Medical science, Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Medical Insurance and Bill Management Tips

2007-12-05T20:24:00.000-08:00

Medical insurance and bill management can be among the most frustrating aspects of cancer care for you and your caregivers. Most hospitals and clinics will provide a patient services representative to assist you. Identify these individuals and seek their help whenever necessary. Here are some additional things you can do to help:

Get a copy of your insurance policy and find out exactly what your coverage includes. Your employer or insurance company can help you with this.

Call your health insurance provider to clarify any questions that you have. Also make sure you are aware of any possible coverage issues before you start treatment.

Talk to your health care team to request that insurance coverage of any procedure, test, or treatment be verified prior to your receiving them. If your health care team is unable to provide this service, they should be able to identify an alternative resource to assist you.

Keep careful records of all your covered expenses, claims, denials, and appeals throughout the claims process. Do not throw away any correspondence.

Take notes during your conversations with insurance representatives. Include their names and job titles. Keep these notes with your records. If you think the representative is wrong, ask to speak with his or her supervisor.

If you have a claim that has been denied, talk with your health insurance provider to find out what steps you can take to appeal.
Insurance terminology can be confusing, especially during a time when you are focused on your treatment and goals of therapy.

Anger Management Lessons

2007-11-30T05:34:00.000-08:00

It could be a reaction to incompetence, unfairness, and work overload. It could
be from a thousand daily cuts that bleed your enthusiasm for your job. It could
be one major incident — a layoff, a demotion or someone else’s promotion.
So you blow your top at work.

Wrath is one of the original seven deadly sins — but in today’s workplace, displaying anger is just not acceptable.
Being tagged as a screamer used to be a sign of macho, a signal that you were demanding better performance. Sadly, it worked. Who wants to bring up a controversial work issue with a colleague who has a reputation for exploding? That has radically changed. One of the key requirements for management candidates these days is an ability to stay calm and focused even in the most tumultuous circumstances. Anyone still yelling over daily work issues is considered a liability.

“More and more companies are recognizing how an angry person negatively affects their workplace,” said W Barry Nixon, executive director of the National Institute for the Prevention of Workplace Violence, USA. Studies show that people get angry once or twice a week on average, with men getting more intensely angry and women staying angry longer, according to W Doyle Gentry, author of Anger Management for Dummies.
And contrary to stereotypes, younger workers display more anger than older ones, because people have better control over their emotions as they age.

Know when to rein it in.If you don’t know quite why you are angry, you cannot get rid of the anger. And if work is making you angry, the situation is going to get worse, not better,
unless you take action. You need to uproot the sources of your anger, disable those triggers and then practice new patterns of behaviour that do not include exploding at others.
“How we deal with anger is a learned behaviour — it is not innate. Sometimes we need to ‘unlearn,’” Nixon said, adding, “If an individual has challenges, they ne-ed one-on-one coaching.”
You also need to beware of “righteous anger” — you may be right on a certain topic, but the effects of your outburst will linger long after everyone has forgotten the issue itself.

When you’re the target
Anger comes out in all different ways, including verbal abuse, bullying, sabotage and physical violence, all of which can affect your ability to do your job. Retaliation from you is only going to escalate the problem. Your company has a legal obligation to prevent a hostile workplace, so if going to your supervisor about a colleague’s anger doesn’t solve anything, go to your human resources department. “In a company that listens to employees and takes their concerns seriously, HR is the place to go to,” Nixon said.

know your anger:
• Sometimes anger is tied to a specific time — Monday morning, Thursday afternoon, tax season, back-to-school season. This is your subconscious at work — listen to it!
• Monday morning anger: You find no pleasure at work. Time to look for another job, another company or even another industry. Note: This is anger, not ordinary Monday-morning moodiness.
• Thursday afternoon anger: You dislike one major part of your job, which boils over at a certain time every week. Maybe there are ways this task can be done more efficiently, maybe it’s an impossible task to begin
with — or maybe someone else could do it, possibly better than you.
• Tax season, back-to-school time: You like your job but dislike its heavy-pressure moments. You cannot eliminate all of the last-minute stress, but more intensive preparations could make the time go smoother. — Agencies

Natural Remedy for Athelete's Foot

2007-11-26T19:38:00.000-08:00

Normal, healthy feet will not usually "catch" athlete's foot left in a shower by someone else. Our bodies have "good" bacteria that fight off "bad" bacteria. But, if you use antibacterial soap on your feet, many of the good bacteria are killed, allowing the bad bacteria of athlete's foot left in a shower to take hold on your feet. The more you use antibacterial soap, the more the athlete's foot will worsen. Instead, regular use of plain old soap and water will allow the good bacteria to remain so you never get athlete's foot from someone else - or allow the good bacteria to multiply more and more so they kill the athlete's foot you may have already. (Every time you use an antibacterial soap or cleaner, some of your germs mutate. Eventually, these germs will be mutated so much that the normally efficient antibiotics we have now will not kill them.)

To Cure Athlete's Foot
Tea Tree Essential Oil is very effective "medicine" for skin problems, including bacterial infections and fungus. Put a few drops of tea tree oil on the areas affected by athlete's foot four times a day. Once the problems seems to be all cleared up, continue treatment for another two to four weeks to be sure you've caught it all. You can also use this for treatment for nail fungus.

You can get a spray for easy application of tea tree oil, in several forms. One of these sprays is EO Lavender & Tea Tree FootSpray. The tea tree oil has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties and soothes burning and itching. Lavender is excellent for relief and healing of pain and itch. Or you could use FOOTherapy Foot Lotion .

You can also soak your feet in tea. Fill a large bowl with a quart of boiling water and add six tea bags. After the tea has cooled enough to be comfortably warm, soak your feet for a half hour or an hour. The tannic acid in tea kills some of the fungus and is soothing for painful, itchy feet.

Or, soak the feet in warm salt water for ten minutes until the problem is under control, although this might hurt on cracked skin.
It is also helpful to pour natural apple cider vinegar on infected feet. After allowing the vinegar to dry, rinse the feet with water and dry them thoroughly.

Using baking soda as a powder on your feet and between your toes after you shower and dry your feet and toes thoroughly is helpful. These things should be done every day until the athlete's foot is gone and continued for at least a month afterward.

Acidophilus contains good bacteria. You can eat three servings of acidophilus yogurt (not just any yogurt) each day or taking acidophilus in supplement form. Some available are Acidophilus Tablets, Children's Chewable Acidophilus Tabletschewable acidophilus, Acidophilus Strawberry Liquid, and Children's Acidophilus Powder. Use the yogurt or supplements until the symptoms have been gone for two weeks. But, you can use either continuously as prevention.

After a shower or bath, dry off completely. Then use a hair dryer on low setting to dry your feet, especially between the toes. Any remaining moisture is enough to allow fungus to flourish.

Wash your socks in hot water to be sure the germs on them are killed. Or, you can "cook" your clean socks in the microwave oven for a few minutes.

How Pepper is beneficial for Your Health

2007-11-21T19:36:00.000-08:00

Called The King Of Spices, Pepper has been around 4,000 years and has been causing problems for most of that time. Discovered in West India, it was a medium of exchange. It was a tribute paid to cool down people like Attila the Hun, but mostly it was responsible for opening up the world and starting the spice trade and creating empires like the British, the French, the Dutch...
Nomadic Arabs took it from Malabar Coast in South West India to the Phoenicians, who took pepper to the Western world. The Greeks came next when they discovered monsoon winds and cut the voyage from the Mediterranean to India from two years to one.
While the Greeks used pepper for medicinal purposes, the Romans went wild with pepper and a special market The Via Piperatica was opened.
With the crusades, pepper started coming into Europe with frequency through Venice and the Venetians could name
their price for the spice. Then came the turn of the Portuguese led by
Vasco da Gama and their pepper prices rivaled the Venetians.
Which is when everyone got into the act.
East India companies were formed. The Dutch East India company, The British East India company and The French East India company. The result? The price of pepper went down. But not enough.
Dock workers weren’t allowed to have pockets or cuffs to prevent them
from hiding a peppercorn or two. Rent could be paid in peppercorns and at times it was more precious than gold. Families put pepper
in their daughters dowry and down-on-their-luck nobles married beneath their class for pepper.
Christopher Columbus set off to find pepper in the New World and came back with chilies, which he and through him everyone called peppers, a confusion that exists to this day.
Pepper come in four colours depending on their maturity. Black pepper, whole red peppercorns sold dried — very strong and pungent. Green pepper, unripe peppercorns sold dried or pickled in vinegar or brine — less pungent and more fruity.
White pepper, ripe peppercorns with the outer husk, removed by rubbing in salt water — less spicy and particularly suitable for seasoning white sauces. Grey pepper, a mixture of black and white pepper.
Several dishes take their name and character from pepper — the steak au poivre or steak with pepper sauce, the German Pfefferkuchen (gingerbread, literally pepper cake) and the Dutch ‘pepper pot’ (a spicy ragout of mutton with onion). Whenever a recipe states ‘adjust the seasoning’, salt and pepper are added at the discretion of the cook.

Pepper is required in practically all savoury dishes, whether they are served hot or cold. Whole peppercorns are used in court-bouillons, marinades, and pickles: crushed pepper for grills, forcemeats, and hashes: and freshly ground pepper for salads and cooked dishes.
A ‘turn of the pepper mill’ produces a very spicy fresh seasoning whereas a ‘pinch of pepper’ gives a more
discreet flavour to sauces and stews. Green peppercorns are used in specific dishes, such as fish terrines and avocado salad.
A cautionary tale to end the pepper trail. Apicius, a well-known Roman gourmet, wrote 10 books on the art of cooking most of his recipes including desserts, ended with “Sprinkle with pepper and salt”. Apicius’ banquets drove him bankrupt and rather than not give parties, he committed suicide.
But even after 4,000 years, there is an imperfection.
I have yet to come across a pepper grinder or shaker that works for any length of time. Perhaps 4,000 years is not enough for pepper perfection.

Natural Cure for Heat Exhaustion

2007-11-20T19:43:00.001-08:00

If you feel dizzy from heat and/or stop sweating, you are in trouble.
To Cure Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke
Quit all activity and get out of the sun fast. Drink cool, not cold, water with a teaspoon of natural apple cider vinegar in it. The vinegar helps to replace electrolytes and minerals like sports drinks do.

Drinking Raspberry Tea or Peppermint Tea produces a natural cooling effect on your overheated system.

Putting a washcloth wet with cool water onto the back of the neck and the fronts of the wrists will cool the body down quickly.

When possible, a bath or shower in cool water is even more helpful.

Potassium and magnesium can be lost through excessive sweating and replaced by Gatorade, Pedialyte, natural apple cider vinegar, leafy vegetables, bananas, whole grains, and nuts. Gatorade has a lot of sugar so it is not the best choice for diabetics. Even the healthiest people should not drink only Gatorade but drink it in addition to water.
Preventing Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke
Wearing a thin shirt and pants helps cool the body down more than bare skin. The clothing gets wet from sweat, and this moisture is what makes you feel cooler when exposed to air from a fan or a breeze. Clothing should be lightweight, and cotton is the best material. Polyester and rayon do not "breathe" as well and make you even hotter.

Sweating will help you be and feel cooler. Drinking liquids prevents dehydration and allow you to sweat. Avoid drinks that contain alcohol or caffeine (soda or coffee) since they cause you to urinate more often instead of sweating.

Excess heat is released from your body through evaporation of sweat. Your sweat is less able to evaporate in high humidity, which is when a fan is very helpful.

Older people have less of a sensation of thirst and should drink more water even if they don't feel thirsty.

Opening windows on opposite sides of the room or house cool things down more than a fan with the windows shut. Those in an apartment with windows on only one side may join forces with their neighbors across the hall. Opening windows in both apartments and both entry doors can allow both apartments to receive cross ventilation.

Use an umbrella and a hand fan if you must go outside in the daytime. Walk slowly, resting often in the shade of a tree or building. To go more than a short distance, find someone to drive you.

Natural remedy For Alcohol Hangover

2007-11-15T19:40:00.000-08:00

Drinking robs your body of the B vitamins and causes dehydration. So, take Vitamin B Complex with a full glass of water before you go to bed to prevent most of the hangover symptoms. Besides being hydrating, water will give you a head start on diluting the alcohol.

Fructose helps your body burn the alcohol faster. Drinking vodka with orange juice can prevent some hangovers and lessen the severity of others. Drink fruit juice or swallow some honey when you get up in the morning to get rid of any remaining alcohol quicker.

Alcohol also causes your blood vessels to dilate, resulting in that nasty headache the morning after. Coffee in the morning will constrict the blood vessels and therefore reduce the pounding headache. A few strong cups of tea with honey will give you water, caffeine, and fructose all at once. Caffeine also acts as a diuretic, giving you an extra reason to take in a lot of fluids.

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Natural Cures For Dry Hands

2007-11-13T19:49:00.000-08:00

There are many things that go together to heal dry, cracking hands.

Be sure that you haven't eliminted too much fat from your diet.

Drink lots of water to moisturize from within.

Use glycerine soap.

Wash only the palms of your hands when possible, keeping the backs from getting wet.

Soak your hands in water for 10 minutes, then put on a light layer of Vaseline Petroleum Jelly. After it soaks in, put on another layer of vaseline.

Take a Multi-Vitamin daily.

Use a Humidifier in the house.

Wear gloves outside in the cold or wind.

If you don't have vaseline handy, you can use Bag Balm Protective Ointment.

Polish lots of furniture with lemon oil furniture polish, and don't wash your hands when you're done. Just rub the lemon oil into your hands.

Natural Cures for Jellyfish Stings

2007-11-13T01:28:00.000-08:00

To stop the pain of a jellyfish sting, pour seawater over the affected area for ten minutes to deactivate any remaining toxins. (Fresh water releases remaining toxins instead of deactivating them, increasing the pain.) Then, soak the affected area in vinegar. Then apply ice.

If vinegar is not available, apply baking soda, rubbing alcohol, meat tenderizer, or diluted ammonia.

The old-fashioned cure for a jellyfish sting is one's own urine since it contains plenty of ammonia.

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Natural Cures For Cuts and Scrapes

2007-11-12T21:39:00.000-08:00

To heal cuts and scrapes without using any chemicals and medicine, apply Lavender Essential Oil. Application usually causes no pain, and the pain from the wound should disappear quickly. Lavender also speeds healing immensely and kills germs.

OR

Apply Colloidal Silver to the cuts and scrapes. The application causes no more pain than plain water, but colloidal silver is a natural antibiotic, germ killing, antiseptic that causes speedy healing. Or, you can get Bandages with Antibiotic.

OR

Apply raw honey and cover with a bandage. With a small cut, the pain from the cut is gone after about 30 minutes, but leaving this on overnight is even better. Raw honey has been used for over 2,000 years to prevent and heal infections. (Raw honey is available in most grocery stores.)

Raw honey applied to a small cut that became infected was left on overnight. The pain and infection were gone in the morning.

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Natural Cure Or Remedy For Sunburn

2007-10-07T10:45:00.000-07:00

Skin will continue to burn until cold water or ice is applied, so always cool down the burn first. Ice is good for most burns, but severe burns can only tolerate cold water.

Be wary of Sunburn sprays and creams from the drugstore - some of these contain lanolin, which actually causes increased pain once the cool cream or spray is warmed by the heat of your body. Aloe vera products are often just lanolin with a touch of aloe added, so caution should be taken before using these. Even pure aloe will not prevent peeling later.

Lavender Essential Oillavender essential oil is a miraculous cure for sunburn. You want to be careful getting the oil onto the burn because simply touching the burn will hurt. It is best to drip it on, then spread it (using very gentle pressure) with a piece of tissue. After about a half hour or less, the pain should be gone. The pain should not return unless you jump in the shower soon after application of the oil. You may need to reapply the oil in the morning. That's it. No more pain, no blistering, AND you get to keep the color. Even those of us who are pale as ghosts won't peel.

OR

Make a pot of boiling water and steep many tea bags to a very strong tea in a large pot. Add ice until the tea is just slightly warm. Put a bath towel (preferably a brown one, as a white one will probably be "dyed" brown) into the pot and keep turning the towel until it has soaked up all of the tea. Have the sunburned person lie on the floor or bed on top of an old towel to catch drips. Place the wet towel over the sunburned area of the body. Leave the towel on for a half hour for a moderate burn and an hour for a strong burn. The slightly warm tea will actually feel very cool on burned skin, and cold water would be almost painfully too cold on the hot skin. The burned person immediately feels relief from the wet, getting cooler and cooler gradually, with the actual temperature of the skin also cooling.

If the sunburn is not localized to one area, you may want to soak in the tub instead. First, clean the tub with hydrogen peroxide or a small amount of bleach - and be sure to rinse the tub thoroughly. For this bath you will need tons of tea bags. Brew the tea with boiling water until it is very strong, and you can cool this down with half cold water. You should not get in until the water is no longer warm, and be sure to get out when the tea water gets too cold. You will need to either lie down in the tub or have the tub filled high enough to cover all the sunburned areas.

The tannic acid in the tea draws the burn out of the skin and heals it. After just one application, most sunburns are no longer painful and are much less red. However, this treatment will act on the pain but may not prevent peeling.

Modified Citrus Pectin Powde Supplement

2007-09-25T09:37:00.000-07:00

Debra Mohnen of UGA's Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, and Vijay Kumar, chief of research and development at the Veterans' Administration Medical Center in Augusta found that exposing prostate cancer cells to pectin reduced the number of cancerous cells by about 40%. Pectin destroys cells in a process known as apoptosis. Apoptosis is programmed cell death. In apoptosis cells bind with an outside substance that causes the cell to kill itself. Cancer cells self destruct once the complex structure of pectin binds to the receptors of the cell surface. Pectin does not bind with non-cancerous cells, and has no known affect on them.

Why Modified Pectins?
Chemical treatment of the FPP using base (alkali) in order to remove
the ester linkages of the pectin structure destroyed the ability of the
pectin to induce apoptosis, said the researchers, while treatment of
the pectin with pectinmethylesterase enzymes did not affect activity,
indicating that the base-sensitive linkages played an important role in
the apparent anti-cancer benefits.

# Both citrus pectin and the pH-modified citrus pectin had no effect on
the cancer cells, reported Jackson, but heat treatment of citrus pectin
resulted in significant levels of apoptosis comparable to FPP.

# Modified citrus pectin (MCP), also known as fractionated pectin, is a complex polysaccharide obtained from the peel and pulp of citrus fruits. Modified citrus pectin is rich in galactoside residues, giving it an affinity for certain types of cancer cells. Metastasis is one of the most life-threatening aspects of cancer and the lack of effective anti-metastatic therapies has prompted research on MCP's effectiveness in blocking metastasis of certain types of cancers, including melanomas, prostate, and breast cancers.

# Modified citrus pectin powder is produced from citrus pectin via pH and temperature modification that breaks it into shorter, non-branched, galactose-rich, carbohydrate chains. These shorter chains dissolve more readily in water and are better absorbed and utilized by the body than ordinary, long-chain pectins. It is believed the shorter polysaccharide units afford MCP its ability to access and bind tightly to galactose-binding lectins (galectins) on the surface of certain types of cancer cells.

How Modified Pectins act:
Research indicates that in order for metastasis to occur, cancerous cells must first clump together; galectins on their surface are thought to be responsible for much of this metastatic potential. Galactose-rich, modified citrus pectin has a binding affinity for galectins on the surface of cancer cells, resulting in an inhibition, or blocking, of cancer cell aggregation, adhesion, and metastasis. Due to the life-threatening nature of metastatic cancer, most research on anti-metastatic therapies has either been in in vitro cell cultures or in animal studies. Although it is still unclear exactly how these study results translate to humans, MCP studies are promising.

Prostate Cancer
Pienta et al examined modified citrus pectin's effectiveness against prostate cancer metastasis in the Dunning rat model. Rats were injected with prostate adenocarcinoma cell lines and given drinking water containing various MCP concentrations. Oral MCP did not affect primary tumor growth, but significantly reduced metastases when compared to control animals.[4] In one human study, Strum et al examined the effect of MCP on prostate specific antigen (PSA) doubling time in seven prostate cancer patients. PSA is an enzymatic tumor marker, and its doubling time reflects the speed at which the cancer is growing. Modified citrus pectin was administered orally at a dosage of 15 grams per day in three divided doses. Four of seven patients exhibited more than 30-percent lengthening of PSA doubling time. Lengthening of the doubling time represents a decrease in the cancer growth rate.

Safety and Side Effects
Because it is a soluble fiber, administration of modified citrus pectin is unlikely to result in gastric intolerance, even at high doses. No pattern of adverse reaction has been recorded in the scientific literature. As with any dietary fiber, MCP at high doses may result in mild cases of loose stool, but this is usually self-limiting and does not warrant discontinuing treatment.

Dosage and Administration

Modified citrus pectin dosages are usually expressed in grams, with a typical adult dosage ranging between 6-30 grams daily in divided doses. This may be modified by the practitioner depending on the patients clinical status, type of cancer involved, and degree of metastasis. The MCP powder is usually dissolved by blending in a small amount of water, then diluting with a juice of choice.

Yogurt and Honey Recipe to alleviate Constipation and Diarrhea

2007-08-25T08:55:00.000-07:00

Yogurt, keffir, and butter milk are the richest foods with probiotics.
Probiotics-according to Wikipedia- are live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host.
The two most abundant friendly bacteria found in gastrointestinal tract are L.acidophylus and Bifidobacterium bifidum.

Researchers from the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam, states that
probiotics friendly bacteria with known benefits for intestinal health, may boost the number of bowel movements and relieve constipation. Based on the result of a pilot study investigated the potential of a probiotic mixture to alleviate the symptoms associated with childhood constipation- a condition that can affect 30 % of children in the Western World.

Another recent study by researchers from Imperial College,London, reported a 22 % drop in the number of cases of diarrhea if probiotics drink, were consumed by hospital- bound elderly patients receiving antibiotics.

There were some other trials some of which were published in The Lancet
about successful use of honey to treat diarrhea in children.

Here is a recipe that gathers the benefits of Yogurt,honey, and fruits
in treating such ailments.It is published by www.foodnetwork.com website.

Fresh Fruit Salad with Honey Vanilla Yogurt

2 cups plain yogurt
2 tablespoons good honey
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Seeds scraped from 1/2 vanilla bean, optional
1/2 orange, juiced
1 banana, sliced
1/2 pint fresh blueberries
1/2 pint fresh raspberries
1 pint fresh strawberries, hulled and cut in half
1 bunch seedless green grapes, halved

Combine the yogurt, honey, vanilla extract, and vanilla bean seeds in a bowl and set aside. Combine the orange juice and banana slices in a separate bowl. Add the berries and grapes and gently mix the fruit mixture together. Spoon the fruit into serving bowls and top with the yogurt.

Natural Cure For Cracked Heels

2007-08-14T21:05:00.000-07:00

Cracked heels are caused by more than just overexposure and lack of moisturizing. Cracked heels are a sign that you are deficient in zinc and omega-3 fatty acids.

Take 30 mg of zinc picolinate twice a day, 4 mg of Copper once a day, 400 IU of Vitamin E once a day, and 1 tablespoon of Flaxseed Oil (which contains omega-3 fatty acids) twice a day, and 15 grams of Pectinpectin for cracked heels per day.

If it is a callus that is cracking, it works best to get rid of the callus. You can file it down with a nail file or foot buffer. Do this when the skin is dry. Once you feel it, you have gone far enough. If you follow the directions properly, you could also use a foot shaver - when the foot is soft after a shower. But be very careful since this contains a blade and could hurt you if you use it incorrectly.

Signs of omega-3 deficiency: cracks in your heels, flaky skin, dry hair, split or brittle nails, or bumpy skin on the back of your arms.

A diet low in omega-3 leaves you feeling hungry again after 2 or 3 hours, instead of 5 or 8. So this also keeps you slim.

Omega-3 fatty acids cannot be made by your body, so you have to get it from food or supplements. Lack of Omega 3 has been linked to high cholesterol, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, breast cancer, asthma, diabetes, insulin resistance, menstrual cramps, psoriasis, eczema, and stroke.

Elevations in blood sugar and cholesterol levels may occur in some people who take fish oil. The increase in blood sugar appears to be related in part to the amount of fish oil used. Some evidence suggests that taking Vitamin E with fish oil may prevent the fish-oil-induced increase in blood sugar levels. In other research, the impairment of sugar metabolism sometimes caused by supplementation with fish oil has been prevented by the addition of half an hour of moderate exercise three times a week.

People who took fish oil and who also took 15 grams of pectin per day were reported to have reductions in LDL cholesterol. This suggests that pectin may overcome the occasional problem of increased LDL cholesterol reported in people who supplement with fish oil. The LDL-cholesterol raising effect of omega-3 fatty acids has also been reported to be prevented by taking garlic supplements (or presumably including garlic in the diet) along omega-3 fatty acids.

Counter Supplements to Prevent Migraine

2007-08-14T20:53:00.000-07:00

Over-the-counter (OTC) supplements use in headaches, migraines, and fibromyalgia can be controversial, especially since they are not rigorously tested like prescription drugs. Nevertheless, there is a good deal of science behind some OTC supplements. I have my favorites that I like to recommend, and I will give them to you. Bear in mind, these are my recommendations as of today. As the science supporting supplements changes, my recommendations will change. An excellent example is Vitamin E and Beta Carotene. Both were highly recommended in the 1990’s, but now problems with both have been found. Currently I recommend neither beyond the amount of each that is found in a regular multivitamin.

Over the Counter Supplements
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) 200-250 mg twice a day
Magnesium Capsules 250 mg two to three times a day (remember Milk of Magnesia is a form of magnesium and MOM is used to treat constipation; therefore, if you develop loose stools from taking a form of magnesium, you may need to reduce your dosage of magnesium capsules)
Feverfew 100 mg a day
--or-- Migrelief one pill twice a day is a good source of B2, Magnesium, and Feverfew.
--and add-- Co Q 10 150 mg two daily to above supplements
I have not started recommending Butterbur; however, there is science supporting its use. I do not usually recommend Omega-3 fish oil for migraineurs. Diabetic and metabolic syndrome patients can use 3000 mg of fish oil to help lower triglycerides, raise HDL cholesterol, and decrease clotting—all of which are very important in reducing cardiovascular complication. This is Dr. Castelli’s recommendation. He has been a world authority on cardiac risk factors, and I have great respect for him. For about 30 years, he was the medical director for the Framingham Heart Study looking at long-term risk factors.
I recommend avoiding ephedrine products because of side effects which may include headache, palpitations, heart attack, and worse. Products containing ephedrine are Chinese ephedra, ma huang, and epitonin. Neither do I recommend Ginkgo biloba. Ginkgo mixed with certain foods or beverages can raise your blood pressure.

Prevention of migraines is very important. Continued migraine activity can lead to fibromyalgia, neck pain, sinus pain, TMJ syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, chest pain, palpitations, and panic attacks.

How Food Labels help you in losing weight

2007-08-11T21:04:00.000-07:00

Obesity is increasing worldwide and is becoming the world’s biggest health problem. Obesity is no longer limited to adults only – the percentage of obesity amongst children is growing at alarming rates. The skinny on obesity or being overweight is that it is no longer just a cosmetic issue. Obesity or being overweight increases the risk of serious health problems such as diabetes, certain cancers, heart disease, stroke, back and joint problems and discomfort, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, infertility, breathlessness, sleeping disorders, sweating among others.

AND … being overweight stops us from getting the very best out of life and shortens our life by years. A report by the National Audit Office in the UK, suggested that being overweight can take off up to 9years of our lives. There are many reasons for this, but in developed countries, the easier access to over-processed diets and a less-active lifestyle play a major role.

In this article I focus on a fun, interesting and self-educating way you can cut down the amount of fatty and sugary foods (2 of the main contributing factors to obesity) in your diet. Believe it or not – it is quite easy to do. Follow my quick and easy steps and you will have a head start on your weight, health and other shoppers.

Without going into the science of the labels, if you want to lose weight and live a healthy life this is what you need to be looking at each time you buy foods that are packaged in a box, packet or can. To do a quick lesson at home on how to read labels, take out any one product from your grocery closet right now. Look for the NUTRTION FACTS food label on the box or can. You will be able to tell if your product is healthy if:
It contains less than 4g of sugar per serving.
The ingredients do not include corn sugar or high fructose.
The ingredients do not include any enriched – flour products. All flours need to be wholegrain ones.
The ingredients do not include hydrogenated, saturated fat oils or the term “transfats”. If there are saturated oils, it should contain less than 4g of saturated fats per serving.

Test this on a couple more items in your pantry and determine how healthy your household is. If you are serious about losing weight and being healthy, throw away all those products that are causing harm every time you cook and eat them. Replace them with healthier options. Of course the healthiest option is to cook fresh produce only. But, if you do use processed foods, have fun with the simple food label test and read your way to weight loss. Over time it will show. It does make a difference to both your waistline and your health.
To summarize, when reading the food label on the can or box, check for the amount of sugar, fat and fiber per serving. Pay special attention to the amount of “transfats” in the product. Avoid foods that have higher than 4g or sugars or fats per serving, foods that contain corn syrup and foods that include enriched flours.

Natural Remedies For Depression

2007-08-11T20:51:00.000-07:00

It's late in the evening, as you sit alone by the fireside, with not-so-pleasant memories flashing through your head. And suddenly you find yourself overwhelmed with sadness that soon leads to desperation. Tears roll down your eyes for no apparent reason and you feel like bidding adieu to this cruel world. A scary scenario, isn't it? You'd be surprised to know that almost ten million Americans are victims of depression each year. The bad news is one woman in five and one man in fifteen will face this profound sadness sometime or the other in their lives.

Defining depression

Depression in a normal person is usually caused by chemical imbalance in the brain. However, it can also be due to some serious medical conditions. Whatever be the cause, this mood disorder can negatively affect every aspect of your life. And contrary to the popular belief, it’s not confined to the elderly alone.

It affects all segments of the population, be they children, adults or the aged. Depression not only makes you sad, it controls the body, mind, behavior, emotional state and can even undermine your ability to maintain relationships. And it just cannot be wished away.

Symptoms of depression

If you experience any of these disorders, you're likely to be suffering from depression:

a. Constant feeling of sadness, irritability or tension.

b. Loss of energy, tiredness without activity, decreased interest in usual activities and hobbies.

c. Change of appetite leading to significant weight loss or gain.

d. Insomnia, early-morning awakening or oversleeping.

e. Decreased interest in sex.

f. Difficulty in concentrating and making decisions.

g. Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness or guilt.

h. Thoughts of suicide or death.

Severe depression needs treatment, without which it may linger on with increasing severity and frequency. First timers, suffering from this condition, are fifty percent more prone to its recurrence. Though depression is a recognized problem, it remains one of the most commonly misdiagnosed illnesses.

Physicians are sometimes unable to get to the root of the problem and treat only the ailments associated with it, like loss of appetite, sleeplessness, headaches, and the like. However, the good news is depression is a treatable illness and you can take the option of depression herbal remedy, if you want to avoid the problems associated with over-the-counter drugs.

Depression home remedy

Depression remedy, whether it's natural postpartum remedy or depression holistic remedy, can effectively cure depression. Let’s have a look:

a. Diet: Many nutrition-oriented practitioners assert that if you stick to a specific diet, you can prevent depression. Small and frequent meals, low in sugar and refined carbohydrates can produce symptomatic relief in some depressed patients.

b. Exercise : Studies have shown that exercise is an effective way to get rid of depression. A physical workout increases circulation, which in turn helps improve the mood, preventing depression.

c. Relaxation techniques: Relaxation techniques, like meditation, breathing exercises and yoga can immensely help in keeping depression at bay.

d. St. John's wort: This unassuming plant with little yellow flowers, known as Hypericum perforatum, is probably the best known for healing depression. It’s an effective antidepressant, an antibiotic and anti-viral agent.

e. Ginkgo: Ginkgo biloba is a powerful antidepressant and antioxidant that increases blood flow to the brain and other parts of the body. It's not only used for major depression cases, but also for elderly patients resistant to standard anti-depression drug therapy.

f. Siberian Ginseng: Ginseng, in its various forms, stimulates the immune system and improves aerobic capacity. By regulating blood sugar levels, it also benefits depression cases.

