Headaches With the Weight Loss Surgery High Protein Diet

Why do we suffer from headaches when we transition from a high-processed carbohydrate diet to a high protein diet? Many weight loss surgery patients are asking this.

There are, actually, several reasons for headaches when abiding a high protein, low carb diet. More importantly, there are several little things we can do to relieve the headaches:

First, when we transition from a processed carbohydrate diet to one rich in protein as advised by most weight loss surgery (bariatric) doctors and dieticians we increase our intake of tryptophan. A short list of foods high in tryptophan includes cheese, meat, nuts, and soy. Ingestion of tryptophan releases serotonin in the brain, which is considered a vasoconstrictor: it tightens our blood vessels. In modest amounts this helps us feel good; but in greater amounts to which we are not accustomed it causes headaches.

To balance the increased tryptophan (an amino acid - good thing) intake we should include appropriate complex carbohydrates in our weight loss surgery eating rhythm: 2B/1B (2 Bites Protein/1 Bite Carbohydrate). Here are some smart food choices for your weight loss surgery diet::

Carbs:

apples

artichokes

basil

bean sprouts

beets

carrots

celery

cranberries

cucumbers

green beans

pears

spinach

squash

Fat:

olive oil

Protein:

lamb

lentils

tuna

turkey

Next, we absolutely must be certain to supplement our diet with essential vitamins and minerals, and in this list I personally include herbal supplements that centuries of human use have proved beneficial to our health and well-being. Please review the list of supplements:

Good Carbs and Bad Carbs - What They Mean For Your Weight Loss Plans

Carbohydrates are the subject of much debate and discussion in the diet industry these days. Many people are of the opinion that eating lots of carbs is bad and will lead to increased weight gain. However, it is important to differentiate between good and bad carbs when deciding on a diet plan. Good carbohydrates will be the source of energy and nutrition and make up an important part of anyone's diet. Typically found in processed foods, bad carbohydrates will only serve to make you fatter and unhealthy.

Knowing where to find the good and bad carbs is an important first step. Good carbohydrates are typically present in natural foods such as fruits and vegetables, whole meal pasta and whole grain wheat. These foods take longer to digest and hence are less likely to be put on as fat. They're also high in fiber content which means that they will be able to keep you feeling full for longer.

On the other side of the coin are the bad carbohydrates that you should be careful to keep to a minimum in your diet. Many of the foods that contain bad carbs are processed or contain high levels of added sugar. These bad carb foods include chips, white bread, candies, biscuits and cakes. While these kinds of foods are sure to give you a quick burst of energy their low nutritional value and low fiber content means they will be quickly put on facts. As well as causing weight gain, these kinds of foods are likely to help cause additional health problems such as diabetes and heart disease.

Any healthy and balanced diet should contain a good quota of carbohydrates, but knowing the difference between the good carbs and the bad carbs can make or break your diet.

Good Carb, Bad Carb - Too Much of a Good Thing

Is the low carb diet craze ever going to end? Almost daily I hear someone say how carbohydrates are bad or they are only allowed 30g of carbohydrates a day. I worry about these people. Our brains function off of carbohydrates alone, needing approximately 100g of carbohydrates a day. That's not including the energy used for our muscles. So, knowing that we need carbohydrates for brain and muscular function, how did this "carbs are bad" begin?

One of the main problems with carbohydrates is the difficulty in controlling portion sizes. It is pretty easy to consume 2 cups of pasta at a meal (try it, measure it out). But 2 cups of pasta (without sauce) is close to 500 calories! Eating a meal of only carbohydrates does not provide much satiety. Have you ever noticed that after a meal of only carbs you are hungry about 2 hours later? This can be very frustrating if you are trying to lose weight.

Another challenge for those trying to manage their weight is that too many carbohydrates at one time can lead to spikes in blood sugar levels. Our bodies' respond by secreting insulin to bring blood sugar levels down. However, the ups and downs may actually lead to cravings for more carbohydrates. On the other hand, those low- diets are notorious for sugar/carb cravings. The point is not cut out carbohydrates completely, but balance and moderation is where you will find success!

How we best manage carbohydrate portion sizes is to include other food groups in your meals. Adding protein, healthy fats and vegetables will help to not only manage hunger levels but blood sugar levels as well. In addition to managing our portion sizes, we also need to look at the types of carbohydrate foods we are eating. Choose more fruits, vegetables and low fat dairy. Not necessarily because these type of carbohydrate are better, but because of all the extra nutrients these foods provide. They are loaded with all the B vitamins, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, vitamin A, C, D, and K (the list goes on).

Heal Yourself From Any Disease

No matter what has caused your disease, or what disease you have, whether it is cancer, diabetes or depression, there is one healing method that's easily available to all of us. And, it's free. Often the simplest solutions to all of our worries are right in front of us. But, we tend to look for complication from a negative mental habit. It doesn't help to have the general society reinforce a need for testing and treatment either. The looming mountain of costs associated with the regular medical establishment's diagnosis and treatments would make the most courageous quiver with the possibility of a potential burden if illness strikes.

