Dr. Kaniappan Padmanaban Ph.D

The author Dr. Kaniappan Padmanaban, Ph.D, had a total of 35 years hands-on experience and worked as Head-Department of Clinical Toxicology for 25 years at renowned Institute of Drs. Fenners, Hamburg, Germany from 1980 to 2005. His life was full of research on foods and environmental poisons.

A man of research and practical applications from 1971 in the welfare of people in the field of Food, Medicine and Environment. His interests are,

• Research
• Practical applications
• Individual health solutions

The author has a strong concern for the society and come forward to share his invaluable knowledge on food, environmental poisons & illness, side effects of medicines and drugs to spread the awareness of what is happening in and around.

What is the role of alkalizing or alkaline forming foods in our health?

A pH of 7.0 is neutral, a pH below 7.0 is acidic and a pH above 7.0 is alkaline. Our blood pH must be slightly alkaline, 7.35 to 7.45. There will be health problems if it is below or above this range. A blood pH which is only slightly acidic, can cause coma and death. The acid forming foods like sugars, saturated fats, caffeine and milled flour products are causing cancers, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. At the same time the consumption of fresh vegetables, fruits and essential fatty acids has decreased in many countries.

The disadvantages of over-acidity in the body tissues include:

• Can decrease the body’s ability to absorb nutrients including essential minerals
• Can excrete more minerals from the body
• Can decrease the energy production in the cells
• Can decrease the ability to repair damaged cells
• Can decrease the ability to detoxify the body
• The free radical scavenging can be difficult
• Can increase the chance for cancer
• Heartburn, bloating, belching and feeling full after eating small portion of food
• Migraines, sleeplessness, water retention, constipation, a burning sensation on the tongue and in the mouth and bad breath
• Continuous tiredness

To master this important problem we have to eat foods that help our body maintain the correct acidity-alkalinity balance. 75 to 80% we must eat alkalizing foods and drinks and the rest can be acid forming foods.

The list of alkalizing foods include:

ALKALIZING VEGETABLES
Alfalfa
Barley Grass
Beet Greens
Beets
Broccoli
Cabbage
Carrot
Cauliflower
Celery
Chard Greens
Chlorella
Collard Greens
Cucumber
Dandelions
Dulce
Edible Flowers
Eggplant
Fermented Veggies
Garlic
Green Beans
Green Peas
Kale
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Mustard Greens
Nightshade Veggies
Onions
Parsnips (high glycemic)
Peas
Peppers
Pumpkin
Radishes
Rutabaga
Sea Veggies
Spinach, green
Spirulina
Sprouts
Sweet Potatoes
TomatoesTurnip
Watercress
Wheat Grass
Wild Greens

ALKALIZING ORIENTAL VEGETABLES
Daikon
Dandelion Root
Kombu
Maitake
Nori
Reishi
Shitake
Umeboshi
Wakame

ALKALIZING FRUITS
Apple
Apricot
Avocado
Banana (high glycemic)
Berries
Blackberries
Cantaloupe
Cherries, sour
Coconut, fresh
Currants
Dates, dried
Figs, dried
Grapes
Grapefruit
Honeydew Melon
Lemon
Lime
Muskmelons
Nectarine
Orange
Peach
Pear
Pineapple
Raisins
Raspberries
Rhubarb
Strawberries
Tangerine
Tomato
Tropical Fruits
Umeboshi Plums
Watermelon

ALKALIZING PROTEIN
Almonds
Chestnuts
Millet
Tempeh (fermented)
Tofu (fermented)
Whey Protein Powder

ALKALIZING SWEETENERS
Stevia

ALKALIZING SPICES & SEASONINGS
Chili Pepper
Cinnamon
Curry
Ginger
Herbs (all)
Miso
Mustard
Sea Salt
Tamari

ALKALIZING OTHER
Alkaline Antioxidant Water
Apple Cider Vinegar
Bee Pollen
Fresh Fruit Juice
Green Juices
Lecithin Granules
Mineral Water
Molasses, blackstrap
Probiotic Cultures
Soured Dairy Products
Veggie Juices