Depression not only disrupts life, but can keep you on an edge and push you off it too, if not treated in time. So, if you consistently find yourself down in the dumps, take treatment immediately. However, to avoid side effects of prescription drugs, opt for natural remedy for depression under the supervision of your physician.

The Power Of Mustard

2007-08-09T09:02:00.000-07:00

The first Saturday in August is National Mustard Day in America, and there is also a mustard season in Nepal when the middle hills have terraces full of the golden plant: the terraces seem to lift to the heavens offering the gold to the gods. It is mustard time.
A time remembered from 2,500 years ago when a woman came to the Buddha with a dead child asking the boon of life. The Buddha told her to bring back a handful of mustard seed from a family that hasn’t suffered death. When she couldn’t find one, she realised that grief extended everywhere and was inevitable.
Jesus Christ had his parable of the mustard seed where he showed that smallest of seeds grow plants so big as to provide shelter for birds. In 1715, an Order of the Mustard Seed was found in Germany with the aim of being true to Christ, kind to all people and spreading the news of the Gospel to the world.
Not only do this two stories talk about mustard in different parts of the world, they talk about the spread of a spice that is second only to pepper in its use.
Said the writer Anatole France, “A tale without love is like meat without mustard; an insipid dish.”
The word mustard itself derives from the French word mout — a term used by wine makers. The mout is the grape juice for making wine, thus, the moutarde of France was the original liquid used in making mustard paste.
Once it was used as a medicine as well. You cured everything from colds to
spider attacks and it was recommended to make rigid sinews subtle by using it as massage oil.
And it is mustard oil that is used for cooking in the sub-continent. One of the more wondrous sights are the old mustard presses in the village of Thecho. These date back some 300 years and are in danger of disappearing.
Half of the world’s mustard comes from the Dijon region of France and it is the subject of gourmet writing. According to The New York Time Food Encyclopedia compiled by Craig Claiborne who says, “It is purely subjective, but I have my own theories that mustards vary from region to region, and that each mustard has special affinity for certain foods that, in general, are also regional.
“Such French mustard as that of Dijon or Meaux, bearing such names as Grey Poupon, Maille, Pikarome, Pommery, and so on, go especially well with such foods as roast leg of lamb, French meat specialties such as garlic sausages, French style, chitterling sausages, blood sausages. And it is present in mayonnaise sauces of French origin in Dijon.

“German mustards such as Dusseldorf are highly compatible with smoked German pork products. Creole mustard, notably Zatarain’s brand, made in New Orleans, has no peer as an ingredient for remoulade sauce. The bright yellow mustard, whose colour is due to the addition of turmeric, is made in America and it has no challengers when it comes to something to smear on hot dogs.
“In England, one of the most famous personages in mustard lore is a Mrs Clement of Durham (some say Lancashire). Although mustard paste had been used for many years, this 18th century woman produced a mustard made with a finer powder and a brighter appearance, and sold it from the back of wagon all over the country.
“The Chinese and the English have a preference for freshly made hot mustard, and it is as ideal as a side condiment for Chinese food as it is for rare roasts.”

B12 Metabolism and Blood Cells & Heart disease

2007-08-08T09:56:00.000-07:00

The B12 vitamin is just one of the essential b vitamins that are needed to maintain a healthy body and mind. Cobalamin is the alternative name for the B12 vitamin. The body needs the B12 vitamin for a number of different processes including converting the fats, carbohydrates and proteins from all food that is consumed into energy (i.e.normal metabolism).

One of the most important processes that the B12 is essential for is to create healthy red blood cells. The prevention of heart disease relies on the production of healthy blood cells and therefore the B12 vitamin is vital, moreover vitamin B12 has an important role in reducing Homocysteine that plays a dangerous role in initiating the process of atherosclerosis.

The B12 vitamin is also vital for keeping the immune system functioning at its maximum efficiency. Not only this, but the B12 vitamin also works to form the protective covering of all the nerve cells in the body.

The production of red blood cells is not the only type of cells that the B12 vitamin is essential for. In fact, all of the cells in the body require the B12 vitamin, including white blood cells and nerve cells. The white blood cells are an important part of the immune system and without the B12 vitamin the effectiveness of the immunity of the body to germs and viruses is heavily reduced. The nerve cells need the B12 vitamin to create the fatty layer that will protect them from damage. The brain cells are particularly open to disease and damage if there is not enough B12 vitamin present to form this protective layer.

Even though the B12 vitamin is involved in so many essential processes the actual recommended daily amount that a body needs is quite small. The fact is that the majority of people consume much more of the B12 vitamin than their body actually requires. The only issue is that the body cannot absorb the B12 vitamin very easily and has to create its own aid to the process. The intrinsic factor that the body produces helps the body to absorb the B12 vitamin that it needs from food but this still amounts to only half of the total B12 vitamin available. A deficiency in the B12 is extremely rare in most people and is made even less likely because the body can recycle the B12 vitamin that it already has absorbed.

A few groups of people may develop anaemia due to a lack of B12 vitamin in their diet. Young children often have a problem getting enough of the B12 vitamin because they may be extremely fussy eaters and it is important to encourage them to eat as wide a variety of foods as possible. This is not only the case with the B12 vitamin but is true for all essential vitamins and minerals.

Yeast Infection: Natural Remedies for Relief

2007-08-05T20:39:00.000-07:00

Yeast Infection Remedies

If you're a woman of childbearing age, you're certainly more prone to yeast infection. And Candida albicans, a permanent inhabitant of your vagina, is generally the culprit. Little wonder almost eighty percent of the infection is caused by it. However, for the yeast to take ominous overtones, the acidic environment of your vagina, maintained by the bacterium Lactobacillus acidophilus, has to become imbalanced. This can occur due to various reasons.

However, what's most galling is whenever you get this infection your physician generally recommends over-the-counter medications. The problem is, these prescription medicines are not only strong and saddle you with some nasty side effects, they're also quick-fix solutions to your problems. Now, if you really want to root out your infection, there can be no better way than to opt for natural remedies for yeast infection. These have a long-lasting effect and are free of any side effects. In fact, apart from curing, these natural home remedies for yeast infection can be used daily to prevent recurrence of this infection.

Home remedies for yeast infection

There are a number of home remedies that had been in use for long. Let's see what they are:

a. Apple cider vinegar: Daubing apple cider vinegar on the infection sites on the body will help cure this infection. However, dilute the concentration of vinegar before use. In case, you're unable to get rid of itching, add some garlic.

b. Curds or yogurt: Regarded as one of the best home remedies, it’s a sure cure for this infection. This entails soaking a tampon into the curd and placing it in the infected region for an hour or so. This gives a chance to the healthy curd bacteria to replace the unhealthy yeast bacteria. This is to be repeated twice or thrice a day.

c. Buttermilk: This doesn't cure yeast infection, but reduces its probability. So, drink at least two glasses of buttermilk daily, whether infected or not. And also make curds a part of the daily diet.

d. Grapefruit seed extraction: Hailed as a magic cure, you can make it by mixing olive leaf extract and grapefruit seed extraction in a glass of water. This has proved a good curative tonic for yeast infection.

e. Garlic: Garlic is an effective natural remedy for vaginal yeast infection, because it contains natural antifungal substances that get rid of yeast. You’re required to insert a freshly peeled garlic clove into the vagina, after wrapping it in a gauze or cheesecloth. Keeping it overnight will help you get rid of the mild infection. Repeat the procedure for several nights for severe cases.

f. Tea tree oil: Tea tree oil also cures vaginal yeast infection. The method of applying is by coating the top half of a tampon with a lubricant, such as KY jelly and applying a few drops of pure tea tree oil to it. This is then inserted into the vagina. The lubricant keeps the tea tree oil from getting absorbed into the tampon.

g. Herbal douche: You can also use an herbal douche by combining equal amounts of sage, raspberry and comfrey with a quarter part goldenseal. This can be combined with cider vinegar.

h. Sugar intake: Those prone to this infection should decrease or eliminate sugar and sugary foods, since sugar promotes yeast growth. This means reduction in the consumption of fruit juices and sugar laden soda and drinks.

i. Pau d'arco (Tabebuia impestiginosa ):
The bark of this tree, also known as lapacho and taheebo, is used to treat a range of diseases, including yeast infection. The bark contains antifungal properties.

Those of you who're suffering from the ill effects of over-the-counter prescription drugs can explore the exciting possibilities offered by natural remedies for yeast infection. However, discuss these natural remedies with your physician before you start.

Nitric Oxide Supplement: remedy to Cerebrovascular Disease

2007-08-04T01:58:00.001-07:00

High risk of Cerebrovascular Disease

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), stroke and other cerebrovascular diseases are the Top 10 causes of death in high-income countries (#2), middle income countries (#1) and low-income countries (#5). With 5.5 million deaths due to these diseases in 2002, this is what WHO has to say regarding this (quoted from www.who.int):

Q: What is the number one cause of death throughout the world?
Cardiovascular diseases kill more people each year--in high, middle- and low-income countries alike--than any others. In 2002, 7.2 million people died of coronary heart disease, 5.5 million from stroke or another form of cerebrovascular disease.

What is Cerebrovascular Disease (CVD)?
So, what is this cerebrovascular disease that is killing millions worldwide?

Cerebrovascular refers to the blood vessels (arteries) that supply blood to the brain, and cerebrovascular disease, in simple terms, refers to an abnormality of the brain due to a disruption in this blood supply in some way. This causes the brain cells to be deprived of oxygen as the blood is responsible for carrying oxygen to all of our body cells. The brain cells will then die or be damaged under this condition.

The most common type of cerebrovascular disease is stroke, also known as cerebrovascular accident. Stroke is caused by either a clogged blood vessel in the brain, or when the blood vessel in the brain bursts or leaks. Other CVD include: transient ischemic attack (TIA), multi-infarct (arteriosclerotic) dementia and reversible ischemic neurologic deficit (RIND).

Roles of Nitric Oxide (NO)
Nitroglycerin and related vasodilating compounds increase the diameter of a blood vessel, and were found to act to release nitric oxide, an endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF). Endothelium cells are cells that line the blood vessels and prevents the interaction of blood cells with the vessel walls.

The discovery of the role of nitric oxide in the human body was made by Robert F. Furchgott (hD), Louis J. Ignarro (PhD) and Ferid Murad (MD, PhD). This is one of the most important progress made in the study of cardiovascular medicine and the three were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1998.

Nitric Oxide is a small gaseous, signaling molecule in the cardiovascular system produced by healthy endothelial cells. Signaling molecules have the function of producing another substance, the second messenger. The second messenger transmit messages along signal pathways between cells.

When NO enters a cell, it activates an enzyme called guanylate cyclase, which produces the second messenger, cyclic GMP. This second messenger relaxes and dilates the blood vessels.

So how do nitric oxide prevent strokes and cerebrovascular diseases? Nitric oxide lowers blood pressure, a high risk factor for both stroke and heart attack. By relaxing and dilating the blood vessels, it promotes healthy blood circulation to the brain and heart. It also causes coronary arteries to widen to increase blood flow to the heart.

Other roles of NO includes keeping arteries flexible, reverses arterial plaque and suppresses atherosclerosis. By preventing platelets and white blood cells from sticking to the vessel wall, NO can prevent atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the accumulation of deposits of fatty wax like materials, cholesterol, calcium, waste products, and other substances along the insides of the arteries.

In addition, nitric oxide can reduce the production of free radicals, which causes blood vessels to age rapidly, and suppress abnormal growth of vascular muscle cells to prevent blood vessels from thickening.

How important is nitric oxide to our body? Nitric oxide can form biological reactions with many compounds in our body, and have been found to play a role in a number of body system processes, including immune defense, regulation of cell death (apoptosis) and neurotransmission.

Source of Nitric Oxide
L-Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid that stimulates the growth of nitric oxide within blood vessels. A semi-essential amino acid is one that can be produced by our body, or obtained from our diet.

Usually, a healthy person will have sufficient L-Arginine to produce the required amount of nitric oxide. Studies have shown that dietary supplements of L-Arginine will have little effect on people with healthy endothelium cells.

However, individuals with unhealthy endothelium cells are at risk of heart disease as their body cannot produce enough nitric oxide on their own. This is due to the presence of asymmetric dimethylarginine, a modified amino acid, that stops the production of nitric oxide. In such conditions, the human body requires dietary supplement to increase L-Arginine amounts. This will allows more NO to be produced naturally.

"... inappropriate coronary responses to sympathetic stimulation in people with coronary artery disease may be related to changes in the arginine-nitric oxide pathway and may be improved by increasing production of nitric oxide", says Joel Cellman, M.D., of Johns Hopkins University.

Therefore, dietary supplements of L-Arginine can help prevent coronary heart diseases and CVD in high risk persons.

Say Goodbye to Cold Sores with a Simple Herbal Remedy

2007-08-04T01:51:00.000-07:00

span style="font-weight:bold;">Oh, not again, another cold sore breakout!

Unfortunately, when a bump or sore appears on the lip, it’s enough to make you feel like a social leper. Although a cold sore is not the end of the world and goes away on its own, it is also a highly contagious blister with an unmistakable appearance. What causes this condition? It is none other than a virus whose name will send shivers up and down your back.

What are Cold Sores?

A cold sore is a painful blister filled with fluid that makes an appearance on or around the lips. It is the herpes simplex virus infection that causes this undesirable visual, and is sometimes referred to as oral herpes, fever blisters, labial herpes, herpes labialis, and herpes febrilis. One of the most distinguishing characteristics associated with a cold sore is the high level of contagiousness they possess. Skin-to skin contact passes these little devils from one person to another. While the greatest chances of passing on the blisters occur when they are dry and crusted over, they may also pass on after they have healed [1]

Cold Sore vs Canker Sore

Another condition with similar symptoms to the cold sore is a canker sore, which both exhibit blister-like sores about the mouth. Canker sores keep to the inside of the mouth, often developing on the tongue or inside the cheeks, while cold sores stick to the lips. The only time a cold sore finds its way to the inside of the mouth is during the onset of an eruption.

Causes of Cold Sores

There are different kinds of herpes virus strands that cause cold sores to form. Often, it is the herpes simplex type 1 virus that is most responsible for this occurrence, although type 2 has been known to cause cold sores as well. The virus can be passed from person-to-person through an active sore. The condition is so contagious that sharing spoons, forks, razors and towels may also spread the infection. If you are prone to cold sores, a variety of triggers, such as fever, menstruation, stress and excessive sun exposure could lead to a reoccurrence [1].

Diagnosis

Oral herpes is quite common and is often diagnosed through visual symptoms. Anyone from your family doctor to a dermatologist can diagnose the onset of cold sores. Physicians may analyze your symptoms by running lab tests. Viral cultures are sometimes taken, where a cotton swab is wiped across an open sore. The results of this test take anywhere from 2-10 days for review.

Natural Remedies for Cold Sores

Although cold sores typically heal on their own without treatment, there are many natural remedies to consider, which ease the symptoms and speed up healing time. While vitamins (like vitamin b12), mineral supplements, and changes to your diet can help treat cold sores, there are plenty of natural and homeopathic remedies, such as:

a) Witch Hazel: When applying witch hazel to cold sores, relief can be achieved.

b) Lemon Balm: This remedy helps to reduce the symptoms of cold sores, as well as speed up healing. Internally, drinking up to 5 cups per day of a lemon balm infusion will do the trick. Externally, combine 3 teaspoons of dried leaves or 1.5 tablespoons of fresh lemon balm to one cup of water and infuse for 10 minutes. Next, strain the mixture and place on blisters about 3-5 times a day.

c) Aloe Vera: Rubbing aloe vera gel or oil on blisters may ease the pain and increase healing time.

d) Echinacea: Taking echinacea tablets or capsules, as well as creating a tincture can treat cold sores.

e) St John’s Wort: Drinking up to one cup per day of an infusion of this herb will help.

f) Garlic: Eating 1-2 cloves of garlic can treat the virus.

g) Ginger: Eating 1-2 slices of fresh ginger per day will treat cold sores.

Cold Sore Prevention

Since there isn’t a cure or prevention approach for cold sores, individuals can reduce their chances of developing these oral irritations through a series of lifestyle changes. Below you will find ways to prevent the spread of or safeguard against cold sores:

a) Avoid Blister Contact: Since the virus passes easily from one person to another, coming into contact with bodily secretions is highly discouraged. This means refraining from kissing people with visible blisters and avoiding other skin contact.

b) Avoid Sharing: This is the one case where your mother won’t frown upon not sharing your things. Keep in mind that the virus easily attaches itself to utensils, towels and other items.

c) Keep Hands Clean: It is important to wash your hands before touching another person if you or they have a cold sore. Also, touching body parts during an active blister moment can pass the virus to other areas, such as the eyes and genitals.

d) Avoid Triggers: Keep in mind that cold and flu, sleep deprivation, and prolonged sun exposure has been known to bring about cold sores. Applying sunblock on the face and lips before entering the sun will help prevent the formation of cold sores. This is true for both the winter and summer season.

Symptoms

While cold sores are often confined to forming on the lips, they can actually appear on other parts of the body. On occasion, a cold sore has been known to take shape on the nostrils, chin, or fingers. In rare cases, they may even form on the gums or roof of the mouth.

The scary part about a cold sore is that the signs and symptoms usually do not show immediately after exposure to the herpes simplex virus. It could take up to 20 days to actually experience any symptoms, and often continues for about 7 to 10 days. Below you will find a few cold sore signs to be on the lookout for:

a) Blisters : The main symptom of cold sores is the formation of a blister, which is small, painful, and filled with fluid. The skin surrounding the blister often appears red, raised, and is also painful to the touch.

b) Prodrome: Pain or a tingling sensation often occurs 1-2 days before the visual sight of a blister.

c) Oozing: As the blisters continue to take shape, they may break and ooze fluid.

d) Crust: After blisters ooze, a yellow crust forms.

e) Discolored Skin: After the crusty part of a blister falls off, the skin may appear pinkish underneath, which heals without scarring.

f) Disrupted Swallowing: Sometimes, individuals may experience problems swallowing food or liquids.

g) Lip Irritation: Itching and swelling of the lips may occur.

h) Drooling: This symptom is sometimes seen among small children.

i) Additional Symptoms: Headaches, irritability, fever, and swollen lymph nodes may also occur.

High Blood Cholesterol: Information

2007-07-31T08:01:00.000-07:00

Cholesterol is found in every cell in your body. This fat-like substance is an important component of cell membranes and a building block in the formation of some hormones. But your body makes all the cholesterol it needs. Any cholesterol in your diet is extra — and it's up to no good.

When there's too much cholesterol in your blood, you may develop fatty deposits in your blood vessels. Eventually, these deposits make it difficult for enough blood to flow through your arteries. Your heart may not get as much oxygen-rich blood as it needs, which increases the risk of a heart attack. Decreased blood flow to your brain can cause a stroke.

But there's good news. High blood cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) is largely preventable. A healthy diet, regular exercise and other lifestyle changes can go a long way toward reducing high cholesterol. Sometimes medication is needed, too.

Signs and symptoms

High cholesterol has no symptoms. A blood test is the only way to detect high cholesterol.

Causes

Cholesterol is carried through your blood attached to proteins. The cholesterol-protein package is called a lipoprotein. The main types of lipoproteins are:

* Low-density lipoprotein (LDL). LDL, or "bad," cholesterol transports cholesterol throughout your body. LDL cholesterol builds up in the walls of your arteries, making them hard and narrow.
* High-density lipoprotein (HDL). HDL, or "good," cholesterol picks up excess cholesterol and takes it back to your liver.

Various factors within your control — such as inactivity, obesity and an unhealthy diet — contribute to high LDL cholesterol and low HDL cholesterol. Factors beyond your control may play a role, too. For example, your genetic makeup may keep cells from removing LDL cholesterol from your blood efficiently or cause your liver to produce too much cholesterol.

Dealing with Wrist Pain

2007-07-30T20:34:00.000-07:00

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI - known in the US as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) is caused by a swelling of the tissue in or near the narrow passageway of the wrist, called the carpal tunnel. This swelling puts pressure on the median nerve, which causes the symptoms of pain, tingling, weakness or numbness associated with RSI.
Any repetitive hand movements, especially in awkward positions, that put direct pressure on the wrist can lead to RSI. This includes typing, using a mouse, operating machinery that vibrates, using a screwdriver, or participating in sports such as cycling.
However, many other factors increase the likelihood of developing RSI. Build-up of fluid (oedema) in the wrist is an indicator, which means that pregnant women or people with conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes are at greater risk. Women taking birth control pills or going through menopause are also thought to be at risk. People who have diseases or illnesses that can cause arm pain, swelling in the joints and soft tissues in the arm, or reduce the blood flow to the hands, including obesity, lupus or thyroid disease, should also be careful.
The preventative measures listed below are simply a matter of changing a few habits. If you are already experiencing pain that could be attributed to RSI, these tips (with the exception of number seven) will help alleviate the symptoms. However, if the pain is severe or lasts longer than two weeks, you should see a doctor immediately. Untreated RSI can cause permanent nerve damage.
1. Stop any activity that you think may be causing finger, hand, or wrist numbness or pain.
2. Spread pressure and motion evenly throughout your hand and wrist.
• Keep your wrists straight or only slightly bent. Avoid activities that bend or twist the wrists for long periods of time.
• Try not to hold objects in the same position for long periods of time.
• Gripping with only the thumb and index finger can stress the wrist. Use your whole hand to grasp an object.
• Reduce the speed and force of repetitive hand movements. Type (or click that mouse) with a soft touch.
• When working with tools that vibrate, such as drills or sanders, use specially designed gloves that support the wrist and have vibration-absorbent padding.
3. Take frequent breaks from repetitive activities to stretch your hands and wrists.
4. Use correct posture.
• For activities such as
typing, keep your forearms parallel to the floor or slightly lowered.
• Position your keyboard so that you do not have to reach up to it.
• When your forearms are hanging by your side, keep your shoulders relaxed, not raised.
• Your wrists should be in line with your arms, not twisted or bent for long periods of time.
• Make sure your fingers are lower than your wrists when typing.
• Position your work at waist height or slightly lower if you have to exert force.
5. Avoid using too much salt if you tend to retain fluid.
6. Train yourself to use techniques that will minimise stress in your hand or wrist. In daily routines or hobbies, consider activities in which you make repeated finger, hand or wrist movements.

7. Do exercises to increase your wrist flexibility and strength.
If you are already experiencing RSI symptoms, use the tips listed above to eliminate the pain before attempting to exercise your wrists.

Natural Cure for Sinus Infection

2007-07-27T08:34:00.000-07:00

Alternative medication for sinus infection is a great way to avoid some of the side effects that prescription treatments tend to offer. When taking a sinus infection homeopathic approach towards treating the symptoms of this painful and often energy-zapping condition, there are many different herbal and natural remedies to choose from. Below are a few to consider:

a) Ground Ivy: The leaves of this sinus infection herb can dry out the bronchi and sinuses when used in an infusion or tincture.

b) Goldenseal: The root of the goldenseal plant is a powerful astringent and coolant, which comes in a powder capsule form. Take one or two 200 mg capsules or create a tincture, where 1 ml is taken for three times per day.

c) Bayberry: Bayberry bark is known to stimulate the circulatory system and also possesses warming properties that helps with nasal discharge, pain, and sinus tenderness. The powder can be used as snuff, or used to create a tincture. Add 5ml of tincture to 20ml of emulsifying ointment to make a substance that can be used for sinus massage.

d) Long Pepper: It is the fruit of this herb that is useful in treating sinus headaches and infection brought on by allergies. You may use the fruit to create a milk infusion or choose the capsule form (1-2 200mg powder capsule per dose).

e) Colloidal Silver: Sinus infections respond to this safe and non-toxic approach that has been known to treat more than 500 illnesses caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

f) Apple Cider Vinegar: An apple cider vinegar sinus infection treatment can be used to thin out mucous. You should add the vinegar to large glasses of water and drink throughout the day.

g) Oregano: The wild oil of oregano can be used as an effective sinus infection treatment that possesses powerful anti-bacterial properties. The capsule form is considered best when taking two every 3-4 hours.

Sinus Infection Prevention

When it comes to preventing a sinus infection, there are a few steps to take. To decrease the chances of developing an upper respiratory infection, you should avoid people who are dealing with colds or the flu. You should also receive your flu shot every year.

Washing your hands with soap and water as much as possible, especially before eating will help avoid the spread of infection. Sinus passages also stay clearer when using a humidifier; limiting alcohol and tobacco use; and avoiding polluted air.

What type of sinus infection do you have?

When the mucous membranes start to act up and cause you a great deal of discomfort, you are probably suffering from a sinus infection (also known as sinusitis). Besides feeling pretty crappy, it is the nose, throat, eyes, cheeks, and even your teeth, which may suffer during a sinus infection. Hopefully, you will experience an acute bout of the infection because long-term sinus problems (chronic sinus infection) can really slow you down and make things much harder to accomplish.

What is a Sinus Infection?

When an infection or inflammation affects the mucous membranes, sinusitis is the result. The affected areas of the face include the inside of the nose and the sinuses, which attacks around the eyes, cheeks and nose. When the mucous membranes become inflamed, swelling strikes, which blocks the normal drainage of fluid associated with the nose and throat. Pain and pressure occur, as well as a possible accumulation of bacteria and fungus [1].

There are two different kinds of sinus infections to consider:

a) Acute: This sinus infection is characterized by a sudden blow to the system, resulting in a wide-range of cold-like symptoms, which fade with time.

b) Chronic: This type of sinus infection lasts quite a bit longer, where sufferers exhibit sinusitis symptoms on a regular, longer basis.

Symptoms

As the sinuses become blocked during an infection, a wide range of symptoms that resemble a cold or flu will emerge. With sinusitis symptoms, the effects are longer and have a tendency to get worse after 7 days. They include:

a) Pain: Pain and pressure often occurs throughout the face during a sinus infection. The particular sinus that is affected at the time will determine where the pain lies.

b) Nose Symptoms: The nose may run or become stuffy during a sinus infection. People often have trouble breathing out of their noses.

c) Discharge: A discharge that is yellow or greenish in color may appear from the nose or in the back of the throat, which is called postnasal discharge.

d) Tenderness: Sinus infections have been known to create tenderness throughout the eyes, cheeks, nose, and forehead area.

e) Swelling: The eyes, cheeks, nose and forehead may swell during sinusitis.

f) Dental Pain: Sinus infections have been known to mimic the signs of a toothache.

g) Cold and Flu-Like Symptoms: A fever may appear during a sinus infection. An individual may also suffer from fatigue, nausea, sore throat, and coughing [2].

Causes of Sinus Infection

Sinus infections are instigated through an inflammation of the upper respiratory system. The nose, sinuses, throat, and pharynx all play a role in the development of this condition. The cause of the infection is quite often viral, but can also be caused by bacteria or fungus. Additional causes of sinus infection include:

a) Allergies: Allergies have been known to block the sinuses, which often leads to inflammation.

b) Deviated Nasal Septum: The septum is the wall located between the nostrils. When this becomes crooked (either during surgery or by injury), sinus passages may become restricted or blocked.

c) Nasal Polyps: Sometimes tissue growths can cause a nasal passage restriction.

d) Additional Medical Conditions: Individuals suffering from conditions, such as HIV, cystic fibrosis, or gastroesophageal reflux, have a higher chance of developing nasal blockage.

Natural Remedies For Diabetes

2007-07-23T09:56:00.000-07:00

The spread of diabetes in America

Diabetes is a condition that affects much more than just your sugar habit. In the United States, the disease is running rampant among adults and increasing amounts of children. The disease is so common, that the American Diabetes Association claims that more than 6 million people have diabetes and don’t even know it. The statistics are disturbing, but with early detection and treatment, the disease can be managed.

What is Diabetes?
Diabetes deals with the body’s response to blood glucose levels in regards to the production or utilization of insulin. The two main types of diabetes you or someone in your family may come in contact with, includes:

Type 1 Diabetes: Through the millions of diabetic patients in the United States, there is an estimated 5-10% that suffer from this form of the disease. While Type 1 can affect people of all ages, mostly children, adolescents and young adults develop this kind of diabetes. It is said that about one in every 500 children and adolescents in the United States already has or will have Type 1 diabetes in the future [1].

Type 2 Diabetes: This type of diabetes is chronic and hinders the way that the body metabolizes glucose (sugar). Through Type 2 diabetes, the body starts to reject the effects of insulin, which is a hormone needed for the regulation of sugar cell absorption. Some Type 2 diabetics might produce some insulin, but not enough to create a normal level of glucose [2]. When this condition is left untreated, life-threatening results may occur.

Symptoms

There are many symptoms associated with diabetes, and depending on the type you suffer from, you may experience one or more of the following:

a) Excessive Thirst and Increased Urination: One of the most telling signs of diabetes is an urgency to keep drinking fluids. As your kidneys work overtime to filter and absorb the amount of sugar that builds up in the body, increased urination occurs. Through all of this, dehydration sets in, leading you into a vicious cycle of quenching your thirst, and the need to release yourself in the process.

b) Flu-Like Symptoms: The fatigue, weakness, and loss of appetite associated with the flu may also present itself with diabetes because your body is unable to utilize sugar in order to gain energy.

c) Weight Loss or Gain: Changes in weight often occur through the presence of diabetes. Weight loss occurs because as you lose sugar through frequent urination, you will also lose calories. The other side of the weight issue is gaining extra pounds because cells become deprived of nutrients, leading to a feeling of constant hunger. As you eat more to compensate, an increase of fatty tissue develops [3].

d) Blurred Vision: The eyes show signs of diabetes as high levels of blood sugar rob eye lenses of much-needed fluid. When ignored, blood vessels become damaged and can lead to dark spots, flashing lights or rings. Serious cases may also lead to blindness.

e) Slow-Healing: High levels of blood sugar can affect the natural healing process and the body’s defense against infections. Diabetes may also cause bladder or vaginal infections in women.

f) Tingling Hands and Feet: Nerve damage may develop as a result of diabetes, which leads to a tingling or loss of sensation in the hands or feet. Sometimes, a burning pain may attack the hands, arms, legs, and feet.

g) Gum Problems: Diabetes may cause gums to become red, swollen, and tender.

Causes of Diabetes

The causes of this condition depend on what type of diabetes you are suffering from. With Type 1 diabetes, the body has little to no insulin because the immune system attacks the cells responsible for producing the hormone. It is believed that heredity; diet and nutrition all contribute to the development of Type 1. With Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas makes some insulin, but either one or two issues arise: the muscles and body tissue may resist the presence of insulin or the pancreas simply doesn’t make enough. Researchers are unaware what makes the cells resistant to insulin, but weight, laziness, and fatty tissues contribute.

Diagnosis

A random blood sugar test and a fasting blood glucose test both determine whether or not a person has Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. Blood is drawn from the arm to test your glucose levels at any given time (random) or after an overnight fast. In addition to the two blood tests, Type 2 diabetes is also made known through a glucose challenge test (often used for pregnant women) or a glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test.

Risk Factors

While the definite cause regarding Type 1 diabetes is not known, there are some details that increase the risk of developing the disease. This includes having a family member, such as a diabetic parent or sibling. People who are overweight, inactive, or depressed are more likely to suffer from Type 2 diabetes. Individuals over the age of 45 are also likely to develop the disease, but throughout the years, a higher number of children, adolescents and younger adults have been seen. Race also affects your chances of suffering from diabetes, where some ethnic groups are more prone to certain types than others.

Natural Remedies for Diabetes

Natural remedies allow individuals to find gentler, safer, and sometimes more effective treatment options for their condition. Below are a few natural approaches towards treating diabetes:

a) Fenugreek: This herb has been known to cut down sugar levels in urine by half. Making a decoction or taking 1 gram of powdered herb after meals treats mental confusion, weight loss, and excessive thirst.

b) Bilberry: The leaves of this herb are thought to increase the production of insulin when drinking an infusion before meals.

c) Goat’s Rue: The aerial parts of this herb react with the pancreas to encourage production of insulin. Preparing an infusion or tincture before meals can treat the symptoms of diabetes.

d) Mango: Boiling 15 fresh mango leaves in one glass of water will create a natural treatment for diabetes. After mixing the ingredients, leave the combination overnight. At the start of a new day, filter the water and drink first thing in the morning.

