Showing posts with label Breast Cancer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Breast Cancer. Show all posts

Dec 31, 2014

Tongue Yeast Infection Treatment - How To Deal WIth Oral Candidiasis

Most tongue yeast infection treatment methods are similar to remedies used on other types of yeast infection or Candidiasis. However, if the infection occurs in the mouth, the dosage of treatment recommended might be lower than the average level since strong cures might cause a burning feeling in the mouth.

What is tongue yeast infection?

Yeast infection on the tongue is the same as oral Candidiasis or thrush. It is mostly caused by yeast fungi, particularly Candida albicans. Symptoms are not only felt by the tongue but can also manifest on the roof of the mouth and other areas. Thrush happens more often with infants or babies, although adults can also suffer from this infection.

Symptoms of oral yeast infection

A person with thrush will likely find white deposits on the mouth's mucosal membranes. Most of these curd-like materials are found on the tongue. The tongue can also get inflamed. Redness, soreness and a burning feeling are also symptoms of oral Candidiasis.

Although infants are the most common victims of thrush, adults who have weak immune systems, including diabetics, HIV-positive individuals and cancer patients, can also have this condition. People who are more susceptible than others to tongue yeast infection include smokers, those who wear dentures, people who use antibiotics and women who take birth control pills. Tongue piercings, although not a cause, can be an exacerbating factor of this oral infection.

Natural cures for mouth yeast infection

To relieve the discomfort caused by thrush, a person can rely on several homemade cures. Gargling with salted water is one way of eliminating the burning feeling. Using vinegar mixed with water as mouthwash can also help. Eating yogurt and applying garlic paste on the tongue and other affected areas of the mouth have also been found to be effective. Adults with oral thrush can also use gentian violet as a natural cure, although this is not recommended for use on infants since babies' tolerance is not as strong as that of adults.

For women who breastfeed, the remedy that they use on their infants' thrush should also be applied or swabbed on their breast to prevent the infection from recurring or from being transmitted. People who wear dentures should clean them thoroughly and must avoid wearing them to bed.

Tongue yeast infection treatment can be as simple as a home-made remedy. Salt, vinegar and garlic are usually found in the kitchen and will not cost a patient much. If symptoms continue despite using these simple remedies, a visit to a physician is definitely in order.

Causes, Symptoms and Natural Treatment Methods for Female Yeast Infection

Female yeast infection has become quite common in that almost half of the world's female population has suffered at least once from Candidiasis or yeast infection. Among those who have had this fungal infection, majority had it in the form of vaginal Candidiasis.

Causes of female yeast infection

Yeast is a naturally-occurring fungus in the human body. However, certain factors can cause an overgrowth which can then lead to yeast infection. The imbalance or overgrowth can be triggered by several factors; and for women, the most common one is the use of oral contraceptives and antibiotics. A weakened immune system is also a predisposing factor; hence, the susceptibility of diabetics, HIV-positive individuals and cancer patients to the infection.

Pregnancy has also been identified as a factor, and so are stress and a high-sugar diet. Other factors that can make a woman prone to Candidiasis are humid weather and wearing tight clothing. One factor that can cause the infection without being biologically predisposed is having intercourse with an infected partner.

Symptoms of Candida infection in women

Signs of yeast infection include itching, skin redness, rashes and a burning feeling. These symptoms are usually present in all types of Candidiasis, including vaginal yeast infection. Other symptoms of vaginal Candidiasis are thick, curd-like discharge and pain during intercourse and while urinating. In some cases, depression and lack of focus may also be experienced.

Natural treatment for female Candidiasis

Women with Candidiasis have a lot of options when it comes to natural treatment. For vaginal Candida infection, a tampon soaked in unsweetened yogurt and inserted into the vagina is one such option. Garlic applied to the affected areas of the body or used as a suppository is another. Tea tree oil, coconut oil and gentian violet are also highly touted natural cures.

Vinegar mixed with water, baking soda with citric acid and lime juice are also natural treatment options. Women who breastfeed usually favor liquid cures, like the vinegar-water solution. These liquid formulas are swabbed on the areas around the nipples and other parts of the breast where itchiness and rashes appear. Early treatment should be done if symptoms appear on the breast of a mother who has an infant since the infection can be easily transmitted to the baby.

Female yeast infection can affect different parts of a woman's body. What she needs to remember is to treat the infection at the onset so that it will not be passed on to her baby, particularly if the infant is being breastfed; or to her partner during intercourse.

May 28, 2013

Mammogram Cost

There are many women in the world who are suffering from breast cancer. This disease can be avoided if proper precautions are taken in the early stages. For diagnosing irregularities in a woman's breasts, there is a procedure known as mammography which is also referred to as a mammogram examination. It is suggested that women from age 20 should think of undergoing mammography every three years, and once a year after they reach age 40.

Mammography is a medical procedure that is crucial for diagnosing breast cancer or other breast complications at an early stage. It is the examination of breasts using X-rays. In the procedure, the medical professional sets the breast in between two plastic plates. The plates then compress the breast tissues and get an X-ray. It only requires around 20 minutes to get this procedure done.

How much does a Mammogram Cost?

The primary determinants of mammogram prices are the state, city, and facility of treatment and health insurance. In general, mammogram costs start from about $100 to $300 or even more in particular conditions. Health insurance also plays a vital role when it comes to the costs. A majority of the states now require health insurance agencies to cover all or partial expenses of the treatment, especially for women above the age of 40.

In order to get the full benefits, discuss the contents and specifications of your health insurance policy with the service provider. If you are not covered by any health insurance policy, you will need to bear expenses ranging from $80 to $120. However, some may have to pay more as per the location of the treatment. In some health insurance plans, you are expected to pay a co-pay which falls somewhere between $10 to $35.

On the other hand, some policies do not demand money to be paid out of your own pocket. Along with a mammography test, you may also be suggested to undergo Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) every year if you are at a high risk of contracting breast complications. This may add up to the cost considerably. In case any complication is found in your breasts, there are some additional tests to be carried out, which may contribute to the overall costs.

For women aged 40 or above, Medicare will handle 80% of the screening costs every year. The government has set beneficial rules and regulations on insurance companies to cover up all or some of the expenses incurred from the procedure. October is considered as the National Breast Cancer Awareness month. So, there are many hospitals and medical care facilities who offer discounts during this month that you can avail of.

Another alternative to mammography is a clinical breast examination which is more inexpensive. However, it is better that this examination is followed through a mammography. After reading the above article, you might have understood that spending a few dollars in a mammogram cost at an early stage is certainly beneficial for preventing the chances of breast complications in the future.

Soy Protein Isolate and Breast Cancer

The protein separated from soybeans is known as soy protein. Soy protein isolate is obtained after removing most of the carbohydrates and fats from the soy meal. Proteins serve as building blocks for cells. Soybeans, soy flour, soy concentrate (70% soy protein) and soy isolates (90% soy protein) are the main sources of soy protein. Out of these, soy protein isolate is the richest source of protein.

Soy Protein Isolate

Health Benefits

Soy protein has been used in the food industry for more than 50 years. Soy protein isolate contains 90% or more protein. Proteins are essential for the growth and repair of cells, muscle building, and for proper functioning of bodily systems. Soy protein isolate is added to protein powders which replace milk and dairy products. It is an important ingredient of liquid nutrition meals, infant formula foods, and soy milk. It is used to enrich protein bars, fruit drinks and juices, sauces, salad dressings, soups, breads, breakfast cereals, pet foods, pastas, muscle building foods and dietary supplements. It is mainly present in processed and fortified foods.

Soy protein isolate is a highly refined form of soy protein, and it comes with a neutral flavor. Absence of fats and carbs makes it easy to digest. It does not lead to flatulence or gas. This protein isolate is loaded with all the essential nutrients like omega 3 fatty acids, calcium, protein, folate, choline, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and iron, which help improve your health. It improves heart health, strengthens the bones, and prevents prostate cancer. It is believed that it helps control problems like mood swings and fluctuating body temperatures in women. It also helps stabilize sugar levels in diabetic postmenopausal women. Several studies have proved that soy protein helps reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) levels, triglycerides levels, and thus helps reduce the risk of heart diseases.

Side Effects

Although soy protein provides complete proteins, excessive consumption of soy protein can affect your health seriously. It has been found that this isolate contains certain harmful substances like MSG (monosodium glutamate); although it is not mentioned on the labels. MSG consumption can lead to rapid heart rate, headache, chest pain, and numbness or tingling sensation in extremities. Studies have shown that phytoestrogens from soy protein may lead to hormonal imbalance. Excessive consumption of soy protein may affect libido and sperm count, and it can even cause erectile dysfunction. Some people may suffer from indigestion, allergy, constipation, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. But you need not worry about these side effects, as very few people experience them.

