SPICE RACK REMEDIES

 Have you ever considered your spice rack as a medicine cabinet? As strange as that may sound, it is a good idea. To enlighten us all, I have decided to do a 'spice rack remedies' post from time to time. If you have taking medications, as many do, try using more spices to help with your health situations. Below are the first two I will post.

• Ginger - Ginger relieves inflammation associated with arthritic conditions, soothes nausea and indigestion, and helps fight colds and flu. I can personally say I have used ginger for years and it has helped my inflammation and stomach issues. According to Andrew Weil, MD, a graduate of Harvard Medical School and a leading proponent of Natural Healing, ginger can reduce joint stiffness and swelling as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. One possible risk is that excessive use by pregnant women may cause miscarriage and/or heartburn.
• Caraway - Aids digestion. Also acts as an antispasmodic which can be helpful in treating menstrual cramps. No known risks.

These are just brief points on these spices. You can look them up online for more details if you are interested in a particular one.

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HOW MUCH WATER DO YOU NEED A DAY?

What we eat/drink does have an effect on our brains. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has suggested that wise food and beverage choices can fuel our brains to work better, sharpen our memory, improve our concentration and may help to prevent dementia and Alzheimer's disease. And it doesn't take complicated or expenses items to do so. One of the simple things recommended by Nutritionist Amanda Albers is to follow the simple 8x8 rule. That is to drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. This one simple thing is an easy way to improve our health and our minds.

Note: There are other doctors and nutritionists who recommend 6 or 7 8-ounce glasses a day. Either way, are you drinking enough water? That's water, not sodas, etc.

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE

We all know antibiotics very often save our lives. Antibiotics destroy nasty bacteria that causes serious infections, including strep, pneumonia, etc. Antibiotics, however, are not effective on viruses.

Some may ask "What is antibiotic resistance?" This occurs when infection-causing bacteria no longer respond to antibiotics. A few diseases we know are already becoming antibiotic resistant. MRSA and tuberculosis are some examples. More than 35,000 persons in the United States die annually due to this. Robin Patel, MD, director of the Infectious Diseases Research Lab at the Mayo Clinic put it this way, "We are facing a crisis."

There are ways to protect yourself and your family from antibiotic resistance as shown below:

• Only take antibiotics when necessary (and do take them when they are necessary!). Don't insist on asking your doctor to prescribe antibiotics when they aren't necessary. As stated above, they are not effective on viruses, as an example.
• Skip the overuse of antibacterial soaps, body washes, cleaners. Regular soap and water along with alcohol hand gels are just as effective. Add a little bleach to cleaners if you need to kill germs. This is effective in the kitchen and bathroom.
• Buy meats and poultry which are labeled "organic" or "raised without antibiotics". Much of the feed our poultry and animals are fed contains antibiotics which can be transferred to humans.

Most of us will probably never face an antibiotic resistant disease. But they are out there, and it may become a serious problem for some of us.

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HANDWASHING SCIENCE

During the covid pandemic we all became even more tuned in to handwashing. We've probably all heard to wash our hands for 20 seconds, as long as it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice, etc. My husband was hospitalized several times during that period and one of the doctors told me using a good bubbly soap was important. I think most of us just decided, "Okay, whatever, just wash your hands."

During all the hoopla someone decided to give us the science behind handwashing. A study was done and published in Physics of Fluids. It was found that the surfaces of our hands operate as potential wells in which dirt and particles, such as viruses and bacteria, can get stuck. You can get rid of them by using fast-paced movement that loosens them and carries them out of your hands. This takes about 20 seconds of vigorous movement with soapy water to really get the job done. So, remember to use running water, bubble producing soap, and vigorous movement to wash those viruses, etc down the drain.

LOW BLOOD SUGAR (HYPOGLYCEMIA)

The following things can cause one to experience low blood sugar:

• Taking certain medications and eating too few carbs,or skipping or delaying a meal.
• Taking too much insulin or other diabetes meds, especially without eating.

