Sinus Infection Symptoms

Sinus symptoms and signs are caused because of infection of sinus and resulting causes the swelling because of bacteria within the cavities of sinus.

The sinuses are the cavities which are open in the continuous connection with nasal openings which are free for both air and mucous. At this situation, sounds certain type of volume. When sinus gets blocked because of certain swelling and infectious air already present inside the sinus then this situation causes the sinus headache.

Another reason for sinus pain is that when nasal get blocked because of swollen and air unable to get into the sinus. Sinus spray is generally used as a treatment for the sinus infection which is sometimes prescribed and gotten over the counter. This spray is is useful for killing the bacteria and microbes which causes severe sinus infection symptoms.

There are four major pairs of the sinuses which are listed below:
Maxillary sinuses (behind the cheek bones)
Frontal sinuses (in the forehead)
Sphenoid sinuses (behind the eyes)
Ethmoid sinuses (between the eyes)

Types of Sinus infection:

Sinus infections are classified in 2 ways as given below:

Length of time
They are infectious or not.

Acute lasts within one month, where as sub acute takes one to three months to cure. And chronic infection lasts after the three months. Infectious sinus infections are normally caused because of virus, but there are fewer chances for causing the infection because of bacteria.

Environmental irritations and allergies may causes non-infectious. Environmental irritation is such as drugs, smoke etc. Chronic and sub-acute conditions are generally caused because of lack of or insufficient treatment for acute sinusitis.

Causes of sinus infection:

There are many different causes of sinusitis. One of the causes is that blocks the passage in the opening or the tumor removes by the surgery. Not only nasal sprays cause the infection but may also addictive Sometimes over the counter nasal sprays can not only cause infection, but can also be addictive. Illegal drugs such as cocaine and other types which are snorted throughout the nasal can cause the sinus infection and irritation.

Various types of bacteria are also responsible for causing the sinus infection. The cilia which are the small hairs present in the passage of the nasal and sinus cavities helpful for moving the mucous out of nasal area. These are damaged because of lack of humidity, smoke, or other different causes. When this occurs the mucous gets stagnates and perfect area becomes for the growth of the bacteria and starts the infection. Allergies to the food and other different substances may cause the food allergy.

Sinus infection symptoms and signs:

The general sinus infection symptoms are headaches, tenderness of the face and twenty five percent of the patients suffering from acute sinusitis have the fever also. Coughing, sore throat, and a greenish, cloudy, or yellowish nasal discharge are some of the signs of the sinus infection.

The other signs which are checked by the doctor for diagnosing are swollen areas near the eyes, nasal passage which becomes reddened, drainage from the nose that is similar to pus and facial areas over the sinuses that are tender to percussion. Additional information is also useful for diagnosis such as history of the patient and some tests such as a MRI, or the CT scan may also be takes place because these tests are good at illuminating the actual infection rather than an X-Ray.

The bacteria, fungi and virus are responsible for causing the sinus infection. Treatment is based on the type of the infection so good and early diagnosis is very necessary.

Following are some common sinus infection symptoms::

Pain in the forehead, jaw, teeth and cheeks, or between the eyes.
Headache, particularly first thing in the morning.
Swollen or inflamed tear ducts, eyelids, and other tissues surrounding the eyes.
Fever.
Congestion, sore throat, neck pain or cough.
Weakness and fatigue.

Treatment of Sinusitis:

Self-Care at Home:

Home treatment opens the sinuses and eases their dryness:

Promote drainage
Drink lot of water and hydrating drinks as like hot tea.
Take a stream 2 to 4 times in a day by bowel of a hot water but not take when it is on stove or simply use stream vaporizer. Inhale the steam near about ten minutes. Steamy, hot shower is also effective. Vicks Vapo Run can be added in to the water and then take a stream which is useful for opening the passageways.
Thin the mucus: Expectorants are the drugs which are helpful for expelling the mucus from the lungs and the respiratory passages. They help thin secreation of the mucus and enhancing drainage from sinuses. Guaifenesin is used very commonly. Over- the-counter (OTC) cough medications which are in liquid form or prescription tablets can also combined for reducing the sinus infection symptoms. For knowing the right combination just read out the label ingredients or asks to the pharmacists.
Relieve pain: For reducing the inflammation and pain the medications are used such as ibuprofen (Motrin and Advil are examples), naproxen (Aleve) and aspirin. These drugs are useful for opening the airways by reducing the swelling. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be used for fever and pain but it is not helpful for inflammation.

Medical Treatment:

The main goal of the treatment of sinus infection is reduce the inflammation and swelling in the nasal areas, removes the infection and support the drainage from sinuses and maintain the open sinuses. Medications are suggested for treating the sinus infection but antibodies are taken for at least 10 to 14 days.

If the infection is chronic then antibodies continues up to 21 days. Extreme chronic infection does not give response to the prescribed medications and therefore patients have to take the medications for long duration. Still there is no any effect of the medication then it is related to surgical procedure and need stay in hospital.

In case of the chronic sinus infection, some of the times infection extends up to brain and eventually causes the death. But this condition occurs very rarely and not occurs frequently.

If the proper treatment is provided and treated if treatment is sought in particular time then sinus infection cures immediately.

Alternative Health News

Read More

Baby Nursery Ideas To Transform A Special Room

Baby Nursery Ideas : The nursery of the past was, as the name implies, a place to nurse and care for the baby. It still is. although those tasks, and the simplicity with which they're done, have extended extremely over the past generation.

Moreover , a simple thing as the necessity to store diapers has developed to a high point of security and convenience.

Diaper bins come in a selection these days unheard of in the past. They provide a seal-tight area to keep odors locked inside until the diaper can be washed or disposed of permanently. Once emptied, keeping germs at bay is a simple substance of a short spray with antiseptic.

