Archive forOctober, 2008

Cholesterol Lowering Foods - Heart Disease Prevention

Little by little larger numbers of people suffer from heart disease as a consequence of high cholesterol levels. There are many factors that enable the accumulation of cholesterol inside the organism, but the major cause is considered to be unhealthy diet. Unhealthy diet and bad eating habits can considerably increase blood cholesterol levels. That’s why cholesterol lowering foods should be part of a cholesterol lowering diet.

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in your bloodstream and every cell in your body. First off, it is important to note that cholesterol is normal. We all must have some cholesterol within our bodies. Without out it, your body would be unable to produce cell membranes and various hormones. But here is where it gets complicated. When your body has too much cholesterol, this waxy substance starts to form blockages in the arteries, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.

Cholesterol lowering food in combination with a healthy fit lifestyle has been proven over and over again to be one of the most effective ways of lowering cholesterol naturally.

Cholesterol lowering food should be included in everyone’s diet but especially in a diet to lower cholesterol if your cholesterol is already high. Failure to include cholesterol lowering food in your diet can lead to heart attack and stroke.

Nuts such as almonds and walnuts that have a high amount of monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fat, also help lowering cholesterol. Researchers have found that nuts not only lower the total and LDL (or “bad”) cholesterol significantly, but also help maintain a desirable level of HDL (or “good”) cholesterol.

Garlic is a popular cholesterol-lowering herb that contains allin and allicin. It has antispasmodic properties that help facilitate proper digestion and absorption. Because of its quick and effective actions on the gastrointestinal tract, excess cholesterol won’t be easily stored as fat since garlic tries to let the body eliminate it instead.

Oatmeal is a good source of carbohydrates and soluble fiber. Soluble fiber helps reduce low-density lipoprotein or LDL which is also called bad cholesterol. Soluble fiber acts to hinder excess absorption of cholesterol in the intestines. With its gel-like qualities, bile works with dietary cholesterol to be properly excreted by the body.

Flaxseed

Flaxseed provides alpha-linolenic acid a poly-unsaturated fat which has been shown to lower cholesterol while providing needed soluble fiber.

Olive Oil

Olive oil is one of the mono-saturated fats and studies have shown that it lowers blood cholesterol. Extra virgin olive oil is suggested to be better than other varieties.

While foods containing soy protein are no longer considered cholesterol lowering foods, they can still be part of a healthy diet. Soy protein will not harm your health, and substituting soy protein, such as tofu, tempeh, edamame, soy nuts, soy milk, soy burgers, soy cheese, and soy flour for animal protein, continues to be a wise food choice because of its high content of polyunsaturated fats, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and low content of saturated fat.

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Symptoms of Kidney Stones, Kidney Stones Diagnosis and Treatment

The kidney acts as a filter for blood, removing waste products from the body and helping regulate the levels of chemicals important for body function. The urine drains from the kidney into the bladder through a narrow tube called the ureter. When the bladder fills and there is an urge to urinate, the bladder empties through the urethra, a much wider tube than the ureter.

Anyone who has ever had the misfortune of enduring a kidney stone attack will tell you exactly how painful this condition can be. In fact, the pain is most often compared with the pangs of natural childbirth. This is no exaggeration or wishful thinking. The stabbing and shooting pains that accompany a major kidney stone attack can bring you literally to your knees, unable to even drive yourself to proper medical attention.

In many cases, kidney stones develop without producing any symptoms. However, if they become lodged in the ureter (the thin tube between the bladder and the kidney), symptoms can be very severe. Often, they vary depending on the stone’s location and then progress.

The patient of kidney stone faces is the pain during urination or the menstruation. This happens if the stone blocks the flow of the urine form the kidney to the urinary tract. This hurting can be very serious depending on the blockage that the stone proves to be for the urine. Similar thing happens during the menstruation. If it becomes very painful then there is a need of medication

The doctor will perform a number of diagnostic tests to diagnose kidney stones. Diagnostic tests include a blood test, a urine test and a 24-hour urine collection test. The 24-hour urine test is done to monitor urine volume, levels of acidity, and if a stone has passed into the sample, the make-up of stone (i.e., calcium-based, uric acid based, etc.) is also determined.

Kidney stones treatment will depend on the stones size and the patient’s condition. Relief from pain and ridding the body of the stones is the goal of the treatment. Kidney stones treatment depends on the size , type, and underlying cause . Usually, stones that are smaller than 4mm pass freely, while those larger than 5mm seldom pass naturally.

The first natural treatment you can try are herbal teas that can be found in health shops, herbal shops or via the internet. Look for meadowsweet, Joe-pye weed, sarsparillia and plantain in particular as these will help to eliminate the excess of uric acid that you may have in your body.

