Spirulina

Spirulina is the common name for human and animal food supplements similar to Chlorella and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae (Blue Green Algae.) Spirulina comes from two different species of cyanobacteria: Arthrospira platensis, and Arthrospira maxima. These and other Arthrospira species were once classified in the genus Spirulina. There is now agreement that they are a distinct genera, and that the food species belong to Arthrospira; nonetheless, the older term Spirulina remains the popular name. Spirulina is cultivated around the world, and is used as a human dietary supplement as well as a whole food and is available in tablet, flake, and powder form. It is also used as a feed supplement in the aquaculture, aquarium, and poultry industries.

Nutrients and other chemicals

* Protein
* Vitamins
* Minerals

Spirulina is a rich source of potassium, and also contains calcium, chromium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, selenium, sodium, and zinc

In study found that 36 volunteers taking 4.5 grams of spirulina per day, over a six week period, exhibited significant changes in :
-cholesterol and blood pressure:
- lowered total cholesterol
- increased HDL cholesterol
- lowered triglycerides; and
- lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure Read the rest of this entry »

Health Benefit Of Egg

Egg- the nutritional dynamos- are enriched with almost every essential vitamin and mineral necessary for humans. It is a great source of omega-3 oils. Let us take a look at the benefits of Omega-3 fats present in eggs:
• Anti-inflammatory: The anti-inflammatory property of omega-3 fats present in eggs reduces inflammation.
• Anti-coagulant: Omega-3 fats are anti-coagulant (blood thinner), which keep the platelets less sticky and decrease the risk of blood clot formation thereby helping you to protect yourself against heart attack.
• Reduces initial heart attack: Omega-3 fats present in eggs reduce the risk of initial heart attack by 20-40 percent.
• Reduces the risk of cancer: Eating eggs is beneficial for you because the omega-3 fats present in eggs are capable of reducing the risk of cancer. They may also help inhibit the growth of cancer.
• Reduces fat: Eggs are must-have for the figure conscious people since the omega-3 fats present in eggs can help you to reduce fat and maintain a leaner and healthier body.
• Promotes eye health: Eggs are healthy for your eyes. Lack of omega-3 oils in your diet may cause macular degeneration, so exclude egg from your diet. The carotenoids namely lutein and zeaxanthin present in eggs reduce the risk of cataracts.

Apart from this, omega-3 oils present in eggs help fight depression, anxiety, control the level of hormones, and help reduce the tendencies towards impulsiveness or aggression.

Lutein present in eggs is a good source of choline which is vital for the function of all the cells in the human body. Eggs are also excellent sources of iron, riboflavin, Vitamins D, E and B 12 and folate. Eggs are also excellent source of protein. Read the rest of this entry »

Fish In your Diet

Fish helps lower cholesterol (the bad kind) and it is low in fat and calories so it can aid in weight loss if it's not fried, breaded or grilled in butter or oil.

Now there's a new study that shows fish may help stave off certain types of cancers. A research study recently done in Milan, Italy compared 10,000 hospital patients who had cancer to 8,000 other patients who did not have cancer. Before the cancer tests or hospital admission, they were all asked how much and how often they ate fish, on average. Those who ate one or more servings a week showed a definite pattern of protection against cancers such as stomach, mouth, pharynx, esophagus, colon and rectum.

Fish may be an even healthier choice than previously thought. Remember, tuna salad (easy on the mayo) counts too as well as fish chowder and fish dips (made with low cal dressing and/or cream sauce).
So it's not as tough as you think to include fish a few times a week in your diet Read the rest of this entry »

Chemoteraphy

Chemotherapy is a medical treatment in which anti-cancer drugs are used to treat cancer. In chemotherapy treatment, anti-cancerous drugs are administered which stops or slows down growth of cancerous cell.
Chemotherapy is applied by various means including injections, orally, intravenously and topically. Though chemotherapy is effective in treating various cancers, it also associates side effects which include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, hair loss, memory loss, low appetite, sickness and many others. Patient receiving chemotherapy is also at risk for developing infection related to low white blood cells.

