Tag Archive for 'health'

5 Things You Must Not Do If You Want To Lose Weight

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NAT
on September 21, 2008
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Have you ever imagined how good your life will be if you have that perfect body shape? Most people just don’t like to become overweight and the reason is simple because they don’t have the confidence in themselves to meet other people. The only problem is they might not take any action to reduce the body weight and always hoping for a miracle thing to happen which will not happen.

Not Setting Any Goals - This is where most people fail to do. You may have joined several weight loss programs before but still not be able to reduce weight. The only thing you do reduce is more money. You need to setup a logical goal, for example, you want to lose 5 pounds in 5 days and so on. A goal must be follow up with some proper plan.

Don’t Have Any Patience - This is an important step after setting up your goals. With today’s technology, there is no surprise why people need to achieve something so dramatically fast. You can start to lose 3 to 5 pounds in 2 days if you do something about it like doing some heavy exercise. Of course, this will also require you to spend some time to spare. Be patience because you will get the result that you always wanted. Why need to rush anyway?

Skip Meals - This is not a bright thing to do at all. Skipping your meals will not do you any good in losing weight. Believe it or not, you still need to eat in order for your body to have some energy to work. Eat food that contain lots of vitamins and minerals. Avoid food with lots of sugar and salt altogether. Having a well balanced food is the key to success here.

No Determination - If you have a plan to lose weight, you must willing to sacrifice whatever means necessary to achieve your goal, whether in terms of money, time or energy. Having a desire is not enough if you don’t have the determination. When you have a strong desire, whatever hurdles that are in your way, you will have no problem overcome it.

Not Eating Anything - You may lose weight by doing this but that is not the only thing you will lost. Your body will become weak, no energy and end up you will become so thin. Once this happen, all sort of disease will empower you since your body does not have any nutrition or vitamins that can protect you.

As you can see, all the above are very bad things. If you are doing all the above mentioned, you really need help from some professional. Do your best to stay away from it and always believe in yourself you can lose weight soon.

 

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Studies Show that Honey Promotes Healing

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on August 29, 2008
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Bacteria protect themselves from antibiotics by forming slimy clumps as a protective layer. However, scientists have now discovered that honey is effective in breaking down this protective barrier. Bacteria is the main cause for wounds not healing fast enough and with the recent outbreaks of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, this is becoming more of a problem.
If bacteria multiply enough to form a slimy mass or bio-film, they are much less sensitive to antibiotics and antiseptics. Doctors treating infected wounds need to remove this bio-film so that they can prevent the spread of bacteria. Bio-films prevent healing in wounds and may lead to chronic ulcers.

Laboratory studies indicate that wounds treated with a special type of honey known as “Manuka Honey” are able to heal more rapidly and the bio-film is disrupted. This suggests that Manuka Honey could be a viable solution to treating infected wounds, more so than antibiotics. With the increase in MRSA cases and other hospital infections from antibiotic-resistant bacteria, doctors need more effective treatments.

A company called Honeymark International has developed an over-the-counter wound dressing containing Manuka Honey that is effective against tough bio-films and bacteria. This First Aid Antiseptic Lotion with Manuka Honey is effective in treating staph infections and other hard to heal wounds. It’s also effective in treating burns and skin ulcers. “The reason why Manuka Honey is more effective in destroying bacteria is because Manuka Honey has the ability to draw water out of the bacteria, making it impossible for the bacteria to survive,” says Frank Buonanotte, CEO of Honeymark International. “As a result Manuka Honey is the most important ingredient to consider for wound care products as nothing else has proven to be as effective.”

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Honey, the New Antibiotic

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on August 29, 2008
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An old household remedy is finding its way back into modern medicine. Scientists are now discovering that a particular type of honey is more effective in treating wounds than most antibiotics. Even chronic wounds infected with antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria can be healed quickly with this honey. It’s called ‘Manuka Honey’ and it comes from beehives located in New Zealand.

