Pinacle Health and Fitness » nutrition

Prevent Kidney Stones with Diet

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 04:00:00 +0000

Experts agree that having the right diet is one of the keys in treating and preventing kidney stones. This is because when there is controlled diet, people can choose not to consume foods that can lead to the faster formation and faster growth-in the cases of those who already have kidney stones.As defined, kidney stones refer to the salts and other minerals formed in the vital organs such as kidneys, ureters, and bladder. Many people are prone to this because these stones tend to form naturally. However, not all kidney stones should be neglected because they can cause extremely uncomfortable pangs of pain and can even result in more complicated related diseases.

Experts say that along with early diagnosis, eating the right set of foods is very crucial in preventing kidney stones. For those who are already suffering from this condition also need to pay attention to their diet because this directly affects the degree or severity of the kidney stones.

It is a proven fact that people who have suffered from kidney stones will likely to have them again 10 or 15 years later. This is because many sufferers do not maintain medication, proper diet, and the physical activities needed to prevent this condition.

Fighting kidney stones using diet

Doctors and other specialists in the field of medicine would agree that the easiest way to fight kidney stones is by having a diet that is balanced and appropriate for your age.

For people who are suffering from kidney stones, experts advise them to take specific preventive measures to stop kidney stones from forming. The following are some dietary suggestions to lessen the chances of getting kidney stones.

Increase fluid intake. This is quite effective in fighting kidney stones because if you have enough liquid in your body, it will wash away toxins and flush them out. Increasing fluid intake, especially water, is the simplest yet most effective way of fighting kidney stones. The ideal water intake should be 8 glasses per day, but since people with kidney stones need more to flush out salts and other minerals in the body, 10 to 12 glasses is recommended daily.
Cut back on sodium. Too much salt or sodium is one of the primary causes of kidney stones because it increases the calcium levels present in a person's urine. Doctors advise people with calcium stones to cut down or totally eliminate sodium intake from the foods that they eat. Too much salt intake will only make the condition more complicated and may also cause other related diseases.
Increase the intake of fibre-rich foods. Indeed, fibre is considered beneficial to people with kidney stones because it contains several compounds-mostly are phytate-that guards the kidney against the formation of stones.

Following a simple healthy diet low in sodium and high in water and fibre will help prevent kidney stones and the negative symptoms that go along with them …

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Gluten Free Diets

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 04:00:00 +0000

A healthy, well balanced diet is the best option for anyone. Just because you've cut out gluten doesn't mean you no longer have to worry about calories, sodium and fat in the other foods you're eating.

Gluten is a protein found in barley, rye and wheat. It's what gives food its elasticity. As awareness has grown regarding Celiac and gluten intolerance so has the occurrence of gluten free products on the market. This makes a gluten free diet as easy to follow as a regular grain diet. However, you may find that gluten free products are a lot more expensive.

When choosing to follow a gluten free diet remember to create a healthy diet with a good balance of protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats. Protein can come from lean red meat, chicken, fish, eggs or beans which are all gluten free. Fruit and vegetables contain no gluten and should be eaten daily. Not all grains contain gluten so you don't have to cut out grain all together. You will be able to eat brown rice, wild rice, qu

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Cupcakes for Dinner

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 04:00:00 +0000

Here are a few options and recipes to bring cupcakes to your dinner table. Start with these easy recipes and you'll soon be coming up with creative cupcakes of your own.

Meatloaf and Mashed Potato Cupcakes

Preheat oven to 400F and grease a standard muffin tin. Combine 1 cup of fresh bread crumbs and 1/3 cup of milk in a bowl and leave until the bread has fully absorbed the milk. Saute 6 oz of chopped bacon in a frying pan over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from the grease and chop finely. Discard all but 1 tbsp of bacon fat and saute 1 cup of finely chopped onion. Place lb lean ground beef and 1/2 lb of ground pork in a large bowl. Add one large egg, 3 tbsp of ketchup, 1 tbsp of worcestershire sauce, 1 tbsp of soy sauce, 2 tsp chopped thyme, 1 tsp of chopped garlic, the bacon, onions and soaked breadcrumbs. Stir gently to combine the mixture. Using a 1/4 cup to measure, scoop meat mixture into prepared muffin tin and bake for 20 minutes. Make sure meat is cooked

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Why Acai Berries Are So Great

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 04:00:00 +0000

Today, the acai berry is one of the most talked about things in modern society. Acai berry products today are very much in demand and even celebrities are endorsing it. So, what is it exactly about this fruit that it caught the attention of the entire modern world?

Well, for starters, you have to remember that the acai berry was already being consumed by the natives in South America for centuries because of its medicinal properties. The western world is just discovering its benefits because the acai berry fruit easily loses its potency once it is harvested, which made it unsuitable for exporting. However, thanks to modern preservation methods, such as flash freezing, it is now possible to export the acai berry from South America to any part of the world without losing its potency.

This is basically why the acai berry is just becoming popular in the modern world today. So, what exactly can acai berry do for you? What are its benefits to your overall well-being?

