treatment

Diana lost 165 pounds

November 9, 2017 by Ajima Jackson 4 Comments

Transformation of the Day: Diana lost 165 pounds. After treatment for breast cancer, her doctor encouraged her to embrace exercise and healthy eating habits. It took a few years, but she was able to adopt a new mindset. Going plant-based and exercising regularly has changed her life. Check out her journey.

diana before and after

In 2009, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. When the treatments were completed, my doctor told me that if I worked out and ate right it was possible that the cancer wouldn’t come back. It took a few years for me to say, “I have had enough.” and change my ways. I really had to change my way of thinking.

I started working out six to seven days a week. I do cardio, weight lifting, walking, and running. I transitioned to plant-based diet and my main drink is water. I also drink a protein shake everyday.

It’s been six years since I changed my lifestyle. My starting weight was 330 pounds. I have lost a total of 165 pounds. I’m 5 feet, 6 inches tall. In the past, I had sleep apnea, leg pains and shortage of breath. I’ve gone from taking several medications to taking none. Now, I only take one vitamin a day.

I had to do a lot praying. The only way I was able to be this successful on this journey was with a serious mindset change. It’s not easy, but I’m determined. I tell anyone who wants to make a change, “You can do it. Just hang in there and believe in you.”

My biggest lesson: Don’t take your health for granted. I will never go back to the way I was. Know that if I did it, you can too. Just believe! It’s a mindset… Looking at it this way was the only way I was able to change my life.

I hope that sharing this helps someone!

Instagram: @arvieDiana

diana before and after

La’Tresha lost 42 pounds

January 8, 2017 by Ajima Jackson 1 Comment

Transformation of the Day: La’Tresha lost 42 pounds. Being diagnosed with stage III colon cancer dramatically changed her health, but also her relationship with food. Due to treatment, the sight, smell and taste of food made her physically ill and she lost a lot of weight. With recovery came the joy of eating again and weight gain. Her life was now on the up and up, but she didn’t want to start this new chapter unhappy with the way she looked. Check out how she’s taken action over the past year to change her life.

Today marks the 1 year anniversary of my journey to ‘release the weight’ (12/28/16). To commemorate this very special day, I’ve decided to, break out of my very introverted shell, and share my story.

For most of my life, I was someone who was able to maintain a reasonably healthy weight. At times I did exercise, but I’ve always had a poor diet. Until my mid-30’s, I was what people would consider ‘moderately thin’. At the age of 36 I was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer and my overall health and relationship with food radically changed. Like many cancer patients, throughout my treatment (i.e. surgery and chemotherapy) the sight, smell and taste of food made me physically ill. Eating certain foods would often cause unpleasant side effects as well. Not surprisingly, during this time I went from being relatively thin to appearing emaciated.

As I began to recover, I began to enjoy food eating again. At 37, I got married, moved to a new city and began a new job. Despite my sporadic attempts at exercising, over the next six years, my weight continued to climb. At my heaviest, I weighed 212 pounds at 5’10″. Finally, exactly 365 days ago, I decided I didn’t want to start the second half of my life being unhappy with my appearance.

There really wasn’t a single ‘ah-ha’ moment that made me finally decide to get serious about my health, but rather a series of moments. Examples; buying larger sizes, becoming out of breath while climbing stairs, avoiding mirrors, generally be self-conscience about my size, etc. Last December, my bestie (who lives in another state) and I became weight loss accountability partners. Each week we would text our progress (miles walked/ran, number of days we hit the gym, weight lost or gained). It’s great to have someone to celebrate my successes with as well as commiserate with when the progress was slow or discouraging.

In the beginning, my focus was to simply be active six days per week. Activity didn’t always mean going to the gym. Some days, it was walking home from work or going for a walk during my lunch. It didn’t matter as long as I did something other than eat, sit and sleep. As I began to make progress, I started introducing other small changes that, by themselves, didn’t feel radical. I started a food diary using My Fitness Pal. I logged everything I ate and the calories I burned with physical activity. Being able to see the math (i.e. calories consumed vs. calories burned) was very helpful for me.

I became mindful of everything I was putting in my body and started evaluating the cost/benefit. One of the things that helped was going grocery shopping so that I could bring healthy breakfast and lunch options to work. I stopped drinking sugary drinks. I keep healthy snacks in my office for those mid-morning or mid-afternoon cravings.

