ReflexerciseNOW

What are the symptoms of low vitamin E?

2018-05-14T21:32:00.002-07:00

The body needs vitamin E to function, making it an essential vitamin. It is fat-soluble, meaning that it requires fat from the diet to be properly absorbed. Vitamin E is mainly stored in the liver before being released into the blood stream for use.

Deficiency is uncommon and typically the result of an underlying condition. Some premature infants also have low levels.

Vitamin E occurs in eight chemical forms. With a blood test, a doctor can learn how much of one form, alpha-tocopherol, a person has. Using this information, they can determine whether a person's overall level of vitamin E.

A normal level is usually with the range of 5.5–17 milligrams per liter (mg/L). The normal range may be different for premature infants and children under 17. Normal ranges can also vary slightly among labs.

When an adult has less than 4 mg/L of vitamin E in their blood, they usually require supplementation.

Signs and symptoms of deficiency

Vitamin E deficiency may cause disorientation and vision problems.

Low levels of vitamin E can lead to:

Muscle weakness: Vitamin E is essential to the central nervous system. It is among the body's main antioxidants, and a deficiency results in oxidative stress, which can lead to muscle weakness.
Coordination and walking difficulties: A deficiency can cause certain neurons, called the Purkinje neurons, to break down, harming their ability to transmit signals.
Numbness and tingling: Damage to nerve fibers can prevent the nerves from transmitting signals correctly, resulting in these sensations, which are also called peripheral neuropathy.
Vision deterioration: A vitamin E deficiency can weaken light receptors in the retina and other cells in the eye. This can lead to loss of vision over time.
Immune system problems: Some research suggests that a lack of vitamin E can inhibit the immune cells. Older adults may be particularly at risk.

Muscle weakness and difficulties with coordination are neurological symptoms that indicate damage to the central and peripheral nervous systems.

The peripheral system is the network of nerves located beyond the brain and spinal cord. These neurons pass messages throughout the body.

The central nervous system communicates between the brain and the spinal cord.

The sheaths of neurons are mostly composed of fats. When the body has too little vitamin E, it contains fewer antioxidants that protect these fats, and the function of the nervous system breaks down.

Causes of vitamin E deficiency

- Genetics

Vitamin E deficiency often runs in families.

Learning about family history can make diagnosing certain rare, inherited diseases easier. Two of these diseases, congenital abetalipoproteinemia and familial isolated vitamin E deficiency, are chronic and result in extremely low vitamin E levels.

- Medical conditions

Vitamin E deficiency can also result from diseases that severely reduce the absorption of fat. This is because the body requires fat to absorb vitamin E correctly.

Some of these diseases include:

Deficiency is also common in newborns and babies born prematurely who have lower birth weights and less fat.

Premature infants are at particular risk because an immature digestive tract can interfere with fat and vitamin E absorption.

Vitamin E deficiencies in these infants can also lead to hemolytic anemia, which destroys red blood cells.

When to see a doctor

When a person has no history of genetic disease but experiences any symptoms of a vitamin E deficiency, they should contact a doctor.

An extremely low level of vitamin E in the blood can indicate an underlying health issue. Further testing will help to determine the cause and treatment options.

What are the treatment options?

Newborns and premature babies may be given a vitamin E supplement via a tube in the stomach.

Vitamin E supplementation is often effective.

Newborns and premature babies

Current practice involves providing vitamin E supplementation through a tube in the stomach. When necessary, it can also be administered intravenously.

While one dose can sufficiently raise blood levels of vitamin E, multiple doses may be required.

Children and adults

Children and adults with deficiencies caused by inherited conditions require supplementation with high doses of vitamin E.

Supplementation can stop the progression of the disease. When the deficiency is detected early, it may prevent neurological symptoms.

source : Medical News Today

Hidden Secret of Immortality Enzyme Telomerase .Can we stay young forever, or even recapture lost youth?

2018-02-28T03:33:00.002-08:00

Research from the laboratory of Professor Julian Chen in the School of Molecular Sciences at Arizona State University recently uncovered a crucial step in the telomerase enzyme catalytic cycle. This catalytic cycle determines the ability of the human telomerase enzyme to synthesize DNA "repeats" (specific DNA segments of six nucleotides) onto chromosome ends, and so afford immortality in cells. Understanding the underlying mechanism of telomerase action offers new avenues toward effective anti-aging therapeutics. illustration depicting the enzyme telomerase This figure depicts the enzyme telomerase as well as telomeres relative to a chromosome.

Typical human cells are mortal and cannot forever renew themselves. As demonstrated by Leonard Hayflick a half-century ago, human cells have a limited replicative lifespan, with older cells reaching this limit sooner than younger cells. This "Hayflick limit" of cellular lifespan is directly related to the number of unique DNA repeats found at the ends of the genetic material-bearing chromosomes. These DNA repeats are part of the protective capping structures, termed "telomeres," which safeguard the ends of chromosomes from unwanted and unwarranted DNA rearrangements that destabilize the genome.

Each time the cell divides, the telomeric DNA shrinks and will eventually fail to secure the chromosome ends. This continuous reduction of telomere length functions as a "molecular clock" that counts down to the end of cell growth. The diminished ability for cells to grow is strongly associated with the aging process, with the reduced cell population directly contributing to weakness, illness, and organ failure.

The fountain of youth at molecular level

Counteracting the telomere shrinking process is the enzyme, telomerase, that uniquely holds the key to delaying or even reversing the cellular aging process. Telomerase offsets cellular aging by lengthening the telomeres, adding back lost DNA repeats to add time onto the molecular clock countdown, effectively extending the lifespan of the cell. Telomerase lengthens telomeres by repeatedly synthesizing very short DNA repeats of six nucleotides -- the building blocks of DNA -- with the sequence "GGTTAG" onto the chromosome ends from an RNA template located within the enzyme itself. However, the activity of the telomerase enzyme is insufficient to completely restore the lost telomeric DNA repeats, nor to stop cellular aging.

The gradual shrinking of telomeres negatively affects the replicative capacity of human adult stem cells, the cells that restore damaged tissues and/or replenish aging organs in our bodies. The activity of telomerase in adult stem cells merely slows down the countdown of the molecular clock and does not completely immortalize these cells. Therefore, adult stem cells become exhausted in aged individuals due to telomere length shortening that results in increased healing times and organ tissue degradation from inadequate cell populations.

Tapping the full potential of telomerase

Understanding the regulation and limitation of the telomerase enzyme holds the promise of reversing telomere shortening and cellular aging with the potential to extend human lifespan and improve the health and wellness of elderly individuals. Research from the laboratory of Chen and his colleagues, Yinnan Chen, Joshua Podlevsky and Dhenugen Logeswaran, recently uncovered a crucial step in the telomerase catalytic cycle that limits the ability of telomerase to synthesize telomeric DNA repeats onto chromosome ends.

"Telomerase has a built-in braking system to ensure precise synthesis of correct telomeric DNA repeats. This safe-guarding brake, however, also limits the overall activity of the telomerase enzyme," said Professor Chen. "Finding a way to properly release the brakes on the telomerase enzyme has the potential to restore the lost telomere length of adult stem cells and to even reverse cellular aging itself."

This intrinsic brake of telomerase refers to a pause signal, encoded within the RNA template of telomerase itself, for the enzyme to stop DNA synthesis at the end of the sequence 'GGTTAG'. When telomerase restarts DNA synthesis for the next DNA repeat, this pause signal is still active and limits DNA synthesis. Moreover, the revelation of the braking system finally solves the decades-old mystery of why a single, specific nucleotide stimulates telomerase activity. By specifically targeting the pause signal that prevents restarting DNA repeat synthesis, telomerase enzymatic function can be supercharged to better stave off telomere length reduction, with the potential to rejuvenate aging human adult stem cells.

Human diseases that include dyskeratosis congenita, aplastic anemia, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis have been genetically linked to mutations that negatively affect telomerase activity and/or accelerate the loss of telomere length. This accelerated telomere shortening closely resembles premature aging with increased organ deterioration and a shortened patient lifespan from critically insufficient cell populations. Increasing telomerase activity is the seemingly most promising means of treating these diseases.

