What is E. Coli
E. Coli or Escherichia coli bacterium resides in the intestine which causes E. coli infection. E. coli is a common type of bacteria that can get into your food, like beef and vegetables and lives inside our intestines. Most of these gram negative rod shaped E. coli bacteria are not harmful to your body and helps in producing Vitamin K2 that helps in preventing other harmful bacteria within the intestine. The strange thing about E. Coli – as well as many other bacteria - is that it is not always harmful to you. It helps your body break down and digest the food that you take. Unfortunately, there are certain types or strains of E. coli that can get from the intestines into the blood. This is a rare illness and it can cause a very serious infection and sometimes serious food poisoning.
How can you get infected?
Most E. coli infections usually come from:
1. Eating undercooked ground beef, when the inside of the beef is still pink.
2. Drinking contaminated (impure) water
3. Drinking unpasteurized (raw) milk
4. Working with cattle.
Here are some symptoms of someone who has E. coli infection:
1. Bad stomach cramps and belly pain
2. Vomiting
3. Diarrhea, sometimes with blood in it
How can you avoid getting E. coli infection?
Prevention is better than cure. Prevent this E. coli infection by handling and cooking meat in a safe way.
1. Use soap and wash your hands carefully before you start cooking.
2. Cook ground beef until you see no pink anywhere.
3. While you are cooking do not taste small bites of raw ground beef.
4. Do not place or put cooked hamburgers on a plate that had raw ground beef on it before. Place your cooked hamburgers to separate clean plate.
5. All hamburgers should be cooked to at least 155°F. If possible, use a meat thermometer to help you test your hamburgers.
6. Always defrost your meats in the refrigerator or the microwave. Do not let meat sit on the counter and wait for it to defrost.
7. Keep raw meat and poultry separate from other foods.
8. Use hot water and soap to wash cutting boards and dishes if raw meat and poultry have touched them. If possible use a separate cutting board for meat and vegetables.
9. Do not drink raw milk.
10. Keep food refrigerated or frozen.
11. Keep hot food hot and cold food cold.
12. Always refrigerate your leftovers right away or throw them away.
13. If you have diarrhea then you should wash your hands carefully and often, using hot water and soap, and wash your hands for at least 30 seconds.
14. People who work in day care centers and homes for the elderly should wash their hands often, too.
15. In restaurants, always ask your hamburgers to be cooked well done so that no pink shows.
Drink Lots of Water
Everyone knows that water is vital to the body. It hydrates you and quenches your thirst. As good as it is; are you getting enough? Are you properly hydrated every day? A new study has examined the importance of proper hydration for good health and performance and established a more accurate measurement of the body's water needs. Here's the refreshing update:
Entitled "Water as an essential nutrient: The physiological basis for hydration," the study starts with explaining the importance of hydration to the body. "Water is the major constituent of the human body. The latter cannot produce enough water by metabolism or obtain enough water by food ingestion to fulfil its needs. As a consequence, we need to pay attention to what we drink throughout the day to ensure that we are meeting our daily water needs, as not doing so may have negative health effects (E. Je´quier and F. Constant. 2009)." The study was first published on September 2, 2009 in an advance online publication of the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Important from head to toe
The study highlights five uses of water to the body: (1) it's a vital component of our cells, (2) a necessary agent in the body's chemical processes, (3) a facilitator of all bodily functions including respiration and digestion, (4) regulates body temperature, and (5) lubricates joints and muscles for proper movement.
The study emphasizes the importance of drinking by citing the effects of dehydration or lack of water in your body. "It has been shown that mild dehydration corresponding to only one to two percent of body weight loss in adults can lead to a significant impairment in both cognitive function (alertness, concentration, short-term memory) and physical performance (endurance, sports skills) (E. Je´quier and F. Constant. 2009)."
So if you want to be at the top of your game all the time, don't exclusively rely on thirst to know if you're dehydrated. Mild to moderate dehydration manifests through a dry, sticky mouth, sleepiness or tiredness, decreased urine input, few or no tears when crying, muscle weakness, headaches and dizziness or light-headedness.
The solution to all this is simple enough, keep drinking even when you're not thirsty. But how do you know you're drinking enough? There's the old eight glasses of water a day rule, but is it correct?
According to the study, "Human water requirements are not based on a minimal intake as it might lead to a water deficit because of numerous factors that modify water needs (metabolism, climate, physical activity, diet and so on) (E. Je´quier and F. Constant. 2009)." What this means is that you shouldn't limit yourself to only 8 glasses a day because you need more based on your activities and the weather.
