Herbs And Health Benefits

Continuing our strategies to Grow Younger Every Day

2010-03-13T23:53:00.000-08:00

19 Ways to Stave Off Heart Disease

HEART DISEASE - more than one in five Americans suffer from some form of it, with more than 2,500 dying from it each day. In many cases, it can be avoided altogether simply by following a healthy lifestyle and adding a supplement or two. Each expert believes that the heart disease factors that he is studying are the most detrimental, but since everyone is different, it's hard to say which is most damaging to you. Be smart and follow the advice of as many experts as you can.

Eat Your Fruits and Veggies

The most effective step you can take to prevent a heart attack is to eat fruits and vegetables every day. So finds a major international study that searched for the strongest protective factors against an attack. The highest daily intake of fruits and veggies cut risk by a whopping 30%, which was more than the reduction attributed to exercise in the 52 countries surveyed. Yet among Americans, only 27% of women and 19% of men eat the minimum of five daily fruit and vegetable servings, shows data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Savor Mediterranean Cuisine

Traditional Mediterranean cuisine features luscious fruits and vegetables, hearty grains and nuts, rich olive oil, and naturally low-fat chicken and seafood (plus a daily glass of red wine). These same foods also prevent heart attack and stroke, and now scientists are pinning down exactly why.

Atherosclerosis-causing blood chemicals were lowest in those on a Mediterranean diet, and highest in those on a Western diet, in a new Harvard study of 732 women. High-antioxidant fruits and vegetables and omega-3-rich fish are heart protective, while trans fats in Western-style fast food irritate blood vessels.

Break a Sweat

Exercising for 30 minutes daily, at any time of day, strengthens your heart by lowering "bad" LDL cholesterol, raising "good" HDL cholesterol, and reducing inflammation, a newly discovered risk factor for heart disease. (It will also help you lose weight, another boon for your heart.)

Exercise in the Evening

Working out after noon, when the mercury peaks, may help your heart even more than exercising earlier in the day. In the afternoon, your muscles are warmer and more flexible, so it's easier to work out. If it feels better, you'll be more likely to exercise more vigorously and frequently, two of the keys to a healthy heart. If you can only do a morning walk, warm up by starting out slowly for 10 minutes.

Lose Belly Fat

Even if your scale says you're healthy, a large middle could mean that you have dangerous abdominal fat, according to a Canadian study of 14,924 men and women.

This is the story of the apple vs. the pear body type: Do you carry your weight around your hips or your waist and upper body? The difference is key, because as your belly measurement increases, so does your risk for heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes-by up to 93%. (Hip fat does not seem to carry the same risk.)

How do you measure up? Current guidelines define high risk as a waist that's greater than 35 inches for women or 40 inches for men.

Drink Tea-Any Tea!

Taiwanese researchers studying 1,000 people found that those who averaged just 2 cups of tea - black, green, or oolong - once a week for 10 years had 20% lower body fat and 2% lower waist-to-hip ratios compared with those who didn't drink tea.

Cut Cholesterol with Black Tea

New research confirms that extracts of black tea - the kind you get in Lipton or Tetley - can help reduce cholesterol. Researchers at Vanderbilt University tested 240 people with mild to moderate high cholesterol who were on a low-fat diet. Half took a daily black tea extract with polyphenols called theaflavins (equal to 7 cups); the other half took a placebo. After 12 weeks, those on tea extract cut total cholesterol by 11% and LDL - the bad cholesterol - by an amazing 16%, compared with no change in the other group. "Over time, that could translate into a 16 to 24% reduction in risk of heart attack and stroke," says David Maron, M.D., cardiologist and lead researcher.

"Black tea theaflavins may help people who can't lower their LDL enough with diet alone, but whose level isn't high enough for drugs," says Maron. The study extract, which is sold as Teaflavin, has 75 mg of theaflavins and no caffeine. For additional information, go to www.teaflavin.com.

Get Nutty

Recent research from the University of Toronto indicates that eating at least a handful of almonds (about an ounce, or 23 almonds) a day lowers LDL cholesterol, reducing the risk of heart disease. Eating two handfuls lowers it even more. (They're 164 calories per ounce.) The secret: Almonds, like walnuts, pecans, pistachios, and hazelnuts, are high in heart-smart omega-3 fatty acids.