Patients having following conditions are at high chemotherapy risks and infections:

If patient is receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy which decreases the number of blood cells.

If patients have open wounds or tissue infections

If patients are suffering from cardiovascular disease

If cancer is at advanced or uncontrolled stage

If patients is on bed or chair for most of the time.

Patients with age more than 65

Patients who already received chemotherapy or radiation treatment

Patients having poor immune system or patient having low white blood cell counts..

Chemotherapy treatment can be applied at various places including home, doctor’s office, clinic, outpatient department of hospital or at hospital. It is decided by your doctor which also depends on type of chemotherapy you are receiving. Drugs taken orally or topically can be taken easily at home. Chemotherapy treatment times can vary from less than 1 hour to several hours depending on the type of therapy being given.

Neutropenia (a low white blood cell count), anemia (a low red blood cell count), thrombocytopenia (a low blood platelet count), nausea, and hair loss are some common side effects of chemotherapy. Due to some chemotherapy treatments, white blood cell count decreases significantly which results in poor immune system.

White blood cells are important cells in blood. These cells kill bacteria which can invade your body and cause infections. Patients with lower white blood cell counts have a weaker immune system which results in an increased risk for infection. White blood cell boosters are available which reduce the risk of chemotherapy related infection.
Red blood cells contain hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is a protein which carries oxygen from the lungs to the body’s each muscles and organs. If level of hemoglobin in blood drops down, patients affect with disease called anemia. For treating anemia, there are two treatments available. These are red blood cell transfusions and erythropoietin-stimulating agents which stimulate the bone marrow to make more red blood cells.

Platelets are blood cells which plug leaks in blood vessels to stop bleeding. A low platelet count in blood results in thrombocytopenia. In case of low platelet counts, treatment called platelet transfusions is necessary.

Patients should prepare themselves physically and mentally before chemotherapy to avoid or decrease chance of risks and serious side effects associate with treatment. You should take healthy diet before and during chemotherapy. Cancer as well as chemotherapy put lot of stress on patient. Efforts have to be taken to reduce or manage stress with the help of counselor. Read the rest of this entry »

Salt And Healthy

Salt is essential not only to life, but to good health. It's always been that way. The body's salt/water ratio is critical to metabolism. Human blood contains 0.9% salt (sodium chloride) -- the same concentration as found in United States Pharmacopeia (USP) sodium chloride irrigant commonly used to cleanse wounds. Salt maintains the electrolyte balance inside and outside of cells. Routine physical examinations measure blood sodium for clues to personal health. Most of our salt comes from foods, some from water.

Inadequate salt can be problematic. Doctors often recommend replacing water and salt lost in exercise [see advice on maintaining hydration for weekend athletes bodybuilders, professional athletes and outdoor athletes such as marathon runners and ultraendurance athletes and when working outside. Older people have special concerns to consume sufficient salt. Wilderness hikers know the importance of salt tablets to combat hyperthermia. Oral rehydration involves replacing both water and salt. Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT) has been termed, by the British Medical Journal "the most important medical advance this (20th) century." Expectant mothers are advised to get enough salt . Increased salt intakes have been used successfully to combat Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The unique microclimate of salt mines is a popular way to treat asthma, particularly in Eastern Europe .

Dramatic deficiencies (e.g. "salt starvation" in India) or "excessive" sodium intakes have been associated with other conditions and diseases, such as hypertension and stomach cancer. The long-accepted view that the body maintains a constant amount of sodium has been questioned recently by two separate teams of German scientists who postulate "osmotically inactive sodium storage" beyond the balance maintained by the kidney.

Testing the salinity of perspiration is a good test for cystic fibrosis; scientists suspect that cystic fibrosis is caused by a deformed protein that prevents chloride outside cells from attracting needed moisture. (And, of course, we cannot forget that iodized salt is the choice of public health professionals to combat iodine deficiency, has been fortified to battle other diseases like lymphatic filarisis and is considered "the first antibiotic").

