PharmaPassport Health Tips Blog

December 17, 2010

Snacks For Diabetics

Being a diabetic and choosing healthy snacks can be very hard. Avoiding sugar and fats can make all the difference. Here are a few snacks packed with vitamins and other health benefits so you can eat right.

Blue berries were rated #1 out of 40 fruits. Blueberries may help lower LDL cholesterol. Also, eat the fresh ones, not the ones found in desserts!

Yogurt contains healthy bacteria that helps boost your immune system and fights off infections. It is enriched with calcium and vitamin B. When choosing a yogurt, go with a low fat, low sugar product; pay attention to the nutrition label!

Broccoli is high in antioxidants. It is also loaded with vitamin C, calcium, and high in fiber. Broccoli is good because it is low in calories; who doesn’t love that! Additionally, try steaming broccoli for added flavor.

Spinach is a food that can be cooked in any recipe. It is high in antioxidants and vitamin A,C, and K. It also contains potassium.

Apples are healthy in many different ways. They help lower cholesterol, prevent cancer, and many other medical conditions. Apples have large amounts of vitamin C and fiber. “An apple a day, keeps the doctor away”, sounds just about right now!

Almonds contain a lot for a little nut. It contains protein, fiber, potassium, and calcium. It is rich in vitamin E and can help lower cholesterol therefore reducing the risk of diabetes.

There are many other snacks you can enjoy suck as; omlettes, sun dried mangos, baked potatoes, brown rice, fish, and even a little ice cream for dessert. Finding meals and snacks that fit your needs is hard but with a little hard work, you can lower your cholesterol and stay healthy.

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July 22, 2010

Your Feet and Your Health

Filed under: anemia,diabetes,health — Tags: anemia, athletes foot, diabetes, feet, foot health, hair, hair loss, hypothyroidism, iron, thyroid — Amanda @ 7:02 pm

Your feet can tell you a lot about your health by sending you important signals. These signs can indicate that you have anything from anemia to diabetes. Pay attention to the signs your feet are sending you in order to stay in good health. Unsolved foot problems can lead to bigger problems in the future.

No hair – If you have hairless feet or toes, it might be an indication of poor circulation caused by vascular disease. Growing hair on your toes isn’t your body’s biggest concern when you have a vascular problem. Since your feet are the farthest from your heart, they are usually harder to reach when your circulatory system isn’t up to par.

A foot sore that doesn’t heal – if you have a sore on the sole of your foot that isn’t healing, it could be a sign of diabetes. High blood sugar levels can damage the nerves in the feet leaving you with cuts that don’t heal and can even go unnoticed. If you have an infected, foul-smelling sore on the bottom of your foot that’s been there a while, it might be a good idea to see a doctor about having your blood glucose level checked.

Cold Feet – Women usually tend to experience this every now and then because they have a lower core temperature than men. It’s usually nothing, but if you are having persistently cold feet in even normal conditions, you may be suffering from hypothyroidism. An under active thyroid can lead to irregular body temperature and metabolism.

Flaky Skin – If you have dry, flaky skin on your feet, don’t ignore it. This is a sign of athlete’s foot. This fungal infection usually starts with dry, itchy skin and then turns into swelling and blisters. It usually shows up first between the warm, moist cracks of your toes and can spread to other parts of the body.

Sunken, spoon-shaped indents on your toenails - This is a sign of anemia that makes your nail beds look like strange, spoon-like shapes. This happens when you don’t have enough iron in your body. You don’t have enough iron-rich hemoglobin proteins that transfer oxygen to the body through the blood.

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May 8, 2010

We Are All Slaves to Refined Sugar

Filed under: diabetes,healthy diet,healthy food — Tags: drug, nutrition, sugar, weight loss — Nicole @ 8:22 pm

In the modern day kitchen, refined sugar (or white sugar) is the evil bad guy who simply hides under an appealing vision of your best friend. White sugar has been present for centuries, with dark beginnings in its initial production at the center of the eighteenth century West Indies slavery, and has always had a permanent home in your mother’s, grandmother’s and likely your great grandmother’s sugar bowl. In 1997, studies show that Americans, as a whole, consumed over seven billion pounds of candy, which we all know to be directly produced from refined white sugar.