Baby Nursery Ideas : Boxes to stock up fresh diapers are sterilized, yet stylish. They can simply be kept free of bacteria with a simple swab of disinfectant. The outside can go anywhere from a traditional, rich-looking wicker to a high-tech wonder of design. A variety of styles and colors allows for decorating the nursery in any way that's preferred.

A nursery box is so much more, though. They offer a stylish, convenient place to store toys or crayons or CDs or.... The list is never-ending. Several have special sections that present a safe place to put easily broken CDs. Many have numerous pockets for softer items that are now within easy reach. In addition , the array of colors and designs is just as endless to fit right in with the nursery decor.

Nursing kits are a necessity and they, too, have highly developed.

Previous, an uncomplicated glass mercury thermometer might have been the showpiece, since body temperature is a key part of infant health. However , those were constantly a little risky and sometimes awkward to read. That piece has been substituted with a durable, digital thermometer that is quick, accurate and totally safe to use.

Baby Nursery Ideas : Have iodine or antibacterial spray with band-aids easily reached without having to dash to the bathroom. A nasal aspirator is not something you want to have to look for , also. A medicine dropper is a lot more helpful when it's within arm's reach. All these and more can be part of a nursery first-aid kit that holds all the bits and pieces you need.

On the contrary , the nursery is about more than just function, as vital as that may be. It is also a part of the home that you desire to decorate according to your personal taste.

A rocker is equally a great way to calm young nerves and work off some excess energy when your baby grows a little older . Although it needn't be purely functional, it can fit right in with a special design for the whole nursery. It can go with that walnut dresser, or the gingham-covered wicker nursery basket. It is part of the sum that includes that ideal bassinet.

Alternative Health News

Read More

Breast cancer risk may rise with high hormone levels

Elevated levels of hormones increase breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women, and as the number of different elevated hormones rises, so does the risk, a new study has found

Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston examined levels of eight different sex and growth hormones in blood samples collected from nurses up to nine years before their health information was recorded the risk of breast cancer increased 16 percent with each elevated hormone level, according to the study published online Oct. 21 in the journal Breast Cancer Research.

The investigators found that the highest levels of circulating estrogens (estrone and estrogen), prolactin, and androgens (testosterone, androstenedione, DHEA, or DHEA-sulfate) were each associated with between a 50 and 200 percent increased risk of developing breast cancer.

A woman with elevated levels of one hormone had a 10 percent increased risk, while the risk was doubled for those with elevated levels of five or six hormones, and tripled for those with elevated levels of seven or eight hormones, the study authors explained in a journal news release.

And for women with estrogen receptor-positive (ER-positive) breast cancer, all of these risks were slightly higher, the researchers pointed out.

"Elevated estrogens had the biggest effect on risk, especially for ER-positive cancer. However, androgens and prolactin also contribute to increasing risk of breast cancer. These hormones are known to stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells in the lab and, while androgens can be converted to estrogen in the body, these hormones have also been found to stimulate cancer cell growth in the absence of ER," Shelley Tworoger, of Brigham and Women's Hospital, explained in the news release.

Alternative Health News

Read More

Muammar Gaddafi's Death Correctly Predicted by Matthew Perry's Old Sitcom

In a quite eerie coincidence, Muammar Gaddafi's year of death had been predicted by a 1980s sitcom "Second Chances" which starred Matthew Perry.

The pilot episode of the show which aired in 1987 featured the ex-Libyan leader as one of the people showing up in Saint Peter's Office on July 29, 2011 to be judged whether he will go to hell or heaven.

Initially refusing to believe that he is dead, Colonel Gaddafi is seen trying to kill St. Peter by shooting him with a machine gun in the scene. He is later sentenced to spend eternity in hell where he will be a human bomb who blows up every two minutes.

In real life, Gaddafi was killed early Thursday, October 20 when revolutionary fighters overwhelmed his hometown of Sirte. The interim government stated that the 69-year-old former Libyan dictator was captured unharmed and later mortally wounded in the crossfire from both sides. Another report, however, said he was already wounded in the chest when he was seized before later sustaining other wounds.

Alternative Health News

Read More

Steps to Building Self-Confidence

Building self-confidence is a continuous process which needs determination and effort. Here are some tips to think about when you're trying to build yours:

1. Take it one step at a time: Think about where you are right now, how far you've come and give yourself some credit for trying. Think about what is important to you, where you want to go, what gives your life meaning, and what your values are. Confidence starts with a strong foundation based on individualistic values and passions that help the common good.
2. Make sure your values are in congruent with your lifestyle: If there is a discrepancy between your values and the way you behave, this can create internal conflict and smash you up. Make sure you check the two and bring them to work together in harmony.
3. Living, believing and behaving in moderation: Start modifying your thought, your behavior and your lifestyle to match what you want and the way you want to be.

4. Self monitor, cognitively and behaviorally: Rational positive thinking is the key to this one. By focusing on what is working, you can make better progress on what is not and make the necessary changes. Activate your positive emotions and discharge the negative ones. Make sure you spend a few minutes every day focusing and reflecting on your progress and what you want to change.

5. Start helping others the way you can: Doing good for others does not have a specific formula. Not all of us have to be a hero in the public eye. Find your own way of helping others. What comes from your heart and core, with a pure intention of helping and giving just to be thankful for the things you already have and without any expectations in return. What you get is an internal joy that is blissful and helps build a self of self-worth.
6. Build on your skills and learn new things: Learn new skills and strengthen the ones you already have.
7. Surround yourself with well-intended, honest, aware, and positive people: Be open to productive feedback from people whose judgment you trust and be selective about whom you get close to. Don't invite negativity, drama and ignorance to your life and have clear boundaries for protecting your heart and mind.

8. Be true to yourself: Don't sell your integrity for anything. Don't self-betray by following someone else's path or believing something that does not sink in your intuitive heart and your logical mind. Learn to be yourself and be thirsty for knowledge, learn to become objective and then do what you feel is right not what others tell you "should" be. And make sure you activate your build-in integrity.

