Diabetes has been around for centuries. There are presently sixteen millions diabetics in America, but eight million do not know that they have the disease. Today, diabetes is in third place as the cause of mortality, behind cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
Diabetes is caused by a disruption in insulin production in the body. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas when the level of blood sugar, glucose, increases – after a meal, most commonly. With the help of insulin, glucose moves from the blood into the cells. The cellular components turn the glucose into energy. When glucose does not enter cells, it stays in the blood and is filtered by kidneys which later eliminate it from the bloodstream.
Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when insulin in the body does not work as it should. Main symptoms of diabetes include excessive thirst, excessive urination, excessive appetite, fatigue, blurred vision, frequent and slow-healing infections including bladder, vaginal and skin. In men, diabetes may be accompanied by such symptoms as erectile dysfunction.
In order to timely recognize diabetes, everyone should be familiar with the different types of diabetes as well as with main symptoms of diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is a life-threatening condition which is less common. Those suffering with this type of diabetes need complete insulin replacement because the body does not make sufficient amounts of this essential hormone.
The most common type of diabetes is type 2 diabetes, or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. 90 f all diabetes cases in the US are diagnosed as Type 2.
There is also gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy due to specific hormonal changes in the body of the expectant mother.
Diabetes is often accompanied by obesity and high cholesterol and is a disease that often runs in families, so if one of your family members has it, you have a higher risk of developing diabetes too. Lack of activity, a diet rich in fats and processed products and obesity significantly increase your risk for diabetes.
Diabetes can be prevented and controlled by amending your diet. When we eat a product that is rich in sugar, the pancreas starts to produce more insulin to turn the sugar into energy. Saturated fat is transformed by the liver into sugar, which triggers the same response of pancreas – more insulin, more energy.
When the body doesn’t use this energy, it stores it as fat in the liver, on the stomach and hips. The more sugar and fat we eat, the more “storage space” our body requires.
However, when you switch to eating vegetables, cereals and other fiber-rich products cooked or seasoned with olive or grape seed oil, the pancreas does not need to produce any extra insulin. As a result, fat is not deposited in the body and the blood sugar levels remain stable. By avoiding sweet and fat-rich foods, blood sugar levels remains balanced which can delay the onset of diabetes and for those already diagnosed as diabetic can help them manage the condition.
Thursday, 29 September 2011
DIABATES SYMPTOMS
Diabetes often goes undiagnosed because many of its symptoms seem so harmless. Recent studies indicate that the early detection of diabetes symptoms and treatment can decrease the chance of developing the complications of diabetes.
Type 1 Diabetes
* Frequent urination
* Unusual thirst
* Extreme hunger
* Unusual weight loss
* Extreme fatigue and Irritability
Type 2 Diabetes*
* Any of the type 1 symptoms
* Frequent infections
* Blurred vision
* Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
* Tingling/numbness in the hands/feet
* Recurring skin, gum, or bladder infections
Diabetes increases your risk for many serious health problems. The good news? With the correct treatment and recommended lifestyle changes, many people with diabetes are able to prevent or delay the onset of complications.
Type 1 Diabetes
* Frequent urination
* Unusual thirst
* Extreme hunger
* Unusual weight loss
* Extreme fatigue and Irritability
Type 2 Diabetes*
* Any of the type 1 symptoms
* Frequent infections
* Blurred vision
* Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal
* Tingling/numbness in the hands/feet
* Recurring skin, gum, or bladder infections
Diabetes increases your risk for many serious health problems. The good news? With the correct treatment and recommended lifestyle changes, many people with diabetes are able to prevent or delay the onset of complications.
Tuesday, 27 September 2011
Sleep Apnea and Diabetes
Researchers in Chicago think so. They treated sleep apnea in a group of 24 people who also had type 2 diabetes, and found significant improvements in glucose and A1C levels. The Chicago team developed the study because evidence suggests a link between the two conditions.