Fortunately, most stones can be treated without surgery. About 90 percent of all kidney stones can pass through the urinary system spontaneously with the help of plenty of water (two to three quarts a day) to help the stone move along. In addition to extra water consumption, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics to fight infection, pain relievers to help with the pain, an antispasmodic to relax the ureter muscles or diuretics to prevent urine from staying in the kidney. About 90 percent of all stones that leave the kidney will pass through the ureter within three to six weeks.

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Infant Constipation Causes, Infant Constipation Treatment

Infant constipation, like constipation in adults, is a common cause of abdominal pain in this age group. Children can have a very wide range of variations in the frequency at which they open their bowel. Constipation can occur in the newborn, infant, toddler, or indeed a child of any age.

Most breast fed infants have loose stools, but some are prone to infrequent bowel movements. Constipation is most often caused by a low-fiber diet, lack of physical activity, inadequate intake of fluid each day, or delay in going to the bathroom when you have the urge to defecate.

Constipation is one of the most common types of digestive upsets, but it can often be accompanied by heartburn and stomach cramps. Constipation is experienced when digestion becomes awkward, painful, prolonged and irregular - though irregularity is not necessarily a characteristic of constipation.

Causes

Constipation can be caused by numerous things including stress, insufficient fibre in the diet, not enough liquid intake, excess protein, refined foods, or no exercise. It can also be caused by the under functioning of the liver or thyroid.

Other causes include pregnancy, metabolic disorders, structural abnormalities, antacids, old age and constant use of laxatives. Constipation can also be a side effect of some medications.

Sudden blockages, bleeding or changes in bowel habits must be checked by a medical practitioner.

Treatment

Constipation generally can be treated by changing to a well balanced diet high in fibre with at least 6-8 glasses of water daily and regular exercise.

A glass of hot water with the juice of half a lemon squeezed into it, especially when taken in the morning can be very beneficial, especially if followed by a walk.

Herbs

Aloe gel ~ Dandelion ~ Psyllium ~ Senna ~ Yellow dock ~ Chamomile (to relax intestinal muscles)

An ideal breakfast would be fruit such as prunes or figs with cereal and rice bran. Another suggestion would be buckwheat seeds cooked with raisins, apple and cinnamon. Rice bran is preferred over wheat bran as wheat bran can be difficult to digest and can also contribute to haemorrhoids. For most people, bran acts as a fibre laxative but for sensitive people it can actually cause constipation and bloating, especially when fluid intake is inadequate. If these breakfasts don’t appeal, you can try any cereal with some psyllium powder sprinkled over.

The best advice—stick to nature’s way where your child’s health is concerned. Women have been breastfeeding for many thousands of years and their bodies were designed specifically with this function in mind. All the NASA technology, Internet innovation, genetic engineering, and chemical manipulations in the world have yet to improve on the natural biological structure and benefits of mother’s milk. Breast-fed infants reap many boons from mother’s milk: vastly increased immunological factors, fewer earaches and infections, greater hardiness and growth, easier digestibility and absorption of nutrients, improved social and emotional adjustment, and reduced chances of becoming constipated just to name a few.

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Chicken Pox Symptoms, Causes of Chicken Pox

Chicken pox is a highly infectious and very common childhood disease.  It is caused by the varicella zoster virus, a member of the herpes family of viruses. It is usually a mild, self-limiting disease in healthy children but it can be severe if contracted by babies, immune-suppressed children or adults.

Children under 10 years old are the main target of chicken pox. Adults can catch chicken pox as well, but this is very rare. Once you have had chicken pox, you can not develop it again. However, if you have not had chicken pox by the time you were ten, then things do not look so good. Older children and adults that develop chicken pox risk more severe complications. Winter and spring are the most common seasons for chicken pox. There are also some people that are more vulnerable to chicken pox than others. For example kids that are immunosuppressed or newborns are especially vulnerable to chicken pox.

Chicken Pox- Symptoms

The symptoms of Chickenpox is worse in adults than children. Complications are most common among the older age group. Serious and widespread dissemination of the disease can occur in patients who are immunosuppressed e.g patients with leukemia, lymphoma, HIV and Transplant patients. The lungs and brain may get involved causing pneumonia or encephlitis.

Chicken pox is a disease that affects mainly children. It is contagious and can be spread even through air. The main way of chicken pox transmission is by direct contact with the person infected by chicken pox. Like many other disease, chicken pox also has symptoms. These signs will appear about three weeks after infection with the virus that causes chicken pox. The reason for this is because the chicken pox virus has an incubation period. The proper medical term fro chicken pox is actually varicella, because the name of the virus that causes this children’ s disease is called varicella zoster.

Some of the chicken pox symptoms are quite characteristic. However, many of the other symptoms of this skin problem are similar to many other skin conditions. It is important to examine the chickenpox symptoms below to ensure that the problem is actually chicken pox and not some other illness. When in doubt, contact a physician or skin doctor to properly diagnose the condition.

Causes of Chickenpox

Chickenpox occurs mostly during the end of the winter and the beginning of the spring. It generally affects children aged from 2 to 8 and can take the form of epidemics.

