VirtualeHealth

Protecting Yourself From Swine Flu

2009-05-04T03:37:00.000-07:00

Swine Flu - How To Protect Yourself Quickly & Easily by: Simon Doderer

The guidelines state: INFORM / THE HIGHEST LEVEL / BASIC HYGIENE SOLUTIONS Swine Flu: The current issue of the swine flu, this is caused by an Influenza A type virus. This determines the characteristics, such as shape and make up of the virus. Byotrol from Northern Environmental kills this type of virus. It is the infections that are caused by the swine flu virus that are difficult to control/treat. Byocare Handmousse used on hard surfaces or hands kills the virus it does not treat the disease. Byotrol helps ‘prevent’ and protect – EN1500 with 30 minute and 16 hours control! This may not be as direct proof as we like but we can be very confident that Byotrol is effective against flu virus Below are some guidelines on our website – I have highlighted in red several of the many key features whereby simple, back to basic measures underpinned by the Byotrol Technology can help. Swine Flu - Byotrol Publishes Guide Lines To Help Businesses 27th Apr 2009 Pandemic Flu Policy & Contingency Plan 1. INTRODUCTION A Swine Flu ( influenza) pandemic has the potential to severely affect UK Business, employees and their families, and requires specific planning over and above that made for disasters It is recommended the planning focuses on: • Raising employees awareness of the threat of a pandemic and testing staff preparedness: • Maintaining health surveillance and hygiene measures: • Producing action plans that are specific to each of the business’s locations, taking into account local healthcare provision and regulatory systems governing drug licensing and stockpiling : and • Enhancing protection for high risk and vulnerable employees. 2 Background Pandemic influenza (flu) is a type of influenza that occurs every few decades and which spreads rapidly to affect most countries and regions around the world. Unlike the “ordinary” flu that occurs every winter in the UK, pandemic flu can occur at any time of year. Pandemic flu is much more serious than “ordinary” flu. As much as a quarter of the population may be affected – possibly more. Pandemic flu is likely to cause the same symptoms as ordinary flu but the symptoms may be more severe because nobody will have any immunity or protection against the particular virus. Swine influenza or “Swine Flu” is a contagious disease caused by mutation in influenza A viruses. Swine Flu - How To Protect Yourself Quickly & Easily 3 Planning for a PANDEMIC 3.1 The CEO should be the business’s designated pandemic coordinator and a pandemic response team from across the business should be set up and trained in clearly defined rolls. 3.2 The functions of the pandemic response team includes • Maintaining the team’s own awareness of global developments in Swine Flu (including guidance on containment strategies and vaccines) • Developing training and awareness materials for the business • Briefing the Management Board • Ensuring links are maintained with external stakeholders in planning for a pandemic flu (e.g. suppliers, customers and where relevant the Public) PANDEMIC RESPONSE Working practices and social distancing • Employees who are fit to return to work following an absence due to pandemic flu (and who have therefore developed immunity to the disease) might be considered for high-risk, essential roles. • The company should establish flexible working policies, enabling line managers to agree home working, different shift patterns, or relocation to a site more local to the employee’s home where appropriate. • Employees will be required to work at least one metre away from colleagues to ensure social distancing and managers will reconfigure work-site layouts to enable this to take place • Other social distancing responses are likely to include: o Absolutely no shared use of Telephones and mobiles o Advising employees to avoid face-to-face meetings and to use telephone and internet services instead, where possible o If this is not possible, meeting only in a large room and maintaining a distance of at least one metre between participants o Advising employees to avoid crowded places (lifts) or heavily populated gatherings (e.g. sporting events) o Advising employees to avoid travelling at busy periods on public transport • Essential workers who are totally reliant on public transport may be offered dedicated transport to and from work Infection Control • During a pandemic the business should seek to reduce the overall and specific risks to members of staff by taking appropriate infection control actions (e.g. strengthening guidance on hand washing, unnecessary contact such as hand shaking and isolataion of any member of staff with symptoms such as coughing) • Basic health protection advice including the following guidance: o Avoid close contact o Staying at home when sick or sickening o Covering completely with disposable tissues mouth and nose when sneezing and coughing sanitising hands afterwards o Avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth • Additional protection measures will be taken to ensure that influenza does not spread through contaminated objects and surfaces, such as handles, railings and counters. Surfaces touched by hands will be cleaned at least daily using Byotrol products. • Staff with flu-like symptoms will be required to stay at home until the symptoms disappear and will be allowed in the workplace only in extreme circumstances • Staff developing symptoms at work will be accommodated in a designated isolation room while arrangements are made to transport them home. Precautions will be introduced for all those entering and leaving this room. • Swine Flu - How To Protect Yourself Quickly & Easily Staff at risk of developing influenza-related complications (e.g. pregnant workers and those with compromised immune systems) will be reassigned from high-risk work sites and locations in the event of a pandemic. Business and personal travel • Only essential business travel should be considered during a pandemic and procedures for approving travel need to be tightened, requiring authorisation from a senior manager • The pandemic response team should monitor travel plans and new procedures for notifying employees’ location during periods of business travel will be introduced in the event of a pandemic • Staff required to visit pandemic-affected areas on business will be provided with appropriate health advice and personal protective equipment (e.g. masks, Byotrol based handwipes) and employees will have the right to refuse to travel to such areas • Staff visiting affected areas for non-business purposes during a pandemic may need to be required to stay away from work for a period of quarantine on unpaid leave. 3.3 Goods services and functions of the business that are essential to its operations and survival will be defined and the Business will: • Carry out devolution planning: i.e. plan which services can be carried out by other sites: • Develop an order of succession: i.e. plan which services can be carried out by personnel other than those who normally given the task and train non-essential back-up staff to perform essential tasks • Stockpile small quantities of essential supplies, materials and equipment • Ensure that maintenance plans are up to date to guarantee that all equipment essential to the business’s operation is capable of sustained operation in the event of a pandemic • Prepare time lines for how long it will be possible for the Business to carry out its essential functions without critical supplies, personnel and equipment • Produce forecasts of employee sickness absence during a pandemic flu • Put in place policies to enable flexible working (e.g. home- working ) in the event of a pandemic flu: • Put in place a pandemic response team that will take steps to heighten awareness of the Business infection control procedures, particularly provisions covering hand hygiene: • Provide specific training for all employees and students on personal, workplace and family protection and actions to take as a pandemic develops; • Prepare employee support services, including grief counselling and psychiatric care ; • Ensure that adequate supplies of infection control materials (Byotrol mousse for hand hygiene, surface sprays, wipes, gloves and masks) are held in preparedness for a pandemic. The Byotrol hand hygiene programme is just one element of our ‘Hygiene Revolution’ whereby we can challenge and manage the Critical Control Points within food processing / preparation / service: Floors / Food Contact surfaces / Hands Product offering: Hand Hygiene / Skin care Unit Pack End user unit price Byocare Mousse 50ml 30 x 50ml £2.99 Byocare Mousse 600ml 12 x 600ml £8.50 Byocare Mousse 5L - re-fill 4 x 5L £16.00 Swine Flu - How To Protect Yourself Quickly & Easily FOOD MANUFACTURING For Food-processing, food-preparation and food-service there are complex hygiene issues such as:  Food preparation: deli, bakery, on site food prep: sandwiches etc Floors: HD Food Safe Degreaser/ food contact surface Byosan, Cleaner Sanitiser + (Ready for use), Byowipe (Byosan liquid inside)  Food storage, display and check out – floors, shelving, check-out conveyors Broad spectrum usage: Byowipe – kills and protects / multi surface usage People ‘hands’: one of the major contributing factor for food spoilage and pathogens – some statistics claim upto 80% can be attributed to poor hand hygiene (General public: circa 40% of men and 20% of women do not wash their hands after using the toilet) (Catering workers: circa 50% do not wash their hands prior to preparing food) Byocare – hand hygiene programme: soap, sanitiser, dispensers, training programme Prepared by Simon Doderer – http://www.nenviro.com with content from Byotrol PLC. Call 0800 808 7887 or email Info@nenviro.com
About The Author
Simon Doderer is managing Director and founder of http://www.nenviro.com. Dedicated to commercial solutions for the Environment.

Visit the author's web site at:http://www.nenviro.com

How to Care for Autistic Children

2008-12-19T08:35:00.001-08:00

Autistic Child Care by: Mary Rose

Autistic child care should start as early as possible. Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears before age three and in some cases as early as 18 months. It is a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain in areas of communication and social interaction. Although the characteristics might be the same, each person is very unique. Autism is a spectrum disorder whose characteristics can present themselves in a wide variety of combinations from mild to severe. An autistic child can be identified very early. Parents are usually the first to notice unusual behaviors in their child. Normally a child of 12 months is expected to babble, say a few words, pick up gestures like pointing and share emotions like smiling with parents. In some cases, the baby seemed different from birth, unresponsive to people or focusing keenly on one item for long periods of time. The first signs of an autistic spectrum disorder can also appear in children who seem to have been developing normally. When an engaging, babbling toddler suddenly becomes silent, withdrawn, self-abusive, or indifferent to social overtures, something is wrong. Autistic child care is best done if the condition is diagnosed before the age of three. The best approach towards it is to count the child's strengths rather than the weaknesses. People use different terms to describe individuals within the autistic spectrum, such as autistic tendencies, high or low-functioning autism, or autism spectrum. Whatever the term, an autistic child can learn and function productively given the appropriate educational plan. Visual and not verbal clue should be focused in building an exhaustive module, to reach out to individuals falling in the spectrum of autism. We need to break routine way of teaching to encourage flexibility and stress on unambiguous communication. We must teach the autistic child life skills in a way that they can easily recall or relate to. Visual augmentation helps a child communicate better. Autistic child suffers from social deficits like speech impairment, problem in understanding others' perception and context and normally communicate in a way that is not understood by others. We have to teach them to communicate in socially identifiable way. Structure makes tasks predictable, reduces anxiety in the child. One can develop a concept using visual gestures. This helps the child which is struggling to recall the sequence. An autistic child's behavior is often mistaken as unruly. But it is only when the child is unable to communicate, it responds aggressively.So, we need to equip the child with better tools to communicate. Structured teaching can be beneficial to help the child pick up life skills. Awareness has to be created to enable families to carry out autistic child care in a better manner. They need to have access to better medical management of the related disorders like aggression, hyperactivity and irritability. Parents need to learn to communicate and give out unambiguous instruction to their wards. There should be support for employment and opportunity for autistic individuals in the society.
About The Author
Mary Rose has authored several books including books related to children and child care.For more information logon http://www.casanads.com/bm/children.htm

Sciatica

2008-11-06T15:22:00.000-08:00

Sciatica by: George Best

The pain known as sciatica (sometimes misspelled as "syatica" or "psyatica") is caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve (one on each side). The symptoms of sciatica usually start in the buttock and may extend partially or all the way down the leg. The sciatic nerves are each formed by nerve roots from the lower lumbar and sacral parts of the spinal cord. The individual nerve roots come together in the lower pelvis to form the sciatic nerves. Each sciatic nerve then runs from the pelvis down the back of each leg. The sciatic nerve splits into two parts below the knee and the two halves run down the back of the lower leg to the foot. While there are several possible causes of sciatica, by far the most common source of sciatic nerve irritation is a bulging or herniated disc in the lower lumbar spine. A damaged disc may bulge into the opening where one of the nerve roots exits the spine on it's way to join other nerve roots as part of the sciatic nerve. The bulging disc may create direct nerve pressure, and/or may trigger inflammation and swelling, which can also cause pressure on the nerve. When this occurs, pain and other symptoms may be felt part along the course of the sciatic nerve, starting in the buttock area and possibly running down the leg, sometimes all the way to the foot. Besides disc bulges, spinal openings for nerves may be narrowed by bone spurs or other bone formations related to spinal degeneration. In some cases, sciatica may result from direct trauma to the nerve after it exits the pelvis, such as what can happen if there is a direct impact or hard pressure applied in the lower buttock region. Rare sources of sciatica can include spinal tumors, which can compress sciatic nerve roots as they exit the spine. Another rare cause of sciatica is a cyst or tumor that compresses the sciatic nerve in the hip or knee area. Not every buttock or leg pain that people think is sciatica is acutually sciatica. True sciatica (sciatic nerve irritation) is usually felt mostly in the back of the leg (not the front or side of the leg). Symptoms of true sciatica are described by various people as stabbing, burning, tingling, numbness/heaviness, or like an electric shock. But even if symptoms seem like sciatica, they are not always due to actual irritation of the sciatic nerve. One common condition that closely mimics sciatica is caused by knots of contraction called trigger points in a muscle called the piriformis. The piriformis muscles are located on either side of the lower buttock area, running from the upper thigh bone to the edge of the sacrum (the triangular pelvic bone that is at the base of the spine). In addition to causing symptoms that mimic sciatica, tightness in the piriformis muscle may also cause true sciatic irritation, because the sciatic nerve actually runs through the center of the piriformis muscle in some people, and can be compressed by excessive muscle contraction. Trigger points in other muscles in the buttocks and upper thigh can cause referred pain in the side of the leg that may be mistaken for sciatica as well. It should be kept in mind that true sciatica and piriformis syndrome are associated with symptoms that are primarily felt in the back of the leg. If symptoms are in the front or side of the leg, there's a good chance that the problem is not sciatica. Treatment of sciatica is usually associated with treating a bulging disc. The first line of treatment is usually an attempt to reduce inflammation to reduce pressure on the nerve bymeans of oral medications. If oral medications fail, steroids may be injected in the area of the disc bulge in order to provide more potent anti-inflammatory effects. A variety of other types of treatment may also be used, such as physical therapy, massage, chiropractic or osteopathic spinal manipulation, acupuncture, or one of the newest forms of treatment, spinal decompression. In some situations, surgery may be recommended as a last resort. Most episodes of sciatica will resolve within a period of several weeks with or without treatment, but due to the severity of the pain typically involved, most people with sciatica will seek out treatment. Unfortunately, due to misconceptions by doctors and patients alike regarding the nature of sciatica, the necessary steps to prevent a return of sciatica are usually not taken. So, even though most people do recover from a bout of sciatica, nearly all will eventually have problems again at some point. Even sciatica sufferers initially treated successfully with surgery will often have future problems with sciatica. The good news is that with awareness of how to manage sciatica and a little bit of effort dedicated to prevention, most people can avoid ongoing long-term sciatica problems. The challenge is simply to making people aware of the necessity of a "management" versus "cure" approach to sciatica and getting them to follow-through with preventive exercises and other self-care techniques.
About The Author
Dr. George Best has been treating patients with sciatica and piriformis syndrome in his San Antonio practice for over 15 years. To educate people on the importance of properly managing sciatica long-term. Dr. Best has produced a free ebook and online video program on Sciatica and Sciatica, which you can access at http://www.sciaticaselfcare.com/.

Undiagnosed Hypothyroidism Symptoms

2008-10-15T06:03:00.001-07:00

Subtle, Undiagnosed Symptoms Could Be Signs Of Subclinical Hypothyroidism by: Mark Hyman, M.D.

Do you have vague, uncomfortable symptoms with no obvious cause? If so, you might be one of the 45 million people who have a chronic medical problem that is both under-diagnosed and under-treated. Think about it… Do you feel tired all the time and have trouble concentrating? Is your skin dry? Do you retain fluid? Has your sex drive gone downhill? Are your hands and feet always cold? Is your hair thinning, your voice a little hoarse, your fingernails a little thick? Is your cholesterol high? Do you have trouble losing weight or have you gained weight recently? Are you depressed or anxious? Do you have really bad PMS or trouble getting pregnant? Do your muscles feel weak, crampy, and painful? Most of these symptoms aren’t severe enough to send you to the emergency room. In fact, we usually accept them as a normal part of life -- and so do conventional doctors. They don’t view these symptoms as serious. But they certainly affect your quality of life. And they can lead to more serious problems, including heart attacks and diabetes. So what causes these symptoms? It’s called hypothyroidism. In this condition, your overall metabolic gas pedal has slowed down because the master gland that controls it, your thyroid gland, isn’t functioning at full speed. If your thyroid slows down, every other organ and system in your body slows down, including your brain, heart, gut, and muscles. Thyroid function is really a gray area. But most doctors view it as black or white. Conventional doctors tend to believe that you can diagnose hypothyroidism only through one blood test, called TSH, and that you only qualify for treatment if your blood level is over 5.0. But this ignores a whole group of people who have what we call subclinical hypothyroidism. It is called that because doctors have a hard time diagnosing it. Subclinical hypothyroidism may trigger many low-grade symptoms, like those described above. Yet it causes just slight changes in your blood tests. In fact, it often only shows up in tests that most doctors never perform. I see this all the time in my medical practice: Patients come in with vague complaints that alone may not seem too significant. But when you put them all together, they tell an important story. For example, take the 73-year-old woman who had fatigue, sluggishness, poor memory, slight depression, dry skin, constipation, and mild fluid retention. Her doctor brushed her off. But I believe that most of the symptoms of aging that we see are really symptoms of abnormal aging or dysfunction that is related to imbalances in our core body systems. So I act as a medical detective to find clues where no one else is looking and put together a story about why a person feels sick. This gets them the answers and tools they need to get well. In this case, we found that my patient had a sluggish thyroid. Although she didn’t meet all the conventional criteria for hypothyroidism, she had an autoimmune reaction that caused her thyroid to function poorly. So we replaced her missing thyroid hormone, supported her nutrition, and made some simple lifestyle changes. She soon felt alert, energetic, and youthful -- and all of her other symptoms cleared up. Another patient was a 28-year-old chronically constipated woman. She also felt tired in the mornings, always needed coffee, and had trouble staying up at night. She thought this was normal. She didn’t know she had a sluggish thyroid. But as soon as we supported her nutrition and eliminated her food allergens (particularly gluten), which create inflammation and interfere with thyroid function, she improved. Low thyroid function affects people of all ages. It is very common because of our exposure to toxins such as heavy metals and pesticides, nutritional deficiencies, and chronic stress, all of which interfere with our thyroid function. And your thyroid isn’t just linked to the symptoms described here. It is the master metabolism hormone that controls the function and activity of almost every organ and cell in your body -- so when it is sluggish or slow, everything slows down. Fortunately, we can diagnose and treat problem, with a comprehensive functional medicine approach that uses the concepts of UltraWellness. First, I determine if you have any of the chronic symptoms of hypothyroidism or diseases associated with it, such as: • sluggishness in the morning • poor concentration and memory • low-grade depression • dry skin • hoarse voice • thinning hair • coarse hair • being very sensitive to cold and having cold hands and feet • low body temperature • muscle pain • weakness or cramps • low sex drive • fluid retention • high cholesterol Next, I do a physical examination for clues to a low-functioning thyroid. I check for a low body temperature. Anything lower than 97.6 degrees F may be a sign of hypothyroidism. I might also find fluid retention, a thick tongue, swollen feet, swollen eyelids, an enlarged thyroid gland, excessive earwax, a dry mouth, coarse skin, low blood pressure, or decreased ankle reflexes. I might even find that the outer third of the eyebrows is gone. These are all physical signs that can be put together along with other symptoms to form a story of what is causing the problem. Then I perform specific blood tests that give me a full picture of thyroid problems. Finally, I design a nutrition, lifestyle, and supplement regimen and hormone replacement plan as needed to help people regain their health. In my next article, I will discuss the major preventable -- and mostly hidden -- factors that slow your thyroid down. And I’ll tell you more about the special tests I use to diagnose thyroid problems, as well as how to specifically treat low thyroid function.
About The Author
Mark Hyman, M.D. is a pioneer in functional medicine, practicing physician and best-selling author. A sneak preview of his book "The UltraSimple Diet" is available. See The UltraWellness Blog for more on Hypothyroidism: http://www.ultrawellness.com/blog/

About Candida and You

2007-12-20T09:43:00.000-08:00

Education Is Better Then Medication- Some Facts About Candida, Probiotics And The Gut by: Hyacinth Allen
Educate rather than medicate! It is obvious that no one diet or treatment suits all in the fight against Candida Albicans. The crucial element that applies to everyone is a healthy Gastrointestinal Tract, and our genetic makeup determines in part precisely how that functions. There are broad generalizations that can be made. Antibiotics destroy friendly and non friendly gut bacteria, when this happens the bad overgrows and mutate into moles which can penetrate the intestinal wall and then is set free to become a systemic infection affecting the whole body. Replacing friendly bacteria, the acidophilus types of intestinal bacterium is crucial to the health of the gastro intestinal tract. While this is very important all the time it is most important during the die off period, when the Candida can thrive again in the empty pockets of the intestines. Eating raw vegetables is good because raw foods have enzymes present which assist in the digestion of the food. These enzymes are often destroyed by cooking. When we do not digest food completely we fail to get all the nutrients out of that food. Plant based digestive enzymes in the stomach work whether our body is acid or alkaline the pH Balance is not critical, so our bodies find it easier to digest vegetables, once they reach the stomach the digestive process begins. On the other hand, animal based protein, fish or meat, do not begin to work until the stomach content has a pH balance of around pH 3, which means that it needs acid to be digested. Plants such as Echinacea, and thyme and marigold can build the immune system they do not cause the side effects of antibiotics. The Immune system is the body’s natural protection agent. Without it, the body would not be able to defend itself against invading bacteria, viruses, toxins and microbes. Building the immune system is an important part of keeping a healthy body that can repel attacks naturally. Unfortunately, the immune system works silently, we cannot see it working and it is only when factors such as stress or illness affect it that we realize that all is not well. Homeostasis is a biological condition, which means the inherent tendency in an organism toward the maintenance of physiological and psychological equilibrium. When the body cannot maintain a homeostatic state, unpleasant symptoms occur, these symptoms are the bodies “panic button”, it is saying it is out of synchronization. The body will make sure that all essential functions receive the maximum support, this means the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys as vital organism will get the bulk of all available nutrients. Non-essential bodily functions, which include skin replenishment, muscle tone, skin tone, hair replacement, and keeping the joints healthy becomes secondary functions. Although they are not life threatening the effects of them not being carried out can be seen externally very quickly. All drugs, including drugs considered safe to be bought without prescription such as aspirin, have negative side effects to the body, as they all deplete nutrients. The body can also be aggravated by exposure to environmental pollutants and stress makes it all worse. Probiotics contain live bacteria and prebiotics are nutrients designed to promote beneficial bacteria in the gastro intestinal tract. The European union have invested over €15 million, which in dollars is nearer $20,000 in trying to find out whether they have a scientific basis. Michael Blaut, head of microbiology at the German Institute of Human Nutrition in Potsdam has pioneered a lot of this research. He maintains that we know little of the ecosystem in the human gut, other than the fact, it is normal for it to have 1.2 kilograms, 2.4 pounds of bacteria. Molecular biologist Joël Doré working with the French agricultural research agency (INRA) has found that the faecal matter of adults is quite different. Though his work is unpublished at the moment, it suggests that whilst the gut is capable of supporting thousands of different types of bacteria most people only cultivate about a hundred, partly because we all cultivate bacteria in different ways. Before we are born, our guts are sterile but we accumulate bacteria whilst being born from the vaginal passage and faecal bacteria of our mothers. By the time we are two we have ingested our complement of bacteria and that does not change much as we age. The good news is that this seems to thwart the invasion of new bacteria such as salmonella in the gut. Probiotics cannot permanently affect the contents of the gut; if they are to have any effect at all they must be ingested daily. Preliminary studies show that they can be effective for some people with some types of inflammatory bowel diseases, but not necessarily against a Candida infection. One Finnish medical study that was conducted studied the effects on pregnant women of a daily dose of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and later the babies were to these women were given a daily dose for the first six months of their lives. The results were quite conclusive; the babies were less prone to eczema, which is one of the symptoms of Candida. Dr. Erika Isolauri conducted the survey and whilst the reason why the children were protected is not understood she has hypothesized that the probiotic shifted inflammatory factors in the gut. There are some dietary guidelines for cleansing the body of Candida: Eat different foods and rotate the food groups daily. Eat high fibre foods such as chickpeas to absorb the toxins Drink at least two litres of pure water daily. Snack on raw veggies. Make certain that your foods do not form any form of mold, store them correctly in airtight tubs in the refrigerator and eat them before they get moldy.
About The Author
Article by: Hyacinth Allen (Ceci) Author of "The Silent Sufferer" (The Hidden Horror Of living with Candida) http://www.naturalcandidacure.com

Are You Getting Enough Manganese?

