Detox, anyone?

Everyday, we take a bath, brush our teeth, and change our clothes. Observing proper personal hygiene is important because it prevents us from getting sick. However, doing these things does not make us immune from germs and viruses. A healthy body always start from within---how efficient or inefficient our internal organs work tells so much about the true state of our health condition. 

Everyday, our bodies are exposed to acids and harmful toxins caused by our food and liquid intake, stress, and even pollution. These substances need to be eliminated immediately from the body or else these accumulated wastes will cause to serious health conditions. That's why it's important that we detoxify our bodies regularly.

There's a wide range of antioxidant products in the market nowadays that promise to expel body wastes. One example is Del Monte's popular Pineapple Juice which is a personal fave of mine.

And of course my new drink, the ready-to-drink wheatgrass.

Aside from these affordable drinks, there are also detox programs being practiced by people nowadays. Regardless of the chosen program, the important thing is to eliminate these wastes before it pile up and create a serious problem to our health.

1. Full body detox aims to cleanse the colon, kidney, liver, and other organs of the body. Under this program, a person needs to undergo a certain number of “detoxification days” which is succeeded by a strict diet that needs to be observed for the next couple of days in order to give the digestive system a chance to relax. Raw fruits, vegetables, herbs, and wheat-based foods usually make up the total body detox diet although laxatives are sometimes included. Food and herbal supplements and exercises that improve blood circulation and waste elimination are also important.

Natural detox diet requires eating fiber-rich foods and drinking plenty of water as this program emphasizes the importance of fiber in the cleansing process. Remember to take them in equal amounts since too much fiber but low water content leads to constipation.

2. Colon cleansing targets the cleansing of colon by removing the mucoid plaque that clings to the colon’s wall and clogs the colon passageways. A healthy colon means proper digestion and the body’s ability to absorb the nutrients from the food that we eat.

Doing a colon cleansing involves fasting, consuming raw vegetables and foods, drinking lots of juices and avoiding caffeinated drinks, and foods that are probiotics like yogurt. Several colon cleansing products are also available in the market such as this one from Easy Pha-max:

3.Foot detox focused on the deoxifying the body through feet because it contain more pores and have the most number of sweat glands in the body. This way, the toxins in the body get released easily because of too many "outlets." People who tried foot detox claimed of experiencing immediate relief while scientists are still skeptic on its true efficacy in getting rid of toxins in the body. This program can either be done using foot bath detox or simplu using detox fads. This program looks interesting! I wonder where I can buy those detox pads.

Have a sweet life

I have a sweet tooth that's why it's hard for me to resist a bar of my fave dark chocolate or a slice of Estrels which is the best cake in the whole dessert world for me :-) 

My latest addiction though is the more affordable nips which I bought last week when we had our grocery. My mother scolded me for finishing the whole bag of mini-nips in just one sitting last night not because I didn't share it in our household but because she reminded me that diabetes runs in our blood. As if I can't understand what she just said, she even emphasized that both my grandfathers and several relatives died of this disease. Believe me mother dear, I got your point. It's just that it's hard to resist temptation.

I really appreciate my mother's concern towards my health. Even her is suffering from pre-diabetes while my maternal grandmother already has an eye cataract for several years now because of her long-time diabetes.  I know that sooner or later, I need to reduce my intake of food and beverages that are high in sugar like white rice and bread, chocolates, pastries, and carbonated drinks. Gaaaaah! They're hard to resist! It's like you're given a choice if you're going to eat or not. :-(  Starvation, eh?

But of course I need to heed my mother's reminder because I don't want to suffer in the future. Little by little, I'll change my eating habits so that my body can fully adjust. I know it'll be hard but health should always be given a priority right?

Anyway, I researched seven foods that are good for diabetics. Whether I'll eat them in the future (hopefully noooo) or not, this list will also benefit those people I know who have diabetes or at leatst who have friends or relatives who also have this disease. If you happen to know one too, be generous in sharing the list to them.

1.Cinnamon. Daily intake of ½ teaspoon of cinnamon improved insulin production and blood sugar and lower triglycerides, blood pressure, and LDL cholesterol of type 2 diabetes patients. Polyphenpol, an active ingredient of cinnamon, also helps in keeping the body’s insulin level normal and transport glucose in the body efficiently

.

