The prevalence of low budget flight tickets - occasionally cheaper than internal rail ticket - has expanded to make purchasing a home abroad a easy opportunity; even in this phase of global economic crisis. Without mentioning the fact that a asset overseas has massive investment capabilities - be that through transformation and sale or renting your property as a holiday domicile. If you are thinking about buying property overseas then why not take a look at property in America.

Generally, countless individuals are unaware or ill informed regarding the potential hazards concerned with acquiring house overseas. On the contrary there are a number of minimal processes you could apply to ensure you save your wage, buy a vast estate and avoid possible stress, disquiet and economic issues.

First of all certify to personally watch currency fluctuations; this not just applies to the time when you are purchasing the house, although plus any stage while you’ll be making transformations or even taking wide-ranging vacations. This issue is mostly prevalent in today’s recent monetary climate.

You ought you are knowledgeable about the regional real estate ruling - some times people experience trouble because they hadn’t appropriately understood their rights. This applies to both acquiring a land and revamping it. You also should certify that the land near your property will not be put on the market on and buildings erected on it.

You should also make enquiries about the groups you are trade with - chances are that if there is any negative publicity about them, that is should be on line. A simple Google search can clearly resolve this - persons love to be verbal on the subject of things that have bothered them; but be certain to look past page one - or dig through whiz forums… that is where you will attain the TRUE information and not solely the group spiel.

Comments Off

Vitamins are a major necessity for a healthy life. Vitamin D may reduce the risk of injuries from falls by more than 20 percent in otherwise healthy men and women age 60 and over. Vitamin D has long been known to strengthen bones but new studies indicate it also improves muscle strength. The combination makes injuries less likely when people fall. Vitamin D is helpful whether it is consumed in fortified foods, dairy products, or supplements.

There are 13 known vitamins and each have different roles within the body.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A occurs in two principal forms in nature: retinol, which is found only in animal sources, and certain carotenoids, the best known of which is ‘beta-carotene’ found in carrots and other yellow to red plants. Beta-carotene can be converted to retinol in the body, and it may have a role in protecting against heart disease and cancer.

Vitamin A is essential for vision and adequate growth. Deficiency symptoms include night blindness, hyperkeratinosis of the skin, and xerophthalmia - an eye condition, which if untreated can lead to permanent blindness. Vitamin A deficiency is still widespread in many developing countries.

Vitamin A is found in pumpkins, kumara (sweet potato), apricots, squash, nectarines, peaches, and mangos. It is also found in spinach, broccoli, watercress, asparagus and peas.

The B Group Vitamins

The B group vitamins work as a team to convert food to energy. Vitamin B1 is vital for releasing energy from starchy and sugary foods, while vitamins B2, B6, and niacin help release energy from foods including protein and fats.

If you increase your energy intake, particularly by eating more carbohydrates, your body may need extra vitamin B.

Vitamin B12 and folic acid, together with iron and vitamin C are of major importance to sportsmen and women as they are used in the formation of red blood cells which transport oxygen to the muscles.

Vitamin B1 (thiamine)

Vitamin B1 is essential for the release of energy especially from carbohydrates, functioning of nerves, brain and muscles.

The best source of this is vitamin is from dried brewers yeast. Other good sources include pork, poultry, cereals, nuts and beans.

Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)

Vitamin B2 is found in all plant and animal cells. It is necessary for the release of energy from food and for healthy vision and skin.

Yeast and liver contain the highest amount of this vitamin. It is also found in other meat, eggs and dairy food.

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)

This vitamin is required for protein and fat metabolism, red blood cell formation, and the nervous system.

The best sources of this vitamin are liver of beef, pork and chicken. Other sources include cereals, fish, nuts, bananas and wheatgerm.

Vitamin B12 (cobalamin)

Vitamin B12 is necessary for the formation of red blood cells, a healthy nervous system, and is essential for growth.

This vitamin is stored efficiently by the body so a deficiency can take years to develop. Since it is found primarily in animal products, vegetarians are at risk from deficiency unless they take supplements. In its most extreme form, deficiency can lead to megaloblastic anaemia and irreversible degeneration of the spinal cord.

Vitamin E is found in animal meat, particularly liver, kidney, heart and brain. It is also present in yeast extract.

