Celiac Disease And The Need For Good Nutrition

Celiac disease affects the small intestine, one of the major components of the digestive system. The intestine itself is over twenty feet long, starting at the stomach and ending at the beginning of the large intestine, also called the colon. The small intestine is divided into three sections: the duodenum, the jejunum and the ileum. Each section performs a different role in the digestive process. – The first section, the duodenum, is connected to the stomach. This is the first section that the food is emptied into. It absorbs calcium, magnesium, iron, fat soluble vitamins A and D and glucose. – The second section of the small intestine is the jejunum. It absorbs fat, sucrose, lactose, glucose, proteins, amino acids, fat soluble Vitamins A and D and water soluble vitamins like folic acid. – The last section before the large colon begins is the ileum. It absorbs proteins, amino acids, water soluble vitamins like folic acid and Vitamin B 12 (Source: Roizen, MD and Oz, MD 2006) After food is emptied from the stomach, it is treated with bile which has been secreted by the liver. After the food has been digested and absorbed as much as possible from the small intestine, it is sent to the colon for further processing and for elimination from the body in the form of waste product. In celiac disease, there is a problem with the reaction of the small intestine to certain proteins in wheat, rye, barley and in some cases, oats. The protein that is the problem, gluten, spurs an allergic reaction that not only causes inflammation, but can destroy the lining of the small intestine. Because of this destruction, the body cannot absorb the dietary nutrients that it needs, which will lead to deficiencies. Celiac disease is common in countries in Europe, especially Ireland, Italy, Sweden and Austria. In Finland, celiac disease may be as common as one in every 100 persons, in Northern Ireland, the number may be one in every 300. In the United States, the rough estimate of the disease is one in every 3000 people (Source: Lee, MD 2010). What is Gluten? Gluten is a group of proteins that is found in wheat and other grains. Proteins are long chains of amino acids that can number in the hundreds. During the digestive process, the body breaks down these chains into single amino acids and smaller chains. However, one of these, gliadin, is not broken down the same way as the others and leads to the problems in the small intestine’s lining. Other foods may contain similar proteins but may not cause reactions to the majority of people. Still other foods may only cause reactions that are fairly weak or may only cause a reaction in those who are very severely affected by celiac disease. Signs and Symptoms of Celiac Disease Not all people with celiac disease have it to the same degree. Symptoms can range from non-existent to severe. Most symptoms arise because of malabsorption while others may be due to malnutrition. Fat is the most commonly affected nutrient in celiac disease. Symptoms of fat malabsorption include diarrhea, malodorous flatulence, abdominal bloating, and increased amounts of fat in the stool. The stools tend to be fairly large in size, foul smelling, greasy and light in color. They also tend to float in the toilet bowl. It is possible that you will see oil droplets on the top of the water. Lactose may also be affected by celiac disease because the body is unable to split lactose into its two smaller sugar forms, glucose and galactose. In those who have celiac disease and are also lactose intolerant, symptoms may be greatly increased and more severe. These include: diarrhea, excessive gas, abdominal pain and distention. When celiac disease causes malnutrition and vitamin or mineral deficiencies it can lead to weight loss, fluid retention, anemia, osteoporosis, easy bruising, nerve damage, infertility and muscle weakness. The disease is typically found in children or infants, however in adults the disease is often misdiagnosed first and then later discovered to be present. For instance, in many cases, the disease is occasionally misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome. Other Problems Celiac disease may cause a number of other problems including an itchy rash that affects the arms, legs, buttocks, neck, trunk and scalp. Medically it is called dermatitis herpetiformis and affects about 10% of those who have celiac disease (Source: Lee, MD 2010). Other conditions include painful mouth ulcers, insulin dependent diabetes (Type I), autoimmune thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus. Celiac disease and other intestinal inflammation causing diseases may lead to cancer in some people, including abdominal, liver and colorectal cancers and some lymphomas, making it very important to diagnose celiac disease before the damage becomes severe (Source: Science Daily, 2009). Diagnosis Because there are a number of other diseases that can present with symptoms that are similar to celiac disease, it is important that the diagnosis be made in a definitive way. A biopsy of the small intestine is considered to be the most accurate method of testing for the disease. This can be done by passing a scope down the throat and into the duodenum under light sedation. Several samples are obtained and then analyzed. While the test is considered to be the best, it is not without drawbacks. There are some additional allergies that could look like celiac disease as well as some temporary conditions that can skew the results of the biopsy, most notably cow milk and soy protein allergies. There are blood tests that can be done for celiac disease, however most people are still required to have the biopsy for confirmation. The Gluten Free Diet After the diagnosis is made, the patient will be put on a lifelong gluten free diet which can be difficult and time consuming to follow and nearly impossible to handle in certain social settings. There are those who choose to follow this diet on their own, whether or not they have celiac disease or not, however it is not for everybody and even those who have to do so may find themselves overwhelmed. It is hard to find gluten free foods when eating out, for instance. There are foods in the average grocery store but they tend to be more expensive than others. Because so much of the nutrients that are needed in the diet are not being absorbed by the body, it is important to consider supplementation. However, this can often be hard to do because of the inability to digest the ingredients in the supplement. Proasis, the first all natural liquid protein supplement is free from many of the potentially problematic ingredients found in other supplements, including gluten. It is available in a number of fruit based flavors and is convenient to take along with you. In addition to being gluten free, Proais, from Protica is also lactose free.