Risk of Breast Cancer

The protein isolate contains certain types of enzymes which can affect your health. Depending upon the extrusion process, it may contain high levels of genistein, daidzein and other soy isoflavones. Studies show that soy isoflavones do not lower the symptoms like 'hot flashes' in postmenopausal women. They do not help prevent the growth of cancerous cells in breast, uterus or prostate.

Low rates of breast cancer in Asian women were attributed to high consumption of soy through the diet. But it was noticed that various cultural factors also determine the cancer rates. In fact, no epidemiological evidence was found which could prove the belief that consumption of soy lowers the risk of breast cancer. Experimental studies regarding the effect of soy protein on breast cancer risk have not helped the scientists draw any conclusion. The results produced were very confusing and conflicting. Some studies showed that soy protein isolate containing isoflavones was not as efficient as soy protein concentrate lacking isoflavones; in preventing the progression of cancerous breast tumors. Certain rat studies showed that rats who were fed this protein isolate showed low chances of developing malignancies in breast, but those who developed breast cancer had highly invasive tumors. Results of another study which involved mice whose ovaries were removed, state that the isolate caused development of breast tumor (estrogen positive), and it also led to increased uterine weight.

Some researchers have found out that soy protein consumption can prevent breast cancer while some have stated that it can lead to increased risk of the cancer, especially in premenopausal women. Studies have shown that if soy is consumed early in life, especially in early adolescence, then it protects the girl from breast cancer, later in life. Small doses of the soy isoflavone 'genistein' can lead to abnormal growth of cells, while large doses can inhibit such cell growth. Some scientists have shown that genistein helps prevent abnormal growth of the blood vessels that support tumor growth, and it also helps prevent production of some enzymes that promote abnormal cell growth.

It has not been scientifically proven that consumption of soy protein isolate can lead to the development of breast cancer. Whether women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer should consume soy protein is a controversial topic. It is true that Asian women are at less risk for breast cancer than Western women; but Asian women, especially Chinese and Japanese women, consume soy mostly in the fermented form. Consumption of soybeans in the form of fermented soy products, tofu, soy butter, and soy nuts, is considered as a better way of consuming soy protein.

The above information shows that more studies are required to prove the usefulness of soy protein in preventing breast cancer. The above discussion also shows that it is difficult to draw any conclusion about the relationship between soy protein isolate and breast cancer, at this stage. If you are thinking of taking soy protein supplements, then you should consult your physician first.

Early Symptoms of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer, the most common cancer in women, occurs as a result of uncontrolled growth of cells that begins in the tissues of the breast. According to the statistics, breast cancer affects one in eight women in the U.S. and it is the second most common cause of cancer death in women in the U.S. Various health organizations run a number of programs to increase the awareness of people, regarding the early symptoms of breast cancer, how the cancer is curable and how it is treated. Early detection of breast cancer can help save millions of precious lives.


Early Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer
  • Swelling and a feeling of warmth in a breast.
  • Tenderness around the nipple.
  • Sore breast
  • Itchy breasts or nipples
  • A rash on a nipple or surrounding area
  • A lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area (axillary area).
  • A breast lump which is non-tender.
  • A remarkable change in the size or shape of the breast
  • Dimpling or puckering in the skin of the breast
  • New pain that develops in a spot in a breast.
  • An inward turned nipple.
  • Discharge (fluid) from the nipple, especially bloody discharge.
  • Red and inflamed breast
  • Scaly, red, or swollen skin of the breast, nipple, or areola (the dark area of skin around the nipple). The ridged skin may look like the skin of an orange.
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Breast ulcer as a later symptom of breast cancer.
  • A lump found in the area above the collarbone (supraclavicular area) which indicates that the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.
Although breast cancer in women is quite common, men may also suffer from this type of cancer. If a man notices a lump in a breast, or discharge from the nipple, or changed appearance of the breast or nipple (retraction, ulceration), he should immediately contact his physician. Breast cancer accounts for about 1% of all cancer deaths in men.

Types of Breast Cancer

There are different types of breast cancer such as ductal carcinoma (most common form), lobular carcinoma, estrogen receptor-positive cancer or ER-positive cancer, HER2-positive breast cancer, invasive or infiltrating breast cancer, etc. The uncommon types of this cancer include inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) and Paget's disease of the nipple. Different types of symptoms are noticed in different types of breast cancer. For instance, IBC, a comparatively rare and aggressive cancer may exhibit following symptoms:
  • Red and swollen / inflamed breast
  • Constant itching in breast skin
  • Warmer, harder, firmer breast
  • Sudden increase in breast size
  • Inwardly turned nipples
  • Swollen lymph nodes under arm or above collarbone
It has been noticed that IBC usually strikes younger women and diagnoses of IBC account for 1 - 5% of all cases of breast cancer in the U.S.

Significance of Regular Testing

Studies show that genetic disposition and hormonal factors are the primary risk factors for this cancer. If you have breast pain, you should consult your doctor immediately. Even though you don't experience breast pain or lump, you can have a regular mammogram and a clinical breast exam by your health care professional since it is possible that you may not experience any pain or discomfort during earlier stages of the cancer. Mammography, CT scan, a biopsy and an ultrasound test help detect abnormalities in breasts. Self-exam of breasts is the best way to find out the changes in breasts. For those who have already undergone the treatment for breast cancer, it is equally important and necessary to monitor and report any new signs and changes, as they might be the symptoms of recurrence. Breast cancer is the most common cause of death in women between the ages of 45-55. Therefore, women should take necessary precautionary measures (should not delay in seeing a doctor) to prevent the cancer.

Treatment

Breast cancer treatment varies according to the type of the cancer and stage of the cancer. It involves various options such as surgery (lumpectomy, removing the affected part of the breast or mastectomy, removal of the affected breast), radiation therapy, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and chemotherapy. The treatment for breast cancer may vary from one individual to another, depending upon the stage in which the cancer is diagnosed, type and severity of the symptoms, spread of cancer, overall health of the patient, etc.

It is possible to get rid of breast cancer, when detected in earlier stages. Women and men should not neglect any changes in the breast(s). Any negligence can worsen the situation. You should examine your breasts regularly. A physician can guide you about how to examine a breast. There is indeed a need for more awareness regarding the symptoms and treatment of breast cancer. New vistas of treatment can be made available to the patients suffering from the disease. It would help save several lives.

The Signs of Breast Cancer

What is breast cancer?

A disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues in the breast is known as breast cancer. It is a heterogeneous disease, which means that it is a different disease in different women, different age groups and has different cell populations within the tumor itself. This disease is usually more aggressive in younger women.


What are the signs and symptoms associated with this disease?

Breast cancer awareness will help save your life because if the disease is discovered early, new vistas of treatment will be available to you.

Luckily all breast lumps are not cancerous, yet the most common sign of breast cancer in both men and women is a lump or thickening of the breast and swollen lymph nodes in the underarm (axillary area). Sometimes the lump is also found in the area above the collarbone (supraclavicular area). This is an indicator that the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.

The other signs and symptoms are:
  • A change in the color or texture of the dark pigmented area surrounding the nipple (known as areola)
  • Swelling and a feeling of warmth in the breast
  • A feeling of scaling and/or itching (called pruritus) on the nipple
  • Tenderness around the nipple
  • Sudden discharge from the nipple
  • Development of rash around the nipple
  • Increase in the size of the breast
  • New pain that develops in one spot
  • Pitting of the overlying skin which gives it an orange like appearance
  • A breast lump that is non-tender
  • Pulling in of the nipples or other areas of the breast
  • Breast ulcer may develop as a later symptom of breast cancer.
What is the treatment available?

The treatment will involve surgery followed by a combination of radiation, hormonal therapy, and chemotherapy. It is important to remember that the treatment varies from one individual to another.

Surgery is one such treatment that involves the removal of the lump. This may also include the removal of the lymph nodes in the armpit. The breast is only removed when absolutely necessary.

Chemotherapy is a procedure in which medicines that intervene with the growth of cancer cells and divisions are given. This is done to reduce the size of the tumors and to kill them too.

Hormonal therapy involves chemical signals that are released by different parts of the body and can be carried in the blood to some other area to have an effect there. Anti-oestrogens, aromatase inhibitors or LHRH analogs are designed to bar the effects of estrogen or its production. This results in the stopping or slowing down the growth of cancer cells.

Radiation Therapy as also X-rays and other high-energy rays are applied to the tumor and the surrounding areas to destroy the cancer cells.

When should I opt for medical advice?

You will be happy to know that not all breast cancers are cancerous. But despite that, it is advisable to visit the doctor as soon as you notice a lump or any of the tell tale signs. If you have already undergone treatment for the same, it is important to report any new signs and symptoms immediately. To be on the safe side, you could also talk to your doctor about developing a breast-screening program. This will depend on your family history and other factors.

