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Health

Tips on how to live a healthy lifestyle in a toxic environment.

Are Probiotics Nature’s Miracle

Most likely you’ve heard about probiotics and their health benefits and how they fight yeast infections – but what exactly are they and how can they help you? The scientific definition of a probiotic is a bit complicated. Live microorganisms, including Lactobacillus species, Bifidobacterium species and yeasts, that may beneficially affect the host upon ingestion by improving the balance of the intestinal microflora. The easy definition? “Friendly bacteria”.

Good sources of probiotics include kefir, acidophilus and fermented foods such as miso and tempeh. You can also purchase nutritional supplements that contain probiotics. There is a misconception that grocery store style yogurts provide a significant amount of probiotics. However, yogurt starter cultures are not necessarily resistant to the digestive properties of the body, resulting in smaller numbers reaching the gastrointestinal tract.

Probiotic Benefits

Over the centuries, probiotics have been attributed to a multitude of health benefits. They are particularly helpful for gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhea, traveler’s diarrhea, peptic ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. Probiotics slow down the growth of harmful bacteria in your digestive system. They improve vitamin absorption and food digestion and stimulate your body’s natural defense systems.

High Blood Pressure
Over 50 million Americans suffer from high blood pressure. Probiotics have been associated with antihypertensive effects in both animals and adults with mild hypertension. Furthermore, many agree that taking probiotics may decrease your cancer risk. They can detoxify ingested carcinogens and produce compounds that inhibit the growth of tumor cells.

Yeast Infections
For the women, probiotics are a must when taking an antibiotic. The antibiotic kills the bacteria causing your infection but while it kills the bad bacteria it is also killing your “good” bacteria. This results in an uncomfortable yeast infection and even more medicine to take. If you take probiotics while on an antibiotic regimen, you may avoid the inevitable trip to the drug store for a yeast infection treatment. Both men and women can benefit from probiotics during a round of antibiotics if they suffer from diarrhea during the course.

Probiotic Sources

There are several ways you can include probiotics into your diet:

Kefir – Kefir grains can be purchased in a live form or dried. Kefir looks a bit like a cottage cheese lump, and is fermented in milk at room temperature for about a day at a time. The kefir is strained and the milk is ready to drink. The grains are then placed in a new container of milk with a bit of the previous milk included. The taste is yeasty and milky, and can be either taken plain or mixed with honey, in smoothies, mixed with beans or more. Kefir contains more good bacteria than yogurt and also provides a complete protein, essential minerals and B vitamins.
Acidophilus Milk – Acidophilus milk is whole milk with an added acidophilus culture. It is thicker than milk and contains this beneficial bacteria.
Fermented Foods – Foods such as miso and tempeh contain probiotics. Fermented foods do not contain as much healthy bacteria as kefir and acidophilus milk, and therefore may not survive the entire intestinal track providing less benefit but certainly still beneficial.
Probiotic Dietary Supplements – Bacteria can be purified, concentrated, dried and placed into powders, capsules or tablets.

What are Ovarian Cysts and Treatment

ovarian cyst painOvarian cysts are not all that unusual for women.  If you have recently been diagnosed with an ovarian cyst, it is normal for you to feel worried. But if you are still menstruating, chances are your cyst is completely normal and will take care of itself within a few months. If you are menopausal, your doctor will further explore the cause and possibly remove it with surgery.

Non-menopausal women develop cysts naturally. Your ovaries are located on either side of your uterus. They produce your hormones and eggs. Sometimes a cyst will form on one of your ovaries. The cysts are filled with either fluid or semi-solid matter. They are called functioning cysts and occur during ovulation. These cysts generally shrink on their own by three months time. Those who take the epilepsy drug Valporate can develop ovarian cysts as well, as can women with endometriosis, PID or bulimia. Some women have an ovarian cyst and are not even aware of it. Others may feel aching on one side of the abdomen, pain during intercourse, vomiting, increased facial hair or irregular periods.