ALKALIZING MINERALS
Calcium: pH 12
Cesium: pH 14
Magnesium: pH 9
Potassium: pH 14
Sodium: pH 14

 ACIDIFYING VEGETABLES
Corn
Lentils
Olives
Winter Squash

ACIDIFYING FRUITS
Blueberries
Canned or Glazed Fruits
Cranberries
Currants
Plums**
Prunes**

ACIDIFYING GRAINS, GRAIN PRODUCTS
Amaranth
Barley
Bran, oat
Bran, wheat
Bread
Corn
Cornstarch
Crackers, soda
Flour, wheat
Flour, white
Hemp Seed Flour
Kamut
Macaroni
Noodles
Oatmeal
Oats (rolled)
Quinoa
Rice (all)
Rice Cakes
Rye
Spaghetti
Spelt
Wheat Germ
Wheat

ACIDIFYING BEANS & LEGUMES
Almond Milk
Black Beans
Chick Peas
Green Peas
Kidney Beans
Lentils
Pinto Beans
Red Beans
Rice Milk
Soy Beans
Soy Milk
White Beans

ACIDIFYING DAIRY
Butter
Cheese
Cheese, Processed
Ice Cream
Ice Milk

ACIDIFYING NUTS & BUTTERS
Cashews
Legumes
Peanut Butter
Peanuts
Pecans
Tahini
Walnuts

ACIDIFYING ANIMAL PROTEIN
Bacon
Beef
Carp
Clams
Cod
Corned Beef
Fish
Haddock
Lamb
Lobster
Mussels
Organ Meats
Oyster
Pike
Pork
Rabbit
Salmon
Sardines
Sausage
Scallops
Shellfish
Shrimp
Tuna
Turkey
Veal
Venison

ACIDIFYING FATS & OILS
Avacado Oil
Butter
Canola Oil
Corn Oil
Flax Oil
Hemp Seed Oil
Lard
Olive Oil
Safflower Oil
Sesame Oil
Sunflower Oil

ACIDIFYING SWEETENERS
Carob
Corn Syrup
Sugar

ACIDIFYING ALCOHOL
Beer
Hard Liquor
Spirits
Wine

ACIDIFYING OTHER FOODS
Catsup
Cocoa
Coffee
Mustard
Pepper
Soft Drinks
Vinegar

ACIDIFYING DRUGS & CHEMICALS
Aspirin
Chemicals
Drugs, Medicinal
Drugs, Psychedelic
Herbicides
Pesticides
Tobacco

Non alcoholic beverages

Cola drinks
Soft drinks
Coffee


Do not think that all acid forming foods are bad. They are also very important for our health. There must be the right mix.

What are the right foods for a pregnant?

There is no need to eat for two during the pregnancy. It is recommended that for the first trimester the food intake should remain about the same as it was prior to the pregnancy. During the second and third trimesters the food intake should be increased upto 30%. It is easy to achieve this with more fruits intake.

It is important to eat variety of foods to ensure the nutritional needs of both mother and the baby. The recommendations include:

• Fruits and vegetables very generously
• Whole grain products and cereals, but not milled grain products
• Milk and dairy products should not be eaten in excess
• Lean meat, chicken and fish in moderate amounts
• Avoid excess intake of fats, sugar and salt
• Beans, pulses, nuts and seeds
• Drink enough water

Do not diet if you are a pregnant. This bad for you as well as to your baby. Green leafy vegetables are very important for the intake of folic acid. Folic acid supplement is recommended for the health of your baby. It is better to consult your doctor before you take a supplement.

With proper food it is possible to manage the iron content of your body also. Iron supplement could be taken only if your doctor recommends it.

Avoid excess of vitamin A intake and vitamin A supplements are not required. The excessive intake of vitamin A may cause birth deformities.

What are the nutrients present in almonds? How is it useful in weight reduction?

