Archive for February, 2011

Two Main Ways to Lower Cholesterol

When first told that they have an issue with high cholesterol levels, it is not uncommon for people to question what exactly cholesterol is. Cholesterol is a natural waxy, fat-like substance, produced by the body mainly in the liver. It can also be found in common foods, especially certain meats, eggs and dairy foods.

So, what are the risks and dangers of having high cholesterol levels and how does the amount of cholesterol in our bodies get high in the first place?

It is important to understand that the body needs cholesterol. It uses it to make essential vitamins, like Vitamin D, as well as to produce hormones and digestive acids which enable to body to process fats in the stomach. However, the body has only a limited requirement for cholesterol which is why, when there is a surplus of cholesterol present in the body, that health issues like stroke and heart disease begin to develop.

When we manage cholesterol levels, we are attempting to regulate two things. Firstly, we aim to make a reduction in the amount of low-density lipoprotein (or LDL, ‘bad’ cholesterol) which can cause a fatty accumulation of the walls of arteries, known as plaque. At the same time, we try to increase the concentration of high density lipoproteins (or HDL, ‘good’ cholesterol) present, as this assists the body in getting rid of LDL. A deficiency in HDL levels is also known to cause heart problems.

There are two prevalent ways for lowing cholesterol – firstly by making a change in your diet, and secondly with the assistance of prescription medicines.

The American Heart Association has issued guidelines on the amount of cholesterol which is considered safe in a person’s diet. They recommend that every person eats less than 300 milligrams of dietary cholesterol each day. However, for those who are already suffering from heart disease or have high cholesterol levels, they recommend that this is reduced further to less than 200 milligrams. In order to reduce the amount of cholesterol being ingested, all you need to do is stay away from foods which are either high in saturated fats or which contain substantial quantities of dietary cholesterol.

Some people have no choice but to supplement the dietary changes they make with prescription medication because they may be diabetic or for some other reason be at high risk of developing heart disease. Your doctor will take account of several factors before you are issued a prescription for these drugs. In particular, they will examine your family medical history, whether you take regular exercise, whether you are a smoker and so on.

If you want to avoid having to take this kind of medication, then making a few basic changes early on to your lifestyle can help. You should kick the habit if you are a smoker and be aware that dietary change is fundamental. Cigarettes have the unfortunate effect of reducing the levels of HDL in the body but this is easily reversed by quitting smoking. Regular exercise will also help naturally lower the levels of LDL. This exercise need not be strenuous – a brisk walk or light jog for 30 minutes a day is sufficient. Exercise will also boost the level of good cholesterol in your body and so has a dual effect. It will also help you regulate your blood pressure and bodyweight, both of which are risk factors in the development of heart conditions.

Keep in mind that both heart diseases and high cholesterol can be passed from generation to generation. If you become aware of a history of either in your family medical history you should visit your doctor and have an examination immediately. They can give you a simple, painless blood test which will quickly let you know what your levels of HDL and LDL as well as triglycerides are and they can then offer you further information and advice on what changes to your lifestyle will have the most impact in helping you to keep your cholesterol levels within a healthy range.

Home-Made Remedies Help Treat Diabetes

It is not impossible for diabetes patients to create an easier way of life with it. There are countless herbs containing useful ingredients, healing the organism along with the medications prescribed from doctors. Most diabetics found ways to keep this disorder controlled. The most important step of all is the order in nutrition as well as in change of daily routine, which suits such patients.

Once diabetes is diagnosed, it is necessary to learn how to cope with quality as before. Starting exercises is as important to patients with diabetes as their medications. It prevents the most frequent cause of getting diabetes, which is obesity, causing great changes in blood sugar. Daily exercises such as walking, riding a bike or swimming will keep a patient fit and with steady weight.

Nutrition is important if a patient wants to control diabetes. Smaller, frequent dishes help in steady blood sugar. All diabetic patients should avoid drinking alcohol at all times, as well as nicotine. Avoiding sugar is recommended. There are so many proven ingredients which can substitute sugar, including specific diabetic sweeteners. For an occasional glass of wine, a diabetic must have eaten before drinking.

