Why Do We Eat? A Neurobiological Perspective. Part V

In previous posts, I explained that food intake is determined by a variety of factors that are detected by the brain, and integrated by circuits in the mesolimbic system to determine the overall motivation to eat. These factors include 'homeostatic factors' that reflect a true energy need by the body, and 'non-homeostatic factors' that are independent of the body's energy needs (e.g. palatability, habit, and the social environment).

In this post, we'll explore the hedonic system, which governs pleasure. This includes the pleasure associated with food, called palatability. The palatability of food is one of the factors that determines food intake.

The Hedonic System

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Skin Care When Undergoing Pregnancy

When undergoing pregnancy, usually a number of health problems of skin came disturbing. Do not be surprised, as this is a natural result from the influence of hormonal factors.
When undergoing pregnancy, it should be noted the adequacy of nutrients your body needs to maintain good health, especially pregnant women and the fetus itself.
In addition, it also pays to skin health problems. Skin care is needed to anticipate and address common skin problems during pregnancy, such as stretch marks, acne, increased pigmentation, linea nigra, and so forth.

Some of the skin problems that often occur when the pregnancy is:

Melasma (Cholasma)
Melasma is the appearance of freckles, dark skin on the forehead, nose and cheeks. It is caused by pregnancy hormones that increase hyperpigmentation on the skin. Forms of melasma is like black spots, moles are dark and can be such a dark line in the middle of your abdomen (linea nigra).
Although the spots may disappear by itself a few months pakca birth, but sometimes spots are not entirely lost on the surface of the skin.
To resolve melasma, it is recommended to consume foods that contain lots of folic acid, because studies have shown that folate deficiency may be associated with hyperpigmentation. Folic acid can be obtained by eating green leafy vegetables, oranges, whole wheat bread, and whole grain cereals.
It should also be considered for using sunscreen with at least SPF 15 if you are exposed to sunlight because sunlight can also improve hyperpigmentation. In addition, the use of body armor such as hats and long sleeves are a good idea when you are in the open under the sun.

Pimple
Acne during pregnancy can be treated with skin care as usual. You can use a facial scrub to eliminate impurities that clog pores. But if you want to select a facial scrub, you should use abrasive scrubs or exfoliants because your skin is very sensitive during pregnancy.
Take care when using acne medications during pregnancy because most can be dangerous for your content. If this is unavoidable, choose a natural acne cures and herbal based.
In addition, you can also irradiate the skin with sunlight in the morning for 15 minutes to activate skin cells completely. In addition, get rid of toxins (detoxification) can naturally prevent acne. The trick is to drink enough water every day.



Stretch Mark
According to the study, more than 90 percent of women develop stretch marks during the sixth and seventh months of pregnancy. Stretch marks are caused by stretching of the skin layer that occurs during pregnancy and usually appear as streaks of pink or purplish brown and even black on the abdomen and in some cases can be found on the breast and thighs.
To fix this, you can use blend of essential carrots, cilantro, and thyme leaves as a topical experiencing abdominal stretch marks. In addition, applying coffee grounds still warm on exposed areas of stretch marks can disguise the black line

Hyperpigmentation
Increased pigmentation (hyperpigmentation) on around the areola and nipples during pregnancy can cause the color black and sometimes the color will not fade after delivery.
In addition, if prior to pregnancy you have a mole, then it could be the color will be black during pregnancy. In fact, sometimes a pregnancy can also cause the appearance of new moles because of the pigmentation.
How to solve this hyperpigmentation? You can use honey as a topical for 15 minutes on the face or on the areola before you rinse it with warm water.
In addition, you can also use a scrub to remove dead skin cells. Natural face masks can also be overcome hyperpigmentation on the face, chest or other areas that suffer from hyperpigmentation.

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Skin care during pregnancy is crucial to keep and maintain the beauty of your skin after childbirth. Some of the above tips may help you in treating skin problems that often arise when you go through pregnancy.

Benefits of Fasting for Health

Health is a pleasure that can not be assessed with property. To maintain health, the body needs to be given a chance to rest. Fasting, which requires not to eat, drink, and perform other acts that break the fast from dawn until sundown is very useful for maintaining physical and spiritual health.

It can prevent illness caused by excessive eating. Excessive nutrient food is not necessarily good for one's health. Excess nutrients or overnutrisi cause obesity which can cause degenerative diseases such as high cholesterol and triglycerides, coronary heart disease, diabetes (diabetes mellitus), and others.