Generally, I prefer outdoor activities (biking or running), but I live and work in downtown Chicago, which can make exercising outdoors a challenge. I’m fortunate to have access to a gym at both my residence and where I work, which made it easier to remain active during the long winter months. If for some reason I missed my morning workout, I made it a point to get it in after work. Eventually, my normal workout routines became boring and I started taking fitness classes. I’ve become addicted to spinning and high intensity interval training classes. My typical exercise regime includes 3 days of straight cardio and 3 days of light cardio and weight training.

The result has been that over the past 365 days I’ve lost a total of 42 pounds! My advice to anyone who is finally ready to release the weight is 1) Stay committed. It took time to put on the weight and it’ll take time to lose it. 2) Start by focusing on one thing you can do consistently. Once you have that one thing mastered add something else. 3) You can’t outrun a poor diet. This was the hardest lesson for me to learn. No matter how much I worked out, if I didn’t learn to control my diet I wouldn’t see the results.

What Is Cellulite, Really?

August 25, 2015 by Ajima Jackson Leave a Comment

Orange peels thighs, cottage cheese butt, fat dimples… These are just some of the names people use in reference to cellulite. Despite this condition being general associated with being overweight and eating unhealthy foods, roughly 80-90% of women have it. These are women of various sizes, small and large. Many of which may not be aware simply because it may be on the backs of their thighs or only visible in a bright light.

There are many myths and misconceptions associated with this skin condition even though it is so vastly common. To understand why it happens and how to get rid of it, you need to understand what it is.

What is Cellulite?

Cellulite is quite simply the occurrence of fat deposits under the skin. When normal fat deposits become larger, they can push upwards against the skin which causes the connective tissue to pull down which causes the classic look of dimples and small bumps on the skin. Cellulite can occur anywhere on the body, like stomach or even the arms, but are typically most obvious on the thighs and legs.

“Cellulite is caused by fibrous connective cords that tether the skin to the underlying muscle, with the fat lying between. As fat cells accumulate, they push up against the skin, while the long, tough cords pull down. This creates an uneven surface or dimpling.” – WebMD

cellulite

Cellulite can occur in men and women, but is overall more common in women. This condition can occur anytime in life but is often most apparent after puberty. Sometimes it may dissipate once a young lady has matured while others get cellulite much later in life. The main issue for many people is that cellulite make them feel self conscious and affects self esteem.

There are different stages of cellulite. In the beginning you won’t be able to see it developing below the skin. Stage 2 cellulite: You’ll be able to see slight dimples when you pinch the skin or when you flex your muscles. The next level of cellulite will be visible when standing but not when laying down and eventually it will be visible all the time. Your cellulite can become more or less visible depending on factors like eating habits, weight, age, hydration, pregnancy, skin elasticity and how long you’ve had cellulite.

Why Does Cellulite Happen?

There are a few different reasons why cellulite occurs. Generally, it’s a combination of a few thing which cause it, not just one issue. Doctors typically agree cellulite production is based on these 3 factors:

Hormones: Hormones like estrogen, insulin and thyroid are all involved in fat production, explaining why puberty is such a common time for cellulite to appear.
Genetics: Cellulite is genetic and so even a person with a low body fat percentage may still develop it if they have a family history.
Lifestyle: People that are generally sedentary or who consume a lot of sugary or fatty foods are most apt to develop fat deposits. Smoking also seems to contribute to the appearance of cellulite.

Some doctors have reason to believe that women who often wear tight clothing can worsen their cellulite or exacerbate the condition quickly in the beginning. That’s not necessarily fact, but something to consider.

Can You Get Rid of Cellulite?

There is a lot of controversy about whether a woman can get rid of cellulite completely. The problem is that some women can have cellulite without even being able to see it. In that case, if the appearance of the cellulite approves it is possible that the woman didn’t get rid of it, she just can’t see it.

Due to this, most fitness professionals and doctors agree that while a woman can’t necessarily get rid of this condition completely, they can reduce the appearance the lumps and bumps. It is important to also consider that women with a very visible cellulite may never be able to fully get rid of the appearance as a severe case of fat deposits may have permanently stretched/scarred the skin.

Here are a few ways you can reduce the appearance of cellulite, at home or with a doctor’s help.