9. Take reasonable risks: While being grounded and reasonably careful are a part of a healthy life style, but to build self confidence, one must be willing to take some risks and experience new things, learn from them and move forward.

10. Accept other people's love and support openly and fully. Try to stop that little paranoid person inside of you who wants to read too much into an act of love and just take it with an open heart. Also, be willing to give love and show how you feel in healthy and positive ways.

People who are self-confident are more efficient and productive in their daily lives. They contribute more and have less negative effects on their surroundings. They accept challenges with an open arm and are more persistence and resistant. They don't spend much time on complaining but fixing. They are great communicators and have healthier relationships. At the end, this is a skill that everyone can learn, it is not limited to a few but all. It just needs practice.

grow taller

Grow taller supplements from HeightGrowth.com.

One of the best ways to grow taller naturally without unnecessary exercises: Height Growth+ Plus supplement.

Alternative Health news

Read More

Eat fish, live longer

MEDICAL researchers love fish. The reason: a person who eats fish lives longer as it combats a lot of health threats.

"If you eat a modest amount of fish, you dramatically decrease your risk of dying from a heart attack," says Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a researcher of the Harvard School of Public Health.

Findings from 30 large studies conducted around the world show that people who consume just one or two servings of fish per week lower their risk of a fatal heart attack by an average of 36 percent.

That's good news for Filipinos as the Department of Health ranks heart disease as the number-one killer in the country. "The death toll from cardiovascular diseases in the country is about one every seven minutes," says Dr. Philip S. Chua, one of the country's top cardiologists.

Cardiovascular diseases don't affect the heart itself but also the blood vessel system, especially the veins and arteries leading to and from the heart.

If you have already a heart attack, shifting to a high-fish diet can cut your chances of future deadly attacks by one third. You see, fish contains oil that is nature's richest source of omega-3 fatty acids called eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Omega-3 fatty acids are a form of polyunsaturated fat that the body derives from food. Omega-3s (and omega-6s) are known as essential fatty acids because they are important for good health. The body cannot make these fatty acids on its own so omega-3s must be obtained from food, particularly fish.

The American Heart Association suggests that a person should eat at least two servings of oily fish each week to help keep his hearts healthy. Among the fish species high in omega-3s are bas (striped), herring, mackerel (Atlantic), oysters (Pacific), sablefish, salmon, trout (freshwater), and tuna.

Shrimp may not be considered a fish but it is still seafood. One study found that people who ate shrimp everyday for three weeks had a relatively small rise in LDL (touted to be the "bad cholesterol") but an even greater jump in HDL ("the good cholesterol"). Result: Their heart disease risk actually went down.

Consuming oily fish may likewise reduce the risk of developing asthma.

In a University of Cambridge study of 770 volunteers, researchers found that those with symptomatic asthma were less likely to report having eaten fish at least twice a week throughout the year than those without asthma.

Study author Dr. Bipen Patel believes that the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish may reduce the production of substances that can cause constriction and inflammation in the airway.

The anti-inflammatory properties of fish oil have also been found to treat many medical conditions including rheumatoid arthritis.

Studies have shown that one teaspoon per day of cod-liver oil may help alleviate the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis by providing the body with substantial amounts of vitamin D and A. Vitamin D is important for bone growth, while vitamin A may have anti-inflammatory effects. Fish oils also compete with other types of fatty acids that are believed to trigger arthritis inflammation.

So when is fish not so good for your health? Recent studies have shown that almost all fish is contaminated with trace amounts of mercury.

Mercury compounds are found in farming chemicals and in certain antiseptics and dyes. They are used heavily in industry. Most of them are released into the rivers and brought into the open sea, where fish may consume them.

Once these mercury-laden fish are consumed by human beings, the metal can be accumulated in the human body. Large doses of mercury can damage developing brains, causing learning difficulties and other problems.

Children and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding are advised to avoid some types of fish and shellfish to reduce their risk of mercury exposure.

Fish that contain the highest level of mercury are larger and older sharks, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish. It is probably a good idea for most people to avoid eating much of these fish. They can be replaced with other fish and shellfish such as shrimp, pollock, anchovies, catfish, clam, crab, haddock, hake, herring, salmon, sardines, shrimp, trout (freshwater), tuna, and whitefish, which all contain much less mercury.

If you are concerned about mercury, or if you just don't want to eat fish, you need to get omega-3 fatty acids from other sources. Among the plant sources are canola oil, flax seeds, walnuts, and pumpkin seeds.

The type of omega-3 fatty acids found in plants, called alpha linolenic acid (ALA), is not exactly the same as the fats found in fish, but experts say your body has the capability to transform ALA to both EPA and DHA.

Our very own tilapia has very low levels of mercury because it is a fast-growing and short-lived fish that mostly eats a vegetarian diet.

However, a study done in the United States has shown that eating tilapia is not good for those with heart problems.

"Cardiologists are telling their patients to go home and eat fish, and if the patients are poor, they're eating tilapia. And that could translate into a dangerous situation," said the researchers from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

The American study found farm-raised tilapia has very low levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acid and, perhaps worse, very high levels of omega-6 fatty acids. "In a fish-farming situation, the fish that you get depends on what they are fed," explained Dr. Floyd Chilton, a professor of physiology and pharmacology and the director of the Wake ForestCenter for Botanical Lipids.

"Now if these fish are fed, as in the wild, Omega 3 fatty acids and algae, then they're going to have long-chain Omega 3 fatty acids, which are going to be incredibly beneficial. However, if these fish are fed short-chain Omega 6 products that come from corn products which are happening so often now then what one sees is the long-chain detrimental Omega 6 fatty acids. So really the fish really are what they eat and we really are what we eat as well," said Dr. Chilton, who headed the study.
Alternative Health News
Read More

Victims of lower back pain are getting younger

The lifestyles of young people in the UAE could lead to years of back pain and medical problems, according to new research.