The National Academy of Sciences recommends that Americans consume a minimum of 500 mg/day of sodium to maintain good health. Individual needs, however, vary enormously based on their genetic make-up and the way they live their lives. While individual requirements range widely, most Americans have no trouble reaching their minimum requirements. Most consume "excess" sodium above and beyond that required for proper bodily function. The kidneys efficiently process this "excess" sodium in healthy people. Chloride is also essential to good health. Every substance, including water, can be toxic in certain concentrations and amounts; this is not a significant concern for dietary salt.

For 4,000 years, we have known that salt intakes can affect blood pressure through signals to the muscles of blood vessels trying to maintain blood pressure within a proper range. We know that a minority of the population can lower blood pressure by restricting dietary salt. And we know that elevated blood pressure, “hypertension,” is a well-documented marker or “risk factor” for cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes, a “silent killer.” Reducing blood pressure can reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke – depending on how it’s done.

Some have suggested that since salt intakes are related to blood pressure, and since cardiovascular risks are also related to blood pressure, that, surely, salt intake levels are related to cardiovascular risk. This is the “salt hypothesis” or “sodium hypothesis.” Data are needed to confirm or reject hypotheses.

Blood pressure is a sign. When it goes up (or down) it indicates an underlying health concern. Changes result from many variables, often still poorly-understood. High blood pressure is treated with pharmaceuticals and with lifestyle interventions such as diet and exercise. The anti-hypertensive drugs are all approved by regulatory authorities such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. To be approved, these drugs must prove they work to lower blood pressure. Whether they also work to lower the incidence of heart attacks and strokes has not been the test to gain approval (it would take too long to develop new drugs), but the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute has invested heavily in such “health outcomes” studies. Read the rest of this entry »

Fruit and Vegetables help to lose weight

Keep stay away from fast foods and eat more ‘n more fruits because eating fruits and vegetables have many health benefits, and it is also very good for weight loss.

Many people have to take at least 5-9 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables daily. The daily recommended amount is equivalent to almost 2 cups of fruits and 2 and 1/2 cups of vegetables each day. When you think of it this way does it look that difficult to get your daily recommended dosage of fruits and vegetables?

In order to get the maximum benefit, you should eat different varieties of fruits and vegetables. Eating the same foods day after day is not so exciting. So if you eat try out different fruits and vegetables everyday it can be so much fun and also you can get all the different nutrients present in each.

Pick different colors and varieties as each color fruit or vegetable has different types of nutrients, so choosing a variety of different colors can ensure that you get all the vitamins and minerals present in them.

Another good method of enjoying your daily intake is to try out new recipes. Most people love to experiment and try out new recipes so why not do the same and enjoy all those veggies and fruits in different tastes.

An alternative would be to make juices out of the fruits or vegetables. Juices can be very good for the health, but they should be your second option - the first being to consume the foods directly as that can be more nutritious.

Never think that that vitamin pills are a good substitute for fresh fruits or vegetables. These foods contain far more than the micro-nutrients present in any vitamin pill on the planet. They are much less costly than the pills, are tastier to eat and much more nutritious. Read the rest of this entry »

Blood Pressure

Blood is carried from the heart to all parts of your body in vessels called arteries. Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. Each time the heart beats (about 60-70 times a minute at rest), it pumps out blood into the arteries. Your blood pressure is at its highest when the heart beats, pumping the blood. This is called systolic pressure. When the heart is at rest, between beats, your blood pressure falls. This is the diastolic pressure.

Blood pressure is always given as these two numbers, the systolic and diastolic pressures. Both are important. Usually they are written one above or before the other, such as 120/80 mmHg. The top number is the systolic and the bottom the diastolic. When the two measurements are written down, the systolic pressure is the first or top number, and the diastolic pressure is the second or bottom number (for example, 120/80). If your blood pressure is 120/80, you say that it is "120 over 80."

Blood pressure changes during the day. It is lowest as you sleep and rises when you get up. It also can rise when you are excited, nervous, or active.

Still, for most of your waking hours, your blood pressure stays pretty much the same when you are sitting or standing still. That level should be lower than 120/80. When the level stays high, 140/90 or higher, you have high blood pressure. With high blood pressure, the heart works harder, your arteries take a beating, and your chances of a stroke, heart attack, and kidney problems are greater.