Sleep apnea is a disorder in which the throat muscles relax during sleep, obstructing the airway and causing brief but frequent breathing interruptions. Obesity-a common problem for people with type 2-is a major risk factor for developing this sleep disorder. Also, previous research has shown that sleep apnea is independently linked to glucose intolerance and insulin resistance-the primary characteristics of type 2.
This means that people with type 2-whether they are obese or not-may be at risk for developing sleep apnea. And anyone with both type 2 and sleep apnea is at risk for increased glucose intolerance.
Each person in the study was given a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to use when sleeping (an average of 5 to 6 hours per night). The CPAP blows a constant stream of air through a mouth and nose mask to keep the user's airway open and breathing uninterrupted. The machines were equipped with microchips that recorded when and for how long the participants used them.
After the CPAP test period-an average of 83 days-researchers found that glucose values measured 1 hour after a meal were significantly reduced from a range of approximately 191-199 mg/dl before the study to approximately 130-137 mg/dl after. The results were most significant for participants who kept the CPAP on for at least 4 hours or more per night. Group A1C levels went from 8.3 percent at the beginning of the study to 7.9 percent.
The subgroup of participants whose beginning A1C levels were over 7.0 percent showed even more improvement, with an average of 9.2 percent before treatment to 8.6 percent after. A1C improvement was also closely tied to the number of days the CPAP was used for 4 hours or more.
The study's authors believe that these results indicated that treating sleep apnea could possibly delay the onset of diabetes in individuals with pre-diabetes and reduced cardiovascular risk in people with type 2 diabetes. This study was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in February 2005.
Sleep apnea is a disorder in which the throat muscles relax during sleep, obstructing the airway and causing brief but frequent breathing interruptions. Obesity-a common problem for people with type 2-is a major risk factor for developing this sleep disorder. Also, previous research has shown that sleep apnea is independently linked to glucose intolerance and insulin resistance-the primary characteristics of type 2.
This means that people with type 2-whether they are obese or not-may be at risk for developing sleep apnea. And anyone with both type 2 and sleep apnea is at risk for increased glucose intolerance.
Each person in the study was given a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to use when sleeping (an average of 5 to 6 hours per night). The CPAP blows a constant stream of air through a mouth and nose mask to keep the user's airway open and breathing uninterrupted. The machines were equipped with microchips that recorded when and for how long the participants used them.
After the CPAP test period-an average of 83 days-researchers found that glucose values measured 1 hour after a meal were significantly reduced from a range of approximately 191-199 mg/dl before the study to approximately 130-137 mg/dl after. The results were most significant for participants who kept the CPAP on for at least 4 hours or more per night. Group A1C levels went from 8.3 percent at the beginning of the study to 7.9 percent.
The subgroup of participants whose beginning A1C levels were over 7.0 percent showed even more improvement, with an average of 9.2 percent before treatment to 8.6 percent after. A1C improvement was also closely tied to the number of days the CPAP was used for 4 hours or more.
The study's authors believe that these results indicated that treating sleep apnea could possibly delay the onset of diabetes in individuals with pre-diabetes and reduced cardiovascular risk in people with type 2 diabetes. This study was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in February 2005.
Benefits of Chair Yoga – Part 1
In comparison to many forms of exercise, the benefits of Chair Yoga far outweigh the risks. The therapeutic exercises work the body, from head to toes, to the best of any client’s ability.
Therefore, the method used, addresses the whole body in a single routine. This is an amazing feat, for a low-impact exercise program, where the average session lasts 45 to 60 minutes. The following information will highlight some of the many benefits of regular participation in a Chair Yoga class.
Increased circulation is a result of movement and every body part that can move is used in a typical Chair Yoga class. For many of us, we think of cardiovascular heath first, and this is right fully so, but Chair Yoga helps many other forms of circulation, within the body, as well.
