Vitamin D deficiency is far more common than you might suppose
Posted on February 17, 2009
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Vitamin D is essential in promoting proper absorption of calcium and phosphate, necessary for good bone health. In addition, vitamin D strengthens your immune system response and enhances strength in muscle tissue. A vitamin D deficiency has become increasingly common, primarily due to a lack of exposure to adequate sunlight. Ironically, if you regularly wear a sunscreen as protection against harmful UV rays, you’re preventing the formation of vitamin D! In most cases, all you need is 15-30 minutes of exposure to sunlight to prevent a vitamin D deficiency. Sitting outside in the early hours of the morning and late afternoon is your workaround.
Very few people are able to get sufficient quantities of vitamin D through their diet. The symptoms of a vitamin D deficiency include aching muscles, as well as weakness and pain in the bones.
Pregnant women who have a vitamin D deficiency will pass this deficiency on to their baby. The first symptoms of deficiency in infants may be muscle spasms, caused by insufficient calcium, due to malabsorption by a lack of vitamin D. If you’re breastfeeding your child, talk with your physician about vitamin D supplementation and exposure to sunlight, in healthy amounts, for your baby. Breastfeeding has many health benefits for your baby, but breast milk contains very little vitamin D.
Older people and people with darker skin are more vulnerable to this deficiency. In both cases, the requirements for vitamin D increase. Older persons may have malabsorption problems. Darker skinned persons do not form the same amounts of vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. Both groups should probably have a blood test to determine the vitamin D levels in their blood. If you are deficient, consult with your doctor to determine a proper amount of supplementation.
Other repercussions may result from a vitamin D deficiency. For example, your body may try to compensate for the lack of adequate levels of calcium in the blood (caused by inadequate levels of vitamin D), by producing excessive amounts of the parathyroid hormone, eventually resulting in a condition called hyper-parathyroidism. This hormone causes calcium to be drawn out of the bones. In the case of osteoporosis, this naturally worsens your condition. Read more
Maintaining good prostate health is as easy as eating the right foods!
Posted on February 17, 2009
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More and more, men over 50 are developing an enlarged prostate or prostate cancer. Men are well advised to have their prostate checked every year, once they reach the age of 50. If you have a family history, it may be a good idea to start having these checks at an earlier age. However, there’s a lot you can do to maintain good prostate health on your own. There’s quite a bit of evidence that suggests that the foods you eat have much to do with maintaining good prostate health. A diet rich in certain foods may well mean that you will never have to worry about prostate problems.
Interestingly enough, these foods do more than benefit your prostate health. From a holistic standpoint, the healthier you are overall, the better your whole body functions, including the prostate.
At the top of the list is the soybean. The traditional diet in Japan includes plenty of soy and it’s well documented that the incidence of prostate and breast cancer among the Japanese is quite low. Tofu, which is sold in blocks like cheese, comes in various textures, from soft to extra firm. Tofu does not have much of a taste on its own, but readily absorbs the flavor of other foods with which it is cooked. Try dicing some extra firm tofu and soaking it in a chicken, shrimp or vegetable broth. Toss the tofu with some steamed rice and veggies.
There are so many soy products to be found in the supermarkets today, it’s not difficult to make soy a regular part of your diet. Try a soy burger – it does taste like beef, but unlike beef, which you should cut down on if you want to promote prostate health, a soy burger promotes prostate health. Soy milk is another great choice for your prostate’s well being. While several studies suggest that dairy products have a detrimental effect on prostate health, regular consumption of soy milk appears to reduce your chances of prostate problems.
If you just don’t care for the taste of some of the many soy products available, visit your health food store and purchase powdered soy, a concentrated source which is available in capsules. Read more
Aloe Vera Products
Posted on February 17, 2009
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Although I swore to myself that I’d never let it happen again, I’ve inevitably come back from the beach with a ruthless sunburn. So much for my 45 SPF sunscreen! I guess there are just those of us out there who have no business being out in the sun for more than 30 minutes. But it’s just too much fun to play in the ocean, and I don’t have any intentions of staying inside for the rest of my life, and especially not while the rest of my family wants to enjoy a day at the beach. That said, I’ve got to get serious on re-applying the sunscreen religiously every hour or two. But in the meantime, I want to do what I can to keep from peeling. According to conventional wisdom, that means investing in some aloe vera products, the gel in particular, and slathering the stuff all over my poor back.
