Showing posts with label Health - Knowledge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health - Knowledge. Show all posts
8 Ways Acidic Foods Damage Your Body
In small amounts, acidic foods like sugar, food additives, meat, rancid oils, trans fats, and fried food can be handled by your body’s detoxification systems like the kidneys as well as its mineral reserves. But, over time, acidity can have many damaging effects on the body. The following are seven ways acidity damages the body, but they are certainly not the only ones.
1. Excessive amounts of acid deplete oxygen, which is needed by every cell in your body to function properly.
2. It damages the mitochondria—the cells’ energy centers—so your cells won’t have enough energy to perform their vital functions properly.
3. Excessive amounts of acidity need to be eliminated or acid will be stored in tissues and joints, causing damage over time.
4. If not properly eliminated or neutralized, excessive amounts of acid can damage brain cells and other cells.
5. When acid levels are excessively high it creates a breeding ground for bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens.
6. Acid can damage tissues, joints, organs, and glands, resulting in any number of imbalances or dysfunction.
7. It depletes alkaline mineral stores in the body, particularly calcium from bones and magnesium from muscles.
8. Superfluous acidity overburdens the detoxification organs like the kidneys and the liver.
5 Health Risks of Too Little Sleep
Colon Cancer
A ground-breaking new study published in the journal Cancer has found that people who sleep less than six hours per night on average had an almost 50 percent increase in the risk of colorectal adenomas compared with individuals who got at least seven hours a night. (Adenomas are a precursor to cancer tumors, and if left untreated, can turn malignant.)
The study’s principal investigator, Li Li, MD, PhD, said that the increase in risk due to less hours of sleep is comparable to the risk associated with having a first-degree relative (parent or sibling) with colon cancer, as well as with high, red meat intake. Although why less sleep may lead to colon cancer is unknown, Dr. Li said some of theories include that less sleep may mean less production of melatonin, a natural hormone that in animals has been linked to DNA repair, or that insulin resistance may underlie the link between sleep disturbance and cancer development.
Diabetes
A connection between sleep and diabetes? Who knew? Women getting fewer than 5 hours of sleep each night are one-third more likely to develop diabetes, say Harvard researchers who conducted a far-ranging 10-year sleep study of more than 70,000 women (Diabetes Care, Feb 2003). The reasons that sleep problems might be connected to diabetes isn’t clear, but researchers think that too little sleep may reduce levels of leptin, a hormone that tells us to stop eating. Essentially, sleep loss may cause you to want eat more than your body needs. After going without enough sleep for two nights, people in one study had more of the hunger-inducing hormone ghrelin and less of the appetite-suppressing leptin.
Heart Disease
A University of Chicago study found that inadequate sleep caused levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, to rise in the afternoon and evening–increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and blood glucose. Along with abetting future health problems, the cortisol-induced alertness comes at a bad time–when you should be winding down your day or sleeping. In the same Harvard study mentioned above, researchers found that women who got less than 7 hours of sleep were at slightly higher risk of heart disease too. Sleep deprivation may hurt hearts by raising blood pressure, pumping extra stress hormones into the bloodstream, or raising blood sugar levels.
Depression/Impatience
This one’s a no-brainer to any of who have had to be spunky and agreeable after too many nights staring at the ceiling. A 2002 National Sleep Foundation poll connects mood with sleep habits. Among those with sleep problems, 21 percent said they were dissatisfied with life, and 12 percent described themselves as angry. Nearly half had trouble getting along with relatives or friends, and more than 60 percent felt impatient waiting in lines or stuck in traffic. Dissatisfaction and anger were three times lower for those who said they get enough sleep. And they were more likely to describe themselves as “full of energy,” “relaxed,” and “happy.” says Joyce Walsleben, PhD, “sleep and mood are regulated by the same brain chemicals.
Traffic Safety
Sleepless nights breed decreased reaction times–making driving (among other things) dangerous. A surprising National Sleep Foundation survey indicates that nearly 100 million sleepy Americans hop into vehicles each day. And each year, more than 100,000 motor vehicle crashes resulting in 1,550 deaths and 71,000 injuries are directly linked to drivers who fall asleep at the wheel. The US Congress is considering a bill that may put a stop to drowsy drivers. “Someone who gets behind the wheel drowsy, to me, carries the same risk as someone who gets behind the wheel drunk and should face the same criminal consequences,” says US Rep. Robert Andrews (D-NJ), sponsor of “Maggie’s Law” (HR968). The bill, which is named in memory of Maggie McDonnell, a college student who was killed by a sleep-deprived truck driver, would create traffic safety programs to be aimed at drowsy drivers.
A ground-breaking new study published in the journal Cancer has found that people who sleep less than six hours per night on average had an almost 50 percent increase in the risk of colorectal adenomas compared with individuals who got at least seven hours a night. (Adenomas are a precursor to cancer tumors, and if left untreated, can turn malignant.)
The study’s principal investigator, Li Li, MD, PhD, said that the increase in risk due to less hours of sleep is comparable to the risk associated with having a first-degree relative (parent or sibling) with colon cancer, as well as with high, red meat intake. Although why less sleep may lead to colon cancer is unknown, Dr. Li said some of theories include that less sleep may mean less production of melatonin, a natural hormone that in animals has been linked to DNA repair, or that insulin resistance may underlie the link between sleep disturbance and cancer development.
Diabetes
A connection between sleep and diabetes? Who knew? Women getting fewer than 5 hours of sleep each night are one-third more likely to develop diabetes, say Harvard researchers who conducted a far-ranging 10-year sleep study of more than 70,000 women (Diabetes Care, Feb 2003). The reasons that sleep problems might be connected to diabetes isn’t clear, but researchers think that too little sleep may reduce levels of leptin, a hormone that tells us to stop eating. Essentially, sleep loss may cause you to want eat more than your body needs. After going without enough sleep for two nights, people in one study had more of the hunger-inducing hormone ghrelin and less of the appetite-suppressing leptin.
Heart Disease
A University of Chicago study found that inadequate sleep caused levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, to rise in the afternoon and evening–increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and blood glucose. Along with abetting future health problems, the cortisol-induced alertness comes at a bad time–when you should be winding down your day or sleeping. In the same Harvard study mentioned above, researchers found that women who got less than 7 hours of sleep were at slightly higher risk of heart disease too. Sleep deprivation may hurt hearts by raising blood pressure, pumping extra stress hormones into the bloodstream, or raising blood sugar levels.
