Tag: human body

Atmospheric Ions and Health

Todays post is about the affect of atmospheric ions on our health.

Recently Scott and I were discussing the benefits of spending time outdoors, in a relaxed environment. As with most people, we have found that just spending time at the park or at the beach improves our mood and sometimes our health.

This prompted me to consider if there was any documented science to support this theory.

So, I did a bit of research and am sharing what I found.

I found several scientific studies and articles discussing the relationship between the atmosphere and its influence on health and mood. I am not taking about the attitudes of others around us either, though this can play a part.

First, what are Atmospheric Ions?

Science has found that the atmosphere we breathe normally is full of positive and negative ions. Air ions are invisible, electrically charged molecules or atoms in the atmosphere. Some particles are positively charged and some are negatively charged.

Negative air ions (NAIs) were actually discovered more than 100 years ago.

These ions are also present in our bodies, the positive and the negative ones.

NAI’s are abundant in nature. In fact, you will find the highest concentrations of negative ions around waterfalls, on the ocean, at the beach and after a storm. They are widespread in mountains and forests.

In polluted cities, crowded areas and in confined spaces such as offices, industrial areas, schools and cars, you will find the highest concentration of positive ions. These “Concrete Jungles” minimise the natural production of negative ions by disrupting the delicate electrical balance between the atmosphere and the earth.

Positive ions have been found to have a disruptive influence on our health. Headaches, sleepiness, low attention spans and a general sense of feeling unwell are just some of the side effects of spending too long indoors.

Atmospheric ions and health

Once they reach our bloodstream, ions are believed to produce biochemical reactions. Research has found that negative ions contribute to overall well-being and health.

High concentrations of negative air ions are essential for high energy and positive mood. This is why fresh air and sunshine have an invigorating effect. Alternatively, being closed in with little light corresponds with depressed feelings.

Scientists are now working with manufacturers to develop NAI generation systems. Systems that can be used to freshen indoor air and in addition to enriching oxygen content in homes, schools, hospitals, airports, and other indoor areas.

Health benefits of NAI’s include:

  • Decreased blood pressure
  • Increased concentration and productivity
  • Improved psychological health
  • Revitalised cell metabolism.
  • Enhanced immune function.
  • Purify the blood.
  • and finally they balance the autonomic nervous system, promoting deep sleep and healthy digestion.

There was so much more information available, but it is too confusing to share.

Basically, this explains why we feel so much better after spending some relaxing time outdoors, in the fresh air.

So, we are not imagining it. It’s important to schedule a date with nature to upload on negative ions.

Till the next post,

Live clean n Prosper

Sources: Study Resource – National Library of Medicine – The Owner’s Manual for the Brain, Everyday Applications from Mind-Brain Research –

All about Magnesium

Todays post is all about Magnesium. I recently read a small article on foods rich in magnesium and how this mineral plays a part in controlling blood sugar. This was news to me, so I decided to do a bit of research into this essential macro mineral.

What is Magnesium?

Wikipedia states that Magnesium is an alkaline earth metal and the eighth most abundant element in the Earth’s crust. It’s also abundant in seawater due to its high solubility. Magnesium is also the 11th most abundant element by mass in the human body.

Why is it important?

Magnesium is necessary for more than 300 chemical reactions in the human body and is used by almost every cell. It’s needed for healthy bones, heart, muscles, and nerves and helps your body control energy, blood sugar, blood pressure, and many other processes.

An adult body contains approximately 25 g magnesium, with 50% to 60% present in the bones and most of the rest in soft tissues. It is absorbed through the bowel and stored mainly in bone and soft tissue.

How our body uses it.

Calcium and magnesium work together in maintaining bone health and preventing osteoporosis. Magnesium is important for bone formation. It helps assimilate calcium into the bone and plays a role in activating vitamin D in the kidneys.

Magnesium plays an important role in carbohydrate and glucose metabolism. Several studies have associated a higher intake with a lower risk of diabetes. It is also necessary to maintain the health of muscles, including the heart, and for the transmission of electrical signals in the body.

