HEALTH TIDBIT NEWS

Cancer Pill Can Help Expose HIV For Treatment

2014-08-15T00:31:00.001+08:00

A group of Danish doctors were complemented for their efforts in discovering the use and benefit of a certain cancer drug that can help expose the HIV in the body for better treatment. The human immunodeficiency virus, known as HIV is very elusive to treatment. They live inside the human cells that are called as the CD4 that gives them shelter and protection against any form of treatment.

The recent medical breakthrough, however, offers a more insightful hope for better treatment of AIDS. Although under further research, the anti-retroviral medicine has a high potential of exposing the virus outside the human cell where it can become more susceptible to being destroyed by medications.

Read more about the result of the New Discovery In The Treatment of Hidden HIV Inside The Human Cells.

Weight Loss Trend on Nutrition for 2013 Revealed

2013-02-09T12:35:00.001+08:00

In a recent press release about health and nutrition, there are different kinds of weight loss regimen that are predicted to be a trend in the year 2013. Losing weight naturally is safer and better than getting under the knife or surgery. This option is always taken as a last consideration when losing weight. With weight loss nutrition becoming a safer choice in managing a healthy and ideal weight, the nutrition industry catering to weight loss has boomed in the past years.

If your health matters the most to you, managing your weight should be a priority. Obesity has been a major cause of chronic diseases like heart diseases and diabetes. Getting yourself fit and healthy most of the time is important and so are the foods that you eat. Drinking coffee, taking nutritional supplements and eating nutritious foods packed with loads of nutritional value with a weight loss potential result is something you don't want to miss trying.

Long Term Side Effects for Prostate Cancer Treatment Reported

2013-01-31T09:39:00.002+08:00

Prostate Cancer Treatments Have Side Effects

In a recent report published by the New England Journal of Medicine, the long term side effects of radiation therapy and surgical treatment in prostate cancer can lead to the long term side effects of urinary incontinence and bowel disorders. The outcome of the research may depend upon the age of the male patient and the size of the tumor. Medical researchers believe that further studies and survey among these patients need to be pursued. Men with cancer of the prostate are often advised to undergo surgical treatment or radiation therapy as their treatment option but now there is the need to further evaluate the disease to determine the necessity of undergoing these treatments.

Men with prostate cancer are now cautioned before deciding whether to take radiation therapy or surgery as their treatment option in consideration of these long term side effects.

Should Cancer Patients Suffer From Pain?

2012-09-16T21:55:00.000+08:00

Cancer patients suffer a great deal of pain as their condition progresses. Not only is the cancer patient who suffers from the emotional and physical pain but so are their family and friends. Caring for a cancer patient can take a toll on the family’s financial, emotional and psychological ability to cope with the condition. Understanding cancer pain and its proper management will help the patient cope better with the proper support of the caregivers and family members.

Cancer is a disease where abnormal cells uncontrollably grow in the body and spread to affect the body tissues and organs including the lungs, skin, breast, bone, liver, colon and nerve tissues among others. Relieving the pain experienced by a cancer patient is one of the priority treatment management to be given. Common symptoms experienced with cancer include fatigue, body malaise, chills, weight loss, loss of appetite, and pain. Cancer pain management includes the prescription of medication and conservative treatment using exercise and relaxation techniques. While pain is indispensable in cancers, it is manageable. With medical breakthroughs in the management of cancer pain, no cancer patient should suffer from pain.

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It is important to communicate to the patient and their family that cancer pain can be controlled. Encouraging cancer patients to openly communicate their pain experience is important in order to give them adequate treatment and pain management. It is important to involve the patient and their family in the cancer pain treatment and management plan to effectively form a stronger support group for patients with cancer.

