November 19th, 2007
red clover or Trifolium pratense is used for chronic chest problems such as whooping cough, asthma, and bronchitis. Flowering tops of the red clover are used. people with thin blood should exercise extreme caution when using herbs like Red clover and should do so only under physician supervision. There have been several small studies of less than 6 months for effect of red clover on menopausal symptoms and they have had mixed results. because of the shorter duration of these studies , results of an estrogen like substance in red clover on women is not yet determined.
it is very important to talk to your doctor before taking any dietary supplements since the effects on hormone-sensitive women as well as breastfeeding women are not known.
red clover is also used to detox skin or reduce skin problems or blood purifier for various skin condition. its effect on acne has not been studied in large trials.
Tags: acne, asthma, blood thinner, bronchitis, estrogen, pregnancy, red clover, skin detox, skin problems
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November 15th, 2007
catnip is a very versatile plant. catnip leaves and flowers play an important part in stress reduction. catnip is liked by cats and is excellent calming herb. catnip is also used as a teething pain relief remedy. It has a restorative digestive capability and can be used for preventing diarrhea or colic. to help with digestion use few drops of catnip tincture before meals. catnip has bitter taste and is better used with other herbs.
chamomile has long been used for stomach disorders and against fever and for nervous stress. chamomile tea is prepared by pouring boiling water over half/one oz of chamomile flowers and then covering it and waiting for 20 minutes. drink small amount couple of times a day for relaxation. Azulene is the key volatile oil in chamomile. its a type of terpene , Azulene is known for its anti-inflamatory property and also has anti-tumor and sedative properties. Chamomile may also help reduce flatulence and reduce inflammation. is some studies chamomile is shown to inactivate toxins produced by bacteria. This may be the reason for chamomiles role in stress reduction.
Tags: catnip, colic, diarrhea, flatulence, inflamation, stress reduction. chamomile, teething pain
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November 13th, 2007
small size LDL has bad health effect compared to large size LDL. small LDL seems to trigger the process of atherosclerosis more compared to large LDL. HDL also comes in various sizes and large HDL seems to do a very good job of hauling the cholesterol back to the liver. HDL also has very good anti oxidant effect.
large lipo proteins also may be a clue to longevity. a modest amount of exercise is best way to increase the size of LDL and HDL. transfat promotes smaller size LDL particles thus making transfat more dangerous for your health.
smaller LDL particles are also found in people who have insulin resistance syndrome. LDL particle size is also found to be inversely proportional to total triglycerides.
atherogenesis is the formation of lipid deposits in the arteries, smaller LDL particles and high TG – triglycerides are key factors in the formation of plaque in the lining of the arteries
Tags: atherogenesis, atherosclerosis, diabetes, HDL, insulin resistance, LDL, lipid deposits, plaque, triglycerides
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November 5th, 2007
A recent study in the medical journal, the lancet reported that herb echinacea reduced common cold and also shortened the duration of common cold. however new england journal of medicine had reported that echinacea may not help common cold. it is possible that the two studies different viruses. also FDA does not regulate herbal supplements and hence study results may not be conclusive. Vitamin C is known to reduce cold symptoms although it may not prevent common cold.
a person can be infected with cold virus upto 24 hours before the cold symptoms can be seen. best defense against common cold is to wash your hands every time you are in public places. Washing hands prevents viruses from entering your mouth or nose.
personal hygiene such as washing hands with soap may be the best natural health solution and cure for preventing common cold.
Tags: common cold, echinacea, jama, lancet, medical journals, natural health, zinc
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October 29th, 2007
natural cure for lowering blood pressure requires lowering sodium. Reduce canned foods. eat less of those fries and potato chips. Instead of eating frozen foods , eat more fresh vegetables. Instead of drinking fruit juice start eating your fruits. fruits juices do not add fiber, you need good fiber in your diet and hence raw fruits and vegetables are a great addition to heart healthy diet. if you feel the craving for salted nuts try eating fresh fruits. Instead of foods rick in sodium add some potassium rich foods to your diet.
Here are some fresh vegetable ideas for potassium. magnesium and high fiber to lower your cholesterol and lower high blood pressure – eat green Broccoli, fresh carrots,. Eat some green foods like green beans, peas, spinach. Red Tomatoes without adding any kind of salt.
check your food labels – use low sodium or low salt varieties if you must eat canned food. Eat unsalted nuts or seeds, peas and lentils. Switch to using light spices and herbs instead of salt to add create tasty food. Refrain from adding salt to your food. you may also want to try fat free broths or soups with no salt.
if you eat out frequently, request that your dish is prepared with no salt.