Garlic is not just for cooking
it's good for your health
too. Credit here

2.Garlic. Several studies proved that garlic is effective not just in lowering the blood sugar but also in repairing pancreas cells. The presence of diallyl disulphide oxide (allicin) and allyl propul disulphide (APDS) allow the pancreas to increase the production of insulin in the body.

3.Beans. Eating beans regularly help regulate one’s blood sugar level because of its high soluble fiber content.  The soluble fiber found in beans decreases digestion rate making a person to feel full longer and stabilizes blood sugar level to avoid a sudden drop or increase in sugar level in the body.

4. Bitter gourd. This vegetable, despite its unimpressive taste,is discovered to possess lectin which is responsible in lowering blood glucose concentration and charantin which increases insulin sensitivity. Vitamins A, B1, B2, C, and iron found in this vegetable can also prevent diabetic patients from hypertension and eye complications. 

5.Oats, cereals, legumes.  Aside from fruits and vegetables, wholegrain products are also good sources of fiber.  Fiber delays the absorption of sugar in the blood making it easier for the body’s sugar level to be controlled.

6. Yogurt. Soy products like yogurt have high content of phenol and antioxidants which help regulate blood sugar level and prevent hypertension. Studies also claimed that low-fat dairy products lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.

My favorite wheatgrass in a can!

7.   Wheatgrass. Wheatgrass is said to be the “ super food” because it  is loaded with essential vitamins C, E and B, minerals like zinc and copper, Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids, and several enzymes to help cure or prevent several diseases such as diabetes. The fiber found in wheatgrass regulates the absorption of sugar and cholesterol. Magnesium, the main element of chlorophyll that is responsible for plants’ green pigmentation, keeps bones and muscles strong, regulates blood sugar levels, promotes normal blood pressure, and prevents cardiovascular disease, retinopathy, and nephropathy, which are the popular complications from diabetes. Copper and manganese help improve glucose control while zinc regulates blood sugar level.

Good thing that I'm drinking wheatgrass. But of course I should not depend too much on it. I mean I can drink a can or two of my fave wheatgrass ready-to-drink that I've been blogging about but if I continue eating foods high in sugar and do not engage myself in physical activities, I am not safe from diabetes. But I won't let that happen to myself. I won't.

I Can Drink the Good Drink

Food supplements are popular as people realized the importance and benefits of healthy living, paying extra attention to their diet. For others, these supplements compensate for their preference for foods that have high amounts of salt, oil, sugar, and fats.

Food supplements, mostly in tablet forms, promise to give the body the much needed nutrients in order for it to function well. However, taking these products in large amounts may pose a threat to one’s health. Too much Vitamin A intake can lead to headaches, blurred visions and even kidney problems while a large quantity of Vitamin B6 intake can lead to serious problems in the nervous system in the future. There is also a possibility that the contents of the food supplement will have an adverse effect on other medicines especially if a person is under medication. For instance, calcium content of the food supplement will have a negative reaction on certain heart medications that might aggravate one’s medical condition. Food supplements should be taken according to its required daily dosage since nutrients from food supplements have a different effect on the body compared to the nutrients from natural, healthy foods.

Dietician and British Nutrition Foundation spokesperson Sarah Schenker suggested that instead of these food supplements, people should increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables since they do not only contain vitamins and minerals but also “many other plant substances” such as phytochemicals which is lacking in food supplements.

Good thing I'm not a fan of food supplments though. I'm not really into drinking tablets or capsules since I've read that frequent intake of these medicines will only damage your kidney. We learned that abusing simple painkiller tablets may aggravate the detoriariation of kidneys. We learned our lesson well from the experience of my late brother. While we stock on paracetamols or neozeps at home, my mom would always insist that we go for natural remedies like increasing veggie and fruit consumption, drinking more liquids (water and juices), get lots of sleep and rest, and avoid staying up late. 

Cosplay goddess Alodia Gosengfiao is a
wheatgrass drinker herself!

Green leafy vegetables are highly nutritious because of its chlorophyll-rich content. Chlorophyll is also important to human body since it helps in the production of healthy red blood cells. High amount of hemoglobin in the bloodstream increases the amount of oxygen-rich blood that circulates in the body. Cells thrive in oxygen-rich blood.  
 Barley grass and wheatgrass are also natural food supplements that are gaining popularity. Both contains an equally high amount of nutrients on it including calcium, magnesium, iron, vitamins A, B, C, D, and E, enzymes that are important in the body, chlorophyll, and fiber content. But what makes wheatgrass superior than barley grass is the presence of P4D1 enzyme which is known for its anti-inflammatory property and its ability to fight cancer cells. Aside from preventing cancer cells from multiplying in the body, wheatgrass is also effective in preventing diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular problems.   