Instead, the study recommends the following intake levels: Male adolescents aged nine to 13 years need 1.8 L/day, 14 to 18 years old need 2.6 L/day and male adults at 3 L/day. Female adolescents aged nine to 13 need 1.6 L/day, 14 to 18 need 1.8 L/day and female adults at 2.2 L/ day. That converts to some 13 cups for male adults and nine cups for adult females.
Furthermore, the study states that this total water amount represents water, other beverages and water from food. The Beverage Institute for Health and Wellness (BIHW) conforms to this statement, "The Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences (IOM) does have specific recommendations for total fluid intake...which includes drinking water as well as the water obtained from all other foods and beverages."
All beverages hydrate, including your favorite juices, teas, soft drinks and foods like fruits, vegetables, soups and stews. The BIHW goes on to recommend that you "Choose beverages that you enjoy. Several studies show that children and adults consume about 45 to 50 percent more liquid when it's flavored vs plain water (www.thebeverageinstitute.org. 2009)."
The important lesson is that hydration must always be top of mind for optimum health. From now on, make it a habit to drink!
Source: Manila Bulletin
Stay Young with These 8 Perfect Foods
Stay young and healthy with these 8 perfect foods. Lose weight, have a longer lifespan, strengthen your cardiovascular, improve immune function, memory and more.
EGGS
Benefit: Weight loss
Substitute: Egg Beaters egg substitute
72 calories, each large egg holds 6.3 grams of high-quality protein and a powerhouse load of vital nutrients.
GREEN TEA
Benefit: Longer lifespan
Substitutes: Yerba mate, white tea, oolong tea, rooibos (red) tea
Japanese study broke participants into two groups, only one of which was put on a catechin-rich green-tea diet. At the end of 12 weeks, the green-tea group had achieved significantly smaller body weights and waistlines than those in the control group. Why? Because researchers believe that catechins are effective at boosting metabolism.
GARLIC
Benefit: Cardiovascular strengthening
Substitutes: Onions, chives, leeks
Allicin, an antibacterial and antifungal compound, is the steam engine pushing forward garlic’s myriad health benefits. The chemical is produced by the garlic plant as a defense against pests, but inside your body, it fights cancer, strengthens your cardiovascular system, decreases fat storage, and fights acne inflammation.
GRAPEFRUIT
Benefit:Weight loss
Substitutes: Oranges, watermelon, tomatoes
Those who ate the grapefruit also exhibited a decrease in insulin levels, indicating that their bodies had improved their ability to metabolize sugar.
GREEK YOGURT
Benefit: Feeling fuller for longer
Substitutes: Kefir and yogurt with “live and active cultures” printed on the product label
Greek yogurt is separated from the watery whey that sits on top of regular yogurt, and the process removes excessive sugars, such as lactose, and increases the concentration of protein by as much as three times.
AVOCADO
Benefit: Reduced risk of heart disease
Substitutes: Olive, canola, and peanut oils; peanut butter; tahini
Numerous studies have shown that monounsaturated fats both improve you cholesterol profile and decrease the amount of triglycerides (more fats) floating around in your blood. This can lower your risk of stroke and heart disease. Worried about weight gain? Don’t be. There’s no causal link between monounsaturated fats and body fat.
BELL PEPPERS
Benefit: Improved immune function
Substitutes: Carrots, sweet potatoes, watermelon
All peppers are loaded with antioxidants, but none so much as the brightly colored reds, yellows, and oranges. These colors result from carotenoids concentrated in the flesh of the peppers, and it’s these same carotenoids that give tomatoes, carrots, and grapefruits their healthy hues. The range of benefits provided by these colorful pigments include improved immune function, better communication between cells, protection against sun damage, and a diminished risk of several types of cancer.
ALMONDS
Benefit: Improved memory
Substitutes: Walnuts, pecans, peanuts, sesame seeds, flaxseeds
An ounce of almonds or about 23 nuts a day provides nearly 9 grams of heart-healthy oleic acid; that’s more than the amounts found in peanuts, walnuts, or cashews. This monounsaturated fat is known to be responsible for a flurry of health benefits, the most recently discovered of which is improved memory.
Source: http://health.yahoo.com/experts/eatthis/38834/8-perfect-stay-young-foods/
I hope you enjoy eating these foods as much as I do.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)