Biotin

This is needed for the manufacture of fatty acid and glycogen, protein metabolism and growth. It is found in egg yolk, liver, wholegrain cereals, and nuts.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)

Vitamin C is required for the production of collagen, the ‘cement’ substance that gives structure to muscles, vascular tissues, bones and cartilage. Deficiency causes a weakening of these tissues (scurvy), resulting in capillary bleeding.

Together with beta-carotene and vitamin E, vitamin C forms the trio of antioxidant vitamins now believed to help prevent degenerative diseases such as heart disease and cancer.

Vitamin C is also commonly used as a natural antioxidant, i.e. it is added to foodstuffs to protect colour, aroma or nutrient content, not for its action as a vitamin.

It is essential for the immune system and there is some evidence to show that extra vitamin C may reduce the severity of respiratory infections.

Vitamin C helps iron absorption. Its role in red blood cell formation also helps to transport essential oxygen to exercising muscles.

It promotes healthy body cells, blood vessels, bones and tissues (e.g. tendons and ligaments). It is also necessary for the manufacture of adrenaline.

Vitamin C is not stored within the body so make sure your diet contains a regular supply. It is found naturally in citrus fruits, blackcurrants, Brussels sprouts, strawberries, mango, sweet peppers, parsley, broccoli, kumara, and cauliflower.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is required for the absorption of calcium and phosphorus from the diet, and is needed for healthy bone growth. It also plays an important role in the proper functioning of muscles, nerves, and blood clotting.

Vitamin D is produced by the action of sunlight on the skin. It is found in wholemilk, margarine, oily fish, and fortified cereals.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is vital to the formation and normal function of red blood cells and muscles.

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant which helps to protect cells from damage by free radicals.

Polyunsaturated fats in our diets are protected from damage by vitamin E. Polyunsaturated fats, which are found in vegetable and fish oils, are essential for the normal function of cells in the body.

Together with beta-carotene and vitamin C , vitamin E forms the trio of antioxidant vitamins now believed to have a preventive effect on degenerative diseases such as heart disease or cancer.

The largest sources of vitamin E are vegetable oils including peanut, soya, palm, sunflower etc. Other sources include nuts, seeds, whole grains and leafy green vegetables.

Folic acid

Folic acid plays an important role in the metabolism of desoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA), the carriers of genetic information in all living things. It is necessary for the formation of red blood cells and regulating growth cells.

Severe folic acid deficiency in humans results in megaloblastic anaemia. Folic acid reduces the risk of neural tube birth defects when consumed in adequate amounts by women before and during early pregnancy. For this reason, the enrichment of cereal products with folic acid is compulsory in the USA.

Folates are found in a wide variety of foods. The richest sources are liver, dark green leafy vegetables, beans, wheat germ and yeast. Other sources are egg yolk, fortified cereal, milk and dairy products.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K is needed primarily for the blood-clotting mechanism which prevents bleeding to death from cuts and wounds or internal bleeding.

The best plant sources of vitamin K are green leafy vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, cabbage and lettuce. Other sources include tomatoes, potatoes, oats, egg yolk, asparagus, butter and cheese.

Niacin

In the body, niacin is responsible for using the energy provided by food. Niacin is essential for growth and is involved in the production of hormones in the body.

Yeast, liver, poultry, lean meats, nuts and legumes contribute the largest amounts of niacin in food. Milk and green leafy vegetables contain smaller amounts.

Pantothenic acid

Pantothenic acid belongs to the group of B vitamins. It plays a key role in the maintenance and repair of all cells and tissues, the metabolism of fats and carbohydrate, and healthy skin and hair growth.

Pantothenic acid requires vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folic acid and biotin in order to function properly.

It is found in vegetables, liver, yeast extract, kidney, eggs, nuts and bread.

http://www.starherb.com

Comments Off

Omega 3 Fish or Flax Seed?

Flax seed oil omega 3 is one of the best plant based choices to obtain essential fatty acids in our diets.

But most of us have also heard that fish oils are also a great source for omega 3’s, which has led some people to question which one they should take. Omega 3 Fish or Flax seed?

The answer is that fish oil is the best choice to get your omega 3’s, as long as you’re taking a high quality purified fish oil supplement that has used molecular distillation to remove all potential contaminants that are found in fish nowadays due to pollution in the Ocean waters.

However, for strict vegetarians — vegans — who, for personal reasons, do not want to use fish products, flax seed oil omega 3 is their best choice for dietary inclusion.