While increased telomerase activity could bring youth to aging cells and cure premature aging-like diseases, too much of a good thing can be damaging for the individual. Just as youthful stem cells use telomerase to offset telomere length loss, cancer cells employ telomerase to maintain their aberrant and destructive growth. Augmenting and regulating telomerase function will have to be performed with precision, walking a narrow line between cell rejuvenation and a heightened risk for cancer development.

Distinct from human stem cells, somatic cells constitute the vast majority of the cells in the human body and lack telomerase activity. The telomerase deficiency of human somatic cells reduces the risk of cancer development, as telomerase fuels uncontrolled cancer cell growth. Therefore, drugs that increase telomerase activity indiscriminately in all cell types are not desired. Toward the goal of precisely augmenting telomerase activity selectively within adult stem cells, this discovery reveals the crucial step in telomerase catalytic cycle as an important new drug target. Small molecule drugs can be screened or designed to increase telomerase activity exclusively within stem cells for disease treatment as well as anti-aging therapies without increasing the risk of cancer.

Source : Arizona State University

Largest study of its kind finds alcohol use biggest risk factor for dementia

2018-02-28T02:50:00.001-08:00

Alcohol use disorders are the most important preventable risk factors for the onset of all types of dementia, especially early-onset dementia. This according to a nationwide observational study, published in The Lancet Public Health journal, of over one million adults diagnosed with dementia in France.

This study looked specifically at the effect of alcohol use disorders, and included people who had been diagnosed with mental and behavioural disorders or chronic diseases that were attributable to chronic harmful use of alcohol.

Of the 57,000 cases of early-onset dementia (before the age of 65), the majority (57%) were related to chronic heavy drinking.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines chronic heavy drinking as consuming more than 60 grams pure alcohol on average per day for men (4-5 Canadian standard drinks) and 40 grams (about 3 standard drinks) per day for women.

As a result of the strong association found in this study, the authors suggest that screening, brief interventions for heavy drinking, and treatment for alcohol use disorders should be implemented to reduce the alcohol-attributable burden of dementia.

"The findings indicate that heavy drinking and alcohol use disorders are the most important risk factors for dementia, and especially important for those types of dementia which start before age 65, and which lead to premature deaths," says study co-author and Director of the CAMH Institute for Mental Health Policy Research Dr. Jürgen Rehm. "Alcohol-induced brain damage and dementia are preventable, and known-effective preventive and policy measures can make a dent into premature dementia deaths."

Dr. Rehm points out that on average, alcohol use disorders shorten life expectancy by more than 20 years, and dementia is one of the leading causes of death for these people.

For early-onset dementia, there was a significant gender split. While the overall majority of dementia patients were women, almost two-thirds of all early-onset dementia patients (64.9%) were men.

Alcohol use disorders were also associated with all other independent risk factors for dementia onset, such as tobacco smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, lower education, depression, and hearing loss, among modifiable risk factors. It suggests that alcohol use disorders may contribute in many ways to the risk of dementia.

"As a geriatric psychiatrist, I frequently see the effects of alcohol use disorder on dementia, when unfortunately alcohol treatment interventions may be too late to improve cognition," says CAMH Vice-President of Research Dr. Bruce Pollock. "Screening for and reduction of problem drinking, and treatment for alcohol use disorders need to start much earlier in primary care." The authors also noted that only the most severe cases of alcohol use disorder -- ones involving hospitalization -- were included in the study. This could mean that, because of ongoing stigma regarding the reporting of alcohol-use disorders, the association between chronic heavy drinking and dementia may be even stronger.

Source : Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.

SKIN CARE THAT PROTECTS YOU FROM THE TECH WORLD AND POLLUTION

2018-02-28T02:34:00.000-08:00

Every day, your skin goes to battle with the environment. UV rays, pollution, blue light from laptops, and harsh ingredients do a number on our skin—which is why the next wave of skin-care products is working to support it in the modern world. Think “skin-barrier-supporting” and “microbiome-enhancing” serums that help fuel optimal skin function and, of course, a healthy glow.

“Especially now, there are lots of impacts from pollutants in the environment and ozone to UV rays, and all of these can have a negative impact on the [skin’s] lipid barrier,” explains Jim Hammer, a cosmetic chemist, such as redness, acne, or dryness. “So, proper skin barrier function is really key to maintaining healthy, hydrated skin.”

Beauty brands are rising to the occasion with new products designed to nourish and support this important ecosystem of the skin, says Cindy DiPrima Morisse, co-founder of CAP Beauty. “Instead of stripping away layers of the skin, products are helping build up its own defenses.”

Launches from companies like Marie Veronique, Biossance, Allies of Skin, and microbiome-protecting Mother Dirt are anticipating the environmental stressors your skin might encounter over the day, and the imbalances they could cause.

They’re using ingredients like lipids, ceramides, adaptogens, and even live bacteria to help fortify your skin’s natural functioning, so it can do its thing—and be your first natural line of defense against technology and the pollutants of the modern world.

Source : www.wellandgood.com

IF YOU LIKE TURMERIC, YOU’RE GOING TO LOVE MORINGA

2018-02-28T02:20:00.000-08:00

Buzz about turmeric’s anti-inflammatory powers dominated 2017, but 2018 is all about moringa. North American healthy food companies have discovered this super-green from south of the equator, and it’s being touted as an even more powerful inflammation fighter.

Called the “world’s most useful tree” by scientists, moringa’s healing history in India, Chile, and Africa has been little known in this part of the world. But its nutrition profile is now becoming super brag-worthy on the wellness scene: It has twice the protein of spinach and three times as much iron, says nutritionist (and Well+Good Council member) Kimberly Snyder. According to the journal Ecology of Food and Nutrition, it has impressive amounts of calcium, potassium, and vitamin A. So this is pretty much a Survivor Island superfood of choice.

Fortunately, the buzzy veggie has a likable taste—its seeds are slightly sweet, and its ground leaves are nutty and grassy like tea. So food companies are not wasting a minute adding moringa into everything from nutrition bars and protein powders (Kuli Kuli) to juices (Pressed Juicery) and kombucha (as in,Suja’s new adaptogenic brew). Moringa’s even entering the chip aisle, where you can grab a bag of Vegan Rob’s Moringa Puffs for your next Netflix girls’ night in.

Oh, and in 2018 expect beauty brands featuring super-nourishing moringa oil (which can be a fair-trade ingredient) to make a point of telling you how great it is for your skin. Based on our research, they might be right.

source : www.wellandgood.com

The Fluoride Poisoning Antidote

2017-01-20T21:34:00.005-08:00

Regulatory agencies still haven’t budged on their official position that water fluoridation is a wonderfully beneficial public health policy with no inherent risks.

Meanwhile, a tidal wave of anti-fluoride research and activism continues to build—there’s now such an abundance of evidence illustrating fluoride’s toxicity that the position of policy makers seems either laughable or outright deceitful. The EPA—which now lists fluoride as a neurotoxin—is the one exception (though their opinion doesn’t seem to be having much effect on actual policy).

Over 100 studies have conclusively linked fluoride to cognitive dysfunction, endocrine disruption, childhood development issues, and many other health problems.[1] For this reason, nearly a dozen countries around the world have already banned water fluoridation, and many U.S. cities and counties have also rejected it.

If you live in a place with integrated access to unfluoridated water, you’re among the lucky few. If the rest of us wish to protect ourselves from the ravages of fluoride toxicity, we need to take measures into our own hands.

So what’s the solution?

The obvious move is to remove fluoride from your life by whatever measures possible. This can be rather tricky, though—water filters will not remove fluoride unless they’re specifically designed to do so (none of the most popular mainstream products come equipped with this feature, so be sure to seek it out specifically). Fluoride toothpaste is also a no-no, and even showering without a filter can be hazardous without purchasing yet another specialty filter.

Luckily, a new study demonstrates that turmeric can protect against (and even reverse) the neurotoxicity caused by fluoride.

This study is ground-breaking for two reasons: it provides further rock-solid evidence that fluoride is highly toxic, and it shows that turmeric is an incredibly promising “antidote” for this widespread poison.