2007-12-10T07:06:00.000-08:00

Why The Magic of Manganese Isn't Just In The Name by: Steve Smith
Manganese is one of those elements commonly referred to as "trace" minerals within the human body, because they're found and required only in relatively tiny quantities. But that description should not be taken as reducing the importance of manganese in any way. Indeed the very name is derived from the Ancient Greek word for magic; evidencing the special powers which they attributed to it. Modern science is probably too cautious to go as far as that, but there's no doubt that manganese has a number of vital functions within the body. Manganese is an essential element in the production of a number of vital enzymes. Perhaps particularly important amongst these is superoxide dismutase, an anti-oxidant enzyme which has a crucial role in protecting the mitochondria of every cell in the body from the oxidative free radical damage which can lead to DNA damage, premature ageing and even, eventually, degenerative disease. Manganese dependent enzymes are also essential for the effective metabolism of protein and carbohydrates from the diet, as well as cholesterol. In addition to helping maintain normal cholesterol levels, it has also been noted that cardiac patients tend to have depleted levels of manganese in the heart muscle, and there is research evidence to suggest that manganese may also help protect against arterial damage. Manganese is also regarded as important for bone and joint health. Some commercial preparations containing glucosamine, a popular supplement marketed as an aid to joint flexibility and for reducing the pain of osteo-arthritis, also contain significant quantities of a manganese compound, and there's evidence that manganese, like glucosamine, has a significant effect in helping the repair of joint cartilage. Low blood levels and deficiencies of manganese have also been associated with an increased incidence of osteoporosis, ie brittle bones; and wound healing depends on prolidase, another manganese activated enzyme. Although orthodox medicine remains reluctant to accept the link, there is evidence that low levels of manganese are associated with the glucose intolerance characteristic of diabetes, and, coincidentally or not, it has also been noted that many so-called "natural" nutritional therapies for the disease are often based on manganese rich herbs. No one is claiming that manganese supplements may act as an alternative treatment for diabetes, but many practitioners maintain that when taken together with a manganese rich diet, they may well assist sufferers to manage their blood sugar levels. Finally, a number of research reports have confirmed an associative, but not necessarily causal, relationship between low manganese levels and brain (epileptic) seizures in both humans and other animals. Whilst it is generally recognised that more research is required, it seems reasonable to suggest that ensuring good levels of manganese in the body may have some protective effect. The US Food and Nutrition Board has recommended an upper safe limit for manganese intake of 11 mg a day for adults, and there are potential concerns about manganese toxicity. These appear to arise, however, from the direct inhalation of manganese dust and the consumption of manganese contaminated water or heavily polluted air, rather than from diet or supplements. These external pollutants apart, there is much more likely to be a deficiency of manganese than an excess. Whole grains, leafy green vegetables, certain fruits and green or black tea are reasonably good sources, but many modern Western diets may still struggle to provide even the minute amounts required. As usual, the stripping of nutrients from the soil along with our increased dietary reliance on heavily refined grains are the main culprits. But in the case of manganese this problem is compounded by its negative interaction with other essential minerals needed by the body in larger quantities. It appears, for example, that the absorption of manganese from food decreases in proportion with the amount of iron contained in that food, and the amount of iron stored in the body. Blood levels of both manganese and the important anti-oxidant, superoxide dismutase have been found to be reduced in individuals following a program of iron supplementation, and similar results have been found in people supplementing with magnesium, as is very commonly recommended in the interests of cardiac and cardiovascular health. Relatively high doses of calcium supplements have also been found to reduce the absorption of manganese and perhaps also increase its rate of excretion from the body. But none of the above effects should be taken as reasons not to supplement with these other minerals should such a program be regarded as potentially beneficial. They are, however, yet more evidence of the holistic operation of the body's systems and the mutual interdependence of all the many nutrients on which these rely. Thankfully, though, the answer to the problem is simple enough. It is to ensure that no supplements of minerals, or for that matter vitamins, are ever taken in isolation, but only in the form of comprehensive multi-vitamin and multi-mineral supplements. And of course, these should always be regarded as being in addition to a nutritionally well balanced diet rather than a replacement for it. Such a multi-mineral supplement should provide more than sufficient manganese but it is also worth noting that good intakes of both vitamin C and zinc, in particular, appear significantly to improve manganese absorption.
About The Author
Steve Smith is a freelance copywriter specialising in direct marketing and with a particular interest in health products. Find out more at http://www.sisyphuspublicationsonline.com/LiquidNutrition/Information.htm

Facts About Eating and Pooping

2007-10-21T00:19:00.000-07:00

Good Digestion Is Essential For Good Health by: Jennifer Kays
A healthy digestive system is crucial to your overall health. Today more and more people have reported having problems like indigestion, acidity and poor waste elimination. The reason is the fast paced life style, and lack of adequate sleep or lack of nourishing diet. Our fast food diets contain refined sugar, preservatives, antibiotic, and hormones that interfere with digestion and health in general. So called "junk food" is contributing to a vast variety of ailments and obesity. Natural digestive supplements, vitamins, herbs and probiotics are well known to provide people with fast relief from problems like indigestion, acidity and poor waste elimination. Since conventional synthetic drugs are often very difficult for the body to absorb and carry undesirable side effects, an effective alternative is the use of all natural enzymes, fiber, vitamins, supplements, herbs, and probiotics that are derived from natural sources. All natural digestive aids are fast acting and easily absorbed by the human body. Natural digestion chewable wafers or liquids help your body to better absorb food nutrients from the foods you eat and the supplements you take - plus you're able to break down dairy products and other hard-to-digest foods. Natural digestion enzymes, fiber, supplements, vitamins, herbs, and probiotics help balance and ease digestive discomfort. Enzymes are proteins that are a vital energy factor needed for every digestive action and reaction that our body needs for proper health. Enzymes combine with coenzymes forming almost 100,000 different substances in the body that make it possible to see, hear, feel, move, digest food and allow the brain to function efficiently. All organs, tissues and all the 100 trillion cells in our bodies depend on the interaction of metabolic enzymes and the energy they help produce. Enzymes break down food particles that are too large or have begun to putrefy. When food particles are too large or have begun to putrefy, our bodies are unable to absorb them and they become like invaders to our blood stream, cells and intestines. Then our immune system begins to attack them in order to protect us. The results may take the forms of nausea, runny eyes, headaches, acid reflux, heart burn, fatigue, allergies or respiratory difficulty, leaky gut, weight gain, candida, or constipation. Conventional cooking, cooking with a microwave, processed foods and some freezing destroy the enzymes naturally contained in food. At times our own body's enzyme producing capacity gets overwhelmed and our metabolic digestive ability is compromised. The use of antibotics also destroys beneficial micoflora in our intestines. Research indicates that as we age, the cells in our pancreas becomes less efficient causing an enzyme deficiency that weakens the trillions of cells in our bodies. This enzyme deficiency then, in turn, speeds the aging process creating an undesirable cycle. We can counteract the effects of food preparation, aging, and digestion overwhelm by using all natural enzyme supplements and formulas that increase the amount of enzymes in our body and create a healthy, properly functioning digestive system. Probiotics derived from natural sources enhancethe growth of beneficial microflora in our intestines. Mircoflora helps process vitamins, nutrients and enzymes that enhance digestive process. The microflora protects our bodies by removing harmful foreign materials that our bodies cannot remove and prevent harmful bacteria from growing in our intestines that causes illness. As we age, the health microflora in our intestines decreases. Our common complaint as we age, is that we cannot eat the way we used to eat or the foods we used to be able to eat. We may develop lactose intolerance, have difficulty with waste elimination, experience respiratory difficulty, acid relux,and feel less energetic or perhaps toxic. Regular replacement of beneficial microflora with the use of all natural probiotics helps us to continually breakdown dairy products or other food that are difficult to digest enabling us to avoid experiencing acid reflux, weight gain and other digestive difficulties that actually speed the aging process. Of course, all natural fiber is extremely important for good digestion. Soluble fiber attracts water during digestion. This slows down the digestive process and allows you stomach and intestine to absorb more of the nutrition from the food you have eaten. All natural insoluble fiber allows food to move through the digestive tracts of your body and then enables waste and toxins to be eliminated through the bowel. Insoluble fiber removes any blockage in the intestines that may lead to constipation. Fiber is essential for your body to absorb vital vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients and to facilitate the removal of waste materials. All natural enzymes, fiber, vitamin, supplements, herbs, and probotics help our body to better absorb and utilize the food we eat. They also help us experience proper waste elimination which is vital for removing toxins that could cause us harm and speed the aging process. A well functioning, healthy digestive system is vital to our well being. All natural digestive aid products are an enormous advantage over the use of conventional synthetic drugs. Together, all natural probiotics, digestive enzymes and fiber are a powerhouse for healthy digestion.
About The Author
Jennifer Kays has over twenty years experience with all natural health care products. She provides the highest quality all natural health care products through http://www.sweetmedicineessentials.com/

Our Current Health Care Plan

2007-10-21T00:18:00.001-07:00

Sucking n Shocking: ‘Sicko’ Reveals by: Suzanne Macguire
Michael Moore's latest flick has finally hit the nail on the head. The release of Sicko in the American theatres has heaped up a controversy. Released on 29th June 2007, this documentary film not only investigates the US healthcare system but also point out numerous loopholes associated with it. These loopholes have been featured as those US health insurance companies that function at the cost of the lives of its citizens. Christened as a wickedly funny satire by many, Sicko pungently reveals the inadequacies of the American healthcare system. Its narrative is infused with instances of the inhuman behavior of multiple health insurance companies who have been responsible for the death of numerous patients. The irony lies in the fact that these companies reward those employees who have helped to negate company expenditure by denying maximum number of health coverage requests. One such memorable piece recounted in the movie is that of Linda Peeno, who denied a life-saving operation to a man. Her decision was held in high esteem as she saved half a million dollars her company had to incur. The shocking realities do not end here. The movie presents paraphernalia of woes caused due to the sucking policies of the American healthcare system. The exorbitant cost of American drugs is no news. But its adverse consequences on the commoners have been portrayed movingly. Frank, an elderly man, works at Pathmark to pay for his medicine. Next, we come across a married couple, who was forced to move in with their daughter because the father had three heart attacks, and the mother suffered serious problems as well. Moore almost moves the audience to tears when he projects the case Rick who accidentally chopped off the tops of his middle and ring fingers. Disclosing his inability to pay for both the operations, the hospital offered him a choice of reattaching his middle finger at 60,000$ or his ring finger at 12,000$. A romantic to the core, Rick chose his ring finger to be reattached for a bargain price of 12 grand. All these instances are tragic indeed, but the interview with Becky, a health insurance worker, is a haunting one. She breaks down while recounting the experience of her grueling job. It is through her that Moore reveals how the American healthcare system not only leaves out 50 million uninsured citizens but also negates aid to the 250 million insured Americans. As Moore himself testifies, "This is not a broken system, this is a sick system", and Sicko presents a statement to Moore's vision. This brilliantly directed film does well to make a comparison between the US healthcare system and the healthcare policies of such nations as France, Cuba, England, and Canada. The scene where Moore strolls around the streets of France with a doctor attending on house calls, presents a stark contrast to the inhospitable, rather hostile American healthcare system. The movie ends with Moore taking a group of 9/11 victims to Cuba, leaving a question unanswered: "Is it so hellish to live in America?" The answer, most certainly, lies with the people; but the movie, too, obliquely points to a solution: medical tourism. The new mantra of medical tourism has been attracting a lot of American patients to look for healthcare and medical facilities outside the US. So, if Sicko's reality bites, there is medical tourism to offer you a healing treatment!
About The Author
Suzanne Macguire is an Internet marketing professional with expertise in content development and technical writing in a variety of industries. http://www.recoverdiscover.com/

Take a Chill Pill

2007-10-21T00:15:00.000-07:00

Anxiety herbs by: Patricia McDougall
Two natural anti-anxiety herbs used extensively for hundreds of years are Mulungu and Graviola. Erythrina Mulungu, commonly known by several names such as Mulungu, Murungu, Murungo, Muchocho and so on, is a medium sized tree that grows to a height of 10-15 meters, and brings forth a profusion of flowers. The bark and root of this plant are used as medicines to reduce anxiety and stress, and also as a pain reliever. The herb reduces blood pressure, regulates heartbeat, and acts as a sedative. Mulungu has been in use for centuries in South America as a natural anti-anxiety herb to calm agitated nerves. The herb is used to reduce anxiety and promote restful sleep. It is used successfully for breathing problems and liver disease. A research study in 2002 validated the traditional use of the plant as an anti-anxiety herb. Graviola is small evergreen tree that is about 5-6 meters in height. The leaves, fruits, bark, roots and seeds of this plant have excellent medicinal properties, and have been in use for centuries as indigenous medicines. Graviola is used to relieve spasms and reduce depression. The bark, leaves and roots of Graviola have sedative, antispasmodic and hypotensive properties. The anti-anxiety herbs marketed by Amazon Botanicals contain these two herbs, and makes the user feel happier. They are made from fully natural sources and are therefore free of harmful side effects. Both these anti-anxiety herbs are fast acting and work effectively. They are faster than St. John's Wort, and free of side effects and liver toxicity that other herbs like Kava Kava induce. The anti-anxiety herbs produced by Amazon Botanicals use fresh Mulungu and Graviola and avoids fillers of any kind, in contrast to other manufacturers who buy from secondary sources, and use stale or adulterated products. This ensures safety and efficacy of the herbal preparation that is manufactured. The products are available in two forms – anxiety tincture and anxiety tea. The tincture is manufactured by extracting 100% pure Mulungu and Graviola in distilled water and 40% alcohol. The suggested dosage is 60 ml twice a day taken under the tongue or with water or juice. The tea is made from 100% pure Mulungu and Graviola leaves and bark, and comes with a natural flavor. The tea is to be prepared by simmering the tea bags in water for thirty minutes or more. You can make the tea stronger by simmering the preparation longer. Persons with dangerously low blood pressure levels should avoid use of the herb, as this is known to result in further lowering of the blood pressure. Persons with high blood pressure who are on medication should consult their doctor, as use of the herb may require a reduction in the dosage of the drug they are taking for treating high blood pressure. The drug should also be avoided during pregnancy. Extremely large doses of Graviola may result in nausea.
About The Author
Patricia McDougall B.Sc. is a Chartered Herbalist that is originally from Peru. Patricia is the Director of Research and Development for Amazon Botanicals LLC of Newark Delaware. http://www.amazon-botanicals.com/Anti_Anxiety_herbs_s/43.htm

Nature's Medicine: Sleep

2007-10-21T00:13:00.000-07:00

How Does Sleep Affect Our Minds and Bodies? by: Danna Schneider
Sleep, solid sleep without interruption, is nearly as vital to our existence and health as food, air and water. Sounds like a drastic statement, but according to several studies, it really isn't. There is proof that without sleep people can literally go mad - lose their minds and the ability to think critically and clearly. So how are we supposed to deal with lack of sleep? Not only does our mind not function as well when we are working with little quality sleep, but many believe that lack of sleep and lack of quality of sleep may also diminish our immunities to sickness and disease. You may notice that you fall prey to flus and colds more often when you've experienced lack of sleep, and experts say this is a direct correlation to lack of sleep? Immune function is a vital part of our well being. Our lymph system and other antibodies depend on sleep it seems, and are subsequently worn down when our bodies and minds are deprived of R & R. Many factors play a part in interrupting this basic health need that must be met if we are to operate at our best possible capacity. Recuperation is another reason that we sleep. How many times have you felt rejuvenated and recharged by a good nights sleep when you've been going through a particularly stressful period, either physically or mentally. We live in a fast paced, high stress society which can often make it difficult to slow down mentally and physically prior to bedtime. There are certain suggestions, that are helpful, if you are having a hard time getting to sleep at night and staying asleep for a full eight hours, or at least close, to that amount of time. If you suffer from insomnia, try to ascertain the reason or reasons you are having problems with sleeping or staying asleep at night. Are you anxious, depressed, fearful or overly stressed? Or possibly, is there any physical discomfort or pain causing your inability to get comfortable enough to fall asleep? Do you snore and wake sometimes to catch your breath? If your mind is overactive and you can not slow it down at bedtime, try some common sense approaches prior to sleep time that may help. Caffeinated beverages, pills or foods will certainly not only put sleep off, but also may interfere with normal sleep patterns throughout the night long after the consumption of it. Alcohol seems to have a sedative effect, but actually interferes with the sleep cycle. Another good natural tip for gearing down an overactive mind is to avoid activities that stress or over stimulate the mind prior to bedtime. Try a warm glass of milk or a warm relaxing bath in the evening to slow down and to calm you. Some products that are of an herbal nature and naturopathically used to treat insomnia can certainly provide a lot of relaxation as well as promotion of sleep-inducing chemicals which commence the process by which we fall and stay asleep. Some herbs known to be helpful for insomnia include chamomile, valerian and lavender. I'm sure you've heard of aromatherapy for stress relief, but aromatherapy can also be used to actually help ease anxieties and help us to sleep and keep on sleeping when we are having troubles getting enough rest. Natural essense oils are often used for relaxation and preparation for snooze time, most notably jasmine oil which is actually popular not only as aromatherapy but it commonly used by many women as a perfume due to it's pleasant scent. Music may be a medicine much needed. Many times people report they can fall asleep more easily by using different types of music, say meditation music or classical music. Meditation and other relaxation techniques done in the evening can enhance your ability to get a good night's sleep. Melatonin is a natural body chemical that is secreted when we sleep and are preparing to sleep. This hormone is activated when the lights go out, and is said to be pivotal to falling asleep and maintaining that critical sleep REM patter that many say without which we may lose our minds, literally. If insomnia is problematic for you, consult with your physician to determine the cause. Also, try a combination of natural approaches and techniques to see if they assist you to fulfill your body's need for quality rest.
About The Author
Danna Schneider is the founder of http://www.herbalnewsmagazine.com/genf20-hgh-releaser/ and http://www.maleenhancementmagazine.com/mens-health-supplements , where news and suggestions on new natural ways to combat the aging process can be found as well as tips to live a healthier, more active and happier life through natural supplementation and lifestyle choices.

General Daily Detox

2007-10-21T00:12:00.001-07:00

Everyday Detox: A Natural Approach To Total-body Cleansing by: Brenda Watson
To rid itself of its toxic burden, the body uses a combination of organs and organ systems collectively dubbed the seven channels of elimination. The lungs, liver, lymphatic system, kidneys, skin, blood and bowel (or colon) work together to filter and eliminate toxin substances and waste, but because of the increasing number of both internal and external toxins to which our bodies are exposed daily, our cleansing organs are often overwhelmed. Fortunately, natural internal cleansing formulas that address each of the seven channels of elimination can support the body’s natural detoxification processes. Periodic cleansing, coupled with a daily maintenance program, is an essential part of maintaining the body’s overall health. If you have never cleansed before, you may benefit from beginning with a gentle, total-body cleanse formulated specifically for first-time cleansers. Such products generally contain whole herbs, which are milder than deep-cleansing herbal extracts, as well as a blend of enzymes and nutrients to help enhance the absorption of the formulation. More often than not, first-time cleansing formulas will include a gentle colon cleanse to support healthy elimination. For those familiar with cleansing, an advanced total-body cleanse is often the next step in the detoxification process. However, those with specific concerns may want to begin with a more targeted cleanse that is better suited to their individual needs. Advanced internal cleansing formulas will typically contain concentrated herbal extracts in addition to whole herbs and minerals for a more potent, deep-acting cleanse. They may last up to 30 days and are designed to support the digestive system by promoting healthy, regular bowel movements. Following a total-body cleanse, targeted internal cleansing formulas are designed to provide support to specific organs or areas of the body. Many experts recommend beginning with a natural kidney cleanse to support kidney, bladder and urinary tract health. While a healthy urinary tract is sterile (bacteria-free), irritation may occur when bacteria from the digestive tract are allowed to grow in the urinary tract and bladder. A blend of whole herbs and minerals is often an effective way to help cleanse the kidneys, bladder and urinary tract. Herbs such as cranberry and uva ursi help fight bacteria and promote a sterile environment, and herbs such as stinging nettle, cornsilk, parsley leaf and dandelion extract provide powerful cleansing support. Decades of industrial and personal misuse have led to an unfortunate buildup of heavy metals in our environment. The most common are lead, mercury and arsenic, which have been used for centuries in everything from paint to pressure-treated wood, and which can cause serious health problems if allowed to accumulate in the human body. Targeted cleansing formulas that contain a combination of herbs, vitamins, minerals and amino acids may provide effective support by assisting the body’s natural cleansing processes. Your body’s largest internal organ, the liver performs countless functions that are essential to overall health. It filters toxins from one liter of blood every minute and processes toxins and waste before they are sent to the kidneys and colon for elimination. In addition to following a healthy diet and drinking plenty of water, a targeted internal cleansing formula designed to support the liver can significantly benefit this vital organ. A targeted liver cleanse that contains a combination of herbs, antioxidants and amino acids can help support healthy liver detoxification. Because a build-up of toxins and waste in the body can create an opportune environment for parasites to grow and thrive, a cleansing formula that specifically targets parasites is the next step in an effective overall detoxification program. According to the Centers for Disease Control, roughly 76 million people contract parasites from food every year, and scientists estimate that half of the world’s population will be infected with some type of parasitic infection by the year 2025. A beneficial cleansing formula that targets parasites should include a broad spectrum of herbs and nutraceuticals designed to support a healthy balance of intestinal microbes. Enzyme supplements may also help break down foods that can provide food for nourishment for parasites if left undigested. Maintaining a healthy bacterial balance in your intestines is essential to your health, as nearly three-quarters of your immune system is located in your digested tract. Ideally, there should be approximately 80% good bacteria and 20% percent harmful bacteria in your intestines. However, factors such as diet, stress, illness, and exposure to toxins can affect that healthy environment can result in yeast overgrowth, which can lead to a variety of health issues. That’s why a cleansing formula that focuses on supporting a beneficial balance of intestinal flora plays a key role in total-body detoxification. Choose a cleanse made with natural ingredients (such as uva ursi, neem leaf and olive leaf) that is designed to be taken in harmony with your normal daily activity. Finally, because your body works constantly to cleanse itself of toxins, a daily cleansing formula designed to assist all seven channels of elimination and promote healthy digestion is the last step in a comprehensive total-body detoxification program. Rather than providing a purgative effect, such daily formulas offer gentle, nutritive assistance. An ideal daily cleanse should include herbs, nutraceuticals, antioxidants and amino acids, as well as beneficial enzymes to enhance the absorption of the natural ingredients. While exposure to harmful chemicals may be unavoidable in an increasingly toxic world, there are ways in which you can combat toxins and support your body’s natural detoxification processes. The right internal cleansing products, combined with a healthy diet and exercise, can be the first step toward a lifetime of good health.
About The Author
Brenda Watson is a New York Times Bestselling author, a Naturopathic Doctor and President of Renew Life Formulas. She has been helping people achieve optimal digestive health for over twenty five years. http://www.fiber35diet.com/

Digestive Enzymes

2007-10-21T00:11:00.001-07:00

Enzyme Supplements Promote Healthy Digestion by: Brenda Watson
Remember all those times mom told you to chew your food? She was on to something. Beneficial enzymes released by your salivary glands jumpstart the digestive process, which in turn facilitates the breakdown of food and the subsequent transfer of nutrients, water and electrolytes from the digestive tract to the bloodstream. The chemical processes of digestion begin with reducing food’s larger constituents to smaller and smaller molecules. Within this procedure, enzymes catalyze the chemical reactions, making it possible for food to be digested and absorbed. Each type of food we eat contains different combinations of carbohydrates, fats and proteins, as well as vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. The end result of the digestive process is that those nutrients are broken down into forms usable by the body’s cells. For example, when proteins from meat or vegetarian foods are digested, they are broken down into amino acids, which are subsequently used to build the proteins incorporated into organs and body tissues. Further, because unhealthy eating habits can lead to a buildup of harmful toxins in the body (which can subsequently lead to weight gain and poor health), adding a daily enzyme supplement to your diet may also help rid the body of toxic chemicals. Many experts believe that taking supplementary enzymes to aid digestion enables the body to devote more time to producing the enzymes that help eliminate toxins. When choosing a digestive enzyme supplement, look for a formula that combines several different enzymes such as lipase (to help digest fats), amylase (for carbohydrates), and protease (for proteins), as this combination more closely mimics natural enzyme activity. If you have a particular digestive problem, however, individual enzymes can provide targeted support. For example, those who are lactose intolerant may benefit from supplementing with lactase, the enzyme that helps break down milk sugar. Proteolytic enzymes, which help break down protein, are now available from the kiwi fruit (kiwi protease), pineapple (bromelain) and papaya (papain). Research shows that these enzymes help the body break down protein, casein, and gluten. Digestive enzymes are also effective in the fight against inflammation. Plant-based enzymes are gaining popularity as people discover their potential to help promote healthy digestion. The main advantage of these supplements is their versatility: although each person’s digestive system varies in its acidity and alkalinity, plant enzymes are equally effective in both types of environments. But the bottom line is simple: Supplementing with digestive enzymes relieves the body of some of the burden of creating these chemicals, giving it the opportunity to invest more energy in making other types of enzymes, such as those used for detoxification. Doing so can also release energy to repair damaged tissue and slow the aging process, offering our bodies a valuable defense against the many stresses of our modern lifestyle.
About The Author
Brenda Watson is a New York Times Bestselling author, a Naturopathic Doctor and President of Renew Life Formulas. She has been helping people achieve optimal digestive health for over twenty five years. http://www.fiber35diet.com/

Rheumatoid Arthritis - AI Diseases

2007-10-21T00:07:00.000-07:00

Causes For Rheumatoid Arthritis by: Roger Thompson
Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the white blood cells of the body begin to attack the membranes surrounding the joints, called the synovium. This causes the synovium to become inflamed, and can eventually cause damage to the bone, cartilage and tendons around it. The result is pain and swelling in the joint area, and the eventual deterioration of the joint itself. While medical professionals understand this part of the process in rheumatoid arthritis, the actual causes of rheumatoid arthritis are still unknown. There are many theories involving the causes of rheumatoid arthritis, and these theories have helped doctors to understand some of the risk factors that are involved. Doctors are still seeking answers to questions about why some people are diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and others are not. There are many possible causes of rheumatoid arthritis that are being studied today. For example, it is thought that this disease may be a result of a virus or bacterium that causes an infection in the body could be the culprit in the cause of rheumatoid arthritis as well. However, no specific agent has been identified so far, and there is still a question as to why some exposed to certain viruses may eventually be diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and others are not. There are other risk factors that are known to increase your odds of being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at some point in your life. These include a genetic predisposition to the illness, although genetics do not seem to be a direct cause of rheumatoid arthritis. This disease seems to strike most often in women as they grow older, but the risk falls considerably after the age of eighty. Exposure to an infection can increase your risk, but only if you are prone to the disease in the first place. Finally, excessive smoking over a number of years can also increase your risk of rheumatoid arthritis, along with a host of other illnesses. If you have any of these risk factors, you can discuss with your doctor the causes of rheumatoid arthritis and the likelihood that you will be diagnosed with the illness. If you are considered to be in the high risk category, such as having an immediate relative that has been diagnosed already, you can be alert to the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, so that you know when to call your doctor. If you are noticing painful swelling in a number of your joints on both sides of your body, your doctor can run some tests to see if you indeed have rheumatoid arthritis. Early diagnosis can mean a more effective treatment plan in the long run. For More Information Please check http://www.arthritisreliefhelp.info/
About The Author
Roger Thompson writes articles on arthritis & pain relief for http://arthritisrelief.info/

