Shingles strikes some 850,000 Americans each year. It can appear at any age, but is most common in people over the age of fifty, when the immune function naturally begins to decline as a result of aging.
Shingles is a disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which happens to be the same virus that causes chickenpox. It affects the nerve endings in the skin. Most common places on the body affected is the skin of the abdomen under the ribs, leading toward the navel, but can appear anywhere on the body.
Most adults have already contracted chickenpox. This common childhood disease causes a fever and a rash that itches maddeningly, but rarely does any permanent damage. However, once the varicella-zoster virus enters the body and has caused chickenpox, it doesn’t go away. It may lie dormant in the spinal cord and nerve ganglia for years until a weakening of the immune system. Then the varicella-zoster infection spreads to the very ends of the nerves, causing them to send impulses to the brain that are interpreted as severe pain, itching, or burning, and rendering the underlying skin much more sensitive than usual.
Most cases of shingles run their course within a few weeks. More severe cases may last longer and require aggressive treatment. But in some cases the pain continues for months, even years, after the blisters have disappeared. This syndrome, is called postherpetic neuralgia, this is more likely to occur in older people. If shingles develop near the eyes, the cornea may be affected and blindness may result. An ophthalmologist should be consulted if the shingles appear on the forehead, near the eyes, or on the tip of the nose. Untreated ophthalmic herpes zoster can lead to vision loss.
An attack of shingles is often preceded by three or four days of chills, fever, and achiness. The pain may have started in the affected area. Then crops of tiny blisters appear. The affected area becomes excruciatingly painful and sensitive to the touch. Numbness, depression, tingling, shooting pains, fever and headache may also be present. Thankfully this phase of shingles lasts only seven to fourteen days. (ONLY?!) The blisters eventually form crusty scabs and drop off. People can get shingles more than once.
The chance of an attack of shingles can be increased by many factors, including:
- Stress
- Cancer
- The use of anticancer drugs
- Immune system deficiency
However, serious illness is not required to activate the virus. Any type of physical or emotional stress can make one susceptible. Often, something as innocuous as a minor injury or a mild cold can lead to an attack in an otherwise healthy person. In most cases, it is never determined just what the trigger is. For people with immune deficiencies, shingles and its aftermath can be devastating. The disease is capable of affecting the internal organs, attacking even the lungs and kidneys. Disseminated shingles can cause permanent injury-including blindness, deafness, or paralysis, depending upon the area of the body that is served by the infected nerves-if it goes unchecked. Death can occur as the result of a secondary bacterial infection or viral pneumonia brought on by shingles.
L-Lysine is a very useful amino acid in the fighting of the viruses that cause cold sores and herpe viruses. Taking supplemental L-lysine, together with vitamin C with bioflavonoids, can effectively fight and /or prevent herpes outbreaks. Important for healing and for fighting the virus that causes shingles as well. Do not take this supplement for longer than 6 months at a time.
Cayenne (capsicum) contains a substance called capsaicin, which relieves pain and aids in healing. It also acts as a detoxifier. Cayenne is available in tablet and capsule form. Capsaicin is also the active ingredient in Zostrix, a topical cream, which is helpful for postherpetic neuralgia. Capsaicin should never be applied topically until the lesions caused by shingles have completely healed, however, or extreme burning pain can result.
Keeping stress to a minimum is important. Stress reduces the immune system’s effectiveness in fighting off infection. Studies have found that people with shingles report having recently been through stressful periods more often than other people. St Johns wort can help reduce the effects of the stress produced by the process of the shingles. The B Vitamins are needed for nerve health and to counteract deficiencies.
While shingles itself is not contagious, a person with shingles may infect previously uninfected persons, particularly children, with chickenpox. Stay away from pregnant women because she and her unborn child may become infected.
Food poisoning is certainly a potentially dangerous condition but for sure one of the most unpleasant experiences one can have. A person’s body reacts to toxins produced by bacteria that contaminates food or water. The most common types of food poisoning result from the bacteria of salmonella, campylobacter, and staphylococcus.