Diabetes Prevention

For many, diabetes is highly preventable. It really comes down to incorporating healthy habits and lifestyle changes to avoid the onset of this manageable, yet frustrating disease. Below you will find a few preventive measures to consider:

a) Lose Extra Pounds: Sometimes diabetes prevention is just as easy as keeping your weight to a healthy number. With every pound you lose, your health improves. Try making it a habit to eat better and exercise on a regular basis. When it comes to losing weight, avoiding fad diets is the healthiest approach towards preventing diabetes. Cooking foods with less fat, oil, and butter also help shed extra weight.

b) Fiber: Many reduce their risk of diabetes when they eat fiber-filled foods, which also decrease the chances of developing heart disease. Some of the foods to consider adding to your diet include vegetables, fruits, and other lean food items.

c) Whole Grains: When eating grains, it is the whole variety that contributes to the decrease in developing diabetes. A few eating habits to change include trading white bread for wheat, or consuming whole-grain pastas and cereals.

d) Increase Exercise: When you get the body moving around, not only is weight lost, but also the overall your overall health improves. Physical activity contributes to the lowering of blood sugar levels. Riding a bike, swimming laps, or walking for 30 minutes per day will increase your levels of exercise.

Natural Cure For Menopause

2007-07-23T09:30:00.000-07:00

Menopause: Stop the hot flashes naturally.

If your irritability, mood swings, hot flashes and fatigue are becoming a problem for domestic harmony, it’s time to pause and take stock of the situation. You’ve entered the phase of life that almost four thousand women daily do. You have reached menopause. Had it not been for these annoying and exasperating symptoms, you’d have gladly welcomed this freedom from PMS, menstruation and birth control issues. However, not all is lost. If you take the correct medication, you can still have a time of your life.

What is menopause?

When a woman reaches her mid-thirties, hormone production in her ovaries declines. This continues in the forties too, when hormone levels may fluctuate. However, by the fifties, periods usually end completely. This causes a host of bodily changes that affects a woman physically, as well as, mentally in varying degrees.

What are the symptoms of menopause?

Fluctuating hormone levels bring with it symptoms and problems that almost drives women up the wall. These symptoms generally include:

a. Hot flashes: Hot flashes usually occur for at least one year and up to five years before cessation of menstruation. These can annoy and disrupt your sleep and daily life. A hot flash induces increasing warmness, beginning in the chest and rising to your head. Hot flashes most commonly occur at night and can last from a few seconds to up to an hour.

b. Vaginal dryness: Decreasing hormones may result in vaginal dryness, which may compel you to use vaginal lubricant to keep your sex life active with minimal discomfort. However, in serious cases an estrogen cream may be recommended by your physician.

c. Other symptoms: Other symptoms may include difficulty in concentrating, headaches, fatigue, night sweats, depression and anxiety, sleep disorders, incontinence, and the like. This condition may also lead to osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases. Some women are known to gain weight too, especially around the waist.

Natural remedies menopause

Although, the most popular treatment for menopause is the Hormone Replacement Therapy, there are certain risks, like cancer, associated with it. If you don’t want to put your life on line by this line of treatment, there is a world of natural herbal remedies waiting to be explored! Let’s see what these menopause natural remedies are:

a. Diet: Your diet is important in controlling menopause natural remedy symptoms. Since, at this stage the body requires estrogens, the female hormone, increase the consumption of foods containing phytoestrogens, like soy, grains, oats, wheat, brown rice, tofu, almonds, cashews, fresh fruits and vegetables. However, cut down on caffeine, carbonated beverages, sugar, commercially raised meats, including beef, pork and chicken.

b. Exercise: It reduces the severity of menopausal symptoms. It also relieves stress, and often improves depression and anxiety symptoms. Routine exercise improves bone mass, as well.

c. Herbs: Herbs like black cohosh, dong quai, evening primrose oil, ginseng and vitex agnus castus can help many women manage menopause symptoms most effectively.

d. Red clover isoflavone: Promensil, containing red clover isoflavone, is an effective natural remedy for menopause hot flashes. This dietary supplement is available over-the-counter, without a prescription, at any retail grocery, drug and health food stores. It decreases the number of hot flashes and night sweats.

e. ‘Good’ bacteria:Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidus are the ‘good’ bacteria in our intestines. They help in metabolism and utilization of estrogen during menopause. Good bacteria can be found in various nutritional formulas in the market.

f. Ayurveda: This ancient Indian science of holistic healing considers menopause as an ‘out of balance’ condition. It demands a lifestyle change, in which, you’d need to increase warm food and drinks, regular meals, early bedtime, oil massage, meditation, yoga, walking and spices, such as fennel and cumin.

Remember, the symptoms of menopause may vary from woman to woman. So, adopt whichever natural cure works best for you, but not without consulting your physician.

Natural Cure For Acne

2007-07-21T20:58:00.000-07:00

Use natural apple cider vinegarBragg's Apple Cider Vinegar (not the kind in grocery stores) to clear up acne. Start by using a dilution of one part apple cider vinegar to three parts water for a week. Next, make a mixture of one part vinegar to two parts water and use this for a week. You may want to continue with this strength. Some people will go on to use the apple cider vinegar straight, undiluted, but straight vinegar may be irritating to others. Apply the vinegar mixture to pimples with a cotton ball. This clears up the acne and helps to get rid of the red marks from past break-outs.

Teenagers can use diluted natural apple cider vinegarBragg's Apple Cider Vinegar (one part vinegar to three parts water) daily at the first sign of bumps to eliminate them before they become break-outs. This dilution is mild enough for most anyone's face, young or old. But, it should not be used on a man's face after shaving - using it before shaving will prevent stinging.

Natural apple cider vinegarBragg's Apple Cider Vinegar also comes in tablet form so you can easily gets its goodness inside your body as well as using the liquid directly on acne and scars.

From earthclinic.com...
Angelina has found that applying natural apple cider vinegarBragg's Apple Cider Vinegar to her face four or more times per day has cured her of a "very bad complexion." She applies it straight and says that, while it burns her skin a bit, it "works like a miracle!"

Cheryl says that her daughter developed a case of moderate acne. After trying a number of different things for over a year which helped very little or not at all, she started drinking two tablespoons of natural apple cider vinegarBragg's Apple Cider Vinegar three times a day and applying it topically once at night. She has been acne free for two months. It took about three weeks to clear up.

Natural cures For Ear Infection

2007-07-21T20:31:00.000-07:00

For the pain, put a cup of salt in the microwave for 2 to 3 minutes. Use coarse salt and dump it into a thick sock. The sock is to prevent burns. Apply the sock to the painful ear and it draws fluid out of the ear.

Get a washcloth full of hot water and wring it out. Hold this onto the ear until it cools. The moist heat will increase the circulation in the ear, thereby reducing the swelling and pain.

For the infection, put a few drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide into each ear, one ear at a time. Keep the solution in for 10 minutes or until the bubbling stops.

Note: Do not put liquids into your ears if you have a ruptured ear drum.

OR

Start with 1 tablespoon of Pure Almond Carrier Oilalmond oil and add 2 drops of Lavender Essential Oillavender essential oil, 2 drops of Chamomile Essential Oilchamomile essential oil, and 3 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oiltea tree essential oil. Mix this well, then warm the mixture. OR, another good mixture would be to start with 1 tablespoon of Pure Almond Carrier Oilalmond oil and add 2 drops of Lavender Essential Oillavender essential oil, 3 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oiltea tree essential oil, and 2 drops of Thyme Essential Oilthyme essential oil.

Two drops of this warm mixture can be put inside an infected ear three times a day (if the eardrum has never been punctured or perforated). A secondary method to further ease the pain and pressure, rub some of this mixture onto the inside and outside of the ear itself and on the affected side of the neck (the area of the lymph nodes). An even faster secondary method to relieve the pain and pressure is to get the mixture hot, add a few drops of this mixture to a little hot water, dip in a clean cloth, and use the cloth as a compress. Be careful that it is not hot enough to burn.

Note: 1) Red thyme pure essential oil is not suitable for children, epileptics or those who are prone to high blood pressure. 2) Thyme essential oil can induce a miscarriage or harm a fetus when taken internally and possibly when applied externally.

For a person who has had (ever) a perforated or punctured eardrum, follow the above procedures without adding drops inside the ear canal to achieve much of the healing and pain relief.

People that get a lot of ear infections might actually be allergic to dairy products, egg whites, wheat, peanuts or soy. Or, their intake of fatty foods may be too high.

To use these methods with babies, put one drop of the mixture into 1/4 cup of water for diluted strength, and use the diluted mixture as ear drops or for massaging.

Chewing gum that contains Xylitol (like Biotene Dry Mouth Gum, Arm & Hammer Dental Care Sugar Free Baking Soda Gum, or Altoids Chewing Gum) helps fight bacteria, cavities, plaque and gum disease, and helps whiten teeth. Gum chewing may help relieve pressure in the ear, and the pain from the pressure. Chewing Xylitol gum regularly has been shown to prevent inner ear infections by keeping the bacteria in the mouth from moving up into the nose and ears.

Recurring ear infections may be due to the overuse of antibiotics causing an overgrowth of candida (yeast). That is because the antibiotics kill also kill some good things in our body meant to keep out the bad things. The candida can cause a whole list of problems. In children it usually shows up as diaper rash (in women it is yeast infections), recurrent ear infections, asthma, and a host of other problems. Cutting out sugars and refined carbohydrates from the diet would help a lot, although this is not so easy with kids. So, replace the intestinal flora (a good thing) that was killed by the antibiotics. You do this with acidophilus, which comes in many forms: Acidophilus Tabletsacidophilus tablets, Children's Chewable Acidophilus Tabletschewable acidophilus, Acidophilus Strawberry Liquid, and Children's Acidophilus Powder.

Natural Cures For Heart Attack

2007-07-19T21:15:00.000-07:00

Natural Ways to Live Through a Heart Attack - More Than Home Remedies
Coughing vigorously when you think you're having a heart attack may save your life.

"Coughing creates a pumping action that can push blood through the body and to the brain, thereby keeping you going until medical help arrives, according to the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine."

"However, when and how you cough is important. It should start with a single cough every one to two seconds in bouts of five coughs." If possible, a deep breath should be taken before each cough, and the cough should be deep and long.

But, call 911 right away also to be sure that rescue workers get to you as quickly as possible. You don't have to be able to speak to get help from a 911 operator, they can get your address on their own to send help.

Most doctors agree that you should also chew (not swallow) one regular-strength aspirin if you think you are having a heart attack. (1- They don't say Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen or Naproxen, just aspirin. Read the box to be sure. 2- Don't do this if you are allergic to aspirin.) Chewing an aspirin will help save your life, but you still need to call 911 and receive medical help right away.

Doctors also say that taking one low-dose aspirin a day could prevent a heart attack. But, this has to be discussed with your doctor. Aspirin reduces the ability of your blood to clot when you are injured, can cause internal bleeding, and can be very harmful if you are already taking medication that prevents your blood from clotting. This therapy is not for everyone.

Conditions Lung Cancer

2007-07-19T20:36:00.000-07:00

Abnormal cell growth in either one or both of the lungs is the simple answer to the question, "What is lung cancer?" In healthy individuals, the cells within the lungs go about their business duplicating at a normal rate and turning into more and more lung tissues. The lungs continue to function properly and all is well.

But in damaged lungs, this rate of cell duplication becomes uncharacteristically fast yet new lung tissue fails to develop. These damaged (cancerous) cells begin to clump together and ultimately turn into cancerous tumors. Eventually, the tumors begin to interfere with the impacted lung's ability to function normally and that is when the full impact of the disease known as lung cancer begins to be noticed.

Quick Tips

Don't Have Time to Wash Your Hair? Blot your scalp with an oil-absorbing sheet, sprinkle some baby powder on your hair brush and comb your hair. This will remove the grease and give you a clean look.

Interestingly, although it usually takes many years for lung cancer to develop, the cells begin to take on abnormal characteristics almost immediately upon being exposed to cigarette smoke or the other environmental contaminants that can cause trouble in the lungs such as radon, asbestos, coal, air pollution, and even second-hand smoke.

Lung cancer can strike anyone regardless of gender, age or race. Even though it is more likely to strike those who are or who have been a smoker, lung cancer can develop in those who have never taken up this habit. Lung cancer in non-smokers is very rare, occurring in only about 10% of the cases, meaning that in almost 90% of the lung cancer cases, cigarette smoking is the instigator. Why is that so?

The primary purpose of the lungs is to breathe in air. The lungs remove the oxygen from this air and push it out into the blood where it can travel around the body as needed. Because the air we breathe is not always pure - it's filled with dust, dirt, and other types of pollutants - the upper part of the lung system was designed to clean it before allowing it to enter deeper into the lungs. In the case of smokers, the carcinogens in cigarette smoke can break down the lung's cleansing capabilities and as a result, dirty air and the contaminants within cigarette smoke continue to freely enter into the lungs. It is the absence of this cleansing capability that ultimately causes the cells inside the lungs to function abnormally.

Besides being the
#1 cause of cancer death in the United States, lung cancer is unfortunately so far a disease that has no cure. In fact, by the time lung cancer is discovered, few people will survive the first year after diagnosis.

Small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer are the two types of lung cancer that can develop. Eighty percent of the lung cancer cases are the slower-moving non-small cell type. The problem with this type of lung cancer is that it often spreads to other parts of the body. Sophisticated lung scans are generally the way most tumors are detected, but unfortunately, such scans are not part of routine medical care. That's probably why most lung cancer goes undiagnosed for so long.

Eating Disorder Treatments

2007-07-17T20:31:00.000-07:00

Eating disorders are the diseases caused due to the abnormal eating behavior of an individual. Many people suffer from such eating disorders. They indulge in eating more and more food, which is considered abnormal. A normal person cannot have the amount of food, a person suffering from an eating disorder can have.

Such abnormal patterns of food are not a result of increased hunger. Person having eating disorders have other problems. These problems are related to their lifestyle. Eating disorders are a sign of a problematic time in a person's life. People eat more food to suppress extreme emotions and depression.

There are also different types of eating disorders. Some types of eating disorders are: anorexia, compulsive eating, binge eating disorder and bulimia. These eating disorders are completely curable. You have to detect them on time and seek a medical advice. Treatment may takes a long time. But if the patient is given good support by his family and friends, he can fully overcome the disease.

There are certain misconception about eating disorders. One common misconception is that the males who have any eating disorder are considered to be gay. The fact is that sex has nothing to do with eating disorders. Secondly, if a man has one eating disorder, he cannot have another. Whereas, many people have multiple eating disorders.

The most common misbelieve is that teenage girls are more prone to eating disorders. It is a fact that you can have an eating disorder during your teenage years but anyone, be it children, young girls, and boys, can develop an eating disorder.

If someone around you seems to be suffering with eating disorders, help them. Such people become emotionally very weak and use food as a way to relieve themselves. Emotional support is the most important thing to treat these individuals.

How To Choose Best Skin Care Product ?

2007-07-12T21:15:00.000-07:00

There is really nothing like a best skin care product. There really cannot be any thing like "The best skin care product", because skin care products work differently for different people (based on the skin type to some extent). A product that is the "best skin product" for one person might end up being the worst for another person. So, a more logical question to ask would be " What is the best skin care product for my type of skin?".

Types of Skin:

There are five major types of skin. Understanding your skin type is the best approach to your personal skin care.

1- Normal Skin :
It is the type of skin that we’d all love to have. This is the “healthy” type of skin. This type is the not too oily, not too dry type, characterized by few blemishes, generally firm and smooth with small pores. When you pull the skin away from the bony structure, it springs back to normal position. Lines and wrinkles are appropriate for age.

2- Dry Skin :
Due to environmental exposure to harsh elements and very often lack of water skin may flake off and feel tight in your face. It may lack natural oils, may look rather flaky with small pores, blemishes and blackheads. Without adequate moisture, dry skin can easily become chapped. As dry skin ages, it’s more likely than other types to become wrinkly.

3- Oily Skin :
Skin may look oily and coarse, may have recurring blackheads, acne and large pores. The texture of skin is thick; the touch is often sticky. This type is usually youthful- looking due to the presence of oil on the skin. Often, individuals with oily skin have a tendency to develop acne in their teen and middle years, and overgrown oil glands, or sebaceous hyperplasia, in the middle and late years.

4- Combination Skin :
It varies according to your skin type. This is the Jekyll and Hyde type of skin, often with split personality. This type may be characterized as oily on the T-zone (the area that stretches from the forehead down to the nose and chin), and dry to normal on the cheeks and around the eye area.

5- Sensitive Skin :
People with sensitive skin are the most prone to allergies, rash, sting, and burns. This type of skin gets irritated easily and can go very red and blotchy. This type will have a lot more trouble to environmental factors and tends to be very sensitive to cosmetics.

It is only through experiment (and awareness) that you can find the "Best skin care product( for you) product". Know your skin and take care of it.
It is your glory to being healthy and beautiful.

Blood Circulation and its effect on our health

2007-07-07T20:54:00.000-07:00

Our body circulatory system have 3 parts: pulmonary circulation (lungs), coronary circulation (heart), and systemic circulation (the rest). This system mainly involves the heart, the lungs and the blood vessels. The lungs provide oxygen for the heart to pump to the rest of our body. This is done through blood circulation, the blood carries the oxygen from the lungs to the heart.

The heart then pumps the blood full of oxygen to all of our body cells. Nutrients are also carried in the blood to these cells. Our body cells and tissues will die if they do not receive blood.

The blood always circulates throughout our body, in arteries, capillaries and veins. It moves in the arteries away from the heart, to other parts of the body. As the arteries gets smaller as the blood travels away from the heart, they become capillaries. It is from here that oxygen is supplied to the tissues and in turn, takes away the waste and carbon dioxide.

The returning blood circulation then enters the right side of the heart and moves on to the lungs, where carbon dioxide is deposited. It then picks up more oxygen and returns to the left side of the heart. The whole process is repeated as the heart pumps the blood again.

So, how do blood circulation affects our health? In many ways, in fact, the circulation affects the whole body and its functions, and is a basic precondition to maintain good health. Below are some cases of the effects of blood circulation.

Brain
In this circulatory system, about 20% of the blood pumped from our heart goes to the brain, which only represents 2% of our body's weight.
Good Blood Circulation gives:

* Good memory and concentration
* Good coordination of body parts
* Quick response to stimulation

Unhealthy Blood Circulation gives:

* Headache
* Feeling faint and dizziness
* Reduced or poor mental clarity - forget names easily
* Poor comprehension of figures

Severely Unhealthy Blood Circulation gives:

* Dementia
o Short term memory loss, inability to think through problems, confusion, paranoia, bizarre behaviour
* Stroke
o Long term build up of cholesterol in the brain's blood vessels may narrow the blood vessels and hence, disrupt blood flow.
o When the blood vessels in the brain are blocked or rupture due to increased pressure, a person is said to suffer from stroke.
o Stroke victims may suffer paralysis, impaired speech, or even death.

Heart Muscles
Good Blood Circulation gives:

* Good energy and stamina
* Regular and normal heart rate

Unhealthy Blood Circulation gives:

* Shortness of breath
o Breathing difficulty is a common symptom of inadequate blood flow to the heart
* Feeling faint and dizziness
* Fatigue
o Easily feels tired when performing physical activities such as jogging

Severely Unhealthy Blood Circulation gives:

* Angina
o Chest pains due to poor circulation to the heart
* Heart attack
o Fatty materials build up gradually in the heart's blood vessels, narrowing the path and obstructs blood flow. Eventually, this triggers a heart attack.
o Heart failure have a high risk of death, while a mild or moderate heart attack may gradually cause heart failure months or years after the heart attack.

Liver
Our liver performs many vital functions, which includes:

* Metabolism of carbohydrates, fat and protein
* Removal of worn-out cells, drugs and toxins
* Storage for glycogen, vitamins and minerals
* Activating Vitamin D

Good Blood Circulation gives:

* Good energy and stamina
* Few or no allergies
* Smooth and healthy skin
* Normal glucose level

Unhealthy Blood Circulation gives:

* Poor appetite and weight loss
* Itchy skin

Severely Unhealthy Blood Circulation gives:

* Lethargy
* Jaundice

Kidneys
Our kidneys

* Eliminate excess water, urea, uric acid and other waste materials
* Regulate the blood pressure, blood pH and blood volume
* Help synthesize and secrete hormones

Good Blood Circulation gives:

* Good energy and stamina
* Little or no incidence of water retention
* Normal blood pressure and heart rate

Unhealthy Blood Circulation gives:

* Build-up of waste and water in your body
o Symptoms: Swelling of face, hands, ankles or feet
* Fatigue
* Rapid heart rate and light-headedness

Severely Unhealthy Blood Circulation gives:

* Kidney failure

Legs/Hands
Good Blood Circulation gives:

* Warm feet and hands
* Low incidence of foot ulcer
* Quick healing of all wounds

Unhealthy Blood Circulation gives:

* Cold hands and feet, may feel numb

Severely Unhealthy Blood Circulation gives:

* Varicose veins
* Poor healing of wounds
* Cyanosis
o Skin looks blue due to lack of oxygen supply to body parts

Reproductive Organs
Good Blood Circulation gives:

* Normal sex drive
* Hormonal balance
* Enhanced vitality

Unhealthy Blood Circulation gives:

* Low libido

Severely Unhealthy Blood Circulation gives:

* Impotency

Fats and Fibers in your Food Determine your Blood Glucose Level

2007-07-07T20:35:00.000-07:00

Blood sugar is a measure of how much glucose (the cell-utilized end product of all carbohydrates) is in our blood, it is determined by how much glucose is introduced into blood externally or internally. Then what is the relation between fats, fibers and blood glucose?

Unless you ingest native food like table sugar or butter, almost all foods are naturally or artificially blends of the macro-nutrients- carbohydrates, proteins, and fats- and by virtue, how fast these foods deliver glucose is determined by their carbohydrate content, how complexed is the food, and finally how fast the stomach extracts glucose to be delivered to the blood

Glycemic Index measures how much glucose is produced from a certain food INSIDE the stomach compared to table sugar as the standard highest glucose producing food. Examples of foods having high glycemic index are sugars, refined grains made from flour, fruits and root vegetables. Glycemic index was formerly used to measure how high that food raises blood sugar, as table sugar raises blood glucose very fast, but when we compare it to Carrots that has a considerable glycemic index, we find that Carrots raises blood glucose far slower than sugar.

Foods with high content of fibers like Vegetables and fruits takes sometime to deliver its content of glucose.The high-fat meal slows the gastric emptying and slows the delivery of glucose into the blood stream, and this is clinically tested and proven. These findings led the nutrition scientists to develop a new measure to rank foods regarding their blood glucose raising effect called Glycemic Load, which tells you how fast a food raises blood glucose levels.

Implementing the glycemic load gives us a clear picture of how great and fast our blood glucose level would be after eating a certain food.
Carrots has GI of 47 and a GL of 10.
Potatoes has a GI of 57 and a GL of 45.
Air-popped popcorn, has a glycemic index of 72, and a GL of 8.
Macaroni has a GI OF 23, and a GL of 47.

If you add a tablespoonful of oil (e.g. Olive,Canola...) to your favored plate of green salad to make a snack, it would make you feel satiety while you are eating a very healthy food according to all health recommendations.
In general, Use your own common sense and eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans and other seeds. Avoid the refined carbohydrates... foods made with extracted sugars, flour, white rice or milled corn products.

Natural Remedies For High Blood Pressure

2007-07-05T20:48:00.000-07:00

If you find someone flushing in your presence, don't get any wrong notions, he or she might very well be displaying the symptoms of high blood pressure! High blood pressure, more commonly referred to as hypertension, can take your life. Thus, it's a serious enough condition to sit up and take note. An estimated over fifty million people in the US alone are afflicted with this silent killer.

What is blood pressure?

Blood pressure is the force exerted by the blood against the walls of the arteries, veins, and the chambers of the heart, as it is pumped through the body. High blood pressure occurs when the exertion of this force increases. Over time, this can begin to damage the lining of the blood vessels and may even lead to atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. It ultimately results in heart attack, stroke and other serious conditions.

What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?

Common symptoms associated with high blood pressure are flushed face, headache, dizziness, nervousness, restlessness, fatigue and weakness, difficulty in breathing, bleeding from the nose, insomnia, intestinal complaints, emotional instability, and the like. And these innocuous looking symptoms can lead to complications, such as stroke, heart disease and kidney failure.

What are the causes of high blood pressure?

The number one cause for high blood pressure is heredity, but there is usually more than one factor involved. Amongst the environmental factors are diet, atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, diabetes, stress, obesity, and so on. Some nutritionists indicate lack of potassium and magnesium in the diet, especially in relation to salt intake, as the cause for this condition. Contamination from heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium is also known to be a cause. Of course, lifestyle factors, such as coffee and alcohol consumption, and smoking also play a role.

What are the high blood pressure natural remedies?

High blood pressure can damage many organs in the body and increase the risk of stroke, brain hemorrhage, heart attack and kidney failure at an early age. High blood pressure can be controlled. You only need to bring some discipline into your lives! In most mild cases, dietary and lifestyle changes can normalize blood pressure. However, have a look at what the natural remedies for lowering blood pressure are:

a. Minerals: Ensure adequate intake of minerals by eating potassium-rich foods, like asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, green peas, potatoes, avocados, bananas, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, grapefruit, nectarines, oranges and squash. For magnesium, eat wheat germ, rice, nuts, potatoes, bananas, molasses, soy, kidney and lima beans.

b. Garlic: Studies indicate that garlic appears to lower the blood pressure by five to ten percent. It also lowers cholesterol, reduces triglyceride levels, discourages clot formation, and promotes blood circulation.

c. Hawthorn: Hawthorn or Crataegus oxycantha is a well known heart herbal tonic. It's known to decrease the blood pressure and the heart rate and increase heart muscle contraction and blood flow to the heart muscle. However, its full effect takes several weeks or months to develop.

d. Ayurvedic medicine: The ancient Indian medical science of Ayurveda pins the blame of high blood pressure on each person's dosha or constitution. Those with pitta or kapha type of constitution are more prone to it. It treats high blood pressure the natural way by introducing a low salt and fat diet, yoga, breathing exercises, and the like.

e. Traditional Chinese medicine: According to traditional Chinese medicine, the problems in circulation of energy in the body are the cause of high blood pressure. A combination of acupuncture and herbs can balance this energy flow.

High blood pressure is dangerous. Prevent it by making lifestyle changes, like regular exercise, stress management, breathing exercises, and the like. But, if you do get afflicted with it, take the help of natural remedies. They are safe, effective and without side effects. However, don't forget to take your physician's advice first.

Honey, Other Foods for Abscesses and Boils

2007-07-03T20:48:00.000-07:00

Honey alone or with other ingredients has been used to treat abscesses sand boils for thousands of years. Honey can be applied alone on the skin and there are now preparations that contain honey as one of their ingredients, or mixed with other foods to make some dermatological applications.

In case honey is made into paste, you can follow this procedure:
# Apply the paste to a clean lint and place over the affected area.
# Hold in place with a plaster or bandage.
# Change the dressing twice a day.

Here are some recipes :

1- Honey + Fenugreek

Fenugreek 1/2 oz
Honey 1 Tablespoonful
Water 1/2 Cup

# Soak the fenugreek seeds in water until it absorbs most of the water
# Put the vessel containing fenugreek paste in a boiling water bath ( another vessel containing boiling water put on a flame) for about 10 minutes until a soft consistency with a dark color is obtained.You can beat it to ease the process.
# Mix the resultant paste with honey and use it as a poultice repeatedly.
========

2- Honey + Cheese

White unprocessed cheese 1 oz
Honey 1 Tablespoonful

# Dry the cheese until can be powdered.
# Mix the powdered cheese with honey and apply to the affected area asrecommended.
========

3- Honey + Egg Yolk

Egg Yolk 1
Honey 1 Tablespoonful

# Blend the honey and egg yolk to make a thin paste.
# Apply the paste to a clean lint and place over the affected area.
# Hold in place with a plaster or a bandage.
# Change the dressing twice a day.
========

4- Honey +Lupins :

Lupins (pea family) 1 oz
Vinegar 1 Tablespoonful
Honey 1 Tablespoonful

# Make Lupins into powder.
# Heat the lupins powder with vinegar and honey to form a paste.
# Apply the paste to a clean lint and place over the affected area.
# Hold in place with a plaster or bandage.
# Change the dressing twice a day.
========

5- Honey + Flower :
Honey 1 oz
Flower 1 Tablespoon

# Mix to make a paste and apply as recommended.

Natural Remedies For Allergy

2007-06-30T06:36:00.000-07:00

Allergies, especially the seasonal ones, affect over twenty-two million people in the US alone! The symptoms can be as diverse as runny nose, itching, red patches, and so on. There are many over-the-counter prescriptions available, but all have some side effect or the other. However, if you opt for natural remedies, you’ll not only keep your allergies at bay, but would also save yourself from side effects.

How does allergy occur?

We continuously breathe in pollen, dust particles, molds, spores, animal hairs and insects that float in the air. When such foreign bodies, called allergens, enter the body, the body's immune system fights them by producing antibodies and by releasing certain chemicals called histamines. Most of the time this fight goes unnoticed, but in certain cases, it may cause an inflammatory reaction. This is called an allergy. You may get allergic even through certain foods, like wheat, corn, yeast, eggs, milk, coffee and chocolate. Even food additives, pesticides, chemical sprays, hydrocarbons, and so on can bring on this condition. Tobacco is also known to contain many allergens.

What are the symptoms of allergy?

The inflammatory reaction to allergens mainly affects the skin, mucous membranes, lungs and gastrointestinal tract. This may result in itching, skin reactions, headache, runny and congested nose and sinuses, watery eyes, sneezing, respiratory symptoms and rapid heart beat. You may even suffer fatigue, intestinal gas or pain, abdominal bloating and mood changes.

Allergies can be severe and may even force you to change your lifestyle. And in their case, prevention is far better than the cure. So, if you can identify beforehand what’s causing the allergy, you can take precautionary measures, by avoiding the cause altogether.

How to prevent allergies?

There're things you can do to prevent allergies. The allergens, especially consumed through food and drinks, need to be kept out. So, drink lots of water and fruit juices, except citrus. Include brown or white rice in your diet. For non-vegetarians, turkey and white fish, like sole, halibut, are recommended. All green vegetables, except corn and tomatoes, also prove beneficial. And so do almonds, walnuts and sunflower seeds. However, if you do fall victim to an allergy, go in for natural allergy home relief remedy.

Natural remedy for allergy

Herbal remedy for allergy is an effective way to counter allergies. Let's see some of them:

a. Garlic: Garlic or Allium sativum, used for centuries, is a potent treatment against allergy causing bacteria and yeasts. Garlic owes its efficacy to allicin. Garlic and other alliums can raise or lower blood sugar levels. However, diabetic or hypoglycemic should be cautious in its use.

b. Green Tea: Green tea is rich in phytonutrients that help ward off allergens. It’s also effective against many types of bacteria.

c.Licorice Root: Licorice, according to the Chinese medicine, is said to replenish vital energy, moisten the lungs and strengthen digestion to keep away the allergens.

d. Ephedra: Ephedra or Ephedra sinicia is also known as mahuang. This herb figures prominently in Chinese medicine for treating bronchial and inflammatory disorders. However, its use can raise both systolic and diastolic blood pressure and may even cause excitability in some.

e. Nettle: Nettle or Urtica dioica has enjoyed a long history as a treatment for seasonal allergies. It's effective, but be sure not to confuse it with Urtica urens, which contains high levels of leukotrienes and histamine.

f. Echinacea: Echinacea or Echinacea purpurea is a Native American herb and is also known as purple coneflower. It fights allergies by increasing the production of T-cells in the blood.

Allergies are here to stay and they can affect you at any time in your life. So, it’s best to take preventive measures to keep them at bay. But if you do get afflicted, opt for natural remedies, as they are safe and effective. However, take your physician into confidence before taking any medicine.

Natural Herbal Remedies For Tootheache Pain Relief

2007-06-28T20:36:00.000-07:00

My tooth is killing me!!!
Almost everyone at some point in his or her life will experience the agony of a toothache. Holding your face, taking an aspirin, and applying ice cannot fully combat the bacteria causing damage inside your mouth. While tooth decay is the main reason that toothaches develop in adults and children, there are plenty of other reasons why you may suffer from this unmistakable pain and discomfort of the tooth.