Research protocol requires that study hypotheses are presented with great rigor and without leaps in logic—so it’s a huge deal that this study posits right at the start that “fluoride toxicity through drinking water is well-recognized as a global problem,” and that “health effect reports on fluoride exposure include various cancers, adverse reproductive activities, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases.”[2]

Turmeric is well-known for its remarkable brain-supporting abilities. It’s a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, and has even been used with great success to treat Alzheimer’s patients. This is one of the first attempts to quantity its specific effects on fluoride-induced brain damage (that’s right: your drinking water may be giving you brain damage).

For this study, researchers measured neurotoxicity with a fittingly named marker known as brain rancidity. This state describes a type of oxidative stress in the brain called lipid peroxidation, which dramatically accelerates the creation of highly damaging free radicals.

They measured changing levels of brain rancidity across four groups of mice: one given no fluoride or curcumin (one of active components in turmeric), one given only fluoridated water, one given fluoridated water and curcumin, and one given only curcumin.

The results were remarkable: mice given only fluoridated water exhibited dramatically increased levels of brain rancidity, but the mice also given curcumin maintained very near normal, non-toxic levels. Curcumin was able to neutralize all the potential damage!

Researchers attribute this effect to turmeric’s unrivaled capacity to protect against a wide variety of oxidative free radicals, to control inflammation (in the brain and throughout the body), and to boost the body’s production of its own antioxidants.

Just one of many reasons to become friends with turmeric

Because it targets so many of the fundamental factors behind disease and toxicity, turmeric has been proven helpful for nearly every health problem imaginable. And because fluoride toxicity is such a looming risk for the vast majority of Americans, turmeric’s ability to counteract it is just one more reason why everyone can benefit from integrating turmeric into his or her life.

It’s important to use turmeric in the right way, though, if you want to receive its therapeutic benefits to the full extent. In the study cited above, curcumin was dissolved in olive oil, because binding turmeric alkaloids to a fatty substance creates an emulsion that is more readily absorbed by the body.

A process called liposomal delivery takes this one step further by completely merging turmeric compounds with a phospholipid to create a liposome. Liposomes ensure that turmeric is absorbed up to twenty times more completely than regular turmeric. So if you’re really serious about using turmeric to protect yourself against fluoride toxicity, make sure to pick up a liposomal turmeric extract, like this one from Purathrive.

The slowness with which policy makers are responding to the dire need to ban water fluoridation is incredibly frustrating—but by taking a liposomal turmeric extract on a daily basis, you can ensure that the health of your brain (and your entire body) is safeguarded.

Eating Habits That Contribute to a Fatty Liver

2017-01-05T23:59:00.000-08:00

According to studies, your diet is closely tied in with the creation of fatty liver. That's what researchers worldwide are reporting in their research. Thus, by reversing your eating habits that are out of alignment with healthy eating, you can then prevent and reverse fatty liver disease. Fatty liver disease is reversible if you attack it with good nutrition in its early stages.

Below is a list of 11 eating habits to make sure you are already including in your daily routines:

1 Stop eating processed fats and hydrogenated fats.
Check the labels of the foods you are eating; when you see hydrogenated fats on the list, discard the food. It's contributing to the promotion of a fatty liver.

2 Replace your vegetable oils with olive oil and coconut oil.
The most easily oxidized oils are the vegetable oils (corn, safflower, vegetable, soy, canola) because they are not stable; their chemical composition makes them subject to breakdown by light and heat. Eliminating these oils from your diet helps preserve your antioxidant levels.

3 Stop eating sugar and sugary foods.
Sugar affects your immunity, your metabolism, and your blood sugar levels. It also is a sure way to gain weight. When blood sugar levels aren't stable, metabolic syndrome occurs. Metabolic syndrome is tied closely with fatty liver disease.

4 If you're drinking coffee, make sure it's organic.
Non-organic coffee is loaded with chemicals and pesticides. Non-organic decaffeinated coffee is additionally loaded with nickel. The more toxins you consume, the harder you make your liver work.

5 Eat healthy protein foods, in serving sizes.
Eating 4 ounces protein (chicken, fish, beef, buffalo, wild meats, pork, poultry) twice daily is not excessive. Don't fear red meat; fear only the overconsumption of commercially grown red meats. When cattle consume a diet based on corn, it alters the composition of the fats in the meat. However, there is nothing wrong with grass fed beef.

6 Take supplements that correct any nutritional deficiencies you might have.
Nutritional deficiencies, such as methionine, choline, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, and vitamin E are tied to fatty liver. You need all vitamins and minerals, not just some of them. Take a good program of supplements.

7 Make sure antioxidants are amongst your current supplements.
The antioxidants vitamin C, E and A have been shown in the research to be medically important to prevent and reverse fatty liver.

8 Stop the alcohol.
Alcoholic drinks cause fatty liver disease.

9 Stop eating rancid nuts, especially peanuts.
Nuts that are rancid often contain the mold aspergillus, which creates the toxin aflatoxin. Peanuts are notorious for their high content of aflatoxin. Aflatoxin kills liver cells.

10 Don't overeat foods with saturated fats.
Foods with saturated fats are more stable in the body than unsaturated (vegetable oils) but you can still eat too many of them. Don't overeat them.

11 Avoid the salty foods.
High amounts of salt place an extra burden on the body and especially the liver. You need a pinch of salt each day, but not much more than that.

For more info. click here!

This Could Improve Chemotheraphy

2017-01-01T00:13:00.000-08:00

This year alone, it’s estimated that nearly 600,000 people will die from cancer[1]—to say that the disease is still a prevalent and persistent issue is an enormous understatement.

Despite huge expenditures of time and money, our society and medical system still hasn’t quite figured out how to stand up to cancer. While a number of alternative therapies show great promise, they’re still crowded out and derided in favor of conventionally accepted treatment modalities.

Chemotherapy is one of the most widely practiced oncological treatments, despite its numerous drawbacks. Research reveals that, for some cancers, chemotherapy’s contribution to overall survival and recovery rates is shockingly small,[2] especially given the horrendous side effects that it can cause. These success rates, even in the case of cancers against which chemotherapy is more effective, barely outweigh its risks, according to some experts.

All that being said, however, it’s still an option chosen by many people battling cancer. While it’s becoming increasingly clear that there are much better and safer ways to treat cancer, the draw of mainstream medicine is strong.

Many patients are ostracized by their family and friends for seeking alternative treatments, and conventional oncologists can be notoriously skeptical and unsupportive of trying any protocols not “sanctioned” by the cancer industry. In some states, it’s even illegal for doctors to give (or even talk about) alternative cancer treatments.[3]

If you or a loved one has already made the decision to undergo chemotherapy, though, the best thing you can do is to optimally support the process. Stay positive, and offer emotional support for whatever decision has been made. Most importantly, take measures that can minimize the risks of chemotherapy while maximixing its efficacy.

A wealth of studies demonstrates that turmeric is a safe and effective natural remedy for accomplishing this task. Let’s take a look at some research-backed reasons why it’s wise for everyone undergoing chemotherapy to integrate turmeric into their treatment protocol.

Turmeric makes chemo safer and more effective

Patients obviously only willfully undergo the hardships of chemotherapy because they want it to get rid of their cancer—there’s nothing worse than having to endure the exorbitant cost and frightening side effects of chemo, all for a less than inspiring chance at full recovery.

Chemotherapy already doesn’t have an overly impressive success rate, and it’s made even worse by multidrug impediment, wherein cancer cells become resistant to one or more of the drugs comprising a patient’s chemotherapy cocktail.

To minimize this issue, which researchers have called “a major impediment to effective chemotherapy,” the medical community has begun the search for chemosensitizers—that is, low-impact therapeutic adjuncts that make patients’ bodies more sensitive to chemotherapy drugs (and thus allow the treatment to be more effective).[4]

A landmark study published in the journal Anticancer Research demonstrated that curcumin (one of the beneficial compounds in turmeric) effectively sensitizes drug-resistant cancer cells to chemotherapy drugs.[5] Other studies confirmed that this mechanism works against a variety of cancer cells, including breast cancer,[6] esophageal cancer,[7] colon cancer,[8] stomach cancer,[9] and pancreatic cancer.[10]

It carries out this feat by altering the genetic coding of proteins that control resistance in cancer cells, by damaging the DNA of cancer cells (while leaving healthy cells untouched), and by disrupting the signaling pathways necessary for cancer cell maintenance and proliferation.

