When beginning a diet for fructose malabsorption you want to eat as simple as possible. Give your body time to heal. A simple and delicious recipe that is very healing and easy to digest is fresh, steamed spinach and white rice. This is something that you will be able to eat every day as long as you keep the portions small. Create a peaceful environment when you eat and never eat more that your belly can handle. Eat slow. Enjoy each bite. Healing the body starts from within. Meditate on love and peace in your life throughout the day. Learn proper breathing techniques and use them. Find time to relax each day.

You may or may not be able to eat the following foods. Not everyone can eat the same things and because there are multiple intolerances that people can have everyone is affected differently by certain foods. This is a guide. Remember to pay attention to your body and write down everything in a food journal or notebook. Space meals and snacks out throughout the day. Portion sizes are crucial. Sometimes ½ of a serving will be tolerated but not one whole serving. Never eat more than one serving unless you know that you can tolerate it. Start small – think fine dining. Also, always check ingredients. Not every product is made the same and often a product will change the ingredients without any warning. You must check labels each time you make a purchase. Many foods and beverages contain HFCS. HFCS is a great big no-no for fructmals. Remember that the FODMAP’s have an accumulative effect in the body. You might be okay with one serving or one food but if they have a chance to gang up on you they will. Keep them in check by knowing your limits and keeping the portions small. You can heal yourself. You are half way there. Give yourself a gold star. You are on your way to a bright, happy, full belly, rich in nutrition and satisfaction.

Meat & Protein

All meat is tolerated as there are no fructose or other fermentable carbohydrates present in meat. Organic meat is a great option because not only is it healthier but tastes much better. Keep your eyes open for added ingredients such as breading, additives, fillers and sauces as they may contain FODMAP’s. Be aware that some processed meats use lactose in the meats. Check with the deli. Fish and seafood are safe as long as there are no intolerable ingredients. Always check ingredients. It is best to prepare meals from scratch because then you know what is in them. Eggs and tofu are suitable protein sources.

Safe grains and starches

There are many safe grains and flours that are suitable for the diet. They are often found in health foods stores or online, especially in the gluten-free sections. White rice is the safest.

• Rice Bran
• Gluten-free flour
• Corn flour
• Oat bran
• Quinoa
• Potato
• White rice
• White rice noodles
• White rice wraps
• Gluten-free pastas
• Oats or gluten free oats (Many prefer gluten-free.)

Sweet Treats

Real sugar, otherwise known as sucrose, is okay in small amounts. Be aware of 100% fruit spreads. They often use pear juice to sweeten them. It is best to stay away from these as pears are a big problem for fructmals. Once again, always check labels.

• Peanut butter (Peanuts can cause difficulty in those sensitive to Candida.)
• Jam
• Marmalade
• Maple syrup
• Rice syrup
• Dextrose
• Smarties and sweettarts made with dextrose (Check labels for smarties and sweettarts. Sometimes they use HFCS.)

Fruit (fresh)

The quantity of these fruits are very important. Do not eat more than the portion size of a small orange at one time. Space each serving out by at least two to three hours.

• All Berries; blueberries, boysenberry, cranberry, raspberry, strawberries, etc.
• Citrus Fruit; oranges, lemon, grapefruit, lime, tangelo, etc.
• Cantaloupe
• Durian
• Paw paw
• Avacado (very small amount)
• Passion fruit
• Ripe Banana
• Jackfruit
• Carabola
• Kiwi
• Pineapple
• Rhubarb
• Guava
• Grapes
• Honeydew melon
• Rhubarb
• Persimmon
• Lychee

Vegetables

Once again portion sizes are very important. There are variations among sensitivities in individuals. This is only a guide. Pay attention to your body and use your food journal.

