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Archive for the ‘Disease Prevention’ Category

Colon cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among men and women alike. It can be deadly if not caught early. Many health issues can be attributed to neglecting our colons. Good health starts in the digestive tract. If we don’t feed our bodies properly, we are being negligent.

We can dramatically improve our health including the health of our colons by simply being aware of our daily dietary choices. Incorporating exercise into our regime is also important to good health. In order to achieve long term health, care needs to be taken.

To simply understand the function of our colons, we can look at them as the sewer line for our bodies. If waste does not expel efficiently, as with a conventional sewer line, a back up can result. The outcome of such a build up is not only very toxic but messy as well. When our colon does not properly expel wastes, this is exactly what occurs.

Under normal conditions, the activity of our colons generate waste that purges in the morning (2-4 feet of accumulation is the ideal amount) and in the afternoon or evening (accumulation of 1.2 feet from our intestinal tract purged). Chronic constipation can have a major impact on our health and the health of our colon.

A build up can occur in our intestines when we are not purging waste efficiently. This build up will become increasingly toxic if it does not purge. This increases our risk of disease and infection.

We can also experience nutritional deficiencies when our colons are out of whack. The nutritional benefits of foods we eat will not leave our intestinal tract if too much waste is blocking it. Consuming a poor diet will ensure toxic accumulations. We need to eat a diet rich in fiber and nutrients that includes fresh organic fruits and vegetables and whole grains.

Cancer-promoting toxins such as phenols and cresols as well as other carcinogens can be created contributing to the onset of disease. Once disease has taken hold on our bodies, it is difficult to heal. An inflammation of the colon can also result from poor colon health. This inflammation, known as diverticulitis is largely preventable if the proper diet is consumed.

Colon hydrotherapy is also a means of attaining colon health. This is where the colon is irrigated and cleansed with a solution that is pumped in through your rectum and causes wastes to expel. This treatment coupled with proper diet can help to restore health to your colon.

The most important things to consider when attempting to improve colon health are proper diet, exercise and periodic colon cleansing. By caring for our colons we can prevent the onset of disease. By eating the proper diet, we can remedy obesity and a host of other health conditions as well.

Prevention is better than cure. This also saying applies greatly to the category of heart diseases. Heart disease is the number the number one leading caused of death. Once affected, the rest of the life becomes dependent upon the mercy of God. So it is better to take preventive measures so that any heart disease does not happen in the first place.

Coming to the preventive measures, the most dangerous and contributive risk factor is smoking. Hence, smoking in any amount should not be followed. Even coffee, drinking and chewing of tobacco should be avoided since these block the arteries and restrict the smooth flow of blood in the body. Secondly, people who turn aggressive more frequently are found to be more prone of heart disease. Hypertension makes the heart beat slowly and with less force, making it somewhat dull. Thus, high blood pressure situation arises.

Next in the list, try to add items in your diet which are rich in high density lipoproteins instead of low density lipoproteins. This is because the former removes the excess cholesterol from the artery walls while the latter deposits cholesterol in the blood vessels. Thus inclusion of HDLs in the diet should be promoted. Apart from a balanced dietary menu, there should be some physical activity on a regular basis which will burn extra calories and cholesterol in the body. It also makes the heart and body active since it does not allow you to turn obese. Last but not the least, a basic knowledge of heart diseases can prevent it from attacking you.

After massive threat of Dengue fever now Pakistan is in danger of another endemic disease, Congo Fever. Congo Crimean Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is fatal viral disease caused by domestic and wild animals. Basically it is caused by Tick (Chichar in Urdu) which is an external parasite lives on the blood of animal. The danger of this disease in Pakistan is increasing at the eve of Eidul Azha because of mass slaughter of sacrificial animals during this religious occasion.

Employees of livestock department and those handling sacrificial animals will at great risk. According to Health Department of Pakistan sacrificial animals being imported from Iran, Afghanistan and India posed a big threat because these countries were facing endemic of Congo Virus. Lahore is in severe danger of this disease because most of the sacrificial animals being imported from India illegally (they are 60 % cheaper than local animals). This year patients of Congo fever in Pakistan were reported in Rawalpindi, Karachi and Gilgit-Baltistan. Congo fever has high mortality rate which is almost 50%.

Preventive measures against Congo fever/Preventions
1- This disease spread from Ticks (Chichar) so healthy animals can avoid this disease.
2- Limited contact with animals is also important.
3- Buy sacrificial animals from small and ventilated markets.
4- While visiting cattle markets cover your face and hand.
5- Use insect repellents to save your animals from ticks.

Symptoms of Congo fever
1- Patients get high temperature in beginning.
2- Pain in joints and in different parts of body starts.
3- Bleeding from gums, skin and large intestine also starts and red spots appears on body.
4- All the symptoms of Congo fever are similar that of Dengue fever.

