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apples benefits for health

Apple Benefits for Body & Health

There’s no easier way to add a dose of nutrition to your day than by crunching on a tasty apple. Apple’s benefits for the body are vast, and you probably first experienced its delightful flavor as a baby, when apple sauce introduced you to real food. And now, whether it’s a Granny Smith, a McIntosh, or a Red Delicious, you think of apples as old friends. Grown throughout the world, apples are high in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They’re fat-free, cholesterol-free, and low in sodium. In short, eating apples is a smart part of a healthy lifestyle.

6 ways apples benefits for body

Regulates your day. You don’t have to worry about staying regular anymore. Whether your problem is visiting the bathroom too often or not often enough, apples benefits for body.

A British researcher, Dr. D.P Burkitt, believes one of the easiest ways to prevent all sorts of illnesses, is to avoid constipation. He calls the diseases caused by chronic constipation “pressure diseases.” Appendicitis, diverticular diseases, hemorrhoids, Hiatal hernias, and even varicose veins can all be caused by straining to pass small, hard stools.

Just one apple with its skin contains 4 to 5 grams of fiber – the most important nutrient in keeping your bowels working like a well-oiled machine. Keeping yourself regular without relying on harmful laxatives could be as easy as replacing that afternoon snack of potato chips or cookies with a crisp, delicious apple. And think of the calories you’ll save. The average apple has about 80 calories while a serving of chips weighs in at 150 calories and you’ll get about 200 from just a few cookies, which creates apples benefits for health with reduced caloric intake. 

But that’s not all apples can do. They’re also good for diarrhoea, thanks to an ingredient called pectin. This carbohydrate has a congealing effect in your intestines that helps firm things up and return you to normal. Apple sauce is actually the best apple product for diarrhea since it’s made without the high.-fibre skin. But watch out for extra sugar. Some brands of apple sauce dump a truckload of sweeteners into otherwise healthy food, and too much-refined sugar could make your diarrhea worse.

Keeps your body young. By now you know antioxidants can protect you from many of the diseases that seem to be a part of aging. In fact, so many people are taking supplements for antioxidant protection that it’s become a multibillion-dollar industry. But the evidence is mounting that whole foods can do more for you than pills which benefits apples for health as an alternative to supplements alone. 

When scientists compared a 1,500-milligram vitamin C supplement to one small apple, the results were astounding – the antioxidant values were equal. That means a fresh apple has more than 15 times the antioxidant power of the recommended daily dose of vitamin C. And that’s just for starters. The researchers also found an ordinary apple was able to stop the growth of colon and liver cancer cells in test tubes. Unpeeled apples were especially effective. The question you need to ask yourself is: Why waste money on flavorless supplements when you can get better antioxidant firepower from a sweet, crunchy fruit?

Cuts your risk of heart disease. Sometimes it’s hard to remember which food is good for which part of your body. The next time you pick up an apple, examine it carefully. It’s shaped a bit like a heart – and that should help you remember apples are good for your heart.

It’s the magnesium and potassium in apples that help regulate your blood pressure and keep your heart beating steadily, and it’s the flavonoid quercetin, a naturally occurring antioxidant, that protects your artery walls from damage and keeps your blood flowing smoothly.

In fact, adding flavonoid-rich foods like apples to your diet has been scientifically confirmed to lower your risk of heart disease. There’s proof of this in a study of Japanese women who ate foods high in quercetin. They were less likely to get coronary heart disease than other women and they had lower levels of total and LDL, or bad, cholesterol.

Strikes at the heart of strokes. Apples are even a smart choice for helping avoid strokes. Scientists aren’t sure which ingredient in this multi-talented fruit to credit, but the connection is clear – people who regularly eat apples are less likely to have strokes than people who don’t, so we see apples benefits for health.

