Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Photo by Siora18 on Unsplash It seems like every few months there is a new study or product released to the public that claims to make you lose a great amount of weight as fast as possible. Scientists have tested everything from miracle herbs and …
Photo by Siora18 on Unsplash Last week, the media was in a frenzy over a 37-year-old woman, Rachael Farrokh. At roughly 40-pounds and suffering from a severe form of anorexia for more than 10 years, Rachael’s physical appearance is alarming. After taking to YouTube to …
According to new research, about a third of adults in the United States have an increased risk of developing heart disease and stroke. Though co-author of the study, Dr. Robert J. Wong of the Alameda Health System-Highland Hospital Campus says, “This finding should be taken with “cautious optimism”. But a huge proportion of the U.S. population is affected, and it puts you at risk for so many diseases. People should still be very vigilant.” Wong and his co-authors used data collected between 2003 and 2012 from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and found that about a third of U.S. adults ages 20 and up could be diagnosed with metabolic syndrome.
Metabolic syndrome is present when you have tested positive for three or more of the following risk factors:
“When a patient presents with these risk factors together, the chances for future cardiovascular problems are greater than any one factor presenting alone.” according to the American Heart Association.
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In Wong’s study, more than 35 percent of women qualified for the syndrome, compared to 30 percent of men. The syndrome was found to be most common in Hispanic women and only increased with age. More than half of women and Hispanics over 60 had metabolic syndrome. “According to Gary Liguori of the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga, “Women may be more likely to aggressively pursue weight control, which would certainly help. But this and other explanations are only speculation. Awareness on obesity, a big driver of metabolic syndrome, has increased tremendously in the past 10 years with many different public health efforts to stem the tide.”
Wong concludes that it is important to understand your risk for this syndrome – “If you don’t understand what it is, it makes it harder to advocate for your health. Having metabolic syndrome is not going to kill you tomorrow but it puts you at risk for health consequences 10 to 15 years from now.”
Source: http://www.foxnews.com
Photo by I Yunmai on Unsplash It’s that time of the year where gym memberships are at an all-time high. Many of us feel guilty for over-eating during the holidays and make a promise to do better for the new year. It’s a never-ending cycle, …
Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash By early next year, more than 20 chain restaurants will be required to post calorie counts on their menus. Although the goal is to let consumers know exactly how much food they consume in the hopes that customers will …
Bloating can be quite an uncomfortable feeling. Puffiness in your mid-section and the lagging feeling that comes along with it might be caused by a variety of factors. Small changes in your gut flora can lead to changes in how your intestines move, as well as the amount and type of gas that’s produced.
There are certain types of food that are known to trigger more of a reaction in your intestines, ultimately making you feel more bloated. The term FODMAP is an acronym derived from “Fermentable, Oligo-, Di-, Mono-saccharides And Polyols.” These are carbohydrates and are commonly found in the modern western diet, in foods such as wheat, onions, garlic, pears, and apples. They can be major triggers for uncomfortable bloating. Here are some of the top reasons why you might feel bloated:
Fiber Overload
While having plenty of fiber in your diet is important, sometimes belly bulges are a result of soluble fiber-found in oatmeal or beans, for instance-that causes your stomach to swell and draw in water. So if you’ve been especially bloated recently, watch your intake of oat bran, beans, peas, and fruits.
Drinking Alcohol
Certain alcohols, especially those made of wheat and barley, have a tendency to make you feel very bloated, and they can pack on the pounds as well.
Artificial Sweeteners
Diet drinks are not the solution for your waistline, as they tend to dull your sense of taste and actually lead to weight gain rather than weight loss. But there’s more downsides – our bodies can’t break down the artificial sugars, and as the bacteria in our intestines try to do so anyway, gas is created.
Inside the small and large intestines, there exists a world of friendly, microscopic bacteria. These bacteria help protect the lining of the intestinal walls from inflammation, help with nutrient absorption and support stool formation for daily elimination – but they also do much more for our bodies. Due to the complexity of the digestive system, we have large parts of the immune and nervous system that are contained within our intestinal tissue. As a result, probiotics help support immune health and even mental health.
For more information on Probiotics and Gut Flora, Click here!
Source: http://www.msn.com/en-us/health/wellness/9-things-that-are-keeping-you-bloated/ar-BB3qsKS