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Eating Junk Food And All Information About Junk Food

Junk food is typically food that is rich in fats, calories, and sugar, with very little or no nutritional content. The lack of any creditable nutrition in this type of food is probably the reason why it is called “junk”. Junk food is also known as fast food. It is quick, convenient, and most of the times very light on the pocket. It is readily available everywhere, from corners shops and supermarkets to big retail chains. Despite all the noise about it being the unhealthy, junk remains the popular food, especially among youngsters. Why? Junk food is a feel good food that tastes as good as it looks.

Details about junk food

So what makes junk food unhealthy? Well, here are some disturbing facts:

Junk food is small quantity, high calorie food
It has very little nutritive value
Junk food is high in sugar and sodium
Junk food is very high in palatability and very low in satiation
It is mostly preserved in harmful hydrogenated vegetable oils

The list of foods that are labelled as junk food by the health officials and food purists is endless. Here are some of the popular ones:

Burgers
Fries
Tacos
Chicken fillet sandwiches
Chicken nuggets or strips
Cakes
Hash browns
Nachos
Biscuits
Fried chicken
Pizza
Cookies
Doughnuts
Pop tarts
Cold cuts, submarine sandwiches
Milkshakes

There are many more food items that are labelled as junk food. In fact, any food or beverage that is high in fat, sugar, or salt can be termed as junk food.

So What Is It That Attracts People To Junk Food?

There are many reasons that make junk food attractive. Junk food is high in fat, salt, and sugar and that is where the taste comes from. This lethal trio makes this pleasing to the palate and almost addictive. Apart from that, there are three things that greatly add to the appeal of junk food, namely, price, convenience, and location. Junk food is easily available, low-priced, and non-messy.

Options and alternatives are also big reasons for the popularity of junk food. The markets are flooded with a variety of junk foods, which cater to every taste and palate.

Well-balanced diet

As with any other food, balance should be the key. It is not a bad thing to give in sometimes and indulge in a doughnut or a burger. The key is moderation; junk food should remain a sporadic indulgence and not an everyday taste trip.

References:

http://emlab.berkeley.edu/

High Protein Blood Causes: Test For Elevated Levels Of Serum Protein

Your blood contains a certain amount of protein that helps regulate various body functions, fight against infections and facilitate chemical reactions in the body. For a normal healthy person, protein in blood usually falls between 6.0 grams per deciliter (g/dl) and 8.3 g/dl. However, in case you are suffering from some serious health condition, the protein level in your blood will be unusually high. Do a protein test to find out if there is a serious health problem you need to treat right away!

Symptoms of High Protein in Blood

Albumin and globulin are the two main types of serum proteins present in the blood. Vitamins, minerals, lipids and hormones are transported around your body by these proteins. A million things occupy your mind and keep you busy all day. In order to stay healthy, however, it is important to pay attention to the almost inconspicuous bodily changes. It is best to consult your doctor immediately, in case you experience regular bouts of:

Appetite loss
Diarrhea
Dizziness
Drop in blood pressure
Fever
Nausea
Numbness or a tingling sensation in your fingers or toes
Severe fatigue
Unexplained weight loss

These are some of the most common symptoms of high protein in the blood. The symptoms may vary, depending upon the causes. There have been quite a few instances where the doc has diagnosed elevated blood protein count even before any symptoms were noticed. Visit your GP in case any of the above symptoms crop up and recur.

What Causes High Blood Protein Levels?

A common misconception is that a high protein diet is responsible for increased levels of protein in the blood. This surmise is however far from the medical truth. Obtain the right information and treat the condition more effectively. Factors that lead to high blood protein levels are usually a lot more serious. You could trace the causes of high blood protein levels to:

Amyloidosis
Bone marrow disorders
Chronic infection or inflammation of the tissues or the liver
Congestive heart failure
Dehydration
HIV / AIDS
Hepatitis B or C
Immune system dysfunction (caused by conditions like rheumatoid arthritis)
Multiple Myeloma
Tumors in the bladder

In some cases, high blood protein could also occur due to the regular use of nephrotoxic drugs.

Treatment for Abnormally High Protein Count

Your doctor may design the treatment for the abnormally high protein count in the blood based on the underlying cause as well as the severity of the condition. This means that your doctor will focus on controlling the condition that has caused the problem, which in turn should bring the levels of protein in the blood back to normal. Prompt diagnosis and treatments could help you recover at a faster rate.

Along with taking medicines, here’s what you can do to aid the treatment:

Eat healthy – Your diet should contain a variety of vegetables and pulses that provide you with essential nutrients and vitamins.
Peaceful repose – Get the recommended amount of sleep, rest and exercise that your body needs each day.
Release pent-up stress – Practice meditation, yoga and deep breathing to calm down and just relax.