Almond is a complete food with vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, carbohydrates and many other vital nutrients. It is an important food for our health.

The nutrients in 100g almonds include:

• Water – 5.7 g
• Protein – 18.7 g
• Fat – 54.1 g, more than 50% ins monounsaturated fats
• Carbohydrates – 9.0 g
• Fibre – 9.8 g
• Minerals – 2.7 g – sodium 25 - 40 mg, potassium 835 mg, magnesium 170 mg, calcium 250 mg, iron 4000 micro g, copper 850 micro g, zinc 2000 micro g, selenium 4 micro g, iodide 2 micro g.
• Vitamins - vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, nicotine amide, pantothenic acid, biotin, folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E
• Purine – 30 mg

Almond plays an important role in diet plans for weight reduction. It is low in carbohydrates, has many of the vitamins and the minerals. It is rich in fibre and as a plant food no cholesterol.

100 g almond has 598 calories. During weight reduction I advise this to Stop the hunger at any time of the day. 10 to 20 g is enough to stop your hunger. It is only 60 to 120 calories. On the other hand, 100 g chips have nearly 300 calories and you feel also quickly hungry. The fibres play a vital role here for this. It has only 9% carbohydrates and this makes it also an ideal food for persons who have diabetes.

In the weight reduction it is easier to select the right food if you have enough knowledge about different foods.

Can you explain me the terms “natural”, “nature identical” and “artificial” flavourings?

Flavours are often added to processed foods to restore or upgrade the taste lost during processing or simply to improve the taste.

To explain these terms you can vanilla, the most widely used flavour in our foods.

Natural flavour – If we add a particular substance which is taken from a natural product then it is called the natural flavouring. When vanillin is taken from the vanilla bean, then it is a natural flavouring substance. This must be obtained from a plant food or animal materials.

Nature identical flavour – Today our food chemists are in a position to analyse the substances which give the natural flavour of any food. This substance could be then made with different chemicals; so to say it is copied exactly. The product result is called nature identical flavour. You may enjoy your strawberry ice cream, but the taste may be only from chemicals. If the vanillin is made from chemicals it is not artificial, but is only a nature identical flavour.

Artificial flavour – The chemical structure of the natural flavour is found out and then modified according to the necessity the taste and flavour and this is called the artificial flavour. From vanillin they made ethylvanillin which is three to four times stronger than the normal vanillin. If you eat these strong flavours regularly you may not like the natural one.

It is clearly written on the label. We have to read it properly and buy only the products containing natural flavours if possible. In many developing and emerging countries nothing is written on the label and this is a big problem.

Are the non-nutritive sweeteners safe?

Everything started in the 1950s with non-nutritive sweeteners. They helped to reduce the cost and considered a good alternative to sugar, thus to reduce the weight.

The FDA-approved non-nutritive sweeteners are:

• Saccharin
• Aspartame
• Sucralose
• Acesulfame potassium
• Neotame

Twenty years later, in the 1970s, studies reported that the consumption of non-nutritive sweeteners has connection with cancer. Even today the controversy is great. For every positive argument, there is an equally compelling negative argument against their use.

Saccharin has no calories, does not raise blood sugar levels and is 200 to 700 times sweeter than the table sugar. It may cause bladder cancer in humans and allergy is the negative reports.

Aspartame was discovered in 1965 and the FDA approved it in 1996 as a “general purpose sweetener”. More than 6000 foods including the carbonated soft drinks contain this. It is 160 to 220 times sweeter than the table sugar.

Aspartame is one of the most controversial non-nutritive sweeteners. Headaches, depression, cancer and increased hunger are the reported negative aspects of aspartame.

Sucralose is the newest non-nutritive sweetener and it is 600 times sweeter than the table sugar. It has few calories from the raw materials and is not fully absorbed. It is approved as a general-purpose sweetener in 1999. It is found in more than 4500 food products.