 

About Protica Research

Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm specializing in the development of protein-rich, capsulized foods (dense nutrition in compact liquid and food forms). Protica manufactures Profect protein beverage, IsoMetric, Fruitasia and more than 100 other brands in its GMP-certified, 250,000 square foot facility. You can learn more about Protica at http://www.protica.com Copyright – Protica Research – http://www.protica.com

Pregnancy Nutrition Needs: Morning Sickness And More Serious Complications

Morning sickness, which can strike at any point during the day or night, affects between 50-90% of all pregnant women at some point during their pregnancy, typically in the first 16 weeks (Source: Feinstein, ed. 1996). Many women will enter the second trimester of their pregnancy and put the vomiting, dry heaves and nausea behind them while others will continue to be ill right up to the day of delivery. There are several tips and hints that a woman can keep in mind to ease some of the miserable discomfort of morning sickness, and the easiest to remember is to not let your stomach get empty. The longer that you go between meals, the more likely you are to be ill, which is why so many women are sick the first thing in the morning. Even if you ate before you went to bed, you have typically spent at least six hours or more without food – a long time to go if you are pregnant. Your body needs increased nutrients to support the growing fetus as well as the other increases going on inside of your body. A pregnant woman’s blood volume will increase by 50% for instance. Your calorie count will increase as will the need for all of the nutrients. Protein intake should be no less than 60 grams per day, and more if there are twins (Source: Medio-Consult Nutrition Services). The increased protein is needed for physical growth, cellular and mental development of the baby, the placenta, the amniotic tissues and maternal tissues. After delivery the protein need will decrease slightly, however if the mother is breast feeding, the need will remain elevated by about 20 grams to ensure that the baby is getting enough milk. The baby’s growth is the fastest during the second and third trimester when the mother should be finished with the morning sickness. While it is not a good idea to allow your stomach to get completely empty, it is also not a good idea to be completely full – the more food you eat at one time the more likely you are to have bloating, gas and heartburn, especially once the baby starts growing enough to push the stomach upward. It is far better to eat smaller meals far more often (aim for every two to four hours). Eating a small snack before bed and then again before getting up in the morning is also a good idea. These snacks should be based on complex carbohydrates and proteins for quick energy and then long lasting satisfaction. Proteins take longer to break down in the body so you feel satisfied for longer and can keep the body from feeling empty which causes some of the nausea. Additional problems that you might find in pregnancy include hemorrhoids (sometimes quite severe) and others. A very serious problem related to pregnancy is called preeclampsia. This can also be called toxemia of pregnancy or gestational hypertension. It can occur in women who have never had a problem with their blood pressure at all. Because it can affect the woman’s kidneys and other organs and can be very serious for the baby as well, it is important to make sure that the condition is discovered and treated before it gets serious. It typically starts after the 20th week of the pregnancy and involves not only increased blood pressure, but also causes proteinuria, or elevated levels of protein in the urine. If the condition progresses to seizures and other complications, it becomes eclampsia. Preeclampsia is the leading cause of complications with the baby including low birth weight, premature birth and sadly, stillbirth. There is no way to prevent this condition and the only way to cure it is by delivering the baby, which cannot be safely done until the baby is at the accepted age of viability (which is the age at which the baby stands a better than average chance of survival outside of the womb). High blood pressure occurs