Visit your doctor regularly so that your treatment for high levels of blood protein is better supervised.

Test for increased blood protein levels

The amount of protein present in the blood can be measured through a blood test, where a small sample of blood is drawn from your vein. There is a risk of bleeding in this test and you may experience some pain while the blood is being drawn.

A protein urine test could also be used to gauge the quantity of proteins that are present in a urine sample. There is no discomfort or known risk associated with this test; you just need to provide a urine sample. At times, you may be asked to provide a 24-hour urine sample.

Do bear in mind that certain factors could alter the test results. If you have been taking any medication just before the test, you need to inform your healthcare provider about it. Some of the other factors that could also interfere with the blood protein test results are:

Contamination of the urine with vaginal fluids
Dehydration
Excessive emotional stress
Strenuous exercise
Urinary Tract infection (UTI)

In case you’ve been through a radiology scan within 3 days before the protein test, inform your doctor.

During pregnancy

During pregnancy, most healthcare providers will ask you to go through a urine test, just to rule out the possibilities of any health problems. Excess blood protein is usually detected through this test. Elevated blood protein during pregnancy could be a sign of:

Problems in the functioning of the kidneys
Preeclampsia
Lack of adequate water intake
Chronic conditions such as diabetes or hypertension

Hyperproteinemia during pregnancy is quite serious and could also create complications, such as:

Premature delivery
Low birth weight
Miscarriage or still birth

Of course, there have been several instances of women who have had high blood protein during pregnancy, but have gone on to deliver healthy babies. Therefore, you need to work with your doctor and bring your protein levels under control, as soon as possible. The treatment methods may vary, depending upon the underlying cause.

References:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003580.htm

Abdominal Pain and Suitable Diet for it

Most people suffer from abdominal pain at some point in their lives. The causes could be due to any number of reasons including appendicitis, constipation, Cohn’s disease, endometriosis, food allergies, food poisoning, gallstones, gas, gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), hernia, indigestion, kidney stones etc.

Some of the causes of abdominal pain are directly related to one’s diet. These include

Diverticulitis, when the colon is infected, leading to pain in the lower left part of the stomach after eating certain kinds of food.
Irritable bowel syndrome, when the food that you have eaten moves too slowly or too fast through the intestines.
Heart burn, when there is an acid reflux, resulting in a burning sensation and pain in your stomach.

Diet for abdominal pain

If you are experiencing abdominal pain, the best kind of diet is a bland one.

Good diet foods for stomach pain include apples, avocado, cinnamon, fennel, papaya, and oat bran.
Soda crackers and toast are the best options during this phase.
Once you feel better, you can eat other bland foods like rice, gelatin, chicken, potatoes, or bananas.
Keep yourself constantly hydrated when you are suffering from such stomach ailments. Include foods that have high fiber content in your diet as it helps get rid of any discomfort you may feel.
Have juices to alleviate the debilitating stomach ache. Juices like pear and apple help get rid of the waste in the body and to improve bowel movement. Cabbage, carrot, fenugreek, lime and green leafy vegetable juices are good for ulcers. Pineapple juice aids with digestion. Black cherry juice is recommended for women with menstrual problems; and pear juice aids with gallbladder pain. If you have a stomachache, eat five smaller meals a day and with low fat content in them.
Ginger tea is a good home remedy that is used to treat stomach problems as it helps with digestion and in the production of gastric juices, bile and saliva. Baking soda is another home remedy that helps ease your pain from heart burn or acid reflux.

Foods to include

Some of the foods to include when suffering from abdominal pain are as follows.

Apples: This fruit is full of important nutrients and contains substances that help in getting rid of bad bacteria in the intestinal tract. Make sure you don’t eat too much of the fruit though, as it causes gas, which could worsen your stomach pain.
Bananas: Bananas digest easily and help in easing your stomach pain and relieving heartburn. Health experts recommend eating a banana daily to combat stomach ailments.
Carrots: Carrots are mostly eaten when you are constipated as it is a natural laxative. It is also full of essential nutrients and digests easily.
Figs: Figs contain high amounts of mucilage, which is important for the health of the digestive tract, particularly the intestines.
High fiber foods: Good options for high fiber foods include whole grains, beans and vegetables. High fiber content helps soften feces, enabling it to move fast through the digestive system. This helps relieve pain caused by cramping or bloating.
Rice: Plain cooked rice is often used as a home remedy to help relieve the stomach of any pain or irritation. Oats and wheat are also good alternate choices.
Toast: Toasted bread helps neutralize the acid content in the abdomen, which, in turn, helps decrease your stomach pain.
Yogurt: Yogurt contains healthy bacteria that are useful in soothing your stomach from pain. Sometimes, the lack of bacteria causes pain in the abdomen when the food is not digested.

