Broccoli – The Blood Sugar Wonder
Do you have diabetes? Or are you worried that you and your loved ones may be prone to this condition? You are not alone. As of 2000, 171 million people worldwide have diabetes, according to the World Health Organization. And in the United States alone, there are as many as 23.6 million Americans who have this condition as of 2007. That is according to the statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Indeed, diabetes is a serious problem faced by many people today. But broccoli may hold the answer to fighting this disease. This article will show you how broccoli can help reverse the negative effects of diabetes.
But first, let’s have a look at the story behind diabetes. It will help you understand better how broccoli comes into play in this condition.
What Diabetes Is And What Causes It
In general, diabetes is defined as the condition wherein a person has high levels of glucose, also known as blood sugar. It is classified into two categories depending on what causes it.
First is called Type 1 diabetes. This type of diabetes happens when the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas are destroyed. Because of this, glucose levels become unregulated, which in turn may cause a spike in a person’s glucose levels.
Then there’s Type 2 diabetes. This happens when body cells that normally react to insulin do not respond to the hormone. The condition is called insulin resistance.
Why It Is Important To Combat Diabetes
Genetics is the main reason why some people are more prone to diabetes than others. However, obesity can also trigger diabetes in people who are not genetically predisposed to this condition.
If left untreated, diabetes may cause a host of problems such as blindness and heart problems. In worst cases, some parts of the body may have to be amputated.
How Broccoli Helps Reverse the Effects of Diabetes
In a 2008 study conducted by the University of Warwick, it showed how a compound found in broccoli can help reverse the effects of diabetes. The team led by Professor Paul Thornalley found that sulforaphane – the compound found in broccoli – reverses the damage to the blood vessels caused by diabetes. The destruction of these blood vessels is the main reason why diabetes causes heart problems.
Sulforaphane does its wonders by protecting the blood vessels and reduces the levels of molecules that can also damage these vessels.
Caveat
But those who expect a miracle drug from sulforaphane may have to wait before it becomes a reality. The results found by Professor Thornalley’s team just came from laboratory experiments and still needs to be tested in real life situations.
For now, there are several things that you can do to prevent, or at least reduce the effects of diabetes in your body. For Type 1 diabetes, there are insulin injections and pumps that could help regulate your body’s glucose levels. On the other hand, exercising regularly, eating healthy and taking medication helps if you have Type 2 diabetes.
Vegetable Guide – A list of different variety of veggies. Find out how to ensure their freshness and wholesomeness, and how to use them to enhance the quality of food at your table – http://www.thevege.com
Cure Migraine With Vegetables
Are you suffering from a severe headache that’s concentrated on one side of your head? Have you tried using painkillers but the pain doesn’t subside? Does the headache make you feel nauseous and extremely sensitive to light and sound?
If you experience these symptoms, then you’re most likely suffering from migraine. Its characteristic symptom is the concentration of the pain in a single area of the head. It may last several hours to several days. Add nausea and sensitivity to light and sound to an already throbbing head and you can imagine the severity of this condition.
What Causes a Migraine?
Several things could cause migraine in different people. There’s stress, alcohol and hormonal changes especially in women. Women who are menstruating, ovulating or are currently taking birth control pills may experience migraine since these things create significant changes and even imbalances in their hormone levels.
Then there’s food. People who consume foods they are allergic to may experience migraine. This is because allergic reactions cause the release of serotonin which is a common trigger for a migraine attack.
Migraine Statistics
You are not alone if you suffer from migraine especially if you’re a woman. Statistics show that women are three times more likely to have migraines than men. Again, this could be attributed to the hormonal changes that women experience.
What Should You Do When You Have a Migraine?
When you are having a migraine attack, your first instinct of course is to reduce and eliminate the pain immediately. Since painkillers aren’t usually enough to do the job, you should look for more effective ways of dealing with the pain.
Vegetables and How They Help You Deal with Migraine
The good thing is that you don’t have to go to the pharmacy to find a cure for the pain. The solution could be found right in your refrigerator’s crisper. Yes, there are certain vegetables that could help stop the pain. Vegetables that are rich in niacin could do the trick. Some of these vegetables include tomatoes, cabbage and other green leafy vegetables.
