Thursday, July 2, 2009
Watermelon Juice: A Sweet Treat With Added Health Benefits by: Christine Macguire
Watermelons are available throughout the year and are grown for their fleshy, juicy and sweet fruit. Its natural sweetness makes it a delicious and refreshing dessert especially in hot climate. Watermelons are perfect addition to a salad, salsa or a cool drink. Today there are numerous varieties of watermelon with red, pink, orange or yellow flesh. Watermelon consists of more than 91% of water and nearly 8% sugar.
The sweet and juicy watermelon has lots of nutritional benefits:
· It is fat free.
· It has very low sodium content.
· It is Cholesterol free.
· It is a good source of Vitamins A & C
Recent study on watermelons has revealed that it has numerous potential health benefits. The red variety of watermelon contains high concentrations of Lycopene, an anti-oxidant that helps to reduce the risk of many diseases. Lycopene and beta-carotene are compounds called carotenoids, which are highly colored pigments that help protect plants against damage from sunlight. These antioxidants neutralize the harmful free radicals in the human body. Free radicals in the human body cause great deal of damage by oxidizing cholesterol and making it stick to the blood vessel walls, eventually leading to heart attack or stroke. Lycopene in watermelons get rid of these thereby reducing the risk of other fatal diseases such as asthma attacks, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, colon cancer and other heart diseases.
The American Heart Association has certified watermelon to be one of the constituents of a sensible low saturated fat, low cholesterol diet. Watermelon is grown in many nations and is highly priced in a few. Watermelon is often given as a precious gift in Japan where they call it, Suika. The Japanese wrap it beautifully in a protective covering or cellophane and present it. All parts of watermelon are dibble. The rind is used for making sweet pickles and the seeds can be baked and salted.
Watermelon juice known as Agua Fresca in Mexican and is a delicacy in the country. With more than 50 varieties of watermelon there are varieties of juices in the market with a perfect blend with other additives.
About The Author
Christine Macguire is an expert Internet marketing professional with years of experience in various industries such as: Business, Finance, Real Estate, Web-Design, Health & Medicine and many more.
Url: http://www.sundiacorp.com/
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
FOCUS ON FIBER: How Much is Enough? by: Monique N. Gilbert, B.Sc.
Dietary fiber is a transparent solid complex carbohydrate that is the main part of the cell walls of plants. It has two forms: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber may help lower blood cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. Insoluble fiber provides the bulk needed for proper functioning of the stomach and intestines. It promotes healthy intestinal action and prevents constipation by moving bodily waste through the digestive tract faster, so harmful substances don't have as much contact with the intestinal walls.
Unfortunately, many people are not eating this much fiber, which is causing serious cardio-vascular health concerns. Recently the AHA and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) confirmed that coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, killing more people than any other disease. It causes heart attack and angina (chest pain). A blood clot that goes to the heart is considered a heart attack, but if it goes to the brain it is a stroke. The AHA ranks stoke as the third most fatal disease in America, causing paralysis and brain damage.
Eating a high-fiber diet can significantly lower our risk of heart attack, stroke and colon cancer. A 19-year follow-up study reported in the November 2001 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine indicated that increasing bean and legume intakes may be an important part of a dietary approach to preventing coronary heart disease. Beans and legumes are high in protein and soluble fiber. Another study reported in the January 2002 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology also suggests that increasing our consumption of fiber-rich foods like whole grains, fruits and vegetables, can significantly lower the risk of heart disease. Additionally, results from recent studies at the American Institute of Cancer Research indicate high-fiber protein-rich soy foods, such as textured soy protein (also known as TVP) and tempeh, help in preventing and treating colon cancer.
Whole beans, soybeans and other legumes are excellent sources of fiber. A 1 cup serving of cooked navy beans contains about 19 grams of fiber! Always read the Nutrition Facts label to find out the amount of, and the type of, fiber contained in any particular food. To help you achieve your daily allotment of fiber, here is a list of various foods with their fiber content.
Examples of Dietary Fiber:
1 cup cooked dry beans (navy, pinto, red, pink, black, garbanzo, etc.) = 9-19 grams of fiber
1 cup cooked lima beans = 13 grams of fiber
1 cup cooked peas = 9 grams of fiber
1 cup raisin bran cereal = 8 grams of fiber
1 cup canned pumpkin = 7 grams of fiber
1 cup cooked spinach = 7 grams of fiber
1/2 cup whole wheat flour = 7 grams of fiber
1/2 cup soy tempeh = 7 grams of fiber
1/2 cup soy flour = 6 grams of fiber
1/2 cup edamame (whole green soybeans) = 5 grams of fiber
1 cup cooked broccoli = 5 grams of fiber
6 Brussels sprouts = 5 grams of fiber
1 baked sweet potato = 5 grams of fiber
1 cup cooked brown rice = 4 grams of fiber
1 cup cooked old fashioned rolled oats = 4 grams of fiber
1 medium apple = 4 grams of fiber
1 medium orange = 4 grams of fiber
1 cup carrot strips = 4 grams of fiber
1/2 cup raspberries or blackberries = 4 grams of fiber
1 medium banana = 3 grams of fiber
5 dried plums (prunes) = 3 grams of fiber
1 ounce of nuts (almonds, peanuts, pistachios) = 3 grams of fiber
1 baked potato (russet) = 3 grams of fiber
1/4 cup dry roasted sunflower seeds = 3 grams of fiber
1 medium mango = 3 grams of fiber
1 medium tomato = 2 grams of fiber
1 cup pineapple juice = 2 grams of fiber
1/2 cup blueberries = 2 grams of fiber
1 cup romaine lettuce = 1.5 grams of fiber
1/2 cup tofu = 1 gram of fiber
Monique N. Gilbert, B.Sc. is a Personal Health, Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach; Certified Personal Trainer/Fitness Counselor; Recipe Developer; Freelance Writer and Author. Go to http://www.MoniqueNGilbert.com to learn more about Monique’s coaching.
Copyright © Monique N. Gilbert - All Rights Reserved
References:
** “Legume consumption and risk of coronary heart disease in US men and women: NHANES I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study.” Bazzano, L. A., He, J., Ogden, L. G., Loria, C., Vupputuri, S., Myers, L., Whelton, P. K., Archives of Internal Medicine 2001 Nov 26;161(21):2573-2578.
** “A prospective study of dietary fiber intake and risk of cardiovascular disease among women.” Liu, S., Buring, J. E., Sesso, H. D., Rimm, E. B., Willett, W. C., Manson, J. E., Journal of the American College of Cardiology 2002 Jan 2;39(1):49-56.
** “Virtues of Soy: A Practical Health Guide and Cookbook” by Monique N. Gilbert, Universal Publishers, 2001, pp. 11, 18, 24.
About The Author
Copyright © Monique N. Gilbert - All Rights Reserved
Monique N. Gilbert, B.Sc. has offered guidance in natural health, nutrition, fitness, weight and stress management since 1989. She has received international recognition for helping people improve their well-being, vitality and longevity. Her personal coaching provides the motivation, guidance and support you need to naturally get healthy and fit, lose weight and keep it off, reduce stress and anxiety, strengthen your immune system, increase your energy levels, lower your cholesterol, improve your sleep, and achieve your goals. For more information about Monique’s coaching, visit http://www.MoniqueNGilbert.com
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
A Note To Food Manufacturers... by: D. S. Epperson
As the commonality of quick processed foods increases throughout the world, health problems such as obesity, diabetes and cancer have also become common and inevitable to the point that *”1 in 3 American adults have Insulin Resistance, a pre-diabetic condition”, and this will only be the beginning.
The philosophy behind Functional Food is to create food additives and ingredients that will enhance the bodies health by making manufactured foods more beneficial to the consumer with out losing quality or taste.
It is the intention to not only create additives and ingredients that will benefit todays market but will benefits today's generation as they age.