What is a Toothache?

A toothache occurs when some sort of decay or injury has occurred to a particular tooth that has reached the nerves. The number one reason that toothaches occur is through the decay caused by bacteria thriving inside the mouth. The more sugars and starches you consume, the stronger and stickier the bacteria will be, as it attaches itself to the surface of your teeth.

When a high level of bacteria is present, acids are produced, which eat away at tooth enamel [1]. A cavity is the result. The first sign that a toothache may erupt is the sensation of pain that is felt when you eat or drink something that is too sweet, cold or hot. Usually, this is a clear sign to meet with your dentist.

Symptoms

While pain is one of the main symptoms associated with a toothache, additional symptoms might be present. They include:

a) A Painful Bite: When biting down or eating food, you may notice extra pain during a toothache.

b) Swollen Gums: Your gums may become swollen, red or sore. This is also a sign that you may suffer from an impacted tooth.

c) A Bump: When a toothache is more than a cavity, a bump may appear. Located close to or on the side of a sore tooth, a red bump that is swollen and painful may develop. This bump is a sign that infection has set in the tooth, which is also known as an abscess.

Causes of Toothache

While the main cause of a toothache tends to be tooth decay, an unhealthy or improper diet might be the root of this problem. If you consume a great amount of soda, candy, pastries, cookies, cakes, and other sugar-filled foods, you will increase your chances of developing a toothache. This is because the sugar from these foods is broken down into acids by the bacteria inside your mouth. All of this leads to an erosion of tooth enamel, which is supposed to be pretty strong. Additional causes of toothache include:

a) Cavities

b) Tooth Rot

c) Disease: When the gums or jaw shows signs of disease, this might be the cause of your tooth pain.

d) Wisdom Teeth: Sometimes wisdom teeth take their time falling into line with the rest of your teeth. When this occurs, you may experience pain and aching gums [2].

e) Tooth Injury: When a tooth becomes cracked or affected by injury, a toothache is a likely outcome.

Toothaches may also develop because you are suffering from a different type of medical problem. Vitamin deficiencies have been known to make teeth ache, such as a lack of vitamin B12. Sinus infections, cluster headaches, facial shingles, nerve damage, diabetes, alcoholism, and drug abuse are all known causes of tooth pain. A toothache may even serve as an early sign for a heart attack [3].

Natural Remedies for Toothache

When looking for a homeopathic or herbal toothache remedy, there are many choices to consider. Sometimes natural toothache relief is the best for some who favor home remedies beyond ingesting over-the-counter products or man-made chemical prescriptions.

a) Lime: Lime contains a high amount of vitamin C, which is great when it comes to maintaining tooth health. This effective fruit also has a knack for preventing tooth decay and bleeding gums. Use this remedy to effectively soothe toothaches.

b) Echinacea: Although primarily seen as a cold and flu treatment, this herb has been known to naturally treat toothaches. It is believed that freshly dug echinacea root straight from the ground is the best remedy to select, meaning this is a great plant choice to have in a garden.

c) Tea Tree Essential Oil: Using a few drops of tea tree essential oil infused in water can be used to cleanse the mouth as well as provide relief for inflamed gums. This is quite a strong antibacterial to turn to.

d) Herbal Toothpastes: A toothpaste made from either calendula or myrrh have been known to effectively treat gums and teeth.

e) Clove: Clove is known to reduce the pain associated with toothache, as well as decrease the presence of infection through its antiseptic powers. When applying the 1-2 drops of essential oil to an already decayed tooth, it is known to relieve the symptoms of toothache. You may also chew a clove for results. There is even an oil of clove toothpaste on the market for you to consider.

Toothache Prevention

One of the best ways to avoid a toothache is to follow proper oral hygiene, including brushing your teeth; flossing; using antibacterial mouthwash; and making regular dentist appointments. As far as a diet goes, selecting healthy choices will result in healthy teeth. Unfortunately, this means passing on the candy bars and soda, and increasing your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Natural Remedies For Arthritis & Joint Pain

2007-06-27T20:34:00.000-07:00

Natural Arthritis Remedies

Chronic joint pains or arthritis can not only immobilize, but make life a living hell. Imagine experiencing pain while sleeping, getting out of bed, arising from a toilet seat, dressing, walking, preparing meals, writing and attending to personal matters that involve bodily movements. You’d be surprised to know as many as one in three adults in the US get affected by one of the more than hundred types of arthritis.

Knowing arthritis

According to doctors, the common pains usually go away after a few days, but pains due to arthritis persist over weeks. For most people arthritis sets in as the body ages, as joints naturally degenerate over time. In fact, people over the age of fifty begin to get susceptible to it. So, what exactly is this condition?

Arthritis may include joint pains and inflammation, resulting in the limited movement of the joints. This happens due to decreased lubrication provided by cartilage, a slippery smooth substance that covers most joints. If this cartilage degenerates or gets damaged or narrowed, it can give rise to over a hundred types of arthritis and rheumatic diseases, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia.

An inflamed joint may appear reddish, swollen, tender and warm to the touch. So, if you experience pain, stiffness or swelling, around a joint for more than two weeks, it’s time to visit your physician. Fortunately, arthritis can be managed through a combination of medication, exercise, rest, weight-management, nutrition, and, in some cases, surgery. However, the best course is to prevent the condition or take natural remedies for arthritis.

Preventing arthritis

You can prevent arthritis by following the tips given as under:

a. Avoid excess stress: Protect your joints by avoiding excess stress. This can be done by using devices that assist you around the house. You should also aim at preserving and improving your daily tasks to help treat the condition.

b. Maintain ideal weight: There’s a relation between arthritis and body weight. If you’re overweight, your joints would’ve to bear that much extra weight. By staying within your ideal weight, you help relieve pressure on your hips and knees.

c. Avoid animal foods: Meat contains arachidonic acid that provokes joint inflammation and aggravates arthritis.

d. Find out your food allergies: They’ve been linked to many types of arthritis. So, find out if you’re allergic to food stuffs, like wheat, corn, dairy products, tomatoes, white potatoes, eggplant, peppers, citrus, salt, caffeine, and the like.

Natural remedies for arthritis

Now with so many drugs for arthritis available in the market, why would you go in for natural remedies? The reasons can be many, like you may not have responded well to an over-the-counter medication or may have experienced side effects. You may even be a staunch non-believer in healing your body chemically. So, natural remedy seems the most sensible course. Whether you’re seeking natural remedy for rheumatoid arthritis or arthritis natural pain remedy, there are a few excellent and safe options to be tried. Let’s have a look at them:

a. Natural oils: Consuming fish oils controls inflammation in the body. Even oils of flax, borage, sesame, sunflower and pumpkin prove as effective.

b. Ginger: Being an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory, it is effective in reliving the arthritic condition with no major side effects.

c. Nettle leaf: It improves the condition and reduces the need for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

d. Acupuncture: This Chinese needle therapy is known to relive pain even in the most severe cases.

e. Aroma therapy: Certain natural fragrances help in reducing the pain and discomfiture of arthritic condition.

f. Magnet therapy: Magnets worn as wrist bands or in clothing or bed linens are known to relive this condition.

g. Other therapies: Yoga, meditation, creative visualization and imagery are other natural therapies for arthritis, which have been successfully practiced.

Natural remedies for arthritis seem inviting, especially when compared to the side effects associated with prescription drugs. But, always consult your physician before you try them out.

The Good and The Bad Laxatives For Weight Loss

2007-06-26T20:41:00.000-07:00

One popular weight loss supplements available in the market today take the form of tea. Stores all over sell slimming tea, dieter's tea and others but all of them are actually the same. They may appear to be effective, but what is not seen may actually harm you.

One of the effects of drinking dieter's tea is frequent bowel movement. This gives people the feeling of body cleansing. These people may get toxins out of their body but it isn't exactly the only thing that slimming tea actually does to the body. Slimming tea contains herbs which are natural laxatives. These include aloe, senna, rhubarb root, cascara, buckthorn and castor oil.

These are products which are derived from plants and are used since the ancient times because of their potency in treating constipation and to inducing bowel movement.
Cascara, castor oil and senna are substances which are recognized as laxatives available over the counter and are also regulated as drugs.

Scientific studies show that diarrhea induced by laxatives does not absorb significant amounts of calories taken in the body. The reason for this is that laxatives do not act on the small intestines where most of the calories are absorbed. Instead, they work on the large intestines. If taken in large amounts for prolonged periods, it can affect fat absorption of the body. This may lead to Steatorrhea (greasy diarrhea) and loss of weight. Abuse of laxatives is common practice among people who suffer from bulimia and anorexia nervosa.

While weight loss can be guaranteed by overdosing on laxatives, it may also cause permanent damage to the gastrointestinal tract and the weakening and softening of the bones, a condition known as osteomalacia. Drinkers of slimming teas may actually patronize the product because they are less expensive and taste better than other laxatives sold in the market. Other people, such as those with eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia nervosa drink dieter's tea because they work fast and produce watery stool and having loose consistency.

Women may even be more susceptible to the effects of slimming teas. Although they may are not known to interfere directly with the woman's menstrual cycle and fertility, they should watch out if drinking them causes them to rapidly shed off weight. It is also not safe for pregnant women to be taking in laxatives of any kind. Wise and responsible herbalists also discourage the use of senna and other herbal products with laxative properties for pregnant women and women who are trying to conceive, and the doctors do that as well.

One should be wary about these findings because the labeling of slimming teas in the market today can be absolutely misleading. For instance, they commonly refer to the laxative qualities as "natural bowel cleansing properties" and not specifically use the word "laxative", and in all cases it does not relate to weight loss.Some even use the term "low-calorie" on their labelling, when you are not going to use them for nutrition. These products in fact, contain essentially no calories nor nutrients whatsoever; unless of course, if they are sweetened.

Taking laxatives in the form of slimming tea in more than or longer than recommended may lead to the following adverse effects :
* Nausea
* Stomach cramps
* Vomiting
* Diarrhea
* Fainting
* Rectal bleeding
* Electrolyte disorder
* Dehydration
* Death caused by cardiac arrest
* Excess use of stimulant laxatives cause severe constipation and pain for long periods due to the colon losing its function. It eventually led to surgery removing the colon altogether.

This highlights the charm of negative calorie foods ! they bear all of the claimed benefits of -laxative containing- slimming teas, like regulating bowl movement, softening the stools, and actual Calorie loss, they have the following wonderful advantages :

* They never produce side effects
* They act through the whole digestive tract and not on special part of it
* They have actual calorie consuming effect that is spent in their transport (they are the exercise tools of your gut)
* They add essential vitamins to the body rather than taking them away
* They have safety record of thousands of years
* They have indispensable taste
* they are a part of the new recommended healthy lifestyle
* They are the resource of natural health tools like antioxidants, bioflavonoids ...etc
* Their regular use induces normal bowl movement so that you never need to use laxatives
* They are already included in your nutrition, yet you are required to reconsider their portion size to make them frequent large ones

Instead of swallowing large amounts of harmful products, go shop your preferences of negative calorie foods, fruits and vegetables.

Acid Reflux and Your Life Style

2007-06-26T20:37:00.000-07:00

What is acid reflux and how it is formed, and what factors that participate to form or relieve it is what we will discuss now.

The first organ with storing capacity in the digestive tract is the stomach. The stomach secretes plenty of acid to partially digest proteins, the food in the stomach is ground and admixed with its acid content. The 2 ports of the stomach are attached to 2 tubes, the upper one is the esophagus that carries food from the throat to the stomach, and the lower one is the jejunum that represents the first part of the small intestine.

Food is allowed only to pass up-down thanks to 2 valve like muscles that are located at the end of the upper tube (esophagus) and the beginning of the lower tube (jejunum), they both stay tightly closed and only open to allow food in or out of the stomach in the up-down direction.

If the muscle of the esophageal sphincter weakens and allows stomach acid to splash up into the esophagus, one feels heartburn, chest discomfort, and bitter fluid flowing up into the mouth, if the stomach juice trickles into the breathing canals, hoarseness, cough, and even shortening of breath can occur, which are the symptoms of GERD (GastroEsophageal Reflux Disease).

These symptoms may be even aggravated by the weakening of the lower sphincter which allows reflux of the jejunum contents including bile acids into the stomach thus increasing its acidity, and this may be seen with people with gall bladder disorders.

Weakening of the muscle sphincters can be induced by factors other than food including some habits and way of living:
* Tobacco in all forms : Nicotine weaken the sphincter muscle
* Swallowing air through Chewing gum and hard candy leads to belching and reflux.
* Obesity
* Postural : lying down or bending over after eating, and sleeping position ( head of the bed should be elevated 6-8 inches)
* Late evening snacks
* Large portion size

The following foods aggravate acid reflux and should be avoided :
* Fatty/Oils : Fries - Creamy foods or soups - Salad dressing ; oil & vinegar
* Fruits : Orange juice - Lemon - Lemonade - Grapefruit juice - Cranberry juice - Tomato
* Vegetables : Mashed potatoes - French fries - Onion, raw
* Peppermint and spearmint
* Dairy : whole milk - milk shake - ice cream - cottage cheese;regular
* Grains : Macaroni and cheese - Spaghetti with sauce
* Sweets&Desserts : Butter cookie;high fat - Brownie - Doughnuts - Chocolate - Corn ships
* Beverage : Liquor - Wine - Coffee - Tea
* Most fast foods

Some foods irritate an inflamed lower esophagus and may need to be limited and consumed with discretion, they include :
* Fruits : Orange juice, low-acid - Apple Cider - Peach - Blueberries - Strawberries - Grapes - Cranberries, dried
* Vegetables : Garlic - Onion, cooked - Leeks - Sauerkraut - Scallion
* Meat : Hot dog - Ham - Fish, fried - Eggs, fried - Scrambled Eggs, in butter - Tuna salad - Chicken salad
* Dairy : Yogurt - Milk, 2% or skim - Cheddar Cheese - Mozzarella cheese
* Grains : Garlic bread - Muffin - Granola cereal
* Beverages : Beer (alcoholic&non-alcoholic)-Non-alcoholic wine - Cola

The safe foods for acid reflux people includes :
* Fruits : Apple ( fresh, dried, and juice) - Banana
* Vegetables : Baked potato - Broccoli - Cabbage - Carrots - Green beans - Peas
* Meat : Ground beef, extra-lean - Steak, London Broil - Chicken breast, skinless - Egg whites - Egg substitute - Fish, no added fat
* Dairy : Cheese, feta or goat - Cream cheese, fat-free - Sour cream, fat-free - Soy cheese, low- fat
* Grains : Bread, milt-grain or white - Cereal, bran or oatmeal - Corn bread - Graham crackers - Pretzels - Rice, brown or white - Rice cakes
* Beverages : Mineral water
* Fats / Oils : Salad dressing, low-fat
* Sweets / Desserts : Cookie, fat-free - Jelly beans - Red licorice - Potato chips, baked

Coffee keeps eye tremors at bay

2007-06-25T20:35:00.000-07:00

Italian researchers have found that having one or two cups of coffee a day could protect you from eye tremors, a condition in which there is sustained, forced, involuntary closing of the eyelids.

The disorder known as blepharospasm usually affects people aged between 50 and 70. People with blepharospasm may be unable to prevent their eyes from clamping shut so at times they are effectively blind. The first symptoms of the disorder may include eye irritation and discomfort, sensitivity to light and increased blinking. Researchers from the Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences of the University of Bari studied 166 people who have uncontrollable twitching of the eyelid that in extreme cases stops them from being able to see. The age of the onset of the spasm was also found to be greater in patients who drank more coffee, 1.7 years for each additional cup per day, reported the online edition of the BBC News.

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Eat Healthy This Monsoon

2007-06-25T20:30:00.000-07:00

The high humidity in the atmosphere during the onset of monsoon, promotes the growth of disease causing bacteria. Food poisoning and gastroenteritis are always on the rise during that “in-between” season when we move from summer to the monsoons. Here are some pointers to keep in mind to avoid falling ill this rainy season.
While eating out

• Food, like dal, soup, pasta, that is supposed to be served hot must be served piping hot. When placing your order, specify that you want it very hot.
Similarly, frozen foods like ice-cream must be served completely frozen. At home, make sure you do not refreeze melted ice-cream as it becomes a good environment for bacterial growth, which could lead to food poisoning.

• Avoid eating raw food in the form of salads; you never know if they have been washed, cleaned and stored well at the right temperature before being served to you. Opt for stir-fried vegetables.

• Chutneys and sauces are usually allowed to stand at room temperature for several hours in restaurants and are loaded with harmful microorganisms, avoid if possible.

• Avoid milk products, especially mithai, if the restaurant or outlet you are buying from does not store/display them at controlled temperatures. This is because the high sugar content and the milk together provide a suitable environment for bacterial growth.

• Avoid eating at roadside eateries especially those serving pani puri or bhel puri as the chutneys may lack hygiene and could be the cause of an upset stomach.
Another common ailment is a stomach upset

Drinking an adequate amount of water is necessary throughout the year. Even in the monsoons when you rarely feel thirsty. Drink plenty of liquids in the form of water or coconut water.
Always keep oral rehydration salts sachets handy to prevent dehydration. You get ready made ones at any chemist.

Even if it is a minor illness, try as far as possible not to self medicate; take the opinion of your doctor.

Just Stay Away From All Inclusive Holidays

2007-06-21T21:03:00.000-07:00

This is the time that everybody expected for the entire year. Take a few days off, forget about work, about the city and problems and just go and relax in a heavenly location for entertainment along with eating and drinking.

You should be careful though and avoid all inclusive holidays if you don’t want to gain back in just 1 week every pound you worked at the gym to get it off.

It’s impossible to stay away of the delicious dishes and services the hotels lure you with:

* unlimited meals and snacks including breakfast, lunch and dinner
* unlimited beverages including premium alcohol, juices and soft drinks
* full 24 hour room service.

It’s a fact the people who come back from this kind of a holiday also bring back an extra of 5-10 pounds, no matter if you regularly tend to overeat or not.

To avoid this situation you should choose the services only with breakfast included and don’t forget to do plenty of exercises. 30 minutes of walking after each meal should be enough to maintain your weight.

What should you eat in your holiday?

The meals should not be very different from your usual meals, but if you want to try something new, focus on:

* seafood
* salads
* everything else grilled, steamed or boiled.

If this is not helping you and you still cannot stay away of the “bad” food, you should at least visit the hotel’s pool or gym as much as you can to balance your calorie intake.

Steps For Losing Weight

2007-06-21T20:52:00.000-07:00

Usually people don’t just wake up and say “Starting with today I’m going to eat healthier and I’m going to exercise more”. No! This is happening most of the time without even realizing it.

You just feel better eating a grilled chicken breast than a portion of French friezes and then you feel like taking a walk to the grocery store or like getting down from the bus 2 stations earlier and walk home.

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services have a list with the steps you can do to lose weight. I haven’t realized how many things I am already doing without any effort.

I wrote in bold the steps I took until now and I’m a little bit over 50 % with 61. :) This is good, I would say, taking into consideration that I live in a apartment and I don’t have kids (to play with) or a dog (to walk).

So what’s your “score” on the small steps to lose weight list?

1. Walk to work.
2. Use fat free milk over whole milk.
3. Do sit-ups in front of the TV.
4. Walk during lunch hour.
5. Drink water before a meal.
6. Eat leaner red meat & poultry.
7. Eat half your dessert.
8. Walk instead of driving whenever you can.
9. Take family walk after dinner.
10. Skate to work instead of driving.

11. Avoid food portions larger than your fist.
12. Mow lawn with push mower.
13. Increase the fiber in your diet.
14. Walk to your place of worship instead of driving.
15. Walk kids to school.
16. Get a dog and walk it.
17. Join an exercise group.
18. Drink diet soda.
19. Replace Sunday drive with Sunday walk.
20. Do yard work.
21. Eat off smaller plates.
22. Get off a stop early & walk.
23. Don’t eat late at night.
24. Skip seconds.
25. Work around the house.
26. Skip buffets.
27. Grill, steam or bake instead of frying.
28. Bicycle to the store instead of driving.
29. Take dog to the park.
30. Ask your doctor about taking a multi-vitamin.
31. Go for a half-hour walk instead of watching TV.
32. Use vegetable oils over solid fats.
33. More carrots, less cake.
34. Fetch the newspaper yourself.
35. Sit up straight at work.
36. Wash the car by hand.
37. Don’t skip meals.
38. Eat more celery sticks.
39. Run when running errands.
40. Pace the sidelines at kids’ athletic games.
41. Take wheels off luggage.
42. Choose an activity that fits into your daily life.
43. Try your burger with just lettuce, tomato, and onion.
44. Ask a friend to exercise with you.
45. Make time in your day for physical activity.
46. Exercise with a video if the weather is bad.
47. Bike to the barbershop or beauty salon instead of driving.
48. Keep to a regular eating schedule.
49. If you find it difficult to be active after work, try it before work.
50. Take a walk or do desk exercises instead of a cigarette or coffee break.
51. Perform gardening or home repair activities.
52. Avoid laborsaving devices.
53. Take small trips on foot to get your body moving.
54. Play with your kids 30 minutes a day.
55. Dance to music.
56. Keep a pair of comfortable walking or running shoes in your car and office.
57. Make a Saturday morning walk a group habit.
58. Walk briskly in the mall.
59. Choose activities you enjoy & you’ll be more likely to stick with them.
60. Stretch before bed to give you more energy when you wake.
61. Take the long way to the water cooler.
62. Explore new physical activities.
63. Vary your activities, for interest and to broaden the range of benefits.
64. Reward and acknowledge your efforts.
65. Choose fruit for dessert.
66. Consume alcoholic beverages in moderation, if at all.
67. Take stairs instead of the escalator.
68. Conduct an inventory of your meal/snack and physical activity patterns.
69. Share an entree with a friend.
70. Grill fruits or vegetables.
71. Eat before grocery shopping.
72. Choose a checkout line without a candy display.
73. Make a grocery list before you shop.
74. Buy 100% fruit juices over soda and sugary drinks.
75. Stay active in winter.
76. Play with your kids.
77. Flavor foods with herbs, spices, and other low fat seasonings.
78. Remove skin from poultry before cooking to lower fat content.
79. Eat before you get too hungry.
80. Don’t skip breakfast.
81. Stop eating when you are full.
82. Snack on fruits and vegetables.
83. Top your favorite cereal with apples or bananas.
84. Try brown rice or whole-wheat pasta.
85. Include several servings of whole grain food daily.
86. When eating out, choose a small or medium portion.
87. If main dishes are too big, choose an appetizer or a side dish instead.
88. Ask for salad dressing “on the side”.
89. Don’t take seconds.
90. Park farther from destination and walk.
91. Try a green salad instead of fries.
92. Bake or broil fish.
93. Walk instead of sitting around.
94. Eat sweet foods in small amounts.
95. Take your dog on longer walks.
96. Drink lots of water.
97. Cut back on added fats or oils in cooking or spreads.
98. Walk the beach instead of sunbathing.
99. Walk to a co-worker’s desk instead of emailing or calling them.
100. Carry your groceries instead of pushing a cart.
101. Use a snow shovel instead of a snow blower.
102. Cut high-calorie foods like cheese and chocolate into smaller pieces and only eat a few pieces.
103. Use nonfat or low-fat sour cream, mayo, sauces, dressings, and other condiments.
104. Replace sugar sweetened beverages with water and add a twist of lemon or lime.
105. Replace high-saturated fat/high calorie seasonings with herbs grown in a small herb garden in your kitchen window.
106. Refrigerate prepared soups before you eat them. As the soup cools, the fat will rise to the top. Skim it off the surface for reduced fat content.
107. When eating out, ask your server to put half your entrée in a to-go bag.
108. Substitute vegetables for other ingredients in your sandwich.
109. Every time you eat a meal, sit down, chew slowly, and pay attention to flavors and textures.
110. Try a new fruit or vegetable (ever had jicama, plantain, bok choy, starfruit or papaya?)
111. Make up a batch of brownies with applesauce instead of oil or shortening.
112. Instead of eating out, bring a healthy, low calorie lunch to work.
113. Ask your sweetie to bring you fruit or flowers instead of chocolate.
114. Speak up for the salad bar when your coworkers are picking a restaurant for lunch, and remember calories count, so pay attention to how much and what you eat.
115. When walking, go up the hills instead of around them.
116. Walk briskly through the mall and shop till you drop … pounds.
117. Clean your closet and donate clothes that are too big.
118. Take your body measurements to gauge progress.
119. Buy a set of hand weights and play a round of Simon Says with your kids - you do it with the weights, they do without.
120. Swim with your kids.

Faster Heart Attack Care Saving Lives

2007-06-19T21:03:00.000-07:00

After an Indiana hospital introduced a new protocol to get heart attack patients into the cardiac catheterization lab more quickly for artery-opening procedures, patients received lifesaving care up to an hour sooner than before and suffered less heart damage, researchers report.

They also had shorter hospital stays, according to a study published in the June 11 issue of Circulation.

The study included patients with a type of heart attack called ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), which is caused by a completely blocked artery. The sooner the artery can be opened, the lower the risk of death or permanent heart damage.

Emergency angioplasty -- also called percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) -- is the preferred treatment for this kind of heart attack, according to background information in the study.

"The benefit of emergency PCI depends on how quickly a patient receives treatment. However, only about a third of patients in the United States receive treatment within the recommended 90 minutes," study lead author Dr. Umesh N. Khot, a cardiologist at Indiana Heart Physicians/St. Francis Heart Center in Indianapolis, said in a prepared statement.

He and his colleagues made two major changes to the hospital's STEMI treatment protocol. First, the emergency department doctor who first sees the heart attack patient now immediately activates the cath lab. Next, an Emergency Heart Attack Response Team -- which includes an emergency department nurse, a critical care unit nurse, and a chest pain unit nurse -- moves the patient to the cath lab and prepares the patient for emergency PCI.

"Traditionally, most hospitals require the emergency department physician to contact a cardiologist who comes to see the patient. Only after the cardiologist sees the patient is the cath lab activated. Waiting for the cardiologist before activating the cath lab delays care without any clear benefit," Khot said.

Then, "patients have to wait in the emergency department for the catheterization team members to prepare the cath lab or arrive from home during nights and weekends."

Khot and his colleagues compared 60 STEMI patients who had emergency PCI before the new protocol was implemented and 86 STEMI patients treated after the new protocol was in place.

The median time it took for a patient to be treated after arriving at the hospital decreased by a third -- from 83.5 minutes to 64.5 minutes during regular hours and from 123.5 minutes to 77.5 minutes in off-hours. The proportion of patients who received emergency PCI within 90 minutes increased from 28 percent to 71 percent, the research team say.
Source: Healthday

Fighting the skin menace

2007-06-18T21:38:00.000-07:00

Skin diseases are often neglected until advanced stages. This may be justified given the fact that we hardly hear of skin ailments accounting for deaths or life threatening consequences in its patients. However, the diseases may be very dangerous if not treated for long. And often with the lack of pure water and proper sanitation, raising awareness regarding this has become necessary– all the more so in case of children who are quick to catch it and spread it to their friends due to the lack of knowledge.

Living in unhygienic conditions and lack of proper water sanitation are the two main causes of skin diseases. Due to their contagious nature, these diseases are most rampant in crowded rooms, and more so in rooms lacking proper ventilation. Thus children living in hostels are most liable to catch it and spread it.

According to doctors, childrens are more susceptible to parasitical scabies, fungal ringworm, and viral warts, apart from the bacterial diseases that comprise the major portion of the problem. The common ones among the bacterial infections include Impetigo or school sores (mostly in children), boils, Ecthyma, Folliculitis, Pitted Keratolysis, and Cellulitis. The ordinary Nepalis refer to most of them as pilow.
Initially, these diseases may not seem weighty problem. But if they happen to lead to the proliferation of bacteria inside the body, the problem gets very serious. Even the viral, parasitical and fungal infections get lethal after they attract bacterial infection. The condition may be life threatening if the bacteria manage to infect the lungs, heart, kidney, stomach and other internal organs. Although there is no need to panic, we should treat these diseases quickly to obliterate its chances.

“Cleaning the body, clothes and the surroundings should be addressed in the first case to rein in the problem,” suggests Dr Anil Kumar Jha, a skin specialist at Om Hospital. Putting on others’ cloths makes us susceptible to the disease. So children, who mostly lack required knowledge on these matters, should be discouraged by their parents, guardians or hostel superintendents, to wear their friends’ cloths. At home, putting on clean clothes should be given priority. “While cleaning the body or clothes, the available water can also be sanitised by adding disinfectant, like a tinge of potash till the water turns pink. This will help in getting rid of bacteria. But one should be careful here too, as adding too much of potash will render the liquid corrosive.”

Furthermore, at home and at hostel, children should be regularly checked for any possible diseases even if the child doesn’t complain of any discomfort, and given due medication without much delay. Those affected with the disease should be kept away from others at hostel to prevent its spread. Cleaning the surface of the affected part with clean water and antiseptics or taking oral antibiotics can be a good treatment following directions from doctors.

Type the rest of your post here.

Eating Eggs Helps Adults Lose More Weight

2007-06-17T20:46:00.000-07:00

Skip the bagel this morning. Eggs, which are full of protein, will help you feel fuller longer --a lot longer. A multi center study of 30 overweight or obese women found that those who ate two scrambled eggs (with two slices of toast and a reduced-calorie fruit spread) consumed less for the next 36 hours than women who had a bagel breakfast of equal calories. Other research has shown that protein may also prevent spikes in blood sugar, which can lead to food cravings.
"While it's been well-established that foods such as eggs that contain the highest quality protein help people feel full longer, we were surprised at how definite these findings were."
said Nikhil V. Dhurandhar, Ph.D., lead researcher and associate professor in the department of infection and obesity at Louisiana State University's Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

"The women who consumed eggs as part of their diet plan lost significantly more weight, had greater reductions in waist circumference and reported significantly higher energy levels."
The study found that overweight women who ate 2 eggs for breakfast at least 5 days a week for 8 weeks (as part of a low-fat diet with a 1,000 calorie reduction):

* lost 65 % more weight
* had 83 % greater reductions in waist circumference
* reported greater improvements in energy levels than their dieting counterparts who consumed a bagel breakfast of the same calories

In the study, the egg and bagel breakfasts not only provided the same amount of calories, but also the same weight mass, an important control factor in satiety and weight loss studies.

Eggs help healthy people stay healthy
Additional research presented at Experimental Biology 2007 this week further highlighted the benefits of eggs, including their role in providing choline, an essential nutrient, which has been shown to help prevent birth defects and promote brain and memory development.Eggs are easy to include in everyday diets

"It's especially good news because eggs, which contain one of the highest quality proteins naturally found in food, are an easy, inexpensive and, importantly, versatile food to incorporate into our diets."

So easy, in fact, that Zelman offers these tips to help dieters keep their energy levels up throughout the day:

* Jump Start. Start your day off right with a complete breakfast by pairing high-quality protein foods like eggs or low-fat dairy with other healthful foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. A vegetable-filled Garden Omelet is a great way to get your protein and vegetables all at once.
* The Morning Rush. Make an on-the-go breakfast sandwich by topping a whole wheat English muffin with microwave scrambled eggs, low-fat cheese and tomato. To make the eggs, beat an egg (and milk, if desired) in a small bowl or mug and pop it into the microwave on HIGH for 60 seconds.
* Stay Energized. Avoid an afternoon slump by eating high-quality protein throughout the day. Try a Tangy Raspberry Salad topped with hard-cooked eggs for lunch or Dilly Veggie Dunk for a satisfying but healthful afternoon snack.
Source: aeb

Facts About Stroke: The Top 3 Killer

2007-06-17T20:39:00.000-07:00

Do you know ?Stroke killed 150,147 people in 2004 alone. It is the third largest cause of death worldwide, behind heart diseases and cancer. Around 700,000 people suffer from stroke each year, with 500,000 being new cases.

So how do stroke occurs? When a blood vessel supplying oxygen and nutrients to our brain bursts or gets clogged by a blood clot or fatty deposits (plague), part of the brain cells dies within minutes. This is because all body cells requires oxygen, and our brain cells are no different. This condition is called stroke.