Depression/Impatience
This one’s a no-brainer to any of who have had to be spunky and agreeable after too many nights staring at the ceiling. A 2002 National Sleep Foundation poll connects mood with sleep habits. Among those with sleep problems, 21 percent said they were dissatisfied with life, and 12 percent described themselves as angry. Nearly half had trouble getting along with relatives or friends, and more than 60 percent felt impatient waiting in lines or stuck in traffic. Dissatisfaction and anger were three times lower for those who said they get enough sleep. And they were more likely to describe themselves as “full of energy,” “relaxed,” and “happy.” says Joyce Walsleben, PhD, “sleep and mood are regulated by the same brain chemicals.
Traffic Safety
Sleepless nights breed decreased reaction times–making driving (among other things) dangerous. A surprising National Sleep Foundation survey indicates that nearly 100 million sleepy Americans hop into vehicles each day. And each year, more than 100,000 motor vehicle crashes resulting in 1,550 deaths and 71,000 injuries are directly linked to drivers who fall asleep at the wheel. The US Congress is considering a bill that may put a stop to drowsy drivers. “Someone who gets behind the wheel drowsy, to me, carries the same risk as someone who gets behind the wheel drunk and should face the same criminal consequences,” says US Rep. Robert Andrews (D-NJ), sponsor of “Maggie’s Law” (HR968). The bill, which is named in memory of Maggie McDonnell, a college student who was killed by a sleep-deprived truck driver, would create traffic safety programs to be aimed at drowsy drivers.
Ginger Better than Drugs for Pain?
New research in the Journal of Pain reports that ginger is an effective natural anti-inflammatory that helps reduce pain and inflammation. Both raw ginger and heated ginger were used in the study with similar effectiveness. The scientists specifically explored ginger’s effects on muscle pain.
Ginger has been used medicinally for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine in India as a natural anti-inflammatory food. Dr. Krishna C. Srivastava, a world-renowned research on the therapeutic effects of spices, at Odense University in Denmark has also conducted extensive research into the anti-pain effects of ginger. In one study, Dr. Srivastava gave arthritic patients small amounts of ginger daily for three months. The majority of people had significant improvements in pain, swelling, and morning stiffness by eating ginger daily.
Dr. Srivastava also found that ginger was superior to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Tylenol or Advil because NSAIDs only work on one level: to block the formation of inflammatory compounds. Ginger, on the other hand, blocks the formation of the inflammatory compounds–prostaglandins and leukotrienes–and also has antioxidant effects that break down existing inflammation and acidity in the fluid within the joints.
How to make ginger tea:
I regularly use ginger to address muscular or joint pain and inflammation. The amount used in Dr. Srivastava’s study was 5 grams of fresh ginger or 1 tsp of dried ginger, in divided doses throughout the day. Fresh or dried ginger can be added to stir-fries, curries, soups, or made into tea. I chop a two to three inch piece of fresh ginger, add it to a quart of water and boil on the stove for 30 to 60 minutes. Add one to three drops of stevia to sweeten each cup of tea. Drink three cups daily for arthritic or muscle pain.
The above information is provided for educational purposes. Always consult a health practitioner before using herbs, particularly if you take pharmaceutical drugs.
Adapted from Healing Injuries the Natural Way by Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD.
Ginger has been used medicinally for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine in India as a natural anti-inflammatory food. Dr. Krishna C. Srivastava, a world-renowned research on the therapeutic effects of spices, at Odense University in Denmark has also conducted extensive research into the anti-pain effects of ginger. In one study, Dr. Srivastava gave arthritic patients small amounts of ginger daily for three months. The majority of people had significant improvements in pain, swelling, and morning stiffness by eating ginger daily.
Dr. Srivastava also found that ginger was superior to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Tylenol or Advil because NSAIDs only work on one level: to block the formation of inflammatory compounds. Ginger, on the other hand, blocks the formation of the inflammatory compounds–prostaglandins and leukotrienes–and also has antioxidant effects that break down existing inflammation and acidity in the fluid within the joints.
How to make ginger tea:
I regularly use ginger to address muscular or joint pain and inflammation. The amount used in Dr. Srivastava’s study was 5 grams of fresh ginger or 1 tsp of dried ginger, in divided doses throughout the day. Fresh or dried ginger can be added to stir-fries, curries, soups, or made into tea. I chop a two to three inch piece of fresh ginger, add it to a quart of water and boil on the stove for 30 to 60 minutes. Add one to three drops of stevia to sweeten each cup of tea. Drink three cups daily for arthritic or muscle pain.
The above information is provided for educational purposes. Always consult a health practitioner before using herbs, particularly if you take pharmaceutical drugs.
Adapted from Healing Injuries the Natural Way by Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD.
Smoking Damages Genes Within Minutes
Minutes after the first puffs, a smoker’s genes are damaged enough to lay the groundwork for a future cancer to take hold. That’s what U.S. scientists discovered in a recent study designed to evaluate the effect of substances in tobacco on DNA.
Might as Well Inject It
Damage occurred so quickly, it startled researchers who compared the speed of the effect to injecting the substances directly into the bloodstream.
The study is the first to use human subjects and looked specifically at tobacco's ability to damage DNA. Scientists tracked the pollutants know as PAHs or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. They travel in tobacco smoke but can be found in coal-burning plants and in charred barbecue food too.
Trashes DNA
One particular PAH type, phenanthrene, is found in cigarette smoke. Scientists followed its path through the blood and found that it formed a toxic substance that trashes DNA by causing mutations that can cause cancer.
The findings concluded that the PAH type reacted readily with DNA, inducing mutations.
What Do You Think?
Lung cancer kills approximately 3,000 people every day and 90% of those cancers can be attributed to smoking. Canada recently began adding graphic warnings to cigarette packaging, which included images of end stage cancer patients, but even studies like this new one and gruesome photos don’t appear to deter people from picking up the habit or continuing with an existing one.
The warnings and research are not new and studies that further illustrate the damage caused by smoking shouldn’t surprise anyone. When I was ten, I tried to convince my father, a two pack a day smoker of unfiltered Pall Malls, to quit by cutting out the Surgeon General’s warning on smoking from magazine ads and slipping them into his pockets and rolling them into his socks.
He was diagnosed with lung cancer at stage four in 2008 and died less than a month later.
Should we worry about people who knowingly expose themselves to potentially fatal illness? My father certainly knew the potential consequences of his habit. My childish chiding aside, he was an intelligent, well-informed man.
What are your thoughts? Share your stories.
Top 10 Heart Attack Symptoms You Might Ignore
Heart attacks don’t always strike out of the blue, there are many symptoms we can watch for in the days and weeks leading up to an attack. But the symptoms may not be the ones we expect. And they can be different in men and women, and different still in older adults.
Last year, for example, a landmark study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Institute found that 95 percent of women who’d had heart attacks reported experiencing symptoms in the weeks and months before the attack — but the symptoms weren’t the expected chest pain, so they went unrecognized.
