Foods That Increase White Blood Cells and Over-all Good Health

In order for our bodies to be able to fight off infection caused by certain diseases, we need to have enough count of white blood cells in our immune system. Low WBC levels can mean serious damage to our body that’s why we need to maintain the adequate number our body needs. By eating certain foods and taking the right medication you can make this possible.


Vitamin C is often the go-to vitamin when it comes to boosting up the body’s immune system. Vitamins C helps in the regeneration of white blood cells that helps the immune system fight infection. You probably know where to find vitamin C: carrots, guava, oranges, berries and most fruits and vegetables.


Beta-carotene is also a famous immune system booster just like vitamin C. And just like vitamin C it also contributes in the formation of infection-fighting cells. Beta-carotene has also been known to fight cancerous diseases and heart problems. Carrots are probably the most common source of this super vitamin. Other sources may include tomatoes, chili and squash.


The human body is being attacked by free radicals almost every time and without proper protection, cells can easily get injured and die. To help with this problem you need antioxidants like vitamin E. Vitamin E can mostly be found in olive oil, nuts and some fruits and vegetables. It is primarily involved in the function of the immune system and helps prevent blood to clot in blood vessels.


People used to think that eating egg everyday can be bad for the health but not anymore. Protein found in egg, fish, lean meats and dairy can actually improve white blood cell production. As the body gets a rich amount of protein, it increases its ability to replenish white blood cells. That is just amazing if you ask me.


These are not just the food group available out there that can help you increase your white blood cell count. There are hundreds more that include seafood rich with omega-3 fatty acids and zing. These two are also good immune system boosters. Sometimes when we fail to get enough vitamins from the food that we eat every day, we can make use of food supplements and multivitamins.
See more about wise dietary choices under the Nutrition tab at the top of the page..

Berries a Super Food

Berries are loaded with vitamin C, folate, fiber and phytonutrients.

Indeed, fresh berries are some of the most powerful disease fighting foods available.

Great Suggestions For Your Grocery List

•Fresh vegetables and fruits should make up the largest part of your healthy foods grocery list. Vegetables and fruits have vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and they are usually low in calories. We all need at least five or more servings of vegetables and fruits every day. Choose a variety of fruits and vegetables that everyone in your family will enjoy.



•Most of your grain and cereal products should be made from whole grains, not from refined flours. This part of your list includes whole grain breads, whole grain pastas, and whole grain breakfast cereals. Whole grains are important for vitamins, minerals, and for fiber, which is often lacking in modern diets. Read labels to look for 100% whole-grain or 100% whole-wheat to be sure you are getting whole grain products.


•Your protein and meat choices should consist mostly of fish, poultry and lean meats. Eggs, nuts, seeds and legumes are also good protein choices. Choose fresh and frozen unbreaded meats and fish. Avoid breaded, deep-fried convenience foods that you put in the oven. They are high in fats and sodium.

•Beverages should be kept simple. Water, low-fat milk, juices and herbal teas are all good choices. If you opt for soft drinks, choose diet sodas and soft drinks to avoid extra sugar.


•Dairy products should include low-fat milk, yogurt and cheese. If you do not want cows' milk, choose soy and rice beverages, calcium-fortified orange juice, or goats' milks and cheese.


•Be careful with dressings, cooking oils and condiments. They are sneaky sources of refined sugar and poor quality oils. Read labels to choose dressings made with olive oil, canola oil or walnut oil. Choose low-fat mayonnaise for your sandwiches and choose canola oil and olive oil for cooking.


•Frozen foods are a convenient way to keep vegetables on hand. There are also prepared meals that you can pop into the microwave or oven. These can be convenient and healthy if you choose low fat versions with good portion sizes. Read labels and chose frozen foods wisely. Avoid frozen pizzas, pocket-sandwiches, deep-fried appetizers, and breaded foods.


•Foods in cans and jars are also very convenient. Look for low-sodium soups, vegetables and sauces. Avoid high-fat gravies and high-calorie foods like canned spaghetti and ravioli products.


•For sandwiches, choose peanut butter or other nut butters, low-fat turkey slices or sliced roast beef. Avoid processed lunch meats, sausages and hot dogs.


•Don't load up on high calorie treats and desserts. Choose fresh fruits, healthy nuts, seeds and whole grain crackers for snacks.

A Zinc Deficiency

We all need zinc to help protect against oxidative stress and complete DNA repair, but deficiencies in this trace mineral may be common and increase risks of cancer, DNA damage, infectious diseases and suboptimal immune function. The older you get, the greater the risk of running low on zinc. An estimated 12 percent of the U.S. population is probably at risk of zinc deficiency, and up to 40 percent of seniors may be deficient because absorption of zinc slows with age and because dietary intake may not meet your nutritional needs, according to experts at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. One recent study found that even a minor zinc deficiency can result in increased DNA damage. Zinc deficiencies have been linked to prostate cancer and to esophageal, breast and head and neck cancers and may contribute to infections and to autoimmune diseases. Unfortunately, tests for zinc status aren't very good. The best dietary sources are beef and poultry; zinc is poorly absorbed from plants. The recommended daily allowance is 8 mg for women and 11 mg for men, but I generally recommend taking 15 mg of zinc daily - or up to 30 mg daily if you don't eat many foods of animal origin.