A recent study from the UK indicates that two-thirds of people between 18 and 34 years old regularly suffer from spine and back-muscle complaints. Now, experts in the UAE fear that the severity of this problem could mean thousands of young men and women are destined to spend the rest of their lives with chronic back pain.

Health concerns around lifestyle-linked spinal problems are being described as a "time bomb" in Britain, where researchers found that 62 per cent of young people suffer from back pain - with half of those reporting they'd had the symptoms for up to five years.

The study echoes anecdotal findings among back specialists in the UAE. "I'm definitely seeing a rise in the number of young people coming to the clinic with back pain," says Gary Fitzgerald, a chiropractor at the Wellbeing Medical Centre in Dubai. "It's possibly even worse here because the average age of the population is younger than that in Europe and the vast majority of patients that I see in the 18 to 34-year-old age group have mainly sedentary, office-based jobs."

It's this "sit still" culture that is, according to the experts, the main cause for concern. "Continuously sitting in one place for long periods of time, be it in the car or the office, causes some muscles and joints to stiffen and some to overwork," says Fitzgerald. "As the majority of people are not just sitting for too long but also sitting incorrectly, these small errors in posture are multiplied over time and can lead to chronic joint, muscle and disc problems."

The human body is designed to move, he adds. "And just like going dune-bashing in the desert with a sports car, if we use a machine for something it's not designed to do, eventually that machine will break down."

While the survey focuses predominantly on the working population among people in their 20s and 30s, some leading back specialists have also highlighted worries that the seeds of the problem may be sown at a much earlier age.

"The incidence of lower back pain in the Arab world is definitely on the rise," says Issam Ayache, a chiropractor with three decades of experience practising in Lebanon and Abu Dhabi. "In particular, I have found that school kids are suffering, often as a result of carrying too heavy a school pack - which in some cases weighs more than 50 per cent of the child - coupled with the way it is carried."

Ayache also blames the encouragement of the "sit still" trend among the very young as a big contributor to the increase in the spinal and muscle conditions he treats. "A lack of parents' encouragement for their children to participate in regular exercise has not helped this situation," he argues. "Also, the overuse of modern gadgets, which children are using with their fingers and straining their hand joints, compounds these problems."

Although statistical evidence is not as readily available as it is in the UK, several experts told The National there was no reason why the UAE would not mirror trends in Europe or the US, since the lifestyles and work environments were essentially the same. Indeed, specialists even fear that the situation is much worse here. "The level of penetration in understanding spine and musculoskeletal issues within Emiratis is very much at the first stage," warns Samuel Saukkonen, the medical director of Chiropractic Dubai at the Emirates European Medical Centre in Jumeirah. "It's like it was 30 years ago in Europe."

Alternative Health News

Read More

Fibre in food

Dietary fibre is found in cereals, fruits and vegetables. Fibre is made up of the indigestible parts or compounds of plants, which pass relatively unchanged through our stomach and intestines.

The main role of fibre is to keep the digestive system healthy.

Other terms for dietary fibre include ‘bulk’ and ‘roughage’, which can be misleading since some forms of fibre are water soluble and aren’t bulky or rough at all.
Fibre is a carbohydrate
Fibre is largely a carbohydrate. The building blocks of all carbohydrates are different types of sugars and they can be classified according to how many sugar molecules are combined in the carbohydrate:

* Simple sugars - consist of 1-2 sugar molecules; for example glucose, fructose, sucrose, maltose and lactose.
* Oligosaccharides - consist of 3-10 glucose molecules joined together.
* Starch polysaccharides - have more than 10 glucose molecules joined together.
* Non-starch polysaccharides - have more than 10 sugar molecules; for example xylose, arabinose and mannose.

Fibre keeps the digestive system healthy
Dietary fibre is mainly needed to keep the digestive system healthy. It also contributes to other processes, such as stabilising glucose and cholesterol levels. In countries with traditionally high fibre diets, diseases such as bowel cancer, diabetes and coronary heart disease are much less common than in the West.

Most Australians don’t consume enough fibre. On average, most Australians consume 18-25g of fibre daily. The Heart Foundation recommends that adults should consume approximately 30g daily. Australian experts suggest that children should eat 10g of fibre a day plus an additional gram for every year of age. For instance, a 10 year old child should eat 15-20g of fibre per day.

Disorders that can arise from a low fibre diet include:

* Constipation
* Irritable bowel syndrome
* Diverticulitis
* Heart disease
* Some cancers.

Two types of fibre
There are broadly two categories of fibre and we need to eat both in our daily diets:

* Soluble fibre - includes pectins, gums and mucilage, which are found mainly in plant cells. One of its major roles is to lower blood cholesterol levels. Good sources of soluble fibre include fruits, vegetables, oat bran, barley, seed husks, flaxseed, psyllium, dried beans, lentils, peas, soymilk and soy products. Soluble fibre can also help with constipation.
* Insoluble fibre - includes cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin, which make up the structural parts of plant cell walls. A major role of insoluble fibre is to add bulk to faeces and to prevent constipation and associated problems such as haemorrhoids. Good sources include wheat bran, corn bran, rice bran, the skins of fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, dried beans and wholegrain foods.

Both types of fibre are beneficial to the body and most plant foods contain a mixture of both types.

Resistant starch
Resistant starch, while not traditionally thought of as fibre, acts in a similar way. Resistant starch is the part of starchy food (approximately 10 per cent) that resists normal digestion. It is found in many unprocessed cereals and grains, firm bananas, potatoes and lentils, and is added to bread and breakfast cereals as Hi-Maize. It can also be formed by cooking and manufacturing processes such as snap freezing.

Resistant starch is also important in bowel health. Bacteria in the large bowel ferment and change the resistant starch into short-chain fatty acids, which are important to bowel health and may protect against cancer. These fatty acids are also absorbed into the bloodstream and may play a role in lowering blood cholesterol levels.