Encouraging patients to keep a record of their pain experience will help the doctors understand the extent of their pain suffering that will enable them to find the best medicine to manage the pain. Cancer pain can be reduced with proper care and medication. Hence, cancer patients no longer have to endure many sleepless nights and can return to living normally with the people they love providing care and support. Cancer pain management will help patients with cancers to sleep better and enjoy living their life to the fullest. Even their family and friends will also be relieved from the burden of seeing their loved one suffer from pain knowing that cancer pain can be controlled and managed effectively with a proper treatment plan that will make a cancer patient having some degree of control on the amount of pain to endure.

Torn Rotator Cuff Treatment Advancing With Technology

2012-06-19T23:20:00.000+08:00

Modern torn rotator cuff treatments are underway

The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the body and it is always prone to wear and tear. The stress placed on the shoulder is always sustained by a group of muscles protecting the shoulder joint called the rotator cuff muscles. An adequate torn rotator cuff treatment is required in order to relieve yourself effectively from the discomforts and pain resulting from a rotator cuff injury.

Because shoulder injury is a common cause of health concerns among the elderly, athletes and laborers that can significantly result to degeneration and disability, efforts were made in order to improve the torn rotator cuff treatment. Although the surgical approach is reserved only as the last recourse of treatment for a torn rotator cuff, a more advanced joint replacement study is underway that aims to relieve pathological conditions of the shoulder including a severe torn rotator cuff muscles. The focus of the study is to address the challenge of poor tendon healing and regeneration. It was reported that among the possible treatments to become available are modern modalities consisting of biologic and tissue engineering that will optimally improve the debilitating condition of a severe torn rotator cuff muscle.

More information on shoulder research here.

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Another promising treatment for a torn rotator cuff is the use of modern stem cell technologies at the center for regenerative medicine. Studies show a significant increase of shoulder injuries among younger individuals that could eventually lead to muscle weakness, atrophy (thinning of the muscle mass) and crepitus (a crackling sound along the shoulder joint. The center for regenerative medicine in Florida aims to apply the efficacy of modern stem cell treatment in enhancing tissue regeneration among the sufferers of should injury and help them get back to their normal activities of daily living.

What is Facebook Addiction Disorder

2012-05-29T11:28:00.002+08:00

Facebook addiction disorder (FAD)

Is there such thing as Facebook addiction disorder? This form of addiction strikes me as one of the social media network's negative aspects. People would love to publicize important events happening in their lives and well, even the petty ones through their social media profiles. The launching of Facebook has become a major event in the social media industry as it grows millions of users in just a matter of time. Psychologists believe that Facebook addiction disorder can become prevalent among people who could not seem to dissociate their lives from their Facebook account.

Facebook addiction disorder is obvious when there is unhealthy use of Facebook in terms of spending more time with Facebook to the extent that a person's life becomes affected and important responsibilities are neglected. Criteria used for diagnosing Facebook addiction disorder include the identification of the presence of tolerance, withdrawal symptoms, reduction of normal social or recreational activities as among others.
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Bacterial Sinusitis Warning Symptoms

2012-05-29T07:23:00.000+08:00

Do you have bacterial sinusitis?

Sinus infection is commonly caused by a viral infection but according to the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), it is always possible to develop bacterial infections from sinusitis. IDSA currently released its new guidelines that would help identify whether your condition involves bacterial sinusitis. The following are characteristic symptoms indicating that you may be suffering from acute bacterial rhinosinusitis:

1. Sinusitis symptoms lasting more than 10 days with no clinical improvement.
2. Severe symptoms occur, manifesting a temperature of 102°F or higher, facial pain and nasal discharge. These symptoms persist for at least three to four consecutive days from the start of the illness.
3. Severe symptoms appear characterized by persistent fever and headache, increased nasal discharge and signs of a viral upper respiratory tract infection that lasts for at least five to six days.

The condition is manageable by antibiotic treatment for seven days in adults while children may need to take the antibiotic for at least 10 to 14 days. While nasal decongestants and antihistamine are commonly used to obtain relief from the symptoms of viral sinusitis, it should be avoided in the presence of bacterial sinusitis as it could induce inflammatory response on the nasal cavity. The guideline recommends managing bacterial sinusitis with antipyretics, hydration, intranasal corticosteroids and saline irrigation.