Protects your joints. In areas of the world where fruits and vegetables make up a large part of the diet, very few people get arthritis. Compare this to modernised countries where fruits and vegetables have been replaced with fast, processed food and you’ll find up to 70 percent of the population suffers from some form of arthritis. Just a coincidence? Not according to nutrition experts. They link this trend in part to boron, a trace mineral many plants, including apples, absorb from the soil.

If you eat like most people, you’ll get about 1 to 2 milligrams (mg) of boron a day, mostly from non-citrus fruits, leafy vegetables, and nuts. Experts believe; however, you need anywhere from 3 to 10 mg a day to affect your risk of arthritis. To boost your boron intake to this level, you’d have to eat more than nine apples a day.

This is probably an unreasonable amount for most people, and wouldn’t be advised…but don’t despair. Pair an apple with other boron-rich foods like a few tablespoons of peanut butter and a large handful of raisins, and you’ll not only have a delicious afternoon snack, but you’ll make your joint-saving quota of boron at the same time.

Helps you breathe deeply. Your lungs are assaulted every day by cigarette smoke ( even other peoples) , air pollution, pollen, and other air-borne nasties.

On top of that perhaps you suffer from asthma, emphysema, or similar lung condition. If all you want to do is take a deep breath, then grab an apple. Apples benefits for health are expansive. 

A five-year study of more than 2,500 men from Wales found those who ate five or more apples per week were able to fill their lungs with more air than men who didn’t eat apples. 

Incredible!

Experts believe you might be getting some special protection from the antioxidant quercetin. Unfortunately, eating apples can’t reverse a lung condition you already have, but you just might add a new line of defense against further damage.

Pantry pointers. Buy apples that are unbruised, firm, and have good colour. Take them out of their plastic bag and store them in your refrigerator – loose in the produce bin or in a paper bag is best. And since they will absorb odours, keep them away from strong-smelling foods like garlic and onions.

Apple Cider Vinegar. A fermented form of apples in vinegar, known as apple cider vinegar has been shown to have positive antimicrobial benefits. In a recent study, it was shown that ½ ACV had the strongest impact against Candida in the system, 1/25 dilution ACV also helped eradicate other microbes such as S. Aureus and 1/50 ACV dilutions were required for eradication of E-Coli cultures. These resulted in downregulation of inflammatory cytokines within the system which hinders the immune system. ACV has been proven in clinical studies to have antimicrobial benefits which can be incredibly helpful to the immune system. 

Apples benefits for the body and apples benefits for health are endless through various applications. Using apples to help the body heal and get well is often a great idea along with various other fruits and vegetables.

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eating an apple

Benefits of eating an apple a day

A common question that is brought up in our monthly visits to the doctor is “How to support our immune system in being more effective?”  

And this is a legitimately great question, especially now with so much concern over communicable diseases

The immune system is a system, and because of that, we indeed have to be very careful how we treat and nurture it. 

Not that it doesn’t do a great job on its own, but there are quite a few intricacies that can definitely help it in being more effective, as well as support. Let’s explore one that I partake in every day by exploring the benefits of apple a day.  

Science hasn’t yet determined whether the benefits of an apple a day can help you enhance your immune system

Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t know a couple of tips on how to improve it through proper lifestyle choices. As we know and have learned our immune system is primarily housed in our digestive tract. This means that what we eat, and how we digest, and assimilate nutrients will be key to our overall health and wellbeing, especially with our immune system. 

Researchers are exploring the effects of diet, age, exercise, and psychological stress on the immune system of both men and animals. And although the benefits of eating an apple a day are not widely explored, we do know that eating fruits, vegetables, and a high fiber diet is key to keeping our bodies well. 

So let’s see what they have to say about boosting your first line of defense against germs and viruses, starting with the most important first, shall we? 

Your Lifestyle Choices

We all know what a healthy lifestyle looks like, but we often forget to follow the simple rules that could help us preserve our immunity.

Every part and system of the body| functions better when we protect it from outside factors, especially those that are a part of our lifestyle choices.

