Tag Archives: health

Papa John’s Health Tips – Importance of Carbohydrates

Despite the claims of diets that promote cutting back on carbohydrates, these macronutrients are one of the most important components of the foods you eat. This category of foods includes sugars, starches and fiber. You can get carbohydrates from grains, vegetables, fruits and dairy. Carbohydrates should make up about 45 to 65 percent of your caloric intake. Getting too few carbohydrates can lead to unpleasant side effects and even to major complications if carbohydrate restriction lasts a long time.

Functions

Carbohydrates are your body’s main energy source. Every gram of carbohydrates you consume contains about 4 calories. When you consume carbohydrates, the enzyme amylase converts them into glucose, the primary fuel that the body uses to power all cellular activity. The heart, brain, kidneys and muscles all need carbohydrates to function. Excess carbohydrates can be stored in the liver and muscles for later use after being converted into glycogen.

Immediate Side Effects

When you restrict carbohydrates from your diet, you are likely to experience side effects as your body tries to adapt and make up for the sudden lack of fuel. You are likely to experience mood swings, nausea, dizziness, weakness and depression as a result. As your body goes into ketosis, a state in which fat and protein is burned for fuel instead of carbohydrates, your body will produce compounds called ketones that can show up in your saliva and cause bad breath. You might also notice that your thinking gets foggy as your brain runs out of glucose to fuel its normal activity.

Complications

Long term complications can develop if you deprive your body of adequate carbohydrates for long periods of time. Your body might begin to break down muscle tissue to act as fuel. As the levels of ketones rise in your bloodstream, your blood can become more acidic, placing stress on your kidneys and other organs. Because many of the foods containing carbohydrates are rich sources of other nutrients, you might also develop nutrient deficiencies if you stop eating carbohydrate-containing foods.

Considerations

Many foods containing carbohydrates are also the source of dietary fiber. Fiber is the indigestible component in carbohydrate-containing foods. Fiber works in the body to lower cholesterol, modulate blood sugar, reduce constipation and hemorrhoids and help prevent some types of cancer. You should try to get about 14 g of carbohydrates for every 1,000 calories you consume, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Benefits of Chocolate

Why is Dark Chocolate Healthy?:

Chocolate is made from plants, which means it contains many of the health benefits of dark vegetables. These benefits are from flavonoids, which act as antioxidants. Antioxidants protect the body from aging caused by free radicals, which can cause damage that leads to heart disease. Dark chocolate contains a large number of antioxidants (nearly 8 times the number found in strawberries). Flavonoids also help relax blood pressure through the production of nitric oxide, and balance certain hormones in the body.

Other Benefits of Dark Chocolate:

Chocolate also holds benefits apart from protecting your heart:

it tastes good

it stimulates endorphin production, which gives a feeling of pleasure

it contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant

it contains theobromine, caffeine and other substances which are stimulants

Benefits & Facts of Thyme Tea

Thyme is a delicate herb which is both pungent and hot with a penetrating fragrance. It is also a fabulous herb for healing a large number of ailments. It is known to increase the flow of urine and to help in menstruation. It helps in the delivery process and prevents miscarriages; in fact, it cleanses all the organs of the body. The Abbess Hildegard von Bingen used thyme for nervous disorders, leprosy and paralysis.

The Abbess Hildegard von Bingen stated, “He who drinks a cup of thyme tea instead of coffee in the morning will soon feel the beneficial effect: enlivened spirits, great comfort in the stomach, no coughing in the morning and an overall well-being.”

Thyme grows in sunny areas next to ant-hills. You can find thyme in dried up lawns, as it must have lots of sun and heat. Thyme came from the Mediterranean in the 11th century and is found in many gardens. Most people know the thyme plant as Garden Thyme (thymus vulgaris) or as Mother Thyme.

Thyme Benefits:

Thyme cures styes and aids pink eye. It cleans scrapes and cuts immediately with its antiseptic and disinfectant properties. Thyme treats women with menstrual cramps and PMS symptoms also. Thyme is a common remedy for stomach ailments, lung congestion, coughing ailments and overall flu conditions. It is even used to remove nightmares from children. Thyme is used for sprains, rheumatism, muscular atrophy, stroke, multiple sclerosis and paralysis. Thyme is a good overall herb to keep in the kitchen.