• Alfalfa
• Bamboo Shoots
• Choko
• Bok Choy
• Capsicum
• Carrot
• Mushrooms
• Celery (small amount)
• Zucchini
• Tomato
• Choy sum
• Corn (small amount)
• Cucumber
• Endive
• Zucchini
• Tomato
• Potato
• Eggplant
• Ginger
• Sweet potato (small amount)
• Lettuce, Iceburg
• Olives
• Parsnip
• Pumpkin
• Silverbeet
• Spinach
• Squash
• Green beans
• Turnip

Herbs, Spices and Condiments

• Thyme
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Rosemary
• Lemon juice
• Lime juice
• Basil
• Ginger
• Pepper
• Golden syrup
• Pure maple syrup
• Chives
• Asafoetida powder
• Sea salt
• Coriander
• Garlic infused oil
• Parsley

Beverages

• Tea
• Coffee (regular and decaffeinated)
• Herbal teas
• Hot water with lemon (strongly suggested)

Note: Caffeine can be a gastric irritant. You may want to minimize your caffeine intake if you suspect caffeine contributes to your symptoms.

Wheat and fructan restriction

Wheat-based products are only a problem when wheat is the main ingredient.

When wheat is an ingredient in only small amounts it usually is not a problem unless you are gluten intolerant or have celiac disease.

The diet for fructose malabsorption is low-wheat. You can eat rye, oats, barley and small amounts of wheat or wheat ingredients. Gluten free products are wheat-free so they are suitable for fructose malabsorption, however, you still need to be aware of fructose ingredients such as onion, honey and fruit in these products. There are many wheat ingredients that are safe, as they do not contain large amounts of fructans.

These include:

• Wheat starch
• Wheat thickeners
• Wheat colour caramel
• Wheat maltodextrin
• Wheat dextrin
• Wheat dextrose
• Wheat glucose
• Wheat glucose syrup

Lactose

Some people can tolerate low-lactose cheeses. Some low-lactose cheeses include swiss, parmesan, gouda, colby, provolone, cheddar, muenster, and monterey jack. Lactose-free milk and lactose-free cottage cheese are great sources of protein and calcium. Rice milk is another lactose-free alternative. Small servings of yogurt or lactose-free yogurt might be tolerable. Remember to use your food journal. You are an investigator and your intention is to find the healthiest diet for your unique body.

Breakfast Cereal

Remember to check labels. HFCS is a popular ingredient in many processed foods, especially cereals.

• Oatmeal, Plain (gluten-free if possible but not necessary)
• Corn flakes
• Rice Bubbles
• Rice Puffs
• Rice flakes

Nuts and seeds (suitable in very small amounts)

• Pumpkin seeds
• Pine nuts
• Sunflower seeds
• Almonds
• Cashews

Wishing you a happy and healthy life of love and prosperity.

What is Borborygmi?

Borborygmi can be thought of as stomach growling, a gurgling stomach, loud digestion noises or simply put – noises that emanate from the stomach.

Borborygmi is the sound of undigested carbohydrates within the digestive track, or gut. As the digestive system breaks these carbohydrates down a lot of gas and wind is created and as such causes a lot of noise, discomfort and embarrassment. Some people create more wind and noise than others but the cause is always the same.

It is very unlikely that you would experience this condition if you were to eat a higher protein, higher fat, low sugar and low carbohydrate diet. In recent studies fructose has also shown to be a major contributor toward this condition which occurs in many high sugar fruits and table sugar (refined sugars).

Some stomach noise (borborygmi) is natural and occurs in everyone, but some people experience severe cases of it which can be embarrassing, painful, frustrating and difficult to prevent. In order to prevent this condition we need to know what causes it. This article is focuses on the main causes of borborygmi, why it happens and hopefully this article will help people avoid these ‘triggers’ which will help their condition.

Top 5 Causes of Borborygmi

1. High Fibre Grains: Foods such as grain, oat, wheat and rye majorly contribute to borborygmi. Foods such as bread, porridge and cereal are very common causes of loud stomach noise. These are not ‘natural’ foods (when compared to meat, veg, fruit, nuts and seeds) and so it is more difficult for the body to break down and as such causes a lot of wind and noise
2. Fructose / Sugar: Fructose plays a big part in borborygmi, as does sugar. Fructose is found in many fruits. Removing high sugar fruits from your diet can greatly reduce this condition. The best fruits to remove are apples, oranges, grapes and any tinned fruit. Despite being associated with a healthy diet natural or concentrated fruit juices should also be removed.
3. Beans: Beans and Legumes have shown to cause borborygmil Beans in particular are big gas causing foods. Remove these from your diet and see if there is any improvement in your stomach noise.
4. Unbalanced Diet: This is a major factor in borborygmi. What is your current diet like? You may think that it is perfectly fine and well balanced but try writing a food diary and I believe you will be shocked. Try only eating protein and vegetables at meals and not mixing your fats, and carbohydrates. Are you eating processed foods or bread? Are you eating junk food more often than you should?
5. Milk: Dairy products are a big cause of this condition also. This does not apply to everyone (it personally didn’t apply to me but I know many people that it did) but it is worth reducing your intake of milk in particular. How much coffee are you drinking, can you reduce your milk intake this way?