Exercise with Focus on Strength Training: This technique is a must for reducing the appearance of cellulite. You need to get active and stop leading a sedentary lifestyle. Cardio is important also but put an emphasis on strength training. Resistance training with weights or bodyweight will help tone your muscles, which is important for blasting stubborn fat deposits. Muscle burns fat at rest and having muscle under the skin can help the appearance.
Lose Weight: Since the size of your fat cells impacts cellulite, it’s a no brainer that weight loss could help improve the appearance of skin affected by cellulite.
Laser Liposuction: Regular liposuction may make the appearance of cellulite worse, but laser liposuction can destroy the fact cells and thus it could have a positive impact. “How it works: A plastic surgeon makes small incisions to the cellulite-laden area. A probe placed through the incisions and under the skin emits a laser, melting fat bulges and cutting through the fibrous bands that pull on and cause dimples in the skin.” – Washingtonian
Please note that the long term affect of laser treatments are still unknown.
Change Your Diet: Even if you aren’t overweight, you can still have unhealthy eating habits which may be a contributing factor. Make sure the bulk of your diet is made up of whole foods, like vegetables, fruits and lean meats. Eat healthy carbs, but keep your intake of them at a reasonable level. Avoid processed foods and fast food as much as possible, especially those that are high in sugar, trans-fats and salt.
Get a Massage: Massage by a professional is very useful for breaking up fat deposits and returning elasticity to the skin. You can find a masseuse experienced in treating cellulite for the best results. Otherwise you can visit a regular one or practice massage on yourself at home.

Other ways you can reduce the appearance of cellulite is to wear looser fitting clothes and underwear. If you have cellulite, don’t feel ashamed or beat yourself up about it. It is a VERY common issue and you are not alone. Having a healthy body, not a perfect body, and loving yourself is the most important thing.

What is Lupus: The Basics

January 17, 2014 by Ajima Jackson Leave a Comment

“African-American women are three times more likely to get lupus than white women. African-American women tend to develop lupus at a younger age and have more severe symptoms than white women.” – womenshealth.gov

Note: Let me just note at the beginning of this article that there is much to learn about Lupus and the research has not bore out all of the answers about how people develop the disease and how it affect the body. What I want to present is an overview of what is known, but I acknowledge that every person’s experience is not the same.

nurse I believe that Lupus is something we should ALL know about in the Black Community. Lupus occurs when the body’s immune system becomes hyperactive and begins to attack normal tissue as if it were an infection to be destroyed. While anyone can be diagnosed with lupus at any time, young black women are more than three times as likely as whites to develop the disease. To put that in perspective, this means that 1 in 250 black women between the ages of 15 and 44 are could develop a form of this painful disease. Fortunately, there have been great strides made in the treatment of lupus and while there is no cure, with proper medication you can live a satisfying and full life.

Common symptoms

While the rate of diagnosis for young black women is high, the awful truth is that the path to a correct diagnosis of lupus can be a long and difficult journey. The common symptoms of lupus are easily mistaken for other diseases, like cancer or MS, especially if they are just showing up. It isn’t until there is a history of symptoms present that a doctor may even suspect lupus. This can be very troubling and causes a lot of confusion. The most common symptoms can include;

Rash or color splotches on the nose and cheeks that are red in color
Swollen, painful joints
Unexplained fever
Breathing causes unexplained, sharp chest pains
Hair loss
Extremities such as fingers and toes turn purple with cold
Similar purple discoloration in extremities when under stress
Unusual sun sensitivity
Low blood cell count

[More info on symptoms]

While all of these symptoms taken together would seem like it would be easy to make a diagnosis, the truth is that most people with lupus appear healthy and the symptoms are intermittent at first. Lupus can often be experienced in waves, with a period of high symptoms followed by a period when there are none present. One clue that researchers are beginning to track down is that while these symptoms could be attributable to other diseases, most are unusual in young black women. There is a strong chance that lupus is inherited so doctors will ask about family history (inheriting lupus is suspected but not absolutely proven).

Three different types of lupus

Generally, there are three different types of lupus, not all of which share the same grouping of symptoms but may display all of them too. The first is the most severe; systemic lupus erythematosus is a form of lupus that affects the joints of the body and different parts of the body including the skin. The second type, discoid lupus, is limited to the skin and the last type, drug-induced lupus, is exactly what it sounds like a form of allergic reaction to a medication you are taking.