Once starting on new nutrition plan, many diabetic patients found it beneficiary to eat less but more frequently. Smaller dishes definitely prevent sudden changes in blood sugar. Various snacks can be obtained for diabetics between meals. As for beverages, it is recommended to consume natural juice, water or tea with no sweeteners. Drinks such as coke should not be the choice, due to high level of sugar. As for coffee, decaf should be consumed.

It is perfectly possible to live a quality life with diabetes. All it takes is control and avoiding the stress. It is one of the major factors which can severely distress the blood sugar even in healthiest persons. Patients with diabetes can choose variety of meditation yoga techniques or similar.

Living with a plan does not mean a diabetes patient can avoid medications. Once prescribed, they have their task in controlling blood sugar. The development in diabetes medications today enables patients their insulin intakes easier than before. From tiny disposable needles and insulin-releasing patches, this disease is easily controlled. Regular visits to the doctor are however necessary.

The quality of living for a diabetic patient can also be improved with variety of herbs, containing relieving ingredients. Herbs such as garlic or celery and daily intake of onion will also keep sugar under control. With their specific features, they clean up the entire organism and keep the blood sugar in order. Gourd juice is also one of the excellent natural remedies, where its daily intake is tremendous benefit to diabetic patients.

There are teas and beverages, containing mango or cinnamon, providing mild but helpful effect in keeping the sugar level steady. There is a great chance for diabetes suffering person to live perfectly normal life, as soon as it is changed into organized and healthy lifestyle. Exercises and moderation in nutrition will enable most of them live long and happily. Natural remedies are excellent additive to medications, fighting the fluctuations in sugar level in blood.

Hemorrhoid Treatment

If you suddenly discovered you are positive with an inflamed hemorrhoid, you may want to check out how in the world you got the disorder. Although this condition may not be life threatening, it creates so much discomfort and embarrassment on your part. There are already various methods of healing or removing hemorrhoids but as always prevention is better than cure. In this article you will learn the different hemorrhoid causes in order to avoid the same experience in the future and learn of hemorrhoid treatments.

  • Constipation & Diarrhea – excessive pressure to the rectum or anal area especially during your bowel movement contributes greatly to the development of hemorrhoids. Your diet also affects the regularity of releasing wastes from your body. To avoid constipation or diarrhea, it is best to consider fiber-rich foods in your daily serving to help the digestive system create balance which also serves as hemorrhoid treatment if you already have them.
  • Lack of exercise – sitting or standing for longer periods also causes hemorrhoids. This is particularly true for overweight people since most pressure drops down toward the anal and pelvic regions.

    You probably won’t need hemorrhoid treatment if you exercise regularly. Exercise is an essential part of maintaining a healthy body. It helps in blood circulation therefore making the systems work better. You need to spend at least twice a week for a regular exercise.

  • Heredity – if you have learned that someone in the family has hemorrhoids, then it is not shocking that you also have one. There are some types of this disorder that are heredity. The best thing that you can do is to take preventive measures if you still do not have the condition.
  • Pregnancy – one hemorrhoid causes is pregnancy. When pregnant women undergo normal delivery, the pressure in the anus of pushing the baby out causes the veins to enlarge or burst. With pregnancy caused hemorrhoids, one does not necessarily need hemorrhoid treatment since usually the problem goes away on its own.
  • Improper Hygiene – The anus and rectal area is highly vulnerable to bacteria since body wastes come out through these. Wash these areas properly with mild soap and water to avoid infection.

Now that you are already familiar with typical hemorrhoid causes, you should be more careful with your lifestyle and habits. Remember that the best way to prevent any disorder from occurring is to love your body and live healthy inside and out so no hemorrhoid treatment would be necessary at all.
As a fitness enthusiast, author loves to hit the gym regularly to keep his body healthy.

Implementing Cordyceps As An Adjunct In Cancer Remedy

Healing Mushrooms

The word mushroom is really a kind of umbrella phrase for most of the fruiting and gilled bodies of various fungi and it is their antioxidants, like beta glutans plus polysaccharides which are being so enthusiastically studied by western world researchers today. Medicinal mushrooms have been popular in Asia going back 2000 years and it seems like the West are at last catching up with the notion. Within Asian countries, mushrooms have already been used for every aspect from treating most cancers and digestive ailments, curing bronchial asthma, lowering blood sugar to blood pressure, not to mention improving immune system.

