Category: Food & Body

7 Surprising Reasons You’re Gaining Weight

Post author By Akinrodola Owanikin
Post date 24 November, 2018
No Comments on 7 Surprising Reasons You’re Gaining Weight

More often than not, many people gain weight but cannot explain why this is happening. Of course, if you stop or reduce exercises or you indulge in binge eating, especially in foods you should not be eating late at night, you expect to gain weight.

However, there are cases when people exercise well, eat healthy foods and if you have to eat at night, you know the right foods to eat at night, but still gain weight. In this case, many people cannot really explain why it happens. This article will share with you, at least 10 surprising reasons we gain weight, that many people do not know about.

Reasons You’re Gaining Weight (That You May Not Know)

Here are some silent reasons you may be increasing in weight other than lack of exercise and eating high calorie foods.

1. Lack of Sleep

This may come as a surprise to many. What is the connection between lack of sleep and weight gain? There are two issues at work with sleep and weight gain. The first one is that when you stay up late, there is high chance that you’re doing some late-night snacking, which means more calories in the body.

There may be changes in hormone levels in the body, which is keeping you from sleeping. These changes increase hunger and appetite and also make you feel not as full after eating.

2. Stress

Stress has a unique way of making us gain weight if not managed very well. When our bodies get stressed too much, they go into survival mode. How do they do this? The secret the “stress hormone called Cortisol.

Cortisol causes an increase in appetite for food. With this, we may start an intake of high-calorie comfort foods in times of stress, as well as eating at some odd hours.

3. Anti-inflammatory Steroid Medications

Steroids and anti-inflammatory steroid medications cause fluid retention and increased appetite. They are popular, not only for their anti-inflammatory property, but also for contributing a lot to weight gain in people that use them.

In some people, steroids may also cause a temporary change in where their body stores fat. The changes are usually to places like the face, the belly, or the back of the neck.

4. Birth Control Pills

Birth control pills (estrogen and progestin) can cause weight gain, but don’t be quick to thrash them or stop using them. Even though these birth control pills can cause increase in weight, they have not been proven to be a permanent increase.

It has been observed that some women taking estrogen and progestin may experience some weight gain related to fluid retention, but this effect is usually short-term.

5. Hypothyroidism

The thyroid is an endocrine gland in the neck area. It is is a butterfly-shaped organ located in the base of your neck. It releases hormones that control metabolism—the way your body uses energy. The proper functioning of this gland helps break down the food we eat.

If the thyroid drops in the level of thyroid hormone it makes and it is no longer enough, you’re may feel tired, weak, and cold, and gain weight. Without enough thyroid hormone, your metabolism slows, making weight gain more likely.

Treating hypothyroidism with medication may reverse some of the weight gain.

6. Aging

As we grow older, the rate at which our body breaks down the food we eat reduces. Growing older and older (aging) slows your metabolism, so you burn fewer calories.

Also, as we grow older, there are changes in our lifestyle. The change in lifestyle (such as exercising less, not going to work any longer) play an important role.

This is because we are really no longer active, therefore, our metabolism may drop.

7. Quitting Smoking

Smoking is dangerous to both the smoker and those around them while smoking. This is to tell you how dangerous smoking is. They say quitters don’t win but winning is this case is just about quitting. This is one of the best things you can do for your health.

When you start your withdrawal from smoking, you may start to feel more hungrier than usual. This will make you eat more and gain more weight. You should normally stop feeling hungrier after several weeks, which will make it easier to help lose any weight you gained.

Finally, if you feel a particular medication is making you gain weight, please don’t stop it. You should consult with your doctor when you notice these signs.

Your doctor and you can work together to manage the situation or work out another medication that suites you better than the one you currently use.

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Tags Weight Loss

Food & Body

10 Common Signs You Have A Binge Eating Disorder

Post author By Ahmed Ogundimu
Post date 26 October, 2016
No Comments on 10 Common Signs You Have A Binge Eating Disorder

Sometimes, people have binge eating disorder and they don’t even know it. There are those who know something is wrong after eating, but they just don’t know what it is. This article will share with you, what a binge eating disorder is and the common signs to look out for.

What is Binge Eating Disorder?

One could have an idea of what this is from the name alone. Binge eating disorder involves frequent episodes of uncontrollable binge eating. Feeling extremely distressed or upset during or after such episodes (bingeing).

We all have a way of coping with negative emotions when they set in. Unfortunately, it is food for some people — when the emotions come, they just think about food. They think about food all the time and feel guilty, ashamed, or depressed after eating.

10 Signs/Symptoms of Binge Eating Disorder

We have all at one point in our lives had too much to eat at parties and festivities. This is not what we are talking about here. Below are some 10 signs that may show you have binge eating problem.

1. Frequent episodes of eating what others would consider an abnormally large amount of food

2. Frequent feelings of being unable to control what or how much is being eaten

3. Eating much more rapidly than usual

4. Eating until uncomfortably full

5. Eating large amounts of food, even when not physically hungry

6. Eating alone out of embarrassment at the quantity of food being eaten

7. Feelings of disgust, depression, or guilt after overeating

8. Fluctuations in weight

9. Feelings of low self-esteem

10. Frequent dieting

Of course, some of these symptoms can manifest singly without it necessarily it being that of binge eating problem. However, most people with serious binge eating disorder would normally have some of the following symptoms occurring at least once a week for at least three months.