Influence of fasting on physical health mechanism covering various aspects of health, such as:

- Provide an opportunity for the digestive tract to rest.
- Freeing the body from toxins, dirt and residue that damage health.
- Blocking of food for bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells so that the germs can not survive.
Increasing the number of white blood cells and increase endurance. In the first week of fasting undiscovered white blood cell growth. However, starting on the seventh (second week), the addition of white blood cells very rapidly. White blood is a key element in the body's defense system.
- Balancing the levels of acid and alkaline in the body.
- Improve the function of the hormone that is needed in a variety of physiological and biochemical processes body. Hormones released by endocrine glands and pituitary body's response to various pressures and environmental stress. Deficiency or excess production of certain hormones will adversely affect the health of the body. Eg when subjected to stress, hormones that regulate insulin and adrenaline when disturbed so hungry appetite loss or even come sooner. Production of the hormone insulin deficiency resulted in the emergence of diabetes, whereas when the body will suffer excessive hyperglycemia. At the time of fasting people will be patient and try to hold grudges and always surrender to God. It will make the normal hormone function so that more harmonious rhythm of life.
- Rejuvenates the body's cells. When we fast, the organs are in the relaxed position, so as to have the opportunity to renew cells.
- Improve the function of organs. Fasting will provide stimulus to all the cells, tissues, and organs. This will produce a stimulating effect, restore, and improve organ function corresponding physiological functions, such as the five senses become sharper.
- Fasting increases the function of the reproductive organs. It is associated with rejuvenation of cells that affect cells urogenital and other reproductive organs. Hormones associated with sexual behavior problems are not only generated by the organ ovary (estrogen) and testes (testosterone), but also by the pituitary gland.


Rekommended order iftar meal begins with a date, or with fruits and sweet drinks like honey. This doctrine implies health as fruits and sweet drinks is a ready-made fuel that can be readily absorbed by the body to recover after a day the body is not supplied with food and drink. Glucose contained in fruits and sweet drinks are the main source of energy for body cells. Effective Glucose is needed when the body requires energy input needed.

Prompts dawn is not merely to get the power of the prime pilgrimage during fasting, but also implies that fasting during fasting necessary preparation for work productivity and daily activities are not disrupted.

At the time of Iftar and Suhoor should strive to fulfill the nutrient supply of the elements the body needs, covers six types of nutrients are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. The importance of nutritional balance often neglected because it does not look right. Someone who lack certain nutrients as dangerous as they are certain nutritional advantages. Eating a well balanced portions and nutrition affects the central nervous system and the condition of the body's biochemistry. Eating a balanced meal is nothing short but not too excessive, adjusted for age, the quality and quantity of motion as well as the condition of the body.

In some people, the time of fasting have complaints such as feeling weak and lethargic or decreased stamina, as well as digestive disorders such as bloating and stomach upset. Some foods such as honey, ginger, kencur, meeting buffoonery, and other materials can be used to cope with decreased stamina, bloating, and upset stomach during fasting.

Here are some natural ingredients that can be used in order to stay fit and fresh fasting.

1.MADU
Benefits: increase stamina and maintain stabilitias body to stay healthy and fit, launched the process of metabolism, for beauty and youthfulness, preventing digestive disorders, etc.

2.KURMA
Benefits: increased stamina and energy, prevent and treat anemia (lack of blood), launched disposal, as a sedative (merileksasi a strained muscle cells), prevents uterine bleeding.

3.JAHE (Zingiber officinale ROSC.)
Benefits: increase stamina, overcome flatulence, colds, nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, fever, etc.

4.TEMU buffoonery (Curcuma xanthorrhiza)
Benefits: high cholesterol, increase stamina / tonic, anemia, gastritis / ulcer, flatulence, and others.

5.KENCUR (Kaempferia galanga)
Benefits: increase stamina, eliminate bad breath, inflammation of the stomach, bloating, nausea, vomiting, colds, and others.

6.Ubi Red Potatoes (Ipomoea batatas)
Indications: flatulence, laxative fart, colds, upset stomach

7.KUNYIT (Curcuma domestica Val.)
Efficacy / effect; inflammation of the stomach, bile expedite expenditure thereby reducing flatulence, nausea, and a sense of fullness in the stomach.

8.KAPULAGA (Amomum cardamomum)
Indications: for stomach ulcers, nausea, vomiting, stomach obstruction and bloating.

9.Kayu Sweet (Cinnamomum burmanii)
Indications: for stomach ulcers, nausea, vomiting, stomach obstruction and bloating.

