Signs Of Diabetes

Glycemic index chart is the numerical representation of the different food containing carbohydrates. The chart does show how starchy foods alter in the effects of glucose absorption into the bloodstream.

The glycemic index chart was developed for the different diabetics patients. But recently it has been used as a guide for those individuals who struggle to shed some pounds in that weighing scale.

The ranking of the foods in the chart helps diabetics manage their disease. And for those who are conscious of their weight, it keeps them on track in their weight reducing programs.

Glucose, the simplest form of carbs, is measured and calculated in the glycemic index. The glucose level of the different starchy foods in the glycemic index chart is shown how these foods can affect the fluctuations of sugar level in the blood.

The different carbohydrate-rich foods act differently once ingested in our bodies. They are not created equal. In addition, as compared to any other form of carbohydrates, glucose is relatively fast to be absorbed into the bloodstream. Thus, choosing low glycemic carbohydrate-rcih foods in the glycemic index chart aids in cutting down of glucose level among diabetics and help people to have a more sustained weight reduction.

Many unwanted medical conditions may be triggered by consuming high glycemic index foods. The energy balance of the body is disturbed because these foods make the body work hard. The glycemic index chart does give the list of these foods for these health conscious individuals.

Here are some advantages of learning about the glycemic index chart. It does aid in controlling the disease process of diabetes. For weight conscious individuals, it helps to manage their shedding of pounds well enough.

The glycemic index chart also does help individuals keep their selves healthy and away from many diseases. It does keep one physical stamina high enough to engage in different physical activities. And the last advantage is it does allow carbohydrates replenishment during vigorous exercises.

Low glycemic index carbohydrate-rich foods are digested more slowly as compared to those foods in the list of high glycemic index. There is variety in the amount of carbohydrates present in different kinds of foods.

This is true because different foods contain different types of starches and sugars, additionally; food preparation also affects how the body reacts to these starchy foods. The fibers, fats, proteins and organic acids present in the different foods are also being regarded in glycemic index chart food list.

The high glycemic index has GI value of 70 and above, medium GI 56- 69, and low GI 55 or less. The high GI value starchy foods make you feel fuller once eaten yet make you hungry more often. On the other hand, low GI carbohydrate-rich foods make you feel fuller for longer period of time.

Changing your daily diet consumption to low glycemic index may be hard to do for some people. You need to bear in mind the importance of changing your eating habits from high GI to a low GI with the food list found in glycemic index chart. Knowledge on the GI of your food just adds the delightfulness of your meal.

It is important to take note that the availability of the food in your locality does affect you food preferences. Taste preference of each individual does also influence on which foods a person picks.

The food content does play an important role too in an individuals taste preferences, it’s not solely based on physiologic effects. Basing the food choices in the glycemic index chart aids the person to do his diet planning with ease.

The glycmic index chart aims to provide a proper guide to healthy eating especially to those who have uncontrollable diabetes or weight. The list of foods in the glycemic index chart is actually ranked according to their exchange list. In the GI list, you might just find your favourite food!

Low GI foods are being digested and absorbed more slowly than high GI. But the GI value and food compositions is carefully weighed when choosing meals. Foods have different fat content and this may not be healthy to some other people, that is why not all low GI food is healthy to all persons. Totally omitting high GI foods is not recommended since these foods have high nutritional contents though.

The glycemic index chart does not only provide you with choices among the high, medium of low GI food selection. Food selection according to your own preferences is also given to you by this list.

Lose weight using the glycemic index chart, visit the site on glycemic index list for further ideas on how to shed those extra kilos and keep them off.

Most of you have probably heard of Beachbody or have seen one of their infomercials for P90X(R), Insanity(R), or Slim in 6(R), or one of their many other weight loss and home fitness programs. The Beachbody Team has set out to end the trend towards obesity in America and is tackling it by providing a variety of solutions to people’s exercise and diet needs. They offer home fitness programs of several types and for many different skill levels, each designed to help the user improve their level of fitness and health.

In America today, obesity is one of our deadliest contributors to poor health, and threatens our quality of life. Most people clearly recognize the connection between obesity and medical problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, and diabetes.

Diabetes is not linked only to obesity and it is important to know that you could be at risk without knowing it. According to the American Diabetes Association, “Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. Millions of Americans have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and many more are unaware they are at high risk. Some groups have a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes than others. Type 2 diabetes is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, as well as the aged population.” Please visit the ADA for more information.

The development of Kathy Smith’s project:YOU! Type2 was completed “in conjunction with doctors, certified diabetes educators, and the American Diabetes Association” according to its promotion on the Beachbody website. (See Video Link Below) The program includes a workout guide and exercise DVDs, a cookbook, mix and match meal cards, and more, all centered on helping people with Type 2 Diabetes.