Tags Disorders

Food & Body

Foods to Avoid If You Have Fibroids Or Prevent Its Growth

Post author By Ahmed Ogundimu
Post date 10 September, 2016
No Comments on Foods to Avoid If You Have Fibroids Or Prevent Its Growth

Fibroids or Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that can invade and start growing in the female reproductive system. Often times, fibroids occur during the middle to late childbearing years while there have also been cases in those in their early childbearing years. I have read that five out of six Nigerian women have fibroids growth; many don’t just know.

Fibroids usually don’t show any symptoms but they could cause pains in some women as the tumors grow bigger and bigger. The major reason why uterine fibroids— although asymptomatic— is of great concern is that they can (and do) hinder fertility in many women.

In those women that see symptoms, it could be any of the following;

Heavy menstrual bleeding
Prolonged menstrual periods — seven
days or more of menstrual bleeding
Pelvic pressure or pain
Frequent urination
Difficulty emptying your bladder
Constipation
Backache or leg pains

The cure for fibroids know by many women is surgery and many go through that procedure to get the tumors removed. However, I can inform you that you can treat this condition using natural methods by managing your diet/nutrition properly.

Foods To Avoid With Uterine Fibroids

In the opening statement, fibroids were referred to as “tumor”. Let me make it clear at this point that fibroids are noncancerous tumors that develop within the uterus. They are not the same as cancerous tumor growths.

Below are foods you should avoid when you have fibroid growth;

Red Meat:

We have talked about red meat a lot in the past. If you don’t know much about red meat, you can read this piece about ‘differences between red meat and white meat with examples’.

Women with fibroids growth should stay away from red meat from mammals and ducks. These sources of meat protein are likely to be high in added hormones, including estrogen. Eat lean white meat for a protein source.

Caffeine

When we talk about caffeine, what usually comes to people’s mind is coffee. It is not only coffee that contains caffeine. Therefore, if you have uterine fibroids and need to stay away from caffeine, there are more foods to watch out for, including caffeinated sodas, tea, and chocolate.

William E. Richardson of the Atlanta Clinic of Preventative Medicine warns against drinking these beverages due to their high level of methylxanthines which, in turn, cause a high level of biochemicals in the body that can form tumors.

Saturated Fats

A lot of foods can fall under this category depending on how they are processed but common ones could include egg yolk, sausage, avocado, fast foods, etc.

Saturated fats can raise the estrogen level, which allows fibroids to grow larger. These foods are also hard on the liver, making it difficult for the body to break down and rid itself of the excess hormones

Whole milk, Cream, and Butter

These are high-fat dairy foods. Whole milk, in contrast to skimmed milk, is milk that has not had its fat removed. If you can’t really distinguish between skim and whole milk, you can click here to read more.

The other foods mentioned (cream and butter) are foods derived from milk.

Instead of refined grains, women should generally eat whole grains such as brown rice, millet, and oats, all of which are high in B vitamins that help process estrogen.

Food & Body

Powerful Ways You Should Be Using Coconut Oil

Post author By Ahmed Ogundimu
Post date 31 August, 2016
No Comments on Powerful Ways You Should Be Using Coconut Oil

One thing clearly stands out in life, irrespective of the category it belongs to. Most oils with saturated fats, such as butter, palm oil, coconut oil and among others are categorized as bad oil compared to oils with unsaturated fat, such as olive oil, safflower oil, canola oil, etc. Among these oils containing saturated fat, one stands out, competes with unsaturated fats and remains among the best if not the very best. This is because of its amazing power.

This oil is endowed with numerous benefits. It’s uniqueness lies in its ability to be easily metabolized by everybody, irrespective of our ages. This particular oil that receives a standing ovation even in the crowd of many competitors is COCONUT OIL.

The Many Powerful Ways of Using Coconut Oil For Men, Women & Children

It took me so many years to understand the secret of the beauty and long shiny hair possessed by the majority of the people living/residing in countries such as Indonesia, Philippines, India, Brazil and among others. After concerted effort in information gathering and worthwhile research, it obviously appeared to me that the power behind their beauty lies in the daily usage of coconut oil as part of their diets and also for body care.

The power of feminine gender lies in their beauty. This is the main reason females go extra length to dedicate their precious time and money to the enhancement and maintenance of their beauty. The use of questionable and substandard synthetic cosmetic products has become a trend globally. Most females use these products ignorantly. They are oblivious of the dangers involved with the use of these dangerous artificial cosmetic products. Conversely, coconut oil is the best natural beautifying agent without any negative effects on health.

Coconut oil has a wonderful effect on the human hair and skin. It could be rubbed into the scalp daily to stimulate healthy growth of hair and gives hair a shiny quality. It also ensures that scalp is free from dandruff, lice, and lice eggs. In addition, it serves as antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral agent. It is also helpful for the treatment of various skin problems including dermatitis, eczema, and other skin infections.

