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| 1.Irritable bowel syndrome | | Q: | I would like to know what would be best for irritable bowel syndrome. I have tried an array of products, all to no avail. | | A: | The best product that I know of for irritable bowel syndrome is enteric coated peppermint oil capsules. Peppermint oil is an anti-spasmodic, and if the capsules are enteric coated, they will not break down until they reach the intestinal tract where it is needed to calm the colon. In addition, you might consider taking a good digestive enzyme. This can help digest your food better, so there is less irritation as it moves through the intestinal tract. Look for brome lain or for pancreatic enzymes for your condition.
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| Clear Complexion | | Q: | Is there any herbal supplement or vitamin that aids in relieving acne and maintaining a clear skin complexion? | | A: | Acne should be treated both topically and, more importantly, internally for best results. The most effective natural acne-treatment program involves a high-fiber, predominantly plant-based diet, adequate water intake, dietary supplements that support healthy skin tissue, daily cleansing and topically treating the skin.
High-fiber diets help with the elimination of toxins that can cause blemishes and other skin disturbances, and water helps flush the toxins from the body. Avoid fatty, fried foods, but incorporate good oils, such as flaxseed oil, into the diet to keep good moisture balance in the skin.
A number of nutrients are available that research shows can help improve acne and support healthy skin. Zinc, vitamin A, and B6 have all been shown to fight acne. The minerals sulfur and potassium have been shown to help control excess fungi and bacteria in the intestinal tract which, in turn, helps keep toxins from being released through the skin.
Topically, soaps and cleansers containing tea tree oil or sulfur are very effective and should be used daily. Tea tree oil, a natural antiseptic oil, has been shown in studies to be as effective as the most popular topical over-the-counter acne treatments, but without side effects.
| | Wait Loss | | Q: | Can you tell me how the Apple Cider vinegar pills work with weight loss? Have people had results with this? | | A: | Apple Cider Vinegar detoxifies and supports digestion, and it supports metabolism. If using apple cider vinegar tablets, you should just take them as directed on the bottle. You might consider a more comprehensive formula for weight loss, the KLVB formula. It contains the Apple Cider Vinegar, but also contains kelp (supports thyroid function, which controls metabolism), lecithin (assists liver with breakdown of fats and cholesterol) and B6 (reduces water retention).
| | Vitamins: | | Q: | I take Optimum Daily One tablets once a day. If I eat healthy in addition to taking these vitamins, how can I be sure I am not getting too much nutrition? | | A: | Thank you for your question concerning optimum nutrition. I understand your confusion on taking in too high of levels of nutrients. I can assure you that taking a daily multiple, in addition to a good diet, will not provide too much of any nutrients. Multiples are designed just to make sure your body is provided with the essential nutrients it needs. You mentioned the RDA, so I wanted to give you some information on this. The RDAs were established to prevent deficiency. They do not take into account stress or illness, and, in my opinion, are not geared at all toward optimum health. Preventing deficiency is important, but I believe people want to go beyond that and have better overall wellness and good health. A daily multivitamin and a good diet will be a step closer to optimum levels and will not cause you to overdose on any nutrient.
| | Calories: | | Q: | I am trying to find out about how many calories are burned for different activities. Can you give me this information? | | A: | Here are the calories burned per minute for the following activities:
| Activity | Calories
burned per minute
in a 120 lb person | | Aerobics | 5.5 | | Bicycling (10 mph) | 3.6 | | Bowling | 2.8 | | Gardening | 4.6 | | Hiking | 5.5 | | Housework | 2.3 | | Jogging | 6.4 | | Brisk Walking | 3.6 | | Weight Training | 2.8 | | | Cholesterol content : | | Q: | There is a lot of confusion about eggs being high in cholesterol... k. Eggs are a good source of protein. Is there a new update about eggs and are they really bad for you? | | A: | One whole egg contains about 213 mg of cholesterol, all of that found in the yolk. The egg white is where most of the protein is, and it is high quality protein. Because you and your husband are on different diets, consider this compromise. Try scrambling eggs, but use the egg whites. You can scramble 3-4 eggs, and add only one egg yolk to maintain the yellow color. This cuts down on the cholesterol and maintains the protein levels in your eggs. Remember that all foods should be eaten in moderation. You don't have to eat eggs every day for breakfast. There are other good sources of protein for breakfast, such as nonfat yogurt, lowfat or skim milk or soymilk.