Fibre keeps the digestive tract healthy
The principle advantage of a diet high in fibre is the health of the digestive system. The digestive system is lined with muscles that massage food along the tract from the moment a mouthful is swallowed until the eventual waste is passed out of the bowel (a process called peristalsis). Since fibre is relatively indigestible, it adds bulk to the faeces.

Soluble fibre soaks up water like a sponge, which helps to plump out the faeces and allows it to pass through the gut more easily. It acts to slow down the rate of digestion. This slowing down effect is usually overridden by insoluble fibre, which doesn't absorb water and speeds up the time that food passes through the gut.

You must drink lots of fluid
A high fibre diet may not prevent or cure constipation unless you drink enough water every day. Some high fibre breakfast cereals may have around 10g of fibre per serve and if this cereal is not accompanied by enough fluid it may cause constipation.

Fibre and ageing
Fibre is even more important for older people. The digestive system slows down with age, so a high fibre diet becomes even more important.

Lowering blood cholesterol
Recently, there has been a great deal of interest in oat bran, since some studies showed that regular intake of foods high in soluble fibre - such as oat bran, baked beans and soybeans - reduced blood cholesterol levels. When blood cholesterol levels are high, fatty streaks and plaques are deposited along the walls of arteries. This can make them dangerously narrow and lead to an increased risk of coronary heart disease.

It is thought that soluble fibre lowers blood cholesterol by binding bile acids (which are made from cholesterol to digest dietary fats) and then excreting them. Cereal fibre seems to be more protective against coronary heart disease than the fibre from fruit and vegetables.

A method of weight control
In many cases, people who are overweight or obese have been shown to lose significant amounts of excess body fat simply by increasing the amount of dietary fibre, especially soluble fibre, in their daily diet.

Fibrous foods are often bulky and, therefore, filling. They also tend to be low in fat. Soluble fibre forms a gel that slows down the emptying of the stomach and the transit time of food through the digestive system. This extends the time a person feels satisfied or ‘full’. It also delays the absorption of sugars from the intestines. This helps to maintain lower blood sugar levels and prevent a rapid rise in blood insulin levels, which has been linked with obesity and an increased risk of diabetes.

The extra chewing time often required of high fibre foods also helps contribute to feeling satisfied. As a result, a person on a high fibre diet is likely to eat less food and so consume less kilojoules (calories).

Good for people with diabetes
For people with diabetes, eating a diet high in fibre slows glucose absorption from the small intestine into the blood. This reduces the possibility of a surge of insulin, the hormone produced by the pancreas to stabilise blood glucose levels.

Conditions linked to low fibre diets
Eating a diet low in fibre can contribute to many disorders, including:

* Constipation - small, hard and dry faecal matter that is difficult to pass.
* Haemorrhoids - varicose veins of the anus.
* Diverticulitis - small hernias of the digestive tract caused by long term constipation.
* Irritable bowel syndrome - pain, flatulence and bloating of the abdomen.
* Overweight and obesity - carrying too much body fat.
* Coronary heart disease - a narrowing of the arteries due to fatty deposits.
* Diabetes - a condition characterised by too much glucose in the blood.
* Colon cancer - cancer of the large intestine.

The debate about diet, cancer and heart disease continues
Studies that show a reduced risk of some cancers and coronary heart disease have received much attention. How these apparent health benefits arise is not fully understood. It is very likely that these observed health benefits occur indirectly, through the protective effects of ‘phytochemicals’ (such as antioxidants) that are closely associated with the fibre components of fruits, vegetables and cereal foods. It has also been suggested that dietary fibre dilutes harmful substances and possible carcinogens present in the diet, thus reducing the gut's exposure to such compounds.

Recent studies have challenged the widely held belief that fibre reduces the risk of developing colon cancer. Differences in methodology, in particular the type of fibre used, between these recent studies and earlier ones may explain the inconsistencies in their findings.
Ways to increase your fibre intake
Simple suggestions for increasing your daily fibre intake include:

* Eat breakfast cereals that contain barley, wheat or oats.
* Switch to wholemeal or multigrain breads and brown rice.
* Add an extra vegetable to every evening meal.
* Snack on fruit, dried fruit, nuts or wholemeal crackers.

A daily intake of more than 30g can be easily achieved if you eat wholegrain cereal products, more fruit, vegetables and legumes and, instead of low fibre cakes and biscuits, have nuts or seeds as a snack or use in meals.

You don't need to eat a lot more kilojoules to increase your fibre intake; you can easily double your fibre intake without increasing your kilojoule intake by being more selective - compare the tables below.
A sudden increase in fibre can have explosive effects
It should be noted that a sudden switch from a low fibre diet to a high fibre diet can create some abdominal pain and increased flatulence. Also, very high fibre diets (more than 40g daily) are linked with decreased absorption of some important minerals, such as iron, zinc and calcium. This occurs when fibre binds these minerals and forms insoluble salts, which are then excreted.

This could increase the risk of developing deficiencies of these minerals in susceptible individuals. Adults should aim for a diet that contains 30-35g of fibre per day and should introduce fibre into the diet gradually to avoid any negative outcomes.

Healthy Soup

Alternative Health News

Read More

Why Healthy Teeth Are Important

How does taking care of your teeth help with all those things? Taking care of your teeth helps prevent plaque , which is a clear film of bacteria sticks to your teeth.

After you eat, bacteria go crazy over the sugar on your teeth, like ants at a picnic. The bacteria break it down into acids that eat away tooth enamel, causing holes called cavities. Plaque also causes gingivitis (say: jin-juh-vi-tis), which is gum disease that can make your gums red, swollen, and sore. Your gums are those soft pink tissues in your mouth that hold your teeth in place.

