The problem with this or any other type of virus is not treatable with antibiotics, such as when it is a bacterial infection. Antiviral medication should be applied also within the first 48 hours of symptoms to be effective, otherwise the lung damage may be such that it is irreparable. In fact, people who have had complicated the picture viral, specifically swine fever die from a “Sirpa” or respiratory distress syndrome in adults. To reach this state, 7 out of 10 people die, sometimes not on a respirator is achieved the patient move forward.

And is that not all who come into contact with the virus develop the disease. Nor die all who develop the disease. The immunoglobulins are responsible for giving warning when the body comes into contact with a virus, are also those that provide the mechanism for defending the body cells of the foreign agent, to be killed, but to do these have to be strong in quality and quantity, and that can only be achieved with intake of cofactors such as vitamin C and calcium, they help the formation of these cells. Influenza vaccines are another good option for protection of respiratory viruses and young adults should be vaccinated against it each year. These vaccines change from year to year, for example, which came out in 2008 carried the virus that most problems occurred in 2007 and this year has produced the highest disease in 2008. Of course, swine fever is not included in the vaccine more recently.

When asked whether it is worthwhile to be concerned at this time, when almost one speaks of a pandemic, experts agree that more than that, it is protected with simple but effective measures, such as intake of these supplements. That’s covering your mouth with your elbow when you sneeze or cough is not entirely effective, only about one produces secretions that can infect microscopic who is around, and wash your hands all the time, but certainly worth it, can fail in a second if for example we greet someone with the virus and then we took her hand to her mouth.

The microwave celebrates 55 years of existence! The micro can heat foods faster than the oven and using less energy. It is also ideal for those who want to watch the calories they consume.

A study by the University of Illinois showed that people who consumed diet frozen meals twice a day for two months lost four pounds more than those who did not. The good thing about these meals is that they have included portion control. Follow these tips to get the most out of your diet in box.

Not much salt. Find foods that limit sodium to 750 milligrams, according to American Dietetic Association recommendations. Some low-sodium foods contain only about 100 mg. If you find it too bland, add a little salt, anyway be less sodium than a regular.

Enough calories. Healthy foods must contain between 450 to 500 calories, so try to find foods that serve about 350 calories and supplementing with a salad, a soup based on broth or yogurt.

Satisfactory grease. Foods with 10 to 18 grams of fat (5 to 7 g saturated fat) will be more successful and will prevent you crave a little while. Most women can consume 40 g of daily fat and maintain weight.

Full of fiber. Ideally you will get 5 grams of fiber with your meal. Opt for those with whole grains like brown rice and wild.

While some drinks like orange juice or sparkling allies that enable and ease the digestion, there are others that are very harmful and often blame the food considered heavy, but rarely do we realize that may be what you drink.

Why alcohol is harmful?

Hinders the process. Delayed gastric emptying the revolver with the diet, so people with slower or older systems should take into account this fact.

With sugar, even worse. Sweet wines or spirits to have higher sugar content as they also cause more trouble dealing with our juices. For some reason everything sweet is taken at the end, when digestion process has begun.

Increases acidity. Difficult because the end-pyloric valve, which connects the esophagus to the stomach. Especially white wines, cider and cava or champagne.

How do you counter?

Accompany them with water. Inserting a glass of water between drinks, the effect is greatly reduced.

Diluted. Another trick is to mix, for example, wine with soda-called red summer-beer with lemon soda or soda and some other mixtures that dilute the effect of alcohol on our digestive system.

Finally, if you like to drink alcohol while eating accompanied with a sugar-free drink, even better, with water and before a main course you can wait about 10 minutes, that will accelerate the process.

It is known that amino acids are like the bricks with which proteins are constructed, and when we consume, we are really just assimilating amino acids.

These amino acids in proteins exist in both animal and plant cells. However, our body can not distinguish from which source these.

Animal proteins are larger and more complex than those of plant origin, are also rich in amino acids so that their biological value is higher, but are more difficult to digest.

What you should keep in mind is that it is possible to achieve a balanced intake of amino acids in proteins if we combine perfectly. Moreover, plant proteins may be combined very well together, and when mixed with grain legumes or milk with cereals. And so, you get better results than many of the proteins of animal origin.

For example, we know that rice contains all the amino acids the human body requires, but the amount of lysine is negligible. So if we add rice, lentils or chickpeas are rich in lysine protein quality will be achieved much more even than that found in animal proteins.

It is also good to know that by eating meat from livestock, poultry or fish, are also absorbing toxic waste such as ammonia and uric acid, among others, which will load our metabolism substances were negative, while the proteins from there are plant derivatives.

However, animal proteins also can be consumed from the eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, etc., They do not contain these toxins.