Call Your Pals

Stress is the greatest preventable cause of heart disease says Mehmet Oz, M.D., a professor of surgery at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. And a landmark UCLA study found that women can counteract stress by hanging with their girlfriends. The research shows that when women face tough times, they have a self-protective response: Their bodies produce oxytocin, a hormone that compels them to nurture their loved ones and be with their friends. Called the "tend-and-befriend response," it not only relieves stress, but it's also a powerful antidote to the better-known fight-or-flight response, which is marked by the production of the heart-damaging stress hormone cortisol.

"The question I always ask my patients is, `Do you have a reason for your heart to keep beating?"' says Oz. So after a particularly stressful day, remember who makes your heart happy: Call your girlfriends and hug your kids.

Let Go of Anger

An angry outlook is your heart's worst enemy. Hostile people often feel more agitated by daily stress, which could keep stress hormone levels high, accelerating the risk of clogged arteries and heart stopping blood clots, suspects researcher Raymond Niaura, Ph.D., of Brown Medical School in Providence, RI. In a 3-year study of 774 Caucasian men, researchers found that hostility was a more powerful predictor of heart disease than killer risk factors such as high cholesterol, smoking, or obesity.

Self-help is a good first step for hostile types, says Niaura. In more extreme cases, it may be a good idea to seek counseling.

Chase Your Multivitamin with Aspirin

"Men over the age of 45 and women over 50 should be taking two low-dose aspirin [81 mg each] a day - in consultation with their health professional," says Oz. "Aspirin's primary benefit is that it blocks the generalized inflammatory response that is a consequence of aging and that can lead to a heart attack."

Consider Coenzyme Q10 _

In studies by the late Karl Folkers, Ph.D., recipient of the National Medal of Science for his work with CoQ10 and other vitamins, people with congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy - both frequently fatal conditions - recovered more quickly when CoQ10 therapy was added to conventional treatment. In one case, Folkers actually treated 11 patients who were waiting for heart transplants; all improved, some so dramatically that they no longer needed medication.

It's hard to get enough CoQ10 in your diet to achieve the 100 mg or more that have been used in clinical trials. Fish and animals have some, but not much. "If you eat a lot of fish and animal products, you'll get about 15 mg a day," says Stephen Sinatra, M.D., assistant clinical professor of medicine at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. But before you start popping pills, discuss it with your doctor. If you have heart failure or cardiomyopathy, you should not be self-treating with CoQ10 or any supplement.

If you're not sick, is there any reason to take it? Some supplement experts, including Prevention columnist Andrew Weil, M.D., recommend taking up to 100 mg a day as a treatment for fatigue. Be aware: If you're taking blood-thinning medication such as warfarin and aspirin, CoQ10 can blunt the drugs' effects. But if you're taking statin drugs to lower your cholesterol, your body's stores of CoQ10 may be depleted - a side effect of the drugs - so it's worth asking your doctor if a supplement might help replenish them.

Filet More Fish _

A 12-year Brigham and Women's Hospital study of 4,800 people found that those who ate any fish one to four times a week had a 28% lower risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) than those who avoided fish. AF disrupts your heart's rhythm, causing fatigue and shortness of breath.

Make It Fatty Fish

A Harvard study of 727 women found that those who ate fatty fish almost every day-compared with those who ate them only three times per month-had 7 to 10% lower blood levels of molecules that bind plaque-building cells to artery walls.

Beat Homocysteine with B

Keep your heart healthy with the Bs which include folate and vitamins B6 and B12. They help lower blood levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that is thought to promote atherosclerosis. Meat, poultry, and fish are good sources because they contain both B6 and B12. But make sure to take your daily multivitamin too-it contains a form of B12 that's easier to absorb than the kind found in food. Aim for no more of the Bs than the DV 400 mcg of folic acid, 1.3 to 1.7 mg of vitamin B6, and 6 mcg of vitamin B12.

Note: Stay away from high-dose B products, which are sometimes marketed as cures for such problems as premenstrual syndrome. Extremely high doses of B6 are known to cause nerve damage.

Fiber Up Your Day

For maximum heart disease protection, the FDA says that women need 25 g of fiber per day, but are we there yet? Not even close, according to a Tulane University study of 10,000 people. Those at the very high end of the scale averaged just 21 g of fiber per day; those at the lowest, 6 g. But the same study confirmed that you can lower your risk of heart disease by up to 15% with a diet high in fiber-especially the water-soluble kind found in oats and beans. Soluble fiber turns into a cholesterol magnet in your intestines, binding it up and escorting it out for elimination. Other excellent soluble-fiber sources: peas, barley, and pears.