The controversy surrounding sucralose comes from the fact that it was discovered while trying to create a new insecticide. Sucralose contains chlorine and this may bring health problems. There are no long-term studieson humans done. The available studies are only short-term animal studies. The alleged symptoms are gastrointestinal problems, skin irritations, wheezing, cough, runny nose, chest pain, anxiety, mood changes, anger, itchy eyes and depression.

Acesulfame potassium is approved as a non-nutritive sweetener from 1988. It is 200 times sweeter than the table sugar. It is used as a flavour enhancer or to preserve the sweetness of the sweet food.

Acesulfame potassium contains the carcinogen methylene chloride and long-term exposure to methylene chloride can cause headaches, depression, mental confusion, liver and kidney problems, visual disturbances and cancer. Long-term studies are necessary in humans to know more about this sweetener.

Neotame is approved by the FDA in 2002 and this new version of aspartame. It is chemically related to aspartame, but it is not dangerous to individuals with phenylketonuria. It is 7000 to 13000 times sweeter than table sugar.

Neotame may have all the negative effects of aspartame. Here also long-term studies on humans are missing.

If you have diabetes to have the sweet taste you can use these non-nutritive sweeteners. Infants, children and pregnant must avoid these. Read the label well before you buy sweet foods.

What are the health benefits of Cinnamon?

Cinnamon is the brown bark of the cinnamon tree. When dried it rolls into a tubular form. It is available as sticks or as ground powder.

There are more than hundred varieties of cinnamon, but the well known varieties are Ceylon cinnamon and the Chinese cinnamon which is known as cassia. Both are relatively similar in characteristics and feature a fragrant, sweet and warm taste, the flavour of the Ceylon variety is more refined and subtle. The Chinese variety is the cheap one.

Ceylon cinnamon is produced in Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Brazil and the Caribbean, while cassia is mainly produced in China, Vietnam and Indonesia.

It is a good source of manganese, calcium, iron and dietary fibre.

The health benefits of cinnamon include:

• Anti-clotting actions
• Anti-microbial activity
• Blood sugar control in type-2 diabetes patients
• Improves colon health
• Protects against heart disease
• Used as a medicine in the Traditional Medicine

With all these good qualities still Cinnamon is a spice and should not be eaten in excess.

Can you tell me the nutritional values of Tapioca (kappa)?

Tapioca (kappa) is the root of a shrub-like plant called Cassava native to Brazil. It is most commonly used as starch and food thickener. In India is used very often used in Kerala.

Almost 90% of tapioca is carbohydrates and has traces of vitamins and minerals. It is gluten and protein free. It has also traces of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Thus it has little nutritional value. If you eat this with fish curry or with grates of coconut this only brings the nutritional value.

Tapioca is used to thicken puddings, jellies and soups. It is used as a binder in tablets by the pharmaceutical industries. It is a thickener in natural paints also. In many South American and African countries different desserts are made with tapioca.

Tapioca can contain a cyanide based toxin. It should not be eaten exclusively and in large amount for a long time. It is very rich in carbohydrates and can raise the blood sugar level dramatically in persons with diabetes.

Women and diabetes; what are the complications?

Diabetes can cause specific complications in women. When compared with men, women have a 50% greater risk of diabetic coma. Women with diabetes have heart diseases similar to men, but more women die from the first heart attack than do men with diabetes.

The complications of women with diabetes include:

• Women with diabetes have an increased risk of recurrent yeast infections
• May cause decreased vaginal lubrication
• Birth control pills can raise blood sugar levels
• Fluctuations in hormone levels through the menstrual cycle can increase the blood sugar levels. When the estrogens levels are high the body may be resistant to its own insulin or injected insulin
• Premenstrual symptoms can be worsened by poor blood sugar control
• Pregnancy in a woman with diabetes and the temporary diabetes which occurs during pregnancy can increase the risk for birth defects
• Hormonal levels change in perimenopause can cause fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Women with diabetes have an increased risk of premature menopause and this can lead to higher risk of heart disease
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is part of the Insulin Resistance Syndrome. It is caused by genetics and lifestyle factors

Go to your doctor regularly and the blood sugar levels must be estimated regularly to find, diagnose and treat diabetes. It increases your quality of life.