Among so many numerous benefits of coconut oil to the body systems, just to mention few, these are: it helps to aid digestion and boost metabolism, it is an immediate source of energy which could serve as energy booster for athletes, it’s a good source of vitamin A, D, and K.

It is my pleasure also to let you know that coconut oil could be used in weight management. It helps to burn excessive fat and turn fatty acids into ketones, which can reduce seizures among Children with Special Needs e.g. Children with cerebral palsy.

Coconut oil also improves antioxidant levels and can also delay aging. Its anti-inflammatory properties can help to loosen arthritis. It is also highly effective on bruises because it speeds up the healing process of damaged tissues. In addition, it can also reduce the itch of mosquito bite and is also a natural diaper cream.

Coconut oil is a natural shave cream and after shave lotion. It is also an excellent makeup cleanser.

At this end, it will be disastrous to provide the information on numerous benefits of coconut oil without letting you know that; not all the coconut oils in the market are edible and usable. Some coconut oil are made from deteriorated coconuts because they possess more oils than adequately mature coconuts while some products have been diluted and adulterated. Also, some are not produced in a hygienic environment. All these reduce its potential benefits. Therefore, my advice to you is to search for pure coconut oil from a reliable source.

Go Natural! Go Healthy! Live Long !! God bless you.

If you are in need of unadulterated virgin coconut oil,

Please, get in touch with the contacts below,

Cell phone: 08059059653
WhatsApp: 07035431332
e-mail: distinctkae@gmail.com

Tags Coconut, Coconut Oil, Hair, Oil

Food & Body

Foods That Help To Clear Acne, Pimples, Blackheads

Post author By Ahmed Ogundimu
Post date 15 July, 2016
No Comments on Foods That Help To Clear Acne, Pimples, Blackheads

In one of our previous articles, we talked about food that could contribute to development of acne and pimples. We mentioned that different foods could lead to pimples for different people. With that said, did you know that there are foods that can help you fight and get rid of pimples too? If you didn’t know, let me tell you there are foods that do help.

Acne is a very common skin disease characterized by pimples on the face, check and back. We cannot overstate the importance of healthy diet. It may interest you that good and healthy diet is also the key to acne-free skin.

Some Foods That Will Help Clear Acne, Pimples, Blackheads

Okay, here are some foods (and supplements) that can help you to get rid of pimples on your face;

Stay Hydrated — Drink a lot Water

This might appear like, who doesn’t know that? Yes, but did you know it could help in getting rid of your acne? Water is regarded as the foundation of healthy and clear skin, so aim for 8 glasses of water every day.

Water will keep your skin hydrated and will help in flushing out acne-causing chemicals.

Drink Green Tea To Clear Acne

Catechins is a type of natural phenol and antioxidant. These substances help get rid of free radicals and also act as anti-inflammatory. Green tea is a great source of these anti-oxidants.

Drinking a cup of green tea every day will go a long way in clearing your face of acne. It will help with the redness, puffiness, and soreness of acne.

Foods Rich In Selenium

In one of our previously published article, we mentioned how selenium really helps in improving sex drive. We also mentioned foods that contain them. Well, that’s not the only thing it does — Selenium can also help clear out acne.

Whole grains like rice, corn and foods with whole grains, like cereals, breads, and pastas, are good sources of selenium. As well as helping to clear acne, Selenium also helps prevent it.

Fish, Walnut, Flaxseed Help With Acne

In short, we are talking about foods that are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. Eating more omega-3 fatty acids, such as those found in fatty fish, walnuts, flaxseed, and the like, can help suppress the development inflammation and improve acne breakouts.

Food Supplements

Sticking to a diet plan is usually difficult for many people. That is why food supplements come in for people who cannot stick to the plan and desire faster results compared to when using diet.

There are supplements made from fruits, foods and herbs that can help get rid of acne. If you however, already have pimples on your face and will like to get rid of those fast, using some external skin care products is very important. A lot of people, all over the world have made use of these supplements with great success.

If you are interested in getting these supplements, you can easily send an email to foodsng2015@gmail.com and you will be pointed to the right direction. You can also call this number 08183430780 but you will get a better and detailed response via email.

It is important to note that you cannot use supplements and eat whatever you like. It doesn’t work that way. You need to observe and identify the foods that cause acne on your face and eliminate them.

ALSO SEE: Does Chocolate Cause Acne (Pimples Breakout)?

Tags Fish, Food Supplements, Green Tea, Omega-3, Selenium, Water

Food & Body

Foods That Help You Build Body Muscles

Post author By Ahmed Ogundimu
Post date 12 June, 2016
No Comments on Foods That Help You Build Body Muscles

If you have placed yourself on weight training and various form of exercises in order to build muscle, be informed that there are a number of foods that can propel you towards your goal. These foods have been known to help muscle builders achieve their target. These muscle-building foods can help you add mass as you desire.

This article will be listing some foods (generally protein-rich) that help you build muscle. The general rule is to get about 200g of protein a day. A lot of people have claimed that you need whey protein supplements in order to just sell products but I can tell you that you don’t need whey protein supplements. All you need to do is just eat a whole source of protein with each meal every day up to a mass of 200g and you are doing it right.