Detox and Your Liver

2007-10-21T00:02:00.001-07:00

Detox and Toxin by: Natra Sanyapong ( Detoxmind)
Detoxification and Toxins Topics in this articles: * Detoxification and toxins * Detox as a state of mind Detoxification and Toxins Is it true that we live in a Sea of Toxins? Our world of developing industry bring us also the destroying environment. Many of beautiful and natural places in the world are full of pollution as soon as the penetrating of what we called “ civilized”. Even though the farming industry, For example, Californians for Pesticide Reform report pesticide use in California was up 129 percent from 1991 to 1995. And California is considered progressive. Our personal environment also can be polluted by unintention.The pollution from the furniture, car,carpet,bedsheet,dolls,house-renovating paint or materials etc. In the big or small city where full of air pollution and unclean suspected water sources,many people are crowded to live in there although sometimes they don’t really want to. Many individuals are exposed to chemicals at work, but they still work for better pay or scarce of employment. We also unintentional apply chemicals directly to our bodies in the form of personal care products made from petroleum and other toxic substances.For the people who smoking cause inhaling toxins to their selves and surroundings. The body has to endure all these toxins day by day. Our livers overload work of breaking down these toxins which are then excreted by the kidneys out of bodies.If we still keep on our careless eating habits ; Let's come to know activities of liver related to our Physical Mechanism : 1. metabolizing proteins, fats and sugars in order to provide the nutrients that sustain life. 2. Liver creates bile to break down fat. High fat, or even just a high quantity of food be eatened, places an extra load on the liver. 3. metabolizing the drugs and alcohol many of us use to ease sleep at night. 4. metabolizing the caffeine most of us use to recall freshness in the morning. 5. breaking down and eliminates excess hormones; 6. cleaning up toxins including those: - resulting from the metabolism of that food; - from the environment; - attached to the unclean food eaten in the form of pesticides and herbicides, etc. - toxin of chemicals dissolved in the water. When the liver is overloaded, it can't accomplish all these functions, you eventually begin to experience symptoms, such as fatigue, skin eruptions, headaches, allergies, and numerous other health complaints that can lead to disease-states, mental confusion, inability to concentrate, "failure to thrive," or the blues. DETOX is a good helpful solution for unloading function of your liver.In current medical research, there are many interesting records found that detox is a unifying principle of that. Examples : There are less records found of cancer in Mediterranean people or people who always having Mediterranean food course (more vegetables ,cereals and grains). Colds can do less affect to people who get enough Vitamin C. Most of very old people who died naturally at their longer ages are living in the fresh peaceful and less or depollution atmosphere some had yogurt with more vegetables, etc . These interesting records and more are the ideas for further functional medicines. We are understand the nature of basical body mechanisms.Only the right effective body chemical mechanism processes provide the good health. But if it’s wrong, it shows signs in the form of various symptoms of illness.Detoxification is related to all body functions and becomes a unifying principle of medical research in advance. Detox as a State of Mind “Detox as a State of Mind” this phrase that is short but so meaningful. Your detoxification process is the thing you have to do with inside your own body not others. It's important that detox be able to start by your own decision making. The successful detox can be resulted from the strong sense of mind and heart. Your reself-disciplin is required during that intensive detox period. Manythings’ve changed and paid more attendtion such as longer tempt-controll,reorganized diet course, alcohol ,creational drugs and caffeine eliminating, enough relaxing and exercising also important nutrient substances and fibres increasing . All these improve your life style form the consumerable toxins. Living and working in the fresh depolluted atmosphere be able to avoid toxins found in your personal environment. Also many chemical toxins are the components of our personal care products.Your mind has to process the information on selecting the useful things to imply the body ability of processing the excess toxins out from body. Detox affects directly to your mind,in some ways of very pleasant or also many ways of disconcerting. Example: The pleasant comes from a couple days of fasting. It's not hard to see why fasting has traditionally been associated with intense religious experience, because it's very powerful. But in contrast , detox can cause intense PMS symptoms, including emotional disruption that can be mistaken for "real". Cause of symptoms comes from during the intensive detox process, women’s stored estrogen reenter into bloodstream. Similar to men, the excess of testosterone from liver processed reenter into bloodstream. In case of who have been consumed drugs including prescription, over-the-counter, recreational––all types for long period.All these never have the fully metabolism, the excess also reenter into our bloodstream in order to do physical reprocessed cycle system. Your mind’ve got to be very strong sense of determination to pass through all these intensive process experiences. Mental process of understanding and self –awareness can get rid of confusion which can help much to achieve the physical process. After you have your successful detox, your feel more normalized diet with especially the healthy food.Understand and feel some way new and better for your lifestyle by mental clarity. All this can bring more lifeable freshness , healthy to a new you. Major roles of detox play in helping especially those people who have been suffering from depression, post-traumatic stress disorder or chemical dependency. They can increase their physical biochemical mechanism in replace of medicine curing.Nothing is called “having a new life” which improve their emotions and ability of concentration and work. Author: Natra Sanyapong (Detoxmind) from : http://www.detoxallright.blogspot.com/
About The Author
This article is written by Natra Sanyaong (Detoxmind) from http://www.dtoxallright.blogspot.com/

Digestive System Summary

2007-09-27T02:52:00.001-07:00

Your Digestive System and How It Works
On this page:
Why is digestion important?
How is food digested?
How is the digestive process controlled?
The digestive system is a series of hollow organs joined in a long, twisting tube from the mouth to the anus (see figure). Inside this tube is a lining called the mucosa. In the mouth, stomach, and small intestine, the mucosa contains tiny glands that produce juices to help digest food.
Two solid organs, the liver and the pancreas, produce digestive juices that reach the intestine through small tubes. In addition, parts of other organ systems (for instance, nerves and blood) play a major role in the digestive system.[Top]
Why is digestion important?
When we eat such things as bread, meat, and vegetables, they are not in a form that the body can use as nourishment. Our food and drink must be changed into smaller molecules of nutrients before they can be absorbed into the blood and carried to cells throughout the body. Digestion is the process by which food and drink are broken down into their smallest parts so that the body can use them to build and nourish cells and to provide energy.[Top]
How is food digested?
Digestion involves the mixing of food, its movement through the digestive tract, and the chemical breakdown of the large molecules of food into smaller molecules. Digestion begins in the mouth, when we chew and swallow, and is completed in the small intestine. The chemical process varies somewhat for different kinds of food.
Movement of Food Through the System
The large, hollow organs of the digestive system contain muscle that enables their walls to move. The movement of organ walls can propel food and liquid and also can mix the contents within each organ. Typical movement of the esophagus, stomach, and intestine is called peristalsis. The action of peristalsis looks like an ocean wave moving through the muscle. The muscle of the organ produces a narrowing and then propels the narrowed portion slowly down the length of the organ. These waves of narrowing push the food and fluid in front of them through each hollow organ.
The first major muscle movement occurs when food or liquid is swallowed. Although we are able to start swallowing by choice, once the swallow begins, it becomes involuntary and proceeds under the control of the nerves.
The esophagus is the organ into which the swallowed food is pushed. It connects the throat above with the stomach below. At the junction of the esophagus and stomach, there is a ringlike valve closing the passage between the two organs. However, as the food approaches the closed ring, the surrounding muscles relax and allow the food to pass.
The food then enters the stomach, which has three mechanical tasks to do. First, the stomach must store the swallowed food and liquid. This requires the muscle of the upper part of the stomach to relax and accept large volumes of swallowed material. The second job is to mix up the food, liquid, and digestive juice produced by the stomach. The lower part of the stomach mixes these materials by its muscle action. The third task of the stomach is to empty its contents slowly into the small intestine.
Several factors affect emptying of the stomach, including the nature of the food (mainly its fat and protein content) and the degree of muscle action of the emptying stomach and the next organ to receive the contents (the small intestine). As the food is digested in the small intestine and dissolved into the juices from the pancreas, liver, and intestine, the contents of the intestine are mixed and pushed forward to allow further digestion.
Finally, all of the digested nutrients are absorbed through the intestinal walls. The waste products of this process include undigested parts of the food, known as fiber, and older cells that have been shed from the mucosa. These materials are propelled into the colon, where they remain, usually for a day or two, until the feces are expelled by a bowel movement.
Production of Digestive Juices
The glands that act first are in the mouth—the salivary glands. Saliva produced by these glands contains an enzyme that begins to digest the starch from food into smaller molecules.
The next set of digestive glands is in the stomach lining. They produce stomach acid and an enzyme that digests protein. One of the unsolved puzzles of the digestive system is why the acid juice of the stomach does not dissolve the tissue of the stomach itself. In most people, the stomach mucosa is able to resist the juice, although food and other tissues of the body cannot.
After the stomach empties the food and juice mixture into the small intestine, the juices of two other digestive organs mix with the food to continue the process of digestion. One of these organs is the pancreas. It produces a juice that contains a wide array of enzymes to break down the carbohydrate, fat, and protein in food. Other enzymes that are active in the process come from glands in the wall of the intestine or even a part of that wall.
The liver produces yet another digestive juice—bile. The bile is stored between meals in the gallbladder. At mealtime, it is squeezed out of the gallbladder into the bile ducts to reach the intestine and mix with the fat in our food. The bile acids dissolve the fat into the watery contents of the intestine, much like detergents that dissolve grease from a frying pan. After the fat is dissolved, it is digested by enzymes from the pancreas and the lining of the intestine.
Absorption and Transport of Nutrients
Digested molecules of food, as well as water and minerals from the diet, are absorbed from the cavity of the upper small intestine. Most absorbed materials cross the mucosa into the blood and are carried off in the bloodstream to other parts of the body for storage or further chemical change. As already noted, this part of the process varies with different types of nutrients.
Carbohydrates. It is recommended that about 55 to 60 percent of total daily calories be from carbohydrates. Some of our most common foods contain mostly carbohydrates. Examples are bread, potatoes, legumes, rice, spaghetti, fruits, and vegetables. Many of these foods contain both starch and fiber.
The digestible carbohydrates are broken into simpler molecules by enzymes in the saliva, in juice produced by the pancreas, and in the lining of the small intestine. Starch is digested in two steps: First, an enzyme in the saliva and pancreatic juice breaks the starch into molecules called maltose; then an enzyme in the lining of the small intestine (maltase) splits the maltose into glucose molecules that can be absorbed into the blood. Glucose is carried through the bloodstream to the liver, where it is stored or used to provide energy for the work of the body.
Table sugar is another carbohydrate that must be digested to be useful. An enzyme in the lining of the small intestine digests table sugar into glucose and fructose, each of which can be absorbed from the intestinal cavity into the blood. Milk contains yet another type of sugar, lactose, which is changed into absorbable molecules by an enzyme called lactase, also found in the intestinal lining.
Protein. Foods such as meat, eggs, and beans consist of giant molecules of protein that must be digested by enzymes before they can be used to build and repair body tissues. An enzyme in the juice of the stomach starts the digestion of swallowed protein. Further digestion of the protein is completed in the small intestine. Here, several enzymes from the pancreatic juice and the lining of the intestine carry out the breakdown of huge protein molecules into small molecules called amino acids. These small molecules can be absorbed from the hollow of the small intestine into the blood and then be carried to all parts of the body to build the walls and other parts of cells.
Fats. Fat molecules are a rich source of energy for the body. The first step in digestion of a fat such as butter is to dissolve it into the watery content of the intestinal cavity. The bile acids produced by the liver act as natural detergents to dissolve fat in water and allow the enzymes to break the large fat molecules into smaller molecules, some of which are fatty acids and cholesterol. The bile acids combine with the fatty acids and cholesterol and help these molecules to move into the cells of the mucosa. In these cells the small molecules are formed back into large molecules, most of which pass into vessels (called lymphatics) near the intestine. These small vessels carry the reformed fat to the veins of the chest, and the blood carries the fat to storage depots in different parts of the body.
Vitamins. Another vital part of our food that is absorbed from the small intestine is the class of chemicals we call vitamins. The two different types of vitamins are classified by the fluid in which they can be dissolved: water-soluble vitamins (all the B vitamins and vitamin C) and fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, and K).
Water and salt. Most of the material absorbed from the cavity of the small intestine is water in which salt is dissolved. The salt and water come from the food and liquid we swallow and the juices secreted by the many digestive glands.[Top]
How is the digestive process controlled?
Hormone Regulators
A fascinating feature of the digestive system is that it contains its own regulators. The major hormones that control the functions of the digestive system are produced and released by cells in the mucosa of the stomach and small intestine. These hormones are released into the blood of the digestive tract, travel back to the heart and through the arteries, and return to the digestive system, where they stimulate digestive juices and cause organ movement. The hormones that control digestion are gastrin, secretin, and cholecystokinin (CCK):
Gastrin causes the stomach to produce an acid for dissolving and digesting some foods. It is also necessary for the normal growth of the lining of the stomach, small intestine, and colon.
Secretin causes the pancreas to send out a digestive juice that is rich in bicarbonate. It stimulates the stomach to produce pepsin, an enzyme that digests protein, and it also stimulates the liver to produce bile.
CCK causes the pancreas to grow and to produce the enzymes of pancreatic juice, and it causes the gallbladder to empty.
Additional hormones in the digestive system regulate appetite:
Ghrelin is produced in the stomach and upper intestine in the absence of food in the digestive system and stimulates appetite.
Peptide YY is produced in the GI tract in response to a meal in the system and inhibits appetite.
Both of these hormones work on the brain to help regulate the intake of food for energy.
Nerve Regulators
Two types of nerves help to control the action of the digestive system. Extrinsic (outside) nerves come to the digestive organs from the unconscious part of the brain or from the spinal cord. They release a chemical called acetylcholine and another called adrenaline. Acetylcholine causes the muscle of the digestive organs to squeeze with more force and increase the "push" of food and juice through the digestive tract. Acetylcholine also causes the stomach and pancreas to produce more digestive juice. Adrenaline relaxes the muscle of the stomach and intestine and decreases the flow of blood to these organs.
Even more important, though, are the intrinsic (inside) nerves, which make up a very dense network embedded in the walls of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and colon. The intrinsic nerves are triggered to act when the walls of the hollow organs are stretched by food. They release many different substances that speed up or delay the movement of food and the production of juices by the digestive organs.[Top]
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
2 Information WayBethesda, MD 20892–3570Phone: 1–800–891–5389Fax: 703–738–4929Email: nddic@info.niddk.nih.govInternet: www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov
The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) is a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The NIDDK is part of the National Institutes of Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Established in 1980, the Clearinghouse provides information about digestive diseases to people with digestive disorders and to their families, health care professionals, and the public. The NDDIC answers inquiries, develops and distributes publications, and works closely with professional and patient organizations and Government agencies to coordinate resources about digestive diseases.
Publications produced by the Clearinghouse are carefully reviewed by both NIDDK scientists and outside experts.
This publication is not copyrighted. The Clearinghouse encourages users of this publication to duplicate and distribute as many copies as desired.
NIH Publication No. 04–2681May 2004[Top]

Chill Out and Sleep Better

2007-09-26T03:49:00.000-07:00

Less Stress Leads To A Better Rest by: Vincent Platania
In the modern world of today we are constantly being bombarded with high levels of stress and anxiety. These stresses can be physical, mental or environmental. They place an enormous strain on our physical and mental health. Most of us are aware that excessive stress can affect our ability to think straight, our digestive system, adrenal glands and heart. Research has however shown that whenever a stressful situation arises, there is a knock on effect. Firstly stress limits the blood supply going to the stomach, this hampers the digestive system and a temporary shut down of our immune system may follow. If we are overwhelmed with stress for an extended period we are likely to experience fatigue and exhaustion. Although it may not be possible to avoid these stress factors in our lives there is help available. There are many natural herbal supplements, known for they’re relaxing properties which assist in combating the harmful effects of anxiety and stress. Several herbs are usually incorporated together to make a powerful formula. We will take a look at some of the individual herbs, which go to make up some of these potent anti- anxiety supplements: - * Jujube Seeds: - hypnotic and anti-anxiety effect used for hysteria, fatigue, sleeplessness, debility and restlessness. * Magnolia Bark: - has anti anxiety, anti stress properties, lowers the cortisol, promotes relaxation and improves the mood. * Potassium: -sustains the fluid and electrolyte balance, discharges energy from carbohydrate, protein and fat, assists in conveying nerve impulses. * Magnesium: -is a trace mineral and its chief role is manufacturing and transporting energy, relaxing and contracting the muscles, assisting some enzymes with their task in the body and mixing proteins. * Valerian Root: - It supports a feeling of calmness, improves sleep, reduces anxiety levels and facilitates relaxation of the central nervous system. Valerian root is non addictive and does not cause morning tiredness. It also is useful in slowing the heart in those who have the condition known as tachycardia. * Melatonin: -is one of the most dominant antioxidants in the brain. It restores metabolism, improves the quality of sleep and slows down degenerative diseases of the brain such as Parkinson’s. Melatonin can control extreme cortical production and is therefore effectual in reducing stress levels and regulating sleep cycles. * Vitamin B complex contains Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B12 are all essential vitamins for the nervous system Visit http://www.rawleigh-products.com
About The Author
Vincent Platania represents the Rawleigh Products. W.T. Rawleigh founded Rawleigh Products in the late 1800s to create a line of products that possessed both strength and quality. Visit http://www.rawleigh-products.com

Buttered Popcorn and Lesions

2007-09-10T13:40:00.000-07:00

There have been recent reports on the dangers of buttered popcorn! Can you believe it? The brands being singled out are all with Butter: Orville Redenbaukers(sp?) and Act II. Most of the cases were regarding workers at the plant who contracted "popcorn lung", i.e., lesions on their lungs, some leading to cancer. Conagra's attorneys at Alfred E. Newman L.L.C., stated regarding these products, "what me worry?" and that they will change to a different non-lesion causing buttered popcorn ingredient ASAP. I guess they were worried..

Autoimmune Hepatitis

2007-09-03T13:28:00.001-07:00

Autoimmune Hepatitis
On this page:
Autoimmune Disease
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
Side Effects
Other Treatments
Hope Through Research
Points to Remember
For More Information

Autoimmune hepatitis affects the liver.
Autoimmune hepatitis is a disease in which the body's immune system attacks liver cells. This causes the liver to become inflamed (hepatitis). Researchers think a genetic factor may predispose some people to autoimmune diseases. About 70 percent of those with autoimmune hepatitis are women, most between the ages of 15 and 40.
The disease is usually quite serious and, if not treated, gets worse over time. It's usually chronic, meaning it can last for years, and can lead to cirrhosis (scarring and hardening) of the liver and eventually liver failure.
Autoimmune hepatitis is classified as either type I or II. Type I is the most common form in North America. It occurs at any age and is more common among women than men. About half of those with type I have other autoimmune disorders, such as type 1 diabetes, proliferative glomerulonephritis, thyroiditis, Graves' disease, Sjögren's syndrome, autoimmune anemia, and ulcerative colitis. Type II autoimmune hepatitis is less common, typically affecting girls ages 2 to 14, although adults can have it too.
[Top]
Autoimmune Disease
One job of the immune system is to protect the body from viruses, bacteria, and other living organisms. Usually, the immune system does not react against the body's own cells. However, sometimes it mistakenly attacks the cells it is supposed to protect. This response is called autoimmunity. Researchers speculate that certain bacteria, viruses, toxins, and drugs trigger an autoimmune response in people who are genetically susceptible to developing an autoimmune disorder.
[Top]
Symptoms
Fatigue is probably the most common symptom of autoimmune hepatitis. Other symptoms include
enlarged liver
jaundice
itching
skin rashes
joint pain
abdominal discomfort
fatigue
spider angiomas (abnormal blood vessels) on the skin
nausea
vomiting
loss of appetite
dark urine
pale or gray colored stools
People in advanced stages of the disease are more likely to have symptoms such as fluid in the abdomen (ascites) or mental confusion. Women may stop having menstrual periods.
Symptoms of autoimmune hepatitis range from mild to severe. Because severe viral hepatitis or hepatitis caused by a drug—for example, certain antibiotics—has the same symptoms, tests may be needed for an exact diagnosis. Your doctor should also review and rule out all your medicines before diagnosing autoimmune hepatitis.
[Top]
Diagnosis
Your doctor will make a diagnosis based on your symptoms, blood tests, and liver biopsy.
Blood tests. A routine blood test for liver enzymes can help reveal a pattern typical of hepatitis, but further tests, especially for autoantibodies, are needed to diagnose autoimmune hepatitis. Antibodies are proteins made by the immune system to fight off bacteria and viruses. In autoimmune hepatitis, the immune system makes antinuclear antibodies (ANA), antibodies against smooth muscle cells (SMA), or liver and kidney microsomes (anti-LKM). The pattern and level of these antibodies help define the type of autoimmune hepatitis (type I or type II).Blood tests also help distinguish autoimmune hepatitis from viral hepatitis (such as hepatitis B or C) or a metabolic disease (such as Wilson's disease).
Liver biopsy. A tiny sample of your liver tissue, examined under a microscope, can help your doctor accurately diagnose autoimmune hepatitis and tell how serious it is. You will go to a hospital or outpatient surgical facility for this procedure.
[Top]
Treatment
Treatment works best when autoimmune hepatitis is diagnosed early. With proper treatment, autoimmune hepatitis can usually be controlled. In fact, recent studies show that sustained response to treatment not only stops the disease from getting worse, but also may actually reverse some of the damage.
The primary treatment is medicine to suppress (slow down) an overactive immune system.
Both types of autoimmune hepatitis are treated with daily doses of a corticosteroid called prednisone. Your doctor may start you on a high dose (20 to 60 mg per day) and lower the dose to 5 to 15 mg/day as the disease is controlled. The goal is to find the lowest possible dose that will control your disease.
Another medicine, azathioprine (Imuran) is also used to treat autoimmune hepatitis. Like prednisone, azathioprine suppresses the immune system, but in a different way. It helps lower the dose of prednisone needed, thereby reducing its side effects. Your doctor may prescribe azathioprine, in addition to prednisone, once your disease is under control.
Most people will need to take prednisone, with or without azathioprine, for years. Some people take it for life. Corticosteroids may slow down the disease, but everyone is different. In about one out of every three people, treatment can eventually be stopped. After stopping, it is important to carefully monitor your condition and promptly report any new symptoms to your doctor because the disease may return and be even more severe, especially during the first few months after stopping treatment.
In about 7 out of 10 people, the disease goes into remission, with a lessening of severity of symptoms, within 2 years of starting treatment. A portion of persons with a remission will see the disease return within 3 years, so treatment may be necessary on and off for years, if not for life.
[Top]
Side Effects
Both prednisone and azathioprine have side effects. Because high doses of prednisone are needed to control autoimmune hepatitis, managing side effects is very important. However, most side effects appear only after a long period of time.
Some possible side effects of prednisone are
weight gain
anxiety and confusion
thinning of the bones (osteoporosis)
thinning of the hair and skin
diabetes
high blood pressure
cataracts
glaucoma
Azathioprine can lower your white blood cell count and sometimes causes nausea and poor appetite. Rare side effects are allergic reaction, liver damage, and pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas gland with severe stomach pain).
[Top]
Other Treatments
People who do not respond to standard immune therapy or who have severe side effects may benefit from other immunosuppressive agents like mycophenylate mofetil, cyclosporine or tacrolimus. People who progress to end stage liver disease (liver failure) and/or cirrhosis may need a liver transplant. Transplantation has a 1-year survival rate of 90 percent and a 5-year survival rate of 70 to 80 percent.
[Top]
Hope Through Research
Scientists are studying various aspects of autoimmune hepatitis to find out who gets it and why and to discover better ways to treat it. Basic research on the immune system will expand knowledge of autoimmune diseases in general. Epidemiologic research will help doctors understand what triggers autoimmune hepatitis in some people. Research on different steroids, alternatives to steroids, and other immunosuppressants will eventually lead to more effective treatments.
[Top]
Points to Remember
Autoimmune hepatitis is a long-term disease in which your body's immune system attacks liver cells.
The disease is diagnosed using various blood tests and a liver biopsy.
With proper treatment, autoimmune hepatitis can usually be controlled. The main treatment is medicine that suppresses the body's overactive immune system.
[Top]
For More Information
American Liver Foundation (ALF)75 Maiden Lane, Suite 603New York, NY 10038–4810Phone: 1–800–GO–LIVER (465–4837),1–888–4HEP–USA (443–7872),or 212–668–1000Fax: 212–483–8179Email: info@liverfoundation.orgInternet: www.liverfoundation.org
[Top]
The U.S. Government does not endorse or favor any specific commercial product or company. Trade, proprietary, or company names appearing in this document are used only because they are considered necessary in the context of the information provided. If a product is not mentioned, this does not mean or imply that the product is unsatisfactory.
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
2 Information WayBethesda, MD 20892–3570Phone: 1–800–891–5389Fax: 703–738–4929Email: nddic@info.niddk.nih.govInternet: www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov
The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) is a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The NIDDK is part of the National Institutes of Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Established in 1980, the Clearinghouse provides information about digestive diseases to people with digestive disorders and to their families, health care professionals, and the public. The NDDIC answers inquiries, develops and distributes publications, and works closely with professional and patient organizations and Government agencies to coordinate resources about digestive diseases.
Publications produced by the Clearinghouse are carefully reviewed by both NIDDK scientists and outside experts. This publication was originally reviewed by Willis Maddrey, M.D., University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; and Edward Krawitt, M.D., University of Vermont College of Medicine.
This publication is not copyrighted. The Clearinghouse encourages users of this publication to duplicate and distribute as many copies as desired.
NIH Publication No. 04–4761March 2004

Is Bottled Water Better..

