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Water, Bananas, Honey What Makes a Diet Healthy?

Updated on February 2, 2019

What Choice do we have?

When we start to look at food, diets and their nutritional values, we begin to learn how to eat wisely & well. Having a healthy diet is the most important thing we can do to help our bodies receive the essential nourishment to run our vital processes. These processes repair, energize, replenish and promote cellular growth.

When I was little my dad always told us kids that our body is like an automobile. If we don't put gas in the tank, the car will eventually stop moving. He also had us ponder on the type of gas that is best to use asking: “If we use cheap gas, will it work better than if we use expensive petrol?” In reality, some cars are made for some gas types, and we have no option but to provide what the car needs to run. Otherwise, regular cheaper fuel may do the trick. You also don’t want to fill up the gas to the brim. You want to get clean fuel to keep the car in good working condition. So, the analogy is correct, and the gas you put into a car is very much like the food you put into your body. People are like automobiles. If a person has a particular ailment, they have no choice but to follow the stict diet prescribed for that ailment. If however, a person has no known ailment, he/she is free to explore all the various options available.

Just what is a diet anyway? A diet is not what you don't eat, but what you do eat! Mostly, diets are as individual as people are. What works for some fails to work for others causing lots of frustration. I remember when I was an undergrad, one of my profs suggested that if everyone in the class could dream up a diet plan that worked for them they would all be different, and each of us could make lots of money selling our plan to others. Too bad, I didn't listen because dieting is big business!

Why is dieting and nutrition so popular? Poor dietary habits are the major cause of disease. Start a diary and begin writing down what you eat everyday. A pattern will develop and you may be amazed. Knowledge is power and you should learn to be the expert on yourself! Discover your personal desires, food requirements, and begin to alter the unhealthy with the healthy. Start out slowly to convert your body to the energetic and environmentally harmonious being it was intended to be. If you need help to discover what to do, there is plenty help available looking through the current diet plans.

Current Diet Programs include:

1. Calorie Counting Diets: Weight Watchers, 3-Hour Diet, 6-Day Body Make Over, and the Dr. Zone Diet.

2. High Fiber Diets: Allergy Healing Diet, Aromatherapy Diet, Vegetarian Diet, Low Fat, Jenny Craig, GI Diet, Low Sugar Diet, and the Honey Diet

3. Low Carbohydrates Diets: Curves Diet, Atkins Diet, South Beach Diet, Hampton Diet, Scarsdale Diet, NutriSystem Diet, Portion Control, The Step Diet, Sonoma Diet, The French Woman’s Diet, and the 8 Minute Workout

4. Other Diets Methods: My Pyramid Diet, Blood Type Diet, Green Tea Diet, ADHD Diet, Juicing for Health, RaAcai Berry Diet, Banana Diet, Honey Diet, Gluten Free Diet, Mediterranean Diet and Get with the Program

Personally, review of the dieting plans seem to indicate that calories play an important part in what a person should and should not eat. If you have an interest in starting to Calorie count and are having problems finding calorie information on foods.

Make your own cookbook using PowerPoint. Include the calorie charts and pertinent information you personally can value from and print it out. Get a small 5x8 binder and hole puncher and you're all set. Remember, keeping fit as a fiddle is easy when you watch your calorie intake and participate in a regular exercise program.

Banana Diet

The Banana Diet has proven successful for some. The original Morning Banana Diet craze started in Japan in 2008 by an Osaka pharmacist to help her husband lose weight. By following the simple plan, he dropped 38 pounds.Bananas are considered by some to be the most healthy food source, so perhaps its your Healthy Dieting Choice? If you are on this diet, you eat bananas and water only for breakfast. You can eat anything you want for lunch and dinner except for dairy products, alcohol, and sweets. You can have one sweet snack in the mid afternoon and can eat nothing after 8 p.m. Diet restrictions include any beverage except water, dairy products, alcohol and sweets. Doles has now gotten involved with this dieting idea.

Honey is a Natural Remedy
Honey is a Natural Remedy

Honey Diet

When the Greeks discovered honey they probably never would have thought that it would be used as a diet. However, it is a very popular diet and Honey is considered to be a Healthy Diet as well as a Food Choice by some.

The Honey Diet states that 2 spoons of honey and water consumed on an empty stomach will make your stomach think it is full. This way you will not eat as much. Taken before every meal, it serves as a "tonic" of sorts. Some believe the Honey deception diet is the best plan to assist a person with weight loss because Honey is a natural source of energy, and our body needs nutritious food substances to maintain health and vitality.

