Getting Your Nutrition from Real Food vs popping a Multi-Vitamin Supplement

It is a wrong notion that popping a multi-vitamin supplement to get their  nutrients is just as good as what comes from real foods. It is hard time we realize that it is far better to get vitamins and minerals from natural  foods and juices. Our bodies make use of the vitamins and minerals from  real foods more efficiently.

A vast number of people find it much easier to  select a variety of whole foods they enjoy eating instead of trying to  make heads or tails of the entire selection of vitamin and mineral  supplements that are available. And any of us who’ve swallowed a  multi-vitamin or a mineral supplement can say without a doubt that the  taste leaves a lot to be desired.

These food Supplements are also difficult for our bodies to break down and use,  making it difficult to get the full  vitamins and  minerals they contain. Contrarily, consuming plenty of  nutrient-dense food to get the equivalent means the nutrients are going  to be easier for the body to process and utilize, and less likely to be  wasted.  We are also processing nutrients throughout the course of the  day when we obtain them from food, instead of just getting them from  the a single approach.

Lots of the supplements available today use fillers and binders to hold  them together, plus coatings on the tablets themselves. These are  products the body does not need and will not use. Some people find they  are allergic to the dyes and fillers used in vitamin pills. Then again,  the body uses the fiber that binds fruits and vegetables. One should know that  the  “skin” of a vegetable, like the potato, is the most nutritious part.
At times, the vitamin and mineral supplements can upset our  stomachs, making even  taking them even more difficult the next day.

 In most cases, combining supplements can counteract their effectiveness and can  produce stomach upset when dealing with the taste and smell of some  supplements. Conversely, a variety of fruits and vegetables  enhance the flavor of a nutritious meal and their fiber aids digestion.
If you’re looking to lose weight, eating fresh food is vital to a  weight loss plan. Also, eating fresh fruits and vegetables help hair,  skin and teeth stay attractive and healthy. And when you think about  it, fruits and vegetables are the original ‘to go’ food. It’s simple to  grab for an orange, apple, banana, grapes, or quickly toss a few  vegetables together for a salad to take to work.

So when you’re looking for well-balanced, healthy, reliable nutrition,  don’t reach for the  multi-vitamin supplement. Reach for the food!

Do you know that Raw Foods Diet is Beneficial to Your Health?

The benefits derived from eating raw food diet seem numerous! They range from lowering  cholesterol and triglyceride levels, eliminating cravings, preventing  overeating, purging the body of accumulated toxins, balancing hormones,  maintaining blood glucose levels and reversing degenerative diseases.

Users of a raw diet cite numerous health benefits, including  increased energy levels, improved appearance of skin, improved  digestion, weight loss and reduced risk of heart disease etc. Advocates of eating raw food believe that enzymes are the life force of a food and  that every food contains its own perfect mix. These enzymes help us  digest our foods fully, without relying on our body to produce its own  cocktail of digestive enzymes.

There can be some side effects when you are first starting a raw foods  diet. Some detoxification effects may be experienced as your body  attempts to shed some toxidity. This may include occasional headaches,  nausea sensations and mild depression. If these symptoms persist, you  should seek the help of somebody who is experienced with detoxification  symptoms.

Consuming a raw food diet means that you have to carefully plan your  meals to make sure you don't fall short of essential nutrients,  vitamins and minerals. In some instances it might be appropriate to  consider taking dietary supplements, especially when just starting out.   You'll need to invest in some appliances so that you are able to  prepare the food, if you don’t already have them available.  A durable  juicer, a blender and a large food processor make raw food preparation  easy. You may also want to look into purchasing large containers to  soak sprouts, grains and beans, as well as for storage. A durable juice  extractor for your fruits and vegetables.

The best way to begin a raw foods lifestyle is to slowly  transition into it. Try starting off by eating approximately 70 to 80  percent raw foods in your diet. Have fruit and salads throughout the  day and a cooked vegetable meal with a salad in the evening. This  should help make the transition easier on your body and hopefully  lessen side effects associated with detoxification. This is an  emotional time as well, so you should allow yourself plenty of time to  make the switch. 

Reading journals during the process can help. Before you  know it, you’ll be feeling the positive effects of a healthy,  detoxifying raw foods diet.

BRIEF IDEA ABOUT PILES (HERMORRHOIDS) AND PREVENTION

What is piles  (Hemorrhoids)?
 