Research has fou

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Summer Barbeques

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 04:00:00 +0000

Meat
Marinating your meat before placing it on the grill will bring flavour and tenderness to your meat. You can make your own marinade or buy one from the store. When purchasing a marinade look for ones that are low in sodium and sugar. It's best to marinade your meat overnight so the meat soaks up most of the marinade.

Once you're ready to put the meat on the grill start the barbeque 5 to 10 minutes before if you're using gas or propane or 45mins to an hour if using wood chips or coal. You want the grill to be hot but not flaming. If the barbeque is still flaming your char the outside of the meat but the inside will remain uncooked. Once the barbeque is nice and hot turn down the burner and put your meat on. Cook chicken and other white meats for at least 30 to 45mins. When you cut into the meat it should not be pink and the juices should run clear. For red meat the cooking time will vary depending on how you and your guests like it cooked.

Vegetables
Cooking vegetables

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Got Milk Substitutes?

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 04:00:00 +0000

Goat's Milk
Because it comes from an animal, goat's milk is most similar to cow's milk but is easier to digest for those who struggle with the protein found in cow's milk. Goat's milk still contains lactose so should be avoided by those who are intolerant. There is a much tangier taste to goat's milk than there is to cow's milk so you may not want to drink it but it is great as a substitute in baking, especially in savoury dishes.

Soy Milk
Soy milk has been around for a number of years and is the most common milk substitute. Because soy milk doesn't contain any lactose it's a great choice for people who are intolerant but it's also a popular choice for people who avoid animal products in their diet. Soy milk is a lower source or protein but most are fortified with calcium and vitamin D. The fat content in soy milk is similar to 1% milk but it is lower in saturated fat. It may take some time to get used to the taste and texture of soy milk if you're used to drinking cow's milk.

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Weight Loss Tips

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 04:00:00 +0000

What with all the calories that we take in everyday, with all the junk and fast foods that we eat as well as the caffeinated beverages that we drink. And in our desperation to trim down excess fats, we are always seeking for weight loss tips and different means to loss weight.

There are lots of tips available for you when it comes to losing weight. Books and magazines about weight loss as well as other essential things in losing weight are now within your reach. Visit your favorite bookstores and magazine shops and you'll surely find them.

Do-It-Yourself Weight Loss Tips

As there are a lot of tips on how to trim down excess fats and shed extra pounds that have been published, you can now easily find a set of procedures fitted for you and you lifestyle. However, the best procedures to losing extra pounds are those which you can do even when you're all by yourself; those which don't require you to go and consult a clinic or a weight loss expert.

Here are some weight loss t

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Healthy Family Meals

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 04:00:00 +0000

Planning
Plan your week's meals one week in advance and prepare as much as you can ahead of time. By following this practice you'll find that healthy meals can be just as easy as processed or ready meals. You'll want to plan your meals before you shop. By doing this you'll only be purchasing what is required for your week's meals and therefore will spend less time and money on impulse purchases. Meal planning also creates more variety in your diet. When your write down your meals for the week you'll be able to see what you'll be feeding your family that week so you'll avoid making snap decisions which can cause you to eat similar meals two or three days in a row.

Preparation
You can cut down on the time it takes to prepare your evening meals by spending some time on the weekend on food preparation. Precook chicken or other lean meat to add later to salads, pasta or stirfrys. You can also precut vegetables to keep in the fridge as a convenient addition to meals. Precut vegeta

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More Fibre, Less Weight

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 04:00:00 +0000

Benefits
Fibre is typically low in fat and has fewer calories than refined or processed foods. You'll also consume fewer calories on a high fibre diet. The reason is that eating more high fibre foods makes you feel full faster meaning you'll consume fewer calories by cutting out seconds or snacks between meals.

Another advantage to eating high fibre foods is that they help to stabilize blood sugar levels, thus preventing glycemic peaks and valleys. That means a high fibre diet is good for those at risk of or already battling diabetes. High fibre diets have also shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.

Using high fibre diets as a weight loss or weight management program is not something new. Many well known and successful weight loss programs, including Weightwatchers uses a high fibre approach to meal planning. To see weight loss results with a high fibre diet you should increase your fibre intake to 50 grams per day.

High Fibre Foods
Fibre found in fruit, veg

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Children's Diets

Tue, 30 Nov 1999 04:00:00 +0000

If you do choose to put your child on a "diet" it's important to not use that word when describing their nutrition. The word "diet" has so many negatives associated with it and we don't want our children to grow up thinking that dieting is healthy. Instead focus on nutrition and healthy eating. Never try a fad diet on your child or yourself.

Get involved in your child's life so you are more aware of what they are eating both at home and when they are at school or with friends. Due to increased media attention school cafeterias have made major changes to what they will serve students for lunch. They have added more healthy options but your child still has a choice of what they will eat. By educating them at home to choose the right types of food you'll set them off on the right foot when they have to make the decision on their own at school. A better option is to make a healthy lunch to send with your child to school.

We all live active lives and it can be difficult to always p

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