And that’s just the beginning—turmeric uses plenty of other tricks that directly combat cancer, with the end result that the chemotherapy patient has a better chance of recovery. Curcumin helps the body’s own defenses fight the spread of the disease,[11] induces apoptosis (programmed cell death) in cancer cells,[12] and can even slow or halt the regeneration of cancer stem cells (the drug-resistant “mother cells” that control that growth of tumors).[13]

Endless benefits (if you take the right form of turmeric)

It’s because of these incredible healing mechanisms that turmeric could redefine the way we treat cancer. While chemotherapy and other risky treatment methods remain standard, though, turmeric can at least help can the protocol as safe and effective as possible.

But here’s the catch: as we’ve discussed in our other articles, it’s very difficult for the body to absorb curcumin and the other beneficial alkaloids in turmeric. Even a 95% standardized extract of curcumin will only be 1% bioavailable—so obviously, raw turmeric root or powder is negligibly beneficial when used therapeutically for cancer or other severe illness.

Researchers testing the anti-cancer properties of turmeric always use a formulation method that increases the bioavailability of curcumin (usually some kind of nano-encapsulation method that binds turmeric alkaloids to lipids, thus allowing the compounds to pass directly through cell walls).

Liposomal turmeric is one of the leading types of formulations—curcumin is a lipophilic (fat-loving) molecule, so it lends itself perfectly to this delivery method.

For more informations click here !

What Goes In A Fatty Liver Disease Diet

2016-12-30T00:32:00.001-08:00

As a Fatty Liver Disease patient, you may now be aware of the necessary changes that should be done in terms of your lifestyle and activity. The most basic thing is to quit your vices—most especially, smoking and drinking.

Keeping up with a healthy and active lifestyle can be a challenge, especially for the uninitiated. However, don’t give in to the pressure. You can achieve and get used to the healthy way if you know how to take it slowly, but surely.

Of course, this article is made to help you out with this new, but healthy phase in your life.

Let’s start with the basics, shall we?

This table contains the recommended daily intake for Fatty Liver/Non-fatty Liver disease patients:

Daily Intake	1,200-1,500 kcal
Daily Fat Intake	Less than 35% of daily intake
Daily Carbohydrate & Protein Intake	Lesser or at least 50% of daily intake (More on the types of food later).
Recommended Physical Activity	At least 150 minutes/week for moderate to vigorous exercises.

It looks so simplified when it’s viewed in that table, eh? Now comes the heavy part—how to implement it.

As you can see, the recommended daily intake to start your Fatty Liver Disease diet is just around 1,200-1,500 kcal every day. That’s actually close to the usual recommended daily intake, so you won’t be actually starving yourself when it comes to this type of diet. The main thing to look out for is choosing the right kind of food and beverage to not stray from your number of required kcal each day.

It’s also important to note that you need fats, protein and carbohydrate in your diet. So again, you are very much welcome to eat meat and possibly, a few treats. All you need now is control.

First and foremost, let’s strike out the types of food that are too heavy in terms of kcal, and can be unhealthy for your overall health. Below is a list:

Processed Foods (that includes any frozen or pre-processed food)

Well, this one is pretty much hard to avoid since the market is teeming with packed and processed stuff. The main thing to remember though is to opt for fresh and organic fruits—don’t buy in the frozen section anymore, or any food that’s canned or sealed with preservatives.

Sweet, Sugary Treats

This is particularly bad for Fatty Liver Disease patients who are also diabetic at the same time. But it’s still pretty bad for Fatty Liver Disease patients without diabetes because high sugar foods can overwork the liver.

Sodas

Since Sodas contain high doses of sugar, then it’s a no.

Fastfood Basics and Pastry

Burger, fries, pizza, donuts and cakes. They may be a gastric treat, but the cholesterol and high calorie each of these foods possesses is not friendly to your liver—or to your overall health. More so, these foods are very much processed and laced with preservatives, so it’s a big DON’T.

Now the don’ts are already taken care of, here are the foods that you should eat:

Whole grains

These foods are high in fiber and can greatly help your liver get rid of all that bad fat and other toxins.

Lean Meat and Vegetable-based protein

Since you need protein in your body, it’s important to note that you still need to avoid the bad types of meat (like pork). For healthy protein sources, go for beans, fish and other types of seafood.

Fruits and vegetables

Of course this is the most important part of your diet, fruits and vegetables are very low in calories and rich in fiber and nutrients. So they are perfect for daily intake without you feeling guilty—no matter how much you chomp down on them. However, for people who are also diabetic or at risk of being one, it’s important to note that most fruits contain high amounts of sugar, so it won’t be advisable to eat too much. Other fruits such as lemon and lime however, don’t contain much sugar, so you can have those instead.

Here’s an example of breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals on a Fatty Liver Disease diet:

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner
Whole grain oats Wheat Bread Natural Strawberry Jam Natural Orange Juice Roasted Chicken Side dish of Steamed Veggies (Carrots and Broccoli)	Roasted Chicken Side dish of Steamed Veggies (Carrots and Broccoli)	Salmon with Slices of Lemon Green Beans

For more liver-friendly recipes and a month-long guide of food choices, you can

download the Fatty Liver Diet guide here.

What If I Want to Eat Out?

It sometimes cannot be avoided that we have certain occasions to celebrate, and we do that by treating ourselves, our family, or colleagues to a lunch or dinner out of the house. But, is it okay? First, just avoid the fastfood chains since you may just be tempted to eat the unhealthy stuff.

Just go to a nice restaurant and if possible, just order a veggie salad or a seafood/fish dish for yourself. Pasta is good too!

Which Kind of Exercise Is Best?

If you are still starting out with a regular exercise program, don’t rush your body into a strenuous one. The purpose of your exercise is to burn excess fat, so just go with an activity that can make you at least sweat much. For starters, you can go for 10-20 minute walks or jogs. You shouldn’t also be on a rush to lose weight.

Since this is a “Diet”, Am I Required to Lose Weight?

Consequently, you are really bound to lose weight in a Fatty Liver Disease diet. However, it’s not really the main goal per se, because the goal here is to employ an active and healthy lifestyle that you can maintain easily for the rest of your life. The requirement here however is to monitor and keep watch of your weight gain or loss while you are on the diet. Don’t be on a rush to lose weight fast because it could worsen your Fatty Liver. Just make sure that you lose weight on a “healthy” scale, and that’s just at least 5-10% less of your overall weight per year when you start the diet.

What Other Alternatives I Can Take?

Refreshments! Specifically, you can make your own juices that can help the liver get rid all that excess fat and toxins in your body. That’s by detoxing! To cleanse your liver, you need to create and mix juices made from fruits or vegetables and drink it daily as part of your Fatty Liver Disease diet.

How can this help?

As mentioned earlier, fruits and veggies are high in fiber, so they are your helpers when it comes to cleaning your liver. Juicing just gives it an added benefit—it’s yummy and refreshing (and of course, healthy)! For starters, you can try out a juice made from lemon, cucumber and mint leaves. For more juicing recipes, you can go here.

2016-12-29T19:57:00.000-08:00

5 Most Dangerous Health Foods That Make You Fat

Exercising and eating healthy but don’t lose weight?

Wonder why?

You may think you eat HEALTHY, but does the health foods you eat are really that good for you?

Can the health foods you eat make you fat?

Turned out they can.

Some foods are advertised as healthy in reality may be causing danger to your body.

Here is the list of health foods to look out for and why they make you gain extra weight.

1. Gluten-Free FoodsPeople are drawn to the gluten-free foods these days even if they don’t have gluten or wheat allergy. It sounds healthier so it must be good for you, right?

Wrong.

Many gluten-free products actually have more calories than similar versions that contain gluten. Ingredients such as cornstarch and brown rice flour, which are used to mimic the texture and taste of gluten, are more calorically dense than the ingredients they replace.

You consume more calories with gluten-free foods that’s why you quickly gain extra pounds.