What are the possible adverse health effects of Type-2 Diabetes?

Whether you know or do not know high blood sugar level over a period of time can gradually damage your blood vessels. This is the case if the sugar level is just above the normal level for a long time. The adverse health effects are noticed often years after the diabetes is developed.

The long-term adverse health effects include:

• Hardening of the arteries. This can lead to chest pain, heart attack and stroke. This can cause also poor blood circulation.
• Kidney damage which may lead to kidney failure.
• Eye and vision problems. It is due to the damage of the small arteries of the retina at the back of the eye.
• Nerve damage.
• Due to poor blood circulation and nerve damage impotence.
• Poor blood circulation and nerve damage can make foot problems.
• Skin and mouth conditions. You can more susceptible to skin problems including fungal and bacterial infections.
• Diabetes can lower the bone mineral density, thus increases the risk of osteoporosis.
• Diabetes may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.
• Diabetes can cause hearing problems

You may not develop all these health problems. It is different in individuals according to the severity of the diabetes. The risk is reduced if you are also treated for your high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels.

Untreated type-2 diabetes increases the blood sugar level very high and the short-term adverse health effects are dehydration, drowsiness and other conditions which can be life threatening.

What are the causes for dry skin and what are the right foods?

There are many causes for dry skin. Millions of people suffer dry skin in the world. The causes include:

• Dry skin might be due to a genetic condition
• Due to dry cold weather in winter
• There can be no natural lubrication of the skin and this causes dehydration of the skin
• Environmental factors like exposure to sun, weather, chemicals including cosmetics or excessive use of soaps
• Skin disease like eczema, psoriasis etc. can cause dry skin
• Poor diet with vitamins deficiency can support to form dry skin
• Drugs can have dry skin as side effect
• Diabetes or under active thyroid can cause dry skin

Food and healthy lifestyle can help to have a better skin. A good diet includes vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and legumes. Protein from vegetables is good to skin and increase the intake of raw food. Sulphur containing foods like onion, garlic and asparagus can help to keep the skin smooth. Yellow and orange colour vegetables have many antioxidants. The beta-carotene from carrots is very valuable for skin.

Flax seed oil can be added to salads and other food which need not be cooked. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are necessary to produce Prostaglandins which supports skin health. Vegetables and fruits contain valuable vitamin A and C. Quark, natural plain yoghurt, yeast and wheat germ are rich in pantothenic acid – vitamin B5 which is important for skin health.

Drink 2 to 3 litres of fluids everyday and if you sweat more then drink more. Water keeps the skin well hydrated.

Fried foods, processed foods, animal fats and hydrogenated oils must be avoided. Avoid heating oil and use only cold pressed oils. Junk foods, chips, products with sugar, chocolates and soft drinks must be consumed rarely and it is better to avoid them.

Caffeine and alcohol can dehydrate the body and this is bad for skin health. Avoid all soft drinks which contain caffeine.

Do not take bath in hot water and the shower or bath must be short. Moisturize your skin immediately after your bath or shower.

What are the risk factors to get Type-2 Diabetes and what are its symptoms?

Millions of people are suffering from type-2 diabetes in our world and one can do a lot to prevent or postpone this disease.

The main risk factors include:

• Having a first-degree relatives – parents, brother, sister or child – with type-2 diabetes
• Having overweight or obesity
• High blood pressure
• HDL-cholesterol is less than 35 mg/dl or triglyceride level greater than 250 mg/dl
• Having a waist measuring more than 80 cm in women and 94 cm in men
• Having high blood sugar levels than normal without having diabetes
• Having diabetes or blood sugar levels above normal without having diabetes during pregnancy

Normally the problem of type-2 diabetes starts when the people are above 40 years old. But in recent times even young people get this disease. South Asians and African-Caribbean people have five times more risk to get type-2 diabetes.

The symptoms of type-2 diabetes often come on gradually and can be quite vague in the beginning. Many people have type-2 diabetes for a long period without knowing.