If you are not a vegetarian, however, you should strongly consider purified fish oils over flax seed as your primary omega 3 source for the following reason:

There are three types of omega 3 fats: they are ALA, DHA, and EPA.

DHA and EPA are the most important, and some science is showing that DHA is the more important of the two between DHA and EPA.

In fact, DHA omega fatty acids make up almost 1/3rd of the brain’s mass. It’s very important for optimal brain development and functioning. And Omega 3’s generally are important for heart health as evidenced by statements made from the American Heart Association and Food and Drug Administration.

Omega 3 Fish or Flax Seed?

Flax seed contains ALA, not DHA and EPA. The ALA in flax seed has to be converted by your body into DHA and EPA. For various reasons, this conversion may not happen efficiently, especially if the person is in less than optimal health. This often includes, for example, a significant portion of elderly folks.

Because ALA in flax seed needs to be converted, it’s much better to get your DHA and EPA omega 3 fatty acids directly from a source like purified fish oils.

However, flax seed oil omega 3 is still a good souce. In addition, some ALA is used by the body for other functions and is not entirely converted to DHA and EPA. Therefore, it’s a good idea to get some omega 3’s from plant, vegetable, and fruit sources too.

In addition to flax seed, try adding some good omega 3 sources like almond nuts, or leafy greens like spinach, or fruits like strawberries.

But because the majority of people in the Western world are deficient in Omega 3 fatty acids, it’s a good idea to add high quality fish oil supplements to your daily regimen. Most of us simply do not get enough from our diet alone.

Now that you know the difference betewen flax seed oil omega 3 and fish oils, discover the highly purified fish oil product I personally use after extensive product comparison and research. Visit: http://www.omega-3-fish-oil-guide.com/

Comments Off

Naturally Pass Drug Test

Drug test has grown into a general problem around the world. Numerous parties do drug trials on freshly working individuals or existing employees to guarantee a drug-free environment at workplace.

Insurance agencies and courts direct drug screens on a normal basis on distrusted individuals. The main enquiry that comes to your mind, when you go for such exam is how to pass a drug trial?

Cyber web sites such as Use Niacin To Pass A Drug Test proposes the up-to-date cleansing products including enduring cleansers, imitation weewee products, and saliva cleaning products, herbal drinks and home drug essay kits.

How To Beat Random Drug Test

Passing The Drug Test provides professional support for every item, with support catered by drug test experts whom are highly seasoned with another types of drug testing ways and issues. Support is available by email and phone. Shipping is fast, with complete privacy assured, using plainly and discrete packaging materials to keep complete customer secrecy.

Employer Drug Testing

Embedded on the new internet site is a big order of products for detoxification and testing purposes. Permanent cleansing agents are offered in 3, 5 and 7, 10, 14, 21 and 30 day programs, with a assortment of herbs, roots, barks and minerals that are best-known lipides destroyers which run to break down fat cells and extinguish toxins completely. Imitation urine is offered, which accommodates all factors ordinarily seen in weewee, particularly balanced for pH with specific gravity, creatine and other weewee characteristics. A saliva cleaning mouthwash is tendered which cleanses toxins from the mouth with only 3 minutes of use. We sell a range of herbal drinks, to each one carrying the most effective herbs and fiber to help rid the body of toxins that may have piled up.

If you use MSN to look the net for us here are 10 Thumping words to apply to acquire our web site.

Tip On How To Pass A Drug Test

Drug Niacin Pass Test Using as well proposes drug examining kits including saliva, hair and piss based tests to guarantee that detoxify programs are effective. For more information, visit Saliva Drug Testing If you have any questions, please call us at: 866-647-7277

Comments Off

Do you spend at least some time in your day thinking about your
health or that of a loved one? Do you also find the subject is
frustrating, mainly because there is a lot of confusing and
sometimes contradictory information out there?

You are not alone!

My wife and I have been involved with complimentary health care
for 10 years and we are sometimes confused too! So are many of
our friends and clients.

So, I want to share with you, a very pleasant surprise I received
a few months ago. I was chatting to an acquaintance who is a
homeopathic doctor and the subject got on to food supplements. I
believe strongly that “you are what you eat” and Hippocrates
centuries ago said “Let food be your medicine..”