Another drawback of animal protein, it always come with saturated fats that will ultimately be harmful to the cardiovascular system.

Finally, the recommendation is that within our daily existence of a third of animal protein, but beware that it is perfectly possible to be well nourished only with plant proteins, considering that many diets are lacking in some plant components as iron, minerals or vitamin B12, which can be supplemented further.

Poppy seeds from the flower and for years began to be included in the diet because of the large number of properties that contribute to health. Are also required to decorate sweet and savory dishes.

Poppy seeds from Asia and Africa, characterized by its bluish-gray color. When the kitchen, give off a rich aroma and great taste almond or walnut, so they are used to decorate cakes, breads flavor or prepare sweet and sour dishes. Now, with the rise of oriental food, we can enjoy the wok dishes and also in some varieties of sushi.

But the poppy seeds are also many nutritional properties, since they provide carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, fiber and minerals. Furthermore, poppy seeds are used in the preparation of natural remedies for cough. They also have sedative properties and provide essential fatty acids like Omega 3 and 6. Toast is recommended before using to release its full aroma oil.

Despite all these properties, you need to know that the seeds also provide calories, so should be eaten in moderation. In addition, the poppy in large quantities can be toxic, so always be used in small portions.

Include a variety of seeds in your daily diet will bring many benefits to your health, since all help to prevent constipation and reduce cholesterol in blood.

The seeds are excellent for preventing heart disease, so it’s always nice to have in our kitchen to mix on our plates and enhance the flavor of food while we benefit from their properties.

Flax seeds are rich omega 3 fatty acids and the inclusion of these little brown seeds in your diet can help reduce total blood cholesterol, particularly the “bad” cholesterol or LDL.

Flax seeds can get in the grocery stores and health food stores, it is advisable to consume grind in a coffee grinder or food processor.

So we can add to yogurt or cereal for breakfast, and incorporate them into soups, stews or baked goods, representing a very healthy nutritional option.

Omega-3 fatty acids, are found in blue sins, as recommended today to the prevention of heart disease and mental and Alzheimers.

Flax seed is a plant source of omega 3, plus other vitamins and minerals, very important to our health because they have the ability to reduce or keep off our blood cholesterol levels, according to recent nutritional studies.

1) Drink warm milk before going to bed
For decades, scientists have analyzed this folk remedy, and implied that tryptophan, an amino acid that is found in milk (as well as other foods like turkey, lobster, spinach, bananas, etc.. ), could be responsible for its supposed soporific effects. Studies have shown that when the tryptophans are released in the brain, they produce serotonin (a neurotransmitter that stimulates the serenity). But when milk and other foods rich in tryptophan were tested, they failed to affect sleep patterns.

Foods containing tryptophan does not produce hypnotic effects like tryptophan pure fact. This is because other amino acids which are also found in these foods are a competition to get into the brain. Drink warm milk (with honey for example) at the time of going to bed could be very comforting, but no rigorous study has offered evidence that it increases production of serotonin sleep aid. Whatever happens, drinking warm milk before bedtime can help you sleep better, especially for the elderly, since it determines your mindset to prepare to sleep better (as if s ‘acting with a placebo).

2) Eat a healthy snack before going to bed or a dinner with high glycemic index
A small snack at bedtime can to curb hunger, a thief of sleep recognized. But eating carbohydrates glycemic index (GI) high, several hours before going to bed (dinner for example) may also help. Foods that have a glycemic index (GI) cause a large increase in higher rates of blood sugar and insulin than those with lower GI.

A U.S. study found that in 2009 when the sleepers who have no problem falling asleep taking a high carbohydrate dinner, with vegetables and tomato sauce with rice, they fall asleep significantly faster in ‘bedtime if dinner included rice jamin (which has a high GI) rather than long grain rice (which has a lower GI).

Although researchers are not sure yet why this sleep accelerated by eating high GI foods, they assume that larger amounts of insulin triggered by meals high glycemic index increase in the ratio of tryptophan on other amino acids in the blood, allowing more tryptophan (proportionately) to enter the brain. So keep foods with high glycemic index for dinner, when their side effects (sleepiness) becomes an advantage for people who have trouble falling asleep.

Speaking of dinner, you take your meals at times constant, do not overload your dinner, do not eat too spicy evening and dinner at least 2 hours before going to bed. Indeed, to sleep better, your stomach should be neither too full nor too empty. You digest it more difficult at night, whereas a turbulent digestion because of too much food or heartburn caused by excess of spices (like hunger) can make you wake up.