Read more about other sources of Protein in our Health Highlights section.
In addition, read the list containing some of the Wheat-free and Gluten-free products that we carry. | | Mouth cankers | | Q: | I get mouth cankers on a regular basis. Is there a natural medicine I could use to heal them or diet to prevent them? | | A: | These sores can be triggered by poor dental hygiene, stress and/or fatigue. In your diet, you may want to avoid acidic foods, such as citrus fruits, tomatoes and coffee. Include in your diet some fermented foods, such as yogurt and cottage cheese, and include onions, which contain sulfur compounds that are healing. Some herbs that work well topically include lemonbalm and myrrh. These can be found alone in extract form, or in ointments designed to soothe and heal canker sores. The amino acid, L-Lysine, used either internally or externally, has also been shown to be helpful in the treatment of canker sores.
| | Complete Diet: | | Q: | What are the dangers of having a pill as the human's complete diet? | | A: | While supplements are important, they should not and cannot be the sole source of nutrients. A supplement is exactly that, a supplement to the diet, NOT a substitute for the diet. Food contains more than just vitamins, minerals and fiber. Food provides energy (calories), protein, carbohydrates, and fat, all that the body requires to function. Researchers have also discovered and isolated numerous plant chemicals in foods that have medical and nutritional benefits in the body. What research teams are realizing is that they have only begun to scratch the surface, as there are hundreds of these plant chemicals that have not yet been identified. So, you can see the necessity and importance of food in the diet. Not only does it provide essential vitamins and minerals, but it provides energy, carbohydrate, fat, protein and amino acids, fiber, and hundreds of other plant chemicals that our bodies utilize.
| | Fat Content In Blood: | | Q: | My doctor tells me I have high floating fat content in my blood. As a result I now exercise, eat high fiber, low fat foods. I was wondering if there are any vitamins I should be taking. | | A: | Certainly, your approach including lifestyle changes is the most important. One area of controversy is the relationship of high sugar intake to increased triglyceride (blood fat) levels. To be on the safe side, you may want to reduce refined sugar intake and consume only complex carbohydrates, including whole fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grain products. In your diet, you may also want to include small amounts of cold water fish, such as salmon, which are rich in omega 3 fatty acids and have been shown to help reduce triglyceride (blood fat) levels. Research has also shown that garlic can reduce triglyceride levels by 15%, as well as lower cholesterol levels. Garlic is very safe and well-researched. It would be a simple and effective compound to add to your daily routine.
| | Wait Gain Formula: | | Q: | Are weight gain formulas safe? I work out and I was wondering what to do to enhance my workouts? | | A: | Weight gain formulas are safe for just about anyone, but they may not be necessary for everyone. The most common uses for these formulas are for those working out or for those who need extra calories or protein, such as someone recovering from surgery or trauma, or someone going through chemotherapy that has a difficult time eating. There are several different types of weight gain formulas. The most popular formulas right now are high in protein and low in carbohydrate, designed to help support lean muscle tissue. It is important to remember that the formula itself will not cause muscle gain, but it will enhance workouts and provide necessary nutrients and protein needed to spare lean muscle tissue and allow you to burn more fat and calories. As for foods, adequate calorie intake is important with a balance of protein, complex carbohydrate and small amounts of essential fat. Complex carbohydrates include fresh fruits and vegetables, brown rice, whole grain breads, whole grain pasta and other whole grain products. Protein sources include lean meat, chicken breasts, tuna and other fish, and soy products. Essential fat sources include olive oil, canola oil, flax seed oil, and fish.