Summary

To sum up: try and eat as natural as possible, make sure that you know what is going into your body. Take a look at my article called Common Causes Of Borbroygmi for a more thorough write up of this article. If you reduce these 5 key factors from your diet you can begin to see the benefit.

Some time back I started surfing the net for calories contained in the food that I ate. Unfortunately while there are vast amounts of information of the continental food eaten in the west there is not much for the typical Indian diet. After scrounging around in many different sources I have finally been able to get some basic facts together. Not all of them may be absolutely accurate, but it will help you calculate your meal calorie content better than before.

And as everyone on a diet and exercise regime knows that the better the calculation the faster the weight loss. Very often the exercise calories can be counted with great accuracy as the machines in the gym give it to us in no uncertain terms, but the ones in food can be a major hassle as it needs to be calculated individually by the person eating the food. Here is where the mistakes take place as the average calories may not always be correct in all the cases.

Here are some food products and the calories they are likely to contain. You can use this to make your daily food journal. The reason you need to write down everything you eat is so that you do not make the mistake of thinking that you are eating less than what you actually are. And believe me most of us tend to think that we have eaten less than what we actually have. It is only when you begin keeping the journal that this tendency becomes obvious.

120 ml Milk (One cup) – 75 to 100 calories

1 tsp Sugar – 100 cal

1 tsp Bournvita – 55 cal

1 pkt Maggi Veg Atta Noodles – 360 calories

1 katori Dal – 80 cal

150 g mixed Veges – 80 cal

1 Med Sized Apple – 80 calories

1 Med Sized Pear – 80 cal

1 Banana – 120 cal

1 slice Brown Bread – 75 calories

1 slice White Bread – 80 cal

1 Chappati without butter – 80 cal

1 Chappati with butter -100 calories

1 Paratha – 150 cal

1 tsp butter / ghee – 50 cal

1 tbsp Cheese – 50 calories

1 Egg – 50 cal

30 g Quaker Oats with Milk and Sugar – 115 cal

25 g (1 tbsp) Cooked Rice – 80 cal

85 g (1 serving spoon) Fried Rice – 140 cal

50 g Soya Chunks or Flakes – 80 calories

50 g Pakodas (two-three) – 175 cal

1 medium sized Samosa – 250 cal

1Gulab Jamun – 200 cal

1 Boondi Ladu – 200 cal

1 small bowl of milk sevai – 150 cal

This is about all that I have managed to gather so far. It has most of what I would eat so I am happy with the list. It is somewhat lacking on the content of South Indian food, but as soon as I find a good resource for that I will update this article. Naturally it is no where near as comprehensive as it can be. Specially since there is such a wide variety in Indian Food. Never the less I hope it will be helpful to you.

Happy Calculating!

By now, you all have seen those bumpy, greenish-black globes called avocados in your grocery store. Avocado is considered by many to be a “superfood” and lots of people love the taste. They can be creamy and have a subtle flavor. Beyond taste, avocados have numerous health benefits, too.

Advantages of Eating Avocados

Protects Against Eye Disease

Avocados have the antioxidant, lutein, that is needed to help prevent eye disease. Not only that, but avocados also enhance the eye-disease-fighting nutrients in other foods when paired with them. Other good sources of lutein are: spinach, tomatoes, kale, carrots, corn, and other deep green, orange, or yellow-colored fruits or veggies. To get the most benefit for your eyes, toss sliced or diced avocado in a salad with spinach, carrots, red peppers, and corn.

Helps Lose Weight

Avocados do have a good amount of fiber in them – 3.4 grams of fiber in half an avocado. Fiber is an essential element to helping you lose weight and make you feel full. In addition, the oleic acid in an avocado creates a reaction in the brain to make you feel full after eating avocado. For a yummy, filling, less fatty treat, use mashed avocado instead of mayo or butter on a sandwich.

