Icaria, Greece boil their mustard greens and toss them with extra virgin olive oil and lemon. The greens are high in Vitamin K (something Americans lack) and are good for blood and bone strength. One in three Icarians lives to the age of 90 and they have no reported cases of Alzheimer’s disease.

5. Barramundi Fish. Already becoming more popular in the U.S., Barramundi fish contain loads of omega-3s which are extremely healthy for the heart and brain. Because the Barramundi dines on plankton it is free of mercury making it safe even for pregnant women to eat.

By adding any or all of these foods to a person’s diet, they can boost their body’s ability to fight off diseases of the heart and some cancers. These are just five foods that can help anyone take the first step on the road to better health.

Anabolic steroids are synthetic substances that are usually injected or ingested that increase muscle growth and regulate the male hormones. These steroids are intended to treat medical problems and are only to be prescribed and administered by a doctor. However, some people illegally use these steroids to enhance their athletic performance or stimulate muscle growth. When used without the direction of a doctor, steroids can pose a variety of health risks and prove to be very detrimental to the body and mind.

15 Facts About Steroid Abuse

1. Steroid abuse can cause high blood pressure. High blood pressure in steroid abusers can lead to heart attack and other heart problems, that may affect users throughout their lives.

2. The continued use of steroids can cause jaundice. Jaundice is a condition that causes the skin and eyes to appear yellow, which is due to the red blood cells in one’s body being rapidly destroyed. Jaundice is a symptom of liver problems, which can also be caused by steroid use.

3. Steroids can also be detrimental to a person’s appearance. For example, steroid use causes acne in many users. This acne can range from a few blemishes to sever acne, that generally covers the face, shoulders, and back.

4. Steroids can also affect one’s appearance by causing them to retain fluids. Fluid retention can cause a person to look bloated, which can result in a rounder face or a bloated abdomen. This may cause steroid users to appear as though they have gained body fat, which is generally the opposite intended effect of such steroid use.

5. One side effect of steroids that is discouraging to many men, is their ability to cause hair loss in men. Many steroid users show signs of increased hair loss, which may result in baldness. This effect is very discouraging to many men, and is also a tell-tale sign of steroid abuse.

6. Another side effect of steroids that is rather upsetting to many men, is their ability to promote male breast growth. Instead of increasing the size of the pectoral muscles, steroids can actually stimulate the growth of fatty breast tissue, which results in a feminine looking breast.

7. Steroids are also known to cause more serious side effects, like tumors in the liver and kidneys. In some cases, these tumors can be cancerous and even deadly.

8. In addition to causing liver and kidney tumors, steroids can also cause prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is one of the most dangerous cancers that a man can face. In fact, prostate cancer is behind only lung cancer, as the most deadly cancer among men in the United States.

9. Many steroid users also see an increase in the levels of LDL cholesterol, which is the “bad” cholesterol. A rise in LDL cholesterol causes the arteries to become clogged, which may result in a heart attack or stroke.

10. Steroids also interfere with a man’s fertility by lowering his sperm count and even causing his testicles to shrink. While this may not be a noticeable side effect to outsiders, this can interfere with a man’s ability to begin a family, and therefore his relationships.

11. Steroid abuse is also known to cause extreme mood swings in users. These moods swings range from uncontrollable anger and irritability to delusions of invincibility. While some of these mood swings are reported as pleasant, many of these emotions can become violent and problematic.

12. Women that use steroids may notice many masculine changes in their body. These changes include a deeper voice, growth of facial hair, and changes in their sexual organs.

13. Steroid use can also interfere with a woman’s fertility. Continued steroid use may result in a woman’s menstrual cycle to change or even stop completely, rendering her unable to produce offspring.

14. Steroid abuse also has a detrimental effect in development if used during adolescence. Steroids may cause adolescents to prematurely reach puberty and may also stunt their growth, which will leave them unable to grow to their full height.

15. Steroid users that share needles also run the risk of contracting HIV or other diseases, like hepatitis. While this may not be a common concern, those that share needles should be fully aware of the health risks associated with such behavior.

Whether supplementing a diet poor in nutrition or targeting a specific health issue, the use of dietary supplements has burgeoned. The following are some of the most effective and commonly used supplements.

Vitamin C
Ascorbic acid, or Vitamin C, is a water-soluble vitamin required for at least 300 essential metabolic processes in the human body. Functions include:
Tissue growth and repair
Healing of wounds and burns
Adrenal gland function
Gum health
Antioxidant, reduces oxidative stress in the body by preventing the formation of free radicals
Aids in production of anti-stress hormones
Necessary for metabolizing other vitamins
Enhances immunity
Protects against cancer
Elimination of some heavy metals
May reduce LDL (low-density lipoproteins) or bad cholesterol and increase HDL (high-density lipoproteins) or good cholesterol

Vitamin E
Vitamin E consists of eight different related molecules; the tocopherols and tocotrienols, all are fat-soluble. The most active form is d-alpha tocopherol. Functions include:
Antioxidant, reduces cell damage by free radicals
Prevention of certain cancers
Prevention of cardiovascular disease, strengthens capillaries, reduces blood pressure, and improves circulation
Aids in tissue repair, may reduce scarring
Promotes athletic performance
Maintains healthy nerve functioning

Fish Oil
Derived from fatty tissue of oily fish, the oil is high in Omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Benefits include:
Lowers cholesterol levels
Reduces blood pressure
Lowers risk of coronary artery disease
Lowers risk of stroke
May reduce incidence of breast and colon cancer
Aids in transmission of nerve impulses
Used as a “brain food”
Aids eye problems such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
Improve skin and hair
Aid in prevention of arthritis

Cranberry Fruit
Supplements produced from the fruits of the cranberry contain numerous phytochemicals, vitamins, and minerals. Benefits include:
Prevention of urinary tract infections
Anticancer properties
Source of Vitamin C

Turmeric
Supplement made from the seasoning turmeric. Benefits include:
Aids circulation
Lowers cholesterol
Anticancer properties
Anti-inflammatory properties
Treatment of arthritis
Protects the liver
Antioxidant, fights free radicals
Antibiotic properties
Improves health of blood vessels
Liver detoxification
Reduces the risk of childhood leukemia

Calcium
Essential mineral, the benefits include:
Formation of bones and teeth
Maintains regular heartbeat
Transmission of nerve impulses
Muscle function
Cancer prevention

Magnesium
Essential mineral, the benefits include:
Reduces incidence of migraines
Protects arteries
Prevent cardiovascular disease
Reduces birth defects

Zinc
Essential mineral, the benefits include:
Prostate functioning
Promotes healthy immune system
Promotes healing
Improves taste and smell

Coenzyme Q 10
Antioxidant properties
Production of cellular energy
Aids in circulation
Aids immune system
Anti-aging properties
Lowers high blood pressure
Fights cardiovascular disease

Green Tea
Supplement made from green tea, benefits include:
Antioxidant
Anticancer properties
Lowers cholesterol
Aids immune functioning
Regulate blood sugar and insulin levels
Fights tooth decay
Aids in weight loss
Fights mental fatigue