Did you know that aloe vera products have been used for soothing minor burns and other skin problems for over 2000 years? The stuff is even mentioned in the Bible! Talk about a long history of pain relief. But I’ve only recently learned that there are a lot more natural aloe vera products on the market than just the standard-issue gel we use to help calm fierce sunburn.
All aloe vera products come from the well-known succulent plant that looks ever so slightly like a spiky ball of cactus. The gel from the leaves of this famous plant has all sorts of excellent properties that are used for both skin care and cosmetics. What I didn’t know is that there’s a whole new market for aloe vera products that you actually ingest. You can drink it as a juice or take it in tablet or capsule form, and some say that it’s a real help for things like minor digestive problems or naturally boosting the immune system. Read more
Scientific studies show that magnesium supplements can reverse arthritis and osteoporosis!
Posted on January 22, 2009
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If you suffer from osteoarthritis, you know how painful, swollen joints can put a damper on everyday activities. Osteoarthritis is characterized as a general wearing out of the joints, due to wear and tear. It is distinguished from rheumatoid arthritis, which is a systemic condition.
While there are medications to slow the progress of rheumatoid arthritis, there are none available today for osteoarthritis. Your physician may simply prescribe pain medication to deal with the pain and leave it at that. As anyone with osteoarthritis knows, taking pain pills on an ongoing basis is no way to live.
However, many recent studies irrefutably demonstrate that magnesium supplements can not only reverse bone loss, but can actually rebuild your bone tissue. When magnesium supplements, in a 2:3 balanced ratio of calcium-magnesium are taken, bone density has increased by up to a startling 11% in just nine months!
Osteoarthritis is just the beginning. Osteoporosis is the next phase, where bone and joint tissue deteriorate, eventually resulting in fractures of bones and frequently, hip joints.
At first glance, it may seem reasonable that, as we age, conditions such as osteoarthritis are to be expected. The fact is that, as we age, certain nutrients are not as readily absorbed. Magnesium is just one of these. Magnesium deficiency effectively disables the hormone calcitonin, resulting in calcium being deposited in soft tissue and not into your bones.
Diet has much to do with osteoarthritis. Eating foods rich in calcium produces strong bones, right? To a point. You must also balance your calcium intake with magnesium in sufficient amounts. Otherwise, excess calcium stimulates the hormone , parathyroid (PTH), which tells the body to pull calcium out of your bones and deposit the excess in soft tissues. This process is also implicated in arteriosclerosis. Magnesium supplements restore a balanced hormone response, and thus, bone loss.
Let’s look at the diets in several areas of the world and compare the rates of arthritis and osteoporosis to prove the case for magnesium supplements as a natural remedy. Read more
How do you know you’re receiving reliable health advice?
Posted on January 22, 2009
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If you have a serious health condition, such as heart disease, cancer or diabetes, you certainly want to feel that the health advice you’re getting is comprehensive and accurate. Unfortunately, doctors see case after case in their offices every day and do not have much time to spend with individual patients. Even in the case of a life-threatening disease, all you may receive with your diagnosis amounts to some prescription medications, a brochure, and a couple of fact sheets, along with a follow up appointment scheduled in a month. This is not reassuring in the least. Worry and fear do little to help you cope. However, this scenario is all too common. If you rely solely on one physician’s health advice, it’s likely you’re short changing yourself.
You need to be proactive in managing your condition. It is, after all, your life. There are some excellent doctors, as well as some who are not so excellent as you might suppose. When faced with a serious diagnosis, it behooves you to find out if your doctor is board certified. The doctor who is board certified in his or her specialty is undeniably more qualified than one who is not. Board certification means that the physician has undergone more extensive training and is required to be up to date on the latest research and therapies. If your doctor is not board certified, think seriously about seeing one who does have these additional qualifications.
It’s quite common for patients to request health advice from their friend or neighbor, who suffers from the same condition. Your friend or neighbor naturally feels empathetic to your plight and genuinely desires to give helpful health advice, if only to allay your fears. The trouble with this strategy is that every patient has a unique health history. Their program of treatment may well be contraindicated in your case. Emotional support can be quite helpful, but they are not competent to dispense legitimate medical health advice.
