Tag: high blood pressure
Health Benefits of Pea Protein For Optimal Health
So the other day, I fielded a question in regards to pea protein and if it was really a viable protein source when compared to the almighty whey. Let me just say that even though I am not vegan, I do incorporate a lot of plant based proteins into my diet, and I think you are going to be quite surprised when it comes to all the amazing benefits.
From shedding those unwanted pounds to building lean muscle mass and even stabilizing those pesky blood sugar spikes you definitely need to take a look at pea protein. Or maybe your looking to cut down on the amount of animal protein in your diet. Either way, lets take a closer look!
Pea Protein and BCAAs:
By now, especially if your into working out your pretty familiar with what branched chain amino acids are. If not, here is a little refresher for you. BCAAs are three essential amino acids. Leucine, Isoleucine and Valine. They are essential because the body is unable to make them out of other amino acids so they must be consumed via food or in supplement form. In a nut shell, BCAAs help promote muscle growth and repair and reduce muscle soreness after exercise.
Studies show a diet rich in BCAAs can help keep your body in a muscle building state throughout the day. Not only that, BCAAs can assist in decreasing belly fat, help keep you fuller longer between meals and energize your workouts. The good news, like whey, pea protein is packed with BCAAs!
Pea protein powder has roughly 5 grams of branched chain amino acids. This is almost as much as whey which has a little more than 6 per serving. Pretty awesome I must say!
Pea Protein And Weight Loss:
Cravings anyone? Did you know that this can be contributed to a lack of protein in your diet?
A common symptom of lack of protein in ones diet is constant cravings. When it comes to dieting, cravings can completely derail you from your ultimate goal…losing weight. Most people simply don’t know how to get their cravings under control when they are trying to lose those unwanted pounds and set themselves up for complete failure.
A lot of dieters eat far less protein than they need, which ends up being a roadblock in trying to shed those unwatned pounds.
One of the great things about pea protein? Pea protein produces a large number of peptides when ingested and these can actually slow down the emptying of your stomach. Why is this important? Because by slowing down the emptying of the contents of our stomach, we essentially slow down the creation of the hunger hormone, ghrelin.
Studies have found pea protein to be as effective as dairy-based proteins in helping satiety and feeling fuller for a longer period of time. You can read about that by clicking here.
Diabetic Nephropathy, How Diabetes Effects The Kidneys:
Ok, so over the past couple of weeks, I’ve received several questions relating to the issues diabetics face in relation to kidney problems and how diabetes affects the kidneys, also known as nephropathy.
Diabetic nephropathy is the most common cause of renal failure, accounting for more than half of all cases of end-stage renal disease in the United States. Renal disease will affect between 20-40% of diabetics in their lifetime, so lets take a closer look at what its all about and more importantly, what we can do to avoid it!
Nephropathy Causes?
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but as we’re aware, diabetes can affect many parts of the body, including the kidneys. In healthy kidneys, many tiny blood vessels filter waste products from your body. The blood vessels have holes that are big enough to allow tiny waste products to pass through into the urine but are still small enough to keep useful products (such as protein and red blood cells) in the blood.
High levels of sugar in the blood can damage these vessels over time if diabetes is not controlled. This can cause kidney disease, which is also called nephropathy (say: nef-rah-puh-thee). If your not well controlled and the damage is bad enough, your kidneys could stop working.
Signs And Symptoms Of Nephropathy:
Early signs and symptoms of kidney disease in patients with diabetes are typically unusual. However, signs and symptoms listed below may manifest when kidney disease has progressed:
- Albumin or protein in the urine
- High blood pressure
- Ankle and leg swelling, leg cramps
- Going to the bathroom more often at night
- High levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine
- Less need for insulin or antidiabetic medications
- Morning sickness, nausea, and vomiting
- Weakness, paleness, and anemia
- Itching
The differential diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy are extensive, but they include the following in a patient with known type 1 and type 2 diabetes:
- Primary or secondary glomerular disease
- Nephrosclerosis
- Renovascular hypertension
- Renal artery stenosis
- Renal vein thrombosis
- Multiple myeloma
- Cholesterol embolization
- Chronic obstruction
- Interstitial nephritis
- Amyloidosis
Sodium | Health Risks, Medical Dangers
Ok, so coming from a family with notoriously high blood pressure, I made a promise to myself years ago that I would do everything in my power to live a healthy lifestyle and so far (besides the diabetes thing) things have turned out quite well. So what is sodium and how does it effect our body. Sodium is an abundant metallic element that is an important mineral for all living organisms. It is also widely used industrially to make an assortment of consumer goods. The soft metal also appears in an abundance of compounds, such as sodium chloride, better known as salt.
In a pure form, sodium is a soft, silvery gray, highly reactive metal. It is usually stored in a nonreactive substance, as it oxidizes rapidly when exposed to air, quickly forming a thick coating. The element is also highly explosive when exposed to moisture and water, to the delight of many chemistry students. Since it is so reactive, it is usually found naturally in compounds with other elements. Many of these compounds, such as salt, are extremely stable and perfectly safe to handle. Others, like sodium hydroxide, need to be handled carefully as they can be hazardous.
Sodium And High Blood Pressure:
Excess sodium accumulates in your blood, where it attracts and holds water. When you retain water, your blood volume increases and your heart beats harder to circulate the blood. This raises blood pressure. You exhibit no obvious symptoms when your blood pressure is high, but you develop related health problems over time. Many medical professionals refer to high blood pressure as “the silent killer” due to its health impacts and its lack of symptoms. Have your blood pressure tested during your regular physical. You can also test your blood pressure at automated testing stations at pharmacies or when you donate blood. If it is high, consult your doctor for advice on treating your condition.
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Health Benefits Of Grape Seed Extract
Grape seeds contain incredibly powerful antioxidants that have a wide range of benefits to our health. But, we wouldn’t get very far by just crunching the few seeds we find in grapes! Instead, grape seeds are collected from wine manufacturers, who separate the seeds from the fruit when they are harvested. Then the grape seeds are made into highly concentrated capsules that contain a powerful dosage of the antioxidant. There are numerous health benefits associated with grape seed extract, lets take a look at a few!
Grape Seed And Hypertension:
Theoretically, grape seed extract might help treat hypertension or high blood pressure. Antioxidants, like the ones found in grape seed, help protect blood vessels from damage. Damaged blood vessels can lead to higher blood pressure. In a 2009 study of subjects with metabolic syndrome, researchers found that four weeks of treatment with grape seed extract lowered both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. There is some evidence that grape seed extract supplements may help lower blood pressure.
According to a University of California Davis School of Medicine research study, participants taking grape seed extract experienced significant drops in their blood pressure, with an average 12 mm decrease in systolic and 9 mm decrease in diastolic pressure. While this may be because grape seed’s antioxidants protect blood vessels from damage, more research is needed to fully understand grape seed extract’s effect on hypertension.
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