Vinegar the Blood Glucose Controller

November 28, 2014

Vinegar the Blood Glucose Controller: A Secrecy Weapon in the Kitchen Pharmacy

vinegar Most of the dishes in our fast foods restaurants are often accompanied with containers of vinegar. For a long time I never considered putting it into my plate of fries. After all, why would I, if I had all the spicy Hot and Sweet tomato-chili sauce right there with me? Why would I spoil my otherwise tasty meal with what I consider a predominantly female preference-the acidic stuff: Vinegar? This attitude has since changed!

I have come to appreciate the taste of vinegar. Truly some of our sensual responses depend on the attitudes we have previously formed about them. And if you are among the folks who still share my initial attitude toward vinegar then you need to understand what it brings with regard to diabetic conditions.

What studies have found

Recent studies carried out to assess the effects of vinegar have established that taking a given amount of vinegar dosage before meals have great positive results pertaining to the levels of blood sugar. 2 tablespoon portions which amount to about 30 ml dose of vinegar before taking two meals in a day over a period of four weeks was found to help Type 2 diabetic patients to lose weight while at the same time have their blood sugar levels dropped.

The vinegar portions do this by slowing down the dumping of sugar into the bloodstream after a meal. If you have either diabetes type 1 or type 2 therefore, and you take insulin, a shot of vinegar will thus slow down the absorption of sugar from the carbohydrates long enough to give your insulin time to work. Vinegar generally delays the need of body for insulin. It does not however eliminate that need. It only helps to change the glycemic index of the foods you take. This is to say that the vinegar is not a cute for diabetes, it is just a way of dealing with the sugar levels as a control mechanism. This should help clear the air for the rumors that vinegar is a cure for diabetics.

The substance contains a rich amount of organic acids, soluble fiber which is also referred to as pectin, and acetic acid. All these components aid the slow-down of the emptying of the stomach. They delay the digestion of the carbohydrates. With this delayed process of absorbing food from the large intestines, you are assured of a delayed sugar intake by the bloodstream.

Actual vinegar has not been deprived of any of the above compounds. Though vinegar supplements usually have been pasteurized and contain less compounds in them. The substance is known to stop the digestion of carbohydrates in the stomach to a given percentage.

This makes vinegar very useful to people with type 2 diabetes, whose pancreases apparently cannot release insulin fast enough, though they do release the hormone, to take care of all the carbohydrates digested from the food after you have eaten. This involves a case of higher amounts of sugar than the insulin can handle. Vinegar therefore works side by side with the ‘weak’ insulin to ensure the hormone can take its time in dealing with the blood sugars. The message here is: your body still needs insulin whether or not you are using vinegar.

The previous studies have aided the researchers in hypothesizing that the carbohydrates might eventually ferment in the individual’s small intestines. This in effect will create by-products that send a signal to the liver to initiate a negative response by not making as much cholesterol.

It is based on this ground that a number of practitioners have always thought of vinegar as being able to reduce cholesterol from the body. These researches confirm otherwise though. The vinegar only initiates a process that in turn produces a negative response toward the secretion of cholesterol. As such, the vinegar indirectly discourages the production of cholesterol but does not affect the amounts already in circulation in the body of the individual.

Vinegar-Is-One-Of-The-Most-Powerful-Health-Tonics

Using two groups of volunteers in a study have indicated no effect of vinegar on the levels of cholesterol in the body. The volunteers subjected to a dosage of vinegar however record no increase in their weight with significant weight losses without additional exercises or dieting though. This helps shade empirical light to the above discussion.

from a vinaigrette on a salad. The Arizona State researchers are considering creating a vinegar supplement, but caution that the vinegar supplements currently on the market do not contain acetic acid, which makes the treatment work to help with weight loss and lower blood sugar levels.

The way to describe how acidic foods affect or alter the glycemic index… is to say it is unexpected. The way vinegar lowers blood sugars is by slowing the absorption of digested sugars from the large intestine. The acid in vinegar is neutralized by bicarbonate in the intestines, and without the bicarbonate, glucose does not pass into the bloodstream quickly. Eating a vinegary pickle, or even taking a little shot glass of vinegar before a meal will reduce post-prandial blood sugar increases.