Papa John’s Health Tips – Importance of Protein

Athletes need plenty of protein to optimize athletic performance; their body uses protein to help repair, build or maintain muscle mass in response to training. Protein requirements for athletes are based on body weight. Consuming high-protein foods at each meal will help an athlete meet his protein needs, which are attainable without using supplements. High-protein foods include lean meats, poultry, fish, seafood, eggs, soy products, low-fat dairy products, legumes, nuts, seeds and peanut butter.

General Requirements

According to a 2007 edition of the “Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition,” the International Society of Sports Nutrition’s position stand is that intakes of 1.4 to 2.0 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight are appropriate, safe and may improve athletic performance for people who are physically active. These values of 1.4 to 2.0 grams per kilogram are equivalent to 0.64 to 0.91 grams of protein per pound of body weight each day. Therefore, a 160-pound athlete needs 102 to 146 grams of protein each day.

Endurance Athletes

The protein needs of endurance athletes, such as distance runners, are based on the intensity of their training regimen. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, endurance athletes need 0.55 to 0.8 grams of protein per pound of body weight when training at a light to moderate intensity, and 0.7 to 0.9 grams of protein per pound of body weight during times of high-intensity training. For example, a 140-pound marathon runner may require up to 126 grams of protein each day.

Strength-Trained Athletes

According to a 2010 edition of the “Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition,” strength athletes who participate in intense training regimens need 1.5 to 2.0 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight, which equals about 0.68 to 0.91 grams of protein per pound of body weight each day. For example, a 190-pound, strength-trained athlete needs about 129 to 173 grams of protein each day to optimize his muscle mass, strength and athletic performance.

Reducing Body Fat

Protein is especially important for athletes who want to reduce body fat, but maintain their lean muscle mass. A review published in a 2011 edition of the “Journal of Sports Sciences” reports that athletes who restrict calories can benefit from consuming protein intakes as high as 1.8 to 2.0 grams per kilogram, because those amounts help prevent lean muscle mass loss and promote fat loss during periods of weight loss. These values, 1.8 to 2.0 grams per kilogram, are equivalent to 0.82 to 0.91 grams of protein per pound of body weight. Based on this recommendation, a 220-pound bodybuilder trying to reduce body fat by restricting calories would need 180 to 201 grams of protein each day.

Oregano Oil Benefits

Consult a physician or health professional. Oregano oil supplements are not recommended for everyone. Before beginning a regimen of oregano oil to treat internal symptoms, consult a health professional to make sure you do not have any contraindications (such as pregnancy or anemia) for use of the oil.

A health professional should also be able to suggest a recommended dose for attempts to use oregano oil as a natural treatment for whatever condition you are trying to address.

Some oregano oil doses need to be combined with iron pills or other oils or liquids to dilute the concentration or correct for certain effects straight or consistent use of oregano oil can cause.

Select an emulsified oil. For the duration of your treatment, 600 mg of emulsified oil in capsule form per day should be the maximum dose necessary (for short-term treatment) to relieve intestinal symptoms and reduce inflammation.

Smaller doses of 100 to 150 mg per day in capsule form should be sufficient for less serious symptoms or problems, such as yeast imbalances, general inflammation, sinus problems, and upset stomachs.Take the oil daily until the symptoms resolve. Oregano oil needs to be taken consistently to build up the effect and reduce symptoms. Do not skip doses to give yourself the best chance at benefiting from the healing properties of oregano oil. Doses can be spread throughout the day.

Drink the oil mixed with juice, water, or milk. Because oregano oil can be very intense and even dangerous in its undiluted form, take capsule supplements or mix undiluted drops with a small glass of juice, water, or milk before consuming.

Oregano oil (3-6 drops) mixed with juice can reportedly aid a sore throat, cold, or sinus condition.

When purchasing a supplement, look for a concentration of carvacrol of 70% or greater.