The use of honey for medical purposes was known to the ancient Egyptians thousands of years ago. Even in the last two world wars, bandages with honey were used to treat wounded soldiers. However, the advent of antibiotics replaced this household remedy with the misconception that medicine was more effective than honey. The problem is that today we are faced with germs that are resistant to almost all types of antibiotics. As a result, the medical use of honey is becoming attractive again for the treatment of wounds. The reason being is that recent studies show that honey is actually more effective, despite what doctors once thought.
When using dressings containing Manuka Honey, dead tissue is rejected faster and wounds heals more rapidly. In addition, changing bandages is less painful, because with honey they are easier to remove without damaging the newly formed layers of skin. Some wounds often smell unpleasant which can be an enormous strain on the patient. Honey also helps in this instance by reducing malodor. Even wounds that don’t heal for years can be brought under control with the use of Manuka Honey within a few weeks. Less serious wounds can be healed with Manuka Honey in a few days or even within a few hours.
“It has already been proved that Manuka Honey can destroy antibiotic-resident bacteria such as MRSA, says Frank Buonanotte, CEO of Honeymark International, manufacturer of Manuka Honey products. “Additionally, Manuka Honey is also known to have an antiseptic effect.” When producing honey, bees add an enzyme called glucose-oxidase. This enzyme produces small amounts of hydrogen peroxide which is an effective antiseptic. The advantage of the hydrogen peroxide found in honey is that small concentrations are able to kill the bacteria because it is constantly being produced in a slow-release manner. Normally, much larger quantities of hydrogen peroxide are required because hydrogen peroxide loses its potency over time. However, in large concentrations it damages skin cells. This is a side effect that does not occur with honey.
Manuka Honey, also known as Leptospermum Honey, comes from a tree species that grows in New Zealand and Australia. Honey from these trees has a particularly strong anti-bacterial effect, even when diluted. Honeybees gather nectar from the flowers that grow on this tree and take it back to their hives where they produce this unique type of honey. “What makes Manuka Honey more potent in treating wounds and other health conditions is the present of an additional antibacterial compound other than hydrogen peroxide,” says Buonanotte. “This other antibacterial component has become known as the unique Manuka factor, also known as UMF.”
Honeymark’s wound care product containing Active UMF Manuka Honey is called “First Aid Antiseptic Lotion” and it is available on their website. Honeymark expects to have their products on the shelves of major retailers later this year. In addition to their wound dressing, Honeymark also makes Manuka Honey products that are effective in treating eczema, arthritis, ringworm, athlete’s foot, psoriasis, etc. Honeymark also plans to introduce a cosmetic line containing Manuka Honey by mid 2008.
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Born into Good Health? By Mary Kearl

Published
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on August 20, 2008
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Everything from your birth order to the time of year you were born can have an impact on your current health. Summer babies are more likely to be nearsighted than winter ones, but they’re also at a higher risk for suicide. Firstborns are more likely to have asthma and a higher IQ, while younger siblings are more likely to face less harsher punishments. Find out what the circumstances surrounding your birth could mean for your current health.

 

If You Were a Chubby Baby…

Your odds of anxiety and/or depression may be lower than smaller babies, according to a study conducted by the University of Alberta, the University College London Medical School and the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge.

 

If You Were Born During Spring or Summer…

You may be more likely to commit suicide than those born in other seasons, according to a 2006 study published in the ‘British Journal of Psychiatry.’ The researchers from Liverpool University found the risk of suicide increased 17 percent for people born in spring to early summer, compared with those born in autumn to early winter. Women had a higher risk — raised 29.6 percent versus men’s 13.7 percent. The study’s authors note that their findings are consistent with the prevalence of people born during spring and summer suffering from seasonal affective disorders and alcoholism, both of which represent about 10 percent of total expected annual suicides in England and Wales. Summer-born babies also have a higher risk of nearsightedness with the highest rates occurring in babies born in June/July, according to findings in the April 2008 issue of ‘Ophthalmology.’ Spring-born babies may be more likely to develop type 1 diabetes, according to a new report from the American Diabetes Association.

