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Reducing Your Waistline Could Make It Easier To Breathe    Submitted as: Dr. Victor Marchione
Reducing your waistline has been associated with a lowered risk for heart disease and diabetes. Now a recent study has found that a smaller waistline could improve lung function.(read entire article)
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Category : Health

Preventing Hip Fractures    Submitted as: In a single year, as many as 350,000 Americans may
In a single year, as many as 350,000 Americans may find themselves suffering from a broken hip. It is estimated that, 90% of the time, these fractures are due to a fall. Residents in nursing homes seem particularly vulnerable. Up to 50% of residents fall each year(!). In the past decade, companies have developed pads that can be worn on the hip. It was thought that these pads would offer enough cushioning to the hip to prevent a fracture. But, according to a new study performed at the Rehabilitation Studies Unit, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, the latest health news is that hip protectors don't necessarily work. The research team conducted a randomized, controlled trial with 234 participants. The residents were all older than 75 years and were recruited from nine units of seven nursing care facilities in the Northern Sydney region. The first group received hard shell hip protectors without cost (no-cost group). The second group received an educational session, a demonstration of the use of hip protectors, and free choice of type of hip protectors without cost (combined group). The third group was the control group, who received a brochure about hip protectors. The research team found that no participants in the control group purchased hip protectors at any stage. At three months, 33% of participants in the no-cost group and 27% in the combined group wore a hip protector at the time of visit. This declined to 25% and 24% respectively at six months. No significant difference was seen in any of the three outcomes between the two intervention groups. The number of falls or hospitalizations did not differ between groups, with five hip fractures reported during the intervention period. Hip protectors come in two types: ones that divert the energy of a fall away from the hip, and ones that absorb the impact of a fall. There are many types of hip protectors on the market. They can cost as little as $30.00 and as much as $75.00. Many of these protectors have not been tested. If you want to try a hip protector, get your doctor's advice and make sure you get one that has been clinically tested. The best prevention against fractures is to stop falls from happening in the first place. Make sure you get some exercise every day. Strengthening your muscles will help you to keep your balance. At home, move trip hazards out of the way and make sure rooms are well-lit. Beware of medications that make you dizzy — being dizzy can put you at greater risk for a fall. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have this problem. There may be an alternative medicine you can take. sign up for the Doctors Health Press e Bulletin.Visit:100% Free Sign Up Online Now For NEWSLETTER (read entire article)
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Category : Health

All About Chemotherapy & Supplements    Submitted as: Dr. Victor Marchione
The best health advice for cancer patients is to keep your doctor informed of everything you are taking. Cancer is nothing to mess around with, and neither is the taxing treatment of chemotherapy. A new report shows that several types of natural supplements might negatively impact chemotherapy. Acai berry, cumin, herbal tea, turmeric, and long-term use of garlic are the ones responsible. The news was just presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting. There is growing evidence that these popular supplements may intensify or weaken the effect of chemotherapy drugs. While natural supplements can be very effective, whenever they are mixed with drugs or therapies, patients must exercise caution. They must inform doctors of what they are taking in cases of major issues such as cancer. This includes vitamins and supplements, to avoid interactions that could prove costly. Herbal supplements, which are plants or plant parts used for therapeutic purposes, can interact with chemotherapy drugs in different ways. Some herbs can interfere with the metabolism of the drugs, making them less effective, while other herbs, such as garlic (used in the long term) may increase the risk of bleeding during surgery. While culinary herbs used in small quantities for flavoring are generally safe, consuming large amounts for prolonged periods of time may have a negative effect on the body when undergoing chemotherapy. Research shows that 50% of patients undergoing chemotherapy did not tell their doctor they were taking alternative therapies. Some believe it's not important, while others are uncomfortable admitting they are pursuing alternative therapies. The researchers believe that chemo patients should stop taking herbal supplements until more is known. But they don't discount natural medicine, and encourage those interested in complementary approaches to have a conversation with their doctor about other approaches that may be beneficial. Specifically, they mentioned massage, acupuncture and meditation as being potentially quite helpful in reducing stress, limiting pain and improving quality of life. sign up for the Doctors Health Press e Bulletin.Visit:100% Free Sign Up Online Now For NEWSLETTER blishing.com/dhp_ad/ewseh1/index.aspaffid=wd437&subid=vt1”>100% Free Sign Up Online Now For NEWSLETTER (read entire article)
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Category : Health

