Alcohol Excreted Through Sweat

Here's something you probably didn't know...

The human body mostly processes alcohol by the liver. About 10% is then excreted though your sweat, urine, and breath. Alcohol can encourage profuse sweating.

Reducing Body Odor By Eating The Right Foods

In an earlier posting we looked at how certain foods can affect bodily functions including body odor. However, there are some myths or unproven theories relating to foods and body odor. Some claim that because bacteria are feeding on the proteins and fats in your sweat, then cutting back on junk foods will improve body odor problems.

Some also claim drinking milk makes a baby smell better. However, pre-pubescent children generally smell nicer than adults because their apocrine glands haven't yet developed.

Soaking Potatoes To Reduce Potassium

I mentioned earlier how the kidneys play an vital role in bodily functions such as filtering the blood, getting rid of waste products, balancing electrolytes (Sodium and Potassium), and with fluid balance. I also mentioned how renal patients (with kidney failure) should avoid some foods with high potassium levels (e.g. bananas, strawberries, grapefruit etc).

One thing I didn't mention was the special process referred to as “leaching”, or soaking, to help remove the potassium from potatoes. This is sometimes done to give renal patients some more food choices.

Can Salt Cause Heart Attacks or Strokes?

Sodium (salt) raises blood pressure, and if left untreated, having high blood pressure can eventually damage the heart, potentially causing a stroke, a heart attack, or heart failure. Sodium levels can be high in processed foods and convenience or fast foods. Foods to watch include: canned soups, stir fry meals, bacon, ham, sausages, and other deli meats.

If you are used to adding salt to your meals for extra flavor, then try adding flavor in other ways like adding: salt-free seasonings (eg. Mrs. Dash), pepper, mustard, tomatoes, green peppers, or onions.

Do We Reek Of What We Eat?

Various foods claiming to contribute to bad body odors include: garlic, onions, blue cheese and some dairy products, fermented foods (e.g. vinegar, sauerkraut), and spicy curries. Some studies also suggest toxins and impurities in the body resulting from improperly digested foods can contribute to body odor problems. However, the jury is still out on link with body odors to specific diets.

The body does excrete wastes through the skin, and there are chemicals present in sweat. There is also bacteria living on the skin and in unwashed clothing.

On the topic of smelly sweat glands; there are the "Eccrine Glands" which control the body temperatures. These are located under our arms, on our foreheads, on our soles and on the palm of our hands. Any odor is generally a combination of trace minerals (e.g. potassium and calcium) with water and salt. The "Apocrine Glands" on the other hand, are mainly around the genital, lower abdomen, and armpit regions. They excrete fat and protein wastes. Skin bacteria feeds on it, and broken down chemical compounds can have an unpleasant smell.

High Blood Pressure Affects Brain?

I saw an interesting little snippet in the newspaper the other day which stated that having "high blood pressure can damage the brain." The article went on to say that scientists had discovered that even a small elevation in blood pressure in your thirties or forties can in fact prematurely age your brain. This could have more serious repercussions further on in life. Based on the study findings - a thirty three year old person with high blood pressure was found to have a brain age of a forty year old.

Cross Contamination In Gluten Free Diets

Cross-Contamination is something anyone on a gluten free diet needs to be aware of. Foods can be cross contaminated at the time of growing, manufacture in a factory, or at time of preparation and cooking. This might not be a problem for someone with only a mild gluten intolerance, but it could be more serious for someone with a severe case of celiac disease.

• As a general rule try and store your gluten-free foods and ingredients separately from other foods that contain gluten.
• Use separate cooking equipment (Pots, pans, plates, utensils etc.)
• Use your own separate containers for condiments (mayonnaise, peanut butter,  mustard, etc.)
• Prepare your gluten-free foods in a separate area from foods containing gluten.
• Sanitize the kitchen areas.