Don’t let that happen to you. Here, 10 heart symptoms you’re likely to ignore — and shouldn’t.
1. Indigestion or nausea
One of the most oft-overlooked signs of a heart attack is nausea and stomach pain. Symptoms can range from mild indigestion to severe nausea, cramping, and vomiting. Others experience a cramping-style ache in the upper belly. Women and adults over age 60 are more likely to experience this symptom and not recognize it as tied to cardiac health.
Most cases of stomach ache and nausea aren’t caused by a heart attack, of course. But watch out for this sign by becoming familiar with your own digestive habits; pay attention when anything seems out of the ordinary, particularly if it comes on suddenly and you haven’t been exposed to stomach flu and haven’t eaten anything out of the ordinary.
2. Jaw, ear, neck, or shoulder pain
A sharp pain and numbness in the chest, shoulder, and arm is an indicator of heart attack, but many people don’t experience heart attack pain this way at all. Instead, they may feel pain in the neck or shoulder area, or it may feel like it’s running along the jaw and up by the ear. Some women specifically report feeling the pain between their shoulder blades.
A telltale sign: The pain comes and goes, rather than persisting unrelieved, as a pulled muscle would. This can make the pain both easy to overlook and difficult to pinpoint. You may notice pain in your neck one day, none the next day, then after that it might have moved to your ear and jaw. If you notice pain that seems to move or radiate upwards and out, this is important to bring to your doctor’s attention.
3. Sexual dysfunction
Having trouble achieving or keeping erections is common in men with coronary artery disease, but they may not make the connection. Just as arteries around the heart can narrow and harden, so can those that supply the penis — and because those arteries are smaller, they may show damage sooner. One survey of European men being treated for cardiovascular disease found that two out of three had suffered from erectile dysfunction before they were ever diagnosed with heart trouble.
4. Exhaustion or fatigue
A sense of crushing fatigue that lasts for several days is another sign of heart trouble that’s all too often overlooked or explained away. Women, in particular, often look back after a heart attack and mention this symptom. More than 70 percent of women in last year’s NIH study, for example, reported extreme fatigue in the weeks or months prior to their heart attack.
The key here is that the fatigue is unusually strong — not the kind of tiredness you can power through but the kind that lays you flat out in bed. If you’re normally a fairly energetic person and suddenly feel sidelined by fatigue, a call to your doctor is in order.
5. Breathlessness and dizziness
When your heart isn’t getting enough blood, it also isn’t getting enough oxygen. And when there’s not enough oxygen circulating in your blood, the result is feeling unable to draw a deep, satisfying breath — the same feeling you get when you’re at high elevation. Additional symptoms can be light- headedness and dizziness.
But sadly, people don’t attribute this symptom to heart disease, because they associate breathing with the lungs, not the heart. In last year’s NIH study, more than 40 percent of women heart attack victims remembered experiencing this symptom. A common description of the feeling: “I couldn’t catch my breath while walking up the driveway.”
6. Leg swelling or pain
When the heart muscle isn’t functioning properly, waste products aren’t carried away from tissues by the blood, and the result can be edema, or swelling caused by fluid retention. Edema usually starts in the feet, ankles, and legs because they’re furthest from the heart, where circulation is poorer. In addition, when tissues don’t get enough blood, it can lead to a painful condition called ischemia. Bring swelling and pain to the attention of your doctor.
7. Sleeplessness, insomnia, and anxiety
This is an odd one doctors can’t yet explain. Those who’ve had heart attacks often remember experiencing a sudden, unexplained inability to fall asleep or stay asleep during the month or weeks before their heart attack. (Note: If you already experience insomnia regularly, this symptom can be hard to distinguish.)
Patients often report the feeling as one of being “keyed up” and wound tight; they remember lying in bed with racing thoughts and sometimes a racing heart. In the NIH report, many of the women surveyed reported feeling a sense of “impending doom,” as if a disaster were about to occur. If you don’t normally have trouble sleeping and begin to experience acute insomnia and anxiety for unexplained reasons, speak with your doctor.
8. Flu-like symptoms
Clammy, sweaty skin, along with feeling light-headed, fatigued, and weak, leads some people to believe they’re coming down with the flu when, in fact, they’re having a heart attack. Even the feeling of heaviness or pressure in the chest — typical of some people’s experience in a heart attack — may be confused with having a chest cold or the flu.
If you experience severe flu -like symptoms that don’t quite add up to the flu (no high temperature, for example), call your doctor or advice nurse to talk it over. Watch out also for persistent wheezing or chronic coughing that doesn’t resolve itself; that can be a sign of heart disease, experts say. Patients sometimes attribute these symptoms to a cold or flu, asthma, or lung disease when what’s happening is that poor circulation is causing fluid to accumulate in the lungs.
9. Rapid-fire pulse or heart rate
One little-known symptom that sometimes predates a heart attack is known as ventricular tachycardia, more commonly described as rapid and irregular pulse and heart rate. During these episodes, which come on suddenly, you feel as if your heart is beating very fast and hard, like you just ran up a hill — except you didn’t. “I’d look down and I could actually see my heart pounding,” one person recalled. It can last just a few seconds or longer; if longer, you may also notice dizziness and weakness.
Some patients confuse these episodes with panic attacks. Rapid pulse and heartbeat that aren’t brought on by exertion always signal an issue to bring to your doctor’s attention.
10. You just don’t feel like yourself
Heart attacks in older adults (especially those in their 80s and beyond, or in those who have dementia or multiple health conditions), can mimic many other conditions. But an overall theme heard from those whose loved ones suffered heart attacks is that in the days leading up to and after a cardiac event, they “just didn’t seem like themselves.”
A good rule of thumb, experts say, is to watch for clusters of symptoms that come on all at once and aren’t typical of your normal experience. For example, a normally alert, energetic person suddenly begins to have muddled thinking, memory loss, deep fatigue, and a sense of being “out of it.” The underlying cause could be something as simple as a urinary tract infection, but it could also be a heart attack. If your body is doing unusual things and you just don’t feel “right,” don’t wait. See a doctor and ask for a thorough work-up.
And if you have any risk factors for cardiac disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, or family history of heart disease, make sure the doctor knows about those issues, too.
Last year, for example, a landmark study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Institute found that 95 percent of women who’d had heart attacks reported experiencing symptoms in the weeks and months before the attack — but the symptoms weren’t the expected chest pain, so they went unrecognized.
Don’t let that happen to you. Here, 10 heart symptoms you’re likely to ignore — and shouldn’t.
1. Indigestion or nausea
One of the most oft-overlooked signs of a heart attack is nausea and stomach pain. Symptoms can range from mild indigestion to severe nausea, cramping, and vomiting. Others experience a cramping-style ache in the upper belly. Women and adults over age 60 are more likely to experience this symptom and not recognize it as tied to cardiac health.