Piles is Dilatation of radicles of rectal veins within the anal

canal.The medical term for piles is hemorrhoids. When  arteries veins are weak due to thin walls and hence any backpressure in the veins can make them tortuous.There are three rectal veins namely superior, middle and inferior rectal veins.Any obstructions or increase of pressure in these veins can predispose piles.Depending upon the situation there are two types of piles.

1) External piles.         2) Internal piles.

1) External piles:-

This type of piles is seen outside the anal opening and is covered by skin.It is black or brown in colour.This type of piles is very painful due to rich nerve supply in this area.

2) Internal piles:-

It is inside the anal canal and internal to the anal orifice.It is covered by mucous membrane and is red or purple in colour.These piles are painless.

Some times internal and external piles occure in same individual.

Factors responsible for piles:--

1) This is a domestic disease.

2) Piles is seen only in animals that maintain an erect posture. This

is due to congestion in the rectal veins due to the effect of gravity.

3) It is common among individuals with chronic constipation.Those who

have a habit of visiting the toilet due to frequent urge for stool may

develop piles in future.

4) Piles is common in those who take excess of chicken, prawns, spicy food ect.Those who take vegetables and fibrous food are rarely affected.

5) Some ladies get piles during pregnancy due to compression of rectal veins by the uterus.

6) Cancerous lesions in the rectum can obstruct blood flow and result in piles.

Signs and symptoms of piles:--

1) Pain:-

Pain is common in external piles which will be worse while straining at stool.

2) Bleeding:-

Bleeding comes in splashes while pressing for stool.Bleeding may be profuse in some cases.

3) Protruding mass:-

In external piles the swelling can be felt around the anal orifice.In case of internal piles initially it can not be felt.When the disease progresses the piles protrude during stool and will go inside automatically.When the condition becomes worse the protruded piles will not go back in to the anus.

4) In some cases there will be discharge of mucus with itching around the anal orifice.

Complications of piles:--

1,Infection: The infection can spread to deep veins resulting in septicaemia.
2,Fibrosis: Here the piles become fibrosed with hardening of anal orifice.
3,Thrombosis: Here the blood inside the piles will form clots and can obstruct blood flow.
4,Gangrene: Here the tissues in the piles and nearby skin die due to lack of blood supply.
5,Suppuration: When the piles suppurate it can produce abscess with discharge of pus.

Treatment of piles:--

In the early stage, it is treated on the basis of symptoms.Constipation should be treated.If there is anaemia iron should be give.Homoeopathic medicines can give good results. If medicinal treatment is not giving any result the following can be tried.

1) The thrombosed external pile is excised under local anaesthesia.

2) Sclerosant injection therapy can reduce the size of piles.

3) Rubber band ligation around the neck of piles is useful in some cases.

4) Cryosurgery is very effective.

5) Anal dilatation can reduce constipation and pain.

6) Haemorrhoidectomy is the surgical removal of piles.


How to prevent piles?

1) Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.

2) Take fibrous food.

3) Avoid excess intake of meat,prawns,crabs ect.

4) Keep a regular timing for food.

6) Drink sufficient quantity of water.

7) Keep a regularity in bowel habits.

8) Take treatment for constipation.

CAUSES OF LOW BACK PAIN AND THE TREATMENT.

Low back pain is commonly found amoung the modern civilised people.It affects mainly the middle aged and young adults of both sexes.People who work on the chair with out exercise and those who carry heavy loads regularly are prone to get this Low back pain.We can hardly find a person who has not suffered from back pain atleast once in  life time. low backpain is caused by factors ranges from simple reasons like muscular strain to cancer of spine and hence backache should not be ignored.The pain is felt in lumbar and sacral region and may spread to nearby areas.

The following are some causes of low backache.

1) Diseases in the back.

2) Gynaecological problems.

3) Problems in other parts of the body.


1) Backache due to diseases in the back:--
                            
a) Injuries :-

     1) Compression fracture of the vertebral column.
     2) Rupture of intervertebral discs.
     3) Injuries to ligaments and muscles of back.
     4) Lumbosacral strain.
     5) Intervertebral joint injuries. 
     6) Fracture of processes of vertebra.

b) Functional backache due to imbalance:-

     1) During pregnancy.
     2) Pot belly.
     3) Diseases of the hip joint.
     4) Curvature in the spine due to congenital defect.
     5) Short leg in one side.
 
c) Backache due to inflammatory conditions:-

     1) Infection of the bone due to bacteria.
     2) Tuberculosis of the spine.
     3) Arthritis.
     4) Brucellosis.
     5) Lumbago or fibrositis.
     6) Inflamation of the muscles.
     7) Anchylosing spondylitis.

d) Backache due to degenerative diseases in the back.