To sit still for days on end, we invite diseases of many kinds. Diabetics need movement to keep sugar levels in “tolerance zones.” Chair Yoga also has routines for the feet, toes, hands, and fingers, so there is no part of the body left out. Due to this whole body approach, the immune system is also stimulated by regularly attending Chair Yoga classes.
The many movements, bending, and twisting, in a regular Chair Yoga session, stimulate the elimination of toxins, within the body. Every time you bend the waist in one direction or another, the stomach aids in digestion and the lower back is gently stimulated.
Now, back to cardiovascular benefits - There seems to be a lot of confusion about what is classified as aerobic exercise. One of the definitions for aerobic exercise is: Any exercise that would increase circulatory and respiratory ability. When the heart and lungs have to work harder to keep up with the body's need for oxygen that is aerobic.
In fact, gardening and housework are also aerobic exercise that most seniors routinely do. This is not to say that gardening and housework are complete health maintenance systems, but they do burn over 200 calories per hour, for the average person, and meet the aerobic definition.
Much of this mentality stems from the “No pain – No gain” era. Most of the original advocates of this theory are now “nursing their own wounds” and practicing gentler forms of exercise. After all, none of us are immortal, and the body can only take so much abuse over time.
May I remind anyone, who is left standing, from the No pain – No gain era, that walking is also classified as aerobic exercise. So, whether you walk or run a mile, aerobic benefits are gained and significant calories are burned.
Therefore, the method used, addresses the whole body in a single routine. This is an amazing feat, for a low-impact exercise program, where the average session lasts 45 to 60 minutes. The following information will highlight some of the many benefits of regular participation in a Chair Yoga class.
Increased circulation is a result of movement and every body part that can move is used in a typical Chair Yoga class. For many of us, we think of cardiovascular heath first, and this is right fully so, but Chair Yoga helps many other forms of circulation, within the body, as well.
To sit still for days on end, we invite diseases of many kinds. Diabetics need movement to keep sugar levels in “tolerance zones.” Chair Yoga also has routines for the feet, toes, hands, and fingers, so there is no part of the body left out. Due to this whole body approach, the immune system is also stimulated by regularly attending Chair Yoga classes.
The many movements, bending, and twisting, in a regular Chair Yoga session, stimulate the elimination of toxins, within the body. Every time you bend the waist in one direction or another, the stomach aids in digestion and the lower back is gently stimulated.
Now, back to cardiovascular benefits - There seems to be a lot of confusion about what is classified as aerobic exercise. One of the definitions for aerobic exercise is: Any exercise that would increase circulatory and respiratory ability. When the heart and lungs have to work harder to keep up with the body's need for oxygen that is aerobic.
In fact, gardening and housework are also aerobic exercise that most seniors routinely do. This is not to say that gardening and housework are complete health maintenance systems, but they do burn over 200 calories per hour, for the average person, and meet the aerobic definition.
Much of this mentality stems from the “No pain – No gain” era. Most of the original advocates of this theory are now “nursing their own wounds” and practicing gentler forms of exercise. After all, none of us are immortal, and the body can only take so much abuse over time.
May I remind anyone, who is left standing, from the No pain – No gain era, that walking is also classified as aerobic exercise. So, whether you walk or run a mile, aerobic benefits are gained and significant calories are burned.
Sunday, 25 September 2011
Diabetic Symptoms of High Blood Sugar
High blood sugar is the greatest single danger for people with Type 2 diabetes because over time the presence of too much sugar in the blood is linked with long-term complications, such as heart disease, kidney failure and blindness. Your power to raise and lower your own blood sugar is the greatest reason to check your blood sugar levels on a regular basis.
If you need another reason to control high blood sugar, note that you will continue to gain weight if blood sugars run high. The excess sugar in your blood will be stored in your body, some of it being converted into potentially dangerous fats called triglycerides. A feeling of depression may occur after several days of high blood sugar; this will affect the way you look at yourself and those around you, and probably hamper your efforts at self-management.