Consumers Warned on Aspartame Side Effects

2012-05-25T10:11:00.003+08:00

There is a growing concern regarding aspartame side effects. Just recently, Natural Health Sherpa, a prestigious natural health site that brings the latest news on health information just recently advised consumers to avoid consuming products that contain aspartame. Research studies of the Food and Drugs Authority show that 75% of the adverse effects due to food additives come from aspartame. This form of artificial sweetener is also believed to be the culprit in the development of various diseases and medical conditions like Parkinson's, brain tumors, Alzheimer's disease and cancer. Despite the dangers of aspartame side effects, it can be noted that it is a food additive that is commonly used in weight loss products. It has become a popular artificial sweetener found in sugar free products and other weight loss drinks. When used as a sweetener substitute at a safe threshold, aspartame poisoning can be avoided but there is still the danger of getting intoxicated when used beyond this safety threshold.

Aspartame Secrets Revealed

2012-05-19T08:07:00.000+08:00

Aspartame secrets revealed - Are you at risk?

If you are fond of buying dietary food products and beverages you may want to check the product labels and understand what are the dangers lurking behind the most common sugar substitute in their ingredients called aspartame. Aspartame is a non-saccharide sugar substitute and artificial sweetener that is commonly used in most products like beverages and sugar free gums and food products. There have been controversial issues emanating from the approval of the FDA for aspartame as safe for human consumption however there is not enough research to dispute the findings of the FDA on the safety of aspartame. It is worth noting however that aspartame has been attributed to many neurologic disorders caused by food additives. Some of these conditions include Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, and memory loss. Other symptoms attributed to aspartame poisoning include headaches, dizziness, nausea, seizure, vertigo, violent behavior, emotional disorders, sleeping disorders, visual problem, asthma, weakness, fatigue, and chills. These adverse reactions caused by aspartame poisoning are attributable to the residual components of aspartame. These are neurotoxins and excitotoxins that cause neuronal death. The residual substances of aspartame are broken down into 3 components namely the aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol. Aspartic acid may cause neuronal death with increased amount in the body while methanol is broken down into formaldehyde and formic acids which are dangerous neurotoxins. Phenylalanine from aspartame is dangerous in persons with metabolic disorder where the body is incapable of metabolizing phenylalanine from the body system. This results to higher level of serotonin that triggers emotional disturbances and violent behavior. There is a potential danger to suffer from these adverse effects of aspartame with prolonged intake. Serious complications may arise such as the development of cancer, brain tumors, and even death. Now you can make healthy choices on the foods you take and observe precaution from consuming products with aspartame no matter how safe others claim it to be.

World’s First Stem Cell Drug Prochymal Now Approved

2012-05-18T18:38:00.000+08:00

Stem cell research continues to grow in a wide dimension with health experts seeing better chances of making a bone marrow transplant medicine to become available for the public. Just recently Health Canada gave clearance to Osiris Therapuetics, Inc. to market their stem cell drug, Prochymal. This is the world’s first stem cell drug to become available in the market. Prochymal is used as a stem cell therapy drug for acute graft versus host disorder (GvHD) among children. The condition afflicts about 80% of children diagnosed with the condition within weeks. Cancer experts are pleased to see the developments on the modern stem cell technologies with the birth of the first stem cell drug that is now available for children who are beginning to lose hope with their condition. Oncology experts are optimistic that this first step towards the availability of the off-the-shelf stem cell therapy drug to physicians will enhance their ability to fight off cancer and other bone marrow diseases. According to Business Wire, Prochymal met the Health Canada’s notice of compliance with condition pathway that allows therapeutic products to be under clinical trials. An expert advisory committee recommended the approval of the stem cell therapy drug after indicating its efficacy and safety. The drug is viable to use among children with GvHD who are unresponsive to steroid therapy.