The best plant sources of zinc are legumes (dried beans, garbanzos, black-eyed peas, lentils, peas, and whole soy products), pumpkin seeds, whole grains and nuts.

Dr. Weil

Don't Trust Calorie Counts on Menus

According to researchers at Yale University, including calorie counts on menus seem to affect diner's choices. But what use is that if the reported calorie counts are wildly inaccurate?



A report in next month's Journal of the American Dietetic Association finds that the published calorie counts for so-called "reduced calorie" meals served at various chain restaurants were wildly inaccurate. On average, the actual calories were almost 20% higher, but the range of discrepancy was huge.


Some of the tested entrees contained fewer calories than advertised. For example, a slice of thin-crust cheese pizza from Domino's was listed at 180 calories but actually provided only 141. Several others were within 5% of the menu listings. A Taco Bell Crunchy Beef Taco was exactly as advertised: 191 calories.


However, an order of Szechuan-style asparagus from P.F. Chang's, which was listed at 260 calories, actually contained 558. And the Taco Bell Chicken Taco Salad, listed as 326 calories, was actually 607 calories.


In some cases, the serving size was the culprit. A side order of grits from Denny's is listed at 86 calories on the menu, for example. However, the 262-gram serving delivered to the table was twice as large as the 113-gram serving listed on the menu. Total calories: 258. Always be careful of SUPERSIZING specials.


Another problem was that low-calorie entrees often come with free side dishes that are not included in the posted calorie counts for the dish. For example, the petite sirloin steak served at Ruby Tuesday's weighed at 118 grams, exactly as advertised and, at 244 calories, actually came in slightly under the posted calorie count of 271. However, it came with a side of broccoli and a baked potato, which added another 667 calories to the meal.


Obviously putting calorie counts on menus is only going to help diners moderate their caloric intake if they bear some resemblance to reality. In the meantime, I'd take them with a grain of salt. If what arrives at your table looks like way too much food for the advertised calorie counts, it probably is. Be familiar with and pay attention to portion sizes. For example, do you know what a 118g (4-ounce) steak looks like? Check out this Portion Control Slide Show from WebMD( link is proved on this post located by the arrow). And finally, be aware of extras and sides that aren't included in the posted calorie counts.

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Many years ago, I had a good friend who suffered from psoriasis and (I am a ashamed to admit) I remember thinking at the time that it could not be a particularly serious condition because it didn't seem to worry her a great deal.




Having just read through 'Natural treatments for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis' which (perhaps not surprisingly) is a book that focuses on treating psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis naturally, I fully accept that I clearly had no idea what I was talking about!




For example, although my impression of psoriasis was not much more than a skin complaint characterized by unpleasant looking red skin lesions (known as plaques), I have now learned that psoriasis can in fact be far more serious than I ever imagined previously. And as perhaps as many as one in every three people who suffer from psoriasis will go on to suffer crippling psoriatic arthritis, the size and severity of the psoriasis problem is obviously far greater than I realized back then.




So, shame for my ignorance is the order of the day, and I duly comply!




There are five different types of psoriasis that people can suffer from and one of them - Erythrodermic psoriasis - can leave victims looking and suffering as if they have been in a dreadful fire. Perhaps not surprisingly therefore, this particular form of psoriasis can be fatal in the most extreme examples, so clearly, psoriasis can be far more serious than I (and I imagine most non-sufferers) could ever imagine or contemplate.




Fortunately, four out of every five psoriasis sufferers is a victim of the least serious form of the condition, psoriasis vulgaris, which means that their condition is never likely to be life-threatening. However, as it is characterized by angry red plaques that are almost always itchy, irritating and often prone to cracking and bleeding, it is not a condition that is particularly pleasant or enjoyable either.




There are of course many widely prescribed medical solutions for all forms of psoriasis (and also for psoriatic arthritis), and depending upon the severity of your condition, it may be necessary to use drug-based medicines or seek other medical attention.




On the other hand, for the fortunate majority, natural treatments are widely available and surprisingly effective as is made clear in a book (with an extremely self-explanatory title) called 'Natural treatments for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis'.




As you would expect, this book highlights many different ways that you can treat varying degrees and types of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in a completely natural way, detailing the best way of using the treatments and why they work as well as they do.




As with any medical condition, it is always best to attempt to deal with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis naturally before resorting to chemical-based pharmaceuticals, with this book representing a compendium of all of the best 'Natural treatments for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis' that people all over the world are currently using.




If therefore you are a psoriasis sufferer, there will undoubtedly be something of great value for you in 'Natural treatments for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Mark Twain On Healthy Living

Healthy way

The only way to keep your health is to:

 Eat what you don't want,

Drink what you don't like,

and
Do what you'd rather not!

- MARK TWAIN