As Fifty Thousand years ago, ancient healing has produced cures and wonderful medicines that have been mostly based on medicinal mushrooms, although you can query the effectiveness of such treatments. Nevertheless, there’s a single herb that indisputably shines as being a cure which apparently helps most forms of illnesses. This herb is even regarded as a “superfood” from a rising group of medical professionals that can be integrated into nearly every diet. It’s also regarded as a great herb suitable for battling cancer. What exactly is this herb?

Caterpillar Fungus – Cordyceps

Cordyceps? Okay, that one is actually bizarre. Cordyceps Sinensis is a type of fungus that’s parasitic, that it develops upon a bug. In this instance, the actual bug is a caterpillar. Don’t let these small fungi’s lowly beginnings sicken you! Cordyceps has been utilized in Chinese Proprietary Medicine for many kinds of conditions. It has been used by many cancer patients as a reinforcement in cancer therapy. It’s been shown to enhance ability to tolerate any adverse reactions from radiation as well as chemotherapy treatments.

However, in the recent past, this particular fungus appears to have been popular being an energy enhancer, a body cell nurturing tonic, and to lower cholesterol levels. It seems to improve blood flow and is a great lung nourishment (it’s been traditionally utilized in the Himalayas for hundreds of years to inhale easier in high altitude). It enhances endurance and is remarkable for strengthening the immune mechanism.

Anti-Cancer Characteristics Involving Cordyceps

Cordyceps are extremely rich in both beta-glucans and polysaccharides, which have been shown to be useful in cancer therapies. Polysaccharides are in fact big lengthy chained sugar substances that nurture your macrophages (white blood cells) seen in the intestines. These types of macrophages get transferred to the defense cells which actually construct the body’s defense mechanism. It’s been unquestionably confirmed that polysaccharides stimulate the macrophages. Polysaccharides furthermore boost B lymphocytes function together with body’s immune system activity.

Our body requires a specific amount of polysaccharides in order to perform its normal function properly and the modern-day diets are not supplying it with the needed amount. This ‘dose’ that the body requires helps make the body’s defense mechanism function without flaws by guaranteeing that the cells from the body could ‘interact’ certain nutritional information among each other. The glycoproteins contained in the polysaccharides tend to be what makes this kind of communication attainable.

When paired with cordycepin (an important component associated with Cordyceps Sinensis), Cordyceps has the capacity to interrupt the Genetics repair system in the cellular level and prevent the splitting and replication associated with cancer cells, subsequently preventing cancer from growing. By revitalizing the immune system’s production of T-cells and macrophages, Cordyceps furthermore aids in getting rid of cancer cells and speed up the process of recovery.

A clinical trial had been carried out with fifty cancer of the lung affected individuals by which they were given Cordyceps Sinensis in 6 gram doses every day. It was applied in conjunction with chemotherapy. The results were reductions in tumor sizes around 46% of the patients while sufferers with several tumors reaped good results from this particular treatment with the majority of sufferers commented on improved conditions.

Type 2 Diabetes – What Causes Type 2 Diabetes?

Although there are two different types of diabetes, Type 2 diabetes counts for an overwhelming majority of the cases: 90 to 95%. And recently, the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes has been on the rise around the world, and especially in the United States. In 1997 only 5 states had Type 2 rates of 6% or more. Just ten years later in 2007, the figures had risen: 47 states had a prevalence rate of 6% or more, and in 8 states over 10% of the population had been diagnosed with this disease. With the prevalence of diabetes rising so rapidly, you can see why it is important to get to the root of the problem, and learn what is causing it.

What Causes Diabetes And Who Can Get It?

The biggest problem with determining the exact cause of diabetes, is that anyone can get it. This make it difficult to lay the blame on a single cause. So instead, researchers focus on looking at the risk factors that make developing Type 2 much more likely. Part of the problem lies in genetics, based on ethnicity or family history.

Sadly, most of the risk factors are associated with the lifestyle choices that many people make. Poor lifestyle choices such as smoking, alcohol abuse, a lack of physical activity, poor food choices, and obesity all make the development of Type 2 much more likely. The tragic part of this diabetes epidemic is that most of these risk factors could be prevented by making smarter decisions about your lifestyle.

What Happens With Type 2 Diabetes?

