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Archive for the ‘Nutrition’ Category

The word casein is derived from the Latin caseus, meaning cheese. It accounts for almost 80% of proteins found in milk and in cheese. A good source of cheese casein is Cottage cheese. The predominant protein is called phosphoprotein.

Casein is a derivative of Whey protein and has recently shown itself to be an excellent source of protein in order to help the body recover from excess stress, injury or exhaustion as can be caused by intensive athletic training. This is due to the fact that it empties from the stomach quickly yet the body takes longer to digest it, making absorption more efficient. How it does this is by forming a clot in the stomach. It is this clot that provides the sustained release of amino acids into the blood as well as helping the body retain nitrogen.

The clotting is due to Casein proteins being pH sensitive, which makes them ‘gel’, or clot in an acidic environment, such as the stomach. This slower rate of digestion is what makes Casein so beneficial. While quickly absorbing proteins have their place immediately before of after a workout, Casein proteins take it a step further by protecting, repairing and nourishing your body throughout the day.

Benefits of Casein Protein
Casein is used extensively by athletes as a dietary supplement as it breaks down slowly which gives them a sustained release of protein. It also provides anti-catabolic properties, which inhibit protein breakdown which is crucial for sports men and women.

Yet Casein is not only suited to athletes. Everybody needs to provide enough protein in their diet. However many are not able to get it from food and as such Casein is a good source when taken as a supplement.

Casein is known as the slow and fast acting protein. It is quickly metabolized in the body yet our bodies take longer to digest it. This unique property of Casein provides many specific benefits.

Casein helps preserve muscles. Apart from building muscle instead of fat we need to maintain muscle. Casein also helps blood flow faster and equally around the body.

Casein increases metabolism and provides glutamine, which is good for those who want to increase their weight. It is also said to reduce tooth decay.

Casein Foods
Casein is derived from and is a by product of milk products, especially cheese. During the curdling process Casein proteins are collected and then processed in their desired form.

Casein grading is important and can be divided into either high or low grade. Low quality Casein proteins are regarded as such because they are collected before the curdling phase. They are less expensive because they are less refined. The less refinement the longer they move through our body.

High quality proteins are derived from whole milk that contains no chemicals or acids.

The molecular structure of Casein is similar to that of Gluten. It is often listed as sodium Caseinate, calcium Caseinate or milk proteins. If one looks at the labeling on energy products they will most likely be seen on the packaging. They do however contain an amount of cow’s milk and should be taken with caution by those who have dairy allergies.

One of the major Caseins in milk is beta-Casein. There is more than one type of beta-Casein yet the most common are typed as A1 and A2. Certain breeds of cow produce mostly A1 beta-Casein while other produces mostly A2 beta-Casein.

Casein as a meal replacement
Casein proteins improve how the body absorbs amino acids and because of this can provide maximum energy and strength when taken in place of a meal. They are able to help sustain the body for longer periods between meals.

In order to keep the body in prime condition it needs proteins derived from the foods we eat. This usually entails eating 6 small meals per day which are protein heavy. Yet for many it is not possible to get the required amount this way, especially with our busy lives. Yet we can get the extra proteins we need and which will keep our body functioning property through Casein supplements.

However before taking Casein as a supplement you should only consider taking those supplied by reputable manufacturers. You want to avoid low quality Casein proteins where possible. When you have tried both grades you will be able to gauge the difference.

When it comes to training and sports healthy eating habits are a must. Proper athletic nutrition is crucial to give you that boost of energy you will need to get you through those intense training sessions.

Indeed, one of the most important aspects of training and keeping at a healthy weight is to take an honest, harsh look at what you put in your mouth. Regardless of whether you are training 1 hour per day or 10 hours per day, the quality of the foods you eat are going to go a long way in either boosting your training sessions or bringing them crashing down on you.

Medical science has proven that one of the most significant health indicators is the food that we eat and athletes need to be hyper vigilant about this. While you are working out, you lose minerals and this is normal – however, it is crucial to replace those minerals with a healthy diet. If you do not eat well, you will find yourself either being very sluggish and tired all the time or you might end up wondering why on earth you are not gaining/losing weight as you should be and the answer is in the foods that you consume.