May 19, 2013

How Angelina Jolie was duped by cancer doctors into self mutilation for breast cancer she never had

In a New York Times op-ed explaining her decision to have both of her breasts surgically removed even though she doesn't have breast cancer, Angelina Jolie cited risk numbers as key to her decision. She said that doctors told her she had an "87% risk of breast cancer." Her solution? Undergo three months of surgical procedures and have her breasts cut out.


Problem solved, right? With her breasts removed, she says her risk of breast cancer is now reduced to a mere 5 percent. The same bizarre logic can also be applied to men who cut off their testicles to "prevent testicular cancer" or people who cut out their colons to "prevent colorectal cancer." But that would be insane, so nobody does that, because one of the most basic principles of medicine is that you don't subject patients to the considerable risks and costs of surgery and anesthesia to remove organs that have no disease!

But the really sad part about all this is that Angelina Jolie was lied to. She didn't have an 87% risk of breast cancer in the first place. All the women reading her NYT op-ed piece are also being lied to. Here's why...

How cancer doctors lie with statistics and use fear to scare women into high-profit procedures
The very idea that breast cancer is a "percent risk" is a complete lie. In reality, everyone has cancer micro-tumors in their bodies, including myself. Cancer is not a disease you just "get" like being randomly struck by lightning. It's something you must "manage" or "prevent" day by day, meal by meal, through a lifestyle choice that involves vitamin D supplementation, nutrition, superfoods, vegetable juices and avoidance of cancer-causing chemicals and radiation.

So when a doctor says you have a "chance" of getting cancer, what he's implying is that you have no control over cancer, and that's an outright lie. Cancer quackery, in other words.

Even Jolie with her BRCA1 gene that's linked to breast cancer can quite easily follow a dietary and lifestyle plan that suppresses BRCA1 gene expression. It's not rocket science. It's not even difficult. It can be done with simple foods that cost a few dollars a day. Those foods include raw citrus, resveratrol (red grapes or red wine), raw cruciferous vegetables, omega-3 oils and much more. Those same foods also help prevent heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's and other chronic diseases.

Indole-3-carbinol (I3C), by the way, a natural chemical found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage, offers powerful prevention against BRCA1 gene expression. But you don't hear cancer doctors telling women to "eat more cabbage" because that doesn't make the cancer industry any money. You can buy I3C as a potent nutritional supplement from a variety of sources. It's literally cancer prevention in a capsule.

So the whole "chance" argument is pure quackery. There is no chance involved in whether you get cancer. It's all cause and effect. You are either living a pro-cancer lifestyle and therefore growing cancer, or you're living an anti-cancer lifestyle and keeping cancer in check so that it never becomes a problem. Cause and effect is what results in either the growth of cancer tumors or the prevention of cancer tumors. There is no "luck" involved.

It's fascinating, isn't it, that medical doctors don't believe in luck or voodoo on any topic other than cancer. But when it comes to cancer, they want all women to be suckered into the victim mentality that cancer is purely a matter of "luck" and therefore women have no control over their own health outcomes. How dis-empowering! How sick! How incredibly exploitive of women!

If you really want to be informed about breast cancer and the corrupt, dishonest cancer industry, read my related article 10 Facts about the Breast Cancer Industry You're Not Supposed to Know. Or listen to our upcoming FREE Cancer Solutions Summit broadcasting this coming Monday, May 20th.

Why doesn't the cancer industry empower women with a sense of control over their own health?
I find it astonishing that the cancer industry doesn't believe in cause and effect. They would rather scare women with "risk" statistics that imply people have no control over cancer. Empowering women with a sense of control over their own health is the last thing the cancer industry wants to do, because that would cause them to lose customers and lose money.

It's far more profitable to scare all women into a state of such irrational panic that they agree to the most insane things imaginable such as chopping off both their healthy breasts even though they have no cancer. Such women are then convinced they've literally saved their own lives by agreeing to be mutilated by cancer surgeons.

"My chances of developing breast cancer have dropped from 87 percent to under 5 percent," says Jolie. "I can tell my children that they don't need to fear they will lose me to breast cancer."

Will she also tell her children they should mutilate themselves, too, as a form of medical disease prevention? And what happens if she learns she has a risk of brain cancer? Does she chop off her head and call it a cure?

The scam of making women believe there is only ONE way to reduce your "risk" of breast cancer
The other enormous scam in all this is the idea that there's only one way to reduce your "risk" of breast cancer. Even if you believe the fictitious number of "87% risk," why does everyone automatically assume there is one and only one way to lower that risk?

"For any woman reading this, I hope it helps you to know you have options," writes Jolie in the NYT. Yet she utterly fails to offer women any options other than the one she took: check in to a cancer center and let them play "cut-poison-burn" on your body. Jolie's op-ed piece, which reads as if it were written by the public relations department of the Pink Lotus Breast Center, offers nothing in the way of nutrition advice, lifestyle choices, holistic therapies, wellness, alternative medicine... nothing! What an incredible disservice to all the women of America...

In the world of health, nutrition and cancer, there are thousands of ways to prevent cancer and suppress the expression of BRCA1 genes. But Jolie and the cancer industry seem to imply no options exist other than chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery. Three options only. Nothing else exists in their world, not nutritional prevention, not vitamin D therapy, not vitamin C potentiated micro-chemotherapy, not ozone therapy, sauna treatments, acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, stress reduction or anything else. You are supposed to believe that none of these things exist!

And why? Because the cancer industry wants to funnel women like cattle into their slash-poison-burn system of quack treatments. And Angelina Jolie is their new cheerleader. Scarred and no doubt experiencing the chest and armpit numbness that almost always accompanies mastectomy surgery, she now seeks to "inspire" other women to exercise their own sick "choice" and have their breasts removed, too!

It is the sickest invocation of women's power that I've ever witnessed. This is not empowering women, it's marching them into self-mutilation. And the "risk" is a complete fraud. In truth, Angelina Jolie had a higher risk of dying on the operating table than dying from breast cancer if she simply followed an anti-cancer lifestyle.

Don't be tricked into self-mutilation by cancer industry quacks

In summary:
  • The claim that you have a "percent risk" of breast cancer is a big lie which implies you have no control over cancer.
  • BRCA1 genes can be kept quiet (suppressed) through proper foods and lifestyle choices. A gene is not a death sentence.
  • The implication that there is only ONE way to reduce breast cancer risk is a complete lie. There are thousands of options and strategies for preventing cancer. Never be cornered into surgery by a group of surgeons pushing irrational fear.
  • Cancer micro-tumors exist in everyone. Cancer must be "managed" in everyone to keep it in check and avoid the growth of tumors.
  • The cancer industry tricks women using unethical fear tactics to scare women with false statistics into high-profit cancer procedures that only cause them harm.
  • The claim that cutting off healthy breasts somehow "empowers" women is sick and demented. Women are far more empowered by honest information on nutrition and healthy living that allows them to keep their bodies intact rather than being sliced up by dishonest cancer surgeons.
Via naturalnews

May 11, 2013

Thinning Hair in Women: Warning Sign of Underlying Health Issues

Hair is probably a woman's most important feature. Signs of thinning hair can take the sail out of almost any woman's day. It may seem vain to pay so much attention to hair, but signs of thinning hair are really the first signals of such conditions as hormonal imbalance, vitamin deficiency, excessive stress or poor nutrition, all symptoms of declining health status. Paying attention to hair can reveal developing conditions before they get out of control. When you have restored your hair to a full head of vibrant healthy strands, chances are the rest of your body will also exhibit vibrant health.

Nutritional deficiencies may be signaled by thinning hair

Your hair loss may be caused by vitamin D deficiency. Studies show that a large segment of the American population is deficient in this essential nutrient, with hair loss being one of the primary symptoms of this deficiency.

The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is expressed in numerous cells and tissues of the body, including the skin. Studies of mice and humans lacking these functional receptors have demonstrated that absence of the VDR leads to the development of alopecia, a fancy word for hair loss. Hair loss may be an early warning that you are at risk of other maladies linked to a deficiency of vitamin D. The list includes diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, depression, multiple sclerosis, gum disease, seasonal influenza and tuberculosis.

Lack of exposure to the sun almost guarantees vitamin D deficiency. Researchers have mapped the U.S. and found that the farther north a person lives, the more likely she is to have vitamin D deficiency. If access to the sun is not an option, supplementing vitamin D with cod liver oil, or capsules of D3 will help. It is now suggested that women receive a minimum of 2,000 units of vitamin D per day. Many cutting edge practioners advocate 10,000 units per day, the amount obtained from a day wearing a bathing suit in the summer sun.

Omega 3 fatty acids affect the biological process of vitamin D. They are responsible for producing cholesterol and at the same time for removing its excess, as well as for most other bodily functions. In order to manufacture vitamin D, the body needs cholesterol. If the diet does not contain enough essential fatty acids, the body can't produce its own vitamin D. In addition to containing usable vitamin D, cod liver oil also provides omega 3 fatty acids.