Protects Pregnant Women and Their Unborn Babies

Avocados have a high rate of folate, an essential nutrient that helps lower the rate of birth defects in pregnant women. An added bonus of folate is that it helps prevent heart disease and heart attacks as well.

Keeps Blood Sugar Stable

After you eat avocado, your blood sugar will be more stable and will not spike because avocado slows your digestion. This is important for people who cannot easily control their blood sugar levels.

Lowers Cholesterol

It can increase the healthy cholesterol and lower the unhealthy cholesterol in your body. You can thank the oleic acid in avocado again for that. A plant chemical in avocados called betasitosterol also helps lower cholesterol.

Promotes Healthy Blood Flow

The monounsaturated fats are good for promoting healthy blood flow. Healthy blood flow is important for many body functions, such as aiding mental activity and decreasing blood pressure.

Provides Necessary Nutrients

Avocados are an excellent source of potassium, vitamin C, iron, and B6 as well. Just as with lutein, combining avocado with different fruits and veggies will aid in the absorption of immunity-boosting nutrients and vitamins. So don’t eat it alone!

Downsides to Eating Avocado

Although they obviously have enormous heath benefits, avocados also have downsides to them. First, they are high in fat and calories. With one avocado, you would be getting 30 grams of fat and 300-plus calories. However, it helps that the fat is monounsaturated fat, which is good for cholesterol and heart disease. Of course, like any other food, you want to eat avocados in moderation.

Secondly, not many people know that a person can be allergic to avocados. If you are allergic to latex, you may be allergic to avocados, too. An enzyme in avocado (called chitinase) causes allergic reactions in some people so be careful before trying the fruit if you’ve never had it before.

You have to weigh out the pluses and minuses of eating avocados as it relates to your own life and your family’s health. But many people find avocados a highly nutritious and delicious food to add to their diets.

One should never underestimate the importance of eating healthy food. There are so many benefits but why are there so many people still not eating right? Why has obesity and heart diseases become such a huge factor? Although the statistics are clear, people still refuse to change their life styles.

Eating healthy food may become a struggle, especially when there are so many fast food restaurants everywhere we turn. Often people make excuses like they don’t have time to get healthy food, it’s not that accessible, or that they don’t know how to prepare it. However, there are just as many supermarkets that stock fresh produce as there are fast foods outlets, so accessibility is a poor excuse.

The rate at which obesity in children is rising is more shocking than that in adults. But what is the root of this problem. One cannot really blame the children as they learn from their parents. Children are more likely to eat unhealthy foods if their parents do.

The benefits of eating a healthy diet include living a longer life, feeling happier, gaining vitality, weight loss, and a healthy appearance. Processed food decrease the quality of our lives, so eating healthy foods means we can better fight diseases and live longer. When it comes to happiness, studies have shown that eating healthy foods is an excellent natural anti-depressant.

When you eat healthy your energy levels tend to rise. Because fatty foods cause weight gain you will also have a better chance of losing weight with a healthy diet. You will not only feel healthier but will look healthier. You’ll be surprised at how much healthier your skin, hair, and nails will become.

Sometimes it is not enough just to eat an apple a day. To really gain the benefits of eating healthy foods you need to plan an entire healthy diet and stick to it.

The best time to eat healthy is the morning. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so keeping at least your breakfast healthy is a good start. Drinking a smoothie in morning is a good healthy option. It is packed with goodness and tastes delicious. Yogurt also makes for a healthy breakfast but stick to low fat, unsweetened yoghurt. Eating plain yogurt with freshly cut fruit pieces may be an even healthier option. Eggs and whole wheat bread or bran muffins is more filling. Eating cereals or oatmeal is also better than eating a fatty breakfast or even no breakfast.

During the day you need to eat meals that contain loads of starch because they contain energy. Breads, cereals, rice, potatoes and pasta will do the trick however, stay within the limits. Do not over eat; just eat enough to sustain your energy.