Water Diet

It has been said that water makes a great diet after all, Water is healthy and could be your Healthy Diet choice. Professionals tell us that we are supposed to drink 8 glasses of water a day to help flush the impurities out of our body, and now some are telling us that we can use those 8 glasses of water as a diet. Drinking water helps sustain our body, relieve hunger pangs, and keep us from eating longer. So when you drink those eight glasses of water, it might help you lose weight because, the theory states that drinking “cold” water requires the body to heat, when it heats up, it burns one calorie per ounce of water. So essentially if you drink the 8 glasses required daily all “cold” you can burn 64 calories a day in weight. Neat idea right!.

Precaution: Water flushes the body and in that flush we loose not only waste, but also essential electrolytes and fluids rich in sodium. Drinking excessive water can affect the balance of fluids in the body. This disruption can cause “Water Intoxication” or “Hyponatremia”. If you follow the medical guidelines when drinking water, you do not have to worry. The effects of “Water Intoxication” and “Hyponatremia” can range from illness, hospitalization to death. It is important to follow daily guidelines on water consumption and do not drink too much. Remember "drink water in moderation!"

The GI Diet

The Glycemic Index or GI for short is a Healthy Diet system that ranks foods by how they affect blood sugar. The main culprits carbohydrates, contain sugars and starch.

1. Low GI foods (less than 55) produce a gradual rise in blood sugar that is easy on the body. Low GI foods starve off heart disease, prevent Type II diabetes and help evade serious side effects if you currently have diabetes. Low GI Foods also curb your appetite so you can lose weight.

2. Foods with GI numbers between 55 & 70 are moderate GI food.

3. Foods that have a GI more than 70, make the body blood sugars rise. It also causes the body insulin level to spike. This is a health threat!

The most important GI determinant is the physical state of the starch during processing. Food processing techniques have improved the quality of the carbohydrates in our current diet by removing outer fibrous layers and reducing grain size to enhance quick digestion. This is why breads, crackers and other bakery products made from finely milled enriched flours have high GI values, while stone ground products that are dense and grainy have lower GI values.

Simply cooking starch in water can have a big impact. The longer a starch is exposed to water, the more gelatinized its particles, and the more puffy and hard to digest it becomes. The more swollen, the faster it turns into glucose / sugar. Remember, overcooking any type of pasta, increases its GI value.

Try adding foods that slow digestion like lettuce into your daily diet. Some ideas on foods that release glucose more slowly into the blood include:

1. soluble fiber - rolled oats, beans, lentils, apples.

2. acids - sourdough bread, pickled vegetables.

 

Gluten Free Diet

A Gluten Free diet is prescribed to treat individuals with Celiac / Coeliac disease but can be used by others who are interested in this Healthy Diet System. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder of the small intestine that occurs in genetically predisposed people of all ages. Symptoms include failure to thrive, chronic diarrhea, and resulting fatigue. Scientists all over the world have studied this ailment and have discovered that gluten is an issue causing some of the intestinal problems in individuals suffering from this disease. Gluten is any product that contains wheat, rye, barley, or oats has gluten.

Why do we use gluten? Gluten helps make bread rise and provides a smooth, pleasing texture. Gluten can be found in bread, cereal, and pasta. Gluten is usually added to foods to improve texture or enhance flavor during food packaging. It may even be present on surfaces used for food preparation or cooking. Want more information? Contact the Celiac Society about the disease. You can also visit: http:// www.glutenfree.com for recipe and menu ideas.

PH Balance Diet

Bet you've heard about PH Balance because every shampoo is advertised as having a balanced PH. But did you know PH Balance is important when considering a diet too? What does this PH really mean?

The symbols "P" and "H" as well as the acronym, "PH", comes from chemistry. The P = Phosphorus ions, and the H = Hydrogen ions. Most scientists agree that the symbol "H" stands for Hydrogen however, the symbol P is arguably either short for the potential for hydrogen concentration, the power of hydrogen, or many other variations meaning "joining or containing" hydrogen ions. We all know that 'H' - Hydrogen ions joins with 2 Oxygen ions to make water but what about the 'P'?