Hair loss may also be the result of deficiencies of the amino acid lysine, copper, and zinc. However, if your diet is comprised of a wide selection of whole foods including daily servings of fresh vegetables and fruits, this may not be the cause of your hair loss, especially if you are getting enough protein. Hair stands are composed of protein, but if the diet is short on it, the wisdom of the body will divert its use from making hair to sustaining more necessary bodily functions. Taking a whole food supplement such as bee pollen, spirulina or chlorella will help with getting and assimilating needed amounts of the full spectrum of nutrients.

Thinning hair may reflect hormonal imbalance

A woman's hormones can begin to decline and lose balance as early as the 30's. One of the most shocking examples of this imbalance is hair growth appearing on the upper lip or chin, or a coarsening of hair on the rest of the body while the hair on the head thins. This is most likely the result of excessive dihydrotestosterone (DHT) conversion. Although estrogen is the primary hormone of women, they also produce testosterone and other androgens such as DHEA. As the body ages women may begin to convert these androgens to DHT just as men do. Women with a history of polycystic ovarian syndrome tend to have higher levels of testosterone and DHT than other women, and may be more susceptible to this excessive conversion.

To find out if hormonal imbalance is causing hair loss, full range hormone testing can be done. Physicians who administer bio-identical hormones can provide this testing, as well as physicians who specialize in anti-aging medicine. If this is not an option, there are reliable laboratories available online that receive specimens of saliva by mail and provide complete hormone testing results.

Supplements of saw palmetto prevent the excessive conversion of androgens to DHT. It is an herb that comes from the flowers of a beautiful palm tree known as saw palmetto or sabal palm. A dosage of one 160 mg. capsule daily should effectively block this conversion and get the hair back on head and off the face. Saw palmetto has been demonstrated to be safe for prolonged use. If hormone testing is not an option, another way to find out if excessive DHT conversion is causing hair loss is to take a saw palmetto supplement for a period of three months. If hair loss stops where you don't want it and starts where you do want it, your question will be answered.

Excessive levels of hormonal conversion to DHT are highly associated with prostate abnormalities in men and may be a cause of prostate cancer. Saw palmetto has been documented to increase prostate health. The health effects of this conversion in women are not yet fully documented, yet common sense suggests that reducing excessive levels of DHT in women may be helpful in assuring breast and ovarian health.

Declining levels of thyroid hormone can also spark hair loss. It's estimated that forty percent of American women are suffering from significant hair loss related to low thyroid hormones, with redheads particularly at risk. The hormones produced by the thyroid are responsible for metabolism, the sum of all the physical and chemical processes. The thyroid hormones control the efficiency and speed at which cells work. Every cell in the body including the hair depends on proper thyroid function for development. If thyroid production is insufficient, hair growth will slow and hair will eventually thin.

Other symptoms of declining thyroid function are dry skin, sensitivity to hot and cold, unexplained weight gain, missing outer third of eyebrows, constipation, brittle nails, high or low blood pressure, susceptibility to infections, muscle weakness, osteoporosis, joint or muscle pain, cystic breasts or ovaries, chronic sinusitis, slow heart rate, TMJ syndrome, dental problems, headache, and increased cholesterol levels. This list reveals how critical proper thyroid function is to well being.

The good new is that low thyroid can easily be corrected by supplementing the body with bio-identical thyroid hormones. Armour thyroid is the natural form of thyroid hormone. 

Too much stress can cause hair to thin

Hair loss may be the first indication that your stress level is taking a toll on your body. Stress is nothing less than epidemic today, and this high level can actually cause hair loss along with many more serious health problems. Excessive physical or emotional stress associated with illness, injury, and trauma may cause the hair to stop growing and enter a period of dormancy which is followed two or three months later by the hair falling out. When physical or emotional equilibrium is regained, hair will again begin to grow, usually about 6 to 9 months later.

A more serious situation develops when stress is constant and almost unrelenting as it is for many people in this society. Hair thinning will continue unless effective means of dealing with the stress are put in place and calmness can be restored. Prolonged hair loss caused by chronic stress is a warning that other bodily systems are in jeopardy.

Cortisol is the stress hormone that gives the body its fight or flight response to stressful situations. It is an important hormone secreted by the adrenal glands and involved in maintaining proper glucose metabolism, regulation of blood pressure, insulin release for blood sugar maintenance, immune function, and inflammatory response. When stress is constant and prolonged, cortisol levels stay elevated and the body enters a state of chronic stress.

Higher and prolonged levels of corisol in the bloodstream have been shown to have negative effects, such as impaired cognitive performance, suppressed thyroid function, blood sugar imbalances, decreased bone density, decreased muscle tissue, higher blood pressure, lowered immunity, heightened inflammatory response, and increased abdominal fat. If no steps are taken to reduce the stress level, heart attack or stroke may follow.

To keep corisol levels healthy, the body's relaxation response should be activated. Learn to relax the body with various stress management techniques and make changes in your lifestyle to minimize the stress. Eat a diet of whole food that emphasizes vegetables and fruits. Take supplements like bee pollen, spirulina and chlorella to make sure nutrition is complete. Add alfalfa to keep your body fully mineralized, as stress raises the need for minerals. The B complex vitamins as well as vitamin C are needed to support the adrenal gland while dealing with chronic stress.

Hair products containing toxic chemicals promote hair loss

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is the dominant ingredient in almost all shampoos sold in traditional outlets such as supermarkets, drugstores and discount centers. In addition to having toxic effects on your immune system, SLS has been shown to corrode hair follicles and impede hair growth. It has been blamed for many cases of hair loss. The Material Safety Data Sheet provided by the U.S. government says exposure to SLS can lead to burning, coughing, wheezing, laryngitis, shortness of breath, headache, nausea and vomiting. The American College of Toxicology says SLS stays in the body for up to five days and maintains residual levels in the heart, liver, brain, and lungs.

Over-treated hair is another cause of hair loss in women. Hair dyes, permanents, and relaxers do serious damage to the hair and scalp whether they contain lye or not. They are made with toxic chemicals that must be detoxified by the liver, and are identified by the immune system as foreign invaders. Thus health of the liver and the immune system are compromised by use of these products. When the liver is busy trying to detoxify an onslaught of foreign chemicals, estrogen metabolism may not be properly completed and breast cancer may be promoted. An immune system busy fighting off an invasion of foreign chemicals may not be able to prevent infection or identify and destroy abberant cells. Damage from dyes and relaxers can only heal when those potions are no longer used on the hair.

Apr 7, 2013

The 7 Important of Alkaline Foods

Your health depends on the balance of an alkaline environment, created by eating foods such as tomatoes, avocados and green vegetables…striking the optimum 80/20 balance and regulating your body’s acid/alkaline chemistry through simple changes in diet can result in weight loss, increased stamina and strength, a stronger immune system and a greater sense of well-being.


1. SPINACH -All leafy greens should be eaten in abundance but spinach is my absolute favourite because it’s easy to buy, easy to use in recipes and salads and is delicious. Baby spinach or fully grown spinach are Nutritional powerhouses and are incredibly alkaline. As with all green foods, spinach is rich in chlorophyll (see more about the health benefits of chlorophyll here), a potent alkaliser and blood builder. It is also super high in vitamin K, vitamin A, manganese, folate, magnesium, iron, vitamin c, vitamin b2, calcium, potassium, vitamin e, dietary fiber…I doubt there is a more all round healthy food on earth and I highly encourage you to eat spinach throughout the day, every day.

2. KALE -Kale is another leafy green beauty that is widely known for its Cancer-Fighting, Cholesterol-Lowering, Antioxidant-rich, and Detoxifying goodness. Less popular than spinach, but only because it has a history of being cooked poorly (like cabbage) – when done right it is absolutely delicious (see recipes below, you’ll thank me). If you eat kale 2-3 times per week you’ll know it. Like spinach it is massively high in vitamin K, vitamin A and vitamin C and being Leafy Green it also has a huge Chlorophyll content. The reason it is so powerful against the Cancer Fight is that kale contains at least four Glucosinolates. I don’t want to lose you here by using words like glucosinolates – all you need to know is that as soon as you eat and digest kale, these glucosinolates are really easily converted by the body into cancer fighting compounds. Also quite amazing for Lowering Cholesterol, it should be noted that steamed kale is more effective for cholesterol lowering than raw.

