Diabetes currently affects more than 200,000 people in New Zealand and experts fear that there are another 100,000 people who have Diabetes but haven’t been diagnosed yet. As with many conditions, the earlier that it is diagnosed, the better it is controlled, and the long-term outcomes are more positive.
Diabetes has been dubbed the next “health catastrophe” in Western countries. It is set to be a massive problem for many people as well as health systems. Thankfully, there are simple lifestyle changes that can be made to prevent and manage it and many people diagnosed with Diabetes will make healthier choices. What happens in our bodies in Diabetes? Our bodies need glucose for energy. An organ called the pancreas produces the hormone insulin which acts like a metabolic traffic cop, allowing glucose into cells where it's burnt as energy. Too much food means a traffic jam of glucose in the blood, and combined with insufficient exercise, the effect of insulin is overpowered. Instead of being a vital food source, glucose...
Digestion is the body’s way of taking food, breaking it down into small molecules that can be absorbed into the body and excreting the waste. The nervous system starts digestion by getting the body ready for food when we think about, and see, food. Chewing and saliva start to break food down in the mouth before going into the stomach via the oesophagus.
We work under the same roof as Alison from Healthy Eating and we often refer patients to her who are experiencing long term upset stomachs, indigestion, constipation and other digestive problems. As a Holistic Nutritionist, she knows all too well how our food can influence our overall health. So, as we were planning this column on digestion, I asked Alison if she could shed some light on the matter. Thanks Alison. The human body is simply a series of cells waiting for nutrients, and we get those nutrients from the foods we eat. Simple, right? You know all about healthy eating and you make the best choices (most of the time!). So, the ‘fuel’ for your bodies ticks all the...
Digestion is the body’s way of taking food, breaking it down into small molecules that can be absorbed into the body and excreting the waste. The first sign our digestion isn’t working as well as it should is a shift in normal bowel habits and pain. Other symptoms may include reflux, heart burn, bloating, cramping, wind, tender abdomen and constipation or diarrhoea. It is common for people to simply put up with them.
But these symptoms can act as a warning sign that our digestion is not working properly and of future ill health...