The symptoms of chickenpox are: fever, itchy, red bumps that transform into round blisters with a red base. These blisters will form a crust and will eventually dry. For at least 5 days the infected person should not get into close contact with people that have not suffered from chickenpox and children should not go to school because they can infect others. Pregnant women who have made chickenpox before are safe and so is their baby. If she has not made chickenpox and got in contact with an infected person, the doctor can administer antibodies of chickenpox within 4 days of a possible contamination. After the dry scabs form the rate of contamination will decrease.

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Types of Depression, Symptoms of all Depression Types

Depression is not a small societal problem. It affects a rather large segment of our population. The word depression is a broad topic, and actually there are a variety of different type of the condition known as depression. These different types of depression are defined by different types of symptoms that are present.

Depression strikes in several forms. When a psychiatrist makes a diagnosis of a patient’s depressive illness, he or she may use a number of terms–such as bipolar, clinical, endogenous, major, melancholic, seasonal affective or unipolar–to describe it. These labels confuse many people who don’t understand that they can overlap. People with depressive illness may also receive more than one diagnosis since the illness is often linked with other problems, such as alcoholism or other substance abuses, eating disorders, or anxiety disorders.

Major Depression - This is the most serious type of depression, in terms of number of symptoms and severity of symptoms, but there are significant individual differences in the symptoms and severity. You do not need to feel suicidal to have a major depression, and you do not need to have a history of hospitalizations either, although both of these factors are present in some people with major depression. There is no official diagnosis of “moderate depression.”

Moderate Depression fits somewhere between mild depression and major depression. The symptoms of moderate depression are more severe and numerous than mild depression, and they begin to have an impact on the work, home and social life of the sufferer. While mild depression and dysthymic depression can go unnoticed by others, the symptoms of moderate depression are usually noticeable. If left untreated, people suffering from moderate depression can slip into major depression.

Then there is another type of depression known as dysthymia. This is where you suffer from the less serious symptoms. You will have trouble with your eating and sleeping. You may not be getting enough or you may be eating or getting too much sleep. In addition, people will feel tired for no reason, but still feel the need to get up out of bed.

Seasonal Affective Disorder/Winter Depression: Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as winter depression and SAD, is very common in parts of the country that have cold, cloudy winters with little sunshine. Lower serotonin levels and higher melatonin levels are thought to be the culprits in this type of depression.

Atypical Depression - This type of depression makes someone difficult to live with. The sufferer may become hypersensitive emotionally, go into panic attacks, overeat and oversleep. This may prevent him or her from forming a lasting romantic relationship because the symptoms may drive the other person “nuts”. This type of depression is mild and can easily be cured compared to other types.

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How to get rid of Blackheads - Remove Blackheads

Blackheads are caused when sebum (the skin’s natural oil) collects and hardens in the pores. The congesting toxins that are being expelled through your skin from the blood and lymph fluid combines with sebum creating a pasty glue. The exposed tip becomes oxidized and black, hence the name - blackheads . Oily and combination skins are most susceptible to these. The skin’s most dense oil glands are located in T-zone. That is why there you get the most blackheads.

If you want to get rid of blackheads you’re going to stop using oil-based makeup and skin treatments. These oil-based skin products will ensure that your pores get clogged on a regular basis because oil-based skin products, as compared to water-based products, are near impossible for your body to break down naturally. There are non-comedogenic (“clog-free” for us lay people) skin products available that should be used instead.

Check your makeup - The truth is, what you put on to cover blackheads up might actually be causing more of them!  If you wear lots of heavy foundation or use thick face creams, you could be contributing to the problem with your products!  In general, if you have a problem with greasy skin and clogged pores, consider using as few products as you can.  The fewer layers of stuff that you put on your face, the better.

When you’re taking a shower close all the doors and turn the shower water on as hot as you possibly can stand it. The steam will help open up the pores and can loosen the black head. This can also be accomplished by buying a facial steamer which is specifically made to open up facial pores.

Use BHA - BHA stands for Beta Hydroxy Acid, which is an exfoliant that removes the dead layer of skin from your face.  If you’ve ever seen a skincare product that contains salicylic acid, that’s BHA.  BHA is important for getting rid of blackheads because it goes into your pores to clean out the excess oil and dead skin cells that make up blackheads.

Absorb excess oil. If you have oily skin, try using a clay mask that does not contain mint, peppermint or other irritating ingredients. This will absorb the oil that may clog the poor. If you have dry skin, this is not necessary because pimples on dry skin are caused by oil inside the pore, not on the surface of the skin. Also, oil-absorbing papers may help to reduce the oil in your pores.

After washing your face make sure this use of clean towel to dry your face off. A previously used towel may contain oil and dirt and will only worsen the symptoms. After washing your face the last thing you want to do is replace it with oil and dirt and changing towels on a daily basis will help with this.

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