Lap Band Surgery: Your Less Invasive Choice to Lose Excessive Fats

2011-01-11T01:36:00.000+08:00

Conquer your fear of having no other options to lose excessive fats without considering major surgery. If you have unmanageable obesity where all other forms of dieting and fat loss programs give no solution for you to lose weight effectively, you may consider undergoing a lap band surgery.

Also known as Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB), a lap band surgery is a less invasive procedure that works best for people who are afraid of undergoing major surgery to lose weight. It is the least invasive surgical procedure that one may resort to when other forms of dieting and weight loss regimen seem to fail in reducing the excess baggage of fats from your bulging tummy.

Being obese is unhealthy. You need to lose considerate amount of weight in order to bring back your body's homeostasis or balance for a better health. Although there are many kinds of weight plans you can consider, when all else fail your doctor may suggest surgery as an option. Lap band surgery offers a safer option among all surgical procedures for losing weight.

You May Be Suffering From Sinusitis Infection

2011-01-11T01:12:00.000+08:00

Are you experiencing sneezes, runny nose, colds, and stuffy nose? You may be a victim of sinusitis infection. These are the common discomforts that millions of sufferers of sinusitis experience. There are different factors that may cause you to manifest these symptoms. The severity of your symptoms will also vary according to the kind of infection you are possibly suffering from.

Acute sinusitis, although more temporary when it occurs, are the more severe form of sinus infection. Sufferers may experience loss of smell, extreme fatigue, and fever. Chronic sinus infection on one hand may produce nasal obstruction and mucus discharges that may last for at least 8 weeks.

There are varieties of management for a sinus infection. Prevention is the best remedy for a sinusitis attack.

Diabetes in Pregnancy

2010-08-07T21:29:00.016+08:00

Gestational diabetes may occur during the course of pregnancy but the condition is manageable with appropriate treatment and management. While it is possible to develop gestational diabetes, not all women are at risk to developing the condition during the course of their pregnancy.

Obesity Linked to Cancer

2010-08-07T21:22:00.003+08:00

There are high indications that obesity may induce the development of cancer most especially cancer of the colon, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, cancer of the kidney, and esophageal cancer. Because obesity is a prevalent public health concern, it is best to understand how cancer may develop from obesity. Now, people have better reasons to find the ideal weight loss strategy to help them control excessive weight gain, optimize fat loss effects, and reduce the risk to some form of cancers.

Sunburn Can Cause Cancer

2010-05-22T23:23:00.004+08:00

A person may experience sunburn at least once in their lifetime. It is alarming to know that sunburn can be attributed to skin cancer, specifically melanoma, which is the most common cancer of the skin. You should be weary of exposing your skin to the sunlight's UVB and UVA rays that could increase your risk to skin cancer. be informed and don't get your skin exposed too much to sunlight.

Do You Know How to Count Calories to Lose Weight?

2010-05-22T23:12:00.003+08:00

Counting calories provides a weight loss strategy that can help you cut down on your calorie intake to promote weight loss as a natural weight loss regimen. While there is no sure way to prevent weight gain, you can at least learn the basic principle of exercising control on your calorie intake and how it can be significant in promoting weight control.

Fat Loss Essential To Fight Obesity

2010-05-22T22:10:00.004+08:00

Obesity is becoming a public health concern because of its growing statistics in the United States. while there are different weight loss methods that can give you quick fat loss solution such as taking synthetic drugs, it is preferable to choose the natural methods of losing weight naturally.

The Power Nutrition of Flax Seed

2010-05-03T18:30:00.003+08:00

The Cancer Institute of the United States has found revealing study that gives flax seed the potential power to help prevent cancer. Flax seed is very high in fiber which gives better management to gastrointestinal disorders and can prevent colon cancer in general.

