Best Health Tips

Polls traced declining interest in H1N1 vaccine

2010-05-20T00:50:00.000-07:00

If the trajectory of public opinion during the H1N1 influenza pandemic is any guide, safety worries and doubts about the severity of the disease threat may cause a good share of the public to shun vaccination the next time a pandemic emerges, according to a review of 10 months' worth of polls.

Surveys taken before the H1N1 vaccine became available showed that about half of the population planned to be vaccinated, but that fraction shrank considerably by the time the vaccine became readily available in December, says the report published online today by the New England Journal of Medicine. The main reasons for not wanting the vaccine were safety worries and a belief that it wasn't needed.

On the other hand, the polls suggested that most people heeded public health messages about other flu-prevention steps, such as hand washing, says the report by researchers from Harvard University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Also, pollsters found that a majority had a generally favorable impression of the governmental response to the pandemic.

The authors reviewed 20 polls conducted between April 2009 and January 2010, eight of them run by the Harvard School of Public Health for the CDC and the rest by news organizations and polling institutes.

Early in the pandemic, surveys indicated that most Americans were following the public health advice to wash their hands more often and to prepare to stay home if they got sick. About 35% of respondents said they had avoided being near people with flu-like symptoms.

Before the vaccine became available, 46% to 57% of respondents said they planned to be vaccinated, and 59% to 70% of parents intended to have their children immunized.

For adults who said they would not or might not seek vaccination, the top three reasons cited in September were concern about side effects (30%), doubt about the risk of getting a serious case of flu (28%), and a belief that they could get drug treatment if they did get sick (26%). Safety concerns and doubts about the disease risk continued to be major deterrents to vaccination in December and January, the polls showed.

The surveys also documented that few people who wanted the vaccine succeeded in getting it in October and November, when the doses began trickling out to providers. By early November, 17% of adults had tried to get vaccinated, but only 30% of them succeeded. Among adults in high-priority groups, 21% sought the vaccine, but 66% of them failed, the polls found. About 40% of parents sought the vaccine for their children, but two thirds of them failed.

By the time states began offering the vaccine to everyone in mid-December, interest in it was ebbing, the polls showed. The proportion of people concerned about getting sick dropped to 40% at that point, from a peak of 51% to 59% in October and November.

The share of parents who had at least one child vaccinated reached 35% in December and 40% in January, figures well above those for adults seeking the vaccine for themselves. Among adults who had talked with a health care practitioner about the vaccine, 53% said the practitioner had recommended it and 17% said the opposite.

Through the whole period studied, a majority of Americans had a good impression of the government's response, the polls showed. In the early days, 54% thought the response was appropriate, while 39% saw it as an overreaction. By January, 59% endorsed the response, while 39% called it fair or poor.

The report says the public's two main concerns about the response were displeasure with the vaccine shortage and, in the early phase of vaccine distribution, worry that the government hadn't done enough to ensure the vaccine was safe.

The Separated twin girls to be discharged next week

2010-05-13T04:12:00.001-07:00

Conjoined twins Sita and Gita are ready to go home, a month after being separated in a 14-hour long surgery. According to doctors, the twins have recuperated completely and will be discharged next week.

They were born fused, had common intestinal and urinary tracts. Parts of their pelvises, spines, hipbones and legs were also fused. Finally, the twins have recovered from the surgery and are ready to go home, separated.
Doctors of Batra hospital have tied up with a private hospital in Patna, where the twins will get free medical treatment. The daughters of a daily wager, Subhash Mukhiya, and Nirmala Devi, Sita and Gita hail from Bhawanipur Kushwaha village in Bihar’s East Champaran district.

The 14-hour long surgery involved separating their spines and pelvises as also the intestines followed by splitting of the common anal canal (faecal tract). The anal openings, the vaginal openings and the urinary tracts were then reconstructed and skin defects closed using constructed skin flaps. A team of 27 specialists including paediatric surgeons, critical care specialists, orthopaedics and plastic surgeons were involved in conducting the surgery.