The common symptoms include:

• Being thirsty always
• Passing excess urine
• Tiredness
• Weight loss

If you have the symptoms go to your doctor and he could do the right diagnosis and treatment.

What is Cancer?

The body is made up of many types of cells, the body’s basic unit of life. When cells become old or damaged, they die and are replaced with new cells. The cells grow and divided in a controlled way to produce more cells according to the needs of the body to be healthy.

Sometimes DNA, the genetic material of a cell can become damaged or changed producing mutations which affect normal cell growth and division. In this case the old cells will not die, but new cells are formed which are not needed by the body. These extra cells may form a mass of tissue called a tumour.

The abnormal and uncontrolled cell division is called cancer and it is a very serious disease. These cancer cells are able to invade other body tissues. Through the blood and lymph systems they can spread to other parts of the body.

There are more than 100 different types of cancer. Most of the cancers are called in the of the affected organ or type of cell in which they start, for example, cancer that begins in the breast is called breast cancer; Basal cell carcinoma begins in basal cells of the skin.

The main categories of cancer include:

• Leukemia – cancer which starts in blood-forming tissues such as the bone marrow
• Lymphoma and myeloma – cancers that begin in the cells of the immune-system
• Carcinoma – cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover the internal organs
• Sarcoma – cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels or other connective or supportive tissue
• Central nervous system cancers – cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.

Healthy food and a good lifestyle can reduce the risk of cancers.

Can Whole Grain Oat Flour decrease Cholesterol?

Whole grain oat flour or oat bran can reduce cholesterol and the bad LDL-cholesterol. The fibre, beta-glucan is responsible for this reduction. The amount of good HDL-cholesterol is not lowered.

100g oat bran provides at least 5.5g and whole grain oat flour provides at least 4g beta-glucan soluble fibre. 3g of beta-glucan intake is suggested for the reduction of cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol.

Normally 60g oat bran is enough to get the necessary amount of beta-glucan. Do not take too much of oat flour and the benefit is not increasing with more intake.

The reduction of cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol can be achieved if you take food with less saturated fatty acids and a good lifestyle. Regular physical activity is a must.

Oat flour contains approximately 60% carbohydrates and an uncontrolled huge intake is not healthy.

We hear always insulin and diabetes. Does insulin have other functions?

Insulin is a natural hormone of the body which controls the level of sugar in the blood. It is like a key to open the cells and send sugar there. Cells cannot utilize sugar without insulin.

Sugar is the body’s important and primary source of fuel. Excess sugar builds up in blood can lead to diabetes. Without insulin the cells cannot take sugar from the blood.

The other functions of insulin include:

• Stimulates growth
• DNA synthesis
• Cell replication
• Increases amino acid transport into cells
• Stimulates lipogenesis (conversion of sugar to fat, triglycerides)
• Decreases lipolysis (breakdown of triglycerides for energy production)
• Altering the cell content of numerous mRNAs (messengerRNAs carry coding information to the sites of protein synthesis)
• Modulates transcription (helps to transfer of genetic information from DNA to mRNA)

Insulin is thus important to our health.

What are the healthy foods for eyes?

Eating the right and healthy food are very important for eye care. The food must contain the necessary vitamins, antioxidants and minerals. Eating the right foods can lower the risk of many eye diseases.

The important nutrients for eye health include:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Selenium
• Zinc
• Antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin

A major US study has found that vitamins A, C, E, selenium and zinc can slow down the age-related macular degeneration in existing and low grade patients. Vitamins C and E may help to prevent development or to reduce the progression of cataracts.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are deposited in the eyes and these antioxidants help to scavenge or neutralize free radicals which can cause cell damage in the eyes. Overexposure to the sun’s UV radiation is a main cause of oxidative damage of the eyes. Dark coloured fruits and vegetables contain lutein and zeaxanthin and they include: spinach, kale, Brussels sprouts, kiwi fruit, mango, prunes, water melon, squash, broccoli, orange peppers, grapes, papaya, pumpkin, sweet corn, green beans, peas, oranges, peaches, sweet potatoes and dark green lettuce.