Grab Some Garlic

Garlic (Allium sativum) cuts bad LDL cholesterol by 11.4%. The best dose is two to four raw cloves a day. Chop them and add them to food at the end of cooking or to salad dressings.

Help Yourself to Artichokes

Artichoke (Cynara scolymus) has been shown to cut bad LDL cholesterol by 22.9%. You can take it as an artichoke leaf tincture (20 drops diluted in water, three times a day) or standardized artichoke supplements (follow label directions). Or you can eat six cooked artichoke hearts per week.

Get to Know Guggul

The supplement called guggul (Commiphora mukul) can cut LDL cholesterol by 12.5%. Take one 25-mg capsule three times a day and cut back to one daily capsule once cholesterol is normal. Note: Talk to your doctor first because guggul interacts with other drugs.

Improve Your Sex Life with Arginine

Arginine seems to boost flagging sexual function in both men and women. In a 6-week study of 50 men, 5,000 mg of arginine daily relieved erectile dysfunction. A 4-week study of 77 women taking 2,500 mg of arginine daily found increased sexual desire, orgasm frequency, and clitoral sensation.

How does it work? Arginine helps synthesize nitric oxide, which increases bloodflow to the genitals, promoting sexual arousal - erection in men and enlarged clitoris in women. And there are no significant side effects although some people experience mild blood pressure drop. Try a daily dose of 1,500 to 5,000 mg.

Grow Younger Every Day

2010-01-16T23:45:00.000-08:00

Continuing our strategies to Stay Young and Healthy,

11 Strategies To Lower Blood Pressure

A report from the famed Framingham Heart Study warns that middle-aged and older persons face a 90% chance of developing high blood pressure sometime in their lives. No small thing, since high blood pressure,while it causes no symptoms, boosts the risks of leading killers such as heart attack and stroke, as well as aneurysms, cognitive decline, and kidney failure.

So, if you have normal blood pressure, following these steps can help lower those 90% odds that your numbers will rise. If you already have high blood pressure, they'll help you control it, possibly with a lower dose of medication, or none at all. What follows is your to-do list.

Carry Less Excess

"When we're talking about preventing high blood pressure, by far the most important lifestyle factor to consider is weight," says Curtis Ellison, M.D., chief of preventive medicine and epidemiology at Boston University School of Medicine.

Among other things, obesity is associated with abnormalities in glucose and calcium metabolism and with certain hormonal changes that may be linked to high blood pressure, notes Ellison. "Almost everybody, if they lose a few pounds, is going to bring their blood pressure down," he says. In some cases, very few pounds will do the trick. In one study, people who lost an average of just 7.7 pounds and kept it off were half as likely to have high blood pressure as those who hadn't lost weight. The best way to lose weight? Exercise more, and eat less.

Sweat It

Exercise helps lower blood pressure in a number of ways. It helps you shed excess pounds and manage stress. Regular aerobic exercise also strengthens your heart so it can pump blood more efficiently. That, in turn, lowers your resting heart rate, which is helpful because a slower heart rate translates into lower blood pressure. Regular aerobic workouts also help make your blood vessels more flexible, so they give more when your heart pumps blood, and that also translates into lower pressure.

Prevention recommends 30 minutes of moderate-intensity activity (such as walking, jogging, or cycling) at least 5 days a week.

"Moderate-intensity exercise appears to lower blood pressure as much as vigorous exercise," says Deborah Young, Ph.D., associate professor in the department of kinesiology at the University of Maryland.

Do the DASH

Incorporating little fat, cholesterol, red meat, or sweets, but lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products, this diet takes its name from the comprehensive "Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension" study. The study followed more than 450 adults, about one-third of whom had high blood pressure, as they ate one of three diets: standard American fare, a similar diet that was higher in fruits and vegetables, and the DASH diet. While both the plan rich in fruits and vegetables and the DASH diet cut blood pressure, the DASH diet had the greatest effect, and after just 2 weeks.

Why does DASH work? "While the diet is rich in vitamins and minerals that have been linked to lower blood pressure, it's not these nutrients alone but the whole dietary package that works," explains Eva Obarzanek, Ph.D., a research nutritionist at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and a project officer for the DASH study. For more information, go to National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; www.nhlbi.nih.gov.