Most cases of stomach ache and nausea aren’t caused by a heart attack, of course. But watch out for this sign by becoming familiar with your own digestive habits; pay attention when anything seems out of the ordinary, particularly if it comes on suddenly and you haven’t been exposed to stomach flu and haven’t eaten anything out of the ordinary.
2. Jaw, ear, neck, or shoulder pain
A sharp pain and numbness in the chest, shoulder, and arm is an indicator of heart attack, but many people don’t experience heart attack pain this way at all. Instead, they may feel pain in the neck or shoulder area, or it may feel like it’s running along the jaw and up by the ear. Some women specifically report feeling the pain between their shoulder blades.
A telltale sign: The pain comes and goes, rather than persisting unrelieved, as a pulled muscle would. This can make the pain both easy to overlook and difficult to pinpoint. You may notice pain in your neck one day, none the next day, then after that it might have moved to your ear and jaw. If you notice pain that seems to move or radiate upwards and out, this is important to bring to your doctor’s attention.
3. Sexual dysfunction
Having trouble achieving or keeping erections is common in men with coronary artery disease, but they may not make the connection. Just as arteries around the heart can narrow and harden, so can those that supply the penis — and because those arteries are smaller, they may show damage sooner. One survey of European men being treated for cardiovascular disease found that two out of three had suffered from erectile dysfunction before they were ever diagnosed with heart trouble.
4. Exhaustion or fatigue
A sense of crushing fatigue that lasts for several days is another sign of heart trouble that’s all too often overlooked or explained away. Women, in particular, often look back after a heart attack and mention this symptom. More than 70 percent of women in last year’s NIH study, for example, reported extreme fatigue in the weeks or months prior to their heart attack.
The key here is that the fatigue is unusually strong — not the kind of tiredness you can power through but the kind that lays you flat out in bed. If you’re normally a fairly energetic person and suddenly feel sidelined by fatigue, a call to your doctor is in order.
5. Breathlessness and dizziness
When your heart isn’t getting enough blood, it also isn’t getting enough oxygen. And when there’s not enough oxygen circulating in your blood, the result is feeling unable to draw a deep, satisfying breath — the same feeling you get when you’re at high elevation. Additional symptoms can be light- headedness and dizziness.
But sadly, people don’t attribute this symptom to heart disease, because they associate breathing with the lungs, not the heart. In last year’s NIH study, more than 40 percent of women heart attack victims remembered experiencing this symptom. A common description of the feeling: “I couldn’t catch my breath while walking up the driveway.”
6. Leg swelling or pain
When the heart muscle isn’t functioning properly, waste products aren’t carried away from tissues by the blood, and the result can be edema, or swelling caused by fluid retention. Edema usually starts in the feet, ankles, and legs because they’re furthest from the heart, where circulation is poorer. In addition, when tissues don’t get enough blood, it can lead to a painful condition called ischemia. Bring swelling and pain to the attention of your doctor.
7. Sleeplessness, insomnia, and anxiety
This is an odd one doctors can’t yet explain. Those who’ve had heart attacks often remember experiencing a sudden, unexplained inability to fall asleep or stay asleep during the month or weeks before their heart attack. (Note: If you already experience insomnia regularly, this symptom can be hard to distinguish.)
Patients often report the feeling as one of being “keyed up” and wound tight; they remember lying in bed with racing thoughts and sometimes a racing heart. In the NIH report, many of the women surveyed reported feeling a sense of “impending doom,” as if a disaster were about to occur. If you don’t normally have trouble sleeping and begin to experience acute insomnia and anxiety for unexplained reasons, speak with your doctor.
8. Flu-like symptoms
Clammy, sweaty skin, along with feeling light-headed, fatigued, and weak, leads some people to believe they’re coming down with the flu when, in fact, they’re having a heart attack. Even the feeling of heaviness or pressure in the chest — typical of some people’s experience in a heart attack — may be confused with having a chest cold or the flu.
If you experience severe flu -like symptoms that don’t quite add up to the flu (no high temperature, for example), call your doctor or advice nurse to talk it over. Watch out also for persistent wheezing or chronic coughing that doesn’t resolve itself; that can be a sign of heart disease, experts say. Patients sometimes attribute these symptoms to a cold or flu, asthma, or lung disease when what’s happening is that poor circulation is causing fluid to accumulate in the lungs.
9. Rapid-fire pulse or heart rate
One little-known symptom that sometimes predates a heart attack is known as ventricular tachycardia, more commonly described as rapid and irregular pulse and heart rate. During these episodes, which come on suddenly, you feel as if your heart is beating very fast and hard, like you just ran up a hill — except you didn’t. “I’d look down and I could actually see my heart pounding,” one person recalled. It can last just a few seconds or longer; if longer, you may also notice dizziness and weakness.
Some patients confuse these episodes with panic attacks. Rapid pulse and heartbeat that aren’t brought on by exertion always signal an issue to bring to your doctor’s attention.
10. You just don’t feel like yourself
Heart attacks in older adults (especially those in their 80s and beyond, or in those who have dementia or multiple health conditions), can mimic many other conditions. But an overall theme heard from those whose loved ones suffered heart attacks is that in the days leading up to and after a cardiac event, they “just didn’t seem like themselves.”
A good rule of thumb, experts say, is to watch for clusters of symptoms that come on all at once and aren’t typical of your normal experience. For example, a normally alert, energetic person suddenly begins to have muddled thinking, memory loss, deep fatigue, and a sense of being “out of it.” The underlying cause could be something as simple as a urinary tract infection, but it could also be a heart attack. If your body is doing unusual things and you just don’t feel “right,” don’t wait. See a doctor and ask for a thorough work-up.
And if you have any risk factors for cardiac disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, or family history of heart disease, make sure the doctor knows about those issues, too.
8 Pains Not to Ignore
I’m always intrigued when someone seems to know to go to the ER for something I might decide to wait out–even given everything I know about health and wellness. Maybe when something’s really wrong you can just sense it, but I also realize the importance of knowing what kinds of pain can be a sign of something more serious. Here’s a quick description of eight signs and symptoms that shouldn’t be ignored.
1. Really, really bad headache.
A severe and sudden headache–the worst headache of your life–could be a sinus headache, but could also be a brain aneurism. If you also have stiffness and you can’t move your neck, meningitis is a possibility and you’ll need antibiotics immediately to prevent permanent damage. It seriously can’t hurt to go to the hospital.
2. Pain in the chest, arms, back, neck or jaw.
The most commonly reported heart attack symptom among men is chest discomfort, often described as a heaviness, tightness, or even a burning sensation. The feeling usually starts in the center of the chest and may or may not radiate to other areas of the body. It may go away and then come back, or it may be continuous.
