June 23rd, 2009 -- Posted in Nutrition |
Sticking to a nutritious diet while traveling can be one of the more difficult things to do. However, if you learn how to make smart choices, a healthy diet is really not that difficult. It’s probably not the best time in which to start a healthy diet, but if you are currently making healthy choices in your foods already, modifying your diet slightly to accommodate travel, is not as difficult as it first may seem.
If you are traveling by airplane, your diet may have to include airplane food, which can often be of poor nutritional value, depending on the selection. When you book your flight, ask about your food options, ask if a vegetarian dish is available? Vegetarian dishes are sometimes more nutritional in this case, but it really depends on what they may be serving. If you can, eat a larger meal before your flight, so that you don’t have to eat the entire meal that is served, to feel full.
When driving or taking a bus, you may be tempted to stop at fats food restaurants and eat the meals found there. Avoid this whenever possible! If you’re on vacation, you may wish to splurge a tiny bit, but having fast food more than once during a week can really be bad for your health. If you must, choose the healthiest options available, like chicken breasts and diet soda.
Also, remember that you can take your own meals when traveling. Carrying a loaf of whole-wheat bread or pita wraps, some lean lunchmeat, and low-fat cheese in a cooler is a great way to avoid high-fat and high-cholesterol junk food meals. These are much better choices and you’ll save a lot of money as well. Call ahead to ask if there will be a refrigerator in your hotel room.
Lastly, make smart choices when you eat out. If you choose salads or pasta get the dressing on the side and ask about low-carb options. In fact, many places print these dieting options directly in the menu for the health-conscious people. Control your portions by ordering lunch menu sizes or splitting the meal in have and getting a doggie bag, and you’ll be well on your way to healthy eating, even away from home.
Yes, eating healthy foods when you travel can be a challenge. However, your health is worth it. Eating meals high in nutrition will also assist in fighting illnesses that you are likely to encounter when traveling and you will find yourself more alert so that you can enjoy your trip.
June 21st, 2009 -- Posted in Allergy |
On the average, a person could experience several allergic reactions to one or more things. This happens when we breathe in something that is usually harmless and our immune system (the body’s barrier against viruses and bacteria) classifies it as harmful and attacks. These are the allergens that we need to avoid exposure to. The hard part is, it is difficult to avoid allergens if we don’t know specifically what we are allergic to. Much harder still, allergens are everywhere. They can be in the form of plant pollens from trees, grasses, and weeds, dust mites, animal dander, cockroaches, mold, chemicals, and so forth. It makes it thrice as hard to avoid because pollen and mold may become airborne and can travel easily for miles.
Those affected with allergic rhinitis, also called nasal allergy, pollinosis, or hay fever is commonly caused by plant pollens. Some weeds depend on the wind for cross-pollination than insects to produce seasonal allergies. This makes allergies hard to avoid. Allergies symptoms are a result of the release of histamine, a very important protein in the body which mediates inflammation and is involved in many reactions. Here are the common symptoms that you may experience: itchy, puffy, and watery eyes, stuffy nose, sneezing, coughing, decreased sense of smell, headache, and wheezing. This makes it very bothersome as aside from these, one can experience shortness of breath because the airways become constricted as the body’s response to the allergens. Should the immune system over activate and not be treated, it may result to complications and life-threatening situations. Relief of symptoms is a must!
Allergies treatment is a big factor to those who have allergies. For one, it would be less bothersome for them if they have relief from their symptoms. Having itchy eyes and a runny nose is not exactly a recipe for a happy day. Having it for three consecutive days is already a burden, what more if it extends to more than that? The symptoms also get worse during different seasons. It is important to know what to do and prevent it from occurring before the season changes.
To be diagnosed accurately, check with your physician and let him help you determine which particles you are allergic to. For all the over-the-counter-medications, which includes the anti-histamine medications, that is available in the market to provide symptomatic relief, still the best way to treat the allergic rhinitis is to avoid exposure to allergens. It is also the most cost-effective way in managing allergies. It is best to remove pets from the house to avoid animal dander, staying indoors when there are high pollen counts, control dust mites by using plastic-lined covers for mattress and pillows, and remove any that could absorb minute particles of dust such as stuff toys, carpets and drapes. Allergies treatment may include over-the-counter medications for symptomatic relief and shot for uncontrollable symptoms or unavoidable allergens (or those present all throughout the year).
Do not be afraid to have your allergies checked. You have nothing to lose but a lot to gain. It is important that you know what you are allergic to so you could have better prevention. Enjoy life without the burden of allergies symptoms!
June 8th, 2009 -- Posted in Vision |
Your eyes are very sensitive so you want to be sure that you take care of them the best way possible. And there are some basic things that people can do on that daily basis to insure that they always have healthy eyes. Going for that yearly eye exam is just so important. An eye doctor can see things that other doctors may not be able to see just by looking at and into your eyes. They can see so much more than just the diseases that have to do with the eyes.
There are foods that you can add to your diet to strengthen and keep your eyes in great health. Your mom may have said to eat your carrots because they are good for your eyes and they are. Anything high in vitamin A and beta-carotene is great for your eyesight. But did you know that garlic is fabulous for keeping your eyes healthy. Garlic has sulfur which can help prevent cataracts. It also has quercetin which is also fabulous for good eye health. Other foods high in these are avocados, broccoli, onions, eggs , and asparagus. Beans is another great food that you may want to add to your diet because they have been known to reduce your chances of getting glaucoma.
You want to be sure that you are always well hydrated. Drinking water on a regular basis is a great way to stay hydrated. Drinking water helps to flush out the unwanted toxins in your body.
You also want to limit your time on the computer and watching the television. Your eyes can be very strained if you spend all day watching a computer screen. Your eyes need to rest so you also want to be sure that you get enough sleep at night time.
There are many things that you can do to protect your eyes and one of the most basic things it to protect them from the elements of nature. By just having sunglasses on during the day you will be protecting your eyes from the cold and dry wind as well as from the suns harmful rays.
The suns rays can contribute to the development of cataracts and macular degeneration. So be sure that you get sunglasses that have 100% UV protection and do not just wear them in the summer. You should be wearing them year round and especially in the car for the high water and snow glare. If you do not have a pair of sunglasses on hand then get a wide brimmed hat to shade your eyes.
So be sure to eat the right foods and get a good pair of sunglasses that are SPF so that they block the ultraviolet and other harmful rays.