Things like drinking alcohol, smoking, and getting stressed out are often the gateway to different turbulence in the body. Without a healthy lifestyle, we often will not be able to maintain a healthy body. 

Many of these habits, unlike the benefits of apple a day, can affect your way of life, eating habits, exercise regimens, and others.

The results of an unhealthy lifestyle especially for a long period of time most commonly being becoming overweight, lowered brain activity, heart, and lung complications, not getting enough sleep, and many others. 

Many drug store products such as supplements offer a supposed boost in strengthening immunity, but that may not always be good. Remember a supplement is designed to supplement a healthy diet and not replace one. 

There are just too many cells with a concrete job to respond to so many microbes and viruses in so many ways. 

So ultimately, it would probably be best to stick to a healthy lifestyle first, before you think about using any proclaimed “magical” supplements for your immune system. Remember there is no magic, only what you do consistently deliberately over a long period of time. 

This brings up another question here.

Does Age Matter?

Age matters a lot when it comes to your body and its immune system, yes! Not sure if the benefits of eating an apple a day help over the years as you age, but surely the additional fiber cannot hurt you. Many scientists agree that with age comes a decrease in cell production and that is mainly because with time (and habits) a certain set of degenerative processes set in. This is called oxidative stress, which is why eating lots of antioxidants such as berries is so helpful. 

For example, the decrease in T cells (a type of white blood cell) is most probably caused by thymus atrophy. 

Other scientists suggest that the less efficient bone marrow is a significant cause because it decreases the production of stem cells. 

Another age-related threat is malnutrition, which is why understanding proper nutrition is key. It is important to eat adequate macronutrients of proteins, fats, as well as carbohydrates. Proteins are especially important. 

The so-called “micronutrient malnutrition” is what happens when our bodies can’t possibly receive the needed amount of nutrients to function correctly.

This is usually the case with people in their late 60 but can happen at any age, especially with the advent of crash dieting. Eating a consistent lifestyle diet is key to ensuring adequate nutrients. 

Nevertheless, there is chronological age (years that pass) and biological age (how those years pass).

That is to say, a healthy lifestyle is a must in the context of looking and being younger than you actually are! I would suggest the benefits of apple a day may not be an anti-aging tool, but it most certainly can help with the antioxidant, antiproliferative, and cell signaling effects. 

Diets, Vitamins, And What Not

Many people have it in their heads that skipping on your vegetables and substituting them with multivitamins is a good idea. 

Well… It’s not. 

The immune system is tightly dependent on food intake: the right foods, the right amount, and diversity to ensure getting adequate nutrition. 

Taking a handful of vitamins to boost your iodine, zinc, or Vitamins A to E is just shoving down supplements that your body cannot process the way it can from food, given that the food is of good quality. Especially since the world of supplementation is like the wild wild west. You never know what you are getting, and if the nutrients listed on the bottle are healthy for you. 

Not only pills but herbs too aren’t a sure success story for the strength of our immunity. Herbs are medicine, so it is important to take only what you need when otherwise you could be doing more harm than good. 

Yes, they can help a bit, but not in the magical way we rely on when drinking our herbal teas. I still stand by the benefits of eating an apple a day as the body will not be offended when you take in food into the system. 

Take-Home Message

At this point, we all know that eating an apple a day won’t keep the doctor away, although it is your way of doing YOUR part in your healthcare. If you do not heal your lifestyle, there is little a doctor can do for you. A doctor is just a guide or a teacher for you. 

Nowadays, it seems like there are too many other factors to account for to maintain good health and prevent disease. Every person is an individual and unique. There is never a size fit approach for someone’s healthcare. It is deeply individualized, which is why we take over 350 data points on each individual case. This is so we can identify the root cause of the person’s health complaint efficiently as well as guide them through the process of healing. Our job as a doctor is to educate and teach people what they need to do to get well. 