But sometimes the pain of a heart attack doesn’t occur in the chest. Instead there might be discomfort or pain in one or both arms or back, neck, jaw, or even stomach. Women are more likely than men to experience pain in the jaw or back during an attack. It can be hard to tell if the discomfort is related to a heart attack or something else entirely, but if the pain came on suddenly or if you are experiencing another symptom as well, call 995.
3. Flashes of light.
The sudden sensation of flashing lights can indicate retinal detachment. Immediate medical attention is important as it may prevent permanent vision loss.
4. Pain in the lower back or between shoulder blades.
This can often be arthritis, but other possibilities include a heart attack, abdominal problems, or aortic dissection–which can appear as either a nagging or sudden pain. People who are at risk for aortic dissection have conditions that can change the integrity of the vessel wall, such as high blood pressure, a history of circulation problems, smoking, and diabetes.
5. Unusual stomach pain.
The main symptom of appendicitis is abdominal pain–it can feel like indigestion or like you need to have a bowel movement or pass gas, and often begins near the belly button before moving to the lower right side of the belly. But the pain can be in different parts of your stomach or even on your side. The pain of appendicitis is often described as “hard to describe.”
It may not be a very intense pain, but you may feel like something is wrong. If you have moderate belly pain that does not go away after 4 hours, call your doctor. If you have severe belly pain, call your doctor right away.
6. Loss of vision or speech, sudden weakness.
Do you know these warning signs for a stroke or mini stroke? Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of your body; sudden dimness, blurring or loss of vision; loss of speech or trouble understanding others; unexplained dizziness or unsteadiness, or a sudden fall; a sudden severe headache. If you have these signs or symptoms, every minute counts.
7. Pain in your calf.
Two million Americans a year are affected by life-threatening deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot that can happen in the deep veins of the leg. The risk is that a piece of the clot can detach and move to the lungs, which can be fatal. Risk factors include cancer, obesity, immobility due to prolonged bed rest or long-distance travel, pregnancy, and advanced age.
If you have pain or even just unexplained swelling in your calf, and especially if it’s accompanied by having shortness of breath, chest pain, or difficulty breathing–call 995.
8. Feeling full quicker than usual.
If you’ve started to feel full after eating less than normal, and it has lasted longer than a week, it may be a cause for concern. If you have other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, bloating, fever, and weight loss or gain it could indicate heartburn and irritable bowel syndrome, as well as more-serious problems like gastric outlet obstruction or esophageal cancer.
Breastfeeding Prevent Childhood Obesity
Preventing obesity later in life may start with breastfeeding. That's the conclusion reached by a review of research studies that have been conducted over the past 30 years.
One-Fifth Of American Children Are Obese
Since one-fifth of all American children are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this is an important finding. Several studies apparently suggest that breastfeeding, as opposed to formula feeding, protects infants from obesity, and also that it prevents obesity later in life.
Obesity Prevention Begins With Breastfeeding
From the Abstract of, "Does Breastfeeding Protect Against Overweight and Obesity in Children? A Review." by Ruth A. Lawrence MD, DD (Hon)
Obesity has become a national problem. It has a serious impact on health. Precursors of childhood obesity have been studied for decades but often do not start until school age. When the investigation begins during the perinatal period, it is clear that excessive weight gain in pregnancy is a significant contributor. Infant studies dramatically demonstrate the protective constituents of human milk as well as the importance of the process of suckling of the breast in obesity protection. It is concluded that obesity prevention begins with breastfeeding.
Breastfed Babies Can Self-Regulate
- Some of the details from the review, as to how breastfeeding protects from obesity, include:
- Breastfed babies take only the amount of nourishment they need;
- Mother's milk provides all the right nutrients and changes in composition as the baby grows;
- There are a number of hormones related to energy metabolism that are found in breast milk, but not in formula;
- Breast milk is also lower in protein than formula, and some studies have shown that excess protein may related to obesity in infancy.
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization (WHO) is working to encourage exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a child's life, and to increase the number of babies who are breastfed worldwide.
Not only is breastfeeding a healthier choice for infants, now we know that it can also provide a healthier future for them too!
Feel Great in a Flash! 16 Quick Tips
Here, 16 smart solutions for sounder sleep, a healthier heart, lower blood pressure, and more, from the new book by The Doctors
As hosts of the Emmy award–winning show The Doctors and as medical professionals with 78 years of experience under our stethoscopes, we can tell you firsthand that you don’t need huge chunks of time to stay healthy. In fact, very small, quick moves–like getting (or giving) a back rub or drinking more water can soothe little ailments today and protect your heart, brain, and entire body tomorrow.
In 5 seconds you can…
Put the snuggle back in your marriage
Weave more small touches into conversations with your spouse, family, and friends–it’s another way to show loved ones how much they mean to you. Squeeze your spouse’s hand when you’re riding an elevator together, or rub your daughter’s back when you chat about her day. We’re cuddle bugs by nature–our endocrine systems release a cascade of positive pleasure chemicals when we receive a caring touch, making us feel more connected and content and less anxious. (One study found that waitresses who touched their customers even earned bigger tips.)
In 10 seconds you can…
Keep allergies at bay
Allergies often flare up first thing in the morning. If that’s the case for you, take your allergy meds at night so they’ll still be working come dawn. And because many allergy drugs cause drowsiness, what better time to lie back, relax, and let the remedy do its job?
In 15 seconds you can…
Outsmart indigestion
As many as 80% of heartburn sufferers experience symptoms at night. Steal back a good night’s sleep by fluffing up two pillows instead of one. In an Archives of Internal Medicine study, people who propped up their heads about 11 inches reduced their symptoms dramatically. Also, sleep on your left side and you’ll cut your heartburn risk in half–that’s because snoozing on your right side relaxes the muscle that keeps gastric acids in your stomach.
In 20 seconds you can…
Decrease your risk of heart disease and diabetes
When your meal contains protein, fiber, and even fat, your body’s insulin response slows, stabilizing your blood sugar. Munch bread with some butter or olive oil, or make a PB&J sandwich with more PB and less J. In one study of more than 32,000 women, those whose diets had the highest glycemic load (a measure of how quickly a food spikes your blood sugar) had more than twice the risk of heart disease compared with those whose diets had the lowest load.
In 30 seconds you can…
Lower your blood pressure
Six calming breaths in 30 seconds can reduce your systolic blood pressure by nearly 10 mmHg, Japanese research has found. Even occasional blood pressure spikes–like those during an insanely nonstop day–might put you at increased risk of stroke, according to a study in the Lancet.