This program is not just another home fitness program. This is a lifestyle change designed to improve your health and help you to better your odds when it comes to combating type 2 diabetes, and it has been designed with the combined influences of experts in the field of diabetes and fitness.

A second product offered through Beachbody may provide an additional benefit to diabetic sufferers. While many weight loss or meal replacement shakes on the market today can boost the sugar content in the user and be unsafe for people suffering from diabetes, a new product called Shakeology(R) has shown that it helps to control the glycemic index.

Shakeology(R) is only available through Independent Team Beachbody Coaches like Coach BellyShrinker and Fitness Coach Jim who can also help connect you with Kathy Smith’s project:YOU! Type2.

You are encouraged to see your doctor regularly. The people with Team Beachbody, and the coaches like Coach BellyShrinker do care about your health. Only your doctor can properly diagnose any possible health conditions such as diabetes, and you are also encouraged to check with your personal physician before starting any fitness or diet program.

Coach BellyShrinker (Elly Ford) is an Independent Team Beachbody Coach and helps people achieve their weight loss and fitness goals by offering them the tools and motivation they need to keep moving in the right direction. Visit Her Fitness Coach Website, and don’t forget to watch the supporting video for combating diabetes.

Did you know that more than 34 million Americans are considered to be obese and that more than 20 million of these people have tried many times to lose weight, with little to no success? Most of these people tried fad diets, which are never really a healthy way to lose weight. In fact, there are a lot of fad diets out there that can actually cause a lot more harm than good. And even when people do lose weight while on fad diets, they almost always gain that weight back and then some, once they go back to their normal eating habits. So, is there a healthy way to lose weight and keep it off? Yes. It’s called a healthy lifestyle. Everyone should be following a healthy, well-balanced diet and getting a regular amount of exercise each and every day.

Weight Loss Surgery for Extreme Cases

There are a lot of people who are extremely overweight or obese and have not been able to lose their extra weight the traditional way, through diet and exercise. Many of these people are opting for gastric bypass and other weight loss surgeries to help and as long as they fit into the proper criteria, they will be candidates for one of these surgical procedures. There are cases where some people are so obese that the surgical procedures may actually endanger their lives. In cases like this, most physicians will not perform the surgery until the patient has lost a certain amount of weight. The patients are usually put on diets that are very restricted and often, their diets must be supervised. There are even extreme cases where patients must be hospitalized, so that professionals can continually monitor their dietary progress.

There are a few different types of weight loss surgery, the most common being the Roux en Y gastric bypass, which is only performed on people who have a BMI of around 40. There are other popular weight loss surgical procedures that many people undergo each year. One popular weight loss surgery is the Lap Band System and those who have a BMI of 35 are eligible for this type of surgery. But with this BMI, they must have an underlying medical condition that makes the surgery absolutely necessary. Because weight loss surgeries, like all surgical procedures, are dangerous and the risks may be greater for certain patients, the ultimate decision as to whether or not the weight loss surgery can be safely performed is up to the attending physician.

What You Can Do If Your BMI Is Too High for Traditional Weight Loss Surgery

If you do happen to have a BMI that is too high for most of the weight loss surgeries, there is still a procedure you can have that will help. You may be able to go for the alternative, which is to have two surgeries. The first is called a sleeve gastrectomy, followed by another procedure to convert the first in to a gastric bypass. This is also known as “banana surgery” because the stomach takes the shape of a banana. It is also much safer for people who are too obese for other forms of weight loss surgery.

The After Weight Loss Surgery Diet

Just because you have had, or are considering having, weight loss surgery, doesn’t mean that you don’t have to do any work to lose weight yourself. In fact, you must work just as hard as you did before the surgery. Following surgery, it will be important to make sure that you are getting all of the right nutrients in your diet, in order to make sure that the healing process goes smoothly and quickly and to make sure that you get to a healthy weight and maintain that weight. There are three macronutrients that we all need in order to survive and it is essential that weight loss surgery patients get enough of these macronutrients to help them to lose their weight in a healthy way. The three macronutrients that we all need are carbohydrates, fats and proteins. According to the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association and many other health organizations, a healthy diet should consist of 50% carbohydrates, 15% fats, and 35% proteins. These numbers may change for weight loss surgery patients who may require more protein in their diets than the average adult.

There are many healthy dietary sources of protein, but in many cases, those who have had weight loss surgery also use protein supplements to make sure that they are getting all of the right nutrients to help them heal after surgery and lose weight. There are a number of different types of protein supplements available that people can use, from protein powders to snacks to liquid protein shots.

