Corn Oil and Cancer: Reality Strikes Again

The benefits of corn oil keep rolling in. In a new study by Stephen Freedland's group at Duke, feeding mice a diet rich in butter and lard didn't promote the growth of transplanted human prostate cancer cells any more than a low-fat diet (1).

Why do we care? Because other studies, including one from the same investigators, show that corn oil and other industrial seed oils strongly promote prostate cancer cell growth and increase mortality in similar models (2, 3).

From the discussion section:

Current results combined with our prior results suggest that lowering the fat content of a primarily saturated fat diet offers little survival benefit in an intact or castrated LAPC-4 xenograft model. In contrast to the findings when omega-6 fats are used, these results raise the possibility that fat type may be as important as fat amount or perhaps even more important.

The authors seem somewhat surprised and pained by the result. Kudos for publishing it. However, there's nothing to be surprised about. There's a large body of evidence implicating excess omega-6 fat in a number of cancer models. Reducing omega-6 to below 4% of calories has a dramatic effect on cancer incidence and progression*. In fact, there have even been several experiments showing that butter and other animal fats promote cancer growth to a lesser degree than margarine and omega-6-rich seed oils. I discussed that here.

I do have one gripe with the study. They refer to the diet as "saturated fat based". That's inaccurate terminology. I see it constantly in the diet-health literature. If it were coconut oil, then maybe I could excuse it, because coconut fat is 93% saturated. But this diet was made of lard and butter, the combination of which is probably about half saturated. The term "animal fat" or "low-omega-6 fat" would have been more accurate. At least they listed the diet composition. Many studies don't even bother, leaving it to the reader to decide what they mean by "saturated fat".


* The average American eats 7-8% omega-6 by calories. This means it will be difficult to see a relationship between omega-6 intake and cancer (or heart disease, or most things) in observational studies in the US or other industrial nations, because we virtually all eat more than 4% of calories as omega-6. Until the 20th century, omega-6 intake was below 4%, and usually closer to 2%, in most traditional societies. That's where it remains in contemporary traditional societies unaffected by industrial food habits, such as Kitava. Our current omega-6 intake is outside the evolutionary norm.

Magnesium and Insulin Sensitivity

From a paper based on US NHANES nutrition and health survey data (1):

During 1999–2000, the diet of a large proportion of the U.S. population did not contain adequate magnesium... Furthermore, racial or ethnic differences in magnesium persist and may contribute to some health disparities.... Because magnesium intake is low among many people in the United States and inadequate magnesium status is associated with increased risk of acute and chronic conditions, an urgent need exists to perform a current survey to assess the physiologic status of magnesium in the U.S. population.

Magnesium is an essential mineral that's slowly disappearing from the modern diet, as industrial agriculture and industrial food processing increasingly dominate our food choices. One of the many things it's necessary for in mammals is proper insulin sensitivity and glucose control. A loss of glucose control due to insulin resistance can eventually lead to diabetes and all its complications.

Magnesium status is associated with insulin sensitivity (2, 3), and a low magnesium intake predicts the development of type II diabetes in most studies (4, 5) but not all (6). Magnesium supplements largely prevent diabetes in a rat model* (7). Interestingly, excess blood glucose and insulin themselves seem to reduce magnesium status, possibly creating a vicious cycle.

In a 1993 trial, a low-magnesium diet reduced insulin sensitivity in healthy volunteers by 25% in just four weeks (8). It also increased urinary thromboxane concentration, a potential concern for cardiovascular health**.

At least three trials have shown that magnesium supplementation increases insulin sensitivity in insulin-resistant diabetics and non-diabetics (9, 10, 11). In some cases, the results were remarkable. In type II diabetics, 16 weeks of magnesium supplementation improved fasting glucose, calculated insulin sensitivity and HbA1c*** (12). HbA1c dropped by 22 percent.

In insulin resistant volunteers with low blood magnesium, magnesium supplementation for four months reduced estimated insulin resistance by 43 percent and decreased fasting insulin by 32 percent (13). This suggests to me that magnesium deficiency was probably one of the main reasons they were insulin resistant in the first place. But the study had another very interesting finding: magnesium improved the subjects' blood lipid profile remarkably. Total cholesterol decreased, LDL decreased, HDL increased and triglycerides decreased by a whopping 39 percent. The same thing had been reported in the medical literature decades earlier when doctors used magnesium injections to treat heart disease, and also in animals treated with magnesium. Magnesium supplementation also suppresses atherosclerosis (thickening and hardening of the arteries) in animal models, a fact that I may discuss in more detail at some point (14, 15).

In the previous study, participants were given 2.5 g magnesium chloride (MgCl2) per day. That's a bit more than the USDA recommended daily allowance (MgCl2 is mostly chloride by weight), in addition to what they were already getting from their diet. Most of a person's magnesium is in their bones, so correcting a deficiency by eating a nutritious diet may take a while.

Speaking of nutritious diets, how does one get magnesium? Good sources include halibut, leafy greens, chocolate and nuts. Bone broths are also an excellent source of highly absorbable magnesium. Whole grains and beans are also fairly good sources, while refined grains lack most of the magnesium in the whole grain. Organic foods, particularly artisanally produced foods from a farmer's market, are richer in magnesium because they grow on better soil and often use older varieties that are more nutritious.

The problem with seeds such as grains, beans and nuts is that they also contain phytic acid which prevents the absorption of magnesium and other minerals (16). Healthy non-industrial societies that relied on grains took great care in their preparation: they soaked them, often fermented them, and also frequently removed a portion of the bran before cooking (17). These steps all served to reduce the level of phytic acid and other anti-nutrients. I've posted a method for effectively reducing the amount of phytic acid in brown rice (18). Beans should ideally be soaked for 24 hours before cooking, preferably in warm water.

Industrial agriculture has systematically depleted our soil of many minerals, due to high-yield crop varieties and the fact that synthetic fertilizers only replace a few minerals. The mineral content of foods in the US, including magnesium, has dropped sharply in the last 50 years. The reason we need to use fertilizers in the first place is that we've broken the natural nutrient cycle in which minerals always return to the soil in the same place they were removed. In 21st century America, minerals are removed from the soil, pass through our toilets, and end up in the landfill or in waste water. This will continue until we find an acceptable way to return human feces and urine to agricultural soil, as many cultures do to this day****.

I believe that an adequate magnesium intake is critical for proper insulin sensitivity and overall health.


* Zucker rats that lack leptin signaling

** Thromboxane A2 is an omega-6 derived eicosanoid that potently constricts blood vessels and promotes blood clotting. It's interesting that magnesium has such a strong effect on it. It indicates that fatty acid balance is not the only major influence on eicosanoid production.

*** Glycated hemoglobin. A measure of the average blood glucose level over the past few weeks.

**** Anyone interested in further reading on this should look up The Humanure Handbook

Lindeberg on Obesity

I'm currently reading Dr. Staffan Lindeberg's magnum opus Food and Western Disease, recently published in English for the first time. Dr. Lindeberg is one of the world's leading experts on the health and diet of non-industrial cultures, particularly in Papua New Guinea. The book contains 2,034 references. It's also full of quotable statements. Here's what he has to say about obesity:

Middle-age spread is a normal phenomenon - assuming you live in the West. Few people are able to maintain their [youthful] waistline after age 50. The usual explanation - too little exercise and too much food - does not fully take into account the situation among traditional populations. Such people are usually not as physically active as you may think, and they usually eat large quantities of food.

Overweight has been extremely rare among hunter-gatherers and other traditional cultures [18 references]. This simple fact has been quickly apparent to all foreign visitors...

The Kitava study measured height, weight, waist circumference, subcutaneous fat thickness at the back of the upper arm (triceps skinfold) and upper arm circumference on 272 persons ages 4-86 years. Overweight and obesity were absent and average [body mass index] was low across all age groups. ...no one was larger around their waist than around their hips.

...The circumference of the upper arm [mostly indicating muscle mass] was only negligibly smaller on Kitava [compared with Sweden], which indicates that there was no malnutrition. It is obvious from our investigations that lack of food is an unknown concept, and that the surplus of fruits and vegetables regularly rots or is eaten by dogs.

