Healthy Foods

Food as a source of energy and life. Healthy eating recipes.

Archive for the 'Healthy Eating' Category

We are on the brink of new health revolution. It is finally being accepted by more and more people that many chronic illness, physical and mental, often going undiagnosed for years and suffered by thousands of people, are caused partially or wholly by allergies and intolerances to the foods that most of us eat every day of our lives.

Food allergy refers to an immediate, often dramatic reaction such as a sore mouth, an itchy red skin rash, an attack of asthma, etc. Blood and skin tests for the allergenic food are positive. In this case, your immune system overreacts, and mistakenly identifies innocent compounds, for example, cows milk or nuts, as enemies like bacteria and viruses. This mistake throws the immune system into a chain reaction of alert. It produces antibodies called immunoglobulin E or IgE to lunch an attack on the false threats (antigens), releasing histamines and other chemicals that provoke the symptoms of allergies.

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Cholesterol is a waxy naturally occurring fat that is made by the liver. Cholesterol is a paradox. On one hand, it contributes to such vital bodily functions as building new cells, insulating nerves, and producing hormones. On the other hand, it is a potential killer due to its association to various cardiovascular diseases. The risk of developing these cardiovascular problems is complex and depends not only how much cholesterol but also what kind of cholesterol you have in your blood. Generally speaking, LDL (low-density lipoprotein), the so called bad cholesterol, is associated with increased risk of dying from coronary heart disease; HDL (high-density lipoprotein) or good cholesterol is associated with decreased risk. This is because the LDLs serve on raw material to clog coronary arteries; in contrast, the HDLs gobble up the LDLs, and cart them to the liver, where they are annihilated. Obviously, the more HDL and the less LDL you have in your blood, the safer your arteries.

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