For those with a normal heart, each time the heart contracts, calcium is pumped in and out. When too much calcium accumulates, it can cause a myriad of problems with the electrical system of the heart. It can cause cardiac arrest, heart attack or arrhythmias. It has been found that when there is an abundance of saturated fat in the cells of the heart at the time a person experiences a heart attack, the chances of death are greater and the complications afterward can be severe.
Incorporating low fat eating to your daily routine can help you avoid many heart problems as well as circulatory problems. Any doctor or medical professional will tell you eating a low fat diet is the best way to stay healthy, and allow your body to function at its best. Low fat eating can be quite enjoyable if you do your research and you are willing to experiment with new flavors and textures.
Many people view low fat diets as bland and boring, but nothing could be further from the truth. Foods that you can enjoy on a low fat diet are fresh crisp vegetables in season as well as fruits, lean meats and fish and a variety of whole grains. Using sauces and spices to flavor food is also a great way to help you stick with a low fat diet.
Eating a low fat diet can contribute to feeling good about yourself again as it will enable you to lose weight. You may also experience a greater feeling of energy when you are eating a low fat diet. You will eliminate all of the foods that make your body work hard to digest them and it will give you more energy than you ever thought possible.
Friday, 7 November 2008
Eating Low Fat Products For Better Health
Top 5 Causes of Skin Aging
Let's count down the top five barriers between you and healthier, younger-looking skin:
5. The enemy: Lack of moisture. Dry skin isn't just uncomfortable - it's also a sign that your skin isn't holding on to enough water to allow its repair enzymes to work properly. That means that your skin is less able to naturally heal the inflammation caused by external attackers like the sun, excess sugar intake, and pollution.
The solution: Moisturize! Not all creams and lotions are created equal, though: Ideally, a moisturizer should not only temporarily hydrate, but also strengthen skin so that it can retain moisture more effectively. Check ingredient lists for ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids (stearic acid is the one you'll see most often) - those are the very lipids found naturally in your skin barrier, a layer of the epidermis that keeps moisture in and irritants out. Deliver those powerhouse moisturizers topically, and you'll bolster skin's ability to prevent further dryness.
4. The enemy: Pollution. The exhaust-belching cars and other pollutants in our modern environments are among the major causes of free radicals in the skin (the sun and cigarette smoke, which you'll read about below, also make the list of free-radical producers).
So just what is a free radical? In a nutshell, it's an oxygen molecule that has been stripped of one of its electrons ... meaning that it's on the hunt for replacement electrons. As a result of that hunt, free radicals attack vital skin components like collagen, resulting in skin aging.
The solution: Chances are, you can't take off for the less-polluted climate of a pristine desert island, but antioxidants can help mitigate the damage that pollution causes. Antioxidants calm free radicals by delivering the electrons they seek - and as a result, they also stave off free radicals' aging effects. Get them through your diet (through green tea, dark chocolate, and lots of fruits and veggies, particularly berries and pomegranates) or topically with skin-care ingredients like coenzyme Q10, green tea, coffeeberry, and idebenone.
3. The enemy: Genetics. Yes, to some extent each person's aging process is the unavoidable result of the genes they inherited.
The solution: Obviously there's not much to be done about this one. We are, however, looking into the genetic component of skin aging at the University of Miami Cosmetic Medicine and Research Institute and hope to pinpoint the exact genes involved.
2. The enemy: Smoking. If you need another great reason to quit smoking, here's one: Smoking breaks down collagen, one of the most critical structural proteins in your skin. The result is premature aging in the form of lines, wrinkles, and loss of skin firmness. Smoking also decreases blood flow to the skin, which leaves the complexion sallow and less radiant, and allows damaging toxins to build up.
The solution: Talk to your doctor, research stop-smoking aids, or enlist the support of your friends... just do what it takes to quit smoking!
1. The enemy: The sun. The No. 1 saboteur of healthy, youthful skin is the ultraviolet light of the sun. UV rays induce skin-aging inflammation and generate free radicals, which make the sun the biggest threat to skin's collagen, not to mention the fact that UV exposure puts you at a dramatically increased risk for developing skin cancer.
UV light also worsens and causes hyperpigmentation (they don't call 'em sunspots for nothing!). I have found in my years of practice that dark spots and pigmentation irregularities age people as much as - if not more than - lines and wrinkles.
