Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Athritis to Care...

Pay attention to symptoms
If you have pain, stiffness or swelling in or around a joint for more than two weeks, it's time to see your doctor. These symptoms can develop suddenly or slowly. Only a doctor can tell if it's arthritis. But "you have arthritis" is not a diagnosis. Ask for a specific diagnosis of the type of arthritis you have. There are more than 100 types, each of which has different treatments. Getting the right treatment requires getting the right diagnosis.

Protect your joints
The earlier an accurate diagnosis is made and treatment started, the better. Early treatment can often mean less joint damage and less pain. Your doctor may recommend a combination of treatments that may include medication, weight management, exercise, use of heat or cold, and methods to protect your joints from further damage. See your doctor for an early diagnosis and immediate treatment plan.
Avoid excess stress on your joints. Use larger or stronger joints to carry things. Assistive devices can make tasks at home and work easier. Staying close to your recommended weight also helps relieve damaging pressure on hips and knees.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Colon cleansing

Bowel movements are the basis of your health. If you don't have at least 1 bowel movement per day, you are already walking your way toward disease. Man's body has not changed very much in the past several thousand years... however man's diet has certainly changed a lot. All the refined sugar, white flour, hormone/antibiotics-filled meats we constantly ingest constitute an assault on our bodies. We are continuously violating our bodies by eating terrible foods. Colon cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S.

So, all congestion and toxins must be removed, and it must begin with cleansing of the bowel. One of the most frequent bowel problems that people experience today is constipation.

A constipated system is one in which the transition time of toxic wastes is slow. The longer the "transit time," the longer the toxic waste matter sits in our bowel, which allows them to putrefy, ferment and possibly be reabsorbed. The longer your body is exposed to putrefying food in your intestines, the greater the risk of developing disease. Even with one bowel movement per day, you will still have at least three meals worth of waste matter putrefying in your colon at all times.

Disease usually begins with a toxic bowel. Those having fewer bowel movements are harboring a potentially fertile breeding ground for serious diseases. Infrequent or poor quality bowel movements over an extended period of time may be very hazardous to your health.

Cleansing the Liver with Natural Food

Good physical health demands that you have a healthy and fully-functioning liver. There are many expensive medical treatments and drugs which purport to keep your liver healthy, but for those without the resources to purchase the necessary drugs, or for those who simply feel that drugs are not and answer to all of life's problems, there are alternative methods for keeping your liver healthy.

6 steps that cleanse the liver:

1.)Eat fresh vegetables that are high in vitamin content, such as broccoli, spinach and beets. Not only do these foods contain large amounts of various vitamins thought to be good for liver cleansing, but they also contain antioxidants which are also thought to improve liver function and even repair damaged liver cells. Fresh fruits and vegetables also contain natural fiber and beta carotene, which are also believed to be good for the liver.

2.)Eat brown rice as opposed to white (processed) rice. Brown rice contains higher levels of B vitamins than white rice and brown rice also contains the antioxidant selenium, believed to be beneficial for cleansing the liver.

3.)Use fresh garlic lavishly. Garlic contains high concentrations of glutathione, an amino acid believed by many to be vital in the cleansing of the liver.

4.)Eating nuts such as walnuts is also though to provide a beneficial fat known as Omega-3. Omega-3 is also found in abundance in many fish such as salmon, halibut, tuna and mackerel. Omega-3 is considered by many to be extremely helpful for the cleansing of the liver.

5.)Stay away from high-fat foods such as fatty beef, bacon, sausage, salami, hot dogs, cheese, whole milk, french fries, potato chips, and donuts, which cause the liver to work harder and reduce its efficiency.

6.)Drink plenty of water and reduce your intake of caffeine.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Helpful Tips

-Be sure to get plenty of rest
-7 to 8 hours is recommended
-Avoid wearing tight-fitting clothing and choose comfortable loose-fitting garments
-Try not to stand for long periods of time
(if you must stand as part of your job, then consciously balance your weight between both of your legs so that one leg will not carry all of the weight).

-Avoid sitting or standing for too long in one position
-Take short breaks so that you won’t be doing the same thing for long periods of time
(this improves blood circulation and ensures that all of your body gets the correct blood supply).