Protein Powders – You can find protein powders that are made from a number of dietary sources of protein. For instance, whey and casein are wonderful protein supplements, but because they are milk derivatives, they may not be the supplement of choice for those who are lactose intolerant. Both are complete proteins and are great for all diets. Whey is quicker to digest than casein and it takes effect quicker, although the effects of casein last longer. Rice protein is another great, choice, because it is hypoallergenic and is popular with vegetarians. Another popular choice is soy, which is a complete protein, containing all of the essential and non-essential amino acids. Soy is the only plant-based protein that is a complete protein.

Protein Snacks – There are a number of different protein snacks available that are ideal for diets following weight loss surgery. These snacks can range from jerky treats to delicious bars, some even made with healthy dark chocolate, which is loaded with antioxidants.

Liquid Protein Shots – These are great because they are small, portable and low calorie. One popular protein shot is Profect by Protica, which only has 100 calories per 2.9 ounce serving. Profect provides 25 grams of protein in each serving, as well as 100% of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C and 50% of the daily recommended amount of B complex vitamins. Profect also contains no carbohydrates or fats, making it ideal for low calorie diets after weight loss surgery. And it comes in a variety of delicious flavors, including Blue Raspberry, Grapefruit-Mango, and Fresh Citrus Berry.

If you have had, or are having weight loss surgery, the absolute best diet to follow is the one that your surgeon recommends. He or she will know exactly what nutrients you will need in order to be healthy following your surgery and to lose the weight you want to lose.

Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein drinks for cancer patients. You can learn more at Protica Research – Copyright

Current research has revealed a promising relation between a high protein diet and low blood cholesterol levels. Many people with high cholesterol levels take medications to control their cholesterol levels. In this article we will examine the role of cholesterol and how its levels are linked to proteins in the diet.

Cholesterol is vital to maintain the integrity of brain cells, keep the membranes intact and the cells working. The protein receptors, imperative for inter-cellular communication, also anchor in cholesterol molecules present in these membranes. However, brain-cell membranes do more, as they contain receptors for key chemical messengers in the brain. These receptors permit cell-to-cell communication, and cholesterol helps to keep these attachment points functioning properly and the cells communicating normally.

Serotonin, a key messenger, has an anti-depressant effect, and proper functioning of serotonin receptors is linked to better mental health. With suboptimal cholesterol intake in the diet, poorly structured brain-cell membranes function inadequately with fewer receptors available to interact with nerve messengers. This could lead to depression.

Cholesterol is important for brain development in infants and plays a role in neuron function in adults. High blood cholesterol level is still considered a risk factor for stroke and heart disease, however, and physicians may decide that those risks outweigh any modest benefits for cognitive function. Scientists have not yet determined whether lowering cholesterol with medication will influence mental functioning.

In humans, normal metabolic oxidation reactions lead to harmful by-products. Accumulation of these harmful by-products causes damage to the neurons of the brain. Our bodies have antioxidants that protect it from these cellular damages.

Research has shown that regular consumption of cultured dairy products lowers cholesterol and protects against bone loss.

Role of casein and whey:

Dietary supplements containing proteins like whey and casein can be of benefit in lowering cholesterol. Casein and whey are natural based milk proteins.

Casein is the other protein derived from milk and is a complete protein. It is:

- Extremely high in the amino acid, glutamine, which is the most abundant amino acid found in skeletal muscles and may play a role in supporting the immune system.

- A larger protein (than whey) that is absorbed more slowly by the body. Often used when absorption over an extended time period is desirable.

- Not as absorbable (as whey) by the body because it has a lower biological value (BV) therefore more has to be consumed.

Whey: Whey proteins are not something new – they have been available for hundreds of years. It has only been during the last 15 – 20 years however, that the true potential of whey proteins has become known. This awareness has led to an increase in research activity to identify all the benefits whey proteins provide to the human body.

Whey protein contains an ample supply of the amino acid cysteine. Cysteine appears to enhance glutathione levels, which has been shown to have strong antioxidant properties that mop up free radicals — free radicals induce cell death and play a role in aging. Therefore, whey proteins can have a protective effect on neurons when taken on a long-term basis.

Whey protein concentrate has been found to be a potent inhibitor of oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Current research suggests that the conversion of LDL cholesterol to oxidized LDL is the trigger that leads to atherogenesis — the formation of plaque and lesions associated with atherosclerosis. This commonly occurs in arteries that nourish the heart. Therefore, any substance that prevents the oxidation of LDL is thought to be anti-atherogenic.

Whey protein is made up of several minor and major fractions, such as beta-lactoglobulin, alpha-lactalbumin, albumin, lactoferrin, and immunoglobulin. It was discovered that the minor constituent responsible for whey’s ability to prevent the oxidation of LDL appears to be the lactoferrin fraction of the protein. Lactoferrin is an iron-binding protein that has been shown to reduce uptake of LDL cholesterol.

Whey protein has the following properties:

- It has the highest branched chain amino acid (BCAA) content found in nature. BCAAs are necessary for the maintenance of muscle tissue and they tend to be depleted following exercise.