In many people with high blood pressure, a single specific cause is not known. This is called essential or primary high blood pressure. Research is continuing to find causes.

In some people, high blood pressure is the result of another medical problem or medication. When the cause is known, this is called secondary high blood pressure.


What is high blood pressure?
A blood pressure of 140/90 or higher is considered high blood pressure. Both numbers are important. If one or both numbers are usually high, you have high blood pressure. If you are being treated for high blood pressure, you still have high blood pressure even if you have repeated readings in the normal range.

* Are not on medicine for high blood pressure
* Are not having a short-term serious illness
* Do not have other conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease


Note: When systolic and diastolic blood pressures fall into different categories, the higher category should be used to classify blood pressure level. For example, 160/80 would be stage 2 high blood pressure.
There is an exception to the above definition of high blood pressure. A blood pressure of 130/80 or higher is considered high blood pressure in persons with diabetes and chronic kidney disease Read the rest of this entry »

Taking Care Of Your Teeth

When you get your picture taken, everyone says, "Say cheese! Smile!" So you do - you open your mouth and show your teeth. When you see the picture, you see a happy person looking back at you. The healthier those teeth are, the happier you look. Why is that?

It's because your teeth are important in many ways. If you take care of them, they'll help take care of you. Strong, healthy teeth help you chew the right foods to help you grow. They help you speak clearly. And yes, they help you look your best.
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 (say: plak), which is a clear film that sticks to your teeth. The film itself might not sound so bad, but it's very sticky, and it acts like a magnet for bacteria (say: bak-teer-ee-uh) and sugar.

Like ants at a picnic, bacteria go crazy over the sugar on your teeth, breaking 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, it won't be long before cavities and unhealthy gums 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 brands 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. When you brush, you don't need a lot of toothpaste: just squeeze out a bit the size of a pea. It's not a good idea to swallow the toothpaste, either, so be sure to rinse and spit after brushing.
How You Can Keep Your Teeth Healthy

Kids can take charge of their teeth by taking these steps:

* Brush at least twice a day - after breakfast and before bedtime. If you can, brush after lunch or after sweet snacks. Brushing properly breaks down plaque.
* Brush all of your teeth, not just the front ones. Spend some time on the teeth along the sides and in the back. Brush away from your gums.
* Take your time while brushing. Spend at least 3 minutes each time you brush. If you have trouble keeping track of the time, use a timer or play a recording of a song you like to help pass the time.
* Be sure your toothbrush has soft bristles (the package will tell you if they're soft). Ask your parent to help you get a new toothbrush every 3 months. Some toothbrushes come with bristles that change color when it's time to change them.
* Learn how to floss your teeth, which is a very important way to keep them healthy. It feels weird the first few times you do it, but pretty soon you'll be a pro. Slip the dental floss between each tooth and up along the gum line. The floss gets rid of food that's hidden where your toothbrush can't get it, no matter how well you brush.

It's also important to visit the dentist twice a year. Besides checking for signs of cavities or gum disease, the dentist will help keep your teeth extra clean, and he or she can help you learn the best way to brush and floss.

It's not just brushing and flossing that keep your teeth healthy - you also need to be careful about what you eat and drink. Remember, the plaque on your teeth is just waiting for that sugar to arrive. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables and drink water instead of soda. And don't forget to smile!

Read the rest of this entry »

4 Ways To Break A Healthy Weight Loss Plateu

Although you can lose weight without exercise, it will always accelerate your efforts. If you are not injured or do not suffer from severe asthma, be thankful that you can get outside and move your body. Take advantage of your ability to be active because many people do not have that luxury. The more you exercise, the better you will get at it, and the less it will feel like work.

If you are already exercising, add something different to the mix to make your body working harder. Add intensity, in the form of extra weight, run faster or for a longer distance, or more duration. Going until you fail is the easiest way to ensure you’re pushing hard enough. Add extra sit-ups and push-ups before you go to sleep and when you wake up. Done in the AM on an empty stomach, this can kick-start your metabolism by teaching your body to more efficiently mobilize its fat stores for energy.