in about 6-8% of all pregnancies in the United States, about 70% of these are first pregnancies. Preeclampsia occurs more often in older women and in multiple births but there are other conditions that can increase the risk of developing it. These include: – Women with hypertension before pregnancy – Women who have had preeclampsia with a previous pregnancy – Obese women – Those under age 20 and those over age 40 – Multiple birth – Diabetics and those who have kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and scleroderma Symptoms of Preeclampsia Some women have no symptoms other than the protein in the urine and the high blood pressure readings. Others may have headaches that are frequent or unusually severe, blurred vision, sensitivity to light and abdominal pain. If preeclampsia is suspected, the doctor may increase the frequency of the office visits so that the condition can be more closely monitored. Preeclampsia is only dangerous to both mother and child during the pregnancy. Studies have shown that it does not automatically increase the risk of developing hypertension later in life and most women’s blood pressure return to normal about six weeks after the delivery. However, if you have developed preeclampsia because of obesity, diabetes or kidney disease, it is very likely that you will remain hypertensive or develop it in later years. Additional Pregnancy Issues Though not as severe as preeclampsia, heartburn, particularly in later pregnancy can also be problematic. As the baby continues to grow, the uterus pushes the stomach up, allowing the stomach acid to back up into the throat. It also pushes on the bladder causing the mother to have to urinate more often. Finally, the bulging uterus also compresses the intestine, leading to bouts of constipation. Both the heart burn and the constipation may be lessened by the same concept used in early pregnancy for the morning sickness. Small meals can keep the body from having to deal with as much food at one time. Increasing the amount of water could help with one issue but would only serve to worsen another. Keeping the body working properly during pregnancy is very important because you have to be healthy and strong for the delivery as well as able to provide nutrition to the growing baby within you. Profect and Proasis, protein supplements from Protica can help by being a great protein supplement for on the go, as well as a handy between-meal snack. Each provides high quality and easily absorbed protein and comes in a number of fruit based flavors for additional palatability. In addition to the handy single serving size (2.9 fluid ounces, 100 calories and 25 grams of protein) there are a number of other sizes to choose from to suit your personal needs. Proasis is the first all natural liquid protein supplement and contains no lactose, fat, egg, gluten or aspartame. It is also available in a number of flavors and can be a very beneficial way to get the protein that you need without the ingredients that you do not.

 

About Protica Research

Founded in 2001, Protica, Inc. is a nutritional research firm specializing in the development of protein-rich, capsulized foods (dense nutrition in compact liquid and food forms). Protica manufactures Profect protein beverage, IsoMetric, Fruitasia and more than 100 other brands in its GMP-certified, 250,000 square foot facility. You can learn more about Protica at http://www.protica.com Copyright – Protica Research – http://www.protica.com

The Benefits Of Walking For Seniors

Walking is a simple and effective exercise that is easy to implement. Many individuals do not perceive of walking as exercise, because they are engaged in this activity on a regular basis.  After all, they’re just walking.Walking may become your favorite fitness routine. Walking is an easy exercise program to start, which makes it the perfect choice for seniors. Walking can help seniors achieve rapid weight loss.

New reports say that to maintain a healthy level of fitness as we grow older, daily activity must include 60 minutes of physical activity. If you’ve been sedentary for a good number of years, this can be a frightening thought.  Walking for one hour, even for someone who has been sedentary, doesn’t seem as scary as other fitness programs might.