For maximum benefit eat the vegetables lightly cooked so that the cells are break down and the bioavailability of lutein and zeaxanthin is increased.

Vitamin A is rich in liver, carrots, spinach, mango, cantaloupe and kale. Vitamin C is rich in papaya, green bell pepper, oranges and in other citrus fruits, broccoli, sweet potatoes and red chilli. Plant oils are rich in Vitamin E.

Brazil nuts, ground nuts and other tropical nuts contain lot of selenium. In countries where the soil is poor in selenium many foods are enriched with this important mineral. Meat, nuts, pulses and beans are rich in zinc.

I have diabetes-type 2 and must undergo cardiac catheterization. How can I keep my blood sugar values in normal range for a week without tablets and insulin?

You have to stop taking your tablet because it is excreted through the kidneys as also the contrast injected for the catheterization. Both together can damage the kidneys and this is the reason to stop your tablets.

Normally your doctor advises you to inject insulin if the blood sugar values are out of control. But it is possible to manage with right diet these seven days without tablets.

Control your blood sugar value two hours after you have taken your last meal and this value must be below 140 mg/dl. Above this value you have to inject insulin to reduce the blood sugar.

What to eat to keep the blood sugar normal? You have to reduce the intake of carbohydrates. Simple sugar and milled grains products must be avoided completely. You can take a slice of whole grain bread in the morning. All the foods which contain much protein are allowed. Cheese, eggs, nuts, poultry and whole grains are good. It is advisable to take more protein to get the necessary blood sugar values. As we know protein is converted into sugar in the liver.

For lunch you can take a big salad with many leafy vegetables with 50 to 60 g cooked rice, noodles or potatoes. Few pieces of lean meat and poultry are also good.

In the evening you can take only nuts and curd. A piece of whole grain bread is also good. If you are hungry in between take a piece of cheese or nuts are good. Almond, walnut and pumpkin seeds are good.

Do not worry about the fat from meat or from nuts during these because you have to take the other medicines except diabetes medicine normally.

If you are an Asian take one or two small idlys or one chapathi with chutney or vegetable kuruma. Noodle soups are also good. With this strategy you can keep the blood sugar normal. Without hunger and insulin injection I could keep the blood sugar of a 60 years old man well in normal range, below 130 mg/dl after two hours of his meals.

What are the reasons for grey hair?

Grey hair is a part of human aging process. There are many different factors which play a role in greying hair. Few get grey hair when they are young. Grey hair will not make us wise, but with increasing age it is possible. There is no connection to grey hair and wisdom.

What can we do against getting grey hair? We cannot do much because the primary cause is mostly genetics. But there are ways to stop or slow down greying.

Stress is an important factor to cause premature grey hair. We are extremely busy all the time. Stress starts from kindergarten and ends when we die. We have extreme stress in the school, college, office and family. The stress a woman or man gets when she/he sees her/his first grey hair is great. Many play mad and many spend a fortune to avoid further greying.

There are other factors to avoid premature grey hair and they include:

·        Avoid all sorts of stress

·        Have healthy diet

·        Have enough, regular sleep

·        Good lifestyle

·        Avoid smoking

·        Avoid party and other illegal drugs

·        Avoid excess alcohol

·        Enough physical activity

As you see it is in your hands to avoid premature grey hair.

In our society looking young is valued much. What to do if there is grey hair? Do not spend money in wonder creams or lotions and nothing will help. The best way is to dye your hair and this could be done always without any problem.  Be careful with the dyes and check before whether you have allergy with the chemicals there.  At any cost never keep the on your head than the given time for that dye. Wash generously many times with water till the dye is completely removed. Otherwise also there will be the chance for the allergy.

Grey hair is a part of our life. If you are mentally mature it will not disturb you at all.

What is the connection between chronic low back pain and constipation?

