... That laughing lowers levels of stress and strengthens your immune system?
*Laughter decreases the stress hormones and increases the immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies. Laughter also triggers the release of endorphins, which is the body's natural feel-good chemicals.
(*taken from Laughter, The Best Medicine)
Six year olds laugh an average of 300 times a day.
Adults only laugh 15 to 100 times a day.
Click on Laughter to read more.
Showing posts with label Immune System. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Immune System. Show all posts
Thursday, 26 March 2015
Saturday, 6 December 2014
The ABCs - I is For Inflammation & Inflammatory Food (Part 4)
FIGHT & FLIGHT
When our body perceives that we are under an attack, it triggers a release of the stress hormone called 'cortisol' from our adrenal glands. In our normal, everyday life, cortisol is needed to convert proteins into energy, to release glycogen (which functions as the secondary long-term energy storage) and to counteract inflammation.
No human can live without cortisol.
But imagine constantly living with your body constantly under 'threat'. Immediately pictures of those humans in Walking Dead come to mind. You get my drift. They must be ridden with all sorts of inflammation as they are constantly on high alert.
Being on a constant mode of high alert will cause your immune system to crash. And when the immune system crashes, inflammation will be having a party.
Even though we have become an advanced society (I mean, who would have thought that babies could navigate the iPad better than us adults?), depression and stress is on the rise. (Yes, I am a very good example of a stress-machine. And my gut is paying the price!) And when the human body is under stress, the *CRP rises too.
(*CRP is the pro-inflammatory marker for the silent inflammation that happens in our bodies)
So go and de-stress and give your body a break!
When our body perceives that we are under an attack, it triggers a release of the stress hormone called 'cortisol' from our adrenal glands. In our normal, everyday life, cortisol is needed to convert proteins into energy, to release glycogen (which functions as the secondary long-term energy storage) and to counteract inflammation.
No human can live without cortisol.
But imagine constantly living with your body constantly under 'threat'. Immediately pictures of those humans in Walking Dead come to mind. You get my drift. They must be ridden with all sorts of inflammation as they are constantly on high alert.
Being on a constant mode of high alert will cause your immune system to crash. And when the immune system crashes, inflammation will be having a party.
Even though we have become an advanced society (I mean, who would have thought that babies could navigate the iPad better than us adults?), depression and stress is on the rise. (Yes, I am a very good example of a stress-machine. And my gut is paying the price!) And when the human body is under stress, the *CRP rises too.
(*CRP is the pro-inflammatory marker for the silent inflammation that happens in our bodies)
So go and de-stress and give your body a break!
The ABCs - I is For Inflammation & Inflammatory Food (Part 3)
3. PROCESSED FOOD
I'm sure I do not need to go through the list of ingredients that processed food has. Artificial sweeteners, flavours, additives, preservatives and etc is enough to bring down a healthy bull!
4. SYNTHETIC SWEETENERS
Even though the artificial sweeteners are not sucrose, there is a possibility of a person developing diabetes type II from constantly consuming these artificial sweeteners. So do not think that you are safe from diabetes by consuming these!
Some of these artificial sweeteners will not raise the blood sugar level after consumption as they are not carbohydrates. BUT the sugar alcohols (which occur naturally in some fruits and vegetables) and are now artificially produced are carbohydrates. And carbohydrates raise the blood sugar level. The sugar alcohols are found in chocolate, candy, chewing gums, frozen desserts, mouth wash, toothpaste, baked goods and food spreads.
5. GLUTEN
Gluten attacks the lining of the gut of people with the Celiac disease. Our intestines are layered with villi which is where nutrients are absorbed. Gluten flattens these villi and cause them to lose the ability to absorb nutrients from food we ingest.
The end result would be malnourishment, a leaky gut and a compromised immune system.
For more information on what gluten does to people, click on LINK.
I'm sure I do not need to go through the list of ingredients that processed food has. Artificial sweeteners, flavours, additives, preservatives and etc is enough to bring down a healthy bull!
4. SYNTHETIC SWEETENERS
Even though the artificial sweeteners are not sucrose, there is a possibility of a person developing diabetes type II from constantly consuming these artificial sweeteners. So do not think that you are safe from diabetes by consuming these!
Some of these artificial sweeteners will not raise the blood sugar level after consumption as they are not carbohydrates. BUT the sugar alcohols (which occur naturally in some fruits and vegetables) and are now artificially produced are carbohydrates. And carbohydrates raise the blood sugar level. The sugar alcohols are found in chocolate, candy, chewing gums, frozen desserts, mouth wash, toothpaste, baked goods and food spreads.
5. GLUTEN
Gluten attacks the lining of the gut of people with the Celiac disease. Our intestines are layered with villi which is where nutrients are absorbed. Gluten flattens these villi and cause them to lose the ability to absorb nutrients from food we ingest.
The end result would be malnourishment, a leaky gut and a compromised immune system.
For more information on what gluten does to people, click on LINK.