There are two main types of stroke: ischemic strokes and hemorrhagic strokes. Ischemic strokes are the most common (80%) and are caused by clogged blood vessels. Hemorrhagic stokes are caused by bleeding from a burst blood vessel. There are different types of strokes, but are generally classified under these 2.

Stroke can cause disability
Although stroke is a form of brain disease, underestimating its effects is dangerous. Stroke victims may suffer damages to their entire body, and this can include:

* Hemiplegia - a common effect caused by stroke, complete paralysis on one side of the body
* Hemiparesis - similar to hemiplegia but less severe, suffers from one-sided weakness of the body
* Emotional breakdown - having difficulty controlling your emotions or expressing your self; suffers from depression
* Poor judgment, thinking, awareness, attention, learning and memory
* Difficulty in speaking
* Pain in hands and feet, especially when the temperature changes

People who had stroke usually takes months or even years to recover through medical treatment and rehabilitation therapy. Brain cells damaged or dead can never heal by itself nor can it be replaced. Even through treatment, patients may not be able to gain back their full bodily functions. They had to suffer long term disabilities.

Act F-A-S-T, Prevent Stroke
This is a small self-test for stroke. It is recommended to read Stroke Symptom & Warning Sign in addition to this article for better understanding. This should never replace a doctor's diagnose, and if in doubt, go for a medical checkup.

FACIAL
Smile, and check if one side of the face droops. Stroke can cause numbness in one side of your face.

ARMS
Raise both arms, and check if one arm is drifting downwards. This is due to numbness or weakness in one side of your body.

SLURRED SPEECH
Repeat a sentence from a friend, if your speech is slurred and you have difficulties understanding, this might be caused by stroke.

TIME
If you or a friend have the above symptoms, call 911 or seek immediate medical attention. Your brain cells might be dying as you hesitate!

Top 15 Healthiest Fruits For Human

2007-06-14T22:47:00.000-07:00

This is the top 15 fruits that i found to be very important and fruitful for Human Body:

1. Apples - 1 medium apple (80 calories, 0 g fat): An apple's 3 g of fiber help you meet your fiber goal of 20 g to 30 g daily. High-fiber diets can lower heart disease risk;
2. Apricots - 3 apricots (51 calories, 0 g fat): A good source of beta-carotene (which is converted to vitamin A by the body), providing the equivalent of 35% of the RDA for vitamin A;
3. Bananas - 1 medium (105 calories, 0 g fat): Bananas are a great source of potassium, which plays a key role in heart health and muscle function. Plus each one has 2 g of fiber;
4. Blackberries - 1 cup (74 calories, 0 g fat): This fruit boasts a whopping 10 g of fiber in a single cup;
5. Blueberries - 1 cup (81 calories, 0 g fat): Blueberries help prevent and treat bladder infections by making it hard for bacteria to stick to urinary tract walls;
6. Cherries - 1 cup (84 calories, 1 g fat): A good source of perillyl alcohol, which helps prevent cancer in animals. Heart-protective anthocyanins give cherries their color;
7. Grapefruits - 1/2 fruit (39 calories, 0 g fat): A good source of vitamin C and a compound called naringenin, which helps suppress tumors in animals;
8. Kiwi - 1 medium (46 calories, 0 g fat): Just one little fruit packs a mean vitamin-C punch (74 mg) and an impressive 2.8 g fiber;
9. Mangoes - 1 mango (135 calories, 1 g fat): A single mango has enough beta-carotene to cover your RDA for vitamin A while racking up 57 mg of vitamin C;
10. Oranges fruits- 1 orange (61 calories, 0 g fat): One orange provides an impressive 50 mg to 70 mg of vitamin C, 40 mcg of folic acid and 52 mg of calcium;

11. Papayas - 1 cup, cubed (55 calories, 0 g fat): Loaded with vitamin C (86 mg per cup), a healthy dose of fiber (2.5 g) and a sprinkling of beta-carotene and calcium;
12. Purple grapes - 1 small (113 calories, 9 g fat):Offer three heart-guarding compounds: flavonoids, anthocyanins and resveratrol (green grapes are not rich in them);
13. Prunes - 1/3 cup, stewed (87 calories, 0 g fat): Prunes' famed laxative effect is no mystery: There are 5 g of fiber (both soluble and insoluble) in just 1/3 cup;
14. Raspberries - 1 cup (60 calories, 0 g fat): Teeming with 8 g of fiber per cup, they also boast vitamin C, ellagic acid and anthocyanins;
15. Strawberries - 1 cup, sliced (50 calories, 0 g fat): Strawberries have high levels of ellagic acid and anthocyanins, and are rich in vitamin C (95 mg per cup) and fiber (3.8 g per cup).

Effects Of Blood Circulation In Human Body

2007-06-13T21:10:00.000-07:00

Our Circulatory System
Our body circulatory system have 3 parts: pulmonary circulation (lungs), coronary circulation (heart), and systemic circulation (the rest). This system mainly involves the heart, the lungs and the blood vessels. The lungs provide oxygen for the heart to pump to the rest of our body. This is done through blood circulation, the blood carries the oxygen from the lungs to the heart.

The heart then pumps the blood full of oxygen to all of our body cells. Nutrients are also carried in the blood to these cells. Our body cells and tissues will die if they do not receive blood.
The blood always circulates throughout our body, in arteries, capillaries and veins. It moves in the arteries away from the heart, to other parts of the body. As the arteries gets smaller as the blood travels away from the heart, they become capillaries. It is from here that oxygen is supplied to the tissues and in turn, takes away the waste and carbon dioxide.

The returning blood circulation then enters the right side of the heart and moves on to the lungs, where carbon dioxide is deposited. It then picks up more oxygen and returns to the left side of the heart. The whole process is repeated as the heart pumps the blood again.

So, how do blood circulation affects our health? In many ways, in fact, the circulation affects the whole body and its functions, and is a basic precondition to maintain good health. Below are some cases of the effects of blood circulation.

Brain
In this circulatory system, about 20% of the blood pumped from our heart goes to the brain, which only represents 2% of our body's weight.
Good Blood Circulation gives:

* Good memory and concentration
* Good coordination of body parts
* Quick response to stimulation

Unhealthy Blood Circulation gives:

* Headache
* Feeling faint and dizziness
* Reduced or poor mental clarity - forget names easily
* Poor comprehension of figures

Severely Unhealthy Blood Circulation gives:
* Dementia
o Short term memory loss, inability to think through problems, confusion, paranoia, bizarre behaviour
* Stroke
o Long term build up of cholesterol in the brain's blood vessels may narrow the blood vessels and hence, disrupt blood flow.
o When the blood vessels in the brain are blocked or rupture due to increased pressure, a person is said to suffer from stroke.
o Stroke victims may suffer paralysis, impaired speech, or even death.

Heart Muscles
Good Blood Circulation gives:

* Good energy and stamina
* Regular and normal heart rate

Unhealthy Blood Circulation gives:

* Shortness of breath
o Breathing difficulty is a common symptom of inadequate blood flow to the heart
* Feeling faint and dizziness
* Fatigue
o Easily feels tired when performing physical activities such as jogging

Severely Unhealthy Blood Circulation gives:

* Angina
o Chest pains due to poor circulation to the heart
* Heart attack
o Fatty materials build up gradually in the heart's blood vessels, narrowing the path and obstructs blood flow. Eventually, this triggers a heart attack.
o Heart failure have a high risk of death, while a mild or moderate heart attack may gradually cause heart failure months or years after the heart attack.

Liver
Our liver performs many vital functions, which includes:

* Metabolism of carbohydrates, fat and protein
* Removal of worn-out cells, drugs and toxins
* Storage for glycogen, vitamins and minerals
* Activating Vitamin D

Good Blood Circulation gives:

* Good energy and stamina
* Few or no allergies
* Smooth and healthy skin
* Normal glucose level

Unhealthy Blood Circulation gives:

* Poor appetite and weight loss
* Itchy skin

Severely Unhealthy Blood Circulation gives:

* Lethargy
* Jaundice

Kidneys
Our kidneys

* Eliminate excess water, urea, uric acid and other waste materials
* Regulate the blood pressure, blood pH and blood volume
* Help synthesize and secrete hormones

Good Blood Circulation gives:

* Good energy and stamina
* Little or no incidence of water retention
* Normal blood pressure and heart rate

Unhealthy Blood Circulation gives:

* Build-up of waste and water in your body
o Symptoms: Swelling of face, hands, ankles or feet
* Fatigue
* Rapid heart rate and light-headedness

Severely Unhealthy Blood Circulation gives:

* Kidney failure

Legs/Hands
Good Blood Circulation gives:

* Warm feet and hands
* Low incidence of foot ulcer
* Quick healing of all wounds

Unhealthy Blood Circulation gives:

* Cold hands and feet, may feel numb

Severely Unhealthy Blood Circulation gives:

* Varicose veins
* Poor healing of wounds
* Cyanosis
o Skin looks blue due to lack of oxygen supply to body parts

Reproductive Organs
Good Blood Circulation gives:

* Normal sex drive
* Hormonal balance
* Enhanced vitality

Unhealthy Blood Circulation gives:

* Low libido

Severely Unhealthy Blood Circulation gives:

* Impotency

Heart Disease Symptoms

2007-06-13T20:33:00.000-07:00

There are several types of heart diseases, and the major ones includes coronary, heart attack, rheumatic, atherosclerosis, congenital and arrhythmia. The symptoms of heart disease varies from type to type, and unfortunately, not all heart disease symptoms show up in the early stage. These warning signs also varies from people to people. Below are some of the common symptoms for several types of heart diseases.

Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary artery disease can happen when our coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle hardened and narrowed. This is due to the buildup of plaque on the inner walls of the arteries. Symptoms include:

* Angina
Feeling discomfort, heaviness, pain, fullness in your chest. This is commonly felt in the chest although it can happen in one or both arms, left shoulder, neck, jaw or back.
* Shortness of breath
* Weakness or dizziness
* Sweating
* Palpitations (irregular heart beats)
* Rapid heart beats
* Feeling nausea

Heart Failure
Symptoms include:

* Shortness of breath
* Experiencing chest pain
* Cough, producing white mucus
* Quick weight gain (1 to 1.5kg a day)
* Swelling in ankles, legs and abdomen
* Dizziness
* Fatigue
* Palpitations (irregular heart beats)
* Rapid heart beats
* Feeling nausea

Heart Attack
Symptoms include:

* Chest discomfort, usually last more than a few minutes. Feels like pressure, squeezing, pain or fullness
* Discomfort in the arm, jaw, throat, back or below the breastbone
* Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort
* Sweating (cold sweat, nausea, vomiting or lightheadedness
* Extreme weakness, anxiety or shortness of breath
* Palpitations (irregular heart beats)
* Rapid heart beats

Most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort, but there are some which are sudden and intense. The symptoms can last 30 minutes or more, and if not relieved soon enough, damage will be caused to your heart. If you experience chest discomfort, don't wait for more than 5 minutes before calling for help. Call 911 and it might just save your life.

Most people do not know what is going on and waited too long before seeking help. Always go to the hospital through an ambulance if possible, you can receive treatment faster than by car.

Higher Leverage Against Lung Cancer

2007-06-12T21:15:00.000-07:00

The fight against cancer has been progressively advancing through the years. Combined efforts from the government, civil society, and health advocacy groups have gained dramatic results. Cancer awareness is on the rise, alternative less cancer-prone lifestyles are arising, while medical researches and technological advancement have tremendously leveled up the fight against one of the world's leading killer. The classic chemotherapy has been modernized and combined with other treatments like radiation, laser, and even organic medicines.

In America alone, the National Health Institute of the US Department of Health and Human Services through its anti-cancer arm National Cancer Institute reported that the death rate due to cancer is still on the decline. In it's annual report to the nation, the NCI claimed that the cancer death rates are progressively declining and progress in cancer treatments are continuously on the rise. In men, study from 1993 to 2002 recorded a decline of 1.5 percent death rate from all cases of cancer. This is higher compared to women's 0.08 percent decline rate.

This report has put the US Department of Health and Human Services at a better position in achieving the goals of its Health People 2010 campaign. The statistics revealed that lung cancer is still consistently leading the nation's cancer death rates. Although a decrease in tobacco-related cancer cases is being achieved, the challenge to drastically reduce its death toll is still as hard as it has always been before. With more and more people puffing cigarettes, lung or bronco cancer is still the leading cause of cancer deaths among men and women.

Dubbed as "the most common cancer", lung cancer is now the subject of numerous studies and experimentations in many countries with advance cancer research programs and facilities like the United Kingdom and Australia. A wider knowledge on lung cancer is now available. A classification has been made between Small Cell Lung Cancer and Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Small cell lung cancer is the case where in malignant cancer cells grow in the tissues of the lungs. Three types of Small Cell Lung Cancer are known: small cell carcinoma, large cell carcinoma, and combined small cell carcinoma. Smoking, second hand smoking, and exposure to asbestos and radon are the known causes of Small Cell Lung Cancer. Current treatments do not successfully cure cases of Small Cell Lung Cancer. However, studies in Germany revealed that surgery (removal of cancer cells or tumor), systematic post-surgery chemotherapy, and sustained local treatments (e.g. *radiation therapy*) have a higher probability of curing this type of lung cancer.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, on the other hand, is the most common type of lung cancer. It accounts for four of every five deaths from lung cancer. There are several known types of Non-Small Lung Cancer, the three most common are the Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Large Cell Carcinoma, and Adenocarcinoma. The others are pleomorphic, carcinoid tumor, and salivary gland carcinoma. Like the other lung cancer type, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer is mostly caused by smoking (first and second hand), high exposure to air pollution, and exposure to chemicals like asbestos, chromium, and arsenic.

In 2005, the New England Journal of Medicine reported a breakthrough in treatment for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. It reported that current studies reveal that chemotherapy, after the traditional Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer treatment of surgery, can increase the survival rate among patients. In a study, an overwhelming 15 percent increase of survival rate was recorded among patients who had chemotherapy after surgery. Sixty-nine percent of those who had post-surgery chemotherapy's were reported to be still alive five years after the surgery compared to the 54 percent who did not.

Furthermore, a study in Switzerland suggested an even greater breakthrough for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer treatment. The study proposed that in addition to chemotherapy, a combination of the innovative cancer drugs Tarceva and Avastin can lead to higher survival rate for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer patients. Tarceva is approved in the US and across the European Union for patients with unsuccessful cancer treatments through chemotherapy. Also in US and Europe, Avastin is a popular effective medicine for collorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and breast cancer. The proposed combination is seen to serve as a stronger combat against Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, especially for the recurring cases.

In the US, the Health and Human Services Department clearly targets the habit of smoking as the main antagonist in the fight against lung cancer. A propaganda campaign is almost everywhere to make Americans, if not totally quit, slowdown on smoking.

Honey Recipe To Lower Cholesterol

2007-06-12T20:51:00.000-07:00

Research on the benefits of honey for health is proceeding in all directions. Today we discuss its effect on lowering cholesterol, as well as the effect of another ingredient in the recipe -Almond- on LDL-Cholesterol or (bad cholesterol).

Researchers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found that drinking four tablespoons of honey mixed into a 16-ounce glass of water improved the antioxidant levels in the blood of 25 men aged 18-68.The trial was over 5 weeks. Dr Nicki Engeseth, who led the study which was presented to the American Chemical Society, said: "It looks like honey is having a mild protective effect."

It was already known that honey contained varying levels of antioxidants, with dark honey having more than light. But this is the first study to examine honey's effect on human blood.

In a second study, published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, Canadian researchers showed eating almonds lowered cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart disease. They found that eating 74 grams daily for 1 month lowered the low-density lipoproteins (LDL or "bad" cholesterol) of Twenty-seven men and women with an average age of 64 and high cholesterol, by 9.4%.

Alice Lichtenstein, vice-chair of the American Heart Association's nutrition committee, said: "This study suggests that replacing carbohydrates with monounsaturated fat - within the context of a diet that is low in saturated, trans fat and cholesterol - favourably affects cholesterol levels and cardiovascular risk."

I found this recipe which fulfill the requirements of a healthy eating aimed at lowering cholesterol through its content of honey and almond and their effect on the cardiovascular system, cinnamon and its blood glucose lowering effect, together with fibers in orange. I hope you enjoy this recipe taste as well as its health benefits.

Honey Glazed Nuts recipe
Posted by Olga at recipe goldmine.com 2/16/2002 8:02 pm

4 cups whole blanched almonds
1/4 cup honey
2 teaspoons cinnamon
Grated zest of 1 orange

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.

Toss all the ingredients together.
Transfer almonds to a greased baking sheet.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until lightly toasted, stirring occasionally.
Cool.
Store in an airtight container.

Dealing With Attention Disorder

2007-06-11T20:49:00.000-07:00

Tom is a nine-year-old studying in class four. His parents are very worried about the way he behaves. Almost everyday they hear complaints from school on his abysmal performance. Tom's teachers are also equally worried.

Tom lacks attention, and cannot concentrate on anything even for few moments. He does not seem to listen even when spoken directly, and time and again fails to complete his home works and other duties. Besides, he often moves his hands or feet, squirms in seat, runs about or climbs excessively, has difficulty in waiting for his turn, and blurts out answers before questions have been completed.

His parents have been noticing such behaviours ever since he was three years of age. And they report that the problem has only been increasing with time.
There are so many other parents suffering from similar problems with their children. What Tom has is not a simple behavioural disorder, but an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a type of mental disorder usually first diagnosed in childhood. The disorder causes three major impairments in children: they are inattentive, hyperactive and impulsive. They are often reckless, and prone to accidents. They have learning difficulties due to poor attention and lack of persistence. Symptoms like restlessness and overactivity can also show up before school age.
American Psychiatric Association (1994) says that ADHD is prevalent in about three to four percent of children. The chances are three to four times higher in boys than in girls.

The causes of ADHD have not yet been clearly established. However, it seems that the disorder has heterogeneous aetiology, both biological and psychological. Many reports also suggest that there is neurodevelopment impairment in children with ADHD, which may be caused due to birth complication. Social factors, over stimulation by caregivers during early development can also result in ADHD. It has been mostly noticed that hyperactivity gradually lessens with age. However, when overactivity is severe and accompanied by a learning failure, or low intelligence, the condition may persist in adult life.

Although there is no full treatment of ADHD, it can be effectively controlled through stimulant drugs and behavioural modification methods. Parents and teachers also need good advice on how to take care of the child to reduce chances of inadvertently reinforcing overactivity.
So if your child is inattentive, hyperactive and impulsive, s/he may be suffering from ADHD. It would do much good to consult the school counsellor, psychologist, psychiatrist or other mental health professionals and start giving proper treatment. It would reduce the chances of having impairment in his or her emotional, academic and social life later on.

Laughing For Health

2007-06-11T20:42:00.000-07:00

Popular wisdom has it that laughter is the best medicine. A growing number of scientific studies are now providing proof.
The effect of laughter on physical and mental well-being is the purview of gelotology, the study of humour and laughter. This new field of study has found that the longer and more often you laugh, the greater the health benefits.
Various kinds of stimuli cause laughter, explained Michaela Schaeffner, head of the Munich-based Association of German Laughter Therapists. They include emotional stimuli such as a good mood while on holiday, mental stimuli like a funny joke and physical stimuli such as tickling.

"When it comes to mental and physical stimuli, the key is an element of surprise, a sense of contrast,"Schaeffer said. When the brain receives an appropriate stimulus, it sets laughter in motion."More than a hundred muscles are involved, from facial to respiratory,"noted Carsten Niemitz, director of the Institute of Human Biology and Anthropology at the Free University of Berlin.

Breathing during laughter is deeper than usual, which affects the whole body. "More oxygen flows to the body's cells" the bronchia are ventilated, catabolic processes are advanced, muscles relax, the heart and circulation are stimulated,"said Michael Titze, lecturer at the March Institute of Psychotherapy in the Brandenburg town of Baruth. In addition, laughter boosts healing. A laughing person's brain blocks production of stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisone. "When someone laughs, more serotonin or "the happiness hormone,"is secreted. So if you laugh a lot, you'll feel better,"Niemitz said.

Good laughter-training methods include regional laughter club meetings, laughter seminars and laughter yoga."Laughter yoga begins by activating the laughter muscles via various playful exercises,"Schaeffner said. The exercises have to do with making sounds, facial expressions and body movements as well as breathing techniques and stimulating the diaphragm.

Foods That Can Cure Hemorrhoids

2007-06-09T20:51:00.000-07:00

Hemorrhoids don't last long and can be relieved with care at home, and people with them have excellent prognosis. We give you some food-made home treatments to make prognosis even better, so that you get rid of flare-ups of bleeding or discomfort from time to time.

To be aware of hemorrhoids earlier, we give you a brief discussion about the whole problem.

What are hemorrhoids :Hemorrhoids are dilated, blood-filled, painful veins in the rectum. According to the anatomical distribution of veins, hemorrhoids can be classified into:

1-Internal hemorrhoids which is formed of swollen internal veins which unless they are severe, they cannot be seen or felt.
2-External hemorrhoids which are formed of swollen external veins which can be seen around the outside of the anus and, in many times can be felt.

The 3 main ailments that can be associated with hemorrhoids are; Constipation, Liver diseases, and Pregnancy, where there is increased pressure that leads blood to pile-up in the hemorrhoid veins causing them to swell.Hemorrhoids are very common and have been estimated to occur in up to half the population by age 50.

Use These Food Remedies:

l- Eat 1 teaspoonful fenugreek seeds daily. Boil the seeds to soften it and if you do not like its taste , boil it repeatedly. Also you can mince the softened seeds in your mixer with your preferred flavor whether sweet or spicy. It will soften your stool normally without any need to other laxatives.

ll- The following foods are made into cream like preparation using plants and oils. Should you feel more satisfied about its consistency, mix it with your OTC cream:

1- Roasted Caraway seeds are ground and powdered on the hemorrhoids.

2- Eggplant + Bitter Almond + Green Almond + Olive oil. Boil all ingredients and paste them into a cream like base. Mince if you need.Apply locally.

3- Grilled Onion is pasted with Olive Oil. Apply locally.

4- Chamomile flowers+ Olive oil. Boil until charring the Chamomile,then filter and apply the remaining oil after washing and drying the anus.

5- Kale juice + Aloe gel. Mix and apply locally every day. You can add Olive oil to this mixture.
6- Unripe green walnut shell + Olive Oil. Boil until the shell is completely rut, mince, paste and apply it locally.

Use 1 oz of each of the recommended ingredients. If you need to increase the amount of an ingredient for a better consistency, increase the oil amount.

How do you feel hemorrhoids ;Unless the internal hemorrhoids are severe, you can only know that you have external hemorrhoids, when you see bright red blood topside the stools, or dripping into toilet. It is not long lasting bleeding. External hemorrhoids can be classified into 2 types :
1- Prolapsed hemorrhoids :
It is formed when the internal hemorrhoids swell and then extend through the anus, from outside. Itching in the anus may develop from prolapsed hemorrhoids.Many times you can solve the problem by rubbing them with Castor oil and pushing them back through the anus. If the hemorrhoids cannot be pushed back, then they may swell even more , and you need to see a doctor.
2- Thrombosed hemorrhoids :
The stagnant blood in hemorrhoids may form a clot leading to more swollen hemorrhoids and causing an increased pain, which is worsened by bowl movement or sometimes with sitting. This also may require a doctor's examination and treatment

In general, if there is bleeding, prolapsed hemorrhoids that does not go back through the anus, or if you feel a significant pain from hemorrhoids, you should see your doctor. A special care should be considered, if you are over 40 and have a family history of Colon Cancer.

Self-Care at home is recommended by doctors :
Procedure of treatment of hemorrhoids, most of the time is conservative and performed at home.There are certain measures to be considered for a hemorrhoids patient including:

1- Sanitary control :
Hemorrhoids occurring in an extremely difficult place, should receive a special hygienic care, this include :
# Hot sitz baths: A sitz bath is recommended 3 times a day and after each bowl movement for at least 15 minutes (sitting in a few inches of warm or luke water).
# Be sure to thoroughly dry the skin and the anus after each bath so that it does not rub and becomes torn
# If these antiseptic solutions are sold OTC in your country,they are helpful for thoroughly cleansing:
* Potassium Permangnate solution 1:8000.
* Povidone-Iodine 10% solution (Betadine) .

Dietary :
1- Drink more water and eat more leafy green vegetables.2- Increase the amount of bran and fibers in your diet.

Stool Softener :
Laxatives of different sorts have been used to ease excretion of stools. Laxatives that produce watery stools that may cause infection in the anus should be avoided.

Sitting Restrictions :
Some doctors recommend their patients not to sit for a long period of time, and some people feel more comfortable sitting on an air doughnut.

Over-The-Counter medications :
Many creams, ointments, and suppositories are sold as medicines and pain relievers for hemorrhoids in many countries. Some of them contain corticosteroids and might cause the hemorrhoids to take longer to heal, so consult your doctor first.

DCA Cancer Cure Truth And Hot Debate

2007-06-09T20:39:00.000-07:00

What is this hot debate of DiChlororAcetate (DCA) all about? and where is the truth? This article deals with the debate and the truth.

The story begins from Canada where Dr Evangelos Michelakis, a professor at the University of Alberta, published an article about his findings about DCA , and that he found it causes regression in several cancers including lung, breast, and brain tumors, here:
http://www.depmed.ualberta.ca/dca/

Dr Len Lechtenfeld, a deputy chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society said that he does not know the researcher but the University is a recognized , established university. He explained the possible side effects of DCA and its parent compound, telling his experience about false hopes given to cancer patients, and advising people to be prudent and patient about any new claim, here
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/CancerPreventionAndTreatment/Story?id=2848454&page=1

Watching the storm the Internet is taken by, we may consider the following aspects:

1- Dr. Michelakis's article was seemingly directed to the public, giving the scholars (and non-scholars sometimes) the opportunity to find conventional hints from the scientific point of view.

2- The whole situation is critical, since it deals with a miracle for desperate people who are not concerned with the scientific debate, yet some of them may have been painfully suffered fake claims.

3- When we set DCA aside from the debate about its direct implementation as a cancer cure, and verify the claimed effect of deactivating the glycolytic and activating the mitochondrial energy production pathways, it would represent the clue to cure all cancers, since we would deal with cancer as a metabolic disease, instead of the massive destruction weapons we are using now with or without incomplete success.

4- DCA being non patent drug, has created a buzz about the concern of the pharma co's, while if the Structure Activity Relationship (SAR) is validated, we shouldn't worry about the concern of pharma co's, and see these names for different patented drugs that treat erectile dysfunction; Sildenafil, Tadalfil, and Verdenafil.

Would we reject the slightest hope of conquering a devil enemy like cancer?

Healthy Foods List For Arthritis And Back Pain Relief

2007-06-05T03:12:00.000-07:00

Arthritis is the inflammation of joints. There are two theories for the cause:
1. Infection
2. Body's own defenses go out of line and attack its own tissues components as if they were invading pathogens.

This illness affects about 60 million people worldwide who are helpless to do anything about it. Arthritis is a part of the genetic code one was born with, like green eyes and birthmarks.
The most severe case of this crippling disease is RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS. Although one inherits arthritis, yet there are factors relating to it like fatigue, shock, injury, and exposure to cold and dampness.

I have begun to explore the possibilities of food medicine which had improved the quality of life and markedly decreased the the daily arthritic pain of many people. I am not saying I have found a cure for arthritis, because there is no cure. I want to share them with you here, in the hopes that they can benefit someone else who may be fighting the same battle.

* Parsley :
A poultice of bruised leaves gives relief in cases of neuralgia and rheumatism.

* Cayenne Pepper :
In herbal treatment today, Capsicum is used for rheumatism, and arthritis. Capsicum and its active ingredients are used extensively in many pharmaceutical preparations.The capsaicin in cayenne blocks a chemical involved in the nerve transmission of pain. Cayenne is also rich in salicylates, natural aspirin like compounds. Massage a balm containing cayenne into your temples for headaches, or take encapsulated cayenne. Capsaicin, an extract from cayenne and other peppers, can dramatically reduce chronic nerve pain. Studies have proven its usefulness for arthritis, shingles, trigeminal neuralgia, and diabetic neuropathy. It appears to act by decreasing the concentration of substance P, the primary chemical used by nerve cells to transmit pain signals. This effect can require several weeks of regular use.

* Fennel :
An infusion of 1 OZ. of the dried leaves to 1 pint of boiling water is taken in wine glassful doses, frequently repeated. It has also been recommended as an external application for dissolving glandular swellings. Oil of fennel relieves muscular or rheumatic pains.

* Hops :
As an external remedy, an infusion of Hops is much in demand in combination with chamomile flowers or poppy heads as a fomentation for swelling of a painful nature, inflammation, neuralgic and rheumatic pains, bruises, boils and gatherings. It removes pain and allays inflammation in a very short time.

* Ginseng , Siberian :
For treating rheumatoid arthritis and making muscles and bones strong.

* Lavender :
A fomentation of lavender as external application relieves stiffness of the joints. Oil of lavender is sometimes effective in bringing back circulation to feet that have lost feeling.

* Pineapple :
Research demonstrates bromelin helps the body eliminate substances related to arthritis and triggers the release of a prostaglandin that tamps down inflammation. Some question remains about bromelin's absorption from the gut, and to many herbal authorities the value may be over hyped. Nature gave us many similar proteolytic enzymes, (like Ginger), that are more highly concentrated in the edible parts of the plants.

* Barberry, Common :
Both Chinese gold thread (native to the mountains of Szechwan province in China) and the barberry known in Europe and North America are rich natural sources of berberine. Berberine is bright yellow and somewhat bitter, and has long been used in traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial effects.Compounds in these plants inhibit the COX-2 enzyme. Berberine-containing herbs thus offer significant medical benefits across the spectrum of diseases.

* Celery :
It is recommended to eat the cultivated fresh root as well as taking the oil or fluid extract. Celery is said to be very good for rheumatism, when it is often combined with Coca, Damiana, etc. Dose: fluid extract, 3 to 7 drops every four hours.

* Black Pepper :
Black pepper has been used in vertigo, paralytic and arthritic disorders.

* Ginger :
Ginger root has traditionally been used in India to treat arthritis. Components of ginger such as gingerol can inhibit the production of prostaglandins possibly more effectively that the arthritis drug Indomethacin.To ease arthritis pain, drink a cup of ginger tea daily, brewed with one half to one teaspoon of fresh ground root. Available at most grocery stores, choose roots that have smooth skins, and freeze sliced ginger to keep fresh.

* Licorice :
It acts much like your body's own natural corticosteroids, the most potent anti-inflammatory substance. Licorice decreases generation of damaging molecules called free radicals at the site of inflammation and it inhibits an enzyme that's involved in the inflammatory process.

* Evening Primrose :
The seed from this plant contains the essential fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid ( GLA), which as an effect on inflammation. For this reason, the seed oil may significantly help arthritis pain, especially in cases of rheumatoid arthritis.

* Borage :
Like evening primrose and black current seeds, borage seeds are another source of gammalinolenic acid (GLA), the omega-6 fatty acid that the body uses to make an inflammation fighting, autoimmune-boosting prostaglandin. * Flax The linoleic acid found in flax seed oil may also be beneficial for arthritis because it alters how the body breaks down prostaglandins, chemicals involved in inflammation.

* Turmeric :
The curcumin and curcuminoids in turmeric are first-rate arthritis-alleviating anti-inflammatory agents,These phytochemicals fight inflammation much like COX-2 inhibitors. They inhibits the production of prostaglandins. Turmeric can be taken in food, or applied topically to the joint as a poultice to relieve pain.

* Rosemary :
Apply a compress of Rosemary to relieve sore muscles, stiff joints, and rheumatic pains.

* Peach :
Leaves are boiled in water and the extract is applied locally.

* Olives :
Bruised leaves are put on the inside leg a little over the ankle.

* cress
Its juice is mixed with water and taken orally 1-3 times daily.

* Ivy :
Leaves are boiled with water and the resultant extract is taken orally,1-2 cups daily. 1-2 g of leaves for 1 cup water.

* Wheat Grass :
15 g of completely dried roots are boiled with 1/2 Liter of water for 10minutes. The extract is cooled, filtered and taken up to 4 cups daily.

