Health = Wealth

Find Out How To Prevent Diabetes And Live Longer

2006-10-18T02:31:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time we would never have even thought much about diabetes but now we as a whole are seriously concerned about how to prevent diabetes. I'm not too sure of what the statistics are but I'm positive that this disease is so much more prevalent now than it was many years ago. You only have to watch the television and there is always something being said about obesity in adults and children and how this is causing at upsurge of type two in particular. This is a scary thought and it is something that we all should be taking notice of.By finding out how to prevent diabetes we will be potentially saving many, many lives. Not only from a possible death but also from things such as blindness and other associated conditions. Of course there are people who are at a higher risk than most and they are people who have already got diabetes in their family. They may or may not end up with this disease but they of all people should be doing everything they can to prevent it.Some of the ways to do this is to stay healthy and fit. By this I mean do not become over weight, do not load up with sugars, take up a healthy aerobic exercise and do it regularly, go on a well balanced diet and have regular doctors check ups. If you do the right things and learn how to prevent diabetes then you will have a much higher chance of not developing this condition even if it is in the family.I mean really, who wants to end up having to do a daily blood glucose testing and have to take medication all the time. Or in particular who wants to have to give themselves shots all the time? Nobody wants their life to become that regimented if they can help it. As I said before many people will get this disease regardless, but for the majority it can be prevented or prolonged.I find it extremely sad to see children who are obese and unmotivated to do any form of exercise. I find it even sadder seeing their parents giving them fast foods and sugary drinks on a regular basis. I'm sure if these parents pulled their heads out from the sand they would realize what they are doing to their children. They really are shortening their lives!As the old saying goes - prevention is better than cure. So why not start with how to prevent diabetes and change your lifestyle now. Not only will you keep yourself from succumbing to this condition but you can also help educate other people to do the same and watch them also reap the benefits of becoming healthy and fit along the way.
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Susan Dean is the webmaster of www.yourhealthsecrets.com/how-to-prevent-diabetes/ Visit her site for tips and advice on diabetes.

Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease - Is There A Link?

2006-10-16T23:40:00.000-07:00

Both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease afflict around 500,000 individuals annually with their eroding and life-sapping effects. While Alzheimer's robs memories and personality and ultimately leads to lowered motor function, Parkinson's disease steals the person of rudimentary motor function resulting in a trembling or palsy to dominate the body. Scientists have contemplated for years whether or not there was a link between both diseases, either in terms of genetics or environmental reasons which initiated the onset of both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease.Parkinson's disease is an incurable illness of the nervous system involving the neuro-transmitters in the brain starting to become defective, causing a bodily shaking and limbs that gets increasingly poor as time goes by. Symptoms of austerity and difficulty walking at a regular bearing also appear over time. Ultimately this disease will steal the person's ability to regulate their balance consequenting in more trips and falls, which is a consideration for their well being.Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease are dissimilar in that Parkinson's disease seems to concentrate more on physical handicaps, Alzheimer's disease appears to afflict the mental abilities prior to the motor skills and physical skills deteriorating. Common everyday absent-mindedness evolves into disorientation and forgetfulness which become a major issue for daily functioning. The whereabouts of houses or recalling the faces of kids or buddies becomes increasingly troublesome with time. Eventually, the personality can change as a result of the disease.In spring 2003, a scientific study found that there may well be a direct link between Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. In the scientific study, it contended that more aged adults who contract the shakes and other quintessential symptoms of Parkinson's disease may be as much as eightfold more likely to develop Alzheimer's disease as well. Additionally, it has been displayed that the symptoms of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease can be very much alike and possibly develop along the same lines, although the ultimate cause may be different. It has also been suggested in disease research that Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease could possibly have a connection with how both diseases progress as the years go by. The former study released in the spring 2003 publication of The Archives of Neurology observed the development of symptoms linked with Parkinson's disease among 824 Catholic church attenders with 75 years of age being the average, and who had no obvious signs of Alzheimer's disease at the start of the study. Around four and half years later, 79% of the study's individuals found a more speedy development of the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Those who experienced the speedier progression, it was discovered that they were eight times more likely to possess symptoms of both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.Is there a link between Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease? To date, medical professionals are still discussing that suggestion, but increasingly more research studies seem to imply that there is possibly a connection between these two debilitating illnesses. Hopefully in time research will be able to explain the link, if any, linking Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
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Jonty Smith is founder of the Alzheimers Help website. Alzheimers Help provides free articles and resources to Alzheimers caregivers and can be located at (101AlzheimersHelp.com).