Unfortunately, many symptoms of high blood sugar are subtle and may easily be confused for something else, such as simply having a bad day at work or another minor health problem. This is why you should become attuned to your own body, and test your blood sugar. Learn to recognize the symptoms that you experience when your blood sugar is high.
One frequent symptom of high blood sugar is a stuffed, Thanksgiving afternoon feeling. Some feel a buzzing sensation in their bodies. Slow-healing cuts, sores, or infections can be warnings of high blood sugar. According to Richard Bernstein, M.D., author of Diabetes Type 2, Including Dramatic New Approaches to the Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes, other symptoms of high blood sugar may include confusion, headache, trembling hands, tingling in the fingers or tongue, buzzing in the ears, elevated pulse, unusual hunger, a tight feeling in the throat or near the tongue, clumsiness, less ability to detect sweetness in taste sensations, irritability, stubbornness, nastiness, pounding the hands on tables and walls, blurred vision, visual spots, double vision, visual hallucinations, visual impairments, lack of physical coordination, tiredness, weakness, sudden awakenings from sleep, shouting while asleep, rapid and shallow breathing, nervousness, light-headedness, faintness, feelings of unusual warmth, cold clammy skin, restlessness, insomnia, nightmares, paleness of complexion, nausea, slurring of speech, and a condition called nystagmus in which the eyes involuntarily jerk when sweeping from side to side. For some, blood sugar is elevated when the letters of the Arabic alphabet begin to look like they're written in Russian or Chinese. Other people walk into walls when their blood sugar is high. Some people become intensely angry and upset for no apparent reason. According to Dr. Bernstein, the symptoms of high blood sugar may occur in clusters or appear alone without other symptoms.
Since your symptoms will be unique to you, try to identify them with the use of home blood sugar tests. If it will help you remember, tell someone else or write down how you feel at the moment when your blood sugar tests unusually high for you. Ask your spouse or family members to tell you if they spot any symptoms of high blood sugar in you. Symptoms are distinctive to each individual--pay attention to your own body and learn to spot high blood sugar whenever you can.
If your blood sugar does become elevated, practice good self-management to reduce your stress, become more physically active, or adjust your eating patterns to bring it back under control. Medications can also help you accomplish this.
In the most rare and extreme instances of high blood sugar, such as when you have been ill over a long period of time, you may go into a diabetic coma, falling into unconsciousness for no apparent reason to those around you. In this case, you must be taken to a hospital emergency room for treatment.
Don't ignore high blood sugar. All the long-term complications of diabetes are believed to result from prolonged periods of high blood sugar or poor blood sugar control.
If you need another reason to control high blood sugar, note that you will continue to gain weight if blood sugars run high. The excess sugar in your blood will be stored in your body, some of it being converted into potentially dangerous fats called triglycerides. A feeling of depression may occur after several days of high blood sugar; this will affect the way you look at yourself and those around you, and probably hamper your efforts at self-management.
Unfortunately, many symptoms of high blood sugar are subtle and may easily be confused for something else, such as simply having a bad day at work or another minor health problem. This is why you should become attuned to your own body, and test your blood sugar. Learn to recognize the symptoms that you experience when your blood sugar is high.
One frequent symptom of high blood sugar is a stuffed, Thanksgiving afternoon feeling. Some feel a buzzing sensation in their bodies. Slow-healing cuts, sores, or infections can be warnings of high blood sugar. According to Richard Bernstein, M.D., author of Diabetes Type 2, Including Dramatic New Approaches to the Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes, other symptoms of high blood sugar may include confusion, headache, trembling hands, tingling in the fingers or tongue, buzzing in the ears, elevated pulse, unusual hunger, a tight feeling in the throat or near the tongue, clumsiness, less ability to detect sweetness in taste sensations, irritability, stubbornness, nastiness, pounding the hands on tables and walls, blurred vision, visual spots, double vision, visual hallucinations, visual impairments, lack of physical coordination, tiredness, weakness, sudden awakenings from sleep, shouting while asleep, rapid and shallow breathing, nervousness, light-headedness, faintness, feelings of unusual warmth, cold clammy skin, restlessness, insomnia, nightmares, paleness of complexion, nausea, slurring of speech, and a condition called nystagmus in which the eyes involuntarily jerk when sweeping from side to side. For some, blood sugar is elevated when the letters of the Arabic alphabet begin to look like they're written in Russian or Chinese. Other people walk into walls when their blood sugar is high. Some people become intensely angry and upset for no apparent reason. According to Dr. Bernstein, the symptoms of high blood sugar may occur in clusters or appear alone without other symptoms.