2007-09-03T13:24:00.001-07:00

Pure Bottled Water and Your Body by: Jon M. Stout
The benefits of good health cannot be overemphasized for those who wish to lead a happy lifestyle. While good health does not guarantee happiness it is certainly a key building block for a future of well being, contentment and serenity. Pure Bottled Water is a good starting point at building a healthy lifestyle. What are the basics of good health? Like most events in nature, development and maintenance of good health and a healthy lifestyle are simple in concept but take some work and dedication to achieve. * Healthy diet * Exercise * Minimize stress on a daily basis Almost all of the common diseases that threaten us today can be avoided to a great degree by eating right, adopting a program of regular exercise, and stress reduction through techniques like meditation. The Role Of Pure Water as part of a Healthy Diet. Daily consumption of pure water is essential to a proper diet. Basically, the human body can survive for extended periods without food but can only last for a few days without water. Water is the essential element of your body: water cools the body and is essential for the proper functioning of all the major body processes. Is Our Drinking Water Pure? In the whole world only 3% of all the water is drinkable and of that 3%, pollution is taking its toll. Much of the potentially drinkable water is now so polluted that it is undrinkable. Municipalities in the western word attempt to supply drinking water but only do so with contaminants and bacteria that is covered up by significant amounts of chlorine. Scholars Have Noticed There have many studies of contaminated water and its effects on the human body. Many scholars recommend the use of purified distilled water as a healthy substitute for contaminated water. Many experts have published opinions on the subject (see: Water Purification: http://mizar5.com/distill/BestPurification.html) Other experts such as Dr. Andrew Weil (http://www.aquaprix.com/archive/drw_cda.html) explore the benefits of distilled water and explode many of the myths surrounding this form of purified water. The basic question many scholars as is “Why do people harm their health with adulterated drinking water when pure water is available?” How Much Pure Water Do You Need? To stay hydrated, you need to drink at least half your body weight in ounces of pure water (spread out over the day). Therefore, if you weigh 150 pounds, you need at least 75 ounces of pure water a day. Remember, you cannot drink too much pure water-the more the better. How Do You Know If You Are Hydrated? Your urine should be almost clear once every 24 hours. Remember: Thirst is not a good guide-by the time you experience thirst, you are already 2-3% dehydrated, which means your energy is depleted by 20-30%. What Counts Towards Your Pure Water Intake? The following sources of pure water can count towards your daily quota Distilled/Oxygenated water is the best choice. Distilled water is purified and It is rated purest and cleanest by National Science Foundation, containing the least parts-per-million contaminants. Some water suppliers add oxygen in a process that enhances the pure water taste. Spring water is water bottled from a natural spring source. The majority of bottled water is spring water. Be careful of your sources because spring water is subject to the same natural and man made contamination as other unpurified water such as well and tap water. Tap or Well Water It is best to avoid tap and well water, because most North American water supplies contain a myriad of toxins including: anti-biotics, hormones, chlorine, heavy metals, and pesticides. Test all well water for contaminants because the water table that supports well water is often polluted. A high quality filtration or distillation system is recommended for all tap/well water. There are Many Forms and Qualities of Bottled Water Although bottled water is perceived as a healthier, safer choice over tap water in consumer surveys, that is not necessarily always true. Most tap water is bad for your body but many bottled waters are not purified and therefore not much better than tap water. Twenty-five percent of all bottled water is actually repackaged tap water The more a consumer knows about the realities of bottled and tap water, the better they can be about selecting water based on purity and taste. Is Bottled Best? In a recent Gallop survey, most consumers indicated they drink bottled water based on their perception it is safer and purer than tap water. Taste was the second leading reason, while bottled water's convenience was also a factor. Bottled water is considered a food, and thus regulated by Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Tap water is regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Both varieties are subject to testing for contaminants, and some bottled and most tap water contains contaminates such as bacteria, arsenic, lead or pesticides. Independent tests by groups such as the National Resources Defense Council have found: Distilled/oxygenated water however, does not contain contaminants. Other Facts: -- Sixty to 70 percent of all bottled water in the United States is packaged and sold within the same state, which exempts it from FDA regulation. One in five states does not regulate that bottled water. -- While most cities meet the standards for tap water, some tap water in 19 U.S. cities tested was found to contain arsenic, lead, and pesticides. -- In 1,000 bottles of 103 different brands of bottled water, 22 percent contained synthetic chemicals, bacteria and arsenic. Most healthy adults can tolerate trace amounts of contaminates if exposed, but some people are more vulnerable and should be more aware of their water source. These people include cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, patients who are HIV+ positive or recovering from a transplant or major surgery, and pregnant women, children, and elderly adults. Bottled water that is purified by a distillation/oxygenation process eliminates even the most minute traces of contaminants. It is best however to buy purified water from a supplier that is approved under FDA regulations. Why take a chance on your health because of the water you drink?
About The Author
Jon M. Stout is Chairman of the Board of Element H2O. For more information about bottled water, private label bottled water and bottled water delivery go to http://www.elementh2o.com

PH Levels and Your Health

2007-08-22T09:04:00.001-07:00

Acidity verses Alkalinity by: Glenn Antoine
While I originally started to avoid this subject like the plague, I felt the need to at a minimum address it because there are so many widely differing view points on what this actually means, what to do about it and how this really affects your overall health. I was very happy to find that the Chief Science Officer at Univera LifeSciences, Steven Cherniske, had published a very informative article, “The Acid Alkaline Mystery Solved”, on this very subject. For any of you that have read any of Stephen Cherniske’s work, you will not be surprised to see that it comes complete with all the references that you could hope for and the straight hard facts on this very confusing subject. As a result of this finding I am not going to attempt to do the subject justice, by trying to recreate an article of equal caliber. Verses re-inventing the wheel I am going to simply hit some of the high points for those of you who would prefer the cliff notes version. For those that would like to read all of the details I will leave that to Stephen and his article, “The Acid Alkaline Mystery Solved”. First of all what is an Acid or for that matter an Alkaline substance? These substances are measured on a pH scale with water being neutral at 7.0. With values less than 7.0 being acid and the lower the pH value the stronger the acid. As you may have guessed alkaline (or base) substances have a value greater than 7.0 up to a maximum of 14. By now you may be wondering where our bodies should fall on this scale. First of all when we speak of an acid/alkaline balance in the body we are talking about the pH balance of our blood and tissues that should remain in a fairly narrow range of about 7.4 – slightly alkaline. The real heart of the matter here is the byproducts of the digestion of foods that we consume and absorb. The biggest contributors to the fact that ACIDOSIS is at an all time high are the facts that most Americans are consuming beef and/or poultry multiple times per day, Americans are now consuming more soft drinks than water, consumption of coffee (caffeinated & decaffeinated) and lastly the processing of many of our foods have removed all of the alkaline forming minerals. When thinking about the foods that we consume you can not take the natural state of a food as the prime indicator of how that food will interact with our bodies. As an example, most fruits when consumed will result in an alkaline ash residue once digested even though naturally they maybe very high in acid in their natural state, even oranges. The primary acid forming foods in your diet contain the minerals, sulfur, phosphorus and iron. Typically you will find these minerals in proteins, such as meat, fish, poultry, eggs, grains, most nuts and soft drinks (due to the high phosphate levels).The minerals potassium, calcium, magnesium and sodium form alkaline reactions in the body and are found primarily in fruits and vegetables, and so these foods are classified as alkaline forming foods. As many of you are aware the consumption of alkaline-forming vegetables and fruit is at an all-time low. This has resulted in an increase of acidosis which accelerates catabolic damage and impairs our bodies anabolic repair processes. One of the best examples is the fact that it has been known for a long time that diets high in protein greatly increase the risk of osteoporosis. While there are many theories on this subject it appears that the body is simply taking from one part of the body to help support other systems that have been depleted due to the body staying in such a high state of acidosis. In an attempt to help us make this shift in our diet Univera LifeSciences has created MetaGreens™. MetaGreens™ is extraordinary mix of land and sea vegetables, all of which are rich in alkaline minerals. I take great comfort in knowing that these greens are pesticide-free, grown on high-nutrient soil that has never been chemically fertilized. Additionally, Univera LifeSciences takes great care to ensure that the vegetables are harvested at the peak of their nutrient value and then these ingredients are processed by low-temperature dehydration to retain all the raw food goodness and manufactured in small batches to maximize freshness. While the words “stomach acid” have a negative connotations for many of you it is because you have been brain washed over the years by the non-stop advertisements about how excess stomach acid is causing all of your discomforts. While I would be able to spend days address this issue I will pass. For those of you that want to read a very well presented explanation of why our stomach acids are in fact a good thing please read Stephen Cherniske’s article. For myself I continue to rely on Univera LifeSciences Aloe Gold product to help keep my digestive track in order and functioning properly. For those of you that have not tried Aloe Gold take a moment to ask anyone that have used the product and I am very certain you will hear fantastic praises about how it has helped them with numerous digestive track disorders. I hope that you have found this latest entry to be of interest and most of informative. While I have barely scratched the surface here I hope that I have helped to clear up some of the confusion associated with the Acid Alkaline debate. For those of you that are hungry for more on this I can not recommend highly enough that you read Stephen Cherniske’s article the Acid Alkaline Mystery Solved. Reference: 1) AcidAlkalineMysterySolved - http://www.aginghealthier.com/pdfs/AcidAlkalineMysterySolved.pdf 2) Stephen Cherniske, M.S., The Metabolic Plan, The Random House Publishing Company, 2003, ISBN: 0-345-44102-8, http://www.themetabolicplan.com/ 3) Natural Health School - http://www.naturalhealthschool.com/acid-alkaline.html
About The Author
Glenn Antoine has spent 25+ years researching and learning about nutrition, supplementation and physical fitness in an attempt to not only improve his quality of life, but the lives of all those that he comes in contact with. Please visit http://blog.aginghealthier.com for great information on the topics of Anti-aging, Wellness and physical fitness. Checkout http://www.aginghealthier.com for some of the best products available on the market.

Ready, Set..Get Fat for the Holidays!

2006-12-15T07:09:00.000-08:00

Weight for the Holidays by: Eileen Silva
Christmas is a comin' and the goose is not the only thing getting fat! Unfortunately, many people gain weight during the Christmas and New Year holiday season. With all the festive feasts, decorative sweets, and parties, not to mention the regular heavier cooking that we do in cold weather, you may find that you are among those people who gain weight during this time of the year. You may even have the remnants of last year's festivities still hanging around your waist or tucked into your cheeks. If so, you are probably dreading this year's contributions even more. Now, I know there are many articles out there that warn you about holiday weight gain and give crisp, clear instructions about avoiding even the most tempting treats. But, unless you have steel-plated willpower, I also know that, while you may cut back a little on your amounts, that you probably aren't willing to totally give up the party goodies and platefuls of your favorite holiday foods. Let's face it – you need another approach to holiday weight control that you are willing to live with. Why not prepare for this year's holiday season by losing 10 or more pounds before the Christmas festivities begin? Now, before you panic - I'm not suggesting that you go on a starvation diet to accomplish that, but simply make some lifestyle and body chemistry changes that will rapidly result in weight loss, energy gain, and other physical improvements. Does that sound impossible? Let me assure you, based on results I have seen with my patients, not only is it totally possible, but it is relatively painless and amazingly simple. I'm sure you realize that a healthy diet, proper exercise, and rest all contribute to your health and wellness, but if your body chemistry is out of balance, they may not contribute to your weight loss efforts. Thanks to a collaboration of anti-aging scientists and physicians, it is now possible for the masses to scientifically correct 5 major body chemistry issues in just 10 days, leading to the weight loss that I am recommending for your holiday relief. Here are your 5 body chemistry areas. Blood sugar – Lower your blood sugar levels through careful attention to the glycemic index. Are you eating too many carbs? By watching your carbohydrate intake, you can lower your blood sugar levels, which will increase your energy, stabilize any mood swings, and trigger your body to release fat. As an added bonus, you will control or avoid type 2 diabetes with proper blood sugar control. Body toxicity – Did you know that addressing colon and liver toxicity issues will make a huge difference in your health? Did you know that an average person carries around 7-25 pounds of fecal matter internally? If you lower your body toxicity levels, you can reduce gas, bloating, bad breath, and body odor. You will also non-surgically flatten your tummy, while correcting constipation and/or diarrhea issues. Control of parasites, candida albicans, and intestinal funguses – Another vital issue you need to address in taking control of your health and weight is the control of parasites, candida albicans, and intestinal funguses. If you have any of these problems, you may suffer from water retention, sugar cravings, mood swings, poor sleep, and allergies. If you have ever taken antibiotics, then chances are you have an intestinal flora or candida albicans issue. Even if you don't take antibiotics, you can ingest antibiotics through meat and dairy products. Chemistry issue of acid/alkalinity – You will want to check the acid/alkalinity of your body's pH. If you are too acidic, then you will be a "vapor weight gainer," putting on weight rapidly for no apparent reason. You will also be tired and allergy and illness prone, and it has been proven that people who are too acidic are the ones who get cancer. Being alkaline helps you have more natural vitality and will help you maintain good weight management effortlessly. Turn up the burn on fat – You can do this while enhancing metabolism by natural means and controlling appetite. One way to enhance metabolism is to eat regularly scheduled meals every day. Skipping meals slows down metabolism as the body goes into storage mode, thinking it is not going to receive food so it begins to conserve. Of course, you will want to remember to practice proper deep breathing so that your cells have enough oxygen to function efficiently and to the best of their abilities. I also want to remind you that all your body systems, from the smallest cell to the largest organ (the skin), cannot function properly without proper amounts of water. Your personal water formula is 2 quarts of water (plus another 8 oz for every 25 pounds you need to lose) per day. If you will make the simple lifestyle changes that can affect these body chemistry balances in your body, I can assure you that you will not only reach your goal before the holidays begin, but you will find them amazingly helpful during and after the season has passed as well. Remember, these are lifestyle changes that I am suggesting. They are yours for keeps. May you enjoy a slimmer and happier holiday season and many more to come.
About The Author
Eileen Silva, Ph.D., N.D. is a metabolic health balancing expert, talk show guest, and lecturer. Dr. Silva is also an individual, group, and corporate weight management consultant. Contact Dr. Silva at http://www.dreileensilva.com.

Hypertension and You

2006-12-12T06:23:00.000-08:00

Simple Steps For Controlling High Blood Pressure Effectively by: Clive Jenkins
High blood pressure, or the hypertension, as it is commonly named, is a condition that can affect us without even knowing its specific symptoms, because there are none. The silent killer can be controlled with the proper medicated treatment and by following the doctor advises. The first thing you have to do after you have been diagnosed with hypertension, is to be aware and to learn how to live with it, because the faster you take some measures, the faster you can stop it from threatening your life. Being a chronic disease, there is nothing yet that can cure it. We can only try to ameliorate it and to control it by making drastic changes in our lives. Begin with changing the way you eat, change the lifestyle you have and make sure you follow the medicated treatment prescribed by your doctor: these are the right steps towards healing hypertension. Hypertension can lead to major breakdowns of our body's systems if we do not take the right measures and the consequences are very serious: complicated heart attacks, strokes or the failure of your kidneys. This article will provide you with a simple 3-steps program that can help you reduce and regulate your high blood pressure and prevent it from taking over your life. Step 1: Eat Healthy! Eating healthy might seem easy for someone who hasn't tried it yet. It involves changing your whole way of life and you must forget and put away your old eating habits and apply the new rules of healthy eating. You can begin with a small step, like reducing the quantity of salt you used to prepare the meals. A higher quantity of salt can produce edema, the retention of water. Normally, the water from our body must be eliminated through the urine. The salt interferes in the process and a big part of the water that should be eliminated is blocked within our bodies, creating excess. This will cause a pressure on the walls of the blood vessels, the main reason for the occurrence of hypertension. If you feel you can't live without salt, you can replace it with salt substitutes or tasty combinations of other seasonings. The taste of the food might not be the same as before, but your hypertension will slowly lose its power. Changing the way you eat and the things you eat, will determine you to begin lose the excess of weight too. It is a common fact that hypertension is caused by obesity, by the fat accumulated in our body which thickens the walls of the blood vessels and increases the blood pressure as a consequence. To guide the people in finding the right way to control hypertension through healthy eating, in 1997, the Journal of Medicine from New England published a work that was lately approved by the US government as an excellent method to prevent hypertension. This amazing writing was the DASH diet, which means Dietary Approaches To Stop Hypertension. This is a diet based on healthy food, tasty and beneficial for our body too, including all the proteins, vitamins, fibers and minerals necessary to our body. Step 2: Quit Smoking And Reduce The Amount Of Alcohol! If you are a smoker or you are used to have more than a couple of drinks daily, you might take a minute and think about how this affects your health. It is hard to leave behind those nasty habits, and the best way to do it isn't to go through it by yourself. You will not make it. Search for advice and counselling in your personal physician and you will have professional support while you will improve your life. Step 3: Be Active! A sedentary way of life will certainly not help you in reducing the risqu of hypertension. Our busy schedules don't leave us much choice when it comes to our free time. We prefer to relax and watch a movie instead of exercising our bodies. Do not worry; you do not have to spend hours at the gym. Ten minutes a day can work wonders on your blood circulation, by reducing the negative effect of hypertension on our bodies. There is the case though, when we inherit hypertension. At the periodic check-up, tell your doctor if you ever had a history of hypertension in your family; it is possible that you might have it too. The only thing you can do is to protect yourself by avoiding the things that allow the hypertension to become serious in the first place. There are also drugs included in the category of antihypertensive; not every one of them might work for your type of body, and you will have to try a whole list of drugs until you find the one that works on your hypertension. Pay attention, though! If you take the drugs and still go on with your old lifestyle, do not expect any results! The right combination of hypertension inhibitors includes: healthy food, exercises and a healthy way of life (no cigarettes or alcohol).
About The Author
Clive Jenkins How do you compare when it comes to stress and high blood pressure? For many more answers please visit the High Blood Pressure Medication Site which provides comprehensive help and advice on all Blood Pressure issues. Clive thoroughly recommends this site so check it out today here: - http://www.highbloodpressuremedicationsite.com.

Toxins and You

2006-12-04T00:25:00.000-08:00

Pesticide Here, Emulsifier There, Here a Toxin, There a Toxin by: James P Urban, DC
Several years ago I attended a Chiropractic convention in New Jersey. There were several vendors set up outside our conference room. A small vendor, easily overlooked by most, was selling nutritional items and products. He caught my attention, probably because I was getting hungry and he was providing snacks! As I approached his booth, I noticed a package of – cover the children’s’ eyes – Twinkies sitting benignly on the shelf in his booth. “Why would a vendor selling organic health food products have a package of Twinkies on display?” I asked myself. So, being the curious soul I am, I asked, “What’s with the Twinkies”. The man grabbed the package, tossed it down in front of me and said, “I’ve been doing these conventions for the past five years and I have taken this package of Twinkies with me to every one to show people that over five years nothing … nothing in this package has changed! Does this look like it sat on the shelf for five years? And feel it. Does this feel like it’s five years old?” he asked. I just stood there in amazement. Understand, I’ve had my share of Twinkies and fast food in my lifetime. Growing up, we ate what tasted and made us feel good, never giving a thought to the possible health effects later in life. But, I’ve now done the research. I’ve spent years learning and, more importantly, understanding what we’re doing to ourselves. Consider this. Food today isn’t what it was to our grandparents. Over the last 50-plus years our food industry has changed dramatically. Many of the foods we put into our bodies contain artificial preservatives to increase their shelf life … coloring agents to improve their appearance … enhancers to heighten their taste … processing agents to manage the food during production … emulsifiers and thickening agents to affect their appearance … fortifiers to control their nutritional values. I am sure there are some consumer benefits to these substances but at what risk to our bodies? Will we ever know? The use of these chemicals in our food supply is incredibly widespread. Worse, we may never know the threats they pose to, and ultimate toll they might take on, our bodies. Use of these chemicals is only now being questioned and not likely to decline any time soon. My point is this. Not enough time, effort and money are being directed to investigating the affects of these chemicals on humans. What does that mean? It’s up to us; you and me! We can minimize our exposure to these chemicals. We can even help support our body’s defenses by aiding the body with the detoxification and elimination of these chemical agents, many of which are or will become toxic: • A periodic fast will help flush out the toxins. This can be followed up with a colonic treatment to help flush out the debris. • Supplementing our diets with digestive enzymes will help with proper digestion, which helps our natural detox systems do a better job of eliminating waste build-up. And something else: pesticides and herbicides that are sprayed on our foods. Does simple washing with plain water really eliminate them and the possible harm they do over time? And what about the genetically modified foods that are grown in the labs? Are these yet another source of long-term contamination? The truth is, we just don’t know because science hasn’t provided enough data on long-term effects. More about pesticides, herbicides and GMF in future articles. How We Can Minimize Our Exposure to Food Additives The simple answer? Don’t eat processed foods. Believe it or not, avoiding processed foods is easier than it sounds and, once a person gets in the “avoidance” habit, it gets easier and easier. Today, convenience and comfort too often determine our food choices. Little effort is spent searching for the foods that are best for our bodies. Consider this: • Nearly 70% of food advertising is for convenience foods, candy and snacks, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks and desserts. Just 2.2% is for fruits, vegetables, grains or beans (Marion Nestle, “Food Politics,” pg. 22). • Fast food restaurants are growing in popularity because of people’s busy lives. They don’t (think they) have time to sit down and plan, then prepare a meal. Meal planning is way down on their lists. So, here are some very simple and solid choices that we can make to avoid exposure to food-based toxins and contaminants: • Choose organic foods and organic farming. More expensive? Probably, but how much are you worth? • Shop at food coops or join a food coop that supplies organic meats and produce. Also, be cautious! Just because a store has an organic section or bins marked “Organic” does not mean that everything is 100% safe. Read up and get smart about what “organic” really means. You’ll feel better – literally and figuratively. • Prepare your meals ahead of time, before you leave for the day. Weekends are the perfect time to plan, shop for and prepare many of the week’s meals. That way, they’ll be ready when you are. • Check labels – read what’s in the can or box. And know that there are many additives the FDA does not require manufacturers to list on labels. • Do your homework – check the foods that you already have in your house and research some of the ingredients to determine what you do not want to continue putting in your body. Recognize the chemicals that are harmful. There are volumes of free information on the Internet. • Create a support group in your area to bring about more awareness in your community. You’ll be surrounded with consumers who share your values and concerns. This way, the benefits of healthy eating will be both physical and social. • Always buy food that is fresh and in season. • When in doubt, always bless your food. Don’t ever forget the power of ”intention”. Intention involves the “willing” of an outcome backed by emotion and feeling to create a pattern of energy that further facilitates the desire. FYI: The Body and Stored Toxins People, regardless of urban or rural living, have always been exposed to toxic chemicals and pollutants that take up residence in our bodies. Think of the living conditions in the Middle Ages. Think of what people inhaled during the early industrial revolution. Think about smog in our cities and toxic chemicals in the air we breathe, no matter where we live. Fortunately, our bodies provide us with a complex detoxification system that, for the most part, quickly defends us from most of these toxic pollutants. That said, given the typical modern diet and the increase in new synthetic chemicals entering our bodies – an estimated 50,000 different chemicals: food additives, pesticides, herbicides, drugs and household and industrial chemicals (Source: Robert Buist, Ph.D., “Food Chemical Sensitivity”) – our detoxification systems are simply overwhelmed. They are unable to keep up with the demand that we put on them. The body can handle synthetic chemicals in very small amounts but not at the rate at which they are being introduced into the Standard American Diet (SAD diet). What’s even more sad is that research is linking cancer, behavioral problems in kids and chemical hypersensitivity to many of these synthetic chemicals. So ... ? Let’s go back to the Twinkies … well, food additives and all potential toxins. Knowing that our bodies are being exposed to toxic chemicals on a daily basis (does anybody really eat Twinkies on a daily basis?), how can you improve your situation by lessening the effects of chemical toxicity? Here’s a start, and it is only that. 1. Many of the vitamins and minerals that we consume every day play a very important role in the detoxification processes of our bodies. 2. Nutrients, such as Vitamin’s A and E, along with the trace minerals copper, zinc, manganese and selenium are known to play an important part in the body’s chemical defense system. Without these nutrients our bodies are subject to vast destruction and damage. 3. Unless our diet consists of entirely “raw foods,” which contain active enzymes that aid in digestion, an enzyme supplement is recommended at the beginning of a meal to help with the breakdown of the food you eat. And a final note: you can help digestion by keeping cooking times brief (ie. 30 sec. - 1 min. for stir fry). Want Some Additional Help and Support? Please come visit me at my site, http://www.naturalhealingtools.com for our complete lineup of products for your body, mind, spirit and heart. Take a look at our IonCleanse machine and Ashi-Flora supplement to help clear your system of toxins.
About The Author
James P Urban, DC I've been working for many years on trying products and tools to help my natural lifestyle. I bring these to you at http://www.naturalhealingtools.com. Let me know what works for you or let me know if you liked this article - jurban@naturalhealingtools.com. Thanks, Dr. James P Urban

