People casting around for long term ways to deal with an oral malodor problem often wonder what to eat for bad breath. Although suggestions for specific beneficial foods - mostly to temporarily mask the odor in the mouth - are easy to come by, there are few solid suggestions for lifestyle and dietary changes that will actually alleviate the problem. No doubt the best overall advice is simply to stick to a healthy diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and plant protein sources (beans, nuts), and low in fat, and refined carbohydrates.
The biggest offenders include cheese, coffee, onion and garlic. Garlic and onions are particularly potent, because they contain compounds that are absorbed into the bloodstream and expelled by the lungs long after you’ve eaten.
Only time can really cure garlic or onion breath, but for most other food-related types of halitosis, a sprig of parsley, a good brushing (teeth and tongue), or some sugarless gum, mouthwash or mints should do the trick.
On the flip side, bad breath can also be caused by what you’re NOT eating! Fasting or going for long periods of time without eating can be problematic (typically experienced by people suffering from eating disorders). Finally, many medical conditions can contribute to bad breath, including periodontal disease, xerostomia (dry mouth), respiratory tract infections, chronic sinusitis or bronchitis, postnasal drip, diabetes, gastrointestinal issues and liver or kidney disease.
Herbs like parsley, basil, or cilantro, they all contain the green plant pigment chlorophyll, which is a powerful breath freshener.
More Fresheners for Your Mouth include these easy-to-find breath fresheners:
* Dill: It’s also rich in chlorophyll. Chew the seeds, or make dill tea by adding the leaves or mashed seeds to boiling water.
* Cardamom: It contains cineole, a potent antiseptic that kills bad-breath bacteria. You can chew the seeds and then spit them out.
* Anise: The seeds of this licorice-flavored herb have been used for thousands of years to freshen breath. Boil the seeds in a cup of water. Strain, and then drink or use as a mouthwash.
* Peppermint tea, a strong antiseptic, fights halitosis. Learn how peppermint perks up your brain, too.
What cause bad breath and how to cure.
What foods can I eat when I have a cold?
Drink plenty of hot liquids. Water, tea, fruit juice, fruit drinks, warm gelatin or broth based soups. Hot liquids help thin mucous secretions and drain mucous secretions faster. Cold liquids like iced carbonated beverages slow the draining of mucous secretions. Chicken noodle soup has been shown to be better at thinning and draining mucous secretions. Remember to hold your head over hot, steaming liquids while you drink.
Fruit juice or drinks can be thinned with more water to increase tolerance. Drink dairy products like cream based soups, ice cream, pudding or milk as they don't increase phlegm or upper respiratory tract symptoms. Eat spicy foods when you have the cold. Although this may have an uncomfortable effect on your throat if it's already sore, spicy foods are excellent for clearing out the sinuses and helping to reduce overall congestion. Wasabe, for example, can have a profound effect on congestion.
If you're running a fever with a cold, it's important to stay well hydrated. Although you may not feel like drinking, you need to replace fluids lost through sweating and through nasal secretions. In addition, fluids can help to thin out nasal secretions so you feel less stuffy. Hot liquids are more beneficial for opening up the sinuses than are cold ones. Keep some white tea on hand which you can brew at the first sign of a cold. White tea has been shown to have antibacterial and antiviral activity which may help to shorten the duration of a cold, although you'll have to drink at least several cups per day. White tea may also be helpful in reducing the risk of contracting colds and flu in the first place. Fruit juice rich in vitamin C such as orange juice and cranberry juice may are also good choices when you have a cold.
Any other foods are allowed as long as you tolerate them. Tolerate means a food does not cause vomiting, diarrhea or allergic reaction. As your cold symptoms lessen, gradually increase your food intake back to normal for you. If stuffy sinuses are your main symptom, you may get some relief by eating hot and spicy foods. Foods that contain chili peppers or curry can help to open up clogged nasal passages so you can breathe a little easier. They may not provide the cure you're looking for but they may at least ease some of your stuffiness and congestion. Your appetite for food should increase as you get better.
What foods can I eat when I have the flu?
If your symptoms include fever and / or vomiting, contact your doctor. The strains of flu this season can be life threatening. When vomiting has stopped for a few hours, start drinking more liquids to replace the loss of body fluids. Water, tea, fruit juice, fruit drinks, carbonated beverages, broth based soups or prepared gelatin. Green gelatin is not a favorite though among people with vomiting.
If you are vomiting, don't eat or drink for up to 1 hour after the latest instance. Then try 2 ounces of water or flat lemon-lime carbonated beverages. If that stays down, then repeat one of these beverages every 15 - 30 minutes. Vitamin B6 is widely available in foods, including protein foods such as turkey and beans as well as potatoes, spinach, and enriched cereal grains. Proteins such as meats, milk, and fish also contain vitamin B12, a powerful immune booster. Minerals such as selenium and zinc work to keep the immune system strong. These minerals are found in protein rich foods such as beans, nuts, meat, and poultry.