3) Drink herbal teas, herbal teas
The chamomile, lemon balm, hops, the flower of the Passion, etc.. are presented as teas and infusions with sleep-promoting properties. You will often find them in tea blends “to find sleep. Make sure you prepare teas or infusions for at least 20 minutes to get all benefits as simply soak a bag of chamomile in hot water for 5 minutes (for example) does not remove enough of herbal extract to obtain a advantage to the organism.

Although their effectiveness has not been proven by large studies, lots of experts do not doubt that drinking herbal teas or herbal teas can make some people sleep better. Drinking a hot liquid as a tea or infusion (as well as hot milk, see # 1 above) before going to bed can produce numbness in the generation of body heat.

But be careful, if you drink too much fluid in the moments before going to bed earlier, you may go back and make the toilet at night. A cup of tea, or hot tea at bedtime might be worth it … if you have a bladder that can hold (you do not have to wake you up at night).

3 good habits to promote a healthy heart for the whole family:

1) Set a good example
When children spend many hours in front of sedentary computer or TV and easy access to junk food and fast food, they are more likely to suffer from diabetes and childhood obesity. However, you can show them how to stay active and eat healthily so they do not develop chronic diseases that can cause heart disease.

2) Eating meals at family table
Despite busy schedules, make a healthy meal at the table with family a daily priority. You teach your children that the meals on the run, often unhealthy, are not a standard. In addition, it gives your family the benefits of quality time spent together, and the opportunity to explain a heart healthy life.

3) Make exercise a family activity
Your children are more likely to exercise if you’re exercising too. Especially if you offer fun family activities that do not always think of the exercise. Play cat and mouse, hide and seek, cops and robbers, shoot hoops, to catch, walking the dogs at ball games in the pool, etc.. to move the whole family to work the heart. Make physical activities like games, and remember to play fun the whole family every day.

Prebiotics are found naturally in breast milk and some fruits and vegetables: bananas, garlic, leek, onion, artichokes, asparagus, tomato, chicory root, and so on.

Due to its beneficial effects, has started to add inulin and oligofructose in foods such as yogurt, ice cream, milk drinks, juices, breakfast cereals, bread, snacks, confectionery … without adversely affecting the taste of them. Yogurt and fermented milks are the most common foods that we find the probiotics.

4. How do we benefit?

As a result of their action, can be highlighted a number of beneficial effects on the body:

Prebiotics:

- Prevents constipation and diarrhea.
- Decrease blood pressure and plasma cholesterol.
- They promote bone mineralization.
- They have protective properties against cancer colorectal.

Probiotics:

- Are useful in the prevention and treatment of infectious diarrhea due to antibiotic use.
- Decrease lactose intolerance.
- Reduce the symptoms of intestinal inflammation.
- Reduce cholesterol levels.
- Prevent colon cancer and atopic disease.

Functional foods are those which, besides its nutritional, show that exert beneficial physiological effects in the body, thus improving the health and welfare of people and even reducing the risk of certain diseases. Prebiotics and probiotics are the two types of functional food ingredients that most well known and studied, being and acting in a different way, achieve a profit similar to “promote intestinal health.”

1. Functional foods

Functional foods are those with a healthy addition to our diet. In addition to foods that naturally contain functional ingredients, food is traditional to the food industry has added, deleted, increased or modified any of its components to contribute to improve the functionality of the organism as a whole (hence is his name).

Among the fortified functional foods that most often we are in the market include milk, yogurt, juices, cereals, eggs, margarine, bread, salt, etc. The components most often added to these products are minerals (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, selenium), vitamins (A, D, E, C, folic acid), fiber, fatty acids ( oleic acid, omega-3, or conjugated linoleic acid CLA), antioxidants (isoflavones, carotenoids, selenium, vitamin E), phytosterols (plant sterols and stanols), phytoestrogens, prebiotics, probiotics.

Its benefits can include: improvements in growth and development in early childhood, the regulation of metabolic processes in the body, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal function, cognitive performance and improves mental and physical condition, among others.

2. What are prebiotics and probiotics?

They are the two types of functional food ingredients that most well-known and studied, being and acting differently, are able to obtain a similar benefit: “to promote intestinal health. Both are capable of improving the balance of the intestinal tract flora, favoring its proper functioning, as well as producing a beneficial effect on the immune system (protecting certain infections, both digestive and general).

They differ in nature and in its tactics. Prebiotics are indigestible food ingredients that ferment in the intestine, serving as food for beneficial bacteria (lactobacilli, bifidobacteria) and we all need in our digestive system. At the same time, hamper the growth of harmful bacteria, thus improving the intestinal flora and, ultimately, our health.

Probiotics are food ingredients consisting of living microorganisms, like those that are part of our intestinal flora, ingested in sufficient amounts through the foods that contain beneficial effects on health of people who consume them, to contribute to improve the composition of the intestinal flora.