One of the very best things you can do for yourself and your varicose veins is to exercise. Exercise will keep the blood circulating all over your body (do this for at least half an hour every day).

Home remedies for Varicose Veins

Consume fresh pineapple juice once every day if you get varicose veins easily; eat blackberries and cherries to keep varicose veins at bay; rub apple cider vinegar directly over the affected veins for relief; mix equal amounts of carrot juice and spinach juice to provide relief.

Diet suggestions
Eat healthy and avoid junk food products, as well as oily and greasy foods – limit both sugar and salt intake – cut back on eating foods such as ice cream, peanuts, tomatoes, and cheese products.

Be sure to eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, wholegrain cereals and products, fish, seeds, nuts, and soy products; garlic, ginger, and onions are good for healthy blood circulation and should be used when cooking foods.

Eat plenty of fiber-rich foods to help clean the bowels – this greatly aids with varicose veins and other conditions as well; apply castor oil directly on painful veins to heal and reduce inflammation; use rosemary oil to massage the painful, inflamed veins – this helps reduce pain.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Healthy Foods for a Healthy Heart

Blueberries are actually considered to be included in the list of the extremely potent food for disease prevention. This is due to the anthocyanins that are present in blueberries, and giving its blue color. Anthocyanin acts as a powerful antioxidant. They are also a good source of fiber and vitamin C which you can get any time of the year. You can use it on your cereal for added flavor, or cook it with your pancakes, muffins, or waffles. You can also eat them raw, with other fruits, or blended into a fruit shake or salad.

Salmon is another type of food that is considered to be good for the heart. It is an excellent source of protein and omega 3 fatty acids. This food can be eaten twice a week in any way you want it: grilled, steamed, poached, baked, or even raw. Salmon is such a versatile type of food and easy to prepare even. You can use it to garnish your salad, pasta, dips, spreads. A good recipe for salmon is to marinate it in lime or lemon, garlic, onion and soy sauce for about a quarter of an hour, then grill it for a sandwich or a fish taco. You can also consider eating your salmon smoked which is usually used in bagels and in appetizers. There are a lot of ways to enjoy your salmon. Try to experiment on it to give variety to your meals and make healthy food enjoyable.

The last but definitely not the least healthy heart food is soy protein. This type of protein may cost less but contains excellent quality protein. It also has a lot of fiber, vitamins and minerals added to eat. Just a meal of soy protein is enough to complete your daily requirements for vitamins and minerals. A soy protein rich diet helps in lowering your low density lipoprotein or LDL levels which is considered to be the bad cholesterol. This is very good in preventing heart disease and keeping it fit and healthy. To get your fill of soy protein, you can have it as a snack from a soy protein bar or soy nuts. Edamame or the Japanese term for soybeans is also an excellent choice of snack. Another soy protein rich food is tofu that you use with soup. Soy milk can be mixed with fruit and ice for a scrumptious shake.

Your heart is very valuable. Take care of it by eating a well balanced meal as well as other heart healthy foods such as soy protein, blueberries and salmon.

Low-Glycemic Foods Help the Heart

Clinic has a healthy weight pyramid that can help people lose weight and provide benefits to the heart, a doctor said. "It's a common sense diet," he said.

The Mayo pyramid includes:
-Unlimited fruits and vegetables, at least three fruits and four vegetables daily.
-Four to eight daily servings of carbohydrates.
-Three to seven daily servings of protein/dairy.
-Three to five daily servings of fats.
-Up to 75 calories of sweets daily.

Besides the Mediterranean diet, the following are important to help maintain a healthy heart:
-Limit carbohydrates.
-Exercise.
-Control risk factors such blood pressure and cholesterol.
-Limited use of nuts.

Eat nuts for heart health, but in moderation

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Heart Disease: The World's Number One Killer

Heart disease is the number one killer in the world. By 2010, India's population is expected to account for 60 percent of the world's heart disease cases.

One percent of the world's population has a genetic mutation that makes them almost guaranteed to have heart trouble, but in South Asia, the frequency of the mutation reaches 4%.

The mutation on the heart protein gene MYBPC3 was discovered five years ago in two Indian families with cardiomyopathy, but its significance was not realized until a broader study including almost 1,500 people across India was done.