This form of diabetes most commonly occurs in people who meet one or more of the risk factors. The unfortunate truth is that day in and day out they are making decisions that harm their body and will potentially lead to a number of problems. Diabetes is just one of many problems that can result from obesity, smoking or any of the other risk factors. When people make these poor choices they place a great deal of stress on the body, which makes it more difficult for the body to carry out its regular functions normally.

One of the functions that is negatively affected by these choices is the body’s ability to maintain a healthy blood sugar level. Normally, the body is capable of keeping blood sugar levels regular on its own, but in a diabetic the body cannot lower the blood sugar without help. In Type 2, your body no longer responds properly to insulin, the hormone responsible for lowering blood sugar. Your body has to produce more and more insulin to lower the blood sugar level, but eventually it can’t keep up. At this point, you may be diagnosed with prediabetes or even full-blown Type 2. Generic viagra Canada

Prediabetes is defined as having a fasting blood sugar reading of 100 to 125mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9mmol/L). This is not quite high enough to give a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, but it mean you are on your way unless you intervene now.

Things to Look for While Buying a Shower Chair

Bathroom at times turns out to be an unsafe place for people of all ages, and if you have elderly at home then you need to take extra care to ensure it is safe to use and so falls can be avoided. When you hear the term “bathroom safety” there are a few tips that comes into your mind, say keep the floor dry and clean it often to prevent the growth of mildew and mold, which are major cause for making a bathroom slippery. But these are just not enough, there are few more things you need to do to have a safe shower area of which shower chair is vital. You may puzzle “why shower chair?” It is because a shower chair is mainly designed to prevent falls in the bathroom.

People who are in a position to be dependent on other to perform their daily chores find a shower chair very useful in living independent and maintain their dignity. But when you decided to buy a shower chair first take the fitness level and physical limitation of the user into consideration, only then you can make the perfect choice. And then make sure the chair don’t slip or slide when in use, chairs with anti-slip tips like suction cups on legs can provide optimal stability to users.

In case of rolling chairs make sure it comes with a locks on wheel and they are easy to be engaged. Remember that a shower doesn’t move once you have set it and moves only when you do it purposely, if it does on its own then it indicates it is unsafe to use.

Almost all of them come with backrest and armrests, so they eliminate users’ worry of falling either backwards or at the sides. Also, armrests help users with feeble limbs to get up from the chair with less stress. Here, you need to make sure that armrests have anti-slip grip so the user don’t lose grip, especially while lifting them up. With height-adjustable shower chairs users can easily access their feet for washing without the fear of falling forward.

One major factor to be considered while buying a shower chair is users’ body weight, in case if the users is a bariatric patient, then it is better to choose the one intended for bariatric use, otherwise it may result in collapse.

Do a thorough research before finalising a shower chair, with an array of online home medical supply stores this job can be done easier than never before.

A Significant Calculating Index of Your Typical Well Being

One confusing term which is very important and fundamental to a person’s life is blood pressure. It’s necessary to comprehend the straightforward meaning associated with the term to get a greater expertise in its vital effects in people’s every day life. One’s heart pumps blood directly into the human body via different vessels like the arteries and also capillaries at pre-set pressure degrees. The tension of the blood in the arterial blood vessels is substantially larger than that inside the capillary vessels. Since blood penetrates the smaller areas of circulation it drops in proportion to the width of the wall surfaces of the circulation system. This tension is tested with two top pressure and the minimum tension in the middle of each heartbeat. The highest pressure is referred to as systolic and the marginal has the name the diastolic pressure.

The most typical technique of measuring blood pressure is through a product which makes an outside light tension on the superior arm through an inflatable band. The equipment is pumped by hand. The tension that’s therefore exerted is then calculated by using a scale, which gives the actual systolic and the diastolic readings. Earlier the measure apparatus was the well-known mercury dependent glass scale that used to decide the utmost along with the minimal pressure as the mercury reached the highest levels and slid down to the bottom concentrations. This was at a later date substituted with automated measuring equipments that gave far more correct and reliable readings. These measuring tools are now available in numerous domestic models too which may be employed by anyone. Any kind of escalating movements can be simply observed and claimed to the doctor for additional investigations. Viagra online Australia

Blood pressure level has now become an essential index in measuring the typical wellness of people. You might discover your doctor checking on this pressure if you suffer from from any kind of exhausting condition that is having you far from activity and tasks for 2 or 3 days. This is an excellent practice because the doctor can directly co-relate the collected information with the ordinarily accepted averages and shift farther in the proper diagnosis of the ailment. With the ongoing levels of stress and also stress that’s mounting everyday in human lives, it truly is very important that the doctor keeps a close monitor on the blood pressure level reports to aid you organize your relaxation hours.