     1) Osteoarthritis.
     2) Osteoporosis in old people.
     3) Degenaration of the intervertebral disc.

e) Tumour in the spine:--

     1) Primory tumour of the bones in the spine.
     2) Metastatic tumours from other sites like prostate,lungs,kidneys,intestine etc.

2) Backache due to gynaecological problems:-

     a) After childbirth.
     b) After gynaecological operations.
     c) Prolapse of the uterus.
     d) Pelvic inflammatory diseases.
     e) Cancerous lesions of the pelvic organs.
     f) Endometriosis.

3) Backache due to problems in other parts of the body.

     a) Renal stones.
     b) Ureteric stone.
     c) Cancer of prostate.
     d) Pancreatitis.
     e) Biliary stones.
     f) Peptic ulcer.
     g) Inflammations of pelvic organs.
     h) Occlusion of aorta and illiac arteries.

Examination of a case of backache:-

1) Complete blood count.

2) Routine urine examination.

3) Ultrasonography of the abdomen and pelvis.

4) X-ray of the lumbar and sacral region.

5) MRI of the spine.

5) CT scan of abdomen and pelvic region.

6) Examination of rectum,prostate,genito urinary organs.


Treatment of back ache:-

1) Removing the cause for backache.

2) Symptomatic treatement.

2) Back exercises.

3) Traction.

3) Yoga.

5) Surgery.

7) Homoeopathy.

Remedy to Bad Breath

Bad breath is a frequent health problem in the society.Offenssive smell from the mouth may be due to several reasons.The major reason is the presence of anaerobic bacteria in the biofilm formed on the tongue

.These bacteria degrades the proteins present in the food resulting in the production of some unpleasant gases like hydrogen sulphide,skatol etc
Offensive odor from the mouth in the early morning is seen in almost every individuals.This can be checked  by maintaining oral hygiene.Even after torough cleaning of the mouth some individuals may still suffer from bad breath due to some problem in the mouth or in the nearby areas.Some disease condition can also produce bad breath.Precise cause has to be identified and should be treated accordingly.

Some common measures to cure or reduce bad breath are discussed below.

1) Oral hygiene:

Mouth should be kept clean every time to reduce the bacterial action.After eating, gargling with lukewarm water is very essential.Even after small food particles like snacks,sweets,buscuits cleaning with water is needed.Brushing should be done twice daily.It is said that early morning brushing is for beauty and bed time brushing is for good health.

2) Brushing techniques:

Regular brushing technique should be adhered to for better result. Lot of people brush vigorously causing damage to the gums.Brushing after every food and drink can damage the enamel .Bristles of the tooth brush should be smooth but hard enough to remove the food particles from the gaps.The direction of brushing is the most important thing.The upper teeth should be brushed in a downward direction and the lower in upward direction.This is applicable to both inner and outer surfaces. Then comes the crown of the teeth;here brushing is done in anterior and posterior direction keeping the brush in same direction.This applicable to both upper and lower set of teeth.

3) Tongue cleaning:

White or yellowish coating on the tongue can cause bad breath.This is more well marked in the morning and should be removed twice daily with the healp of a tongue cleaner.  Tongue cleaner must be used gently without damaging the taste buds on the tongue.

4) Tooth pick:

Tooth pick is a small strip of wood or plastic with a pointed end.This is used to remove food particles lodged between the gaps of the teeth .Very useful after eating meat and fish.Should be used gently to avoid damage to gums.

5) Gargling:

After every meal gargling with lukewarm water is useful.For better result little common salt is dissolved in the lukewarm water .Different types of mouth wash is available in the market in different trade names.Gargling with mouth wash can also reduce bad breath.

6) Food  eating habits:

Food containing protein particles are known to produce bad breath.  Example; meat, milk, fish, egg etc.  If these food particles are taken proper cleaning is essential.Some food particles are known to produce particular smell which may be unpleasent for others e.g Raw onion. It is said that an apple a day keeps the doctor away and a raw onion a day keep every body away.Small food particles taken in between can also cause bad smell(nuts,fried items etc).Maintaining regularity in food timing is the best.