My friend had been reading some laboratory research on the
powerful benefits of a fruit called the Mangosteen. (No, I had
not heard of it either!) Called the “Queen of Fruits” where it
originally grew in Southeast Asia, it is prized and valued above
all others.

Mangosteen juice is rich in the super anti-oxidant called
‘xanthones’. This juice has been the subject of extensive
scientific research for over 30 years and in the last 15 years
there have been more than 50 scientific journal articles
published on the subject. Why?

Because xanthones have been shown to kill or stop the spreading
of viruses fungi, bacteria, and free radicals which are strongly
associated with cancer. Another area of research has shown how
xanthones inhibit the oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL)
one of the causes of atherosclerosis (furring up of the arteries)
and heart attacks.

Add to that, the mangosteen juice has been shown to help promote
healing with diseases such as diabetes, premature aging,
arthritis, (the anti-inflammatory activities of natural xanthones
are significant)asthma, MS, the list goes on and on.

Now, like you I am sure, we are all skeptical about claims of
cure-all potions so I did some more research. I was impressed!
The available research is abundant and furthermore that many
doctors are recommending this juice to their patients.

One such, Dr. J. Frederick Templeman, M.D. is quoted as saying
“Studies are showing that xanthones have positive effects on
nearly all of the body’s systems”. He has stopped prescribing a
number of drugs as mangosteen has been more effective.

Dr Templeman goes on “All drugs are potentially dangerous. Food
by comparison is absolutely safe”.

I was confident enough now to try this juice. Firstly I have to
say it is delicious! And it is entirely natural, with no
additives. My wife and I have been taking it regularly for 3
months now and I can report we have stopped taking other
expensive supplements, just regular daily drinks of mangosteen.

Our general health levels have increased and my joint aches and
pains are much reduced. My wife agrees, the hot flushes she was
experiencing have virtually disappeared.

If you are serious about your health, you should look into
mangosteen juice for yourself and your loved ones. Remember, what
you do today is going to affect you tomorrow. I strongly
recommend you begin consuming this xanthone rich, mangosteen
juice NOW!

© Barry Dench is a qualified electrical engineer, who in 1996
applied his knowledge of magnetism to research the effects of
magnetic fields on the biological body. Author of “The Essential
Magnetherapy Handbook” and numerous articles on the use of
magnets and nutrition, he can be contacted at his website:-
http://www.mws.magnecare.co.uk

Comments Off

Those who use methamphetamine for a long time are forced to live with thing blood vessels throughout the brain which makes them very likely to have a stoke. Crank also dries the user’s skin out, and leaves meth addicts with a slop-jawed and scarred look. Once meth takes over the body, users will likely suffer from severe hallucinations, among other psychotic symptoms.

Meth users reportedly feel a sensation of bugs crawling below their skin. This is the reason why many crank addicts have pock-marks and self-produced wounds covering their entire body. Because meth tends to overheat the body of its user, its frequently the cause of seizures.

Long term ice users have difficulty fulfilling their obligations at work an in the family. Look out for those you know who may be dealing with depression or eating disorders. Meth also takes away your urge to eat, so it seems an easy fix for those who suffer from body-image issues.

The difficulties of meth detox

Methamphetamine addiction is tricky to treat because the symptoms of withdrawal can be just as uncomfortable as its adverse effects on the user. Many methamphetamine addicts who are being detoxified end up returning to drug use because the sudden pull out of the drug makes them feel depressed, tired, irritable and panicked.

Detox from meth at home can be done with the help of family members. As a matter of fact, the support of the family is an necessary part of the home meth detox process, as the addict will need a support system at times.

A tremendous part of the methamphetamine user as rehabilitation lies on his/her mentality. As the friend of a methamphetamine addict, it is your obligation to want to make the user quit meth right away. Hopefully, he/she quits using meth before it’s too late.

Comments Off

You want to gain health and lose weight? But you are too anxious due to the usual misinformation that
flies around about vegetarian diets, like you cannot get enough protein, iron or calcium on a vegetarian
diet? Or “it is all too hard! ” You certainly can get complete nutrition from a vegetarian diet. It is not
hard and you can start today.

Take three steps to see yourself on the way to a healthier life. It’s simple: know why you want to try a
vegetarian diet; get the right information without being overwhelmed by it; then… do it.