At a young age, it usually is possible to control this efficiently, but given that the body becomes drained with growing age, there should be a well-defined career lifestyle symmetry to look after this stuff. A tired human being or an infirm body will be unable to deal with the panic quantities present at all values today and in the end, there would be much more significant consequences on the physiology and the wellness of the person involved. It should be naturally understood that blood pressure level is an extremely solid rating index and the blood pressure measurements of this index can not be forgotten. Perhaps the slightest transformation can produce important healthcare problems and every action should be adopted to restore normalcy in the human being system.

How Sleep Deprivation Can Help Put on the Pounds

Diabetes can make you feel more tired than normal for a number of reasons… people with Type 2 diabetes, especially if they are overweight, may unknowingly suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, caused by the narrowing of the upper airways.

What wouldn’t you give to sleep like you did when you were a child? Do you remember how your Mom would coerce you to bed at exactly 8pm, telling you how you would grow taller the next day if you had enough sleep? Then, college came along, and your body adapted to long hours of studying (or was it partying?) and 2 to 3 hours of sleep each day. Now at the workplace, where a typical day means 8 or 9 hours of labor, 3 hours of socialization, 3 hours of housework and what’s left of the hours is devoted to other activities and sleep.

Do you would think your active 18-hour days would keep you fit and healthy? But no, you are still overweight, tired and almost always, hungry.

Why is this the case?

Studies have shown that there is a relationship between sleep deprivation and weight gain. Since the main purpose of sleep is to recharge and renew our bodies, a lot of hormones that have something to do with energy and appetite are also affected.

Hormones like:

1. Dopamine and serotonin: If you sleep less hours, the body balances its hormone levels by making you crave sweet, sugary foods since these have the same dopamine-serotonin releasing effect.

2. Ghrelin: Ghrelln is an appetite stimulating hormone. Lack of sleep leads to excess release of this hormone which makes you feel hungry, even if you just ate.

3. Leptin: Leptin is called the satiety hormone. The body delays release of this hormone if you don’t get enough sleep.

Simply put, if your body does not get enough sleep, it feels like it’s artillery has not been stocked, therefore, it compensates by sending out signals to make you eat more so it can get more ammo. This is why adults who get less than 7 to 9 hours sleep have a hard time controlling their weight.

According to the American Diabetes Association, regular sleep loss leads us to have increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines and low-grade inflammation known to trigger insulin resistance and the development of Type 2 diabetes. As well, overweight people are at a high risk of developing sleep disorders like sleep apnea (a condition that causes temporary gaps between breaths while sleeping).

People who don’t get enough sleep during the night typically have low energy throughout the day… especially to exercise or prepare nutritious meals. So now you see that lack of sleep can affect weight gain and increase your risk in developing Type 2 diabetes.

Here are some tips to help you sleep better:

  • make your bedroom your sleep sanctuary
  • go to bed and wake up around the same time every day
  • start winding down about 2 hours before bed. Do not exercise, eat in excess or attend to something stressful
  • avoid stimulants like coffee or tea before going to bed

Sleep is not a luxury, but a necessity. Sleep recharges you both mentally and physically. You are better able to fight off stress when you are well rested. Most adults still need about 8 hours of sleep. There are many studies linking obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

Entering into the best hemorrhoids Treatment

If you want to know how you can shrink piles quicker, it is advisable to learn this text in full to have the ability to know find out how to do is fast and straightforward without any suffering. Hemorrhoid is inflammation of the rectum that may trigger bleeding as well as painful sensation throughout your bowel movement. There are many possible causes why one expertise hemorrhoids. If this situation just isn’t treated on time, it would cause you plenty of discomfort and pain. There are a number of ways to shrink their hemroids easily by selecting the method that fits their conditions. You will need to know all attainable methods and choose one which has better facet effects. You have to know that there are surgical and non-surgical methods that you can choose from. Some strategies can take away the piles completely, but some strategies will shrink hemorrhoids temporarily and they will come again again. How to shrink hemorrhoids is definitely if you understand you choices.