Cancer Statistics

2006-11-22T09:32:00.000-08:00

Understanding Cancer Statistics - A Patient's Guide by: Dr. Glenn S. Sheiner
Medicine is a field which is based on statistical analysis of thousands of patient outcomes. This is very apparent in the field of cancer treatment. In order to research and evaluate various cancer treatments, it’s important to be able to understand some medical statistical terms. The goal of this article is to help you comprehend some of the more commonly used medical statistical terms. The exact outcome of any particular patients is, of course, impossible to predict with any degree of certainty. The reality is that cancer mortality rates are based on the statistical analysis of a large number of patients who have had the same cancer. Remember, medical statistics are only probabilities. Every particular type of cancer has different outcome statistics. Some cancers clearly have worse prognoses than others. It’s also important to be aware that the probability of being cured from a particular cancer depends very much on the stage of the cancer. In all forms of cancers, the survival rates of patients with stage 1 disease exceed the survival rates of patients with stage 2 disease. Similarly, the survival rates of patients with patients with stage 2 disease exceed the survival rates of patients with stage 3 disease. Finally, the survival rates of patients with patients with stage 3 cancer exceed the survival rates of patients with stage 4 cancer. Thus, being aware of the stage of the disease you have is critical. Here then is a brief list of some of the more common medical statistical terms. Five Year Survival When doctors discuss the probability of survival, they discuss a term that’s known as the 5 year survival. The 5 year survival represents the probability that someone with a particular cancer will be alive five years after diagnosis. As an example, if the 5 year survival is 25%, this means that the odds of being alive after 5 years are 25%. To be sure that this term is being used accurately, it’s necessary to look at the actual type of patients for whom the 5 year survival number is being quoted. For example, it might include all patients with a certain type of cancer or it could only involve patients with a certain stage of that cancer. For example, 49 percent, or about half, of people diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer live for at least five years after diagnosis. So, the five year survival for patients with early-stage lung cancer is 49%. In contrast, the five year survival rate for patients diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer (lung cancer that has widely spread or metastasized to other areas of the body) is only 3 percent. Thus, it’s critical to know the survival rate for patients with the same stage of disease. Remission Shrinking of a cancer is referred to as remission. There are remissions which are known as complete remissions those which are known as partial remissions. Remissions are called either complete or partial depending on whether or not any trace of cancer remains. If no evidence of cancer can be found after treatment, then the remission is considered complete. If the cancer has decreased in size but hasn’t disappeared completely, then the remission is considered to be partial. A complete remission may represent a cure. But the possibility exists that the cancer will regrow. This depends usually to a great extent on the type of cancer as some cancers have more of a tendency to regrow than others. In people who achieve only partial remissions, the cancer nearly always regrows. The 5 year survival rate predicts the percentage of patients that will be alive at the end of 5 years. It doesn’t predict however the number of patients that will be in complete remission at the end of 5 years (in other words how many people will have survived for 5 years and have no evidence of cancer). So here are two more specific terms: Disease-free 5 year Survival Rate This term refers to the percentage of patients who are not only alive after 5 years but are in complete remission. Progression-free 5 Survival Rate This term refers to the percentage of patients who are alive after 5 years but who still have evidence of cancer, although the cancer isn't progressing. This category includes patients who may have had some success with treatment but not enough to completely eliminate the cancer. Two other statistical terms that are important to understand are relative risk and absolute risk: Absolute Risk Reduction Or Benefit This term refers to the absolute difference in results between treatments. So, for example, if treatment A increased survival by 12% and treatment B increased survival by 10% then treatment A resulted in an absolute benefit of (12%-10%) = 2%. Relative Risk Reduction Or Benefit This term refers to the relative difference in results between alternatives. In the example above, the relative benefit is (12%-10%)/10% = 20%. This number is calculated by taking the difference in outcome as a percentage. Frequently, results are presented as relative risk reduction or benefit rather than absolute risk reduction or benefit because the numbers sound more impressive when presented in this fashion. For example, in the example above, a relative benefit of 20% sounds more impressive than an absolute benefit of 2%. Hopefully, you now have a better understanding about how to interpret cancer statistics.
About The Author
Dr. Glenn Sheiner is a medical doctor with diplomas in Emergency Medicine, Sports Medicine, and Family Medicine. Dr. Sheiner is the author of the medical multimedia digital product called Cancer Research Online Made Easy. Dr. Sheiner created this product to help patients research cutting-edge medical information in hours not days. The product contains 5 videos illustrating exactly what you need to do. To learn more go to http://www.researchyourcancer.com.

Help for Back Pain - Massages

2006-04-03T11:26:00.000-07:00

Back Massage: A Proven Way to Relieve Back Pain by: Saurabh Jain
Back pain is a common ailment; however, people may get better within a few weeks through massages. Massage is known to improve blood flow and eases tension, thus providing relaxation to muscles. While gentle massages are pleasurable, it does not necessarily offer relief to sufferers of acute low back pain. Combining massage with other treatments, such as physical therapy and chiropractic, is likely to produce best results. In addition, back massages, in combination with non-medical treatments, back exercises and good diet, ensures gradual pain relief.
Benefits of Back Massage Therapy
According to the American Massage Therapy Association, research proves that massage therapy provides many important health benefits, including:
Improvement in blood circulation in the body, which aids in the recovery of muscle soreness due to physical activity.
Relaxation of muscles for an improved range of motion. Muscle relaxation also helps in the treatment of insomnia.
Increased endorphin levels. The increase in endorphin levels is actually one of the greatest benefits of the massage therapy. Endorphins are body chemicals that lend a feel-good feeling, which is very effective in managing chronic pain.
It is important to ensure that precautions are exercised while receiving massage therapy. Your muscle should relax in response to the pressure applied by a massage therapist, in the absence of which, it is possible that muscles are inflamed. In such cases, you should not opt for back massages as a treatment option and consult his/her doctor for the treatment. Most muscle spasms require four massage treatments, usually spread over a six weeks period, to achieve best results. If muscle spasms do not respond to the neuromuscular therapy within two massages, try using another therapy.
If you have severe lower back pain, it is advisable that you undergo thorough medical checkup before commencing the massage therapy.
About The Author
Saurabh Jain is the Executive Editor of Online Back pain resource, www.backpain-resources-online.com. He has developed this site to provide valuable information to people suffering from back pain. This site enumerates different causes and factors related to back pain, guides through the different back pain treatments and suggests exercises for treatments of different types of back pain. The site is a free online resource for back pain and its remedies. The visitors can also find valuable information and reviews about the different equipments and therapies for back pain relief. Visit www.backpain-resources-online.com for more information.

Low Blood Pressure

2006-03-20T04:48:00.000-08:00

Is Low Blood Pressure a Cause for Concern? by: Katie Simpson
Low blood pressure is considered an abnormal condition. However for some, it is much better than high blood pressure. Many people who have low blood pressure are healthy and have no signs or symptoms related to lower than normal readings. Yet for others it can cause dizziness and fainting or it can also indicate serious heart, endocrine or neurological disorders.
Low blood pressure is simply a condition where an individual’s blood pressure is much lower than the norm. It is also called hypotension or syncope, which points to fainting. It can cause symptoms such as dizziness or lightheadedness.
Low blood pressure happens when the flow of blood is too low to deliver enough oxygen and nutrients to vital organs, such as the brain, heart, and kidney; the organs do not function normally and may be permanently damaged. It should be noted that unlike high blood pressure, which is defined on the basis of blood pressure alone, low blood pressure is defined primarily by signs and symptoms of low blood flow. In fact, some individuals may have a blood pressure of 90/50 and have no signs or symptoms of low blood pressure, and, therefore, not have low blood pressure symptoms. Others who normally have a blood pressure of 130/80 may develop symptoms and signs of low blood pressure if their blood pressure drops to 100/60.
Common causes of low blood pressure:
* Medicines or any medications used for surgery * High blood pressure treatments * Anti-anxiety agents * Diuretics * Heart medicines * Some antidepressants * Narcotic analgesics * Alcohol
There are also other causes of low blood pressure such as:
* Diabetes * Fainting * Heart attack * Heart failure * Dehydration * Heart rhythm changes * Shock * Anaphylaxis
Orthostatic hypotension is another common type of low blood pressure. This results from a sudden change in body position. It happens usually from lying down and moving to an upright position.
Despite the possible side effects, people who have lower blood pressures have a lower risk of strokes, kidney disease, and heart disease. Athletes, people who exercise regularly, people who maintain ideal body weight, and non-smokers tend to have lower blood pressure. Low blood pressure is actually desirable as long as it is not low enough to cause symptoms and damage to organs in the body.
In fact, low blood pressure in healthy people without symptoms or organ damage needs no treatment. All patients with symptoms possibly due to low blood pressure should be evaluated by a doctor. Patients who have had a major drop in blood pressure from their usual levels even without the development of symptoms also should be examined. The doctor needs to identify the cause of the low blood pressure since treatment will depend on the cause.
Low blood pressure is not as treacherous as high blood pressure. For people who have hypotension, sufficient sleep and rest is very important. Also, sleeping in daylight is different from sleeping at night. People who have night jobs make it a point to sleep during daylight. Even if you have sufficient sleep low blood pressure still arises.
If you have low blood pressure it is advised that you have regular intake of iron to avoid anemia or other disorders that are caused by low blood pressure. Consult your doctor at once if you ever feel dizzy, have chest pains, shortness of breath, and an irregular heartbeat, fever higher than 101 degrees, headache, and stiff neck or severe upper back pain.
About The Author
Katie Simpson
Managing your blood pressure is critical to your good health. For more tips and information on managing your blood pressure, be sure to visit Katie Simpson's Blood Pressure Stats site at: http://www.bloodpressurestats.com/.
katie@whymarketersshouldblog.com

Gall Bladder/Back Pain

2006-03-18T20:28:00.000-08:00

Gall Bladder Back Pain by: Saurabh Jain
The gall bladder back pain is usually caused due to the inflammation or improper functioning of gall bladder, which is a small pear-shaped organ on the underside of the liver, in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. Its main function is to collect and store bile, which is used by the body to digest fats. Bile is made in the liver cells (hepatocytes) and consists of water, electrolytes, bile acids, phospholipids and bilirubin. It assists in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, A, D, E and K. Causes Of Gall Bladder Problems Gall bladder diseases and problems are fairly common and affect both men and women. The symptoms can vary from indigestion and nausea to vomiting and pain in the right upper abdomen. This pain also radiates to the lower back, resulting in gall bladder back pain. Other symptoms include: 1.Fever due to inflammation in the gall bladder 2.Abdominal bloating 3.Severe heartburn and gas 4.Jaundice 5.Diarrhea Some of the gall bladder problems are caused by: 1.Production of toxic bile by the liver 2.Inadequate production of bile 3.Excess amount of cholesterol in bile, leading to the formation of gall bladder stones 4.Infection in gall bladder 5.Hormonal changes during pregnancy 6.Blood disorders or infections The lower back pain can be attributed to a gall bladder disorder problem that results in gall bladder pain called biliary colic. Biliary colic occurs when gallstones block the small duct that drains bile to the small intestine. Gallstones or biliary calculi are small stones formed from a mixture of cholesterol, bile pigment and calcium salts. The formation of gallstones is a very common disorder and affects approximately 15% of the people at the age of around 50. However, in most cases, complication and infections don’t arise until gallstones block a bile duct, which then leads to severe pain lasting from 30 min to several hours. In such circumstances, you must undertake an ultra sound test to confirm the presence of gallstones and then get the proper treatment with the help of a doctor. For more comprehensive information on Back Pain please visit http://www.backpain-resources-online.com/.
About The Author
Saurabh Jain has created a comprehensive website on Back Pain.
http://www.backpain-resources-online.com/
ascentinfosolutions@yahoo.com

A Home Gym for You

2006-03-02T06:15:00.000-08:00

Should You Set Up Your Own Home Gym? by: Andrew McNaught
Gyms are increasingly popular and as a result public facilities are usually stretched to the limit and as a result offer poor service leaving most users frustrated. Then there are those people who are just not comfortable working out in a public setting. The result is that they usually get very uncomfortable in the gym and are not able to work out enough. Still there are those who prefer to go into the high initial cost of purchasing exercise equipment knowing fully well that in the long term it will end up being a lot cheaper than the increasingly high gym memberships being charged.
These are just three of the most compelling reasons why somebody would want to set up their own home gym. The truth is that home gym can be a good investment for anyone wanting to set up one in their basement or workout room.
A good place to start when looking for equipment for your home gym is with used exercise equipment. These can be picked up at a very good price, more so because their demand is still limited. Your local newspaper classified ads and Ebay are some good places where you can start your search.
It is important to pick up as much knowledge as you can on the different types of home gym equipment. This is the only way you will be able to figure out the advantages and disadvantages of buying the different types of exercise machines and equipment. This will help ensure that whatever equipment you end up spending money on will not be underutilized or even prove to be useless or a duplication because of some other equipment that you had earlier purchased.
Apart from home gym equipment, you should also seriously consider buying commercial fitness equipment, which will be much closer to the stuff that you are already used to at your local gym or fitness center.
These are the key aspects to take into consideration when looking into the possibilities of setting up your very own home gym.
About The Author
Andrew McNaught runs the website: http://www.home-gym-info.com which aims to help people decide whether to install a home gym and if so, what equipment to go for.

St-St-Studdering

2006-02-24T10:19:00.000-08:00

Stutter Treatments by: Steve Hill
In this article I am going to explain some of the stutter treatments which are available. My name is Steve Hill and I myself have overcome a stutter problem, which ruined my life for eighteen years.
Speech therapy is the normal course of therapy people who stutter try. In my opinion this is useful, however has limited power as the therapists themselves do not believe a stutter can be overcome. They are therefore merely helping people cope and from my own personal experience the main advice given, is to slow down when talking and to take a deep breath before speaking. People who are fluent do not all speak slowly and rarely do I hear them inhale a deep breath before speaking.
Hypnotherapy is another form of stutter therapy. Success is no doubt largely dependant on the quality of the hypnotherapist involved. In my opinion having a stutter is not only an emotional problem but also a physical problem and that hypnotherapy only deals with the emotional side.
Group speech courses is the next form of stutter treatment. There are many of these type of courses which will either teach costal breathing, or slowed or prolonged speech. I think this form of stutter help is better than the first two, however I believe that every person is an individual and needs individual treatment with courses tailored to their individual needs.
One to one speech courses are for me the best form of stutter treatment. There is nowhere to hide and the speech coach can really get to grips with the type of problem the person who has the stutter has. The speech coach can fully concentrate on that person for the duration of the course and a type of bond can form. This is the form of stutter treatment which I believe is likely to prove the most beneficial and successful.
About The Author
Stephen Hill is somebody who has overcome a stutter and who now helps people to achieve fluency. He has a number of websites including:
http://www.stammering-stuttering.co.uk
http://www.stutter-therapy.com
http://www.stuttering-help.co.uk
info@stammering-stuttering.co.uk

Sleep Apnea

2006-02-13T17:34:00.000-08:00

What Is Sleep Apnea by: Scott Fromherz, MD
Are you feeling sleepy all the time? Do you snore? Is your doctor having a difficult time treating your high blood pressure? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you might have Sleep Apnea (also called Obstructive Sleep Apnea or OSA).
Sleep Apnea is a condition involving pauses or decreases in breathing during sleep. It is usually due to airway collapse. This collapse occurs in the nose and/or the throat – anywhere from where air enters the nostrils to the back of the tongue. Imagine a straw collapsing when trying to suck on a thick milkshake. Frequently, this airway collapsibility problem is inherited and starts in childhood. In the daytime, it is not a problem because there is good muscle-tone in the airway and the brain monitors breathing. But at night, the throat muscles become relaxed and the brain is not as attentive to the airway. So on inhalation, the airway walls can either completely collapse or significantly narrow. This is a problem because 1) the body must struggle to breathe and 2) the brain has to “wake up” to reopen the airway.
These frequent awakenings lead to fragmentation of nighttime sleep. You may not remember them because they are so short. In fact, patients with sleep apnea can wake-up more than 30 times an hour and think that they slept uninterrupted through the night. Since sleep must be continuous and consolidated in order to be restorative, a number of cognitive problems can occur with sleep fragmentation: daytime sleepiness, memory problems, concentration difficulties, emotional instability, irritability, slowed reaction time, and most importantly, an increased risk of motor vehicle accidents.
There are also cardiovascular consequences of this constant “struggling to breathe.” This puts a strain on the heart and blood vessels, leading to increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.
Finally, there are social implications to Sleep Apnea. The snoring associated with sleep apnea can disrupt the sleep of others. In fact, one study showed that when a person treats his/her sleep apnea, the sleep partner gets the equivalent of one hour more sleep per night.
Sleep apnea is a progressive disease and often gets worse with age. Weight gain, alcohol, and other sedating/relaxing substances exacerbate it.
Who Gets Sleep Apnea?
A common misconception is that only overweight men that snore loudly have sleep apnea, but the facts are:
1) Sleep apnea can occur without snoring 2) Thin people can have sleep apnea 3) Women can have sleep apnea 4) Children can have sleep apnea
In other words, anyone can have it. Even skinny women. Even children.
I Think I Might Have Sleep Apnea, How Do I Find Out If I Have It?
Make an appointment with your primary care physician, or if your insurance allows it, go straight to a sleep specialist. If your physician thinks you might have sleep apnea, then he/she can refer you for a sleep study or comprehensive sleep evaluation.
How Is Sleep Apnea Treated?
There are four main categories of treatment for sleep apnea: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), Surgery, Oral Appliances, and Behavioral Modification.
The most effective way to treat sleep apnea is with CPAP. CPAP is a mask worn over the nose attached by a hose to an air compressor. The air compressor gently and quietly blows room-air into the nose, which “stents” the airway open, preventing airway collapse. This is the most effective way to treat sleep apnea, and all patients diagnosed with sleep apnea should at least try it before considering other options.
Surgery can be an effective way to treat sleep apnea. A number of different procedures can be performed. These range from nasal septum repair to jaw reconstruction. Talk to your doctor about whether surgery is the right option for you.
An oral appliance is a device made by a dentist or an orthodontist designed to pull your lower jaw forward. By pulling your lower jaw forward, the tongue is pulled away from the back of the throat. If your airway obstruction is occurring behind the tongue, then this can be an effective way to treat your sleep apnea. The treatment of sleep apnea with oral appliance should be a coordinated effort between the sleep physician, the dentist/orthodontist, and the patient.
Behavioral modifications can help in the treatment of sleep apnea, but are usually the least effective. These include such techniques as weight loss, sleeping on your side, and avoiding alcohol before bedtime.
None of these treatment options is ideal, but they all can be useful in treating sleep apnea and resulting in more restful sleep. With risks like heart attack and stroke, you should do everything you can to get your sleep apnea under control. If you think you have sleep apnea, contact your doctor or go to a sleep center. It could be the best decision you ever made.
About The Author
Dr. Scott Fromherz is a sleep physician. He and his partner, Dr. Daniel Root, operate Oregon Sleep Associates, http://www.oregonsleepassociates.com/. Located in downtown Portland, Oregon, Oregon Sleep Associates is the premier sleep center in the northwest. They serve the needs of both pediatric and adult sleep populations.

Sleep and Depression

2006-02-12T16:50:00.000-08:00

How to Beat the "Black Dog" of Depression and Have Better Sleep by: Wendy Owen
Almost 10% of the US population suffer from depression at any one time. Similar statistics would be expected from other developed countries.
Depression can affect our sleep in many ways. Some of us sleep longer and others find themselves waking up in the early hours of the morning, unable to go back to sleep.
Insomnia can be one of the many symptoms of depression, so it’s best to treat the depression itself and usually the sleep problems will resolve themselves.
Depression can affect not only the sufferer but also family and friends who are often at a loss as to how they can help. We should let them and not try to shoulder the burden ourselves.
We have to be careful whom we chose to confide in though as some people still have the mistaken belief that depression is a "malingerers" complaint. The last thing we need when depressed is someone telling us to, "Snap out of it" or "Pull yourself together"!
Depression is a clinical complaint and a genuine illness. Symptoms of depression can include fatigue, lack of motivation, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, irritability and even physical symptoms such as headaches or digestive upsets.
Depression can be severe (major depression) which can completely disable the sufferer, or moderate (dysthymia) in which sufferers can function from day to day but never really feel content or happy.
Then there is bipolar disorder which is less common. Those afflicted with bipolar disorder can swing from a high (manic) state to a low (depressed) state seemingly without cause.
What causes depression? It could be several things. Depression may run in the family, or start after a chronic illness. It can also be caused by hormonal imbalance which is why so many women fall victim. A person's thinking pattern may be prone to depression, for example those with poor self esteem.
"Cures" for depression are many and some more effective than others. There is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) while sounding like something from the torture chambers of the inquisition, is an effective aid for severe depression.
Prescribed medications like lithium can be effective but can also have side effects like drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision, insomnia, constipation and more…
Herbal remedies are a viable option and have many less side effects while being remarkably effective and cheaper. Recommended are St John's Wort and Passiflora.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet are also important. Make sure there are plenty of B vitamins in the food you eat or take a supplement. Include foods which help raise serotonin levels (Oats, milk turkey and pasta) This will have a beneficial effect on your sleep too.
Cognitive or behavioural therapy can greatly assist by changing behaviour and thought patterns that may have led to the illness.
To summarise - Share your problems with a trusted friend or paid counsellor, watch your diet, exercise regularly, take appropriate medication or enrol in behavioural therapy. Help yourself defeat the "black dog" of depression.
Copyright 2006 Wendy Owen
About The Author
Wendy Owen is a health researcher and author.
Want to know how to cure insomnia and achieve healthy sleep? Visit http://www.insomnia-connection.com your resource for good sleep advice and articles. Sign on for our newsletter and receive 2 books absolutely free!

Diabetes and Exercise

2006-02-01T03:12:00.000-08:00

Diabetes Relief And Prevention Through Exercise by: Patrick Mckeeman
Diabetes is something that can be treated and even prevented very effectively with exercise. Most people are aware of the many other benefits of exercise but the one that could have the greatest impact on the health-care system is the prevention and relief of this health problem.
Diabetes comes in two main types. These are type I and type II.
Type I occurs when your pancreas is producing too little insulin or in some cases not producing any at all. If you already have type I you of course have the daily task of injecting insulin into your body in order to control your glucose levels.
This is not an enjoyable thing to do. If you currently do not have type I diabetes then learn to prevent it through exercise and healthy living. The alternative may be daily injections for the rest of your life.
The second main type of diabetes is known as Type II. Many people also refer to it as adult onset diabetes.
If you are suffering from the symptoms of Type II it's due to you pancreas not being able to make enough insulin to control glucose levels. It can also occur when your cells do not respond properly to insulin.
This is commonly known as insulin resistance.
One of the most effective ways of dealing with insulin resistance is through exercise and good nutritional habits. A large number of people with this type of diabetes are over-weight.
Therefore, weight control is a must. If you are not active, over-eat and become obese, you have a very high risk of being afflicted with type II. In most cases, simply adding in exercise, including both weight training and cardiovascular exercise, along with good eating habits is enough to prevent type II diabetes.
Only in rare cases will this not work, and medication is needed.
With type II diabetes there are a number of other health problems that can then occur, including; high cholesterol, obesity, and hypertension. Exercise has a very positive effect on Type II for improving insulin sensitivity.
Ninety percent of all people with this health problem actually have type II, and exercise will help your body to process glucose at a quicker rate, lowering any high blood sugar symptoms you may have.
The intensity of your exercise session also plays a role. A more intense exercise program will help your body to utilize glucose quicker. However, high intensity does not mean faster. There is a difference.
Obviously before beginning any type of exercise program, regardless of what type of diabetes you have, you should check with your doctor. There are many differences between exercise for different types of diabetes that you need to be aware of before starting.
There can be certain dangers resulting from injecting insulin just before you begin to exercise. One situation that can occur is the risk of hypoglycemia or insulin shock during the exercise session.
Here are some general rules to keep in mind when exercising if you are type I: allow for enough rest between weight training sets to avoid high blood pressure symptoms; avoid lifting heavy weights or going to failure on each set; when doing cardio, avoid high impact exercises such as running outside; always ensure that you have carbohydrates in your system before you start and a supply of them nearby as well.
You may begin to feel shaky, disoriented, hungry, anxious or become irritable if you allow your blood sugar levels to get too low. Having a carbohydrate snack or drink nearby will help prevent these symptoms very quickly.
Blood glucose analyzers are very effective tools to use when exercising. You can test your blood sugar to ensure it's not at a level below 80 - 100 mg/dl range and not above 250 mg/dl.
During your post-exercise recovery period, around three to five hours after you complete your exercise session, so-called diabetic diets can be beneficial. Diabetic diets should consist of a good amount of carbohydrates to prevent hypoglycemia.
Exercise has its greatest impact on people with type II diabetes because of its positive effects on insulin sensitivity. Proper exercise and sound nutritional habits work considerably well for type II diabetics.
Consistency is critical in the prevention of type II diabetes. You can't expect to exercise now and then, and prevent it. You need to make exercise part of your life if it's going to be effective.
About The Author
Patrick Mckeeman has very quick, easy & effective health & fitness solutions for you. For extensive information on diabetes & exercise please go to: http://www.man-health-fitness-solutions.com/diabetes.html

Fighting Stress

2006-01-24T11:15:00.000-08:00

How To Eliminate Stress? by: Anna Brandy
The truth is you may not always be able to eliminate stress. Since life is filled with potential threats, stress is inevitable. If you can’t always eliminate it, then at best you can eliminate what you can and learn to live with what you cannot eliminate. You are capable of minimizing the magnitude of the stressful reaction upon the body. You must evaluate your life as it is. If you are feeling stressed or if you are stressed out, take a moment and examine what may be causing your stress. List the stressors you can control, along with a coping strategy for each. By listing these, you may find that you can move some of these into the can-control category. Also try to generate a new way of looking at the situation; it may open up a new avenue for growth.
While drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and food may offer temporary relief, they can easily increase the problem. A change in your daily routine or environment can effectively reduce you stress and improve you coping strategies. The following are examples of effective coping strategies:
1. Relax: It’s important to unwind. Each person has his or her own way to relax. Some ways include deep breathing, yoga, meditation, and massage therapy. If you can’t do these things, take a few minutes to sit, listen to soothing music.
2. Make time for yourself: It’s important to care for yourself. Think of this as an order from your doctor, so you don’t feel guilty. No matter how busy you are, you can try to set aside at least 15 minutes each day in your schedule to do something for yourself, like going for a walk, or calling a friend.
3. Sleep: Sleeping is a great way to help both your body and mind. Your stress could get worse if you don’t get enough sleep. With enough sleep, you can tackle your problems better and lower you risk for illness. Try to get seven to nine hours of sleep every night.
4. Eat right: Try to fuel up with fruits, vegetables, and proteins. Don’t be fooled by the jolt you get from caffeine or sugar. Your energy will aware off.
5. Set limits: When it comes to things like work and family; figure out what you can really do. There are only so many hours in the day. Set limits with yourself and others. Don’t be afraid to say NO to requests for your time and energy.
6. Plan your time: Think ahead about how you’re going to spend your time. Write a to-do list. Figure out what’s most important to do.
7. Don’t deal with stress in unhealthy ways: This includes drinking too much alcohol, using drugs, smoking, or overeating.
8. Exercise: Research shows that physical exercise is the best tension reliever. It is an important remedy for stress. Nothing eases stress more than exercise. Exercise not only improves your health and reduces stress; it also relaxes tense muscles and helps you to sleep.
About The Author
Anna Brandy is an expert of the alternative medicine industry and has a wealth of knowledge and expertise on yeast infection treatment. She has written extensively on issues relating to yeast infection. More info: http://www.symptoms-yeast-infection-treatment.com/.