You should also try to eat as much fruits and vegetables as possible throughout the day. One should at least pack in 5 portions. Avoid eating a lot of meats; rather choose fish as a healthy alternative. Stay away from a lot of fatty and processed foods but do not cut it out completely. Lastly, drink loads of water.

After eating a meal, it is normal for blood sugar (glucose) concentration to rise. Usually for an hour or two while muscles and cells absorb and use the glucose for energy after which the levels return to normal. Insulin, a hormone secreted by the pancreas, facilitates the glucose-absorption process. It helps the body utilize blood glucose by binding with receptors on cells like a key fits into a lock allowing the blood sugar to enter the cells. When glucose levels remain high for longer than they should, blood sugar may oxidize protein which causes damage to internal organs and this creates a cause for concern. Blood sugar levels remaining high, is usually an indication of the cells becoming insulin resistant. Insulin resistance occurs when the normal amount of insulin secreted by the pancreas is not able to unlock the door to the cells. To maintain normal blood glucose concentrations, the pancreas secretes additional insulin. In some cases (about 1/3 of the people with insulin resistance), when the body cells resist or do not respond to even high levels of insulin, glucose builds up in the blood resulting in high-blood glucose or type 2 diabetes.

The exact cause leading to insulin resistance is not known, but type 2 diabetes is on the rise as more and more people in the U.S. become obese, physically inactive, or both. Diabetes is preceded by obesity 90 percent of the time. Obesity and physical inactivity aggravate insulin resistance. Also, people who are insulin resistant typically have an imbalance in their blood lipids (blood fat), with an increased level of triglycerides (blood fat) and a decreased level of HDL (good) cholesterol. These imbalances in triglycerides and HDL cholesterol increase the risk of heart disease. Hence, total cholesterol levels of diabetics and prediabetics tend to be dangerously high.

Insulin resistance and high cholesterol go hand in hand because obesity and physical inactivity are two of the risk parameters for high total cholesterol. Cholesterol concerns the amount of fat in the blood and diabetes concerns the level of glucose in the blood. When both conditions get together, the consequences can be quite destructive and deadly.

As people deposit fat around their waistlines, their blood sugars tend to rise. Belly fat is metabolically different than the fat that accumulates elsewhere in the body and is really dangerous. Fat that settles around the waist produces some harmful substances that cause inflammation and clotting and also contribute to the development of diabetes. It can be said that belly fat is not only hazardous from a diabetic viewpoint but also from an atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries one as well.

High cholesterol and diabetes have the same basic causes. They are related like two brothers or two sisters. Most diabetics have to work closely with their heart doctors as well as any specialists in diabetes. And many obese-sedentary persons with high cholesterol are only a few steps away from becoming insulin resistant and full-blown type 2 diabetics.

What is the natural treatment for high blood sugar? The same as for high cholesterol: eating heart-healthy foods, getting the weight under control, and exercising at least 30 minutes a day for five or more days a week.

Do ascorbic acid, ?-carotene and ?-tocopherol ring a bell? In layman’s language they are Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Vitamin E respectively. Apart from being vitamins, what is so special about them?

These vitamins together with phenols and flavonoids — all found in the aloe plant — are potent antioxidants or anti-aging chemicals. Antioxidants function as scavengers on the lookout for unpaired electrons resulting from oxidative stress. As cells are exposed to adverse environmental factors, electrons from a substance are transferred to an oxidizing agent producing unpaired electrons called free radicals. These create havoc to your cells and result in the process of aging.

Scientifically, aging is also related to telomere length (Wikipedia: A telomere is a region of repetitive DNA at the end of a chromosome, which protects the end of the chromosome from deterioration). Telomeres shorten with repeated replication. Scientists have proven that shorter telomeres result in aging and death. Telomeres are sensitive to oxidative stress. Shortened telomeres hasten aging and the development of degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular diseases (atherosclerosis, cancer) and neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes mellitus).

But the good news is antioxidants reverse this process.

The body has its own innate way of counteracting oxidative stress but when this mechanism is overloaded, it is not sufficient. Antioxidants have to be supplemented from the food we eat.

A research study published in PubMed in March 2009 investigated the implications of some ingredients of aloe gel phenols, flavonoids and the antioxidant vitamins — A, C and E. The study tested the antioxidant activities of aloe plant extract. According to the results, aloe vera possesses a “marked antioxidant activity” that protects against cell damage. The study found that aloe extract is an “efficient scavenger of superoxide radicals generated in xanthine/xanthine oxidase system.”