If you don't take care of your teeth, cavities and unhealthy gums will make your mouth very, very sore. Eating meals will be difficult. And you won't feel like smiling so much.
Before Toothpaste Was Invented

We're lucky that we know so much now about taking care of our teeth. Long ago, as people got older, their teeth would rot away and be very painful. To get rid of a toothache, they had their teeth pulled out. Finally people learned that cleaning their teeth was important, but they didn't have toothpaste right away. While you're swishing that minty-fresh paste around your mouth, think about what people used long ago to clean teeth:

* ground-up chalk or charcoal
* lemon juice
* ashes (you know, the stuff that's left over after a fire)
* tobacco and honey mixed together

Yuck!

It was only about 100 years ago that someone finally created a minty cream to clean teeth. Not long after that, the toothpaste tube was invented, so people could squeeze the paste right onto the toothbrush! Tooth brushing became popular during World War II. The U.S. Army gave brushes and toothpaste to all soldiers, and they learned to brush twice a day. Back then, toothpaste tubes were made of metal; today they're made of soft plastic and are much easier to squeeze!

Today there are plenty of toothpaste choices: lots of colors and flavors to choose from, and some are made just for kids. People with great-looking teeth advertise toothpaste on TV commercials and in magazines. When you're choosing a toothpaste, make sure it contains fluoride. Fluoride makes your teeth strong and protects them from cavities.

Healthy Soup

Alternative Health News

Read More

Useful Tips to Control Blood Sugar Level

Blood sugar level is the concentration of sugar in blood, which is present on the form of glucose.

Whenever you eat food, it is the task of the body to break down that food in usable form of energy. The carbohydrates present in the food get broken down into glucose which are then made available to the body cells through the blood stream and thus provide energy. The increase in this level of glucose in blood leads to a disease known as diabetes.
Blood sugar levels can be managed in the following ways:

1. Sugar intake must be checked. Avoid food high in sugar content. Product labels must be checked before buying for their constituents.
2. Diet must consist of fibers. Foods like nuts, olive oil contain monosaturated fats and must be regularly taken. Fruits and vegetables are highly recommended. Avoid food that contains high Trans fatty acids and fat dairy products.

3. Exercise regularly. It helps in breaking down the sugars present in the body. Another useful mean of controlling blood sugar level is by losing weight through exercises.

4. Keep a tab on your cholesterol level. This is another factor that should be taken care of along with blood sugar level.

5. Alcohol intake must be reduced. Alcohol contains high amount of calories and carbohydrates that can shoot up the blood sugar level.
6. Multivitamins and supplements can be taken. Vitamin C, E, Zinc and magnesium are very good for diabetic people.
7. Stress and anxiety must be avoided. Relaxation exercises and deep breathing are great in reducing stress.
8. Keep a regular check on your blood sugar level. Get it tested periodically and maintain a record of the changes in its level.

Blood Sugar Test	Normal Range
A1C	< 7.0%
Preprandial Plasma Glucose (before a meal)	70 - 130 mg/dl (5.0 - 7.2mmol/l)
Postprandial Plasma Glucose (after a meal)	< 180 mg/dl (< 10.0mmol/l)

Healthy Soup

Alternative Health News

Read More

Seven Instructions for Guarding Against Kidney Stones

What you eat and drink isn’t the only things that decide whether you’ll get kidney stones

1. Drink plenty of water and other fluids.
It’s first on the list for a reason -- Water dilutes urine and flushes away mineral-like materials that could possibly turn into stones.
2. Coffee and tea are fine if they help increase your fluid intake. Beer and alcohol are OK, too, in moderation. But avoid dark colas and grapefruit juice if you are prone to kidney stones.

3. Keep track of sodium and keep it under the U.S. recommended daily allowance (RDA) of 2,400 mg. Check labels on hot dogs, canned soups and vegetables, processed frozen foods and luncheon meats.
4. Don’t overdo it on meat, fish, eggs and organ meats like liver because of their effect on the chemical makeup of urine that’s conducive to stone formation.
5. Follow your health care practitioner’s recommendations for the calcium you need for your age. If you’re supplementing calcium in your diet with a pill or powder, be sure to take the supplement with meals.

Postmenopausal women should be aware that calcium supplements were shown to increase the risk of kidney stones by 20 percent in a recent Harvard University-based Nurses’ Health Study. Consider non-fat dairy products, leafy green vegetables and salmon instead.
6. Limit intake of spinach, rhubarb, beets, chocolate, nuts and wheat bran, which have been shown to contribute to a kind of stone called calcium oxalate. But you don’t necessarily need to eliminate these foods from your diet -- they have too many beneficial properties to do that.

7. Get advice from your doctor before taking vitamin C or D supplements as they can contribute to stone formation.

Beyond these guidelines, consider that your weight, environment, heredity and general health are also factors to potentially develop the condition.

Healthy Soup

Alternative Health News

Read More

Weight Loss Tips for Teenage girls

The teenager years, or the adolescent, or the puberty years, whatever you prefer to call it, is one of the main turning points in one’s life.

It is also the time that both girls and boys become conscious of themselves, which is why most of them want to lose weight. Granted, weight loss can be achieved just by about anyone, but, because of their childish tendencies, these teenagers try to lose weight in a very unhealthy manner.

At some point, especially with teenage girls, most prefer the ‘fast track’ and other diet regimens that promise to give results in a few weeks, or even days. However, these schemes not only they do not present results but they may generate side-effects that are quite harmful to the body.

If you do not want to do a deep research on how to lose weight here are some weight loss tips for teenage girls that will give you a good idea of what you need to do to address your weight problem. The list below is by no means complete but by following these tips you ensure that you are going towards the correct direction.

* Breakfast is one of the most important meals, and this is even more important for teenagers that need the nutrients and minerals in order to supplement their growing bodies. Eating healthy in the morning will give you more energy to cope with your lessons and activities and will keep your stomach full until launch time. If you think about it, all it takes to eat breakfast in the morning is to wake up 10 minutes earlier. Once you make it a habit everything else will be easier and you will feel better and healthier.