Non Malignant Ovarian Cysts

There are four types of non-malignant cysts:

  • Follicular Cyst:

    This occurs when a normal follicle (the sac that releases the egg) doesn’t shrink after releasing an egg. The cyst fills with clear fluid, which may eventually burst, causing pain and cramping. More often than not, the follicular cysts will disappear on its own over a few months. If the follicular cyst is causing you discomfort or irregular periods, your doctor will follow its progress.

  • Corpus Luteum Cyst:

    This less common type of cyst can cause discomfort or pain. It develops when an egg is released followed by bleeding in the follicle. If you have a corpus luteum cyst, you may have a late period. If the cyst ruptures, it can bleed into the abdomen and require surgery.

  • Theca Luteum Cyst:

    This is the least common of the functional cysts. A theca luteum cyst often develops in both ovaries when there is an abnormal pregnancy. Once the pregnancy is terminated, the cysts usually disappear on their own.

  • Polycystic Ovaries:

    Polycystic ovaries are a grouping of clear, fluid filled cysts in both of your ovaries. These can occur when you have hormonal imbalances and menstrual cycle problems.

Ovarian Cysts – Diagnosis

If your doctor suspects an ovarian cyst, he or she will give you a sonogram. This can be done vaginally or across your abdomen. This is painless and usually takes less than half an hour. You may also receive a blood test to determine the level of the protein CA-125 in your body. This can help to determine if there is a possibility of cancer and is often performed in women with a high risk of ovarian cancer.

Treatment of Ovarian Cysts

Surgery may be performed if your cyst does not go away on its own after several months. This is especially true if the cyst grows larger and appears abnormal. If you are menopausal, your doctor will probably want to remove the cyst with surgery and test it for ovarian cancer. This is a rare cancer, but should be investigated any time a cyst is abnormal or will not go away on its own.

Green Vegetables Increase Immunity

According to some leading Cambridge researchers, there really is a good reason why your daily diet should include healthy servings of fresh, green vegetables. Research studies conducted in England have shown that chemical compounds in green vegetables can boost the strength and efficiency of the immune system. Bok choy, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli are some of the cruciferous vegetables that are able to improve an individual’s natural defensive cells in a relatively short period of time.

It appears that there are some (intra-epithelial) lymphocytic cells that help protect the skin and the digestive tract. While there are many of these immune cells that are present in the body their numbers are quickly reduced by up to 80 percent when green vegetables are eliminated from the diet. This drop in cellular immunity occurs in as little time as 14-21 days.

A protein compound known as an Aryl Hydrocarbon receptor crucial to the proper functioning of these immune boosting cells. The AHr (aryl hydrocarbon receptors) are able to promote high numbers of these protective cells which in turn leads to maximum efficiency and strength of the immune system. Now that a direct link can be shown between the number of Aryl Hydrocarbon receptors and green vegetables it is easier to encourage people to add immunity boosting green veggies to their diet. While this does not mean that green vegetables are a ‘fountain of youth’ these foods may very well have a more important role to play in the human diet.

Getting Rid of Belly Fat

Reduce Belly FatIf you have had a child, chances are you’ve had belly fat at one point in your life. Many of us women gain belly fat before we get it anywhere else. And no matter how much we diet and exercise, it is often the last fat to go. Unfortunately, there are several health risks that come along with belly fat.

The Risk of Belly Fat

A recent study has found that belly fat can result in serious bone health issues, including an increase in bone marrow fat and a reduction in bone density. This increases your chances of developing osteoporosis later in life. It has been determined that belly fat compromises bone health more than fat on other parts of the body.

Many women with belly fat exercise less than those with firmer stomachs. Since exercise strengthens the bone, women who participate in regular exercise have healthier bones.

Women who have belly fat have a higher chance of experiencing heart attacks and strokes than women with fat elsewhere. If you have belly fat, your cells are more likely to be resistant to insulin, giving you a higher risk for developing high blood pressure, strokes, heart disease and premature death. Belly fat will also cause a calcium build up in your arteries.