1.Make Healthier Eating Choices
When you are trying to lose weight, there is nothing more important than proper nutrition. Your body can perform miracles with choices like soy protein shakes, fruits and vegetables. You’ll not only bust past your plateau, but you’ll do it in a healthy way. Eliminate refined sugar grains (most pre-packaged snack foods) so carbohydrates can not get their way unnoticed into your diet.
Cutting back on how often you eat can have a negative impact on your diet plateau as well. Small, frequent meals are more satisfying and produce better weight-loss results than the same number of calories consumed in three large meals. Take advantage of healthys nacks like protein bars, soy nuts and fresh vegetable and fruit slices. Eating more of the right kinds of food is a much smarter plan of action to break a healthy weight loss plateau than starving yourself.

2. Drink Green Tea
Whenever I want to lose 5 or 10 pounds of stubborn belly fat, I drink more green tea. Packed with more vitamins and antioxidants than any other drink, green tea is an all-natural way to give yourself energy to compliment your enthusiasm for losing weight. The best part, however, is that green tea ahas the amazing ability to actually speed up your metabolism! You will notice results right away with just one cup, but the more you drink it, the more you will want it!

3. Keep Your Incentive Strong
the body achieves what the mind believes. If you don’t believe you can make it past the hurdle of a weight loss plateau, you probably won’t. You’ll give up before you have a chance to even try. Focus on re-capturing the determination you felt when you first began your weight-loss program. The excitement of watching the pounds drop one by one should be the focus of your motivation. If it was something that has come and gone, like a high school reunion or a wedding, choose a new goal.
start keeping a diet journal of everything you eat and drink. You may quickly discover that hidden carbohydrates and sugars are keeping your healthy weight-loss progress stuck at the plateau. Eliminate trigger foods or anything that you think may be contributing to your inability to lose more weight. If you are eating pretzels every day at 2pm, don’t starve yourself by not eating if you are hungry at that time…just replace the pretzels with something healthier like fruit or chicken.

4. Drink More Water
It is extremely important to replenish your fluids by drinking plenty of water on any weight loss program, especially if you are incorporating exercise on a daily basis. An inadequate supply of water can slow down your weight-loss, so carry a water bottle with you wherever you go throughout the day. Keeping well hydrated not only helps you burn fat efficiently, it also helps control hunger.

Follow these 4 steps and you will have a better chance of breaking your healthy weight loss plateau than if you continue stressing over the obstacle. Each time you sit down to eat or have a snack, take a moment to become mindful that the food you are about to eat is either taking you one step closer to your goal, or one step away. As you make this mental connection, and dedicate each serving of food or drink to your weight loss, you will naturally be inclined to enjoy the foods and drinks that pushed you past your plateau. Read the rest of this entry »

Blood Group

The cell wall contains many antigenic proteins, which determine the blood type. Among these proteins are the antigens. A and B, the major blood group factors. Blood with antigen B is group B. Blood with both antigens is called AB, and blood with neither is called group O. Normally, the plasma of every person contains an antibody against the A or B antigens in the red cells are determined by mixing the cells with known typing serums.

The antibodies in the serum or plasma are determined by mixing it with cells of known A or B type. Such typing is necessary in preparation for blood transfusion. Antigens of the various Rh and Hr types, M and N, S and Kell, Duffy, and many others also exist in the red blood cell. All like the A and B antigens, are inherited. When the red cell antigens are determined, they show so many different combinations as to make a persons blood type almost as individual as a fingerprint.

Antibodies against antigens other than A and B do not normally occurs in the plasma. They may appear after transfusion, however, and may cause transfusion reactions and destruction of red blood cells or hemolytic disease of the newborn.

According to the AB0 blood typing system there are four different kinds of blood types: A, B, AB or 0 (null).

Blood group A
If you belong to the blood group A, you have A antigens on the surface of your red blood cells and B antibodies in your blood plasma.

Blood group B
If you belong to the blood group B, you have B antigens on the surface of your red blood cells and A antibodies in your blood plasma.

Blood group AB
If you belong to the blood group AB, you have both A and B antigens on the surface of your red blood cells and no A or B antibodies at all in your blood plasma. Read the rest of this entry »