Archive for July 22nd, 2005
Many things can cause diarrhea including diet, medications or other medical conditions such as IBS and IBD. It is important to watch what you eat if you have diarrhea since diarrhea can cause dehydration. Take special care to:
1. Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of fluid everyday. This will replace lost fluids. Water, juices (except prune juice), broth or consomme, ginger ale, Gatorade jello and weak tea are all good sources of fluid.
2. Watch how long you have diarrhea. If it lasts more than 2 days, contact your doctor. Unfortunately, these are a lot we do not know about the effects that foods have on diarrhea. The treatment of diarrhea is different for each individual. Don’t try these all at once, rather try a couple suggestions at a time to find those that work best for you. This will prevent you from avoiding some foods unnecessarily.
* Limit foods that contain caffeine such as coffee, strong tea and cola beverages
* In some cases milk and milk products such as milk, cheese, pudding and ice cream can made diarrhea worse. Reduce your use of these foods to see if your diarrhea gets better. If you think these may be a problem, talk to your dietitian or doctor for more information. Lactose-free milk or soy beverages may be better tolerated.
* Limit your use of high fat foods such as fried foods, fatty meats, high fat desserts, excess butter, margarine, higher fat milk products (homo milk, cream) and greasy snack foods
* Try to reduce the amount of fibre in your diet. Fibre is found mostly in fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads and cereals, nuts and seeds. Try a low fiber diet with Low fiber foods
* Some people find that removing the skins, seeds and membranes from fruits and vegetables makes these foods easier to digest. Canned or well-cooked fruits and vegetables may also be easier to digest.
* Try eating several small meals throughout the day
* Limit your used of dried fruits, berries, rhubarb, legumes (lentils, kidney beans, lima beans), peas, corn, broccoli, spinach and nuts. They may make diarrhea worse for some people
* If you have gas or cramping you may find it helpful to avoid foods that can increase gas production. These include dried peas and beans, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, onions, brussels sprouts, carbonated beverages, beer and chewing gum
* When diarrhea is no longer a problem, gradually resume a normal diet
July 22nd, 2005
Written by Gloria Tsang R.D.
Lutein EyeAge-related macular degeneration (MD) is a disease that blurs the sharp, central vision you need for “straight-ahead” activities such as reading, sewing, and driving. MD affects the macula, the part of the eye that allows you to see fine detail In some cases, MD advances so slowly that people notice little change in their vision.
A cataract, on the other hand, is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision. Cataracts are very common in older people. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery.
What is Lutein?
Lutein is an antioxidant, belonging to the carotenoid family. Lutein can be found in dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, collards, kale and broccoli, various fruits and corn. Egg yolks are also sources of lutein.
Lutein and Macular Degeneration
Lutein is highly concentrated in the macula, a small area of the retina responsible for central vision, and high visual acuity. It is also thought that lutein filters blue wavelengths of light from the visible-light spectrum. Blue light, in both indoor lighting and sunlight, is believed to induce oxidative stress and possible free-radical damage in human organs exposed to light such as the eyes. A current trial by the US National Eye Institute NEI is working on the recommended dosage, but Frederick Ferris, the director of clinical research at the NEI suggested that it would probably be between 6 and 15 mg per day.
Lutein and Cataract
The exact mechanism of how lutein prevents cataracts is still unknown. A few large studies revealed that people consumed a high quantity of lutein have a 20 - 50% lower risk of getting a cataract than people who consumed the least lutein. Another study also showed that men who ate broccoli or raw spinach more than 2 times a week were 25% less likely to have cataract surgery than men who ate them less than once a month. Researchers found that people who consumed ~ 6 mg of lutein or more a day.
July 22nd, 2005
What kind of diet will help me lose weight?
Many diets can help you lose weight. However, “going on a diet” is not the best answer to losing weight. Usually you gain the weight back after you “go off” the diet. If you want to lose weight and keep it off, you have to change much more than just what you eat. You have to change how and when you eat, and you have to start exercising or exercise more often. Most people who lose weight and keep it off do 3 things. First, they find out why they are overweight. Second, they follow a healthy eating plan. Third, they exercise regularly.
Why am I overweight?
There may be many reasons for your weight problem. Weight problems often run in families. Or you may be eating to make yourself feel better when you are sad, stressed or lonely. Sometimes a low body metabolism (the rate you burn calories) or a problem with hormone levels may be the cause.
A new diet may help you lose weight for a little while. But the weight often comes back unless you find new ways to deal with the problems that are leading to your weight gain. This may mean learning new ways to handle stress, finding ways to feel less lonely or talking with a counselor about your feelings.
What kind of diet should I follow?
You should follow a healthy diet that you like and that you can stick to. The diet should be low in fats and sugars, and high in fiber.
Your doctor or a nutritionist can give you advice on what kinds of foods are healthy choices. Remember to watch portion sizes. A healthy portion of meat is the size of a deck of cards. A healthy portion of rice or pasta is about the size of your fist. Most restaurants tend to double or even triple these amounts.
Read the nutrition labels on foods before you buy them. If you need help understanding the labels, ask your doctor or a nutritionist to explain them.
Won’t it be hard to change my diet?
It might be hard, and it will also take time, so try not to get discouraged. Your effort will be worth it. The key is to keep trying to eat the right foods. The following are a few suggestions to help you change your diet:
* Make small, slow changes. Then it will be easier to make the changes a part of your everyday life.
* Every few days, write down what you eat and drink that day. Use this record to help you see if you need to eat more from any food groups, such as fruits, vegetables, or low-fat dairy products.
* Ask for help from your family doctor or a nutritionist, especially if you have a medical problem that requires a special diet.
* Read the nutrition labels on foods before you buy them. If you need help understanding the labels, ask your doctor or a nutritionist to explain them.
July 22nd, 2005
The color is one difference in cheese. Most people recognize cheddar, colby orAmerican as yellow and brick or Swiss as white.
Nutritionally, hard cheeses such as Parmesan, cheddar, colby, Swiss, brick and American are good sources of calcium that are equivalent to milk. One and one half ounces of hard cheese is equal to the calcium in one cup of milk.
Cheese can also be substituted for meat at a meal or added to casseroles to increase the protein content. Cheese made from milk contains all the essential amino acids necessary for growth and repair of muscles and internal organs.
One major difference in cheeses, though unrelated to color, is the fat content. Cheeses can vary from three to eight grams of fat per ounce. Low fat cheeses that contain five grams of fat or less include:
baby Swiss
Cheese Whiz
cottage cheese
diet cheeses
farmers
feta
light cream cheese
mozzarella
Neufchatel
parmesan
pot cheese
ricotta
string cheese
Velveeta
The calorie content of the white and yellow cheeses listed above is about the same at 75 calories per one ounce.
July 22nd, 2005