Too Much Soy Could Lead To Brittle Bones
Soy is a staple in many vegan and vegetarian diets, and for good reason. It’s packed with protein and compounds known as isoflavones. According to one 2008 study published in Inflammopharmacology, “The potential health benefits of isoflavones may include protection against age-related diseases including cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, hormone-dependent cancer, and loss of cognitive function.”
However, soy can also contain high levels of cadmium, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Cadmium is a heavy metal found both naturally in the Earth’s crust and as a part of many fertilizers. Somewhere between 1 percent and 10 percent of the cadmium in the food you eat will enter your body, and chronic, low-level exposure can cause kidney damage and brittle bones.
A 2011 study in Science of the Total Environment found that soy plants take in a significant amount of cadmium from the soil, and the beans can contain three to four times the maximum limit of cadmium set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. Another study published in the same journal observed that tofu, tempeh, and products such as tofu hot dogs, soy burgers, and tofu cheese had the highest concentrations of cadmium of all the foods researchers tested.
A Celebrity Nutritionist Reveals Why Eating Too Much Spinach Is Bad For You
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Weve always been familiar with the good side of spinach, how it is all that we need for good health. Well, theres no denying that its a powerhouse of nutrients, but until now, no one has really told us about how its overdose can impact us negatively. Today, were here to tell you why eating too much spinach is bad for you!
First, lets find a little more about its nutrient composition. 100grams of spinach contains:
- Calories: 23
- Sugar: 0.4 gm
- Protein: 2.9 gm
Spinach is abundant in nutrients and antioxidants and offers a range of benefits, but only when consumed in moderation.
Spinach is very healthy and improves eye health, prevents cancer, reduces blood pressure levels, brings down oxidative stress, strengthens the bones, enhances immunity, promotes heart health and keeps you energised for a long time, explains nutritionist and dietician Manisha Chopra.
But you also need to know about its negative effects:
Ms Chopra reveals five reasons why overeating spinach can be problematic
1. It limits your calcium absorption
Spinach contains oxalic acid. When you eat too much spinach, oxalic acid binds with calcium and form oxalates in your intestines. These salts limit the calcium absorption by your body.
2. You may develop kidney stones
3. Nitrate can be dangerous for babies
Spinach contains nitrates, which dont usually affect a human digestive system. However, it can cause a number of health concerns in infants.
4. Interaction with medications
Too Much Grilled Chicken Breast Can Lead To Chronic Disease
In addition to being a rich source of protein, grilled chicken offers vitamin B12, choline, iron, zinc, and copper . Even though chicken is a staple of many health-conscious diets, grilling it may not be doing you any favors. When cooked at high temperatures, chicken contains advanced glycation end products , Healthline explained. AGEs form when protein or fat combine with sugar in the bloodstream.
According to research published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, average AGE consumption is about 15,000 kilounits daily. If you regularly consume significantly more than that, you may risk setting yourself up for problems. A serving of chicken breast grilled for only four minutes contains approximately 4,364 kU of AGEs, so you can see how it adds up.
A 2017 paper found that AGEs accelerate the aging process on a cellular level. AGEs are a biological waste product that builds up throughout the body and causes a “loss of protein function and impaired elasticity of tissues,” according to the paper. AGEs have been linked to chronic diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes, and the authors concluded that preventing “AGE formation and accumulation in tissues can lead to an increase in lifespan.”
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Can You Eat Too Much Spinach
While its important to eat enough good foods, overconsumption isnt something wed recommend either.
Interestingly, overeating spinach can prevent the absorption of several minerals, or lead to serious health conditions, such as kidney stones. Oxalic acid and purine in spinach are safe if theyre consumed moderately, but otherwise, would promote the growth of kidney stones.
Theres currently no clear answer to How much is too much? Doctors suggest less than 100 mg of oxalic acid a day for those at risk of having kidney stones, but no recommendations for those who are not.
Although, most people get around 200-300 mg of the substance a day, which equates to what 1/4 cup cooked spinach yields. A serving of this salad certainly doesnt contain that much.
If it still worries you, bear in mind that there is plenty you can do to balance your oxalate levels. Simple actions, such as meeting your water needs, consuming enough calcium , and more, all help.
Remember too that this salad is made up of a variety of healthful ingredients.
Calcium Is Not The Enemy
A lot of people make the mistake of shying away from calcium-rich foods in an effort to prevent kidney stones.
Given that calcium oxalate stones are the most commonly reported type of renal stones, it is natural for stone formers to have reservations about calcium-rich foods.
Many people attribute calcium as major culprit and avoid taking a sufficient amount of calcium that is required for bone development and strength.
Quite the contrary, a high dietary intake of calcium can actually keep stones from forming by reducing the absorption of oxalates, a common compound present in many foods.
You will also fare better by limiting your sodium intake, which promotes calcium buildup in urine.
Try to get your recommended fill of calcium through food sources rather than supplements.