- Is thought to be digested faster than casein and more completely than soy proteins.

- It enhances the production of the amino acid, glutathione, which is an important component for supporting the immune system.

- It is very miscible, which means it dissolves easily in water and other liquids making it more user friendly in some cases.

The link between protein and lower cholesterol continues to be studied, and the early indications are promising. With the broad benefits afforded by whey and casein, they are a smart addition to most dietary regimens.

Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein liquid for weight loss surgery patients. You can learn more at Protica Research – Copyright

Nutritional status is one of the important parameters that decide the course of post surgical recovery. The concept of nutritional status in surgery involves various aspects of perioperative nutrition that includes both preoperative and postoperative nutritional status. Many studies show that preoperative acceptable nutritional conditions help to prevent early and late postoperative complications.

Klein et al. published a study in 1996 that compared 2 groups of patients: a previously malnourished group and another in agreeable nutritional condition. Both groups had undergone elective lumbar spinal surgery. It was reported that out of 26 postoperative complications, 24 were in the malnourished group. Based on the study findings, the study authors recommend that close attention should be paid to the preoperative nutritional status of patients undergoing surgical procedure. The researchers propose that individuals with sub optimal nutritional parameters should be supplemented and replenished before elective surgery. Similar studies done indicate that the conclusions can be generalized for any kind of operations. Hence, special considerations should be given to malnourished and undernourished cases.

Successful recovery from a surgical intervention depends on many factors, and post surgical nutritional support is one of these. Post surgical nutrition should be initiated as soon as possible. The improved nutritional status helps in:

- Wound closure

- Improving immune responses

- Preventing infections or sepsis, and

- Preventing immediate and late complications.

Proteins are a source of amino acids, the basic building structure of the body. Owing to this property, adequate protein intake is essential for proper wound healing. Protein depletion appears to delay wound healing by: prolonging the inflammatory phase; by inhibiting fibroplasia, collagen and proteoglycan synthesis; and by inhibiting neoangiogenesis (proliferation phase) and wound remodeling.

Surgery poses great metabolic stress on the patient, with the severity of the stress depending on the severity of the wounded site. An injured patient requires more protein than a non-injured patient because of the increased metabolic activity of wound healing, acute-phase protein production in response to stress, and amino acid mobilization from muscle used for hepatic gluconeogenesis.

Experimental protein depletion in animals showed a decrease in the tensile strength of wounds. In a study of 108 human patients with experimental wounds, individuals with either low serum protein or serum albumin had significantly weaker wounds than those with normal protein values.

Protein calorie malnutrition increases morbidity and mortality in the surgical patient. Many studies have found hospitalized patients in a state of malnutrition at admission. Thus, it is important to increase protein intake to optimize healing and immune function, and to prevent post-surgical complications in these individuals.

Protein requirement

In a non-injured state, adults require approximately 0.8 grams of dietary protein per kilogram of body weight per day. Elderly patients have a higher protein requirement (1-1.2 grams of dietary protein per kilogram of body weight per day) due to a decreased ability to synthesize proteins. The surgical/trauma patient can require significantly more protein. Minor surgery may not significantly increase the protein requirement; however, if the patient is already protein malnourished, wound healing will be adversely affected unless dietary protein intake is increased. Major surgery can increase protein requirements 10 percent, while a patient with multiple traumas may need 75 percent more protein. Special cases like burn wounds cause tremendous metabolic stress and have the greatest impact on protein requirements, increasing protein needs 75-100 percent.

Therapeutic modes of nutrition

Patients in whom the protein requirement of the body outweighs the intake, supplements are required to meet the increased demand. Therapeutic modes may be helpful in this case.

- Oral nutrition is safest, cheapest, and best.

- Enteral tube nutrition may be used in patients with a functioning gastro intestinal tract to supplement oral feeding or to replace it entirely. The latter is indicated for patients who require intensive protein support.

- Partial parenteral nutrition supplies only part of the patient’s daily nutritional requirements, supplementing oral intake.

- TPN (total parenteral nutrition) supplies all of the patient’s daily nutritional requirements. A peripheral vein may be used for short periods, but longer periods of use with concentrated solutions can readily lead to thrombosis.

Monitoring of weight, plasma proteins, glucose, etc should be done regularly.

Role of milk proteins in recovery process

Whey proteins are an excellent protein source for everyone — no matter what their age. From a nutritional perspective, whey proteins reign supreme. Whey is a by-product of the cheese and casein manufacturing process. It contains approximately 20% of the original milk proteins. Exciting new research is being conducted that indicates certain whey protein components help provide the growth of new body tissue. Biological activities include immune modulation and anti-inflammatory and healing effects.