How lupus is treated

The good news is that drug-induced lupus will likely disappear once you stop taking the medicine, but some symptoms could be on going. For most people, it is a matter of simply finding a replacement medicine if you have a chronic condition that the medication that caused the induced lupus is treating. This can take some trial and error. It can also be complicated if you are on multiple medications as you will have to figure out which one is causing the lupus. Do not stop taking any medication on your own if you think it is causing your lupus, stopping medication of any type should only be done with a doctor’s approval and supervision. For lupus that affects the skin, there are many ointments and creams that are now available that can help to relieve the rashes and other symptoms associated with discoid lupus. Treating systemic lupus is more involved as you will have to work with your physician to find a pain relief medication that can also reduce any swelling without causing any disruptive side effects in your life. Treatment varies from individual to individual, so these scenarios may not be the case for all people. If you suspect that you are suffering from lupus, TALK to a DOCTOR (I’m not a medical professional. This article is based only on my personal research…not medical expertise)!

How did I get lupus?

No one knows for sure why lupus develops. It is heavily suspected that genes play a role as there is suggestion that lupus can be inherited. However, there isn’t enough evidence to prove that hypothesis so no scientist can explain why one person in a family would develop lupus and two other complete generations not have any symptomology. One benefit from all the research and attention lupus is receiving is it marks a turn in the nature of scientific investigation that is focused on and inclusive of minority health issues. Lupus may turn out to be a blessing in disguise for many who will benefit from the new approach to addressing disorders and disease within minority population that had been missing from health research for too long.

For more information check out this fact sheet from The Lupus Foundation of America – Lupus.org

What is PCOS and how does it affect weight gain and weight loss?

December 19, 2013 by Ajima Jackson 4 Comments

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) has been directly linked to the weight gain in some women. If you are following all of the right practices to lose weight and haven’t made progress, or are gaining weight even though you are exercising and have reduced your caloric intake, you may want to ask your doctor about being tested for polycystic ovarian syndrome. Understanding whether or not PCOS is affecting your body can help you to formulate a better plan to gain and manage a healthy weight.

What is PCOS?

Polycystic ovarian syndrome is an endocrine disorder that leads to the growth of small cysts on the ovaries. It can have other effects in your life beyond just making managing a healthy weight difficult. PCOS has also been linked to menstrual and reproductive difficulties as well. It is estimated that 5 to 10 percent of all women will develop PCOS in their lifetime. Treatment can vary from prescription medication to control the endocrine and hormonal levels in the body to prevent cyst growth to surgery to remove the cysts.

What are the symptoms of PCOS?

Unfortunately there aren’t very many striking symptoms to let you know that you have developed polycystic ovarian syndrome. Many women are unaware they have it until they begin to experience unexplained weight gain or have difficulty in losing weight. Some women may begin to experience painful menstruation or have erratic menstrual patterns. Only a doctor can diagnose PCOS.

Why does it interfere with weight management?

Polycystic ovarian syndrome is an endocrine disorder. This means that the body is producing an imbalance in hormones. Hormones can have a huge effect on your ability to gain or lose weight. The fat around the belly and hips is much different than the fat stored elsewhere around the body. These are estrogen receptor fat cells, fed by estrogen and their presence has recently been linked to an increase in risk for certain types of cancer, including breast cancer. It you have PCOS, your body does not have the right hormone balance to support the processes to convert these fat cells to ketones that can then be consumed by the body. PCOS exists because of a very complicated reaction of the endocrine system to signals that the medical community is just barely beginning to understand. The specifics of how it works in each person varies, which is why treating it can be difficult.

What should I do?

If you have been diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome, or you suspect that you have it, talk to your doctor. With proper testing, you can receive a diagnosis. From there you and your doctor can discuss a variety of options. While surgery to remove a cyst may be indicated, the concern is that the endocrine system will just keep recreating the problem. Getting the endocrine system under control and balancing the hormones in the body may be your best way to prevent a recurrence and to get back on track to maintaining a healthy weight.

Different treatments

There are a variety of prescription drugs, including Metformin, that your doctor may try to help you get your PCOS under control. They can include everything from hormone therapy to endocrine support medications. There is much you can do to help yourself as well. Making sure that you are eating a balanced diet with the right vitamins and nutrients to support a woman’s endocrine system is essential. It is important to also make adjustments to your diet and supplements as you age to meet your body’s needs.

Certain types of “health foods” may not be the best idea for you to eat if you are trying to manage an endocrine reaction. Certain types of soy help the body to produce estrogen which may not help you with PCOS. A 2005 NIH study showed that a low carb diet could be helpful since insulin resistance is a common condition associated with PCOS.

“Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age and is associated with obesity, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance. Because low carbohydrate diets have been shown to reduce insulin resistance, this pilot study investigated the six-month metabolic and endocrine effects of a low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet (LCKD) on overweight and obese women with PCOS…

In this pilot study, a LCKD led to significant improvement in weight, percent free testosterone, LH/FSH ratio, and fasting insulin in women with obesity and PCOS over a 24 week period.” [source]

It is also a good idea to look for more information on any herbal supplements that you take as many are known to have specific hormonal effects that may not be clearly marked on the label as they are sold for a different purpose. The best thing you can do is to talk with your doctor. Bring a list of all the vitamins and supplements you take, along with a copy of your regular diet so you can work together to lessen the chance of PCOS occurring.

4 Prescription Weight Loss Pills You Should Know About

December 12, 2013 by Ajima Jackson Leave a Comment

There is some good news about the change in how obesity is viewed as a disease by the medical community. It may now be easier for you to have access to medical weight loss and weight management treatments covered by insurance, if you and your doctor feel it is the best choice for you. There are many different prescription diet pills that your doctor can prescribe and find the best one to help you reach a healthy weight. The other news is that now YOU have to educate yourself on these prescriptions so you can be an educated patient. It’s a little extra work on your part, but the payoff is worth it, especially because some past pills have had negative side effects and were taken off the market. Here are 4 prescription diet pills that you should know about. (Talk to your doctor about these drugs so that you have all the info you need since this is just an overview.)

Qsymia

Qsymia is one of the new hybrid prescription diet drugs that have come on the market that combine two or more prescription drugs to create one pill to address obesity. In Qsymia the combination contains phentermine and topiramate. Phentermine is a popular appetite suppressant and topiramate is an anti-convulsing. In combination with diet and exercise, Qysmia is most often prescribed to those with weight issues that are related to diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure. The fact that Qysmia includes an anti-convulsant should be a sign that this is a diet drug that is not meant for anyone. There is a risk of potential addiction due to the phentermine ingredients and you should not suddenly stop taking Qysmia as there can be a risk for seizures. Qysmia should not be taken by people with a history of glaucoma or thyroid disorders and should not be taken if you are pregnant or nursing. There is a potential for complications from drug interactions and increased stress on your liver and kidneys so make sure to check with your doctor that this is the right diet pill for you.

Orlistat

Orlistat can be confusing to people as it is also sold under the name Xenical and Alli. The last branding of the drug does not require a prescription due to it being a much smaller dose than is clinically indicated for weight loss. Orlistat works by blocking fat absorption from food. It can block almost 20% of the fats taken in as a meal and the excess fat is passed from the body through regular bowel activity. Orlistat is generally combined with a reduced calorie diet and has a successful track record in morbidly obese patients that are at risk or have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or arteriosclerosis. The main concern with Orlistat beyond the typical ones of drug interaction lies with a unique form of vitamin deficiency that can occur while on the drug. In blocking the fat from being absorbed, Orlistat also blocks the body’s ability to absorb vitamins A, E, D and beta-carotenes from the fat, so a multi vitamin is recommended. Orlistat has a specific warning on it about interaction with many blood thinning drugs.

Xenical

Xenical is one of the brand names that the weight loss drug Orlistat is sold under. Unlike the other branding, Alli, Xenical maintains the clinical recommended dosage of 120mg per dose which is why it requires a prescription and alli does not. The dosage amount in Alli is not suggested to be of benefit to those who are morbidly obese. While Xenical is considered safe to take, there are some risks for side effects involved. Some people have experience hives, sweating, rashes or rapid breathing while taking Xenical. It is recommended that it is taken with a reduced calorie diet and a multi-vitamin as it blocks the natural absorption of some key vitamins from food as well as blocking fat absorption.

Phentermine

Phentermine is one of the best known of the prescribed diet pills and can be hugely effective when combined with a reduced calorie diet, exercise and lifestyle changes. It is a psychostimulant drug and is similar in composition to an amphetamine. It is used medically as an appetite suppressant and has been extensively studied. One of the biggest cautions about phentermine is that it can have addictive properties for people. The other main concern is that it can interact with other drugs in the same family, many of which are available without a prescription. If you are taking any antihistamine, decongestants or cold medicines be sure to let your doctor know. Phentermine is also not recommended for women who are pregnant or nursing.