Your best bet is whole foods that are naturally gluten-free, like quinoa.

2. Cold Pressed Juice

A bottle of “healthy” cold pressed juice may contain up to 50g of sugar. It’s double the amount of sugar you need per day to stay healthy and maintain a healthy weight – if you are a woman.

Cold pressed juices lack most essential nutrients, such as protein, fats, and fiber, which are necessary for maintaining healthy weight. They don’t keep you full like whole fruits and veggies do and only make you even hungrier in the long run.
Plus there is no studies that show actual benefits of cold press juices.
All that makes a cold press juice nothing more than sugar water.

Bottom line. Juice your own veggies and fruits instead or better yet eat them raw.

3. Nutrition and Vitamin Waters

These thirst quenchers might promise magical powers, like helping you stay focused at work, or reviving you from the hangover. But the boost you feel after drinking a vitamin-enhanced beverage comes more from sugar than it does from a slew of B vitamins and electrolytes.

Some 20-ounce bottles contain more than 30 grams of sugar. And just like your body absorbs nutrients more effectively from real food than it does supplements, the same thing applies to the vitamins and minerals that have been used to fortify these magical waters.

You best bet is to get your nutrients from whole foods, and stay hydrated calorie-free with pure water.

4. Whole Wheat Bread

Unless it’s made from actual whole grains, it’s just as processed as white bread. Often, the whole wheat has been ground into a fine flour that’s easy to digest and spikes your blood sugar just as quickly as white bread.

Look for 100% whole wheat, whole grain or sprouted breads instead.

5. Flavored Greek Yogurt

Flavored Greek yogurt’s got a tart taste. There are dozens of tempting flavor combos to pick from. But a 6-ounce container of blueberry Greek yogurt packs approximately 16 grams of sugar. And some flavors can packs for up to 35g, which is more than recommended daily dose.

Your best bet is to stick to plain fat-free Greek yogurt and add your own berries.
When it comes to losing weight 80% of it is your diet. You can’t out exercise a bad diet. What you eat and when you eat it what makes you lose weight. Some people try to illuminate a whole food group or even starve themselves to lose weight, which is a big mistake. You need to EAT to lose weight. Find out how and why in my free weight loss guide. Click here to download FREE guide right now and start getting the perfect body you want.

xoxo,
Kristina

P.S. Feel free to pass this around!

2015-10-23T07:19:00.000-07:00

The benefits of papaya seeds and how to use them.Seriously!?

Usually I throw them away!

When you cut a papaya, the insides look very inviting, and the seeds can easily be scooped out. They are high in fat and protein, and contain plenty of calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. Think twice before you discard them, as they can be used in many ways.
According to Maryland Medical Center and Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical medicine, papaya seeds are great for getting rid of intestinal parasites. A recent study showed that people who were taking honey together with papaya seeds, cleared their stool of parasites in 23 out of 30 cases.
Papaya seeds are also credited with anti-cancerous properties. The seeds have a distinct, slightly peppery flavor. They can be eaten as they are, or you can sprinkle them over salads and other dishes, just as you would use pumpkin seeds. Those who are not afraid of the spicy flavor, can try them in a smoothie.

New Throat Cancer Treatment

2013-07-13T04:03:00.000-07:00

Author:
Drrao
Throat cancer is one of the cancers which occur in the throat. This is disease is found with different names like vocal cord cancer, throat cancer, laryngeal cancer, cancer of the glottis. This is the cancer which is found in both men and women.

The throat cancer is the cancer which appears in the upper part of the throat. It is the cancer which appears in the throat that is vocal cords, voice box (larynx), or other areas of the throat. This cancer spreads not only occurs in the other parts of the throat also. This is cancer which can occur in both men and women. This cancer involves the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells that have mutated from normal tissues. This growth can kill when these cells prevent normal function of vital organs or spread throughout the body, damaging essentials systems.
For more information meet: dr jack
This throat cancer has some alternate names like vocal cord cancer, laryngeal cancer, cancer of the glottis, cancer of the pharynx, vocal cord cancer and others. This cancer as it occurs to the throat and the parts related to it so it is named after it. This cancer also occurs when the normal cells undergo a transformation whereby they grow and multiply without normal controls. This cancer involves tumors on the tonsils, vocal cords, voice box (larynx) and at the base of the tongue.
The main cause for the exposure for this cancer is the consumption of the tobacco that plays a significant role in many of the cases. The causes for this cancer are the heavy smoking of cigarettes, chewing tobacco, excessive use of alcohol is also one of the causes for its occurrence. But if the man is addicted to both smoking and consuming alcohol then he is at higher risk of getting the disease. But this is more occurred in men than women. This disease can occur to any age but mainly occurs to the age group who is above 45 of age. This can be controlled with herbal products Some of the other factors for the occurrence of this cancer are the enlargement of the thyroid gland called chronic goiter. This cause may be due to the radiation exposure and the family history of cancer or the genetic predisposition.

The symptoms of the hoarseness, sore throat, neck pain, difficulty in swallowing, swelling in the neck, unintentional weight loss, cough, coughing up blood, abnormal breathing sounds, numbness or the paralyses of the muscles in the face, swelling of the jaw, shortness of breath, chest pain and many other reasons also. This cancer also has some of the common symptoms like fever, chills, night sweats, weight loss, loss of appetite, fatigue, malaise.
The above symptoms are not to be considered as a serious one as these may also be the causes for some of the common health upsets also. But if the person is adult then he has to undergo a medical checkup and have a take care of his health.
The signs and tests can be done when an examination of the neck and the throat may show the cancer of the throat. The symptom may appear bloody or lump on the throat which appears on the outside of the neck. Biopsy and the analysis of tissues that appear abnormal may conform the presence of the cancer tumor.
If you experience any of the above throat cancer symptoms it is advised that you see your healthcare provider for a more thorough check so the proper diagnose and treatment can be apply in the initial stage.
the best way of preventing this cancer is to quit smoking and preventing the consumption of tobacco. Many cancers can be prevented by avoiding risk factors such as excessive exposure to sunlight and heavy drinking. We should cultivate a habit of taking healthy diet that is the consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits. Keeping the health fit by doing the exercises, meditation, yogasanas, cultivation of morning jog or walk, having the nutritious food in the diet, protecting ourselves from bad atmosphere may make us to be free from the diseases also.
Some people at high risk for developing certain cancers can take medication to reduce their risk. But yet the treatment must be aimed at destruction of the cancer and prevention of its spread to other parts of the body. The treatment of the cancer depends on certain issues like the age of the patient, general health condition, the size of the tumor, extent of the cancer and others.
This is the cancer which may be found at its advanced stage. So it is an urge need that the patient should be careful while choosing the correct physician for his treatment. This treatment is aimed at destruction of the cancer and prevention of spread of the cancer to the other parts of the body. The earlier it is diagnosed the earlier it is treated.
Treatment is aimed at destruction of the cancer and prevention of spread of the cancer to other parts of the body. The earlier throat cancer is diagnosed, the better the prospect of recovery. If the treatment is not given then it can grow and can cause to death. So it is better to get treated at its initial stage. The treatment needs long term recovery but if have a hope of conquering it then you can have it. You should be mentally firmed and be prepared to achieve in curing it.
The people who come to our center have a hope of curing the disease and becoming healthy. We support you with this attitude of yours as we use the alternative supplements which are natural and cure the disease with no side effects with miraculous improvements in your health condition. We make you feel ease and get away from your suffer.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/new-throat-cancer-treatment-59444.html
About the Author
Dr Jack is a Conventionally Trained Western Medical Doctor from India and fellow of American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). He is also trained in traditional supplements since the age of 5 years to practice complimentary alternate supplements.
For more information contact: dr jack

Don’t Stop Living a Healthy Life Even if You Have Fibromyalgia

2013-07-07T08:01:00.001-07:00

by Christian Goodman

We all know that to have a healthy lifestyle, you need to exercise. You may think that if you have fibromyalgia, you are no longer capable and exercise and a healthy lifestyle. You can still incorporate exercise in your daily routine. The only difference is in how you may need to approach it.
It is normal to see people with fibromyalgia who don’t exercise. There are days when fibromyalgia sufferers have a hard time just getting out of bed. Daily tasks quickly drain your energy. It is said that Fibromyalgia feels like you have the flu, with symptoms such as painful muscle aches, extreme fatigue, and a general feeling of malaise. Just thinking about exercise is tiring.
You or someone you love maybe suffering from fibromyalgia, and dealing with muscle spasms and stiff, constantly aching muscles all over your body.