The Population of Kitava occupies a unique position in the world in terms of the negligible effect that the Western lifestyle has had on the island.

The only obese Kitavans Dr. Lindeberg observed were two people who had spent several years off the island living a modern, urban lifestyle, and were back on Kitava for a visit.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who has a scholarly interest in health and nutrition, and somewhat of a background in science and medicine. It's extremely well referenced, which makes it much more valuable.

Dissolve Away those Pesky Bones with Corn Oil

I just read an interesting paper from Gabriel Fernandes's group at the University of Texas. It's titled "High fat diet-induced animal model of age-associated obesity and osteoporosis". I was expecting this to be the usual "we fed mice industrial lard for 60% of calories and they got sick" paper, but I was pleasantly surprised. From the introduction:

CO [corn oil] is known to promote bone loss, obesity, impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance and thus represents a useful model for studying the early stages in the development of obesity, hyperglycemia, Type 2 diabetes [23] and osteoporosis. We have used omega-6 fatty acids enriched diet as a fat source which is commonly observed in today's Western diets basically responsible for the pathogenesis of many diseases [24].

Just 10% of the diet as corn oil (roughly 20% of calories), with no added omega-3, on top of an otherwise poor laboratory diet, caused:

• Obesity
• Osteoporosis
• The replacement of bone marrow with fat cells
  
• Diabetes
• Insulin resistance
  
• Generalized inflammation
• Elevated liver weight (possibly indicating fatty liver)
  

Hmm, some of these sound familiar... We can add them to the findings that omega-6 also promotes various types of cancer in rodents (1).

20% fat is less than the amount it typically takes to make a rodent this sick. This leads me to conclude that corn oil is particularly good at causing mouse versions of some of the most common facets of the "diseases of civilization". It's exceptionally high in omega-6 (linoleic acid) with virtually no omega-3.

Make sure to eat your heart-healthy corn oil! It's made in the USA, dirt cheap and it even lowers cholesterol!

Acupuncture Steps of Care

There are many times when we are treating patients that the patient will ask how many treatments will I need? Many people believe that one acupuncture treatment will cure them or help them significantly. Though in some cases one treatment of acupuncture will help the problem, it usually takes more than just the one. There really isn't a set amount of treatments that will cure the problem. Everyone's body is different and everyone's health condition is different so many times the number of acupuncture treatments may vary. On average I as a Licensed Acupuncturist and Chinese doctor will usually recommend at least 5-10 treatments depending on the problems. There are specific steps of care in Chinese medicine.

The first step of care is the relief care. This is where the 5-10 treatments of acupuncture is most important. Relief care is coming in at least every other day for the first 5-10 treatments to treat the initial signs and symptoms that you may be experiencing. For example, if someone comes in for acupuncture to treat their back pain, the best would to come in for around 5-10 treatments to help with the pain and the initial signs and symptoms. Every other day may seem a lot, but in China patients typically go see the Chinese doctor for treatments every other or every day.

The second step of care is the corrective care. After the initial 5-10 treatments the signs and symptoms should be significantly reduced. During the corrective care stage, the patient can decrease the frequency of visits and start spreading them out. The Chinese doctor will continue to treat the main complaint, but also treat the root cause of the complaint. This is a time of continuing building the body to balance itself so the body can heal itself and maintain health.

The last step of care is the maintenance and wellness. This is where many people don't understand. This is coming in for treatments when there isn't really any significant health problem or coming in for treatments on a as needed basis. During this time a patient can come in monthly or seasonly to get a check up according to Chinese medicine and have acupuncture treatments. Chinese medicine is based on prevention. In order to prevent a patient should come in once in a while to have acupuncture treatments to help their body maintain health and wellness. This is having acupuncture a key component in your health care.

Having an acupuncture lifestyle, eating right, and exercising will maintain your health and wellness. It is important to remember to prevent the illnesses from coming.


To schedule for your next acupuncture appointment call us at (801) 463-1101 or go to www.luhealthcenter.com

Health Center - Zeaxanthin And Lutein For Eye Health

As a well-known carotenoid, zeaxanthin can be found in the macula, usually accompanied by lutein. In fact, lutein is believed to be less effective without zeaxanthin. Some daily foods contain plentiful of these two nutrients.

Zeaxanthin and lutein can fight off the free radicals caused by harmful rays and medications. The common eye disease age-related macular degeneration is exactly caused by these harmful radicals.

The two nutrients always appear together because they are cooperative. Zeaxanthin can repair and protect the cones in the macula and lutein ensures the well being of the rods which constitute the periphery of the retina. In addition, rods and cones work together and ensure good eyesight. In this case, eyesight may deteriorate if one of the two nutrients goes bad.

Zeaxanthin can be easily found in corn, pepper, saffron as well as other plants. And saffron maintains its characteristic taste and aroma through zeaxanthin. In addition, green leafy vegetables also contain plentiful of zeaxanthin and lutein, so that ordinary people are highly encouraged to eat a diet rich in green vegetables.

Studies show that natural sources of zeaxanthin are always better than those supplement pills. But zeaxanthin and lutein from these natural sources need a long period to build up vital reserves. In an emergency situation, supplements containing zeaxanthin and lutein can offer immediate help. Whats more, some people do not eat healthy foods. For those individuals, supplement pills are especially needed.

Most nutrient experts set the dosage of each zeaxanthin and lutein at about 24 mg each day. With proper dosage, central vision and color perception can be improved.

There are still other nutrients that are indicated to improve eye health, such as vitamin B12 and B2, I-carnosine, anthocyanins, beta-carotene and glucosamine.

Health Center - Nutrients Preventing Macular Degeneration

Some experts suggest that dietary changes are the most practical and cost effective method to fight against progression of age-related macular degeneration. Human body including the eyes needs building blocks to build and repair cells. And these building blocks mainly come from daily foods.

To some extent, the eye health reflects the health of ones entire body. For instance, one person with weak blood vessels, degeneration and blockage in the eyes always has the same processes in the rest of the body as well. In similar, nutrients benefiting the eyes will also benefit the whole body at the same time.

Nutrients that benefit macula include antioxidants, omega-3 essential fatty acids, and lutein and so on. These substances can be attained from either a healthy diet or various supplements.

Free radicals are the main cause of risk factors of age-related macular degeneration. Macular degeneration antioxidants are proven to be effective in preventing AMD. In fact, many researches have reported that antioxidants can combat radical damage to the macula and the macular pigment. Over the years, most of the researches on ocular health have focused on antioxidants and results have also found that antioxidants come from various sources, including fruits, vegetables, nuts as well as legumes.

Omega-3 essential fatty acids in proper amount are necessary for eye health that they are believed to reduce the risk of developing macular degeneration. Health-conscious people should take foods that contain appropriate amount of this acid. The right ratio between omega-6 and omega-3 should be 3:1.

A macular degeneration diet contains powerful nutrients for healthy eyes and a healthy macula. Sugar and refined foods should be avoided. Healthy carbohydrates that are low in the glycemic index are encouraged, including whole grains, brown rice and whole wheat pasta. In addition, healthy fats include wild caught salmon, flax seed oil and olive oil.

Vitamins and supplements have become a good alternative to a healthy diet in maintaining good eye health, which has been proven by plenty of studies. It is important to take appropriate supplements brand and amount.

As carotenoids, lutein and zeaxanthin make up the macular pigment, which prevents UV light and blue light from damaging the eyes. AMD patients usually have a low density of macular pigment. Studies show that eating foods rich in lutein or supplements with lutein can increase the density of macular pigment.

Health Center - The Role Of Sports In Physical Fitness

Are you someone who has been to countless varsity team tryouts? There are a lot of wannabe athletes who never make the cut guys under six feet tall who aspire to become basketball stars or those walking disasters on the green that would willingly sell their soul to be the next Tiger Woods. Sometimes, sheer determination is really not enough.

