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Bacteria can treat allergies

August 3, 2008

Could something a little sinister-sounding, like bacteria, actually be a boon to allergy sufferers? Seems so. Eating foods laced with “good” bacteria — probiotic milk or yogurt drinks — could help clamp down on sniffling and sneezing.


It’s That Old Bacteria Magic
When people with seasonal allergies drank a daily probiotic beverage as part of a research study, good things happened. Their immune systems produced less of the substances that set off allergy symptoms and more of the ones that control them. And that, of course, could translate into much-hopedfor allergy relief.


More Allergy Stuffers
Along with getting more healthy bacteria into your diet (from yogurt and other fermented milk products, for example), here are a couple of other off-thebeaten-path options for sneezing less:

  • Ask about herbs. The science isn’t conclusive yet, but butterbur shows promise.
  • For really reliable relief, go with triedand-true symptom soothers like allergy meds and avoiding your triggers.

Written by James · Filed Under Health 

Home Remedies for Tonsillitis

August 3, 2008

Using Lime: A fresh lime squeezed in a glass of warm water, with four teaspoons of honey and a quarter teaspoon of common salt, should be sipped slowly in such cases.


Using Milk: Milk has been found valuable in tonsillitis. A glass of pure boiled milk, mixed with a pinch of turmeric powder and pepper powder, should be taken every night for three nights in the treatment of this condition. It will bring beneficial results.


Using Vegetable Juices: Juices of carrot, beet, and cucumber, taken individually or in combination, are especially beneficial. The formula proportion recommended, when used in combination is 300 ml of carrot juice, 100 ml of beet juice, and 100 ml of cucumber juice.

Written by James · Filed Under Health 

Foods to take after workout

August 2, 2008

What’s the best snack to grab after a major workout? How about a bowl of whole-grain cereal, a bite of any spicy takeout, or a big non-fat latte. Each option has a special ingredient that may help your body recover better and nip post-workout pain in the bud.


The 3 Cs

What, exactly, do these snacks have that others might not? The three Cs: carbs, curcumin, and caffeine. A carb-rich snack like cereal can help you overcome fatigue by restoring glycogen — that stuff your muscles use for energy. Curcumin, a substance found in the spice turmeric, may help quell muscle inflammation. And caffeine from coffee may help block muscle-painproducing substances. Coffee has other health benefits, too.


More Pain-Free-Exercise Tips

Warm up first. Learn the step-by-step way to do it. Stretch, stretch, and stretch some more.
Take an aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug two hours before heavy physical activity (if your doctor says it’s okay). Also try to find out from your doctor which pain relievers are best for any postworkout pain.

Written by James · Filed Under Health 

Do not overdo things

August 2, 2008

Don’t let yourself get too hungry, too angry, too frustrated, too lonely, too tired, or too bored. All these states are powerful binge triggers. Watch for them, and deal with them in a healthy manner instead of considering bingeing and purging as the only release. Stay comfortably busy and avoid unstructured time. Empty time is too easily filled with binge food. Make sure you get enough sleep, at least seven hours every night.


Don’t diet. Dieting means depriving yourself of nourishment and pleasure. Dieting and deprivation are powerful triggers of binge eating.


Make sure that every day you spend time with friends and loved ones — in person is best; phone and e-mail can substitute, but only once in a while.

Written by James · Filed Under Health 

Foods to have when stressed

July 31, 2008

Regardless of the cause, when we’re stressed we often counter-intuitively turn to dietbusting goodies for comfort. Instead of soothing our frayed nerves, many of them ultimately make us feel worse.

Take the classic, curling up with a pint of ice cream. It’s a total backfire. Why? Sweets are insidious: After the initial rush, the body’s insulin response kicks in, causing a sudden blood-sugar drop that triggers the release of stress hormones. Soon you’re feeling more jangled than you were before you ate that whole container of ice-cream. And alcohol, of course, is a wolfish stimulant in calm sheep’s clothing. But true comfort foods do exist. Check them out:

Berries, any berries. Eat them one by one instead of M&Ms when the pressure’s on. For those tough times when tension tightens your jaw, try rolling a frozen berry around in your mouth. And then another, and another. Since the carbs in berries turn to sugar very slowly, you won’t have a blood-sugar crash. The bonus: They’re a good source of vitamin C, which helps fight a jump in cortisol, a stress hormone.

Avocados. Avocados are loaded with B vitamins, which deplete stress quickly, which is of course needed by your body in order to maintain nerves and brain cells. Scoop up the stuff with wholegrain baked chips —crunching keeps you from gritting your teeth.

Mixed nuts. Just a few grams will do. Walnuts help replace those stress-depleted B vitamins, and almonds boost your E, which helps fight cellular damage linked to chronic stress. Buy nuts in the shell and think of it as multitasking: With every squeeze of the nutcracker, you’re releasing a little tension.

Oranges. People who take 1,000 milligrams of C before giving a speech have lower levels of cortisol and lower blood pressures than those who don’t. So lean back, take a deep breath, and concentrate on peeling a large orange. The 5-minute mindfulness break will ease your mind, and you’ll get a bunch of C as well.

Asparagus. Each tender stalk is a source of folic acid, a natural mood lightener. Dip the spears in fatfree yogurt or sour cream for a hit of calcium with each bite.

Tea. A warm drink is a supersoother, and curling up with a cup of aromatic tea can make the whole evil day go away. Dark chocolate. Okay, there’s nothing in it that relieves stress, but when only chocolate will do, reach for the dark, sultry kind that’s at least 70 per cent cocoa. You must realise that if the antioxidant flavonoids in it are potent enough to fight cancer and heart disease, then they’ve got to be able enough to temper tension’s effects.

Written by James · Filed Under Health 

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