The List of Muscle-Building Foods You Can Add To Meals

In order to build and maintain muscle, the body requires nine essential amino acids. They are the building blocks of proteins and they help the recovery and repair of muscle fibers after workouts sessions. Also, they allow the creation of more muscle cells.

Egg Help Build Muscles:

In the past, egg has been implicated in the development of cardiovascular diseases because of the Cholesterol content. As of today more and more research has revealed that dietary cholesterol and heart diseases are not connected for many people.

The cholesterol found in eggs yolks serves at the scaffolding for steroid hormones. It has also been shown that ½ a gram of leucine found in each egg is like can act as a fuel for your muscle-building fire.

Build Muscle Mass With Nuts

It has been found that eating nuts (and other protein sources) immediately after your workout or exercises enables muscle growth. When you consume them with exercises that task your muscles, e.g. weightlifting or pushups, you muscle-building goals can be achieved faster.

However, it should be noted that consuming extra protein will not lead to increased gains. You should only consume that which is required daily. Also, you should note that nuts are not complete proteins because they lack some essential amino acids. Research have shown that consuming them with legumes at the same time or on the same day makes them complete.

Care should be taken when eating nuts because they are majorly fat. Consuming them in excess to help build muscle can lead to weight gain.

Lean Beef, Yes Beef Helps In Muscle Building

I believe everyone should know that lean beef is high up there on the list of foods that help build body muscles. Lean beef contains a combination of protein with essential amino acids, B-vitamins, and creatine that work together to help muscle-building.

Rick Hall, a registered dietitian and nutrition lecturer at Arizona State University (Tempe) said, ”Protein is the most obvious nutrient in beef that can benefit anyone who is training.”

He further explained that beef doesn’t contain just any run-of-the-mill protein. It boasts an impressive collection of the nine essential amino acids and has a high biological value, which means it’s very digestible and usable by the body. In fact, studies show that foods with a high biological value are what you should hunt for to repair those muscles post-workout.

Brown Rice For Building Muscles

This is especially a very good option for vegetarians trying to build muscle. Since they would normally want to avoid foods from animal sources, cooked brown rice can serve as part of their protein source for mass building.

Since cooked brown rice contains about five grams of protein per cup and a relatively high amount of branched-chain amino acids, it automatically becomes a good vegetarian muscle-building food option.

Cooked brown rice has five grams of protein per cup. It also has a relatively high amount of branched-chain amino acids, making it a good vegetarian muscle-building food.

Beans and Peas Provide Some Protein

Plant proteins generally don’t contain complete essential amino acids. They are therefore best eaten with whole-wheat grains for the right amino acids profile for the body.

Even though they are not a complete protein, beans have a good amount of amino acids and have the benefit of being low in fat, full of fibre and relatively cheap.

There are numerous other food types like Salmon, Kefir, Scallops, Bison, Lentils and more like that. I only talked about these few because they are the muscle-building foods that you can get easily in this part of the world.

Now that you that foods can help help you build muscle as you exercise. You should find ways to include them in your diet to achieve your muscle-building goals faster.

Tags Beans, Body Building, Brown Rice, Eggs, Muscles, Nuts, Peas

Food & Body

Foods That Cause Underarm (Armpit) Sweating

Post author By Ahmed Ogundimu
Post date 29 February, 2016
No Comments on Foods That Cause Underarm (Armpit) Sweating

There are foods that cause or aggravate underarm or armpit sweating. I grew up not having any issues like this and I was even so used to warm environments. While my siblings and every other person would complain of heat and sweat profusely, I would be comfortable with any sweats. This, however, changed about a year ago and it was very strange.

This was strange — not because I started sweating — but because I started producing only underarm sweats. Even while drive or work in the office with the air conditioners on, I still sweat in the armpit and sometimes, the whole underarm part.

This was not only troubling for me but also embarrassing. Sometimes, I already had the sweat marks on my shirt even before getting to the office. It made me very uncomfortable and to avoid some situations like giving presentations where it required raising my arms.

Finding Solutions To Underarm Sweating

Immediately this I noticed this issue, I went to the supermarket to buy an antiperspirant. I would not like to start mentioning brand names but I moved from one antiperspirant to the other with no results. At a point, I stopped and started using dusting powder — there was still no result.

I thought for it long and I thought food might contribute to underarm sweating. I needed facts, so I went online to do some searching. I saw a lot of information on foods that cause sweating in the armpit and listed them. I experimented with these foods by systematically substituting them from my diet and I finally came up with a list.

The list contains the foods that cause underarm sweating for me when I eat them consistently.

Caffeine In Coffee and Tea:

This is the number one food for me. I figured that I started taking coffee a lot around that time because I needed to work extra to meet some targets I set for myself.

I would drink coffee in the morning, afternoon and night, preparing it with cold, warm and hot water at will. At times I even chewed the 3-in-1 sachet coffees raw from the sachets.

After reducing coffee in my diet, the underarm sweating reduced. It only came when I worked myself a little extra. This was unlike before that it came even while inside the air-conditioned area.

I did research on this and found that Coffee has been reported to cause sweating in general. The caffeine in coffee, tea, some sodas, and chocolate powerfully activates the sympathetic nervous system to cause sweating.