Treatment of Congo fever
1- There are no specific medicines for this disease.
2- Usage of different medicines at early stage can save human life.
it is fatal disease and it destroys the platelets in human blood. It is better to take preventive measures to avoid this fatal disease.

How common heart disease in women is ponders lots of people. In response to this, heart diseases occur most in women than in men.

One of the causes of heart attacks in women is the inactivity associated with women after delivery. This is more reason women should be put under close examination after delivery to avert the occurrence of this deadly disease.

According to American heart association report, heart attacks account for one third of all deaths in women and it is also the leading cause of death in women over the age of 50 in America.

Heart disease in women which is mild in nature is called Angina Pectoris. This is a mild heart attack that is characterized by reversible chest pain which can last up to five minutes. Women heart attack symptoms of this nature are feelings of pressure or sense of numbness, heaviness behind the breast bone or across the chest.

What causes heart disease in women of this nature is usually poor circulation and decreased oxygen supply to the heart muscles. This type of heart disease occurs in both men and women but more common in women. It is relieved by rest or by special medication.

In general, heart disease in women starts 10 years later than men due to the protective effects of the female hormone, estrogen, before menopause. However, after menopause, when the level of estrogen is low, the rate of heart attack increases.

American Heart Association reports that smoking triples the risk of heart attack. Cigarette smoking also lowers the age for initial heart attack more in women than for men, hence heart disease in women increases. Long term data collected on 80,000 women in America over 14 years period showed that women who consume at least 400mg of folic acid per day and more than 3mg of vitamin B6 can cut their risk of heart attack by nearly half. Vitamin E, an anti oxidant has been shown to reduce heart attack. Data is increasing that having adequate calcium intake (1.500mg daily) for menopausal and post-menopausal women is important for optimal cardiac health as well as bone health. The good thing here is that heart disease in women can be reduced by getting the daily vitamins requirement through properly prepared daily multi vitamins which is easier to get.

There are some exciting results from recent clinical trials and research that shows that
you may be able to reduce the risks of Alzheimer’s disease by following a heart healthy diet
regimen.

There is no cure for Alzheimer’s but recent studies indicate that prevention of
Alzheimer’s disease may be possible by including nutrient rich foods in the
diet.

The research results from several neurological studies and white papers presented to
prestigious medical journals report that diet may play a major role in the prevention of
Alzheimer’s disease.

The research funded by the Alzheimer’s Disease Research
Center at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine offers T a ray of hope in an otherwise
grim area of medical research.

The reality of advanced Alzheimer’s is “once the gooey amyloid material accumulates
and the nerve endings are poisoned and the cells have died, it is very hard to think
seriously about repairing damage that severe” states Dr. Gandy, who conducts research
on Alzheimer’s disease.

The simple solution for this complex diseases may be “eating healthy”. Heart healthy foods
seem to reduce the risk for Alzheimer’s.

“When patients reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease they also reduce their risk
factors for Alzheimer’s”. reports Dr. Nikolaos Scarmeas, an assistant professor of neurology
at Columbia University Medical Center in New York , “People who eat a diet rich in fruits,
vegetables, olive oil, legumes, cereals and fish have a lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s
disease”.

Dr. Scarmeas continued – “These nutrient rich foods could be helping avoid Alzheimer’s
disease by providing protection from oxidative stress or by reducing inflammation in the brain”.

Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements Slow Decline

Another nutrient dense ingredient found in Omega-3 fatty acid supplements have been shown in
associative studies to slow the cognitive decline in some patients with very mild Alzheimer’s
disease. However, these supplements do not appear to affect people with more advanced cases
of the disease, according to a team of Swedish researchers.

Foods Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Omega-3 fatty acids are found in foods like salmon, tuna and flaxseed. These fatty acids contain
heart healthy fats. In still another study from the University of Wisconsin, Omega -3 fatty acids
were shown to be “flammable” inside our bodies and burned off cholesterol raising types of fat thus
reducing the risk for high cholesterol and heart related problems.

How Does Omega-3 Prevent Alzheimer?

“The ways by which omega-3 fatty acids interferes in Alzheimer’s disease
pathophysiologic features are not clear, but since anti-inflammatory effects are an
important part of the profile of fish oils, they are conceivable also for Alzheimer’s
disease,” writes Dr. Gandy.

Researchers write. “It is possible that when the disease is clinically apparent,
the neuropathologic involvement is too advanced to be substantially attenuated by anti-inflammatory
treatment.” Dr. H. Gandy

In laymen’s terms, starting a preventative healthy eating regimen including omega-3 supplements can be
beneficial in the prevention and the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. As a preventative measure, omega-3′s should be part of a healthy diet. However, in the latter stages of Alzheimer’s, there is little that can be done
to repair damaged brain tissue.