It’s estimated that, today, each person consumes their weight in white sugar each year, meaning that the average person devours about 50 kg of sugar per year. This nation-wide sugar consumption is reflected in our health. Since the turn of the twentieth century, diabetes is on the rise, affecting both children and adults alike, while once-rarely-occurring conditions such as hypoglycemia and gallstones appear in ten percent of the population.

In some circles, refined sugar is considered a drug. White sugar is produced through a refining process, which eliminates all components of the sugar’s nutritional value, leaving it as a carbohydrate-pure calorie. Molecularly, white sugar is a simple molecule that is made up of twelve carbon atoms, twenty-two hydrogen atoms and eleven oxygen atoms. It’s considered to be more pure than cocaine, which is made up of seventeen carbon atoms, twenty-one hydrogen atoms, one nitrogen atom, and four oxygen atoms. This makes it pretty easy to understand why we seem to be slaves to that sweet tooth.

Unfortunately, this news doesn’t bode well for the American culture. Our whole population has become addicted to a substance that if discovered now, could very well qualify as a drug. However, there is hope. Not all sugars are bad, just those that have been refined. You find most refined sugars in your local supermarket; the white sugar that you buy in bulk and also the brown sugar that you buy in smaller amount for baking. Natural sugars, that come directly from the sugar canes or beets that they were grown from are significantly better for your health than those that are refined. By purchasing unrefined sugars from your local health food store and reducing your intake of refined sugar, you can help to turn America’s health crisis around – for the better.

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March 25, 2010

Oversleeping: More Harmful than Helpful

Filed under: causes of heart disease,depression,diabetes,headaches,hypersomnia,obesity,Uncategorized — Amanda @ 4:05 pm

Oversleeping is another one of those situations that really does you more harm than good. Although it seems as though sleeping longer could benefit you, it has actually been linked to a number of medical problems, the most harmful being diabetes, and heart disease.

Many of us don’t know how much sleep we need as individuals to function our best. The average amount of sleep varies over your lifetime due to a number of factors such as age, activity level, general health, and lifestyle routines. If you are experiencing a period of stress, for example, your energy levels will decrease much faster than if you are not stressed therefore you will require more sleep. The average adult functions best after 7 or 8 hours of sleep, however there are many adults who find they only need 5 or 6 and others who need 9 or 10 hours of sleep to feel their best.

In order to determine the number of hours that your body requires for optimal function, keep a sleep diary. Record how many hours you sleep each night, the times you went to sleep and got up, how you felt in the morning, afternoon, and evening, if you had any bad dreams, and your general mood. The patterns you see will start to give you an idea of the number of hours you need.

Several recent studies have found that too much or too little sleep can be linked to many medical problems including obesity, diabetes, and even death.

Diabetes - In a recent study at the Boston University School of Medicine found that participants that had reported sleeping less than 6 hours or more than 9 hours a day had an 50% greater risk of diabetes than those who slept for 7 or 8 hours.

Obesity - In addition, another study found that people who slept for 9 or 10 hours every night were 21% more likely to become obese over a six year period than the people who slept for 7 or 8 hours. The relationship between sleep and obesity remained the same even after food intake and exercise were taken into account.

Heart Disease – A study involving nearly 72,000 women found that women who slept 9 to 11 hours each night were 38% more likely to have coronary heart disease than women who slept for 8 hours.

Death - Frighteningly enough, several studies have found that people who sleep 9 hours or more a night have significantly higher death rates than people who sleep between 7 and 8 hours a night.

Headaches - Sleeping longer than usual on a weekend can cause headaches. Researchers believe that oversleeping has an effect on neurotransmitters in the brain, including serotonin. People who sleep during the day and disrupt their nighttime sleep might also find that they are suffering from headaches in the morning.