Your dietitian can stipulate the ideal amount of calcium for your particular age and case.
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Too Much Brown Rice Can Lead To Disease
Health professionals recommend opting for the “whole” version of grains rather than their refined counterparts, and rice is no exception. Healthline noted that unlike white rice, brown rice contains the outer bran and germ, which is where most of the nutrition resides. A cup of brown rice contains 5 grams of protein, 3.5 grams of fiber, 88 percent of your daily manganese needs, and respectable amounts of many other vitamins and minerals. It’s a great choice for those following a gluten-free diet and may help control blood sugar levels and safeguard heart health.
Brown rice, however, can contain high levels of inorganic arsenic. A report released by the Food and Drug Administration in 2016 found that brown rice contained 154 parts per billion of arsenic, compared to 92 ppb in white rice. The reason for the discrepancy? When the rice plant takes up water from the soil, any arsenic in the water becomes concentrated in the outermost layers of the rice grain, which are left intact in brown rice. According to the World Health Organization, “Long-term exposure to arsenic … can cause cancer and skin lesions. It has also been associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes.”
Raw Spinach Side Effects On Damaged Kidneys
Raw spinach includes reasonably high quantities of potassium, supplying 167 milligrams per cup. High-potassium foods might be harmful if you already have severe kidney damage: The minimized function of your kidneys causes potassium to build up in your blood stream, potentially affecting your heart rhythm. Even though spinach is unlikely to harm your kidneys enough to cause kidney failure, you might need to restrict your intake of this veggie and other potassium-rich foods if you have advanced kidney disease.
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Healthy Foods That Can Hurt If You Eat Too Much
When it comes to healthy diets, three important factors are balance , variety, and moderation . But many consumers and even health professionals believe that certain so-called “superfoods” have almost magical health-promoting properties. According to the Harvard’s The Nutrition Source, “There’s no scientifically based or regulated definition for superfood, but generally, a food is promoted to superfood status when it offers high levels of desirable nutrients, is linked to the prevention of a disease, or is believed to offer several simultaneous health benefits beyond its nutritional value.” The concept of “superfoods,” however, began in the early 20th century when United Fruit Company created a marketing gimmick to promote bananas.
Although the hype around superfoods is more about sales than science, it’s true that some foods are nutritional powerhouses. And if eating a particular food is good for you, wouldn’t eating more of it be even better? Unfortunately, the answer isn’t always yes. Sometimes, overindulging in healthy foods can be disastrous for your health. In some cases, you may get too much of particular vitamins and minerals. In others, you may expose yourself to toxic substances, dangerous pathogens, or damaging “anti-nutrients.”
Drink Too Much Water And You Risk Water Poisoning
Keeping well-hydrated has a number of benefits, including maintaining proper fluid balance, moving nutrients throughout the body, assisting the kidneys with filtering the blood, and keeping skin healthy and youthful .
The Institute of Medicine recommends women aim for 91 ounces of fluids each day, while men should get 125 ounces . The IOM noted, however, that not all fluid has to come from plain water, and everyone’s exact hydration requirements vary. Factors such as exercising, temperature, illness, and pregnancy can all impact fluid needs.
But even with something as essential as water, you can get too much of a good thing. Water intoxication, also known as water poisoning or hyponatremia , occurs when someone drinks too much water too quickly, according to Medical News Today. This dilutes the concentration of important electrolytes such as sodium. Water intoxication can cause confusion, disorientation, nausea, and vomiting. Severe cases may lead to seizures, brain damage, coma, and even death. Drinking more than 3 or 4 liters in a short period of time could put you at risk for hyponatremia, revealed a study published in Annals of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism.
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You Can Help Prevent A Stroke By Eating Spinach Every Day
Eating spinach every day means you’ll be taking in a good amount of potassium, which lowers blood pressure, keeps blood vessels relaxed, and helps prevent sodium in salty foods from causing high blood pressure. Regulating blood pressure is also how potassium prevents stroke.
Eating too much sodium overwhelms the kidneys so they can’t filter it all out, according to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. This causes sodium to build up in the body and when this happens, the body tries to hold onto whatever water it has to balance out the high level of sodium. However, more water means more blood in the body, forcing the heart to work harder. That strain on the heart can make blood vessels stiff, which can lead to high blood pressure and stroke.
In addition to potassium, nitrates in spinach can also work to prevent strokes, according to Harvard Health. Since nitrates relax blood vessels much like potassium does, the chemical keeps blood pressure from getting dangerously high and possibly leading to stroke.
Spinach Is Good For Youin Regular Doses
Spinach has a lot of health benefits like improving eyesight, preventing cancer, and lowering blood pressure. It also is a great source of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K1, iron, calcium and folic acid. So incorporating spinach into your diet is a great idea.
But, like most good things, too much of it can cause some serious damage. Since spinach is so high in calcium and oxalates, this can sometimes cause kidney stones if you consume too much spinach, especially if you arent drinking enough water everyday.