Either way, you probably know already that fibromyalgia’s causes are still unknown up to now. Doctors have not been able to pinpoint the cause of the disease. Sufferers may also suffer from insomnia, difficulty concentrating and bouts of depression, in addition to exhaustion and pain.
Many fibromyalgia sufferers think that exercise will put even more stress on already painful muscles and joints. They’re so drained of energy they can’t imagine getting through any form of exercise, so they don’t even attempt it. The truth is, if you have fibromyalgia, exercise can help.
Anyone who hasn’t been exercising is advised to start slowly, and this is good advice for fibromyalgia sufferers. Don’t do more than you’re able to do. If you can only walk for three minutes, start with three minutes. Try to do this three or four times a week, gradually increasing by only a minute or two every few days. The most important thing is to be consistent.
As you get better, you can add other forms of exercise that are compatible for fibromyalgia patients. These include walking, biking, swimming, or water aerobics. These workouts help you increase your strength and stamina.
If you consistently exercise, you will increase your endurance and strength. Slowly, you will be able to increase the intensity of your workouts. Without spending more time, you can start to walk a little faster or swim a bit harder. You will probably start to look better even before you start to feel better, and seeing the new, healthier you is a great motivation to keep going.

Another alternative for you if you feel you are not ready to exercise is to do my Fibromyalgia Program. This will not only help you get through another day, but will actually make you feel better so that you can start to increase your physical activity. I developed the program and designed it to address the underlying cause of Fibromyalgia and help relieve many of the symptoms you suffer with on a daily basis.
It’s easily performed, regardless of your current strength level. The Fibromyalgia Program consists of a few simple to do exercises that only take a few minutes each day and will have you feeling refreshed and renewed in a very short period of time.
—————————————
Christian Goodman is a popular Health alternatives writer and the creator of the Natural Health Blog. His recent work is the Fibromyalgia Treatment, which has now helped thousands of people to cure them of their fibromyalgia naturally.

Beat Psoriasis the Natural Way

2013-07-07T01:00:00.000-07:00

Seeking relief from psoriasis can be a lifelong quest. You can search everywhere for the perfect cure and never quite find it. There are plenty of medications, creams, pastes, gels, and lotions out there, but they don’t always work and they can be pricy. It gets time consuming and expensive to dab a lotion all over the body two to three times a day or take a pill every day. Most people just want something that is quick, simple, cheap, and works.

There are actually some things you can start doing for yourself that might help with psoriasis and slow down the onset of another outbreak. Things you can change around the house or personally, that don’t cost you an extra cent.

In your home, try to find the perfect temperature. Flare-ups can be caused by changes in the weather or temperatures in your own home. Going from one extreme to the next is never a good thing. Slowly let your body adjust to warmer temperatures or colder ones. Too much sweat on the body, can lead to irritation and itching which leads to scratching which can cause skin injuries which will lead to flare ups. Most of the time is spent at home or in the office, so make sure you have both places set at your perfect temperature. It can take some time to find that temperature and other people may have to adjust to it but it will help you in the long run. Temperature control may be easier at home than it is at work.

Apply moisturizer often during the day. The moisturizer should be of good quality and fragrance free. Smelly lotion, the good scents, is a favorite among women, but it can actually irritate the skin. Avoid the pricy fruit smelling lotions and opt for one that offers a good amount of moisture. Always remember to lotion up after you shower or bath to help keep that moisture locked in.

Switch to all-natural products. This means everything you use from hand soap to makeup should be fragrant free and all natural. Look for products that are hypoallergenic and are free and clear of irritants. Change your laundry detergent to a free and clear type brand.

Visit us for more info. at www.PsoriasisFreeForLife.com

Fighting Cancer

2013-07-06T10:18:00.002-07:00

Once you comprehend the underlying causes of cancer and what to do to correct those causes, you are able to take effective action to overcome your cancer.

Discovering that you or a loved one has cancer can be utterly terrifying. All the same, once you comprehend the causes of cancer and learn how to reverse those causes, you or your loved one may have more than a fighting chance of beating out cancer. Regrettably, these techniques can't help everybody survive, but if the individual utilizing these strategies has enough time left so that they may start to work, rather often they reverse their cancer.

Even if you're taking the standard medical treatments or just trying not to ever get cancer, you are able to safely improve the effectiveness of what you do.

According to the National Cancer Institute, roughly 1/3 of all cancer deaths may be ascribed to our diets. The advocated diet isn't elaborate or expensive. There are a lot of foods and even spices that may very well help in the fight against cancer. Some authorities claims that a lot of healthy food choices will help reduce the possibility of contracting cancer, and may shrivel up tumors.

Fresh research affirms what nutritionists have stated for years: consuming lots of high-fiber foods is a capital way to protect your health. That may sound like a steep claim. But according to investigators conducting the biggest-ever study into the relationship between diet and cancer, it's the facts.

Toxins and Pollutants are brought into our homes day-after-day through water, food, dirt, dust and household cleansing products. For instance, the serious toxin phenol may be detected in a few disinfectants, antiseptics and even air fresheners. Continued exposure to phenols and additional toxins might have injurious effects on our nervous and respiratory systems, also induce cancers. It's crucial to educate yourself to enable you to cut down your risk and exposure. When you start to educate yourself about the chemicals and toxins on the labels of the products in your house, you might prefer to substitute some of the toxic agents you discover with non-toxic options.

Cancer is a disease that touches on a lot of individuals. Many cancer-causing agents have been discovered by researchers. Most forms of cancer can be prevented by making a few primary life-style alterations, such as exercising and eating healthy, averting sun exposure and refraining from tobacco use.
For more info. click here !

What is Heel Pain?

2011-11-20T10:16:00.000-08:00

Author: Annette Badowski

The most common cause of heel pain is plantar fasciitis, which is also called heel spur syndrome. Heel pain also encompasses numerous other ailments of the foot, including nerve irritation, arthritis, tendonitis, stress fracture, and in rare cases, cysts. Because there are so many reasons for heel pain, it is always best to get the foot looked at by a medical professional.
A podiatrist, orthopedic or foot and ankle surgeon is your best bet for a proper diagnosis, as they specialize in problems involving the foot. Some heel pain may get better on its own, but may worsen if people ignore the pain and continue to perform activities that injured it in the first place. If this happens, heel pain will continue to get worse, become a chronic condition that will deteriorate over time. Even so, surgery is hardly ever necessary in these scenarios.

What are the symptoms of Heel Pain?

As the name implies, the primary symptoms of heel pain are, by and large, soreness and discomfort in the foot, and in particular the heel region. The onset of pain is usually preceded by an activity that caused irritation or injury to the heel or foot.
The pain may not be immediately noteworthy, but it can progress causing extreme soreness and discomfort. Heel pain is most often exacerbated shortly after getting out of bed, primarily because sudden pressure on the foot may aggravate it after it had been immobilized during the night. Heel pain can go away during the day, but frequent, consistent pain shouldn't be ignored and may require a thorough examination by a physician.

What causes Heel Pain?

When plantar fascitis, or a heel spur causes heel pain, it will most definitely require attention. The plantar fascia is a broad band of fibrous tissue, which runs along the bottom surface of the foot, from the heel to the toes. Plantar fascitis is an inflammation of the plantar fascia, which can be extremely painful. A doctor can prescribe treatments that will aid in easing discomfort and perhaps help you avoid situations that would aggravate or bring on plantar fascitis. Heavy loads on the foot, like intense weight gain due to obesity or pregnancy, can also contribute to heel pain. Certain activities, like sports that require a lot of walking or running, can prompt heel pain too, as can various types of arthritis.

Will Painwave X4000 Help with Heel Pain ?