Thursday, 4 December 2014
The ABCs - I is For Inflammation & Inflammatory Food (Part 2)
The sad part about inflammatory diseases is that doctors prescribe all sorts of medication such as NSAIDS and painkillers to deal with the pain, acid blockers for the reflux, anti-spasmodic medication for the intestines in IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), diabetes medication, high blood medication, and the list goes on and on and on.
This made me wonder. What is the ROOT of all these inflammation?
The GUT
Did you know that two thirds of our body's immune system lies in the gut? They are all in the gastrointestinal tract! (Which means I'm screwed as my gastrointestinal issues have been multiplying!!!!)
So it all begins in the GUT!
An inflamed gut would result in GERD (gastrointestinal reflux), intestinal and abdominal bloating, frequent episodes of diarrhoea, frequent episodes of constipation, nausea, heartburn, excessive gas, and abdominal pain.
So what causes the gut to be inflamed?
Studies have shown that our diet today is the trigger for a lot of the inflammation which happen in our bodies.
Inflammatory Food
1. SUGAR
Foods which are loaded with sugar or even with high glycemic values cause the insulin in our body to shoot up. A few examples of food with high glycemic values are white bread, corn flakes, oatmeal, short grain white rice russet potato, pumpkin, pretzels, rice cakes, popcorn, saltine crackers, melons and pineapple. I don't think I need to list examples of food which are loaded with sugar. We all know what they are!
The immediate surge of blood sugar triggers a release of insulin into the body. This insulin levels will trigger eicosanoids which is a short-lived hormone inside our cells. The function of this eicosanoids hormone is to act as either a pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory compound. When insulin levels are high, these eicosanoids become confused and tends to lean towards the pro-inflammatory function.
2. HYDROGENATED & TRANS FATS
The food industry evolved where vegetable oils were concerned in the late 19th century when they discovered that by turning non-hydrogenated fats into partially hydrogenated oils allowed for easier transportation and wider usage. This was also very much cheaper than solid animal fats. And the oils would not go rancid so fast.
This process turns some polyunsaturated fatty acids into monosaturated and saturated fatty acids. When this occurs some of the saturated fatty acids are turned into 'trans fat'. And 'trans fat' raises the (LDL) cholesterol levels which are the bad cholesterol levels. Not only does it increase the bad cholesterol levels (LDL), it also decreases the good cholesterol levels (HDL). And this increases the risk for heart diseases and promotes inflammation in the body. Eating these kind of unhealthy oils can lead resistance to insulin in the body which can lead to diabetes.
Hydrogenated oils and 'trans fats' are used in margarines, commercially baked goods and snacks. And deep fried foods are food to absolutely avoid as these unhealthy oils are mostly used.
For more information, click on LINK.
You can also click HERE for more reading information.
(to be continued...)
This made me wonder. What is the ROOT of all these inflammation?
The GUT
Did you know that two thirds of our body's immune system lies in the gut? They are all in the gastrointestinal tract! (Which means I'm screwed as my gastrointestinal issues have been multiplying!!!!)
So it all begins in the GUT!
An inflamed gut would result in GERD (gastrointestinal reflux), intestinal and abdominal bloating, frequent episodes of diarrhoea, frequent episodes of constipation, nausea, heartburn, excessive gas, and abdominal pain.
So what causes the gut to be inflamed?
Studies have shown that our diet today is the trigger for a lot of the inflammation which happen in our bodies.
Inflammatory Food
1. SUGAR
Foods which are loaded with sugar or even with high glycemic values cause the insulin in our body to shoot up. A few examples of food with high glycemic values are white bread, corn flakes, oatmeal, short grain white rice russet potato, pumpkin, pretzels, rice cakes, popcorn, saltine crackers, melons and pineapple. I don't think I need to list examples of food which are loaded with sugar. We all know what they are!
The immediate surge of blood sugar triggers a release of insulin into the body. This insulin levels will trigger eicosanoids which is a short-lived hormone inside our cells. The function of this eicosanoids hormone is to act as either a pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory compound. When insulin levels are high, these eicosanoids become confused and tends to lean towards the pro-inflammatory function.
2. HYDROGENATED & TRANS FATS
The food industry evolved where vegetable oils were concerned in the late 19th century when they discovered that by turning non-hydrogenated fats into partially hydrogenated oils allowed for easier transportation and wider usage. This was also very much cheaper than solid animal fats. And the oils would not go rancid so fast.
This process turns some polyunsaturated fatty acids into monosaturated and saturated fatty acids. When this occurs some of the saturated fatty acids are turned into 'trans fat'. And 'trans fat' raises the (LDL) cholesterol levels which are the bad cholesterol levels. Not only does it increase the bad cholesterol levels (LDL), it also decreases the good cholesterol levels (HDL). And this increases the risk for heart diseases and promotes inflammation in the body. Eating these kind of unhealthy oils can lead resistance to insulin in the body which can lead to diabetes.
Hydrogenated oils and 'trans fats' are used in margarines, commercially baked goods and snacks. And deep fried foods are food to absolutely avoid as these unhealthy oils are mostly used.
For more information, click on LINK.
You can also click HERE for more reading information.
(to be continued...)
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