Tag: Milk

Food And Snoring: Foods You Eat, That Make You Snore!

Post author By Ahmed Ogundimu
Post date 19 May, 2016
No Comments on Food And Snoring: Foods You Eat, That Make You Snore!

Can food contribute to snoring? Yes, there are some categories of food that contribute to snoring while you sleep. This is not to say only foods contribute to snoring; there are many factors which make people snore when they sleep. Some people even start snoring less than a minute into their sleep and you cannot but wonder why this is so.

It is very important to note that snoring could also be an indicator of how healthy your lifestyle is. For example, obesity and smoking have been shown to directly contribute to the problem of snoring. It is an established fact that smoking is not healthy, so is obesity.

Foods That Make One Fat Can Lead To Obesity & Snoring

We all know what contribute to obesity. Usually accumulation of excessive fat in your body tissues — at least if they are stored under the skin (more information here). In the past, we have talked about some foods that could contribute to getting fat.

This is one very obvious factor because as you might have noticed before, people that are overweight or obese usually tend to snore when they sleep.

ALSO SEE: How To Check If You Have Normal Weigh, Underweight or Obese

Like I have said before, don’t just read this and start saying it’s food that causes snoring. Sometimes, people that are neither overweight nor obese snore too. I’ve been accused of snoring too, especially on days I retired into bed very tired.

As we have always said in many of our articles, each individual is UNIQUE. What works for me, might not work for you and what causes my own snoring might not be what causes it for you. Articles like this are to point you in the directions to look.

Milk, Other Dairy Products Can Make You Snore!

I have always heard that drinking a warm glass of Milk before sleeping helps you get a sound sleep. However, the glass of milk may not make you sleep soundlessly.

In this article published some months ago, we discussed some foods that generate mucous and contribute to blocked nose. Milk has a lot of way in which it benefits the body but it comes with it’s own problems.

Milk makes your mucous thicker in the throat and by extension nose. The thicker mucus often results from consuming dairy restricts air passages, thereby intensifying your snoring problem.

Fatty Foods Eaten Late At Night

Consumption of fatty meals late into the night can make you snore when you sleep. Apart from the fact that these kind of foods will make you fat in the long term. For this reason including to stop snoring, it is important to avoid eating large meals close to bedtime.

We know some people’s way of life (especially work), dictates how, what and when they eat. If you come home late and have to eat before you go to bed, avoid these fatty foods. You can see this list of healthy food option you can eat at night before bed.

Certain fatty foods cause inflammation of the digestive linings and air passages that will contribute to snoring. This is very true for food that contain high fat content.

Conclusion of Foods That Contribute To Snoring

In animal studies published on UMM.edu , high-fat foods increase inflammation in the stomach lining. So, if you want to see if any of these factors (dairy products, fatty foods, etc.) are causing your snoring, here is what you can do to determine the cause.

You can remove each suspected contributing factor one after the other and see what happens when you remove each one from your meals.

Healthy lifestyle like avoiding smoking and exercising regularly can also help you overcome this condition. Exercise will help you lose a lot of weight too.

Soon, we will be publishing an article on food that can help you overcome snoring.

Tags Dairy Products, Fats, Milk, Sleep, Snoring

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 & Nutrition

You Think Skimmed Milk Is Healthier Than Whole Milk? Read This

Post author By Ahmed Ogundimu
Post date 13 November, 2015
No Comments on You Think Skimmed Milk Is Healthier Than Whole Milk? Read This

The publicity given to skim milk is really mind blowing as the product is gradually becoming viral. Some years ago, this purportedly healthy product was quite uncommon in this part of the world until the sudden marketing strategies that has brought it on our food shelves.

The question is; What is skim milk? According to wikipedia, skim milk is made when all the cream (also called milk fat) is removed from whole milk. Sometimes, only half the cream is removed, resulting in semi-skimmed milk instead. In other words skimmed milk is defatted whole milk.

Is Skim Milk Healthier Than Whole Milk?

In this period when there is so much noise about deleting fat from the diets of many people, a milk product with no fat or a reduced amount of fat became quite attractive to a lot of people seeking a healthy lifestyle. In fact, many hospitals and clinics have been marketing outfits for this product.