How Potassium Affects Your Health, Part 1    Submitted as: Potassium is an essential dietary mineral that pla
Potassium is an essential dietary mineral that plays an important role in muscle contraction. This includes the heart, nerves, acid-base balance, kidney function, and your digestion of carbohydrates. Here is a three-part article in which I'll lay out exactly what it does for you, including the prevention of disease. If you don't get enough potassium, you can develop high blood pressure, stroke, and other heart diseases. A dietary survey showed that daily intake in adult women was 2,300 milligrams (mg) and 2,100 mg for men. In 2004, the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine published the daily adequate intake levels for potassium. It went like so: Infants and Children -- Infants (0-6 months): 400 mg -- Infants (7-12 months): 700 mg -- Children (1-3 years): 3,000 mg -- Children (4-8 years): 3,800 mg -- Children (9-13 years): 4,500 mg Adolescents -- 14-18 years: 4,700 mg Adults -- 19 years and over: 4,700 mg -- Breast-feeding: 5,100 mg They set such recommended levels because potassium serves in several important bodily functions: -- Nerve impulse conduction -- Muscle contraction -- Stomach acid secretion -- Kidney functions -- Synthesis of various tissues -- Synthesis of carbohydrates Now, where can you obtain potassium? The foods with the highest potassium contents include fruits (especially bananas, dried apricots, and avocados), vegetables (especially potatoes), meats, fish, citrus juices, whole grains,and dairy. Individuals who consume large amounts of vegetables and fruits can reach a daily intake of between eight to 11 grams. Multivitamin-mineral supplements in the U.S. contain no more than 99 mg of potassium per pill. In view of the potential serious side effects, the use of potassium supplements should be under the care of your doctors; he/she needs to monitor your blood potassium on a regular basis. The term "hypokalemia" means low blood potassium levels. It is mostly caused by increased loss of potassium due to prolonged vomiting or diarrhea, kidney diseases, and drugs (e.g. diuretics or laxatives). Eating too much licorice and guarana (a caffeine-containing nut), can also be to blame. Symptoms can include muscle weakness andcramps, fatigue, bloating, stomach pain, constipation, abnormal heart rhythms, or complete muscle paralysis in severe cases sign up for the Doctors Health Press e Bulletin.Visit:100% Free Sign Up Online Now For NEWSLETTER (read entire article)
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Category : General