All that said, this is the summary of how acidic foods work: what happens is acidic foods significantly lower the glycemic index of a carbohydrate food, or a meal, by one-third. The reason lies in how your stomach and digestive system work (see above). Acidic foods slow down the emptying of your stomach. The food slows down your digestion, which slows down how quickly your blood sugar levels rise.

Vinegar the Blood Glucose Controller: A Secrecy Weapon in the Kitchen Pharmacy

Shared Medical Appointment: An Innovative Practice Model

November 22, 2014

Shared Medical Appointment: An Innovative Practice Model

A visit to a physician can always be such a tense moment. This is often characterized with a lot of anxiety and high expectations on the part of the patient. As a patient you want to get well. Yet you are also torn between the desire to get well and the fear of negative outcomes. It is usually worse with chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart conditions, asthma and ulcers.

It is based on such considerations and a hoard of others that it becomes necessary for the medical practitioner to adopt a method or initiate one that is more likely to make the medical appointment a less excruciating experience.

If the practitioner is able to turn the tension of the moment into a fun filled experience then it is a definite straight up success. It is not just the victim who enjoys the benefit of the experience with the medic, rather, the medical expert also stands to derive considerable gratification from handling a satisfied patient. No palm wetting, no forehead sweats; just a cool and non-tense exchange between a medic and his or her patient.

Impetus for the shared medical appointment approach

The shared medical appointment can be said to be resulting from the above line of considerations, to make the experience a natural process.

This shared medical appointment model, also referred to as group visits, cluster visits or problem solving drop-in group medical appointments (DIGMA) has been orchestrated with the core objective of inspiring the medical practitioner to come up with, implement and appraise shared medical appointments chiefly for patients with diabetes.

The model is basically an innovative approach that has a distinctly different methodology as opposed to the usual diabetes education classes. It involves a group of 12 to 16 patients meeting up with a doctor, medical assistant, behaviorist, nurse, and dedicated documenter for a time period of one and a half hours.

The traditional diabetic classes on the other hand usually address self-management techniques, the question of exercise and recommended nutrition for these patients. The group visits provide medical evaluation, the coordination and provision of precautionary services, mechanisms of adjusting medication, all which often miss in the ordinary diabetic classes.

The model succeeds in its conception as being innovative since it is found to improve the care offered to conventional patients of chronic disorders which primarily include diabetes as well as asthma, coronary disease, and urological conditions by aiding the use of available resources far more efficiently.

shared-Medical-appointments

The majority of successful shared medical appointment programs have included an element of case management and between-visit care coordination. The program is traditionally headed by a nurse, a physician or nurse practitioner.

If you set up a limited component of care management for group of patients who attend the programs of these cluster visits the program can be quite a useful step toward a wider use of care coordination within your field of practice.

A patient of diabetes may use these shared medical appointment programs in the place of a primary care or they can as well alternate the two sets of care arrangements: group visits and the one-on-one care units.

Other than the group education services typically offered in group visits, collective problem-solving, focused secluded or partially private health evaluations which allow for personalized medication adjustment; the programs may also involve ordering of referrals and preemptive services.

The sessions may always vary. They may go from one hour to even several hours depending with the physician-patient arrangements. Each session may have a varied number of attendees, with the typical maximum being 20 persons.

Benefits of the Group Visits Model

shared-medical-appointment Past medical records have indicated that patients generally enjoy interacting in a shared form of environment. There are less cases of tension associated with medical situations and this can always provide a lot of encouragement to those who attend the sessions while providing them with essential tips that may not be received in a short medical visit.

Physicians also benefit from the change of pace typical of these programs and have a chance to innovatively and much more thoroughly attend to the matters presented by chronic disorders which are common in most of the primary care circumstances.

Evaluations of the shared medical appointments have also reported a general increase in satisfaction levels of the patients and clinicians along with improved quality of care offered in the cluster situations. There have also been a reduction in the aggregate emergency section and specialist visits by these patients. This indicates a general possibility of increased perfection in following the directions provided during the sessions.

What makes the cluster visits even more beneficial is the communal environment created by the group approaches. Patients are able to share experiences freely and feel relieved by the existence of certain critical but shared experiences. It is human nature that you feel better when you know that you are not alone in your situation. Just the environment alone, the sight of many people supposedly in for the same course is enough to relax a patient’s nerves.