Insomnia Treatment

2006-10-16T02:07:00.000-07:00

Insomnia treatment has become a serious matter of concern since the number of insomnia patients are increasing tremendously. Insomnia is the condition of sleepless nights. It is usually referred to as a common condition that may occur for everyone, in any part of their life. However, it has to be considered as a disease, if its occurrence is frequent. Insomnia treatment is important because insomnia can lead to several complications in the physiological and psychological balance of a person.
Insomnia treatment strategy will differ according to the treatment method you choose. Most of the medicinal systems such as conventional medicine, psychotherapies, alternative medicines, traditional medicines, natural remedies and home remedies, suggest effective treatment and a cure for insomnia. The majority of insomnia treatment methods try to cure the underlying reason for insomnia.
Conventional medicine mainly prescribes hypnotic medications for insomnia treatment. Benzodiazepines such as Furazepam and Triazolam were used quite frequently in the past, for insomnia treatment. One of the most popular over the counter drugs for insomnia is antihistamines. The side effects were a common problem associated with the use of benzodiazepines. Now, insomnia treatment prefers non-benzodiazepine new generation medicines such as Imidazopyridine and Zopiclone. Hormone therapy using Melatonin, the circadian rhythm regulator, is also suggested for the treatment of insomnia.
Behavioral therapy seems to be very effective for the treatment of insomnia caused because of any psychological reason. Behavioral therapy is a comprehensive treatment method, which includes individual treatments such as relaxation therapy, sleep restriction therapy, stimulus control therapy, and cognitive therapy. Behavioral therapy can be used for insomnia treatment, either alone or in combination with medications, depending on the severity of insomnia.
Herbal remedies are commonly suggested instead of the traditional medicines for insomnia. The common herbal remedies for insomnia treatment include Californian Poppy, Dog wood, Passion flower, Hops, and Valerian root. The scientific studies have proved that many of these herbs contain certain alkaloids that can stimulate the neurotransmitters and hormones, controlling the sleep. In insomnia treatment, herbs can be used in different forms such as decoctions, herbal tea and dry powder. Aromatherapy suggests that massages, using certain floral extractions can help to reduce the occurrence of insomnia.
Apart from the intake of medicines, change in lifestyle habits is also influential in the insomnia treatment. Maintenance of sleep hygiene and practice of good sleep habits will help to avoid insomnia. The use of sleep stealers such as nicotine, alcohol and drugs, also has to be avoided. In insomnia treatment, essentially you have to promote sleep promoters such as a well balanced diet, proper exercise and good environmental conditions.
Insomnia treatment has proven to be effective and can help you recover completely from sleeplessness.
Jason Rickard is the owner of Your Favourite Shop - Offering White Noise and Relaxation CDs - Visit Hapa Health for more articles
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Somber Facts about the Big "C"

2006-10-16T02:01:00.000-07:00

Cancer is a deadly disease that afflicts people of all ages and races. It is a public health problem worldwide. Cancers vary greatly in cause, symptoms, response to treatment, and possibility of cure. Before we move on to discussing about cancer and its causes let us first discuss what cancer really is.
Cancer is a class of diseases or disorders characterized by uncontrolled division of cells and the ability of these cells to invade other tissues, either by implantation into distant sites by metastasis or by direct growth into adjacent tissue through invasion.
Cancer is characterized by the unrestrained growth of cells. A process called staging is used by physicians to describe the extent or spread of a cancer. This aids in assessing the prognosis and in determining the most appropriate treatment. One system widely used for many types of cancer classifies cancers into four stages. In this system, stage I is early stage cancer with no involvement of lymph nodes and no spread of the cancer from its original site (metastases) and stage IV is advanced cancer, with both distant metastases and lymph node involvement.
Cancer is the uncontrolled growth and spread of cells that may affect almost any tissue of the body. Stomach cancer, Lung and colorectal cancer are among the five most common cancers in the world for both men and women. Among men, lung and stomach cancer are the most common cancers worldwide. For women, the most common cancers are cervical cancer and breast cancer.
The age of peak incidence of cancer in children occurs during the first year of life. Leukemia (usually ALL) is the most common infant malignancy (30%), followed by neuroblastoma and the central nervous system cancers. The remainder consists of lymphomas, Wilms’ tumor, retinoblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma (arising from muscle), osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma. Cancer can also occur in young children and adolescents. Pediatric cancers, especially leukemia, are on an upward trend. Female and male infants have essentially the same overall cancer incidence rates, but white infants have substantially higher cancer rates than black infants for most cancer types.
More than 11 million people are diagnosed with cancer every year although about 77% of all cases are diagnosed at ages 55 and above. In the USA and other developed countries, cancer is presently responsible for about 25% of all deaths. On a yearly basis, 0.5% of the population is diagnosed with cancer. It is estimated that there will be 16 million new cases every year by 2020. Cancer causes 7 million deaths every year—or 12.5% of deaths worldwide.
Cancer is caused by exposure to environmental factors such as tobacco, smoke, radiation, alcohol and certain viruses. While some of these can be avoided, there is no known way to entirely avoid the disease.
Cancer is largely preventable. It can be prevented by providing healthy food, by stopping smoking and avoiding the exposure to carcinogens. The chance of cure increases substantially if cancer is detected early. Some of the most frequent cancer types are curable by surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