Yes! Painwave X4000 is a brand new, a non-invasive, drug-free method that can provide real and lasting relief from heel pain. Unlike other methods of pain relieve, which rely on artificial pain blockers that can have drastic side effects, the Painwave X 4000 works in conjunction with the body's own bioelectromagnetic ecosystem. The Painwave X4000 also has no side effects, and the unit is simply moved gently over the surface of the skin in a small circular motion. With repeated use, the Painwave X4000 can improve circulation, cell activity and lymphatic movements. This can aid in providing reliable relief from excruciating symptoms of heel pain.

Note: The information contained in this article is not to be used to diagnose or cure a disease. If you are experiencing symptoms of Heel pain, seek immediate assistance from a health professional right away for diagnostic testing and a full medical examination.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/what-is-heel-pain-571220.html

To find out more about heel pain solutions please click here !

My Heel Is Killing Me... It Hurts So Much... What Is It?

2011-10-04T20:31:00.000-07:00

Author: Nathan Wei

Heel pain is one of the most common painful conditions seen in an arthritis clinic. This article discusses the various types of problems that cause heel pain and what can be done to make the situation better.
It's estimated that more than 1 million persons in the United States suffer from heel pain at any given time.
When a patient complains of heel pain, it must be clarified by history whether the pain is in the bottom of the heel or the back of the heel because the diagnosis and treatment are very different.

Pain in the bottom of the heel is often due to plantar fasciitis (PF). The plantar fascia is a tough band of tissue that begins at the medial (inside) part of the bottom of the heel and extends forward to attach at the ball of the foot. The fascia is responsible for maintaining the normal arch. When an excessive load is placed on the fascia, pain can develop at the origin (the heel) as well as the mid-portion (arch) of the fascia.

PF can develop in anyone but is more common in certain groups such as athletes, people older than 30 years of age, and obese individuals.
PF must be distinguished from other causes of bottom of the heel pain such as nerve entrapment, atrophy of the normal heel fat pad, stress fracture of the calcaneus (heel bone), rupture of the plantar fascia, bone cyst, bone tumor, and bone infection.

The history typically describes a gradual onset of symptoms with no prior trauma. The most telling symptom is severe pain in the bottom of the heel when taking the first morning step. Patients may report difficulty walking to the bath room. The pain tends to lessen with more walking. This "first step" pain is also present during the day if the patient has been sitting for awhile, then getting up to walk.

On exam, pain is noted with pressure applied to the medial bottom of the heel. Tenderness is worsened by pointing the toes and ankle toward the head. This is because the plantar fascia is being stretched. Pain in the arch may also be present.
One in older patients should be ruled out and that is heel pad atrophy. Normally the heel has a thick feeling to it. In older patients the heel pad may lose this thickness and flatten out. The pain is located more centrally.

Another "fooler" is entrapment of the lateral plantar nerve. Pain is felt in the medial heel but may be present at rest as well. There may be weakness spreading the toes.
Fracture of the calcaneus (heelbone) causes pain at rest that is worsened with walking. Tenderness is present along the sides of the heel. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can confirm the presence if fracture.

But what about "bone spurs"? The presence of a bone spur by itself means nothing. They are very common and by themselves are not a cause of pain. Some patients with inflammatory forms of arthritis such as psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, or Reiter's disease have a specific type of spur that should prompt further evaluation looking for systemic forms of arthritis.

Diagnostic studies such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging can be used to confirm the presence of plantar fasciitis. Electromyography (EMG) may be needed to rule out lateral plantar nerve entrapment.

So how is this condition treated?

The first thing is to institute a stretching regimen. Most people with PF also have a shortened Achilles tendon and the ability to dorsiflex (point the toes up) is limited. The plantar fascia is continuous with the Achilles fascia. Stretching the plantar fascia and the Achilles decreases the tension in the plantar fascia and helps relieve inflammation.

A temporary reduction in activity is important in athletes, particularly runners. Cross training with swimming and cycling can help maintain cardiovascular fitness while sparing the plantar fascia from pounding. Runners should avoid hills and make sure that any foot abnormality be corrected with custom orthotics.
Ice massage with ice cubes applied to the plantar fascia can also be helpful.

Shoes with soft heels and inner soles can relieve discomfort. Rigid heel cups and arch supports are generally not recommended. The patient may gradually resume normal activities over an eight week period of time. Rushing rehabilitation is not advised.

If there is no improvement, a night splint which holds the ankle in 10 degrees of dorsiflexion prevents the shortening of the plantar fascia.
If the night splint fails or the pain does not lessen, injection of glucocorticoid (cortisone) using ultrasound guidance is recommended. Injections should be limited to a maximum of two given over four weeks.

Patients who do not get better need to be reevaluated for systemic disease or other conditions causing heel pain.Surgery is the last resort. Transverse release of the plantar fascia is the procedure of choice. This can be done using arthroscopic guidance.
Pain in the back of the heel is an entirely different condition.The major structure here is the Achilles tendon which extends down from the gastrocnemius muscle to attach at the rear of the calcaneus.

Inflammation of the Achilles tendon can occur, usually in athletes or in people in engage in overxuberant physical activity involving running or jumping. Patient who are overweight are also at risk. The pain is usually described as a soreness. There is localized swelling and tenderness. Ultrasound can be used to differentiate an inflamed Achilles tendon from one that is partially or fully torn. The treatment involves anti-inflammatory medicines, physical therapy, and stretching exercises. Glucocorticoid injection is not recommended because of the danger of weakening the Achilles tendon leading to rupture. Using a foam rubber lift to elevate the heel in a shoe can help with symptoms. Achilles rupture is handled surgically and requires a long recuperation.

Haglund's syndrome, which is a condition where a spur develops at the back of the calcaneus and is often associated with localized Achilles tendonitis can also cause pain in the back of the heel. Ill-fitting shoes are the most common cause. Typically a bump develops at the back of the heel. Because of its association with ill-fitting shoes, this is sometimes referred to as a "pump bump." Physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medicines, and stretching can often be of benefit. Glucocorticoid injection should be sparingly employed because of the danger of Achilles rupture. Wearing proper fitting shoes are an obvious adjunctive treatment.

Bursitis involving the retrocalcaneal bursa (the small sack that lies between the Achilles tendon and the calcaneus is a cause of pain behind the heel. Treatment involves the use of physical therapy modalities such as ultrasound. Sometimes glucocorticoid injection may be needed. It is important to limit the injection to one because of the danger of possible weakening of the Achilles tendon leading to rupture. Ultrasound needle guidance is advised to ensure proper localization of the injection.

The diagnosis is made by history and physical examination. Both MRI and ultrasound can be used for confirmation.
Article Source: http://nathanwei.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/my-heel-is-killing-me-it-hurts-so-much-what-is-it-188558.html

About the Author :

Nathan Wei MD FACP FACR is a rheumatologist and Director of the Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center of Maryland. For more info : Types of Arthritis

A Burning Headache And Some Of Its Causes

2011-10-04T20:04:00.000-07:00

Author: Ann Marier

Many people suffer from this common nuisance called burning headache every day, in some cases which can even last for days. Burning headache is not a medically recognized term if you were to look around in medical journals and clinical documents, but it's pretty much commonly used. There are many different causes of burning headache, and different people have different parts of the head which aches. Besides, there are also many different causes of this headache, some of which we will be looking at today.

Different Parts of the Head

In many instances, burning headache is related to sinusitis. In that case, the pain is usually on the frontal part of the head, on the forehead, upper cheeks, and sometimes can even travel around the whole face. In other cases, this burning headache can be caused by fever. In this, the pain is usually on both sides of the forehead, which are the weakest points of sensitivity in our head.

Causes

As we have already known, the common reasons for burning headache would be fever, flu, and sinusitis. In these cases, the pain is constant, and can be stinging and tingling, and not to mention burning. It can originate from any side of the head, but usually after a while it will travel to other areas as well.
Some people tend to get thrusts of extreme pains. Although medically there is no proof as to what causes this sudden uprising in the burning headache symptoms, it is believed to be caused by pulsating nerves due to tension.

Burning headache can also be caused by certain other reasons besides the above listed. These are more serious cases such as tumors or growth in the head. In such cases, the pain is not constant like the ones listed above, but comes on and off. The pain is usually violent, far stronger than the ones you get for fever, and not to forget; it pulsates often.