Most cases of food poisoning can be avoided. Improper handling, storing, or cooking of food causes most of the problems. That is why it is important for people to always wash their hands thoroughly with soap before eating and especially before preparing a meal.
Always refrigerate foods like mayonnaise, egg salad, potato salads, rice puddings, and fried rice. Another common error is not to cook foods thoroughly and at high enough temperatures ( especially meats).
Food poisoning can also occur from eating plants (certain types of mushrooms) that contain toxic chemicals. If you suspect that your child has eaten a poisonous plant, seek medical attention immediately.
Fortunately, most cases of food poisoning are short-lived, and your appetite will return within one or two days. But if any member of your family has a medical condition that impairs the immune system, such as HIV, hepatitis) or displays any of these severe symptoms, head to the emergency room:
- Violent vomiting
- A temperature of more than 102 degrees F
- Vision problems
- Severe diarrhea that lasts more than one day or contains blood
- Trouble breathing or talking
- Headache and dizziness
- Dehydration
Here are some examples of food poisoning
Staphylococcus
If foods have been handled by people with skin infections and left at room temperature. Symptoms usually come on within 2-8 hours, and usually begin to calm within 12 hours. Symptoms may include
- Severe nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal cramps
- Diarrhea
- Headache and fever
Campylobacter
This infection results usually from poultry that has been infected and not cooked properly. Also unpasteurized milk and contaminated drinking water. Symptoms usually come on in 2-5 days after exposure. Symptoms may include
- Diarrhea
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever
- Abdominal pain and cramping
Salmonella
The are many types of salmonella bacteria. The most common contaminated foods include unpasteurized milk and undercooked poultry and eggs. Acute intestinal distress, with sudden onset of headache, fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and even sometimes vomiting. This can be very severe for infants because of dehydration. Symptoms begin 16-48 hours after eating and can last up to 7 days.
Botulism
Possibly home canned foods are the most common source of the spores that cause toxicity to the nervous systems, although commercially prepared foods can also be at fault. The spores are very resistant to heat. The toxins that are produce by the spores can be killed by cooking the food at 176 degrees F for 30 minutes. Symptoms usually start 18-36 hours after taking in the botulinum toxin. This can be a very severe and potentially fatal poisoning. Symptoms can include
- Nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps, followed by neurological symptoms such as
- Vision changes
- Muscle weakness
- Difficulty breathing
- Constipation
Botulinum spores may be present in honey, so it is best not to give honey to children under one year of age. Infant botulism occurs most often in children who are less than six months old.
E. Coli
This infection usually occurs as a result of undercooked beef or unpasteurized milk or through fecal-oral contamination. It infects the digestive tract and can lead to bloody diarrhea and possibly kidney failure. Young children and the elderly are more likely to to be susceptible to the damaging effect. Symptoms usually include
- Severe abdominal cramps
- Watery diarrhea, followed by bloody diarrhea (usually 1-8 days)
- Fever is usually absent or may be low grade
Clostridium Perfingens
This can be found in feces, water, soil, air, and even water. Contaminated meat left at room temperature is the main source of infection. Symptoms begins 6-24 hours and usually resolve in 24 hours. Symptoms commonly include
- Watery diarrhea
- Abdominal cramps
Parasitic Infections
The most common example is Giardia. It is transmitted through the fecal-oral route, such as water contamination. Many times there will be no symptoms, and it they do they will take 1-3 weeks after exposure. If the do occur
- Watery, malodorous diarrhea
- Abdominal cramps and distention
- Flatulence and burping
- Nausea
- Low grade temperature
- Fatigue
Of course the Wild mushroom, Fish, Shellfish can be classified as Chemical Food Poisoning.
Obviously severe cases require conventional treatment that focuses on identifying the type of infectious organism and then prescribing and antimicrobial medicine ( antibiotics for bacterial infections). However, natural therapies are often effective for mild cases and can be used adjunctively for more severe cases.
There are some very effective antimicrobial supplements such as Colloidal Silver and Oregano oil. Probiotics or friendly bacteria needs to be replaced to normalize the intestinal tract. Also activated charcoal capsules taken internally can help to absorb toxins from food poisoning if taken in the first stages, say when you first realize you have food poisoning.
