Health , acne treatments and weight loss

Low-carb Diets are increasing in popularity among many, specially amongst those who are interested in losing weight and maintaining a healthy diet. However, not all understand the low-carbohydrate diet and different companies are exploiting this idea to attract more customers, even if their product does not produce the same results as any effective low-carb diet. This article while help clear those ambiguity that is clouding low-carb diet.

Low-carb Diet

In simple definition, low-carb diet promotes a healthy body and helps lose weight by limiting the intake of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates such as white flour products, refined grains and products, white rice, starchy fruits and vegetables and sugar based products. There are many kinds of low-carb diet plans in the market and each of them has different restrictions on the amount and types of carbohydrates as well as different guidelines in keeping the body healthy and promoting weight loss.

Examples of Low-carb Diet

There are different kinds of low-carb diet a few examples are the Atkins diet which is a diet that sustains ketogenesis in losing weight. The Dr. Whitaker diet that follows a high protein and low-carb diet coupled with regular exercise. The New York diet which is a strict low-carb diet that eliminates bread, sugar, alcohol, coffee, dairy and fruit products. These 3 diets are the few examples of the many kinds of low-carb diet plans that offer the same results – weight loss and healthy body.

Typical Diet Menu

Almost all low-carb diet believes in the elimination of carbohydrates in a person’s regular diet. They only focus on poultry, eggs, fish, meat and their products as well as whole grains and non- starchy fruits and vegetables. Other low-carb diets may exclude, limit or regulate the intake of grains, breads, beans, pastas and sweets.

The Results

True, that some people experience weight loss even if it is just at the start of the diet plan. Low-carb diets help lose the water weight of a person because sometimes it has a diuretic effect. Since the low-carb diet is high in protein and fat which takes more time to digest, a person may have a longer duration of feeling full and satisfied. A low-carb diet limits the food a person may eat so it may result in fewer calories in the person’s body. As long as the person choose foods that have polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, the diet will lower the cholesterol level.

The Possible Risks

Low-carb diets may sound promising and effective; however, it carries possible risk as well. If the person is not careful in what he or she eats; his or her diet may consist of cholesterol rich food products and saturated fats. These may cause certain ailments like heart disease and cancer. If the person is limiting his or her intake of whole grain as well as fruits and vegetables, then the person has not enough fiber in his or her digestive system. Low fiber may lead to constipation and problems in the gastrointestinal tract.

Ketosis which is common among low-carb diet may also cause certain problems such as weakness, dehydration, dizziness, nausea and being irritable. It can also lead to certain malfunction and problems to some internal organs as well.

Low-carb diets may be proven effective in losing weight and keeping the body healthy and fit to some. But it can not be denied that it has its fair share of risk as well. Before considering low-carb diet, one has to properly research different low-carb diet plans. Understand both advantages and disadvantages. After all of that, choosing the perfect low-carb diet will be easy.

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Acne is a common condition and there are many myths surrounding the causes and treatments of this condition including:

• Diet – diet doesn’t affect acne in the way most people think and sugary, greasy foods will not actually trigger acne flare ups.  Instead meat and dairy products have been linked to acne as it is thought the elevated hormone levels in these products can affect our own hormone levels through ingestion, causing higher levels of those hormones that trigger sebum overproduction leading to blocked pores and spots.
• Exercise – exercise does not cause acne in itself, but you must make sure you shower and change you clothes after exercising as sweat and dirt can build up on the skin causing blocked pores.
• Poor Hygiene – acne is not directly caused by poor hygienic, but this can contribute to some of the physical and psychological symptoms, so it is important to gently cleanse affected areas once or twice a day and wash your hair and the rest of your body regularly.  Over washing can actually exacerbate the symptoms of acne by causing dryness and skin irritation, so it is important to strike a balance in your hygiene regime.
• Exfoliation – contrary to popular belief exfoliating skin affected by acne will not help to lessen or prevent more spots.  Although exfoliating can help to open blocked pores on regular skin, acne spots are infected with p.acnes bacteria which can actually be spread across the skin by exfoliating methods.  This can also be too harsh a treatment for already sensitive skin and cause irritation, redness and inflammation.
• Acne should be left to heal naturally – acne can cause significant scarring, so if you are suffering from a break out it is important to take steps to treat the condition, to lessen the symptoms and severity of the spots and lesions.  This is especially important if you are suffering from one of the more serious acne conditions such as acne conglobata, which if left untreated can develop into severe skin infections and deep tissue scarring.

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Osteoporosis means porous bones. It’s estimated that osteoporosis affects 3 million people in the UK. In the US it affects 25 million people and half of all women over 45. Each year there are over 230,000 fractures as a result of the condition.

Factors which increase the risk of osteoporosis include:

-         Heavy drinking deprives the body of vital nutrients especially calcium and vitamin D. It also interferes with normal healthy bone turnover.

-         Smoking also depletes vitamins and minerals and can lead to an earlier menopause and breakdown of oestrogen.

-         A lack of oestrogen for women and testosterone for men.

-         Early menopause – before the age of 45.

-         Missing periods for over six months as a result of over-dieting or excessive exercise.

-         Family history of the disease. Malabsorption of nutrients-through conditions like coeliac disease or Crohn’s disease.

-         Studies show a lack of calcium in the diet has a significant effect on bone loss in women. If the body does not receive enough calcium, it will begin to take it from the bones.

-         It is important to make sure your diet supplies enough calcium throughout your life, ideally from childhood, long before problems like osteoporosis become apparent.

What you can do to help

-         Eat a healthy well balanced diet, with a range of foods from each of the different food groups, including protein, vitamins and minerals. Bone mineral loss begins long before there are any outward signs.

-         Boost calcium and vitamin D levels and the natural production of hormones through diet. Supplements of calcium, vitamin D and bisphosphonates (as prescribed by a GP) may also help bone density and reduce the likelihood of fractures.

-         Make sure you take regular exercise. Weight-bearing exercise, walking, tennis and yoga are all particularly helpful.

The skeleton takes just two years to completely renew itself in childhood. An adult skeleton takes between seven and ten years. Eating an orange with your meal means you will absorb more calcium, iron, minerals and other vitamins from your food.

Bodybuilding-calcium

Calcium plays a vital role in the formation of bones and their maintenance. The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition which sets recommended daily levels for nutrient consumption advises that calcium intake should be over 700mg daily for an adult. However, many scientists think this should be higher and set at an optimum level of around 1000mg and as much as 1200mg during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Ideally, for healthily strong bones and to guard against osteoporosis later in life, you should eat a calcium-rich diet from childhood.

It is worth remembering that for calcium to be properly absorbed, your body also needs vitamin D. Obviously if you play a sport outdoors or take regular walks, sunlight will help you to make your own vitamin D. The best food source of the vitamin is oily fish.

Useful facts

-         Dairy products contain the most easily absorbed calcium, although there is very little in either butter or cream.

-         Some common foods can radically reduce calcium absorption. These include wholegrain cereals, bran and some nuts and pulses which contain phytic acid (a naturally-occurring compound found in cereals and legumes). This means that a 250ml (8fl oz) serving of milk on your wholegrain breakfast cereal will supply a tiny fraction of the calcium that the same serving would provide if drunk as a plain glass of milk at a different time of day.

-         The oxalic acid in vegetables like spinach and some greens can also reduce calcium absorption.

-         Coca-cola and other fizzy drinks contain phosphoric acid which increases the amount of calcium your body loses.

Good food sources of calcium include:

Dairy products, bony fish (especially sardines and whitebait), tofu, sesame seeds, almonds, dried figs, watercress, parsley and okra.

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