What is the Keto Diet?

November 21, 2013 by Ajima Jackson Leave a Comment

low carb fish The ketogenic diet, better known as the “keto” diet, is a diet that was originally developed to help people with difficult to control epilepsy (specifically, children with epilepsy). It is a high-fat, moderate protein, low carbohydrate diet. Here’s why it has been recommended for epilepsy: Carbohydrates are important for brain function, usually in the form of glucose. If there are very few carbohydrates in the diet, the liver is forced to do something different to make up for it. The liver converts the fat into fatty acids and a substance known as ketone. Ketone bodies replace the glucose, and are used in the brain instead. Apparently, this state of elevated ketone levels (known as ketosis), actually helps to reduce how often seizures occur in epileptics (not a cure all but it has worked for some people).

Before the keto diet, the original diet for children with epilepsy gave children enough protein for body growth, proper development, and any repairs that may have been necessary. The diet also had just enough calories to help maintain appropriate weight for the child’s age. This adaptation threw in the fats at a 4:1 ratio so that the body can be forced into ketosis. This is achieved by excluding high-carbohydrate foods such as starchy fruits and vegetables, bread, pasta, grains and sugar, while increasing the consumption of foods high in fat such as cream and butter. Full-fat dairy is an incredibly important part of the Keto diet.

If you’ve understood everything that I’ve talked about, you can understand how the Keto diet could be adapted for fat-burning. It’s actually become an popular way for bodybuilders and weight loss enthusiasts alike to lose excess fat and tone up. The low carb fashion of the diet is what draws most people to it, especially because it would seem counter-intuitive to eat a high fat diet in order to lose fat (even though the body needs fat too.)

Basically, the understanding that those who are trying to lose weight have about the diet is that your body isn’t really consuming carbohydrates at all, and so the body will “mistake” fat for carbohydrates. So that means that, instead of burning those carbohydrates for energy, you’re now burning the fat for energy instead. As we talked about above, your body will start burning the fat into Ketone bodies, and in the end the fat is assumed to develop into healthy energy.

This also reduces the insulin production in your body. When your insulin production is at almost zero, the amount of Glucagon is increased greatly. At this point in the keto diet, your body’s fat burning ability is kicked in to high gear and fat storage is slowed or halted.

So what can you eat on the Keto diet? Here’s a basic list of ideas.

Vegetables:

Broccoli
Celery
Asparagus
Lettuce
Spinach
Cucumbers

Meats and Dairy:

Pork
Beef
Chicken
Fish (especially fatty fish like salmon and swordfish).
Ham
Cheese
Butter
Mayo

Other foods:

Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Nuts
Peanut Butter
Eggs
Whey Protein

As with any diet that goes to extremes, there are some things that you will need to watch out for. First off, your body stores a lot of carbohydrates to start with and if you don’t exercise much, you can get through a day without a lot of carbs. The problem comes in when you’re active and you aren’t eating a lot of carbs. You’re going to burn a lot of those carbs, and you’re going to burn all of your glycogen stores. Here’s the problem: glycogen holds up to four times its weight in water. So yes, not only are you starving, you’re also dehydrated, and you won’t be able to have enough energy to do anything because fat burns more slowly than carbs do. As with any weight loss plan, you should talk to a doctor about all the risk before even considering a plan like this. There are a lot of low carb plans out there for you to choose from, so consider all the options if you want to go low carb.

Candida Symptoms and How to Cleanse It from the Body

June 27, 2013 by Ajima Jackson Leave a Comment

candida Candida, the medical term for yeast overgrowth, can occur anywhere on the body – both internally and externally. Rather than something you catch, Candida (yeast) is present in the body at all times. In fact, it plays a vital role in bodily functions, aids in digestion and keeps certain types of bacteria from overpopulating. Most of the time, yeast causes very little problems – you don’t even know it’s there. However, when yeast multiplies, you will know it.

Candida can also affect weight loss and weight gain.

“How does yeast overgrowth prevent weight loss? If yeast causes cravings for sugary, starchy foods, these empty calories get stored as fat. Yeast releases toxins, so the more yeast inside, the more toxins released. These toxins can affect many systems in the body, including those that aid in weight loss.