Spotlight On Selenium    Submitted as: Dr. Victor Marchione
Selenium is one of those minerals that doesn't get talked about very often. You probably hear quite a bit about calcium, magnesium and iron and how important it is to keep your levels up, but did you know that without adequate selenium, you are leaving yourself at risk for a whole host of problems? Lack of selenium could cause an increased risk for developing cancerous tumors, poor immune function and high cholesterol. And now, researchers have also linked selenium deficiency with fatigue and muscle weakness. Selenium is a trace mineral that is found in rocks and soil. You only need a little bit of selenium for good health, but you must make sure that you get this small amount. Selenium's main role is to stop the oxidation of fats in your body. It functions as a powerful antioxidant to ward off the damage that can be caused by free radicals. Selenium also helps regulate your thyroid. A recent study that was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has shed some light on how selenium affects muscle strength. An Italian research team studied a group of men and women aged 65 and up. They found that those with the lowest blood levels of selenium were at greatest risk of poor muscle strength — particularly around the hips, knees and hands. The study involved 891 older adults who gave blood samples and went through a series of muscle-strength tests. Participants with the lowest selenium levels were twice as likely to have poor muscle strength as those with the highest selenium levels were.1 Age-related Muscle Weakness The researchers already knew that people tend to lose muscle mass and strength as they age. This loss of muscle mass often contributes to falls, injuries and illness in elderly adults. These new findings suggest that selenium deficiency may be one of the reasons for age-related muscle weakness. The researchers believe that older adults with low selenium may have “suboptimal” selenoprotein activity in their muscles, contributing to a loss of muscular strength. The research team won't be recommending selenium supplements, however. They feel that it is still too soon to take this step. More studies are needed, they said, to see whether extra selenium benefits older muscles. They would like future studies to focus on whether selenium supplements slow age-related declines in muscle strength in older adults who are deficient in the mineral. Getting the RDI of Selenium So how much selenium do you need each day? The recommended daily intake (RDI) for selenium is 55 micrograms (mcg) for adults. You'll want to stick pretty close to this recommended daily intake, as too much selenium in your system can be toxic and cause serious problems. Plant foods are the major dietary source of selenium for most people. Getting your RDI of selenium is a little more complicated than for other vitamins and minerals, however. That's because the content of selenium in food depends on the selenium content of the soil where plants are grown or animals are raised. For example, the plains of northern Nebraska and the Dakotas are known to have very high levels of selenium. People living in those regions generally have the highest selenium intakes in the U.S. But don't worry — you don't have to live in Nebraska or the Dakotas to get enough selenium! Food-distribution patterns in the U.S. are such that people living in low-selenium geographic areas still get foods from high-selenium areas. Selenium can be found in some meats and seafood, as well. Animals that eat grains or plants that were grown in selenium-rich soil have higher levels of selenium in their muscles, which gets passed on to you. What are some other sources of selenium? Brazil nuts are one of the best sources. They contain as much as 544 mcg of selenium per ounce. Compare this with the next-highest food on the list, which is tuna at 63 mcg per three ounces. However, once again, caution is needed when calculating the exact amount of selenium in your diet. Brazil nuts, for example, may contain far less than the 544 mcg just mentioned. Also, because Brazil nuts do potentially contain this much of the mineral, it is best to eat them only occasionally. Other sources of selenium include beef, cod, turkey, chicken breasts, noodles, cottage cheese and eggs. Those most likely to be deficient in selenium are people who are experiencing acute gastrointestinal problems. Anyone who has Crohn's disease or who has had surgical removal of part of the intestine is at risk for deficiency. These and other digestive problems can make it difficult for your body to absorb selenium. Another group of people who are at risk are those who have a serious illness accompanied by inflammation and widespread infection. Selenium supplementation could benefit people with iodine deficiency, though iodine deficiency is rare in the U.S. One final point to note about selenium: supplements of the mineral may help protect against goiter. French researchers involved in a study called the “Supplementation en Vitamines et Mineraux AntioXydants” in France evaluated the relationship between goiter and selenium. The study involved 792 men (45-60 years old) and 1,108 women (35-60 years old), who were assessed for thyroid volume and gland echo-structure. The researchers discovered that in women, there was an inverse association between selenium status and thyroid volume. They also found that there was a protective effect of selenium against goiter. No association between thyroid volume, thyroid structure or selenium was found in men, however. The researchers concluded that their findings suggest that selenium may protect against goiter. They also stated that selenium may protect against autoimmune thyroid disease.2 sign up for the Doctors Health Press e Bulletin.Visit:100% Free Sign Up Online Now For NEWSLETTER (read entire article)
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Category : Health

