The Importance of Choosing Food to Eat

When there are lots of foods in a table for you to eat. You have choice between what tastes good and what is good for you, which will you choose?

In the past few posts, I really emphasize the importance of making a choice in what kind of food to it. As we all know, processed, oily and sweet foods are so tasty compared to the healthy ones. Will you choose boiled sweet potato over a slice of cake or carrot sticks (raw carrots shaped like french fries) over french fries?

If you love your health and your family health, why not start preparing simple yet healthy meals for your family than tasty ones? It’s just a matter of training your taste buds to like healthy foods.

Tips to Those Who Are Suffering From Mouth Sore

I have simple tips to those who are suffering from mouth sore. It is not easy to suffer a mouth sore. I met a patient months ago who lose weight because of mouth sore. She takes in limited amount of food only, and most of it are liquid just for her to have something for her stomach not to be sore as well. If a centimeter wide of mouth sore made me miserable for few days, how much more for her who got not just one but four mouth sores. I meet the said lady at the laboratory for a blood examination. Unfortunately, I have not seen her after that for me to ask  about her doctor’s suggestions and the medications her doctor prescribe for her problem.

Here are my simple tips to those who are suffering from mouth sore for them not to starve themselves:

Eating food at moderate temperature is not irritating compared to taking them at extreme temperature (hot or cold). So, eat food at room temperature.

Acidic foods like pineapple and grapefruit may cause a burning sensation to your mouth. So, better choose mild food and drinks than the acidic one.

Hardened foods like cookies does not just take time for you to chew but may come in contact to your mouth sore as well that may lead to much more pain. So, better avoid hardened foods or dunk them in soup or milk to be softer.

Choose easy to swallow foods while you are suffering from mouth sores. Never starve yourself because of mouth sore.

And, if will not heal after few days of treating using home remedies better consult it to your family doctor.

Why We Consider Junk Food an Unhealthy Food

“Why we consider junk food an unhealthy food and why it is called junk Aunt Midas?” my niece asked me yesterday afternoon while we are buying some stuff at the supermarket. I simply answered her that junk foods are bad foods especially those that are preserved, they are not good for the body. Junk food is an unhealthy food, not fit for eating. But she insisted that there are healthy junk foods too because of some nutritional value you could find on its packs that is why eating junk foods is fine. She made me smile that time, yes, all foods have some value but it does not mean that it has a little nutritional value you could categorize it as healthy or nutritious food. I explained to her that junk foods effects, could not be seen immediately, that it takes time before she could see its bad effects.

Why we categorize junk foods as unhealthy foods? Not just because of its low nutritional value that it was called unhealthy food but because of junk foods effects, the hazards it could cause to one’s health. Junk foods are usually high in fats. As we could see on the back label of a junk food, the fats they mostly use are hydrogenated oils, the common term for trans fatty acids or trans fats (could cause cancer). Manufacturers hydrogenate the healthy unsaturated fats so that it will last long. Unfortunately, hydrogenation causes the healthy unsaturated fats to become unhealthy saturated fats which could result to clogged arteries and heart problems. That is just one reason why eating junk foods is not advisable.

And what are some of the junk food effects why junk foods were called an unhealthy foods? High level of salt in a junk food could cause hypertension and, or kidney problems because of its sodium content. If it is a sweet junk food, too much sugar could not only ruin the teeth but could cause obesity and diabetes in the long run. Other junk foods uses aspartame or saccharin as sweetener. These  sweeteners has been linked with other health problems including certain cancers in laboratory animals. Have you seen monosodium glutamate (MSG) listed on the junk food content? This additive is flavor enhancer, as we all know it has bad reputation and been controversial that it could cause cancer. Antioxidants such as Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and  Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) that are widely use in oils of junk food has been linked with certain cancers in laboratory animals too. Now, tell me, is eating junk foods good for the health? Is there such thing as healthy junk foods or you will consider junk foods now as a group of bad foods? Yes, junk food may contain low nutritional value but junk foods effects are so hazardous to ones health.

Television advertising, greatly affects child’s desire for food, especially on unhealthy foods like junk food. Relatives and friends that gives food to the children is another great factor that influences the child’s choice of food. Parents, just bear in mind that your influence in choosing the right food for your kids is still the greatest influence of all. Though it is a little bit difficult to have complete control over what your children are taking in (especially when they are with friends or relatives) but you can and should control the foods that are available at your home. If junk food or any high sugar, high fat, high salt, low nutrient and preserved foods are not available at your home, the child would be force to eat the nutritious food available. So, the best thing is do not keep foods that you do not want your child to consume, those you consider unhealthy foods for your family like junk food.

The Importance of Healthy Lifestyle

How important is healthy lifestyle to your health? I t is very much important. Following a healthy lifestyle will lead you away from various health problems.

I am working in a government hospital Most of our patients are people who has no capacity to pay for their hospitalization and buy their needs. It is really a nice experience working in such environment because you will really feel that you have been given a chance of helping the needy.

What makes me sad in my work is the fact that most of the patients I encountered have failed to follow a healthy lifestyle. No, status in life does not matter, it is not necessary to have lots of money to have time for an exercise, to have enough rest and a good night sleep. They have enough space on their backyards to plant  some fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes so they cannot make money a reason why they prefer to eat preserved foods than plant foods. It is as if for them fruits and other healthy foods are just for the rich people.

If you trace what really cause their illness it usually ends up to wrong choice of food, vices like alcoholism and tobacco smoking and unclean surroundings. No, I do not have an authority to tell them directly to change their lifestyle, to choose a healthy lifestyle while I’m on duty. I am a Medical Technologist, working in the laboratory and cannot function as health advocate if I am on duty. We have doctors who will cater and are responsible in educating their respective patients about healthy lifestyle.

Why it should always end up to this? Where are the Health Workers that are assigned on there areas to tell them about living healthy? Do they exist? Did they functioned well? Why is it most of our patient’s health problems (like anemia, parasitism, hypertension (due to love of fatty and salty foods), cholesterolenemia, acquired diabetes, diarrhea and alcohol related health problems, etc.) are preventable by healthy lifestyle? When will people realize the real importance of following a healthy lifestyle?

Good Nutrition And Your Health

vegetables

Good nutrition is no longer a secret. Through media we are juiced up with information about good nutrition. Yet, in spite of the limelight of nutrition, lots of us do not eat a nutrient-rich diet. A healthy diet is composed of proper amounts of carbohydrates, protein and fats from proper sources. It is low in sugar, salt and fat; as much as possible caffeine is avoided and no alcohol.

Nowadays, many of us are taking lots of fats, salt and sugar compared to what our body is needing. Most of it are hidden in processed foods. When you eliminate or greatly reduce processed foods from your diet, it will produce a greatest impact to your health. Processed foods are foods we usually buy that are sweetened, fried, ground, preserved, hydrogenated or bleached. These foods that are refined or treated and are so far withdrawn from their natural state.

For us to know what is the right food to eat to attain good nutrition, it is a general guideline that to eat foods that are closest to their natural state as possible, not in can or with cream and sauce poured over them or made up of bleached flours or mixed up with ready to use flavoring mix.

Greater energy, restful sleep, fewer digestive problems, lower body fats, better looking skin and hair are just some of the benefits you can get from eating a nutrient-rich diet. Just start putting the right food in your stomach and it will start to show good things on the outside.