Abnormal changes takes place in the brain of a person suffering from Alzheimer’s disease .
As these changes occur, a person with Alzheimer’s disease will advance through the stages of
the Alzheimer’s.

Over the course of the disease nerve cells, responsible for learning and memory functions
start to break down and eventually die. As a result, certain aspects of brain functioning
that control memory, behavior, personality, and other bodily functions, can be lost.

These recent papers reveal a consensus that focus on the concept that diet is a critical
component in controlling and perhaps preventing Alzheimer’s disease. Several clinical
trials and the resulting reports point clearly to the idea that early intervention will
have the greatest effect on controlling symptoms.

Phytonutrients and disease prevention, is there any possible connection? These nutrients play a very important role in health but they are not vitamins or minerals; however they are critical in helping with the absorption of both in your body.

They are not essential for life like vitamins and minerals, but they can certainly improve both the quality of life as well as possibly extending life. They may also play an increasing important part of preventing cancer and other diseases from attacking your body. But what are they?

What are Phytonutrients?

The actual term photo is a Greek derivative that means plants. Phytonutrients are the organic various forms of plants and are rapidly being recognized as extremely important components that assist both vitamins and minerals in keeping our bodies healthy.

There is growing evidence that they may also help in fighting several diseases, especially cancer from attacking your cellular structure as they are huge cellular protectors.

The vitamin industry has been led by Liquid Vitamin manufactures in adding these critical plant components to their formulations and they have been so successful that most of the industry are following their lead and adding them as well.

To fully understand what they are, it helps to understand how they work. The next time you are in your garden, look at your various vegetables and plants and ask yourself how they are protected by ultraviolet light, infections, and pollution. The answer is very simple; they are protected by chemicals that are found in phytonutrients.

These chemical components are naturally found in a wide variety of plants and are also known as secondary plant metabolites, which are substances that are necessary for or take part in certain metabolic processes.

And just like the roles that they play in protecting plants and vegetables, they play that same role in something much more important; protecting the human body along with vitamins and minerals.

Classifications:

There are literally several thousands of chemicals that are present in the food that we eat and no one source will ever agree on the number of exact classifications. Vitamins have 13 major classifications, minerals 14, but minerals could be argued to have many more and the same will be true with Phytonutrients.

Some sources will suggest that there are two major classifications, while others will suggest as many as nine. Nonflavonoids and Flavonoids make up the most popular classes, and Nonflavonoids can be found in strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, as well as Tonka beans.

Flavonoids in various forms are found in fruits, citrus, vegetables, tea, soybeans, onions, and endive.

Cranberries, red grapes, grape juice and certain nuts are also excellent sources, as well as red wine. However, there are still other classifications that play very important roles in protecting your body against potential disease.

Health Benefits:

The following are other classifications that help your body every day.

Carotenoids help bring out the bright colors in fruits and vegetables, but they are also very stringent as antioxidants that help with the heart and its functions. Sources of these forms of phytonutrients are broccoli, tomatoes, spinach, and carrots. Isoflavones have shown in several tests to lower cholesterol and are found in beans, soybeans, kidney beans, and lentils.

Lignans team up with other nutrients to help in preventing diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. It is a natural form of estrogen so it naturally helps to lower the estrogen levels in your body that go bad and promote the growth of tumors. It is found primarily in flax seed and sesame seeds.

Indoles help to regulate your hormones and sources of this nutrient are found in broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. Saponins help to bind and than excrete bile acids, which helps to lower cholesterol levels. This nutrient is found in potatoes, spinach, and herbs.

Organ sulfur compounds are found in both garlic and onions and help keep cholesterol levels low; and polyphenols are very potent antioxidants that produce cancer fighting enzymes. This nutrient is found primarily in green tea and strawberries. Monoterpenes is found in the peels of oranges and lemons, and is also virulent in attacking cancer cells.

Phytonutrients help with cellular function and regeneration of cells which is a critical part of controlling cancer. They fight the development of cancer from within your body. They help to shut down the precancerous cells that go bad and multiply in gang like styles of attack against the non affected cells.

Cancer is well documented to start with just one cell that losses control by either wearing out or is weakened by repeated attacks and can not be replaced in time by a new cell. Metastasis is the process where the cell weakens, is attacked, and than overcome by cancer. In most cases your immune system defeats this process but it needs all the help that it can get.

Summery:

Adding these micro nutrients daily in your diet along with vitamins and minerals is something that could improve your quality of life as well as possible extending it.

Is there any real wonder that countries that have diets high in these micro nutrients have a much longer lifespan and a much lower cancer rate then we have in United States? The liquid vitamin industry was the first to recognize the importance of phytonutrients but the rest of the industry is changing very rapidly to keep up with the many benefits of combining all three of them together.