The medical name for this overgrowth is candidiasis, but most people know the condition as either thrush or as a yeast infection.
Normally, candida causes no harm; our bodies are equipped with probiotic (friendly) bacteria and immune cells that keep it under control. These are wonderful help, but some medications, high-sugar diets, allergies, and other factors can all cause the friendly bacteria to die, leaving candida free to grow unchecked in parts or all of the body. This is serious concern.
Thrush is marked by soft white patches in the oral cavity, around the anus, or on the skin.
- White patches on the inside of the mouth
- Inflamed, red patches on the skin
- Bad breath
- Heavily coated tongue
- Dry mouth
It most often appears in babies and in the elderly, but people with seriously compromised immune systems- say those who have AIDS or who are undergoing chemotherapy-are also vulnerable. Lactobacillus acidophilus for children is very helpful for the little ones.
A vaginal yeast infection is by far the most common manifestation of candidiasis.
- Vaginal itching, pain, burning
- Thick yellow discharge
- Burning during urination
Usually the result of antibiotic use, poor diet, hormone imbalance, or a combination of these. Also people with diabetes are frequently plagued by yeast infections.
If the fungus spreads throughout the entire body, a condition known as systemic candidiasis, it can produce any of a wide variety of symptoms and is often at the root of a persistent, even mysterious illness. For people with dramatically weakened immune systems, systemic candidiasis is a grave threat, as the fungus can actually poison the blood.
Depending on the person, several steps or complementary treatments, are often required for success in treating candida overgrowth. One of the obvious steps is to eliminate or cut down on simple sugars, alcohol, etc., which feed yeast. Also, direct therapy that destroys candida which will help the body in getting candida levels down to a controllable level. Oregano oil and garlic is great for this therapy. A study compared the anti-candida effect of oregano oil to that of caprylic acid and found that oregano oil is over one hundred times more potent than caprylic acid against candida.
Also the health of the digestive and elimination tract much be addressed. It is important to promote the growth of the friendly flora that inhabit the digestive tract and many other areas of the body. These good bacteria are an essential component of the immune system’s presence that keeps yeast levels in check. Lactobacillus acidophilus, bifidobacterium bifidum, Lactobacillus bulgaricus are all very important supplements to the person that is suffering from yeast infections. Many mass produced yogurt products just don’t have enough of the bacteria you need, and they are many times full of sugar which is a no-no.
Also garlic is a wonderful herb for many uses, it fights fungal infections and also boosts immune strength.
Grapefruit seed extract has been relied on for its anticandida properties.
Maintain normal levels of systemic candida & balanced probiotic flora in the body
ADHD can be very upsetting for parents, children, teachers and caretakers alike. Because there is no laboratory or physical test that diagnoses ADHD, its diagnosis is based on a clinical history of symptoms and behavior. Which brings up controversy as to whether the behavior is actually normal in many cases, especially for younger boys.
SYMPTOMS
- Inability to sit still
- Mood swings
- Restlessness
- Short attention span
- Inability to concentrate
- Frequent tantrums
- Speech or learning disorders
- Impaired memory
- Failure to complete age-appropriate tasks
- Impulsiveness
ROOT CAUSES
- A diet that’s high in sugar and additives
- Food allergies/sensitivities
- Hypoglycemia
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Poor digestion and absorption
- Emotional stresses
There are three subtypes of ADHD, one of which mainly involves an attention problem and not a hyperactivity issue. Between 30 and 40 percent of children with ADHD have learning disabilities, although in many cases these children are quite bright. ADHD often goes undiagnosed, if not caught at an early age, and it affects many adults who may not be aware of their condition.
Many parents instinctively believe that the problem is connected to their children’s diet. They know that children can respond negatively to sugar or other foods, and they wonder if their child is simply suffering from an extreme version of this reaction. In the last few decades, sugars, preservatives, and colorings have been added to our food at an increasing rate.
Do not underestimate the role of emotional stress and its relationship to ADHD. The breakdown of the family unit in our culture places abnormal stresses on a child, which can result in attention and behavior changes.