| | A: | You're in luck! We have high standards for the foods they carry. At Akin's, the foods are free of artificial colors, flavors, additives, preservatives and synthetic MSG. Akin's also stocks as much organic food as possible. And most of the non-perishable food items can be ordered through the mail. For the corn allergy, you absolutely will have to be a label-reader. I'm sure you know the many forms or corn and the hidden forms of corn, including corn starch, modified food starch, hi-fructose corn syrup and others. Ener-G Foods make a line of foods suitable for many types of food allergies. All of their pasta products, the white and brown rice breads, Rice 'N Rye Bread mix, Oat mix and Barley mix are corn free. For a list of organizations dealing with food and food safety, contact Food & Water Inc., RR1 Box 68D, Walden, VT, 05873.
| | Highest Energy: | | Q: | What foods give the most energy per unit? | | A: | The answer for some may be surprising. If you look at the potential energy of food, the energy that can be absorbed and utilized by the body, you will find that fat contains the highest energy value (measured in kilocalories or kcals). Figures have been rounded to result in the following numbers: Fat contains 9 kcals per gram, while carbohydrate and protein each contain 4 kcals per gram. When fat is consumed, it is broken down into fatty acids, which are absorbed and can be utilized as a source of energy by most body cells. So, how does this translate into foods? For a healthy diet, it is important to eat a variety of foods containing fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Of course, it is important to watch your fat intake since overconsumption of fat leads to increased fat storage in the body. But it is also important to select more of what have been termed "good fats." I consider these fats that are less refined, less saturated, and contain the essential fatty acids required by the body, which must be obtained in the diet. The best choices include Olive Oil, Canola Oil and Flax Seed Oil. Other unrefined vegetable oils may also be used, but are not emphasized. Other sources of beneficial fatty acids include fish (especially cold-water fish such as salmon), tofu and other soy products, walnuts, pumpkin seeds and avocados.
| | Green Tea: | | Q: | Can you tell me about Green Tea? I have heard it's good for a lot of different things. | | A: | Green tea is made from the same plant as ordinary black tea, but it is processed differently. Black tea is made by rolling the tea leaves and exposing them to air. Green tea is made by heating the leaves with dry air or steam, resulting in a very mild-tasting tea. Green tea has receives a lot of press lately because of studies showing it may possibly help prevent cancer, heart disease and cavities. What is responsible for this activity? It seems it may be a group of compounds called polyphenols. These compounds, specifically those called the catechins, have antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic activity. The National Cancer Institute completed a study in China that showed that consumption of at least one cup of green tea each day lowered the risk of esophageal cancer in men and women. According to The Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol. 86, No. 11, June 1, 1994, a review of studies revealed that "green tea has been reported to block the formation of tumors arising in the skin, lung, forestomach, small intestine, liver, pancreas and mammary gland." Research has also shown that green tea may have a cholesterol-lowering effect. The green tea polyphenols have been shown to lower your blood fat levels. If that's not enough, research has also shown that green tea has antibacterial activity, which has been shown to reduce the incidence of cavities and gum disease in study populations.
| | Food to Baby: | | Q: | My first child is growing quickly and I'm introducing more new foods into her diet. She loves the baby food carrots and peas, but I have heard that pesticides in baby food may be harmful for her. Should I be concerned? | | A: | You are fortunate that your baby likes those foods! First, it is important that you understand that a variety of fruits and vegetables are important in anyone's diet, regardless of age. I understand your concern, because more research has come out showing that there are residues of pesticides on commonly eaten fruits and vegetables, which can be included in the production of baby foods. A 1994 USDA study revealed that 88% of the apples they sampled contained residues! What's more, the safe levels for pesticide intake are based on adults, not children. Because of their growth, children eat more food relative to their body weight, so they may receive a greater exposure to pesticides on food. So what should you do? Remember, again, that it is most important that your growing child eat the best diet, which includes fruits and vegetables. Certainly, the best option would be to use only organic baby foods, then use organic fruits and vegetable as the child grows. Earth's Best is a line of baby food that includes a variety of baby and transitional foods, juices and cereals, and it is all organic. Another option is to make your own baby food, pureeing vegetables once you have soaked and cleaned them. (Note: just rinsing vegetables may not be enough to get rid of pesticide residues. Soaking in a dilute soapy solution made with a small amount of dish soap, or using a fruit/vegetable wash, is needed). It is really something to be more aware of than fearful of. The most important thing is that your child gets the best diet possible. | |