By using products such as "SugarBlendtm",and "FlourBlendtm,, in drinks, cakes, cookies, candies, breads, pastries, and snacks, today's children will have increased mineral uptake, aiding in the prevention of Osteoporosis as they age, increasing bowel function, reducing the chance of colon cancer and by aiding in the control of blood sugar swings that may cause diabetes later in life. These "Functional" properties are accomplished without side effects that may cause consumers to reject manufactured products. These side effects include sweeteners that cause a laxative effect, gas, bloating, aftertaste and degrading sweetness in high heat. Styrofoam-like textures, no taste, distasteful smell and color in cooking flour substitutes.
We see that parents today are becoming more aware and educated in the direction of nutrition, especially with regards to growing children. If foods are eaten that increase calcium in the bones today, twenty years from now, it is possible that this generation won't suffer from Osteoporosis or Colon Cancer. If foods are eaten today that keep the blood sugar steady and absorb slowly in the gut, not only will the child have protection from disease, but they will have a lessor chance of developing diabetes twenty years from now also.
The main objective of Home Blend Gourmet and others that manufacture functional food is "The Health of Humanity". Manufactures using these products today can influence the health of future generation and secure their markets for tomorrow. We create first rate ingredients and additives by being on the cutting edge of research. The demands of fast paced lives and lifestyles shouldn't cost the health of the human race. We can help food manufactures become more health conscious and competitive with marketing strategies that will put them above the rest of the pack.
Today, the education of the general public on nutrition is vastly brought about through mass media, by informational commercials, through news media, T.V. talk shows, magazine articles and newspaper articles.
High protein, low-carb, low-fat diets have gained popularity through media blitzes on celebrity books, university studies, restaurant menus and nutritional labels. These diet plans have also gained popularity by the prove results, some of the newest diets include Glycemic Indexing, or the blood glucose response to the manufactured products. We check our food formula's for impact to blood sugar response by doing in vivo oral tolerance tests. Each formula is created to not only aid in control of nutritional conditions, but that the side-effects of that formula is beneficial to the human body. We offer In Vivo testing for any of our manufacturing clients that would like to use Glycemic Indexing guidelines for marketing their products. We are South Pacific Health Enterprises, and we license our food formulas only to Home Blend Gourmet.
*AACE, AC of Endo. Conference, 08-25-26, 2003
About The Author
D.S. Epperson is the top formulator for Home Blend Gourmet / South Pacific Health, a leader in the functional food industry in the U.S.. With 20 years of experience in Nutritional Biochemistry, she has written reference books on botanicals and manufacturing of medicines from botanicals, and published articles on health, fitness and foods. She has formulated over 240 formulas and inventions for health, the environment and agricultural uses, and continues to research and study microbial advantages in nutraceuticals and functional foods. For more information or to view the articles that she has written: http://www.sugarblend.com.
online@sugarblend.com
Monday, June 29, 2009
Flax Oil Seed Uses by: Raj Khatri
Latin name: Linum usitatissimum
Other names for Flaxseed include: Flax, Flachs, Grain de Lin, and Lini semen.
Flaxseed oil is an herbal medicine taken by mouth for constipation (difficulty having a bowel movement), irritable bowel, inflammation (swelling and soreness) of the colon, stomach inflammation, and for bowels damaged by the frequent use of laxatives. Flax may be placed on the skin to treat redness and pain. Animal experiments suggest an ability to reduce cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Some researchers think that lignans in the seeds may have cancer-fighting effects.
It is believed that flaxseed oil offers a myriad of health benefits through supplementation. Recent research indicates that flaxseed oil may have the ability to reduced blood pressure, lower level of harmful cholesterol, offer both estrogen-like and anti-estrogenic effects and is being studied for it ability to protect against cancer.
Flaxseed is used throughout the world for food, medicine, and fiber to make clothes, and many other consumer goods products. Historically, flaxseed has been used to treat a number of conditions including heart disease and has been used as an anti-inflammatory agent to treat a number of other conditions as well.
Flaxseed has some estrogen-like effects and also possible anti-estrogenic effects, both of which have been studied for possible protection against certain types of breast and prostate cancers. However, when these effects were tested in several laboratory studies and a few human studies, the results were inconclusive. In some of the studies, flaxseed products appeared to prevent or delay cancer, while in other research the incidence and/or progression of cancer seemed to be increased. Additional studies are underway to assess further the effects of flaxseed and flaxseed oil on breast and prostate cancers and on menopausal symptoms.
More recently, flaxseed has been studied for its potential to prevent kidney damage in individuals who have an autoimmune condition known as systemic lupus erythematous (SLE). Some evidence from animal studies and human case reports supports the use for SLE, but more studies are needed before flaxseed can be recommended for this use.
Special Cautions
When using Flaxseed as a laxative be sure to take it with plenty of water to reduce the risk of an intestinal blockage. When taking it for inflammatory bowel conditions, allow it to swell in water before use.
Special Information If You Are Pregnant or Breastfeeding
No harmful effects are known.
Side Effects: Stop taking your medicine right away and talk to your doctor if you have any of the following side effects. Your medicine may be causing these symptoms which may mean you are allergic to it.
* Breathing problems or tightness in your throat or chest
* Chest pain
* Skin hives, rash, or itchy or swollen skin
FLAXSEED FACTS
Do flaxseed muffins fight breast cancer and prostate cancer? Should we all be eating flaxseeds and using flaxseed oil on our salads? Some people would say yes, and it's true that recent research on the potential health benefits of flax has been promising. But it pays to delve deeper.
The flax plant, an ancient crop, yields the fiber from which linen is woven, as well as seeds and oil. Flaxseed oil also comes in an edible form, sold mostly at health-food stores. Like olive, canola, and most other plant oils, it is highly unsaturated and heart-healthy. And flaxseeds have yet another very interesting component—lingams—which may have anti-cancer properties.
The heart-healthy side of flax
Besides lingams, flaxseeds and their oil are also the best food sources of an essential fatty acid, alpha-linolenic acid. "Essential" means we must consume it, because our bodies cannot manufacture it. Essential fatty acids are important for cell membranes, blood pressure regulation, and other functions. Alpha-lanoline acid is an omega-3, similar to some of the fatty acids in fish oil. Like aspirin, omega-3s may reduce blood clotting, thus lessening the chance of a fatal heart attack. Flaxseeds and their oil may also lower total blood cholesterol, as well as LDL ("bad") cholesterol. But that should come as no big surprise, since any highly unsaturated oil will do that, particularly if substituted for saturated fats. The fiber in flaxseeds may also help against cholesterol, since it is soluble (similar to that in oats).
Several population studies have linked a high intake of alpha-linolenic acid with a reduced risk of heart disease and/or death from heart disease. And a French study, as we reported in 1999, found that a diet relatively rich in alpha-linolenic acid greatly reduced the risk of second heart attacks. (The alpha-linolenic acid in that study did not come from flaxseeds, but from canola-oil margarine.) Besides flaxseeds and ca
About The Author
Raj Khatri
For further information please visit
http://www.flaxseed-oil.com
raaj81@gmail.com
Sunday, June 28, 2009
12 Common Home Remedies for Constipation by: Dr. John Anne i
Constipation is one of the most ordinary digestive disorders. Constipation is most ordinary in children and older people, and affects women more than men.
Constipation is identified when bowel movements are difficult, hard, or painful. Constipation is also a moderately common complaint among children, affecting up to an estimated 10 percent at some point.
Constipation may cause abdominal pain and swelling in some people. Constipation can lead to a build up of toxins, which can cause many health problems. Constipation mostly refers to a reduction in the frequency of bowel motions or increased difficulty passing stools.
Most cases of constipation are due to the less fibre included in diet.
However, some cases of constipation may be due to a severe problem such as colon cancer. Nausea, headache and malaise (general feeling of discomfort) may be linked with constipation.
Most people have at least three bowel movements weekly, but some people have lesser and would not be detected with constipation. Most individuals with constant constipation build up a variety of symptoms, ranging from abdominal pain, rectal discomfort, and abdominal fullness and bloating, nausea, and loss of appetite to a common feeling of malaise.
