People with high blood pressure (hypertension) should be smart in choosing their meal. The two main foods that can affect hypertension is salt or sodium intake and potassium intake.

But there are ways diet can be done for patients with hypertension which is the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension).

The diets was developed in the United States but has been successfully used in nations around the world such as  South Africa.

Just so you know, South Africa in general, and the African population in particular, are vulnerable to hypertension or high blood pressure.

An estimated 24.4 percent of adults in South Africa suffer from hypertension. Consequently, many of which had a stroke and brain damage in this population. Salt intake and high potassium is the main cause.

Whereas the WHO recommends a ratio of sodium to potassium in the diet is 1:1. But in Africa, the consumption of sodium are very high which could reach 8 grams / day (compared with the recommended maximum of 6 grams / day). While in the other hand the consumption of potassium are very low (50-60 mmol / day). This is what causes many people to suffer high blood pressure in South Africa.

Studies conducted by Professor Karen Charlton and his team in 2007 at the University of Cape Town and Medical Research Council in Cape Town, the DASH diet achieved promising results in 80 patients with a mild to moderate hypertension who received antihypertensive medication. Only by changing the six items of food in their diet for eight weeks.

DASH diet has provided scientific evidence that eating lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains with a low-fat milk or fat-free, can increase potassium, magnesium and calcium intake. While reducing sodium intake to a level acceptable to reduce blood pressure.

Prof. harlton provided bread, margarine, broth, soup mix and a sense amplifier with less sodium or salt content and Maas 500 ml per day (not seasoned sour cream) for the 40 ‘candidates’ for a period of eight weeks.

Another 40 people classified as ‘control subjects’ are given the same diet with normal content of salt and 500 ml of cold sweet drinks for the same period.

After eight weeks, systolic blood pressure an average of 6.2 candidates mm Hg lower than control subjects. Whereas systolic blood pressure and diastolic BP control subjects as measured by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring 24-hour average above 4.5 mm Hg lower than testing participants.

In thegroup participants sodium intake test did not change, whereas participants in the control group increased by almost 1 gram per day.

Nutritional intake increased dramatically. Calcium intake increased almost double, potassium intake was almost 900 mg per day and magnesium intake increased by 84 mg per day in the test group.

Please note that the increased intake of potassium, calcium and magnesium is achieved without the use of mineral supplements.

Prof. Charlton and his team (2007) concluded that their research showed the public health response.

“You can achieve reduction in systolic blood pressure is clinically significant for the treatment of hypertension is low-income communities in South Africa through the manipulation of the seven dietary intake of processed foods,” he said.

This study not only indicates that the poor with few resources can make dietary changes that can increase blood pressure, but the eating habit can be changed by making some adjustments.

Creatine is an organic acid which is found in the body of all human beings. Creatine supplies energy to all the muscle cells in the body.

When creatine is taken as a dietary supplement, the capacity of the body to work gets enhanced. It helps in the contraction of muscles. Most of the creatine which is stored in the bodies of the human beings comes from the food which they eat. These mainly include food like fish and meat.

Creatine mainly gets synthesized in the liver. The endogenic synthesis of creatine in the liver of the human beings helps in the normal functioning of the body.

However, there can always be deficiency in the level of creatine in the body. In order to meet up this deficiency, several creatine supplements are available in the market. These supplements at least try to bring a balance in the level of creatine in the body. Several foods can also serve as supplements of creatine in the body.

Most of the creatine supplements generally use creatine in the form of creatine bound to a water molecule. In some cases, the supplements consist of a combination of creatine and carbohydrate. This helps to enhance the rate of absorption of the creatine.

There are plenty of benefits of the creatine supplements in the body. It has been investigated that the supplements of creatine help to treat muscular, neurological as well as neuromuscular diseases. At the same time, it has also been found that creatine is mixed with some other things to make the supplements. This mixture of creatine with some other material does not bring in the same health benefits like the actual creatine which is naturally produced by the liver.

Still, when there is deficiency, it is essential to go for the supplements. However, it is always suggested to take recommendation from some Doctor before going for the supplements. A physician probably would understand the deficiencies of the body and understand what exactly the body requires.

Nutrition books are available in the recent days to make the public aware of the health benefits of the intake of several nutrients. No doubt, a daily diet should have all the necessary nutrients to ensure healthy and overall development of the body. The nutrition books provide a good guideline as to the kind of foods and their amount of intake required. These nutrition books have helped the people a lot to know and understand about nutrition.

In order to get more information about creatine and its supplements, one can look in the internet. There are different online stores which helps the people to acquire information about different kinds of supplements. Most of these supplements are available for the overall health of the human beings. Apart from the supplements, one would also get several kinds of nutrition books. Customers would also be happy to find the prices of the supplements and the nutrition books extremely reasonable and affordable in the online stores compared to the physical stores.

Potassium represents 5% percent of the total mineral content of a human body, even though only about one litre is found in the body at a time. Potassium is found in our bodies both inside and outside cells and is a very important mineral required every day to stay healthy. More than 98% of the body’s potassium is intracellular. The body easily absorbs potassium, but nearly 90% of it is excreted through the kidneys and bowels. Thus, potassium is a natural diuretic and is important for the elimination of body wastes, such as water and sodium.

Potassium is a primary electrolyte, it is a great alkalizer, and important for maintaining pH and water balance.