Be that as it may, you can still keep playing. As the saying goes, always put your frustration into good use. If you cant be in the limelight, at least you are keeping yourself fit. With dogged determination, the next bet thing to playing sports as a profession is to play sports for your health. This gets more exciting because sports has entered a whole new level. A couple of years back, there has been a significant change in the methodologies of sports as a means for staying fit. For instance, brute strength is not a primary concern anymore of todays coaches. Thus, it led to an improved kind of foundation for new conditioning programs.

Playing sports regularly is an important aspect of improving your health and well-being because it provides enough exercise to your body. This depends though, on the sports level of activity since some are played more intensely than others. If that doesnt convince you, here are further reasons to elaborate on why you should get involved in sports.

It keeps your weight in check. Playing sports reduces body fat so you can maintain your desired weight.

Its good for your heart. Sports can help you put down the level of your blood cholesterol.

It makes your bones stronger. Due to an increased stamina and flexibility brought about by frequent playing, your bones will highly benefit when you play sports.

It will earn you new friends. Not only does playing sports yield positive effects on physical fitness, it also helps you meet new people and improving your socializing skills.

Health Center - How To Maintain Your Ideal Weight

After a long and rigorous process of adhering to a weight-loss program, you have finally achieved your ideal number of pounds. Youre happier and healthier than anything youve felt before. And now that your efforts have paid off, you can wear your favorite pair of jeans again. However, that doesnt mean that the battle of the bulge has been won.

According to studies, a persons effort to lose weight fails within a couple of years after accomplishing it. The tendency of people to slip right back to their unhealthy lifestyle when they have reached their fitness goal is so high that excess pounds start to appear back on the scale sometimes even double than it used to be.

Heres what to do: marshal your forces and follow this guide in changing your behavior towards dieting and exercise so you wont go back to square one defeated.

Watch what you eat

This is not to deprive you of that slice of pizza or that bag of chips every now and then. However, you might want to limit such treats just occasionally and try not to use food as a reward for doing a job well done. Instead, make an effort to insert more vegetables and fruits into your diet as well as keeping yourself hydrated by drinking at least 8 glasses of water daily.

Be active!

Engaging in a lifestyle that is active can lower your risk of chronic diseases brought about by being overweight. So match the extra calories you take in with physical activities that will burn it. 20 minutes of intense aerobic drill thrice a week will do the trick.

Monitor your weight

Whatever you do, here will always be factors that will affect your eating habits, physical activities and overall health. By monitoring your weight regularly, you will be able to track even the slightest weight gains so you can make necessary adjustments.

Health Center - The Turmoil Of Excessive Workouts

Going to the gym doesnt have to be a time-consuming activity. While you may see some people practically setting up camps in the weight room, you dont have to be one of them. After all, there are other important aspects in your life that needs your attention. And spending hours at the gym is something you cant afford to do.

Unfortunately, there are people who think that a good workout is synonymous to compromising their precious time by staying in the gym for like theres no tomorrow. In fact, you can easily spot them. Here are the symptoms of being a workoutaholic that you should avoid.

Your workout is monotonous

People have the tendency to repeat what they like doing. And gym buffs are no exceptions. They stick to the same workout routine. If you dont change your program after a few weeks, you will be stuck with the pattern again and again. This is not productive because your body will hit a plateau. It is best to try a variation of workouts every so often.

You hit the gym daily

Making your workout an everyday habit will do no good. In fact, doing this will most likely make you lose momentum and youll get bored easily. Because you cant sustain the intensity, the quality of your workout will decline because you no longer have the motivation. Instead of working out daily, insert rest days on your gym schedule so it wont feel like a chore.

You no longer have definite goals

When the point comes that the drills you do seems to be pointless, then somethings definitely wrong. You need to have both short-term and long-term goals to eye for so you will remain motivated.

You prefer to exercise alone

No one is an island even when working out. Even top athletes have partners during training so having a gym buddy is very much recommended. Receiving feedback would be helpful to push you to the next level of performance.

Health Center - The Make-up Of An Oncologist

Being informed that you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer
is never an easy thing to accept. Thanks to the advances in modern medicine now though, the diagnosis of cancer appears to be less of a death sentence than it was, say, 30 years ago.

Treatment is considerably more effective if the disease is detected at an early enough stage. In general, cancer is treated by chemotherapy or radiotherapy. In some cases, surgery is also suggested in order to remove especially large or malignant tumors. A good oncologist is able to suggest the treatment that is most efficacious for the patient. Obviously, a doctor who specializes in cancer treatment must be able to relate this information to patients in such a way that they feel reassured and comforted.

The field of oncology is not confined to treatment of patients alone either. Some cancers, such as breast and ovarian cancers, may have a genetic basis for their development, i.e. they can be hereditary. As such, a doctor treating cancer needs to have the tact and discretion to broach the subject to family members who may, in time, be afflicted with the same condition. A sensitive approach is also indispensable when a doctor has to inform a patient that he or she may have limited options when it comes to cancer survival.

As valuable as it may be, tact is of limited use to an oncologist who does not keep abreast of the most up-to-date developments in the field of cancer treatment. The field of cancer research is such that there is virtually a new breakthrough in terms of treatment and patient care every year. As such, while there is probably no single cure for cancer, a well-informed doctor should be able to advise his patients on the options best suited to them.

The field of oncology is a fascinating area of study, even to the layman. Researchers and oncologists will be kept busy in the years to come as long as human bodies continue to malfunction.

Health Center - Is Your Hearing Impaired?

According to the statistics issued by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders ten percent Americans are deaf or hearing impaired. In absolute numbers, that implies that as many as 28 million people have hearing problems. The Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) estimates that there are nine million people with hearing loss in the UK. A sizeable population is known to be at risk of hearing loss due to continued exposure to hazardous noise levels. Hearing loss has also been identified as the most common birth anomaly.

Very often, the condition remains under diagnosed even in patients who by definition are at high risk for the same.

So the inevitable question comes to mind: is your hearing impaired?

The degree of hearing loss varies across the spectrum: some people have partial hearing loss, which effectively means that they can hear some sounds;while others have complete hearing loss. Some people may have problems hearing in case of excessive background noise. The impairment may be unilateral or bilateral, symmetric or different in both ears. Deafness, by definition, is a complete loss of hearing.

In case you feel that you hear only parts of conversations, or find yourself asking people to repeat what they said once too often; if you have problems hearing the doorbell ring, or find it difficult to hear whats on television, or if you have had friends tell you that you dont seem to hear properly, you should seek a professional opinion. In addition, if you have been exposed to any sounds over 80 decibels for prolonged periods, you are at a high risk for noise induced hearing loss and therefore must get your hearing tested on a regular basis. This includes continued exposure to loud sirens, engines and power tools as well as loud music.

In case you are worried about your baby not responding to loud noises or to the sound of your voice, it is important to rule out a hearing impairment. Even though most babies are screened at birth for the same, the fact that their communication skills arent developed often makes diagnosis difficult.

Your general physician will probably do a preliminary ear exam and, if necessary, refer you to an audiologist, a health professional who specializes in the diagnosis and management of hearing disorders. You may be referred to an otolaryngologist, a doctor who specializes in ear, nose, and throat problems for further evaluation.

You will need to undergo certain tests to find out if your hearing is impaired, and to what extent. Your specialist will also categorize it is as conductive, sensorineural or mixed hearing loss, and provide you treatment options for the same.

What is essential to remember is that if your friends and family have pointed out to you that you seem to be having problems hearing, or if you think your hearing is impaired, it probably is. The logical course of action thus is to visit your doctor so that your hearing loss can be so managed that it does not affect your quality of life.

Health Center - Hydrocephalus - What Is It How Can It Be Treated?

Overview of article

This article provides a brief explanation of what hydrocephalus is and how different areas of the brain can be affected.


What is Hydrocephalus?

Hydrocephalus is a build up of cerebrospinal fluid on the brain. The brain needs cerebrospinal fluid as it acts as a protection for the brain as well as removing waste products from the brain and providing the necessary hormones to the brain to enable it to function correctly.

However, too much cerebrospinal fluid can be dangerous and can put pressure on the brain causing injury and damage as a result. The brain produces cerebrospinal fluid constantly and as new fluid is produced the old fluid is released and absorbed into the blood vessels. A build up of the fluid can occur if the process is interrupted.