In 40 seconds you can…
Cut a junk food craving
If you just can’t give up your soda–a known contributor to obesity–here’s one way to lessen the impact of all that sugar and phosphoric acid: Take a glass that’s twice as big as your can, pack it with ice, and then pour in the soda. It will last longer and, by the time you’re finished, you’ll have an extra helping of hydrating water as well. This works with any sweetened drink, such as iced tea or orange juice.
In 60 seconds you can…
Have a smarter doctor’s visit
Just left the doctor and–oops–forgot to ask about your achy knee or can’t remember what she said about calcium supplements? Don’t be afraid to call back after you leave or send an e-mail. Most doctors will be happy to address any lingering questions that slipped your mind.
In 90 seconds you can…
Sidestep a hangover
Of course, you shouldn’t drink to excess. But when an extra round or two is unavoidable, alternate a glass of water with every one of wine. Rehydrating minimizes alcohol’s diuretic effects, staving off headaches. You’ll also likely drink less alcohol overall because you’ll fill up on water.
In 2 minutes you can…
Head off a migraine
Pull those sticky notes off your computer and straighten that stack of papers on your desk. The same clutter that’s merely a nuisance to most of us can be downright painful to people who get migraines, say Scottish researchers. Office litter may provoke debilitating pain by overstimulating whole clusters of nerve cells, much the way an overused muscle will spasm. Even if you’re not migraine-prone, clearing away junk helps relieve stress and improve focus.
In 3 minutes you can…
Reduce bad cholesterol
Instead of bread crumbs to coat chicken breasts, chop up General Mills’ original Fiber One cereal for a nutrition-packed crunch. For every extra gram of soluble fiber in your diet–a 1/2-cup serving of Fiber One has 1 g–you can trim your LDL cholesterol by almost 2 mg/dL. Other sources include beans, peas, and citrus.
In 4 minutes you can…
Boost your brainpower
A known metabolism jump-starter, resistance training just once a week can improve your ability to resolve conflicts and focus your attention, a Canadian study has found. Luckily, you don’t need the gym; just use your own body weight. Do as many push-ups or crunches as you can during commercials while watching your favorite TV show, or lunge across your living room as you water your plants.
In 5 minutes you can…
Make your mood soar
Go ahead, toot your own horn. When people were asked to track kindnesses they showed others, their own happiness skyrocketed. Leave a more-than-generous tip for waitstaff or let someone cut in front of you in line at the supermarket. Jot down your good deeds every evening, and you may act more kindly simply to lengthen your list. But that’s okay. According to researchers, you can become happier and more grateful by paying attention to how nice you are.
In 7 minutes you can…
Prolong your life
Instead of sitting when you poke around on Facebook, stand up and perch your laptop on a high countertop. A recent Australian study found that every hour of television people watched each day (trolling the Internet is an equally sedentary activity) increased their risk of dying from heart disease by 18%. Alternate standing and sitting while you’re online or watching TV, and you can eliminate the risk.
In 10 Minutes You Can…
Recover from a mild burn
Putting butter on a burn (an old wives’ tale) is a bad idea: It can trap the heat, causing discomfort and even infection. Another mistake is icing immediately–it’s as caustic as heat. Instead, submerge the area in cool water for 10 to 15 minutes, then treat with a cool compress. Apply aloe vera or antibiotic cream, then cover with a nonstick bandage.
In 12 Minutes You Can…
Prevent Alzheimer’s
Ask yourself, If I could change one thing about the world, what would it be? People with a strong purpose in life are 2-1/2 times more likely to ward off Alzheimer’s disease; research also shows they tend to be less depressed too. Answer the question quickly, with your gut reaction, then brainstorm five ways to help make that change at a local level.
In 15 minutes you can…
Stave off a heart attack
When on a tight budget, it’s easy to postpone vacations. But people with a higher risk of heart disease who take a trip every year are 32% less likely to die from their condition. Research a quick weekend getaway online, and consider it a health investment: Spending money on an experience actually makes you happier than splurging on a “thing” like a new flat-screen TV. Even better, these positive emotions prolong the heart-healthy effect.
As hosts of the Emmy award–winning show The Doctors and as medical professionals with 78 years of experience under our stethoscopes, we can tell you firsthand that you don’t need huge chunks of time to stay healthy. In fact, very small, quick moves–like getting (or giving) a back rub or drinking more water can soothe little ailments today and protect your heart, brain, and entire body tomorrow.
In 5 seconds you can…
Put the snuggle back in your marriage
Weave more small touches into conversations with your spouse, family, and friends–it’s another way to show loved ones how much they mean to you. Squeeze your spouse’s hand when you’re riding an elevator together, or rub your daughter’s back when you chat about her day. We’re cuddle bugs by nature–our endocrine systems release a cascade of positive pleasure chemicals when we receive a caring touch, making us feel more connected and content and less anxious. (One study found that waitresses who touched their customers even earned bigger tips.)
In 10 seconds you can…
Keep allergies at bay
Allergies often flare up first thing in the morning. If that’s the case for you, take your allergy meds at night so they’ll still be working come dawn. And because many allergy drugs cause drowsiness, what better time to lie back, relax, and let the remedy do its job?
In 15 seconds you can…
Outsmart indigestion
As many as 80% of heartburn sufferers experience symptoms at night. Steal back a good night’s sleep by fluffing up two pillows instead of one. In an Archives of Internal Medicine study, people who propped up their heads about 11 inches reduced their symptoms dramatically. Also, sleep on your left side and you’ll cut your heartburn risk in half–that’s because snoozing on your right side relaxes the muscle that keeps gastric acids in your stomach.
In 20 seconds you can…
Decrease your risk of heart disease and diabetes
When your meal contains protein, fiber, and even fat, your body’s insulin response slows, stabilizing your blood sugar. Munch bread with some butter or olive oil, or make a PB&J sandwich with more PB and less J. In one study of more than 32,000 women, those whose diets had the highest glycemic load (a measure of how quickly a food spikes your blood sugar) had more than twice the risk of heart disease compared with those whose diets had the lowest load.
In 30 seconds you can…
Lower your blood pressure
Six calming breaths in 30 seconds can reduce your systolic blood pressure by nearly 10 mmHg, Japanese research has found. Even occasional blood pressure spikes–like those during an insanely nonstop day–might put you at increased risk of stroke, according to a study in the Lancet.
In 40 seconds you can…
Cut a junk food craving
If you just can’t give up your soda–a known contributor to obesity–here’s one way to lessen the impact of all that sugar and phosphoric acid: Take a glass that’s twice as big as your can, pack it with ice, and then pour in the soda. It will last longer and, by the time you’re finished, you’ll have an extra helping of hydrating water as well. This works with any sweetened drink, such as iced tea or orange juice.