Shake Off Sodium

To get even better results, follow the~ DASH diet and cut back on sodium, Obarzanek suggests. A follow-up to the DASH study, called "DASH-Sodium," found that doing both lowered blood pressure more than following the diet alone. In the study, even people with normal blood pressure lowered their blood pressure when they cut back on sodium.

Certain groups of people - the elderly, African-Americans, and those with a family history of high blood pressure are more likely than others to have blood pressure that's particularly salt (or sodium) sensitive. But everyone should lower his sodium intake, says Obarzanek. How far? To 1,500 mg daily, about half the average American intake, she says. (Half a teaspoon of salt contains about 1,200 mg of sodium.)

Cutting sodium means more than going easy on the saltshaker, which contributes just 15% of the sodium in the typical American diet. In addition to seasoning the foods you cook with spices, herbs, lemon, and salt-free seasoning blends, watch for sodium in processed foods. Most of the sodium in your diet comes from processed foods, says Obarzanek.

Balance It with Potassium

The best formula for controlling blood pressure is to eat at least 1.5 times as much potassium as sodium, a new Australian study shows. Most of us do just the opposite. In 100 people -15% with and 85% without high blood pressure - a diet with a 1.5 – to - 1 ratio of potassium to sodium lowered systolic blood pressure (the top number) by 2.4 points in just 4 weeks.

To balance out a moderate - sodium diet, eat two or three servings of high - potassium fruit (apricots, peaches, nectarines, cantaloupes, honeydews, bananas) and four or five of almost any vegetable every day.

Choose Olive Oil

Olive oil lowered blood pressure in a study of 20,000 people by Harvard and University of Athens researchers. Those with healthy pressure averaged 3 ounces of olive oil a day. Blood pressure protection starts with just 1 ounce a day, the experts say.

Serve Fatty Fish

Northwestern University scientists analyzed eight studies, involving 200^,575people, and concluded that eating fatty fish (such as salmon, mackerel, and herring) just once a week cut the risk of clot-caused strokes by 13%, though it had no effect on strokes from burst blood vessels.

Flag Yourself at One or Two Drinks

According to a recent analysis of 15 studies, the less alcohol you drink, the lower your blood pressure will drop - to a point. A study of women at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital, for example, found that light drinking - defined as one-quarter to one-half a drink per day for a woman - may actually reduce blood pressure more than no drinks per day. One "drink" is 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of spirits.

Other studies have also found that moderate drinking - up to one drink a day for a woman, two for a man - can lower risks of heart disease. "High levels of alcohol are clearly detrimental," says Obarzanek. "But moderate alcohol is protective of the heart. If you are going to drink, drink moderately."

Stay Out of Cafe Nervosa

Scientists have long debated the effects of caffeine on blood pressure. Some studies have shown no effect, but a recent study at the Duke University Medical Center found that caffeine consumption of 500 mg - roughly three 8-ounce cups of coffee - increased blood pressure by 4 mm/Hg, and that effect lasted until bedtime. For reference, 8 ounces of drip coffee contains 100 to 125 mg; the same amount of tea, 50 mg; an equal quantity of cola, about 40 mg.

Caffeine can raise blood pressure by tightening blood vessels and by magnifying the effects of stress, says Jim Lane, Ph.D., associate research professor at Duke and the lead author of the study. "When you re under stress, your heart starts pumping a lot more blood, boosting blood pressure, and caffeine exaggerates that effect," he says. Can't live without your morning cup? Look for decaf versions.

Switch to Tea?

Australian researchers who studied 218 women found that for each 1-cup increase in tea drunk daily (up to 4 cups), systolic (top number) blood pressure dropped 2 points and diastolic (bottom number) pressure dropped 1 point.

Learn to Chill _

Meditation and other relaxation techniques such as yoga and tai chi can help lower blood pressure significantly, says Richard Liebowitz, M.D., medical director of the Duke Center for Integrative Medicine. In a study of 62 sedentary seniors, in fact, those who started doing tai chi saw their blood pressure drop nearly as much as those who began a moderate-intensity aerobic exercise program.

Relaxation techniques trigger what Herbert Benson, M.D., of Harvard Medical School, has dubbed the "relaxation response," a calming of the nervous system that can lower blood pressure and slow breathing rate.

While you can learn yoga and tai chi from videos, says David Shapiro, Ph.D., many people find it easier to learn from an instructor and regular classes. To find out more about yoga and how to select an instructor, contact the American Yoga Association, PO Box 19986, Sarasota, FL 34276, or visit www.americanyogaassociation.org. To find out more about tai chi, go to www. thetaichisite.com.