3. CUCUMBER The beauty of cucumber is it’s water content – 95%. That is phenomenal and you won’t find that anywhere else. It’s the daddy of water-content. This of course makes it an incredibly hydrating food to consume, that ALSO contains superb amounts of antioxidants, including the super-important lignans. These highly beneficial polyphenols have more commonly been associated with the cruciferous vegetables, but their content in other veggies such as cucumbers is gaining more and more attention. Cucumbers contain a right load of lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol , three lignans that have a huge and very strong history of research in connection with Reduced Risk of Cardiovascular disease as well as several cancer types, including Breast, Uterine, Ovarian, and Prostate Cancers. The best thing about cucumber is that they provide the base for practically every alkaline soup, smoothie and juice – giving you a very alkaline, very nutritious base that also tastes great. In terms of the actual nutrient RDA per serve, cucumbers contain fair amounts of vitamins K and C, and slightly less of vitamin A and the B vitamins. Cucumbers also contain the following alkaline minerals: calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, selenium, copper, manganese, iron and zinc.

4. BROCCOLI – Broccoli is just a must. If you are serious about living with health, energy and vitality you simply have to eat broccoli, if not on a daily basis, then at least 4 times per week. Broccoli has been proven over and over and over again to be incredibly powerful in inhibiting Cancers, supporting the Digestive System, the Cardiovascular System, the Detoxification processes in the body and also supporting the Skin, metabolism, Ä°mmune system, being an Anti-Inflammatory and providing ample Antioxidants. Eaten steamed or raw its a Hugely Alkaline, Hugely Nutritious food. Please, please, please eat lots and lots of it. Put it in salads, juices, smoothies, soups…steam it with other veggies – you can even roast

5. AVOCADO -I eat a LOT of avocado. Not a salad, smoothie or soup goes by without me adding at least 1/2 an avocado per person. I probably eat at least five-seven per week, myself. Now, I know a lot of people give avocado a bad rep because it is a high-fat food (85% of it’s calories come from fats) – but this is totally insane. These are good fats that will not make you gain weight. If anything, due to the high content of oleic acid (making it an Omega 9 fat and very similar to olive oil), it can lower total cholesterol level and raise levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) while lowering low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), also known as the “bad” cholesterol. Oleic Acid also slows the development of heart disease, and promotes the production of Antioxidants. These beneficial omega oils also help speed the metabolism, actually leading to weight loss rather than gain. So now we’re over the fat issue, avocado also contains a wide range of other nutrients that have serious Anti-Ä°nflammatory, Heart Health, Cardiovascular Health, Anti-Cancer, and Blood Sugar Benefits. Containing key Antioxidants such as alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein, selenium and more – it is a powerful, alkaline, nutrient-dense superfood.

6. CELERY – Celery, like cucumber is a favourite because it’s alkaline AND really high water content, so is used very frequently as a base in juices and soups (not so much smoothies as you have to juice it first…and then you have double the washing up). One of celery’s big benefits is it’s vitamin C level, which has the well known benefits – but two of it’s lesser known nutrients are phthalides which have been shown to Lower Cholesterol and coumarins which have been shown to inhibit Several Cancers. The beauty of vitamin C rich foods are that they help with the most common and most challenging health concerns – they support the Ä°mmune system, inflammation (so helps with Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Asthma etc), and vitamin C also helps significantly with Cardiovascular Health. If you are on a weight loss journey, you’ll also be happy to hear that this alkaline staple contains plenty of potassium and sodium and so is a diuretic – meaning it helps rid the body of excess fluids.

7. CAPSICUM / BELL PEPPER / PEPPER – The antioxidant superpower, bell pepper is one of my all-time-favourites because it is sweet, crunchy and refreshingly delicious. You can use it in almost any meal raw, grilled, fried, and roasted and it is always a winner. Impressively beneficial to our health cartenoids are highly researched and get a lot of attention in the health field and bell peppers contain over 30 different members of the carotenoid nutrient family. The only other food that is close to this is Tomato and all other foods are also-rans. Bell peppers have shown up in research relating to decreasing the risk of Cardiovascular Disease, type II Diabetes, Macular Degeneration, Cancer, inflammation and more. Alongside these lesser known or more complex-named antioxidants, bell pepper is one of, if not the best food source of the more common antioxidants: vitamin C, vitamin A and vitamin E. In fact, bell peppers contain twice as much vitamin C as oranges. Here are just SOME of the antioxidants bell pepper contains: – Flavonoids – luteolin – quercetin – hesperidin – Carotenoids – alpha-carotene – beta-carotene – cryptoxanthin – lutein – zeaxanthin – Hydroxycinnamic Acids – ferulic acid – cinnamic acid.

Mar 29, 2013

The 9 Health Benefits of Limes

Limes are a citrus fruit. While the sour lime is the most common in the United States, there are also varieties of sweet limes. Lime juice is used in all types of food preparation (our favorite is in guacamole!) as well as in cocktails, skin creams, disinfectants, candies, oils, toothpastes and more. Limes were essential to maintaining the health of the British navy during the 19th century because their vitamin C content prevented scurvy. This is why British sailors are called Limeys. Here are 9 health benefits of limes:

Cancer Prevention
Limes contain limonoid, a compound believed to have anti-carcinogen effects. These compounds are thought to help prevent skin, mouth, stomach, breast, lung and other types of cancer. An article published in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry" noted that limonin has been proven to induce cancer cell death. Limes are also a potent source of antioxidants, particularly vitamin C. Antioxidants reduce the risk of cancer by preventing free radical damage to the cells and DNA. Limes may have anti-inflammatory properties that can slow the risk of chronic inflammation, another high risk factor for developing cancer.

High In Antioxidants
Limes are a great source of vitamin C and other phytonutrients and flavonoids with antioxidant properties. Antioxidants are key in neutralizing free radical activity that damages the cells and DNA and can increase the risk of cancer, heart disease and premature aging.

High In Vitamin C
Just a quarter cup of lime juice contains over 46% the DV of vitamin C. Vitamin C is one of the most important vitamins and antioxidants in human health. It helps boost the immune system, supports heart health, wards off sickness and disease and protects the eyes from conditions like cataracts.

Antibiotic
One of the flavonoid compounds found in limes are believed to have powerful antibiotic properties. Studies in west Africa found that the daily addition of limes into the diet of villagers helped reduce the occurrence of cholera.

Immunity Booster
The vitamin C in limes helps to boost immunity and offer long term support for the immune system. It may help to prevent the flu and the common cold as well as reduce the risk of chronic diseases like cancer.

Anti-Inflammatory
Vitamin C and many of the other phytonutrient compounds in limes have anti-inflammatory effects. Limes may be useful in lowering the risk of conditions related to chronic inflammation like arthritis, asthma, and heart disease.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Prevention
A study of more than 20,000 people published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases found that subjects who consumed more vitamin C rich foods like limes were far less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis and related arthritic conditions. Subjects who ate the least amount of foods with vitamin C were three times more likely to develop arthritis.

Heart Health
Antioxidants like vitamin C are often associated with a reduced risk of heart attack and heart disease. Foods that have potent anti-inflammatory properties are also believed to help support the cardiovascular system.

Eye Health
Vitamin C is essential to the proper function of the eyes. Vitamin C deficiency can lead to cataracts and other eye conditions. Maintaining good vitamin C levels by eating citrus like limes and lime juice is a good way to maintain proper eye health.

Mar 24, 2013

The Green Tea benefits For Cancer

Green tea and its extracts have purportedly been used to successfully treat many different types of cancer. Drinking green tea regularly is believed to greatly reduce the chances of developing cancer. Green tea contains polyphenol compounds (antioxidants) that have chemoprotective properties. They have demonstrated the ability to inhibit the growth of cancer cells and induce cancer cell death. Consumption of green tea has been associated with a reduced risk of stomach and colorectal cancer as well as prostate, breast, liver, gallbladder, pancreatic, lung and esophageal cancers. Here's why you should drink green tea for cancer:


Anti-Cancer Properties of Green Tea
Lab studies have found that the active compounds found in green tea can trigger apoptosis in leukemia and other types of cancer cells. They act as antioxidants, protecting cell membranes and DNA from free radical damage, which is known to contribute to the development of many different forms of cancer. Green tea is also believed to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties as well as the ability to boost the immune system, each of which plays a key role in cancer treatment and prevention.

Green Tea & Prostate Cancer
Studies have found that men who drink the most green tea have less inflammation in the prostate tissue. The same studies have found that green tea polyphenols have antioxidant effects inside the prostate, which is believed to help protect the cells from damage and lower the risk of developing prostate cancer. Similar studies have found that drinking green tea has the ability to slow prostate cancer growth.

Green Tea & Breast Cancer
More and more studies are linking green tea with a reduced risk of breast cancer. A study at Columbia University Medical School found a correlation between green tea extract and stopping the growth of tumors in women with breast cancer. In another study, one extract from green tea was found to inhibit growth factors that can contribute to breast cancer development.

Use
While there is not a consensus on exactly how much green tea (or green tea extract) is needed to help prevent cancer, it is clear that daily consumption of green tea may help reduce the risk of cancer as well as a variety of other health problems. It is safe to say that drinking at least 2 to 3 cups of green tea per day can be a healthy addition to one's diet and may even greatly reduce the risk of cancer. Consult a doctor before using green tea extract for cancer treatment or alongside other cancer drugs and treatments.