Technically, skim milk should be a healthy product based on the definition given above but – have you ever questioned how the fats are removed and what other ingredients are added to make the product more stable? Have you also questioned what happens to the availability of fat-soluble vitamins in the whole milk?

In my little understanding of food science and technology, I do know that in processing, once a constituent is removed, usually another one must be added to help the product. In the case of skim milk production, once the fat is removed, the product becomes tasteless and the manufacturer adds some amount of sugar to make it a bit sweeter which makes the sugar level in skim milk more than that in whole milk.

Vitamins You Are Missing On With Skim Milk

Another reason I have been careful about including skim milk in the diets of my patients is that it deprives them of fat-soluble vitamins which had been lost due to the removal of fats from the whole milk. These essential vitamins are vitamin A, D, E, and K. You should note that calcium absorption is enhanced by the availability of Vitamin D, but the Vitamin D is in the fat of the whole milk, so the removal of the cream makes the process of absorption of fats impossible.

According to Dr. Frank Lipman’s blog; he stated in one of his articles that because skim milk is a highly processed, “altered” food, it can leave you feeling unsatisfied and experiencing cravings for something more. Our bodies thrive on whole foods, the way they are found in nature. Eating a diet full of high-quality protein and healthy fats from whole foods can prevent the ups and downs and cravings that come from eating fat-free foods that are “missing something.

I do understand that the calorie value in skim milk is much lower than that in whole milk due to the loss of fat and this make it more attractive. However, in my own opinion, if you are supposed to reduce your calorie intake because of health reasons, it is better to choose whole milk with full nutrients while adhering to portion control than consume skim milk.

The fuss about a “NO FAT DIET” is a scam…….please, wake up. Fats should always be included in our diet but at a calculated amount.

Tags Milk, Skimmed Milk, Whole Milk

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

Foods That Cause Recurring Catarrh And Remedies

Post author By Ahmed Ogundimu
Post date 4 October, 2015
No Comments on Foods That Cause Recurring Catarrh And Remedies

Catarrh is an excessive build-up of thick phlegm or mucus in an airway or cavity of the body. The phlegm is not only found in the nasal cavity but also in the throat, ears or chest. They usually result in runny or stuffy nose and an irritating, persistent cough caused by excess mucus at the back of the throat. They do cause some discomfort.

Catarrh usually comes with illnesses and conditions such as cold and such infections as flu. I know people (including some friends), that keep having catarrh every day, but without any other illness or cold. We kept wondering before now, why their catarrh won’t just go but now we know. Some foods could be responsible for that catarrh that keeps coming back.

What Normally Causes Catarrh? Can Food Cause It?

It should be noted that catarrh is not a condition itself, but a symptom of other conditions, telling you that something is wrong in the body. It is a reaction to irritations or infections by the immune system. The immune system helps to put up a defense against these irritations and infections.

Have you ever noticed how people get catarrh after being exposed to dust? Well, the dust causes irritations and there is the release of molecules called inflammatory mediators which cause the mucous membranes to swell and produce mucous.

There are other conditions that can bring about the production of mucous and blockage of the nasal cavity or production of phlegm in the throat. Surprisingly, food brings about this condition too and eating the food often keeps people wondering why they keep having catarrh.

Here are some foods that can cause your recurring catarrh…

Foods That Keep Bringing Your Catarrh Back

If you are so sure that your catarrh is not as a result of illnesses (conditions) or form of infection and that you have not exposed yourself to irritation sources such as dust, then your recurring catarrh could be a result of some foods causing irritations and causing the body to produce mucous which blocks your nose and irritates your throat.

Cold Water or Iced Foods

If you are someone that takes cold water every day or like going out taking very chilled drinks with friends, it could be the source of your catarrh. Cold drinks and some iced foods such as iced creams, cold beverage drinks, and beers, etc., can cause these irritations we have been talking about in some people.

This will definitely cause the development of catarrh in such people who get irritated by it. You may want to try and be observant of yourself to confirm this claim.

Milk and Milk Products (Dairy)

Dairy products are renowned for their mucous-forming ability i.e. they cause the formation of mucous in some people.

Like has been said above, all you need to do is to be observant anytime you consume this food. Common dairy products include milk, yoghurt, cheese, and butter, but butter has not been implicated in this condition. Therefore, you can still consume butter in considerable amounts.