How to Get Rid of Belly Fat

How do you get rid of belly fat? Of course eating right and following a regular exercise routine is the number one way to get rid of belly fat. Eat ground turkey rather than ground beef, eat whole wheat pasta rather than white and include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet.

It is proven that if you follow a diet that is higher in protein and lower in carbohydrates and fat you will lose more weight than those who follow the pyramid diet. Furthermore, adding exercise that alternates between cardio and resistance training increases your chances of losing belly weight faster than those who stick to cardiovascular work only.

If you have a belly, don’t despair. You can get rid of it by changing your diet and starting an exercise plan that includes both cardio and strength training. You can do it!

5 Super Foods That Keep Your Heart Healthy

As you work to keep your diet healthy, you are probably thinking about heart health as well as weight loss. But what about arterial health? Clogged arteries are an invitation for high cholesterol and heart disease, so it is important to concentrate not only on your heart and waistline but on your arteries too.

There are five super foods you should include in your diet to keep your arteries healthy. These super foods have powerful disease fighting properties that will help to keep your arteries from becoming blocked.

Almonds: Nuts have fat, yes. But almonds contain monounsaturated fat which is considered to be a good fat. Monounsaturated fats can help to lower your cholesterol, keeping your arteries healthy. Almonds contain a healthy amount fiber and vitamin E as well. They help to control blood sugar and insulin levels. Try to eat two ounces of almonds at least five times during the week.

Salmon: Salmon is packed with Omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids stabilize your heart rate, lower your triglycerides (a blood fat) and slow down the growth of atheroscierotic plaque. Eat 12 ounces of fish weekly, as recommended by the FDA.

Broccoli: Steam broccoli lightly and enjoy its leafy, somewhat bitter taste because it is that slight bitterness that contains cancer-fighting chemicals. Broccoli is known for its cancer fighting properties, detoxifying harmful chemicals in your blood stream.

Green Tea: Green tea contains antioxidants called polyphenois. Some are thought to cause cancer cells to die, while it is known that green tea controls blood sugar and lowers cholesterol. Try some with a bit of organic honey and a sprig of mint. Delicious and healthy!

Blueberries: Blueberries are simply packed with healthy antioxidants. Try frozen blueberries in smoothies, eat them frozen as a snack or add them to healthy cereal and yogurt. Blueberries help to neutralize free radicals which can damage your DNA.

Mold Illness in Children, What to Know

Did you know that mold growing in your home may be more likely causing an allergic reaction rather than a toxic one? Could your children be having symptoms or possibly an allergic reaction? What can you do if your children have been or are being exposed to mold?

Many articles online focus more on the toxicity of the mold, rather than the daily allergic reaction you may be experiencing from the mold. Yes, mold can be toxic, but you are more likely to have a toxic reaction from ingesting food containing mold than inhaling it. The more probable reaction you have will be an allergic reaction from inhaling the mold.

Mold contains spores that are easily released into the air and inhaled, thereby causing an allergic reaction. You can find mold in dark, musty places such as closets, attics and basements. It is also found in bathrooms, kitchens, in areas filled with clutter, leaves and grass piles. There are 80 different types of molds that can cause respiratory symptoms or distress. Asthma is a common reaction to inhaling molds, as well as sneezing, itchy eyes and possible sinus infections.

If you think the mold in your home is toxic, bring in a professional to make that determination. There are also test kits you can order online that will tell you if your mold is toxic. Most likely, your mold is just ?plain old regular mold,? and can be causing you and your family allergic symptoms that are preventable. Clean your showers with a combination of bleach and water. Open your shower curtain or door and allow daylight to shine in from the window if at all possible. Remove clutter from your home ? especially in closets and tight spaces. If you find mold or mildew, wash it with a mild solution of bleach and water. Allow to air dry, and then spray some Lysol on it for good measure. Keep all areas well ventilated, clear and dry.