Complications of Constipation
Difficulties of constipation include hemorrhoids (which are caused by straining to have a bowel movement) and anal fissures (which are tears in the skin around the anus). Causes Constipation occurs when the large intestine sucks up too much water from the stool to make it dry and hard or the bowel walls cannot contract adequately to pass the stool and waste products along fast enough
Diet for Constipation Sufferers
If your constipation is associated to diet, however, simple additions of fiber-rich foods and non-dehydrated fluids are your best way of treatment.
Drink abundance of Purified Water
One of the main causes of constipation is a shortage of hydration. You should drink 6 to 8 glasses of purified water each day to encourage a healthy bowel. Adding lots of water is always superior in the diet for constipation sufferers.
Five servings of all-natural fruits and vegetables each day can develop your bowel
Here is a list of some best Home Remedies for Constipation:
Home Remedies for Constipation
1) Fiber is brilliant for largely intestinal health and for alleviating chronic constipation so try to include fibre in your diet. .
2) 8 ounce of milk should be mixed with about 3 ounces of prune juice in addition to little drops of licorice extract and should be taken in morning to treat constipation as soon as possible. This is simple and effective Home Remedy for Constipation.
3) Drink each morning on an empty stomach, humid water mixed with 1 teaspoon of olive oil and half a lemon juice.
4) One good Home Remedy for Constipation is to Drink lemon juice mixed with warm water two to three times a day.
5) Another remedy is to drink one liter of warm water and walk around for a few minutes instantly after waking up early in the morning.
6) Immerse 10-12 big raisins in a cup of milk and bring to boil, first eat the raisins then drink the milk.
7) Mix 2 tsp husk seed (Isabgol) in 1/2 a cup of hot milk and drink instantly. This is effective Home Remedy for Constipation.
8) Mix 1/4 teaspoon of Epsom salt to 1/2 a glass of water and drink (bitter but wonderful).
9) Mix 1/4 teaspoon dry ginger powder with a pinch of asafoetida and a bit of black salt in a little warm water and sip it. This is simple Home Remedy for Constipation.
10) One or two teaspoons of aloe gel can be taken two times in a day.
11) Pears are valuable in the treatment of constipation. Patients suffering from chronic constipation should accept an exclusive diet of this fruit or it's juice for a few days, but in usual cases, a medium-sized pear taken after dinner or with breakfast will have the preferred effect.
12) Guava is a further helpful Home Remedy for Constipation. When eaten with seeds, it offers roughage to the diet and helps in the usual evacuation of the bowels. One or two guavas must be taken every day.
About The Author
Dr John Anne is an Ayurvedic doctor having years of experience in the field of Ayurveda and Alternative medicine. Find out more Home Remedies for Constipation at http://www.natural-homeremedies.org
He has an exclusive website on Home Remedies for various diseases. You can also contribute to the Home remedies by visiting the website.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Coffee …Most Popular Beverage Of All Time by: Mary Chambers
Back at the monastery the monks decided to try this new and exciting substance. Soon the endless hours of praying were endured with the greatest of ease. Coffee, the drink had been revealed to the world. Its widespread use then took a grip in the Ethiopian lands before then migrating on to the Arabian outlands. Here it was to be held for many years as a sacred substance but was eventually to be unlawfully exported by a merchant called Baba Budan. Word of its qualities were soon to spread and within a few years coffee was to emerge as one of the most valued commodities of all time. Now would you believe that each year we drink an amazing four billion cups and there are those among us who would cry at the thought of starting their day without it.
Although coffee is mainly known as a sleep suppressant there are those who consider coffee to have many health benefits. It is thought that people who suffer from asthma and partake of the beverage have at least 25% less symptoms which may be due to a substance in coffee called theophylline. This is known as a bronchodilator and quite simply it is thought to help those who suffer with the disease to breath with a little more ease. Drinking coffee on a daily basis is also thought to help lower your chances of developing colon cancer by a figure also in the region of about 25%. This may be due to the fact that coffee helps to keep you regular. Coffee can do more than just help you get through your day!
Aside from the benefits that have been mentioned above, it has to be said that simply enjoying coffee as a beverage is a delight that will never be easily surpassed. The unbelievable thing is that most people have no idea of the different tastes and delights that this monarch of all drinks has to offer. One of the fastest growing trends of the past few years has to be the rising popularity of obtaining coffee via the internet. Never before has it been so easy to sample such a huge variety of blends, tastes and aromas, and all at the click of a mouse. I order coffee frequently through the internet and I always make a point to record the country, blend and from whom I purchased.
Well now that you know the tale of the mystical beans I hope that if in the future you are considering visiting your local coffee shop you recall the story of the lowly shepherd and think about just what you might be drinking were he not to have wandered onto that bleak and lonely hillside. Why not take advantage of the internet and try the many different varieties and blends available. Not only will you impress your tastebuds, your friends will be grateful as well.
Cappuccino or latte?
About The Author
Mary Chambers is a regular contributor to the Fuzzy Coffee Directory
http://www.fuzzycoffee.com
majestic12@onetel.com
Friday, June 26, 2009
How Closely Are Fibre and Weight Loss Connected? by: Rajesh Shetty i
The incidences of deseases like obesity, diabetes, colon deseases etc.are minimal in countries where the population has a regular dose of fiber in their diet.
Fiber is very important to solve the weight loss puzzle. Fiber cannot be digested by the human digestive system and it passes out from the colons taking all the waste material with it.
Fiber provides bulk and softens the stools therby helping in regular bowel movements and avoiding constipation. In the intestine, fiber produces a gel which binds the bile acids and this leads the lever to convert cholesterol into bile thereby reducing cholesterol levels.
Fiber makes people feel less hungry on account of its bulk and reduces appetite resulting in weightloss. It also helps the body in controlling blood sugar.
Ayurveda Medical Science recommends consumption of fibre rich vegetables in large quantities to get rid of all the toxins from your body.Removal of toxins automatically ensures removal of excess fat from your body.
There are two types of fiber found in foods:
Insoluble fiber :
Insoluble fiber doesn't dissolve in water. This fiber increases the bulk of the food and helps in the fast passage of waste materials from the colons avoiding build up of toxins and therby deseases like colon cancer.
Soluble fiber :
This type of fiber forms a gel in the intestine and helps in reducing the cholesterol.
Your body needs a regular dosage of 30-40gms of fiber to keep in good health and lose those excess pounds.
Consuming the following foods will keep you in great shape and health:
High fiber foods:
Oat bran, Corn Bran, rice bran, wheat bran.
Medium fiber foods :
Whole grains, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat flour, oatmeal-rolled oats, steel cut oats, wheat-oat flour, corn meal, brown rice.
Low fiber foods to be avoided:
Refined foods like white flour(bleached or unbleached), pasta, cream of wheat, oat flour, corn starch, white rice.
One important aspect of fiber and weight loss is drinking lots of water.
Water makes the fiber swell and work better.
However, increase your consumption of fiber very gradually to avoid digestive discomfort.
Get more cutting edge fat burning secrets in my Free 5day email ecourse delivered directly to your inbox by subscribing to my newsletter at: www.eweightlosstips.com
About The Author
Rajesh Shetty - Expert in weight loss principles of Ayurveda Medical Science and Author of the Best selling book, "Proven weight loss secrets revealed".
www.eweightlosstips.com
article@eweightlosstips.com
Sunday, June 14, 2009
What You Need to Know About Colon Cancer
The Causes and Symptoms
Primarily, there are two causes of colon cancer: the sporadic case and the genetic case. Exposure to the carcinogenic agents in the environment constitutes the sporadic case. It can induce mutation, and in time, it can also turn into a cancer. Specific carcinogens for colon cancer are still unidentified, but they can be narrowed down to the dietary factors of the person. Some of the probable causes of colon cancer include:
1) Diets that are high in fat and alcohol can predispose people to this disease.
2) Age and smoking habits of the person. A person over the age of 50 is more likely to have the disease than those who are under 50. Smoking individuals have risks too.