Since your symptoms will be unique to you, try to identify them with the use of home blood sugar tests. If it will help you remember, tell someone else or write down how you feel at the moment when your blood sugar tests unusually high for you. Ask your spouse or family members to tell you if they spot any symptoms of high blood sugar in you. Symptoms are distinctive to each individual--pay attention to your own body and learn to spot high blood sugar whenever you can.
If your blood sugar does become elevated, practice good self-management to reduce your stress, become more physically active, or adjust your eating patterns to bring it back under control. Medications can also help you accomplish this.
In the most rare and extreme instances of high blood sugar, such as when you have been ill over a long period of time, you may go into a diabetic coma, falling into unconsciousness for no apparent reason to those around you. In this case, you must be taken to a hospital emergency room for treatment.
Don't ignore high blood sugar. All the long-term complications of diabetes are believed to result from prolonged periods of high blood sugar or poor blood sugar control.
Basic Meal & Menu Planning
As a basis for meals and menu planning, refer to the pyramid information mentioned earlier to make sure you have the basic food requirements met for all family members. Then cross check and plan by looking over basic food categories to target healthy foods to fit the lifestyles and health of everyone. For example, if someone has depression, add some foods mentioned above to his or her dietary plans that aid in the healing and prevention of depression.
Meal planning also depends upon several factors like the number of people eating, meal times, special dietary concerns, budget, available foods, recipes on hand and likes and dislikes of everyone who will be eating. Begin by choosing foods and recipes that you like and know how to prepare well and that fit into everyoneÕs dietary plans. If one or more people have special needs, like diabetics, plan ahead for substitutions either in the food preparation or food substitution for that individual or for those individuals.
There are a few things to note when making meal choices and menu planning. First, some foods may be advertised a certain way, but that doesnÕt mean you canÕt experiment. For instance, eggs and sausage can be served for dinner, not just breakfast. And waffles can be made from healthy wheat grains and eaten for lunch with fresh fruits instead of sugary syrup and heavy butter for breakfast.
Add variety, too. Have other family members jump in and prepare meals some nights and on weekends. Kids enjoy making macaroni and cheese, so host mac-n-cheese night on Wednesdays, for example. Then alternate different vegetable combinations, colors and textures to vary the menu on a weekly basis (no need to let boredom take over on Wednesdays with the same routine!)
To help with family food budget concerns, clip coupons from newspapers, weekend inserts, and any place you can find them. Downloaded coupons from the Internet to save money, too, from places like CoolSavings.com and CouponCart.com. RefundingMakesCents offers an affordable subscription to a neat print magazine for coupon deals, trades and lots more, with a secret code to their website for Internet coupon-codes for lots of online companies like Amazon.com (cookware) and Barnes and Noble (cookbooks).
Also note seasonal food selections for savings. Create menus and meals based upon whatÕs on special that week or month. Hint: stock up and store or freeze special-priced items and family favorites when possible and storage room and the budget allows. But donÕt over do it. With convenience stores and supermarkets for food shopping in practically every neighborhood anymore, there is no need to hoard. An old saying, ÒHaste makes wasteÓ might apply if you see a great buy, purchase multiple items, then let them become outdated and have to toss them out.