There are three main types of hydrocephalus:

Congenital Hydrocephalus

This condition is inherent from birth and occurs as a result of a birth defect. Physical signs indicative of this condition include an unusually large head, a bulge at the top of the soft spot on the head, droopy eyes and muscle spasms. Symptoms may include poor feeding, irritability, vomiting and drowsiness.

A baby born with this condition is also likely to suffer from a disease or illness known to cause birth defects such as spina bifida. Alternatively they may have contracted an infection from their mother during pregnancy, which can cause congenital hydrocephalus.

It is sometimes possible to diagnose the condition before birth via an ultrasound scan. Otherwise CT and/or MRI scanning of the brain after birth can diagnose the condition.

Acquired Hydrocephalus

This condition most commonly develops following a serious head injury either as a result of trauma or as a result of a complication of another condition such as a stroke, meningitis or brain tumour. Symptoms to look out for include those cited above as well as headaches, changes in personality, double or blurred vision, fitting, incontinence, difficulty walking.

Diagnosis is made by carrying out CT and/or MRI scans on the brain.

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

This condition usually only occurs in older people who are above 50 years of age. This is the most rare form of hydrocephalus and its origin is largely unknown in most cases. In addition, the symptoms usually develop slowly over time rather than occurring spontaneously.

Diagnosis can be extremely difficult because the damage to the brain will not always readily appear on CT and/or MRI scans due to the slow development of this type of hydrocephalus. Other diagnostic criteria are considered such as assessing the patients ability to walk and their mental ability.

Treatment for hydrocephalus regardless of type can often involve surgical intervention. A shunt is commonly placed inside the brain and is a thin tube, which helps to drain away the excess cerebrospinal fluid. Once inserted the shunt remains inside the brain and further treatment will hopefully not be necessary. However, on occasion the shunt can become blocked and if this happens further surgery will be required to repair and/or replace the shunt.

In the case of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus careful consideration will need to be given as to whether the insertion of a shunt is the best option for the patient. Research shows that this is not always the case and additional tests will be carried out first to determine whether or not this approach is likely to be of significant benefit.

The effects of hydrocephalus vary according to the individual concerned and it is not always possible to avoid brain damage occurring. The insertion of a shunt will not provide a cure to the condition but rather it will provide a mechanism for hopefully preventing the condition from getting worse. Many babies born with congenital hydrocephalus will suffer from permanent brain damage resulting in difficulties with learning, mobility, memory and speech.

It is important for a patient with hydrocephalus to receive appropriate medical treatment as quickly as possible. Delays in diagnosing and treating the condition can result in permanent damage to the brain.

If you believe that you have been the victim of a medical error or negligence in relation to the diagnosis of or treatment of hydrocephalus it may be possible to claim compensation. Compensation will not resolve the medical issues but it may ease the financial burden by providing the money to pay for necessary care, therapy, and equipment. If you would like to discuss a possible claim please contact HeadInjuryUK who are specialist brain injury solicitors who will be able to offer you further advice and information.

Saturated Fat and Insulin Sensitivity

Insulin sensitivity is a measure of the tissue response to insulin. Typically, it refers to insulin's ability to cause tissues to absorb glucose from the blood. A loss of insulin sensitivity, also called insulin resistance, is a core part of the metabolic disorder that affects many people in industrial nations.

I don't know how many times I've seen the claim in journal articles and on the internet that saturated fat reduces insulin sensitivity. The idea is that saturated fat reduces the body's ability to handle glucose effectively, placing people on the road to diabetes, obesity and heart disease. Given the "selective citation disorder" that plagues the diet-health literature, perhaps this particular claim deserves a closer look.

The Evidence

I found a review article from 2008 that addressed this question (1). I like this review because it only includes high-quality trials that used reliable methods of determining insulin sensitivity*.

On to the meat of it. There were 5 studies in which non-diabetic people were fed diets rich in saturated fat, and compared with a group eating a diet rich in monounsaturated (like olive oil) or polyunsaturated (like corn oil) fat. They ranged in duration from one week to 3 months. Four of the five studies found that fat quality did not affect insulin sensitivity, including one of the 3-month studies.

The fifth study, which is the one that's nearly always cited in the diet-health literature, requires some discussion. This was the KANWU study (2). Over the course of three months, investigators fed 163 volunteers a diet rich in either saturated fat or monounsaturated fat.

The SAFA diet included butter and a table margarine containing a relatively high proportion of SAFAs. The MUFA diet included a spread and a margarine containing high proportions of oleic acid derived from high-oleic sunflower oil and negligible amounts of trans fatty acids and n-3 fatty acids and olive oil.

Yummy. After three months of these diets, there was no significant difference in insulin sensitivity between the saturated fat group and the monounsaturated fat group. Yes, you read that right. Even the study that's selectively cited as evidence that saturated fat causes insulin resistance found no significant difference between the diets. You might not get this by reading the misleading abstract. I'll be generous and acknowledge that the (small) difference was almost statistically significant (p = 0.053).

What the authors decided to focus on instead is the fact that insulin sensitivity declined slightly but significantly on the saturated fat diet compared with the pre-diet baseline. That's why this study is cited as evidence that saturated fat impairs insulin sensitivity. But anyone who has a basic science background will see where this reasoning is flawed (warning: nerd attack. skip the rest of the paragraph if you're not interested). You need a control group for comparison, to take into account normal fluctuations caused by such things as the season, eating mostly cafeteria food, and having a doctor hooking you up to machines. That control group was the group eating monounsaturated fat. The comparison between diet groups was the 'primary outcome', in statistics lingo. That's the comparison that matters, and it wasn't significant. To interpret the study otherwise is to ignore the basic conventions of statistics, which the authors were happy to do. There's a name for it: 'moving the goalpost'. The reviewers shouldn't have let this kind of shenanigans slide.

So we have five studies through 2008, none of which support the idea that saturated fat reduces insulin sensitivity in non-diabetics. Since the review paper was published, I know of one subsequent study that asked the same question (3). Susan J. van Dijk and colleagues fed volunteers with abdominal overweight (beer gut) a diet rich in either saturated fat or monounsaturated fat. I e-mailed the senior author and she said the saturated fat diet was "mostly butter". The specific fats used in the diets weren't mentioned anywhere in the paper, which is a major omission**. In any case, after 8 weeks, insulin sensitivity was virtually identical between the two groups. This study appeared well controlled and used the gold standard method for assessing insulin sensitivity, called the euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp technique***.

The evidence from controlled trials is rather consistent that saturated fat has no appreciable effect on insulin sensitivity.

Why Are We so Focused on Saturated Fat?

Answer: because it's the nutrient everyone loves to hate. As an exercise in completeness, I'm going to mention three dietary factors that actually reduce insulin sensitivity, and get a lot less air time than saturated fat.

#1: Caffeine. That's right, controlled trials show that your favorite murky beverage reduces insulin sensitivity (4, 5). Is it actually relevant to real life? I doubt it. The doses used were large and the studies short-term.

#2: Magnesium deficiency. A low-magnesium diet reduced insulin sensitivity by 25% over the course of three weeks (6). I think this is probably relevant to long-term insulin sensitivity and overall health, although it would be good to have longer-term data. Magnesium deficiency is widespread in industrial nations, due to our over-reliance on refined foods such as sugar, white flour and oils.

#3: Sugar. Fructose reduces insulin sensitivity in humans, along with many other harmful effects (7).

As long as we continue to focus our energy on indicting saturated fat, it will continue distracting us from the real causes of disease.


* For the nerds: euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp (the gold standard), insulin suppression test, or intravenous glucose tolerance test with Minimal Model. They didn't include studies that reported HOMA as their only measure, because it's not very accurate.

** There's this idea that pervades the diet-health literature that all saturated fats are roughly equivalent, all monounsaturated fats are equivalent, etc., therefore it doesn't matter what the source was. This is beyond absurd and reflects our cultural obsession with saturated fat. It really irks me that the reviewers didn't demand this information.