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10 Essential Steps to a Natural Diet

2006-10-15T23:49:00.000-07:00

by: Frederic Patenaude

Learn how to transition to a healthy diet now (Part 1). In this article, I'm going to go back to some basics. I will be giving you specific, concrete action steps you can take right now to transition to a healthy, hopefully raw or mostly raw diet. Even if you're a seasoned raw-foodist, I'm sure you will find some key insights in this article that will help you refine your diet and improve your program. These steps are in no particular order. STEP #1 - *Workout and Exercise* It's not possible to be healthy without being fit. We know that, at least intuitively, even if we tend to forget the importance of fitness in a healthy lifestyle, by focusing too much on the importance of diet. But more importantly, your physical condition has a major impact on your digestion, assimilation, and overall “nutrition.” For example, your ability to uptake sugar, called “insulin sensitivity,” is greatly influenced by your level of fitness. If you are sedentary, insulin sensitivity is greatly reduced. Therefore, sugar is not carried as rapidly as it should to the cells. This can lead to or worsen blood sugar problems of all kinds. If you've read my book “The Raw Secrets. ” You are aware of the importance of hunger in health. One problem is that most people do not eat when they are truly hungry, and mistake “appetite” for hunger. Once they learn how to make the distinction, they soon realize that they are rarely if ever truly hungry! By exercising on a daily basis and eventually engaging in cardio-respiratory activities (jogging, cardio machines at the gym, cycling, etc.) every day, you will awaken that forgotten sense of hunger. So exercise is very important, and the lack of a fitness program may be one of the reasons why you have difficulty eating a healthy diet. STEP #2 - *Eat Fruit Before Each Meal* One of the easiest ways to transition to a raw-food diet is to start eating fruit before every meal, including lunch and dinner. The idea is to eat fruit when you are the most hungry, which is at the beginning of the meal. Eat as much fruit as you desire then, and you will find that you will eat much less of the meal itself! This is what I call an “automatic transition strategy.” Just start getting the raw-food in by eating fruit before each meal - just what your mom told you not to do when you were a kid. But now that you're a grownup and that the Standard American Diet didn't work for you, you need to go back to your natural instincts and satisfy your natural sweet tooth by eating as much fruit as you want before every single meal. STEP #3 - *Learn to Make 7 Raw Food Recipes That You Enjoy* It's been found that most people know about 7 to 10 good recipes very well, and just rotate them throughout the months, adding in other stuff occasionally for variety. Or look at when you buy a recipe book. You might try many recipes but eventually you'll only retain a few that you'll continue making for the years to come. So what I want you to know now is to find 7 simple raw-food recipes that you really like, that are easy to make and that are properly combined. (INSIDER TIP: My recipe book “Instant Raw Sensations” is just about that: ) Ideally, I'd like you to know: About 2 dressings About 2 great salads 2-3 smoothies you really enjoy 1-2 more gourmet recipes Those 7 or 10 recipes should be things you can make often, with ingredients that are easy to find, and some of them should have an instant appeal to your friends and family. You'll find that once you know what those recipes are, and you can make them without opening a book, that you'll be wondering a lot less often “What should I be eating now?” STEP #4 - *Get Rid of Cheese and Dairy* Improving your diet isn't about the things you ADD IN. It's mostly about the things we LEAVE OUT. I know this reality is hard to take, but even if you eat all these fruits and vegetables, drink those fresh juices and make those huge smoothies, you won't really feel great until you remove those offensive foods from your diet that are hurting you. There's one thing you need to say goodbye to forever, and it's milk and cheese. In a previous article, I talked about the top-5 worst foods, and cheese was one of them. Really, I see it all the time. People have this thing for cheese. They still eat it occasionally, and they still are addicted to it. (Actually, cheese contains some compounds in it that make it addictive for real, not just in your imagination). If there would be just one category of food you could remove from your diet and feel much better for it, it's got to be cheese and milk. STEP #5 - *Eat Fruit in the Morning or Skip the Morning Meal* The morning meal is the easiest to switch to raw. Most people find that once they start listening to their body, they are actually not truly hungry in the morning. I've watched how many children generally don't eat in the morning if they are left to themselves and not being force-fed. My suggestion is that you can skip the morning meal altogether or replace it with a smoothie or some fruit. I know that this goes against all the advice you've heard about “never skipping meals” or that “breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” What I'm telling you know is that this advice isn't based on any solid facts. The “breakfast” is when you break the “fast” of the night, and this doesn't have to be at noon. In fact, the French word for breakfast means “lunch”, because for thousands of years the French didn't eat in the morning. When they started doing so, they had to come up with a new word for that meal so they called it “small breakfast” (petit dejeuner). Skipping the morning meal or eating some fruit will help you get in touch with your true sense of hunger, which will make it easier to eat raw. Plus, it will be good for a while to help you detox and lose some weight (if that's an issue for you). As you start exercising more, you will eventually get hungry in the morning, believe me!
About The Author