Other studies have found that depression and back pain are also associated with oversleeping.

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March 18, 2010

7 Oral health signs you can’t ignore

Filed under: anemia,diabetes,gum disease,HIV,infection,osteoporosis,pregnancy,sensitive teeth,Uncategorized — Amanda @ 10:04 am

Gum Disease – Premature Birth

You may be more likely to have a premature baby if you are pregnant and have gum disease. The link between the two conditions is not entirely explained, but underlying inflammation or infection could be to blame. Pregnancy and its connected hormonal changes can worsen gum disease. Talk to your dentist about how to protect yourself and your baby.

Eroded Tooth Enamel – Eating Disorders

Eating disorders such as bulimia can take a significant toll on the health of your teeth. The stomach acid from continuous vomiting can erode tooth enamel, and the gums between teeth, especially on the tongue side of the upper front teeth. This increases the risk for decay in these places and can increase tooth sensitivity. Extreme erosion can cause changes in bite, and back teeth can become smaller. Some teeth can even be lost due to eating disorders. Tooth erosion can take about 3 years to become noticeable, but not all bulimics have it. constant vomiting can also cause the salivary glands to swell and the tissues in the mouth to become dry.

Swollen Gums – Pericoronitis

Pericoronitis may occur when wisdom teeth only partially break through the gum. This creates an opening for bacteria to enter around the tooth and cause infections. In pericoronitis, food and plaque can get caught underneath a flap of gum around the tooth and can irritate the gum. If the infection is severe, it can swell and extend beyond the jaw to the cheeks and neck. Pericoronitis causes pain, infection, and swollen gums around the molar teeth.

Thrush – HIV, Diabetes

Thrush is an infection in the mouth that is caused by candida fungus (yeast). Thrush can affect anyone, but it occurs mostly in people with weakened immune systems (HIV) and in people who use the drug prednisone. Antibiotics can also disturb the natural balance of organisms in the body and cause thrush. Oral thrush causes lesions on the tongue or cheeks. These can be painful and may bleed when scraped. This is due to the body’s weakened immune system and its inability to defend itself against infections. People with HIV/AIDS can also have symptoms of dry mouth. Other medical situations that make candida infections more likely to occur include uncontrolled diabetes, cancer, dry mouth, or pregnancy. People who smoke or wear dentures that don’t fit properly are also at an increased risk.

Tooth Loss – Osteoporosis

The bone disease called osteoporosis can affect any bone in your body., such as your jaw bone. If you develop osteoporosis in your jaw, you may experience tooth loss due to erosion of the jawbone. This will cause minor facial deformities and pain in and around the temporomandibular joint, which is what connects the upper and lower jaws. The bones around the roots of the teeth are also susceptible to osteoporosis.

Bad Breath – Gum disease

There are many illnesses that can cause bad breath. Some important ones to familiarize yourself with are respiratory tract infections (pneumonia or bronchitis), chronic sinus infections, postnasal drip, diabetes, chronic acid reflux, and liver or kidney problems. Chronic bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth can more commonly be warning signs of gum disease. Gum disease is caused by a buildup of plaque on your teeth. The bacteria creates toxins that irritate the gums. Another sign of gum disease is bleeding gums. When going untreated, gum disease can damage the gums and jawbone. Prevent gum disease by thoroughly brushing and flossing your teeth on a regular basis. Other dental causes of gum disease include poorly fitted dental appliances, yeast infections in the mouth, and dental caries.

Pale Gums – Anemia

Your gums can become sore and pale, and your tongue can become swollen and smooth if you have anemia. Your body doesn’t have enough red blood cells that contain enough hemoglobin when you have anemia. Your body doesn’t receive enough oxygen and you will experience a number of symptoms.