And vegetables aren’t only good for stopping the pain caused by migraine. They’re also effective in dealing with migraine itself.
vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals that could cure migraine. One such vitamin is riboflavin or vitamin B2. A study conducted by researchers at Berlin’s Humboldt University found that riboflavin can be effective in curing migraine. Again, green leafy vegetables are good sources of this vitamin.
Aside from riboflavin, magnesium found in vegetables could also hold the key to curing migraine. Studies have found a possible connection between the frequency of migraine attacks and the amount of magnesium a person has in his/her body. People who are deficient of this mineral are more likely to suffer from migraine than those who have healthy amounts of it.
So the next time you have a migraine attack, don’t go to the pharmacy just yet. Vegetables hold the promise of a cheap and effective cure to the condition that’s been the headache of humanity for generations.
Vegetable Guide – A list of different variety of veggies. Find out how to ensure their freshness and wholesomeness, and how to use them to enhance the quality of food at your table – http://www.thevege.com
Three Steps to Potty Success!
Are you ready to take on potty training? Is your toddler ready to learn? If you can answer these two questions with a resounding yes, then it’s potty time!
Not sure if you should answer yes? Well, you are ready to go if you are prepared to be patient, stick with it, and deal with a few messes along the way. More important than your readiness, you need to be sure your little one has the ability to use the potty. Your toddler should be capable of recognizing when she has soiled her diaper, and should ask to be changed. She should also be able to pull her own pants down and up again, and should understand what the potty is for and how it works. Finally, it’s important that she is able to stay dry for a few hours at a time.
When you are sure it’s the right time to give it a try, there are a few easy steps you can follow to maximize your chances of success.
Step One: Get Ready!
Take your prospective big kid out with you to select the tools you will need. Let her have a say in choosing a potty. Start out with a potty chair rather than a training seat that fits over the toilet, as toddlers are more comfortable when their feet can touch the ground. You will want a potty that is easy to clean, offers a large splash guard if you have a boy, and is sturdy and comfortable. You can also let your toddler pick out her first big kid underwear. Use the shopping trip as a chance to get her excited about using the potty! Talk it up, and show her you are excited too!
Step Two: Let the Diapers Go
While it may seem like a good idea to let your toddler wear a diaper for long outings to avoid accidents, it unfortunately won’t be good for the learning process. Unless he sees the results of an accident, your toddler won’t learn anything from it. The best way to achieve faster potty success is to go cold turkey on the diapers and let him learn from each mistake, no matter how many there may be at first. The same rule applies to training pants. They are useful at naps and overnight as night training often takes longer, but don’t be tempted to use them during the day. By holding in those accidents, they will hold your child back from progress. Put the big kid underwear on right away from day one, and don’t look back.
Step Three: Try, Try Again!
It will take a while for your child to start recognizing the signs of needing to go, and telling you about it in time to make it to the potty. The best way for him to learn is to spend as much time on the potty as possible. This may mean putting him on the potty every 15-20 minutes the first day, and letting him sit there as long as he is willing. Try reading books or singing songs to keep him occupied. Every time you have a success, celebrate! Let him know what he did was a very good thing indeed, and you are proud of him. Eventually, he will make the connection, and start using the potty on command. When he has mastered this, you are in the home stretch.
These three simple steps are the keys to potty training success. Remember, it might take a while for your toddler to catch on, but it will happen if you are consistent and keep at it. And the trade-off for cleaning up a few accidents is a big one – never having to change a diaper again!
Your essential guide to parenting advice – The Basics of Potty Training
Learning at the Table: Meal Time and Motor Skills
From the very first time your baby starts to eat solid baby food, a new opportunity is created to learn and practice new and important motor skills. Meal time isn’t just about eating! It’s also an important part of your child’s development.
Starting Early
Even though your baby is nowhere near ready to feed himself when he first starts on solid foods, there is no reason you can’t let him have his own spoon right from the start. Bring two spoons to each feeding, one for baby to hold and one for you to feed him. Soon he will start trying to imitate what you are doing with the spoon, dipping it into the food and bringing it to his mouth. It will be messy, but your baby is laying the foundation for feeding himself while learning new motor skills.
Finger Foods
Somewhere around 8 months old on average, your baby will be ready to start self-feeding in earnest. The right place to start is with finger foods that dissolve easily in the mouth but are fairly easy to pick up. Small chunks of banana or the classic baby snack, Cheerios cereal, are great choices for first finger foods. Using the thumb and forefinger to pick up small items, also known as the “pincer grasp” is an important milestone and finger foods will help to develop the fine motor skills required.