7) Water intake:

Dryness in the mouth can make a favourable condition for the bacterial activity resulting in bad odor.saliva is needed to keep the mouth moist and to reduce the bacterial proliferation.Production of saliva is closely related with water balance of the body and hence sufficient quantity of water should be taken to maintain the production of saliva.

8) Mouth freshners:

Natural and artificial mouth freshners can reduce the intensity of bad breath to some extent.Spicy particles are commonly used for this purpose.Chewing spices like clove,cumin seed,cardomom,cinnamon,ginger etc are useful. All citrus fruits can reduce bad odor.Mouth freshners and chewing gums are available in the market.these products are also helpful ,but some may cause damage hence should be used with caution.

If the above solution doesn't work  then consider the following:-
     
1) Remove the cause:

Bad breath is common in some general and systemic diseases like  diabetes,fevers,gastric disorders,liver diseases and etc. By removing or reducing the primary  cause the bad breath will go automatically.

2) Modern medicine:

If bad breath is due to any infection suitable antibiotics,anti fungal or anti  viral medicines will help.If it is due to any auto immune or chronic inflamatory conditions, steroids  may also be used.Saliva producing tablets can also be used.
                            
3) Dental cleaning:

Dental cleaning done by a dentist can remove the dental plaques and tartar. This can reduce the severity of bad breath.Visit your dentist atleast once in a year.

4) Filling of caries:

Since caries are one of the main cause for bad breath it should be filled by a dentist.Earlier silver amalgam was used ,nowadays it is replaced by synthetic materials.If the pulp cavity is affected by the caries root canal treatment can be done.

5) Tooth extraction:

If caries are deep with destruction of teeth with bad smell extraction is the better choice and a dental implant can be kept in the gap.

6) Tonsillectomy:

Patients with recurrent tonsillitis can have bad breath due to offenssive discharges and release of pasty materials from the crypts of tonsils.Such patients get great relief after tonsillectomy(removal of tonsils).

7) Psychological counselling:

People who suffer from bad breath may be very much depressed and they avoid being in the gatherings or public. .This isolation hampers their everyday activities.Such people should understand the fact that all

humanbeings are having bad breath, but with slight differences in intensities.Most people control it by taking personal care.Every human body has got it's own smell,that may or may not be tolerable for others.They should be adviced to do all hygienic measures to reduce the intensity of smell.Improving the quality of life by all possible means can also help.Moral support from friends and family members are needed for such people.

Some individuals visit the doctor for bad breath without any real problem.It is included under somatisation disorder.They usually complain about pain, breathlessness,abdominal discomfort,bad smell ect.proper diagnosis is needed to rule out any real causes.These patients should be managed with a psychological approach.

8) Homoeopathy:

In Homoeopathy medicines are selected on the basis of physical ,mental,emotional,and social aspects of the patient.Considering the whole aspects, a constitutional homoeopathic medicine is selected and given in suitable potency and dose.By this all health related problems including bad breath will be solved.On the basis of coating on the tongue,type of smell,cause for bad breath,and other associated complaints, a medicine can be given to get relief from bad breath.In the homoeopathic medical repertory by Dr Robin Murphy there are 140 homoeopathic drugs mentioned for bad breath.On the basis of signs and symptoms of the individual a suitable medicine is given.Universally used drugs are arnica, antim crud, pulsatilla, sulphur, psorinum, nux vomica, ars alb, merc sol, kreosot, hekla lava, silicea, asafoitida, graphites, kali bich, acid nitric etc.Homoeopathic mother tinctures like cinnamon Q,kreosot Q,zingiber Q,rhus glabra Q,menthol Q  and etc can be used  for gargling after diluting in water.

Note, if after applying the above named methods, please consult your doctor.

HEALTH MISTAKES WE MAKE (Part 1)