However, if you take some time each morning or evening to enjoy the benefits of eating an apple a day with breakfast or dinner, you can be sure that your body is getting at least one of its daily requirements. 

Rest assured, though, the word “apple” here is just a metaphor – It goes to show that what you eat MATTERS! Eat trash and you will get the trash. Eat healthy foods and indeed that is what you will gain. 

Be mindful of what foods you put (and don’t) in your body and keep in mind that this is what will, to a big extent, determine your overall health. There is scientific evidence that a diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables can help aid health as well as protect against chronic diseases. Apples are among the most frequently consumed fruit, are available all year round in most climates, and are a rich source of polyphenols and fiber. 

Fuel your body right, and it will thank you!

References

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26016654/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22332082/

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allergic to whey protein

Allergic reaction to protein powder? Allergic to Whey Protein

Allergic reaction to protein powder? Allergic to Whey Protein – You may need some help

There are some people who develop allergies to dairy and therefore to any product containing milk or milk proteins or sugars. This may include allergic reactions to whey protein and allergic reactions to protein powder. Cow’s milk allergy is a frequent food allergy found in infants. Those that are allergic reaction to whey protein powder are also sensitized to the immune responses as well. In western countries, it is estimated that about 2-3% have an allergic reaction to cow’s milk and the potential for allergic to whey protein in the future based on recent studies based on strict diagnostic criteria. 

Intolerance is slightly different, where one may be lactose intolerant and find it difficult to digest or absorb the product or get undesirable symptoms if it were taken, but this is quite different from an allergy where one should avoid the product altogether. This is slightly less severe than being allergic to whey protein. 

Such cases usually start during infancy and studies have recorded that there are 2-3% of babies who are allergic to milk. However, in some cases, babies have a high tendency to outgrow it upon reaching a certain age, although there are some who are better to steer clear of milk all their lives. 

One such dairy product that some of us are either allergic to, or have an intolerance too is whey protein

What causes this allergic reaction to whey protein or any other milk forms? Health experts claim that the allergy is the response of the body’s immune system to one or several proteins primarily found in cow’s milk. And since casein and whey are the two major components of cow’s milk, some people develop a particular allergic to whey protein. This is basically due to the inability of the body to break up the sugar lactose in milk. 

People who are allergic to whey protein can directly affect and cause distress in the digestive system, and other parts of the body such as the skin and the person’s airways. It can also lead to loose bowel movement and can pose a very serious life threat in some rare cases. When a person has a reaction that is allergic to whey protein or other milk products, they often suffer characteristic systems such as irritability, abdominal pain and vomiting, recurrent wheezing, and skin rashes.  People who are extremely allergic to milk should be extra careful on taking any types of food produced. This is because milk is basically present in many types of food, even when you least expect it. They should be diligent enough to thoroughly read the labels and determine if the particular product contains any allergen and then avoid it.

Some nutritionists have recommended nondairy products as the primary alternative to milk and whey protein products this can include allergic reactions to protein powder. However, entirely eliminating milk from the diet could mean the possibility of some, suffering from some nutrient deficiency, which would trigger a host of health complications. Lactose intolerants should therefore be encouraged to eat more green leafy vegetables and seafood since they are excellent alternative sources of nutrients such as calcium. Vitamin D should also be included in the supplemental regimen since it is an established fact that calcium will not be properly absorbed in the body without it. 

Individuals who are lactose intolerants and allergic to whey protein are often faced with a number of difficulties and it can be particularly stressful. This is mainly because they will not enjoy the freedom of eating certain foods as other people do. The best thing to do is to train them to get used to simple diet changes but at the same time ensure that all the dietary requirements are sufficiently met. Luckily these days there are many plant-based alternatives for many dairy products and they are more often than not fortified with the required nutrients so missing out on favorite foods or nutrition should not be necessary. we can also test for nutrient deficiencies and then create supplemental supports to ensure that the body is not deficient in these nutrients. 