A good vegetarian diet is indeed a good thing. But as with everything an unbalanced one is not. Just
any low calorie and vegetarian recipe or easy vegetarian recipe will not do. If you have been a meat
eater for many years your body may need to adjust to a supply of minerals that are of different
proportions to vegetarian diets. That is why it is important to set out on the road of vegetarianism with
some knowledge about its benefits and pitfalls.

But first, if you want to commit yourself to anything, it is important to know your motivations for
doing just that. No motivation, no perseverance. Here are some reasons that motivate millions of
people to eat their vegetarian meal today:

Weight loss
Many people take to a vegetarian diet or specifically a low calorie and vegetarian recipes regime
because they think a “carrot-and-lettuce’ diet will slim them down. They may see vegetarianism as a
kind of punishment for a body that has gone off the rails. Consequently, unless they are lucky and
stumble across information that shows them how delicious a true vegetarian diet can be, they are at risk
of returning to their old diets as soon as some weight has come off. A balanced vegetarian diet may
indeed give enduring weight loss benefits.

Health reasons
Studies suggest that vegetarians have a significantly reduced risk of death from heart disease (about
30%) than meat eaters, including those who eat fish and poultry. As the iron in meat is more available
to our bodies than in plants, it is more likely that iron-overload occurs in our blood as meat eaters age.
This is a problem as high iron levels are associated with cancer risk. Some studies show a reduced
cancer risk for vegetarians. But because many vegetarians also exercise, do not smoke and do not drink
much alcohol, that benefit is a bit hard to pin down. Do it all, and be sure to be healthy! There are many
more health reasons to go vegetarian.

Religious reasons
Some religions proscribe a vegetarian diet, with some going to great lengths to destroy as little life as
possible (What’s that? Oh, no, of course I am not talking about destroying human lives as a result of
their diet… smartie! But you do have a sense of humour, often a typical vegetarian trait). Reasons can
include reaping good karma but some also maintain a healthy body so their spiritual life may have
better chances to flourish.

Environmental reasons
Meat production is many times more energy-intensive than is growing of plant food. Great swathes of
forest land have been cut to run cattle and the grazing of cattle on marginal lands causes soil erosion. In
ur overpopulated world where our use of energy has already outstripped the earth’s capacity for
renewal, overemphasis on meat consumption is self-destructive. Particularly when there are no
compelling health reasons not to abstain from meat altogether. Many more environmental reasons exist,
including reduction of suffering to animals.

Your reasons
There are many reasons for going vegetarian. You may be motivated by a combination of the above
reasons or have a completely different, and valid reason. Be clear in your mind what that reason is and
use that as your driving force.

A major pitfall of vegetarianism is that some people who change abruptly from meat eating to
vegetarianism find that this does not make them feel any better. Don’t blame the vegetarian diet and
give it some time. Treat your body with the respect it deserves. If your motivation is right, meaning
you know why you are becoming vegetarian, you will put some effort into finding the right information
and do not proceed in a hurry. Reduce your meat intake gradually and set yourself a reasonable time
limit to get used to your vegetarian diet.

You can buy books on the subject or see a naturopath who can map out a transition plan for you. Talk
to some vegetarians you know and you will find they are happy to share some recipes with you. Heck,
they may even invite you to share their experience directly with them and invite you to dinner. If they
don’t, take yourself (and them?) to a good vegetarian eating place. You can see that even just finding
out about vegetarian food can be fun!

Yes, a vegetarian diet can easily contain all the nutrition that a human body needs. Therefore, the secret
is in being clear in why you want to become vegetarian, get good information on any vegetarian recipe,
low calorie and vegetarian recipe that you can find. There are many easy vegetarian recipe books out
there that inform you on how to obtain all the nutrition you need and take you little time to prepare.

Of course there are unhealthy vegetarian diets. A balanced diet is the key. Having some basic
knowledge about what foods you should include in your vegetarian diet is an essential starting point.

Vegetarian food can be absolutely delicious. Do it right from the start and you won’t look back. And…
depending on how you eat now, a vegetarian diet can be easier on your wallet too!

Here’s to your health!

Erik Leipoldt has been a lacto-ovo vegetarian for 30 years and his children were raised vegetarian. He
uses a wheelchair due to spinal cord injury and attributes much of his good health and normal weight to
his vegetarian diet. He writes about vegetarianism, and other subjects, from his personal experience and
knowledge found along the track. See his blog: http://low–calorie–and–vegetarian–recipe.blogspot.com/
He holds a PhD in Philosophy.