The solution: Protecting your skin from the sun requires a combination of avoidance and vigilant sunscreen-application. Try to stay out of the sun when it's strongest, at midday, and wear sunscreen every day, even if you're not planning a lot of outdoor time. Incidental sun exposure - on the way to lunch, as you walk to and from your car, while you're waiting for the bus - adds up.
And if you are going to be in direct sunlight, invest in hats and sun-protective clothing. (And don't for a second think tanning beds are the solution - they use concentrated doses of UVA rays, which penetrate deep into skin, and are actually even more damaging than the sun.)
Wishing you great skin!
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
Amazing New Glove Helps Women Find Breast Cancer Early
You perform a breast self exam the same way, you just use the Glove instead of your bare hands. Check from your collar bone and into your armpits and do both breasts. Since lumps can grow in a week, it is suggested to perform the procedure weekly. The Donna glove helps detect lumps, thickening and other subtle changes your bare hand may not detect. Full instructions are on the website below and are provided with the glove.
The glove itself is a double layer of polyurethane with mineral oil between the layers. This allows for greatly enhanced ability to feel lumps. A clinical trial in Rome proved the efficacy of the glove.
108 women were studied for nearly a year. These women all had previous lumps and were at high risk for developing breast cancer. They were split into two equal groups. Group 1 was issued a Donna Glove while group 2 continued to do self breast exams with bare hands.
At the 6 month follow up, 84% (45 in each group) of these patients had recurrence of the lumps confirmed by mammography. Group 1, the group issued the Donna Glove had a 100% self-detection rate. In group 2, only 22 of 45 women had detected lumps with their bare hands.
The significant difference in detection rate was present even after adjusting for combinations of age, method of detection and family history of breast cancer. Mammography upheld these percentages. The study concluded that in a population of potential breast cancer patients, breast self exam with the Donna Glove is related to a greater earlier detection and thus improves survival over bare hand self examination.
Saturday, 1 November 2008
Cancer
Cancer may affect people at all ages, even fetuses, but the risk for most varieties increases with age.[1] Cancer causes about 13% of all deaths.[2] According to the American Cancer Society, 7.6 million people died from cancer in the world during 2007.[3] Cancers can affect all animals.
Nearly all cancers are caused by abnormalities in the genetic material of the transformed cells. These abnormalities may be due to the effects of carcinogens, such as tobacco smoke, radiation, chemicals, or infectious agents. Other cancer-promoting genetic abnormalities may be randomly acquired through errors in DNA replication, or are inherited, and thus present in all cells from birth. The heritability of cancers are usually affected by complex interactions between carcinogens and the host's genome. New aspects of the genetics of cancer pathogenesis, such as DNA methylation, and microRNAs are increasingly recognized as important.
Genetic abnormalities found in cancer typically affect two general classes of genes. Cancer-promoting oncogenes are typically activated in cancer cells, giving those cells new properties, such as hyperactive growth and division, protection against programmed cell death, loss of respect for normal tissue boundaries, and the ability to become established in diverse tissue environments. Tumor suppressor genes are then inactivated in cancer cells, resulting in the loss of normal functions in those cells, such as accurate DNA replication, control over the cell cycle, orientation and adhesion within tissues, and interaction with protective cells of the immune system.
Diagnosis usually requires the histologic examination of a tissue biopsy specimen by a pathologist, although the initial indication of malignancy can be symptoms or radiographic imaging abnormalities. Most cancers can be treated and some cured, depending on the specific type, location, and stage. Once diagnosed, cancer is usually treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. As research develops, treatments are becoming more specific for different varieties of cancer. There has been significant progress in the development of targeted therapy drugs that act specifically on detectable molecular abnormalities in certain tumors, and which minimize damage to normal cells. The prognosis of cancer patients is most influenced by the type of cancer, as well as the stage, or extent of the disease. In addition, histologic grading and the presence of specific molecular markers can also be useful in establishing prognosis, as well as in determining individual treatments.
A Guide To Dental Health
by: Seth Miller
People begin to learn about dental health from a very young age, when teeth first begin to show up. But in spite of such early awareness, many people fail to maintain good dental health through their adult life. Good dental health comprises brushing and flossing your teeth every day, and regular visits to a dentist or dental hygienist as well. Besides, people supplement their dental care with the use of products like mouthwash or advanced mouth care systems. You should keep it in mind that the lack of adequate dental care practices will result in cavities and gum disease.
It is generally advised that you use a toothbrush with softer bristles so as to protect your gums. Some people, however, prefer power brush systems that help break up plaque and bacteria in your mouth. But it takes more than brushing to keep your teeth in good health. Some other steps need to be taken to ensure that people do not lose their teeth as they become old.