Studies have also shown that magnesium can help with migraine headaches, PMS and anxiety. If you were basically healthy, you probably wouldn’t have symptoms from low magnesium unless it went on for a long time. Low levels have been linked to health issues like Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, or insulin resistance. 

Lifestyle choices can also lead to low levels, such as poor diet, gastrointestinal problems, or vitamin D deficiency. Some symptoms of magnesium deficiency include tingly fingers and toes, flu like symptoms, cramping muscles, irregular heart rate, mood changes and constipation.

Getting your daily dose

Magnesium is one of seven essential macro minerals that need to be consumed in relatively large amounts, at least 100 milligrams (mg) per day. The best way to ensure you are getting your daily dose is from food.

Latest research regarding magnesium absorption from gels and creams on the skin is inconclusive. The best sources of magnesium are pumpkin and sunflower seeds, spinach, Swiss chard and other leafy greens, black beans, quinoa and cashews.

Studies have revealed that when the foods are cooked for any length of time the mineral content is significantly less. All the more reason to eat fresh unprocessed vegetables, nuts and seeds as much as possible.

I hope that you found this information as interesting as I have, I wasn’t aware that magnesium played such a big role in our bodily functions.          Sources – (National Institutes of Health – Health Direct –  Medical News Today 

Till the next post,   

Live clean n Prosper.

What is the Glycemic Index?

Hi, today I’m going to talk about the ‘Glycemic Index’ and food.

Every food we eat affects our body differently, and not just in terms of health. The way it is processed by the body affects our energy and blood sugar levels.

Scott is studying Nutrition this semester and has been learning all about the ‘Glycemic Index’. He shared some facts that I found very interesting and I decided to share them with you.

First of all, what is the ‘Glycemic Index’?

Wikipedia states –‘The glycemic index (GI) is a number associated with the carbohydrates in a particular type of food that indicates the effect of these carbohydrates on a person’s blood glucose (also called blood sugar) level.’….’ The GI represents the rise in a person’s blood sugar level two hours after consumption of the food.’

In basic terms – foods that are difficult for the body to digest are considered Lower GI foods usually with a value (55 or less). These foods cause a lower and slower rise in blood glucose and, therefore, insulin levels.

What about ‘Glycemic Load’?

Another method of measuring the effect of food on the body’s glucose is considering its ‘Glycemic Load’ (GL).

GI does not consider the portion of food, but glycemic load (GL) does.

Basically, if a food is ranked high on the glycemic index it has readily available carbohydrate for quick absorption. However, the same food can have a low glycemic load because there may not actually be much total carbohydrate in a given serving of that food. A low GL is the better indicator that a food won’t have much impact on blood glucose levels.

The difference

Here are two examples: Watermelon has a high GI of 72, yet a low GL of 7.21. The high GI is based on 5 cups of watermelon, not an actual serving size of 1 cup. The low GL means one serving of watermelon doesn’t contain much carbohydrate, because it is actually mostly water. The low GL indicates that a serving of watermelon won’t have much impact on your blood sugar.

Carrots are another example of a low GL food that many people think will raise their blood sugar a lot — but it’s not true. That’s because carrots have a high GI of 71. However, what most people don’t know is that the GL for carrots is only 6. 

Therefore, unless you’re going to eat half a kg of carrots in one sitting, an average serving of carrots will have very little impact on blood glucose levels. That said, juicing carrots — which means consuming more carrots at once — will have a greater impact on blood glucose.

With this in mind, here is an interesting fact that Scott has shared in regards to potatoes.

Potatoes are generally regarded as having a high GI rating, because they are a simple starch food, which is quickly converted into sugar. However it is possible to alter this.

By cooking potatoes, then cooling and again reheating them, the starches become ‘resistant’. This means that they now resist digestion and so in this way are considered a low GI food.

 

I hope this information has helped you to have a better understanding of these terms that are so often used to describe the food we eat.

Until the next post,

Live Clean n Prosper