*** They did find that markers of inflammation in fat tissue were higher after the saturated fat diet.

Health Center - Dilemma Of Diabetics And Availability Of Alternative Treatment Center

Dilemma and common actions of a diabetes patient
Majority of diabetes patients or diabetics with neuro-infectious diabetes foot would seek medical advice and treatments for their foot ulcers and wounds at government hospitals, private hospitals or even private clinics hoping that it would be healed and cured so that they could resume normal life just as before.
However, after weeks or months of treatments and medications, these sufferers found all hopes diminished and expectation for a complete recovery becomes unrealistic and vanished. Instead, the wound worsen and become untreated oozing brown smelly pus, leading to putrefaction of the tissue with visibly no signs of recovery.
To control the spread of this infection, specialist doctors would generally suggest amputating the infected foot which otherwise would be fatal and life threatening. Without giving deep thoughts and finding other options, diabetics or their family members would eventually become conceded to the specialists suggestion or advice. As a result, patients with diabetes wounds and foot ulcer which can be treated naturally with alternative medication, are often amputated and lost their limbs.
Services available and option to the diabetes patients

Now, through alternative treatments and medications combined with modern approach, we at Alternative Treatment Center for Diabetic Wounds are confident that we are able to treat diabetics with foot ulcers / wounds and provide them with an option against amputation. Without exaggeration, we have proven with track records of 70% successful rate in treating and curing diabetes wounds / ulcers and can even heal diabetes in a much shorter period of times than conventional treatment methods.
To date, there are significant numbers of diabetics from all walks of life receiving treatments at our Center and have successfully returned to their normal / routine lives and no longer need to depend on conventional medication. Frankly speaking, they have fully regained their lives but this time much aware of the importance of healthy lifestyle to avoid future recurrence.

Our Alternative Treatment Center for Diabetic Wound in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia has been operational since 1996 and has proven to diabetes world that diabetic wound and foot ulcers can be treated naturally and can be avoided from being amputated.

Alternative / natural medication

Medication provided at the center is all made of plants and processed in accordance to the standard of processing natural herbs. It is 100% drug free, safe and halal.
Kindly visit us at http://2curediabeticwound.com if you have any query. We will reply to you within 24 hours and will do our best to help you.

Health Center - Treatment Of Foot Ulcers And Diabetes Wounds At Alternative Treatment Center

Foot Ulcer and wound

The foot ulcers are open wounds that develop on the sides, top or soles of the feet. Diabetics are prone to these wounds simply because of poor blood circulation and other health problems that arise from having diabetes. Diabetes wounds should be taken seriously. They are difficult to be treated and the treatments and medications can be lengthy and frustrating with lower extremities, particularly foot wounds account for one quarter of all diabetics hospital admissions in the U.S. and Great Britain.

Diabetes Foot Ulcer and wound is exposed to everyone who has diabetes can develop foot ulcers and wounds.


People who use insulin and those who suffer diabetes related ailments such as heart disease, kidney and eye problems are equally at risks. If you are overweight, smoking and a drunk, taking alcohol regularly, you are at a greater risk of developing foot ulcers and wounds.

Formation of Diabetes Foot Ulcers and Wounds

There are 4 major causes of diabetic foot ulcers and wounds.

1) Neuropathy (numbness). Neuropathy is a condition when you lose sensation in your limbs and lower extremities. Continuous and prolonged elevated glucose levels over time can cause this to happen. This condition has a way of creeping up on everyone. Often most people are not aware of the problems until it's too late to cure it.
Because of numbness, the patients can't feel small cuts on their feet, wounds and ulcers can go untreated for days even weeks. Also numbness can cause a patient not to shift or move or exercise their feet when pressure points develop. This can lead to wounds and ulcers development very easily.

2) Foot deformities and weaknesses. Because of neuropathy patients can break bones in their feet and they are not aware of it. Foot deformities can directly or indirectly put unnatural pressure on certain areas of the foot and can cause wounds to develop.

3) Vascular Disease. This disease can cause narrowing of blood vessels and can lead to wound development. Irregular and restricted blood flow and circulation make treating foot ulcers and wounds frustrating, lengthy and time consuming. This condition reduces the body's ability to heal itself which increases the risk of infection.

4) Skin irritation and friction. Patients with numbness cannot tell and find it difficult when they have skin irritation, problems with frictions or pressure points. The only way to know for sure is to check the condition of the feet often for redness, peeling skin or blisters.

Treatment of Diabetes Wounds and Foot Ulcers

Prevention, prevention, prevention is the best solution to it. Diabetes wound is all about caring and preventing. Untreated wounds can lead to infection and expose to risks even to losing of lives. The quicker it is treated, the less likely it is to develop a problem.

Wounds and ulcers are the medical term for injuries that occur when skin is torn, cut, sore, bruised, punctured or similarly damaged. Most diabetes wounds and ulcers can be treated at our Treatment Centre.

Our Alternative Treatment Center for Diabetic Wound in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia has been operational since 1996 and has proven to diabetes world that diabetic wound and foot ulcers can be treated and can be avoided from being amputated.

Alternative medication

Medication provided at the Center is all made of plants and processed in accordance to the standard of processing natural herbs. It is 100% drug free, safe and halal.

Kindly visit us at http://2curediabeticwound.com if you have any query. We will reply to you within 24 hours and will do our best to help you.

What we can assure is that diabetes foot ulcers and wounds can still be treated without the need for amputation!

Health Center - Homeschooling A Child With A Learning Disability

Some kids have a trouble in processing languages like reading, writing or spoken issues or at times it is issue in paying concentration to the studies. 

Some children feel difficulty while calculating or in performing some synchronized movements. If your child is also having any of such kind of issue then you may require providing homeschooling to him in startup. Although it is distressing for the parents but yet in the current age you might not need to worry too much as you are not by yourself facing such issue and there are millions of people around world who are having such type of problems with their kids. That is why right guidance for each type of issue is widely obtainable which can help you to go through this procedure. Before starting a homeschooling you may need to go through two of the following steps;

Make sure that the issue is diagnosed properly, as some child psychiatrist or an experienced special education board can conclude by taking some tests of the child.

Weigh up yourself that you are skilled and convinced enough to perform this job, but it is suggested that a mother herself perform this duty as no one knows the child better than his / her parents and especially mother.
After getting definite about above mentioned, now it is the time when you have taken the duty to perform the homeschooling of your child and you have to grow and set up his / her skills as well as have to keep his / her education level equivalent to school studies. Although it is a full time concentration demanding job but you can perform it at the best level for the sake of your child"s prospect. We have gathered couple of advises which can assist you to perform this mission.

Discuss with your doctor about the medical facts of child"s learning disability so that you can have comprehensive knowledge of the issue and then can go for the detailed topics and studies to know that how should you begin with.

Seek advice from special education teachers and ask them about the methodologies to be adapted and the local resources accessible to bring betterment in your child"s life.

Explore through internet about the particular problem and read and learn that how to tackle and do homeschooling and also visit your communal libraries to have books on the topic.

Be courteous and appreciating with the child and never surrender, help him in each and every aspect and favor in the way that when he has some learning obstacle then say that let us resolve this together.

A learning disability is a challenge and not an everlasting disability, parents are accountable for their kids and kids are kids and will make mistakes, now it is you who have to change gears and have to grip the situations graciously and in the long term benefit of the child.

Learning is easier if you renovate it into enjoyment and take the child"s interest and attention.

Occasionally some speech, music or work-related therapies are required for the kid; make sure that you have proper resources or registrations to acquire such services.

Health Center - Oxygen Masks That Make Taking Oxygen Comfortable And Easy

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines are designed to provide air for patients
at a specific prescribed pressure through tubes and masks. Traditionally, a CPAP nasal mask seals around the nose and stays in place using full headgear. These can be uncomfortable for patients due to pressure from the headgear, air leakage, limited sleep positions, skin irritation and noise. Lucky for CPAP users, newer, more comfortable masks have become available on the market, making the process of taking oxygen easier and more pleasant.

Older style CPAP masks can be uncomfortable to wear. Additionally, the masks functions can be limited if you have the wrong size, the mask doesnt seal or the straps are not properly adjusted. Thats why medical manufacturers have started producing a variety of CPAP supplies to make it easier for patients to find the right size, fit and style that is the most desirable for them. These newer products include CPAP nasal masks, full facemasks, nasal pillow masks and headgear. Each product is individually designed to give consumers the option of finding the medical apparatus that makes breathing easier and most comfortable for them.