Mar 23, 2013

The 10 Health Benefits of Avocados

Here are ten reasons to do just like I do and eat an avocado a day:


Prostate Cancer Prevention
Avocados have been shown to inhibit the growth of prostate cancer.

Oral Cancer Defense
Research has shown that certain compounds in avocados are able to seek out pre-cancerous and cancerous oral cancer cells and destroy them without harming healthy cells.

Breast Cancer Protection
Avocado, like olive oil, is high in oleic acid, which has been shown to prevent breast cancer in numerous studies.

Eye Health
Avocados have more of the carotenoid lutein than any other commonly consumed fruit. Lutein protects against macular degeneration and cataracts, two disabling age-related eye diseases.

Lower Cholesterol
Avocados are high in beta-sitosterol, a compound that has been shown to lower cholesterol levels. In one study, 45 volunteers experienced an average drop in cholesterol of 17% after eating avocados for only one week.

Heart Health
One cup of avocado has 23% of the recommended daily value of folate. Studies show that people who eat diets rich in folate have a much lower incidence of heart disease than those who don't. The vitamin E, monounsaturated fats, and glutathione in avocado are also great for your heart.

Stroke Prevention
The high levels of folate in avocado are also protective against strokes. People who eat diets rich in folate have a much lower risk of stroke than those who don't.
Better Nutrient Absorption Research has found that certain nutrients are absorbed better when eaten with avocado. In one study, when participants ate a salad containing avocados, they absorbed five times the amount of carotenoids (a group of nutrients that includes lycopene and beta carotene) than those who didn't include avocados.

Glutathione Source
Avocados are an excellent source of glutathione, an important antioxidant that researchers say is important in preventing aging, cancer, and heart disease.

Vitamin E Powerhouse
Avocados are the best fruit source of vitamin E, an essential vitamin that protects against many diseases and helps maintains overall health.

The 10 Health Benefits of Eggs

Some of you may have eaten eggs over the Easter weekend so I thought I'd post ten health benefits of eggs (and it doesn't count if they were chocolate eggs!)


1. Eggs are great for the eyes. According to one study, an egg a day may prevent macular degeneraton due to the carotenoid content, specifically lutein and zeaxanthin. Both nutrients are more readily available to our bodies from eggs than from other sources.

2. In another study, researchers found that people who eat eggs every day lower their risk of developing cataracts, also because of the lutein and zeaxanthin in eggs.

3. One egg contains 6 grams of high-quality protein and all 9 essential amino acids.

4. According to a study by the Harvard School of Public Health, there is no significant link between egg consumption and heart disease. In fact, according to one study, regular consumption of eggs may help prevent blood clots, stroke, and heart attacks.

5. They are a good source of choline. One egg yolk has about 300 micrograms of choline. Choline is an important nutrient that helps regulate the brain, nervous system, and cardiovascular system.

6. They contain the right kind of fat. One egg contains just 5 grams of fat and only 1.5 grams of that is saturated fat.

7. New research shows that, contrary to previous belief, moderate consumption of eggs does not have a negative impact on cholesterol. In fact, recent studies have shown that regular consumption of two eggs per day does not affect a person's lipid profile and may, in fact, improve it. Research suggests that it is saturated fat that raises cholesterol rather than dietary cholesterol.

8. Eggs are one of the only foods that contain naturally occurring vitamin D.

9. Eggs may prevent breast cancer. In one study, women who consumed at least 6 eggs per week lowered their risk of breast cancer by 44%.

10. Eggs promote healthy hair and nails because of their high sulphur content and wide array of vitamins and minerals. Many people find their hair growing faster after adding eggs to their diet, especially if they were previously deficient in foods containing sulphur or B12.

Mar 10, 2013

Biotin for Hair Growth

Biotin for Hair Growth 5 Primer Sources of Biotin for the Beauty of Your Locks


Biotin is found in many cosmetic products and there’s no wonder about that: it improves hair condition, making it stronger, longer, thicker and glossy. You may say there are lots of products with other ingredients that lead to the same result, BUT when speaking about biotin, one should never forget its primer benefit – it is a natural element, which can be found not only in shampoos and conditioners, but also in foods we eat daily. Choose biotin for hair growth and find out what it is like to have great hair without any chemical application.

Biotin Deficiency

Vitamin H, or biotin as it is now referred to, is one of the most important vitamins for proper hair growth. It plays a rather great role in maintaining the levels of blood sugar and ensuring a normal body’s energy cycle.

It’s hard to state that its deficiency is a common condition, as biotin is present in lots of products. When the deficiency occurs, it mainly affects those people, who have had parts of stomach removed or in people, who have an increased need for it (pregnant women, patients healing from wounds and injuries).

An average adult needs about 30 micrograms of biotin daily. To get the needed amount he/she shouldn’t look for additional supplements, but normalize a diet plan and include more biotin-rich foods.

Where is Biotin Found?

Let’s start with natural sources, and not well-advertised commercial products offered by today’s market. You’re going to be surprised, but this vitamin is present in almost all products we consume daily. If you are aiming at preventing hair loss, consider the following list of foods:
  • Liver and kidney. Specialists say that 3 ounces of cooked liver contain the daily amount of biotin a person needs. The question you should ask is “When was the last time I ate liver?”. Of course, let’s take into account the fact that most people can stand the way liver smells and tastes. In this case they should look for alternative sources: salmon, pork, halibut, etc.
  • Biotin for Hair Growth
  • Eggs. A single egg contains a great amount of biotin, which is primarily found in yolk. Raw white also contains the vitamin, but it also has the enzymes that reduce the ability of the body for Biotin consumption. When you’re cooking an egg, enzymes separate.
  • Nuts (mainly almond and walnut) contain the vitamin as well. In addition to biotin, these nuts are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids that cure the dry skin of scalp, giving one’s hair a shiny appearance.
  • Wheat products should be considered as well. It is hard to believe, but a whole wheat bread has about 6 micrograms of biotin. Don’t forget about oats as they are another good grain source of biotin.
  • To other biotin-rich foods belong soy, red beet, spinach, cabbage, mushrooms, beans and Swiss chard.
How Does Biotin Shampoo Work?

When used regularly, biotin shampoos work in three main directions. They:
  • make hair stronger
  • treat disorders
  • promote healthy growth
Biotin strengthens brittle hair that is about to fall out. When composed of biotin and protein, it becomes healthy and strong. Biotin-based shampoos help to regrow lost hair. The vitamin the shampoo contains penetrates the scalp, improving not only the appearance of hair, but also scalp skin.

People worldwide benefit from the usage of such shampoos and conditioners, because they strengthen hair follicles and promote healthy growth. The absence of split ends and hair breakage are additional benefits to consider. In 2 months one notices that the hair is a lot thicker and fuller.

If a person doesn’t suffer from biotin deficiency, shampoos won’t help. The body will not store it, so there is no need to count on long-term benefits.

However, don’t rely on shampoos only, if you want to improve your hair. Eat more biotin-rich products and eliminate stress. Only in this case biotin for hair growth will be a beneficial option.

Health Benefits of Grapes

Health Benefits of Grapes: Their 3 Varieties to Power Your Organism

In many cultures and since centuries grapes have been regarded “the queen of fruits.” Do you know that these are berries (!) in clusters botanically? Anyway, this is so beautiful and juicy wonder by nature, which also comes as a real storehouse of health.
Today, grapes are widely cultivated all over the world, giving us pleasure of tasting that semi-translucent flesh in smooth skin. Interestingly, but there are white/green, red/purple and blue/black varieties of these fruits, either with edible seeds, or seedless. The color means presence of different pigments.

The most amazing is that antioxidant compounds of grapes are densely concentrated on their skin and seeds! Commercially, they are grown for various purposes: eating as fresh table fruit or as dried raisin/currant/sultana, and using in wine production. So, you have a wide choice how to get all the health benefits of grapes.