One fun way to save is by trading coupons and working out food deals with friends, family, neighbors, your church group and anyone else whoÕd like to join in. Food cooperatives and farm markets available in your area may offer special pricing to groups or large purchases. So team up for better purchasing power and split everything up between group members. If youÕre not into that much organization, go one-on-one with a neighbor, other friend or relative. Buy a huge bag of potatoes, onions, oats, and / or other foods, then share.
Here is one special item to note with regards to dietary planning. ItÕs unfortunate, but fast foods, especially those that are high in fat content (fried, greasy foods), are often cheaper than good, healthy food choices. For example, lean beef costs more than high-fat beef; cereals high in nutritional value are often priced much higher than the low-cost, sugary brand names. And low income and homeless people are particularly victims of this situation, many times needing to turn to the less healthier food choices for survival. So whenever possible, your plans might want to include donating a portion to homeless shelters and churches who would probably be more than willing to take extras off your hands.
Meal planning also depends upon several factors like the number of people eating, meal times, special dietary concerns, budget, available foods, recipes on hand and likes and dislikes of everyone who will be eating. Begin by choosing foods and recipes that you like and know how to prepare well and that fit into everyoneÕs dietary plans. If one or more people have special needs, like diabetics, plan ahead for substitutions either in the food preparation or food substitution for that individual or for those individuals.
There are a few things to note when making meal choices and menu planning. First, some foods may be advertised a certain way, but that doesnÕt mean you canÕt experiment. For instance, eggs and sausage can be served for dinner, not just breakfast. And waffles can be made from healthy wheat grains and eaten for lunch with fresh fruits instead of sugary syrup and heavy butter for breakfast.
Add variety, too. Have other family members jump in and prepare meals some nights and on weekends. Kids enjoy making macaroni and cheese, so host mac-n-cheese night on Wednesdays, for example. Then alternate different vegetable combinations, colors and textures to vary the menu on a weekly basis (no need to let boredom take over on Wednesdays with the same routine!)
To help with family food budget concerns, clip coupons from newspapers, weekend inserts, and any place you can find them. Downloaded coupons from the Internet to save money, too, from places like CoolSavings.com and CouponCart.com. RefundingMakesCents offers an affordable subscription to a neat print magazine for coupon deals, trades and lots more, with a secret code to their website for Internet coupon-codes for lots of online companies like Amazon.com (cookware) and Barnes and Noble (cookbooks).
Also note seasonal food selections for savings. Create menus and meals based upon whatÕs on special that week or month. Hint: stock up and store or freeze special-priced items and family favorites when possible and storage room and the budget allows. But donÕt over do it. With convenience stores and supermarkets for food shopping in practically every neighborhood anymore, there is no need to hoard. An old saying, ÒHaste makes wasteÓ might apply if you see a great buy, purchase multiple items, then let them become outdated and have to toss them out.
One fun way to save is by trading coupons and working out food deals with friends, family, neighbors, your church group and anyone else whoÕd like to join in. Food cooperatives and farm markets available in your area may offer special pricing to groups or large purchases. So team up for better purchasing power and split everything up between group members. If youÕre not into that much organization, go one-on-one with a neighbor, other friend or relative. Buy a huge bag of potatoes, onions, oats, and / or other foods, then share.
Here is one special item to note with regards to dietary planning. ItÕs unfortunate, but fast foods, especially those that are high in fat content (fried, greasy foods), are often cheaper than good, healthy food choices. For example, lean beef costs more than high-fat beef; cereals high in nutritional value are often priced much higher than the low-cost, sugary brand names. And low income and homeless people are particularly victims of this situation, many times needing to turn to the less healthier food choices for survival. So whenever possible, your plans might want to include donating a portion to homeless shelters and churches who would probably be more than willing to take extras off your hands.
Thursday, 22 September 2011
4 Important Facts You Should Know About Whey Protein
Are you concerned about taking care of your body before and after
strenuous activities or workouts? Do you try to avoid supplements
that contain additives and possible side effects?
If you are interested in better health and improved physical
fitness you have surely heard that bodybuilders and other
athletes are turning to a simple, natural supplement called whey
protein.