Thus, these potent antioxidants have very promising implications for the prevention of degenerative diseases such as coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus and cancer.

Multivitamins are found almost everywhere you go, in drug stores, grocery stores, convenience stores and on the internet. But research has time and again proven that synthetic vitamins are not as effective as antioxidants sourced from natural food. And aloe vera is 100 percent natural food.

The antioxidants in the aloe herb perfectly complement the polysaccharides in aloe that regulate blood sugar levels, its anti-inflammatory properties and cholesterol and triglycerides lowering effects. Have you ever found an herb that can give you such a wide range of wonderful benefits?

There are a lot of aloe food supplements available. When you select your supplement, choose one that processes the fresh aloe gel naturally preserving all the beneficial nutrients, vitamins, amino acids, cancer fighting chemicals and the antioxidants.

© Lisa K. Moran, 2010

We’ve all heard it before – if we want to grow to be healthy and strong, we need to eat healthy foods. But eating healthy foods not only helps us to grow healthy, it also helps our bodies fight off certain diseases. The food that you eat can significantly affect every aspect of your health, so changing our daily eating habits is necessary. This article will discuss how a healthy eating pattern can benefit you, as well as how you can go about changing your eating habits.

Most people who consider dieting do so because they are overweight. Research has shown that obesity can significantly increase an individual’s risk of a wide variety of illnesses and diseases, so keeping our weight under control is of extreme importance. Not only does losing weight benefit our bodies, it also benefits our minds. Weight loss often helps individuals feel better about their bodies, increasing their self confidence and happiness with themselves.

If you are overweight, changing your eating habits is the best way to lose weight. Eating foods such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains can reduce your calorie intake, thereby decreasing your fat intake. Not only do these foods contain less calories than most, but fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are also high in fiber – a food component that helps our stomachs to fill up faster, allowing us to eat less and thereby intake less fats.

When most people think of healthy dieting, they think of obesity. And while obesity is a great reason to begin changing your eating habits, it is far from the only reason. Eating healthy can not only help individual to lose weight, but can also significantly reduce one’s risk of developing a wide range of serious diseases and illnesses. Healthy eating has been shown to reduce risk of high cholesterol, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, cancer, and many other health problems. Therefore, whether you are overweight, underweight, or at the perfect weight, a healthy eating pattern can still benefit you!

When it comes to healthy eating, small changes can make a huge difference. Begin by switching from white foods to whole grain foods, and from junky foods to fruits and vegetables. Also, avoid eating too many dairy products and red meats. These foods are high in cholesterol, making them bad for your health. Also, instead of snacks such as chips and pretzels, have a snack of mixed nuts. Nuts, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables are all great for our health, helping to control our weight and decreasing our risk for a wide variety of diseases.

Learn more about healthy, whole food diet plans today. Maintaining a healthy diet will lead to a healthy lifestyle. Begin your whole foods diet plan today and change the course of your life with a few simple steps!

Are you interested in natural remedies for heart disease? You may be recently diagnosed. You may wish to prevent it. There are things that you can do for this problem.

Make sure and listen to your doctor. If you are on specific medications, do not fail to take them. There are supplements and things that you can take. Make sure that they will not interfere with any medication that you take.

COQ10

This is a very safe supplement. It is a vitamin like substance that is found throughout the body. For some reason, people with conditions like congestive heart failure are low on COQ10. Supplementing can make a big difference. It is used as a treatment for heart conditions in many foreign countries.

COQ10 is a good supplement to take with statin drugs. Statin drugs can effectively lower cholesterol. However, they can deplete the body of COQ10. Taking OCQ10 can be important for your cardiovascular health.

Vitamin C

Are you getting enough vitamin C? It is not easy to eat foods high in vitamin C every day. It is a good idea to take a quality vitamin C supplement. This vitamin has shown to have a positive effect on cholesterol and cardiovascular health.

Hawthorn

Hawthorn berry is the source of many worldwide studies. It is proven to be effective for many cardiovascular conditions. It may increase blood flow to the heart and help it to work easier. It is believed to have no major side effects.