It is high in other nutrients scuh as omega 3 fatty acids and phytonutrients. Learn more about flax seed and its power nutrition that benefits the health and how it promotes the general well being.

Sauna Belt Effectiveness

2009-11-21T21:37:00.002+08:00

Sauna belts invade the market with increasing demands and usage from the public because of its association to aid in weight loss. There are major health benefits with the use of sauna belts such as improvement of various health conditions, abdominal and muscle training, protection from skin cancer, and the most popular is weight loss. With so many types of sauna belts do you know which is effective?

When buying sauna belts it is important to have the knowledge on how to properly use it in order to enhance its effectiveness. Ineffectiveness of a sauna belt product may be due to misuse that can lead to side effects. Using the sauna belt entails knowing the correct strategy of its usage and identifying the possible effects and contraindications for its safe use.

There are various types of sauna belts in the market and in order to obtain the best weight loss benefits you need to learn choosing the one that can best serve your purpose of buying one. The Velform Sauna Belt is recommended to be the most effective according to the studies done by the National Advertising Review Council’s Electronic Retailing Self-Regulation Program (ERSP) that probe on the reliability of the claims of some sauna belt marketers advertising Velform Sauna Belt as an effective tool to aid in weight loss. Studies have proven the effectiveness of this type of sauna belt when used up to 50 minutes for 7 consecutive days. This time frame is ideal before the skin becomes over exposed to heat and the desired effect of burning fats has already been achieved. The administrators of the test arrived at the conclusion that sauna belt can statistically reduce the belly fat size of up to 2.6 cm.

Duyff R. L. of the American Dietetic Association also warns to ensure buying sauna belts that are regulated by the ERSP to ensure its reliability and effectiveness. Many sauna belt marketers are making false claims on the effectiveness of their product as an easy way to lose weight without undergoing the necessary tests by the authorities to back up their claims. There are some that are quite ineffective and not supported with research studies. This implies that consumers of sauna belts must be aware of getting a background check on the quality and reliability of the sauna belt products they purchase.

Knowing the proper usage of sauna belts is a means to maximize its potential benefits to aid in weight loss. The following are tips and tricks on the ideal usage of sauna belts to obtain best results.

1. Use the sauna belt for 50 minutes a day. Longer than this time can cause redness to the skin.
2. Avoid skin irritation by using the belt over a shirt to avoid direct contact to skin.
3. Do not use air conditioning while using a sauna belt. Its usage is ideal at room temperature to promote sweating.
4. Never use the sauna belt over any topical application.
5. You can avoid problems with the electrical circuit of the devise by not assuming a position that is lying on your stomach while wearing the belt.
6. Drinking hot fluids like coffee and tea while using the sauna belt can also aid in its effectiveness to burn fats.
7. Before making any purchase of sauna belt, ensure that the company manufacturing the product is reliable.
8. Feel free to ask recommendations from the people who are sauna belt users and ask which product is effective to them.

It pays to observe smart buying and educated use of sauna belts to get the maximum benefits of this weight loss product. These basic strategies can help you initiate wise buying and ideal usage to obtain the best effects of sauna belts.

The Best Way To Build Muscle Mass

2009-06-16T12:44:00.002+08:00

Every body builder seeks to know how to build muscle mass in simple and straightforward ways. Here are some basic muscle building techniques to gain real muscle mass. Just follow these tips thoroughly and you will see the difference in the next few weeks.

In performing heavy exercise sets, free weights are the ideal choice to use. Dumbbells should be used in developing the biceps and shoulders instead of different weight machines. This will give your ancillary muscles to work as well as develop compound body mass. Free weights give greater range of motion which increases the number of muscles utilized during the workout. Free weights give more control on how to build muscle in different areas of the body therefore better results are achieved.

Another efficient tip on how to build muscle is to assess your physique in order to determine the group of muscles to be given emphasis during the workout. In this manner the focus is how to build muscle on less developed muscle groups. Well developed areas will have limited focus and concentrated only to muscle toning and maintenance.