If you have the flu, stay home rather than spreading the flu virus at work or school. Definitely stay home if you are vomiting, have a fever or diarrhea. Remember to get plenty of rest. If you are having problems getting to sleep, switch to decaffeinated tea, herbal tea or decaffeinated carbonated beverages. As your flu symptoms subside, gradually increase your food intake back to normal for you. Your appetite for food should increase as you get better.
Nutrients are special compounds in foods that are essential to the body's repair, growth, and wellness. Nutrients include vitamins, minerals, amino acids, essential fatty acids, and water as well as the sources of calories -- carbohydrates, proteins, and fat. Some nutrients -- called nonessential nutrients -- are made by your body. Other nutrients -- essential nutrients -- must come from your diet. Any deficiency in nutrients can lead to illness if not corrected.
One nutrient that's found to strengthen the immune system so it can fight other infections is glutathione. To help control diarrhea symptoms, try banana, apple juice, applesauce, tea, rice or rice cereal without milk. These foods should help reduce your symptoms because banana and apple have pectin, a soluble fiber that helps solidify watery stool. This powerful antioxidant is most plentiful in the red, pulpy area of the watermelon near the rind. Glutathione is also found in cruciferous vegetables like kale, collards, broccoli, and cabbage.
Healing and cleansing with Barley
BARLEY water was always a regular drink when we were still living at home. Whenever we had to go for a medical exam that included a urine test, my mum would make us drink barley water a day before it to make sure we got a positive result !
My mother was a wise woman. I later found out from an Australian naturopath that barley is known to be a kidney cleanser, and he happily downed glasses of it at a meal we had in a coffee shop here. Barley is good for your intestinal health too. Try to eat the barley grains you find in your drink or sweet broth with fu chook (bean curd skin)and ginkgo nuts.
It's high in fibre which feeds the friendly bacteria in the colon and helps! speed up the transit of fecal matter in it. In this way it helps prevent haemorrhoid and colon cancer. The prop ionic acid and beta glucan from barley's insoluble fibre also help lower cholesterol and prevent the formation of gallstones. Eating barley regularly is a preventive step against heart disease as,besides the fibre content, it is also high in niacin, a B vitamin good for lowering cholesterol.
Diabetics should eat more barley as the fibre will prevent blood sugar levels from rising too high. It also provides relief from constipation or diarrhoea for those suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Barley is rich in selenium which prevents cancer and relieves symptoms of asthma and arthritis. It is a good source of manganese, copper and phosphorous.
Malt sugar comes from sprouted barley which, when fermented, is an ingredient in beer and other alcoholic beverages. Barley, whose Latin name is Horde um vulgare, has been cultivated for more than 10,000 years. Since ancient times, barley has been used for healing purposes and has been known to the Chinese, Egyptians,Greeks and Romans. Athletes in Greece and Rome in those days were known to eat barley bread to give them strength.
Tips for eating
Healthy eating is a vital part of good health. This document gives some brief tips on increasing the amount of healthy food we eat, and how to avoid unhealthy food.
1. Maintain a balanced food intake
* Follow the healthy eating principles and avoid eating too much food in one single meal. Leftovers can be packed home.
* Enjoy plenty of whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Surveys show most Americans don't eat enough of these foods. Do you eat 6-11 servings from the bread, rice, cereal and pasta group, 3 of which should be whole grains? Do you eat 2-4 servings of fruit and 3-5 servings of vegetables? If you don't enjoy some of these at first, give them another chance. Look through cookbooks for tasty ways to prepare unfamiliar foods.
* Trim off visible fat from meat and remove the skin of poultry before eating.
2. Avoid sauce and gravy
* Avoid oily sauces like coconut sauce, cream sauce, curry sauce, and salad dressing in order to cut down on the intake of fat.
* Choose sauces and dressings of lower fat content, such as tomato sauce and low-fat salad dressing.
3. Pace oneself slowly when eating
* Eating too fast not only increases the chance of choking and stomach discomfort, but can also lead to overeating.
* Eat regular meals. Skipping meals can lead to out-of-control hunger, often resulting in overeating. When you're very hungry, it's also tempting to forget about good nutrition. Snacking between meals can help curb hunger, but don't eat so much that your snack becomes an entire meal.
4. Turn down unhealthy food
* When offered with high-caloric, high-fat, or salty foods, try to turn them down politely.
5. Maintain a healthy weight.
* The weight that's right for you depends on many factors including your sex, height, age and heredity. Excess body fat increases your chances for high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, some types of cancer and other illnesses. But being too thin can increase your risk for osteoporosis, menstrual irregularities and other health problems. If you're constantly losing and regaining weight, a registered dietitian can help you develop sensible eating habits for successful weight management. Regular exercise is also important to maintaining a healthy weight.