What’s Useful to Know about Grapes?
  • Grapes, eaten/used in recipes, are ‘table’ grapes. They are opposed to ‘wine’ grapes, which are used in viniculture; as well as ‘raisin’ grapes, used to make dried fruits.
  • Grapes’ intake has long been connected with a better blood sugar balance, and thus, better insulin regulation.
  • Several grape phytonutrients play a proven role in longevity and healthy aging.
  • Only a few fruits have deserved as much attention in health researches as grapes.
  • Grapes are present in all the diets worldwide.
  • Except Antarctica, grapes are cultivated on every continent.
  • Grapes can boast of probably the most amazing nutrient composition, which provides all the body systems with benefits (cardiovascular/respiratory/immune system/inflammatory/blood sugar regulating/nervous systems).
6 Key Benefits of Grapes: Enjoy & Stay Healthy
  1. Grapes are rich in powerful antioxidants, which protect against colon/prostate/breast cancers, heart/nerve/Alzheimer’s diseases and viral/fungal infections. Such constituent as resveratrol reduces stroke risks, elevates high blood pressure and relaxes blood vessels. Anthocyanins are some other type of antioxidants, abundantly present in red grapes. Those phyto-chemicals have an anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-allergic and anti-cancer activity. As for catechins in white/green grapes, they also possess health-protective functions.
  2. Grapes are very low in calories and provide 0 cholesterol levels.
  3. Grapes are rich in copper, iron, manganese, calcium, zinc, potassium, phosphorus, selenium, carotenes, vitamin C, A, K and B-complex vitamins.
  4. Grapes treat constipation, kidney disorders, fatigue, cataract, asthma, migraine.
  5. Grapes contain flavonoids that reduce free radical damage and aging.
  6. Grapes provide instant energy, boost the immune system, enhance brain health, bring down cholesterol levels, protect from infections and viruses.
As you can see, grapes play an essential role preventing numerous disorders and diseases, being used as a tasty home remedy all year round.

A Few Rules on Selection, Storage & Serving For More Amazing Nutrient Composition
  • Choose fresh grapes, which feature plump, free from cracks/leaking juice, and firmly attached to a green stem.
  • Buy ripened grapes: green – with a slight yellowish hue; red – with a pinkish-red hue; blue-black – with deep and rich color.
  • Always store grapes in the fridge, washed and wrapped in a paper towel. This way, the fruit will keep fresh for several days.
  • Wash grapes in cold water for a couple of minutes and a few times. Pat dry with a soft cloth.
  • If not consuming the whole bunch at once, separate it into clusters. Thus, you’ll prevent the stem from drying out.
Well, all the wealth of healthy benefits in grapes is somewhat indescribable! Just eat them and forget about diseases.

10 Health Benefits of Celery


10 Health Benefits of Celery: What about High-Nutrition & Low-Cal Powerfood?

‘What’s so beneficial in celery?’ you may ask. Well, first of all, you protect your digestive tract against inflammation the very next moment you’re eating this veggie. Then, in addition to inflammatories you are getting loads of painkillers, antioxidants, anti-ulcer compounds and sedatives.


This speaks for itself, doesn’t it? As a result, a vegetable offers huge support for your cells and blood vessels, as well as organ systems. Generally, 100 g or 1 cup of celery contains vitamin K, A, B, C, potassium, fiber, manganese, calcium and magnesium. By the way, as far the veggie stalk is 95% water, there are 0 calories in it.

As you can see, it’s a good and just excellent food source of nutrition. So, enjoy celery seeds, root, leafy stalks, oil, and juice – in short, the whole food itself!

Amazing Celery & Its 10 Healthy Links to You
  • Antioxidant & anti-inflammatory support – Numerous substances in the vegetable decrease the risk of oxidative damage to body and blood vessel walls. Besides, any inflammatory reaction in the digestive tract and liver is prevented. The most interesting aspect here is that while growing, celery produces specific antioxidants in great amounts. This way, the veggie responds to stress and becomes protected in natural living conditions. But, being chopped on your kitchen countertop, it still increases the production of phytonutrients for the same reason!
  • Digestive tract protection – Your stomach gets special benefits, including improved integrity of the lining, decreased risk of ulcer, better control of secretions, and constipation relief. Hungarians have been using this vegetable to calm indigestion for ages.
  • Health Benefits of Celery
  • Cardiovascular benefits of celery mean no oxidative stress and bloodstream inflammation. In fact, they are both critical in the development of most cardiovascular diseases, particularly atherosclerosis. Researchers have identified that this vegetable acts as a smooth muscle relaxant. As a result, such relaxation of muscles around blood vessels helps to avoid high blood pressure.
  • Fighting bad breath, or ‘halitosis’ – Celery seems to be custom made for it. Chewing this vegetable stalk is helpful in 2 ways: (1) its roughness scrubs bacteria from the tongue back and (2) its natural fiber assists in teeth cleaning. In short, this is like using some edible toothbrush.
  • Treatment of bladder infections is associated with celery seeds. They improve the quality and quantity of urine, being a useful diuretic for different urinary tract infections.
  • Migraines, bursitis & various inflammatory conditions will definitely benefit from celery in the diet. Two of the best known natural ‘miracle aspirin’ are celery and its seeds, which contain high amounts of painkillers.
  • Fungal infections in check – Celery naturally resists to pathogens during storage, due to a melting pot of fungicides. So, if being prone to microbe infection, eat a celery stalk every day.
  • Hay fever & Asthma can be relieved with this top vegetable from the list of proven allergy helpers.
  • Menopausal symptoms – Phytochemicals of all the celery family are mildly estrogenic herbs. These compounds are extremely good for menopausal hot flashes, along with preventing heart disease and osteoporosis.
  • Pneumonia – This is a vegetable, well-known for stimulating the immune system and fighting bacteria, viruses and inflammation.
Well, now you may think of how to enjoy multi-beneficial celery. In fact, it can be eaten raw or cooked, whole or in parts, juiced or in recipes. The experts say that juicing is probably the best way to get all the health benefits of celery. Even if you do not like its specific taste, add the veggie to other fruit & vegetables, and you won’t even notice it!

10 Health Benefits of Carrot Juice

10 Health Benefits of Carrot Juice, or Why Choose This ‘Golden Drink of Healing’?

It’s a matter of common knowledge that juicing is one’s fast track to good health. Besides, this process allows us to take in more vegetables at once, as we cannot eat tons of raw and cooked vegetables all the time. More so, liquid vegetable mass is easily assimilated. In other words, juices are ideal solution for daily solving of health problems.


Carrots are really great as a base for regular fresh vegetable juice. What is more important, it’s unbelievably nutritious and healing by itself. So, get a bunch of carrots, and juice them with apples, celery or beets. Don’t store the carrot juice, better drink it immediately! Now, you are ready to find out how many benefits you’ve drunk.

Let’s Drink Juices! Discover 8 Health Benefits of Carrot Ambrosia
  • Actually, there is 1 main nutrient in carrot juice: beta-carotene. This is an antioxidant, which helps to improve your vision. Why, have you ever seen rabbits in glasses? The thing is that they just love carrots! So, the old myth that carrots help you see better is absolutely true. Also, beta carotenes maintain epithelial tissues, which surround your internal organs and control cancerous growths. Yes, carrots do help in keeping cancer away. In addition, beta carotene gives the body essential vitamins A, B and E.
  • As far as carrots are those deep soil root vegetables, they can absorb an abundance of minerals. Carrot juice is a drinkable source of potassium. Its deficiencies are bad for your body, resulting in acne, dry skin, muscle spasms and high cholesterol levels.
  • When juiced, carrots have perfect regenerative capacities. Drinking their juice either cleanses or restores your liver. That’s why this drink has been called the ‘golden juice of healing qualities.’
  • Juicing from carrots is probably the healthiest lifestyle choice possible. The proven health benefits of those vegetables are: reproductive health, eyesight health, bone health, teeth health, liver health, nail health, skin health and hair health. Well, drinking carrot juice contributes to different parts of your body.
Mega Carrot Beverage: A Few Tips
  • The darker color is the carrot, the more carotene it has.
  • Carrots taste surprisingly sweet, because of high concentration of natural sugar. So, people with diabetes should drink the juice carefully.
  • 8 ounces of carrot juice contain: 800% of daily vitamin A dosage; 35% of recommended vitamin C; 10% of potassium intake level; 6% of needed calcium.
  • Pure carrot juice is an extremely low calorie drink. That’s why it is an excellent helper for weight loss. If you are a dieter, athlete or weightlifter, carrot juicing + dairy blending will be true protein power.
Why Must You Drink Carrot Juice?
  1. It will do good for your overall health and such organs as skin and eyes, digestive system and teeth.
  2. You will purify and revitalize your blood.
  3. You will keep your blood pressure and blood sugar under control.
  4. You will reduce cholesterol, blood clots and heart diseases.
  5. You will kill harmful germs in your mouth and prevent your tooth decay.
  6. You will help your digestion and prevent gastric disorders.
  7. You will reduce the risk of cancers.
  8. If you are a mother, you will improve the quality of your breast milk.
  9. Having periods, you will increase your menstrual flow.
  10. You will improve your skin/hair/nails appearance, as well as your eyesight.
Let’s conclude that carrot juice is a real wonder, with powerful healing virtues for many diseases. Just start loving it! Remember that a glass of this juice daily will benefit you much more than a whole bottle of supplement tablets!