Optimum sets are suggested to be utilized for every exercise. This is how to build muscle in such a way that it will benefit your workout. It is also suggested that only two major muscle groups should be given attention daily in order to avoid over work of other muscle groups and body. Exercises on the different muscle groups should not be limited. Try to experiment with other exercises to maximize muscle building.

Pre-workout warm-ups such as stretching and cardio exercises help avoid injuries. Many bodybuilders neglect this stage whereby some of them had career-ending injuries. The muscle should not be stressed immediately by weight or lifting exercises. Warm ups give the muscles time to adjust to the strain of the workout. This is how to build muscle without the danger of injury to our body. A post-workout warm up is also recommended to lower the muscle stress.

Eat a balanced diet that has equal proportions of protein, carbohydrates and fatty acids. These food elements help our body provide energy and nutrients to our muscles as well as other organs of the body. The ability on how to build muscle is dependent on the focus and concentration given by the individual to their workout program.

Simplified Weight Loss and Diet Solution

2009-05-27T13:36:00.004+08:00

The greatest ordeal among weight conscious is how to remove the excess baggage of fats on their midsection – the belly. It is unsightly to see bulging and sagging abdominals. It has become a big deal among obese and weight conscious individuals to rid these stubborn fats.

The solution is a simplified fat loss regimen that anyone can easily implement. It must consist of the following programs that will help you reduce the amounts of fats that add up to your weight and unsightly image.

1. Workouts

Must include exercise regimen you are comfortable doing and most likely to sustain for a longer period. It must incorporate eclectic approach of general body conditioning, resistance exercise, and cardiovascular exercise.

2. Make a Reasonable Diet Plan

Exercise workouts are futile without a sound diet. Body fats occur when there are fats and calories more than the body can burn. Crash diet is a big NO since the body has a defense mechanism that activates cravings once you starve yourself to death. This will make you eat more quantities of food more than you intend to consume.

3. Rev Up Your Metabolism

Eating more frequently with small amounts of food will make your metabolism spontaneously active. This will make breaking down of fats more consistent and effective.

Do not be hopeless when you see others enjoying a flatter abs than yours. They are simple genetically blessed with a leaner body structure and faster metabolic rate. Concentrate on your weight loss regimen and make sure to follow diligently each program to obtain your ideal weight and figure.

Glucomannan The Fiber Weight Loss Solution

2009-05-27T12:56:00.002+08:00

Becoming popular in the Western countries and some parts of Asia is a fiber entity in the form of Glucomannan that offers a natural solution to weight gain. Taken from the plant, Amorphophallus konjac, its tuber has marked water retention ability, high viscosity, and molecular weight.

Glucomannan can improve bowel movement by enhanced waste excretion and can cause interference with the transport of cholesterol throughout the body with resulting reduced cholesterol and blood sugar levels. A natural appetite suppressant that gives one a full stomach sensation to discourage food cravings, Glucomannan is a perfect solution to obesity.

Drink Less Soda to Cut Down Calories

2009-05-25T06:42:00.000+08:00

Researches are becoming numerous in terms of the outcome of their studies that implicate sodas as a main hindrance to losing weight. The higher sweetener and sugar content from sodas contribute to gain weight. Notable are the high caloric content in fruit drinks and sweetened beverages.

Experts imply substituting soda intake with water as a healthier solution to cut down calorie levels from the body. Many studies conclude that sweetened sodas highly contribute to childhood obesity. Sodas are no doubt any child’s favorite. Beyond the sweet tastes of sodas are higher caloric content that are the main culprit for obesity in children.

Experts suggest cutting down soda intake and substitute it with water instead. Studies were conclusive that sweetened sodas contribute to childhood obesity. Children like sweetened drinks and sodas are a favorite. Beyond the knowledge of many, sodas contain high calories and daily intake of sweetened sodas adds up to weight gain.

