Detox Machine that performs cleansing magic?

There has been a recent craze in Nairobi Salons about these detox amazing machines that clean you out through your feet and make you "whole" again. The foot spas claim to remove toxins through the feet and you find your toxins in the bowl after cleaning for about 30 minutes. But is this true? Do toxins flow because of this machine to the basin and clean you out?

So I decided to try it and make myself subject of the toxin removal process. So just like I had been told that the water would change colour it did! But were these really toxins? The answer is no!

The foot bath detox consists of a tub in which you place your feet. The tub is filled with water and then an electrical current is sent through the water. The claim from the makers and practitioners who use this product is that the electrical current causes the cells of your body to release toxins and that these toxins are then, somehow, drawn out of your body through your feet. The release of these toxins then supposedly turns the water different colors depending upon which toxins are being released.

Obviously, there is a reaction happening in the water since it changes colors drastically. Many of the people who have this done are quite convinced and impressed by this color change. People who use the foot bath detox will tell you that they have more energy and that they feel invigorated by the treatment. So, what is going on here? Is the color change really caused by toxins being released from your body? If not, what would account for the obvious change in water color?
The reaction is a simple hydrolysis chemistry reaction between the fats and mineral salts found on the skin of the feet. The hydrolysis of the water by the electrical current causes a soap-like reaction that changes the color of the water. The color change depends upon the type and amount of salts and fat the person’s body excretes. This accounts for the differences in color from person to person. 

So is this helpful?
These baths simply provide an alkaline environment for your body that help the body to feel invigourated and create an immune environment to diseases but only for 48 hours! So I felt energized as if I was from a massage but thats just because your body needs to thrive in an alkaline environment everytime as much as possible!

So yes you can go for one but do not be lied to that toxins are flowing out of your body to the bath and the darker the water the more the toxins that come out of your body!

I know you have questions post them here

The water changes color naturally because of the chemical reaction between the electricity and the salt water, not because of toxins. So, don’t be fooled by the infomercials. It’s actually, the debris that begin to form in the water that are the toxins. - See more at: http://www.pacificcollege.edu/acupuncture-massage-news/articles/1304-the-ionic-foot-detox-fact-or-myth.html#sthash.posj85yT.dpuf

Valentine's Day Dishes?

Looking around town today, the craze and the hype about tomorrow is too obvious. Restaurants are at it again and the menus are full of sugar and "love" foods that are "special" for the day!

So today I decided to go to Java coffee house and find out just what do people eat during "love" days. Ordering my favourite chicken salad, the waiter tells me that cakes and spicy food is on a high order. So I think to myself just what are the foods for valentines day.

When you talk about food for love or the aphrodisiacs just what qualifies them as "love foods"?
Lets look at each one of them one by one:

Chocolates
Chocolates have flavonoids which are best for your health. Chocolate is made from the cocoa bean, which contains flavanols. Flavanols have antioxidant effects that can reduce damage to cells and increase vascular function. Both of these can reduce risk for heart disease. Flavanols are present in higher amounts in dark chocolate, so choose dark chocolate with a cocoa content of 65 percent or higher.

Avocados

 Avocados, a good source of fiber, potassium, vitamin E and folic acid."Avocados are best known as a source of monounsaturated fats in the diet. They fall in the category of love foods for their fat content which is required for the production of sex hormones. The unsaturated fats found in avocados are essential for a healthy cardiovascular system.




Sea foods
Food like oysters shell fish and lobsters contain  an excellent source of the minerals zinc, iron and calcium. This is vital for improvement of mood and energy. You can choose these as a delicacy for your valentines day.








Eggs

They a good source of non-meat protein for people who choose to limit or avoid meat products. They are also high in choline, riboflavin and vitamin B12. They improve hormone metabolism and enhance energy and are also preferred as aphrodisiacs.





Strawberries and whipped cream
strawberries are a good source of energy and can be used to spice up the day and diet. They have also been proven to prevent risk to cancer.