* Snack on fresh fruits and vegetables. If you really want to lose weight, you need snacks that are not only delicious and tasty but are also packed with nutrients and vitamins. As a teenager you need all the energy you can get from food and fruits and vegetables are among the best sources. Perfect examples are apples, oranges, bananas and apricots.

* Commit yourself to doing as much physical activity as possible. A careful diet is only the first part of the weight loss equation; the other part is physical activity and exercise. You do not have to join a gym or do any formal training; any physical activity is beneficial for your weight loss efforts provided that you do it regularly. For example do not underestimate the benefits of walking in losing weight. Walking is easy to do and can do wonders to your weight loss. Whenever you get a chance to walk, run, climb the stairs, and engage into sports (basketball, tennis etc) do it. It will help you burn calories faster and boost your metabolism.

* Do not forget that if you cannot address your weight loss problem alone, there are dedicated professionals to give you guidance and advice. The web is certainly a good way to get information but if this fails you need to consult a physician or a dietician first. This is in order to have a proper and full physical examination of your body, and to know the types of food that you should be eating.
Healthy Soup
Alternative Health News

Read More

Gingered Carrot Soup

Colorful and fragrant carrot and ginger soup is a light and soothing soup. Carrot soup with ginger is a nutritious and low fat soup recipe with just a touch of sweetness and a touch of spice.

This carrot and ginger soup recipe is both vegetarian and vegan. Scroll down for more vegetarian carrot soup recipes.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes

Ingredients:

* 3 tbsp olive oil
* 1/2 yellow onion, diced
* 1/4 cup fresh ginger, minced
* 4 cups chopped and peeled carrots (about 1 1/2 pounds)
* 3 cups vegetable broth
* 1 1/2 cups orange juice
* dash nutmeg
* salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:
In a large pot, sautee onions and ginger in olive oil until soft, about 3-5 minutes.

Add carrots and vegetable broth and reduce heat to medium. Allow to simmer for about 40 minutes, or until carrots are soft.

Add orange juice and stir well.

Working in small batches and using a food processor or blender, process soup until smooth.

Return to pot or serving bowl and add nutmeg, salt and pepper, stirring well. Serve with a dollop of yogurt or sour cream if desired and enjoy!

Healthy soup
Read More

Steve Jobs' Pancreatic Cancer

Since he revealed in an email from a hospital bed in 2004 that he had a rare form of pancreatic cancer, Apple CEO Steve Jobs' health became a topic of intense interest. The picture that emerged from subsequent news reports was a patchwork of details that introduced many to the idea that one could live for years with a pancreatic tumor, unlike actor Patrick Swayze, opera legend Luciano Pavarotti and journalist Dith Pran.

"With what was reported to be his type of pancreatic cancer, which was a neuroendocrine tumor, seven years [of survival] is not uncommon," said Dr. Baburao Koneru, chief of the Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery at UMDNJ-The University Hospital in Newark, N.J. "It's quite different from the common form of pancreatic cancer."

"These tend to be slow-growing tumors," said Dr. Steven Libutti, director of the Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care in New York.

While much of Jobs' journey through cancer was swathed in secrecy, other elements of his experience became very public – even if often speculative. Below is a timeline of media reports on Jobs' health:

August 2004: Jobs, 49, told Apple employees in an email that he had been diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in his pancreas and had undergone a successful operation to remove it.



"I have some personal news that I need to share with you, and I wanted you to hear it directly from me," the email read. "I had a very rare form of pancreatic cancer called an islet cell neuroendocrine tumor, which represents about 1 percent of the total cases of pancreatic cancer diagnosed each year, and can be cured by surgical removal if diagnosed in time (mine was). I will not require any chemotherapy or radiation treatments.''

(In truth, statistics indicate that pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors account for 2,000 to 3,000 of an estimated 44,000 cases of pancreatic cancer diagnosed each year.)

It was later revealed that Jobs had been diagnosed in 2003 with the cancer, but he chose not to reveal this to investors at the time.

August 2006: At Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference Jobs appeared thin and gaunt. Rumors of his death began to swirl around the Internet and in the media. An Apple spokesperson, however, said "Steve's health is robust."

June 2008: Again appearing gaunt at the annual WWDC, Jobs' health soon became a hot topic. Investors began to worry about the state of Apple, especially because its CEO had such a "hands on" approach. Although initially reps said Jobs was suffering from "a common bug," a New York Times reporter wrote that after speaking with Jobs, "his health issues have amounted to a good deal more than 'a common bug,' [but] they weren't life-threatening and he doesn't have a recurrence of cancer."

At Apple's September 2008 Let's Rock event in San Francisco, Jobs used Mark Twain's oft-cited quote: "Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated." Later he brushed off journalists' questions and soon refused to answer any questions about his health.

January 2009: Explaining his absence at a Macworld event, Jobs issued a statement blaming his noticeable weight loss on a "hormone imbalance."

"My decision to have [Apple marketing chief] Phil Schiller deliver the Macworld keynote set off another flurry of rumors about my health, with some even publishing stories of me on my deathbed. Fortunately, after further testing, my doctors think they have found the cause -- a hormone imbalance that has been 'robbing' me of the proteins my body needs to be healthy."

Alternative Health News
Read More

Whooping Cough Outbreak Causes Concern

The New Mexico Department of Health has a serious warning for Bernalillo County residents after it said it has seen a significant increase in whooping cough cases recently, especially in schools.
Health officials said it's not just parents who need to keep a close eye out, because anyone could potentially catch the disease that's spreading rapidly.

"(It's) really bad news because my son has asthma, and that's going on in his school and that means he's going to be affected right away," said parent Milady Ontiveros.

Ontiveros said her son is in seventh grade at Harrison Middle School, one of the schools the Health Department is investigating.

Health officials said whooping cough has also been linked to Barcelona Elementary School, A Children's Garden, Atrisco Heritage Academy High School, Eastern Hills Christian Academy and Rio Grande Christian Academy.