And if youre on a blood thinner, you should talk to your doctor before ingesting too much spinach because vitamin K1 plays a big role in blood clotting. This means eating too much of vitamin K1 can offset the effects of your blood thinner making it super dangerous, so definitely talk to your doctor first if this applies to you.
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If You Eat Spinach Every Day You Can Lower Your Cholesterol
Eating spinach every day can actually lower your cholesterol, thanks to its fiber content, according to WebMD. Additionally, Healthline reported that nitric oxide, a result of the nitrates in spinach, keeps blood vessels dilated, which in turn reduces the risk of cholesterol as cholesterol can build up in arteries and cause them to become narrower. Blood doesn’t flow as well with high cholesterol and that spells future trouble, including high blood pressure and the risk of heart attack.
The lutein found in spinach also plays a role in preventing high cholesterol. In an animal study published in The Journal of Nutrition, lutein was able to prevent cholesterol from sticking and building up in the arteries. But that’s not lutein’s only role in fighting cholesterol. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, equipping it to battle your body’s inflammation. And, according to Health, high cholesterol causes an “inflammatory response” in the body. This response makes cholesterol build up even quicker a truly vicious cycle. Eating spinach, and therefore consuming lutein, however fights that inflammation and cholesterol cycle.
What To Do With Leftover Spinach
Leftover spinach is hardly ever found in our kitchen
If theres baby spinach left, it can be used in other salads within a few days. Or you can add it to whatever smoothie is being whipped up that day additional nutrients at no extra cost.
Most breakfasts tend to lack a fresh element, so sautéd spinach makes for a quick fix. Do you have a sauted spinach recipe? It might be too simple for its own recipe, but a little oil, salt, and garlic goes a long way!
Or, you can add it to a healthy frittata.
You may notice how spinachs texture is uniquely soft when cooked. This makes it an ideal ingredient for dips, like this one made of cooked artichoke and heaps of cheese.
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You Will Be Less Likely To Get Cancer If You Eat Spinach Every Day
The phytochemicals in spinach can prevent cancer, according to BBC Good Food. Spinach contains chlorophyll, which makes it green . An article in the Food and Chemical Toxicology journal found that, in animals, chlorophyll from spinach extract could decrease the occurrence of tumors in certain organs. Chlorophyll was found to bond to carcinogens and help the body expel them.
In addition to chlorophyll, spinach contains carotenoids, which give plants a red, orange, or yellow tint. Carotenoids are a phytochemical that work as antioxidants in the body. Antioxidants stop free radicals from damaging cells, which keeps skin healthy, but that protection also prevents cancer from growing, according to Healthline. An article in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that the risk of lung cancer could be slightly reduced by eating carotenoids in food, though the study noted that the findings aren’t significant. Either way, eating phytochemicals through spinach every day won’t hurt your health!
Types Of Kidney Stones
Kidney stones can be broadly categorized into calcium stones and non-calcium stones. Excessive calcium in the urine figures as the prime culprit for 80 percent of all kidney stones. It combines with one of two waste substances, oxalate or phosphorous, to give rise to different types of stones.
The most common types of kidney stones include the following:
- Calcium oxalate stones: These are the most common type of kidney stones, which are formed when calcium binds with oxalate, a chemical thats naturally found in many foods.
- Calcium phosphate stones: These are also quite prevalent and are formed when calcium binds with phosphoric acid.
- Struvite stones: These are often caused by an active urinary infection.
- Uric acid stones: These are often associated with diabetes and come into being when your urine is too acidic.
- Cystine stones: These result from a disorder called cystinuria, which is genetically passed down through families and is characterized by high levels of the amino acid cystine in the urine.
Different dietary factors can trigger the formation of different kinds of stones. Needless to say, there is no standard diet plan that applies to all kinds of stones.
Given that different stones have different nutritional contributors, there can never be a one-size-fits-all stone prevention diet.
Each kidney stone calls for the elimination of specific foods and drinks that may contribute to its development.
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Eating Spinach Every Day Can Help You Reduce Your Inflammation
The phytochemicals in spinach that is, those remarkable plant chemicals that prevent cancer impedes inflammation, according to BBC Good Food. In fact, a 2014 study published in the Nutrition Research journal noted that inflammation has been linked to several chronic diseases, but spinach may just be able to help. How? Well, As Good Food explained, spinach contains carotenoids, a “health promoting” phytochemical, which act as antioxidants.
Spinach also contains the phytochemical lutein, which is especially associated with lowered inflammation and, thus, a lowered risk of heart disease. A study in the Atherosclerosis journal found that the more lutein there was in the body, the less inflammation was present.
Nitrates, another component of spinach, further protects against inflammation, as stated by a study published in the Nutrition Reviews journal. And, as if that weren’t enough, the glycolipids in spinach can also fight inflammation, a 2015 study published in ACS Chemical Biology concluded. Talk about a superfood!