 

If You Were Born During October Through December…

You may live longer than those born in April through June, according to the study “Lifespan Depends on Month of Birth” conducted by the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research in Germany.  And, autumn-born babies may be more active than spring-born babies, according to a study published in a 2007 issue of the ‘British Medical Journal.’ The researchers found that fall babies activity surpassed spring-born ones by 9 percent.

 

If You Were Born During Winter or Spring…

You may be at a higher risk for schizophrenia and mania/bipolar disorder, according to several epidemiologic studies, says the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). In fact, there are about five to eight percent more cases of schizophrenia with winter or spring birthdays than other seasons. Spring-born babies may also be at a higher risk for autism and depression. This may be due to maternal infections, such as the flu, during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy. Contracting just one infection during the second trimester may increase the baby’s risk of schizophrenia by three to seven times. Familial history of the disorder, as well as urban birth, and perinatal and postnatal illnesses are also risk factors.

 

If You Were Premature…

You have a greater risk of  cerebral palsy, autism-spectrum disorders, mental retardation, blindness, low vision, hearing loss, and epilepsy as well as disorders of psychological development behavior and emotion, according to a July 2008 study published in the ‘New England Journal of Medicine.’ Norwegian researchers found that babies born prematurely had almost 9 times greater risk for cerebral palsy, compared with full-term babies. The risk of mental retardation was 0.4 percent for full-term babies, versus 4.4 percent for babies born between 23 and 27 weeks. They also reported that premature babies are more likely to need to receive disability payments later on in life. Another study published in ‘Pediatrics’ found those born early were less likely to leave home, live with a romantic partner or be sexually active as adults.

 

If You Were a Short Baby Boy…

You may be at a greater risk for suicide. A study published in 2008 issue of the ‘British Medical Journal’, found that male newborns of less than 47 cm were more likely to attempt suicide as adults, no matter their adult height, compared with average length babies. Smaller length more than doubled the risk of a violent suicide attempt as opposed to a non-violent one.

 

If You Were Small and/or Poor…

By the time you reach your 30s and 40s you may have the health of someone 12 years older than you, according to a 2007 study conducted by the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research. The study found that a birth weight of 5.5 pounds or less increases the probability of being in fair or poor health as an adult by over 70 percent. Low income during pregnancy increases the likelihood of negative birth outcomes, such as low birth weight, but it can also increase the harmful effects of the poor birth conditions, and have an impact on future health, according to the study.

 

If You Were Born to a Teen Parent…

You may have a raised suicide risk if your mom was a teenager. And, if your dad was a teenager you may have the health problems associated with low birth, according to two different studies. A study from ‘Human Reproduction’ found that children fathered by teenagers were more likely to be born prematurely, have a low-birth weight and be less healthy at birth. The second study, from 2004, found that having a mother who was 19 or younger at birth was a significant predictor for suicide attempt and suicide risk.

 

If You Were Born Caesarean…

That may explain why you have allergies and/or asthma. Babies born by C-section have a 50 percent increased risk of developing asthma compared to natural birth, according to a 2008 study published in the ‘Journal of Pediatrics.’ Not being exposed to the mother’s bacteria during birth may impede the development of the immune system. This kind of birth can also affect lung function in the long term. Another 2008 study presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference found a similar link between immune system development and allergies in babies born by c-section.

 

If You’re the Oldest…

You may have a higher IQ than your younger siblings, but you’re also more likely to have allergies and asthma. A Norwegian study of over 240,000 males found that eldest children had average IQ scores about 3 percent higher than second-born and 4 percent higher than third-born children. Firstborns have higher odds of developing asthma and allergies because of different conditions they experience in the uterus, according to research from the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom, presented at the American Thoracic Society’s 2008 International Conference.