One of the bigger questions may be why does one person become allergic to something while another is perfectly fine? Why does one get a mild intolerance, yet another must not touch it at all for fear of a dangerous reaction?

We are all very individual in our genetic makeup and composition and lifestyle.

If you have any strange symptoms or are worried that you may be intolerant or allergic to dairy or in fact any food, its always best to consult a trained nutritionist, dietician or functional doctor, naturopath or a practitioner in functional nutrition. These skilled practitioners can carefully help you pinpoint exactly why you function the way you do whenever you eat something particular. This can help you learn about yourself, your habits, and your lifestyle and maybe even find the root cause of the allergic reaction to protein powder and other substances and, if not eliminate it altogether, help you to ease the problem considerably. 

References

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17002714/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8647059/

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Addictive Foods

Addictive Foods and their Harmful Consequences

Most of us are fond of at least one product that has the effect of a stimulant and that eventually becomes an addiction. These products include exercise stimulant drinks (they come in cans and look like cola), fizzy aerated drinks, tobacco, betel nut, betel leaf, strong coffee, strong tea, ma huang (an ephedrine-like compound consumed in china), and alcohol. But what is the cause of food addiction or eating addictive foods that are harmful to the body?

Before I tell you why we shouldn’t consume these products, I’d like to deal with the question of why we do consume them in the first place.

There’s no one who doesn’t know that products like these, consumed in excess, can severely harm our bodies. Yet, we still find them hard to resist. The need to eat stimulant food is a simple human weakness that has existed for ages: humans (and many animals) have always indulged in foods that give a sort of emotional high. An emotional connection is a cause of food addiction. In clinical terms, this means rapid heartbeat, a little sweating, dilation or constriction of the pupils of the eye, a warm flush on the face, and a sense of greater sensitivity, concentration, and perception are some of the consequences of eating addictive foods that are harmful. 

These sensations of an emotional high die down within a few hours, and we are left feeling listless and low. This leads to a craving for that food again, to experience the high one more time. And there we are going round and round in a vicious circle. This is another cause of food addiction or any addiction, continually trying to chase the same sensation or feeling that you have had time and time again.

The physiology of addictions is as follows:

When you eat addictive foods that are harmful, it stimulates the hormone-like substances found at the end of your nerves, which triggers an avalanche of similar stimulatory substances and you experience a high. As the substances near the nerves are depleted, you get into the low phase, which leads you to crave that food again. This yo-yo phase of nerve stimulation and depletion leads to a cause of food addiction. 

Consuming addictive foods that are harmful is one of the oldest unhealthy food practices and, despite a revolution in health consciousness; it shows no signs of dying out.

Below are some side effects of certain addictive foods.

Alcohol Addiction: Erosion of stomach and intestinal lining, liver damage, nutritional deficiency specifically related to co-factors for the liver. 

Tobacco: Erosion of gum and tongue can lead to cancer of the buccal mucosa.

Betel nut: Leads to the discoloration of teeth, erosion of the lining of the mouth, and cancer of the mouth and upper tract. It also leads to heart problems among people who already have a weak heart.

Ma huang: It contains ephedrine and leads to heart problems.

Aerated drinks: High doses of caffeine can create adrenal fatigue, exhaustion, and nervous system overload. 

Caffeine and xanthine: Found in tea, and coffee. These become harmful only in very high doses; don’t consume more than five cups a day.

Mixed drug reactions: People who consume medications for the heart, hypertension, and asthma have to be very careful about the interactions of the drugs with stimulant foods, as mixing the two can be fatal. 

After years of experience, all doctors know how difficult it is to break the food addictions of their patients. So, like them, I can only advise a good compromise. If you can’t break the addiction, then at least you should practice moderation. Consuming addictive foods that are harmful will eventually have implications on your health that a pill cannot cover-up. Oftentimes, many illnesses do not occur spontaneously but often occur after years of misuse and abuse of the body. 