Fighting Mild Depression

2006-01-23T13:59:00.000-08:00

What Can You Do About Depression! The St John Alternative by: Stephen Gainsly
Using St. John's Wort to treat Depression
Depression comes in many forms and with the overabundance of anti-depression drugs currently available, it is often tricky for doctors to prescribe the right one for their patients.
Some patients suffer from a mild depression, also known as dysthymic depression. This includes symptoms of sadness and a loss of interest in activity. Many times this kind of depression goes unnoticed and untreated, but can last for many years.
Other types of depression include major depression and bipolar depression. There are others as well, and can include disorders relating to pregnancy and traumatic events.
A lot of the medications used to treat depression include complicated chemical balances that need to be adjusted to the particular patient, and can also have multiple physical and emotional side effects. Some patients report feeling worse after having taken traditional medications or they report needing to switch from medicine to medicine as one wears off and becomes less effective.
So what does a person with depression do? What does a person do if they don't have access to a trained psychiatrist that can prescribe them medication?
The newer trend in handling depression begins with a healthier lifestyle. Eating more fruits and vegetables, as well as avoiding sugars and caffeine can create a more wholesome environment in the body and an increased resistance to the everyday stresses of life.
Physical exercise helps to ease mood swings that are caused by depression. It also strengthens the body so that it can deal with stress more effectively.
St John's Wort is a herb that has been used in Europe for centuries to treat depression. It is now popular in the United States.
St. John's Wort works by stabilizing the mood and reducing the amount of swings in the overall demeanor of the patient. And because it's not created with chemicals, it can also have fewer side effects.
It's still in the testing stage, to establish its depression alleviation properties beyond doubt. But you don't need a prescription to get it in the grocery store. So for those who can't make it to the doctor's office, or folks who find the medical fee too high, St John's Wort is easily available and conveniently accessible.
As with any medication, you should consult your doctor before taking St John's Wart to treat depression. Sometimes depression has other underlying physical causes that need to be ruled out before medication is prescribed.
About The Author
Stephen Gainsly runs the website Depression HA, inc. which a site dedicated to depression issues and has an amazing array of news and views depression related. Please visit http://www.depressionha.com for any questions or comments about this article.

Nutrition: Vitamins and Minerals

2006-01-17T10:59:00.000-08:00

Vitamins: Nutritional Essentials by: Chris Robertson
Although the U.S. has the most plentiful food supply in the world, it's sometimes difficult to get all of the nutrition our bodies need. Our hectic lifestyles cause us to eat out more and buy more prepared foods to eat at home. We eat fewer fresh fruits and vegetables and a greater quantity of nutritionally deficient snack and fast foods than did our parents' generation.
To ensure that we're consuming all of the nutrition our bodies need, it's often wise to take a vitamin supplement. Vitamins can fill in the nutritional gaps and shore up our immune systems and stamina. Some vitamins and minerals even act as weight loss pills, by stimulating the body's fat-burning mechanism.
Although it's ideal to consume vitamins through the foods you eat, vitamin supplements can serve to bridge the gap and provide a safety net for those times when you have to grab a bite on the run.
According to the National Institutes of Health, thirteen vitamins are essential for our bodies to function: A, C, D, E, K and the eight B vitamins. Here's the lowdown on eleven of the essentials:
Vitamin A is important for vision, reproductive function, and normal cell reproduction. Beta-carotene, a precursor to Vitamin A, helps to fight disease-causing free radicals. Vitamin A is found in milk products, organ meats, and fish oils. Beta-carotene is found in colorful vegetables, such as carrots, broccoli, spinach, and sweet potatoes.
Vitamin B-1 (thiamin) processes carbohydrates into energy and is necessary for nerve cell function. Breads and cereals are often fortified with thiamin, though it is also found in whole grains, fish, lean meats, and dried beans.
Vitamin B-2 (riboflavin) helps the production of red blood cells and is important for growth.
Vitamin B-3 (niacin) helps control cholesterol, processes alcohol, maintains healthy skin, and converts carbohydrates to energy.
Vitamin B-5 (pantothenic acid) serves several bodily functions, such as converting fats to energy and synthesizing cholesterol.
Vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine) is important in the production of hormones such as serotonin, dopamine, and melatonin, as well as for processing amino acids.
Vitamin B-12 is a crucial component of DNA replication and nerve cell regulation. It is found in milk products, poultry, meat, and shellfish.
Vitamin C is important in wound healing and acts as an antioxidant. It also helps the body absorb iron. It's found in citrus fruits, potatoes, and greens.
Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium, which creates healthy bones and teeth. The body can synthesize Vitamin D after exposure to sunshine, but it can also be found in fortified milk products and cereals, as well as in fish.
Vitamin E helps to combat free radicals, which can damage our cells. It's found in nuts and seeds, green leafy vegetables, corn, asparagus, and wheat germ.
Vitamin K is what makes the blot clot. While our bodies produce some Vitamin K, it can also be found in vegetables like cauliflower and cabbage.
About The Author
Chris Robertson is a published author of Majon International. Majon International is one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing and internet advertising companies on the web. Visit their main business resource web site at: http://www.majon.com
To learn more about subjects like vitamin please visit the web site at: http://www.berkowitzvitamins.com
For more information and informative related articles and links about this subject matter and content, please visit Majon's Health and Beauty directory: http://www.majon.com/directory/Health_and_Beauty

Sleep Problems

2006-01-04T17:51:00.000-08:00

Understanding Insomnia by: Cameron Elliott
Sleep disorders are part of a broad category encompassing a variety of conditions that affect sleep. Insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome are the most common, but sleep disorders also include sleep walking, hypersomnia, and night terrors. There isn't enough space to provide an in- depth explanation for each, so starting with insomnia, the four most common ones will be explored properly.
Literally meaning no sleep, insomnia is one of the most common sleep disorders: everyone has lain awake all night, has woken up in the middle of night, has woken up hours too early. Insomnia takes its toll on your health, on your peace of mind, on your wallet. When you don't sleep enough, you're tired and irritable, unable to concentrate. You lose money by getting in accidents because you're exhausted, by being unable to work.
There are two types of insomnia: acute and chronic. Acute insomnia is temporary, lasting no more than a month, caused by the situation or environment: after traveling and being jet lagged, after losing your job. It occurs when relationships end, when you lose someone close to you. As the situation gets better, as things return to normal, you begin to feel better, and you sleep.
Chronic insomnia is more serious, lasting a month and more. Chronic insomnia can be the result of a larger condition, a symptom of an underlying condition. Illnesses, other sleep disorders, and psychological or physical conditions can all wreak havoc with sleep. In this case, talk to your doctor. The right treatment will help the larger condition, which will in turn help you sleep.
Chronic insomnia can also be a condition by itself, not simply one side effect of something else. This type of chronic insomnia can be the result of biological factors like having a too high body temperature, changes in your metabolism rate, or increased brain metabolism.
Of course, insomnia, chronic, or acute, could always just be the result of poor sleep habits: smoking cigarettes, drinking caffeine, sleeping odd hours. And, depression and stress are major causes of insomnia.
Treatment of insomnia can be as simple of following tips for sleeping well, practicing good sleep habits. Sleeping aides can help, but talk to your doctor first. Not sleeping quickly gets old: if you're sleeping poorly, talk to your doctor, follow the tips for sleeping better.
About The Author
Cameron Elliott is a sleep specialist for http://www.airsleep.com where he champions in the benefits of air mattresses and air beds for overall well being.

Exercises for Losing Weight

2006-01-03T09:34:00.000-08:00

What is the Best Exercise for Weight Loss? by: Dianne Ronnow
It is a common misconception that aerobic exercise tones and firms muscles. Actually it accomplishes very little toning and firming. Resistance exercise (weight training) is where real toning and firming of muscles occurs.
Doing both aerobics and weight training is the optimal way to lose more fat and gain more muscle. If you are trying to lose weight, studies show that weight loss increases by 56 percent with aerobic and strength exercises combined.
Muscle may weigh more, but when you increase your muscle composition, the body is able to burn more fat, even when you are resting, because your metabolism is higher. A pound of muscle will use 350 to 500 calories per week to survive, while a pound of fat only needs about 14 calories per week. New studies have shown that building muscle helps your body fight disease better, too.
Strength training benefits everyone, no matter what age or sex, and is becoming recognized as an important component of fitness. Research is indicating that the muscle loss found in elderly people doesn’t come from age, but lack of activity. Even a young person who doesn’t get enough exercise can lose muscle mass and strength. Strength training, such as lifting weights or performing weight-resistance exercises, as little as twice a week can help maintain or increase muscle mass.
Strength training involving several sets of multiple repetitions using moderate weights will not result in huge muscles. Instead it builds bone mass and increases the metabolism, as well as toning and firming the muscles, giving a leaner look.
It is very important to do both aerobics and strength exercises. The aerobic exercises help your heart and lungs get stronger and help your body utilize oxygen more efficiently, which in turn helps with strength training and overall fitness. The strength exercise helps develop muscle, reduce body fat and maintain bone mass.
Aerobic Exercise is a type of exercise that elevates the heart rate and breathing for a continuous sustained period. This overloads the heart and lungs and causes them to work harder than at rest.
There are many options to choose from today. Bicycling, aerobic dance, swimming, walking, and stepping are all examples of aerobic exercise. Which ones to chose depends on your physical condition, your history, your interests and your goals. Many experts believe it is better to alternate between 2 or more types, to get a better workout.
There are two main types of aerobics- high impact and low impact. It is better to alternate between high impact aerobics (which are harder on the body and may cause more damage) and low impact aerobics, such as walking and swimming. This is called cross-training, and helps reduce the chance or injury and overuse of certain muscles.
You will want to perform aerobic exercises at least 20 minutes a day for at least 3 to 4 days a week. If you are trying to lose body fat, or your physical condition is very good, then you may want to work longer at it. Try exercising up to 40 to 60 minutes 5 to 6 days a week.
Remember there is no real need to go overboard. Moderate intensity is almost always better, and is more enjoyable. Low to moderate intensity is an especially good idea when starting out after a layoff or recovery from illness or injury, or if you are significantly overweight.
Warm-up and cool down is important to reduce discomfort and the chance of injury. Warm up by starting slow and gradually build up to your top speed. Then slow down again at the end of your workout.
The whole idea behind aerobic exercise is to get up and get moving! Find something you enjoy doing that keeps your heart rate elevated for a continuous time period and get moving to a healthier life.
About The Author
This is an excerpt from the ebook The Enzyme Health Diet Plan by Dianne Ronnow. Copyright © 2005 by Mohave Publishing. All rights reserved. The Enzyme Health Diet Plan is a FREE e-book that can be found on the Enzyme Health website at http://Enzyme-Health.com.
Dianne Ronnow’s best selling book, Coconut Oil Diet Secrets reveals how thousands of people are losing weight and getting healthier with coconut oil diets. To find out what the secrets of coconut oil dieting are, check out the web site at Coconut-Oil-Diet.com. Get the book now and start losing weight today!

Special Cancer Diet

2005-12-19T10:22:00.000-08:00

Cancer Diet - Include Natural Foods by: Marilyn Bennett
In any cancer diet, there are many factors to be considered. One is that it is ideal that we get our nutrients from our foods, and that those foods are in as near their natural state as possible. By that I mean foods that have minimum processing.
The reason for this is that no matter how clever our scientists are there is still much they have not discovered about the way vitamins and the body interact. Every day we hear they have found either a new nutrient or another factor in how our bodies assimilate nutrients. If we eat foods that are as close to the state nature produces them we are most likely to get the nutrients we need together with all the other factors our bodies need to use them. This is crucial to any cancer diet.
A shining example is iron. Our bodies need Vitamin C in order to assimilate iron. However, there are still iron supplements on the market that do not have Vitamin C included in their mix. Now, parsley is a very rich source of iron and, you guessed it, is also full of Vitamin C. To further complicate matters, Vitamin C is heat affected and water soluble, so cooking, particularly in liquids destroys it - hence my assertion that eating foods - in this case parsley - in their natural state is best. Of course this won't work for all foods - potatoes for example - but it is a good strategy to keep in mind when trying to maximize nutrition.
The other reason for eating foods in as near natural state as possible, is that cooking destroys the natural enzymes. Enzymes not only play a crucial role in digestion, and therefore influence the quality of the nutrients we get from our food, but some enzymes, particularly pancreatic enzymes, play a direct role in the fight against cancer.
So how do we include raw foods when designing a cancer diet?
The obvious answer is salads. Using as wide a variety of salad vegetables and incorporating as many different coloured salad veggies, is an excellent way to increase your intake of live enzymes.
But even with hot meals, many raw veggies can be added as a garnish. Eg parsley chopped up over scrambled eggs. Herbs stirred in a casserole after the heat is turned off. A couple of rings of capsicum on top of cooked fish. Use fruits to dress up a steak or a roast. Let your imagination go! Look for colour and variety and you will easily find dozens of ways to include raw foods.
Snacks are another way of getting raw veggies into the diet. Cut up celery and carrots into one inch/2cm lengths. Even broccoli and cauliflower are nice and crunchy as a snack. If you must dip them in something try a little cottage cheese rather than a fat laden dip!
By keeping your mind open and imagination engaged, you will soon be getting many more raw foods into your daily diet, giving yourself and your loved ones an edge in the cancer fighting stakes.
About The Author
Marilyn Bennett's partner Glenn was declared cancer-free after 11 months using a nutritional approach. They are now on a mission to "spread the word" re the many things they discovered we can all do to fight cancer. Please visit www.cancer-einfo.com.

Avian Flu

2005-12-16T13:32:00.000-08:00

Public Health Agency of Canada recommendations for Avian Flu by: Eric Schmiedl
At least one Canadian group formed after SARS hit Toronto is working with the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) and other organizations to help boost public safety.
That group is the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), which was formed in 2004. It acts independently but is responsible to Canada's health minister. PHAC is in the midst of creating a pandemic plan for Canada, said Aggie Adamczyk, media relations officer with the agency.
The plan is not being formulated just for the Avian Flu but for any disease that could reach pandemic proportions, although PHAC is monitoring the Bird Flu situation. The agency recommends "good respiratory etiquette," she said, which includes using a tissue or sleeve when a sneeze comes upon you. Plenty of hand washing is also a PHAC suggestion.
Where the regular Influenza A symptoms include aching muscles, sore nose, high fever and coughing, people wary of the Bird Flu should be on the watch for symptoms pinpointed in a 1997 Hong Kong outbreak. In that outbreak, people "developed symptoms of fever, sore throat, cough and, in several of the fatal cases, severe respiratory distress secondary to viral pneumonia. Previously healthy adults and children, and some with chronic medical conditions, were affected," according to WHO Web information.
As with the WHO, PHAC isn't rushing to recommend the use of SARS-style face masks to ward off the Avian Flu, Adamczyk said, although that could change depending on the course the H5N1 virus takes. "It's a little bit early (for masks or antiviral drugs) at this point," she said. Even so, global health officials need to be ready for whatever new infectious disease comes their way, she said. "No one really knows if it will be Avian Flu or something like SARS. You have to be ready for (any disease)," Adamczyk said.
It is possible to create a vaccine for a pandemic flu, although making it ahead of time is risky because the flu could mutate, limiting the vaccine's effectiveness. The amount of vaccine that would be needed for a pandemic could also prove to be a problem, although research is underway to find technologies to streamline the vaccine production process.
In the event of a pandemic, public health officials could ask people to remain in their homes and refrain from gathering in public places. Other viral outbreaks have led to similar scenarios in North America in the past.
The WHO recommends the following to public health groups dealing with cases of Avian Flu:
* Co-ordinate services: Agricultural, veterinary and health services (along with other sector services deemed as appropriate) should exchange lab information and other data.
* Vaccination for public health reasons: Health authorities may consider vaccination against more common, seasonal influenza for persons at risk of occupational exposure to the H5N1 virus. Vaccination against seasonal influenza is a public health measure aimed at slashing the progression of HN51 along with the seasonal flu. Even so, vaccination against seasonal influenza will not protect people against infection with the H5N1 virus.
* Protection of persons at risk of occupational exposure: This is aimed at helping protect people who work on farms or other businesses wherein contact with fowl is common. Such people should wear personal protective equipment as follows:
1. Protective clothing, preferably coveralls plus an impermeable apron or surgical gown with long-cuffed sleeves plus an impermeable apron.
2. Heavy-duty rubber work gloves that can be disinfected.
3. Standard well-fitted surgical masks should be used if high-efficiency respiratory masks are not available. Masks should be fit-tested and training in their use should be provided.
4. Goggles.
5. Rubber or polyurethane boots that can be disinfected or protective foot covers that can be discarded.
Tamiflu should be made available to people who work in at-risk conditions, the WHO recommends. In addition, people in such occupations should be aware of the early clinical signs of H5N1 infection and check for them daily (as well as for two weeks after the last exposure to potentially-dangerous conditions), with the caveat that many of those signs are also apparent in more common diseases.
The following symptoms should be reported to a doctor, according to the WHO: "Most patients infected with the H5N1 virus show initial symptoms of fever (38 C or higher) followed by influenza-like respiratory symptoms, including cough, rhinorrhea, sore throat, and (less frequently) shortness of breath. Watery diarrhea is often present in the early stages of illness, and may precede respiratory symptoms by up to one week. Gastrointestinal symptoms (abdominal pain, vomiting) may occur and headache has also been reported. To date, one report has described two patients who presented with an encephalopathic illness and diarrhea without apparent respiratory symptoms."
People suspected of carrying the virus should be put in isolation and virus samples should be sent to WHO laboratories, the group said.
About The Author
Eric Schmiedl is a freelance journalist and a contributor to www.avian-flu-symptoms.com.

Fighting the Flu

2005-12-14T10:08:00.000-08:00

Your Body WANTS To Fight The Flu by: Generation Health
The body's immune system is our first line of defense against attacks from germs, bacteria, and viral agents like the flu. The immune system detects these harmful invaders and begins the process of isolating and destroying them. But the immune system only works if it has the fuel that it needs.
You see, the immune system is called a "system" because it is comprised of various organs and sub systems that work together in harmony. The major parts of the immune system include:
Thymus
Spleen
Lymph system
Bone marrow
White blood cells
Antibodies
Complement system (30 specific proteins which circulate in our blood plasma).
Hormones
Each part of the immune system depends upon proper nutrition in order to be able to function at peak efficiency. If even one component of the immune system under-performs, the entire system is at risk of failing. A failed immune system leaves the body with no protection from any type of attack. That's why HIV and AIDS are such devastating diseases.
Unfortunately, most people have diets that fail to provide even the minimum nutritional levels that our immune systems requires to do its work. And that's one of the major reasons why this flu season may be the worst one ever. Citizens of developed countries are eating diets that are high in saturated fats and sugars and low in vitamins and minerals. Many citizens of underdeveloped nations are suffering from malnutrition and even starvation. Whether the immune system is affected by too much of the wrong food, or not enough of any food is not what's important right now. What is important is that most people's immune systems are ill prepared to ward off this latest flu menace.
But you don't have to let your immune system fail you when you need it the most. You have options.
You can give your body's immune system exactly what it needs to operate a peak efficiency, and you can do it without having to eat a variety of special foods or ingesting handfuls of vitamins and minerals. All you need to do is Winterize your body by taking just one capsule per day. See it now at http://www.winterizenow.com.
About The Author
Generationhealth.com is a company devoted to your health and well being by offering natural solutions and supplements to your body's needs. www.winterizenow.com is where you can find more information about Winterize.

Autism

2005-12-13T09:27:00.000-08:00

Autism Does Not Have To Be A Life Sentence by: Kim Pomares
What if you could improve the way your child’s brain is wired?
The MAPS (Monitored Multi-cortical Activity for Additional Pathways and Synapses) treatment program for autism is a breakthrough stress-free program, designed for parents who have not given up hope. Who better than you, the parent, you are the expert of your own children! It only takes 10-15 minutes each day to implement the treatment procedures twice daily, thus leaving you plenty of time and energy to share and enjoy life. Imagine the possibilities, no more medications, no side effects, no expensive equipment, no stressful and long therapies!
For hundreds of children and adults who had autism and have graduated from the MAPS treatment program for autism, the world is no longer frightening, but has become a familiar, comfortable and engaging environment in which learning is a pleasure, life is fun, affection is reciprocated. Families say it best when they say that they can finally do "what regular families do".
Knowledge from neuroscience suggests a clear and simple theory: controlled and simultaneous stimulation of multiple zones of the brain through the sensory systems and motor control centers changes an individual's abilities, improves their perception and behavior, and greatly enhances their motor function. Further studies show that the social and cognitive abilities of an individual depend essentially on the levels of neurotransmitters, the brain communication chemicals such as Serotinin and dopamine.
Claudie Gordon-Pomares, a published and internationally recognized researcher from France, who has developed this program by re-designing validated procedures, explains that "the work of Prof. Rosenzweig in the late 1940's was the first to demonstrate neuroplasticity, the notion that the brain can modify its own structure long after development is complete. Today, we could refer to Prof. Kolb, of the Canadian Centre for Behavioral Neurosciences, as the leader in this field."
This breakthrough treatment program taps into the ability of the brain to repair itself to treat autism and its symptoms. MAPS is a unique treatment for autism designed to not only prompt the brain to re-balance its chemical activities, thus affecting behavior, social skills, learning, task planning, fine and gross motor control, mood, and speech, but to also trigger the activation of brand new nerve cells (neurogenesis) and improve the communication between existing nerve cells (dendritic arborisation).
The uniqueness of this program becomes evident when she explains:
- first, that this treatment targets the functional areas of the brain and stays away from the dysfunctions,
- second, that it involves the parents as sole therapists at home,
- and third, that the treatment procedures involve the simultaneous stimulation of multiple brain zones.
Upon successful application, an in-person evaluation session is booked during which Claudie herself will assess your loved one to determine what available pathways may be built upon. Goals are then set, and they may look like “being able to communicate and express real emotions spontaneously using appropriately formulated 3-word sentences”, “sleep well at appropriate times in his bed for a month”. or “play age-appropriate imaginary games for at least 15 minutes, such as dinky cars, dinosaurs, tea parties, etc”.
The program is updated every two weeks. The Centre provides you with close support and training to ensure that the program is implemented as effectively and smoothly at home as possible. And so on for 6 months at a time. When families graduate, the levels of function achieved are easily maintained for life with a simple 2-minute daily exercise.
Perhaps the best way to find out more about this breakthrough is to register for and attend their next seminar in Orange County on January 26, 2006 (6:30 - 8:30 pm). More info can be found on their web site: www.autismrepairinstitute.com.
Testimonials and support contacts available.
Contact: Kim Pomares
E-mail: kim@gordonpomarescentre.com
Phone: (403) 313-1986 or TOLL FREE: 1.877.532.7246
About The Author
Kim Pomares is the Communications Officer at the Gordon-Pomares Centre, the clinic that delivers the MAPS treatment for Autism (Monitored Multi-cortical Activity for Additional Pathways and Synapses).
gordonpomarescentre.com

How to De-Stress

2005-12-12T08:56:00.000-08:00

End Work Related Stress by: Mark Altman
For many people, work is a stressful environment. Even worse, sometimes the anxiety and stress of work follows you home and saturates your thoughts in the evenings and on the weekends. One of the most important part of any stress reducing plan is to find a way to "shut off" thoughts of work after the day is done. Try this short exercise Dr. Sarah Brewer suggests in her book, "The Beginner's Guide To Relaxation".
The Inner Smile
This is a Chinese technique to help "shut off" stressful thoughts.
After work, find a comfortable spot to sit, where you can feel relaxed. Allow your body to sink into a relaxed state. Think of an amusing part of your day, or anecdote you find amusing. Allow yourself to smile. Feel the smile spread, and your face glow. Let the glow spread throughout your body. Your entire being is shining with the sensation of that smile. Give in to the feeling of relaxation and calm, feel it flood your senses.
You've left the stress and worry of work behind. Enjoy the rest of your day.
About The Author
Mark Altman is the webmaster of www.soundsleeping.com sleep-aids and relaxing music. Music that is ideal for yoga, meditation, or tai-chi.