 

If You’re the Youngest…

You may have a lower IQ than your eldest sibling, but you may get off easier on punishments. New findings suggest that parents are more likely to withdraw financial support from older children who drop out of high school or get pregnant than younger children who end up making similar life decisions, according to a new study from researchers at Duke University, Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland.

 

If You Were Born Using In Vitro Fertilization…

You may have better odds of being healthier if you were born from a thawed frozen embryo, as opposed to a fresh embryo, according to a recent report at the 24th annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. Children born from frozen eggs had a higher birth weight — or healthier birth weight. Low birth weight, along with premature birth, are associated with many adult health conditions. 

 

If Your Mother Smoked,Used Drugs or Drank…

You may have or may later develop a wide range of health problems. Drug and/or alcohol use during pregnancy has been linked to low birth weight, small head size, hyperactivity and attention problems, learning and memory disabilities, deformity and issues with social and emotional development. Children born to women who smoke during pregnancy have about 30 percent higher odds of being born prematurely and are more likely to be born with low birth weight, increasing their risk for illness or death, according to the CDC. Plus, secondhand smoke exposure as a child may mean a variety of health problems including bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections, more severe asthma, respiratory symptoms and slowed lung growth.

 

Written By Mary Kearl

 

Thank you BelieveinUnicorns for submitting this News Article

Have Superbugs Like MRSA Found Their Match?

Published
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on August 12, 2008
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Hope you find this interesting.

Despite their reputation for deadly attacks on humans and pets, alligators are finding their way toward a new role as potential lifesavers in medicine.
Biochemists in Louisiana at the 235th national meeting of the American Chemical Society reported that gator blood may provide a source of powerful new antibiotics to help fight infections associated with diabetic ulcers, severe burns, and “superbugs” that are resistant to conventional medication.

Recently a National Geographic team that studied crocodiles in Australia and America reported that an antidote in crocodiles and alligators kills bacteria which is normally untreatable with normal antibiotics.

The crocodile expert, Dr Adam Britton says they are territorial and often fight each other. When they do, they can lose limbs and are sometimes left with gaping wounds. Regardless of these gruesome injuries and the fact that their environment is conducive to serious infection (and possibly death), the crocodiles heal very fast with minimal infection. That proves that they are immune to bacterial infections.

Scientists took blood samples from crocodiles to establish why they don’t get sick and found they have what they describe as an “unusual anti-microbic
peptide”.

Where the new ’super’ product has been applied to HIV, West Nile virus and E-coli, these have diminished.

The problem however is that the product cannot simply be harvested and injected into humans - the body will immediately realise it is ‘foreign’ and reject it. The fat of crocodiles can however be rubbed into the skin and should benefit from the ’super peptides’.

“We’re very excited about the potential of these alligator blood proteins as both antibacterial and antifungal agents,” says study co-author Mark Merchant, Ph.D., a biochemist at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, La. “There’s a real possibility that you could be treated with an alligator blood product one day.”

When the alligator serum was exposed to HIV the researchers found that a good amount of the virus was destroyed.

The study team thinks that pills and creams containing reptile peptides could be available at local pharmacies within seven to ten years. But already there is a company in South Africa which has been producing a skin balm made from crocodile oil since 2005 known as Repcillin.

“It is a 100% natural skin balm and it is available now but only in small quantities.

Does this mean the end of the crocodile?

“No” say Repcillin, the manufacturers of crocodile oil products. “People farm with them for their meat as they would with chickens and cattle. The meat is low in cholesterol and is a delicacy in restaurants all over the world. There is less than 300g fat on a single crocodile. Medicinal crocodile oil is harvested from the fat which is a waste product and normally disposed of unless it is used for medical purposes.

This natural oil is healing numerous skin problems around the world, but there is not enough available for the mass market.

Article Source: http://www.articleassets.com

John Sweet has researched the healing power found in crocodile oil. For more information visit www.crocodileoil.com