The cause for chronic low back pain is not always the structural problems of the spinal cord.

The constipation can be a reason and the symptoms include:

• There will be no relief after your therapies like physical therapy, chiropractic, massage, acupuncture etc.
• Inconsistent bowel movements
• Difficulty in passing stool

The reason is very simple. If there are no proper bowel movements it leads to bad bacterial overgrowth and inflammation. The intestines can be inflamed and swollen. This can prevent the abdominals from working. You need the abdominals to stabilize the muscles of the back. When they stop working and inflamed your back has no support. This causes chronic low back pain.

Mostly the culprits for the constipation are your bad diet and inadequate intake of fluids. All junk foods, processed foods, refined sugar and flour and excess caffeine can cause constipation. You must change your lifestyle and must take more fresh food. Plant oils are also necessary in your food for good bowel movement. A healthy lifestyle helps to reduce your weight also.

Drink 2 to 3 litres of fluids and 70% must be water. Here the probiotics can help to replace the bad bacteria. Physical activity is vital to stimulate the intestines. Try to avoid stress. If there is stomach problems think about food intolerances also.

It is in your hands to do something good to you.

What is the connection between chronic back pain and our soul?

Back pain is one of the most expensive health problems in every country. It costs the United States more than $90 billion a year. One third of the patients suffer from chronic back pain.

Apart from conventional treatment analgesics, muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory drugs and opium-derivatives are mostly used drugs to manage the pain. The conventional treatment for chronic back pain is mostly disappointing.

We believe that persistent back pain is caused by structural alterations of the spine, muscle inflammation or problems in the nerves. But mostly spinal X-rays or Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans are normal in persons who suffer from chronic back pain. Are there any other factors which cause chronic back pain?

The other causes of chronic back pain include:

• Acute and chronic infections, e.g., influenza.
• Inflammation of pancreas or pancreatic cancer can cause severe pain in the middle of the back.
• Heart diseases may cause pain in the back between the shoulders or in the area of the left shoulder. Successful treatment heals the pain.
• Blocks of vertebral joints. Here a good chiropractor can help you.
• Persons with allergies including food allergies are prone to suffer back pain.

It is proven that your emotions can have an impact on your health. The body-cells, nervous system and brain regions can provoke and deal with emotions. Several studies show the stress in the job and family relationship correlate more closely to chronic back pain. That means the problems in our life has an effect on the back pain.

If your mind is healthy and you are in a position to master your life in all situations there will be no danger from this side for chronic back pain. Problems are there to solve and not to suffer always. You must have a positive approach to your life. As you see, it is in our hands to manage many situations rightly. This is the reason why many get pain relief with alternative and traditional medicine. Apart from conventional treatment analgesics, muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory drugs and opium-derivatives are mostly used drugs to manage the pain. The conventional treatment for chronic back pain is mostly disappointing.

We believe that persistent back pain is caused by structural alterations of the spine, muscle inflammation or problems in the nerves. But mostly spinal X-rays or Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans are normal in persons who suffer from chronic back pain. Are there any other factors which cause chronic back pain?

The other causes of chronic back pain include:

• Acute and chronic infections, e.g., influenza.
• Inflammation of pancreas or pancreatic cancer can cause severe pain in the middle of the back.
• Heart diseases may cause pain in the back between the shoulders or in the area of the left shoulder. Successful treatment heals the pain.
• Blocks of vertebral joints. Here a good chiropractor can help you.
• Persons with allergies including food allergies are prone to suffer back pain.

It is proven that your emotions can have an impact on your health. The body-cells, nervous system and brain regions can provoke and deal with emotions. Several studies show the stress in the job and family relationship correlate more closely to chronic back pain. That means the problems in our life has an effect on the back pain.

If your mind is healthy and you are in a position to master your life in all situations there will be no danger from this side for chronic back pain. Problems are there to solve and not to suffer always. You must have a positive approach to your life. As you see, it is in our hands to manage many situations rightly. This is the reason why many get pain relief with alternative and traditional medicine.