Casein is basically a milk protein and is considered the major protein component of milk. Caseins are a family of phosphoproteins synthesized in the mammary gland. They possess immune modulator activity and can influence gut motility. Caseins are extremely high in the amino acid glutamine, which is the most abundant amino acid found in skeletal muscles and may play a role in supporting the immune system.

Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein shots for immunodeficiency patients. You can learn more at Protica Research – Copyright

Obesity, the medical term for weight equal to 20% or more over what is deemed to be the ideal weight, is not only a medical condition but is also a risk factor for a number of other health conditions. Being obese can put you at risk for increased aches and pains as well as increasing the risk factors for more serious health conditions including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and certain cancers. There are other conditions that can be caused or made worse by being obese such as liver or gallbladder disease. For women of a certain age group, obesity can also cause or exacerbate problems with fertility, usually because of a condition known as PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome).

In the past, the doctors based their judgment of obesity solely on body weight itself; however, more recently, doctors have been using BMI instead. BMI or body mass index is calculated by multiplying weight in pounds by 703 and then divided by height in inches multiplied by itself. There are a number of online BMI calculators that can be used far more simply than doing the math yourself as well as scales that do the math for you as soon as you step up on them. A BMI of 25 or higher is considered to be overweight.

A secondary test, typically only done for women, is the hip to waist ratio which measures the hips and then the waist. The waist measurement in inches is divided by the hip measurement in inches and the ratio is reviewed. A waist to hip ratio that is higher than 0.88 is considered to be the apple shape and is considered dangerous for one’s health. (Source: Christine Ammer, The New A to Z of Women’s Health, Fifth Edition ,Checkmark Books, New York, New York 2005)

There are 34 million adults in the world who are considered to be obese, with around 20 million of them on a diet at any given time of the year. There are literally billions of dollars that are spent on dieting products, plans and advice every year as well and huge amounts are also spent on weight loss surgery by those who feel they have tried and failed every diet up to that point. (www.StanfordUniversity.com)

How Protein Helps Metabolism

All foods that are eaten must be broken down and digested. Fats, carbohydrates and proteins are all broken down at different rates, because of the way they are composed. Fats break down very quickly regardless of their source while carbohydrates break down more slowly, with complex carbs taking the longest period of time to break down. Protein on the other hand takes the longest to break down in the body and can leave you feeling full for a longer period of time. If the body thinks it is empty, that it is starving, it will send a message to the brain so that the brain in turn will send the message back that it is time to eat.

With foods like fats and simple carbohydrates, the belly empties out faster and the message goes out sooner than if it were digesting foods like complex carbohydrates and proteins. This results with you eating far more than you meant to or should, leading to weight gain. In a person who is already overweight, this is more dangerous than in someone who is closer to their suggested weight.

Thermogenesis

The concept of thermogenesis is simple: It means that during the digestive process, the body will create heat. Certain foods cause a higher rise in temperature than others; the higher the rate of thermogenesis, the faster food is burned without being stored in the body as fat. Fats are easily digested by the body and create very little thermogenesis. Proteins raise the rate of this phenomenon more than any other food group with only alcohol causing a higher rate of thermogenesis.

Protein Supplements and Keeping Weight Under Control

In order to lose weight and maintain good health, it is important to set realistic, achievable weight loss goals. It is also important to realize that you cannot simply stop eating and expect that to be helpful; in fact you might find yourself not losing weight at all, as you shut down your metabolism completely. The key is not starvation: It is in making better food choices, learning better portion control and also learning how to space your meals so that your body is getting a constant supply of fresh energy. Using protein supplements along with healthy meals is a good way to accomplish this, by allowing you to use the supplements as a snack that keeps your body both energized and satisfied.

Protein supplements come in a number of varieties including: shakes, powders, bars, puddings, enhanced waters, and protein supplement shots. Of these, the supplement shots are the smallest with Profect from Protica delivering 25 grams of protein in a 100 calorie serving that is less than three ounces in size.

Obesity and Protein Needs: A Case Study

Diane has been overweight all of her life. After a consultation with her doctor, she is told that if she does not do something to get her weight under control she will face dire consequences. At her last appointment, Diane’s doctor was shocked at how bad all of her numbers were including her body mass index, her waist to hip ratio, and her blood lipid profile. After being put on a strict diet and strongly encouraged to start exercising, Diane is also told that she should start using a protein supplement to help keep her metabolism level high and her cravings low. Because it is so convenient to use, Diane has opted for Profect, which allows her to throw her daily needs into a bag so that she can head to the gym or to work without having to worry about mixing powders or refrigeration like other protein supplements.

Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein shots for bariatric patients. You can learn more at Protica Research – Copyright

Concentrated protein supplementation is highly recommended for bariatric patients for two specific reasons. The primary reason is to aid short-term recovery after bariatric or weight reducing surgery. The secondary is for maintaining long-term good health.