The patients attending the sessions are able to share their concerns collectively and get responses. This may help in two different ways. A patient who is either shy or simply unwilling to ask a pressing question may benefit from another patient asking the same. Secondly, a patient may get response to a question that he or she might have forgotten to ask the nurse or the physician in attendance. In general, the patients learn from the healthcare team in session, from one another as well as from the environment itself.

About the doctor

Dr. Dalal Akouri has years or experience attending to patients with various life threatening chronic illnesses and is proud to have improved the lives of such patients. You too can join this vast community of patients who have seen the fruits of her work by contacting het today.

Shared Medical Appointment: An Innovative Practice Model

Circadian Rhythms and Melatonin Go Hand-in-Hand

November 10, 2014

Circadian Rhythms and Melatonin Go Hand-in-Hand

You go to bed every day at almost a specific time and wake up around the same time daily. Have you ever imagined how come this happens almost in a rhythmic fashion?

Imagine if you could not be able to set standard waking time. You may miss going to job in time. You may be late for conferences. You may delay certain crucial arrangements meant to take place within specific times.

Fortunately that is not likely to happen because our lives are naturally programmed like the clock. From the time you wake up to the time you retire to bed. There are things that just happen spontaneously, like going for meals will follow a quest for it: you are hungry.

If you have a pre-set time for going to bed then immediately that time reaches you begin to feel tired. At that moment all your body needs is the rest. You give it to your body and you won’t even need an alarm to wake you up in the morning. You just find yourself waking up when the time your body is programmed to wake reaches.

All these rhythms of activities are controlled by systems inside our bodies. It is not us who decide the things we wish to feel. Neither do we decide exactly what to want. There are systems which do that inside our bodies, making us programmed like the clock.

This controlled daily cycle of rhythmic activity that is essentially based on the 24 hours period available every day is what is referred to as the circadian rhythm. These rhythms are not just exhibited by humans alone, rather, plants and animals also exhibit the circadian rhythms.

The rhythms relate to the 24 hour cycle of the solar and applies even to microbes like bacteria and fungi. All physiological responses are controlled within this system of activities: strength of the muscles, blood pressure, body temperature, hormonal circulation, neurotransmitter circulation and a number of other metabolic and physiological processes all follow the cycle of circadian rhythms.

Circadian Rhythms

With that background it becomes easier to understand therefore that diseases and wellbeing are channeled into these circadian rhythms. The diseases also follow their particular rhythms in the body. They are also controlled variously. For instance, studies indicate that certain breast cancer tumors grow faster at daytime that during the night.

Melatonin and the Body Processes

Melatonin, a substance produced by the brain, plays a critical role in not only growth but almost all essential processes in your body.

Some accumulating proof is indicating that interference with circadian rhythms has a close link to the growth of cancer, particularly the breast cancer. This is related to a complex network of interrelated physiological or neuroendocrineimmune processes controlled and regulated in distinct ways. In the middle of these processes is the chemical component Melatonin. Research has found that Melatonin produced in highest amounts at night during dark hours is perhaps the most crucial endogenous component in the actual regulation of these circadian rhythms and the clocks.

It works variously to ensure control of these processes including the suppression of the production of estrogen which are related to the causes of cancer. As such Melatonin has a key role in the treatment of cancer among other serious diseases.

Circadian Rhythms and Melatonin Go Hand-in-Hand

The Power of Pumpkin

November 5, 2014

The Power of Pumpkin

Existing in a variety of sizes, tastes and colors, pumpkin is one of the most powerful yet easily ignored types of food throughout the globe. In the Americas in particular, folks more often use it as a core component in celebration of the Halloween festivities.

For many youngsters in this continent, pumpkin is more of a tool for the celebrations and place it at the heart of this liturgical spree. Despite the worldwide variety of items of celebration used during the Halloween festivals, to these teen-agers curving the squash is their only activity.

There is no measure to the extent of what these people and their likes the world over are missing. Reasons are different for not taking this form of gourd seriously. To some people it just ‘not that tasty’. In other parts of the world too, especially those places which often experience heavy rains and that are characterized with marshy conditions; the pumpkin often blossoms but is mostly watery and less tasty- giving the 21^st century typicals all the reason to dislike it.

