Thursday, 22 November 2007
Are you in Charge of your Life?
Take charge over your life.
How many times have we not thought about that?
Once a day or once a week?
Maybe it comes once per year due to an event occurring.
Whatever it is it’s good for us. We take an inventory over things that happened. Look over the social net of people we surround us with. Where do I live? Am I happy there?
We think about the financial structure. Is it working for me?
Do I make enough of money? If not how do I do?
I love changes. Not many people like changes.
We don’t have to make huge changes just small adjustments.
Think about what it can do for us.
You can have a new home. A new profession. A new spouse.
The options are numberless.
Some people do whatever it takes to make too many changes.
It is like they find it thrilling to do that.
We humans are in way set in our minds.
When we look of how we structure things around us.
The brain likes to have everything in an order.
Every night when we go to sleep the brain deletes old unused programs. It organizes it in files. When we need it the brain just have to go to that specific place to use it.
When we are in a stressful environment or state the brain can not get in to the files due to a net, like a filter.
The more stressful we feel the tighter the net will become.
Then the brain signals can’t get through. We are getting confused. Confused people do nothing.
Have you ever been in to the crazy situation of doing nonsense things like watering the flowers, doing the dishes when you need to do phone calls, meeting etc?
Well it s the brain telling the body to do some actions.
The brain wants everything in order s the body starts to create it. Not the things you would like to have done. The brain is confused and sends down strange information to the body.
So it starts watering the flowers instead.
If you are confused take a power nap. Just lie down and do nothing. Think about the brain. How it is working now to set everything in an order.
You just need to rest for 20 minutes.
Look at the Latino countries how they do. They take siesta in the middle of the day when it is hot.
In that way you will have more energy. You ill also have more strength during the whole day.
It is important to slow down our tempo time to time.
Let things have its course. See how old people walking, slowly. Have you noticed why people run in the office?
Will they finish earlier or the job gets quicker done?
There are so many strange ways to live at.
I prefer to stay healthy. To eat well. Be able to have a good sleep. Let the brain work in a quiet environment.
Be out in the nature. That’s great healing for us.
Stay in love. Laugh a lot and be happy.
Tuesday, 21 August 2007
Dietary Sources of Vitamin C
| Food, Standard Amount | Vitamin C (mg) | Calories |
| Guava, raw, ½ cup | 188 | 56 |
| Red bell pepper, raw, ½ cup | 142 | 20 |
| Red bell pepper, cooked, ½ cup | 116 | 19 |
| Kiwi fruit, 1 medium | 70 | 46 |
| Orange, raw, 1 medium | 70 | 62 |
| Orange juice, ¾ cup | 61 to 93 | 79 to 84 |
| Green bell pepper, raw, ½ cup | 60 | 15 |
| Green bell pepper, cooked, ½ cup | 51 | 19 |
| Grapefruit juice, ¾ cup | 50 to 70 | 71 to 86 |
| Vegetable juice cocktail, ¾ cup | 50 | 34 |
| Strawberries, raw, ½ cup | 49 | 27 |
| | 48 | 28 |
| Cantaloupe, ¼ medium | 47 | 51 |
| Papaya, raw, ¼ medium | 47 | 30 |
| Kohlrabi, cooked, ½ cup | 45 | 24 |
| Broccoli, raw, ½ cup | 39 | 15 |
| Edible pod peas, cooked, ½ cup | 38 | 34 |
| Broccoli, cooked, ½ cup | 37 | 26 |
| Sweet potato, canned, ½ cup | 34 | 116 |
| Tomato juice, ¾ cup | 33 | 31 |
| Cauliflower, cooked, ½ cup | 28 | 17 |
| Pineapple, raw, ½ cup | 28 | 37 |
| Kale, cooked, ½ cup | 27 | 18 |
| Mango, ½ cup | 23 | 54 |
Food sources of vitamin C are ranked by milligrams (mg) of vitamin C per standard amount; also calories in the standard amount. (All amounts listed provide 20% or more of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of 90 mg/day for adult men.)