Sources: DokterSehat

Facts about tooth decay

There are quite a lot of facts about tooth decay. This is a very ancient disease, it was discovered the turtles belonging to the bronze age, and there was no dental clinics, that's something people were martyred. This is an extremely common disease that 99% of people are living on the Earth. In addition, there is a very mysterious cavities more than 400 versions of its origin.

The stereotype is that the abundance of sweets causes tooth decay, it is not true. The main importance is the frequency of consumption of sweets and duration of placement in the mouth. 


Animals usually do not tend to decay. They do not suffer from this disease even with frequent use of the so-called cariogenic foods.

In men decay occurs twice less likely than women. This may be due to hormonal changes during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Additionally ladies often use sweets and starchy foods. In right-handers the left cavities of the jaw occurs much less frequently because they are more intense brush their teeth in this area. It is not strange, but nothing like the left-handed is not revealed

Only 1% of the population do not have tooth decay - is taken separately lucky, belonging to different nations of the world, all Inuit and Aboriginal gunzu tribe living in the mountains of southern Pamirs. The people of the Middle Ages, believed to have rotten teeth were a sign of prosperity and wealth. Only wealthy people could afford sweets and delicious foods cause tooth decay.

Also there are some facts about tooth decay, when he was fed with the kiss without. Love and a sense of this is of course very well, but no one is avoiding your mouth healthy.

Why Do We Eat? A Neurobiological Perspective. Part IV

In this post, I'll follow up on the last post with a discussion two more important factors that can affect energy homeostasis and therefore our food intake and propensity to gain fat: age and menopause.

Age

Although it often isn't the case in non-industrial cultures, in affluent nations most people gain fat with age. This fat gain continues until old age, when many people once again lose fat. This is probably related to a number of factors, three of which I'll discuss. The first is that we tend to become less physically active with age. The second, related factor is that we lose lean mass with age, and so energy expenditure declines.

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Carbohydrates: Classification and the Role of Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are one of the substances that are required in the human metabolic system. Carbohydrates include the most abundant organic compound on earth. These compounds have a variety of functions in the human metabolic system performance, mainly as a reserve food as "fuel", and builder materials.

In addition, carbohydrates also have a stake in the process of photosynthesis. In the process of photosynthesis, plants convert carbon dioxide into carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are the main energy-forming substances humans in performing all daily activities. Sources of carbs include whole grains and their processed products and tubers.

Classification of Carbohydrates

Monosaccharide
Monosaccharides are the simplest carbohydrates because the molecule consists only of a few atoms C and can not be described by way of hydrolysis into other carbohydrates. Monosaccharides divided into two, namely aldose and ketosa. Examples of aldose called glucose and galactose. While ketosa example is fructose.

Disaccharide
Disaccharide is a carbohydrate that is formed from two monosaccharide molecules bonded through-OH groups by releasing water molecules. Examples of disaccharides are sucrose, lactose, and maltose.

Polysaccharides
Polysaccharides are carbohydrates composed of many saccharides as a monomer. The general formula is C6 polysaccharides (H10O5) n. Examples of polysaccharides are cellulose, glycogen, and starch.

Biological Role of Carbohydrates

Role of the Biosphere
The process of photosynthesis to provide food for almost all life on earth, either directly or indirectly. Organisms autotraof (which can turn into organic inorganic materials), such as green plants, bacteria and algae utilize direct result of photosynthesis. While the majority of heterotrophic organisms (which require organic compounds), including humans really depends on the organism autrotrof to get food.

Role As Fuel and Nutrition
Carbohydrates provide the necessary basic needs of living bodies. For example, glucose (from carbohydrate compounds) which is the main nutrient cells. The body's cells to absorb glucose and retrieve the stored energy to run the body's cells. For humans, carbohydrates are a source of nutrients. In one gram of carbohydrates, there is an energy value equal to 4 calories.

Role In Energy Reserves
Several types of polysaccharides serve as energy reserves. Later, the stored energy will be hydrolysis to provide sugar to the cells when needed. Starch is a polysaccharide deposits in plants. Plants accumulate starch as granules or granules in the plastid organelles, including kroloplas. By synthesizing starch, herbs can pile up excess glucose. Glucose is the main fuel cell, so that the starch is stored energy.

The Role As a matter Builders
Organisms building materials stronger than structural polysaccharides. For example, cellulose is the main component of plant cell walls. Cellulose is like fibers, clay, insoluble in water, and is found mainly in the stalk, stem, branches, and all the woody parts of the plant tissue. Wood is mainly composed of cellulose and other polysaccharides. For example, hemicellulose, and pectin. Meanwhile, the cotton is made almost entirely of cellulose.