In 60 seconds you can…
Have a smarter doctor’s visit
Just left the doctor and–oops–forgot to ask about your achy knee or can’t remember what she said about calcium supplements? Don’t be afraid to call back after you leave or send an e-mail. Most doctors will be happy to address any lingering questions that slipped your mind.
In 90 seconds you can…
Sidestep a hangover
Of course, you shouldn’t drink to excess. But when an extra round or two is unavoidable, alternate a glass of water with every one of wine. Rehydrating minimizes alcohol’s diuretic effects, staving off headaches. You’ll also likely drink less alcohol overall because you’ll fill up on water.
In 2 minutes you can…
Head off a migraine
Pull those sticky notes off your computer and straighten that stack of papers on your desk. The same clutter that’s merely a nuisance to most of us can be downright painful to people who get migraines, say Scottish researchers. Office litter may provoke debilitating pain by overstimulating whole clusters of nerve cells, much the way an overused muscle will spasm. Even if you’re not migraine-prone, clearing away junk helps relieve stress and improve focus.
In 3 minutes you can…
Reduce bad cholesterol
Instead of bread crumbs to coat chicken breasts, chop up General Mills’ original Fiber One cereal for a nutrition-packed crunch. For every extra gram of soluble fiber in your diet–a 1/2-cup serving of Fiber One has 1 g–you can trim your LDL cholesterol by almost 2 mg/dL. Other sources include beans, peas, and citrus.
In 4 minutes you can…
Boost your brainpower
A known metabolism jump-starter, resistance training just once a week can improve your ability to resolve conflicts and focus your attention, a Canadian study has found. Luckily, you don’t need the gym; just use your own body weight. Do as many push-ups or crunches as you can during commercials while watching your favorite TV show, or lunge across your living room as you water your plants.
In 5 minutes you can…
Make your mood soar
Go ahead, toot your own horn. When people were asked to track kindnesses they showed others, their own happiness skyrocketed. Leave a more-than-generous tip for waitstaff or let someone cut in front of you in line at the supermarket. Jot down your good deeds every evening, and you may act more kindly simply to lengthen your list. But that’s okay. According to researchers, you can become happier and more grateful by paying attention to how nice you are.
In 7 minutes you can…
Prolong your life
Instead of sitting when you poke around on Facebook, stand up and perch your laptop on a high countertop. A recent Australian study found that every hour of television people watched each day (trolling the Internet is an equally sedentary activity) increased their risk of dying from heart disease by 18%. Alternate standing and sitting while you’re online or watching TV, and you can eliminate the risk.
In 10 Minutes You Can…
Recover from a mild burn
Putting butter on a burn (an old wives’ tale) is a bad idea: It can trap the heat, causing discomfort and even infection. Another mistake is icing immediately–it’s as caustic as heat. Instead, submerge the area in cool water for 10 to 15 minutes, then treat with a cool compress. Apply aloe vera or antibiotic cream, then cover with a nonstick bandage.
In 12 Minutes You Can…
Prevent Alzheimer’s
Ask yourself, If I could change one thing about the world, what would it be? People with a strong purpose in life are 2-1/2 times more likely to ward off Alzheimer’s disease; research also shows they tend to be less depressed too. Answer the question quickly, with your gut reaction, then brainstorm five ways to help make that change at a local level.
In 15 minutes you can…
Stave off a heart attack
When on a tight budget, it’s easy to postpone vacations. But people with a higher risk of heart disease who take a trip every year are 32% less likely to die from their condition. Research a quick weekend getaway online, and consider it a health investment: Spending money on an experience actually makes you happier than splurging on a “thing” like a new flat-screen TV. Even better, these positive emotions prolong the heart-healthy effect.
Secrets of Centenarians
Only one in 6,000 people reaches the century mark and just one in 7 million lives to be 110 or older. Is it a fluke that some people live so many years or are there commonalities that allow them to push on well after a century of life? The New York Times recently took time to talk to a group of centenarians and find out their story and in my research I’ve found a few traits that seem to show up in most centenarians.
Crediting a Healthy, Low Impact Lifestyle
As you might expect, centenarians are usually free of many of the diseases like heart disease and diabetes that cause ill health later in life. They’re often amazing at dealing with stress so that it doesn’t reflect on their well being. Centenarians don’t abuse cigarettes or drink too much and they are rarely, if ever obese. They tend to eat very little meat, regularly exercise, and spend a lot of time with their friends and families according to a study at Boston University.
Genes Are Only Part of It
Without a doubt, genetics plays a major role in unusually long lives. Centenarians often have others in their family that have lived past a century. But genetics isn’t the only component. Based on studies at Boston University, it’s 70 to 80 percent environment and 20 to 30 percent genes.
Where Do Centenarians Come From?
While the US has a high rate of centenarians, this doesn’t always mean a high quality of life. Quality of life is sometimes surpassed by the need to keep people alive. It’s not about just living past a century, but being functional the whole time.
The Seventh-day Adventists live an average ten years longer than others in this country, to an average age of 88 with a higher percentage of unusually long lives. They don’t smoke, tend to be lean and fit, and get regular exercise. They eat a largely vegetarian diet and spend a lot of time involved with family and religion, which scientists think helps them manage stress according to a story in the LA Times.
In Okinawa, an island of Japan there are more centenarians than any other place in the world. Their diet is filled with whole grains, vegetables, and fish. They eat very little meat and dairy. An Okinawan staple is tofu and bean curd.
Dominica has the second highest rate of longevity in the Western Hemisphere. Out of a population of 70,000, 21 Dominicans are more than 100 years old. Tourism minister Charles Savarin attributes Dominicans’ longevity to the island’s pristine environment. He says:
Many people still drink water straight from the rivers. The water is naturally filtered and entirely without chemicals. There are no industrial plants emptying into the streams and the sea. Most of the country is heavily forested so that we may have more oxygen here than anywhere else.
Illness - Your Cells Are Crying
Four in the morning everyday, when most of us still asleep, Dr. Lee Feng of Taipei University Pathological Department wakes up. First, she drinks a glass of water. Then she starts to meditate and exercise.
After having her cereal breakfast, she starts her daily office work. Eight o'clock at night when many executives are still working overtime in the office, Dr. Lee starts to meditate. She usually sleeps at nine.
She prefers very light meal. In the afternoon, she cooks her own rice and vegetable. At night, she only takes about one third of the amount she eats in the noon. Her daily diet mostly consists of grains and vegetables.
A cancer patient?
It's very hard to imagine 30 years ago, Dr Lee Feng suffered from lymphatic cancer. Today she still lives healthily. How could she live that long? The answer is because she respects each and every cells in her body.