Irrespective of who we are, where we from, we are all prone to making this mistakes knowingly or not.
Skipping breakfast
Skipping your breakfast and then continuing with your day is like trying to drive your car with a very low tank of fuel — it will feel fine to start with, but eventually slow down and cut out. Not only will you feel less active and sluggish, skipping breakfast — whether it is due to lack of time or fear of putting on weight — is linked with a higher risk of diabetes and can lead to obesity as your body stores up more fat to use as fuel throughout the rest of the day. Eat breakfast to feel happier, more functional and, most of all, healthy.
Avoiding the scales
In many households across the world, the scales are the one piece of equipment gathering more dust than the treadmill. A common way to gloss over our weight problems is to avoid going on the scales altogether. If you feel like you’ve gained weight, it’s best to face the facts to see how much you’ve gained so you can do something about it before it gets out of hand.
Everyone’s weight naturally fluctuates, so don’t panic if you’ve gained a couple of pounds here and there. But if you gain more than five pounds, you should probably rein in your eating habits. Checking your weight on a regular basis allows you to nip it in the bud if you discover a weight problem — losing the odd few pounds is much easier than trying to shed a stone.
Silent worrying
You worry about the meeting at work, you worry about putting the bins out … and it’s really getting you down. While stress can be positive in helping to keep you alert and avoid danger, too much of it can be detrimental to your health. Endless worrying eventually leads to distress, which causes headaches, high blood pressure, an upset stomach, chest pain, and sleep deprivation.
While it’s natural to worry when you have a deadline looming, panicking too much about petty things needs to be sorted. When you’re worrying, ask yourself a few simple questions and answer them as honestly as you can. Will you still be worrying about this in a couple of weeks’ time? Can this problem be easily resolved? If you can’t let it go, tackle the problem head on until it is resolved. If you can learn how to control your worrying, you’re well on your way to a happier, healthier lifestyle.
Stopping medicines suddenly
Most of us are guilty of this one; we’re feeling much better and stop taking our medication, but suddenly end up feeling a whole lot worse. How often do you consider the health risks of this?
Depending on the medicine you are taking, going ‘cold turkey’ can cause all sorts of health risks, which range from mild, to moderate, or serious.
Discontinuing your medicine suddenly can cause mild headaches, rapid return of the illness that you were treating, and seizures, to name only a few. Abruptly stopping certain medications can be life-threatening, so keep taking it until your doctor tells you to stop. And when you do get the ‘all clear,’ take medical advice when you’re discontinuing them.

Source

"How To Get Fit And Slash Your Health Insurance Costs" by: Neil Stelling

Okay, before we start, let me explain the purpose of this article. I want you to get so healthy, you'll never need to make a health insurance claim. You'll save money by increased fitness. You'll save money with a long no-claims insurance history. And you'll look and feel much better.

There's three sides to your maximum health and fitness. Diet, and Exercise. But that's only two ! Let me split
Exercise into Aerobic exercise and Aneorobic exercise.

Get all three right. Get the right balance. And you'll get as fit and healthy as your body and genetics will
allow. Whole forests of paper have been filled with advice on each of these fitness factors. Just go into your local bookstore, and see shelves of diet advice. Shelves of exercise advice.

Funny how so much contradicts itself, especially for diet e.g right next to each other on the shelf, you'll find a
book advocating low carbs & low fat; another saying high fat is okay if you keep the carbs low. Yet another focuses on high protein, and says carbs don't matter...

* Diet

Let me give you this simple diet advice. Stick to low fat, low carbs and high protein. Many medical and weight loss studies over the last 10-20 years prove this approach. Many other diet myths come from way back in time, and look just plain wrong when analyzed with modern methods.

* Aerobic Exercise

Couch potatoes don't realize how easily they can start feeling fit and healthy. Just walk somewhere 3-4 times per week, for around 20 minutes each time.

Ideally, do some more demanding aerobic exercise. I do a lot of cycling, because it's great low-impact exercise. And I get to see beautiful scenery while I ride.

Running provides even more intensive aerobic exercise, but careful of your joints. Maybe you prefer hiking, to see the local countryside ? Or take up a sport like rowing or tennis. You also get to meet new friends by taking up exercise as a sport.

* Anaerobic Exercise

Many people work on their diet. Many people take aerobic exercise. But many people ignore anaerobic exercise, or weight training.

What makes weight training so important ?
As you get older, muscle mass decreases. Muscle burns fat. So as you lose muscle, it gets harder to keep the fat off. Equally important, weight training can reshape your body.

No matter how much aerobic exercise you do, you'll still be a pear shape (a smaller pear shape) if you started out a pear shape.

Using weights you can flatten your stomach, tone your thighs, bulk up your chest and shoulders, and reshape your body any way you want.

Weight training is incredibly beneficial to your general skeleton strength and conditioning. Older women can reduce the effects of osteoporosis, and older men can maintain their strength and agility.

This short article can do nothing more than provide an introduction to the three keys to your health. Follow
these and you shouldn't need to make a health insurance claim.

Slash your health insurance costs with a long no-claims bonus. Slash your health insurance costs with any insurer who rates your fitness.