Beebleblog

First, what is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high because the body cannot process it properly. This process is normally carried out by a vital hormone known as insulin, which is produced naturally in the body by the pancreas and it helps the glucose enter the cells where it is used as a fuel by the body.

Type 1 Diabetes: this usually develops before the age of 40 and is the least common form of the disease. It occurs when the body is unable to produce any insulin.

Type 2 Diabetes: this usually develops after the age of 40, is generally associated with being overweight and accounts for the majority of all people suffering from the disease. The body can make some insulin, but not enough and sometimes the insulin produced just doesn’t work properly.

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The Governor of California is at it again: leading America to a healthier life style. He is putting forward legislation to ban the trans fats used in cooking at the local fast food restaurants in the State and it looks like other Californian politicians will approve the ban. On Tuesday Los Angeles officials approved a ban in a 32 square mile area of south L.A.

What are Trans Fats?

The majority of trans fats are man-made and are the result of adding hydrogen to unsaturated fats (good fats - Beeble) creating a more saturated fat (bad fat – Beeble) he unfortunate by-product of this process is the trans fat which has not been completely hydrogenated and is detrimental to our health. This man-made fat allows for a higher melting point which means they are solid at room temperature so less refrigeration is needed and this is used to give food produce a longer shelf life. When used for deep frying it can be reused time and time again, much more so than conventional oils (mmmm that sounds lovely – Beeble). That said they have developed other oils now that can outlast these. Maybe in fifty years time we will know what damage these have done to us.

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If we are honest with ourselves the majority of us are pretty bad at making sure that we stretch regularly. When we do stretch we know that the muscles feel shortened and tight and there is probably that small feeling of guilt and a vague promise to yourself that you will stretch more regularly in the future. Then to make up for all the lack of stretching you force your stretch too far…

Making up for missed stretching sessions by trying to fit it into one almighty stretch routine (that makes torture seems like a day at the beach - Beeble) is going to lead to problems.

So what’s so special about stretching?

Stretching is very similar to ordinary exercise in that you don’t get results from one workout but a combination of regular workouts over a period of time. As with stretching it is the regular work that reaps results and not how far you can go in one sitting.

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Many of us are now looking forward to a well earned break and even as I write this my mind wanders: I picture myself on a beach in the early morning, just as the sun is waking, eating my freshly picked grapefruit. Is it just me that considers the grapefruit’s acidity and high water content so refreshing? Probably not, but seeing as most fruits are high in water content and refreshing it is probably that time where I look a little more deeply into this bitter fruit.

What is in a Grapefruit?

Nutrients are based on 100 grams

•    Calories: 37.40 kcal
•    Protein: 0.81 grams
•    Carbohydrates: 9.75 grams
•    Fibre: 1.3 grams
•    Fat: 0 grams
•    Calcium: 11.38 milligrams
•    Phosphorus: 12.19 milligrams
•    Potassium: 147.15 milligrams

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We are all aware of what we need to do to achieve our health and fitness goals: eat well and exercise regularly, but there is one aspect that is nearly always overlooked. Co-ordination is our topic today and more specifically, proprioception. Proprioception is a scientific term that refers to our awareness of the space around us. We use this skill everyday and it help us from everything from running to sitting.

An Example

A good example of proprioception is the sobriety tests carried out by the long arm of the law. As you watch the inebriated individual walk the line, trying to keep their balance, their proprioception will be working overtime as it fights against the effects of the alcohol. It is also a good example of alcohol and its effects on our ability to balance. What if you could improve your balance? Could you pass the sobriety test?

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