Chicken

Some people prefer having a diet of chicken to change their normal diet and this can be effective in making the day more vibrant. A good meal made from chicken gives proteins that improves energy for the day and thus a great addition for the valentines special. Look for Kienyeji chicken for the best healthy results.





But really, there is no such food that cannot be consumed on this day as long as you eat the right portions of half vegetables, quarter carbohydrates and the other quarter with proteins.

There you have it, aphrodisiacs or not choose a meal that meets your calorie requirements.

Why You should Go Organic

When many hear about eating organic food, many think it is a boring thing let alone eating healthy. Going organic in your diet means consumption of food that has been grown void of fertilizers and other pesticides. I sought to know whether in Kenya there is an organic food spot and sale of food products that are affordable.

I was excited to find one bridges restaurant in Nairobi that was an all organic food place! All the food served here is in the right portions and is right from farmers who have embraced organic farming done by the Kenya Organic Agriculture Network. My selected meal was some brown rice with chicken stew and some vegetables, all organic which I enjoyed to the last bit!


So you ask why would you consider to be careful to buy organic food?

Here are the benefits:
The biggest health benefit of organic foods is their lack of pesticides. Pesticides can cause nerve damage, birth defects, cancer, and other health problems depending on their chemical makeup. Pesticides can be washed off of produce, but that still doesn’t make them entirely safe.
The health risks of pesticides don’t solely remain with consumers either – anyone involved in the growing process of conventional produce are likely to be exposed to pesticides. They can then affect others they come in contact with. This can cause serious health consequences including long term neurological problems.

Organic meat and dairy products have been shown to have higher levels of omega 3 fatty acids which are essential for our bodies. They can help reduce inflammation, improve cardiovascular health, fight depression, help with ADHD, Alzheimer and other mental disorders, and even improve prenatal health.

Now when shopping in Kenya you can look out for the KOAN mark of quality for example to know whether food sample is organic or not. Taking caution to include organic food in your diet can also include:

• Growing your own food samples in your backyard whereby you add no fertilizer or pesticides
• Buying food only from organic dealers not just food shown to be locally grown.
• Ensure you look at the labels carefully when buying from supermarkets to allow for best results.

Now you know, if you cannot be able to buy it, you can visit the Bridges Restaurant in town or UpperHill for a treat you have not had in a while. The food there is sumptous yet healthy!

You may have questions post them here:

MANGO: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE TRUTH

Every time it is January, the mangoes begin to flow in the markets since this fruit is in season! Just like it is required, it is best to eat fruits that are in season for price reasons, freshness ability and to eat the natural forms of the fruit. I love that we can eat the small mangoes that are rare within the cause of the year.

These small mangoes taste better, have more fibre than the apple mangoes available within the year and certainly are cheaper. One is never enough. I just cannot remember when I just took one and felt satisfied! For an apple mango..the big ones I can eat just one and it is well. So what is this big difference?

It is obvious that apple mangoes have been  grown as a blend and thus do not have the fibre that you much require from a fruit. I will speak about the real mango...The small ones.. These are the best mangoes to ever include in your fruit diet. Unfortunately these small fruits can be good and bad at the same time. To some they can cause diarrhoea and stomach upsets while to others they get the most from them..So what is the good about mangoes?

THE GOOD

• Mango has got the required daily requirement for vitamin A! This makes it a great choice to protect your eyes from a range of conditions. The vitamin A in mango may also decrease your risk of macular degeneration.
•  Helps with Wound HealingEating mango is a smart choice if you have suffered an injury or have undergone surgery. A 1-cup serving of raw mango pieces contains 76 percent of the daily recommended intake of this vitamin. The vitamin C in this tropical fruit helps cuts and lacerations heal faster.
• Contributes to Fiber Intake.One serving of mango contributes 2.6 g of fiber. You require 25 to 38 g of fiber each day to combat constipation and diarrhea, and eating mango can help you meet your goals. The fiber in mango may also help prevent breast cancer.
•  Promotes Mood. Funny enough I know..Mango contains vitamin B-6 – 11 percent of the daily recommended intake per serving – which promotes the production of serotonin. This hormone elevates your mood, so eating mango may help prevent depression and improve your feeling of general well-being.