In one study conducted, processed food that was higher in fat was most associated with addictive foods that are harmful. In other studies, it was evident that foods with refined carbohydrates, and salt were also foods that were addictive and harmful. Much evidence suggests behavioral, neurobiological, and genetic implications as some of the many root causes of food addiction. Many of these implications can be overcome with a structured care plan. It was also shown that brain reward dysfunction, preoccupation, risky use, impaired control, tolerance/withdrawal, social impairment, chronicity, and relapse were also associated with the cause of food addiction. While this is unique to the individual patient involved it is clear that there is much overlap when addressing the root causes of food addiction. If you or someone you know struggles with food addiction and needs help, please reach out for a consultation. 

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antihistamines allergy

Types of Antihistamines and how they work

We are spending more time outdoors, now spring is here, and our gardens are bursting into bloom, summer is on the way. But, that means for many of us, antihistamines allergy responses.

In this article, we’re going to discuss probably the most common type of antihistamines treatment for allergy sufferers; the use of antihistamines allergy, what they are, and how they work in the body to rid people of their allergy symptoms.  

The first question most people ask about types of antihistamines is what they are.  The reason is that when they see these little wonder pills advertised, they are seeing the brand name and not what the pill actually is.  The most popular brand names of antihistamines are Clarityn, Zyrtec, Allegra, and Benadryl.  There are plenty more though.  The antihistamines allergy industry is a multibillion-dollar a year industry because of all the allergy sufferers but this still doesn’t tell us what an antihistamine is.  

The best way to explain what antihistamines allergy are and what it does is to actually break the word down.  

Antihistamine is composed of two words, anti and histamine.  Anti means to be against something or act against something.  This leaves us with what histamine is.  Histamine is something that your body produces in defense against an attack of allergens.  It is these histamines that bring on the terrible symptoms of sneezing, itching, watery eyes, etc. that we suffer from when we are attacked by these allergens.  Thus, an antihistamine is something that works against the histamines that our body produces.  

Your common antihistamine supplement or medication comes in a little pill.  How it actually works is quite amazing.  What these pills do is release a chemical in our body that is very similar to and looks like an antihistamines allergy to our body.  These look-alike histamines make our body think that we basically have enough of these and keep the receptors in our body from working against them.  In other words, they stop the histamines in our body from working, thus relieving the symptoms.  

What most people don’t know is that this is not the only function of histamines.  They also play a very important role in the brain, keeping us attentive, alert, and awake.  So, if we stopped all of the histamines in the body from working we would basically fall asleep. 

 This can be especially dangerous when driving a car or operating heavy machinery and in fact, this is exactly what happens when we take old antihistamines.  So if you have any of these laying around in your home, please get rid of them and do not take them.  Those expiration dates on antihistamines are there for a reason.  

The good news is, that newer forms of antihistamines have a much better effect on your allergies with less effect on your brain.  How this is accomplished is actually very simple.  Some medicines or supplements barely make it into the brain from the blood.  This is actually not a good thing with antibiotics for brain infections.  But, when research workers figured this out they started to make types of antihistamines allergy support that also had the same properties as antibiotics, thus making it so that very little of the drug makes its way to the brain.  If you read most antihistamine labels today it will say right on it, “nondrowsy”.

Modern Healthcare requires the person to be more proactive instead of reactive. We also need to work to create individualized healthcare treatment using state-of-the-art laboratory testing. There are many biomarkers that we look at to determine the root causes of allergies. Allergies can stem from genetic predisposition, environmental exposures, and the overall health of the person. When a person becomes overly toxic and overwhelmed with their health they are more susceptible to allergic reactions. While histamine antagonists do help support the body during antihistamine allergy reactions it does not get to the root causes of imbalances within the microbiome that can be driving these responses. The root cause is multifaceted and requires further testing to determine since everyone is so different and unique. If you are looking for further root cause evaluation please schedule a consultation to discuss further options. 

References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7756301/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1929821/

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