Articles by Sam Brookes on ArticleSnatch.com

The Importance of Taking Prenatal Vitamins For Pregnant Women.

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 07:25:21 -0500

Discovering that you are pregnant can be one of the most uplifting and momentous times in a couples' life. Pondering the thought of having a boy, girl or maybe twins or triplets can make for hundreds of dream filled nights. Women who are expecting usually change their diet to accommodate their new arrival. Smoking and drinking alcohol are generally the first things to stop. Many women try to limit their caffeine intake and improve their diet by eating very healthy low sugar, high fibre foods. Although pregnancy cravings can be a bit tough, many women find it relatively easy to stick to the diet that their doctor or midwife recommends. But being pregnant not only means that your will have to fight through the morning sickness and end the day with swollen feet and a tired body, it also means that you will have to take care of your body and provide enough vitamins and minerals to maintain not only your health, but the health of your unborn baby as well. This is why it is often recommended for pregnant women to take a supplement. **End Summary** Topics: pregnancy]]> birth]]> supplements]]> vitamins]]> folic acid]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Sam worked in the health and fitness industry for over 15 years and became more interested in the role diet and nutrition plays in people's health, so her studies took her in a more nutritional direction. She now works at Totally Nourish, who sell womens health supplement as well as omega 3 fish oil supplement. View more at http://www.totallynourish.com

Understanding the Effects of Antioxidants on the Body

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 06:19:27 -0500

It seems that almost everyone is concerned about their health today. People are constantly bombarded by a stream of information pointing out the rise of obesity and the health effects that this epidemic brings with it. Luckily, scientists and nutritionists have begun to focus on ways to improve our health. Antioxidants have had a lot of press time lately and for good reason. What is an Antioxidant? In the simplest terms, an antioxidant is any substance that fights or impairs the normal process of oxidation. Using oxygen in the body results in a byproduct called free radicals. Anything found to interfere with free radicals is classified as an antioxidant. These substances are most commonly found in plant foods. They are also available in supplement form. Antioxidants may help to prevent common life threatening diseases and promote overall health and well-being. Initial studies indicate that the molecules may also promote a stronger immune system. Where Are Antioxidants Found? One of the best sources of antioxidants is found in healthy foods. Vitamins A, C and E are known to have free radical fighting potential. Selenium may also be beneficial to health and wellness. **End Summary** Topics: antioxidants]]> health]]> supplements]]> free radicals]]> body]]> oxygen]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Sam worked in the health and fitness industry for over 15 years and became more interested in the role diet and nutrition plays in people's health, so her studies took her in a more nutritional direction. She now works at Totally Nourish, who sell antioxidant supplements as well as beauty products such as environ avst1 cream. View more at Totally Nourish .

Why Your Balanced Diet Isn't Enough Today

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:40:49 -0500

So you're generally a pretty healthy person. You eat breakfast everyday. You watch your fat and calorie intake. Most of your meats are lean. You try to stay away from simple carbs like white bread and sugar. You work whole wheat in as much as possible and you try to get enough fruit and veggies each day. Congratulations, your diet is healthier than most. Yet you're just not seeing the results you want. You may not be gaining weight but you're certainly not losing it either. What has gone wrong? If this describes your style of eating then you are a balanced eater. While we all have room for improvement, your diet is pretty good already. The human body utilizes three main sources of energy: carbohydrates, fat, and protein. You need all three of these in specific proportions for your body to function properly. The body was designed to seek out a state of equilibrium known as homeostasis. This is the state of being when all things are in balance. The body is comfortable and functions well in homeostasis. But if weight loss is your goal, then you need to shake things up a bit. **End Summary** Topics: health]]> nutrition]]> diet]]> food]]> supplements]]> vitamins]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Sam worked in the health and fitness industry for over 15 years and became more interested in the role diet and nutrition plays in people's health, so her studies took her in a more nutritional direction. She now works at a company who sell health products such as health supplements , as well as, food allergy testing packs. For more information please visit, Totally Nourish .

Probiotics and Their Use as Supplements

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:12:33 -0500

Probiotics are healthy bacteria or yeast contained in supplements and foods, and are similar to the microorganisms found naturally in the human body. "Friendly" or "good" bacteria have been consumed in the form of fermented milk and soy products by a variety of cultures throughout history. Many people already use probiotics in their diet by eating flavored yogurt or soy-based foods that contain live cultures. In order to increase possible health benefits, liquid or capsule supplements are available with more concentrated amounts of the bacteria Lactobacilli (commonly known as acidophilus) or Bifidobacteria (bifidus). There are also probiotic supplements made with the yeast Saccharomyces Boulardii. Optimally, an individual's healthy bacteria are part of a balanced system that aids digestion and inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria. The use of probiotics, such as Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria, may offer improvement for conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), which is an ailment of the large intestine. Symptoms of IBS include abdominal pain, cramping, constipation, and diarrhoea, and medical tests may be needed to rule out more serious conditions. IBS can be managed with a proper diet, and additional use of probiotics is believed to be helpful in alleviating symptoms. **End Summary** Topics: probiotics]]> supplements]]> bacteria]]> health]]> digestive support]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Sam worked in the health and fitness industry for over 15 years and became more interested in the role diet and nutrition plays in people's health, so her studies took her in a more nutritional direction. She now works at Totally Nourish, who sell acidophilus supplements and fatty acid supplements. Read more at Totally Nourish Supplements