Surgeries to separate conjoined twins have been few and far between. Very few cases have been successfully operated upon worldwide and in India the number of such surgeries performed is almost negligible.

Air Pollution can kill your Heart !

2010-05-11T07:23:00.001-07:00

A new study is trying to make an effort to study the impact of air you breathe on your heart.

The doctors have drawn substantial links between heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular diseases, to what we breathe besides our eating habits.

Places experiencing heavy traffic are now considered a much stronger cause of health problems, and what your lungs can handle, your heart may not.

The doctors feel that the lungs are able to handle more pressure than the heart. So polluted air causes mire threat to your heart than to your lungs.

Breathe fresh air to avoid any possibility of an heart attack.

We must invest in Mother's Health

2010-05-08T23:37:00.000-07:00

I wish all my readers a Very Happy Mother's Day. It is our duty to respect and love our mother, who has given this wonderful opportunity to us to enjoy the moments of life.

A report by the NGO ranks India as the highest in the world in terms of shortfall of health workers. The report calls for investment in female health-care workers to address the shortfall needed to save the lives of mothers, newborn babies and kids.

More care should be taken regarding the health status of women and mothers.

Eat Almonds - Stay Fit

2010-04-26T07:22:00.000-07:00

Fortunately, the delicately flavored and versatile almond is available throughout the year to make a healthy and tasty addition to both sweet and savory dishes. Although packaged almonds are available year round, they are the freshest in mid-summer, which is when they are at the height of their season.

Eating a handful of almonds a day as part of a healthful lifestyle may lower "bad" cholesterol levels and help reduce risk of heart disease. One of the studies presented is a first-of-a-kind analysis of several existing almond studies. The analysis of the body of studies as a whole showed resounding results of almonds’ ability to lower total and LDL or "bad" cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease. The study consistently showed that people who eat roughly one handful of almonds (1 ounce) a day may significantly reduce total and LDL cholesterol.

Almonds are packed with protein and help to prevent diseases such as gallstones, type 1 diabetes, colon cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, cholesterol and aid weight loss. They are a good source of manganese, copper and vitamin B2 which help to fight against the health damaging free radicals and increase oxygen-based energy production which promotes the antioxidant molecule, glutathione.

Concentrated food for Healthy Body

2010-04-26T07:13:00.001-07:00

* Concentrates haven't always been harbingers of good health. Remember the days spent stirring (and stirring) a frozen log of orange juice in a pitcher of cold water until it dissolved into an ice-cold sugar bomb that you promptly drained? Not-from-concentrate is now all the rage at grocery stores, but in the supplement world concentrated powders and pills derived from extracting nature's vital elements might be the best way to feed your body to meet specific training goals. These six supplements not only represent some of the best extracts on the market but require little if any stirring.

A FISH CALLED DHA

* Not everyone enjoys eating fish, or the way the house smells when you cook it. Yet the benefits of the omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil are critical for numerous reasons, not the least of which are muscle growth and fat loss. One key fat with these potent effects is docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

While flaxseeds and walnuts are good whole-food options, they don't provide DHA directly. Instead they yield alpha-lipoic acid, an omega-3 fat that must be converted to DHA in the body, and unfortunately this conversion isn't always plentiful. The good news is that fish oil provides key fats without any conversion needed. Your best bet is to supplement directly or take a high-yield DHA product.

BEST FOR: Fat loss, muscle growth, joint recovery and cardiovascular health

TRY IT: 1-3 grams of a fish-oil supplement 2-3 times per day or 500-1,000 mg of DHA in two divided doses