3) Patients who suffer from inflammatory diseases of the colon like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s colitis also have increased risks.
4) Genetics like familial cases are also factors that help spread the disease.
Symptoms of colon cancer are related to the release of bowel and wastes of the affected person. They may occur alone or in combination. These symptoms are as follows:
1) Change in the bowel habit of the affected person
2) Blood in the stool
3) Bloating or persistent abdominal distention
4) Constant constipation
5) Feeling of fullness after just having a bowel movement
6) Presence of ribbon stools
7) Persistent and chronic fatigue and anemia
8) Abdominal discomfort
9) Unexplained weight loss, resulting from a systemic disease
10) Nausea and vomiting, which can occur rarely
The Treatments Available
Treatment of the colon cancer first depends on the stage of the cancer. It can be curable when caught at an early stage, but if detected at later stages, when metastases are present, it is less likely to be curable. Up until now, surgery is still the primary treatment of colon cancer. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy or the combination of both may be recommended on the patient, depending on their cancer’s stage and other medical factors. It can also be a challenge to determine how aggressive the treatment for the patient is because this type of cancer primarily affects the elderly; it is rare for young people to develop this disease. Some elderly people are not recommended for chemotherapy after the surgery because it can have ill effects on their health.
These are among the summarized treatments of colon cancer that are practiced today:
1) Surgery in the colon area
2) Chemotherapy
3) Radiation therapy
4) Immunotherapy
5) Vaccine for colon cancer
6) Treatment of liver metastases that can spread to the colon area
7) Support therapies
About The Author
| Visit the author's web site at: http://www.womenscenter.com |
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Health Benefits of Tea
Tea: It Does the Body Good
Studies that support the health benefits of tea drinking keep filling the headlines. There’s simply no denying that a daily spot of tea does the body good.
Even though researchers can’t quite agree on every aspect, I’m sold on the fact that a few cups a day will do its best to protect me from heart disease, a stroke, cancer, and more.
What Makes Tea Good for the Body?
Tea contains high levels of antioxidants, some of which are called polyphenols, flavonoids, and catechins, and all of which take on the “free radicals” in the body and prevent them from harming the healthy cells on board.
In other words, sending in antioxidants is disease prevention in its finest form. Antioxidants are ready and waiting not only in teas but also in several fruits, vegetables, nuts, meats, and even wines (see my health benefits of wine article).
If that were not enough, tea also contains flouride which benefits your teeth and has bacteria killing properties which helps control bad breath and the formation of plaque.
Are All Teas Equally Good for the Body?
This is a question researchers are still squabbling over. Does green tea have more antioxidants than black tea? Should I drink instant tea or loose leaf tea for better health benefits? Is hot tea better than iced tea? And here’s what it comes down to:
- Higher quality teas may have more catechin antioxidants than lower quality teas.
- White tea has more antioxidants than any other tea.
- Green tea has more catechin antioxidants than black tea since black tea goes through more processing.
- Unfermented rooibos tea has more polyphenol antioxidants than fermented rooibos.
- Freshly brewed teas have more polyphenol antioxidants than instant or bottled teas.
- More researchers seem to agree that brewed (cold or hot) or caffeinated tea has more antioxidants than instant teas.
Here’s a short preview of the hundreds of recent studies that boast the health benefits of tea and its antioxidants:
Heart Benefits:
- Study finds tea drinkers have lower blood pressure (Archives of Internal Medicine, 2004).
- Tea may lower cholesterol and protect against heart disease (Journal of Nutrition, 2003).
- Black tea may lower “bad” cholesterol (United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, 2003).
- Tea consumption may help heart disease patients (Circulation: The Journal of the American Heart Association, 2001).
Cancer Prevention:
- Green tea could help stem esophageal cancer. (Harvard Medical School, 2004).
- Green and black tea can slow down the spread of prostate cancer (Center for Human Nutrition at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine, 2004).
- Tea may protect against cancer caused by smoking. (Journal of Nutrition, 2003).
- Green tea and white tea fight colon cancer (Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University study, Carcinogenesis, 2003).
- Hot tea may lower risk of some skin cancers (University of Arizona study, Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention (Vol. 9, No. 7), 2001).
- Green tea consumption may lower stomach cancer risk (University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Public Health study, International Journal of Cancer (Vol. 92: 600-604), 2001).
Hypertension-Reducing Benefits:
- Green and oolong teas reduce risk of hypertension (National Cheng Kung University study, Archives of Internal Medicine, 2004).
Immunity-Boosting Benefits
- Tea believed to boost the body’s defenses (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2003)
Leukemia-Fighting Benefits:
- A green tea component helps kill leukemia cells (Mayo Clinic, 2004).
Alzheimer’s-Fighting Benefits:
- Drinking tea might delay Alzheimer's Disease (Newcastle University's Medicinal Plant Research Centre study, Phytotherapy Research, 2004).
AIDS-Fighting Benefits:
- Tea may play a role as an AIDS fighter (University of Tokyo, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2003).
In Conclusion:
So how do you get started in doing your body some good with tea?
To get the most health benefits out of your teas, choose high-quality loose leaf teas from your local or online tea shop. Brew it up and enjoy. And of course, don’t throw out the idea of enjoying instant or bottled teas when you’re on the go. You just might have to drink a little more.
Don’t wait any longer. Sip, savor, and fight disease today. It's never too late to enjoy the many health benefits of tea!
About The Author
Jason Ditto
Author of the www.2BASNOB.com website about the enjoyment of coffee, tea, wine and beer.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Can You Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer
We hear it all the time…lose weight for your health. Few people however, realize the extent to which this is critical to their physical well-being and ultimately their life expectancy.
In January 2003, the Journal of the American Medical Association featured a study finding that obesity appears to lessen life expectancy, especially among young adults. The researchers compared Body-Mass Index (BMI) to longevity and found a correlation between premature death and higher BMIs. For example, a 20-year-old white male, 5’10” weighing 288 pounds with a BMI of greater than 40 was estimated to lose 13 years of his life as a result of obesity.Jamie McManus, M.D., F.A.A.F.P. and author of “Your Personal Guide to Wellness” notes that while this study referenced extreme levels of obesity, there are still millions of overweight people in developed countries with a life expectancy rate that is three to five years less than their healthy-weight counterparts. She also estimates that there are 600,000 obesity related deaths each year in America.
Just how does obesity shorten our lifespan? The answer to this question is complex, yet there is a clear link between obesity and the development of cancer. An extensive study conducted by the American Cancer Institute involving 750,000 people showed that obesity significantly increased the risk of cancer developing in the following organs: breast, colon, ovaries, uterus, pancreas, kidneys and gallbladder.
Michael Thun, MD, vice-president of epidemiology and surveillance research for the American Cancer Society (ACS) says one reason obesity may raise cancer risk is because fat cells produce a form of estrogen called estradiol that promotes rapid division of cells, increasing chances of a random genetic error while cells are replicating, which can lead to cancer. In addition, fat centered around the abdomen may increase insulin and insulin-like growth factors in the blood, which may increase cancer risk.
"Women who are obese after menopause have a 50% higher relative risk of breast cancer," notes Thun, "and obese men have a 40% higher relative risk of colon cancer…. Gallbladder and endometrial cancer risks are five times higher for obese individuals”. There is evidence that cancer rates in developed countries are increasing at 5 to 15 times faster than developing countries. A major contributor to this alarming reality has proven to be diet. In populations where the diet consists mostly of fresh fruit and vegetables and whole grains – in contrast to the typical Western diet of fatty meats, refined flours, oils and sugars – the risk of cancer is much lower.
The interaction of diet and the development of cancer is an active field of research and Dr David Heber, M.D., Ph.D. and author of “What Color is Your Diet”, says “It appears that diet has its most significant effects after the cancer has already formed, acting to inhibit or stimulate the growth of that cancer”. At the risk of oversimplifying a complex set of interactions, the typical Western diet that leads to obesity may actually act to stimulate the growth of cancer cells. It is never too late to improve your health through healthful eating and adopting a more health-giving lifestyle. Here are simple steps to follow which can make an immediate improvement to your health and vitality.