The Role As a Regulatory Fat Metabolism
Carbohydrates prevent the oxidation of fats that are not perfect. If enough energy is not available, will result in increased catabolism of fat. As a result, the accumulation of ketone bodies in the blood and occurs acidity.

Role For Protein saver
Energy is the body's primary needs. Therefore, if the carbohydrates that come from insufficient food, protein is converted to produce an amount of energy. In fact, the protein has a primary function as builder substances and tissue repair. In order to be used according to its function, carbohydrate must be met in the daily menu.

Carbohydrate Sources

Carbohydrate is the main nutrient that must exist in a serving of the main meal, for the benefit of carbohydrates as a source of human energy. Eating foods with no carbohydrates cause us to be easily limp, no spirit and activity would quickly attacked panyakit.


There are a number of foods that contain high carbohydrates commonly consumed by humans. Here's a row of staple foods that contain carbohydrates, and used as a staple food in many countries:

• Rice

Rice is one of the most food sources consumed by humans. Especially Austronesian people, food consumption patterns, they are highly dependent on rice or rice. Rice is classified as plant seeds that live in watery land. Grain crops is a type of age only 110 to 115 days from planting seeds. Type of carbohydrate content of rice is amylose and amylopectin. In addition contains a lot of carbohydrates, there are other nutrients that sugar, protein, calcium, minerals and vitamin B.

The part that can be consumed in addition to grain inner skin is also better known as bran. Collected when the rice bran penggilangan process. The trick is filtered and separated between the outer skin / damen, bran / rice barn and white rice. Bran is rich in vitamin B complex that are beneficial to human health.

In the world there are many types of rice farming that each have their own characteristics and nutritional value are different. For example, grain glutinous rice white color and when ditanak result becomes sticky. Glutinous rice more delicious when made into snacks, or even ground into flour. There was also a red rice Vitamin B complex the sometimes higher than other types of rice.

• Yam

Yam or cassava is a staple food of high carbohydrates derived from types of tubers. Cassava in Latin Manihot esculenta, Euphorbiaceae in the tribe. Cassava leaves can be consumed by humans as a vegetable or also used as fodder.

In Indonesia, there are some people who make cassava as a staple food, namely rural Wonogiri and Gunung Kidul. They cultivate cassava as the land in which they live, it is very difficult to grow rice. Rice can not grow well in soil with minimal water. Therefore, mountain residents prefer cassava as staple food source. Moreover, the excess of cassava can grow on barren soil water content slightly. Additionally yam or cassava durable long-term storage. Cassava is preserved called cassava.

 The content of nutrients in cassava is very diverse including: calories 121 cal, 34.00 grams carbohydrates, 33.00 grams of calcium, and also other phosphor, vitamin B 1, minerals, sugars, and so forth. Even today it is still consumed cassava but has undergone a process of modification of food. Cassava can be a wide variety of foods such as cassava cake, getuk, brownies and more.

• Potato

Potatoes are also included in the staple foods of plant tubers that contain high carbohydrates. According to historical sources, the potato Latin name Solanum tuberosum L. originated from South America. Is the main food Indian society. Potato is cultivated in Europe thanks to Christopher Columbus who brought home a sample of the food crops of the Americas. And eventually become one of the staples of Europeans and Americans.

Potato plants can flourish only in the upland farm, the weather was cold only. Soils used must be kept loose in order to maximize the growth of the tuber. Potatoes are seasonal crops, which is short. In the plant there are many bulbs that dihubangkan the root fibers. Potato tubers wrapped in yellow skin while the meat was thin and watery yellow.

Nutrient content in the potato is very diverse, which must contain carbohydrates, but the sugar content is very low. It also contains vitamins B1, B2, B3, fiber and calcium. Therefore, people with diabetes are encouraged to change the diet of rice is replaced with boiled potatoes, to control blood sugar levels. Potatoes are also very well taken daily as to diet, lose weight.

• Corn

Another food that is a source of carbohydrate is maize or Zea mays L. This plant is actually derived from the Latin American continent, tepatny from South and Central America. Maize is the staple food of the Aztecs and American Indians. Its history is the same as the potato spread to the world through the medium of sailors. Americans use corn as the primary protein source, while in Indonesia there are also people who make maize as a staple food, which is in Madura and communities on the island of Flores. The content of nutrients and carbohydrates in maize is similar to rice and wheat. So eating a plate of rice corn nutritional value equal to a serving of hot rice.

Such reviews about the benefits of carbohydrates and other foods that contain high energy. Hopefully useful.