Bariatric surgery can be minor or major. In addition, it can be very traumatic to particularly overweight bariatric patients. Wound healing demands amino acids to generate new protein tissue, concentrated protein supplementation is ideal for that. Over the longer term, you would not be able to consume as much, and depending upon the extent of the surgery, food intake could be dramatically reduced.

If this is the case, then the food that you should eat must be as nutritious as possible. If you filled your diet full of sugary foods and plant or vegetable foods, you would only be able to extract a small amount of nutrition. You would likely not take sufficient proteins, vitamins, and minerals to maintain a healthy body, and yes, you would certainly lose weight. However, you would not get the full benefit of the procedure you have undergone because you would not be able to maintain a good level of health.

During the first few days after surgery, you will be given highly nutritious liquid foods to ingest. Additionally a high protein concentrate would be ideal to promote satisfactory and rapid healing of your wounds. In order to heal, your body must generate protein; a protein supplement would provide you with all the raw materials you need for that. Going into the future, the same protein supplement will provide you with all the amino acids you need to allow your body to biosynthesize all the proteins required to function properly.

Proteins are everywhere in your body, and are absolutely essential for life. They form all the enzymes that enable your body’s chemistry to progress smoothly. Proteins help digest food, enable your metabolism to maintain life, and are also the basis of your DNA, the molecules of life itself. Without proteins there would be no life as we know it, animal or vegetable.

Your body does not use raw protein from your diet to generate other proteins. Rather, it breaks dietary proteins down into their constituent amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, a bit like differently shaped Lego bricks that can be joined together in almost an unlimited number of ways to form larger complex units known as proteins.

Depending which source you read, there are 20 to 22 standard amino acids that are used to produce the thousands of proteins in your body. There are 8 to 10 the body cannot manufacture itself, and so must be available from the proteins in your diet. Without these you could not survive.

Keeping in mind, bariatric patients can eat only a small amount of food; it is unlikely that they would be able to maintain a healthy diet containing all the proteins, vitamins, and minerals needed by the human body. Similarly deficiencies in the carbohydrates needed for energy required to keep your heart beating, your lungs breathing, and your digestion working exist as well.

Concentrated protein supplementation enables you to meet all your protein requirements. This then allows your body to extract the amino acids it needs and still provides room for you to take in the vitamins and minerals needed. Additionally you are able to enjoy the ‘reward foods’ that will give you your carbohydrate requirement. In this way, bariatric patients can enjoy their meals just as anybody else.

Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein liquid for immunodeficiency patients. You can learn more at Protica Research – Copyright

Bariatric surgery refers to a surgery performed to initiate weight loss by altering a person’s digestive system. This in turn drastically reduces the amount of food that can be eaten at any given time, and weight loss is achieved via calorie restriction.

Bariatric surgery is usually more of a last resort type of treatment for weight loss, and it is only used when other methods have been proven unsuccessful. In most cases, doctors would prefer a patient to lose the weight the old fashioned way by modifying eating habits and burning off calories through exercise, but sometimes this isn’t possible. If someone is overweight to the point that his or her life may be in danger if weight isn’t lost quickly, bariatric surgery is often the answer. Bariatric surgery may also be prescribed if conditions such as high blood pressure or sleep apnea have begun to interfere with the quality of life and the patient hasn’t been able to lose the weight on his or her own.

One common form of bariatric surgery is known gastric bypass surgery. A couple of different gastric bypass surgeries may be performed, but the most common consists of having a portion of your stomach stapled to create a tiny, walnut-sized pouch. After that, a portion of your small intestine is made into the shape of a ‘Y’, which is then attached directly to the newly formed stomach pouch. Once everything is completed, the food you eat will bypass most of your stomach when you eat it, as well as certain portions of your small intestine that are responsible for absorbing calories and nutrients. Gastric bypass surgery is not reversible once it has been performed. It may be performed as a laparoscopic procedure, but more often it is a typical, invasive style surgery. Rapid weight loss is typically the result of this form of bariatric surgery.

The other most common form of bariatric surgery is known as gastric banding, or adjustable gastric banding. Gastric banding is known as a restrictive form of bariatric surgery because it actually reduces the size of your stomach. With gastric banding, the surgeon slides a flexible band around the top portion of your stomach, which is tightened to divide the stomach into two sections. The upper section is smaller than the bottom, and there is a narrow little opening between the two.

The band helps to restrict the amount of food that can enter the stomach at any one time, plus it slows the digestion of the food to reduce hunger. Gastric banding is generally performed as a laparoscopic procedure, which helps reduce the recovery time and minimize scarring. Rapid weight loss is usually the result of this type of bariatric surgery, but unlike a gastric bypass, it is reversible. Your surgeon may also adjust the band if he finds you are losing weight too quickly or too slowly. With either form of bariatric surgery, you are physically forced to restrict your food intake or you will literally be sick and vomit. This enables the substantial calorie reduction necessary to lose weight quickly.