Dietary Sources of Iron
Food Sources of Iron ranked by milligrams of iron per standard amount; also calories in the standard amount. (All amounts listed provide 10% or more of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for teenage and adult females, which is 18 mg/day.)
| Food, Standard Amount | Iron (mg) | Calories |
| Clams, canned, drained, 3 oz | 23.8 | 126 |
| *Fortified dry cereals (various), about 1 oz | 1.8 to 21.1 | 54 to 127 |
| Cooked oysters, cooked, 3 oz | 10.2 | 116 |
| Organ meats (liver, giblets), cooked, 3 oza | 5.2 to 9.9 | 134 to 235 |
| *Fortified instant cooked cereals (various), 1 packet | 4.9 to 8.1 | Varies |
| *Soybeans, mature, cooked, ½ cup | 4.4 | 149 |
| *Pumpkin and squash seed kernels, roasted, 1 oz | 4.2 | 148 |
| *White beans, canned, ½ cup | 3.9 | 153 |
| *Blackstrap molasses, 1 Tbsp | 3.5 | 47 |
| *Lentils, cooked, ½ cup | 3.3 | 115 |
| *Spinach, cooked from fresh, ½ cup | 3.2 | 21 |
| Beef, chuck, blade roast, cooked, 3 oz | 3.1 | 215 |
| Beef, bottom round, cooked, 3 oz | 2.8 | 182 |
| *Kidney beans, cooked, ½ cup | 2.6 | 112 |
| Sardines, canned in oil, drained, 3 oz | 2.5 | 177 |
| Beef, rib, cooked, 3 oz | 2.4 | 195 |
| *Chickpeas, cooked, ½ cup | 2.4 | 134 |
| Duck, meat only, roasted, 3 oz | 2.3 | 171 |
| Lamb, shoulder, cooked, 3 oz | 2.3 | 237 |
| *Prune juice, ¾ cup | 2.3 | 136 |
| Shrimp, canned, 3 oz | 2.3 | 102 |
| *Cowpeas, cooked, ½ cup | 2.2 | 100 |
| Ground beef, 15% fat, cooked, 3 oz | 2.2 | 212 |
| *Tomato puree, ½ cup | 2.2 | 48 |
| *Lima beans, cooked, ½ cup | 2.2 | 108 |
| *Soybeans, green, cooked, ½ cup | 2.2 | 127 |
| *Navy beans, cooked, ½ cup | 2.1 | 127 |
| *Refried beans, ½ cup | 2.1 | 118 |
| Beef, top sirloin, cooked, 3 oz | 2.0 | 156 |
| *Tomato paste, ¼ cup | 2.0 | 54 |
Food Sources of iron are ranked by milligrams of iron per standard amount; also calories in the standard amount. (All amounts listed provide 10% or more of the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for teenage and adult females, which is 18 mg/day.)
How much iron do I need?
If you have already been diagnosed with iron deficiency, talk to your doctor or healthcare provider about treatment. For healthy individuals, the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for iron is listed in the following table.
| Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for iron by age and sex. | ||
| Age/Group | Life Stage | Iron (mg/day) |
| Infants | 0–6 months | 0.27* |
|
| 7–12 months | 11 |
| Children | 1–3 years | 7 |
|
| 4–8 years | 10 |
| Males | 9–13 years | 8 |
|
| 14–18 years | 11 |
|
| 19–30 years | 8 |
|
| 31–50 years | 8 |
|
| 51–70 years | 8 |
|
| >70 years | 8 |
| Females | 9–13 years | 8 |
|
| 14–18 years | 15 |
|
| 19–30 years | 18 |
|
| 31–50 years | 18 |
|
| 51–70 years | 8 |
|
| >70 years | 8 |
| Pregnant Women | 14–18 years | 27 |
|
| 19–30 years | 27 |
|
| 31–50 years | 27 |
| Lactating Women | 14–18 years | 10 |
|
| 19–30 years | 9 |
|
| 31–50 years | 9 |
*This value is an Adequate Intake (AI) value. AI is used when there is not enough information known to set a Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA).
What can I do to prevent iron deficiency?
In general, you can eat a healthful diet that includes good sources of iron. A healthful diet includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fat free or nonfat milk and milk products, lean meats, fish, dry beans, eggs, nuts, and is low in saturated fat, trans fats, cholesterol, salt, and added sugars.
In addition to a healthful diet that includes good sources of iron, you can also eat foods that help your body absorb iron better. For example, you can eat a fruit or vegetable that is a good source of vitamin C (see table on Dietary Sources of vitamin C) with a food or meal that contains non-heme iron (see table below for Dietary Sources of Iron). Vitamin C helps your body absorb the non-heme iron foods you eat, especially when the food containing non-heme iron and the vitamin-C rich food are eaten at the same meal.