While it was believed that athletes needed to eat more fats than “usual” people, this has now been disputed. As a matter of fact, athletes should be eating a combination of healthy carbs (such as grains) and protein as well as minimal fats.

It is also important to eat your meals at strategic times. If you like to train in the mornings, then you should eat some light fruit and perhaps an ounce or two of nuts to get you through your morning session.
After you have finished the workout, make sure to eat within two hours. Your body is still in “burning” mode and will easily process a healthy breakfast. It is imperative that you eat breakfast each morning – do not skip this important meal.

If you work out at lunch or later, then consider eating a small, light meal approximately 1 hour before you go for your workout – this should be light and considered a “mini” meal. The goal is to give you the energy that you will need for the workout – without making you feel full. Once the workout is completed, you should have your meal – remember that you should be having a healthy meal and this meal should not be too close to your sleep time. Your body needs time to digest.

For many people, eating more small meals during the day makes a lot of sense. As long as it is healthy stuff! Finally, don’t forget to drink as much water as possible – water cleans out your body and removes the toxins that can make you ill.

Nutrition augments stroke treatment and must be administered accordingly by the caregiver and stroke patient’s family. According to research, nutrition affects the course and outcome of a stroke patient’s life and recovery.

A study conducted by Salah Gariballa of the University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom notes that, “stroke patients are highly dependent on others for their nutritional requirements being met. Many are undernourished prior to the stroke and their nutritional status declines further in the hospital”.

Gariballa’s research showed that due to poor diet provided to stroke patients, they become susceptible to diseases such as urinary tract infections, undernutrition, dehydration, among others.

A great way to avoid these from happening would be to undertake considerable measures such as:

1. Get a reputable nutritionist – the first thing family members and caregivers of stroke patients should do is to get a reputable nutritionist to identify what diet should be complied with. This ensures tailor-fitting meals that will help the stroke patient recover physical and mental strength to adapt to the various treatments, as well as absorb learning where applicable.

2. Subscribe to a health and wellness food magazine – exposure is one of the best ways to adapt to change. If the patient used to love unhealthy food it is relevant then to immerse him or her to literature that will boost the desire for healthy food. This is also a great way to improve memory and reorient the patient in relearning various topics, especially since food magazines normally are very visual and can pose as a great activity for learning images.

3. Watch cooking shows for the health-conscious – if food magazines are not available, find useful purpose for the television through cooking shows the inspire consumption of good food and health habits.

4. Encourage everyone to adapt to the new health lifestyle – any endeavor, to be effective, requires conscious group effort. The same goes to having a healthy lifestyle for the patient. This must be supported by family and friends–the best way of showing support is eating nutritious food yourself.

5. Enjoy the food together – there’s no better way to enjoy good nutritious food than eating it with loved ones. Boost the patient’s gusto for food by joining them in their meals.

Proper and good nutrition augments stroke treatment as it provides the necessary antioxidants and components for the body to recover from the deficits of stroke. It is the role of caregivers and family members to ensure the stroke patient gets the nutrition needed as the latter is solely dependent on the former for this.

You are so stressed out and busy that your sleep is either long and restless or solid but way too short. So you wake up and start pounding coffee to get you going. There’s no time to eat so by the time you get around to it you are starving. That in combination with the elevated cortisol (stress hormone) causes you to crave foods high in sugar, fat, and salt. Poor sleep, caffeine side effects, and blood sugar imbalance from poor nutrition finds you tired, moody, and finding it hard to concentrate.

This is a cycle in which too many of us find ourselves. There are, however, several things that you can do to stack the cards in your favor and regain control.

1. Cut out the caffeine after 2pm. OK, I know that i just lost half of you! I’m not saying get rid of it all together. Just switch to decaf in the afternoon. Caffeine stays in your system for 6 hours so even if you are one of the people with a caffeine tolerance it will negatively effect your sleep.

2. Increase your B-vitamins. B-vitamins support the entire nervous system as well as our stress response. They also aide in energy production so you will feel a natural increase in energy. Food sources include: liver, soy, broccoli, beans, lean meat, sprouted grains, salmon, nuts, and eggs.

3. Don’t forget to eat, especially breakfast. I know I sound like your grandma but it really is the most important meal of the day. It will start your day off with good fuel and help you focus. Stock your pantry and office with easy options like oatmeal so you can make sure that you always have something on hand. While I’m at it, don’t forget your jacket and would it kill you to pick up the phone every once in a while?