Take Care of Your Digestive System

2010-04-26T07:08:00.001-07:00

In this article, I'm going to suggest a few steps that are likely to yield a much better result. And, of course, reading this article is free.
First, have your doctor evaluate your particular issue. This is always the first step. Consider getting a second opinion. If doctors can't help much, keep reading.
Second, do your own research on the internet. Be cautious though--there's a lot of health advice on the internet that is wrong or even dangerous.
Third, eat a healthy diet. This is essential. "Don't eat man made foods." Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Avoid candy, cookies, chips, foods made from white flour and other junk foods.
Fourth, exercise. This can be as easy as walking up a few flights of stairs at work, riding your bicycle or jogging.
Fifth, consider whether or not you are creating your own problem as a result of the pills you are taking. The offending pills can be illegal drugs, over the counter medications, excessive vitamins or other supplements, or even the medication that is being prescribed by your doctor!
Don't allow yourself to worry about your digestive problems. I know that's a lot easier said than done. However, worrying will only make things worse. In fact, if you spend a lot of time worrying, that may make any real progress impossible!
Finally, pray. And get others to pray with you and for you. God is fully capable of doing miracles today. And He does.
So these are my suggestions. I think, if you follow these steps, you can make real progress--even if you've suffered with these issues for a very long time.

Remedies and Natural Cures for Diarrhea

2010-04-26T07:07:00.001-07:00

Diarrhea is a condition in which a person experiences a frequent watery stool against the normal stool or you can say that a person undergoes a loose stool frequently. Diarrhea itself is a disease under different condition or it is being related with the various digestive problems and it is one of their symptoms.
When it lasts for 2-3 days, then it is not considered to be in a serious condition but if it lasts for more than 2 weeks and also it is painful then in that case you must consult to a physician.
Symptoms of Diarrhea: Few main symptoms of diarrhea are fever, sometimes stool with blood, nausea, loose or watery stools and sometimes diarrhea is also associated with abdominal pain.
Types of Diarrhea: Basically there are two types of diarrhea - acute diarrhea and chronic diarrhea.
1. Acute diarrhea: This type of diarrhea doesn't require any intensive medication. It lasts for less than 3-4 weeks and it is cured normally.
2. Chronic diarrhea: Usually this type of diarrhea is caused due to some infection and it continues for more than month and even it can continue up to a year. Few main causes of chronic diarrhea are bowel cancer, alcohol consumption for long time, poor digestion of food etc.
Causes of Diarrhea
1. Due to the after affect of some medicines
2. Use of laxatives like magnesium, cascara etc. and the other chemicals in day to day life
3. Excess intake of alcohol
4. Bacterial and viral infection
5. Reaction against the intake of some food
Natural Cures and Home Remedies for Diarrhea
1. Water is very essential for our body so make a habit to drink plenty of water and fluids. You can go for drink like carrot juice as this drink improves the consistency of stool. Avoid alcohol and caffeine.
2. Prefer to eat the preparation made of rice and light food without oil and spices.
3. For mild diarrhea you can also take blackberry tea.
4. Increase the intake of yoghurt but totally avoid milk as well as dairy product.
5. You can take ginger capsules to reduce this problem and even the ginger tea can stop the cramps and pain.
6. For many digestive ailments charcoal is excellent.
7. Increase the intake of soluble fiber which is found in fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
8. Take a glass of water and squeeze two lemons in it and add half tea spoon of baking powder and drink it as soon as it foams.

Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention - Allergies

2010-04-26T07:06:00.000-07:00

Allergy Causes:Our immune system contains two types of lymphocytes (B-cells and T-cells) that protect our body from any external attack. On recognition of a foreign substance, B-cell converts itself into a plasma cell and starts producing antibodies to destroy the foreign particles/substances. The plasma cell produces five basic antibodies which are: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG and IgM (these antibodies are called Immunoglobulin i.e. Ig) to destroy the foreign substance and antibodies produced by it. Among the antibodies produced by the plasma cell, the antibody that causes allergic reaction is IgE. These IgE antibodies attach themselves to mast cells and basophils that produce anti-infection substance histamine. The IgE antibodies recognizes the foreign harmful substance and reacts with the protein markers attached to these harmful substances causing a chain reaction and destruction of the harmful substance. The above mentioned mechanism of foreign harmful substance destruction works perfectly fine in a normal person. But in case of a person suffering from allergy for a particular substance, the lymphocytes fail to recognize a foreign harmless particle leading to the production of IgE antibodies in very large quantities. Theses IgE antibodies attach themselves to the basophils and mast-cells. As this causing substance comes into contact, the IgE antibodies cause destruction of mast-cells and basophils leading to excessive secretion of histamine (which is released in blood by the destroyed basophils and mast-cells) in body.
Allergy symptoms:The above mentioned situation leads to the blood vessel expansion causing low blood pressure in the person. At times, the low blood pressure is almost negligible, but in many cases, it becomes major. Along with low blood pressure, the person may also witness symptoms like sneezing, diarrhea, wheezing, itching of entire body or a particular organ, skin reaction such as rashes, irritation and skin inflammation, swelling of a particular organ and queasiness etc.
Allergy Treatment:Even if your allergist can tell you that you are allergic to some substance, no diagnostic test can be 100% sure about the substance you are allergic to. Allergists use combination of various tests to confirm an allergy causing substance. Scratch/Patch Test (In this test, a solution of possible this causing substance and water is applied on skin of the person and the skin surface is scratched with the help of a needle. If the person is allergic to the substance, then his/her body will develop any of the (symptoms), Elimination Diet/Food Challenge Test and Blood Test are the most commonly used diagnostic tests. Along with the above tests, allergist may also consult your personal and medical history, your physical condition etc. in diagnosis of allergy.

Treat Depression - Why ?

2009-11-23T22:39:00.000-08:00

BLEAK FORECAST FOR THE BLUES
Why is it so important to treat depression ? Because it’s more than a mental health issue. For instance, a study in archives of general psychiatry found that older adults with depression were more likely to accrue visceral fat (abdominal fat surrounding internal organs), which has been linked to increased risk of CVD and heart attack. Other studies suggest that depressed patients have low heart rate variability (“hardening” of the arteries), as well as greater levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which may increase the risk of diabetes

Live Write Solution

2009-10-20T05:10:00.000-07:00

JOLTED INTO A BETTER MOOD
Popular scare stories have saddled electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) with a bad reputation. Perhaps most famously, the 1975 movie one flew over the cuckoo’s nest portrays “shock” treatment as a violent method of psychiatric control. It is true that, decades ago, ECT practices were crude and inured some patients. But your may be surprised to learn that, today, ECT is far and sway the most effective treatment available for severe depression and frequently works when medication does not. An extensive body of research indicates that roughly 85% of severely depressed patients go into remission after ECT (compared with 40-70% of patients who try antidepressants).This is despite the fact that patients on ECT are typically the most difficult to treat.

How it Works
During therapy, doctors use electric currents to provoke a seizure. Scientists still aren’t sure why it works, but the process has been likened to rebooting a computer or even hitting a malfunctioning machine to make it work. The seizures affect a variety of nerve cells and hormones and also alter brainwave speed for weeks after treatment: ECT may derive its efficacy from a combination of these changes.

Who can benefit

Doctors typically recommend ECT for people with serve depression who have not responed to psychotherapy and several different antidepressants. ECT can also treat bipolar disorder and psychotic depression characterized by paranoia and delusional thoughts. Moreover, it serves as an emergency measure for people contemplating suicide or who have stopped taking care of theselves, regardless of whether they have tried medication. In these circumstances, time is the essence, and while finding the right anthidepressant and tailoring its dosage and take weeks or even months., ECT usually starts relieving depression wihin three weeks. During treatment, the most common side effects are temporary learning problems and short-term memory loss, but these usually usually resolve in fact ECT does less damage to the brain than directly linked to treatment has been curtailed in recent years by applying electrodes unilaterally (to just one side of the head). S
Some people, particularty seniors, permanently forget events that occurred aroung and during the period of treatment, but whether ECT is entirely responsible is hotly debated. Some experts believe memory loss to depression itself, which harms cognition.