'P' = Phosphorus and is very important to the human body because it is an essential element in all living cells. Phosphorous joins with other elements to form essential components. A component of Phosphorous is found in DNA, a Phosphorous lipid with protein forms the membranes of living cells, and another component of Phosphorous called, Phosphate, transports cellular energy throughout the body.

Scientists use the 'PH' scale to measure how acidic or basic a substance is. Acid produces Hydrogen ions in a solution [usually water]. Bases produce both Oxygen and Hydrogen ions in a solution called "Hydroxides." When scientists do a PH Balance test for acid or base in a solution, they use test strips called, litmus strips.

Litmus strips help scientists determine the concentration of hydrogen ions in the system. Acid turns the test strip red, and a Alkaline / base turns the test strip blue. Acids react with bases to form salts and water and we know salt and water is very important for our body functions. Bases in solution produce an electrical current called electrolytes. And we all have heard that electrolytes are very important to us! Some medical professionals believe we all should test our PH balance using litmus strips on a daily or weekly basis to help regulate our personal PH balance. We could do this using a urine or saliva solution and litmus strips.

It is the general belief by most scientists, that the human body functions better with a PH balance of 80% alkaline / 20% acid. So, the optimal PH Balance Test result would indicate a higher alkaline environment in the body; or a blue colored strip. If your test revealed a red colored strip [high acid], you would need to consume an alkaline and test until the alkaline turned the red strip to blue. It is important to note that Malnutrition is usually identified by a low Phosphate / Alkaline level in the body, or someone who would have a red 'acidic' strip.

Why do we want the suggested 80/20 Alkaline / Acid 'PH' balance? The main job of the Alkaline in our system, is to detoxify the substances we ingest, and rid our body tissues of impurities. With a Balanced PH level, our system can give our physiological processes and psychological functioning a greater sense of well being. So how can we achieve a healthy Alkaline / Acid balance our system? If we eat a Balanced Diet, we can improving our overall health and strengthen our immunity.

Traditionally, the sense of taste in our tongue is a good judge of the PH Balance in our foods. In the West, experts identified four taste sensations located on our tongue: 'sweet', 'salty', 'sour', and 'bitter'. In the Asia two additional taste sensations have been added: [1] 'hotness' also called, 'pungency', 'raciness', or 'spiciness' and [2] 'savory' also called, 'umami', 'brothy', or 'meaty'. Scientists tell us that Acid tastes 'bitter' and Alkaline taste 'sour.'

My grandma lost her sense of smell but used her senses of taste [sweet, salty, sour, and bitter] to cook food. Interestingly, she maintained a proper PH Balance despite her lack of smell by using her taste buds. It was hard for us to imagine what she tasted without the sense of smell. Remarkably, she was not only able to cook without issue, but won awards at the State Fairs for her chili, cakes and pies. Grams told us that when we cooked we needed to hold our nose and really taste the food. Now we are learning that she was correct, without the use of smell, we can taste the sweet, salty, sour, and bitter in the foods we are making. Even without a sense of smell, Grams accurately made healthy PH Balanced and tasty food combinations.

Grams secret? She told us that you take things that taste "bitter" and add "sweet." Take the things that taste "sour" and add "salty." She also told us that balanced combinations in the foods we eat together can make a dish "bland," "savory" or "spicy." Have you ever eaten something cinnamon then tried to eat a pickle - ugh! Remember, scientists warn us to avoid excess "bitter" because, acids taste bitter!

So, what does a PH Balance mean to me? It means I will live a quality life, have more strength, get ill less frequently and my body will become healthy physically and emotionally. So now I have a mission to learn to cook 'savory dishes' with a healthy 80/20 'PH' Balance and avoid excess 'acid' or bitterness in my daily food consumption.

References: Grams, Family Health Guide, and Wikepedia

In conclusion

Over the years I have written down what foods are suggested to help various ailments. Obviously, if you want to have a Healthy Diet, You need to eat “Healthy Foods. Health benefits of foods can be acquired by avoiding unhealthy chemical additives and eating organic. Here are some Healthy Diet additions to keep your body running in fine condition:.