The health department said whooping cough starts with typical cold symptoms, but progresses into uncontrollable coughing, and it's highly contagious, making schools especially vulnerable.

"It's certainly not only the environment where it's spread. It's spreading in families that have a lot of close contact with one another and extended family members," said medical epidemiologist Dr. Joan Baumbach.

During an average year, the Health Department said it sees about 35 cases of whooping cough in Bernalillio County, but this year, the number has already spiked to 87, with many of the cases reported in the past two months.

The Health Department said at least 144 cases have been reported statewide.

Whooping Cough

Read More

Female Hair Loss- a Real Fear

Whole hair loss has never been the outcome of women’s hair loss like others (men). Women suffer from partial Hair loss but still it is a distressing factor for the female who suffers from it since hair forms a very vital part of beauty.

There can be dissimilar causes for women’s hair loss. Inheritance can be one of them. The treatment that women have to undergo to treat hair loss is different from what men have to undergo. Women can’t just use any product available in the market, they have to careful while using the products since there can be hair growth in other parts of the body as a result of medications. And it is a very irritating factor for women if they have hair growth on face, body or back.

It is very necessary for women to discuss with a medical practitioner so that the doctor may find out the exact causes of hair loss. After the cause of hair loss is determined the physician will be able to prescribe the correct medicine or treatment for her hair loss. Estrogen is often prescribed by the doctors to the women in order to correct their condition.

Glucocorticoids can be used to treat women’s hair loss. Topical application of Minoxodil or Anthralin is recommended treatment available for women’s hair loss. Women can receive good responses of the medicines in preventing hair loss if they are treated from an initial stage for the condition. Therefore it is advisable that you see a doctor when you start losing hair excessively.
Androgenic alopecia is an important condition and about 2% of the population is its victim. Under this condition one loses all the hair of the body and women suffering from this cannot be cured easily. However with the help of doctor’s prescription you can always reduce the symptoms.
Women often suffer from hair loss after giving birth to a child. It is a temporary hair loss and hair loss usually stops after 6 months of giving birth to the child.

The reason for hair loss after pregnancy is due to the presence of higher estrogen level during pregnancy which further affects the hair follicles in the growth phase. There is a sudden removal of estrogen right after the child birth and this allows the hair to enter in to the hair loss phase. But there is nothing to worry, hair will definitely re grow after 6 months and you can always use hair tonic to speed up the hair growth.

Physical and mental stress can be an important cause of hair fall. Improper life style and eating habits will definitely lead to weight loss and hair loss. One the stress is removed you will notice that the hair loss reduces too.

When women use chemical often when dyeing, or perming they may cause hair loss. Use of these chemicals break the hairs. The products for hair falling treatments are applied when the hair follicles are strengthened in scalp.
You can choose the right treatment for your hair loss only after you know the root cause of your hair fall. It is always recommended that women must consult a dermatologist for a complete check up before the problem of hair loss turns in to a serious problem.

Alternative Health News

Ten foods you must have in your shopping cart for excellent health

Ten foods you must have in your shopping cart for excellent health, here we List out the Top ten Foods

1. Vegetables. “Green vegetables like our callaloo, our beetroot and high coloured vegetables, the ones with fibre, I generally always encourage,” she said. “Eat vegetables raw when you can. Some people might not want to have pumpkin raw, but pumpkin can be substituted for some carrots once it’s firm. String beans also do not have to be eaten cooked, you can just cut them up in a salad and it is nice and crunchy.”

2. Fruits. Choose “the things that are in season like bananas, June plums, papaya, soursop, those kind of fruits. They have a lot more body, a lot more nutrients, they have minerals, they have vitamins, and like for the banana, the potassium would be higher on the list there. You have vitamin C type fruits, you have fibre type fruits too that are enzymatic in their giving such as papaya and pineapple,” she noted.

3. Wholegrains. Whole grains have been linked to lower risk of heart disease, diabetes and other health issues. “You will encourage people to have their whole wheat bread and their whole wheat flour, because people want to have their dumplings and so on,” said the nutritionist, who pointed out that some people might have strong allergic reactions to wheat in which case they will have to find alternatives.

4. Lentils. “Lentils are a good source of iron and calcium and protein and so you can have even lentil soup. Peas and beans are very important. A lot of people are not eating sufficient peas and beans and they are eating more meat and carbohydrates than anything else and therefore they are missing out on the nutrient contents of all of the other food groups that should be had,” said Fletcher.

5. Oatmeal. Oatmeal is great and can be found at most supermarkets. “Oats is a good thing, but rolled oats, not so much the instant oats, because that is processed,” the nutritionist said. “If you are doing rice, do the brown rice,” she added, while pointing out that those who hate the taste of brown rice could purchase additional vegetables to cook with it, such as pumpkin.

6. Ground provisions. “Sweet potatoes have more fibre than Irish potatoes, so it is more highly recommended. You have plantains, you have yam, even dasheen to some extent, but sometimes we boil the dasheen out too much,” Fletcher said.

7. Lean meats. “It’s good to have the meat fresh and with high nutrient contents — your fish and your chicken and your beef,” she said. “The organ meats I don’t lean too well on in terms of recommending it — maybe liver — but I kind of just stop there. I am not convinced of the value of the other organ meats; but that’s my personal take,” the nutritionist said.

8. Nuts. Fletcher noted that eating too many nuts can make you put on weight even though they are considered healthy. Even so, peanuts and almonds are good things to snack on when you want to avoid more high caloric snacks such as cookies and potato chips.

9. Coconut oil. Although olive oil is often touted as the best possible brand for good health, Fletcher’s personal preference for cooking is the coconut oil or the canola oil which is similar to olive oil.

10. Water. If you are restricted from having tap water for medical reasons, be sure to stock up on bottled water while at the supermarket. Stocking up on the healthiest of foods at the supermarket will not get you any closer to meeting your weight loss or health goals without this vital ingredient.

Alternative Health News