Lowered metabolism can be a result of yeast toxins on the thyroid. You may become bloated and retain fluid. The toxins released from yeast can create hormonal imbalances that affect your ability to lose weight. Yeast toxins may increase cortisol levels and belly fat if the toxins put enough stress on your body.” – Source

Talk to your doctor for a diagnosis. Find out their recommendations for how you can help your body to eliminate candida and what medicines are available. Here is some general info:

Candida Symptoms

As mentioned before, yeast infections can occur just about anywhere including the skin, genitals, throat, mouth, gastrointestinal tract and even the blood. Symptoms vary according to where the infection is located, but generally include:

Redness or irritation at the location
Itching
Pain and soreness in the affected area

As long as they remain localized, yeast infections only cause local discomfort. If they enter the bloodstream, however, they can be responsible for a host of symptoms and secondary illnesses including:

Digestive issues
Skin and nail fungus
Fatigue
Autoimmune disease
Mood swings, depression and anxiety
Allergies
Difficulty concentrating
Recurrent vaginal and urinary tract infections

Candida Treatment: Medical Options

Local yeast infections are normally treated with creams, powders or oral medications. For common infections such as vaginal yeast infections, athletes foot and diaper rash, you can purchase antifungal creams and powders at any drug or department store. For infections of the mouth (thrush) or more severe infections, your doctor may prescribe the appropriate medications. Sometimes, it’s necessary to take anti-fungal medications orally over the course of several days.

Candida Treatment: Treating and Preventing Yeast Overgrowth with Nutrition

Recurring infections, especially those of the gut and bloodstream, call for a change in diet. When the infections just keep coming back or when they never go away, it’s usually due to a food allergy or an abundance of certain types of foods in the digestive system, which kills off the healthy bacteria your body needs to reduce and maintain normal levels of yeast in your body. The following nutritional tips will help you stop yeast overgrowth:

Follow a low carbohydrate diet. Yeast feeds off of simple carbohydrates, so try your best to eliminate these from your diet. Simple carbohydrates include breads, alcohol and virtually anything made with flour.
Say no to sugar. This is one of the most important things you can do to deal with candida. Candy, cake, pie, ice cream, soda – you name it – all contain some kind of sugar. Again, sugar is a simple carbohydrate. Eliminate all sugary foods from your diet. This includes diet products with fake sugars.
Cut back, but don’t eliminate complex carbohydrates. Eating one cup a day of complex carbohydrates can help eliminate yeast from your system. You don’t want to cut out all carb because you need the fiber, but you need to cut back and give you body a chance to repopulate good bacteria and starve the yeast. Complex carbohydrates include grains, beans, fruit, pasta, potatoes and whole-grain breads.
Eliminate foods that contain yeast. This includes all fermented foods or those that have natural mold, including cheese, dried fruit and beverages.

It’s a the best idea to treat any yeast infection medically and follow up with a change in diet. A combination of medical treatment and diet change will not only treat any current yeast infections, it may prevent future ones from occurring.

Do you know what Really makes that meat look red?

February 6, 2013 by Ajima Jackson Leave a Comment

Today’s Inspiration: Another reason to consider a plant-based diet. – Did you know that some of meat we purchase has been treated with a “harmless” dose carbon-monoxide to make it look fresher. It give the meat a bright red color. This treatment was approved by the FDA in 2004. The worry is not only the carbon monoxide itself, but the fact that meat continues to look fresh long after it may have started to spoil fooling the consumer into buying a sub-standard product. I think that the worst thing about this, is that meat is not labeled to let you know if your meat has been treated with carbon-monoxide. We consumers don’t have a choice, unless we ask the meat department staff to disclose. Just another reason, why I’ve chosen to switch to a plant-based diet.

Here is some info from About.com/Chemistry

“Have you ever wondered why some meat starts looking brown after a few days in the meat case at the grocery store, while other meat stays fresh-looking longer? Some meat is packaged in an atmosphere high in carbon monoxide, as opposed to normal air. The carbon monoxide binds to the myoglobin (a protein) in the meat to cause it to look the pink color most of us associate with fresh meat. The chemical reaction that causes the color fixation doesn’t present a health hazard, but there are concerns about consumer safety because people buy meat according to how it looks. Meat that has been packaged in a carbon monoxide-rich atmosphere will continue to look pink past the point when it should be sold. Untreated meat gets darker in color as it stays on the shelf. Of course, there are other indicators of freshness. A slimy appearance is a giveaway of decay, as is bulging packaging from the gases produced by bacteria. If you could smell the meat, you’d know whether or not it’s good, too.”

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