Here are some of the signs and symptoms of low blood sugar:

• Shaking
• Sweating excessively
• Dizziness
• Weak or Tired
• Headache
• Become nervous or upset

What to do if you suspect you have low blood sugar:

• Check your blood sugar reading right away. If you do not have the means available to check it immediately, treat the symptoms anyway.

How to treat low blood sugar quickly:

• Drink 1/2 cup (4-ounces) of regular fruit juice such as orange, apple, or grape.
• 1/2 cup (4-ounces) of regular soda - NOT diet soda.
• Chew 3 or 4 glucose tablets
• Quickly chew 6 or 8 hard candies - NOT sugar-free

After doing one of the above treatments wait 15 minutes and recheck your blood sugar levels. If they are still low, repeat the treatment. Once the blood sugar level is normalized, eat a meal or at least a snack.

Warning: If low blood sugar is not treated, it can become severe and cause you to pass out.

CAN DIABETICS EAT 'REGULAR' FOOD?

One of the most common myths surrounding diabetes is that diabetics have to eat 'special' food. Diabetics can eat mostly the same foods that others eat but it is better for diabetics and others to follow certain guidelines. Some of those guidelines are whole-grain products rather than refined products, lower sugar amounts, and portion control. In this post I will stress portion control, especially with desserts. If a diabetic wants to eat a piece of 'regular' pie for example that pie should be cut into 8 slices, not 6! If served a larger slice, cut it in half before starting to eat. A piece of 'regular' fudge should be cut into a very small square not a 1-inch square. If I am served a piece of layer cake I ask for a thin slice then I cut off the bottom layer with the filling and only eat either the bottom or the top. This applies to everything on your plate. Learn to eat smaller portions. When eating out, you are usually served too much food. When your server brings your meal, ask for a to-go container and immediately remove half the food for another meal at home, work the next day, etc. It is easier to eat less when more is not visible. You can see how easy it is to cut portion size, all you need is willpower.

Please note this information applies to the average diabetic. If you have a serious blood sugar problem, you may have to eliminate sweets altogether. You and your doctor should discuss your diet.

I bake with Splenda or Stevia, not sugar. But I do eat some regular desserts on special occasions. I eat a small portion and eat with nuts or peanut butter.

FYI

Just a simple FYI for those who may not know. Both milk and yogurt are very good sources of calcium and of protein even when they are fat-free.

SWEET POTATO CHIPS

I think most of us know that sweet potatoes are packed with vitamins A, C, and B6, plus fiber. Healthy? Yes. But healthy doesn't necessarily mean buying a bag of sweet potato chips is a good thing. As I constantly stress on this blog, read the nutritional labels on all foods you buy. Are the chips you are buying loaded with fat from grease? Buy baked chips or chips fried in healthy fats (no trans fat, and watch out for saturated fat, too). Better yet, why not make your own at home?

Note: This picture is not meant to endorse or not endorse this name brand.

GLUTEN-FREE DIETS

Are you aware that only 1% off the population has celiac disease? And only around 8% of the population have any medical reason for eating gluten-free. Here are some tips about whether or not to eat gluten-free (frankly only when told to do so by a doctor, in my opinion):

Do go gluten-free if you have biopsy-confirmed celiac disease. Eating gluten-free in this case will prevent intestinal damage and help manage your symptoms of the disease.

Do go gluten-free if you have medically documented gluten sensitivity.

Do go gluten-free if your doctor told you to do so.

Don't go gluten-free thinking gluten-free foods are lower in carbs. In fact gluten-free foods often contain more carbs as sugar and other high carb ingredients are used to replace the wheat or other gluten grains. (Diabetics beware of this one. You don't need that extra sugar!)

Don't go gluten-free as a way to lose weight. If you do lose weight under such circumstances it is probably because you gave up crackers, pastas, breads, etc.

Don't make the mistake of thinking gluten-free foods are more nutritious. Most gluten-free foods are not enriched with the B vitamins and/or iron.

The Food You Eat....

 

This is so true. What you eat will determine your health. We all have various things that affect our health but what you eat will determine how much those things affect you!