1. Check your Body Mass Index (BMI) to determine if weight has become health risk. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 60% of Americans are overweight, defined as having a BMI (a ratio of height to weight) over 25. Of those, nearly half (27%) qualify as obese, with a body mass index of 30 or more. In 1980, just 15% of Americans were considered obese. You can check your BMI at the website below.
2. Match your diet to your body’s requirements. If you eat and drink more calories than your body requires you will put on weight. Learn to control calories and portion sizes, make recipes leaner, and eat infrequently from fast food restaurants. Also learn how to snack with healthful choices.
3. Color your diet with a large variety of colorful, cancer-fighting fruit and vegetables. There are seven different color ranges of both fruit and vegetables and by choosing between 5 to 9 daily serves from a wide range of fruit and vegetables, we are extending our consumption of cancer (and other disease) fighting nutrients.
4. Eat lean protein with every meal. Protein provides a powerful signal to the brain providing a longer sense of fullness. The right source of protein is essential to controlling your hunger with fewer calories and necessary to maintain your lean muscle mass. Choices of protein should be flavored soy shakes with fruit; the white meat of chicken and turkey, seafood such as shrimps, prawns scallops and lobster and ocean fish or vegetarians may prefer soy based meat substitutes.
5. Rev up your metabolism with activity. If you want to enjoy a lifetime of well-being, exercise is a key ingredient. Colleen Doyle, MS, RD, director of nutrition and physical activity for the American Cancer Society (ACS), says adults should do something for 30 minutes each day that takes as much effort as a brisk walk. Children should be active for an hour each day. We are more likely to develop habits around things we enjoy, so seek activities which you enjoy doing. It is also helpful to build physical activity into your daily routine: use the stairs instead of the escalator or lift at work, park your car in the parking bay furthest from the super marketing and don’t use the remote control to change TV channels.
6. Get support to ensure you develop a healthful eating plan and reach your goal weight. Whilst a small percentage of people possess the discipline to lose weight, many obese people have developed strong thoughts and habits concerning the food they eat. In order to establish new habits, most people respond well to some form of consistent encouragement and coaching. A study, “Effects of Internet Behavioral Counseling on Weight Loss in Adults at Risk of Type 2 Diabetes” shows that participants who had the support of weight loss coaching lost more weight than those who didn’t. The study concluded that the support of a weight loss coach can significantly improve weight loss results.
Being overweight or obese has been identified next to smoking, as the most preventable major risk to developing cancer. Even small weight losses have been shown to have beneficial health effects. So it’s never to late to start and you can never be too young or too old to be concerned about your health and do something about achieving a more healthy weight.
(c) Copyright by Kim Beardsmore
About The Author
Kim is successful a weight loss coach who will help you find consistent results. You will learn how to stabilize at your goal weight and never 'diet' again. No public 'weigh-ins', meetings that cost you money or fads...simply long term results. Free, no obligation consultation: http://leanmachine.org/?refid=bc-27546 Are you interested in earning money from home? http://www.article-emporium.com/submit-article.cfm.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Colon Cleansing And You
Your colon is a tube like structure that runs down to your anus from the stomach. It consists of the large intestine and small intestine.
As you consume food and liquids, these items accumulate in the bowel as waste products. It is necessary that the bowel should be emptied of these waste products, otherwise they become toxins and the colon health begins to suffer.
Good colon health implies the proper and adequate functioning of the colon and toxic-free state of the colon. Toxin build up can cause allergy symptoms, bad breath, infection and much more. These symptoms can be avoided through regular colon cleansing.
What is colon cleansing?
Colon cleansing is an ancient practice for rejuvenating the stomach system. Man has been practicing colon cleansing since 1500 BC. First of all, it was used in the Egypt about 4,000 years ago. Colon cleansing involves the healing, rebuilding and restoration of your large intestine to its natural shape, size and functioning ability. Colon cleansing refers to the removal of toxins from the large intestine to allow the proper functioning of the colon. When the colon is clean, your skin becomes vibrant, you become active and you are freed of stress. It reinvigorates your natural body functions.
Why do I require colon cleansing?
Colon cleansing is sometimes required because over a period of time, toxins become accumulated on the walls of your colon. This creates problems such as constipation and inflammation of colon and can lead to several diseases, even colon cancer.
As toxins keep on accumulating, these toxins are carried into the body organs through your blood. Then toxins can also affect the organs. Hence it becomes essential for you to clean your colon. Colon cleansing helps you to eliminate any colon diseases. It re-balances the body chemistry, and helps in restoring correct functioning of the organs. Colon cleansing also improves the muscles of colon and tones them up.
How can I get my colon cleaned?
As the awareness of colon cleansing is reaching more and more people, new methods of colon cleansing are also available. There are various methods available:
Colon Hydrotherapy: This process involves fusing warm and filtered water into the colon through a disposable plastic tube. This method involves delicacy and the practitioner should be fully qualified. There is no use of drugs or chemicals during the process. A small disposable speculum is gently inserted into the rectum from the hydrotherapy equipment. Then the warm water is passed into the colon. Colon Hydrotherapy involves light stomach massage and several fills and releases of water to remove the toxic waste accumulated on the colon walls. The fecal matter is then washed away via the system’s waste disposal hose.
Every session of colon hydrotherapy lasts for about 45 minutes. About 35 gallons of water are transported in and out of the colon during the therapy sessions.
Enema: The Enema is generally employed to relieve a person of constipation. This procedure involves insertion of a small amount of water into the bowel via the anus. The method is effective for dislodging fecal matter from the lower portion of intestine.
Enemas can be effectively carried out at home and no training is required to undertake them.
Oxygen Based Colon Cleansing: This process involves consumption of a few capsules. These capsules are full of oxygen based chemicals. When they are ingested, the oxygen is released in the body and removes the fecal matter. This method can be used for long term colon cleansing. These capsules help in removing the toxins inside the intestines.
Laxatives: Laxatives are taken for the treatment of temporary constipation. It involves oral consumption of laxatives. These laxatives soften the stool and cause bowel movements by contracting the intestinal muscles. Laxatives are, however, not used for removal of impacted fecal matter. They can also cause dehydration in a person so should be used with care.
Before embarking on any colon cleaning regime you should consult a qualified practitioner.
About The Author
Michael Jason writes articles on a number of different topics. For more information on Colon Cleansing please visit http://www.colon-health.org/coloncleanse/ and for additional Colon Cleansing related articles please visit the following article page http://www.colon-health.org/coloncleanse-articles/.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Does Coffee Have Any Antioxidant Benefits?
Brewed coffee contains many antioxidants and consumption of antioxidant-rich brewed coffee may inhibit diseases caused by oxidative damages. Antioxidants are said to be an inhibitor of certain types of diseases. However, coffee beans are not all a like. Not all coffee beans are of the same quality or even the same make up. Sort of like comparing tennis shoes to sandals. Both go on your feet, but they are not made up of the same components. You can actually break coffee down into several different water-soluble components. The dietary fiber derived from roasted coffee silverskin. This is one component of the coffee bean that has high antioxidant content. This is how the scientists find out about the antioxidant benfits of coffee in their studies. What they do in fact is the break down the coffee beans into different components. They filter out the components that the coffee antioxidant is found in, and then they test lab rats in a variety of experiments to determine how well they survive with or without the various additives in their diet. When they discover something really swell, like a coffee antioxidant, our culture of coffee drinking addicts suddenly becomes a feverorish mob.
For years and years we've heard bad things about coffee. For example: it's bad for your heart, increases blood pressure, may cause breast cancer, probably keeps you awake at night, and my personal favorite, has a poisonous gas when brewed.When the world of coffee addicts even gets a tiny hint that coffee could have something beneficial, believe me they don't just drink more coffee, they try to get everyone to join them. So, here we now have scientific studies proving to us that coffee has antioxidants.