HEADACHE? EAT FISH! Eat plenty of fish -- fish oil helps prevent headaches.
Ginger also reduces inflammation and pain.
HAY FEVER? EAT YOGURT! Eat lots of yogurt before pollen season.
Honey from your area (local region) daily. TO PREVENT STROKE DRINK TEA! Prevent buildup of fatty deposits on artery walls with regular doses of tea. (Actually, tea suppresses my appetite and keeps the pounds from invading.... Green tea is great for our immune system)!
INSOMNIA (CAN'T SLEEP?) HONEY! Use honey as a tranquilizer and sedative.
ASTHMA? EAT ONIONS!!!! Eating onions helps ease constriction of bronchial tubes. (When I was young, my mother would make onion packs to place on our chest, helped the respiratory ailments and actually made us breathe better).
ARTHRITIS? EAT FISH, TOO!! Salmon, tuna, mackerel and sardines actually prevent arthritis. (Fish has some omega oils, reported to be good for our immune system)
UPSET STOMACH? BANANAS - GINGER!!!!! Bananas will settle an upset stomach. Ginger will cure morning sickness and nausea.
BLADDER INFECTION? DRINK CRANBERRY JUICE!!!! High-acid cranberry juice controls harmful bacteria.
BONE PROBLEMS? EAT PINEAPPLE!!! The manganese in pineapple can prevent bone fractures and osteoporosis.
PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME? EAT CORNFLAKES!!!! Women can ward off the effects of PMS with cornflakes, which help reduce depression, anxiety and fatigue.
MEMORY PROBLEMS? EAT OYSTERS! Oysters help improve your mental functioning by supplying much-needed zinc. COLDS? EAT GARLIC! Clear up that stuffy head with garlic. (Remember, garlic lowers cholesterol, too.)
COUGHING? USE RED PEPPERS!! A substance similar to that found in the cough syrups is found in hot red pepper. Use red (cayenne) pepper with caution-it can irritate your tummy.
BREAST CANCER? EAT Wheat, bran and cabbage Helps to maintain estrogen at healthy levels.
LUNG CANCER? EAT DARK GREEN AND ORANGE AND VEGGIES!!! A good antidote is beta-carotene, a form of Vitamin A found in dark green and orange vegetables.
ULCERS? EAT CABBAGE ALSO!!! Cabbage contains chemicals that help heal both gastric and duodenal ulcers.
DIARRHEA? EAT APPLES! Grate an apple with its skin, let it turn brown and eat it to cure this condition. (Bananas are good for this ailment)
CLOGGED ARTERIES? EAT AVOCADO! Mono unsaturated fat in avocados lowers cholesterol.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE? Eat Celery, cinnamon and use olive oil
Olive oil has been shown to lower blood pressure. Celery contains a chemical that lowers pressure too.
BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCE? Try broccoli and peanuts both helps regulate insulin and blood sugar.because they both contain chromium.
Kiwi: is Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, Vitamin E & fiber. Its Vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.
Apples:- An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low Vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids, which enhances the activity of Vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.
Strawberry -: Protective fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer causing, blood vessels clogging free radicals. (Actually, any berry is good for you. they’re high in anti-oxidants and they actually keep us young.........blueberries are the best and very versatile use in the health field because they get rid of all the free radicals that invade our bodies)
Orange: Sweetest medicine. Taking 2 - 4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessen the risk of colon cancer.
Watermelon: Coolest Thirst Quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant boost for our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene - the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients
found in watermelon are Vitamin C & Potassium. (Watermelon also has natural substances [natural SPF sources] that keep our skin healthy, protecting our skin from those darn sun rays)
Guava & Papaya: Top awards for Vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high Vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for your eyes. (Also good for gas and indigestion) Tomatoes are very good as a preventative measure for men, keeps those prostrate problems from invading their bodies

Remember we all need to consume food! What we eat is important for our overall health and wellness. Some foods mentioned above can help relieve ailments and keep us well. I personally keep an onion in every room and "knock on wood" don't suffer from the flu virus. Most of my family do the same, it's a family hand down. And our family isn't the only thing affecting what we eat. We watch TV, read articles and some of us are bullied. We are made to feel that we need to be heavy to be viewed as strong and able, super thin to be considered nice looking, and weight is a serious health issue. Check out this link regarding weight and health; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5100338/

Our specific religious beliefs about eating food are an issue with many individuals as well. Find out what eating habits originated from your religious belief's. What the influence religion plays on what we eat and how we prepare foods, Check out this link for specifics: https://www.diet.com/g/religion-and-dietary-practices

In conclusion, we need to become educated on how to be healthy, what is good and not good to eat, and how to properly prepare dishes to keep us well whether we diet or not. A diet is what we choose to eat and not what we don't.


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