Find out about weight loss surgery, and see if the safest, least-invasive weight loss procedures are right for you.

Cardiovascular disease kills over sixteen million people worldwide every year and is the direct cause of over 30% of all deaths in that same time period. In the United States, both heart disease and strokes account for over 40% of all adult deaths (Source: Natural News 2006). In 2006, there were over 450,000 coronary bypass surgeries performed in the United States and there were over 2,000 heart transplant surgeries the following year (Source: The Texas Heart Institute Heart Information Center). The risk for developing heart disease of any kind can depend on a number of factors, including:

- Family history

- Weight

- Diet and exercise habits

- Smoking

- Gender

- Other health risk factors

Family history of any type of heart disease may increase your risk of developing certain conditions and may also increase your risk for heart attack or stroke, even without other risk factors being present.

Weight is one of the major risk factors for heart disease, especially with disease that is caused by clogged arteries and plaque buildup. Weight can be most dangerous when it includes having a BMI of 27 or more and a waist to hip ratio of .9 or more. A woman’s waist measurement should be 33 inches or less. A quick look at your shape is also very telling as well: if you resemble an apple, with most of the weight above the hipline, you are at greater risk of heart disease than those who are pear shaped, or carrying their weight below the hips. It is thought that the deep abdominal fat affects the internal organs in a negative way and raises blood pressure, as well as causing other problems.

Diet and exercise habits are also an important risk factor to consider. It is recommended that you should get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day (Source: Ammer 2005). The choice that you make for exercise is entirely up to you, but your doctor may have some suggestions as well. Good choices for exercise include walking, yoga, swimming or other water sports. A healthy diet is also important, including all of the important nutrients. The diet suggested by the American Heart Association is an important one. The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet is also a valid suggestion as well.

While smoking is known as a risk factor for a number of other diseases, its role in heart disease, including heart attack and stroke, is very important to keep in mind as well, especially for those who have the other risk factors. Smoking raises the risk of heart disease in women five times or more over non-smoking women of the same age.

It was long thought that most types of heart disease were ones that struck men more often than women; however, the dangers of heart disease and women have become more thoroughly researched in the recent years. Women do tend to get heart disease later in life, however, and it tends to be more severe for them. It is now the leading cause of death in women who are over 66 years old and claims six times the number of breast cancer deaths. Women also tend to misinterpret their symptoms and delay getting initial assistance when they are potentially having a heart attack (Source: Ammer 2005).

Diabetes, a serious disease on its own, can also raise the risks of heart disease by damaging the arteries, raising the blood pressure and possibly worsening the cholesterol levels. Having a poor overall lipid profile is also a dangerous risk to keep in mind. Women who have reached the age of menopause that are not taking estrogen may face the same risk of heart disease as a man who is ten years younger. Increasing the amount of soy protein can afford some protection for the heart, because soy contains phytoestrogens that are similar to estrogen but are milder and safer than artificial or replacement estrogen.

Diet Suggestions for Heart Disease (Before Heart Disease Starts)

Research by the Nurses’ Health Study showed that women (mostly nurses) who started eating a diet plan similar to that of Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) had lowered their risk of heart disease and stroke. DASH is based on healthy proteins (i.e. plant-based rather than animal based protein choices), fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products. The study stated that at the end of period, those eating from this plan were almost 25 percent less likely to have heart disease and almost twenty percent less likely to have a stroke (Source: Heart Insight 2008).

It is important to find the right type and right kind of protein for your diet; it should be as lean as possible. Vegetarian protein is much healthier than animal protein; however, it is not necessary to abstain from all meat or other animal foods – just make your choices lean and low fat. Red meats have too much saturated fat and too many calories, but almost anything that you would have made with them can be recreated using substitutes. Ground turkey breast can be used to make chili or burgers, for instance. Tofu can fill in the role of meat in many different recipes and will take the flavor of the spices that it is cooked with. Tofu can also be used as both a savory and a sweet – it depends only on what you add to it.

Darius and Elizabeth: Better Diets and Better Heart Health, a Case Study

Darius, a former professional athlete, has gained 25 pounds since his retirement. Both his father and mother died from heart related conditions at fairly young ages and, despite his best efforts, he has been unable to stop smoking. Elizabeth is ten years older than her husband and has always been thirty pounds overweight; she gains and loses, and gains and loses the same ten pounds every year. She has never smoked but her family history is filled with diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

They both have borderline problems, Darius with high blood pressure and Elizabeth with high cholesterol. They agree to change their diets, including eating far less red meat. Elizabeth is planning to follow a mostly vegetarian diet; however, Darius refuses to part with meat. They try some tofu recipes and find a few that they might like and have also learned to grill portabella mushrooms on their grill instead of burgers.