Electroconvulsive Therapy for Depression

2009-09-21T03:19:00.000-07:00

JOLTED INTO A BETTER MOOD
Popular scare stories have saddled electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) with a bad reputation. Perhaps most famously, the 1975 movie One Flew Over the cuckoo’s Nest portrays “shock” treatment as a violent method of psychiatric control.

It is true that, decades ago, ECT practices were crude and injured some patients. But you may be surprised to learn that today, ECT is far severe depression and frequently works when medication does not.

An extensive body of research indicates that roughly 85% of severely depressed patients go into remission after ECT (compared with 40-70% of patients who try antidepressants). This is despite the fact that patients on ECT are typically the most difficult to treat.

HOW IT WORKS

During therapy, doctors use electric currents to provoke a seizure. Scientists still aren’t sure why it works, but the process has been likened to rebooting a computer or even hitting a malfunctioning machine to make it work. The seizures affect a variety of nerve cells and hormones and also alter brainwave speed for weeks after treatment: ECT may derive its efficacy from a combination of these changes.

Who benefits

Doctors typically recommend ECT for people with severe depression who have not responded to psychotherapy and several different.

Moreover, it serves as an emergency measure for people contemplating suicide or who have stopped taking care of themselves. Regardless of whether they have tried medication. In these circumstances, time is the essence, and while finding the right antidepressant and tailoring its dosage can take weeks or even months. ECT usually starts relieving depression within three weeks.

Seniors in particular may benefit from ECT. Studies suggest many older patients who have other chronic conditions opt for this therapy because they do don’t want to pile more medications onto their daily regimen (drug interactions may be a concern). Others try ECT after struggling with side effects from depression drugs. During treatment, the most common side effects are temporary learning problems and short-term memory loss, but these usually resolve within weeks of treatment. In fact ECT does less damage to the brain than drugs. And memory loss directly linked to treatment has been curtailed in recent years by applying electrodes unilaterally ( to just one side of the head). Some people, particularly seniors, permanently forget events that occurred around and during the period around and during the period of treatment, but whether ECT is entirely responsible is hotly debated. Some people, particularly seniors, permanently forget events that occurred around and during the period of treatment, but whether ECT is entirely responsible is hotly debated. Some experts believe memory loss may be due in some part to depression itself, which harms cognition.

BLEAK FORECAST FOR THE BLUES

Why is it so important to treat depression ? Because it’s more than a mental health issue. For instance, a study in Archives of general psychiatry found that older adults with depression were more likely to accrue visceral fat ( abdominal fat surrounding internal organs), which has been linked to increased risk of CVD and heart attack. Other studies suggest that depressed patients have low heart rate variability ( beat-to-beat variations in heart rate), a risk factor for cardiac death. They have higher levels of inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein, that play a role in atherosclerosis ( “hardening” of the arteries). As well as greater levels of the stress hormone cortisol, ease the risk of diabetes.

Good Fats For Weight Loss

2009-09-18T00:11:00.000-07:00

Good Fats for Weight Loss

* Avocado: improves insulin function
* Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Burns brown fat
* Grass Fed Beef: improves LDL Profile
* EPA/DHA Oil: lowers cortisol
* Macadamia nuts: slow gastric emptying

New research points to the critical role mono and polyunsaturated fats play in weight control and maintaining weight loss

These are the best fats to eat for weight loss and sustained weight control.

Avocado:

Not only Is avocado high in weight loss friendly monounsaturated fats, it also has a double whammy. Avocado contains a unique starch known as mannoheptulose. Mannoheptulose has been demonstrated to inhibit insulin secretion, a plus for people with insulin resistance, which is an underlying cause of metabolic syndrome, which affects over 40% of the US population.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil:

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is perhaps the king of the healthy fats. Extra virgin olive oil has been demonstrated to increase the rate of fat oxidation (fat burning) after ingestion. Extra virgin olive oil has also been demonstrated to act as a potent ant-oxidant, lowering inflammation, which aids blood sugar metabolism. To top it all off, extra virgin olive has been demonstrated to burn brown fat by increasing.