Many people have the misconception that unless you are sweating like crazy during a workout, you are not going to see any benefit from exercise. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. In fact walking is a great weight to help seniors achieve rapid weight loss.

There are many activities that you can perform at different fitness levels and get great results. Walking is one of those exercises.

For seniors, walking is an exercise that can grow with you as you increase your activity level. Your walking program may begin with a Sunday stroll in the park, but then your walking regimen will grow and have a purpose – to get fit.

Here are a few benefits of walking:

“    Improved cardiovascular endurance
“    Proper posture
“    Improved mood
“    Weight loss
“    Improved sleep
“    Increased muscle tone

Walking can be done most anywhere and at just about any time. A good place to begin is in a shopping mall, early in the morning prior to the arrival of crowds.If you live close to a school or University they may have a track you can utilize.You can even walk in the cold as long as you prepare with the proper clothing..Waling is an extremely versatile method of exercise.  Just keep your shoes with you so whether you’re on vacation or a business trip you can go on your walk.

Begin a a pace that you can sustain for at least thirty minutes. This will be more rapid than a slow stroll but you will not be racing either. Begin with a walk that is one half mile to one mile in length. When you are able to walk more briskly, you can increase your distance to constantly challenge yourself.

As you increase your level of fitness, increase your fitness level by pursuing more challenging walks, such as hill climbing.Walking up an incline improves muscle strenth and cardiovascular endurance.If you reside in an area that has adequate side walks, chart your course a begin walking.  Call a friend to join you and enjoy your walk even more!

Walking is a very good method for increasing the fitness of senior citizens.This is an activity which you can customize to your own particular needs. You should vary your routine daily and increase its intensity as you progress in your fitness program to make it more effective.

You can get started walking for exercise today with just a pair of good shoes and comfortable clothing.Before you realize it, you will be feeling better and be headed toward a healthier life.

Living Life Towards The Fullest With Fantastic Diet

Due towards the radical modifications that we have in our life-style, it isn’t something that we should be questioning about why you will discover distinct adjustments too in terms of our health. Moreover, probably the most apparent manifestation of this is obesity or becoming overweight. And also the poor issue about being overweight is the fact that you simply will face higher degenerative diseases that you simply must fight just like bone and cartilage degeneration, cancer, coronary heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, together with high cholesterol.

It is just so saddening that once you’re in the state of becoming obese, then you are going to also have problems in relation to the state of one’s health. Just like the machine, our body too will also degenerate in particular if we do not give it the best care for it to work additional.

Pain will also be really natural once you are obese. Apparently, you are going to really feel the pain specifically in your knees and also your hips. Further, the flexibility of one’s body will also be significantly affected. And with that, it is not anymore a surprise if you ever will have difficulties in performing the tasks that you should do. This may also lead to arthritis.

In addition to this, you might also encounter having cancer, diabetes, along with respiratory difficulties due to obesity. This will significantly influence the lifespan of people who are obese. Right after all, obesity or being overweight will lead to other things that can manifest as you develop old. And when you develop old, you may then recognize the importance in the event you have given appropriate significance to your body.

With these in mind, it is but proper for us to be pretty particular using the diet plan that we have. Indeed, having an excellent diet is rather significant to stay clear of obesity. This can even be maximized as soon as you physical exercise daily so that you can additional lose weight.

When it comes to diet, make sure that that you just take in those diets which might be wealthy in fiber. It ensures that your physique could have the best nourishment and also the repair that it needs. Just ensure that you are disciplined enough to create it occur. And with that, you are now greater of with confidence that you simply is not going to be obese and would just be healthy.

Trying to come across the best Master Cleanse for a superior well being and body, then pay a visit to themastercleanserecipe.org to locate the best guidance on Master Cleanse for you.

If you are pondering about having an awesome well being and lose weight, you’ll be able to attempt lemonade diet recipe for a better well being and body, or have a look at Emma Deangela’s master cleanse book for your body needs.

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