All About Digestive Enzymes    Submitted as: Dr. Victor Marchione
You may have heard a bit about digestive enzymes in the health pages of your favorite magazine or newspaper. You probably know that they help with digestion — but what are they exactly, and why are they so important? Why is it pretty much impossible to feel healthy without them? Let's take a look at digestive enzymes in more detail and explore why they are critical for good health. Enzymes are protein molecules. Not just any old protein molecules, but specialized ones. These special protein molecules help bring about most of your body's metabolic processes. Enzymes help with supplying energy, digesting foods, purifying your blood and ridding your body of waste products, among other things. Enzymes are divided into three main groups: metabolic enzymes, digestive enzymes and food enzymes. Let's take a closer look at the differences between the three. The Three Enzymes Metabolic enzymes have the special job of “sparking” the reactions within your cells. Metabolic enzymes help run your organs, tissues and cells. Without theseenzymes, your body would not work. To get a clearer picture of exactly what metabolic enzymes do, here are some of the specific functions they perform: turn phosphorus into bone, attach iron to red blood cells, heal wounds and keep your heart beating. Digestive enzymes break down food. They are secreted by the pancreas. Digestive enzymes allow nutrients from food to be absorbed into your bloodstream, where they can be used for bodily functions. Digestive enzymes help make sure that you get the best possible nutritional value from the foods that you eat. Food enzymes come from the foods that you eat. Some of these are digestive enzymes, but some are unique to the foods that they belong to. Food enzymes predigest food before your body's digestive enzymes get to work. They can digest up to75% of a certain food and help maintain a healthy reserve of enzymes inside your body. Even the Best Diet Needs Enzymes You could have the best nutritional plan — full of healthy foods and supplementing with vitamins and minerals — but without a healthy colony of enzymes hard at work for you, you won't be able to absorb any nutrients. It is true that the store of enzymes in your body is actually quite small, but enzymes are extremely powerful: 30 grams of pepsin can digest about two metric tons of egg white in a matter of hours. Because enzymes are vital for digesting and absorbing nutrients, they are very important players in maintaining good health. They help fight aging. They could help with weight loss, lowering cholesterol, breaking down fats and strengthening the immune system. Enzymes help make muscle from protein and eliminate carbon dioxide from your lungs. They even help improve your mental capacity. Levels Drop as You Age Unfortunately, as you age, your enzyme levels naturally drop. It has been said that the length of life of an organism is inversely proportional to the rate of exhaustion of an organism's enzymes. In other words, the more enzymes you use up, the shorter your life will be. It is very important to keep enzyme levels up, especially as you age. Here's a quick primer on eight of the major enzymes that are needed for good health. Protease “Protease” helps digest proteins in your body. Proteins are one of the most difficult substances to metabolize. Because of this, protease is considered one of the most important enzymes you have. Undigested protein can end up in your circulatory system causing symptoms of ill health. When you have high levels of protease, it can clean up your circulatory system by removing unwanted protein. When protease is abundant enough to do this job, your energy and balance could be restored. Protease could also help your immune system function better. When an invading organism wants to hide in your body, it wraps itself in a large protein shell to make itself look “normal.” However, protease can detect and remove these protein shells. Once the protein barrier is removed, your immune system can step in and destroy the invading organism. This is how protease can be helpful in fighting such things as colds, flus and cancerous tumor growths. Cancerous cells have a “fibrin” coating that protease can dissolve, giving your immune system a chance to do its job and shrink the tumors. Amylase “Amylase” is responsible for digesting carbohydrates in the food that you eat. It is considered your second-most-important enzyme. When you don't digest carbohydrates completely, you could end up with blood-sugar imbalances, allergies and asthma. Because of this, amylase is often considered a natural antihistamine. Amylase has also been found to be very effective in helping relieve the symptoms of allergic reactions. Research suggests that symptoms resulting from insect bites, pollen irritation, contact with poison oak, poison ivy or sumac can be greatly reduced when you have enough amylase in your body. Some people may be more immune to these poisons because of a higher amount of amylase within their bodies. Lipase “Lipase” is responsible for digesting fats in food. When taken in higher quantities, it will also find its way into the blood stream and help remove excess fatty deposits from the insides of your veins and arteries. When this occurs, the arteries and veins are more open and allow the blood to flow more smoothly throughout your body. It is well understood that clogged arteries cause a rise in blood pressure, and that this, in turn, leads to heart problems. Using extra lipase during the pre-digestive phase could help with overall fat control both in the stomach and in the arteries of your body. Additional lipase can also be helpful in a weight-management program, because it converts fat to energy instead of allowing it to be stored in your body. Cellulase “Cellulase” is needed for breaking down fiber. Cellulase also has another important job: you can think of it as an excellent antioxidant, because it binds to heavy metals and other toxins. In this way, it helps carry these toxins out of your body before they can cause too much damage. Our diets are usually a combination of two types of fiber: soluble and insoluble. Cellulase works hand-in-hand with soluble fiber to bind to toxins and excess cholesterol and remove them from your body. Without cellulase, this process would not be nearly so effective or efficient. Maltase “Maltase” is responsible for breaking down complex sugars. When you consume malt or grain products, it is maltase that changes complex sugars into glucose. Lactase “Lactase,” as you might have guessed, is need for digesting the milk sugars that are found in dairy products. Phytase “Phytase” aids with digestion in general. It is very important, as it is particularly helpful in producing vital nutrients from the B-complex vitamins. Sucrase If you guessed that “sucrase” is involved in sugar digestion, you're right. Sucrase is responsible for digesting the sugars that are found in most foods. Give Enzymes Some Help To give your enzymes a boost as they try to digest all different kinds of foods, here are some tips that you can follow. Keeping in mind these basic suggestions could help you with the digestion of your food — especially if you already have problems: • Chew your food well. Chewing helps break down your food. That way, your digestive enzymes can work more efficiently when it is time for them to go into action. • Eat your meals slowly. This gives your digestive enzymes time to do their job. When you eat slowly, food proceeds along your digestive tract in an orderly and continuous way. • Relax after you eat, and you will store a little energy. This energy can then be used for the digestive process. • Eat smaller, more frequent meals during the day to help your digestion and to promote better metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and fat. • Avoid eating large meals before bedtime. Ideally, you don't want to eat a heavy meal within three hours of bedtime. When you sleep, it is your body's chance to do all sorts of repair work and replenish dying cells with new ones. If you eat a big meal, your body has to use all of its resources for digestion, instead of healing the rest of you while you sleep. • Drink lots of water. Water flushes toxins from you system, softens stools so that they can be eliminated more efficiently and keeps you and your digestive system hydrated. • Eat lots of raw fruits and veggies. Raw fruits and vegetables contain enzymes, so if you want to keep up your enzyme levels — especially as you age — then you've got to eat apples and pears, carrots, broccoli, green beans, papaya, pineapple and all of the other delicious fruits and veggies that are available at the grocery store. Get as Many Enzymes as You Can Get all the enzymes that you can from the foods that you eat. The more enzymes you take in, the better your digestion will likely be — and the better your digestion is, the more valuable nutrients you're able to get from your food. It is not really possible to get too many enzymes, so eat well. Cooking kills many enzymes, so you're going to need to eat some raw veggies every day, along with some fresh fruit. Start your day with some pineapple or papaya tomorrow, and know that you have just taken in a hefty dose of digestive enzymes and that they're going to help you feel healthier and stronger. sign up for the Doctors Health Press e Bulletin.Visit:100% Free Sign Up Online Now For NEWSLETTER (read entire article)
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Category : Health