Many children consume nothing but convenience foods, like hot dogs, fried chicken fingers, highly sweetened fruit drinks and sodas. Since small bodies are especially vulnerable to additives in these foods, it is not surprising that many of them have a toxic response. For some, the response takes the form of traditional allergies-say, a runny nose or hives. Others, however, the poisons surface as extreme behavior problems.
Unfortunately, Western doctors have been trained to discount the importance of diet in hyperactive children. Instead of nutritional therapy, they will often suggest medication to suppress the symptoms of ADHD: it is estimated that more than two million children take drugs like Ritalin on a daily basis. While medications may be necessary in a few cases, parents should cultivate a healthy wariness of giving them to their children. The long-term effects of ADHD medications are not yet well known, and there are signs that the drugs can retard growth and lead to substance abuse or emotional problems later in life. Teens who take Ritalin may be tempted to mix it with alcohol, marijuana, or other recreational drugs, creating a dangerous brew with unknown consequences. Also with many conventional prescription drugs, the most compelling argument against ADHD drugs is that they fail to address the cause of the problem. Without the underlying cause being treated, children may have to take Ritalin well into their twenties.
There are many factors working against all of us in our culture of diets of processed foods. The best way to ensure that your child eats an additive-free diet is to buy only fresh foods and prepare them yourself. You don’t need to prepare special meals for your child: instead, feed your entire family a whole-foods diet. Younger children will usually eat what everyone else is eating, especially if you can reserve a small portion for them before you season the meal for the adults.
Regularly serve brain-healthy foods that are rich in essential fatty acids. Examples include fish (trout, salmon, halibut), nuts (walnuts, almonds), and ground flaxseeds.
If your child suffers from ADHD, it is likely that he or she is allergic to at least one food product.You may already suspect that a certain food is a trigger for your child, and you should target that product right away. Also you should closely examine your child’s consumption of the following, all of which are common allergens:
- Wheat
- Corn
- Chocolate
- Peanuts
- Citrus
- Dairy
- Soy
- Food coloring
- Preservatives
A study involving youths ages 4-19 with ADHD found that daily supplementation of phosphatidylserine (a naturally occurring substance found in high concentrations in brain cells, it helps brain cells function properly) at dosages between 200-300 mg daily for 4 months benefited greater than 90 percent of cases. Attention and learning were the symptoms most improved.
Calcium and magnesium complex: the combination of these 2 minerals, at a dosage of 500 mg of calcium and 250 mg of magnesium twice daily was reported to relax the nervous system.
Take a probiotic to maintain good bacteria in the digestive tract.
Iron deficiency is linked to short attention spans and memory problems. A daily tablespoon of unsulfured blackstrap molasses is a naturally sweet way to give your child an adequate amount of this mineral.
B vitamins are healing to stressed-out nerves. Good sources include brown rice, brewer’s yeast (which you can add to smoothies and yogurt), and leafy green vegetables.
Many children with ADHD suffer from an excess of copper or lead. Food that’s high in vitamin C will encourage the release of these toxins from the body, so feed your child citrus fruits for dessert.
Encourage your child to play or exercise outside in the fresh air. Limit exposure to sedentary, passive activities, like watching television or playing video games.
Work with a counselor to help your child with behavior modification and learning styles. Every child is different and requires an individualized approach. Emotional counseling may be necessary for healing, especially in cases of broken families or abuse.
These are wonderful alternatives
Kidney stones have become an increasingly common medical problem in our Western society, mainly due to poor dietary habits. Kidney stones are most likely to affect white men over the age of thirty. People of any age, race or sex who live in the southern United States have a higher risk than the other regions.
Although many kidney stones are so small that they pass unnoticed, they can be as big or bigger than a marble. They are very sharp and jagged, and can produce great and often excruciating-pain.
If you have been diagnosed with or suspect that you have kidney stones, then you should be under the care of a professional. Your doctor will rule out other conditions or underlying causes and will check for infection.
Complementary therapies offer effective, natural pain relief for more minor cases, but on the whole, it is far easier to prevent kidney stones in the first place.