“Frederic Patenaude, is the author of the book "The Raw Secrets". Sign up for his weekly "Raw Vegan Tips,” and as a bonus, get your free "raw recipe of the week". Visit http://www.rawvegan.com while this bonus is still offered."

This article was posted on October 13, 2006

Relaxation" Your Daily Allowance for Stress Relief "

2006-10-15T22:52:00.000-07:00

Body : Stress is the curse of living in modern times. Everyone suffers from stress. And the stress we suffer takes a heavy toll on our bodies, emotions and minds. Feeling stressed out, worn out by fatigue or just simply having a miserable day, the best thing to do is relax. Watching television may be a form of relaxation for some, but is not a recommended method by experts. When we watch TV we are bombarded with commercials, ads, sounds and images. So how do we achieve relaxation? If there are thousands of ways we can get stressed, one of them is not meeting deadlines, there are also many ways we can relax.In recent studies, experts have determined that heart disease is linked to anger and irritability is linked to mental stress. Too much stress brings about ischemia that can lead to or cause a heart attack. Relaxation takes on added importance in light of this matter. Managing your anger and attitude is significant to heart health, and relaxation can help you manage stress. One way of relaxation is transcendental meditation. Recent studies have also shown that this method might reduce artery blockage, which is a major cause for heart attack and stroke. People practice transcendental meditation by repeating uttering soothing sounds while meditating, this is to achieve total relaxation. The researchers found that practitioners of transcendental meditation significantly reduced the thickness of their arterial wall compared with those who didn't practice transcendental meditation.Another study on another method of relaxation, acupuncture, seems to reduce high blood pressure by initiating several body functions for the brain to release chemical compounds known as endorphins. Endorphin helps to relax muscles, ease panic, decrease pain, and reduce anxiety. Yoga is also another method for relaxation and may also have similar effects like acupuncture. In another study, participants were subjected to several minutes of mental stress. Then they were subjected to various relaxation techniques, such as listening to nature sounds or classical music. Only those who did Yoga significantly reduced the time it took for their blood pressures to go back to normal. Yoga is a form of progressive relaxation.Breathing is one of the easiest methods to relax. Breathing influences alamost all aspects of us, it affects our mind, our moods and our body. Simply focus on your breathing, after some time you can feel its effects right away.There are several breathing techniques that can help you reduce stress. Another easy way to achieve relaxation is exercise. If you feel irritated a simple half-hour of exercise will often settle things down. Although exercise is a great way to lose weight, it does not show you how to manage stress appropriately. Exercise should also be used in conjunction with other exercise method.One great way of relaxation is getting a massage. To gain full relaxation, you need to totally surrender to the handling and touch of a professional therapist.There are several types of massages that also give different levels of relaxation.Another method of relaxation is Biofeedback. The usual biofeedback-training program includes a 10-hour sessions that is often spaced one week apart.Hypnosis is one controversial relaxation technique. It is a good alternative for people who think that they have no idea what it feels like to be relaxed. It is also a good alternative for people with stress related health problems. Drugs are extreme alternatives to relaxation. They are sometimes not safe and are not effective like the other relaxation methods. This method is only used by trained medical professionals on their patients.These relaxation techniques are just some of the ways you can achieve relaxation. Another reason why we need to relax, aside from lowering blood pressure in people and decreasing the chances of a stroke or a heart attack, is because stress produces hormones that suppress the immune system, relaxation gives the immune system time to recover and in doing so function more efficiently. Relaxation lowers the activities within the brains' limbic system; this is the emotional center of our brain. Furthermore, the brain has a periodic need for a more pronounced activity on the right-hemisphere. Relaxation is one way of achieving this. Relaxation can really be of good use once a relaxation technique is regularly built into your lifestyle. Choose a technique that you believe you can do regularly.
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The above article is by : Gaetane Ross