Cranberry Juice Helps Fight Cancer    Submitted as: Dr. Victor Marchione
Cranberry has been used for centuries by native people to treat urinary-tract infections. Most likely, you've heard about this health benefit.(read entire article)
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Category : Health

Cancer-fighting Protein Helps Slow Aging    Submitted as: Dr. Victor Marchione
These proteins are produced naturally in the body. Although drug companies have made compounds that increase p53 in the body, they have yet to be tested for clinical safety.(read entire article)
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Category : Health

Bounty Of Evidence Says Chocolate Protects Your Heart    Submitted as: Dr. Victor Marchione
Healing foods come no sweeter than this one: chocolate. It's been long thought and shown that dark chocolate in particular helps shield the heart from disease.(read entire article)
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Category : Health

A Supplement For Your Blood Vessels    Submitted as: David Juan
Lipoic acid, also known as alpha-lipoic acid or thioctic acid, was originally identified as a vitamin more than 50 years ago. It is a naturally occurring chemical made in small amounts by plants, animals and humans. It is also a natural solution for improving the health of your blood vessels. This is the first of two articles explaining how it works. Though the information is limited, foods rich in lipoic acid include kidney, heart, liver, spinach, tomatoes, peas, and Brussels sprouts. Lipoic acid in dietary supplements varies from 100 to 600 milligrams. In Germany, lipoic acid is available by prescription for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy (I'll look at this in the next article). Low blood levels of lipoic acid are found in patients with diabetes, atherosclerosis, and liver cirrhosis. Lipoic acid has many functions in your body: Involved with metabolizing carbohydrates Antioxidant activity helps fight free radicals Helps regenerate other antioxidants in the body, such as vitamin C, vitamin E, and glutathione Increases blood flow to the nerve cells Prevents toxicity from metals (like mercury), chemicals and drugs Prevents tissue damage after radiation exposure Blocks the proliferation of HIV virus and bolsters the immune system Improves insulin sensitivity Now, the “endothelium” is the inner lining of blood vessels in your body. When this is impaired, it can cause coronary problems such as arterial disease. Lipoic acid has been shown to improve endothelial function (thus improving your blood vessels) in several studies: 1. Direct infusion of lipoic acid into the arteries helped to widen the narrowed arteries in diabetic patients. 2. Taking 300 mg of lipoic acid for a month helped dilate blood vessels in 58 patients with metabolic syndrome (a combination of conditions such as high blood pressure, obesity, and high triglycerides that raises the risk of heart disease). 3. Lipoic acid (960 mg, 1,920 mg) administered intravenously over four weeks reduced endothelial dysfunction in type 2 diabetes. 4. A combination of lipoic acid and acetyl-L-carnitine dilated the arteries but also helped lower blood pressure in patients with coronary artery disease. 5. Taking 600 mg of lipoic acid or placebo for three months helped reduced pain from peripheral artery disease by 93%. These are all examples of how lipoic acid does indeed change the nature of your blood vessels. sign up for the Doctors Health Press e Bulletin.Visit:100% Free Sign Up Online Now For NEWSLETTER (read entire article)
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Category : Health