Re: complimentary treatment

[Guest guest]

Paolo,

good luck with your treatments first of all.

As for you questions I have some files in the file section of this

group that are about nutrition. The most important thing for yourself

during this treatment, is 1. keep a positive attitude 2. Take care of

yourself nutritionally!! If you don't feel like eating then drink

some icy cold ensure or any type of nutritional supplement. Even the

slim fast diet drinks are okay to drink, because they supply all the

vitamins that you need for strenghtening your body.

Think of this as a battle against the diease and you are the

commander in chief of all the warriors.

Meet each new challenge with all your weapons.

If you have questions we are your fellow warriors and we will help

you in any thing you might need help with.

Love

Janet

> hello everyone

> I am about to start treatment(interferone+rivabirin)

> and I would like what else can be done in addition to that.

> Nutrition,alternative medicine etc.

>

> I am 50 years old dealing with the consequences

> of my " WILD 20's " .

>

> I have a two small children (2 and 6)that need me around as long as

> possible, I am willing, ready and available to go to any lenght.

> For myself I am calm and relax, I never went down without a good

> fight,however in fights sometime you win sometime you loose.

>

>

> thank

>

> paolo

[Guest guest]

Food pyramid: The shape of a healthy diet

Perhaps you've noticed that the days of the four basic food groups —

dairy, meat, vegetables and fruit — are long gone. Today, healthy

eating plans encompass a far wider range of options: legumes, whole

grains, seeds and nuts, fish, and even plant oils, such as olive oil.

Add in ethnic, religious, cultural and personal preferences, and you

have more options than ever when planning healthy meals and snacks.

A healthy eating plan can be illustrated many ways, but they're most

often found in the shape of a pyramid. These pyramids outline various

food groups and food choices that, if eaten in the right quantities,

form the foundation of a healthy diet.

Is there an ideal eating plan?

Many people yearn for — and spend a lot of time and money seeking —

the perfect eating plan. An ideal diet would assure excellent health,

provide energy and strength, and promote resistance to some diseases.

It would delay aging and keep you at your ideal weight.

Does such an eating plan exist? Probably not. Your nutritional needs

differ at different stages of life, and they may change if you have a

chronic disease. Everyone has unique genetic tendencies toward

certain diseases, so food components such as salt or fats pose

different risks for different people. Food intolerances and allergies

also affect what kind of food you eat. In addition, such factors as

your culture, family background, religious and moral beliefs, and the

cost and the availability of food can all affect your food choices.

People like different foods and prepare similar foods in different

ways.

The pyramid plan

Although there really isn't one perfect diet for everyone, some

general principles for choosing foods apply to most people. These

principles are often represented in a food pyramid.

The triangular shape of the pyramid shows you where to focus when

selecting foods. Foods that you should eat the most of create the

large base of the pyramid, and those foods you should eat sparingly

form the smaller tip.

Probably the most familiar food pyramid is the Food Guide Pyramid,

established by the Department of Agriculture and the Department of

Health and Human Services. But many others now exist, including the

Asian, Latin American and Mediterranean Diet Pyramids, the Mayo

Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid, and the Vegetarian Diet Pyramid, just

to name a few.

IMAGE

Asian Diet Pyramid

The Asian Diet Pyramid emphasizes grains, including rice,

noodles, ...

<< ENLARGE

IMAGE

Latin American Diet Pyramid

The Latin American Diet Pyramid represents traditional healthy

eating ...

<< ENLARGE

IMAGE

Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid

The Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid is a tool to help you lose

weight ...

<< ENLARGE

IMAGE

Mediterranean Diet Pyramid

The Mediterranean Diet Pyramid, based on a cultural eating pattern

of ...

<< ENLARGE

IMAGE

USDA Food Guide Pyramid

The USDA Food Guide Pyramid emphasizes whole grains, fruits and ...

<< ENLARGE

IMAGE

Vegetarian Diet Pyramid

Many vegetarian eating plans exist. At the very least, they exclude

red ...

<< ENLARGE

These food pyramids have much in common, and you can use any of them

as a basis for healthy eating. They follow the same premise of

variety, portion control and moderation in eating. Most follow these

basic principles:

Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Reduce saturated fat and cholesterol.

Limit sugar and salt.

Drink alcoholic beverages in moderation, if at all.

Eat moderate-sized portions.

Include physical activity in your daily routine.

Guidelines for good nutrition

Focus on food groups

Your body requires certain nutrients, such as protein, carbohydrates

and fiber, to function properly. Since no single food provides all of

the nutrients that your body needs, eating a wide variety of foods

ensures that you get the necessary nutrients and other substances

that promote good health.

In general, food pyramids present these types of food:

Fruits. From apricots to oranges, fruits are great sources of

vitamins and minerals and soluble fiber. Except for a few varieties —

such as coconuts — they're low in fat and calories.

Vegetables. Like fruits, vegetables are great sources of vitamins,

minerals and fiber. If you don't smother them in cream sauces, butter

or dips, vegetables are low in fat and calories.