Why A Gluten Free Diet

Some people are gluten intolerant and need to limit or eliminate their intake of the Gluten protein found in: Wheat, Barley, Rye, Oats. Gluten is also present in many processed foods. Gluten can (in some people) damage the intestine’s ability to actually absorb nutrients.

People with Celiac Disease (gluten intolerance) should generally avoid:

- Wheat Based Products (Flour)
- Breads, Pancakes, Wraps, Waffles, Cereals, Cookies, etc.   
- Oatmeal
- Processed Meats, Sausage, Deli Meats, and Breaded Meats
- Oven Fried Chicken, and Meatloaf
- French Fries
- Soy Sauce
- Pasta
- and numerous other foods

However, don't be disheartened, because there are actually thousands of food options and recipes available for gluten free eating (see my books - right column). Foods that should be okay (depending on preparation and/or added ingredients) include:

- Fruit
- Vegetables
- Baked Potatoes
- Soaked Potatoes
- Meat
- Rice
- Marinated Chicken Breast, Baked Fish, BBQ Chicken, Hamburger Pattie, BBQ Pork
- Milk and Milk Products

Special Diets For Kidney Patients

The kidneys play a particularly important role in the body function:

• Removing the waste products
• Filtering blood
• Balancing the electrolytes - Potassium and Sodium
• Fluid balance

Depending on the circumstances renal diet patients are often limited to:

• 2000 mg Potassium
• 2000 mg Sodium
• 1200 mg Phosphorus
• And, the intake of protein is restricted and/or monitored on an case by case basis.

High potassium foods to be avoided include: bananas, orange, grapefruit, strawberries, tomatoes and broccoli to name a few high potassium foods. Other foods need to be consumed in moderation such as: ice-cream, cheese, butter, milk, and meat. Instead aim to eat foods low in protein, low in salt, low in potassium, and low in phosphorous - examples include: chicken, apples, and rice.

How Much Salt Do You Consume Daily?

Salty (sodium) diets are said to be a leading factor for increasing the dangerous risk of high blood pressure... contributing to over 7 million deaths globally each year. This explains why more than thirty countries have programs in place to try and reduce salt intake. As an example; in Australia the National Heart Foundation says 6000 lives could be saved each year if daily salt consumption could be reduced 3 grams per person per annum. In the UK, USA and Canada, specific sodium reduction targets have been set for various food categories. Finland began 30 years ago with a plan to reduce average salt consumption by one third.

Vegetarian and Vegan Diets

A vegetarian is generally defined as someone who typically avoids eating animal flesh (poultry, meat and fish).

Some vegetarians eat dairy products as well as eggs, but others avoid them. A diet without dairy items and egg is more of a vegan diet.

vegetarian diets do have health advantages because they are typically high in fiber and low in saturated fats. Appropriately planned vegetarian diets, and vegan diets (according to The American Dietetic Association), can meet the nutritional needs of infants, children, and teenagers... and they can aid normal growth. The emphasis is obviously on the words "appropriately planned."

A Special Diet To Meet Your Needs

When we hear the word diet mentioned we naturally think of weight loss, but healthy diets are about more than just shredding fat. If you have a gluten intolerance or have been diagnosed with celiac disease, then eating a nutritious diet that is free from wheat based ingredients is a must.  Diabetics also require careful dieting to monitor their sugar levels.

There are numerous ingredients that can upset our health balance, and because our bodies are all a little different, they affect us in different ways. Some people suffer high cholesterol or high blood pressure so need to control their intake of saturated fats and salt levels. Truth is; we would probably all benefit from doing that.

It really comes down to knowing why you want (or need) to eat a healthy or special diet - and then working to a set dietary plan. It is also a good idea to seek medical advice prior to starting out on a new diet. A thorough health check will give you a clearer vision of what is required and what problems you need to overcome. It will also make you more aware of the health risks associated with dieting, or with not dieting if you choose to continue your current eating lifestyle.

Eating a special diet doesn't need to be boring or unpleasant, so I'll discuss the various options in future postings.