Fortunately, there's another path with no costs, no side effects and no worries. Impossible? Yes, it does sound idealistic. But, if you want to use this method it will require some inner strength that up to now might be a little rusty. Perhaps that's why the disease has entered your life: to help you strengthen some hidden skills and encourage you to develop your inner strengths.

There are five steps to using this method of healing, and they are:

Believe you're well.

Surrender and rely on your Higher Self.

Be happy.

Steer clear of negative influences.

Listen to directions from your Higher Self.

Believe you're well

This might sound incredibly easy, but I challenge you to employ this method since fear will undoubtedly creep into your mind as soon as you decide to be fearless. See and feel yourself as already well, healthy and free from any ailment. Then, maintain this attitude and inner belief. Every time your mind reinforces your illness and you catch the thought, recognize this "inner voice of defeat". Replace it immediately with a comforting thought of wellness. Repeat as often as necessary. It's your inner battle. But, the more you practice feeling well, the easier it'll be to repeat whenever your mind gets in the way.

Headaches: Which Kind Are You?

Nearly everyone has at one point in time experienced the fight against a headache. Almost 90% of Americans have had headaches, whether they be throbbing, sharp, dull and achy, or you fill in the blank. A common assumption is that if these headaches persist, reoccur, or are severe, that they must be migraines. There are many different types of headaches, migraines being one, however the most common type is called Tension headaches. Below is a list of different headaches, and how to differentiate.

Tension Headaches

Described as a "band-like" or "compression" pain that most commonly occurs in the forehead, or the back of the skull and neck. These headaches can be unilateral or encircle the entire head. The pain is often mild to moderate in severity, and feels like a dull, non-pulsating pain. Nausea and sensitivities to light and sound may be present, but usually not as severe as migraines. Tension headaches can be caused by misalignments in the spine, muscle tension, trigger points, trauma, stress, and postural strain.

Migraine Headaches

Migraine headaches can be unilateral (one-sided) or bilateral and are more prevalent in females. Often times, patients are able to predict the occurrence of their migraines. The pain associated with migraines are usually described as pulsating, are moderate to severe in quality, and have associated symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and phonophobia. Migraines are believed to be caused by stress, excessive sleep, menstruation or pregnancy, as well as red wines, chocolate, nuts, alcohol, and aged cheeses.

Good Carbs - Bad Carbs - Know the Difference - Your Health Depends on It

When it comes to carbohydrates in the diet and how healthy they are for you, the types of carbohydrates you consume, whether they are good carbs or bad carbs, becomes more relevant than how much you consume. Carbohydrates carry out important functions in our bodies such as providing cells with energy and allowing us to engage in physical activities. They provide necessary nutrients for cells to perform effectively. Without enough nutrients from carbohydrates you will become susceptible to disease just as you would if you were missing any other vital nutrient from your body. The important thing to understand is how to separate the good carbs from the bad carbs. Understanding the difference can make a major positive difference in your health.

How do we understand the difference between good carbs and bad carbs? Bad carbohydrates cause a high rise in blood sugar levels. They are usually referred to as high glycemic foods. The glycemic index (GI) is a qualitative assessment of carbohydrates based on their effect on blood sugar levels. When glucose levels increase in the blood the body releases a hormone, insulin, in an attempt to regulate them. Insulin converts and stores the excess sugar in the blood as fat.

Obesity and diabetes are common diseases that are caused by eating too many bad carbs. You definitely want to avoid bad carbohydrates if you are trying to lose weight and improve your overall health. Bad carbs are usually processed and refined and have lots of additives in them. They include refined flour, breads and pastas, and grains such as white rice and table sugar.

Good Carbohydrates, Bad Carbohydrates and How You Can Tell the Difference

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has created a food pyramid to improve the eating habits and the health of all Americans. The pyramid made carbohydrates the most important food group, suggesting 6 to 11 servings of bread, cereal, rice and pasta. As a result, people have reduced their consumption of meat, cheese, and eggs and started loading up on bread, pasta, and rice. But did it make us healthier? The answer is obvious - it did not.

That is why many nutritional experts say that excessive carbohydrates are not as healthy as the USDA would have us believe, or at least that not all carbohydrates are good for you. It is plain to see. More and more people are getting overweight, including even children. It is estimated that by the year 2030, 9 out of 10 people will be obese. On the other hand, high protein low carbohydrate diets showed that you can improve your waistline and reduce your cardiovascular risks simply by reducing the amount of carbohydrates that you eat.

So are carbohydrates good or bad? Both. Some carbohydrates can make you fat and increase the risk of heart disease. Yet other carbohydrates are healthy, they reduce the risk of heart disease, they are a good source of vitamins and minerals, and they help you lose weight. You see, there are different kinds of carbohydrates out there. That is why it is wrong to lump them all together, like the food pyramid does. Some are definitely good for you and others you should stay away from.

It is easy to tell good carbs from bad. Most simple carbohydrates are bad, and most complex carbs are good. All carbohydrates are made from small building blocks. These are called simple sugars. This is a purely chemical name and has nothing to do with how they taste, although some of them happen to be sweet. Three common simple sugars are glucose, fructose, and galactose.