Tags: , high fiber diet, low salt, no salt
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October 28th, 2007
cholesterol is a fatty substance used to produce cell membranes. It is used in manufacture of bile acids and estrogen. Cholesterol is measures as total cholesterol , LDL or bad cholesterol, HDL or good cholesterol. HDL helps lowering of total cholesterol levels by carrying cholesterol away from arteries to liver. a healthy cholesterol level is between 130 mg/DL – less than 199 mg/DL . LDL should be below 100 mg/DL and HDL should be above 40 mg/DL. Tryglycerides should be lower than 150 mg/DL. icreased body facts as measured by triglyceroides are also an increased risk factor.
role of soluble fiber: a commonly used laxative like metamucil ingredient – Blond Psyllium contains an active ingredient mucilage. it swells and forms a thick mass helpng it increase stool size. many clinical studies have tested blond Psylium in many forms. Cereals and snack bars may contain this solube fiber in different quantities. LDL cholesterol is found to have decrased by 5% in the group that has taken 7% – 10% grams of solube fiber. There are studies published by archives of internal medicine studying effectiveness of Psylium and comparing it with simvastatin.
for best results eat diet with soluble fiber than just low-fat diet.
Blond Psyllium can cause abdominal pain or constipation, diarrhea and other side effects. some people also may be allergic to it. .it may increase risk of low blood sugar when taken with diabetes medications. consult your doctor before taking these in any form such as metamucil or nutrition bars.
Tags: Blond Psyllium, cholesterol, metamucil, soluble fiber
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October 22nd, 2007
A low-carb diet like atkins does not always equal to a low calorie food. Many low-carb products are sold under the Atkins brand. If you replace low carbohydrate food with high protein food you may still have just as many calories. There is no specific definition of “low-carbohydrate”.
Manufacturers may reduce carbs in food by changing the process or adding high protein foods – sometimes they substitute refined wheat flour with soy flour that has high soy protein content , or wheat protein. They may add what bran or oat bran that has extra fiber content. they may add nuts which have healthy fats. They may also replace sugar with other substitutes such as sorbitol.
sometimes manufacturers may subtract the carbs from fiber and list effective carbs only. They claim that since fiber does not affect blood sugar they are allowed to discount the carbs from fiber. you should clearly look at net impact carb calculations in detail to make sure you are not paying for similar item higher price because you think it is low carb.
Tags: high protein diet. low fiber, low carb, low carb diet, low carbohydrate
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October 21st, 2007
A whole oats diet high in soluble fiber and low in saturated fat may lower the risk of heart disease by reducing cholesterol. Cholesterol control is important component for any weight loss diet.
Although both oats and wheat contain fiber, wheat has more insoluble fiber compared to oats. Insoluble fiber helps prevent constipation, while soluble fiber helps lower cholesterol. There are two types of cholesterol – a good HDL cholesterol and a bad LDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol contains small dense LDL cholesterol , one of the leading factors of a heart attack.
Bad cholesterol - LDL builds up in the inner walls of the arteries supplying blood to heart and brain. LDL forms plaque or a hard deposit that narrows the arteries and reduces flexibility, a condition known as atherosclerosis. Heart attack or stroke may result when a clot blocks arteries.
Oats contains soluble fiber that dissolves in water. A typical intake of 50 grams to 100 grams of whole oats a day can give 2.5 to 5 grams of soluble fiber.
Some common side effects of oat consumption are – bowel movement, flatulence and reduced absorption of cholesterol lowering drugs like Lipitor. You should always consult your doctor before starting oat diet to lower cholesterol if you are taking any medications.
Tags: atherosclerosis, cholesterol, oats, soluble fiber
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October 21st, 2007
bad breath or halitosis should be treated by dentist. garlic and onions, contribute to breath odor. Dieters can also develop bad breath from eating with less frequency. Brush and floss daily, Food that collects on the tongue,around gums and between teeth rots and created bad odor. Saliva is necessary to stop dry mouth and salivary gland problems can create dry mouth condition known as xerostomia.
you can use sugarless candy and stop using tobacco products to prevent bad mouth odor. halitosis can also be caused by infection in the respiratory tract or gastrointestinal problems. Many other chronic problems – sinusitis, bronchitis or diabetes may also lead to bad breath.
Regular dental visits are important factor in maintaining good oral hygiene. Mouthwashes do not remove the cause of halitosis. Mouthwashes or breath fresheners will only reduce symptoms.
Tags: bad breath, halitosis, mouth odor, oral hygiene
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September 15th, 2007
It is important to understand the difference between isometric and isotonic exercise. Using dumbbells for weight training is an example of isotonic exercise. There is joint movement and muscle contraction happening at the same time. Sometime the body is used as a resistance force.
In Isometric exercises the muscles may contract but there is not motion in affected joints. This is very useful for developing strengths of muscle groups. Yoga can be used as a part of any regular exercise regimen when done properly. Do not try complicated yoga poses without attention from yoga instructor.
Tags: isometric, isometric exercises, isotonic, yoga poses
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