History holds a clue to their prevention: Back in the early 1900’s when Americans ate natural, wholesome foods, kidney stones were largely unheard of, but as the century wore on, and as diets became lower in fiber and higher in fat, sugar, dairy, and junk, the disorder became much more common. Today, a man living in America has a 10 percent chance of passing a kidney stone at least once in his life.
There are different types of kidney stones, with 80 percent being composed of calcium salts, especially the oxalate type, so let’s talk about how to prevent calcium-oxalate stones.
SYMPTOMS
- Pain on one side of the lower back, in the belly, or down into the groin
- A frequent urge to urinate
- Blood and sediment in the urine
- Nausea and vomiting
- Chills and fever, if the stones causes a blockage and an infection
ROOT CAUSES
- A poor diet
- Dehydration
- Urinary pH balance
- Allergies and food sensitivities
- Infections that disturb the flow of fluids
- Obesity
- Inactivity
- A magnesium and potassium deficiency
Many people with kidney stones suffer from dehydration. A lack of fluids increases the mineral concentration in the kidneys and, with it, the chance that stones will crystallize. While you have a kidney stone, drink 2 1/2 to 3 quarts of clean water every day. Once the stone has passed, resume a normal daily dose of 1 glass every 2 waking hours. Hydration is the single most important tactic in the treatment and the prevention of kidney stones.
Consume oat and wheat bran daily, as they reduce the risk of kidney stones being formed.
Lemon juice mixed with a little hot water is another remedy that will help acidify the urine and ease the passage of calcium-oxalate stones. Drink some at breakfast and throughout the day.
Consume 1/4 cup of raw pumpkin seeds daily. Studies show that consuming these seeds reduce the risk factors for kidney stone formation.
A magnesium deficiency has been linked to recurring kidney stones. Boost your levels of this nutrient by eating green leafy vegetables, kelp, soybeans, almonds, and apples.
A study of 55 people with reoccurring kidney stones looked at the effect of supplementing 500mg of magnesium daily for up to 4 years. The average number of recurrences of kidney stones dropped by 90 percent. 85 percent of the people in the study remained stone free, as compared to 41 percent who did not supplement magnesium.
Studies have also shown that the combination of magnesium and vitamin B6 supplementation is very effective in reducing kidney stone formation. One study of 149 people with recurrent kidney stones who supplemented B6 (10 mg) and magnesium (300 mg) had a 92.3 percent improvement in stone formation.
Cranberry extract, studies have shown that cranberry reduces urinary calcium levels in people with a history of kidney stones. It’s also great for helping prevent urinary tract infections.
Also IP-6 (inositol hexaphosphate) Studies show that this supplement reduces calcium-oxalate crystals in the urine.
Finally Uva ursi is a traditional herbal treatment for kidney stones. It relieves pain, cleanses the urinary tract, and fights infection.
Remember it is much easier to put out a small fire instead of a large fire, and it is much easier to prevent kidney stones than pass one of those babies!!
To help prevent, try these!
Diabetes and blood sugar levels can be such a huge challenge to many people with the disease and their families, so when a little extra help is available they need to know about it.
Chromium picolinate is a nutritional supplement that can help control diabetes. As the name suggests, it is a combination of two different substances: chromium and picolinate. Chromium is a mineral that helps to increase the efficiency of insulin. Insulin being the hormone that controls blood glucose or blood sugar levels. Picolinate is an amino acid derivative that allows the body to use chromium much more readily.
Scientists has known for a long time that chromium is a vital nutrient, but not until chromium was combined with picolinate was a truly effective way of providing supplemental chromium developed. In the body, chromium ( a mineral) takes the form of an ion, which is a particle with an electrical charge. This charge is repelled by the body’s cells, making it difficult for the chromium to enter the cells. That’s where the picolinate comes in, it is a chelator, a substance that can bind with an ion and neutralize its charge. The body’s cells then are able to accept the chromium.
Chromium deficiency has been linked to diabetes. Studies have found chromium supplementation to be helpful for people with type 1 and type 11 diabetes, as well as for women with diabetes that occurs during pregnancy (gestational diabetes).