Comments Off

When I was decorating my bedroom I found that contract furniture had the best range which was of good quality and didn’t break the budget.

They say you should never judge a book by it’s cover but we are all probably guilty of making assumptions about a person based on what their home looks like. The manner in which we design our rooms can and does often indicate the things we like and dislike, and also gives a certain indication of our general character. A busy working life with long days at the office may be represented with a tidy, unlived-in kind of home, whereas a family home may have a large dining table and comfy sofas located centrally in the home indicating important quality family time.

Whilst you may think you know a person and can confirm that knowledge by the décor in their home, do you know what their bedroom looks like? When visiting someone’s home we are very often invited to use their living room, kitchen or bathroom but we rarely see their bedroom. We are brought up to believe that the goings-on in a bedroom are personal or private and it is for this reason that a bedroom is seen as a private area of a home and many will go as far as keeping their bedroom door closed whilst entertaining visitors. The actions of a person in their bedroom isn’t necessarily the same as their actions in a social situation and the difference in décor in this private room can confirm this.

If you feel you do not want to furnish the social areas of your home with expensive furnishings, save your more luxurious design ideas for your bedroom. Soft carpets and fluffy cushions are a great addition to a bedroom and are not at risk of being of being damaged or worn as they are in a more private area of your home which sees less traffic throughout the day. The colours you choose for your bedroom are also likely to differ from the higher traffic areas in your home as you will not be as worried that dirty shoes or spilt food may damage your bedroom décor.

Comments Off

With increasing automobile insurance costs, thrifty auto owners everywhere are looking for ways to get low cost auto insurance. And why not? If it can lower the amount you pay then go for it, right? Well, there are many ways to get deductions on car insurance. Try to check if you or your car is entitled for the following deductions but remember that these are general discounts, you have to inquire with your insurance agent if they offer them.

Individual-Associated Discounts

These price reductions are usually given based on your performance as a driver and policy owner. The other price reductions are given based on your present status in life.

Taking a Traffic School Class If by any chance you have recently been ticketed, you may attend traffic school either online or through a traditional setting to have your ticket expunged from your driving history. Indirectly, this will have an effect of lowering your monthly insurance rates

Good Student price reductions. Insurance underwriters know that students with higher GPAs have a lower risk of being involved in a car accident. Therefore, they will usually offer price reductions on your insurance.

Belong to a Professional Organization. Many times, if you belong to a trade or professional organization, you’ll be able to receive additional discounts on your car insurance. This can include professions such as physicians, pharmacists, scientists, etc.

deductions for seniors. People over 55 can usually receive price reductions on their automobile insurance. Sometimes, you may also need to take a defensive driving course to qualify for the rate cut. Check with your local Department of Motor Vehicles to find out what classes are available.

Loyalty Programs. Staying with the same insurance agent for several years and maintaining a clean driving record will give you a great history with them. Many times, the insurer will reward you with your loyalty with lower insurance quotes.

Keep a Clean Driving Record. If you’ve not been involved in any car accidents or have had any tickets for traffic violations, you should be able to get your insurance costs reduced.

Home + car insurance Discounts. Your insurance underwriter may give you multi-line deductions if you insure your house and other vehicles with them as well.

Vehicle Based Insurance Price Reductions

It doesn’t come as a surprise that when getting a automobile insurance policy, the insurance underwriter takes a look at your car. Some of these car insurance discounts are given because you’ve made your car safe and insurance-friendly.

1. Air Bags. They present more safety to you and your car and insurance companies love these.
2. Anti-Lock Brakes System (ABS). Many cars on the road today are equipped with ABS. Many insurance underwriters offer discounts if your car is equipped with this type of braking system and many states even require the insurance underwriter to do so.

Anti-Theft Devices. Installation of anti-theft devices like alarms is a way to get cheaper car insurance rates. There may be an added bonus if the alarm automatically turns on when the car’s turned off.

Comments Off

Sugar intake is a real concern for people who’ve had gastric bypass, in fact most patients fear sugar. The foremost fear isn’t weight gain, it’s dumping. Foods containing sugar pass too quickly through the small pouch, they are rapidly absorbed and cause insulin levels to drop resulting in dumping.