Researchers have identified several compounds in coffee that create a coffee antioxidant. Why would this be of interest to us? Because scientific studies are showing that antioxidants may help prevent cancer. You see the connection here. However, until human studies are done, science cannot state exactly how much coffee must be consumed in order gain this protection against colon cancer or any other type of cancer. Before the coffee is roasted the antioxidant benefits are varied. However, once the coffee is roasted and served as a drink things get evened out. They all seem to have the same degrees of antioxidants.
Some studies suggest coffee having other benefits such as added fertility in men and some benefits for those suffering from diabetes. You'll have to read those studies on your own. The fact that a coffee antioxidant exists may be true, but the reality is that coffee can be just as harmful if your body doesn't like it, if you consume too much, if you have high blood pressure, and if it keeps you awake at night. Is there truly a coffee antioxidant? Yes, but the actual amount needed to be consumed in order to receive the anti-cancer benefits by humans is unknown. How exactly is coffee an antioxidant?
Coffee alone isn't the antioxidant, it's several different components that are part of the coffee bean. Roasting and heating the coffee changes the total antioxidant output. Does it become the antioxidant when it's heated? It seems that although some coffee beans like green coffee beans may be higher in antioxidants that other more common beans, once they are roasted and heated for consumption, the results are the same regarding the antioxidantal benefits. Does the coffee antioxidant benefit everyone? Honestly, this is NOT a question easily answered. In fact, the truth is it is still unknown just how beneficial coffee antioxidants are for humans. Are there still dangers to drinking coffee? Yes, of course there is. If you have high blood pressure and you have seen how coffee enhances this problem, you know it's bad for YOU personally. If you can't get proper sleep or you drive everyone around you nuts because you can't sit still or shut-up, you know coffee is bad for you.
Use common sense and listen to your body. Coffee is not good for everyone and unknown just how good for anyone. How much coffee is good for us and when does it become bad for us? Again drink coffee in moderation, pay attention to your own body. Exercise and good eating habits are a far better way to get healthy than drinking 10 cups of cappuccino a day. All things in moderation. After reading everything about this new thing called a coffee antioxidant I have decided that there are better ways of getting antioxidants into my blood.
Coffee may have many benefits, but so does water and it is possible to drown from drinking too much water. Yes, I know, you have to really drink a lot to accomplish this, but it's the principle of the matter. Too much of anything is not a good thing.
About The Author
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Sugar Dangers by: Dr. Robert Bard
146 Reasons Why Sugar Is Ruining Your Health
SUGAR CAN:
1. suppress the immune system.
2. upset mineral relationships in the body.
3. cause hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and crankiness in children.
4. produce a significant rise in triglycerides.
5. contribute to the reduction in defense against bacterial infection (infectious diseases).
6. cause a loss of tissue elasticity and function, the more sugar you eat the more elasticity and function you loose.
7. reduces high density lipoproteins.
8. leads to chromium deficiency.
9 leads to cancer of the ovaries.
10. increase fasting levels of glucose.
11. cause copper deficiency.
12. interfere with absorption of calcium and magnesium.
13. weaken eyesight.
14. raises the level of neurotransmitters: dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.
15. cause hypoglycemia.
16. produce an acidic digestive tract.
17. cause a rapid rise of adrenaline levels in children.
18. malabsorption is frequent in patients with functional bowel disease.
19. cause premature aging.
20. lead to alcoholism.
21. cause tooth decay.
22. contribute to obesity
23. increase the risk of Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis.
24. cause changes frequently found in person with gastric or duodenal ulcers.
25. cause arthritis.
26. cause asthma.
27. greatly assists the uncontrolled growth of Candida Albicans (yeast infections).
28. cause gallstones.
29. cause heart disease.
30. cause appendicitis.
31. cause multiple sclerosis.
32. cause hemorrhoids.
33. cause varicose veins.
34. elevate glucose and insulin responses in oral contraceptive users.
35. lead to periodontal disease.
36. contribute to osteoporosis.
37. contributes to saliva acidity.
38. cause a decrease in insulin sensitivity.
39. lower the amount of Vitamin E (alpha-Tocopherol in the blood.
40. decrease growth hormone.
41. increase cholesterol.
42. increase the systolic blood pressure.
43. cause drowsiness and decreased activity in children.
44. increases advanced glycation end products (AGEs) (Sugar bound non-enzymatically to protein)
45. interfere with the absorption of protein.
46. causes food allergies.
47. contribute to diabetes.
48. cause toxemia during pregnancy.
49. contribute to eczema in children.
50. cause cardiovascular disease.
51. impair the structure of DNA
52. change the structure of protein.
53. make our skin age by changing the structure of collagen.
54. cause cataracts.
55. cause emphysema.
56. cause atherosclerosis.
57. promote an elevation of low density lipoproteins (LDL).
58. impair the physiological homeostasis of many systems in the body.
59. lower the enzymes ability to function.
60. Sugar intake is higher in people with Parkinson’s disease.
61. cause a permanent altering the way the proteins act in the body.
62. increase the size of the liver by making the liver cells divide.
63. increase the amount of liver fat.
64. increase kidney size and produce pathological changes in the kidney.
65. damage the pancreas.
66. increase the body's fluid retention.
67. Sugar is enemy #1 of the bowel movement.
68. cause myopia (nearsightedness).
69. compromise the lining of the capillaries.
70. make the tendons more brittle.
71. cause headaches, including migraine.
72. play a role in pancreatic cancer in women.
73. adversely affect school children's grades and cause learning disorders...
74. cause an increase in delta, alpha, and theta brain waves.
75. cause depression.
76. increase the risk of gastric cancer.
77. cause dyspepsia (indigestion).
78. increase your risk of getting gout.
79. increase the levels of glucose in an oral glucose tolerance test over the ingestion of complex carbohydrates.
80. increase the insulin responses in humans consuming high-sugar diets compared to low sugar diets.
81. reduce learning capacity.
82. cause less effective functioning of two blood proteins, albumin, and lipoproteins, which may reduce the body’s ability to handle fat and cholesterol.
83. contribute to Alzheimer’s disease.
84. cause platelet adhesiveness.
85. cause hormonal imbalance; some hormones become under active and others become overactive.
86. lead to the formation of kidney stones.
87. lead to the hypothalamus to become highly sensitive to a large variety of stimuli.
88. lead to dizziness.
89. cause free radicals and oxidative stress.
90. High sucrose diets of subjects with peripheral vascular disease significantly increases platelet adhesion.
91. lead to biliary tract cancer.
92. feed cancer.
93. High sugar consumption of pregnant adolescents is associated with a twofold increased risk for delivering a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infant.
94. lead to substantial decrease in gestation duration among adolescents.
95. slows food's travel time through the gastrointestinal tract.
96. increase the concentration of bile acids in stools and bacterial enzymes in the colon. This can modify bile to produce cancer-causing compounds and colon cancer.
97. increase estradiol (the most potent form of naturally occurring estrogen) in men.
98. combine and destroy phosphatase, an enzyme, which makes the process of digestion more difficult.
99. be a risk factor of gallbladder cancer.
100. be an addictive substance.
101. be intoxicating, similar to alcohol.
102. exacerbate PMS.
103. when given to premature babies can affect the amount of carbon dioxide they produce.
104. Decrease in sugar intake can increase emotional stability.
105. The body changes sugar into 2 to 5 times more fat in the bloodstream than it does starch.
106. The rapid absorption of sugar promotes excessive food intake in obese subjects.
107. worsen the symptoms of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
108. adversely affect urinary electrolyte composition.
109. slow down the ability of the adrenal glands to function.
110. induce abnormal metabolic processes in a normal healthy individual and promote chronic degenerative diseases.
111. I.Vs (intravenous feedings) can cut off oxygen to the brain.
112. High sucrose intake could be an important risk factor in lung cancer.
113. increase the risk of polio.
114. cause epileptic seizures.
115. high blood pressure in obese people.