Both of them have also added Profect, a protein supplement from Protica, which allows them to have a between-meal snack that gives them high quality protein and additional vitamins. They have also found that they are not hungry between meals and are both well on the way to reaching their optimal weight. Each single serving of Profect is only 100 calories, but they have found that buying the 200 gram size is far easier and less expensive. There are a number of flavors that they both enjoy.

Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein shots for bariatric surgery patients. You can learn more at Protica Research – Copyright

There are literally thousands of diet food plans to choose from, whether you are ready for one or not. You may find one while reading your favorite magazine or while watching your favorite television show. You might find one while you are wandering around on the internet. You might even have one emailed to you by a well meaning friend, whether you asked for it or not. Or you may find yourself being handed a diet food plan from your doctor, especially if he is not happy with all of your test results and numbers. But if you are not careful about the kind of diet food plan that you are starting, you will have zero success and may even cause yourself to gain weight in the long run.

There are several criteria that any diet food plan should meet for the best results. It should be convenient and easy to follow based on your own personal lifestyle and needs. It should take into account any special food needs or beliefs. It should take into account the ever-changing needs of your body- from start to finish. It should be safe and effective and have foods from all food groups represented. Finally, any diet plan that is based on a fad diet should be passed by as they are typically unsafe and ineffective.

Before Starting a Diet Food Plan

Before starting a diet food plan, no matter how highly recommended it is from the blogs or other sources, no matter how many times it is said to be “safe”, it is important to discuss the plan as well as your health and weight loss needs with your doctor. You should discuss the realistic goals that you should set for yourself. From the doctor’s point of view, it will not necessarily be about the weight, although the food plan may be based on getting you to a set weight in the future. Instead, the diet food plan may look to accomplish more important tasks such as lowering the blood pressure, the cholesterol or the blood sugar readings. The doctor may refer you to a nutritionist or dietician so that you can find the right diet food plan to get back to better health.

Diet Food Plans Based on Lifestyle and Personal Food Needs

A diet food plan that has you cooking from scratch every day of the week or sets unreasonable times to be eating every meal is not going to work if you never cook at home or you are out on the run most of the day. You have to be realistic with yourself so that you can make the choices that will help you come up with the right diet food plan. For instance, if you are flying out the door every morning, then you need to find a plan that allows for breakfasts that take mere seconds to plan and make or for trips through the drive through window at the local fast food place- thankfully, there are healthy food choices at most of these places now. If you have the time to cook the foods for the coming week, then do so, freeze them in individual serving sizes and thaw them as needed.

Personal food needs can be difficult in some diet food plans- for instance, not all food plans are written with the vegan or the vegetarian in mind. Many of them do not consider the lactose intolerant or those with any other type of food allergy. It is important then that the food plan be carefully considered. Look for one with a little more flexibility so that you can substitute foods that you do not like or cannot eat, no matter what the reason might be.

Diet Food Plan: No Passport Needed

Being adventurous when choosing foods is one thing; having to virtually scour the town for a single ingredient is another. Any diet food plan that has you pulling out a dictionary or asking a grocer for an explanation of what it is and how to use it may not be the plan for you. That goes for diet food plans that use expensive ingredients or spices that may drive your menu out of your family’s budget. It is better to be able to incorporate foods that the entire family will eat into your food plan rather than trying to make two meals or worse, trying to get your family to eat foods they have never heard of or may just never develop a taste for.

If you are a foodie and want to give new foods a try as part of a diet food plan, then opt for smaller versions of those dishes and have a standby on hand in case the meal gets away from you.

Diet Food Plan: Plateau and Beyond

Once you start losing weight on the diet food plan, you may find yourself needing to adjust the number of calories that you are taking in, especially if you are not exercising at all or are not exercising as much as you could. The calorie count you start with will only remain the right calorie count for a while- if you don’t lower how much you are eating or increase the amount you are moving, your weight loss will stall. The right diet food plan will make small adjustments as you move from week to week.

Diet Food Plan: No Fads Allowed

Finally, the diet food plan has to be one that is based on solid science, not the insane need to meet some trend. Before you go off on a diet food plan that ignores whole food groups or is based on one or two foods only, it is important to consider how safe those food plans are and how well they will work for you. Don’t go to any extremes at all. Think lower carbs, not zero carbs; and increased protein, not high protein. Adding just a little extra protein to your diet can be beneficial for a number of reasons- but you don’t have to go seriously overboard. Profect from Protica can be a good between meal snack in most diet food plans without being an extreme change of any kind.

Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein supplements for cancer patients. You can learn more at Protica Research – Copyright