THE BAD
 The fructose in mangoes is problematic for some people because of the way it’s absorbed. In those suffering from DIETARY FRUCTOSE INTOLERANCE, fructose is absorbed poorly; as a consequence, it gets transported to the large intestine where it’s broken down by bacteria in the colon, resulting in the production of methane and hydrogen gas. The end result: a noticeable increase in intestinal gas. This uncomfortable state can be avoided by reducing your consumption of foods with higher fructose-to-glucose ratios.

THE TRUTH
So why do you get stomach upsets from eating too many small mangoes? Ideally, the small mangoes have got a very high fibre content. When you consume too many, there is too much fibre in the system which overloads your system and since it has to be eliminated by your digestive system, this is the reason you will find yourself having loose stool! The fibre being insoluble which prevents constipation if taken in high amounts translates to diarrhoea!

So no worries, indulge in these small mangoes while they last but make sure not to have too many.

You must have questions, post them here!

Even Women Get Gout...Dietary Remedies

Looking around today's sedentary society, many men are faced by the problem of gout brought about by an itching toe, joint or even the knees. Gout has since become common among people in this society, both men and women who have already reached their menopause.

Gout is a form of arthritis that can be found as a symptom on the feet-big toe specifically caused by excessive deposits of uric acid. Once called the “disease of kings,” gout has long been associated with portly men – especially those who could afford to overindulge in rich foods and alcohol. But gout in women is not uncommon, especially after menopause.

During menopause, which occurs at age 51 on average, (
and maybe 45 nowadays) a woman’s body drastically cuts its production of the hormone estrogen. Estrogen may help the kidneys excrete uric acid, so after menopause, a woman’s uric acid level begins to increase. It usually takes several years for the uric acid level to reach the point where crystals can form. By about age 60, the number of cases of gout in women and men are about equal; after age 80, more women than men have gout.




 
So what do you do to avoid or manage this painful joint ache?
In addition to medication, you can control how much uric acid your body produces by avoiding foods high in purines, which increase the uric acid level when digested and metabolized. Such off-limit foods include alcohol, bacon, liver, beef,pork and turkey . Go light on sweetened drinks such as sodas, juices etc.(especially the soft drinks). Loose weight and ensure you eat meals according to your calorie requirement. Low calorie intake in a bid to starve or loose weight increases uric acid production in the body. Alcohol acts as an accelerator and inhibitor to uric acid removal and that is why most men who take beer will definitely get gout at one point or another.

In the end, a high fibre diet allows for your body to keep eliminating excessive uric acid and avoid gout!

There you have it, Be careful as a woman, you just might be having Gout after menopause without your Knowledge

Quail Eggs versus chicken Eggs? which is Better?

Almost everyone in Kenya has heard the craze that caught people about quail eggs and how they should begin keeping quail birds since they are much better nutritionally. Ideally most people believe that quail eggs are the miracle food that anyone has made in a long time! Most believe that if they take it they will improve their brain power, become more healthy, their diseases will go within a day and so on.

But how true is this? Well, just like the way we consume fish and obtain benefits of it, quail eggs have to be taken over time for any nutritional goal to be achieved! Doing my research to support the claims that have been made to people about the benefits of the egg, I have not found any scientific research that backs up their benefits. Infact, all claims that have been made over the internet seem to have come from farmers and producers of the egss who aim to make money out of innocence.

But since this article is meant to compare quail eggs with chicken eggs, lets stick to the subject.
 If you do a simple google search of the nutritional value of chicken eggs compared to quail eggs you will be surprised to find the results indicating that quail eggs have far much more cholestrol as compared to chicken eggs. Infact taking just one is not enough, not to mention the expense of about 70 shillings per egg compared to the normal 10 to 12 bob for a chicken egg.