When you need to eat food, just check the composition and verify that it does not contain too much milk. Iced cream, for example, is also made from milk. Make sure of the composition of your food before you consume them. It helps!

Wheat and Wheat Products

We consume a lot of pastries in many parts of the world and many of them are made from wheat flour. Wheat is present in bread, pasta, biscuits, cakes and all kinds of breakfast cereals that we consume (often with milk which is another culprit).

Try avoiding these foods for some period to see if your catarrh relieves you or totally disappears. This will help you pinpoint which foods or groups of foods that cause your recurring catarrh. Instead of just using catarrh drugs every time, this could help find a lasting solution.

How Do You Clear This Catarrh When You Have It?

Okay, since this catarrh is not caused by an infection but simply some irritants, you don’t really need any type of medications to clear your catarrh. First of all, get rid of that food that you have found to be culpable from your diet and use this simple home remedy.

At some point, you would have done this to get rid of your catarrh; get a bowl and pour some hot water into it. Bend your head over to the bowl and cover your head with a towel over the bowl and inhale the steam that comes out. This will clear your catarrh and make them easily flushed out of the nose or throat.

Tags Catarrh, Dairy Products, Milk, Wheat

Food & Body

What Are The Foods That Trigger Pimples & Acne?

Post author By Ahmed Ogundimu
Post date 2 June, 2015
4 Comments on What Are The Foods That Trigger Pimples & Acne?

A lot of people battle with pimples and acne during and shortly after puberty while some others experience it throughout the teenage years. Throughout these periods of my life, I did not have pimples and acne anywhere on my face and body. I always pride myself on that because my face was always clear and clean. I thought this would continue like that forever but I was wrong – I would later have my own fair share of pimples later on.

What Are Pimples And Acne? Any Differences?

One of our readers sent a message to ask if the food they eat could cause acne or pimples and we will try to address that. Many people don’t even know the differences between pimples and acne. Someone even told me that pimples show on black peoples’ skin while acne only comes out on white peoples’ skin. I will try as much as possible not to dwell too much on these because the purpose of this post is how some foods lead to the onset of acne and pimples on our skin. Yes, food can trigger pimples.

Acne is the inflammation of the skin in which the secreted sebum gets collected in the pores of the skin and remains there. This causes the skin to swell up in the form of a breakout. Acne will most likely have a white head (not in every case) and is painful to touch. If it is a pimple, it would normally not be painful unless it is too severe.

So, What Are Those Foods That Can Set Off Pimples?

To continue with my story, I started seeing pimples and acne on my skin in my early twenties and it lasted into mid-twenties. It was a nightmare because when they finally go, they turn into
black scars (not just spots). I started to think of the possible causes and one day I thought of my diet – could it be my eating habit?

What I have always read about foods as they affect your skin was that they do not cause pimples and acne. Something just told me to do a little more digging and I found out that several other pieces of research were already published telling us that there could be a relationship between diet and acne.

The truth of the matter, however, is that there has not been a definite link between any food (dairy especially) and acne, but there are several theories about it.

In an article written for a medical journal in 2008, F. William Danby, MD, a skin expert who promotes the possible dairy-acne connection, explained how the two may be related. Milk contains components related to the hormone testosterone that may stimulate oil glands in the skin, setting the stage for acne.

So, could we say Milk can cause acne? Some would say yes and some would say no, but I have read reports of people who saw all their pimples and acne disappear after stopping the consumption of Milk. The same happened to me too.

Some researchers have suggested that an imbalance in the level of insulin in the body may play a role in the onset of acne. They explain that some foods make your blood sugar quickly soar. This triggers your body to make a burst of the hormone insulin to help your cells absorb the sugar.

ADVICE: What I would advise is to monitor your own skin and diet and note what foods you are eating when the acne breakouts start coming out. This is because these foods (Milk, Chocolate, Cheese, etc.), that people are implicating in the development of acne have health benefits. When you monitor yourself and you notice that milk causes acne for you, you can try to cut down on it and see if you still have acne.

I would not ask you to stop consuming milk. Never! Milk is highly nutritious – containing several vitamins and minerals that are useful for the body. I would not be pointing fingers to any food. What you should do is to observe and adjust.