For the past 30 years, she carefully observes the life and death of human cells under microscope.
According to her, when you are cheerful, your cells would be in wholesome form. But if you are angry, your cells would be like an old man's face, full of wrinkles. Furthermore, there is a big difference between healthy cell and ill cell. Cancer cells are usually not in proper form.
She said the more you understand your cells, the more you would regret how you have treated them in the past. When you learn to respect them, your body condition gradually improves.
Healthy lifestyle and diet
Dr Lee Feng has been living with cancer cells for 30 years. She has three decades of experience on how to overcome damaged cells.
"We have six trillion cells and our body is like a huge bio-chemical factory. We could not bother so much! All we could do is to provide good environment for the cells."
She says that providing excellent environment for our cells means we must have a disciplined life, take light diet and have regular exercise.
Caring for your liver
Take liver for example. Why do you need to sleep before eleven at night? This is because from eleven at night to three in the morning, your liver undergoes detoxification processes.
According to medical research, when you are standing, the rate of liver blood flow is three times lesser than when you are lying down.
Your liver organ is like a chemical factory almost 1.5 kg in weight. It can accommodate almost 500 types of chemical reactions.
When you are growing and participating in activities, your body produces various chemical reactions that require detoxification. There are more than 2,000 types of chemicals in your body and liver can produce about 1,000 types.
When toxins enter your body, your liver will automatically undergo detoxification process through chemical reactions. Some heavy metals and bacteria from the intestines will be excreted via the bile.
This operation is indeed a very complicated process. Man-made organs such as man-made lungs and kidneys can function more or less like the natural organs. However, man-made liver cannot function like natural liver to perform hundreds of chemical processes.
Caring for your lung
Your lung can accommodate almost 6 liters of air. However, when you sit on the chair, you only inhale about half liter of air or only 1/12 of lung maximum capacity.
Modern people spend a lot of their time sitting in the office, taking public transport and lift. They only inhale between 0.5 to 1 liter of air each time they breathe. Just like a person who has 12 rooms and only use one.
Dr. Lee Feng says that if you want to use every space of your lung, you must have regular exercise. This enables your muscle to exhaust oxygen faster, which makes you breathe deeper. This allows more air to fill your lung.
Caring for your cells
Dr. Lee Feng thinks we must acknowledge we are responsible for our own sickness. So, we must make effort to take good care of our own cells.
Your body is an amazing universe.
Everyday, your body digests rice, vegetables and meat. It absorbs nutrients and excretes toxins. These processes are indeed very complex biochemical reactions.
Your body is also like a cell factory. Different cells perform different functions. For example, stomach cells are related to digestive system while liver cells can store nutrients and expel waste substances.
Well, how to protect your cells? First of all, do not torture your cells by overeating and sleep late at night.
Therefore, remember to eat less and sleep earlier!
How To Fight free Radical With Antioxidant
Free radicals can be divided into those caused by internal and external factors. The internal ones are produced out of irregular metabolism in your body.
And those caused by radiations, over exercise, polluted air and drinking water, fried food as well as chemical additives are considered the external factors.
The double edged blade
Free radicals are like a blade with two sharp edges. For example, carbon monoxide is a beneficial free radical. It is an essential ingredient for transmitting messages in central nervous system.
On the other hand, there are oxygenated free radicals released from our food and environment which are highly poisonous.
These free radicals are like the "bad guys" in our body. We must eliminate them or else they will harm our body. What is the main enemy of free radical? It is the antioxidants.
The wonderful antioxidants
If free radical is a terrorist, then antioxidant is the police that disarm the terrorist and make it harmless. Each type of free radical has some specific antioxidants that work against them.
Some substances in your body such as uric acid and protein can produce antioxidant enzymes to eliminate free radicals. However, your body will also automatically produce other free radicals that are difficult to be eliminated totally. It requires various vitamins like C, A, E and beta carotene to extinguish them.
Vegetables and grains also contain a lot of antioxidants. Unfortunately, many of these food have been processed, fried, fermented or oil fried. Consequently, more free radicals are produced that are harmful to your body.
Food rich in antioxidants
Food rich in Vitamin A are milk, yogurt, egg, carrot and yellowish green vegetables.
Food rich in vitamin C are sweet chili, papaya, lemon and other fresh vegetables.
And food rich in vitamin E include plant seeds, wheat sprout, coarse rice, sunflower seeds, plant oil and deep green vegetables.
Apart from fresh vegetables, some food like animal liver, seafood, onion, whole grain and tomato are also rich in antioxidants.
Beta carotene antioxidant
Beta carotene can eliminate free radicals too. The greenish vegetables and fruits like mango are some examples of food with this substance.
To replenish beta carotene, many people drink excessive carrot juice or eat raw carrot. This is less effective because your body can absorb beta carotene only in presence of oil. Instead, take it together with other dish which is cooked or mixed with some oil.
Though beta carotene has strong antioxidant function, you cannot consume it excessively because your skin may become yellowish.
SOD
Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) is a type of enzyme that can neutralize free radicals in your body. Many researches have revealed that replenishing SOD can effectively reduce free radicals level.
Daily consumption of wheat sprout, beans, soybean, young leaves or fresh fish replenish SOD in your body. The ganoderma (reishi) mushroom, also known as the immortal herb, contains a high concentration of SOD that helps to slow down your aging process.
Other antioxidant
Apart from all those mentioned above, fresh vegetables, garlic, green tea and red wine are also excellent antioxidants. Garlic contains Allicin which is reported to reduce LDL cholesterol and eliminate free radicals.
The polyphenol in green tea can enhance the elimination of free radicals. Researches also found that coffee, grape seeds, soybean and chocolate also contain phenol.
Drinking red wine moderately also reduce harmful effect due to free radicals. Presently researches have discovered that red wine contain three types of organic substances: Phenol, alcohol and resveratrol.
The phenol has antioxidants while resveratrol is a natural germ killer which can retard LDL cholesterol oxidization.
Having known all these food with beneficial antioxidants, you will know what to eat for your next meal, don't you?
EWG Health Tips
Many of us are not aware of the safety aspect of the product we use in our daily life. The EWG (Environment Working Group) is a non-profit organisation founded in 1993 to spread public awareness in protecting public health and environment.
Below is the link on product safety info for the whole family ranging from food we consumed to daily product used like toiletries, to kids personal care, safe drinking water, healthy home tips, safe cosmetics, cell phone radiation, nine practical tips of precenting cancer and many more.
Product safety info for the whole family.
Below is the link on product safety info for the whole family ranging from food we consumed to daily product used like toiletries, to kids personal care, safe drinking water, healthy home tips, safe cosmetics, cell phone radiation, nine practical tips of precenting cancer and many more.
Product safety info for the whole family.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)