Grains. Breads, pasta, rice, noodles, couscous, polenta, bulgur and

other grains are your main sources of carbohydrates. Most are low in

fat. Choose whole grains as much as possible for more fiber and a

wider variety of nutrients.

Dairy products. Milk, cheese, eggs, yogurt and other dairy products

are good sources of calcium, protein and other vitamins and minerals.

However, these foods can be high in cholesterol, fat and calories, so

choose low-fat versions.

Meat and beans. Meat, poultry and fish provide protein and are good

sources of B vitamins, iron and zinc. However, some types of meat may

be high in cholesterol, fat and calories. Legumes — such as soybeans,

black beans, split peas and lentils — are good substitutes for meat

because they provide protein and also have added fiber, without the

extra cholesterol, fat and calories.

Fats, oils and sweets. These types of foods — which include salad

dressings, sour cream, and margarine along with cakes, cookies, ice

cream and pastries — are high in fat and calories.

Vegetables: Enjoy a wide variety

Using bread, cereals, rice and pasta

Poultry, meat and seafood: Pros of protein

So what's the difference?

Although all food pyramids reflect the same general principles of

healthy eating, they demonstrate different food choices. These

differences reflect personal preferences, dietary patterns, food

availability and cultural eating patterns. For example, some

pyramids, such as the Latin American Diet Pyramid, might include

tortillas and cornmeal within the grains food group, whereas another,

such as the Asian Diet Pyramid, might emphasize noodles and rice.

Another difference is in the food groups themselves. For example,

some pyramids group plant-based proteins — soybeans, beans and nuts —

separately from animal proteins found in meat, poultry, eggs and

dairy products. This is because animal proteins are often higher in

fat and cholesterol, and some diets limit animal proteins, placing

them toward the top of the pyramid.

These six pyramids also differ in how they address servings. The Food

Guide Pyramid recommends a daily number of servings from each food

group. And it specifically defines serving sizes, for example, a

serving of rice is 1/2 cup and a serving of milk is 1 cup.

Serving sizes: Keeping your food portions in check

But other food pyramids offer more general guidelines, such as eating

particular foods at every meal, or on a weekly or monthly basis. For

example, the Latin American Diet Pyramid recommends that you eat

whole grains, vegetables and fruits at every meal but eat red meat,

sweets and eggs once a week or less.

No matter which pyramid diet you follow, remember to select a variety

of foods from each food group and focus on those groups toward the

bottom of the pyramid.

How to use a food pyramid

To see how your diet matches up to any of these pyramids, keep a food

diary for several days. Then compare how much of your diet comes from

the bottom of the pyramid and how much comes from the top. If you're

top-heavy, work your way toward the bottom by making small, gradual

changes, such as eating more vegetables, fruits and whole grains and

limiting fats and sweets.

Here are other tips for using a food pyramid:

Choose a variety of foods from each major food group. This ensures

that you get all of the calories, protein, vitamins, minerals and

fiber you need. Choosing a wide range of foods also helps make your

meals and snacks more interesting.

Adapt a pyramid to your specific tastes and preferences. For example,

a serving of grains doesn't only mean a slice of wheat bread. It can

be long-grain or wild rice, grits, cornmeal muffins, or even popcorn.

Combine foods from each major group in a pyramid however you like.

For example, you might make a meal of tortillas from the grain group

and beans from the meat and beans group. Or you could top your fish

with fruit salsa or serve steamed vegetables over pasta. The

possibilities are endless.

Select your meals and snacks wisely if you need to avoid all foods

from one or more food groups. For example, if you don't consume dairy

products because of lactose intolerance or for another reason, choose

other foods that are good sources of calcium.

Create a daily menu following the pyramid guidelines. Emphasize foods

at the bottom of the pyramid and limit those at the top. These sample

menus show how the pyramid can help you plan your meals and snacks.

Sample menus using the Mayo Clinic Healthy Weight Pyramid

Related Information

Food & Nutrition Center

Additional Resources

Food and Nutrition Information Center -- Food Guide Pyramid

Oldways Preservation & Exchange Trust: Healthy Eating Pyramids &

Other Tools

NU00190

January 16, 2003

© 1998-2003 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

(MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may

be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. " Mayo, " " Mayo

Clinic, " " MayoClinic.com, " " Mayo Clinic Health

Information, " " Reliable information for a healthier life " and the

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> > hello everyone

> > I am about to start treatment(interferone+rivabirin)

> > and I would like what else can be done in addition to that.

> > Nutrition,alternative medicine etc.

> >

> > I am 50 years old dealing with the consequences

> > of my " WILD 20's " .

> >

> > I have a two small children (2 and 6)that need me around as long

as

> > possible, I am willing, ready and available to go to any lenght.

> > For myself I am calm and relax, I never went down without a good

> > fight,however in fights sometime you win sometime you loose.

> >

> >

> > thank

> >

> > paolo