For more information on high blood pressure, visit the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at www.nhlbi.nih.gov.

What Is High Blood Pressure?

Your blood pressure readings - always two numbers, one over the other - gauge the force your circulating blood exerts against the walls of your blood vessels. Systolic pressure, the top number in a reading, indicates the pressure as your heart beats or contracts. The bottom number, your diastolic reading, indicates the pressure between contractions. You have high blood pressure when you have a systolic Blood pressure of 130 millimeters of mercury (mm/Hg) or higher and a diastolic blood pressure of 85 mm/Hg or higher, or 130/85. But most experts now agree that your optimal pressure is 120/80 or lower, as low as you can go without fainting when you stand up.

GOOD.NEWS, NO MATTER YOUR READINGS: Just a tiny drop in blood pressure, 2 mm/Hg, could reduce strokes by 14% and heart disease by 6%, potentially saving 70,000 lives a year.

Fat Burning Furnance

2010-01-13T18:13:00.000-08:00

GROW YOUNGER EVERY DAY

2009-12-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

101 Revolutionary Ways to Stay Young and Healthy

Birthdays are wonderful - especially if you've been able to sidestep or minimize the health hazards that loom larger as the years have added up.
To help you continue to enjoy birthdays that make you happy to be alive, this article is filled with important steps you can take every day to fight off aging and stay as young in your body as you are in your mind.
16 Good habits for Good Health.
Habits are a funny thing. They can be good or bad for us and our health is affected by them every day. Here are four areas where improving your habits will have extremely good results.

Sleep
Though there's no set amount of sleep people need, 8 hours is usually a minimum, says Clete Kushida, M.D., Ph. D., director of the Stanford University Center for Human Sleep Research. Most women are getting only about 7 hours on weeknights, says a 2002 National Sleep Foundation survey of about 1,000 men and women. Twenty percent of those women reported daytime sleepiness, a sign that they weren't grtting enough shut-eye.
The risks of sleep deprivation go way beyond waking up with that groggy feeling. Women who sleep less than 8 hours a night over a 10-year period are at slightly higher risk of heart disease, reported a study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Those 8 hours are also crucial to maintaining a healthy weight. Another study has found that sleep drprivation can lead to an imbalance of various weight-related hormones that can encourage your cells to store excess fat and lower your body's fat-burning ability.
Still other research has linked sleep deprivation to depression and anxiety, as well as insulin resistance - a trigger for high blood pressure, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. And, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Admisnistration, accidents caused by sleepy drivers injure more than 40,000 people a year and kill at least 1,500.
After you acknowledge the futility of trying to fit 26 hours' worth of activities into 24 hours, these eight tips can help you towards a good night's sleep.
1. Cut back on your commitments, says Suzanne Griffin, a sleep specialist and psychiatrist at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington,DC. Divide up family responsibilities with your partner and children.
2. Established a bedtime for yourself, and stick to it every night.
3. Avoid caffeine in the afternoon and evening.
4. Don't use alcohol as a sleep inducer, it can actually interfere with a full night's rest.
5. Your sleep may improve if you adhere to a relaxing bedtime ritual, such as reading, listening to music, or taking a warm bath.
6. According to Tieraona Low Dog, M.D., an adviser to the National Institutes of Health Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, the best herbal remedy for chronic insomnia is valerian. She suggests trying two or three standardized capsules, 30 to 45 minutes before bed. It's safe, effective, and non-habit-forming.
7. Dr. Low Dog also recommends drinking chamomile tea near bedtime. Use three bags per cup and let them steep for five to seven minutes, to medicinal strength.
8. A carbohydrate-rich snack before bedyime will also contribute to a good night's rest, according to Dr. Low Dog.

