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.