To begin with, you should understand your own oral health needs, as your oral health depends on your diet, the type and amount of saliva in your mouth, your overall health and your oral hygiene routine. Try to follow a daily routine in consultation with your dentist.
As fluoride strengthens developing teeth in kids and prevents decay in adults, toothpastes and mouthwashes containing fluoride should be used. You should brush at least twice a day, if possible three times or after every meal. You should also floss at least twice a day. Brushing and flossing will remove plaque, a complex mass of bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth.
Limit the consumption of snacks and follow a balanced diet plan. Tobacco in any form will enhance the risk of oral cancer and cause stains on your teeth. Visit your dentist regularly and get your mouth examined.
Ensuring Sufficient Blood Flow to the Brain
Robert Elias Najemy
Ensuring Sufficient Blood Flow to the Brain
Robert Elias Najemy
Sufficient blood flow to our brain is essential for
1. Good memory
2. Clarity of thought
3. Freedom from headaches
4. Overcoming psychosomatic illnesses
5. Getting free from negative emotions
6. Greater concentration
7. Hormonal Balance
8. A relaxed nervous system
9. A stronger immune system
10. More energy and vitality
Most people do not have enough clean oxygenated blood flowing into their brains because:
1. They have low blood pressure.
2. They have tense - contracted arteries.
3. Their arteries are clogged with waste products.
4. They do not breathe deeply and completely enough.
5. They are standing or sitting many hours and blood flow down into the legs (also creating problems such as varicose veins)
6. They hunch over and do not sit or stand straight so that the blood can flow freely.
The following exercise, which we call the half-shoulder stand, is an excellent way to replenish the brain with blood, oxygen and nutrients while also cleaning up the veins of the legs.
Persons with high blood pressure of detached retina or other serious eye problems should consult their doctor before performing it.
HALF-SHOULDER STAND
Place a mat close to the wall and lie down on your back with your buttocks very close to the wall and your legs resting up on the wall. If you like, you can place a large pillow underneath your buttocks so as to create a greater incline (this will also make it more comfortable for the lower back). Make sure that your back, shoulders and neck are in a comfortable position. (If you have high blood pressure, you may find this position a little difficult in the beginning as you will feel the pressure in your head. You should check with your doctor to see if he agrees for you to do it). Now there are four stages to this exercise:
a) While lying in this position, inhale slowly while raising your arms up over your head until they rest on the floor behind your head. Hold your breath in this position for a few seconds and then lower your hands back by your side as you exhale. This movement may be practiced in harmony with the breath from five to ten times at the rhythm, which you feel most comfortable. A good rhythm is to have an equal inhalation, retention and exhalation. Thus one could inhale for a count of three, hold for three, and exhale for three.
b) In the next stage, you take a deep inhalation and then turn your head to the right while keeping the head in contact with the mat and holding your breath. Hold your breath for a few seconds and then exhale returning the head to the center again. Then take another deep inhalation and turn your head to the left, hold a few seconds and return it to the center exhaling. This exercise too may be practiced with the breathing ratio inhaling for three, holding for three, and exhaling for three. One should always breathe as slowly and deeply as one can, without forcing the breath.
c) In the third stage we simply breathe slowly and deeply with concentration on the inhalation and exhalation. Never force the breath, but breathe as slowly and deeply as comfortably possible. On every exhalation allow the neck, shoulders and eyes relax. Take from 5 to 20 such deep breaths according to your capacity. The breath is more effective when it is rhythmic with the ratio of breathing in which the inhalation, retention and exhalation are of equal length.
d) In the final stage we simply remain in this position with the legs up on the wall and allow our shoulders, neck and head to relax as much as possible. Special attention should be given to the area of the eyes and the center of the forehead. If there is tension in the eyes, we can place the palms over the eyes in a gentle manner and allow the peaceful energy of the hands to flow into and relax the eyes and the forehead. The palms can be left in this position for as long as ten minutes if we have the inclination and time. We can also relax in this position with or without the hands in this position for as long as we feel comfortable.
Benefits: It is obvious that this exercise helps to bring blood to the head, shoulders, neck and eyes. The twisting of the neck from side to side opens up the neck and stimulates the thyroid glands. This is a wonderful position to relax in and is as good for the legs as it is for the head. The deep rhythmic breathing allows for greater oxygenation and relaxation and rejuvenation of the nervous, endocrine and immune systems as well as the mind.
It is an invaluable tool for renewing our body, energy and mind.