ALSO SEE: Differences Between Skimmed Milk and Full Cream Milk

Tags Acne, Chocolate, Milk, Pimples

Knowledgebase

Top 5 Foods That Make You Fart Asides Beans

Post author By Oladipupo Abioye
Post date 2 June, 2015
8 Comments on Top 5 Foods That Make You Fart Asides Beans

At exactly 8:50am on Saturdays morning, I was still lying in bed. Not too long from that time, I heard a loud sound from my brother’s room – “Poooooooouu”. I had to rush to know what exactly happened because it was repeatedly loud. On getting there, he gave another loud “Poooouuuu”. It was then I knew my big brother was farting. Then I couldn’t but burst into laughter. I have been with him over the weekend and he had not consumed beans – since beans are popularly seen as the food that causes flatulence. But far from it, his farting was as a result of other foods he ate.

When he woke up, he did not waste time to ask me – “What is the cause of my farting? I have not been indulging in beans, yet I have been farting; he said. I replied him in pidgin – “Bros, No be only beans dey make person fart ooo” It was then I thought it will be necessary to share an article on flatulence on this page. Let’s quickly see what causes flatulence.

What is flatulence?

This is commonly known as farting. It is the exit of gas through the anal. When someone farts, it could bring about a level of laughter or complete embarrassment depending on the type of gathering you find yourself. Hey! Do not get caught up in any mess.

What Causes Flatulence?

Flatulence is usually caused due to incomplete digestion process followed by fermentation. Food substances that are not absorbed in the human intestines accumulate in the colon, where they are fermented by bacteria, leading to production of gas. The smell of the gas depends on the foods eaten and the types of bacteria that acted on it while the sound is as a result of the outward forceful flow of air that makes anal tissues vibrate. Some people also lack specific enzymes needed to break down certain foods, which then get acted upon by bacteria and create gas. You can read more on the article on how to cook beans so that you don’t fart after eating them.

So, What Are The Top Five Other Foods That Cause Flatulence In People?

Before sharing the list of the foods, it is important to let you know that – what causes flatulence in Mr. A may be completely different from that of Mr. B. It is sometimes based on body types and intestinal structure of each individual. At the end of this article do no forget to share the food(s) that you have identified which make you fart.

Click on pages 2, 3, 4… below to go to pages containing the list of foods;

Tags Beans, Cabbage, Chocolate, Eggs, Flatulence, Milk, Wheat

Food & Body Food & Nutrition

Skimmed vs Full Cream Milk: Which Is Good For Your Health?

Post author By Ahmed Ogundimu
Post date 18 May, 2015
1 Comment on Skimmed vs Full Cream Milk: Which Is Good For Your Health?

Some days back, I wrote an article explaining the differences between skimmed milk and full cream milk or what some prefer to call whole milk. The major difference between them, I said, is the amount of fat that is present in them – skim or skimmed milk has had all or most of its fat removed while whole milk has all the fat that should be present in milk. This is where I am going to start the discussion for today.

Which is better: Skimmed Milk or Whole Milk?

I have read publications in which some experts proposed that people who are looking to shed weight should stay away from full cream milk. They said the fat that is present in the milk will only contribute to addition of more calories to the body and since skimmed milk contain almost the same amount of nutrients other than the fat that has been removed, they should go for that. This may only be true in an absolute sense.

First of all, I would like to say that there are Vitamins that are present in the fat that was removed. These vitamins – A, D, E and K, are called the fat-soluble vitamins. They are so called because they are dissolved in the fat and they are only present when the fat is present. So, this could count as a thumb down for skimmed milk.

Secondly, reduced-fat milk and other drinks may not be as filling as those containing fat, so consumers may end up compensating for the lack of calories and eating or drinking more. Often, they tend to compensate with carbs that add more calories than the full cream milk would have added.

Dr. David Ludwig, director of the New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center at Boston Children’s Hospital said to Time’s Healthland, “We are not arguing milk should be abandoned. For kids who are consuming diets that are high in calories and low in nutrients, milk can provide lots of needed nutrients — like calcium. Somehow this low-fat milk has become so entrenched in the nutritional psyche, it persists despite the absence of evidence. To the contrary, the evidence that now exists suggests an adverse effect of reduced-fat milk.”