Put aside what you have heard or been told and look at the following nutritional information:

Then look at the following information about chicken eggs:

So for one let no one lie to you that you can loose weight through eating quail eggs.Their cholesterol level is 844mg compared to the 372mg of the same amount of eggs! That aside the claims about healing anaemia, anti-aging, immunity boosting, weight loss and all other hearsays are simply hearsays! They have not been scientifically proven yet and one can only rely on them at their own peril!

The key to healthy living is through eating variety of foods to reach health goals. Pinning this on one "magic food" fails to meet the major idea of having varieties of food on our plate to achieve healthy goals!

I know you have questions..post them here..

No single food provides all the nutrients our bodies need to function well, the key to healthy eating is to eat varieties of real foods. When we learn to eat healthy foods in the right proportion, we wouldn’t be looking for miracles in one single food. - See more at: http://zonefitness.com.ng/quail-egg-versus-chicken-egg-which-is-better/#sthash.82L7pU7M.ERzbeXmr.dpuf

When the story about quail egg being the “cure for all diseases” began to spread, the first I did was to look at the nutrition content of the egg. - See more at: http://zonefitness.com.ng/quail-egg-versus-chicken-egg-which-is-better/#sthash.82L7pU7M.dpuf

When the story about quail egg being the “cure for all diseases” began to spread, the first I did was to look at the nutrition content of the egg. - See more at: http://zonefitness.com.ng/quail-egg-versus-chicken-egg-which-is-better/#sthash.82L7pU7M.dpuf

So What Happened Over that Holiday?

Happy new year friends!!!

I must say that am excited about this year and the way it has began for me. I would love to hear how you battled with the chicken, goats, cows, fish, ugali, rice, chapati and emerged victorious without gaining too much weight that you probably were not sure about!

Mmmh I must admit that holiday was too food-tempting! I remember when I travelled during the 24th of December and all I began doing on the way was indulge in little pieces of nyama choma and some soda! Yes, even a nutritionist has her days!.

Arriving home, I was met with the open arms of two chicken that had been assorted to fit dinner. One of them was deep fried while the other was grilled. On the side was some ugali and some beef as well as some vegetables to push the meat around. Ofcourse like the guest I was told to sit down and be served.(you know how coming from the city and reaching the surbabs is taken). So I sat and up came a plate heavy with the chicken and beef alongside the ugali and only a spoonful of vegetables!

Woooh I just remembered the post I had done the day before but my eyes couldn't help it! I began indulging and as they say the rest is history! Now just like you am wondering how much I weigh!

Not to worry though, January might worry the weight and fat away! But how much would you be weighing and what is the best thing to do?
You may be surprised that you have not changed weight but I want you to take this simple exercise and comment below and I will tell you what to do!

1. Go take your weight
2.Take your height in metres and square it
3. Divide your weight by the figure of  height you have squared
4. What did you obtain?
If you got 18.5 to 24.5 then your weight is normal
If 25 and above then you are either overweight or obese
below 18.5 then you are underweight and might be close to being malnourished!

5. So what to do?
I will ask you what do you plan to be your activity level this year? If your BMI measure that you did above is high choose to take stairs instead of a lift
Take a walk instead of that drive
Exercise and you will find that your body adjusts.

I know you have enough questions...Post them here

Holidaying where Food Is Definate,Yet Weight Gain Not A Must

Ho Ho Ho!

It is December holiday and Christmas mood is already with us. I can tell by the number of parties that I still have pending even before 25th and 26th. I must say thankyou for being an avid reader and am amazed that I can be of help to you!

So this post will definately tackle the subject of weight gain after this holiday where everyone gets worried that they have gained 20kgs by January. Wait a second, Did you know that as much as you indulge in December you might not gain as much weight as you feel you have in January?