Water substitutes to sodas will provide significant reduction of the level of calories in the body. Water is a weight loss alternative regimen that can highly prevent obesity among adults and children. Sodas should be given to children as treats or on occasional basis only and it should not always be readily available in your refrigerator for easy access to them.

Recent studies show that a percent drop of calorie from sweetened sodas can substantially equate to about 6.6. percent drop on calorie consumption. This statistics reflects a significant impact to losing weight.

Obesity in both children and adults can pose risk to medical conditions such as diabetes and heart ailments. Sugar laden drinks such as sweetened beverages, sodas, and fruit drinks are a façade of weight obesity.

Taking calorie free beverages will help eliminate about 235 calories from a child or adult’s daily diet and water consumption remains to be the best healthier alternative drinks.

The Most Dangerous Food Additives In The Market

2009-05-23T20:30:00.001+08:00

I am working on my article about aspartame and my research shocked me of its potential health hazard. I am compelled to write this into circulation for the true sense of an educated information since aspartame is contained in the many products we consume everyday: carbonated diet drinks, breath mints, cereals, chewing gum, flavored syrups for coffee, frozen ice creams, fruit spread, gelatin (sugar free), hard and soft candies, ice tea powder/ready to drink, juices, instant cocoa mix, maple syrups, mousse, sugar free cookies, sugar free ketchups, table top sweeteners, vegetable drinks, yogurt and the list may go on and on.

Make a habit of looking at the product labels for this substance as it is also suspected to be addicting. I actually made 10 articles about aspartame but I chose to introduce you to the toxic substances behind this artificial sweetener. Please read on my article.

THE TOXIC SUBSTANCES BEHIND ASPARTAME

Aspartame has gained general public attention because of issues raised against its potential threat to public health. Many people would claim it is the substance aspartame as the culprit for the varying complex symptoms they experienced. Many would be aware of these possible threats of aspartame but not many would understand why such claims were stated. It would be educational to understand the substances that made aspartame a dangerous artificial sweetener.

Because of its benefits such as weight reduction and reducing calories from daily food intake, it is also a friend to our tooth that keeps it away from decay and allows diabetics to eat more choices of foods with artificial sweeteners in lieu of sugar. Because of these benefits, many people are enticed to patronized foods with artificial sweeteners without bothering what substances make up the sugar substitute in their foods.

Aspartame is made up of three substances. The first substance is aspartic acid, an excitatory amino acid that makes up about 40% of aspartame. It acts as a neurotransmitters in the brain that when present in excessive amounts can cause neuronal death. It is often tagged as an excitotoxin as it causes neuronal cell death due to its hyperactivity. It reaches its higher level in the brain shortly after aspartame ingestion. About 75% of neural deaths occur before significant symptoms are manifested.

Long term exposure to this substance is closely related to chronic illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, memory loss, hearing loss, hormonal problems, epilepsy, alzheimer’s disease, parkinson’s disease, hypoglycemia, aids, dementia, brain lesions and neuroendocrine disorders. Under debate are other myriads of reactions due to excessive aspartic acid in the brain including headaches, abdominal pains, nausea, sleeping problems, fatigue, vision impairments, anxiety attacks, depression and asthma. It was also noted to observe precaution on its risks to children, infants, pregnant women and the elderly.

Phenylalanine is the second substance making up 50% of aspartame. Intake of this substance is highly toxic to people with genetic disorder of phenylketonuria (PKU) who cannot metabolize phenylalanine in their system. When taken along with carbohydrates, the phenylalanine level of an individual can shoot up to an excessive level. Excessive presence of this substance decreases the serotonin level in the brain causing emotional disorders such as depression. Studies of reduced serotonin can lead to a violent reaction, depression, emotional imbalance and behavioral changes.

The third and most dangerous substance present in aspartame is methanol, a deadly poison that makes 10% of aspartame. It takes the responsibility of causing blindness and death among alcoholics. It is released when aspartame are heated above 86 Fahrenheit (30 Centigrade) occurring usually when aspartame-containing products are improperly stored or when heated.