Chili Pepper:

A large population of Nigeria likes to eat pepper like this. Many even find foods that do not contain pepper like this as nauseating and tend to avoid them. Some even have a saying that only weak minds don’t eat pepper like this.

I read that Chili Pepper contributes to underarm sweating and I reduced it a lot in foods I cooked myself. I saw some change in the sweating too while I increased coffee and reduced Chili. At that point, it became a habit to read the labels of foods and sometimes ask attendants in eateries and restaurants of they use chill pepper.

Chili peppers may overstimulate your sweat glands, so, reduce how much of it you take.

How Alcohol Causes Sweating In The Underarm

Alcoholic drinks cause sweating all over the body, but for some, it is more in the armpit. The liver does the breakdown of any alcohol in the drinks we take. However, the liver can only break down a limited amount of alcohol in an hour – approximately one 12-ounce serving of beer or about 5 ounces of wine.

Many people don’t know this and drink any volume they feel like. When one consumes alcohol at a faster rate than that stated above, accumulation of the substance takes place in the blood. This leads to side effects, one of which is sweating.

Other foods that have been reported to cause sweating include hot soups, bell peppers, garlic, and onion. You need to observe what you eat and see what foods cause it for you.

ALSO SEE: Why Women Are Attracted To Men Who Eat Garlic?

Tags Caffeine, Chili Pepper, Coffee, Garlic, Onion, Tea

Food & Body

Foods That Harm Your Singing Voice

Post author By Ahmed Ogundimu
Post date 19 December, 2015
No Comments on Foods That Harm Your Singing Voice

There are food that can make a singer’s voice go bad. If you sing, these foods are bad for you because they harm your voice. Of course, you can still use your voice for talking and shouting, it may just not sound good while singing after some time of eating much of these foods. Some can add mucous to your throat while other can make your throat dry or contract.

This article will share with you some groups of foods that are not good for singers’ voices. Just like there are foods that make your voice bad for signing, there are others that help soothe and clear your voice. For example, honey/lemon/and hot water have been shown to be helpful if you have mucous in your throat. We will discuss all that in another article.

Foods You Should Avoid For Your Voice’s Sake If You Sing

Some foods dry up your throat and can make your voice break. Such foods include citrus fruits and alcohol. You should also reduce your intake of sodas and other fizzy drinks. They put lots and lots of air in your stomach.

We talked about foods that cause recurring catarrh in the past. We specifically mentioned foods that stimulate production of mucous to your throat and nose. You should watch your level of consumption of those foods. Example of such foods are milk, ice cream and other dairy products. You should stay clear of them, especially when you need to sing soon.

I believe everyone know this — Ice cold foods, water and any other thing at all. They make your throat constrict. Of course, every individual is unique. Therefore, we have different sensitivities and may need to watch which foods affect us in the ways stated above.

As a singer or aspiring singer, you have to take care of voice. That is the greatest instrument you have got. Not many people are blessed with a singing voice, if you have one, take care of it. The foods names above can have adverse effect on your vocal health. They may also cause undesirable damages to your singing voice and vocal cords.

Wishing you the very best!!!

Tags Alcohol, Dairy, Ice Cream, Milk, Soda Drinks

Food & Body Food & Nutrition

The Way Tangerine Benefits Our Body May Surprise You

Post author By Oladipupo Abioye
Post date 7 December, 2015
No Comments on The Way Tangerine Benefits Our Body May Surprise You

I cannot but remember those days as a primary school pupil, most of my friends would always preferred tangerines over the regular oranges because it can be easily shared among friends. We all loved to consume the seeded fruit without knowing the benefits.

When the season of tangerine is here, you start seeing every road side fruit seller displaying some of this nutrient loaded fruit that has the capacity to put you on the path of good living. Although, tangerine and the common orange have similarities in shape and size, it is important to note that they have some differences in their nutrition profile.

In this short post, I will be sharing with you some of the two major reasons you should consume adequate amount of this juicy fruit this season.

FIBRE:

While many families place emphasis on consuming adequate amount of protein and carbohydrate, very few individuals have deemed it healthy to consume some servings of fibre on daily basis. Tangerine is one of those fruits that is rich in fibre; a special type of carbohydrate that is not converted to sugar.

Fibre helps you avoid constipation, can be used in weight management and reduces cholesterol levels. What makes tangerine a healthy choice for me is that I find it easier to consume the whole fruit with the fibre than the common oranges. It also has the advantage of being easy to consume by children.

NEXP PAGE [2] : Tangerine and Skin Beauty…

Food & Body

List of Some High-Antioxidant Healthy Foods

Post author By Ahmed Ogundimu
Post date 19 November, 2015
1 Comment on List of Some High-Antioxidant Healthy Foods

If you care about your health and watch what you eat, you definitely must have heard about Antioxidant-rich foods before. If you have never hear about this, you will know what Antioxidant foods are by the time you are done reading this article.

What Is Antioxidant?

Antioxidants help our body by protecting against the damage caused by harmful molecules called free radicals. Free radicals enter our body every day as by-products of normal metabolic processes in our body, through pollutants from the environment and when the body breaks down some drugs in our body.