Mar 8, 2013

Remedy How to Treat Potassium Deficiency

Similar to vitamins, minerals are also required by the human body in order to carry out different functions. Potassium is one of the most important minerals required by the human body as it helps in proper functioning of the heart muscles. Secondly, potassium is also required to maintain the acid-base balance in the body.
Synthesis of carbohydrates and proteins is also carried out in the presence of potassium. As there are several health benefits associated with this mineral, one should have foods rich in potassium regularly. When the level of this mineral in the body falls severely, the person is said to suffer from potassium deficiency, also known as Hypokalemia. Here we will see more on the causes of potassium deficiency and ways to treat it.

What Causes Potassium Deficiency

We get all the essential amounts of potassium from dietary sources, i.e., foods that we eat. Potassium is found in several plant as well as animal sources. Therefore, gaining required amounts of potassium daily is not difficult. However, if one has an improper diet for a longer period or follows a crash or fad diet, he is prone to suffer from the deficiency of this mineral. Secondly, over use of diuretics and laxatives also leads to depletion of electrolytes and minerals from the body, leading to potassium deficiency. Symptoms of this condition depend on the severity of the condition and vary accordingly. Weakness, tiredness, fatigue, anxiety, temporary memory loss, hypertension, sleep disorders, etc. are some of the symptoms of this condition. Let us take a look at the treatment methods in detail.

Treating Potassium Deficiency

The treatment method of any vitamin or mineral deficiency aims in reversing the condition and rising the low levels of the related vitamin or mineral. Similar is the case with potassium deficiency. As improper diet and dietary habits is one of the major causes of potassium deficiency, making changes in the diet is the most common method of treating the deficiency. Deficiency of Potassium can be treated naturally by including potassium rich foods in the diet. As mentioned above, this mineral is obtained from several vegetarian as well as non vegetarian sources. People suffering from potassium deficiency should include foods like apple, avocado, beet, banana, buttermilk, beef, cod, chicken, clams, dates, figs, kidney beans, Kiwi fruit, lettuce, Lima beans, mushrooms, milk, nectarines, orange, prunes, pumpkin, peaches, potatoes, papaya, peanuts, raisins, salmon, sweet potatoes, turkey, winter squash, yogurt. Fruits like banana, peaches; and dried fruits like raisins and dates contain high amounts of this mineral and should be included in the daily diet to treat the potassium deficiency.

On the other hand, in case of severe potassium deficiency, the doctor may also prescribe potassium supplements to restore the levels of potassium quickly. Secondly, treating the underlying cause can also help in complete cure. For e.g., if it is caused due to use of diuretics, the doctor will change the medications and prescribe something that does not affect the potassium level. Similarly, if the condition is caused due to thyroid disorders, the doctor will treat the thyroid disorder, which will indirectly help in treating low levels of potassium. Therefore, we see that there are various potassium deficiency treatment methods that effectively help in reversing the condition.

Lastly, it should be noted that banana is one of the highest source of potassium and should be consumed every day; whether suffering from potassium deficiency or not. Having a proper and balanced diet helps in prevention of all vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

Mar 2, 2013

Conditioner-Only Hair Washing

Although haircare product manufacturers are still producing masques, treatments, spritzes and leave-ins, a growing number of people are deciding to limit their use of products and opt for a more natural haircare approach. Product-light haircare is less expensive and easier on the environment; moreover, many people find it has health and cosmetic benefits.


Shampoo-Free Hair Washing to Prevent Skin Conditions and Hair Thinning

Most commercial shampoos contain SLS (sodium lauryl sulphate) or SLES (sodium laureth sulfate). These ingredients are detergents, which are very effective at cleaning and also produce a luxuriant lather. However, for individuals with skin conditions such as eczem and seborrheic dermatitis, prolonged use of SLS and SLES can exacerbate symptoms.

SLS and SLES have also been implicated in thinning hair, probably due to damage of the hairs' roots. Many people notice that switching to non-SLS/SLES-containing brands of shampoo results in visibly thicker hair after a few months of use.

How Conditioner Cleans Hair

Usually chemically gentler than shampoo, conditioner can still be used to clean hair. The product must be thoroughly rubbed into the scalp, and takes longer to work; most conditioner-only (CO) hair washers recommend leaving the conditioner on for 10-15 minutes to work its magic. After rinsing, a second application of conditioner is recommended to condition the hair as normal.

Benefits of Using Conditioner Only Washing

The harsh surfactacts present in shampoo tend to overcleanse the scalp, stripping it of its natural oils; to compensate, the scalp produces more oil, called sebum. This tends to lock a person into a cycle of overcleansing – the more the hair is washed, the more it needs to be washed.

Because conditioner-only cleansing is gentler, the scalp needs to produce less sebum to compensate. After an initial transition period in which the hair will look greasy, conditioner-only users find that their hair needs to be washed less frequently. Problems with dry or brittle hair may also be resolved. Better still, people who have experiences thinning hair due to prolonged SLS/SLES exposure may notice new hair coming in.

Coping With the Greasy Transition Period

While the scalp 'deprograms' from producing excess sebum, the hair and scalp will look greasy for a time. Usually this transition period only lasts for six weeks or sConditioner Only Hair Washingo. Disguise greasy hair with a variety of braids, or hide it under a hat or bandana! It can be useful to time the transition to avoid any upcoming weddings, major holidays or photo opportunities – summer allows for wearing plenty of hats.

Using a boar bristle brush helps to spread the excess sebum down the hair shaft, where it can do its job as a natural protectant and conditioner. These brushes also smooth down the hair, acting as 'instant product' and transforming grease into shine.

Other Options for Natural Hair Care
  • Water-only (WO) washing eliminates conditioner as well as shampoo from the hair-washing equation. Water and boar bristle brushing are used to remove particles of dirt and spread sebum throughout the hair.
  • Herbal or natural haircare use various homemade ingredients to clean and condition hair. The ingredients range from Indian herbs such as shikakai and amla to herbal tisanes, honey masques and aloe vera gel. Baking soda and vinegar washing is another homemade option.
  • Organic and herbal commercial products are sometimes SLS/SLES-free, and may contain fewer chemicals than regular haircare products.

Feb 26, 2013

Understanding Cancer and Carrot Health Benefits

Well, considering how amazing carrots are for health, especially its juice, no prizes for guessing why he does that! But all said and done, it is fantastic for maintaining your health. In fact, studies have shown that carrots and cancer have a significant link. Its juice is believed to be extremely potent in reducing risks of different types of cancers.


Cancer and Carrot Health Benefits

Nutrients in Carrot Juice

This juice has been touted as the miracle juice all over the world. And why not, it is fully loaded with vitamins, minerals and other substances essential for good health. So to get to how it prevents cancer, this premise is necessary. The juice has vitamins A, C, D, E, K, B1, B6 along with iron, calcium, sulfur, copper, chlorine, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium and potassium. Each of these vitamins and minerals play their role to the fullest to make this juice an unbeatable prospect when it comes to dealing with the leviathan called cancer. In addition to these, the juice contains beta carotene, which is a potent weapon against cancer.

Major Beneficial Nutrients

Vitamin E: The first strong contender in carrot working against cancer is the wily old vitamin E which exists in three chemical forms - alpha, beta and gamma tocopherol. These are together called vitamin E complex. According to a study, interestingly, a relation has been established between vitamin E and growth and division of cells essential to keep the tissues healthy. Amazing as it may sound, when in laboratory conditions, cancerous tissues were placed in blood serum loaded with vitamin E, they did not grow. In addition to that, vitamin E improves immunity and inner strength of your body, which can also deal well with cancer.

Vitamin A: My granny always tells me to eat carrots because it is good for the eyesight. It surely is. Those who have a very negligible power when it comes to lenses or glasses, eating carrots or having its juice can help them regain the 6 by 6 eyesight. All thanks to vitamin A, which is found in abundance in it. Can you believe that 200 grams of carrot juice, actually has 50,000 or more units of vitamin A? But that is true, believe it or not! A very famous dietitian, in fact, cured a woman suffering from stomach cancer, armed only with juice of carrots!

Beta Carotene: Carrot juice can stave off breast and skin cancer due to the amount of beta carotene it has. Primarily beta carotene is an antioxidant and it eliminates free radicals totally from the body. It also takes care of preventing the cell degeneration which happens in our body. Consequently it also prevents the aging process. Apart from this, because of anti carcinogen properties in carrot juice, cancer is prevented.

Other Nutrients

Other nutrients like vitamin B and C in have an effect in totality on maintaining and stimulating necessary body functions like metabolism, healthy teeth and bones, bracing up the immune system, improving digestion, enhancing vision, good skin, and such others. These as a whole prevent lung cancer, blood cancer and who knows there might be many more! Thus after all this, we can safely say that the benefits of juicing carrots are umpteen!

Many nutritionists and dietitians swear by health benefits of this vegetable. Many have done a lot of experiments as well and have emerged as a success. Now, with all these mind-boggling benefits, who would not munch carrots? So, are you ready for your daily dose of the miraculous red juice?! Go for it!