Im thinking that I should continue drinking the wheatgrass product that I recently discovered.  I was just happy that this drink improved my digestion during my one-week trial. I cannot, of course, say if wheatgrass can really lower my blood sugar or cholesterol level since I'm pretty confident that my sugar and cholesterol levels are still on their normal level. Nor can I attest to the product's efficacy in preventing cancers or cardiovascular problems simply because I haven't been diagnosed to suffer from any of these ailments (thank God). But what can I just say is that since I've started taking this product, going to the bathroom becomes comfortable every morning. Add to that, I didn't get hungry easily after I consumed one can. I swear! Before I go home, I always drop by at the nearest 711 store and consume my a can before I boarded the shuttle. Travel time is almost 2 hours and surprisingly, I didn't get hungry at all. Maybe it's the fiber content of this drink that leaves me feel "stuffed." I thought it was just a coincidence but my one-week trial hypothesized that maybe this drink can also be a good form of diet. Just think of FIBER!  

Doing Yoga Upside Down

My bestfriend has been bugging me to enrol in a yoga class with her for sometime now. I would only smile at her since I'm not really interested with the said activity. I hate activities that require bending and the likes since I'm not flexible at all. 

I came across an interesting article today regarding a new form of yoga that's making a buzz abroad: AntiGravity Yoga. I know that I'm not a yoga fan but this type of yoga is really a stand-out. In fact, it reminded me of Pink's outstanding performance some two years ago.

Who would think that combining yoga and acrobatics would make a good workout?

While nursing an injury in India, world-renowned gymnast Christopher Harrison got into yoga and realized that  combining it with acrobatics can be a promising body workout since both practices allow people to stretch their body.

White sheets are important for
this kind of yoga. Credit here

AntiGravity Yoga, a fusion of yoga, pilates, dance, calisthenics, and acrobatics, is currently making waves abroad since Harrison started it in 2007. This workout is a perfect mix of promoting flexibility and aligning the body without overstressing the joints or compressing the spinal column. Unlike traditional yoga classes where participants are grounded on the floor (since they either sit or stand on the mat), students in this class are hanging upside down in the air through a silk hammock suspended three feet above the floor.  The idea of a hammock supporting your body is quite scary but people who are into it actually see it as their “security blanket,” literally speaking, because it primarily supports the spinal column and hips enabling them to freely stretch or bend their bodies. An added “security” feature is that this cloth sheet can hold as heavy as 1,000 lbs so you don’t need to worry that it might tear down or collapse while you’re doing simple to the more complex poses in the air.

Antigravity Yoga will make your
 world upside down. Credit here

Proponents of this practice believe that AntiGravity Yoga is very important especially to athletes because it makes them more flexible and faster. People can freely do inverted poses in the air since a cloth supports their back so stretching and bending their bodies will not be a problem and instead, encourage them more to explore their body’s flexibility. Hanging upside down decompresses the spinal column and creates more open spaces in our spine. The movements involved in this regimen also aims to promote joint mobility to make the spine more flexible.   Joint mobility and spine flexibility make a person faster. Chances of neck or back compression while doing difficult yoga poses are also lessened since the hammock acts as the body’s support system.

So the next time you see a person supported by a white cloth and turned upside down while suspended in the air just like what Pink did in the 2010 Emmy Awards, keep in mind that doing this “stunt” can actually do some good in your body.

Drinking a Healthier Option

I've been addicted to drinking carbonated drinks since I was a child. Back in my gradeschool and highschool days, I always snob the orange juice my mom prepared and instead go to the caf to buy myself a can of soda. After all, a can of ice cold Coke is hard to resist especially if it perfectly complements my everyday baon. My addiction in softdrinks got worse when I entered college. I drink softdrinks like water!

Soft drinks are popular because of its accessibility, addicting taste, and cheap price. I only had a change of heart when I discovered that behind its sweet taste lies the many negative effects in our health that might trigger a more serious health condition in the future. Scary, right?