116. In Intensive Care Units, limiting sugar saves lives.
117. induce cell death.
118. increase the amount of food that you eat.
119. In juvenile rehabilitation camps, when children were put on a low sugar diet, there was a 44% drop in antisocial behavior.
120. lead to prostrate cancer.
121. dehydrates newborns.
122. increase the estradiol in young men.
123. cause low birth weight babies.
124. Greater consumption of refined sugar is associated with a worse outcome of schizophrenia
125. raise homocysteine levels in the blood stream.
126. increase the risk of breast cancer.
127. Sugar is a risk factor in cancer of the small intestine.
128. cause laryngeal cancer.
129. induce salt and water retention.
130. contribute to mild memory loss.
131. As sugar increases in the diet of 10 years olds, there is a linear decrease in the intake of many essential nutrients.
132. increase the total amount of food consumed.
133. Exposing a newborn to sugar results in a heightened preference for sucrose relative to water at 6 months and 2 years of age.
134. cause constipation.
135. cause varicous veins.
136. cause brain decay in prediabetic and diabetic women.
137. increase the risk of stomach cancer.
138. cause metabolic syndrome.
139. Sugar ingestion by pregnant women increases neural tube defects in embryos.
140. be a factor in asthma.
141. The higher the sugar consumption the more chances of getting irritable bowel syndrome.
142. affect central reward systems.
143. cause cancer of the rectum.
144. cause endometrial cancer.
145. cause renal (kidney) cell carcinoma.
146. cause liver tumors.
With all the above in formation what should we do to improve our health? Sugar is every where but we need to read all labels and try our best to eat as little sugar as possible. Do not turn to chemical sweeteners as they are toxic and in the case of aspartame it will cause you to gain weight.
Sugar in Any Form is Unhealthy
Several years ago, I learned that grain and sugar carbohydrates (actually foods that are white) are unhealthy and we can become obese from these products (we also have to add corn into this because it is a grain – not a vegetable).
There several reasons grains are unhealthy. The first and the worst are processed foods. Industrial food manufacturers strip all the nutrition from grains, fortify with chemical vitamins (that our bodies can’t use), and then bake or extrude into a “food”. They also add sugar, corn syrup, and other chemicals.
Extruding maybe the worst because the high pressure and high heat destroys everything – including the artificial vitamins and the minerals (This is called fortification). This is the reason children should never have cold cereal – there is ZERO nutrition in cereal + lots of sugar is added to entice our children into eating this junk food.
Breads are bad for the same reasons – sugars, fortified vitamins, and non absorbable minerals are put into the mix. White bread being bad is not new news, but the population is mislead because they think whole wheat bread is ok. We must read labels. Whole wheat bread is nothing more than a few chemicals to influence the color and taste.
If you choose to eat organic whole wheat non chemical breads you still must consider several things. Whole wheat organic with molasses (this is less sugar – not as concentrated – plus real trace minerals) is much healthier but these grains still break down to sugars.
We do not have the space to discuss the organophosphates – herbicides and pesticides – in this article but please remember that unless what you eat is organic it will have these toxic chemicals.
As you read the rest of this article remember that Dr Otto Warburg’s work discovered that cancer loves sugar and there is more than a casual relationship between the two entities. Also look at Dr Appleton’s 146 reasons why sugar is unhealthy.
Also be advised that drug corporations, medicine, and our government do not want you to know what we are discussing. There will never be a cure for cancer and heart disease – in fact there isn’t a cure for anything – just treatment until you die. Our economy is based on no one ever getting well or off medications.
If there was a magical cure for cancer and heart disease announced today, our economy would tank in a matter of days.
Social Security is in trouble but if everyone lived and extra 5 to 10 years or more, SS would be in even worse shape than it’s present prospects with the baby boomers retirements approaching.
We can be healthier, and less obese. Read my e-book on eating healthy, lose weight, and remember SUGAR IS BAD for you and me.
Every doctor learned back in medical school all about Otto Warburg's discovery; because way back in the thirties Otto discovered the main biochemical cause of cancer, or what differentiates a cancer cell from a normal, healthy cell. This discovery was so big that Otto Warburg was awarded the Nobel Prize.
Cancer has only one prime cause. It is the replacement of normal oxygen respiration of the body's cells by an anaerobic [i.e., oxygen-deficient] cell respiration. -Dr. Otto Warburg
Dr Bob
www.drbobthehealthbuilder.com
www.wealthyhealthywise.net
About The Author
Dr Bob the Health Builder
Robert D Bard, OD, FAAO
I attended West Virginia University and graduated from Pennsylvania College of Optometry with a Bachelor of Science degree and a Doctor of Optometry degree.
As a health professional I was always interested in disease prevention but found the medical model – drug companies and doctors – unacceptable. The medical model towards disease is that they want us – the people – to contract disease and they will prevent us from dieing as long as we continue to take their drugs for the rest of our lives. This is their idea of preventive medicine. The population expects prevention to prevent disease before we get sick.
I became overweight and like most people blamed it on me and my eating habits, but I knew that diets and potions on TV DO NOT WORK and therefore put off doing anything until I stumbled across a solution.
In 1999 I began itching and it got worse almost by the day. I started taking antihistamines to reduce the itching and over a 10 month time period visited 4 dermatologists. The first 3 doctors miss diagnosed my problem. The forth discovered the cause but I had to use a pesticide all over my body to correct the condition – I know this seems strange but I had an infestation of Norwegian mites under my skin (I didn’t even know that mites had a pedigree much less a country of origin).
When I used the pesticide to kill the mites I swelled up like the Pillsbury Dough Boy. With this ordeal I gained even more weight and ended up looking like Porky the Pig. I also lost my sense of taste because of all the antihistamines.
In 2002 I did some consulting work for a supplement company and they gave me a gift book by Sherry Rogers, MD. At the same time I had a patient in my office that sensitive to all chemicals including the chemicals from a carpet that was 6 months old and from my cologne. He had to wear a mask filled with carbon just to get through a basic eye examination. After quizzing him about his condition I discovered that over 6 million people in the US can’t function normally because of toxic chemicals – that means holding down jobs and leading a normal life.
Because of this patient I began to investigate toxic chemicals and how they affect people, particularly my health, my taste, and weight problems. With this information I have lost 70 pounds, gone from a jean size of 50 to 40. I feel better, look better, and my big belly that used to catch food is almost gone. (I no longer catch food on my stomach)
I have discovered that the public is one big toxic chemical experiment by industrial food manufactures, chemical companies that control farm chemicals with Genetically Engineered crops, drug companies and companies that want to dump their waste products without protecting the public.
There are some really good people that write books and educate people about health issues, economic issues, environmental issues, food problems but all these people specialize in certain areas. My job as I see it is to be a reporter and filter the important information to my subscribers.
I have also been a farmer for years and one of my discoveries is that our diseased health economy starts with toxic chemicals and crop land.
Unhealthy Soil = Unhealthy Plants and Animals = Unhealthy People
I also think it is terrible that when people retire at the age of 65 that 97% are in poverty in this nation. I believe that I can help people make extra money in retirement through my experience on eBay and other sources of information. I have a free newsletter that discusses health issues and money issues to help people.
Dr Bob the Health Builder.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Ten Vital Reasons To Use Real Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Extra virgin olive oil is very special and unique. This is something that people along the Mediterranean, as well as gourmets everywhere, have known for a long time. Thomas Jefferson is even said to have considered the olive tree as ‘surely the richest gift of Heaven’. Well, recent studies show that President Jefferson might just have been right.