Taurine

Taurine is an amino acid. Taurine helps the body maintain proper electrolyte levels. This can protect the heart from lack of potassium.

Selenium

This is an important element. Deficiencies have been linked to things like cardiomyopathy. It has also been linked to high cholesterol levels.

Chromium picolinate

Your body needs chromium for proper cardiovascular function. It may help to lower bad cholesterol. At the same time, it may help to raise good cholesterol.

Arginine

Arginine is an essential amino acid. Arginine provides nitric oxide to the body. This is essential for vein and artery health. It may help with hypertension, as it relaxes blood vessel walls.

Summary

Do you wish to find natural remedies for heart disease? There are many things to look into. COQ10 is important for muscle function in the body. It is depleted when you take statin drugs. Supplementing with COQ10 may help cardiovascular conditions. Vitamin C has a positive effect on cholesterol. Hawthorn berry is a proven treatment in some countries. Your body also needs things like chromium, selenium and taurine. Make sure that you talk with your doctor before taking anything new.

Have you heard about stomach hunger versus mouth hunger? Many nutritionists and dietitians talk about this. A client mentions eating Something Bad, and the practitioner asks, “Was it stomach hunger or mouth hunger?”

A variation on the question is, “Was it physical hunger or emotional hunger?”

Peak-performance motivator Anthony Robbins says, “If you ask bad questions, you get bad answers.” Asking a client whether she ate because of stomach or mouth hunger – or because of physical versus emotional hunger – is the classic Bad Question.

And it gets bad answers. Answers like “I don’t know” or “I’m not sure.” Sometimes the answer is another bad question: “How can I tell?” The client is trying to figure out if she was hungry for physical reasons or emotional ones.

Despite these rampant failures, the question persists. One book even uses the term “intestinal hunger.” Does anyone out there have any idea what that is? If I can’t understand it, what chance do my clients have?

A Better Question

Here’s an idea that might clarify things. I never use the term “hunger” for anything but physical hunger. Instead I ask, “Were you physically hungry, or did you just have an urge to eat?”

That question gets real answers and can uncover some important issues. People can tell the difference.

The urge to eat could have much behind it – emotions, stress, shifts in brain chemistry, shifts in hormones. Some clients might need coaching to explore the emotional component and retrain their responses not to involve food. Some may need to change their diets to change brain chem and/or hormones.

Real Hunger

Hunger is a specific, physical signal that the body needs food. I’ve explained in detail what hunger feels like to clients who don’t experience it.

Why don’t those clients experience hunger? Some may not because, for years, they’ve been eating for reasons that have nothing to do with hunger:

• the clock says it’s mealtime

• everyone else is eating

• appetizing food is here now

• they ate too much at the last meal

• they’re stressed, depressed, anxious, or even happy.

Readers may conclude that the items in the last bullet show “emotional hunger,” but I’m suggesting that the word “hunger” causes the confusion. It’s more appropriate to use it only when physical hunger signals are present.

How Do I Know If I’m Hungry?

Clients who never feel hungry may be confused about how to determine hunger. If someone says, “I ate breakfast at 7 am, and now it’s 12:30, so I must be hungry,” that’s a thought process, not hunger. The best tactic is to help clients retrain their recognition of hunger through increased awareness of body signals.

It’s helpful to stay aware of misinterpreted signals. An obese client told me his hunger was “here” and placed his hand on his throat. Further questioning revealed that he actually had GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disorder), which we alleviated in two ways. One was monitoring his work position after eating (he sometimes worked from home in bed). The other was taking an OTC remedy before the meal. (Don’t worry; I checked with his doctor.)

Clients who eat lots of sugar may not experience hunger. Despite research, I haven’t yet found a satisfactory explanation for that. Client symptoms, however, can typically be traced back to drops in glucose. If someone says, “I don’t get hungry, I get a headache,” that could be one sign of reactive hypoglycemia. Other examples exist.

So the absence of hunger could reflect lack of awareness, chronic overeating, or chronically high sugar consumption. When I uncover a solid explanation for the last, I’ll definitely let you know.

In the meantime, if you’re looking for a nutritionist, please screen them and find one who doesn’t ask about mouth hunger.