Let’s say you have a friend who works at the health food store and seems to know much about helpful therapies for your condition. While well-meaning, do not mistake this so-called expert as someone who is qualified to give you the best health advice. On the other hand, if your friend is a certified Master herbalist, you can be certain that the health advice they offer will be accompanied by a statement that makes you understand that such conditions should never be treated with herbs or supplements that have not been approved by your doctor. There is a great potential for severe interactions with prescribed medications. This is responsible health advice and you should heed their remarks. This person might give you a lead on a naturopathic physician for further guidance. Read more
Economical wrinkle treatments that keep you looking young and beautiful
Posted on January 22, 2009
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Every woman hates wrinkles. When you reach the age when they finally start showing up, you know you’ve got to take immediate steps to keep ahead of this natural process of aging. This can be a very depressing situation. For some women, it’s almost like being told you have some dreaded health condition about which there’s not much to be done. Women tend to associate wrinkles with a feeling of worthlessness, fearing their spouse will no longer love them. When wrinkles develop on the neck, also unkindly known as ‘turkey neck’, they may think turtlenecks and scarves must be used, summer and winter, to hide this unsightly sign of age.
When you start looking into the wrinkle treatments available to help, you find that there are literally hundreds of products and medical procedures, most of which cost an arm and a leg. How do you know which really do the job as promised? What about price? If one wrinkle treatment cream costs $20 and another costs $100, is the more expensive cream going to be most effective? What’s the magic ingredient in that $100 jar?
The fact is, there are several things you can use as effective wrinkle treatments that are free, or close to it. Here are some suggestions to get you out of that wrinkle induced funk.
The appearance of wrinkles is an indication that your skin no longer produces sufficient amounts of natural oils. Dead skin cells, naturally sloughed off to make way for a new skin layer, should be removed from your skin on a weekly basis. This is easily accomplished with a $3 tube of exfoliant from the drugstore. For wrinkle-age skin, look for ones with natural plant based ingredients. Ones with pineapple extracts are an excellent choice, strong enough to do the job, but not so strong as to leave your face in an abraded, tight condition of redness. You’ll see immediate results with your first use. A good exfoliant leaves your skin looking smoother and clearer, diminishing the appearance of wrinkles and enlarged pores. The exfoliant also acts as a toner, tightening your skin without making it hurt! Read more
Five ways to reduce high blood pressure through your diet alone!
Posted on December 23, 2008
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If you have high blood pressure, you know that this increases your risk of future heart and circulatory problems and may even result in an eventual heart attack. While your physician may prescribe medications as one of the ways to reduce high blood pressure, there are a number of dietary changes you can make which can help reduce your blood pressure to normal.
Here are five foods that, eaten regularly, are time tested ways to reduce high blood pressure. Most have several other components that provide additional benefits to your general health, as well as other health conditions that may be associated with high blood pressure. Be sure to consult with your physician and discuss the appropriateness of each of these foods to your specific health picture. Augmenting your medication with these dietary ways to reduce high blood pressure may require more frequent testing of your blood pressure. Your doctor may want to adjust your prescription dosage accordingly.
Garlic is perhaps your most valuable ally in reducing high blood pressure. Garlic contains allium, the active property in effecting a reduction in HBP. Onions also contain allium, although not in as high a concentration. Both garlic and onions reduce high blood pressure, ‘bad’ cholesterol and can prevent blood clots. Garlic is also a natural antibiotic, effective against an array of pathogens. There are so many ways to incorporate garlic and onions into your diet, so load up! Many clinical studies have found that just a couple of large cloves each day can cut your risk of heart attack in half!
Cucumbers – good in a salad seasoned with those garlic and onions – help lower your blood pressure, are good for your digestive tract and can also relieve the symptoms of rheumatism. Cucumbers also have a mild diuretic effect, so mention this to your doctor.
Artichokes are yet another of the effective ways to reduce high blood pressure naturally. If you’re overweight, this is a good addition to that salad plate as well. If you are diabetic, artichokes can help regulate blood sugar levels and provide plenty of that fiber you need. Read more
What’s the advantage to using alternative medicine?
Posted on December 23, 2008
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Alternative medicine therapies are quickly gaining traction in the mainstream community of patients. Approximately one third of the public say they have used an alternative medicine approach to their own health conditions. That means that there are still two thirds who have not. Perhaps the only reason for this is not knowing the difference between conventional and alternative medicine. Here’s an overview of the major differences between these two schools of thought and the advantages to alternative and natural medicine practices.
While both conventional (also referred to as Western or allopathic medicine) and alternative medicine are based on science, conventional physicians do not have a background in natural plant medicines, or other alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, aromatherapy or therapeutic massage. Conventional medicine approaches illness from a symptom based perspective and manages treatment mainly with pharmaceutical (prescription and OTC) medicines. Allopathic physicians are not well-versed in nutrition. While they are certainly familiar with the idea that good nutrition plays a large role in everyone’s general level of health, they seldom prescribe nutrients as a treatment.