The damages cause by these free radicals are believed to lead to the development of such conditions as blood vessel disease (atherosclerosis), cancer, and some other conditions.

Now that you know what antioxidant is, how our body gets free radicals every day and the dangers of free radicals, doesn’t it make sense for you to want to know about “antioxidant foods” and add them to your diet?

List of Foods High In Antioxidant

A research carried out by USDA scientists analyzed the antioxidant levels in more than 100 different foods. The foods under consideration were tested for antioxidant concentration and their antioxidant capacity per serving size. They foods were then ranked in the order of antioxidant capacity per serving size as follows.

Rank	Food item	Serving size	Total antioxidant capacity per serving size
1	Small Red Bean (dried)	Half cup	13,727
2	Wild blueberry	1 cup	13,427
3	Red kidney bean (dried)	Half cup	13,259
4	Pinto bean	Half cup	11,864
5	Blueberry (cultivated)	1 cup	9,019
6	Cranberry	1 cup (whole)	8,983
7	Artichoke (cooked)	1 cup (hearts)	7,904
8	Blackberry	1 cup	7,701
9	Prune	Half cup	7,291
10	Raspberry	1 cup	6,058
11	Strawberry	1 cup	5,938
12	Red Delicious apple	1 whole	5,900
13	Granny Smith apple	1 whole	5,381
14	Pecan	1 ounce	5,095
15	Sweet cherry	1 cup	4,873
16	Black plum	1 whole	4,844
17	Russet potato (cooked)	1 whole	4,649
18	Black bean (dried)	Half cup	4,181
19	Plum	1 whole	4,118
20	Gala apple	1 whole	3,903

Table Source: WebMD

The result of the research also correlates with the work of Researchers at the University of Oslo, which tested 1,113 common foods for their antioxidant concentrations. They basically have about the same foods in their top 20. In their own result, One cup of blackberries contained the most antioxidants of all the berries tested.

This table does not necessarily mean that you will get the most antioxidants from dried Small Red Bean and the least from Gala Apple. No. This is because, the amount of the antioxidants useful to your body depends on how the food’s antioxidants are absorbed by the body.

Conclusively, this table will be very useful for anyone who wants to increase their antioxidant intake. Adding any or some of these high-antioxidant foods on the list to your diet will help you achieve that.

Tags Antioxidants

Food & Body

Lemon Water And How It Is Used To Lose Weight

Post author By Ahmed Ogundimu
Post date 18 November, 2015
2 Comments on Lemon Water And How It Is Used To Lose Weight

Most of the emails I get on a daily basis are usually about how weight loss can be achieved quickly. Excessive weight gain is fast becoming a serious medical condition that our health professionals should pay attention to as many clients I get to meet are more than 100kg in weight while at the edge of been obese.

I am not writing to say that you should consume lemon water excessively as a means to lose weight. It is to help you compliment some deficiencies during your weight loss therapy. For some of the clients I have had in the past, the use of lemon water had helped in initiating proper fat loss. However, lemon water alone is not advisable for weight loss.

How To Use Lemon Water To Lose Weight

There was a research that showed that the vitamin C content in lemon may be particularly beneficial for weight loss. A study published in the “Journal of the American College of Nutrition” in June 2005 found that people who do not consume enough vitamin C may have more trouble losing body fat than those who get sufficient amounts of vitamin C. There are some potential risks to drinking lemon water.

ALSO SEE: HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT AND GET FIT IN 4 WEEKS NATURALLY

During weight loss therapy, it is usually very difficult to delete certain foods or meals from the diet of any client without intentionally including a substitute. In a situation where a client is used to consuming high-calorie beverages, one such ways to help is to introduce lemon water to such a person. The client can still enjoy some liquid portions that are not plain water but yet had reduced his or her calorie intake because lemon is low calorie

Some individuals have subjected themselves to few days of lemon juice or lemon water diet therapy. For a few people, it works very effectively helping them loose 7kg in about 10 days while others lose about 2kg. The reality is that the best way to lose body fat is a combined effort of nutrition and activities. It is very certain that you would gain back the weight lost during only lemon juice intake. It is only a matter of time.

It is professionally advised not to drink lemon juice directly. You should dilute the juice in water before drinking. The reason for this is that lemon juice is highly acidic and continued and excessive exposure to acidic foods and beverages can erode your tooth enamel.

ALSO SEE: HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT AND GET FIT IN 4 WEEKS NATURALLY

Food & Body

Do Eggs Truly Help Men Perform Better In S£x?

Post author By Ahmed Ogundimu
Post date 18 November, 2015
No Comments on Do Eggs Truly Help Men Perform Better In S£x?

A few days ago, I was listening to the evening news in one of the major TV stations here in Nigeria and deep into the news, the reporter who visited an egg production poultry farm was advising listeners, particularly men to eat eggs for better s£x performance among other nutritional benefits. Shortly after I heard this, I wondered if this was just another myth or a fact? Could there be a scientific connection between the eggs you consume and how well you perform in bed? In this write-up, foodsng.com shall establish or debunk the claim.