4. Make sure everything you eat contains protein. Protein supports brain function, which in turn impacts mood, behavior, and concentration. It will also give your sustained energy and decrease sugar cravings. No need to go Atkins with your protein (in fact, please don’t!) but just include some with every meal. Food sources include: fish, meat, eggs, nuts & seeds, tofu, dairy, soy, beans & rice.

5. Add in some more Magnesium. Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxer. Not the kind that causes you to speak gibberish and pass out, but the kind that helps pull your tense shoulders from your ears and quiet your mind so you can sleep. It is also one of the minerals that American’s are most deficient in. I recommend supplementing with a high quality Calcium/Magnesium Citrate before bed. It will also help with muscle soreness from all the exercise you are also doing to relieve stress!

Honey- a natural sugary solution made by bees contains various important ingredients such as glucose, fructose, water, oil and special enzymes. Made from flowers, honey also offers anti-bacterial properties, which can treat minor sunburns and skin irritations. There are many health benefits of honey, but here we will discuss some of its benefits for skin:

o Honey is used in manufacturing moisturizers, creams and beauty products as it has the ability the retain water.
o Honey is a very good hair conditioner. Just pour one tablespoon of honey in a mug of water and rinse your hair after proper hair bath. It will help you make your hair soft and silky.
o Mix one tablespoon of honey with equal part of milk and apply on your face. You will notice an immediate glow on your face.
o Honey is a very good anti-oxidant and prevents aging. It also helps cure the damage caused by sun’s ultra violet rays.
o Honey has a soothing effect on throat, so it is used in many ayurvedic medicines to treat throat infections.
o You can create your own face scrub using honey. Just mix 1 tablespoon of honey with 1 tablespoon of finely grounded almonds, and add 2 tablespoons of dry oatmeal and some lemon juice to make an exfoliating scrub.

Do you know honey is also used for treating acne? Its anti-microbial properties make it an important ingredient for many babycare, skin care, and hair care products. Honey has been in use since ages and it helps keep skin well-hydrated and fresh. So, if you are also looking for a young-looking and radiant skin, opt for honey.

Nutrition therapy is based on the premise that diet in general or certain vitamins and minerals in particular can prevent or cure disease. Practices range from simply eating a balanced diet to maintain good health to taking mega doses of vitamins and or minerals to ward off disease or treat mental illness. A growing body of scientific evidence indicates that nutrition is even more important in preventive medicine than previously thought. But the majority of doctors and nutritionists still stress that for most people, a varied diet-low in fat and sugar, high in fiber and starches, and low enough in calories to maintain ideal weigh twill suffice.

Origins

Physicians have been prescribing special diets since the time of the ancient Greeks, and they continue to do so for patients with nutrition related diseases. The more recent practice of mega vitamin therapy (consuming t least 10 times the Recommended Dietary Allowance, or RDA) originated with Dr. Linus Paul g, a Nobel laureate chemist who coined the term orthomolcular therapy (meaning therapy with the right molecules) in 968, when he began to advocate very large doses of vitamin C to prevent or treat the common cold. During the 19 Os., megavitamin therapy was promoted as an alternative treatment for mental ill Ness. More recently, it has been advocate by food faddists a d self styled healers, as well as some conventional practitioners, as a cure for asthma, allergies, AIDS and even cancer. though good nutrition plays a role in treating these problems, there is no scientific proof that it can produce a cure.

Practitioners

Nutrition therapy is practiced by many of the 46,000 registered dietitian (R. D.) who are members of the American Dietetic Association. In addition, More than 500 doctors and other health professionals have passed, qualifying examination given by the American Board of Nutrition, and an equal number of member’s of the American Nutritionists Association have obtained advice degrees in this specialty. Nutritionists may be licensed and,or certified depending on state requirement There are 29 states in which practitioners must meet,certain educational standards and pass an examination before they are legally entitled to call themselves certified dietitians or certified nutritionists. But anyone, regardless of training, can call himself a nutritionist or diet counselor, a situation, that has unfortunately left the door open to widespread quackery. Many chiropractors, naturopaths, herbalists, acupuncturists, and health food sales people also double as nutrition counselors, as do Some fitness trainers, . health club workers, and diet enter personnel.