Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is found in foods sourced from animals, like meat, eggs and milk. It plays an important role in the formation and maturation of red blood cells – the key carrier of gases in the blood. Vitamin B12 also helps cells to synthesise DNA and plays a key role in the structure and functioning of the nerves. The body stores about 2.5mg (milligrams) of vitamin B12 and adults only need approximately 2mcg (micrograms) per day while 0.7 mcg is sufficient for children.
As mentioned in the glycaemic index article, the GI of foods vary. While most refined foods have a high GI, which is what you want to avoid, not every unrefined food will have a low GI. A typical example is bread – if you are keeping to a low GI diet, then white, brown and wholewheat bread are a problem as they are medium to high GI foods.
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Glycaemic index (US ~ glycemic) is the measure of a food’s ability to affect the blood sugar levels. This immediate effect is usually based on the type of carbohydrates within a food. Since all foods contain a mixture of carbohydrates, protein and fat to varying degrees, the glycaemic index is relevant to all foods, not only carbohydrates. Awareness about the glycaemic index (GI) of foods is important for us all, but particularly for those suffering with diabetes and obesity.
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Losing weight is no easy task. It takes months, if not years, of sensible eating and daily physical activity. Some weight loss products may help with moderately increasing your metabolism, giving you more energy to workout for longer or assist your body in passing out water. Overall the effectiveness of these products are limited and should only be used as an adjunct to a medical weight loss program.
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The Tony Ferguson Weight Loss Program is a weight management program developed by an Australian pharmacist. It uses a combination of meal replacements, nutritional supplements and a healthy eating plan to assist with weight loss. Despite reports of the the Tony Ferguson Weight Loss Program being the next weight loss miracle, it is essentially a low calorie, low GI (glycaemic index), high protein diet with the usual mix of vitamins and supplements.
Gas production in the gastrointestinal tract is a normal process related to digestion of food. If it is excessive, it can be an embarrassing problem when it causes frequent and uncontrollable belching (burping) and flatulence. A gas build up in the bowels may cause visible abdominal bloating and trigger intestinal cramps which can be painful.
Some causes of increased gas in the bowels may be due to dietary or lifestyle factors while at other times it may be related to medical conditions, particularly those that affect the gastrointestinal tract.
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