Or just go Shopping!

I was looking for gifts such as art, collectibles, crafts, books, baked gifts and I found them shopping online.

My wife always shops for clothes, shoes, makeup and jewelry online.

My kids said to go online for Christmas toys this year.

Most of the time I shop online for electronics such as audio, tvs, cell phones, wireless digital cameras and pdas.

I found all the furniture and hardware I needed online.

My friend the chef said to look online for kitchen supplies and recipes.

Having Zits Sucks!

2005-12-11T19:57:00.000-08:00

Stop Acne Now! by: David Maillie
Acne is a terrible scurge, afflicting people in every age group. Acne primarily affects teens and adolescents and can cause long lasting physical and emotional scars. For years we have either learned to deal with our acne, or spent thousands of dollars with dermatologists or on useless as seen on tv products we have seen (like Proactive). Currently there are two treatments that do work and one is actually cost effective. It is now a fact that acne can be treated, controlled and even cured.
We must become more educated on what acne is and whqat does and does not cause it. Acne is an inflammation of the skin that is caused by overproduction of sebum (oil) from our sbaceous glands and a low skin pH (acidity) that make ideal conditions for bacteria. This bacteria clogs the pores and causes pimples and deeper inflammed bumps and postules (acne). Acne is genetic as it is first started by the overproduction of oil and acidity levels. Chocolate and sugary items don't cause it.
Accutane (can only be prescribed) works by greatly reducing the production of sebum. This reduction in sebum will make the skin very dry and does have some bad side effects like possible liver damage and such so it is available only through your dermatologist and is used as a drastic or last measure. Basically it brings out all the acne you will have in the next 2-3 years all at once over the first 2 months and then it is all gone. The first 2 months are rough, however - I had this treatment.
TCA peels are a more affordable and less drastic alternative. TCA peels work by cleansing the skin, increasing the pH or acidity of the skin making it unfavorable for bacteris, and increasing the rate of skin regeneration thus hastening the healing process. TCA Peels work 1,000 times better than any overrated peroxide wash or cleansing system and have similar results to Accutane without any of the harsh side effects. They have been rated as one of the best at home products / treatments available. This has been proven on millions of patients - why else would every dermatologist and plastic surgeon offer TCA peels?
So, basically, you can either live with the scurge of acne or treat it. TCA peels are the most cost effective and least harmful solution to acne and can now be purchased directly instead of through your doctor for tremendous savings.
About The Author
David Maillie is a chemist with over 12 years experience in biochemical research and clynical analysis. He is an alumni of Cornell University and specializes in biochemical synthesis for public, private, and governmental interests. He can be reached at M.D. Wholesale: http://www.bestskinpeel.com and http://www.bestdomainsyahoo.com.

Colds

2005-12-10T10:30:00.000-08:00

Home Remedies for the Common Cold by: Kenia Morales
During the long winter months it is not unusual to catch the common cold. This can be cause by exposing yourself to the cold weather or someone sick; it is usually a person with the flu themselves. Although, most of us are familiar with the flu and expect it to wear out within a couple of days, it can still cause a great amount of distress. But, you do not have to worry since there are many home remedies that can help you get rid and relieve the symptoms of the common cold.
• Take vitamin c tablets. They are good to help boost your immune system.
• Pour lemon juice and honey in to a small cup. Mix it up together. Take various tablespoons of the remedy through out your day. Repeat this process on a daily basis until you feel better.
• Prepare your favorite tea but replace the sugar with honey.
• Prepare a lemon tea by boiling half of the lemon in to two cups of water. Once the tea is prepared, sweetened with either sugar or honey.
• Cook your favorite soup but make sure you add garlic to help fight the microbes.
• Chicken soup will help ease the symptoms and relieve stuffiness.
• Drink lots of fluids. This helps loosen the phlegm.
• The Zinc vitamin can help boost your immune system.
• Take hot showers to alleviate stuffiness.
• Take over the counter drugs such as Tylenol and aspirin to relieve any body aches associated with the cold.
Important: This is not medical advice, the person taking any of this home remedies should ensure that he/she is not allergic to any of the products.
Over the counter medicine should only be use by adults. For children buy drugs appropriate for their age.
If the cold persists more than several days 3-10 then it would be advisable to consult a physician.
Honey is harmful for babies under one year old.
It is advisable to take home remedies at the first sign of the flu. You will get well a lot sooner.
About The Author
Kenia Morales is the publisher of online magazine http://kpatra.com "For Every Aspect of Today's Woman. Visit her site to find a variety of women related issues and topics" click here http://kpatra.com/keniascolumn.htm to read more inspirational articles written by her. keniamorales@kpatra.com.

Sugar Substitutes and You

2005-12-09T15:53:00.000-08:00

Making Life Sweet - Splenda®: Is It Safe Or Not? by: Dr. Janet Starr Hull, PhD., CN
The dangers of aspartame are now widely known, but the risks of using Splenda are not as well documented - yet. Essentially, the sucralose in Splenda does not readily penetrate the blood brain barrier as aspartame does, hence creating neurotoxic havoc at the brain center. But, the research shows sucralose can negatively affect the body in several ways because it IS a chemical substance and NOT natural sugar.
There¹s a sweetener war going on out there a battle for your dollar at the expense of human health. It is important to educate yourself on the facts about Splenda, aspartame (NutraSweet/Equal®), and all the other sugar substitutes available on today¹s sugar-free market. In order to make a decision whether to use chemical sweeteners or not, you must have all the data available, good and bad. But ALL the information is hard for the general public to find. I have spent over fifteen years working with victims of aspartame because the truth and information about the dangers of aspartame has been quietly steered away from public access since the early 1970s.
The same patterns with aspartame are repeating with sucralose (Splenda). The individuals who stand to profit the most have immense influence, and the information about Splenda¹s dangers, just as with aspartame, is being downplayed. Corporate claims of product safety and innocuous research results are identical to those used by The NutraSweet Company. As you learn more information about Splenda and see its advertisements, note the comparisons and repeated patterns between the products, the corporations, and the marketing strategies. Maybe consumers can prevent damage to their health from sucralose sooner than they did with aspartame, which has affected the health and lives of millions of innocent people since it was introduced into the public food supply over twenty years ago. Especially damage to a fetus or a child.
At least you, the consumer, deserve to be informed about the ³other side² of this safety issue so you can make up your own mind whether to use Splenda or not.
This information is based on research from Dr. Janet Starr Hull. For more information on Splenda, see Dr. Hull¹s newly released book Splenda®: Is It Safe Or Not? at http://www.issplendasafe.com.
From Dr. Janet Starr Hull's website Splenda Exposed:
http://www.splendaexposed.com/
About The Author
Dr. Janet Starr Hull publishes a monthly health newsletter covering a wide range of important health topics. To sign up for her free newsletter or to view past articles, visit http://www.janethull.com/newsletter/index.php
An artificial sweetener expert, Dr. Hull is the author of ³Sweet Poison² an expose on the dangers of aspartame, and ³Splenda®: Is It Safe Or Not?², her newest book on the dangers of sucralose found in Splenda. Dr. Hull also features her detoxification program and Detox Kit, proven highly effective in cleansing the body of food chemicals and environmental toxins.

Getting Your Prescriptions from Canada

2005-12-07T10:16:00.000-08:00

Buy Meds From Canadian Companies by: Christopher M. Luck
It is an ever increasing fact that many Americans are turning to their northern neighbors in Canada for more affordable prescription medication in the face of skyrocketing costs within their own country. As men and women everywhere become aware of the possibilities that prescription drugs can have in improving their lives, it becomes a struggle for a great many to choose between buying drugs within their own country, and importing them from Canada.
The price of prescription meds sold in Canada is drastically less virtually without exception when compared to the United States. Companies selling meds in Canada over Internet pharmacies and the like are making huge profits from international sales, and have cultivated the vastly growing monster that is the prescription drug market. Of course, the counterfeit drug boogeyman is often sent out by interested American parties, making it sound like Canadian drugs are made by a couple of toque wearing, beer swilling, Bob and Doug Mackenzie types, but for the vast majority of cases, this just isn’t true.
The question becomes, what do you do if you’re an American and you suffer from an illness which requires you to be dependent on prescription drugs to function in your normal, productive way, and yet you can’t afford the ever increasing rates that are being saddled to nearly all forms of medications. What do you do if you need to pay so much for meds every month that you can’t afford to kept the heat on in your apartment, or you can’t afford to eat as healthy as you should because your shelling out all your cash in the pharmacy instead of in the grocery store? And what if there was a ray of hope just across the border where you could go to pick up the medications you desperately need at a massively reduced price, so that you could get back to spending your money on the basic necessities of life that don’t come in form of pills.
This is not a fable, it’s not a scary bedtime story; it’s real life, and it’s a problem that affects a growing number of honest, hardworking Americans as the years pass by and the prices go up and up. And as the years pass by in one’s own life, the amount of drugs we have to take rises exponentially, which means that the biggest sufferers from the high cost of prescription drugs is usually senior citizens. Seniors will usually have to take some form of drug each day, depending on how healthy they are, and depending on the amount of money they still have coming in. As a person approaches retirement, the money spent on prescription drugs can start to realize itself as a serious financial burden, meaning that often the only chance for a person of advanced age to continue to get the meds they need is to buy them from Canada.
On the other side of the proverbial coin, there is the question of what kind of situation this puts Canada in, as its stock of prescription medication http://www.tahomatimes.com/category/health-reviews is whittled away by foreign buyers who have no other place to turn. Will a depleted stock of meds be a cause of concern for the Canadian patient, who wants to be allowed to continue the same tradition of getting prescription meds as he or she has been used to? Buying meds from Canada is a contentious issue in contentious times, and with argumentative parties on both sides of the border, one that will likely continue to be discussed.
About The Author
Christopher M. Luck has an extensive medical background in dealing with meds from canadian companies and is now offering his free professional http://www.tahomatimes.com/category/health-reviews to the public for the first time ever.

Splenda

2005-12-06T04:55:00.000-08:00

The Hidden Chemicals In Splenda® by: Dr. Janet Starr Hull, PhD., CN
People may think Johnson & Johnson¹s Splenda®, made from sucralose, has "come to the rescue" as the newest chemical sugar replacement "made from real sugar." People don¹t want to hear that it may be just as dangerous as aspartame, and this "white knight" of sweeteners is no improvement.
Splenda (sucralose) is created in the lab, using a complex process involving dozens of chemicals you and I can barely pronounce - let alone consume. To illustrate the alarming "chemical soup" required to create sucralose, I have listed here the actual process for producing this sweetener. I highlighted the chemicals in bold type for emphasis.
According to the Splenda International Patent A23L001-236 and PEP Review #90-1-4 (July 1991), sucralose is synthesized by this five-step process:
1. sucrose is tritylated with trityl chloride in the presence of dimethylformamide and 4-methylmorpholine and the tritylated sucrose is then acetylated with acetic anhydride,
2. the resulting TRISPA (6,1',6'-tri-O-trityl-penta-O-acetylsucrose) is chlorinated with hydrogen chloride in the presence of toluene,
3. the resulting 4-PAS (sucrose 2,3,4,3',4'-pentaacetate) is heated in the presence of methyl isobutyl ketone and acetic acid,
4. the resulting 6-PAS (sucrose 2,3,6,3',4'-pentaacetate) is chlorinated with thionyl chloride in the presence of toluene and benzyltriethylammonium chloride, and
5. the resulting TOSPA (sucralose pentaacetate) is treated with methanol (wood alcohol, a poison) in the presence of sodium methoxide to produce sucralose.
The Splenda marketers stress that sucralose is "made from sugar but is derived from this sugar through a process that selectively substitutes three atoms of chlorine for three hydrogen-oxygen groups on the sucrose molecule." While this is true, it is a deceptively simple description, implying that sucralose is just a benign sugar with a touch of chlorine, and thereby, safe for consumption.
So sucralose becomes a "low-calorie" sugar with a complicated process that results in Splenda¹s chemical formula: 1,6-dichloro-1, 6-dideoxy-BETA-D-fructofuranosyl-4-chloro-4-deoxy-alpha-D-galactopyranoside.
The FDA states in their Final Report on Splenda that sucralose is "produced at an approximate purity of ninety-eight percent." The other two percent does not have to be reported to the FDA, nor listed as added ingredients. So what¹s in the other two percent? The chemicals used to synthesize sucralose in the five-step process:
1. Acetone 2. Acetic acid 3. Acetyl alcohol 4. Acetic anhydride 5. Ammonium chloride 6. Benzene 7. Chlorinated sulfates 8. Ethyl alcohol 9. Isobutyl ketones 10. Formaldehyde 11. Hydrogen chloride 12. Lithium chloride 13. Methanol 14. Sodium methoxide 15. Sulfuryl chloride 16. Trityl chloride 17. Toluene 18. Thionyl chloride
Now you can see why I do not recommend sucralose for pregnancy or for children, especially after reading this list.
It¹s time to admit that there is no free ticket to eating all the sugar-free products you desire without paying the high price of harming your body in the long run. Laboratory chemicals are not the answer.
From Dr. Janet Starr Hull's website Splenda Exposed: http://www.splendaexposed.com/
This information is based on research from Dr. Janet Starr Hull. For more information on Splenda, see Dr. Hull¹s newly released book Splenda®: Is It Safe Or Not? at http://www.issplendasafe.com/.
About The Author
Dr. Janet Starr Hull publishes a monthly health newsletter covering a wide range of important health topics. To sign up for her free newsletter or to view past articles, visit http://www.janethull.com/newsletter/index.php
An artificial sweetener expert, Dr. Hull is the author of "Sweet Poison" an expose on the dangers of aspartame, and "Splenda®: Is It Safe Or Not?", her newest book on the dangers of sucralose found in Splenda. Dr. Hull also features her detoxification program and Detox Kit, proven highly effective in cleansing the body of food chemicals and environmental toxins.

Anti-Oxidants

2005-12-05T10:18:00.000-08:00

Antioxidants - Your Body's Garbage Collector by: Jim Allen
Are you making the mistake of not eating enough antioxidants in your diet? I mean really, what is the harm? What, that is, aside from early aging, heart disease, cancer, and a host of other illnesses.
As someone who is concerned about your health, you should be very much aware of the foods you put into your body. But how many of us actually are?
If your health strategy is simply to eat what you want and hope for the best, you may be planting the seeds of your own future illnesses.
Antioxidants help to fight free radicals. But what are free radicals and why are they so harmful to your body? And why does your body need protection against them?
A free radical is a molecule with an unpaired electron. Because it has a free electron, it is highly reactive and very susceptible to oxidation.
Just think of how an exposed apple or potato turns brown when left uncovered. This is caused by oxidation. Well, this is what free radicals are doing to the inside of your body.
Free radicals are not useful as cells to the body. Instead, they steal nutrients from healthy cells - starving them. When healthy cells starve, they deteriorate, and in the process, weaken the body's immune defenses. This is why your body needs to rid itself of them as soon as possible.
Free radicals occur in our bodies every minute of the day. But environment has an effect also. The more you are in contact with toxic environments such as cigarette smoke, radioactivity, smog, pollution, and so on, the more free radicals your body will absorb.
So how can you slow the free radical onslaught against your body? The key is antioxidants.
Normally, a healthy body full of antioxidants, is capable of handling free radicals easily. But if your body is under physical or mental stress, your body's natural defense system may simply not have enough antioxidants available to fight the free radicals.
Antioxidants are believed to help protect the body from free-radical damage by interacting with free radicals in the body and short circuiting their harmful actions. They're scavengers, or garbage collectors. They help to rid your blood vessels and cells of radical cells that would harm you.
Clearly, with all the evidence so far, no reasonable person could ignore the wealth of evidence pointing to the importance of antioxidants.
Although, not conclusive, high antioxidants levels have lent to conclusions that they can slow aging, prevent heart attacks and strokes,
The best way to ensure that your body is loaded with enough antioxidants is to eat the recommended five to eight serving of fruits and vegetables a day. Especially, those with high levels of vitamins E, A, and C.
But, really, how many of us do that? The only people I know doing that are hard core vegetarians.
Therefore, even though, it may not be the best choice, you should seriously consider making nutrient supplements a part of your every day dietary routine.
Taking vitamins or supplements daily that contain antioxidants are a good way to maintain cellular health.
About The Author
Jim Allen is a health enthusiast and webmaster of acai-berry-fruit-juice.com.

Eczema and Psoriasis

2005-12-04T12:18:00.000-08:00

Living With the Discomfort of Psoriasis by: Anne Wolski
Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease that is characterised by scaling and inflammation of the skin. It most often occurs on the elbows, knees, other parts of the legs, scalp, lower back, face, palms, and soles of the feet, but they can occur on skin anywhere on the body. The disease may also affect the fingernails, the toenails, and the soft tissues of the genitals and inside the mouth.
Psoriasis occurs when skin cells quickly rise from their origin below the surface of the skin and pile up on the surface before they have a chance to mature. In about one-third of the cases, there is a family history of psoriasis.
Approximately 30 percent of people with psoriasis experience joint inflammation that produces symptoms of arthritis. This condition is called psoriatic arthritis.
My own battle with this condtion began when I was in my early twenties. The first signs were simply a reddening of the elbows and knees. Of course, I took little notice of this. However, it didn't take long before the scaly patches appeared and began to spread to my knuckles, ankles and some small areas on my lower legs. I tried several moisturising lotions but nothing seemed to work. I then sought the advice of my physician who diagnosed my condition as Psoriasis.
So began a lifetime of applying corticosteroid creams and coaltar lotions to the affected areas of my body. This is usually the first type of treatment prescribed for the condition.
At times, I experienced significant physical discomfort. Itching and pain interfered with basic functions, such as sleep. This in turn left me feeling constantly tired and unable to cope with day-to-day chores, thus putting a strain on my family relationships. I began to feel self-conscious about my appearance and had a poor self-image that stemmed from fear of public rejection. Psychological distresses in turn lead to significant depression and social isolation.
I noticed that there were times when my skin worsened, then improveed. I found that several things caused flareups including infections, stress, and changes in climate that dry the skin. Also, certain medicines seemed to trigger an outbreak or worsen the disease.
As the years progressed, so too did the disease. I eventually had psoriasis on my knuckles, elbows, finger joints, knees, lower legs, feet, and even the webbing of my toes. I also had it in my scalp and a large area of my lower back. I was miserable most of the time because of the constant itching and discomfort.
I had tried every treatment that I heard of and had found only minimal relief. By this time, I had virtually given up hope that I would ever lead a normal life without this affliction.
However, a few years ago, a friend convinced me to see a naturopath. I didn’t expect much from him but he surprised me. He advised me to try emu oil, something I hadn’t yet tried. I took his advice and bought a bottle of emu oil capsules which I took religiously. Within weeks, the scaly patches had all but disappeared from my knuckles and lower legs. By a couple of months, I had no outward signs of the disease and, for the first time in many years, I felt comfortable with my appearance. Because I was no longer itching all of the time, my sleep patterns improved and so did my ability to cope with life in general.
I took the full dose for about six months and then started taking just one capsule per day as a maintenance dose. I still take that every day and will do so for the rest of my life.
So, for all of those who suffer from psoriasis or eczema, take my advice. Give the emu oil a try. It certainly improved my quality of life and I believe that the advice given to me by that naturopath is the best advice I was ever given.
Psoriasis is an incurable disease and, once you have it, you will always have it. The point is that you don’t have to let it rule your life. You can live relatively free of this condition just by taking that one step.
Copyright 2005 Anne Wolski
About The Author
Anne Wolski has worked within the health and welfare industry for more than 30 years. Go to http://www.magnetic-health-online.com to see many wonderful health articles, many of them written by doctors and others who have been involved in the health industry for many years.

Tamiflu and You

2005-12-01T16:19:00.000-08:00

Roche Tamiflu: The Ultimate Weapon for the Treatment of Influenza by: Shane Julian
The onset of winter brings with it the danger of influenza or flu, the disease is gradually turning out to be a perilous epidemic and leaves the patient in vulnerable position. The phenomenal rise in people suffering from flu is also a matter of concern for experts.
Defining Influenza or Flu : Commonly occurring in winters Influenza or flu is a viral infection of the nose, throat, bronchial tubes and lungs. There are two main types of mutating virus: A and B. Type A virus tends to cause more severe illness than type B. Influenza affects people of all age groups but it is most Anyone can get influenza, but it is most serious in elderly, in people with chronic underlying illnesses such as cancer, emphysema or diabetes or in those with weakened immune systems. The worst part of the disorder is its contagiousness; the disorder is highly transmittable, even a slight contact with droplets from the nose and throat of an infected person during coughing and sneezing is enough to get prone to the disorder.
Avian Flu and its Human transmission : Widely known as bird Flu, Avian influenza is an infectious disease of birds caused by type A strains of the influenza virus. The influence of Avian Flu viruses is not common in species except for birds and pigs but the incident occurring in Hongkong in 1997 was a setback. The H5N1 virus affected 18 people out of which 6 died. H5N1 is of particular concern for several reasons. H5N1 mutates rapidly and has a documented propensity to acquire genes from viruses infecting other animal species. Its ability to cause severe disease in humans has now been acknowledged on two occasions. Studies reveal that isolates from this virus have a high pathogenicity and can cause severe disease in humans.
Is Tamiflu a Savior?
Approved by the FDA on October 27, 1999 Roche’s Tamiflu (Oseltamivir Phosphate) is a medicine to treat flu. Belonging to a group of medicines called Neuraminidase Inhibitors these medications attack the influenza virus and prevent it from spreading inside your body. Tamiflu is highly effectual in treating adults, adolescents, and pediatric patients 1year of age and older with the flu whose flu symptoms started within the last day or two. It is also handy in reducing the chance of getting the flu in people age 13 and older who have a higher chance of getting the flu because they spend time with someone who has the flu. Tamiflu can also reduce the chance of getting the flu if there is a flu outbreak in the community
Why Tamiflu?
The fact that makes Tamiflu the best medication available against influenza is that it is anti-viral. Even antibiotics can kill bacteria but they are not effective against viral infection and since flu is a viral infection it deserves treatment through an anti-viral medication, which is Tamiflu. The product (Tamiflu) is a Neuraminidase Inhibitors and treats the cause of influenza infection by inhibiting the critical neuraminidase protein on the surface of the virus. Buy Tamiflu and rid your self from the dangerous consequences of Flu. Others common medications available for flu are Amantadine and Rimantadine.
About The Author
Shane Julian is an associated editor to the website www.checkflu.com, an Roche Tamiflu Online site, is committed to provide visitors with complete information on Roche Tamiflu, Treatment of Influenza, Tamiflu, Influenza, Avian Influenza, H5N1 Virus, Human Transmission, Bird Flu, Mutating Virus, Neuraminidase Inhibitors, Oseltamivir Phosphate, Treatment of Flu, Types of Influenza virus and other related topics. Your feedback & comments will be highly appreciated at shane.julian@gmail.com.