Take your weight before you go indulging and do the same in January. If you calculate your BMI it might just be the same! Maybe you did not add up 10kgs as you thought! Ideally normal weight gain when relaxed ranges from only 0.5 to 1kg in a week. So lets say you vacated for 4 weeks you only gain 2kgs and not ten.

Truth be told though, after any holiday you always feel heavy and a need to cleanse your system. It is difficult not to indulge so please indulge responsibly!

However, here are some tips on how you can be able to indulge responsibly while avoiding harm to your body.:

Do not Skip Meals
Waking up at odd hours is definitely a norm during the holiday. If you wake up late, push your meals as per your schedule. But make sure you have them all i.e Breakfast,lunch and supper

Eat Some Melon
Watermelon, and other fruits like cantaloupe, and honeydew are high-liquid fruits, which can help flush out toxins and relieve water retention and bloat. Smart! Have a cup of chopped fruit in the morning, or make a quick smoothie with vanilla yogurt or lime juice. this way when you go to that party you will still be feeling abit full and will not overdo that nyam chom!

Make Simple Food Swaps
Using spices in place of fat in many dishes can boost flavor and combat that inflated-waistline feeling. "Cinnamon and ginger are digestive aids and commonly used in home remedies to help with gassiness and bloating.

 Go Bananas for Potassium
You know you have to cut back on salt to de-bloat, but did you also know you should stock up on foods that are high in potassium? It can help your flatten your stomach by flushing out excess sodium in your system. Try potassium-rich bananas, raisins, milk, and yogurt.

 Let your eyes feast first. Before eating, see what is being served. If there are raw vegetables or plain seafood, start with those, to take the edge off your appetite.

Stand far away from the buffet table. Once you’ve chosen food, take your plate into another room and enjoy calorie-free talk with friends. Make one trip to the buffet, and be selective.

Chew gum. When you don't want to eat, pop a piece of sugarless gum into your mouth. This works well when you're cooking or when you're trying not to dive into the buffet.


Remember weight gain in the body is gradual and does not just occur over night therefore, when you include fun and games in that party you will be amazed how well your body does not gain extra calories!

I know we shall have a great time sharing our holiday food habits in January! You have a question just post it here!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

MAGIC FOODS FOR BREASTFEEDING MUMS?

Many new moms wonder how breastfeeding will affect their diet. “Most writings for the nursing mother…set up complicated ‘rules’ about dietary intake…Thus one barrier to breastfeeding for some women is the ‘diet rules’ they see as too hard to follow or too restrictive.”Fortunately, there are no hard-and-fast “diet rules” for breastfeeding mothers. You don’t have to change your eating habits in order to give your baby the best.

You may have come across a mother or you are a mother who has asked the following:

“DO I HAVE TO EAT MORE THAN USUAL TO MAKE ENOUGH MILK FOR MY BABY?”

Although it used to be estimated that nursing mothers need an extra five hundred calories a day to produce milk, recent studies indicate that this recommendation may be too high.
 The food a nursing mother eats is only one of her sources of energy. She also draws on the fat stores she laid down during pregnancy. Milk production is such an efficient process that during the early months the energy supplied from stored body fat may be all the extra energy that is needed for some mothers, especially those who are not very physically active. Researchers have found that a woman’s metabolism becomes more efficient during lactation. This may mean that each extra calorie goes further in a breastfeeding mother, safeguarding her own health and assuring she has the energy she needs to produce an adequate milk supply for her baby. Losing too much weight too quickly, though, indicates that mother needs more calories.
So Really the extra Njahi,porridge or high energy dense food only needs to provide utmost only 500 extra calories!

“IS IT ALL RIGHT TO LOSE WEIGHT WHILE BREASTFEEDING?”