* Colocynth :
If it is rubbed on the FEET, it relieves pain in the back, in the legs and in joint. It is one of the most effective remedies.

Some compounded foods :
There are also some tried blends of different foods that have been found to produce good results in relieving arthritis pain. If you find it greasy or of unpalatable appearance, you can mix it with any regular cream so that it is better dispensed. Unless directed to make a paste , you can use water extract of the plant.

# Crushed Linseed or Linseed oil + Vinegar:
To be applied locally.

# Lupin beans + Vinegar + Honey :
They are heated together and the resultant mixture is applied locally,it is helpful in relieving articular pain, Sciatica and Gout pain.

# Blackberries leaves + Figs :
To be heated together in water and the resultant extract is taken orally.

# Sugar apple + Barley extract :
Sugar apple is heated with Barley extract ( the water left after boiling Barley in it), and the resultant extract is applied locally.

# Thyme + Honey :
If powdered Thyme leaves or Thyme oil or extract is mixed with Honey it relieves arthritis pain almost immediately.

# Nigella + Honey :
Nigella oil is mixed with Honey and taken orally. The amounts are approximated to your convenience.

# Coriander oil + Almond oil + oil of Violet :
Mixed together and applied locally.

# Olive oil + Bran + Vinegar :
All are heated together and applied to the joints, then cover with wool cloth.

# Cabbage leaves + Barley mill (flower) :
Cabbage leaves are pasted with Barley mill, applied to the joints, then cover with wool cloth.

# Cabbage leaves + Garlic :
They are pasted together and applied to the affected joints. You can correct the odor using some aromatic oils of those mentioned above.

# Cucumber + Fenugreek + Vinegar + Garlic + Olive oil :
Fenugreek is boiled in water to be softened, Cucumber is peeled, and equal amounts of Cucumber, Fenugreek, and Vinegar are put in some Olive oil and heated after adding some garlic clove or oil and table salt, stirr until you get an ointment that is locally applied to the affected joints and covered with wool cloth ( you may leave it for the whole night).

# Figs + Pine nut + Safflower oil :
Mix using heat and apply locally.

# Caraway oil + Olive oil :
Caraway oil or the water extract of the seeds is added to double its amount of Olive oil and applied to the affected joint.

# Coriander + Henna + Barley mill + Vinegar :
The oil of Coriander or its water extract is mixed with the other ingredients and made into paste that is applied locally.

# Cartilage of Lamb + Saffron :
Cartilage of Lamb legs is mixed with Saffron and applied into the affected joints ( Glucosamine?).

Foods For Sex

2007-06-04T23:28:00.000-07:00

Man always seeks out any thing that can improve his sex performing ability. He had tried an endless number of recipes composed of all and every thing that can be eaten, until he found something that made him face the situation of declined ability before the Viagra era.

When we revise these recipes in view of the scientific findings, we find the following remarks :
1- Many of these recipes have high content of cholesterol, the starting material of steroid hormones (corticosteroids & sex hormones) and both are required for a normal sex performance, specially when declined.

2- Honey is added to almost all recipes. Honey is a good source of minerals and trace elements, some of which are required for optimal activity of many enzymes. When present in sufficient amounts it is a preservative.

3- These recipes imparted its characteristics on the nutritional life style of some people for generations. People ignored what cholesterol is and what risk it represents for heart health, as well as they ignored the effects of Garlic, Onions, and Nuts in these recipes on lowering blood cholesterol and minimizing its risks.

4- Many of these recipes contain ingredients that some of them have negative, and others have positive nutritional values, and we don't know whether they are neutral to health or not without clinical trials made on them when they are present in combination.

5- The effect of these recipes is not typically the same for all people depending on individual variations in genetics and nutrition.

6- Whether you use these recipes or not is up to you to decide, in the same way you decide to eat or not Shrimps, Oyester and Lobster and all are of high cholesterol content. The good news is that the doses are not as big as when used as meals, moreover, there are numerous recipes for you to chose the most appropriate ones, and many recipes are of good health benefits.

7- Dairy, Nuts, Seeds, and Garlic are rich sources of L-Arginine. L- Arginine is an amino acid that acts as the starting material for producing Nitric Oxide (NO) the end product of the nerve impulse which is the target of pharmacological action of Viagra.

8- Some of these recipes may have unusual taste, you can find Garlic mixed with honey, and Onions mixed with egg yolk, and you can customize their taste to be more palatable and convenient. I think adding some foods having strong taste like Cloves or Cinnamon may not change their effects that much.

The RECIPES :
Milk :
# Cow milk 2 pounds + Ginger powder 100 grams :
Gently heat until the consistency becomes thick (like honey).
Take 1 teaspoonful in the morning before breakfast.

# Cow or Goat milk 1 pound + Garlic paste 50 grams + Butter(molten) 50 g+ Honey 1 pound:
Gently heat all the ingredients except honey which is added finally when the ingredients are thick. Take 1 TBS in the morning.
This is the most potent known aphrodisiac recipe.

Onions :
# Onion juice 100 ml + Cress juice 100 ml + Butter 50 g + Honey 1 pound :
Mix all ingredients and gently heat until the mixture regains the consistency of honey. Take 1 tbs in the morning.This recipe is of utmost activity as aphrodisiac.

# Onion juice 100 ml + Honey 1 pound :
Gently heat until the mixture regains the consistency of honey.Take 1 TBS daily. Taken for 15 days, this mixture is said to lower blood pressure (certainly it does not replace conventional medication).

# Egg yolk + chopped onion + Butter 20 grams :
Fry and eat with breakfast.

Miscellaneous :
# Honey 1 pound + Cloves powder 25 grams :
Mix and take 1 TBS before breakfast.

# Honey 1 pound + Almond (non-salted) 50 grams + Mixed nuts 50 grams :
Mix them your way and use freely.

# Honey 1 pound + Celery juice 100 ml :
Gently heat to evaporate extra water and the honey regains its consistency.

# Celery bruised 50 grams + Butter 25 grams.You can add honey.

# Flax seeds 50 grams + honey 100 ml :The seeds are crushed then roasted and pasted with honey and some black pepper.

# Hummus 100 ml + Honey 100 grams :Hummus is soaked in some water over night, then filtered and the filtrate is mixed with honey and gently heated to evaporate excess water, and the honey regains its consistency. Eat the soaked Hummus.

# Hummus 50 grams - Water Cress juice 100 ml - Butter 20 grams - Mixed nuts (non-salted) 30 grams + Honey 50 grams + Cinnamon 5 g +Cloves 5 grams + Cardamon 5 grams.

1- Hummus is soaked in Cress juice, then after swollen, filtered and dried.
2- The dried bean is powdered and gently heated with butter.
3- Add the smashed nuts to this sauce and then pasted with honey.
4- The paste is gently heated and added to it 1 teaspoon of each of Cinnamon,powdered Cloves and Cardamon.
5- When used it can be mixed with warm water.

Constipation Cures And Prevention

2007-05-30T03:14:00.000-07:00

This cure for constipation will work on anyone, from babies to the elderly.

Constipation is when you have to go but "it" won't come out. If you are willing to wait long enough, your own body may soften things up or you could wait for a laxative to work. There is a harmless procedure that is very quick. We'll use the baby as an example. Dip a Q-tip into a bottle of mineral oil (this can be found in any drug store). Insert the oily Q-tip very gently into the baby's rectum just a little - he has a very little rectum. (Older folks can probably go the entire length of the Q-tip just fine and may want to do this two or three times.) Keep the baby lying down for about a half hour. This allows the oil to soften the stool. Older folks should lie down and wait as long as possible. Older kids will probably prefer to do this themselves.

Constipation can be caused by a poor diet or low fluid intake. But, even a good diet can be quickly ruined by a few items. Cheese, peanut butter, bananas, and tootsie rolls will stop you up, but eating any of these alone might be okay for you. Eating a combination of these can be too much for most people. If you simply love peanut butter and cheese sandwiches and want to have a banana or tootsie rolls for a snack, have a nice bowl of beans with dinner.

Benefits of Spirulina

2007-05-30T00:34:00.000-07:00

Spirulina is a single-celled, spiral-shaped blue green microalgae grown in tropical salt lakes. This microalgae is discovered by Dr. Clement of France in 1962. Dr. Clement found that the Ganimou people living around Lake Chades in Africa had stronger bodies than other civilized people at that time, despite poor living conditions and few resources. Upon further studies, he observed that the Ganimou eats a particular blue green algae found floating on the lake's surface. This algae is spirulina.

Such simple one-celled organism already exist when life first appeared on earth. They are the earliest forms of life and is the source of all life in the oceans.

After many years of research, Dr. Clement got the attention of the worldwide medical field on his discovery. Medical researchers in Japan and Mexico were interested with the many benefits that spirulina can bring to the human body. It is being used as part of other treatments due to its nutritional benefits. However, researchers have observed that spirulina also appears to exhibit properties which promote self-healing.

Nutrition Value of Spirulina
So how nutritious is spirulina to the human body? The algae is a highly digestible food, containing 60 to 70% of protein, and provides all the essential amino acids, which is a rarity among plant foods. It is so nutritionally balanced that it is 5 times easier to digest than meat.

Besides protein, spirulina is a rich natural source of Vitamin E and B12, iron, calcium, anti-oxidants, minerals, carbohydrates and enzymes. Its rich phytochemical composition are carotenoids, chlorophyll (known as a blood purifier), and phycocyanin. Phycocyanin is a blue pigment found only in blue green algae. Experiments have shown that this particular protein can increase the survival rate of mice with liver cancer. That means it can inhbits cancerous cells growth. It can also inhibit viral replication, and strengthen the humoral and cellular arms of the immune system.

Anemia, a deficiency in red blood cells and/or hemoglobin, responds well to vitamin B12, folic acid and chlorophyll found in spirulina. In fact, spirulina is the richest natural source of vitamin B12, once thought to be available only in animal products. Not only that, a test have shown that stomach ulcers can be cured with 2 grams of spirulina intake per day, by coating chlorophyll onto the stomach lining. Other diseases known to improve with the help of spirulina include liver disorders, such as chronic hepatitis, and diabetes.

Another important compound in this superfood is the Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA). This essential fatty acid cannot be produced by our body, yet is important for healthy bones, normal brain function, growth and development, stimulation of skin and hair growth and regulation of metabolism such as lipid.

Furthermore, GLA in vivo changes easily to arachidonic acid, and then to prostaglandin E2. The end product can be developed as a blood pressure regulating agent in our body.

An article written by Christopher Hills, Ph.D, D.Sc., titled "Spirulina as nutrition for the brain" says that "the interesting part... is the remarkable effects of this vegetable plankton on our state of consciousness particularly while fasting on nothing else... most people feel increased energy and clarity of mind after taking the Spirulina as a vitamin supplement."

According to Professor Keiun Kodo on the this topic, "Spirulina's rich and balanced nutrients are perfect for the development of brain cells. It is a well-known source of nutrient for children and adults for the development and maintenance of brain cells."

Other effects and uses of spirulina includes rejuvenation, increase of energy level, reduction of cholesterol, reducing body acidity, cardiovascular support and detoxification. The soft cell walls of spirulina allows it to be digested easily and assimilated, making it ideal for detoxifying.

Quick Facts

1. Spirulina is a vegetable that exists 3.5 billion years ago, and is a natural food source, not man-made in laboratories.
2. 100% alkaline food
3. 14 times more nutritional than milk
4. Richest natural source of Vitamin B12
5. Low in fats
6. Key composition:
* Protein
* 8 types of amino acid
* 18 types of vitamins
* 20 types of minerals
* Carbohydrates
* Anti-oxidants
* Gamma Linolenic Acid

7. There are 4 types of natural pigments:
* ChorophyII
* Beta Carotene
* XanophyII
* Phycocynin

8. 35 types of spirulina, only larger ones with stronger replicative capabilities and higher protein content can be consumed
9. This includes Arthropira, Arthropira Maxima and Arthropira Platensis.

Safe Health Supplement
Spirulina is very safe for human consumption, and it is not a new health supplement. In fact, the Africans have consumed it decades ago and Mexicans now uses it to replenish inadequate nutrients in a mother's milk. More than 70 countries have approved the superfood as safe for consumption by their respecitve health agencies. In an evaluation of spirulina by WHO in 1992, the organisation states that:
Spirulina is a high quality food product. It is rich in iron and protein. It is safe to consume and is an excellent nutrient supplement for children.

Heart Treatments

2007-05-24T05:32:00.000-07:00

High cholesterol levels can greatly increase the risk of heart disease including potentially fatal heart attacks. Heart disease can be caused by a number of factors but lowering cholesterol can have many positive effects and reduce risk. High cholesterol causes hardening of the arteries. Blood flow is then reduced to the heart which may result in chest pains or a heart attack. Lowering the possible causes of hardening or blocking the arteries will help maintain a healthy heart.

For severely high cholesterol it is recommended to seek consultation with a physician for the best course of treatment. Traditionally, this is treated with prescription medication. However, the majority of people can lower cholesterol naturally without the use of prescription drugs. Natural remedies are abundantly available. With a few changes in eating habits and lifestyle, one can easily lower cholesterol.

Eating foods that are low in fat will help as well as avoiding those with high fat content, especially foods containing trans-fat. Spreads such as butter and margarine have high levels of trans-fat. Packaged foods and frozen foods generally contain high levels also. Potato chips, crackers, baked goods and fast foods are all types to avoid. Instead concentrate on foods that are low in fat and high in fiber. Foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, and garlic are great to use in your daily diet.

Lifestyle changes are important if you are not leading a fairly healthy life. Smoking can increase the chances of having high cholesterol. Quitting not only will help this but will also reduce several other medical risks. Regular exercise will help promote a healthy heart. Partake in some form of aerobic exercise several times each week.

Vitamin E may help reduce fatty formations on arteries. Artichoke leaf extract helps produce bile while assisting in eliminating cholesterol from the body. Chromium is a proven method of maintaining correct blood sugar levels, which will help control cholesterol. Niacin in high doses has shown benefits for reducing cholesterol. However, if taking other medications, consult a physician as niacin can react adversely to other medications.

High cholesterol is a condition that affects many people throughout the world. It can increase chances of heart disease and potentially shorten life. Lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, eating healthy and exercising can reduce these risks significantly. Adding supplements can also help reduce cholesterol levels. Although the risks of high cholesterol are serious, it is easily controlled.

High Blood Pressure in Children

2007-05-22T04:14:00.000-07:00

Hypertension is not only a condition for adults but it can also affect children, kids and even infants. When you see high blood pressure in children, the basic cause is either heart or Kidney. But it has been seen that children do have high blood pressure even though they have no heart or kidney problem but there's a family history of high blood pressure and an unhealthy lifestyle - a bad diet, excess weight, stress, and insufficient physical activity.

Though it is estimated that 4.5% of kids have high blood pressure. High blood pressure is very common among adults but it is also increasing in children these days, a trend that researchers link to the increase in childhood obesity.

The only way to know whether your kid has hypertension is to get it checked regularly. Doctors usually start measuring blood pressure during routine check-ups when a child is about 3 years old.If it remains untreated, high blood pressure can eventually lead to damage to the heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes. But if it's caught early, monitored, and treated, a child with high blood pressure can have an active, normal life.

Long-Term Complications of High Blood Pressure
When a kid has high blood pressure, the heart and arteries have a much heavier workload. Heart has to work against great force, The heart must pump harder and the arteries are under greater strain as they carry blood. If high blood pressure continues for a long time, the heart and arteries may no longer work as well as they should. Having high blood pressure puts a child at a higher risk for stroke TIA, CVA, heart attack, kidney failure, loss of vision, and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).

Though child may not show symptoms of high blood pressure, it still affects the body and puts the child at risk for those long-term health problems. In rare cases, severe hypertension can cause headaches, dizziness, nosebleeds, heart palpitations, visual changes and nausea. If your child has severe high blood pressure and experiences any of these symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.

When you go to a doctor with your children, It's not unusual for a first blood pressure reading to be high because the child is nervous, so the doctor will likely take three or four readings - and use an average to determine whether your child has high blood pressure or is at risk for developing hypertension.

Causes of High Blood Pressure
The causes of high blood pressure differ, depending on the age of the child. The younger the child, the more likely the high blood pressure is due to some other condition. High blood pressure among infants most commonly occurs in premature babies. Some newborns have high blood pressure because of problems with the heart, or vascular system, kidneys and lungs. Often, these problems are due to bronchopulmonary dysplasia, an immaturity of the lungs in premature babies, or problems of vessels like coarctation of the aorta, a narrowing of part of the major blood vessel that transports blood away from the heart to the body parts. Among school-age kids and teens, hypertension is usually linked to obesity. Over weight is very common among school age children these days. In some cases it's due to a problem with the kidneys, although other conditions - like abnormalities in the blood vessels and hormonal disorders - can also be responsible. Some medications (such as steroids or oral contraceptives) can lead to high blood pressure, as can over consumption of alcohol and illegal drugs.

Diagnosing Hypertension in Children
As high blood pressure usually doesn't produce any symptoms, diagnosing the condition in children can be difficult. The only reliable way to find out if your kid has high blood pressure is to have it regularly measured at routine check ups. So it's important not to miss those appointments, particularly if your child is obese or if there's a family history of hypertension. There is also a new test called ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in which a child wears a blood pressure cuff all day. Some consider it more accurate than blood pressure tests in the doctor's office because the child is less likely to be affected by any stress from visiting the doctor and blood pressure is monitored over a considerable period.

Treating High Blood Pressure
If an underlying illness is causing hypertension, treating that illness may be enough to get the blood pressure back to normal levels. For example treating coarctation of aorta can significantly improve blood pressure. If there's no underlying illness, your child's doctor will try to control Blood pressure with natural measures and he may recommend weight loss, increased intake of fruits and vegetables, decreased salt intake, increased exercise, and even relaxation techniques. Kids with hypertension should also quit or never start smoking, which can worsen the long-term associated heart problems as smoking is one of major risk factor for heart attack. Most doctors prefer not to prescribe medication for children with mild hypertension. However, in cases in which lifestyle changes do not improve the condition, then doctor may give medication .

Doing Exercise and participation in organized sports is encouraged for all children whose hypertension is not severe or is well-controlled. In fact, staying fit is the key to both weight and blood pressure control. If your kid is overweight, an ongoing weight-loss program monitored by your child's doctor and a minimum of 30 minutes of aerobic exercise every day may play very important role in controlling blood pressure. Kids who have severe hypertension should not, however, participate in weight- and power-lifting, bodybuilding, or strength training until their blood pressure is under control and a doctor OKs it.

Remember, earlier you get high blood pressure, earlier you will face its complications. So try to control your blood pressure with in normal limits to stay healthy and enjoy normal life.

High Blood Pressure Symptoms Signs Causes

2007-05-18T03:53:00.000-07:00

High Blood Pressure Symptoms, High Blood pressure is the force of blood against arteries.

Do you have high blood pressure?

This article will give you detail about 10 common
sypmtoms and sings of hypertension or High Blood Pressure may have many of these symptoms, they occur just as frequently in those with normal blood
pressure. Why these symptoms occur, If a person has high blood pressure that
is severe or longstanding and left untreated, symptoms such as
headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, restlessness, and
blurred vision can occur as a result of damage to the brain, eyes, heart
and kidneys. In rare cases, high blood pressure may cause brain
swelling, which can lead to drowsiness and coma.

Briefly Hypertension has following 10 common symptoms.
headache
Nosebleed (Epistaxis)
Breathlessness
tinnitus(Ringing in Ears)
sleepiness, Ansomnia
confusion
Fatigue
profuse sweating
vomiting
low libido or lack of sexual desire
Blurred vision

If you have not above symptoms, it does not mean that you have no high
blood pressure. Remember most common symptom of high Blood pressure is
that " It Has No Symptom". Best way to keep you healthy is to have your
blood pressure checked at regular intervals.
Wish you all the good health.

How To Choose Home Blood Pressure Monitor

2007-05-18T03:29:00.000-07:00

There are many varieties and types of home blood pressure monitors (HBPM). Purchasing a blood pressure monitor is a great way to keep track of your blood pressure; however, choosing one can be confusing. The choice is personal and usually based on::Accuracy, Ease of use, Cost, Type of cuff, Memory and printing options. It is important to choose one you are comfortable with. This article will give you some tips and information to choose best BP monitor for you.

Home blood pressure monitors are basically of 3 types, Mercury column, aneroid and Digital Blood pressure monitors.

Mercury HBPMs:
Seen in Doctor's Office. They are the most accurate, yet most difficult to use. They use a stethoscope to detect the sounds in the arteries.

Aneroid HPBMs-
are the second most reliable. Aneroid monitors range in price from about $20 to $30.These also require using a stethoscope – which is included in this particular model. They are lightweight, portable, and affordable. Experts from the American Society of Hypertension recommend this type and say that these are the most inexpensive monitors and little can go wrong with them. Aneroid models can be difficult to use, and may require training by a doctor or health worker. Moreover, using these requires good hearing and eyesight and may not be the best choice for elderly or disabled persons. For these reasons, aneroid HBPMs are generally less popular than digital monitors.

Digital HBPMs:
These machines are less accurate, yet they are the easiest to use. They are a good option for people who are hard of hearing or have poor eyesight. If you use it properly, it is best choice for anyone.

Also it is important to consider cuff while purchasing HBPMs.Cuffs are of three types. Arm, wrist and finger cuffs. Arm cuffs are the most accurate. Finger and wrist cuffs are only recommended for those who cannot wear them on the arm. An improperly fitted arm cuff will give a false reading. This is the most frequent reason for incorrect blood pressure readings. To determine your cuff size, measure around the midpoint of your upper arm. If it is
Less than 31 cm (12.2 in), buy a regular-size cuff
Between 31 and 40 cm (15.7 in), buy a large-size cuff

Cuffs must be inflated to measure blood pressure- they include those that must be inflated manually, semi-automatic devices, or auto inflate devices.

Following are some tips when you purchase blood pressure monitor.

Display Size - Is a standard or an oversized LCD read-out needed. Try to take that with normal size.
Power Supply - Battery powered or AC adapter. If you travel the battery powered unit is your best choice.
Memory Features - Some models remember the last reading or multiple readings. There are also models that have a PC link. Better to choose that has a memory of atleast one month BP monitoring.
Printing options- Some monitors also have printing options to keep your record safe
Cuff Sizes - Large and small arm cuffs are available for some units. The size of the cuff on a blood pressure monitor may be the most important to get an accurate reading. So always use cuff which is not too small and not too large.
Cost - Cost may be the most important factor. Remember to do as much research as possible. The more expensive models may not always be as good as the cheaper ones
Accuracy - Readings on some wrist and finger units may not be as accurate as an arm unit depending on the individual.
Ease of Use - Depends on personal preference. People with certain disabilities may find one unit easier to use than another.
Length of Warranty - Warranties vary from one to three years. Check your unit regularly to make sure everything runs smoothly and accurately.

Author: Dr. Armughan

Way to Control High Blood Pressure Naturally

2007-05-18T02:57:00.000-07:00

Stop smoking. Not only will this help keep your blood pressure in line, you'll also diminish your risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Smoking is main risk factor for atherosclerosis.Smoking injures blood vessel walls and speeds up the process of hardening of the arteries. So even though it does not cause high blood pressure, smoking is bad for anyone, especially those with high blood pressure. If you smoke, quit. If you don't smoke, don't start. Once you quit, your risk of having a heart attack is reduced after the first year. So you have a lot to gain by quitting.

Weight Reduction. Obese patients should lose weight.There's a direct link between being overweight and having high blood pressure. The more overweight you are, the greater the risk. Start by making small changes. Cut 200 to 300 calories from your diet each day — about the equivalent of saying "no" to two chocolate chip cookies.

Decrease salt intake. High salt intake is linked to high blood pressure. You should consume no more than 2,000 milligrams of sodium per day (about one teaspoon of salt). The average American consumes twice that, often through canned soups, frozen dinners, soy sauce, pickles, olives and processed cheeses, which are loaded with sodium. Read food labels and select reduced-sodium products. Try to select food with low salt.

Add more fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products to your plate. Eat one additional fruit or vegetable with every meal. Shrink the size of your daily meat intake to six ounces, and designate at least two dinners a week as meat-free. Fatty diets do not directly affect blood pressure. However, saturated fats and cholesterol in foods raise blood cholesterol, which increases the risk for heart disease. Foods high in fats also are high in calories, which must be reduced if you need to lose weight. Like smoking high cholestrol is also a major risk factor for atherosclerosis.

Limit alcohol consumption. Drink no more than one 12-ounce beer, one 5-ounce glass of wine or one swallow (1.5 ounces) of 80-proof whiskey if you’re a woman. Men can double these amounts. Anything more elevates blood pressure. You can reduce your blood pressure by 5-10 mmHg by just restricting Alcohol intake.

Exercise. First, get the green light from your physician. Then, slowly introduce aerobic exercise into your life, increasing the time and intensity at a pace that feels right, aiming for at least a 30-minute workout most days of the week. Young people should jog for 30 minutes three times per week and elderly patients should walk longer distances than usual.

Decrease Stress and Anxiety: Yes stress and anxiety also play role in high blood presure.If You want your blood pressure with in normal limits, try your self to get happy all times. Try extra curricular activities to make your mind stress free. Stress can make blood pressure go up for a while, and it has been thought to contribute to high blood pressure. But the long-term effects of stress are as yet unclear. Stress management techniques do not seem to prevent high blood pressure. However, such techniques may have other benefits, such as making you feel better or helping you to control over-eating.

Caffeine and Blood Pressure: Caffeine in coffee as well as in other drinks, such as tea and sodas, only raises blood pressure temporarily. So you should be able to continue to have drinks that contain caffeine, unless you are sensitive to it or have heart disease and your doctor tells you not to have any.

Eat adequate amounts of potassium-rich foods. Potassium, another mineral essential to good health, works in concert with sodium to regulate blood pressure. Studies have shown that people who consume more potassium have lower blood pressures than those who consume less. Rich sources of potassium include many fruits, such as cantaloupe, bananas, watermelon, oranges and orange juice, as well as potatoes, spinach, and zucchini. (Important note: if taking medication for high blood pressure, such as diuretics, consult a doctor before using salt substitutes that contain high amounts of potassium.

Acne Not Any More

2007-04-13T02:24:00.000-07:00

No more distressing cosmetic aspect for teenagers than is acne.
Acne is inflammatory lesions localized on the face, arms and upper part of the chest and back. Acne is emerged as a result of an abnormal response of the skin of male and female teens to normal levels of male sex hormones.The skin that is vulnerable to acne may have predisposing factors like, hypovitaminosis, anemia and inherited pattern of metabolism. Diet may play a role in exacerbation of acne, though not yet certain.

Acne starts through a phenomenon known as"Seborrhoea oleosa" which predisposes skin to acne, seborrhoeic eczema and alopecia. This phenomenon starts by increased secretion of oil by sebaceous glands in the hair follicles present in the skin. As a result, the skin becomes greasy and the oil fills the pores and may solidify to make black heads or "comedones". The oil may build up around the hair and the hair root and becomes infected with bacteria normally present in the skin.The bacteria break down the oil to irritant and inflammatory chemicals which causes redness, pus formation and pain in many acne patients.The pus can be spread deep in the skin either normally or through manipulation or squeezing the spot. This deep rooted inflammation and infection results in scarring and cyst formation frequently seen in acne patients.

Acne may be alleviated by high doses of female sex hormones, and worsened during pregnancy and pre-menstruation times due to hormonal imbalance.
Some dermatology scholars attribute a great part of the problem of acne to the impaired catabolic metabolism of carbohydrates and fats.

From our biochemical background, we know that the key element of catabolism of both carbohydrates and fats is Coenzyme A, which is formed by enzymatic coupling of the vitamin, Pantothenic acid and theamino acid Cysteine.
* Panthenol is better absorbed by the skin and is converted in the body into Pantothenic acid.
* Cysteine can produce some allergic reactions in some patients throughits free -SH group, yet it can be generated from methionine.

Bearing these notions in my mind, I tried solving the problem of acne through supplying the biochemical agents needed to accelerate catabolism of carbohydrates and fats in a local form to acne patients.The formulation revealed marvelous response in tens of acne cases.

Revising the ingredients of the formulation shows how far I put safety in the first position, and these are the ingredients:
* Panthenol(dexPanthenol-USP or d-Panthenol):
It is available in powderand liquid forms in different concentrations. Calculations are made so that the formula contains %2-4 d-Panthenol, e.g. if panthenol %50 is used, we should include what equals 4g panthenol, that means 2 teaspoonful of powder or liquid.
* L-Methionine: it is available in powder form in concentrations up to%99.5. Calculations are made to include %1-2 L-Methionine, that is 1 teaspoonful methionine %99.5.

The Formula
d-Panthenol 2-4%
L-Methionine 1-2%
Chamomile powder 1 %
Aloe vera powder 1 %
Bee honey 20 %
Propolis 2 %
Glycerin 70 %
To be applied once daily on the affected spots.

Another alternative is to add 1g L-Methionine to panthenol cream 50g, few drops Aloe vera liquid, few drops Chamomile oil and 1g Propolis.

Enjoy no more acne.

Estrogens and Overweight

2007-04-12T03:27:00.000-07:00

Normally, Androgens(male hormones), Estrogens (female hormones), Progestins (maternal hormones) are all present in the body of both male and female, yet it is the balance state of the three sets of hormones that dictate which effect will predominate . When Estrogens predominate, it causes accretion of fats in different body parts, and you can see for yourself when you compare the changes occurring in the body contours of a girl at puberty, and compare it with the body of a boy at the same age.

During the past 70 years, with the advent of society and industrial state, our body has been subjected to unprecedented Estrogen predominance. In less than 100 years with commercialization of cattle and poultry, processed foods, and use of petrochemical derivatives, have been replaced whole fruits and vegetables,poultry and cattle raised on grass and natural organic feed, and creams crafted from honey, milk and beeswax.

Worse yet, feeds lucid with pesticides and hormones, both of which have or induce estrogen activity, are routinely given to animals, and then passed to humans. Women whose diets are whole food based, seldom suffer a deficiency in progestins and the the signs of Estrogens dominance manifested as menopausal symptoms.

12 most common causes of Estrogen dominance:

1- Commercially raised cattle and poultry:

The animals are fed estrogen-like and Growth hormones. They are also given antibiotics-specially the poultry- which in turn disrupt the normal hormonal balance through inducing more enzymes that convert an androgen to estrogen.When humans eat the meat of these animals more estrogen is deposited in their bodies. As that is said, fish body is less contaminated -specially the small, non-coastal, non-shellfish - as one fish consumes1 pound of feed to produce 1 pound of edible fish, compared to 4/1 in poultry and 60/1 in cattle. You can trim fat from meat , and skin from poultry and fish you eat to reduce the amounts of pollutants.

2- Commercially - non-organic - grown fruits and vegetables containing pesticides:

In the past 100 years several hundred billion pounds of pesticides have been released into environment. Approximately, 5 billion pounds of pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides are being added to the world each year. Pesticides either have similar chemical structure to Estrogens, or induces liver enzymes that converts androgen to estrogen, favoring Estrogen dominance in our bodies. Produce with the most pesticides include Strawberries,bell peppers, Peaches, Apples, Apricots and Spinach. Foods with the least amount of pesticides include Avocado, Corn, Onions, Sweet Potatoes, Bananas, green onion, Broccoli, and Cauliflower.

If you are eating non-organic fruits and vegetables, discard the outer leaves of leafy vegetables and peel and wash all with diluted vinegar.

3- Petrochemical compounds found in general consumer products :

Such as creams, lotions, soaps, shampoos, perfumes, hair spray , nail polish, nail polish remover, and room deodorizer. We all involuntarily consume car exhaust, industrial waste such as PCBs and dioxins!

4- Industrial Solvents :

Some common organic solvents including alcohol like methanol, aldehydes like acetaldehyde, glycols like ethylene glycol, and ketones like acetone(nail polish remover).

Solvents are present in cosmetics, adhesives, glues, paint remover,dry-cleaning chemical, varnishes and other types of finishes, cleaning products, carpet, fiberboard, and other processed wood.

5- Sewage :

"Hormone Replacement Therapy ( HRT ) & Birth Control Pills".