The Right Tools for the Job
When your baby is ready to really use utensils, she will need her own fork and spoon. Look for utensils with thick, easy to grasp handles made of a non-slip material. Plastic forks are good for early practice, but they will soon frustrate your little one as they don’t work very well. Instead, look for a metal fork with rounded tines to avoid potential injury, but enough of a point to allow easy spearing of food. When choosing a spoon, try to find one that is not too flat and won’t spill easily. Utensils should be short, as anything too long will be difficult for little arms to maneuver.
Getting Started with Utensils
Learning to use a fork and spoon are a great chance to work on manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination. Although the spoon is the first utensil a baby encounters, most children will learn to use a fork faster, mainly because the food stays on the fork more easily than on a spoon. Start with an easy to spear food like small pieces of melon or pear. Place the fork in your child’s hand and guide her through the motions of spearing the food, and bringing it up to her mouth. You’ll be rewarded by the sight of her face lighting up with joy as she realizes she can eat just like you do!
Using a spoon requires even more skill than a fork. Learning the scooping and lifting motion to get food onto the spoon, and then the careful balance required to get the food all the way to the mouth are difficult tasks. Thick foods like oatmeal and yogurt are a great choice for learning this skill, as they will be less likely to spill off the spoon. Encourage your child to lean forward, towards the dish so that the spoon doesn’t need to travel so far.
The process of teaching your baby to self-feed can be messy, but remember that you are developing motor skills and life skills too!
Your essential guide to baby foods and parenting advice – Homemade Baby Food
Learning at the Table: Meal Time and Motor Skills
From the very first time your baby starts to eat solid baby food, a new opportunity is created to learn and practice new and important motor skills. Meal time isn’t just about eating! It’s also an important part of your child’s development.
Starting Early
Even though your baby is nowhere near ready to feed himself when he first starts on solid foods, there is no reason you can’t let him have his own spoon right from the start. Bring two spoons to each feeding, one for baby to hold and one for you to feed him. Soon he will start trying to imitate what you are doing with the spoon, dipping it into the food and bringing it to his mouth. It will be messy, but your baby is laying the foundation for feeding himself while learning new motor skills.
Finger Foods
Somewhere around 8 months old on average, your baby will be ready to start self-feeding in earnest. The right place to start is with finger foods that dissolve easily in the mouth but are fairly easy to pick up. Small chunks of banana or the classic baby snack, Cheerios cereal, are great choices for first finger foods. Using the thumb and forefinger to pick up small items, also known as the “pincer grasp” is an important milestone and finger foods will help to develop the fine motor skills required.
The Right Tools for the Job
When your baby is ready to really use utensils, she will need her own fork and spoon. Look for utensils with thick, easy to grasp handles made of a non-slip material. Plastic forks are good for early practice, but they will soon frustrate your little one as they don’t work very well. Instead, look for a metal fork with rounded tines to avoid potential injury, but enough of a point to allow easy spearing of food. When choosing a spoon, try to find one that is not too flat and won’t spill easily. Utensils should be short, as anything too long will be difficult for little arms to maneuver.
Getting Started with Utensils
Learning to use a fork and spoon are a great chance to work on manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination. Although the spoon is the first utensil a baby encounters, most children will learn to use a fork faster, mainly because the food stays on the fork more easily than on a spoon. Start with an easy to spear food like small pieces of melon or pear. Place the fork in your child’s hand and guide her through the motions of spearing the food, and bringing it up to her mouth. You’ll be rewarded by the sight of her face lighting up with joy as she realizes she can eat just like you do!
Using a spoon requires even more skill than a fork. Learning the scooping and lifting motion to get food onto the spoon, and then the careful balance required to get the food all the way to the mouth are difficult tasks. Thick foods like oatmeal and yogurt are a great choice for learning this skill, as they will be less likely to spill off the spoon. Encourage your child to lean forward, towards the dish so that the spoon doesn’t need to travel so far.
The process of teaching your baby to self-feed can be messy, but remember that you are developing motor skills and life skills too!
Your essential guide to baby foods and parenting advice – Homemade Baby Food