What is also interesting is the shape of individual insulin molecules. It is important to the hormone’s effectiveness. If the molecules maintain their proper shape, the insulin can effectively transport glucose into the cells, where it is needed. Without chromium, insulin molecules become misshapen, which can leave them unable to effectively transport glucose. Without an effective transportation system, glucose builds up in the bloodstream, starting a chain reaction that eventually leads to diabetes.
Research has been conducted on individuals with a number of different health problems, including diabetes and it shows that most people with diabetes experience a decline in blood glucose levels after they start taking daily chromium picolinate supplements. It is believed that chromium picolinate may be able to help many people with diabetes (especially type 11 diabetes) to control their blood sugar levels. This of course would allow them to cut back on their intake of insulin and other drugs, likely resulting in fewer side effects. Since improving the action of insulin also helps the body to use fat as a fuel, chromium picolinate can help reduce obesity. This means that it may, hopefully, enable some people with type 11 diabetes to lose enough weight to stop taking drugs entirely.
Chromium helps with sweet cravings which helps with weight loss and management.
However, it is not recommended that people with diabetes simply go out and buy chromium picolinate supplements and start taking it. Anyone interested in using chromium picolinate supplements should first seek the advice of a qualified health care provider, preferably a nutritionally oriented physician who has experience in this area.
Blood sugar levels must be monitored carefully and the appropriate dosages of insulin or other drugs adjusted as needed in response. A potentially dangerous insulin reaction may occur as a result of too little glucose in the blood.
These may be a great help! I hope so!!
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Cystitis, or infection of the bladder, usually is caused by some type of bacteria. Nearly 85 percent of all bladder infections are caused by Escherichia coli, a bacterium normally found in the intestines.
Chlamydia may also cause bladder problems, also bladder cancer and prostatitis in men can cause infections. These more serious problems warrants medical attention.
Cystitis is much more common in women. Mainly due to the way we are made. The close proximity of the anus, vagina, and urethra in females, and also because of the short length of the female urethra ( the opening to the bladder). This allows for easy transmission of bacteria from the anus to the vagina and urethra and thus to the bladder. Keep the genital and anal areas clean and dry. Women and little girls should wipe from front to back after emptying the bladder or bowels. And women should always urinate after intercourse to flush the passage to the bladder.
Symptoms of a bladder infection usually begin with an urgent desire to empty the bladder. This is typically frequent and painful, even after the bladder has been emptied, there may be a desire to urinate again. The urine often has a strong, unpleasant odor, may be dark in color, and may appear cloudy.
Children suffering from a bladder infection often complain of lower abdominal pain and a painful burning sensation while urinating. There may be blood in the urine.
While cystitis itself is usually more of an annoyance ( don’t tell that to anyone with a bladder infection) than a serious health problem, if left untreated it can lead to a kidney infection.
There are factors that increase the possibility of developing a bladder infection:
- Pregnancy
- Sexual intercourse
- Use of a diaphragm
- Diabetes
- Structural abnormality or obstruction of the urinary tract which restricts the free flow of urine
Habitually retaining the urine in the bladder for long periods increases a woman’s risk of urinary tract infections, and may increase the risk of bladder cancer.
Antibiotics may be necessary treatments for cystitis, especially for persistent and painful infections. Beware of resorting to them too often. Antibiotics disturb the normal internal flora and may promote recurrent infections by promoting the development of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria. Because antibiotics has been over prescribed over the years, many of the bacteria in our bodies ( estimates run from 50 to 80 percent) are now resistant to common antibiotics, such as sulfa drugs and tetracycline. This forces doctors to resort to more powerful and potentially more dangerous drugs that pose a greater risk and side effects. Most bladder infections respond quite nicely to a more natural approach or treatment.
Avoid caffeine which causes the muscles around the bladder neck to contract, and can produce painful bladder spasms.