Very unpleasant. Instead of taking chances with sugar many of us reach for “sugar free” sweets or diabetic candy to satisfy our sweet tooth. Many of these products contain sugar alcohol, a natural sweetener derived from fruits and berries. Unlike artificial sweeteners that contain no calories, sugar alcohol has about half the calories of sugar. Diabetics are able to have food with sugar alcohol because it’s converted more slowly to glucose and require very little insulin to be metabolized.

While sugar alcohols are low in calories and slow to convert to glucose, the down side is they can cause gas, bloating and diarrhea. I learned this the hard way. One day that devil we call temptation seduced me into buying a bag of sugar-free jelly beans. Jelly beans are dangerous because they are little bites of soft food which means a gastric bypass patient can eat too much volume. I ate the entire bag in about an hour (true confessions of the closet snacker). I soon became uncomfortable with a small tummy ache. The tummy ache turned to bloating, cramping and gas. Extreme cases of all three symptoms. Painful “take me to the hospital I think I’m gonna explode” symptoms. It took a couple of days for my body to return to normal, a couple of stressful and uncomfortable days.

The jelly beans I ate contained Mannitol, a common sugar alcohol extracted from seaweed. I know they contained Mannitol because I read the package mid-way through the crisis. The package contained this warning, “Warning: excessive consumption can cause a laxative effect” Fine time to be reading labels I told myself! Mannitol is found naturally in pineapples, olives, asparagus, sweet potatoes and carrots. It’s about 60% as sweet as sugar, so more product is needed to replicate the sweetness of sugar. “Mannitol lingers in the intestines for a long time and therefore causes bloating and diarrhea.” Yup! That’s exactly what happens all right.

What other names are sugar alcohols called?

Sorbitol is found naturally in fruits and vegetables. It is manufactured from corn syrup. Sorbitol has only 50 percent of the relative sweetness of sugar which means twice as much must be used to deliver a similar amount of sweetness to a product. It has less of a tendency to cause diarrhea compared to mannitol. It is often an ingredient in sugar-free gums and candies.

Xylitol is also called “wood sugar” and occurs naturally in straw, corncobs, fruit, vegetables, cereals, mushrooms and some cereals. Xylitol has the same relative sweetness as sugar. It is found in chewing gums.

Lactitol has about 30-40 percent of sugar’s sweetening power, but its taste and solubility profile resembles sugar so it is often found in sugar-free ice cream, chocolate, hard and soft candies, baked goods, sugar-reduced preserves and chewing gums.

Isomalt is 45 - 65 percent as sweet as sugar and does not tend to lose its sweetness or break down during the heating process. Isomalt absorbs little water, so it is often used in hard candies, toffee, cough drops and lollipops.

Maltitol is 75 percent as sweet as sugar. It is used in sugar-free hard candies, chewing gum, chocolate-flavored desserts, baked goods and ice cream because it gives a creamy texture to foods.

Hydrogenated starch hydrolysates (HSH) are produced by the partial hydrolysis of corn. HSH are nutritive sweeteners that provide 40 - 90 percent of the sweetness of sugar. HSH do not crystallize and are used extensively in confections, baked goods and mouthwashes.

Should Gastric Bypass Patients indulge their sweet tooth with sugar alcohol?

The American Diabetes Association claims that sugar alcohols are acceptable in a moderate amount but should not be eaten in excess. In addition, weight gain has been seen when these products are overeaten. Personally, I’m not dipping my sticky fingers into sugar-free candy again. For gastric bypass patients generally the key, as in all eating, must be moderation, not a full bag of jelly beans. And of course, we can always rely on the old advice of conventional dieters, “Hungry for something sweet? Reach for a piece of fruit.”

Kaye Bailey is a weight loss surgery success story having maintained her health and goal weight for 5+ years. An award winning journalist, she is the author and webmaster of http://www.livingafterwls.com and http://www.livingafterwls.blogspot.com

LivingAfterWLS is a no-nonsense resource for people Living After Weight Loss Surgery. Our community is growing in numbers even as we are shrinking in pounds. Together we support one another in this lifestyle, that it turns out, is NOT the easy way out.

Fresh & insightful content is added daily, check in often. To subscribe to the LivingAfterWLS monthly newsletter “You Have Arrived” click on http://www.livingafterwls.com and enter your details in the subscription box.

Comments Off