Here are 10 reasons why real extra virgin olive oil should be a part of everyone’s diet:
1 – Olive oil protects against heart disease – “Olive oil's heart effect located”
‘Scientists say they have pinpointed the micronutrients in olive oil that make it a good heart protector.’ ‘Virgin or extra virgin olive oils are best because they have the highest phenol content, the Journal of the American College of Cardiology reports’ - Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia, Cordoba (Spain)
2 - Alzheimer’s – “How you can take brain health to heart”
‘Studies have shown that high intake of saturated fat and cholesterol clogs the arteries and is associated with higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Use mono and polyunsaturated fats, such as olive oil. - Alzheimer’s Association
3 - “Olive Oil Could Help Fight Colon Cancer”
‘Researchers at the University of Ulster have found new evidence of the link between virgin olive oil and healthy living.’ ‘The team of researchers ….. concluded that a mixture of compounds, called phenols, extracted from virgin olive oil could safeguard against colon cancer. Colon cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the Western world – and the second highest cause of cancer death in the US.’ - University of Ulster
4 - “Virgin olive oil may protect against skin cancer”
‘Scientists now say an application of virgin olive oil after sunbathing may protect against skin cancer.’
- Kobe University School of Medicine
5 - “Olive Oil Seems To Protect Against Bowel Cancer”
‘Olive oil seems to protect against bowel cancer, suggests research involving 28 countries in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.’ - Center for the Advancement of Health
6 – “Northwestern Study Shows Why Olive Oil Protects Against Breast Cancer”
‘Oleic acid, the main monounsaturated fatty acid contained in olive oil, can cripple a cancer gene that is responsible for 25 to 30 percent of all breast cancers, according to an article by Northwestern University researchers published in the Jan. 10 issue of the Annals of Oncology.’ - Northwestern University
7 - “Olive Oil Reduces the Need for Blood Pressure Drugs”
“Olive oil is widely advocated as being good for preventing heart disease, but has not hitherto been associated with blood pressure reduction. An Italian study now suggests that it may lower blood pressure.”
- Cardiovascular Institute at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York
8 – “Olive oil 'acts like painkiller”
‘Researchers found 50g of extra-virgin olive oil was equivalent to about a tenth of a dose of ibuprofen. … an ingredient in the oil acted as an anti-inflammatory’ - Monell Chemical Senses Centre
9 - Circulation – “Blood vessels appear healthier after people consume olive oil high in phenolic compounds”
"Phenolic compounds in olive oil, which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-clotting properties, may explain cardiovascular health benefits associated with the so-called Mediterranean Diet" - American College of Cardiology
10 – Skin Health – “Eat your wrinkles away”
“The study authors speculated that certain foods offered skin protection due to their high levels of antioxidants such as vitamins A, C and E. Monounsaturated fats such as olive oil may offer protection through the same mechanism…fatty acids are present in the skin, and monounsaturated fats resist oxidative damage.” - Monash University, Melbourne
However, there is a proviso: Dr. Robert F. Wilson, M.D., of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis stated the following: ‘not all olive oils have a high phenolic content.’ "So these results might not be true for all olive oil on the shelf at the grocery store". The reason for this is that many brands labeled as ‘extra virgin olive oil’ are diluted with other oils so the phenolic content is equally diminished.
In view of the foregoing, olive oil consumers should accept no substitutes - Whereas the taste and flavor enhancing properties are more than enough reason to include extra virgin olive oil as part of our daily diet, when the health benefits are factored in - the case for real extra virgin olive oil becomes compelling.
About The Author
Kelly Martinez
Managing Partner Antonio Celentano Extra Virgin Olive Oil – http://www.antoniocelentano.com.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Colon Cancer Causes Revealed
Colon cancer is a major illness and one that can cause life altering effects. In fact, this form of cancer is one of the most common in the nation. Most colon cancer patients suffer from polyps, which are abnormal cells that form clusters. When normal cells begin to transform, a potential problem arises. As time progresses, these growths get bigger and can lead to the development of cancer. A vast majority of sufferers have a family history with the disease. In addition, the risk of developing colon cancer increases with age and is most common in those ages 50 and up. Certain individuals simply carry the genetic makeup, which can be identified through a series of tests, that may lead to colon cancer.
While there are no certain ways to pinpoint exactly who develops cancer, or why, there are several risk factors that may increase an individual’s chance of developing the illness. Among them, a previous battle with cancer, a family history with colon cancer, poor diets, smoking and obesity. With so many risk factors, one may wonder if there is anything that they can do in order to prevent colon cancer. Studies show that a lot of physical activity or exercise and a low-fat, high-fiber diet may help to reduce the risks. In addition, certain medicines may also help to prevent the disease.
As is the case with many ailments, symptoms are often very similar to those of other diseases. It can be extremely difficult to get an accurate assessment of what’s wrong when so many illnesses carry the same symptoms. For this reason, it’s important to seek medical attention if an individual experiences abnormal bleeding, weakness, pale complexion or abdominal expansion without weight gain, nausea, any change in bowel movements or weight loss. Each person is different and, as such, symptoms may vary slightly. Because symptoms may either present themselves as severe or barely noticeable, it is recommended that patients be screened regularly for the presence of cancer causing factors.
If left untreated, any type of cancerous cells have the ability to grow and spread throughout the rest of the body. This can lead to the need for further surgery, more intense treatments or, in the worst case, a cancer may become so advanced that it will not respond to treatment. When seeking medical attention, it’s important to understand that there are a series of tests that can detect and diagnose colon cancer. A physician will be able to answer any questions that a patient may have regarding treatment options and the likelihood of their success.
This article should not be construed as professional medical advice. If you, or someone that you know, is concerned about the possibility of cancer, you should seek medical attention immediately. A medical doctor can discuss various options, prevention and treatment possibilities should the presence of cancer be detected. A series of tests may be conducted in order to confirm, or rule out, any such diagnosis and can only be done by a medical doctor.
About The Author
Dr. Logan Pallas is an experienced cancer researcher. Visit his colon cancer directory located at http://www.coloncancercure.info for more details. You are permitted to reprint this article in its entirety as long as the links, and resource box are not altered in any way.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
How to Manage Pain after Colon Surgery
Even if you don’t want to end up getting sick, there are times when it is inevitable. And just when you think that you’re already living a healthy life, you’re diagnosed with colon cancer.
All the future dreams of colon cancer patients fall apart upon the diagnosis of the disease especially if they are already on the late stage. It would be better if the disease was diagnosed earlier because it can be cured through several treatments.
If you think that you’re a candidate for colon cancer, it would be best to monitor your health and look for the possible symptoms. If you experience any symptom like diarrhea, constipation, bloating, blood in your stool, etc. you must consult a doctor immediately and undergo the necessary tests to determine if you have the disease.
Several tests will be performed to determine the extent of the colon cancer and only after proper diagnosis is the treatment plan given. If the primary procedure is surgery, you will have to deal with the pain normally felt after the surgery.
No one wants to experience pain and for colon cancer patients, this is one situation that they have to face if they want to get well. Pain after colon cancer surgery can be controlled through the use of certain medications.
One very common medication given to colon cancer patients who had surgery is Epidural Anesthesia. This is not only used for abdominal operations but also for chest and leg operations as well. Colon surgery uses this particular treatment to manage pain.
An epidural catheter is placed near the nerves of the spine that carries sensation from the abdomen (where the operation was performed). For several days, the pain can be controlled through the infused mixture of narcotic drug and anesthetic drug. This is also the time when the pain is at its highest level so this is greatly needed to control the pain.
Epidurals provide great pain management without modification of consciousness and appreciable sedation. The nerves are also not affected since the anesthetic drug given is just a small amount. In this stage, you can walk, deep breathe, and cough. This will also prevent pneumonia development.
Once the pain subsides and this usually happens after several days, the doctor may prescribe milder medications like pain killers in pill-form.
Don’t use any medication not otherwise prescribed by your doctor. This can also help in preventing any complications. Besides, your doctor may still recommend further tests to make sure that the cancer cells are no longer present in your colon or in other parts of the body.
Follow all the instructions of your doctor so that the pain will disappear in a few days. The pain-killer medications will be of great help for you especially after the surgery. Take them according to the instructions of your doctor so that the pain will not last for a long time. Your body will heal soon enough so you don’t have to bear with the pain forever. Remember to live a healthy lifestyle from then on. Being a cancer survivor also means that you’re given another lease on life, so make the most of it.
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