Grass Fed Beef:
Think for a minute about how you would look and what your health would be like if you lived on a diet of grass versus a diet of enriched corn meal?

Now imagine how such drastically different diets affect cows. Research demonstrates conclusively that grass fed beef has dramatically different effects on HDL/LDL ratio’s and omega 3/6 ratios when consumed by humans.

Grass fed beef has been shown to improve blood lipid profiles, which means it promotes cardiovascular health. Grass fed beef is a favorite weight loss food because it promotes fullness and satiety while also improving your health.

EPA/DHA Oil

EPA and DHA are made from omega 3 and omega 6 fats. EPA and DHA have been demonstrated in numerous studies to have profound effects over inflammation, cortisol control, mood and hormone balance.

EPA and DHA are on the list of essential weight loss fats because they aid in balancing key hormones such as cortisol and insulin that exert tremendous control over your weight.

Best Proteins for Weight Loss

2009-09-18T00:07:00.000-07:00

Proteins for weight loss
• Whey Concentrate improves blood sugar metabolism
• 1 whole egg can increase fat burning
• Egg Whites burn more calories via digestive action
• Turkey helps you sleep better which promotes weight loss
• Grass fed beef improves cholesterol
• Fish is an excellent lean protein

The following proteins will supercharge your weight loss. Many have unique properties that aid weight control and how your metabolism food.

Whey Concentrate:

Whey concentrate has several unique properties that aid weight loss and weight control. Whey concentrate is high in cysteine, which promotes production of glutathione, and thus aids the body to combat oxidative stress and inflammation. Oxidative stress and inflammation have been show to promote weight gain by damaging sugar metabolism. Whey concentrate has also been shown to improve insulin function. Whey concentrate is also your best friend against stress eating. The high lactalbumin content of whey affects of tryptophan to Neutral Amino Acids - a fancy way of saying it boosts serotonin.

Make sure your whey concentrate is tested to be what is known as WPC 80 - for eighty percent whey by volume, otherwise you are getting mostly lactose, i.e., milk sugar.

1 Whole Egg

Most of us think eggs are full of fat and thus make you fat. This is partially correct. Eggs have a lot of fat, but eaten in isolation, 1 whole egg at a time, whole eggs can be one of your best weight loss foods. Eaten in isolation, 1 whole egg serves to increase production of the hormone glucagons, which functions to increase blood sugar and in the process increases your fat burning.

Egg Whites

Egg whites have several characteristics that promote weight loss. First, egg whites are extremely hard to digest. Your body expends a lot of energy to digest egg whites so they aid you to burn more calories. Second, egg whites, when eaten without carbs, force your body to secrete more glucagons, which promotes fat loss.

Turkey

Turkey is an excellent protein for weight loss. When eaten at dinner, turkey promotes the release of tryptophan, which aids sleep. Over and over, individuals with weight loss and weight gain problems often have sleep problems. You can use turkey strategically to aid sleep which will help you to lose weight.
Grass Fed Beef
Grass fed beef is one of your best weight loss foods. Not only has it been shown to improve cholesterol ratios which aid blood sugar metabolism to help keep you lean, it is also very filling and aids satiety and hunger.

Fish

Fish is an excellent protein for weight loss because it is very lean and has an excellent ratio of good fats. Fish should be a staple of any weight control or weight loss program.

Proteins for weight loss
• Whey Concentrate improves blood sugar metabolism
• 1 whole egg can increase fat burning
• Egg Whites burn more calories via digestive action
• Turkey helps you sleep better which promotes weight loss
• Grass fed beef improves cholesterol
• Fish is an excellent lean protein

The following proteins will supercharge your weight loss. Many have unique properties that aid weight control and how your metabolism food.

Whey Concentrate:

Whey concentrate has several unique properties that aid weight loss and weight control. Whey concentrate is high in cysteine, which promotes production of glutathione, and thus aids the body to combat oxidative stress and inflamation. Oxidative stress and inflammation have been show to promote weight gain by damaging sugar metabolism. Whey concentrate has also been shown to improve insulin function. Whey concentrate is also your best friend against stress eating. The high lactalbumin content of whey affects of tryptophan to Neutral Amino Acids - a fancy way of saying it boosts serotonin.