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June 22, 2009

Why More People Should Consume the Recommended Daily Amount of Magnesium

Filed under: blocked arteries,diabetes,heart arrhythmia,high blood pressure,magnesium,pain relief,pre-eclampsia,pregnancy,Uncategorized — John @ 12:11 pm

Protects the Heart: Magnesium helps protect the heart from many things including, heart arrhythmias, blocked arteries, and high blood pressure. Magnesium deficiency can result in deadly health events for many people. Heart arrhythmias, the irregular and abnormally fast heartbeats or atrial fibrillation, can be prevented or at least, may be helped by consuming adequate amounts of magnesium. People with higher amount of magnesium in their blood cut the odds of dying from blocked or narrowed arteries by an enormous one-third. Furthermore, magnesium deficiency may result in higher blood pressure whereas; higher magnesium in your cells promotes lower blood pressure, more elastic blood vessels and a less enlarged heart. Additionally, research shows that lower amounts of magnesium lower the good HDL cholesterol and increases rate at which arteries harden.

Protects Against Diabetes: Eighty percent of diabetics have been found to have low intracellular magnesium. Further research suggests that the risk of type-two diabetes is increased by one-third with low amounts of magnesium. Magnesium supplements can improve insulin activity and may actually decrease the risk of diabetes and other complications.

Pain Relief: Magnesium can actually help relieve pain by reducing a pain transmitter in the nervous system called substance P. To help avoid or relieve muscle cramps, try taking 100mg to 400mg of magnesium every day. Furthermore, extra magnesium may also prevent or relieve painful myalgias, chronic lower back pain, restless legs syndrome, erythromelalgia (a painful dilation of the skin blood vessels), and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Promotes Safer Pregnancies: Research shows that magnesium lessons pre-eclampsia (a medical condition where hypertension arises in pregnancy) which increases the risk of spontaneous abortion and premature, low-birth weight babies. A British study of 10,000 women in 33 different countries confirmed that taking magnesium sulphate supplements cut the risk of pre-eclampsia in half.

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June 10, 2009

Detecting Diabetes Before You Have It

Filed under: diabetes,type 2 diabetes,Uncategorized — John @ 5:27 pm

If you are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes this means that your body does not produce an adequate amount of insulin, or does not properly use the insulin your body does produce. Insulin is an important hormone that comes from the pancreas and helps your body’s cells use sugar. Sugar is the energy cells use; essentially it is like gas for your car.

(Picture From www.jdrf.org)

Type 2 diabetes creates many health risks that include heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, eye problems, kidney damage, nerve damage, infections, gum disease, and problems with pregnancy. Recently, a study may have found indicators of diabetes that will allow one to help prepare for a new life style.

New research confirms that evidence of insulin resistance and changes in blood sugar linked to type 2 diabetes can be measured more than a decade before the disease occurs.

Researchers in the UK followed 6,500 British civil servants who did not have diabetes for about 10 years on average. During this time they repeatedly measured insulin sensitivity and fasting and non-fasting glucose levels.

During the average follow-up (10 years), 505 of the participants had developed type 2 diabetes.

Researchers followed more than 6,500 British civil servants without diabetes for up to 13 years, during which time they repeatedly measured insulin sensitivity and fasting and non-fasting glucose levels.

During an average follow-up of 10 years, 505 of the study participants developed type 2 diabetes.

However the study showed a steady upward trajectory in metabolic changes in the participants that did not develop diabetes. Furthermore, these changes tended to occur at different periods in those who would eventually develop diabetes, and these changes were often very sudden.

Overall the study revealed:

-A steady trend in fasting glucose, sometimes as early as 13 years prior to the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, with fasting glucose levels rising rapidly three years before diagnosis

-Glucose levels after eating began to increase rapidly starting three years prior to diagnosis

-Insulin sensitivity began to decline steeply five years before diagnosis

-Beta-cell function — a measure of insulin production — began to increase three to four years prior to diagnosis, as the pancreas tried to compensate for increases in blood glucose by producing more insulin. Insulin production dropped precipitously in the three years prior to a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

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