Floss
Gum disease is a serious bacterial infection that attacks the tissue surrounding one or more teeth and the bone supporting them. It's the number one cause of tooth loss in the United States, but it's far from just a cosmetic issue. When periodontal bacteria enter the bloodstream, they can travel to major organs and cause chronic inflammation. In recent years, researchers have come to suspect that such simmering infections in the body may be implicated in some cases of heart disease, stroke, cancer and even premature birth.
Chronic inflammation may also explain why some people who have heart attacks have no known risk factors sucu as high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Infection triggers inflammation, which, under normal circumstances, is part of the healing process (it allows infection-fighting white blood cells to reach injured tissue). But when inflammation is chronic, it can damage artery walls and make them more prone to fatty buildup.
Likewise, a choric bacterial infection like gum disease "can predispose people to cancer," says Lisa Coussens, Ph. D., assistant professor at the University of California, San Francisco's Cancer Research Institute. Though a direct link hasn't been made between the two, she points out that people with other inflammatory diseases faced increased cancer risk. For example, people with the inflammatory bowel condition known as Crohm's disease have a 60% increased risk of developing colon cancer.
Women in particular need to pay close attention to gum health. "Flossing is so critical because the hormonal changes that occur in women during puberty, pregnancy, amd menopause cause the oral bacteria that lead to gum disease to grow more readily." says David Schneider, D.M.D., a Bethesda, M.D., Periodontist. Drugs such as antidepressants, some blood pressure medications, and antihistamines can also raise your risk of gum disease because they reduce the saliva that helps wash bacteria away in the mouth.
The fix? Floss at least once a day. Here are simple instructions from the American Dental Associations: Take about 18 inches of floss and wind it around the middle fingers. Hold a few inches of the floss tightly between thumbs and forefingers. Guide thge floss between your teeth, using a gentle rubbing motion.
When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth, and gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth. Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with an up-and-down motion. Repeat this for every tooth.

Lift Weights
Don't think of weight lifting as "lifting weights." Think of it as a great way to look more toned and trim without losing an ounce. In fact, once you start, you may even notice that you've put on a few pounds. Don's panic: You're gaining muscle, which weights more than the fat you're losing. But since muscle is more dense than fat, it takes up less space, helping you fit into your clothes better. And if you lift regularly, you'll eventually start dropping pounds.
Here's another bonus: A recent study at the University of Alabama at Birmingham found that women on a strength-training program for 25 weeks lost significant amount of belly fat - the danferous kind that increases your risk of heart disease and diabetes.
You don't have to spend a lot of time pumpmg iron to get the benefits. Two or three times a week on nonconsecutive days for about 30 minutes per session should do the trick. The American Council on Exercise syas that light weights and multiple reps tend to help build endurance and muscle tone, while training with heavier weights generally produces stronger muscles.

Quit Smoking
Even scientists were surprised when lung cancer became the leading cause of cancer death in women. It turns out that the 4,000 chemicals in tobacco appear to be even more lethal when ingested by women than by men.
But the news is not all bad - if you quit now. Ex-smokers can be reassured that after passing a decade puff-free, their risk of kung cancer is about the same as thar of someone who never smoked. Unfortunately, lung damage from emphysema or bronchitis can't be reversed, but your cardiovascular system can bounce back. "Within 24 hours of stopping smoking, there is improvement in the function of the blood vessels. After 1 year, there's a 50% reduction in the risk of having a heart attack," says Sharonne Hayes, M.D., director of the Women's Heart Clinic at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. And within 15 years, your risk of heart disease is similar to that of a lifelong nonsmoker. Thirty minutes of exercise a day will speed the return to normal heart functions.
Preventing the long-term risk of cancer is a murkier proposition, but you can take these three steps to protect your health.
1. Eat nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day ( as everyone should), and make one or two of those servings strawberries or black or red raspberries, which may prevent the onset of esophageal cancewr, according to research atr Ohio State University in Columbus.
2. Getting one to two times the daily value of folate ( found in whole grains and greens) and B12 (in meat and dairy products) can reduce cell damage that may lead to cancer.
3. If you hve smoked the equivalent of a pack a day for 10 years or longer, get a low-dose, 25 - second CT-scan screening test for lung cancer, which allows doctor to detect tumors earlier than before. The test is boosting patients' odds of recovery, says Claudia Henschke, M.D., Ph. D., a professor of radiology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University.

Magnesium Helps You Sleep

Researchers at the USDA found that getting insufficient magnesium changes electrical activity in the brain, and those anomalies may interfere with rest. Other studies show that lack of magnesium may disrupt normal sleep stages or contribute to such sleep disorders as restless legs syndrome. So aim for the DV, which is 400 mg. Eat foods such as spinach, broccoli, legumes, and whole wheat bread, and take a multivitamin. Note: Supplements can cause diarrhea: the upper limit (UL) for them is 350mg. If your laxative contains magnesium, count that toward your supplement intake.
In the next part of this series, I will discuss 11 Strategies to Lower Blood Pressure

Natural Relief With These Oil

2009-12-07T16:34:00.000-08:00

I went on a short holiday in Egypt recently and picked up these tips on natural oil which can relief many ailments. These oils can be applied directly to the body or used as an essence. Some of the descriptions are direct translations of the local language so I take no responsibilities for it's meaning. I also take no responsibilities for any cures or other wise from it's use. Please post your comments if you have any.