Breastfeeding makes it easier to shed the extra pounds put on during pregnancy.lactation may be an ideal time to lose weight. Breastfeeding naturally mobilizes fat stores, even fat accumulated before pregnancy. But it is important to go slowly. nursing mothers do nothing consciously to bring about weight loss during the first two months after birth. During that time your body needs to recover from childbirth and establish a good milk supply. Most breastfeeding mothers will lose a few kgs while following a normal diet. Breastfeeding mothers often shed extra kgs gained during pregnancy when their babies are three to six months old.
 If you aren’t losing weight as quickly as you’d like, you can begin by increasing your activity level and decreasing your caloric intake. By taking a two-mile walk five times a week with the baby in a stroller or baby carrier while at the same time eliminating 100 calories from your daily diet (the number of calories in three teaspoons of margarine or butter), you can expect to lose two or three kgs a month.

“IF I DON’T EAT WELL WILL MY MILK STILL BE GOOD FOR MY BABY?”

Even with a less-than-ideal diet, a mother’s milk is the perfect food for her baby. “All over the world women produce adequate and even abundant milk on very inadequate diets.” While it is true that a mother who is not eating well will produce the milk her baby needs, any new mother–no matter how she feeds her baby–will feel better, have more energy, and be more resistant to illness if she eats wisely and well.

“WHAT DOES ‘EATING WISELY AND WELL’ MEAN?”

The principles of good nutrition are the same for the breastfeeding mother as for the rest of the family: eat a wide variety of foods in as close to their natural state as possible. Don’t limit yourself to only a few choices in vegetables or a strictly meat and potatoes diet. Chicken, turkey, fish, eggs, and dairy products are all sources of animal protein, in addition to “red meats” like beef, pork, and lamb. Legumes such as beans and peanuts are also good sources of protein, especially when combined with grains, seeds, certain nuts, and dairy products.

“WHAT CAN I EAT OR DRINK TO INCREASE MY MILK SUPPLY?”

There are many myths about “magic” foods that will increase a mother’s milk supply–for example, “you need to drink milk to make milk.” However, cows don’t drink milk, and there is no evidence that particular foods or drinks affect milk supply. Milk supply is determined mainly by supply and demand–the more often a baby nurses effectively, the more milk there will be. Conversely, the less often (or less effectively) a baby nurses, the less milk there will be.
If you are concerned about your milk supply, you can determine whether your baby is getting enough milk by counting your baby’s wet diapers and bowel movements. At least six to eight wet cloth diapers (five to six disposables) and two bowel movements a day (fewer bowel movements are normal in a baby older than six weeks) indicate that the baby is getting enough milk. A weight gain of at least four to seven ounces per week (at least a pound a month) is another indication that the baby is getting enough. If your milk supply is low and your baby is nursing effectively, nursing more often will quickly increase your supply.


So there you have it you can still survive with normal food there is no magic in too much extra energy foods. There is simply no connection in those energy dense foods and production of milk! However, foods that increase your blood level (Vitamins), foods that repair your worn out tissues (Proteins) are vital for your body as a mechanism for repair after giving birth!

I love questions so #AskTheNutritionist!

Email me on: ndutaniceness@gmail.com

WEIGHT GAIN ASSOCIATED WITH MARRIAGE FOR MEN?

I write this from a professional nutrition view,with a high essence of honesty and concern. Recently, I have seen so many relationships and marriages suffer from the reduced sexual drive in men today.

Its the time after the bachelors party and he is excited that he has kissed dating good bye and can now settle down and enjoy marriage. Some few years into the marriage he feels worn out already and as the lay man says he is blank of the drive for sex.

Sex by design was handcrafted by God and within the world He would like it to be enjoyed during marriage and marriage alone...This means that it should be somewhat sustainable to have a fulfilling marriage.

A look in the market today one would get the impression of exactly what the value of sex has become to many. So many remedies that surround the value of sex in a manner to improve the libido of either the men or the woman. This is a subject that is all too well known by many as a therapy that requires the consultation of a doctor or a therapist who is well versed with the sex subjects. Many of the marriages today have seen men left out of the league towards their sperm count. Let’s be very real with each other men, it is no longer a complication of the women but rather a problem that you need to address. Do not ignore it it is a crucial subject that you can reverse for better.