Forget cellulite, teeth are the new moan

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

If you break your leg, yes you have to go to hospital, have it set in plaster and follow up with a few visits. But essentially it mends itself. If you cut yourself, you may need a couple of stitches but more often than not, you stick a plaster on it and a few days later it's all healed. The miracle that is the human body is almost limitless. I say almost, because this ideal does unfortunately not extend to our teeth. The little white(ish) things we use every day from breakfast to dinner are incapable of fixing themselves. A problem occurs and we move down the painful line of filling to root canal treatment to crown and finally to extraction. And of course all these treatments we suffer at ludicrously high costs. So it's no wonder that we've decided to live with cellulite and it's our mouths we're now desperate to protect. But how do we do this? Firstly, the basics. Brush your teeth for 3 minutes, at least twice a day. Don't rely on elbow grease (remember how much easier it is to whisk egg white with an electronic device? **End Summary** Topics: teeth]]> health]]> cellulite]]> sweetener]]> calcium]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Sam worked in the health and fitness industry for over 15 years and became more interested in the role diet and nutrition plays in people's health, so her studies took her in a more nutritional direction. She now works at totallynourish.com , who sell health products such as ionic toothbrush , xylitol sweeteners, vitamins supplements and probiotic supplements.

Which is better for you - yoga or pilates?

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Of course the long politician-esque answer to this question is "it depends what your goals are". For example, yoga is known to relax you and may be more beneficial if you suffer from stress. It also has a greater focus on improving flexibility so if you're doing lots of other exercise that tightens your muscles (e.g. running or football) yoga could be the right choice for you. But the short non-politician-esque answer is: Pilates. However, I would say that, because I'm a Pilates Instructor! You would be forgiven for thinking me slightly biased, so let me explain why. Joseph Pilates was a ballet dancer, but struggled with the intense physical commitment that went with it. So he invented an exercise regime to strengthen his body to allow him to cope with the pressures presented by his ballet training. While we may not all be budding dancers, performing exercise that helps us cope with the daily pressures of life, seems a very good idea to me. How does it work? Firstly, there are the 6 core principles: Breathing, Centering, Control, Concentration, Flowing Movement and Precision. **End Summary** Topics: pilates]]> yoga]]> fitness]]> exercise]]> wellness]]> joints]]> health]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Sam worked in the health and fitness industry for over 15 years and became more interested in the role diet and nutrition plays in people's health, so her studies took her in a more nutritional direction. She now works at TotallyNourish.com , who stock a variety of joint care supplements , vitamins and collagen.

Eggs Glorious Eggs

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Have you ever stopped to think just how fantastic eggs are? How many foods are there that you can eat on their own or in a dish, as sweet or as savoury, cooked or raw? How many foods can be split into 2 entirely different, but equally useful ingredients? Or that can be cooked across the full range of methods - from boiling or blanching to baking or frying, in their shells, or out? I can sense that you're now sharing my point of view. Eggs are quite unique. But you're still not convinced they're quite glorious. After all, what's the point of being able to eat them in 100 different ways, if they don't give you the nutrition to help you stay healthy? So the question is, are eggs good for you? After all, no one (of a certain age) can forget Edwina Currie's infamous rant on those killer eggs.... The answer is of course: it depends on the egg. Eggs are high in protein, with all 8 essential amino acids present, and low in calories. **End Summary** Topics: eggs]]> health]]> foods]]> nutrition]]> diet]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Sam worked in the health and fitness industry for over 15 years and became more interested in the role diet and nutrition plays in people's health, so her studies took her in a more nutritional direction. She now works at Totally Nourish , who stock a variety of Omega 3 Fish Oil Supplement and essential fatty acids.

Can Type II Diabetes be controlled by lifestyle changes alone?

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Type II Diabetes is a condition where the body is deficient in producing insulin, either it can't produce enough or the insulin it does produce doesn't work properly. This means the glucose levels in the blood can't be controlled and there is the potential for them to become too concentrated. Traditionally Type II Diabetes was an illness that affected the older generation but more and more young people are discovering they have the disease. Experts believe this is due to higher obesity levels and lower activity levels throughout the UK. So can lifestyle make a difference? A healthier lifestyle can definitely deter the onset of Type II Diabetes in the first place. The risk factors are age, ethnicity (those of an Asian or Afro-Caribbean origin are more likely to contract Type II Diabetes), inactivity and obesity or being overweight. While you can't do anything about the first two risk factors, you can make a massive difference by watching your weight, particularly excess fat around your middle, and taking regular exercise. But what if you have already been diagnosed with Type II Diabetes? **End Summary** Topics: diabetes]]> conditions]]> health]]> lifestyle]]> wellness]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Sam worked in the health and fitness industry for over 15 years and became more interested in the role diet and nutrition plays in peopleâs health, so her studies took her in a more nutritional direction. She now works at http://www.totallynourish.com .