PepperMint Oil
Relaxing and is used for cough,diarrhea, and liver problems

Fenugreek (Helba) Oil
It's a nutrient. Good for the nervous system.

Cress Oil
Improves sexual activity. It is good for indigestion and is effective in reducing nicotine level in smokers.

Fennel Oil
Calming for the pains of the circulation, stimulating for the sexual glands and it is used in the infections of the kidney and spleen.

Parsley Oil
It is used for lithotripsy of calculus. It's a stimilus for urination. It increases the productivity of males and females. It is an analgesic for pains of the kidney. It clears the skin of acne.

Caraway Oil
Used for stomach and intestines. Helps in digestion and stimulating for appetite, also used for fighting microbes.

Cumin Oil
Used for colic and pains of the colon. It helps in healing injuries and reduces swelling. It calms pains of the circulation and can help reduce weight.

Castor Oil
This is a natural laxative. It can be used for cosmetic purpose for softening the skin and facial hair, such as eye lashes and beard.

Lettuce Oil
It strengthens the heart muscles, the nerves and the wall of the blood vessels.

Onion Oil
An antibiotic and nutrient. It clears the blood, it decreases diabetes, as it has glucotine which is like insulin.

Garlic Oil
It opens the arteries and controls the blood pressure and cholesterol. It is an antibiotic.

Olpanum Oil
(gomma Arabique)
Strengths brochus, eliminates phlegm, and good for gingivitis and teeth infection. It is calming for cough and the infection of vocal chords.

Camomile Oil
It is an antiseptic for the skin and it's a stimulate for appetite, a sterilizer for stomach and good for kidney stones.

Natural Habet El Baraka Oil
(Black Seed Oil)
The black Habet oil (is the remedy of all diseases it strengthens the immunity and increases the vitality of the body. It is a general strenfthener and it benefits cough and chest diseases.

Sesame Oil
It is a nutrient whch increases the weight and increases the size of the breast, good for the circulation. It is used also for skin infections.

Devil's Claw

2009-11-21T23:15:00.000-08:00

Devil's Claw
Harpagophytum procumbens
Part used: Tubers

Devil's claw grows in the grasslands of southern Africa and has been used there as a topical treatment for ulcers and wounds,and taken internally for fevers,allergies,digestive problems and as a pain reliever. Numerous scientific studies confirm its benefits, most notably as an effective analgesic and anti-inflammatory for arthritis pain and backache.Some studies have shown devil's claw to be as effective as pharmaceutical pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Having digestive, respiratory problems.....?

2009-09-06T21:09:00.000-07:00

Do you have digestive, respiratory and cardiac problems (especially when caused by stress), then Dang shen is what you need.
Dang shen
(Codonopsis pilosula)
Part used: Roots

Chinese herbalists regard dang shen as a gentle version of the more famous stress and energy tonic, Korean ginseng. This distinction means that it can be prescribed for patients who are frail or debilitated, for whom ginseng is considered too stimulating. Dang shen is also traditionally used for treating digestive, respiratory and cardiac problems (especially when caused by stress) and as a nourishing blood tonic for nursing mothers and other anaemic patients.

Medicinal herbs.....continue....

2009-08-09T20:56:00.000-07:00

Cat's Claw
Uncaria tomentosa, U. guaianensis
Part used: Vine Bark

Cat's claw grows in tropical South and Central America and takes its name from the shape of the long thorns that help it to climb over other plants in the jungle. It has been used for hundreds of years by Peruvians to treat inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis, asthma and skin problems, and is also a traditional remedy for infections, fatigue and cancer. Laboratory studies attribute it with a number of immune-stimulating and anti-inflammatory properties, which may be behind many traditional applications; little research has been conducted in humans.

More On Medicinal Herbs

2009-07-18T06:58:00.000-07:00

More on Medicinal Herbs........
Buchu
Agathosma betuling
Part used Leaves

The South African herb buchu is mainly regarded as a remedy for the urinary tract, although traditionally it was also used to treat digestion and joint problems. Its volatile essential oil has antiseptic properties and is considered responsible for the herb's benefits in treating infections of the kidneys, bladder, urethra and prostate, Buchu also has diuretic actions, so it is indicated for fluid retention.