Loss of libido also makes men more unhappy about the rest of their lives than it does women.
when men lose interest in sex it scares them more than women -- their masculinity is so linked to their sexuality that it is very threatening.Testosterone is an essential hormone found in both sexes, but it is primarily a male hormone. It is not only responsible for sexual appetite, but also improves skin and bone health. For males, testosterone drops after the age of 30. In today's Kenyan men the testosterone levels drop as early as the age of 25.

Lets face it, its no longer the fault of the woman that she does not get pregnant....as a nutritionist i would like to give a few tips on how to maintain the sexual drive from the time you get engaged through to your marriage.
To increase the level of testosterone in the body you need to improve on the intake of some foods whether a bachelor or when married. Remember, testosterone is valuable component of digestion in the man's body. If the man has depleted levels then he excessively adds on weight. In the marriage, he utilizes the testosterone in larger amounts than before. Through sex and also needs it for digestion. So once it gets too depleted, it has to be replaced somehow! Not with drugs I say, but check out these foods.

Pumpkin and Watermelon seeds
These have a high component of zinc which if incorporated consistently in meals improves the digestion through increase of production of testosterone hormone due to their zinc specialty. If you feel eating them upfront is difficult, they can be incorporated into pudding as for watermelon seeds and into soups for the pumpkins.


Beans
Surprisingly, beans have got a certain capacity of zinc that improves the levels of testosterone.Unfortunately for m,en some of them do not like consuming the beans. If not you could try pumpkin seeds. Eat pumpkin seeds, the very best dietary source of wholly natural zinc. Don't consume fresh seeds obtained from hollowing out a whole pumpkin though, as aside from the fact that this is expensive and inconvenient to do, dry seeds taste far more palatable. Buy packs of dried pumpkin seeds from specialist health food stores.

Bananas
Bananas contain the bromelain enzyme, which is believed to increase libido and reverse impotence in men. Additionally, they are good sources of potassium and B vitamins like riboflavin, which increase the body's overall energy levels.


Avocado
avocados indeed contain high levels of folic acid, which helps metabolize proteins, thus giving you more energy. They also contain vitamin B6 (a nutrient that increases male hormone production) and potassium (which helps regulate a woman's thyroid gland), two elements that help increase libido in both men and women.
Eggs
Although they should be eaten sparingly,they contain vitamin B6 and B5. These help balance hormone levels and fight stress, two things that are crucial to a healthy libido. Eggs are also a symbol of fertility and rebirth. Some people will eat raw chicken eggs just prior to sex to increase libido and maximize energy levels. But all bird and fish eggs contain B6 and B5. Whenever you eat eggs always remove the yolk and eat the egg white to ensure that you lower down the levels of cholesterol.
Garlic
Yes, you might need to stock up on some extra breath mints, but it'll be worth it. Garlic contains allicin, an ingredient that increases blood flow to the sexual organs. As such, it's a highly effective herb to help increase libido. If the odor just won't work for you -- or you can't stand garlic try eating it in food.

Liver
A good source of glut-amine -- a cellular fuel for your immune system -- liver may indeed increase a slowed-down libido.

These are just some few of my thoughts of which you can feel free to comment.

Nduta
nutrition counselor

IS THE BROWN BREAD YOU ARE CONSUMING THE REAL HEALTH DEAL?

With an increasing consciousness about health and hygiene, a large number of consumers are making the switch from white bread to brown bread or whole wheat bread at their breakfast tables. However, there is little awareness about why is brown bread considered healthy or what constitutes brown bread that makes it healthy. As a result, most people succumb to marketing tactics of companies that add caramel to white bread to make the color brown and advertise it as wholesome and tasty!