Hemrroids could cause swelling and irritation internally and externally, however essentially the most troublesome one to find out is the inner hemorrhoid because it stays undetected till bleeding occurs. You will not know that you’re affected by hemorrhoid till all of a sudden discover painful bleeding. Truly, there is quite a lot of data on the way to Decrease hemorrhoids, however you have to make sure that the data that you’ve got will lead you to the fitting direction. Relating to external hemorrhoid, it develops around the anus space and one needs to attempt all possible remedies to have the ability to shrink it right earlier than it turns into thrombosed and result in uncontrollable pain. The followings are methods that you can use and answer your question of shrinking hemorrhoids.

1. Sclerotherapy – this type if technique could be very useful if sufferers need to shrink their hemorrhoids simply with the use of injected medicine. That is only appropriate for very small piles.

2. Cryotherapy – this is use to shrink piles, however it could brought about you some irritation.

3. Rubber band ligation – as the name implies it uses a rubber band that is fastened across the base of your hemorrhoid to chop the blood circulation that may trigger shrinkage of your piles.

4. Infrared gentle – this is also one method to Cut back your hemorrhoid with none pain.

Here are additionally out there house remedies that everyone can use to Reduce the hemorrhoids, but these methods are simply temporary. You’ll want to find methods on find out how to shrink piles for life.

What Food Is Best for Your Heart

With advances in science and nutrition, as well as advances in treatment of diseases, we can now better detect and take steps to prevent them, and thus have the opportunity to enjoy a healthier and longer life, compared to our ancestors. Nutrition plays a big part in determining our health, and thus our life. A poor diet is a major contributor and the root cause of many serious illness, such as heart disease. Heart attacks are the leading cause of death for both men and women worldwide.

What type of food should you include in your diet to prevent heart disease? What are the types of nutritional components in food, which are normally associated with prevention of heart attacks?

1. Omega 3 is an essential polyunsaturated fatty acid found in fish, especially oily fish such as salmon, cod, sardines and tuna. It is able to lower blood triglyceride (a risk factor for heart health)and prevents blood clotting, thus boosting cardiovascular health. For the non-fish lovers, flax seeds, canola, walnuts and soybeans are also rich sources of omega 3. The American Heart Association recommends taking at least two servings of oily fish per week, or a handful of nuts a day, to reduce risk of heart disease.

2. Garlic is known to prevent platelets from sticking together and thus reducing risk of plaques forming in the arteries. It is lipid-lowering, anticoagulant, antioxidant and antiviral. Just taking 1 fresh clove of minced garlic a day is enough to reap its numerous health benefits. Minced garlic can be sprinkled onto spaghetti, meat dishes, vegetables or salads, just before serving. For those who dislike the smell, there is always the odorless garlic pills or the antioxidant-rich Kyolic aged garlic extract. Another way to include garlic in your diet is to use garlic powder to marinade meats, together with spices and herbs.

3. Fruits and vegetables, rich in antioxidants, vitamins A, C and E, help fight oxidative stress, damage done to cells and DNA caused by free radicals. Cell damage can lead to heart disease.Fruits and vegetables are also rich in the cholesterol-lowering phytosterols and soluble fibers, all contributing to heart health. Beets are good sources of betaine and folate and these two nutrients work together to reduce levels of homocysteine, a type of naturally occurring amino acid that can cause harm to blood vessels, which in turn lead to heart disease. It is recommended to take at least four servings of fruits and vegetables a day. A smoothie consisting of a few types of fruits, blend together with plain yogurt, makes a healthy breakfast food.

4. Wholegrain foods were found to reduce the risk of developing heart disease by 25 percent, in a study published in the American Journal of Public Health, by a group of 34,0000 post menopausal women, who ate at least one serving of wholegrain food a day. Whole grains supply your body with vitamins and heart-protecting phyto-chemicals as well as insoluble fiber which aids digestion and prevents constipation. Wholegrain cereals are healthy choices for breakfast.

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