The following recommendations are for specific groups who are at greater risk for iron deficiency.
Babies
- If possible, breastfeed your baby for 12 months and when your baby is about 6 months of age, give your baby plain, iron-fortified infant cereal. Just two or more servings a day can meet a baby’s iron needs at this age.
- When your baby is about 6 months of age, include a feeding per day of foods rich in vitamin C with foods that are rich in non-heme iron to improve iron absorption.
- If you can’t breastfeed, use iron-fortified formula.
- Don’t give low-iron milks (e.g. cow’s milk, goat’s milk, and soy milk) until your baby is at least 12 months old.
- Give home prepared or commercially prepared plain pureed (chopped until smooth in a blender) meats after age 6 months or when the baby is ready.
- If your baby was born early or small, talk to your doctor about giving iron drops to your baby.
- If your baby can’t get two or more servings per day of iron rich foods (such as iron-fortified cereal or pureed meats), talk to your doctor about giving iron drops to your baby.
Young children (aged 1–5 years)
- After your child is one year old, give no more than three 8 ounce servings of low-fat or nonfat cow, goat, or soy milk per day. After your child is 2 years old, your child only needs two 8 ounce servings per day of low-fat or nonfat milk. Milk is a good source of calcium and vitamin D, but not iron.
- Give your child a diet with iron-rich foods such as iron-fortified breads and iron-fortified cereals and lean meats.
- Include fruits, vegetables or juices that are rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C helps your child absorb non-heme iron especially when the food that is a source of non-heme iron and the vitamin C-rich food are eaten at the same meal.
Adolescent girls and women of childbearing age
- Eat iron-rich foods.
- Eat foods that are vitamin C sources. Vitamin C helps your body absorb non-heme iron especially when the food that is a source of non-heme iron and the vitamin C-rich food are eaten at the same meal.
- Eat lean red meats, poultry, and fish. The iron in these foods is easier for your body to absorb than the iron in plant foods.
Pregnant women
- Eat iron-rich foods.
- Eat foods that are vitamin C sources. Vitamin C helps your body absorb non-heme iron especially when the food that is a source of non-heme iron and the vitamin-C rich food are eaten at the same meal.
- Eat lean red meats, poultry, and fish. The iron in these foods is easier for your body to absorb than the iron in plant foods.
- Talk to your doctor about taking an iron supplement.
How is iron deficiency treated?
- If you are found to have an iron deficiency, it is important to see your healthcare provider for treatment. Your treatment will depend on factors such as your age, health, and cause of iron deficiency.
- If your doctor or health care provider thinks that you have iron deficiency she or he may prescribe iron supplements for you to take and then ask that you return after a period to have your hemoglobin or hematocrit tested.
- If your healthcare provider determines that the iron deficiency is due to a diet low in iron, you might be told to eat more iron-rich foods. Your health care provider may also prescribe an iron supplement for you.
Again, it is important to be diagnosed by your healthcare provider because iron deficiency can have causes that aren’t related to your diet. Your healthcare provider’s recommendations will be specific to your needs.
How is iron deficiency detected?
Your doctor or healthcare provider will do blood tests to screen for iron deficiency. No single test is used to diagnose iron deficiency. The most common tests for screening are
- Hemoglobin test (a test that measures hemoglobin which is a protein in the blood that carries oxygen)
- Hematocrit test (the percentage of red blood cells in your blood by volume)
These tests show how much iron is in your body. Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels usually aren’t decreased until the later stages of iron deficiency, i.e., anemia.
Sometimes other blood tests are used to confirm that anemia is due to iron deficiency. These might include
- Complete blood count (to look at the number and volume of the red blood cells)
- Serum ferritin (a measure of a stored form of iron)
- Serum iron (a measure of the iron in your blood)
- Transferrin saturation (a measure of the transported form of iron)
- Transferrin receptor (a measure of increased red blood cell production)
Previous Posts
- Are you in Charge of your Life?
- Dietary Sources of Vitamin C
- Dietary Sources of Iron
- How much iron do I need?
- What can I do to prevent iron deficiency?
- How is iron deficiency treated?
- How is iron deficiency detected?
- Signs and Symptoms of Iron Deficiency
- Who is most at risk?
- What causes iron deficiency?