For those who cant stand the constant pressure while using CPAP machines, bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) machines are available. BiPAP masks and machines blow air at a higher pressure for inhaling and lower pressure for exhaling.

The variety of CPAP supplies, with several different sizes, styles and materials, means that patients no longer have to settle for uncomfortable breathing. For more information about CPAP visit to our site at http://www.us-med.com

Health Center - Three Interesting Facts About Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes
mellitus, affectionately referred to as just diabetes by almost everyone who has ever heard of the disease, is a condition you would not want to wish upon your worst enemy. Aside from forcing you to change almost every aspect of your lifestyle (say goodbye to All-You-Can-Eat wing night), it could lead to a series of unfortunate complications, such as having your foot cut off and that pesky little thing known as death. Terrifying aspects of a disease that can strike without warning aside, here are some interesting facts overlooked by almost everyone.

Have you ever wondered what the mellitus tacked on to the end of diabetes actually means? Aside from being a fancy word to make it sound more medical-y, it actually has an interesting albeit slightly disturbing history to it. In 1675, a doctor by the name of Thomas Willis, added the term, which is the Latin word for honey, due to the taste of the urine diabetes patients being deemed sweet. Although not the first person to notice this (its been known for well over a thousand years), the reason for its honey-sweet taste is courtesy of Matthew Dobson, who in 1776 discovered its source to be a build-up of a specific kind of sugar in the urine and blood.

Diabetes is all about urine. But what does that name actually mean? Like many medical terms, its history and meaning lies in the language of the ancient Greeks. It was coined by Aretaeus the Cappadocian, a second-century AD physician who noticed that those with the condition urinated frequently and gave off the appearance of leaking water. He named it diabetes, which comes from the Greek word , which when parsed is composed of the prefix dia, meaning across or apart, and bainein, meaning to walk or stand. When put together it means to straddle, with the noun form meaning one who straddles (diabts).

To be more specific, the word also means compass or siphon. It wasnt until 1425 when the term diabete was used to describe the condition in English.

Despite being highly manageable today, the ancients who first discovered the condition considered it to be an automatic death sentence. According to Victor Corneliu Medvei in his book The History of Clinical Endocrinology, despite Aretaeus attempts at treating the disease, he considered a diagnosis of this new condition to result in a life that is short, disgusting and painful.

In short, ancient conceptions of diabetes can be summed up in two words: urine and pain.

Health Center - Did You Know Social Phobia Disorder Can Be Cure By You And Your Attitude Alone?

Social phobia disorder, did you know you have full control over over this condition? I will explain to you how, and why an attack manifests, it is all in your head you actually create it all by your self. What if i told you, you alone could cure it, no drugs no drawn out therapies.

Social phobia disorder is curable!

The art to becoming social phobia disorder free is just a correction of the way you react to fear, yes it is that simple. Think about this, the only reason you have this condition is because you allow your thoughts to take over and create a lot of out of control adrenalin and eventually a panic attack. You become that frightened you withdraw from society, this is a natural protection mechanism.

Ever time you have an attack you try and push the thoughts away and say to your self, oh no i can not handle this, this is going to be bad, i am getting out of here, a need a safe place to be. All this does is makes the panic level rise, exaggerating the situation and this keeps you a prisoner to social phobia disorder.

Ok you have probably done the same thing every time you feel anxious and it does not work, so now it is time for a new approach. Do not push an attack away, observe it, get to know its pattern, what i mean by this is, how long it stays. What side effects it usually gives you and you need to invite panic into you life.

Yes that is what i said, think about all the times you resist something, what happens? i will tell you, it persists.

Ok now think about the times you persist on something, bet you do not get it. Murphy's law.

99% of the time if you invite panic into your life willingly you will not experience it.

Try it, you will be surprised how you can cure social phobia disorder all by your self.

Health Center - Supplies A Diabetic Needs To Have In The Medicine Cabinet

Do you have diabetes that must be monitored by a doctor? If you do, its imperative that you have certain diabetes supplies in your medicine cabinet
in order to properly monitor your blood sugar and ensure it stays at a healthy level.

You will first need a blood glucose meter. This is an important tool used to measure the level of sugar in your blood. Many meters simply take a sample of blood from the finger or arm to get an extremely accurate reading. Most meters on the market are easy to use and are capable of taking a digital reading in about five seconds.

You may also come across some blood glucose monitors that utilize testing strips to indicate what your blood sugar level is. In this case you will want to make sure you have plenty of strips compatible with your monitor on hand at all times. Because you can only use a strip once one per test you will need to restock them on a regular basis.

Some meters require you also buy a lancing device to go with it. This lancing device uses a lancet to prick your finger or wherever you happen to get your blood sample from. Like the testing strips, a lancet piece can only be used a couple times and will also require frequent stocking.

If you have questions, your doctor will be happy to help you determine the diabetes supplies you need to effectively monitor your blood sugar. For more information about diabetic supplies visit to our site at http://www.us-med.com

Health Center - Chronic Anxiety Disorder Victims Need To Learn To Persist - Not Resist !

Chronic anxiety disorder is a continual active type of anxiety for most people, that is where it gets the name from. It can be dormant for a short period then out of the blue it flares up and causes extraordinary discomfort to a victim. I would like to help you understand what an anxiety attack is and the beat way to deal with it.

The key to freeing your self from chronic anxiety disorder is learning all about an attack, how,and why it makes you feel the way you do. It is always good to have some background information to start with, what I mean by this is, try and understand why at certain time you are a little more anxious then other times. Maybe alcohol, or drugs, or just general anxiety.

Chronic anxiety disorder is no way at all a mental problem, so never think that. The reason anxiety feels so scary is because of the amount of adrenalin that pumps through the blood stream when you start to fear threatened, that is why you feel so out of control.

People tend to get a little cloudy and disorientated because of the amount of adrenalin, it has even been described as feeling as though you have been drugged. Strangely enough adrenaline is a very natural thing, it is something that happens every day for most people especially active types.

The human body is actually designed to respond to fear as a protection mechanism, it allows us to see danger and have enough adrenalin in our veins to escape quickly. Because we can see danger as a physical thing there is an explanation for our response to it.

This is not the case for chronic anxiety disorder victims, they get the same rush for no apparent reason when there is no physical threat, only the fear in there heads. Because several functions shut down when the body in full flight, this is why we tend to think irrationally and go in to an anxious state.

Curing chronic anxiety disorder requires learning how to accept fear, even the fear that our body produces from a over active nervous system. If you learn to except it, be confident that it will not harm you in any way, just let it have the rush and sit patiently whilst it fizzles out, you will gain back control.

Even though an attack for a chronic anxiety disorder victim feels like an hour episode, majority of the time it is only 10 seconds.

Become aware of the time it stays and the way it makes you feel, ride the wave and let it pass!

Health Center - Making Effective Function Of Available Manic Depression Treatment Today

Depression
has devastating effects on teens. Indeed, experts believe that it plays a significant role in adolescent eating disorders, psychosomatic illnesses, difficulties at school, and instances of substance abuse. More tragically, depression has been linked to teen suicide. According to the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health, as many as 7 percent of severely depressed youngsters take their life. Even this does not reveal the full scope of the problem, since it is believed that for every youth who takes his or her life, many more attempt to do so.

It is thus for good reason that a report by the Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development says that treating adolescent problems lightly today is to court disaster. Such neglect truly places a generation at risk. Some find it hard to believe that teenagers can actually be depressed. A doctor once said that each successive generation worldwide since the opening of the [20th] century has lived witha higher risk than their parents of suffering a major depression; not just sadness, but a paralyzing listlessness, dejection, and self-pity, and an overwhelming hopelessness over the course of life.

And those episodes are beginning at earlier and earlier ages.
Still, many parents might object that they made it through adolescence without becoming depressed. Why then is their child overwhelmed with negative feelings?' But adults should not compare their adolescent experience with that of youths today. After all, individuals differ in the way they perceive the world around them and in how they react to it.