Health and Your Attitude

2005-11-28T09:00:00.000-08:00

You Are What You Feel by: Mary Desaulniers
When Wordsworth described the Romantic mind as an ”Orphean lyre” played upon by the wind, he used an image that struck a chord in the Romantic Imagination, an image that unleashed a century of political, literary and social rebellion.
Why did the image of the lyre speak so dramatically to the people 300 years ago? Can we see in our current research on emotions and the body concrete evidence that what was once a poetic metaphor is an actual physiological truth?
By calling the mind a lyre played upon by the wind, Wordsworth made a bold departure from Descartes whose assertion,”I think, therefore I am” completely dismissed the importance of the body in the psychological and intellectual scheme of things. This Mind versus Body dualism haunted Western Imagination until the Romantics made an impassioned claim for the importance of breath, inspiration and feelings in language and poetry. “Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings,” wrote Wordsworth. And in claiming a place for feelings, Wordsworth made an equally bold claim for the disconnected, the disenchanted and the disgruntled of his social universe; those exiles who inhabit his poetic landscape are reminders of what we have lost: connection with kin, the land and God. And by reclaiming them, he not only restored the importance of feelings, sound and movement to the “body” of poetry, he also called for a more egalitarian and compassionate “body politic” where everyone had a place in the social network of connections.
Thanks to the work of Dr. Candace Pert (Molecules of Emotion: The Science behind BodyMind 1997), we can see now how Wordsworth’s metaphor is played out in our real and actual bodies. Emotions and thoughts do not reside solely in the head; as a matter of fact, the body functions like a vast neural network of reactions to thoughts and feelings. Think of the body as a huge limbic Web where messages are transmitted and received back and forth in an unending chain of interactions.
And the central sources of this transmission are emotions—emotions that release specific neuropeptides that are attached to specific receptive cells (receptors) all over the body. The emotional circuitry of the brain is connected to every organ of the body, says Mona Lisa Schulz M.D. Ph.D in The New Feminine Brain 2005. This means that our emotions create definite and specific changes to the cells of the body. The circuitry works in an interactive manner: chronic moodiness can trigger chemical imbalances that cause depression which in turn increases the body’s chances of developing illness and pain. And illness or pain can also influence the dynamics of the cells to produce deeper and more intense depression. Physical symptoms can have their first cause in the emotional dynamics of the body.
Current research in cell biology suggests that each cell has the ability to change its constitution and program according to its response to the external environment. Like a lyre that is played upon by the wind, our cells are altered by the waves of feelings and emotions that move through our bodies, influencing our perceptions and experiences of the world.
Such a fluid and porous connection between mind and body suggests that the material nature of our body ( and indeed of the world) can be seriously questioned. To what extent are our bodies solid? To what extent can our own receptivity alter our experiences of the world? To what extent can we, by switching our perception and feelings, change the course of events in our lives? To what extent would this Brave New World of ours be a matter of survival—survival of the most malleable and most porous?
Perhaps a look at some of the documented physiological reactions to negative emotions can persuade us of the direction we need to take with our thoughts and feelings.
Negative emotions like fear, anger, sadness can bring about Fatigue, Apathy, Shortness of breath, Insomnia, Depression,Dysfunction of the immune system, Increased susceptibility to infections, Autoimmune disorders, Cancer.
Positive emotions like love and joy can bring about Increased body temperature, Feeling of strength in the body or Empowerment, Enhanced immune system, Change in appetite, Improved attention, learning and memory, Increased sense of well-being.
Anger, sadness, fear, hatred all release neuropeptides that disrupt the release of natural opiates like endorphins and serotonin in the body. These natural opiates increase our feelings of well-being. It is clear that the choice is ours: the choice not only to think positively but to choose actions that elicit positive responses in our cells. Our bodies are as fluid as Wordsworth’s lyre and it is incumbent upon us to move in the most effective direction the biochemical make-up of our cells by consciously selecting our emotional reactions to events.
If we are what we eat and what we do, we are even more intensely what we think and what we feel.
Copyright 2005 Mary Desaulniers
About The Author
Mary Desaulniers
A runner for 27 years, retired schoolteacher and writer, Mary is now doing what she has always done--being engaged in what she loves--running, weight training,writing,helping people reclaim their bodies by seeing that weight is just matter that needs to be processed. Nutrition, exercise, positive vision and purposeful engagement are the tools used to turn this matter into creative selves.
You can subscribe to her free newsletter by contacting news@GreatBodyat50.com a body well-nourished is a mind well-served~ http://www.GreatBodyat50.com

Lack of Sunlight and SAD

2005-11-27T13:50:00.000-08:00

Seasonal Affective Disorder and Tanning Salons by: Mimi Richardson
With the arrival of the cold season, besides cold-driven nuisance, some persons experience drawbacks regarding the general state, lack of energy and depression of unknown origin. It was scientifically ascertained that the lack of light favors the production of melatonin by the pineal gland, a hormone inducing sleep. That is why, during the cold seasons when days are shorter and the sunlight is scarce, we often feel sleepy or drowsy. Also, even during spring and summer, if the tendency is to keep most of the time indoors at home or at the office, the effect may be similar, though not as severe.
Well, if drowsiness were the only impact generated by season changes, things would be easier to solve (with a little coffee maybe!). The problem is that melatonin secretion is synchronized with the production of a neurotransmitter, serotonin, which is involved in several physiological processes such as temperature, blood-pressure regulation and in neuropsychological functions such as appetite, memory and mood. The two do not work together at the same time. When melatonin is secreted, serotonin production is inhibited. Lack of serotonin causes disorders such as chronic fatigue syndrome and reflects its effects on mood also, triggering depression in some persons.
Melatonin is active at night and serotonin is active in the daytime. Also, there is the age factor that contributes to the balance of the two chemicals: the secretion of melatonin decreases with age. There has been established that the link between serotonin and melatonin along with their dependence on the body clock may explain the depression experienced by the people suffering from the disorder called Seasonal Affective Disorder - SAD. Depression, sleep problems, weight gain, anxiety, joint pain, irritability, stress, headaches are some of the symptoms that may appear when we suffer from SAD.
The problem is primarily caused by the lack of sunlight. It has been scientifically proven that sunlight favors increase in serotonin levels and favors vitamin D accumulation. Besides having anti-osteoporotic, immunomodulatory, anticarcinogenic, antipsoriatic, antioxidant properties, vitamin D is also a mood-modulator.
UV rays exposure favors vitamin D synthesis in the skin. That is why persons who go to tanning salons have noticed mood improvement and keep the habit in order to maintain the state of well-being. However, it is common knowledge that the effects of the UV exposure are not always the most desirable ones. If going to tanning salons becomes a habit, then recurrent, prolonged UV exposure may result in consequences such as premature skin aging and eventually skin cancer.
Light therapy represents a way to treat SAD. Light operates on the body in two ways: through skin impact or by entering your eyes. Only UV light has effects on the skin, while the light that has effects by entering your eyes needs not be UV, it just has to be bright. Its energizing effect comes from the fact that it stimulates the production of serotonin. The simplest way to get enough bright light is to spend an hour a day or more outdoors, where the light levels range from 1,000 to 50,000 lux or more, compared to room lighting, which is about 50-200 lux.
If your schedule or the weather does not permit it, an alternative is to purchase a light therapy device. For optimum effects, the light source either has to be very bright - 5,000 lux or more - or it has to be in a particular spectrum - around 460 nanometers, which is in the blue range. According to new research, blue range light will provide benefits even if at a dimmer level. Most companies producing light bulbs make full spectrum lights that may successfully replace sunlight.
Yet, there are side effects that bright artificial light may induce, namely it may interfere with sleep (especially when exposure is made in the evening hours) or even trigger in some people a mania - condition called "bipolar disorder" (known as manic depression).
The safest remains the natural outdoor light, on condition that UV protection is used.
About The Author
Mimi Richardson show you how to get the most natural glowing tan the safe way at http://www.SunlessTanning.ws where you'll find a sunless tanning guide with product reviews, advice and sunless tanning tips.

How to Reduce Stress

2005-11-26T07:35:00.000-08:00

Stress and Exercise by: Gavin Walsh
HOW IT WORKS
People who exercise regularly will tell you they feel better. Some will say it’s because chemicals called neurotransmitters, produced in the brain, are stimulated during exercise. Since it’s believed that neurotransmitters mediate our moods and emotions, they can make us feel better and less stressed.
While there’s no scientific evidence to conclusively support the neurotransmitter theory, there is plenty to show that exercise provides stress-relieving benefits.
FOUR WAYS EXERCISE CONTROLS STRESS
Exercise can help you feel less anxious. Exercise is being prescribed in clinical settings to help treat nervous tension. Following a session of exercise, clinicians have measured a decrease in electrical activity of tensed muscles. People have been less jittery and hyperactive after an exercise session.
Exercise can relax you. One exercise session generates 90 to 120 minutes of relaxation response. Some people call this post-exercise euphoria or endorphin response. We now know that many neurotransmitters, not just endorphins, are involved. The important thing though is not what they’re called, but what they do: They improve your mood and leave you relaxed.
Exercise can make you feel better about yourself. Think about those times when you’ve been physically active. Haven’t you felt better about yourself? That feeling of self-worth contributes to stress relief.
Exercise can make you eat better. People who exercise regularly tend to eat more nutritious food. And it’s no secret that good nutrition helps your body manage stress better.
IT’S TIME TO GET STARTED. Now that you know exercise can make a big difference in controlling stress, make some time for regular physical activity. We’ll help you get started by listing three activities you can choose from:
1 Aerobic activity. All it takes is 20 minutes’ worth, six to seven days a week.
Twenty minutes won’t carve a big chunk out of your day, but it will improve your ability to control stress significantly.
2 Yoga. In yoga or yoga-type activities, your mind relaxes progressively as your body increases its amount of muscular work. Recent studies have shown that when large muscle groups repeatedly contract and relax, the brain receives a signal to release specific neurotransmitters, which in turn make you feel relaxed and more alert.
3 Recreational sports. Play tennis, racquetball, volleyball or squash. These
EXERCISES CAN HELP CONTROL STRESS games require the kind of vigorous activity that rids your body of stress-causing adrenaline and other hormones.
NOT JUST ANY EXERCISE WILL DO Don’t try exercising in your office. Outdoors or away from the office is the best place to find a stress-free environment. Even a corporate fitness centre can have too many work-related thoughts for some people.
Stay away from overcrowded classes. If you work surrounded by people, a big exercise class may be counterproductive. Solo exercise may be more relaxing for you. If, however, you work alone, you may enjoy the social benefit of exercising in a group. A lot depends on your personality and what causes stress for you.
Don’t skip a chance to exercise. Take a break every 90 minutes and you’ll be doing yourself a favour. Ninety-minute intervals are a natural work-break period. And four 10- minute exercise breaks at this time will burn about as many calories as a solid 40- minute session. Work-break exercises can be as simple as walking or climbing stairs, stretching or doing callisthenics. Controlling stress comes down to making the time to exercise.
About The Author
Gavin Walsh is a Fitness Expert based in London, UK. You can contact him through www.gavinwalsh.co.uk
gavin@gavinwalsh.co.uk

Alzheimers Disease

2005-11-25T11:44:00.000-08:00

Alzheimer’s Disease, The Horrific Stealer by: Dave Robinson
Alzheimer’s disease is a disease that can virtually steal away the memory and the abilities of innocent people. It is tragic when it happens and, unfortunately, it happens to many people each year. Are their cures? Is there hope for individuals who are faced with the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease? Let us take a closer look at it and see just what it is and why it is such a horrific disease to have.
What Is Alzheimer’s Disease?
Alzheimer’s is a disease of dementia. It is the most common form of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease affects the parts of the brain that control such everyday activities as thoughts, memory and language. Unfortunately, scientists and doctor’s do not know what is the actual cause of Alzheimer’s disease. They do not yet understand why it happens or who it will strike. What they believe is that a combination of factors contributes to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
The largest risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease is in fact age. People who are over the age of 65 double their chances of getting Alzheimer’s disease every five years. It is thought that Alzheimer’s disease can be related at least somewhat to genetics. There is actually a type of Alzheimer’s, familial, that strikes individuals between the ages of 30 and 60 that is inherited. But, in the common form of the disease, there is no direct link that is that obvious.
What Are The Symptoms?
There are a number of symptoms that can be the first signs of this paralyzing disease. The first symptoms, though, are not obvious. Mild forgetfulness is often the first symptom to be seen. Then, it becomes more obvious when people begin to have trouble remembering more recent activities and events. Or, they may have more trouble remembering familiar people, places or things. As it progresses, symptoms of Alzheimer’s worsen to where individuals can no longer solve simple math problems. At this stage, people may not realize that they have anything wrong with them. Stress, over tiredness or just plan ‘old age’ may be blamed.
Symptoms become more serious though. As simple tasks become harder and harder to do, individuals realize there may be a problem and seek medical advice. Things like not remembering how to brush your teeth or how to tie a shoe become increasingly more difficult. They may not be able to think clearly, may become anxious or even aggressive. Sometimes, individuals will wander. Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s disease will leave patients needing complete care.
The Outlook For An Alzheimer’s Disease Patient
Alzheimer’s disease is a disease that affects each and every person differently. It begins slowly and can take years to worsen in some people. In others, it is much faster. The end result is severe brain damage. The average Alzheimer’s disease patient will live between eight and ten years from the time they are diagnosed. Others can live up to twenty years.
There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Some drugs that are used early on in the treatment of patients can slow down the progression of the disease in some patients. Some medications are used to treat the symptoms of the disease which can help to make patients more comfortable. On the horizon are many new drugs and treatment plans, including stem cell research that can benefit individuals who have Alzheimer’s disease.
About The Author
Dave Robinson
For more information on Alzheimer's Disease visit our site: http://www.livingright.info. You'll also find other great health related information.

Vitamins and Supplements Online Health Shop including Online Rx Links!

Kids and Vitamins

2005-11-18T15:50:00.000-08:00

Children’s Vitamins by: Raquel Hunter
Many parents are concerned that their children do not consume the proper foods they need to stay strong and healthy. The truth is children can be picky eaters. Some children will go through stages where they will refuse to eat anything other than a favorite food, while other children will try new foods, but do not take to them.
Children’s vitamins are available to parents who want to ensure their children are receiving the necessary nutrients he or she needs to grow strong and healthy. Even parents who have children who eat well are supplementing their children’s diet with vitamins. The fact is the earth’s soil is rapidly being depleted of nutrients, and the rigors of food processing also leaves many foods deficient in vitamins and minerals.
Children’s vitamins are packaged in such a way that they are attractive to children. Most children’s vitamins come in colorful and fun shapes. Many manufacturers of children’s vitamins are packaging their vitamins in lollipop, gum ball and gummy bear varieties. Because these vitamins resemble candy, it is important that you keep them away from a child’s reach and that you monitor their intake. If you find your child has taken extra vitamins, you should consult their pediatrician or your local poison control center.
There are instances when a pediatrician will prescribe vitamins for a child. If a child has a vitamin deficiency, does not have access to fluoridated water, or has anemia or other illness or disease, vitamin supplements may be prescribed for a child. However, in general, many pediatricians believe that children do not need vitamin supplements if they are being fed properly. They feel that children can receive all the vitamins and minerals they need if they eat according to the Food Pyramid. Consult with your child’s pediatrician before starting them on a vitamin.
Vitamins are supplements and not replacements. Children’s vitamin supplements should never be looked upon as a replacement for healthy eating. Encourage your child to eat the foods they need, and do things to make nutrition fun and flavorful for them. For instance, letting children add grated cheese to their vegetables will make some children more interested in eating them. Allowing a child to drink calcium fortified orange juice over milk works well for a child who does not like milk. Let your child participate in making a vegetable pizza, or let them pick out fruit at a market and place it in their own special area at home. All of these tips can go a long way in helping a picky eaters overcome their fears so they consume the vitamins they need.
About The Author
Raquel Hunter is a writer for MamasHealth.com. http://www.MamasHealth.com is a website aimed at providing clear, simple, easy to understand information about health.

My kids said to go online for Christmas toys this year.

Most of the time I shop online for electronics such as audio, tvs, cell phones, wireless digital cameras and pdas.

Holiday Dieting

2005-11-17T09:10:00.000-08:00

Holiday Diet And Weight Loss Tips by: Joey Dweck
The approaching holidays are a nightmare for anyone engaged in a weight loss or diet regimen and with very good reason. With all of the temptations that seem to lurk around every corner, office get-together and holiday party; it can be easy for even the most determined dieters to get sidetracked and lose sight of their weight loss goals. This year; however, by giving your choices and portions a little carefully aimed attention you can avoid destroying all the hard work you have put into your diet the rest of the year.
One of the biggest challenges for many dieters during the holiday season is avoiding the hectic round of get-togethers and parties that almost always come hand in hand with the holidays. The good news about such events; however, is that many of them tend to be buffet and pot-luck types of affairs; which gives you numerous options that can help you to stick to your diet plans. While buffet tables are typically laden with heavy casseroles and fatty appetizers, you can usually find at least one platter of fresh vegetables served with a nice low-fat dip. Also, opt for fresh fruits instead of the abundance of baked desserts that are typically offered. Instead of stocking your plate up with diet dangerous foods, choose steamed vegetables and healthy grains such as wild rice and wheat bread. Opting for white meat instead of dark meat can also help you to stay on the straight and narrow, by avoiding additional calories.
Whenever possible, limit the amount of alcohol based beverages that you consume. Just a few alcoholic beverages contain a surprising amount of calories; not to mention the fact that they only serve to increase the appetite of most people. Choose a light bear, wine spritzer or carbonated flavored water instead.
When it’s your turn to prepare the mound of requisite holiday food, remember that there are several tricks you can employ in order to stay true to your diet goals and keep family and friends pleased at the same time. One way to do this is by substituting evaporated skim milk for regular milk or cream in your holiday recipes. This will help to tremendously cut down on the amount of fat and calories included in your dishes without sacrificing taste. Unsweetened applesauce makes a great substitute for calorie laden oil while egg substitute can easily replace the requirement for eggs in most recipes without any noticeable change to the taste.
Finally, one of the best ways that you can avoid overindulging this holiday season is to take it slow and easy. Remember that the entire point of this time of year is to get together with friends and family members; many of which you might not see for months to come. Focus on the fun and conversation instead of rushing through a heavy meal and you’ll find that not only did you enjoy this year more, but that you made it through with your diet intact.
About The Author
Joey Dweck is the Founder & CEO of WeightLossBuddy.com a website committed to 24/7/365 support, expert advice, and helping people find a buddy(s) who will support their effort to lose weight, and change to a healthier lifestyle. And it's all Free. Sign up for the Free 4-Part E-Course “Losing For Good” http://www.weightlossbuddy.com.

Avoiding the Bird Flu

2005-11-16T21:15:00.000-08:00

As I was traveling to the mall the other day a guy shot me a bird. Later I realized he could have given me the bird flu..so I think I will shop online and avoid all illness because online you can find clothes, electronics, books, music, christmas gifts, software, jewelry, shoes and
say flu you to the crowded malls!

Free Perfume

2005-10-31T08:54:00.000-08:00

PerfumeNStuff has a new perfume to give away for the Month of November 2005: Win a Full Size Bottle of CURVE For Women By LIZ CLAIBORNE! LIZ CLAIBORNE designed CURVE in 1996. Its fragrant nature explores essences of citrus, freesia and lily. Blended with notes of sandalwood, moss and vetiver, CURVE is a casual type of fragrance. We only require you to enter your email address, NOTHING else!
Enter to Win Perfume N Stuff!
Jewelry
Fabulous Gifting Ideas at Emitations Holiday Gift Center.

Halloween

2005-10-28T13:16:00.000-07:00

Watch Your Weight This Halloween by: Tracie Johanson
For those of us who are looking for quick weight loss, Halloween can be a scary experience! While just one night of indulgence in Halloween candy might not be enough to break your belt, dipping into the leftover stockpile for weeks on end will surely derail your diet or weight loss program.
In 1921, in Anoka, MN, the United States enjoyed our first recorded instance of a Halloween celebration. Annual candy consumption has climbed almost unabated since then. According to the Census Bureau, Americans eat nearly a half-pound of candy each week for an average of 25 pounds of candy a year. Candy is big business, with the United States boasting 1,040 manufacturing establishments producing chocolate and cocoa products in 2001. These establishments employed 45,913 people and shipped $12 billion worth of goods that year. Another 616 U.S. establishments manufactured non-chocolate confectionery products in 2001. These establishments employed 26,400 people and shipped $7 billion worth of goods that year (source: census.gov).
The overwhelming popularity of the South Beach Diet, Zone Diet, and Atkins Diet has prompted low-carb weight watchers to eat less candy. Overall consumption has actually declined over the last few years; as recently as 1997 the average annual candy consumption was a sky-high 27 pounds.
-> The Problem:
Most people on a diet plan or weight control program look at candy as little brightly-colored fat bombs. That assessment isn’t far off the mark, either, with most candy packing little nutritional value and a ton of calories.
Some of the more popular Halloween candy has too many calories to be included in any healthy diet:
Twizzlers 1 treat size pkg.= 45 calories
Almond Joy 1 snack size bar = 90 calories
Milk Duds 1 treat size box = 40 calories
Butterfinger 1 snack size bar = 100 calories
Milky Way 1 snack size bar = 90 calories
SweetTarts 1 treat size pkg. = 50 calories
1 Tootsie Pop 1 pop = 60 calories
1 Tootsie Roll 1 small roll = 13 calories
Note: Calorie content is based on 1 serving of Halloween ‘snack’ or ‘fun’ size packages, not full size servings found in the candy aisle.
While just a few pieces of Halloween candy won’t obliterate your diet program or weight loss plan, it’s the temptation to keep having ‘just one more’ that will pack on the pounds. It only takes nine small fun-size candy bars to put on a quarter-pound of fat. Besides candy, Halloween threatens many other high-calorie treats like Caramel apples (243 calories), 8-oz. apple cider and a cake donut (319 calories), or a slice of pumpkin pie (240 calories).
-> The Solution:
Is it possible to cope with the menace of Halloween candy without taking all the fun out of the holiday? Absolutely! If you’re looking for fast weight loss, and don’t want Halloween to bring your fat loss to a screeching halt, consider these healthy Halloween tips:
Walk with your kids while they’re trick-or-treating. A 165-lb. woman strolling along (walking slowly) for one hour will burn approximately 150 calories (source: caloriesperhour.com).
Out of sight, out of mind. When the kids have unloaded their stash, store it in an airtight container and put it in the cupboard. A bowl full of candy on the counter is an open invitation to have ‘just one’, but a stockpile you can’t see is less tempting.
If you’re going to give out candy to trick-or-treaters on Halloween, don’t buy it until October 31st. Having a candy supply in the house before Halloween only entices you to have some early.
If you must buy candy before Halloween, buy a kind you don’t like. Again, this will reduce the temptation for you to dig in.
Hosting a Halloween party? Supply vegetables, healthy dips, and low fat snacking alternatives instead of candy.
Set a Halloween candy deadline by which all Halloween candy must be either consumed (by the kids) or it will be thrown away. Saving that candy for weeks, or even months, only keeps temptation in the house.
Put more emphasis on dressing up in a great costume, and less on candy. This is especially true for the kids, who often view Halloween as a candy free-for-all dream come true.
By hosting a party on Halloween night, you can control the menu and have fun with friends at the same time.
Focus on Halloween activities other than eating. There are lots of options available, from hayrides to haunted houses to bonfires.
Candy has a long shelf life, and there’s no reason why you couldn’t put some of it in airtight bags and store it in the freezer. Allow the kids to take out one bag every two weeks until it’s gone. This tactic will at least space out the temptation and minimize candy binge eating.
Of course, the absolute best way to avoid weight gain, and perhaps even achieve some easy weight loss, during the Halloween season is to bump up the amount of exercise you’re getting. There’s no better way to lose weight fast than a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Make sure the workout you’re doing includes both aerobic and resistance training, as it is critical to get both types of exercise to maximize weight loss. It’s also important to exercise for at least thirty minutes, three times per week, which is the most recent recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (source: cdc.gov).
A fantastic strategy is to find the best weight loss program for you now, before Halloween hits. The reason is that the last three months of the year are packed with holidays, special dinners and seasonal treats. Starting with Halloween candy and ending with Christmas fudge, many people find that they’re packing on more pounds during this period than they do any other time of year.
Joining a gym is an excellent way to combat Halloween and holiday weight gain. Finding a good gym to join now will not only help keep off those holiday pounds, but will even make you slimmer by New Years.
For more free weight loss information and weight loss tips, go to www.letspickupthepace.com and click on the ‘Articles’ link.
* Copyright 2005 Pick Up The Pace. Permission is not required for the distribution of Pick Up The Pace articles as long as they are used in their entirety, are properly credited to Pick Up The Pace, and are accompanied by our website link: www.letspickupthepace.com.
* The information in this article and on this site is for general reference purposes only and not intended to address specific medical conditions. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice or a medical exam. Prior to participating in any exercise program or activity, you should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional. No information in this article or on www.letspickupthepace.com should be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition.
About The Author
Tracie Johanson is the founder of Pick Up The Pace, a 30-minute exercise studio for women, focusing on fitness, health and nutrition for maximum weight loss. Please visit www.letspickupthepace.com for more information.
info@letspickupthepace.com

Sports, Fitness and Golf

2005-10-15T16:28:00.000-07:00

If you're into NFL, Golf or just fitness in general, you should read these articles:
Golf Swing Problem And How To Fix It by: Mike Pedersen, CPT Click Here
Fitness: A State of Being by: Frederic Madore Click Here
Pro Football’s NFL – The Largest American Pro Football League Has Significant Rivalries by: Larry Woods Click Here

Tobacco Company Lawsuit

2005-10-08T13:29:00.000-07:00

I am going to sue my cigarette company. It says on the side of every pack that they will kill me, but they haven't done it yet. Thankfully, all of my friends have offered to join me in a class action suit against them.

Three interesting mental health articles

2005-09-28T14:18:00.000-07:00

I found three interesting articles that I thought you might like. The first article is on positive thinking and its effects on you. The second article is on meditation for the beginner, basically a relaxation technique. Finally, the third article is on avoiding depression, sort of a pre-emptive strike discussion.

Please Help

2005-09-03T11:50:00.000-07:00

Please help the victims of Hurricane Katrina if you can. If you have no money, like me, please cut and paste my charity links to your website or blog. Also, give a link to my site as well if you can. Thank you and may God Bless all.

Charities

2005-09-01T12:39:00.000-07:00

Charity Links
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GUIDESTAR - Charities research site
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PROJECT HOPE
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SAVE THE CHILDREN
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THE RED CROSS
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DIRECT RELIEF
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CARE
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AHH-USA
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MERCY CORPS
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The people at GeminiSoftwareSystems wish to express their sympathy for all the victims
of Hurricane Katrina. Guidestar will help you with your research as
you look for the appropriate charity for you.

Hurricane Katrina

2005-08-30T10:47:00.000-07:00

If you would like to give to the Red Cross or other charities for the hurricane Katrina relief effort, just follow this link: Charities .

Getting Enough Protein

2005-08-11T04:29:00.000-07:00

Protein is a daily requirement for your body. Protein intake should be increased under certain conditions such as pregnancy, recouperation from illness, or when muscle is broken down (soreness) and especially in growing children. In general, men require a higher intake of protein than women.

FDA Watch

2005-08-10T20:21:00.000-07:00

ACETAMENOPHEN and the FDA
According to and article in May 2004 Life Extension Magazine the FDA has overlooked the dangers of
acetameniphen for years. Besides the already known liver toxicity, kidney damage and cataracts are also
a side effect of long term usage. See more on this and other topics in the book Disease and Prevention from
the writers of Life Extension Magazine.

Reverse on Stem Cell Research

2005-08-09T07:34:00.000-07:00

Senator Frist reversed position on stem cell research saying that he believes it should be allowed to go forward. From The Daily Show: "Frist for President, Different Policies for Different Moments."

Chronic Inflammation

2005-08-08T17:38:00.000-07:00

AGING: Does Chronic Inflammation Play a Role?
Chronic inflammation can be indicative of an underlying illness. Inflammation is the body's immune system
trying to shed a perceived invader. Cox2 inhibitors, such as Vioxx reduce inflammation and where previously
believed to be the best treatment for chronic inflammation. However, Cox2 inhibitors and their side effects
are now be investigated. Drugs such as Vioxx have actually been pulled from pharmacy shelves and are no
longer available.

VirtualeHealth

2005-08-08T12:30:00.000-07:00

Welcome to VirtualeHealth