I have always jokingly communicated to some of my female friends who are married, that men love good foods and s£x. One of the effective ways to improve the s£x performance of their husband, if they must, is to change the constituent of his diet. That is quite an unusual advice but you never can tell. Putting that in mind, is egg one of such food items that could unleash a better s£x? Maybe, maybe not.

The argument on this topic by Farm Owners

One factor that has caused many men to perform poorly during s£x is stress which is usually from the mind. Having said that, marketers of vitamin supplementation have claimed that vitamin B is a major micronutrient that will help reduce mental stress.

The argument that many farm owners have also put to the table is that egg is rich in B vitamins and as such can help reduce stress which sometimes causes poor s£x performance. In fact, the proponents of this claim say, with a plateful of eggs whether scramble or boiled eggs on the morning of your deal date, the available B vitamins will keep you calm and prevent premature £jacuIation due to anxiety. Can this be true?

Eggs Helping Men Perform Better In S£x? Myth or Truth?

Truly, Egg is a wonder food that everyone should include in their diets at recommended intake levels regardless of their age provided it does not trigger any reaction in their body. I have also argued that in as much as the B vitamins are key to ensure a healthy heart, blood production, improved energy to mention a few, it could be a fallacy to categorically claim that consumption of eggs due to the richness in B vitamins will lead to better s£x performance.

In my days of digging the web to find research work (relating to egg and s£x performance) done by any credible institution, I could not find an established fact on it. However, certainly, healthy nutrition which is usually based on a combination of many food items from different food groups including egg protein will definitely aid or improve your chances of performing better in bed provided all other external factors which could inhibit a man’s performance during s£x is not in play.

If you have heard such information that eggs could help you perform better in bed, it is not necessarily true and based on the information you should not unnecessarily indulge in egg consumption before s£x as this could make you become prone to disease conditions that are associated with excessive egg consumption. A combination of a healthy diet can help, however, speaking to a general practitioner on your peculiar poor performance during s£x might also be helpful.

ALSO SEE: 5 Common Foods and Fruits To Supercharge Your Sex Drive

Tags Eggs

Food & Body

Why Women Are Attracted To Men Who Eat Garlic?

Post author By Ahmed Ogundimu
Post date 13 November, 2015
No Comments on Why Women Are Attracted To Men Who Eat Garlic?

A new research result reported by the BBC has revealed that women are attracted to men who eat garlic. Yes, it is that same garlic that makes your mouth smell when you eat it. So, how does garlic, that some people don’t like to eat because of the way it smells attract women?

How Garlic Attract Women To Men

According to the research, women have evolved to prefer garlic eaters, because garlic has antibiotic, antiviral and anti-fungal properties, and this comes through in a man’s perspiration, suggesting that the man is healthy.

Natasha Edwards, the Managing director of the Garlic Farm told BBC Radio 5 live: “People often ask us, if you eat loads of garlic will people want to sit next to you? Will I have terrible breath? There is some evidence to say that the more garlic you eat, the better your body can deal with it.”

Recall that we also mentioned Garlic as one of the foods that help fight off cold and flu and foods that people in 40+ age group should eat more. So, even if you don’t want to eat it for those reasons. You have been given yet another reason to eat garlic.

So guys, what are you waiting for? Stop by at that fresh vegetable shop near you and buy some garlic. This might just help you get that girl or bring that girl to you.

Food & Body

Foods That Will Help Heal Your Injuries/Wounds Fast

Post author By Ahmed Ogundimu
Post date 4 November, 2015
No Comments on Foods That Will Help Heal Your Injuries/Wounds Fast

It is always very devastating after sustaining an injury/wound due to accidents. Many get upset because they have turned tentatively or permanently immobile while others are bothered about how the injuries have disfigured their beautiful skins. Asides the feeling of pain due to the injuries, the length and difficulty of the healing process can also add to your sufferings.

Yes, the very first point of contact during injury treatment are the medical doctors, nurses and physiotherapist. While these professionals are key in helping injured persons, the need to speak to a nutritionist to help you plan an adequate menu that will help you heal fast can not be overemphasized. See the foods that can help you achieve this healing from inside out.

4 Foods/Food Groups That Heal Injuries Fast

1. Tumeric:

This food item has been known to be used for many decades in the treatment of wounds. The volume of antioxidants found in turmeric lowers inflammation and speeds up the healing process during injuries. In the traditional treatment of open wounds, people of older generations form a paste out of turmeric to be used in covering the open wounds and it has proven to be effective.

However, it is much better to include turmeric into your daily meals so that your wound could heal from inside out and it could raise your immunity against infections.

2. Liver And Leafy Vegetable:

The importance of iron in the treatment of wounds is very critical and that is why foods like liver and leafy vegetables that can supply an ample amount of iron are key. A deficiency of iron, which is commonly called anemia may retard the process of wound healing.

You should not forget the loss of blood during injuries which somewhat reduces the iron level in your body. So, it is better to eat foods high in iron to quicken the healing process.

3. Milk, Yoghurt And Meat:

Protein is regarded as a macronutrient that helps in building worn out tissues. Protein from animal sources has been found to speed up the healing process because they are regarded as a complete protein as they contain all the essential amino acids needed for this process. These proteins can be combined with a healthy amount of carbs for a healthier meal.