If only they knew the power of the pumpkin. If only they could fully understand the complete nutritional value that the gourd contains. I highly doubt if in their correct states of mind they would throw away even the curved remains from the Halloween merriments.

pumpkin_headline

Nutritional values

If English acknowledges ‘super-food’ as a naming word, then pumpkin deserves that merit. It is not just the meat we are talking about here. We are actually referring to the whole thing, the whole pumpkin thing. Perhaps you are aware of the meaty part of it and a little about how valuable it is said to be.

Well, you know little. The seeds are no less important that the yummy body. In fact, they have far more content in small concentrated volumes than you might have ever fathomed. Those seeds alone produce a nutritious oil with intense flavor and when mixed with olive oil or honey, no culinary additive could taste better. It gives you a delicacy of a salad dressing. Hidden in that delicious taste is a wealth of essential minerals; essentially Zinc, omega-3 fatty acids as well as carotenoids.

No one knows this secret better than the Austrians. They consider the pumpkin seed oil with high regard and add it to several varieties of dishes. Nothing leaves it out, not even the ice cream!

The seeds aside, Pumpkin flesh is a rich source of high fiber. It is also high in vitamins E and C along with minerals including potassium and magnesium. This form of gourd has an astounding amount of carotenoids in different varieties. One thing you might as well marvel about: it is just one of the richest natural sources of these crucial phytonutrients.

Medicinal value of the pumpkin

pumpkin For centuries the seeds of this culinary product have been used to alleviate various functional gastrointestinal disorders, the well-known disorder it has cured over time being the Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The oil extracted from these seeds help in controlling the levels of cholesterol in the body, get rid of intraintestinal parasites and maintain good prostate health. It is also instrumental in dealing with depression given that it contains considerable amounts of the L-tryptophan.

The mineral Zinc is useful to persons with brittle bones while the oil also prevents kidney stones.

Considering that pumpkin contains rich amounts of carotenoids, it is essential for the prevention or dealing with cancer cases. Not only that, this dietary component is also associated with lower risks of other life threatening diseases such as blindness, heart disease, and cataracts. This is due to the fact that pumpkin has both of beta-carotene and alpha-carotene in rich amounts.

With the alpha-carotene you are assured of protection against a number of cancers while it keeps you young by guarding against aging.

The two forms of carotene when converted into vitamin A inside the body, the product plays a fundamental role in immunity as well as growth and development. The possibility of buildup of cholesterol in the body is prevented by the beta-carotene as a powerful anti-inflammatory agent and antioxidant. This helps with protection from heart attack and stroke.

Good thing is, with the diverse variety of pumpkins around the world, you do not have to struggle with the species that do not go well with your taste glands. There are certain varieties that are quite delicious, when admittedly certain other varieties are not. So, go for the sweet one, and have your nutritional as well as medicinal benefits in one piece. The butternuts are a great preference if you are among those who consider the taste a priority.

The Power of Pumpkin

The Importance Of High Dose Vitamin C In Balancing The Adrenals

September 2, 2014

Vitamin C Plays an Important Role in Balancing Adrenals Prior To Addiction Recovery Program

What are adrenals?

They are also referred to as adrenal glands or suprarenal glands. They are small triangular glands, which are located on top of both kidneys in our bodies. These glands play a vital role in our bodies, since they are responsible for regulation of the functioning of our bodies and minds. They are part of the endocrine system, which is branded, “policemen” in our bodies.
What is the function of these adrenals in our bodies?

The reason why adrenals are regarded as very vital in our bodies is because they produce chemicals that maintain life. Death becomes the only option for a person, when the adrenals fail to work. The chemicals which are produced by the adrenals, convert what is eaten by a human being (which is useless to our bodies) into substances which are useful to our bodies. These substances are the ones which facilitate body functions such as growing, changing and provide tools necessary for repairing and rebuilding of body tissues.

Another importance of proper functioning of adrenals is that, they produce very important hormones. One of these hormones is the cortisol, which is a hormone known to regulate physical stress, mental activities, emotion etc. when the adrenal glands are not functioning well, they may lead to insufficient cortisol hormones supply and hence the person is faced with stress among other symptoms.