Alternative medicine regards symptoms as a manifestation of the root cause of disease, resulting from an imbalance or deficiency within the entire body system. The naturopathic physician takes a whole body, also known as holistic, approach to the treatment of disease, drawing from an array of natural treatments and nutritional therapies to get all of the body systems in optimum health, thus treating the root cause of the condition. The alternative physician seldom prescribes pharmaceuticals.
Both conventional and alternative medicine bring results. However, conventional medicine treats the symptom and not necessarily the cause. Pharmaceuticals may be used to reduce high blood pressure, for example. One problem is that the prescribed medication is suppressing the symptom, but not fixing the root cause. Another problem arises when potential side effects of the medication produce yet another problem.
Some people feel safer taking a pharmaceutical, believing that these substances must be far more sophisticated and effective than a simple plant or nutritional supplement. Relative value, as with any product, is often largely dependent on its cost. We can all attest that prescription medicines are certainly not cheap! This higher-cost-equals-better logic can be refuted, as in the following example. Read more
Expecting? Eight herbs to avoid during pregnancy, absolutely!
Posted on November 10, 2008
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Herbal medicine, practiced around the world for thousands of years, has almost attained mainstream popularity. Fully one third of Americans have used herbal treatments or other forms of alternative medicine. That being said, if you’re expecting, you must understand that a little bit of knowledge can indeed be dangerous when it comes to herbals. There are some herbs that may safely be used during pregnancy, but unless you are a naturopathic doctor, or consult one, it’s safest to avoid any herbal treatments during your pregnancy. Here we take a brief look at just eight herbs to avoid during pregnancy, absolutely.
This is not a comprehensive list of herbs to avoid during pregnancy. They represent some of the most dangerous to expectant Moms. Six of these will actually induce abortion and sometimes death. Two of these six are classified by the FDA as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe). One of these herbs has culinary uses. This list intends to drive home the point that you must be vigilant and always consult a naturopathic doctor before using any herbs during your pregnancy.
At the top of our list of herbs to avoid during pregnancy are Ephedra and Hoodia. These two are mentioned as they enjoy popularity as weight loss agents. Ephedra, also known as Ma-Huang, is a powerful stimulant. It does have some legitimate uses as a medicinal agent, but even experts generally use this cautiously. Hoodia is a plant traditionally used by indigenous tribes in Western Australia to help them endure hunger on long hunting forages in extreme heat. This plant is now avidly consumed by people who believe it will help them lose weight.
The next two herbs to avoid during pregnancy are Pennyroyal and Rue. Both can induce abortion and both are classified by the FDA as GRAS. Although many people drink Pennyroyal tea, in the mint family, it is the oil which brings on miscarriage and causes liver damage in quite small amounts. Rue is used as an effective antispasmodic. However, even handling the plant can cause external itching and burning of the skin. The oil causes nerve damage and may induce abortion. There are many other herbs which effectively deal with muscle spasms and that are not as dangerous. Read more
Lowering high blood pressure naturally is the way to go!
Posted on October 24, 2008
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High blood pressure is a common condition in today’s society. There are many factors which contribute, including stress, poor dietary habits, excess weight and lack of good circulation. While your doctor can prescribe medications to reduce your HBP, it’s always a good idea to try lowering high blood pressure naturally, unless your blood pressure is dangerously high. If you must take a pharmaceutical, pass this information by your doctor to see if you can concurrently use some of these solutions as well. A naturopathic physician can readily advise you on any contraindications between herbal supplements and pharmaceuticals.
Many studies have shown that using garlic alone can produce significant results, on a par with pharmaceutical preparations, in the same amount of time! Garlic also addresses high cholesterol issues as well. Let’s take a look at some of the ways of lowering high blood pressure naturally, strictly through herbal supplements, improvements in your diet and a few simple lifestyle changes.
Your doctor will probably advise you that reducing stress is an essential component of lowering high blood pressure naturally, regardless of your medication needs. However, doctors are often so busy, they don’t spend much time getting into the details of accomplishing this objective. Something as simple as reading a book for an hour or so each day can help you reduce high blood pressure, naturally. Meditation, biofeedback, prayer or simply listening to music are other easy and effective techniques. Read more
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