Diet Plan

There are many diet plans around catering to various requirements. Food plays an important role in our lives. Understanding our body requirements and adapting our lifestyles with healthy food options that provide vital nutrition and energy can go a long way in maintaining good health. This has assumed more importance today on account of the deteriorating diet patterns, especially that of growing kids. Keep obesity, high cholesterol and other diseases such as anemia and osteoporosis at bay by choosing healthy food substitutes.

For example to keep Osteoporosis at bay, eating a calcium-rich diet can help. Including milk, particularly skimmed milk and low fat yogurt can help you build your calcium deposits. Spinach is a source of non-dairy calcium. Anemia is of particular concern to women, especially those who resort to dieting. Consuming meat, fish and poultry or leafy green vegetables, nuts and breakfast cereals can provide you with adequate iron.

Similarly Lutein is a pigment found in dark green leafy vegetables like spinach, collard greens, kale, mustard greens, and turnip greens, corn and egg yolks. Lutein as an antioxidant reduces the effects of free radicals. Lutein in adequate quantities in the diet can help ward off Macular Degeneration or MD , a condition in which the center of retina suffers permanent damage due to a number of causes - natural degradation triggered by aging or by undue exposure to strong light. Another carotenoid, zeaxanthin again has similar beneficial effects on the eyes. In addition some studies have indicated that these carotenoids can also help prevent cataracts.

Glucophage Metformin - Diabetic Drug

Glucophage is the brand name of the drug Metformin hydrochloride which is an oral antidiabetic medication. Metformin lowers the amount of sugar in the blood by decreasing sugar production and absorption by acting on the liver. It does not increase the body's production of insulin.

Type 2 diabetes has many treatment options as it appears to afflict people of many groups. Diabetes requires a change in life style and is best controlled by a measure of diet control and a regimen of exercises coupled with medications.
You may find more information about the diabetes diet in the Targetwoman collection of articles.

Metformin could cause a very rare and potentially fatal side effect known as lactic acidosis. It is caused by an excess of lactic acid in the blood. The problem is likely to occur in people with impaired liver or kidneys functions. Again this drug is contraindicated for patients with a history of cardiac problems. Lactic acidosis is a medical emergency that must be treated in a hospital. Metformin is contraindicated for patients with metabolic or Diabetic ketoacidosis - a life-threatening medical emergency caused by insufficient insulin and marked by excessive thirst, nausea, fatigue, pain below the breastbone and fruity breath. Diabetic ketoacidosis should be treated with insulin.

Side Effects of Metformin: Abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, gas, headache, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, general weakness though some patients rarely display symptoms like Abdominal distention, abnormal stools, altered sense of taste, constipation, dizziness and upper respiratory infection.

Dosage of Glucophage: Typically a starter dose is about 500 mg twice a day with meals. But a number of factors are taken into consideration before a doctor selects a dosage depending on the patient's condition. Glucophage XR is an extended release form and is prescribed as a single dose.