Is adrenal fatigue real?

This fatigue is a reality. It is a collection of symptoms which come as a result of adrenal glands functioning below the required level. This fatigue in most cases is depicted by intense stress, which can hardly be reduced by sleep. Sleep is a common problem in people with imbalance in adrenal glands. This lack of sleep unfortunately triggers fatigue.

This condition of adrenal functioning below the required level is common in drug addicts. When an addicted person becomes a victim of adrenal malfunctioning, it becomes a more serious problem to address. For any successful addiction program, there is a need to first address the problem of adrenal. The regulation of working of the adrenal should even come before the actual addiction recovery program.

What symptoms may indicate malfunctioning in adrenal?

Unlike any other symptoms, the adrenal Symptoms are sometimes very difficult to identify. The problem with the identification of these symptoms is that they may look similar to symptoms of another condition. Therefore, you may need to identify as many symptoms as possible, before you conclude that a given person is a victim of adrenal malfunction.

The following are some of the common symptoms or consequences of adrenals malfunction:-

Continued fall in body temperature. Since adrenals are responsible for regulation of many body functions such as regulation of body temperature, their malfunction may lead to decline in the body temperature.
Body weakness – another common symptom of adrenal malfunction is body becoming weak. This is sometimes related to stress, but when adrenals fail to work for long period, it becomes difficult for the person to remain off the bed for more than an hour in a day. Such a person will remain on the bed, since he/she feel his/her body totally weak.
In some cases, there may be un-explained hair loses.
Digestion failure may also occur
Memory loss is also a possibility
Feeling of frustration
Mental depression
Low blood pressure may occur
Excessive feeling of hunger may also be evident

Why is high dose Vitamin C important in preparation for addiction recovery?

When a person is an addict, there is likelihood that the addictive substance has caused damage on some body organs. These damages must be repaired, for the addiction recovery process to be successful. Likewise, when a person is faced with malfunction of adrenals, there is need to urgently get assistance to restore the glands to their normal functioning states. This restoration can be done medically or by use of nutrition.

The medical way of preparing body or assisting body in recovery, is sometimes not considered the best option, considering the possibility of side effects from the drugs or addiction from the drugs in the long run, leading to dependency on the drugs. Many people prefer the nutritional way of restoring the adrenals to their functional state due to a number of benefits it has over any other method. Vitamin c is an essential vitamin for balancing adrenals and thus any diet targeting to balance the adrenals should contain sufficient vitamin c.

High Dose Vitamin C The following are some of the benefits of vitamin c, when it is used to prepare body and balance adrenals prior to addiction recovery treatment:-

High dose vitamin c is quickly used during stress. This factor makes it helpful when countering adrenal fatigue. The level of vitamin c is supposed to be kept high, since researches have shown that the rates of utilization of vitamin c are very high during the stressful moments, regardless of the source of stress.
Vitamin C has been proven to be very powerful in fighting infections and also boosting the general body immunity. Researches have shown that, when a person is a victim of adrenal fatigue, as the levels of vitamin C decline, the immune system also declines in the same manner. This means that the administration of high dose vitamin C improves the immunity of the body, as the levels of vitamin increase. For instance, “Vaslev and Komar (1998) determined that a dose of 300mg of vitamin C resulted in a more rapid recovery of a depressed T-lymphocyte”
Vitamin C is vital in pre-addiction recovery, as it play a key role in removing toxins from the body. When a person is addicted of a given drug, it is very likely that the person will be either stressed or depressed. The stress reduces the levels of vitamin c in our bodies, hence leaving us with insufficient vitamin c to remove toxins from our bodies. This is because chronic stress lowers the levels of glutathione, a very important substance in removing toxins from our bodies. This is why it is very important for a person who is addicted to be subjected to high dose vitamin c before the actual recovery program begins.
Vitamin c is very low in toxicity. This factor makes it possible for a person to take it in large quantities, improving the immunity drastically.

Are you thinking of how you can get help on balancing adrenals? Are you an addict and you are looking for a natural way of gradually recovering from the addiction? Awaremed Resource and Wellness Center is your solution. Call us today or visit us at www.awaremednetwork.com.

Vitamin C Plays an Important Role in Balancing Adrenals Prior To Addiction Recovery Program

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