Besides, today's teens face an added challenge. They're growing up in a world quite different from that of their parents' youth. After citing a number of significant changes that have taken place in recent decades teens today feel less safe, less empowered and less hopeful than people did a generation ago. Giving Your Child the Right Manic Depression Treatment Needed To Cure the Dilemma

With the high rocketing rate of teens taking suicide as an option to treating depression, today is certainly the right time for parents to keep focus on the different available manic depression treatment offered to hopeless individuals through the help of the experts. Every situation differs from the other.

Hence, psychologists have developed different sets of manic depression treatment that would most become usable and effective in treating the different issues of manic depression among teens. To be able to give the right manic depression treatment to a sufferer though, it should be noted that the right diagnosis for the matter should be first released and understood.

With the right diagnosis and assessment of the major causes of the emotional downfall being realized by one shall identify the right manic depression treatment that one is in need of receiving. It should be noted though that there are also other manic depression treatment approaches that could be used to treat postpartum depression issues.

Thank You

I'd like to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who has supported me through donations this year. The money has allowed me to buy materials that I wouldn't otherwise have been able to afford, and I feel it has enriched the blog for everyone. Here are some of the books I've bought using donations. Some were quite expensive:

Food and western disease: health and nutrition from an evolutionary perspective. Staffan Lindeberg (just released!!)

Nutrition and disease. Edward Mellanby

Migration and health in a small society: the case of Tokelau. Edited by Albert F. Wessen

The saccharine disease. T. L. Cleave

Culture, ecology and dental anthropology. John R. Lukacs

Vitamin K in health and disease. John W. Suttie

Craniofacial development. Geoffrey H. Sperber

Western diseases: their emergence and prevention. Hugh C. Trowell and Denis P. Burkitt

The ultimate omega-3 diet. Evelyn Tribole

Our changing fare. John Yudkin and colleagues


Donations have also paid for many, many photocopies at the medical library. I'd also like to thank everyone who participates in the community by leaving comments, or by linking to my posts. I appreciate your encouragement, and also the learning opportunities.

Health Center - Depression Treatments Work To Restore Emotional Health

Feelings of low self worth, crying spells, sadness, ongoing despair, and appetite changes may warrant the need for depression treatments from either a personal physician or mental health provider. Everyone becomes depressed at one time or another due to painful events such as a tragic loss, divorce, stressful situations and sometimes because of hormonal changes such as entering menopause. In most cases, the condition is only temporary, but for individuals with severe depression, those feelings will not go away on their own without some type of depression therapy.

In some cases, depression can be hereditary and in others environmental. Fortunately, no matter the cause, depression treatments are highly successful at allowing those with the condition to return to a normal productive life. With a combination of depression help and medication, optimal results may be achieved within just a few weeks. Psychotherapy is one method of treating depression as it helps to lift a persons self esteem and brighten their outlook on life. This works by teaching the individual how to self talk in stressful situations and how to cope and identify their problems before they escalate. Sometimes, delving into a painful past helps tremendously. Psychotherapy works best when combined with other forms of treatment such as prescription anti depressant medication or in severe cases electric shock therapy. This is only attempted after several medications have been tried to no avail or there is a great risk of suicide.

Anti depressant medications used for depression treatment are those which increase the serotonin levels in the brain. This is the hormone located in the pineal gland that is responsible for lifting mood. Some medications for depression help are Pristiq, Celexa, Wellbutrin, Effexor, Lexapro, and Prozac just to name a few. Each individual is unique in body chemistry, so what works for one person may not work for another. With some trial and error, an anti depressant or combination of two types can usually be found that is suitable for the majority of those with depression. A more dramatic yet faster method of treating severe depression that does not respond to medication or psychotherapy, is electro convulsive treatment or vagus nerve stimulation. These are called ECT and VNS respectively. ECT creates a mild seizure in the brain that corrects depression much more quickly than other methods do. Although rumors persist that it is a barbaric act with the patient fully awake, that is not the case at all. In reality, the patient will be sedated or on an anesthetic while undergoing the procedure so will have no awareness or memory of it whatsoever. VNS works by inserting the stimulator near the armpit and then guiding it to the vagus nerve located in the neck. The intermittent resulting shocks stimulate the brain and effectively reduce depression. There are many ways to treat mild to severe depression and in the majority of these, a person will regain their self esteem and become a well adjusted productive member of society.

Health Center - Dental Detox Toxic Waste In Your Mouth And Gums

Many people are unaware that the health of your mouth can have an huge impact on the health of your whole body. Oral diseases can even shorten your lifespan. More and a lot of scientists are discovering that individuals with poor oral health are prone to a number of sicknesses and degenerative diseases.

One of the elements of Biological Dentistry is dental detox. The focus is on getting rid of the toxic pollution that can be found in your mouth - pollution that is usually caused by previous dental work.

Dentistry has created huge strides and your dentist should be commended for his or her commitment to excellence. But, certain unintended consequences of modern dentistry can harm your health.

Some of the main sources of dental toxicity are:

1. Gum disease
2. Mercury fillings
3. Cavitations
4. Root canals

These sources of dental toxicity can: lower the immune system; end in low level infections; kill nervous system and brain cells; result in auto immune disorders, chronic fatigue, Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS), Leukemia, Alzheimer's, high cholesterol, birth defects, and emotional and mental problems, including attempting suicide. Dental detox is here to heal you.

Using the dental detox and body detox methods of Biological dentistry, you are treated with a whole body approach, not simply for the issues you're facing now. Biological dentists are interested in generating overall health through detox, nutrition, the correct alignment of the jaw, and therefore the prevention of TMJ.

They also work hard to make sure patients are well educated about the very best type of preventive care out there. They attempt to develop new equipment and techniques that may make the patient more comfortable and safe when going through restorative and corrective treatments.

Biological dentists are concerned about long term health. This is why they often recommend that toxic mercury amalgam fillings be replaced with biocompatible materials. It is also why they focus on healing cavitations in the jaw bone and removing dead root-canalled teeth.

Research continues to show us that we tend to live longer and healthier by taking better care of our mouths. Although not everybody reacts the same, Biological dentistry has thousands of reports of various physical and emotional illnesses being taken care of through the right kind of treatments.

Through dental detox and body detox programs, you'll be able to have a healthier immune system, feel and look younger, stop toxic emotions, facilitate purify your blood, clean your digestive tract of mucus, fermentation, inflammation, and congestion, facilitate get rid of terrible arthritis pain, and several other things. This program provides you the information you need, and also the support required for you to prevent your suffering and pain for the rest of your life.

Health Center - Complete Dental Care For You

The amazing system removes several layers of blots that gather on your enamel due to continuous intake of colored and intoxicated beverages gently and safely. These stains if ignored can decay the delicate and sensitive tooth
texture. You can also brush your teeth with a paste made from baking soda and water. Baking soda changes the pH level in your mouth similar to lemon juice and will kill bacteria. You can also dilute the paste further into a mouthwash and use as a rinse. Rinse very well after brushing with baking soda.

It is also good to know how your particular dental professional handles emergencies. For instance, one office might consider priority visits early in the morning as a way of treating an emergency, but others may make a full-time dental professional available around the clock. Alternately, someone may need a thorough cleaning and removal of any plaque or tartar buildup that is causing serious damage or discomfort too.

Since the discussion of water has led us into brushing the teeth and cooking our food, so it is worthwhile to give them a little more attention and assess their roles as free bad breath cure remedies. Brushing the teeth is indeed a very important step to curing the halitosis malady. The bristles on the head of the toothbrush rotate giving a more constant brushing motion, while others have a vibrating head or even both. An electric toothbrush can provide as many as brush strokes per minute.

Since they are fitted to your jawbone, you are able to speak and eat naturally without lisping or discomfort. If you are looking for a permanent solution that provides you with the most natural way of correction, then dental implants will be worth the investment. Drinking alcohol can also cause dry mouth, leading to an unpleasant morning breath. If you had a few drinks, then it's doubly important that you follow the three steps are given here along with drinking some water prior to going to bed. This will help reduce the effects of the alcohol on your breath.