Drink plenty of liquids, especially cranberry juice. Drink at least one 8-ounce glass of quality water every hour. Cranberry is the best herbal remedy for bladder infections. Quality cranberry juice produces hippuric acid in the urine, which acidifies the urine and inhibits bacterial growth. Other components in cranberry juice prevent bacteria from adhering to the lining of the bladder. Avoid cranberry juice cocktail products ( not enough cranberry juice in the cocktail and way to much sugar to be of any benefit). If pure cranberry juice is not available, cranberry capsules are available, but remember drink lots of water with them.
And of course Colloidal silver is a natural broad spectrum antiseptic and fights infection, subdues inflammation, and promotes healing. Very effective for a bladder infection.
These are great helps in time of need!
The dangers of smoking are well known today, so why do people continue to smoke. Well, some people started smoking before the dangers were widely known, while others started in adolescence, when they either felt invulnerable or more likely to want to fit in with a particular social crowd.
However, surveys show consistently that no matter why or when they started, most current smokers do not smoke because they want to but because they are addicted!
Nicotine has long been known to be a deadly toxin. A single pinhead sized drop of liquid nicotine, directly into the bloodstream, would be fatal. So what happens when the normal dose is ingested while smoking?
Nicotine:
- Makes the heart pump faster and work harder increasing the likelihood of heart disease
- Constricts the peripheral blood vessels, contributing to circulatory disorders such as Raynaud’s phenomenon and hardening of the arteries.
If this wasn’t enough, nicotine is not the only ingredient in cigarettes that poses a danger to health. Over 4,000 chemical substances have been identified as constituents of cigarette smoke. Of these at least 43 are known to cause cancer in humans.
Cigarette smoke contains:
- Carbon monoxide (which binds to hemoglobin, interfering with the transport of oxygen throughout the body. It also promotes the development of cholesterol deposits on artery walls. These two factors increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.)
- Benzene
- Cyanide( Hydrogen cyanide causes bronchitis by inflaming the lining of the bronchi)
- Ammonia
- Nitrosamines
- Vinyl chloride
- Radioactive particles
- Other known irritants and carcinogens.
Over the long term, smoking dramatically reduces flow of blood to the brain.
Men who have smoked for years are more likely to have abnormally low penile blood pressure, leading to impotence. The sperm of men who smoke have less ability than that of nonsmokers to penetrate, and thus fertilize, an egg, leading to sterility.
Women cigarette smokers are more likely:
- To experience menopause earlier
- To face a greater risk of osteoporosis after menopause
- To have a much higher risk of developing cervical or uterine cancer
- They appear less fertile
- To have more difficulties during pregnancy
- To have more miscarriages, stillbirths, and premature deliveries
- To have smaller babies which have more health problems than nonsmokers
Infants whose mothers smoke both during pregnancy and after childbirth appear to be three times as likely to die of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) as infants of nonsmokers.
Children whose fathers smoke also face an increase in health problems. Children of male smokers have been shown to be at a higher than normal risk of developing brain cancer and leukemia.
Smoking dramatically effects nutrition. Smokers break down vitamin C twice as fast as nonsmokers. This effects the gum and teeth health, along with many other processes that speeds the aging process. This can deprive the body of adequate amounts of one of the most powerful and versatile antioxidants at our disposal. Other antioxidant vitamins are depleted as well. Cigarette smoke is high in nitrogen dioxide ozone, which oxidizes the antioxidant vitamins and is known to do damage to DNA.
Tobacco smoking causes an estimated:
- One third of all cancer deaths
- One fourth of fatal heart attacks
- 85 percent of deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- 85 percent of lung cancer cases.
Other health problems linked to smoking include:
- Angina
- Arteriosclerosis
- Cataracts
- Chronic bronchitis
- Colorectal cancer
- Diarrhea
- Emphysema
- Heartburn
- High blood pressure
- Impotence
- Peptic ulcers
- Respiratory ailments
- Urinary Incontinence
- Circulatory ailments
- Cancers of the mouth and throat
The good news is that this addiction can be overcome, and that health benefits begin almost immediately. In just 24 hours after your last cigarette, your blood pressure and pulse rate should return to normal, as well as the levels of oxygen and carbon monoxide in your blood. Within a week the risk of heart attack begins to decrease, the senses of smell and taste improve, breathing becomes easier.