Foods to avoid

If you are suffering from stomach problems there are certain foods to avoid as they hinder digestion, staying away from those foods will also help ease the pain. Stay away from spicy food, high fat foods, dairy products, acidic foods, fried foods, processed foods, artificial sweeteners, caffeine, alcohol, sweets, and salty foods.

References:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003120.htm

Calories In Garbanzo Beans

Also called chickpeas, Bengal gram, Indian peas, and hummus, garbanzo beans belong to a family of legumes named Fabaceae. Beige or cream in color, garbanzo beans are available all through the year, though fresh or green garbanzo beans hit the market only in harvest season. A dark skinned variety of these beans is also available, and these beans may be more irregular in shape, but the nutrition of garbanzo beans of this variety is at par with that of the common beige ones. The buttery smooth taste and the nutty flavor of cooked garbanzo beans make them a popular legume among chefs and cooks. Since they contain lots of dietary fiber, despite the calories in garbanzo beans, dieters chose them because consuming even a third of a cup of the beans can be very filling, and it helps to reduce overall calorie intake.

A cup of cooked or canned garbanzo beans contain about 270 calories. Unlike the case of canned vegetables, which lose a lot of their nutritional value during canning, garbanzo beans retain all their goodness even when they are canned. These beans are an important source of proteins for vegetarians. The presence of soluble and insoluble fiber in these beans makes them ideal for diabetics as the fiber prevents blood sugar levels from rising very fast after a meal. Nutrition facts of garbanzo beans indicate that they contain antioxidants like vitamins C and E and minerals like manganese, iron, and calcium. For a calorie counter, garbanzo beans that are sprouted are a healthy protein supplement added to salads and soups.
Hummus, made from garbanzo beans, is a very popular dish in the Middle East. Curries made with these beans are a staple food in many parts of India, especially among vegetarians who need the calories in garbanzo beans. Flour made from them is also used to make pancakes and ground and cooked garbanzo beans make for excellent burgers and loafs. Apart from chicken and beef pilaf dishes, these beans can be added to soups, stews, salads, dips and spreads. Calories in garbanzo beans are not an issue since they are tasty and healthy and have no cholesterol.

How many calories in garbanzo beans can one consume in a week? Research has proved that even when consumed in small amounts like one third of a cup, these beans improve the control of blood sugar and insulin secretion within a week. Calories in garbanzo beans, cooked or used in the form of flour, also serve to reduce overall food intake, satiating hunger with smaller quantities. Reducing the risk of colon problems and colon cancer is one of the greatest advantages of including garbanzo beans in a diet.

Calories In Bell Peppers

Make your salads colorful and bright by adding chopped bell peppers of different colors. They come in yellow, green, orange, purple and red, and each colored bell pepper has its own unique taste and flavor. For instance, red bell peppers, which are nothing but fully ripe green bell peppers can be sweeter and have a milder flavor. With just about 30 calories in bell peppers of medium size, dieters can choose to add bell peppers of two or three colors to their salads or stir fries and enjoy a filling dish. Those on a low-carb diet should, however, remember that most of the calories in bell peppers come from the carbohydrates they contain.

While calories in bell peppers may vary slightly from one color to another, it is universally accepted that they are an excellent source of dietary fiber. In addition to this, they contain iron, manganese, niacin, and potassium in considerable amounts in each serving. When eaten raw, the vitamins and nutrition in bell peppers are readily available to the body. Whether they are three, four or five lobed bell peppers, they are rich in vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C and vitamin E. A cup of raw red bell peppers may contain 45 calories, which is less than an orange, but what’s more interesting is that they contain four times more vitamin C than oranges do. Among the different kinds of bell peppers, red bell peppers score over the green ones since they contain eleven times more beta carotene.

With a smooth colorful skin and crunchy taste, scooped out bell peppers make for ideal edible containers for rice and dips and serve as individual salad bowls. For those who wonder how many calories in bell peppers they can consume, it is heartening to note that roasted bell peppers can be pureed and used in soups. Roasted or barbequed slices of bell peppers, zucchini, tomatoes and onions make for a filling dish when baked with a little cheese. Calories in yellow bell peppers and calories in orange bell peppers do not vary much, and one may be substituted for the other in any dish. For those not worried about calories in bell peppers, fried bell pepper rings and beef stuffed bell peppers are a treat.

Health benefits of consuming bell peppers include protection against rheumatoid arthritis, cataracts, and cardiovascular diseases. The combination of high levels of vitamin A and vitamin C, two powerful antioxidants, in bell peppers makes them very useful in the fight against free radicals and in lowering the risk of cancer and lung disease.