It is also believed that toxins and chemicals can also cause acute or burning headache. This is pretty common to many people, especially those who are not so favorable of newly painted houses, chemical labs, and so on. On top of these, even certain edible toxins and foods can cause burning headache, such as alcohol, caffeine, and so on.

Alcohol and caffeine especially, are believed to be causes of many serious headaches that can cause the whole head to ache severely, with the nerves being extremely tensed.
Article Source: http://annmarier.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/a-burning-headache-and-some-of-its-causes-138084.html
Gets Rid Of Chronic Tension Headaches. Click here!

Testimonials

2011-01-28T10:32:00.000-08:00

“Scott Musgrave is one of those rare individuals who is both a special person and gifted healer. I’m honored to have him as one of my advanced trained PRRT practitioners.”
John Iams, PT
Founder of Primal Reflex Release Technique

“Scott and his Associative Awareness techniques are second to none! I experienced immediate and sustained relief from both short-term (car accident) and chronic pain in just one visit. I am literally a changed individual, both physically and mentally, in just over a month, and am thrilled with the results! You can’t afford not to visit Scott at Musgrave Wellness & Performance!”
Forever Thankful,
J.B. Denver, CO

“I had immediate results after just one session with Scott Musgrave. I came to his office with severe pain in my shoulder and neck (8/10) and when I left my pain was down to a level 2/10! Scott was very attentive to my needs as I quickly recovered completely over the next few days. He followed up and made recommendations to help speed up my recovery process. I wouldn’t hesitate going back to Scott for any future pain relief.”
N.C. Highlands Ranch, CO

“I much appreciated your diligence and enthusiasm in helping determine the cause of my vertigo episodes. Keep up the good work. You are a bright spot in a medical world that seems to have little enthusiasm left and is more hurried than interested.”
I.B. Northglenn, CO

“I played the BEST round of golf in my life following a session with Scott.”

J.T. Denver, CO

“I was able to complete a marathon three weeks after injuring my hamstring because of Scott’s amazing treatments.”
N.N. Denver, CO

A New Approach to Curing Chronic Headaches

2011-01-23T09:13:00.000-08:00

The new approach of one Littleton based physical therapist may provide the answer for those of you suffering from chronic headaches.Physical therapist Scott Musgrave performs specialized treatments that focus upon balancing your nervous system and restoring harmony between your body and brain.

Many factors have been identified that can cause headaches including poor posture, tight muscles, stress and muscular weakness. Common complaints of folks who suffer from chronic headaches include constant muscle soreness and tension, jaw pain, eye strain, fatigue, decreased ability to focus and difficulty achieving

relaxation."I believe that one chief cause of chronic headaches lies within an imbalance between the brain and body," said Musgrave. "This imbalance leaves the subconscious brain overly protective and initiates muscular patterns of tightness within the body."

Musgrave adds, "These patterns of muscular tightness often precede the onset of chronic headaches. By utilizing specialized techniques that create a balance between the body and brain, we can quickly correct the patterns of muscular tightness that contribute to the onset of chronic headaches," said Musgrave.

Correcting these patterns can often result in the reduction or elimination of episodic headaches. "The bottom line," said Musgrave "is when we can achieve a balance to the neurological system, the physiological system often falls right into place. Many times this pattern change is all that is required to reset the system and return the body to normal function without pain."

The treatments are gentle and relaxing, taking from 30-minutes to 1-hour depending on the severity of symptoms. Many patients report significant symptom reduction after only 2-to-4 sessions.

"My mission is to achieve more than merely reducing your headaches, but to also educate each of you with self management techniques to re-balance your own nervous systems," said Musgrave. "Only in this way can we navigate our stressful world in balance and not just survive, but begin to actually THRIVE!"

At Musgrave Wellness and Performance, we strive to relieve your headaches quickly and get you back into action by addressing your most powerful tool: your own nervous system.

Peak Performance for Your Golf Game!

2011-01-22T09:37:00.000-08:00

Can you hear the faint but unmistakable calling of your golf clubs from the closet? Are your dreams turning to long, straight drives on a sun-laden fairway?

Spring is just around the corner, and many die-hard golfers are itching at their tees to get out on the course this season. Strolling through a local golf store recently, I realized how many equipment choices are on the market. Hybrid clubs, drivers, putters and wedges galore! The amount of innovative equipment it the sport of golf is staggering; each with a promise of longer, straighter drives, improved ball control or swing perfection.

Asked what would be the most important tool for improving their handicaps, five golfers gave five different answers. One commonality to each response from these golfers was the importance of practicing as much as possible, either on the range, in the backyard or out on the course.

Achieving proper form, function, muscle strength, muscle length, rotational control, timing and muscle memory are all component parts of improving your game. But what do you do to increase your focus and concentration? How can achieving nervous system balance create more focus and concentration? For most people, the answers to these questions are merely raised eyebrows and uncertain silence. However, your nervous system is really the most important tool you possess for improving your golf game!

Let’s break it down. Your brain is in constant, instantaneous communication with your physical body and your body is in constant, instantaneous communication with your brain. Each physical action requires signals from the brain to occur, permission if you will, and each physical motion and sensation report information back to the brain. This constant two lane highway of communication occurs every second of your life, with more bits of data being transferred to and fro simultaneously than any computer driven mechanism conceivable.

We all recognize this fact, but very few people actually learn to apply this information in a beneficial manner.
When an imbalance exists between the neurological (brain) and physiological (body) systems, overall performance suffers. Let me give you an example: You are on the range warming up before a local tournament with your pals. Your swing is smooth and full. Your timing is just right. You feel great. And then, you step up to the first tee box. People are watching. There is a buzz of excitement in the air.

The guy in front of you hit a perfect shot. You approach the ball and tell yourself, “Keep your eye on the ball. Swing easy!” You then proceed to take your backswing, elevate your shoulders, open the club face and miss-hit the ball. Your physical memory of the swinging motion didn’t change, but your ability to access that long practiced muscle pattern did! Sound familiar?
This scenario is a perfect example of how the nervous system can become unbalanced, and then disturb the physiological memory of movement resulting in poor performance.

What can you do to balance your nervous system and optimize your physical performance?

Through a new understanding of the communications between your body and your brain (and vice versa), techniques have been developed that quickly achieve a neurological and physiological balance. These techniques are very passive, very quick and highly effective for most folks!
With proper training, you can learn to implement balancing techniques on a daily basis and begin to live your life with less nervous system reactivity to stress, anxiety, pain, and poorly hit golf balls!

This unique, highly effective approach toward wellness and performance is only available from 100 health care practitioners in the United States.
At Musgrave Wellness and Performance, we strive to achieve optimal physical performance by first addressing your most powerful tool: your own nervous system.

New therapy uses reflexes to rapidly relieve pain

2011-01-22T08:30:00.000-08:00

For folks who have tried traditional pain therapies without results, there may be hope in the form of a new treatment approach, called Primal Reflex Release Technique.

The body often reacts reflexively to stress, trauma and pain creating patterns of protection. These persistent protective patterns can undermine all attempts at traditional modes of pain relief, resulting in chronic pain and movement impairment.

A reflex is an automatic and involuntary physiological response that results from the nervous system’s reaction to a stimulus. Through a new understanding of reflexive communications, it is now possible to harness the body’s own reflexes to produce profound relief of a multitude of symptoms. This approach toward wellness and healing produces a harmonious balance between the brain and body resulting in pain relief, optimized human performance, significant relaxation and stress reduction.

Stress dramatically impacts the body’s ability to heal and recover from injury. The American Institute of Stress estimates that 75-90% of all doctor visits are stress-related. By tapping into the body’s own reflexive communications, the balance between the neurological and physiological systems can be quickly and painlessly restored, improving performance at work, home and at play. Dramatic benefits are realized by a majority of patients within one to four sessions.

Littleton based physical therapist, Scott Musgrave, is one of fewer than 100 health care practitioners in the country trained through advanced levels with PRRT.
You won’t find anyone who works harder to help you. At Musgrave Wellness and Performance, we strive to achieve impactful results on every one of your visits by addressing your most powerful tool: your own nervous system.