Healthy and Smart Eating for Elderly
Eating a healthy diet can reduce the risk for many conditions associated with aging, including anemia, confusion, infections, hip fractures, hypotension, and wounds. And when combined with regular physical activity it can reduce the risk of many chronic diseases, including osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and some cancers.
There are an estimated 78 million baby boomers in the United States who started turning 60 in January 2006. The numbers of senior citizens in this country will continue to increase at a rapid rate over the next 30 years due to the aging of this generation. As baby boomers continue to age, more older Americans than ever will be at risk for conditions associated with poor nutrition.
1. Estimate the correct amount of food
* Before ordering food, estimate the portions that can be eaten so as to avoid ordering too much.
* Some restaurants may serve larger portion sizes, so do not hesitate to ask the waiters about the food portions in advance.
* The bulk of the diet should include foods that are high in fiber like whole-grain breads and cereals, beans, fruits and vegetables. These foods can help prevent constipation as well as lower the risk for chronic diseases.
2. Grasp the opportunity to order food
* When eating out with family or friends, do grasp the opportunity to order some healthier dishes.
* Ask the waiters about the ingredients or cooking methods being used for those dishes with unfamiliar names.
3. Go for low-fat meat or soy bean products
* Choose lean meat, fish, skinless chicken, and tofu more often.
* Avoid high-fat or high-cholesterol meats, such as belly meat, offal, luncheon meat, sausages, chicken feet, fish head, etc. and deep-fried soy bean products such as deep-fried tofu, etc.
* Milk products are high in calcium and vitamin D, which helps keep bones strong in aging. It is important that the elderly have three servings of vitamin D fortified low-fat/fat-free milk, yogurt or cheese every day. Reduced-lactose milk products, soy-based beverages or tofu are good alternatives for those who are lactose intolerant.
4. Choose more high dietary fiber food
* Choose more foods prepared with high dietary fiber ingredients which include whole grain cereals, dried beans, vegetables, and fruits, etc. Some side vegetables, such as mushroom, dried fungi, and carrot, are also good sources of dietary fiber.
5. Reduce salty food or condiments
* Try to avoid dishes with cured meat or preserved ingredients, such as sausages, salted fish, salted egg, and pickled vegetables, such as sauerkraut (pickled cabbage) and pickled olives. Dishes cooked with salty condiments, such as spare ribs with preserved black beans and pork with sauerkraut, should also be selected less often.
* Choose dishes seasoned with natural low-salt condiments like ginger, spring onion, garlic, and onion, etc.
6. Choose dishes cooked with less oil
* Low-fat cooking methods include steaming, boiling, baking, grilling, and stewing. Examples of low-fat foods include noodle soup, boiled vegetables, grilled fish, and roast chicken etc.
* Avoid deep-fried and oily foods like French fries, deep-fried chicken, spare ribs, etc.
7. Be smart when choosing desserts or drinks
* Most desserts have high sugar and caloric contents, so it is preferable to eat only small portions. Fresh fruit is a healthier dessert choice.
* For drinks, choose water, plain tea, or small amount of fresh fruit juice rather than high sugar and caloric drinks, such as soft drinks, sweetened juice, and beer, etc.
Finally, loneliness also contributes to decreased food intake. Many older adults would rather eat something convenient and unhealthy than cook for themselves and then eat it alone. Skipping meals is not healthy, and may cause your metabolism to slow down or lead you to eat more high-calorie, high-fat foods at your next meal or snack.
Is salty food bad for your health?
The body needs some salt, but too much can cause high blood pressure, which is a major cause of strokes and heart attacks. High levels of salt are also associated with fluid retention, stomach cancer and osteoporosis. Some sweet snacks, breakfast foods and low-fat foods contain high levels of sodium even though they may not taste salty, according to an analysis of supermarket products by a consumer group.
The Food Commission has analysed four types of foods - white bread, baked beans, tomato soup and crisps - to see how today's salt levels compare to those recorded in 1978. They also examined children's foods to see if they meet the Government's salt recommendations. According to the center, while some companies have reduced sodium in their products in recent years, amounts have spiked in other products over the same time period. A serving of french friesat Hardee’s, the fast food chain, contains three times as much sodium as it did in 2005, according to C.S.P.I.
The Food Commission discovered that the levels of salt in crisps had risen dramatically and children's foods were far too salty. In contrast the salt levels for white bread, baked beans and tomato soup had hardly changed. Experts say too much salt is a major health issue, but cooking at home, not adding salt to food and eating more fresh produce could help.
The best safeguard against consuming too much is to read the labels and become aware. That means avoiding foods that are high in sodium. You can dramatically reduce the amount of salt you intake by making minor modifications to your every day diet.