Synthetic chemical Estrogens present in HRT and Birth control pills are metabolized in the body of women taking them, and excreted in their urine which is flushed down the toilet, and eventually found its way into the food chain, and back into the body. They are likely non-biodegradable.

6- Stress :

Stress causes adrenal gland exhaustion and reduced progesterone output. This tilts the estrogen to progesterone ratios in favor of estrogen. Excessive estrogen in turn causes insomnia and anxiety, which further taxes the adrenal gland. This leads to a further reduction in progesterone output and even more estrogen dominance. After a few years in this type of vicious cycle, the adrenal glands become exhausted. This dysfunction leads to blood sugar imbalance, hormonal imbalances, and chronic fatigue.

7- Obesity :

Fat has an enzyme that converts adrenal steroids to estrogen. The higher the fat intake, the higher the conversion of fat to estrogen.Studies have shown that estrogen and progesterone levels fell in women who switched from a typical high-fat, refined-carbohydrate diet to a low-fat, high-fiber and plant-based diet even though they did not adjust their total calorie intake. Plants contain over 5,000 known sterols that have progestogenic effects. People who eat more wholesome foods have a far lower incidence of menopausal symptoms because their pre- and post-menopause levels of estrogen do not drop as significantly.

8- Liver Overburden :

It is found that in some liver diseases like cirrhosis and fatty degeneration accompanying virus hepatitis B&C, or excessive alcohol intake, the liver capacity to convert androgens to Estrogens is increased. This same effect is presented by some drugs like phenobarbitone, phenytoin, carbamazepine, meprobamate...etc.

9- Deficiency of Vitamin B6 and Magnesium :

Both of these are necessary for the neutralization of estrogen in the liver. Too much estrogen also tends to create deficiency of zinc, magnesium and the B vitamins. These are all important constituents of hormonal balance.

10- Increased Sugar, Fast Food, and Processed Food :

Intake of all of these leads to a depletion of magnesium.

.

11- Excessive Intake of Caffeine :

Caffeine intake from all sources was linked with higher estrogen levels regardless of age, body mass index (BMI), caloric intake, smoking, alcohol, and cholesterol intake. Studies have shown that women who consumed at least 500 milligrams of caffeine daily, the equivalent of four or five cups of coffee, had nearly 70% more estrogen during the early follicular phase than women who consume no more than 100 mg of caffeine daily, or less than one cup of coffee. Tea is not much better as it contains about half the amount of caffeine as compared to coffee. The exception is herbal tea like chamomile which contains no caffeine.

In absolute terms, we are bathed in a continuous sea of Estrogen, the more the developed is the country, the more is its surge. Yes, we all have hormonal imbalances, and specifically Estrogen dominance.

Chart of Foods without Carbohydrates

2007-04-12T03:20:00.000-07:00

I have prepared a chart that describes the carbohydrate and calorie contents of almost all foods beginning with foods that contain no carbohydrates.
The next charts will upgrade the carbohydrate content, so if you are on Atkins diet, or you are reluctant to start a diet plan but you heard about cutting the carb down- which will help- and want find some foods in your kitchen that do the the job, then these charts are for you.
Bookmark, or add to favorites, so you can come back to them any time you want.

MEAT

DESCRIPTION WEIGHT RNERGY
(Grams) (Kilocalories)

TURKEY, ROASTED, LIGHT MEAT.., 2 PIECES .: WEIGHT = 85 g , ENERGY = 135 Kilocalories

TURKEY, ROASTED, DARK MEAT..., 4 PIECES. : weight = 85 g , Energy = 160 KiloCal

TURKEY, ROASTED, LIGHT + DARK, 3 PIECES. : weight = 85 g , Energy = 145 KiloCal

TURKEY LOAF, BREAST MEAT, W/C, 2 SLICES. : weight = 42 g , Energy = 45 KiloCal

TURKEY LOAF, BREAST MEAT W/OC 2 SLICES. : weight = 42 g , Energy = 45 KiloCal
TURKEY HAM, CURED TURKEY THIGH 2 SLICES. : Weight = 57 g , Energy = 75 KiloCal

CHICKEN, CANNED, BONELESS...., 5 OZ .... : Weight = 142 g , Energy = 235 KiloCal

CHICKEN LIVER, COOKED........, 1 LIVER . : Weight = 20 g , Energy = 30 KiloCal

CHICKEN, ROASTED, BREAST....., 3.0 OZ .. : Weight = 86 g , Eenrgy = 140 KiloCal

CHICKEN, ROASTED, DRUMSTICK.., 1.6 OZ .. : Weight = 44 g , Energy = 75 KiloCal

CHICKEN, STEWED, LIGHT + DARK, 1 CUP ... : Weight = 140 g , Energy = 250 KiloCal

CHICKEN, CANNED, BONELESS...., 5 OZ .... : Weight = 142 g , Energy = 235 KiloCal

CHICKEN LIVER, COOKED........, 1 LIVER.. : Weight = 20 g , Energy = 30 KiloCal

CHICKEN, ROASTED, DRUMSTICK.., 1.6 OZ .. : Weight = 44 g , Energy = 75 KiloCal
CHICKEN, STEWED, LIGHT + DARK, 1 CUP.... : Weight = 140 g , Energy = 250 KiloCal

DUCK, ROASTED, FLESH ONLY...., 1/2 DUCK : Weight = 221 g , Energy = 445 KiloCal

VEAL RIB, MED FAT, ROASTED..., 3 OZ.... : Weight = 85 g , Energy = 230 KiloCal

VEAL CUTLET, MED FAT,BRSD,BRLD 3 OZ.... : Weight = 85 g , Energy = 185 KiloCal

BEEF ROAST, RIB, LEAN ONLY . ,,2.2 OZ.. : Weight = 61 g , Energy = 150 KiloCal

BEEF, CKD,BTTM ROUND,LEAN ONLY 2.8 OZ.. : Weight = 78 g , Energy = 175 KiloCal

BEEF, CKD,BTTM ROUND,LEAN+ FAT 3 OZ.... : Weight = 85 g , Energy = 220 KiloCal

BEEF ROAST, RIB, LEAN + FAT ., 3 OZ.... : Weight = 85 g , Energy = 315 KiloCal

BEEF HEART, BRAISED . . . . ., 3 OZ.... : Weight = 85 g , Energy = 150 KiloCal

BEEF ROAST, EYE O RND, LEAN.., 2.6 OZ.. : Weight = 75 g , Energy = 135 KiloCal

BEEF ROAST, EYE O RND,LEAN+FAT 3 OZ.... : Weight = 85 g , Energy = 205 KiloCal

GROUND BEEF, BROILED, REGULAR 3 OZ.... : Weight = 85 g , Energy = 245 KiloCal

BEEF, CKD,CHUCK BLADE,LEAN+FAT 3 OZ.... : Weight = 85 g , Energy = 325 KiloCal

BEEF STEAK,SIRLOIN,BROIL,LEAN 2.5 OZ.. : Weight = 72 g , Energy = 150 KiloCal

BEEF, CANNED, CORNED . . . . , 3 OZ.... : Weight = 85 g , Energy = 185 KiloCal

BEEF, DRIED, CHIPPED . . . . , 2.5 OZ.. : Weight = 72 g , Energy = 145 KiloCal

BEEF STEAK,SIRLOIN,BROIL,LN+FT 3 OZ.... : Weight = 85 g , Energy = 240 KiloCal

BEEF, CKD,CHUCK BLADE,LEANONLY 2.2 OZ.. : Weight = 62 g , Energy = 170 KiloCal

PORK, LUNCHEON MEAT,CHOPPD HAM 2 SLICES : Weight = 42 g , Energy = 95 KiloCal

PORK, CURED, HAM, ROSTED,LN+FT 3 OZ.... : Weight = 85 g , Energy = 205 KiloCal
PORK, CURED, HAM, ROSTED,LEAN 2.4 OZ.. : Weight = 68 g , Energy = 105 KiloCal
PORK, CURED, HAM, CANNED,ROAST 3 OZ.... : Weight = 85 g , Energy = 140 KiloCal

PORK, CURED, BACON, REGUL,CKED 3 SLICE. : Weight = 19 g , Energy = 110 KiloCal

PORK CHOP, LOIN, BROIL, LEN+FT 3.1 OZ.. : Weight = 87 g , Energy = 275 KiloCal
PORK CHOP, LOIN, BROIL, LEAN 2.5 OZ.. : Weight = 72 g , Energy = 165 KiloCal
PORK CHOP, LOIN,PANFRY,LEAN+FT 3.1 OZ.. : Weight = 89 g , Energy = 335 KiloCal

PORK CHOP, LOIN,PANFRY, LEAN 2.4 OZ.. : Weight = 67 g , Energy = 180 KiloCal
PORK FRESH HAM, ROASTD,LEAN+FT 3 OZ.... : Weight = 85 g , Energy = 250 KiloCal

PORK FRESH RIB, ROASTD,LEAN+FT 3 OZ.... : Weight = 85 g , Energy = 270 KiloCal

PORK FRESH RIB, ROASTD,LEAN+FT 3 OZ.... : Weight = 85 g , Energy = 270 KiloCal

PORK, LINK, COOKED . . . . . , 1 LINK.. : Weight = 13 g , Energy = 50 KiloCal

PORK SHOULDER, BRAISD, LEAN. , 2.4 OZ.. : Weight = 67 g , Energy = 165 KiloCal

LAMB,CHOPS,ARM,BRAISED,LEAN. , 1.7 OZ.. : Weight = 48 g , Energy = 135 KiloCal
LAMB,CHOPS,ARM,BRAISED,LEAN+FT 2.2 OZ.. : Weight = 63 g , Energy = 220 KiloCal

LAMB, RIB, ROASTED, LEAN ONLY 2 OZ.... : Weight = 57 g , Energy = 130 KiloCal
LAMB,CHOPS,LOIN,BROIL,LEAN+FAT 2.8 OZ.. : Weight = 80 g , Energy = 235 KiloCal

LAMB,CHOPS,LOIN,BROIL,LEAN..., 2.3 OZ : Weight = 64 g , Energy = 140 KiloCal
LAMB,LEG,ROASTED, LEAN+ FAT.., 3 OZ.... : Weight = 85 g , Energy = 205 KiloCal
LAMB,LEG,ROASTED, LEAN ONLY,,, 2.6 OZ.. : Weight = 73 g , Energy = 140 KiloCal

LAMB, RIB, ROASTED, LEAN + FAT 3 OZ.... : Weight = 85 g , Energy = 315 KiloCal

FISH

HALIBUT, BROILED, BUTTER,LEMJU 3 OZ.... : Weight = 85 g , Energy = 140 KiloCal

HERRING, PICKLED ..... . . . , 3 OZ.... : Weight = 85 g , Energy = 190 KiloCal

SALMON, BAKED, RED. . . . . ., 3 OZ.... : Weight = 85 g , Energy = 140 KiloCal

SALMON, CANNED, PINK, W/ BONES 3 OZ.... : Weight = 85 g , Energy = 120 KiloCal

SALMON, SMOKED . . . . . . ., 3 OZ.... : Weight = 85 g , Energy = 150 KiloCal

TUNA, CANND, DRND,WATR, WHITE 3 OZ.... : Weight = 85 g , Energy = 135 KiloCal

TROUT, BROILED, W/ BUTTR,LEMJU 3 OZ.... : Weight = 85 g , Energy = 175 KiloCal

TUNA, CANND, DRND,OIL,CHK,LGHT 3 OZ.... : Weight = 85 g , Energy = 165 KiloCal

SARDINES, ATLNTC,CNNED,OIL,DRN 3 OZ.... : Weight = 85 g , Energy = 175 KiloCal

FATS & OILS

MARGARINE, REGULR,HARD,80% FAT 1 PAT... : Weight = 5 g , Energy = 35 Kilocalories

MARGARINE, REGULR,HARD,80% FAT 1 TBSP.. : Weight = 14 g , Energy = 100 KiloCal

MARGARINE, SPREAD,HARD,60% FAT 1 PAT .. : Weight = 5 g , Energy = 25 KiloCal

MARGARINE, SPREAD,HARD,60% FAT 1/2 CUP. : Weight = 113g , Energy = 610 KiloCal

MARGARINE, IMITATION 40% FAT,, 1 TBSP.. : Weight = 14 g , Energy = 50 KiloCal

MARGARINE, REGULR,SOFT,80% FAT 1 TBSP.. : Weight = 14 g , Energy = 100 KiloCal

MARGARINE, SPREAD,HARD,60% FAT 1 TBSP.. : Weight = 14 g , Energy = 75 KiloCal

MARGARINE, SPREAD,SOFT,60% FAT 8 OZ.... : Weight = 227g , Energy = 1225 KiloCal

MARGARINE, SPREAD,SOFT,60% FAT 1 TBSP.. : Weight = 14 g , Energy = 75 KiloCal

BUTTER, SALTED . . . . . . . , 1 TBSP.. : Weight = 14 g , Energy = 100 KiloCal

BUTTER, UNSALTED . . . . . . , 1 TBSP.. : Weight = 14 g , Energy = 100 KiloCal

BUTTER, SALTED . . . . . . . , 1 PAT... : Weight = 5 g , Energy = 35 KiloCal

BUTTER, UNSALTED . . . . . . . 1 PAT... : Weight = 5 g , Energy = 35 KiloCal

BUTTER, SALTED . . . . . . ,, 1/2 CUP. : Weight = 113g , Energy = 810 KiloCal

BUTTER, UNSALTED . . . . . . , 1/2 CUP. : Weight = 113g , Energy = 810 KiloCal

FATS, COOKING/VEGETBL SHORTENG 1 TBSP.. : Weight = 13 g , Energy = 115 KiloCal

FATS, COOKING/VEGETBL SHORTENG 1 CUP... : Weight = 205g , Energy = 1810 KiloCal

OLIVE OIL . . . . . . . . . . 1 TBSP.. : Weight = 14 g , Energy = 125 KiloCal

OLIVE OIL . . . . . . . . . . 1 CUP... : Weight = 216g , Energy = 1910 KiloCal

CORN OIL . . . . . . . . . ., 1 TBSP.. : Weight = 14 g , Energy = 125 KiloCal

CORN OIL . . . . . . . . . ., 1 CUP... : Weight = 218g , Energy = 1925 KiloCal

SUNFLOWER OIL. . . . . . . ., 1 TBSP.. : Weight = 14 g , Energy = 125 KiloCal

SUNFLOWER OIL. . . . . . . ., 1 CUP... : Weight = 218g , Energy = 1925 KiloCal

SAFFLOWER OIL. . . . . . . ., 1 TBSP.. : Weight = 14 g , Energy = 125 KiloCal

SAFFLOWER OIL. . . . . . . ., 1 CUP... : Weight = 218g , Energy = 1925 KiloCal

PEANUT OIL. . . . . . . . . , 1 TBSP.. : Weight = 14 g , Energy = 125 KiloCal

PEANUT OIL. . . . . . . . . , 1 CUP... : Weight = 216g , Energy = 1910 KiloCal

SOYBEAN OIL, HYDROGENATED . , 1 TBSP.. : Weight = 14 g , Energy = 125 KiloCal

SOYBEAN-COTTONSEED OIL, HYDRGN 1 TBSP.. : Weight = 14 g , Energy = 125 KiloCal

SOYBEAN-COTTONSEED OIL, HYDRGN 1 CUP... : Weight = 218g , Energy = 1925 KiloCal

SOYBEAN OIL, HYDROGENATED...., 1 CUP... : Weight = 218g , Energy = 1925 KiloCal

LARD . . . . . . . . . . . . , 1 CUP... : Weight = 205g , Energy = 1850 KiloCal

LARD . . . . . . . . . . . . , 1 TBSP.. : Weight = 13 g , Energy = 110 KiloCal

CHEESE

CHEDDAR CHEESE . . . . . . . , 1 OZ.... : Weight = 28.35g , Energy = 115 Kilo calories
CHEDDAR CHEESE . . . . . . . , 1 CU IN. : Weight = 17 g , Energy = 70 KiloCal

DUCK, ROASTED, FLESH ONLY. . , 1/2 DUCK : Weight = 221 g , Energy = 445 KiloCal

MUENSTER CHEESE. . . . . . . , 1 OZ.... : Weight = 28.35g , Energy = 105 KiloCal

PARMESAN CHEESE, GRATED. . . , 1 TBSP.. : Weight = 5 g , Energy = 25 KiloCal

MUENSTER CHEESE. . . . . . . , 1 OZ.... : Weight = 28.35g , Energy = 105 KiloCal

PARMESAN CHEESE, GRATED. . . , 1 TBSP.. : Weight = 5 g , Energy = 25 KiloCal

PASTERZD PROCES CHEESE,AMERICN 1 OZ.... : Weight = 28.35g , Energy = 105 KiloCal

DRINKS & BAVERAGES

COFFEE, BREWED. . . . . . .. , 6 FL OZ. : Weight = 180 g , Energy = 0 Kilocalories

TEA, BREWED . . . . . . . . ., 8 FL OZ. : Weight = 240 g , Energy = 0 KiloCal

CLUB SODA. . . . . . . . . . , 12 FL OZ : Weight = 355 g , Energy = 0 KiloCal

COLA, DIET, ASPARTAME ONLY . , 12 FL OZ : Weight = 355 g , Energy = 0 KiloCal

COLA, DIET, SACCHARIN ONLY . , 12 FL OZ : Weight = 355 g , Energy = 0 KiloCal
,
COLA, DIET, ASPRTAME + SACCHRN 12 FL OZ : Weight = 355 g , Energy = 0 KiloCal

GIN,RUM,VODKA,WHISKY 80-PROOF 1.5 F OZ : Weight = 42 g , Energy = 95 KiloCal

GIN,RUM,VODKA,WHISKY 86-PROOF 1.5 F OZ : Weight = 42 g , Energy = 105 KiloCal

GIN,RUM,VODKA,WHISKY 90-PROOF 1.5 F OZ : Weight = 42 g , Energy = 110 KiloCal

TOPING & DRESSING

MUSTARD, PREPARED, YELLOW. . , 1 TSP... : Weight = 5 g , Energy = 5 Kilo calories

MAYONNAISE, REGULAR. . . . . , 1 TBSP.. : Weight = 14 g , Energy = 100 KiloCal

VIENNA SAUSAGE . . . . . . . , 1 SAUSAG : Weight = 16 g , Energy = 45 KiloCal

VINEGAR AND OIL SALAD DRESSING 1 TBSP.. : Weight = 16 g , Energy = 70 KiloCal

BROWN AND SERVE SAUSAGE,BRWND, 1 LINK.. : Weight = 13 g , Energy = 50 KiloCal

WHIPPED TOPPING, PRESSURIZED , 1 TBSP.. : Weight = 3 g , Energy = 10 KiloCal

WHIPPING CREAM, UNWHIPED,LIGHT 1 TBSP.. : Weight = 15 g , Energy = 45 KiloCal

WHIPPING CREAM, UNWHIPED,HEAVY 1 TBSP.. : Weight = 15 g , Energy = 50 KiloCal

OTHERS

EGGS, RAW, WHITE . . . . . . , 1 WHITE. : Weight = 33 g , Energy = 15 Kilo calories
EGGS, RAW, YOLK. . . . . . . , 1 YOLK.. : Weight = 17 g , Energy = 60 KiloCal

FLOUNDER OR SOLE, BAKED,MARGRN 3 OZ.... : Weight = 85 g , Energy = 120 KiloCal

FLOUNDER OR SOLE, BAKED,W/OFAT 3 OZ.... : Weight = 85 g , Energy = 80 KiloCal

FLOUNDER OR SOLE, BAKED, BUTTR 3 OZ.... : Weight = 85 g , Energy = 120 KiloCal

PARSLEY, FREEZE-DRIED. . . . , 1 TBSP.. : Weight = 0.4g , Energy = 0 KiloCal

OLIVES, CANNED, RIPE, MISSION 3 SMALL. : Weight = 9 g , Energy = 15 KiloCal

OLIVES, CANNED, GREEN . . . , 4 MEDIUM : Weight = 13 g , Energy = 15 KiloCal

GELATIN, DRY. . . . . . . . , 1 ENVELP : Weight = 7 g , Energy = 25 KiloCal

LETTUCE, BUTTERHEAD, RAW,LEAVE 1 LEAF.. : Weight = 15 g , Energy = 0 KiloCal

TURKEY, ROASTED, LIGHT + DARK 1 CUP... : Weight = 140 g , Energy = 240 KiloCal

BEEF BROTH, BOULLN, CONSM,CNND 1 CUP... : Weight = 240 g , Energy = 15 KiloCal

SALT . . . . . . . . . . . . , 1 TSP... : Weight = 5.5 g , Energy = 0 KiloCal

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Prevention For Dark Circles

2007-03-26T00:49:00.000-07:00

The below mentioned eye care tips helps you have an healthy and beautiful eyes free of eye wrinkles and dark circles around the eyes.

Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables like carrots, drumstick, spinach., papaya and mangoes. All these are rich in beta carotene which helps to have healthy eyes.

Take adequate rest. Rest will refresh the eyes and help them work more efficiently.

Exercise regularly to improve blood circulation. Only then your eyes are sure to receive enough oxygen for good performance.

Drink at least 12 glasses of water to avoid any kind of puffiness in the eyes. Drinking lots of water helps to flush out waste from the body.

Do not rub your eyes for any reason but instead just blink your eyelids. Blinking is a good massage and exercise to the eyes.

Use a clean cotton ball dipped in milk to clean your eyes. Milk is a good and safe natural cleanser.

To induce a glow into your eyes insert 2 drops of pure rose water using a dropper.

This also gives you an special eye lift.

Regularly apply oil mixed in glycerin to your eye lashes and eye brows to keep them dense and dark.

Always use sunglasses during the peak day time to protect your eyes from sunrays. Direct sunrays cause heavy damage to eyes.

Place a slice of potato or cucumber on both the eyes, after 10 minutes remove and wash the eyes. This helps to avoid under eye wrinkles and dark circles around the eyes.

Dealing With Dark Circles

2007-03-26T00:45:00.000-07:00

Modern technology has life easier, yet more stressful! A lot of people put in 16 - 20 hour days with work, family and leisure time. And the last four to eight hour is spent in fitful, non-restful sleep. The results of a poor night's sleep can be dark circles under the eyes.

What are dark circles?

Dark Circles are deep shadows below the eyes. They can mask the energy and vitality you feel with a haggard and tired look. Dark circles may be accompanied by swelling commonly referred to bags under the eyes.

What makes dark circles?

Dark circles may be caused either by stressful or incomplete sleep or a deficiency of some nutrient like vitamin K. Some additional causes are outlined below.

Heredity: Like varicose veins, dark circles under the eyes can be an inherited trait. If you have dark circles, there is a chance that others in your family also have them. The skin under you eye may be very thin. When blood passes through the large veins close to the surface of the skin it can produce a bluish tint. The more transparent the skin you inherited, the darker the circles can appear.

Your skeletal framework: Yet another reason for increased dark circles is prominent cheekbones and deep-set eyes. These create hollow contours below the eyes, the shadow of which give the illusion of darkened skin under the eyes even though they are really not present.

Pigmentation can occur with age, when the tiny capillaries in the skin get weakened and thus leaky. The fluid from these leaky capillaries along with the hemoglobin slowly accumulates below the eyes, thereby forming the look of dark circles

Hormonal Changes and Allergies: Any condition that causes the eyes to itch can contribute to darker circles due to rubbing or scratching the skin around them. Hay fever sufferers particularly will notice under-eye "smudges" during the height of the allergy season. Some food allergies can also cause the area under the eyes to appear darker.

The combined effect of inflammation, chronic sun damage and the downward pull of gravity on dark circles result in to the puffiness, popularly know as the "bags under the eyes".

Treating dark Circles?

There are strategies available to cure and eliminate dark circles in addition to the ones that you may have learned from your grandmother.

Masking with cosmetics

Quick and reliable, this method simply demands you covering up your dark circles with a yellow base to counteract the blue tones in your skin.

Use your Grandmother's tricks

Place cool cucumbers or moist, cool tea bags on your eyes. This method is effective in reducing inflammation because of the tannic acid present in the tea.

Eat a healthy diet.

Taking in a diet right in vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamin K is helpful in reducing the dark circles. A combination of topical Vitamin A by products like retinol along with Vitamin K can be also be helpful.

Surgery:

It is actually possible to get fat deposited under the eyes if your dark circles are caused by thin skin. This is a radical yet effective cure.

Using Ocuderm?

Ocuderm offers a technologically advanced way to fade dark circles and reduce puffiness under the eyes. You apply it around the eye area in a gentle circular motion. Regular use results in fading and thereby completely eliminating dark circles and puffiness under the eye. Ocuderm? is available at www.bodestore.com

What is Colon Cancer

2007-03-20T04:12:00.000-07:00

Cancer of the colon is also called colorectal cancer as it can arise in both the colon (the lower part of the digestive tract) and in the very lowest section of the colon, which is known as the rectum. It is a serious condition that affects the colon, the rectum and the appendix. In this disease, which is often insidious in its development, malignant cells proliferate in the tissues of the colon.

One of the more obvious presentations of colon cancer is chronic blood loss in the stool, often dark blood or black patches in the stools themselves. Colon cancer is among the commonest cancers in the Western world, with more than 104000 new diagnoses being made every year.

The most important risk factor for colon cancer is getting older; it is most commonly diagnosed in people over the age of 50. Although many women complacently believe that bowel cancer is a man's disease, the incidence of colon cancer is essentially the same among men and women.

Colon cancer is a killer, but this is because it is not caught by the medical profession at an early stage. When cancer of the colon is caught in its early stages (with little metastatic spread) it can be 100% curable. Colonic cancer is one of those unusual cancers where testing and screening can prevent the disease. Failure to do so is responsible for the high mortality rate associated with this condition. It may be assumed that patients may be partly to blame; due to the embarrassment factor many people are reluctant or afraid to have their bottoms examined, but this is not the full picture. Unfortunately, the most common symptom of colon polyps and colon cancer is no symptoms at all, so the patient can't be blamed for that.

Whilst research on the genetic basis of colon cancer is ongoing, it is thought that diet plays a part. This type of cancer is encouraged by diets rich in animal fats and discouraged by diets full of vegetables. This is a reason why colon cancer is rarer in the Far East where there is less fat in the diet.

Most of the time, diagnosis of localized colon cancer is made via colonoscopy, where a flexible tube is placed into the colon with a tiny camera. This procedure can be done under sedation for more squeamish patients. Another diagnostic test which can be utilized is double contrast barium enema.

Once cancer has been found in the colon, staging tests are performed to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to what degree. Colon cancer is staged (given a number, e.g. Stage 1, Stage 2, etc) according to the size of the tumor and if it has become invasive (spreading to surrounding tissues).

Experts theorize that colon cancer is one of the most preventable forms of cancer - if you take the right steps. Eat a healthy, fiber-rich diet and always visit the Doctor if you have any doubts at all. Pain or discomfort in the bowel, or blood in the stool, should all be indicators that you should be examined. If regular screening is available, conquer your embarrassment and get yourself checked out. Remember - catch it early and it's 100% curable!

Conditions Of Diabetes

2007-03-17T23:41:00.000-07:00

While it's very easy to test for diabetes symptom , a simple blood glucose test is the determining factor, diabetes may not be easily recognized at first since so many of its symptoms are also common complaints for people who do not have diabetes. For this reason, diabetes may often go undiagnosed for a period of time before it is discovered and treated, if it is discovered in time to prevent complications.

Frequent urination, particularly at night, can also be a symptom of diabetes, but this symptom alone would not necessarily suggest the disease either. This symptom would also have to become pretty annoying and recurrent before it would prompt most people to consult a doctor.

Unexplained weight loss is another possible sign of diabetes but again, not a significant indication that the individual necessarily has diabetes. In many cases, people who want to lose weight would consider this an unexpected blessing and might not consult their doctor unless they had lost a considerable amount of weight over a period of time.

Skin infections, wounds that are slow to heal, particularly sores on the feet and ankles, and recurrent vaginal infections (in women), are signs of possible diabetes that are somewhat more likely to draw attention and result in a diagnosis.

Blurred vision and tingling or numbness in the hands or feet are also possible indicators of diabetes, and since these symptoms can be troublesome, are more likely to result in medical attention and diagnosis.

Individuals who experience several of the above-mentioned symptoms may have good reason to suspect diabetes, particularly if they are in any of the higher risk categories, and should contact their physician to request a simple blood glucose test which can either confirm or rule out diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes develops slowly and the symptoms are usually less severe. Some people may not notice any symptoms at all and their diabetes is only picked up in a routine medical check up. Some people may put the symptoms down to 'getting older' or 'overwork'.

Type 1 diabetes develops much more quickly, usually over a few weeks, and symptoms are normally very obvious.

In both types of diabetes, the symptoms are quickly relieved once the diabetes is treated. Early treatment will also reduce the chances of developing serious health problems.

Diabetes Treatment

2007-03-17T23:03:00.000-07:00

Diabetes is a disease caused when the body does not properly produce insulin. Seven percent of the population in the United States has diabetes. There are two types of the disease. Type one diabetes is where the body does not produce insulin and type two is where the body resists insulin. The majority of people diagnosed with this disease have type two. Symptoms of diabetes include extreme thirst, hazy vision, excessive hunger, weight fluctuation, fatigue and frequent urination. Diabetes is often controlled with insulin and prescription drugs, but diet and exercise play a large part in the ability to control the disease. There are also herbs that can help reduce the effects of diabetes.

Ensure a healthy diet by concentrating on foods such as vegetables, grains, fiber and legumes. These foods will help regulate sugar in the blood stream. Avoid junk food and foods that contain sugar such as cakes, cookies and other sweets. Alcohol, tobacco and caffeine should also be avoided to maintain a nourishing diet.

Exercise helps promote good health and combats against the negative effects of diabetes. It is important to exercise regularly and keep an appropriate weight. People who are inactive or overweight have a higher risk factor for diabetes and are prone to suffer from more side effects caused by the disease. It is especially important to exercise to build muscle. Starting a weight program will increase muscle mass which will increase sensitivity to insulin.

There are many herbal remedies recognized for their therapeutic properties of treating diabetes. They are commonly found in pharmacies and grocery stores and can be a great natural remedy. Prickly pear cactus has shown positive results in the treatment of this disease and was recently recognized by the International Diabetes Center as a viable natural remedy. Bitter Melon has been used for years in Asia, Africa and South America for treatment. Garlic will reduce sugar levels and is a healthy way to add flavor to food while benefiting from its curative traits. Other common herbs are ginseng, psyllium, fenugreek, bilberry, dandelion and burdock

Vitamin supplements are frequently used to help treat diabetes with the most commonly recommended ones being vitamins B6, C and E. Also, zinc, selenium, alpha lipoic acid, chromium and vanadium are commonly used. Rather than take individual supplements, some patients opt for a multivitamin to add to their diet.

Diabetes is a disease that affects a large portion of the population. The risks associated with it are serious but can be controlled with lifestyle change. Ensuring a well balanced diet and good exercise routine will help in preventing side effects. Also, proper use of herbs, vitamins and natural remedies will help prevent the necessity for more traditional means of medication.

Stroke Prevention

2007-03-17T22:58:00.000-07:00

The focus on reducing high blood pressure in today's society is more so then ever now we now know that living with a high blood pressure can result in having a stroke or a fatal heart attack.

High blood pressure is the most common cardiovascular disease amongst the older generation aged 60 plus - high blood pressure actually effects 2 in 3 in those aged 70 or above and often comes without warnings, lending it the name ?The Silent Killer'.

The reason heart attacks are common amongst those with high blood pressure is simply because the heart must work far more then normal and eventually is unable to carry out the excessive workload high blood pressure demands in the body.

Due to the silent nature of a high blood pressure it's recommended you monitor your blood pressure regularly, especially if you're in the 60 plus age range. Once a year is enough to keep tabs on your blood pressure and it's cheap and painless - therefore no one has any excuse not to monitor theirs!