WHY DO ATHLETES USE WHEY PROTEIN?
Protein levels are depleted through exercise. Muscles require
amino acids to prevent deterioration, give endurance and build
mass. Proteins supply these amino acids to the muscles which is
why athletes use whey protein.
WHAT IS WHEY PROTEIN?
Commercial whey protein comes from cow's milk. Whey is the
by-product of making cheese and was usually thrown away as a
waste product. Now researchers know that whey protein is high
quality, natural protein that is rich with amino acids essential
for good health and muscle building. It is naturally found in
mother's milk and also used in baby formula. It is being
considered for use as a fortifier of grain products because of
its considerable health benefits and bland flavor.
Although protein is also found in other foods such as meat, soy
and vegetables, whey protein is proven to have the highest
absorption (digestion) levels in comparison to all others.
WHO SHOULD CONSIDER USING WHEY PROTEIN?
Whey protein has many health benefits including immune support,
bone health, sports health, weight management and overall well
being.
Because amino acids are 'building blocks' for the human body it
is sometimes used by patients to speed up the healing of wounds
or burns.
The high quality protein that comes from whey makes it a
recommended choice for those who need optimal benefits from
restricted diets including diabetics, those on weight management
diets and even ill patients not able to consume enough protein in
their diet to assist with healing.
CAN WHEY PROTEIN BE DANGEROUS?
Whey protein is a food and so it does not have have the risks
associated with other supplements. That said, too much of
anything carries risks. Extremely high use of whey protein can
overload the liver which can cause serious problems. Moderation
is always recommended.
If you are lactose intolerant you might try whey protein isolate
which has less than 1% lactose and should be tolerable for most
users.
Whey protein is a natural and healthy way to bring protein into
your diet and increase well being.
The information contained in this article is for educational purposes
only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any
disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any
health care program.
strenuous activities or workouts? Do you try to avoid supplements
that contain additives and possible side effects?
If you are interested in better health and improved physical
fitness you have surely heard that bodybuilders and other
athletes are turning to a simple, natural supplement called whey
protein.
WHY DO ATHLETES USE WHEY PROTEIN?
Protein levels are depleted through exercise. Muscles require
amino acids to prevent deterioration, give endurance and build
mass. Proteins supply these amino acids to the muscles which is
why athletes use whey protein.
WHAT IS WHEY PROTEIN?
Commercial whey protein comes from cow's milk. Whey is the
by-product of making cheese and was usually thrown away as a
waste product. Now researchers know that whey protein is high
quality, natural protein that is rich with amino acids essential
for good health and muscle building. It is naturally found in
mother's milk and also used in baby formula. It is being
considered for use as a fortifier of grain products because of
its considerable health benefits and bland flavor.
Although protein is also found in other foods such as meat, soy
and vegetables, whey protein is proven to have the highest
absorption (digestion) levels in comparison to all others.
WHO SHOULD CONSIDER USING WHEY PROTEIN?
Whey protein has many health benefits including immune support,
bone health, sports health, weight management and overall well
being.
Because amino acids are 'building blocks' for the human body it
is sometimes used by patients to speed up the healing of wounds
or burns.
The high quality protein that comes from whey makes it a
recommended choice for those who need optimal benefits from
restricted diets including diabetics, those on weight management
diets and even ill patients not able to consume enough protein in
their diet to assist with healing.
CAN WHEY PROTEIN BE DANGEROUS?
Whey protein is a food and so it does not have have the risks
associated with other supplements. That said, too much of
anything carries risks. Extremely high use of whey protein can
overload the liver which can cause serious problems. Moderation
is always recommended.
If you are lactose intolerant you might try whey protein isolate
which has less than 1% lactose and should be tolerable for most
users.
Whey protein is a natural and healthy way to bring protein into
your diet and increase well being.
The information contained in this article is for educational purposes
only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any
disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any
health care program.
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