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Archive for the ‘Health News’ Category

Have you ever had that fun and colorful gelatin snack called Jell-O? It is fruity and low calorie so you can eat is as a dessert with whipped cream and not hit a blood sugar spike. But vegetarians who use gelatin alone or in recipes need an alternative to make it happen.

You may not know it but gelatin is composed mostly of bone – animal bone to be exact. There are other animal parts in the ground powder as well. Suffice it to say, anyone who calls themselves a vegetarian or vegan won’t use it.

You might say that they can just avoid eating gelatin for dessert, but gelatin is used in a variety of other ways and recipes. For one, gelatin is a substance that “sets up” in foods. It forms a gel as it cools down from a high temperature. It is that gel that can be used for fruit compote, marmalades, jellies, cheesecakes, mousses and other desserts. For vegetarians, there are a few non-animal sources that are available.

* Guar Gum – You may have heard of this one as an additive in some foods. It is a thickener that can be used to replace gelatin. You can find it in ice cream and pudding. It comes from the guar plant, native to Pakistan. Guar gum binds with water easily, so that your recipes won’t fall out of solution later leaving you with a mess.

* Agar Agar – It’s so good they had to name it twice. This has the same effect as gelatin. It comes from seaweed and has no flavor in and of itself, but takes on the flavors of the dish it is used in. You can buy it as flakes, bars or powder. If it is a bar, grind it up first before cooking it. When you use it to create a gelatin mold, be careful if you add fruit. Acidity makes it fall apart. To offset that, add more agar agar to the mixture so it sets properly in your recipe.

* Kosher gelatin – Like other kosher foods, it is prepared a certain way according to Jewish tradition. This gelatin contains no animal products.

* Carrageen – Also a product of seaweed, it is found mostly in Europe. The seaweed is dried so you will have to soak it in water to return it to its shape. Then, boil it with the liquid you want to set and remove the carrageen before the gel starts to get stiff.

* Xanthan gum – This comes from a corn extract. It is a thickening agent that is popular in puddings.

These products can be found at whole foods stores and health food stores. Only specialty supermarkets may carry the more common ones. Follow package instructions to get the right consistency for your gelatin substitute.

Everyone is trying to get back to health. Some people are doing it without meat. If you are considering the life of a vegan, here is some information to help you make an informed decision.

To many, not eating meat is too horrible to be believed. But, some people have sworn off meat for their health and the environment. Vegans are not just into their health, but also refuse to use products that come from animals at all. This can severely limit the types of foods that they can eat.

When you are on a plant-based food diet, it is important to be conscious of what you are eating and how many nutrients are you are ingesting on a daily basis.

Are you considering veganism? Here are a few pros and cons.
Pros

Too many of us worldwide are overweight. Part of the reason is consuming too many fats in various forms. While animal meat is rich in protein, it is also rich in saturated fats which can clog arteries and lead to other diseases.

One good thing to remember: Protein doesn’t just come from animal sources. There are plant sources that can provide protein without all the fat. These include soy, plant sterols and nuts and legumes.

It has been shown that vegans who monitor their diet can reap the benefits of the meatless diet. They tend to have lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels and healthier bodies. They are thinner than others but not painfully so or due to an eating disorder. They are choosing healthier sources of protein.

By eating more fruits and vegetables, some of which are classified as super foods, they increase their intake of many nutrients over people who eat meat. Eating cruciferous veggies like broccoli can decrease your chance of cancer and heart disease.

Cons

At first glance, this seems like the perfect diet. But, everything has a few downsides to consider. For one, are vegans getting enough protein? Unless they carefully monitor what they eat, it is possible to come in below the mark. Protein is needed for strong muscle development and overall cellular function. When it is lacking, your body is not as strong as it can be.

Many vegans also eliminate dairy products and eggs from their diet. Eggs are a great source of protein that lowers food cravings. Dairy is also an excellent source of calcium. As we age, the body needs more and more calcium to build and maintain strong bones. When the body lacks calcium, it can rob it from the bones leading to osteoporosis and bone fractures.

Iron is an important mineral for women especially. It helps to build your blood and maintain your energy, especially when menstruating. Iron is found in significant quantities in eggs and meat. Vegans are at risk for iron deficiency.

It is a small gland but one that plays a big role in the health of your body. We are talking about the thyroid. If this seemingly insignificant gland gets out of whack, it can affect the entire body.

Anatomy of a thyroid

This butterfly-shaped gland can be found in the lower part of your neck. The two “wings” fold around your windpipe. The thyroid is responsible for secreting hormones: T3 (trio-iodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine) into the bloodstream. These substances deliver energy to the cells of the body.

Here is how the system works. The thyroid helps regulate your metabolism along with the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus. When the body needs more energy, a chain reaction is touched off.

The hypothalamus is first to respond. It releases TRH (thyrotrophin releasing hormone). This then signals the pituitary to produce TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone). The message it sends to the thyroid is to produce T4. This hormone hangs around in the bloodstream until it is needed. T4 doesn’t have a direct job in the cycle except to be converted to T3 which produces the energy the body needs.

When T3 is needed, the T4 is converted. It then increases the metabolic rate throughout the body cells. It initiates the fight-or-flight response in the body (heart rate increases; fats are broken down for energy consumption). The entire body starts producing energy.

The thyroid has two jobs normally. It helps enzymes needed by the cells to pass through the cell membranes. Inside the cell, it helps the mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cell) to produce energy.

Thyroid diseases

The thyroid, like other glands and organs, can have problems. The two that most people are familiar with are hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. The latter is often blamed for weight gain or the inability to lose weight. Actually not as many people as claim to have a thyroid condition at the heart of that problem, but some do.

During hypothyroidism, the thyroid is not producing enough energy for the body. This can lead to weight gain, tiredness, depression, dry skin and dry nails. It can be due to a lack of sufficient iodine in the system. Another reason could be Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune disease where the body begins producing antibodies against the thyroid causing it to slow down hormone production.

Hyperthyroidism can have the opposite effect. It can be linked to overactive nodules within the thyroid, inflammation of the thyroid or an autoimmune disease called Graves’ disease. In any case, the thyroid shoots into overdrive and produces more hormone than the body needs. That can lead to weight loss, muscle weakness, sleeplessness and other symptoms.

Thyroid diseases like these two affect men and women, but mostly women. If you suspect that you may have a problem with your thyroid based on the symptoms listed above, see a doctor for further testing.