Your doctor will have a blood pressure monitor and you can get yourself checked out there and then in the doctor's office or surgery. It's very swift. There is however other methods of monitoring your blood pressure and these include devices you can use at home. The type of device you will need to monitor your own blood pressure is called the sphygmomanometer - this comes with the cuff and systems to register your blood pressure accurately. You can even get ones which give automatic read-outs. I recommend searching around the Internet and choose the right device for you as there are many choices out there

The most important factor is you exercise regular and take good care of yourself

Herbal Remedies for Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Spondylosis, Muscular Ache

2007-03-13T22:58:00.000-07:00

Arthritis is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. According to Ayurveda arthritis is primarily a vata (air) disease which is due to accumulation of toxins in the joints and is known as amavata.This can be caused by poor digestion and a weakened colon, resulting in the accumulation of undigested food and the buildup of waste matter. Poor digestion allows toxins to accumulate in the body, and problems with the colon allow the toxins to reach the joints.

Symptoms : Fever; Immense pain & stiffness in affected muscles in case of chronic muscular rheumatism; Pain or tenderness in a joint which is aggravated by any movement or activity, such as walking, getting up from a chair, writing, typing, holding an object, throwing a ball, turning a key; Excruciating pain and stiffness in the joints in case of chronic articular rheumatism.

Home Remedies: The following are a few simple cures that might just help relieve you from the pain of arthritis. Try any of them to see what works for you.

Two teaspoons of lemon juice and a teaspoon of honey mixed in a cup of warm water taken twice a day is good for curing arthritis; Two teaspoons of juice from fresh leaves of bathua, drink every day on an empty stomach for 2-3 months; Half a teaspoon of turmeric powder with warm water helps cure arthritis; Taking alfalfa tea twice a day makes a good cure; Two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and 2 teaspoons of honey dissolved in a small glass of warm water taken once or twice a day brings relief; Rub the aching joints with hot vinegar to get some relief from pain; Two parts pure olive oil and one part kerosene makes a wonderful liniment to bathe afflicted joints; Add one tablespoon cod liver oil to the juice of one orange, whip and drink before sleeping; One raw clove of garlic every day is very beneficial. This clove can be fried in ghee (clarified butter) or castor oil. Take for 2 months; Guggulu is very helpful in curing arthritis. Eat half a teaspoon twice a day after meals with warm water; Exercise the afflicted joints in a tub full of hot water; Drink carrot juice, cucumber juice, eat cooked vegetables and/or vegetable soups, and drink coconut water for a healthy body & massage your joints daily to cure arthritis; On an empty stomach eat 2-3 walnuts or some coconut; Avoid mental tensions that lead to stress. Lose weight, if necessary, to get close to your ideal weight. If you weigh less, there is less weight on your joints and less pain;

Effetive and Proven Results For - Arthcare Oil (Anti Inflammatory and Muscle Relaxant Herbal Massage Oil) :

Arthcare Oil is the best natural solution for your problem, manufactured under the guidance of renowned MD Ayurveda Specialist doctor. Arthcare is an anti-arthritic herbal oil which not only gives a sure relief in rheumatic arthritis but also strengthens the bone tissues, the skeletal and the neuromuscular systems, giving a comfortable movements of joints and muscles. It is a powerful antioxidant and increases the energy level. Arthcare penetrates the body tissue faster than any other ointment because of its strong anti-inflammatory action. It removes stiffness and improves mobility of limbs. It brings relief from backaches, muscular strains, rheumatic pains, joint pains etc. Body massage with Arthcare oil, relaxes an asthmatic person. Arthcare is scientifically proven Ayurvedic formulation containing the herbal combination of well known traditional herbs described above. Within few minutes of application you will feel relaxed from pain. For Best Results Take 2 Arthcare Capsules twice a day and massage the affected area with Arthcare Oil 2-3 times a day.
Herbal Remedies:

The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. The following have been used traditionally to treat rheumatoid arthritis:

Shallaki also known as boswellia (Boswellia serrata), comes from a tree that yields gum when its bark is peeled away. In clinical trials, promising results were observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, chronic colitis, Crohn's disease. Researchers found that standardized Boswellia extract significantly reduced swelling and pain and usually reduced morning stiffness for people with rheumatoid arthritis. http://www.ayurvediccure.com/shallaki.htm ;

Ashvagandha (Withania somniferum) is an Asian plant of the potato family. Its roots have long been used to treat "rheumatism," high blood pressure, immune dysfunctions, erection problems and also to ease inflammation. Because of all this, it's sometimes called the "Indian ginseng." http://www.ayurvediccure.com/ashwagandha.htm ;

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) may be among the best-studied of the four. Research suggests ginger root inhibits production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes, which are involved in pain and inflammation. In an uncontrolled 1992 Danish study, 56 patients who had either RA, OA or muscular discomfort took powdered ginger. All of those with musculoskeletal pain and three-fourths of those with OA or RA reported varying degrees of pain relief and no side effects, even among those who took the ginger for more than two years.http://www.ayurvedivccure.com/products.htm ;

Herbal oils are applied to the arthritis to loosen stiff joints, restore mobility, remove pain, inflammation or swelling, nourish tissues and relieve pain. The experienced hands dipped in the pleasantly warmed oil will travel all over the body with pressure. Arthcare not only increases blood circulation but also gives a sure relief for rheumatic arthritis, spondylosis, paralysis, muscular disorder, slipped disc, asthma and tuberculosis. Brings in relief from stress, strain and tensions. It is also very good for tonning of one's muscles and nerves. Get instant relief within minutes of application of oil. For more information please read at http://www.ayurvediccure.com/arthcareoil.htm . Advice:

Epsom Salt (magnesium sulfate): Magnesium has both anti-inflammatory and anti- arthritic properties and it can be absorbed through the skin. Magnesium is one of the most important of the essential minerals in the body, and it is commonly deficient in the American diet. A New England remedy for arthritis is a hot bath of Epsom salts. The heat of the bath can increase circulation and reduce the swelling of arthritis.

Dosage and Directions: Fill a bathtub with water as hot as you can stand. Add 2 cups of Epsom salts. Bathe for thirty minutes, adding hot water as necessary to keep the temperature warm. Do this daily as often as you'd like.
More Details about Arthritis, Joint Pain, Back Pain Massage here.

Summary: Herbal Guide to Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Spondylosis, Muscular Ache, Know Some Home Remedies , Effetive Herbs and Effective Products

http://www.ayurvediccure.com/arthcareoil.htm http://www.ayurvediccure.com/arthritis.htm

Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Herbal Supplements and Herbal Remedies

at http://www.ayurvediccure.co.uk

Overview of Diabetes

2007-03-12T02:49:00.000-07:00

Chances are, you or someone you know has diabetes, a condition in which the body is unable to regulate blood sugar on its own. According to the American Diabetes Association, there are 20.8 million children and adults in the U.S. or 7 percent of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 6.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the disease.

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, which is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. Although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play a role, the actual cause of diabetes remains a mystery.

In most cases, diabetes does not strike until adulthood. People who get little exercise and are overweight are at an increased risk of developing what is known as Type 2 diabetes (Type 1 diabetes is detected on childbirth). The good news is that due to science research and developments in treatment, it is easier than ever to live with it.

Since with diabetes, the body is unable to produce or properly use insulin, sugar and fat remain in the blood, causing fatigue, frequent urination, excessive thirst and irritability. The disease can drastically affect a person's day-to-day life, as he or she might experience difficulties in concentrating, which can affect work performance, or may suffer from anxiety and/or depression. Left untreated, diabetes can lead to organ and nerve damage and increase a person's risk of heart disease, stroke and blindness.

The key to managing diabetes is keeping your blood sugar levels stable. You can do this by eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and keeping your weight in check, but, in order to succeed, you may also need insulin injections. Studies show that patients who keep their blood sugar levels close to normal may experience fewer diabetes-related complications and lead healthier lives. But experts indicate that the sooner you get your blood sugar under control, the better you will be.

Thus, you should work with your doctor to create a treatment plan that is right for you. If you need insulin, tell your doctor how often you exercise and eat and what your usual diet contains or what times you eat. Also mention which medications and vitamins you take, if any. This will help your doctor determine what type of insulin is best for you and what your dosage should be. Keep in mind that your insulin dosage will likely be adjusted many times until the best level for your case is reached, but you will soon be on the road to feeling like yourself again if you follow doctors' advice and keep your diet healthy, you exercise regularly and you maintain a constant sleeping pattern.

Defeat Diabetes Even If You Have a Sweet Tooth

2007-03-12T02:47:00.000-07:00

An overweight America may be fixated on fat and obsessed with carbs, but nutritionists say the real problem is much sweeter, we're a wash in sugar. Sugar is one of the main factors that contribute to diabetes. With diabetes growing at an incredible rate there are many different views on treating diabetes. In 2007 the amount of sugar being consumed grew exponentially. Did you know that the average American consumes 63 pounds of sugar a year? The issue is not that we consume sugar, but it is the amount of sugar we consume without even realizing it. For example a can of soda contains 13 teaspoons of sugar. People have turned to artificial sweeteners as an alternative to sugar.

Aspartame (NutraSweet) is produced from two amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine and is 180 times sweeter than sucrose. If you are currently using aspartame please pay close attention to the following. Studies have shown that Aspartame, an artificial sweetener commonly put into processed foods and diet soft drinks is a very dangerous chemical. Also known as NutraSweet, Equal, and Spoonful, wood alcohol (methanol) which coverts to formic acid (formic acid is the poison found in the sting of fire ants), which in turn causes metabolic acidosis when heated above 86F.
The methanol toxicity mimics other conditions such as multiple sclerosis, tinnitus and systemic lupus, especially among Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi Drinkers.

If you are using ASPARTAME and you suffer from fibromyalgia symptoms, spasms, shooting pains, numbness in your legs, cramps, vertigo, dizziness, headaches, tinnitus, joint pain, depression, anxiety attacks, slurred speech, blurred vision, or memory loss you probably have aspartame disease! The Congressional Record states that they make you crave carbohydrates and will make you FAT.

The formaldehyde stores in your fat cells, particularly in the hips and thighs. The only reason that it continues to be promoted is that the companies that have patented this drug have very deep pockets. There are companies making literally millions of dollars selling aspartame. There has been clinical studies that have evidence that aspartame not only causes you to gain fat but it also responsible for a plague of neurological diseases. If you are still not convinced by what I have mentioned PLEASE do some reading and find out for yourself the implications of using this deadly poison.

In my research I have found that there is one alternative that may be step above all the rest. This is a NATURAL herb called stevia. Stevia is derived from a South American shrub (Stevia rebaudiana). A good quality leaf is estimated to be 300 times sweeter than cane sugar, or sucrose. Also known as honey leaf and yerba dulce, stevia is not absorbed through the digestive tract, and is therefore non-caloric. This is a huge find for a person with diabetes, stevia is not only a natural substitute for sugar but it also carries medicinal properties. Preliminary evidence suggests that it may lower blood pressure, prevent and reverse diabetes and possess anti-viral properties.

Many people ask me well why have I not heard of this before, the answer although much to vast to cover in this article, attributes many of these natural remedies not being told to the public due to the monetization of big companies that focus on nothing but maximizing profits.

Recognise and Fight with Breast Cancer

2007-03-10T22:13:00.000-08:00

Breast cancer occurs due to the irrepressible growth of cells in the breast that invades the nearby tissues and spreads throughout the body. These collections of irrepressible growth of tissue are called tumors or malignant tumors. However, not all tumors are cancerous.

Breast cancer has been diagnosed in large numbers in North America and Europe. In 2001, about 200,000 cases of breast cancer were diagnosed in the United States alone. Every woman has a 1 in 8 risk of developing breast cancer, but the risk of dying from breast cancer is much lower, barely 1 in 28.

The risk of getting breast cancer is generally higher among older women, women with a family history or previous history of breast cancer, women who had radiation therapy in the chest region, women who started their periods before 12 years old, women who had menopause after 50 years old, women who never had children or had them age 30 or older, or women with genetic mutation. In recent times genetic mutations for breast cancer have become a hot topic of research.

The breast cancer tumor has the following symptoms: lump or thickening that appears on the breast or underarm, changes in the breast's shape, nipple turned inwards followed by colorless discharge, red or scaled skin or nipple, or ridges on the breast skin.

If a woman experiences any of these symptoms, it does not necessarily mean she has breast cancer. In such a case she should undergo a breast cancer personal check-up. It is estimated that 95% of breast cancer is detected through personal check-up. The breast cancer personal check-up includes checking for lumps in the breasts after each menstrual period, puckering the skin, and checking for nipple retraction or discharge. For consistent result, every woman should do a breast cancer personal check-up at the same time every month. Various other techniques such as mammography, thermography, ultrasonography, computerized tomography scan etc, can also help detect breast cancer.

Breast cancer treatments include surgery that removes cancerous tissues, with breast conservation therapy (BCT) being one such surgery. Other breast cancer treatments include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy and biologic therapy. Radiotherapy is a common breast cancer treatment, and radiation treatment and chemotherapy may follow surgery to ensure the destruction of the stray cancer cells.

Even after undergoing many or all of these breast cancer treatment measures, unfortunately almost half the women suffer from a recurrence of the disease.

Healthy Tips to Lose Weight

2007-03-10T21:59:00.000-08:00

Although some people find themselves dealing with more serious weight problems, most people who want to lose a little weight are relatively healthy. If you want to lose 10 pounds, there's a good chance that those pounds were gained very slowly of the course of many months - the weight doesn't represent a problem as much as a few times during the past year where you overindulged (usually the holidays) and failed to make up for it.

Here are some tips to lose those 10 pounds:

Pick Your Time
Weight loss involves very personal issues for most people, and is closely related to their self esteem. It is crucial that you attempt to lose 10 pounds at the appropriate time - at a time where you otherwise feel good and satisfied with your life. If you try and lose 10 pounds during a period of time in your life where you have a lot of stress or other distracting things going on, you drastically increase your chances of failure, which will only make things worse.

Change Your Diet
Try as much as possible to balance your diet. This doesn't mean that you have to starve yourself -- rather make a point of getting no more the 30% of your calories from fat. Eat more fruits and vegetables and try to add as much variety to your diet as possible. Try new things, and new meal ideas.

Keep Track Of Your Progress
The problem with dieting for many people, especially in the early stages, is that even if the diet is working they can't see any results. It's hard to really notice if you lose 1 pound. For this reason it's important that your track your progress, so you can have a good sense of the accomplishments you've made. By calculating how many calories you've eaten and how much you've burned through exercise each and every day, you can track how many calories (and ultimately how much weight) you are losing.

Do It With Friends
A great and fun way to help you stick with your plan is to undertake your project of losing 10 pounds with a friend. Not only will you be able to provide support for each other and track each other's progress, but you'll be able to engage in fun exercise activities together.

Make Your Plan Realistic
It's important that you set achievable goals for yourself. For example, with just some basic changes in your lifestyle and eating habits, you can lose 1 pound a week. There's no need to be in a huge rush to lose weight, and trying to lose weight quickly often requires a regimen that is difficult to keep up. For most people, it is healthier to lose weight slowly than with drastic dietary changes.

Many people would like to lose 10 pounds, and almost anyone can if they follow the advice above. By avoiding a "quick fix" and sticking with long term healthy choices, you'll find your project to lose 10 pounds will leave you not only thinner, but healthier and feeling better about yourself.

Lose Weight With Self-Hypnosis

2007-03-10T21:52:00.000-08:00

Self hypnosis has become a very popular technique for weight loss. Many people at a dead end for weight loss solutions that work have learned that hypnosis can help them lose weight. With a bit of understanding about hypnosis and planning you can do the same thing that hypnotherapy can do for you at almost no cost. One of the first things to do is determine what you want to explore or accomplish with hypnosis. What are your self-betterment goals?

For some it may be to alleviate stress, anxiety or problems with self-confidence and self-esteem. For others, it may be eliminating bad habits or improper thoughts, cravings or binging behavior. The best way to do this is to write out your plan and then examine the approach that you want to take.

There are millions of dollars spent on weight loss products and services every year. Many people find themselves spending a lot of money without getting the result they were looking for. Self-hypnosis for weight loss is free, easy to learn and it works if you are diligent and work at it.

Before you begin self hypnosis you will want to determine what you want to suggest and the script you want to use while under hypnosis. Scripts can be developed alone or you can purchase a book with pre-written scripts. Here we will give a basic weight loss script that you can use.

1. Find a comfortable place in your home that you can relax where you won't be disturbed.

2. Find a point that you can focus on. Focus on this spot and repeat to yourself that you are feeling sleepy and your eyes are getting heavy. When you are ready, close your eyes.

3. Count to ten in your mind and imagine you are talking steps up a staircase to a peaceful place.

4. Once you reach your peaceful place begin to focus on repeating your memorized weight loss hypnosis script.

5. I am a beautiful person that will change my eating habits. Food has controlled my life for the last time. I will now consider cravings as a desire for water or exercise.

6. After you have completed your script you can wake back up by counting from 5 to 0.

Hypnosis is a truly successful therapy that can assist you with your weight loss goals. You will not get stuck in hypnosis and it is never dangerous. Take your time, practice and use as often as needed. Good luck

Fore More:hypnosisknowhow.com

How to select A Good Acne Cleanser

2007-03-04T02:30:00.000-08:00

For those of you who have acne, do you have difficulties finding a Good Acne Cleanser that suits you? If you do, don't worry anymore. I will share with you right now on how easy it can be to find a suitable acne cleanser for yourself.

In searching for an acne cleanser, many people begin at their nearby Long's, Walgreen's, or Rite Aid. The aisles are full of various popular brands of cleansing bars, deep cleansing lotions, scrubs, toners, masks, black head removal strips, and more. Each person who buys one or more of these products buys them with hope, thinking perhaps they will help give them skin like that of the models on the cover of the packages. Sometimes these products work, and sometimes they don't. If they don't work for you, it gets very expensive going through the various acne cleansers in search of the one that will bring you the clear skin you've been dreaming of.

One alternative is to go to Costco. They often sell Neutrogena and other acne products at a big discount. You have to buy several bottles or at least one great big bottle, but if you've already tried the acne cleanser and you know it works for you, and want to keep using it, it makes sense to buy it in larger quantities at a store like Costco and save some money.

Some people think paying big bucks for a product that's promoted specifically as an acne cleanser is a waste of time. Do you ever wonder what people did before all these acne products were produced and sold? Some just used regular soap and hoped for the best. Some used various herbal applications and had good results.

What sorts of herbs or other common ingredients might make a good acne cleanser? Here's one: oatmeal and cornmeal mixed with plain yogurt. This makes a gentle cleanser that has a bit of exfoliating action. For this gentle acne cleanser, use 1/2 cup of either oatmeal or cornmeal and mix it with enough plain yogurt to turn it into a paste. Then apply to the face (avoiding the eye area) and wash off with water. Oatmeal tends to absorb things (such as oil and dirt) and it also helps soften the skin.

A facial mask to use after your acne cleanser is a combination of apples and honey. Grate one medium-size apple and mix it with about five tablespoons of honey. Apply it to your face (avoiding the eyes) and leave it on for about 10 minutes. Then splash it off with cool water. This is a great treatment for oily skin, and certainly costs less than a mask on sale at the drug store.

Hope the above help provides you with enough tips to find your suitable acne cleanser!

Can Healthy Acne Medicine Really Work?

2007-03-04T02:25:00.000-08:00

Have you had enough with ineffective acne medicines? This cycle of acne and pimples seems to be a never-ending one. Regardless of which generation you come from, chances are you battled acne at some point or you still do. You must be worried that you may be stuck with acne scars especially on your face forever.

The big dilemma lies in the acne medicines. So many of these "miracles treatments" barely even work. Heck, they may even worsen your blemish situation. That is the last thing any of us want. So, if you're like most of us and have completely had it with poor acne medicines, then it's time for something new.

One of the major catalysts concerning acne is food. Ah ha, you thought I was going to say oily skin, didn't you. Well, skin type, genetics, and hormones certainly do play a major part as well. However, much has to do with what you're dumping into your system. Are you in tune with what you're consuming on a daily basis? I honestly don't think that many individuals are.

Take a gander at some of these foods and think about it for a minute. Greasy meals such as fast food, sugary snacks, treats and candy, soft drinks, coffee, dairy products and salty chips. These are all foods that impact your skin and pores. Some of what we eat on a daily basis excretes back out via our pores. This is just the way the human body works. So the next time you think someone has a foul body odor, remember that it may be due to their diet.

So, when it comes to acne medicines, one of the best things you can do is eat right and drink oodles of water. Let those healthy meats and vegetables nourish your body and skin, while the water keeps you flushed out properly. Avoid as much fat, salt and sugar as possible. Try this for one week and then take a look at your complexion. I bet you will be surprised by the results.

I know it can be tough pinpointing those quality acne medicines. This is why I recommend the opinion of a professional. Visit your local dermatologist and see what they recommend regarding your particular skin type and current condition. Chances are they can offer some great advice concerning diet and decent acne medicines. They may even pass you a prescription for Diferin or one of the other contemporary acne medicines.

In no time at all you will have that clear and smooth skin you've been longing for.

How Can Acne Diets Help You Remove Your Acne?

2007-02-25T03:11:00.000-08:00

Have you tried many means and ways to get rid of your persistent acne that is appearing on your face and back? And none of them helps you at all. I mean when you glance in the mirror, are you seeing tons of irksome zits staring back at you? This can be a spirit-crusher to say the least.

The last thing any human being wants to grapple with is acne. Unfortunately a lot of this is hereditary. Therefore if you have it in your genetic code, then the odds are stacked against you. But, fortunately there are effective ways to assess this affliction and rid your mug of nasty pimples. You just have to know how to go about it. Let's start with what you consume on a daily basis. Have you ever heard of acne diets?

Whether you choose to believe it or not, your daily diet has an effect on your complexion. Take someone who eats lots of garbage on a regular basis. Now, by garbage I mean junk food; not literal trash. Fast food, soft drinks, candy and sodium have a negative effect on your complexion. This is the opposite of acne diets.

This would fall into the acne-causing diets realm. What you should be focusing on eating is lean protein such as poultry and fish, plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and oodles of water. The truth is that most folks definitely lack in the water category. They're drinking far too much coffee and soda. Coffee is loaded with toxins that aren't good for your skin, and soda pollutes your body with massive amounts of sugar. Did you know that some of what you consume excretes back out through your pores? Imagine all that fast food, fat and sugar coming back out. Yucks!

It's high time for acne diets. I suggest that you try this full-on for one solid week. I am sure your complexion will improve on some level. It will be noticeable.

If you have further inquiries regarding acne diets, all you need handy is your personal computer. Any questions you may have can probably be answered online and can probably be found in this site. It's time to start taking care of your skin with acne diets and proper skin care.

Acne Cures : How Can Acne Vitamin Helps You Obtain Clear Skin?

2007-02-25T03:02:00.000-08:00

Look at your own face. What do you see? Is it plastered with zits, pimples and acne? Are you happy with your current complexion, or do you wish to make a few changes to regain youthful looking skin? Remember, it is up to you in the end. This is your skin we're talking about here. Maybe what you need is a quality acne vitamin a treatment. Are you ready to tackle the cosmetic market in search of the right acne solution to your affliction?

Maybe you've come across an acne vitamin a treatment and maybe you haven't. There are just so many of these "acne cures" floating around now days. It may seem almost impossible to pinpoint the right one for your skin condition. However, I want you to lift up that chin and be strong. There is an acne solution out there for you and you are going to find it. Whether it's an acne vitamin a treatment cream or a kit like Proactive Solution, I couldn't tell you.

First of all, you need to better understand your personal skin type and dilemma. Have you made a trip to a professional skin doctor yet? This is the best place to begin if your insurance will cover it. Let a dermatologist examine your face and make suggestions. He/she will probably ask you a few questions regarding your current skin care regime and diet.

Don't be embarrassed to be completely honest. It's crucial that you find out what changes need to be made. You may be prescribed a contemporary acne vitamin a treatment or a cream such as Differin. This all depends on your particular condition. Furthermore, the professional may advise you to change your diet. Typically fast food and sweets are avoided and plenty of water is consumed. That is if you expect to get your complexion back in order. Look at it this way; those foods are terrible for your body in the first place. You shouldn't be eating them at all.

Looking for an acne vitamin a solution for your skin? No problem! Get started at home on your PC. Find that ideal acne remedy that heals your skin and gets it back to normal. Isn't a clear complexion well worth the effort?

Acne Control tips

2007-02-25T02:58:00.000-08:00

Are you having acne problems? If you do, you have come to the right place for helpful tips to get rid of your acne and pimples. Below are some recommended "Over The Counter" acne medication products depending on the severity of your acne problems.

Very Mild Acne

Over The Counter: Products containing benzoyl peroxide in an alcohol-based gel or containing salicylic acid.

Prescription Items: Antibiotic applications, oral antibiotics. Injection of cortisone is a quick way to reduce large acne spots.

Mild Acne

Over The Counter: Products containing either salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, glycolic acid or lactobionic acid

Prescription Items: Antiseptic wash, topical retinoids such as tretinoin and adapelene topical antibiotics. If you have many inflammed spots, a course of oral antibiotics will help. Microdermabrasion is also suitable if there are no inflammed acne spots.

Severe Acne

Over The Counter: Over the counter solutions are not useful and recommended apart from antiseptic washes. This is so as if the acne inflammation is too severe, these products will not work.
Prescription Items: Oral Isotretinoin, topical antibiotics or combination of an antibiotic and benzoyl peroxide in a single topical preparation. For the treatment of acne scars, smoothbeam laser may be used. This may also be used to treat persistent acne spots. Also, at least 6 to 10 acne laser treatment sessions may be needed.
Althought the above recommended acne medication products will help get rid of your acne, advice sought from a dermatologist is highly recommended for your acne problems. So, do look for a dermatologist around your area if you have not.

High Blood Pressure

2007-02-22T20:53:00.000-08:00

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

Blood pressure is the result of two forces: from the heart as it pumps blood into the arteries and throughout the circulatory system, and the force of the arteries as they resist blood flow.

Elevated blood pressure is harmful to the body because it causes the heart to work harder than normal, leaving both the heart and arteries more prone to injury. High blood pressure also increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, damage to the eyes, kidney failure, atherosclerosis and congestive heart failure. High blood pressure combined with other risks, such as obesity, smoking, high blood cholesterol or diabetes greatly increases the risk for heart attack or stroke.

When high blood pressure persists without treatment, the heart must work harder to pump enough blood and oxygen to the body’s organs and tissues. When the heart is over-worked for extended periods of time, the heart tends to enlarge and weaken. Arteries also suffer from elevated blood pressure, becoming scarred, hardened and less elastic over time.

"The Silent Killer"

High blood pressure is often termed the Silent Killer because it usually has no symptoms. Many people have high blood pressure for many years without knowing about it. The only way to find out if your blood pressure is elevated is to have your blood pressure checked.

Blood Pressure Readings

When you have your blood pressure taken, what do the numbers mean? The higher number, or systolic pressure, represents the pressure exerted when the heart is beating. The lower number, or diastolic pressure, represents the pressure exerted when the heart is at rest between beats. The systolic pressure is always stated first. For example, a blood pressure reading of 120 over 80 (120/80) would mean that your systolic pressure is 122 mm Hg and your diastolic pressure is 80 mm Hg. (Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury, or mm Hg).

Recommendations

High blood pressure (hypertension) is defined as an adult having a systolic pressure of 140 mm Hg or higher and/or a diastolic pressure of 90 mm Hg or higher.

Blood Pressure            Systolic Diastolic

Optimal Less             than 120 Less than 80

Normal Less              than 130 Less than 85

High Normal             130 - 139 85 - 89

Hypertension     140 or higher 90 or higher

Causes of High Blood Pressure

The cause of high blood pressure is largely unknown, although there are certain risk factors that increase an individual’s chance for developing high blood pressure:

Heredity

Race (African Americans are more likely to develop high blood pressure)

Males (men have a greater chance of developing high blood pressure than women until age 55. However, at over the age of 75, women are more likely to develop high blood pressure than men).

Sodium sensitivity (salt)

Obesity and overweight

Heavy alcohol consumption

Sedentary lifestyle

Diabetics or individuals with gout or kidney disease

Heredity (individuals whose parents had/have high blood pressure are more at risk)

Age (the older people get, the more prone to high blood pressure)

Some medications (always tell your doctor about every medication you are taking - some medications increase blood pressure, others may interfere with the effectiveness of antihypertensive drugs)

Treating High Blood Pressure

If you have high blood pressure, there is a great deal you can do to reduce it. You and your doctor can determine the most effective treatment for you. Treatment may include a low-fat, low-salt diet, losing weight, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake, and getting more exercise. In addition, many medications can be used to reduce and control your high blood pressure. With effective monitoring and treatment, you can help control your blood pressure and reduce your risk of stroke, kidney and heart failure and heart attack.

Who is at Risk for Mesothelioma?

2007-02-21T02:29:00.000-08:00

Who is at Risk for Mesothelioma?
by: Robert Linebaugh

Mesothelioma, the deadly disease which has topped news headlines for the last decade, is contracted through exposure to airborne fibers of asbestos. Sadly, the under-regulation of asbestos usage in years past, and arguably still today, exposed millions to airborne fibers and as a result thousands contracted the disease.

It can be safely said that almost everyone in the world has been exposed to asbestos in varying degrees. Because of the unique nature of the disease, even those who have suffered only minimal exposure are at risk of contracting the disease. In effect, virtually everyone has some risk of contracting Mesothelioma.

But this sort of statement perhaps oversteps the bounds of rationality. While it is certainly true that individuals who have been exposed to small amounts of asbestos for relatively short periods of time have contracted the disease, this is a rarity rather than a regularity. In fact, the vast majority of Mesothelioma cases involve individuals who were exposed to airborne asbestos fibers for intense and extended periods of time.

The industries most in danger of prolonged exposure and thus of contraction are shipbuilding trades, asbestos mining and milling, textile manufacturing, insulation work in construction, and brake repair personnel. There are, however, some other minor factors which can affect the likelihood of contracting the disease. Among these is radiation exposure. There have been causes in which individuals who were exposed to radiation have subsequently displayed signs of and ultimately contracted mesothelioma. However, empirical studies to attempt to verify this correlation have not proven out this claim very strongly.

Another more certain cause of the disease was the taking of the Polio vaccine between 1955 and 1963. Some batches of this vaccine were contaminated with Simian Virus 40 which has been detected in a host of rare cancers including Mesothelioma.

Those involved in construction or who lived in homes in the Cappadocian region of Turkey are also particularly at risk. In this region, homebuilders used Erionite, which is a type of zeolite silica stone. Exposure to the fibrous strands of this building material have led to an annual death rate of roughly 1% of the population which dies of mesothelioma each year in Turkey.

One of the most influential factors affecting Mesothelioma contraction is genetics. Some individuals who have been exposed to long periods and high quantities of asbestos have not contracted the disease. As a result, doctors have concluded that genetics play a major role in determining whether or not patients contract the disease. Unfortunately, the gene variability which offers some resistance to the disease also means that some are particularly vulnerable to asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma Lawyers - How To Choose Them Correctly

2007-02-21T02:25:00.000-08:00

Mesothelioma Lawyers - How To Choose Them Correctly
by: Peter Rutherford

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that occurs in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers many of our internal organs. In around 80% of cases people who develop mesothelioma have worked in environments where they have been exposed to asbestos particles. The tumour begins as nodules in the pleura which surround the lungs, later invading the chest wall.

If your life has been affected by mesothelioma then you may deserve compensation. Filling a lawsuit is imperative although the process can be daunting. The most important step for you to take is to first choose the correct law firm or attorney.

Selecting an experienced and competent mesothelioma lawyer can be the difference between success and failure. It is important to do this as soon as mesothelioma has been diagnosed as there maybe deadlines to meet if your case is to proceed.

In the decision making process you should contact several law firms before making your final decision. There is a wealth of information available from various public sources and you may also benefit from contacting the governing body of lawyers in your country. It is best to select a law firm or attorney that you have a good relationship with and also one that has past experience of dealing with mesothelioma cases. You will also need to find out about the fees charged by the various mesothelioma lawyers that you contact. When you have your initial consultations you should be looking to the law firm to explain how they can help you. When you make your final decision it is advisable to obtain a written agreement from the law firm regarding any fees, and also some references that you can then follow up on.

The decision making process can be a difficult one. Some questions you should think about are:

1) Did the lawyer take the time to listen carefully to me?

2) Did they seem trustworthy?

3) What courses of action are open to me and what are the implications of these?