In some extremely lazy manufacturing, but inspired marketing, much of the ‘brown’ bread you’ll find in the supermarket is simply the same white bread with brown coloring, often CARAMEL, added back into it. Hardly the healthier choice it’s made out to be.
Likewise, ‘wholemeal’ bread with a bit of chemically treated wheat germ added back in, or ‘multigrain’, with a sprinkling of softened grains, hardly makes up for what the main ingredient – refined wheat flour – has gone through.
The fact is, the vast majority of breads from the big manufacturers are just slight variations, a little coloring here, a sprinkling of seeds there, of the same extremely unhealthy processed bread.
But the hullaballoo of wanting to eat brown bread as the healthy bread could all be distorted in kenya! This is because almost 80% of brown bread sold to us is not genuinely brown. The best bread to eat is the whole wheat grain bread that you can find in supermarkets and normally has a darker colour and is more expensive!
True whole wheat bread, if you can find it, should be a healthier option. Whole wheat bread is made with the wheat germ and the bran included and is hopefully not as heavily processed or full of chemical additives as most commercial loaves. It’s higher fiber content helps to slow down its digestion and therefore its effect on your blood sugar and levels of fat storing insulin shouldn’t be as pronounced.
A real brown bread is healthier than white bread because the wheat flour used to make brown bread is less processed compared to wheat flour used for making white bread. During the processing of the wheat flour for making brown bread the bran and germ in the wheat grain are not removed. The bran is the part of wheat grain that is rich in fibre, while germ is the inner part of wheat grain which is packed with nutrients, Vitamins B and E as well as phytochemicals.

So how do you tell the REALS from the FAKES?
It's commonly believed that you can tell the difference between white and wholemeal by the color of the loaf. Not so! The keywords to look out for are "whole grain" and "whole wheat" as the first ingredient on the ingredient list. If any other substance is listed first, you are likely looking at white bread that has had caramel colouring added.
There you have it, find this rare Whole meal bread and find your long lost and found real brown bread. Infact, ask yourself why you eat brown chapattis that taste real brown but when you eat brown bread it does not have similar taste?

This is not to say that white and brown breads could be exactly the same in Kenya market. If you compare the labels of white and brown breads of your favourite brand, you will probably find that the brown bread still has more dietary fiber, making it the wiser choice. What’s important to remember is not to confuse all brown breads with the much healthier whole grain bread alternatives. Do your research and read your labels for the choice that’s right for you. Best place to begin is in Tuskys supermarket at the bread parlour where you will spot the difference!
I know you have questions so comment below and email me on ndutaniceness@gmail.com

WHY THE OIL YOU USE TO COOK COULD BE THE REASON FOR YOUR ILLNESS

Food cooked from fats is tasty and easy to eat. There are some fats that negatively affect our bodies when consumed and should be avoided. In Kenya’s market fats available are either solid or liquid in nature. 

But just which type of fat is best for cooking your meals?

Chemically fats can be either saturated, unsaturated or trans-fats. The saturated means that they have a chemical composition with carbon atoms saturated with hydrogen atoms. Saturated fats are usually in animal fats especially the dairy products. Very few plants have saturated fats, the palm and coconut oil.

Trans fats are made when manufacturers turn the liquid oils to solid for instance kimbo and blue band. 

All Trans fats and saturated fats are solid at room temperature. These are the two fats that are severely harmful to your health when cooking because they raise bad cholesterol in your body. This is thought to form a layer in the arteries that causes blockage in the heart leading to heart attacks or strokes.

Let’s review the unhealthy cooking oils in the market that are either saturated or Trans fats:

Kimbo,chipsy,kasuku,cowboy, and all other solid fats are highly hydrogenated and clogs in arteries if used for long

 

                         

 The good oils:

These are normally in liquid form, but caution should be taken because, the oils sometimes change and become solid in nature after sometime...For instance, instead of buying Rina vegetable oil, go for Rina sunflower oil since it does not solidify at all costs and does not clog your arteries! 

This same criteria goes with other liquid oils like elianto, rinsun,golden fry, etc.
 The best bets are all sunflower oils, canola oils, peanut oil, corn oil, safflower and non-hydrogenated oils.

I know you have questions..Drop them on the comment box below..