While you have also been probably always been informed to drink reduced-fat milk because of the calories, evidence from the majority of recent scientific studies show that drinking whole milk actually improves cholesterol levels, just not as much as drinking skim does.

Let me also give this to the men reading this post; women can also tell their boyfriends or husbands about this. If you like to build your muscle, whole milk may be your best choice: Scientists at the University of Texas medical branch in Galveston found that drinking whole milk after lifting weights boosted muscle protein synthesis—an indicator of muscle growth—2.8 times more than drinking skim did.

I believe those that are looking to reduce their weight may take skimmed milk, only if they can resist the temptations that come after as discussed above. Since it doesn’t give the filling effect that whole milk gives, you may be tempted to eat foods that will eventually add more calories to your body. Also, the fat-soluble vitamins may never be available to you if you keep avoiding fat. You get them in fatty foods, so why not take the ones in milk fat that has been shown to be more beneficial to the body? Some of these issues were addressed in one of our articles that talked about why no fat, no fruits, one meal a day diet is not appropriate for weight loss.

You know what my own recommendation is? Take whole milk.

Tags Milk

Food & Nutrition Knowledgebase

Differences Between Full Cream Milk And Skimmed Milk

Post author By Ahmed Ogundimu
Post date 12 May, 2015
No Comments on Differences Between Full Cream Milk And Skimmed Milk

When many of us go to the market or grocery stores to buy our Milk, we buy based on the brands that we like and do not take nutrition into consideration most times. Many of us have the impression that milk is milk and do not know that different manufacturers pack different types of milk for sale. Maybe if we understand that the different milks are not the same in composition and hence have different effect on our health, you would consider looking at that milk container when next you hit the grocery store.

If you have ever bothered to check the containers/labels of milk, I am sure you would have come across terms such as skim or skimmed milk and full cream milk or simply cream milk. They mean different thing and thus have slightly different taste (if you can sense that) and different health benefits.

The Differences Between Skimmed Milk & Full Cream Milk

Okay, let me start by giving a short description of milk. It is a whitish nutritious liquid secreted by the mammary gland of mammals and has a lot of health benefits. All mammals produce milk; however, the most common milk sold commercially is that of the cow. In some parts of the world, milk from sheep and goats are consumed and sold.

Full Cream Milk vs Skimmed Milk

1. Major Difference Between Skimmed Milk & Cream Milk

The full cream milk, also known as whole milk is the milk in the form we get them from animals while skimmed milk is whole milk from dairy cows that has had most of or all of its fat removed. So, if you are looking to burn down fat, you may not want to add to it by consuming more of whole milk.

ALSO SEE: Skimmed vs Full Cream Milk: Which Is Good (Better) For Your Health?

2. Saturated Fat Contained In Skimmed Milk and Cream Milk

A typical full cream milk would normally contain around 5 grammes of saturated fat per one-cup serving. This is 20 percent of the daily limit. Now consider that you may also eat other fatty foods such as cheese, butter, coconut oil and other foods rich in saturated fat in a single day. This makes it easy for you to overshoot 25 grams per day.

3. Nutritional Composition of roughly 236ml serving of milk

Full cream milk;

Protein: 7.9 g
Carbohydrates: 11 g
Calcium: 276.1 mg
Potassium: 349 mg
Cholesterol: 24 mg
Sodium: 98 mg

Same volume of skim milk:

Protein: 8.7 g
Carbohydrates: 12.3 g
Calcium: 349 mg
Potassium: 419 mg
Cholesterol: 5 mg
Sodium: 130 mg

4. Vitamin Composition of the 2 Milks

Some people prefer to take skimmed milk because it does not contain fat but what they don’t know is that, unlike full cream milk which contains both water soluble and fat soluble vitamins, skimmed milk lacks the fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K). This is because the Vitamins have been skimmed alongside with the fat during the production process. It’s simple, they are only soluble in fat, so they are dissolved in the fat. What happens when the fat is removed? The vitamins are removed too.

In conclusion, what you want from milk determines the type of milk that you choose when next you go shopping for milk. By the way, cream milk tastes better than skimmed milk. #JustSaying

ALSO SEE: Here Are The Brands of Yoghurt You Must Stop Buying

Tags Milk