4. Honey:

It is a super antimicrobial agent that can be used in wound care. One major problem that had reduced the use of honey in this part of the world is because original honey is rare to find. Burns are one of the most difficult problems to treat because this type of wound provides the perfect breeding and feeding ground for many organisms.

As such, burn wounds can easily become infected, and the infection often spreads rapidly into the bloodstream, which can kill the victim. This was reported by Dr. Williams, a medical researcher. He further stated that using honey to cover the face of the wounds will quicken the healing process.

Note: Asides from poor nutrition, wound healing can be a complicate process and it is usually influenced by several factors such as infection, age, sex hormones, stress, diabetes, medications, obesity, alcohol intake, and smoking.

Tags Honey, Leafy Vegetables, Meat, Milk, Turmeric, Yoghurt

Food & Body

Top Three (3) Fruits To Avoid While Pregnant

Post author By Oladipupo Abioye
Post date 26 October, 2015
No Comments on Top Three (3) Fruits To Avoid While Pregnant

Are you pregnant? This is a period to eat a lot of health fruits but there are a few fruits that you should avoid to keep you and your unborn child in good shape. Eat time you want to eat something, you must consider what consequence or effect will it be for your developing child.

Many women had had miscarriages without knowing it could be due to the fruits that they consume during the early state of pregnancy. In this short post, I will be sharing with you some of the fruits to avoid during pregnancy as they affect the overall makeup of your baby.

PAPAYA: Pregnant women should avoid eating papaya has it can lead to miscarriage or early labor. Unripe and semi-ripe papayas are rich in latex which leads touterine contractions. The blog further reported that it is believed that ripe papayas are good to eat during pregnancy as they are rich in vitamin C and nutrients which cures pregnancy problems like heartburn and constipation. Papaya mixed with honey and milk is an excellent tonic for pregnant woman during lactation. To be on the safer side, avoid having papayas.
PINEAPPLE: if you have a pregnancy complication, such as gestational diabetes, your health care provider may advise you to reduce the amount and type of fruit you can eat in order to keep your blood sugar at a healthy level. One of such fruit is pineapple as it could spike your blood sugar level beyond normal.
GRAPES: Grapes are good to consume any day, any time because of their high concentration of antioxidants. However, for pregnant women, there have been findings that showed that grapes causes build up of internal heat that disturbs the development of the growing baby.

Before you decide to adhere to any form of information, you are advised to speak with your health care provider. Do not miss any of your schedule with the Doctor and stick to the advise given to you for the wellbeing of your unborn child.

Tags Grapes, Pawpaw, Pineapple

Food & Body

Top Four (4) Foods With High Hidden Amount Of Sodium

Post author By Oladipupo Abioye
Post date 22 October, 2015
No Comments on Top Four (4) Foods With High Hidden Amount Of Sodium

There is no better time to discuss about the excessive consumption of salt in our societies than now. Many Nutritionist and other health professionals have been campaigning against high sodium content in our foods but yet, quite a high number of people are still embracing this ugly unhealthy habit leaving them at the edge of developing disease conditions ranging from high blood pressure and stroke to osteoporosis.

RECOMMENDED: Side Effects of Consuming Too Much Salt

On the other hand some people already know it’s best to stay clear of high-salt foods like spring rolls ad french fries, however, it is also critical for you to pay more attention on less obvious foods that are loaded with sodium.

Most Nigerians already consume more than the recommended daily intake of 2300mg per day based on added salt in our diets. So, you will be doing yourself grave harm by indulging in foods or snacks with high hidden amount of sodium. Let’s see some of the foods that made top of our list.

CANNED VEGETABLES:

Canned meat is usually seen as product with high sodium with serious attention not directed to canned veggies. Eating vegetable is definitely a healthy option but may manufacturers of canned vegetable have added higher amount of salt to help extend the shelf life of the product. The bottom line is to subscribe to eating fresh vegetable instead of canned ones.

BREAD:

Whole wheat bread is one food usually consumed particularly by health conscious people as it is high in fibre and provides lower calorie value. Having itemized this, it is important to check the labels of these bread brands to ascertain that the sodium level is less than 150mg per slice to avoid increasing your total daily sodium intake.

BREAKFAST CEREALS:

If you are a lover of the popular brand of breakfast cereals particularly the imported ones; then you stand a chance to have been funneling into your system high amount of sodium. I do agree that there is nothing better than a quick, easy to make breakfast but you must be careful with these hidden sodium amounts. With a common range of 150 to 300 mg of sodium per serving of some of these products, it will do you a lot of good to check the labels and ensure the sodium levels per serving is less than 150mg.

SPORT DRINKS:

A lot of my friends have turned sport drinks to soft drinks. They carelessly drink it even when they had not expended any serious energy like those who are in real sports.

Asides from the fact that these drinks contains high amount of sugar, they are also loaded with some sodium levels because the manufactures put into consideration the amount of sweat (loss of electrolyte too) loss during sporting activities and so created a drink that will replenish loss of electrolyte and fluid. My advise for you is that if you are thirty, please drink some water.

I do hope you find this helpful.

Tags Bread, Salt, Sodium, Sports Drink, Vegetables