Make sure your whey concentrate is tested to be what is known as WPC 80 - for eighty percent whey by volumne, otherwise you are getting mostly lactose, i.e, milk sugar.

Chewing can be helpful in Weight Loss

2009-09-17T23:51:00.000-07:00

I have found this with my own experience. This, I tell is really going to be of great help if you intend to loose some weight. Do you wolf your food down? If you want to be lean and fit for life you might want to consider the relationship between chewing and weight control or weight loss. While most weight management or dietary programs focus on what to eat, little if any attention is given to HOW TO EAT.

What you will see in this article is a practical strategy you can implement right now to lose weight and be lean and fit for life. Simply by chewing your food longer, until it is basically a liquid in your mouth, you do three things that help your weight loss, health and longevity. The first is that you will eat less. The second is that you will digest and assimilate nutrients more effectively; the third is that you will mitigate toxins and allergies from food, which are important to longevity and weight loss.

Chewing and Food Intake:
Recent studies from Oita Medical School in Japan show a direct relationship between chewing speed and the release of histamine from the brain. Chewing slower and longer causes the brain to release histamine, resulting in decreased food intake.

The speed at which you chew sends signals to your brain that control how much you eat.

Further, hormones such as leptin, ghrelin and cholestokinnen that are involved in the sensation of fullness, do not reach peak expression until 20 to 40 minutes after food is ingested. Chewing longer allows these hormones to work for you. You get the same sense of fullness on less food because you are giving these hormones time to work. Many speed eaters literally chew and swallow faster than their bodies natural satiety signaling can keep up with. If you want to lose weight but you wolf your food down, you are shooting yourself in the foot.

There is a direct relationship between chewing and weight loss. Simply put, the more you chew, and the more slowly you chew, the less you eat. The less you eat at any given meal, the more weight loss.

Chewing and Digestion and Absorption.
Eating the right foods gets you nowhere if you don’t absorb them. Worse, eating the right foods takes you backwards if they putrefy into toxins.

Eating the right food is important, but eating the right food and properly digesting it is essential for life long weight loss.

Digestion begins in the mouth. Specifically, saliva contains a fat metabolizing enzyme called lingual lipase. Before any fat you ingest even hits your stomach, it begins breaking down in your mouth via the action of lingual lipase.

As you can guess, the key issue here is how long you chew your food. This is important for 2 reasons. The first reason is that the more your chew, the more surface area of the food in your mouth comes in contact with lingual lipase. The second is reason is due to allergies. The more undigested food you have in your stomach the more prone you are to getting food allergies. Food allergies hamper your weight loss and longevity. Your mouth has a similar action for carbohydrates. Your saliva contains an enzyme called salivary amylase. Salivary amylase works to break down carbs into simpler sugars.

The most basic rule of thumb if you want to see the greatest absorption of the good foods you are eating to lose weight is more chews equals better digestion and absorption. The reason this matters is simply that undigested and unabsorbed food sitting in your stomach and small intestine tends to putrefy and cause allergic and inflammatory reactions. Take protein for example. Proteins tend to be difficult for the body to break down. There are many examples of proteins that are semi soft such as sushi, eggs, and yogurt, really tender fish, which often are mostly swallowed without chewing. What happens is these proteins have major portions of their mass that sit in your stomach and literally rot and putrefy. Many people are allergic to eggs primarily because they do not adequately chew them

Many people who have a difficult time with weight loss have a difficult time with digestion and food allergies. Lack of adequate chewing is a principle reason why.

If you want the greatest weight loss in the short term, and to lose weight and keep it off for a lifetime, you not only have to eat the right foods, but you have to absorb them correctly. The single most important thing you can do is to chew your food until it is basically a liquid in your mouth. By doing this you will eat less, absorb more and keep your physiology young longer by virtue of creating fewer toxins from digestion.