Benefits of potassium:

1. Along with other minerals such as sodium, chloride and calcium, potassium helps in normal cellular function, such as transmission of nerve impulses, digestion, healthy muscle contractions, proper cardiovascular functioning (heartbeat irregularities are normally a sign of potassium deficiency), and helping the body to convert glucose into glycogen (the body’s stored form of energy).

2. Potassium helps promote healthy cardiovascular health. It is strongly believed that potassium has the ability to pump sodium out of the body’s cells and reduce body fluid.

3. Potassium, along with sodium, helps to regulate blood pressure. Increasing potassium in the diet may protect against hypertension in people who are sensitive to high levels of sodium.

4. Potassium also affects blood vessel tone as well as the way blood vessels react to the flowing hormones, thus affecting pressure within blood vessels.

5. Potassium therapeutically assists in the treatment of alcoholism, acne, alleviating allergies, promoting the early healing of burns.

6. It also helps with problems such as congestive heart failure, chronic fatigue syndrome or kidney stones.

7. Potassium plays a vital role in cellular integrity by regulating the transfer of nutrients into the cell.

8. Potassium also attracts oxygen to tissues, helps correct positioning of vital organs. Potassium deficiency indicates that probably albumin, sugar, sodium, and chlorine are also in short supply or not being properly absorbed.

9. Potassium helps proper functioning of the adrenal glands. It helps support healthy sugar balance in the body.

Deficiency of potassium –

The kidneys excrete excess potassium from the body, and deficiencies are rarely found in people on a normal balanced diet. A deficiency may result in fatigue, cramping legs, muscle weakness, sluggish reflexes, acne, dry skin, mood swings and irregular heartbeat.

A shortage of potassium in body may cause a fatal condition known as hypokalemia, resulting from diarrhea, increased diuresis and vomiting. Hypokalemia can occur in people with a chronic disease or due to aging process. Deficiency symptoms include muscle weakness, ECG abnormalities, decreased reflex response, congestive heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia and respiratory paralysis.

If the fluid and electrolyte balance is not restored, the risk of heart failure increases.

Potassium deficiency increases acid levels in the body, lowers the natural pH balance, causes problems with the formation of connective tissue. Kidney diseases (such as acute renal failure), diabetes can also cause fluctuations in the levels of potassium. Many medications such as diuretics, cortisone, prolonged use of aspirin, and laxatives also cause depletion of potassium.

Dietary sources of potassium:

Eating a variety of foods that contain potassium is the best way to get the required amount. Individuals who eat a balanced diet do not need potassium supplements. Foods, which are rich sources of potassium include turnips, whole grains, molasses, fish, citrus fruit, apple cider vinegar, bananas, avocados, yoghurt, tomatoes, poultry, oranges, apricots, potatoes (especially their skins), leafy green vegetables such as spinach, lettuce; and meat. One large orange will supply one with 250 mg of potassium, one-eighth of a person’s daily need. Dried apricots contain more potassium than fresh apricots.

Steaming of foods helps to retain nutrients that are lost through other cooking techniques such as boiling (loss of about 50% of potassium content). Steaming results in only a 6% loss of potassium.

Recommended Daily Allowance of potassium:

There is no recommended daily allowance (RDA) for potassium, but it is advised to get between 2,000-3,000 mg per day. The range of intake for children is 780 to 1,600 mg per day.

This is not difficult, and most people meet this requirement on their own through a normal diet. In general, nutritionists recommend reducing salt intake and ensuring adequate supply by increasing the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables in the diet.

If one is into bodybuilding, he must increase the potassium intake, since potassium is needed to maintain muscles in good form, and also because potassium is lost from excessive sweating and urine.

Symptoms of high intake of potassium:

Excessive potassium can be toxic and will affect the heart. This is a problem especially when one is suffering from some problem such as kidney failure. Irregular heart beat and muscle fatigue is sign of toxic potassium levels. In healthy people, the kidneys in the urine excrete excess potassium.

Who requires extra potassium?

People who require potassium supplements include:

# women on oral contraceptives,

# chronic alcoholics or drug abusers,

# smokers

# people undergoing stress

# athletes

# people doing strenuous exertion,

# anyone suffering from any degree of mal-absorption syndrome

# people with eating disorders, especially bulimia and anorexia..

Many people have no idea about the advantages of omega 3 fatty acids for children, but the truth is that there is an upside to your children being given fish oil at a very early age. They are already got benefits from a steady intake of omega 3s from the time they are born until they are weaned off formula or breast milk. Both sources of nutrition contain enough doses of DHA omega 3 fatty acids.

I am quite sure you didn’t know that the body prepares mother’s milk so that it has high levels of omega 3 fatty acids in it did you? A lot of people don’t realize it, but this is nature’s way of showing you just how important to the development of your infant this essential nutrient is. It is omega 3 fatty acids that are primarily responsible for the healthy cognitive development of your child. Read the rest of this entry »

Many people take vitamin supplements for various reasons. Among the most common reasons are to prevent diseases, bridge dietary nutrition gap, reverse certain sickness and symptoms, and slow down aging process.

For many, a daily multi-vitamin should be sufficient to meet your general nutritional needs. According to Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), the hierarchical need for anti-oxidant rank after calcium and multi-vitamin. Many people are taking anti-oxidant supplements besides multi-vitamin and calcium supplements.

Anti-oxidant fights free radicals in pour body. Free radicals are the main cause for aging, chronic diseases like heart disease, arthritis, diabetes and some cancers.
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