Blood Circulation and its effect on our health

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

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Fats and Fibers in your Food Determine your Blood Glucose Level

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.

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Natural Remedies For High Blood Pressure

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.

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Honey, Other Foods for Abscesses and Boils

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


# Mix to make a paste and apply as recommended.

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