Using tongue cleaners will help remove these layers and much of the bacteria that lives in it. Use of mouthwashes, this eliminates the problematic bacteria. These products contain ammonium, zinc, chlorhexidine, chlorine dioxide, or triclosan. Chlorhexidine and chlorine dioxide rinses have been accepted lately. We tend to forget that the problems we have are just that ' setbacks that can be rectified. They should not be connected to your ability to function as a normal person who has a healthy sex drive. So the main issue here is to cure your breath problem physically and get on with your life.

And finally, when you floss daily, your chance of having bad breath is going to be greatly reduced. This might not be something that you think about, but compare it to leaving foods sitting out at room temperature when they should be refrigerated. Be sure not to use it more than twice a day and rinse your mouth good after brushing with baking soda. This seems to be a common mixture to brush with: one teaspoon of baking soda, a couple of drops of white vinegar, and a pinch of salt.

Health Center - Affordable Dental Plan

It is important for you to find an affordable dental plan in order to save unnecessary payment of thousands of dollars. There are affordable solutions available for uninsured people. There are quality dentist available for you which can provide your dental protection. They offer their services for urgent needs at very low price. The plan for your dental care should include preventive care, root canals, orthodontics, fillings and bridges etc. There is difference between these plans and traditional dental insurance. You dont need to pay monthly premium and there are no deductible s as well. You just need to pay an affordable annual membership fee in this plan with which you can access the dental network. You can have your overall oral care at significantly reduced fee.

There are no hidden fees included in affordable dental plan. There is no underwriting period to wait as well in this plan. You can select a dentist after completing your registration form. These plans have become an important component of overall health coverage. You can access dental care facilities from dentist at discount rates. These plans are available for individuals as well as for families. You can get perfect oral health with your regular visits to the dentist under these plans. These plans are important to keep your oral health in perfect working conditions as well as prevent from other developing health conditions. These plans are offered by different companies. These plans are absolutely affordable for you and your family.

You can have comprehensive dental with an affordable dental plan. This plan doesnt cost you a lot and you will get an excellent coverage. There are many ways through which you can find this plan. You can talk to your employer who has group policies in place. You can also find quotes online about dental plan. There are lots of choices accessible for you towards these plans. There are no claims forms for you to submit in order to receive oral care in these plans. You can access any member of the dentist network with your annual membership in these plans. You just to pay about 40% to 60% fee of the normal charges. You can also get family coverage by choosing family coverage plan.

Your healthy mouth is very important for your overall body health. There can be serious conditions showing symptoms start in the mouth. These symptoms can be diagnosed only by professional dental care provider. You know exactly what you have to pay for a service. You can save lots of your money as well as have quality dental care with these plans. You can visit to your dentist at any time you want with this dental plan. It is important for you get prompt oral care and it can be best possible with an affordable dental plan. If you are looking for an affordable plan for your oral health then you can visit Affordable dental plan
from where you can have comprehensive information and guidance about your dental plans.

Health Center - Back Pain Relief Tips - What Causes Back Pain

Osteophytes

Osteophytes, also referred to as bone spurs, a build-up of bone on the vertebrae, are blamed for pinched nerves and for the narrowing of the spinal canal called spinal stenosis, among other things. Very common, and increasing in number and size with age, they are just as likely to appear in the pain-free back as in the back that aches.

Osteoporosis

The rheumatologic disorder of osteoporosis, or "porous bone," is the major cause of bone fractures in the elderly, especially postmenopausal women. Marked by a decrease in bone mass and strength, its most predictable medical cause in women is menopause, when estrogen levels drop, but a variety of factors can cause the appearance of osteoporosis at a younger age. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, the disease "is a major public health threat for more than 28 million Americans, 80 percent of whom are women."

One in two women and one in eight men over age fifty will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime, and the disease is responsible for more than 1.5 million fractures annually, including approximately 700,000 of the vertebrae.

The best treatment for osteoporosis is prevention. The more bone mass you have, the more strength you have, and the lower the risk of fracture. And it's never too late to "bone up." A three year study of men and women over age sixty-five found that those who took calcium and vitamin D supplements daily had less than half as many broken bones as the placebo group.

To ward off the effects of osteoporosis, we're advised to eat a healthy diet that fulfills requirements of calcium and vitamins and limits or eliminates alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco. It also helps to take part in lower-extremity exercises such as walking and back extension exercises to stabilize or slightly increase bone mass, improve balance, and strengthen muscles. Estrogen replacement therapies have also been found helpful in preventing postmenopausal bone loss.

Pinched Nerves

Compressive or neurogenic pain caused by a "pinched" or compressed nerve can occur as the result of many factors - the narrowing of the spinal canal called spinal stenosis, herniated disks, or osteophytes. If the compression lasts long enough, the result can be the absence of pain when the doctor tests for it (called objective numbness).

Sacroiliac Joint Problems

On each side of the sacrum, the arrowhead-shaped bone between the moveable vertebrae and the coccyx, are ligaments attaching it to the ilia, the two large bones of the pelvis, or hip bones. And what joins them are the sacroiliac joints. Straining of those ligaments can cause a very specific, localized pain that usually becomes worse when sitting and is usually relieved by walking. It is very common during pregnancy, when hormones allow more movement in the joints than normally occurs. Physical manipulation of the joints by a health care professional will often provide relief.

Health Center - Reduce Toxins In The Body Through Heavy Metal Detoxification

It is to your best health interests to perform a heavy metal detoxification to remove the hazardous heavy metals from the body. Metals enter the body and develop elemental bonds forming other particles. Mercury seems to be the primary offender to metals becoming pathogens. Mercury comes in a variety of forms like methyl mercury, mercury salt and metallic mercury. Methyl mercury is fifty times more deadly than its metallic form. Methyl mercury can be reduced to mercury salt through heavy metal detoxification. The reduction has to happen before it can be removed.

Mercury is part of a group that oxidizes when it comes in contact with sulfur. It then binds with the sulfur that is present in numerous proteins in the body. A variety of metals exist that also have the same response to sulfur. These are arsenic, copper, cadmium, mercury and lead. They respond to similar detox methods.

Oxygen can cause metals to corrode. Iron is one of these metals. Iron rusts. While rust is not deadly too much iron is. Desferal is used for overdoses of iron. Aluminum also reacts to this agent.

There are metals that are not lethal and then there are those that any quantity of them is lethal. If metal contents reach high levels, they are dangerous. Selium or arsenic are known for their lethal properties. However, copper with impairs vision and operations of the liver and iron with its corrosive damage are also lethal.

Certain kinds of metals, such as Selenium, are actually needed by the body. Selenium helps enzymes rebuild glutathione that has been damaged and can prevent certain kinds of cancer.

There are metals that have a very fine line between being therapeutic and toxic. Selenium is one of these. Magnesium has a broad range so overdose is harder.

Then there are metals that have no function physiologically. Aluminum, lead and mercury are part of this group. Small amounts of these metals have negative effects.

All people are not going to respond to these chemicals in the same manner. Some may become seriously ill from a small amount of exposure to mercury where others will not notice a difference.

The detoxification process starts by adding antioxidants, or reducing agents to the body. Some detoxification agents have several mechanisms which they use to bind metals. Chlorella, an algae organism uses over 20 of these mechanisms. Heavy metal detoxification does carry possible side effects. These metals can affect people in one or two ways. The first is through non-specific poison effects. The other is from allergic responses to neurotoxins.

Differentiating between the two sets of symptoms can be rather difficult. Patients can become allergic to the elements used to eliminate the toxins. When detoxifying the body, mercury comes out of the cells into other tissues. The immune system then detects the mercury. However, the system is tricked into believing that the detox agent is the mercury. Generally, this episode is over within six weeks of discontinuing the agent.

To counteract this situation, a homeopathic remedy should be added to the body in small amounts over a few days.

Other side effects of detox, can include swelling of the membranes in the kidneys, depression, headaches, seizures and increased pain levels indicate that the metals have moved to the central nervous system because of using an inappropriate detox method. Any eye problems or tinnitus that happens indicates the metals moving into these organs.