Our health is our responsibility. It takes a decision on our part to take control of our actions, which affects not only us but our loved ones for many years to come. Hopefully we will be here to enjoy them. It is said that every cigarette smoked takes off 15 minutes from the end of one’s life. Let’s take action now, You Can Do It!!
There are products that help
Why do our colons need a good cleansing? Well think about it, what was it created to do? What’s it’s purpose? It’s function is to remove waste. We ask a lot of it. We all need to realize our colon is a crucial part of our health. If it isn’t healthy, we can develop serious diseases anytime.
Old fecal matter that is stuck to the wall or in pockets of the colon will throw off toxins, feed parasites and poison your health.
Eliminating fatty wastes, mucus, and other toxic buildups are very important to our well being.
You know the saying is true, “death begins in the colon”, because our cancer fighters are in our colon and if its clogged up, the cells that can locate a precancerous cell can’t detect it.
This environment prevents the colonizing of the good or friendly bacteria. Friendly bacteria in the digestive tract aids digestion and increases the resistance to harmful bacteria, yeast and viruses.
Toxic buildup side effects can cause several conditions:
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Bloating and indigestion
- Weight gain
- Inability to lose weight
- Disruption in mental function
- Pain and stiffness in the joints
- Excess strain leading to weakening of the heart
- Blemishes or acne
- Psoriasis
- Bad breath
No wonder our society has so many diseases or conditions our grandparents never had to deal with in their time.
Statistics show that 90% of the diseases of our time are due to improper functioning of the colon.
So do our colons need a good cleansing?
Apparently our bodies tell us they do.
Here are some excellent products
We tend to think when we hear the word” bacteria” that it is always dangerous or bad, when in actuality our intestinal tracts contain a complex and diverse culture of disease causing (bad) and “friendly”or good bacteria. We must have the “friendly” bacteria to survive.
Our goal for a Healthy Immune System is to have many more of the Friendly bacteria than the disease causing bacteria. Also known as probiotics.
The most predominant organism in the intestinal flora of a healthy intestinal tract is Bifidobacterium Bifidum. This lovely little creature is essential to our well being.
Breast feeding of babies encourages the growth of this “friendly” bacteria known as Bifidobacterium. It protect the baby from gastrointestinal infections so severe that it requires hospitalization or even death.
Mother’s milk contains sugars (galacto-oligosaccharides) which Bifidobacterium feed and flourish on in the intestinal track. Studies show by the fourth day of life Bifidobacterium represent 48% of the bacteria in the breast fed babies, compared to15% in the bottle fed babies.
As our food travels down to our large intestines, the partially digested remnants become the foods for our friendly or not so friendly bacteria. Each kind or species of bacteria survives best on a particular kind of nutrient. The “friendly” bacteria thrives on plant foods and the pathogens or (bad for us bacteria) thrives on meat or junk food or low plant diets.
So , what we choose to eat determines the predominance of the species of bacteria in our “gut”. We need to have a diet of predominantly whole plant foods, limiting meats and highly processed foods if we want to encourage a healthy immune system.
Friendly bacteria dines on the parts of the plant foods that our bodies can not use. The undigestible complex carbohydrates, also known as dietary fiber , and other smaller undigestible sugars (oligosaccharides), provide the bulk of the food for our bowel bacteria. Only plants have these complex and simple carbohydrates. Purified wood cellulose, which have been added to some breads, calling it “high-fiber breads” is not broken down by the flora in our intestines.
There are several other reasons why the health, or balance of the bacteria or flora in the intestinal tract can be upset. Antibiotic use, illnesses, temperatures, and other drug treatments. These can lead to the overgrowth of Clostridium difficile a pathogenic bacteria.
There are many benefits of having a healthy gut flora, here are but a few:
- Relieves constipation
- increases the resistance to bacteria, yeast and viruses
- Reduces cholesterol and triglycerides
- Improves our digestion
- Speed healing of diarrheal diseases and colitis
- lessen symptoms of inflammatory arthritis
When our diets are not exactly what they should be, help also come in supplements.
These are excellent products
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