Even insects are Coke lovers. Photo credit here



I'm posting this entry to remind myself why I should trade my can of softdrinks for more healthy drinks available in the market in order to prevent the health risks that come with these carbonated drinks. Researchers discovered that women who consume fruit juices on a daily basis are not prone to diabetes because they contain natural sweeteners unlike the added sugar found in sodas. Besides, fruit juices are also healtheir since it contain vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and fiber that cannot be found in soft drinks.

7 reasons why you should stop drinking softdrinks: 

1. Too much caffeine. Aside from coffee, our favorite soft drinks contain a high amount of caffeine that makes us more dependent and addictive to it. Roland Griffiths, Ph.D., psychiatry and neuroscience professor at Johns Hopkins University, acknowledged that caffeine addiction and withdrawal is a medical disorder. People who withdraw from caffeine suffer from headache, poor concentration, and fatigue while others claim they have fever, muscle pain, and even nausea. 

Too much caffeine intake causes irritability, tension, anxiety, mild depression, restlessness, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, gastrointestinal disturbance, insomnia, and excessive urination (caffeine is diuretic). 

2. High acidity level. Despite its sweet taste, soft drinks are the most acidic beverage in the market with a pH level of 2.5, the same acid level as vinegar. Too much acid in the body is dangerous because it oxidizes the substances that come in contact with it. Oxidation may be a good thing but most of the time, it destructs an element’s properties and make it weak or rusty (in the case of metals).  

Phosphoric acid that comes from soft drinks has a negative effect on the stomach’s hydrochloric acid resulting to indigestion since the stomach fails to function properly. Undigested food in the stomach also causes bloating.

3. Weakens bones.  Food Politics author Dr. Marion Nestle said adolescents who consume soft drinks more are more prone to bone fractures than non-regular drinkers. Soft drinks contain phosphate which, when taken in excessive amounts, lead to the weakening of bones because it prevents the body to absorb iron, calcium, zinc, and magnesium which are all important in strengthening bones.  Phosphoric acid and caffeine in soft drinks prohibit these nutrients to reach bones since the diuretic property of caffeine causes these nutrients to be flushed in the body through excessive urination.



Pearly white no more. Credit here

4. Teeth problems.   Dr. Elson Haas, The Detox Diet author, said that high phosphorus intake from soft drinks results to tooth decay and loss, periodontal disease, and even gingivitis. The high acid content in soft drinks easily dissolves the calcium found in the enamel of the teeth. Once the enamel was destroyed, teeth become more sensitive and more prone to decay. Sugar content also contributes to the corrosion of teeth. Layers of clear plaque are formed when sugar is deposited on the teeth. Bacteria will soon feed on the sugar deposit in the teeth, causing the rotting of teeth.

5. Obesity. Researchers found a direct link of drinking soft drinks to obesity because of its high calorie content. For instance, an 8 ounce of one carbonated drink has 100-200 calories while a daily consumption of a 330 ml single can is equivalent to more than 1lb of monthly weight gain. In addition, researchers also found that obesity is 1.6 times greater to those who regularly consume soft drinks.

6. Thirst. Drinking soft drinks makes you thirstier rather than quenching your thirst. Do not drink soft drinks if you are thirsty because the saliva level is low. Caffeine and sugar content in these carbonated drinks also account why they are diuretics. So even if you increase its liquid intake, you will still feel thirsty because the kidneys try to flush the high sugar content in the body.

7. Diabetes. Diabetes is possible among soda regular drinkers.  Regular consumption of soft drinks (or soda habit) promotes weight gain that could possibly lead to obesity. Obesity is one of the risk factors of diabetes. In addition, the body cannot produce insulin effectively because of the fat cells in the body.

A recent trip to a nearby 7-11 outlet led me to a new discovery: Easy Pha-max Wheatgrass Ready-To-Drink. It was really 99% curiosity on my part why I decided to buy this product. I mean, wheatgrass has been a buzz for quite sometime now. And since I'm trying to look for a better substitute to Coke and try something new to avoid the umay factor of drinking C2 Apple I decided to give it a shot.

Wheatgrass in an instant!

The taste was not that bad afterall. I actually thought that it would taste like damo because it's wheatgrass but I was proven wrong. It tasted like a sweetened green tea. Plus, I read somewhere that wheatgrass is really good for the body because it detoxifies the body, making it cleaner and free against the free radicals that threaten one's health condition. Definitely, this drink will be part of my weekly "healthy living" ritual.