Methanol then breaks down into formic acid and formaldehyde (a deadly neurotoxin). Methanol poisoning result to a complex of symptoms such as headaches, GI disturbances, ear buzzing, dizziness, nausea, vertigo, weakness, chills, memory lapses, numbness and shooting pain in the extremities, behavioral disturbances, visual problems, birth defects and neuritis.

Behind the beauty of dieting benefits of aspartame lurk dangerous substances deleterious to human health. While legally approved by the Food and Drug Administration of the United States and freely circulated in the market for public consumption world wide, it is every consumer’s awareness to make their own personal judgment whether to consume aspartame-containing products to safeguard their health.

Are Plastic Bottle Safe For Recycled Drinking?

2009-05-23T20:29:00.000+08:00

It has been a health concern to the majority on the safety use of plastic bottled water lately. Since the current trend is for people to bring water on a trendy colorful plastic bottles that is convenient to heftily carry around. These bottles are light, durable and come in beautiful or sporty designs. They are perfect for active lifestyle. The irony however, is that health hazard may be caused by the chemicals that make these bottles attractive. Some agencies and research centers however are not united to claim the fact that plastic bottled water gives potential health hazard to the consumers. Here are some facts to base your own educated judgment how safe plastic bottled waters are.

The Chemicals

Lexan polycarbonate resin is plastic polymer used in a variety of products over the last four decades including compact discs and DVDs, bulletproof windows, mobile phones, computers, baby bottles, and water bottles. Lexan is a perfect choice for water and baby bottles as it is durable, doesn't hold flavors or odors nor delivers any taste from the bottle material itself to the fluids it holds. In 1998, it was discovered that polycarbonate resin can leach bisphenol-A (BPA), a potent hormone disruptor. BPA, a chemical found in epoxy resin and polycarbonate plastics, may impair the reproductive organs and have adverse effects on tumors, breast tissue development, and prostate development by reducing sperm count.

BPA can be leached into the water bottles contents through normal wear and tear, exposure to heat and cleaning agents. This include leaving your plastic water bottle in your car during errands, in your back pack during hikes and running it through your dishwasher and using harsh detergents. It was further found that detectable levels of BPA leached into liquids at room temperature. This means just having your plastic water bottle sitting on your desk can be potentially harmful.

It would be assuring to know on the other hand that most plastic containers are made up of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and that with single use, these bottles are perfectly safe. However, the plastics in re-used water bottles break down over time. Bottles that are repeatedly used after rinsing, washing and heating, contain a contaminant that appears regularly in these single-use plastic beverage containers, known as DEHA (di-2-ethyl-hexyl-adipate).

DEHA is a suspected human carcinogen that if consumed in large concentrations has been linked to excessive weight loss as well as reproductive and liver problems. This repeated use causes the plastic to break down and the carcinogens can leach into the water that you are drinking.

People who re-use a PET bottle once or twice to carry drinking water are in possibly no danger from chemicals leaching from the plastic into the water. However, it is known that bottles left out in the heat, say in your car, run the risk of having the plastics break down and bacteria to grow much faster. It is recommended that if a new water bottle is left out in a warm temperature or after being left in a hot car to dispose of the water and recycle the container.

To avoid bacteria build up, wash out your containers with warm water and biodegradable dish soap. Be sure to wipe the mouth of the container and the lids. And most importantly, let the container completely dry before refilling. Keeping any container continually filled with liquid can lead to bacteria growth that can lead to potential illness to occur.

It must be kept in mind that plastic bottles are made to be recycled and not for re-use. As an alternative use stainless steel water bottles which are light, durable and hold both hot and cold liquids well and are suited for active individuals to use.

Although some research institutions relate that the claim on the potential health hazard caused by re-using plastic bottle remains unfounded, it would be wise to keep in mind that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.