Health benefits of french beans

Green beans or beans are said to have originated in South and Central America. The cultivation of french beans was started 7000 years ago, by the Indian tribes settled in Tehuacan Valley of Mexico and in Callejon de Huaylas, Peru. 

When Christopher Columbus returned from his second voyage to the New World in the year 1493, he brought French beans with him in the Mediterranean region. French beans were considered to be rare to find and expensive but soon became one of the commonly used beans in the 19th century. In France, French beans were introduced in the year 1597 by the Conquistadors.

fillet type beans

There are over 130 varieties of snap bean that are known. Varieties specialized for use as green beans, selected for the succulence and flavor of their pods, are the ones usually grown in the home vegetable garden, and many varieties exist. Pod color can be green, golden, purple, red, or streaked. Shapes range from thin �fillet� types to wide �romano� types and more common types in between. French Haricots verts (green beans) are bred for flavorful pods.

romano beans

French beans are very sensitive to frost but cannot stand hot conditions either. Thus, ideally, they can be grown in the frost free portion of the year. The ideal temperature for the growth of beans is between 15�C to 27�C while the minimum temperature required for the germination of seeds of French beans is 10�C, these beans can grow in a variety of soils but are highly sensitive to high boron content in soils. Green beans are found in two major groups, bush beans and pole beans. Bush beans are short plants, growing to approximately two feet in height, without requiring supports.
 
Green beans, also known as french beans, string beans or snap beans, are the unripe fruits of beans. Green beans are rich in fiber and low in calories. They also contain protein, carbohydrates and vitamins. Green beans were used to treat diabetes since ancient times and are today available fresh, frozen and canned. The nutritional content of all these forms of beans is almost the same. Increasing hemoglobin count and provides energy to the body without adding calories.

Green beans may be a particularly helpful food for providing us with the mineral silicon. This mineral�while less well known that minerals like calcium and magnesium�is very important for bone health and for healthy formation of connective tissue. Green beans have recently been shown to stack up quite well against other commonly-eaten foods as a good source of absorb able silicon.


Green beans are rich in various nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese, iron, potassium, folate, calcium, magnesium and thiamin.The various health benefits of beans can be attributed to their rich store of nutrients. Some of the important nutrients found in green beans and their beneficial uses are as follows:

Vitamin K � This vitamin enables the body to heal faster. Vitamin K stimulates the process of blood coagulation whenever there is a wound or injury and prevents excess loss of blood. For this reason individuals who need to undergo surgery are given vitamin K supplements before the procedure. The vitamin also enhances the absorption of calcium in the body and this helps to boost bone strength and density. Those at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis should consume adequate amounts of green beans so that they can get a healthy supply of vitamin K.

Vitamin C � This is another important vitamin found in green beans. It assists in the healing of wounds and may also play a role in cancer prevention. Due to its antioxidant properties, vitamin C helps to protect the DNA from damage and abnormalities. It is a good idea to include green beans in the diet in order to reduce the risk of various diseases.

Vitamin A � Green beans are loaded with vitamin A, a powerful antioxidant which helps to protect against high cholesterol, heart disease and cancer. Vitamin A also delays the signs of premature ageing such as wrinkles, dull skin, fine lines, dark spots and dry skin.

Manganese � There are also substantial amounts of manganese found in green beans. Manganese helps to alleviate the symptoms of osteoporosis and also assists in the absorption of other nutrients in the body.

Fiber � Green beans are packed with dietary fiber which is beneficial for those who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome. Fiber adds bulk to the stools and enables easy passage during bowel movements. Green beans are good for those with high cholesterol since fiber helps to lower the levels of bad cholesterol in the body. People with diabetes may also include green beans in their diet since it helps to regulate blood sugar levels.


Silicon � Green beans are also known to have healthy amounts of silicon, a mineral which supports health of the connective tissues and bones. Green beans are rich in various nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese, iron, potassium, folate, calcium, magnesium and thiamin

French beans are filled with healthy dietary fibers that help in the prevention of cholesterol. These fibers are also beneficial for diabetic people as they help in preventing the sugar levels from rising up immediately after having a meal.

French beans are also helpful in energizing the body as they are rich in iron, the nutrients found in hemoglobin which helps in giving energy to the body.

French beans also help in improving the immune system of the body as they are a rich source of Vitamin C. This vitamin helps in stimulating the white cells to fight against infection by directly killing the bacteria and viruses responsible for these infections.

A good diet for those suffering from diabetes.
Reducing and preventing inflammation of the joints in case of rheumatoid arthritis.
Promoting good colon health and aids in preventing colon cancer.