Medicinal herbs

2009-06-19T21:25:00.000-07:00

More on Medicinal Herbs........
Astragalus
Astragalus membranaceus
Part used Roots

One of the most important qi tonics in traditional Chinese medicine, astragalus is taken to enhance vitality and increase energy. It has potent immune-boosting properties, so it may be prescribed to build resistance against infections as well as for more serious problems, such as helping the body's defences cope with the trauma of chemo- and radiotherapy. Herbalists also prescribe astragalus for a wide range of other conditions, including liver and kidney dysfunction, heart problems and for aiding recovery from blood loss (especially after childbirth)

Medicinal Herbs

2009-06-13T20:09:00.000-07:00

Continuing our discussion on medicinal herbs.........
Andrographis
Andrographis paniculata
Parts used Leaves, aerial parts

Andrographis features in the traditional medicine of China, Thailand, India and Korea.An extremely bitter herb, it is used as a digestive tonic in Ayurvedic medicine, while in traditional Chinese medicine, Its cooling properties mean that it is indicated for dispelling heat and treating infections and toxins. Andrographis also has immune-stimulating properties, and is used to help prevent colds and flu to treat their symptons.

Medicinal herbs

2009-06-06T23:53:00.000-07:00

Medicinal herbs.
Modern botanical medicine has become truly international and herbalists now have access to the most effective herbs from all parts of the globe.

Albizia
Albizia iebbeck
Part used Stem bark

The tradidtional Ayurvedic applications for albizia include a range of inflammatory and allergic skin and respiratory conditions, and laboratory research indicates that it does indeed have anti-allergic properties. It appears to have particular benefits for mast cells, which play a major role in allergic reactions, so it may help some people becomes less sensitive to substances to which they are allegic.
In the coming weeks, we will discuss more of such medicinal herbs.

Amazon Link

2009-06-06T23:33:00.000-07:00

2009-06-01T08:20:00.000-07:00

Herbal

medicine

Treating common ailments and conditions safely and effectively with herbs is an area of growing interest as well as the focus of research around the world. Find out which herbs have healing properties and learn the best ways to use them. Over the next few weeks, we will discuss the healing power of various herbs.

Herbs For High Cholesterol And High Blood Pressure

2009-03-31T02:18:00.000-07:00

Do you have high blood pressure and high cholesterol?
Take natures way to control these ailments. These herbs helps to control your high blood pressure and high cholesterol, Lime flowers, Psyllium, Turmeric, Garlic, and Hawthorn.

Lime flowers - Tilia cordata, T. platyphyllos, T. x europaea.
Remedy to calm blood pressure.
Lime flowers are a traditional European medicine for high blood pressure, especially when it is accompanied by heart palpitation or hardening of the arteries. It is also a gently calming remedy for anxiety and restlessness, so are particularly useful when high blood pressure is caused by worry.

Psyllium - Plantago ovata, P. psyllium.
Lowers cholesterol levels.

Psyllium is an important source of water-soluble fibre, which forms an absorbent gel in the bowel, trapping cholesterol and facilitating its excretion from the body. Combining psyllium with a low-fat diet for as little as 8 weeks has been shown to reduce LDL-cholesterol without adversely affecting HDL-cholesterol levels. Under professional supervision, psyllium may be particularly beneficial for patients with type 2 diabetes, because it can also help control their blood glucose level and insulin responses after meals.

Turmeric
Curcuma longa
Cholesterol-clearing spice

Turmeric is another culinary spice that supports heart and blood vessel health. It contains a yellow-coloured pigment called curcumin - the compound that is credited with most of the herb's medicinal benefit. Curcumin has been shown to lower levels of total cholesterol, increase levels of HDL-cholesterol ("good" cholesterol), and protect both HDL- and LDL-cholesterol from the damaging effects of free redical activity. In laboratory studies, it has been shown to help lower blood pressure and reduce the ability of cholesterol to form plaque on artery walls.

Herbs And Heaith Benefits

2009-03-29T01:08:00.000-07:00

Herbs have been used for thousands of years to flavour and preserve food, treat ailments, ward off pests and diseases, freshen the air, and decorate and enhance our lives. I will discuss and show the healing and health benefits of various herbs.