Concept of Oxidative Stress
Even though oxygen is necessary for life itself, it is inherently dangerous for our existence. In the process of utilizing oxygen within your cells to create energy, you also create a by-product referred to as free radicals. Free radicals are charged oxygen molecules that are missing at least one electron and desire to get an electron from the surrounding area. If it is not readily neutralized by an antioxidant, which has the ability to give this free radical the electron it desires, it can go on to create more volatile free radicals, damage the cell wall, vessel wall, proteins, fats, and even the DNA nucleus of the cell. So the same process that turns a cut apple brown or rusts metal is causing you to rust inside. In fact, the medical literature now shows us that over 70 chronic degenerative diseases are the result of this process. Diseases like coronary artery disease, cancer, diabetes, Parkinson’s, arthritis, macular degeneration, MS, lupus, among others are the result of small oxidative changes that occur over a long period of time.

It is all about Balance
The number of free radicals you produce is not steady. In other words, some days you produce more than others. Because of our stressful lifestyles, polluted environment, and over-medicated society, this generation must deal with more free radicals than any previous generation that has ever walked the face of the earth. If you want to prevent oxidative stress, you need to have more antioxidants available along with their supporting nutrients than the number of free radicals you produce. You see, we are not defenseless against this process. Antioxidants are the answer. The question is whether or not we are able to get all the antioxidants we need from our food. This was the question I had to answer for myself and the reason that I wrote my book What Your Doctor Doesn’t Know about Nutritional Medicine. After spending over 2 years reviewing the medical literature, I concluded that the only way you have a chance of preventing oxidative stress is by taking high quality, complete and balanced nutritional supplements that provide, what I refer to as, cellular nutrition. If you have not read my book or listened to any of my CD’s on this subject, I would certainly encourage you to do just that. The medical references are detailed in my books and provide the medical evidence that demands a verdict—should you be taking nutritional supplements?

History of Nutritional Medicine
Over the past half century, nutritional medicine has been practiced with the belief that you had to determine what nutrients in which you were deficient and then supplement that particular nutrient. It became very obvious to me early on in my research that the underlying problem most of us are facing is not a nutritional deficiency, but instead, the result of oxidative stress. It was also apparent to me that medication, which actually increases the production of free radicals, would never be the answer to preventing any of these diseases. Also if this was the case, the goal had to be to provide the nutrients that were necessary to build up our body’s natural antioxidant defense system so that you did not develop oxidative stress. It became so apparent to me that our bodies, not the drugs I could prescribe, were the best defense against developing any of these diseases. The problem is NOT a nutritional deficiency. The problem is oxidative stress.

Modern Nutritional Research
Today’s research is focused on trying to find the magic bullet in regards to a particular disease. For example, there were many studies that showed that those smokers who had the highest antioxidant levels in their blood stream had a significantly lower risk of developing lung cancer than those smokers who had the lowest level of antioxidants. Most of the researchers felt that it was primarily due to the high levels of beta carotene. So they decided to do a study and supplement a large number of smokers with just beta carotene. They were dismayed when they found that the group that received the beta carotene alone actually had a higher incidence of lung cancer than the control group. This led researchers and the media to actually claim that beta carotene was dangerous and should not be taken in supplementation in smokers. A review of the same data reported a couple of years later showed that those smokers who had the highest levels of total antioxidants in their blood stream had a significantly decreased risk of developing lung cancer compared to those who had the lowest levels of antioxidants.
Beta carotene is NOT a drug. It is merely a nutrient that we get from our food; however, because of supplementation we are now able to get it at levels you cannot obtain from your food. Beta carotene works in only certain parts of the body and against only certain kinds of free radicals. Beta carotene needs the other antioxidants along with the antioxidant minerals and B cofactors in order to do its job effectively. However, researchers are focused on trying to find the magic bullet instead of stepping back and understanding the basic principles and concepts of cellular nutrition. The amazing thing is how so many of these studies that look at just one or possibly two nutrients actually show a health benefit. What would the health benefit be if you would put all of these nutrients together at these optimal levels? Enter in the concept of cellular nutrition.

Concept of Cellular Nutrition
There are over 180 epidemiologic studies (studies that involve a very large number of people) that all show the very same thing. Those individuals who have the highest levels of total antioxidants in their body compared with those who have the lowest levels have a 2- to 3-fold decrease risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and even Alzheimer’s dementia. Obviously, those individuals who consume more of the fresh fruits and vegetables, which contain a large amount of these antioxidants, had the highest levels of antioxidants in their body. This only makes logical sense when you understand the concept of oxidative stress as being the root cause of over 70 of these chronic degenerative diseases. Therefore, a physician would conclude the best thing that they could advise their patients to do is to be consuming at least 8 to 12 servings of fresh whole fruits and vegetables each and every day. The second best thing would be to recommend high quality, complete and balanced nutritional supplements that provided cellular nutrition.

Cellular nutrition would be defined as providing ALL of the micronutrients to the cell at these optimal or advanced levels that have been shown to provide a health benefit in our medical literature. In other words, you would want your supplementation to be balanced and complete, much like a healthy diet is. The only difference is the fact that, unlike today’s food supply, supplementation can provide all of these nutrients at optimal levels. We all need to be supplementing a healthy diet; however, because of our stressful lifestyles, polluted environment, and over-medicated society we do need to be supplementing.

Cellular nutrition has been shown in our medical literature to build up our body’s natural immune system, antioxidant system, and repair system. You not only replenish any nutritional deficiency within 6 months of supplementation, but you also optimize all of the body’s micronutrients. You are given the absolute best chance to reverse or prevent any oxidative stress and protect your health. You see, nutritional supplementation is really about health—not disease. Nutritional supplements are natural to the body and the nutrients the body requires to function at its optimal level.

Every man, woman, and child needs to be supplementing a healthy diet and be involved in a modest exercise program. This is the key to protecting and maintaining your health. However, what if you have already lost your health and have developed one of these chronic degenerative diseases? Does supplementation provide any hope? This is the question that I had to answer for myself and for my patients. This has been the focus of my practice for the past 11 years and why I have developed my online practice located at http://www.drraystrand.com/.

The Concept of Synergy
The medical literature had showed me over and over again that those patients who were already suffering from a chronic degenerative disease like rheumatoid arthritis, MS, or diabetes actually had significantly more oxidative stress than the normal, healthy patient. Cellular nutrition is generally adequate to help someone who is in excellent health; however, it would not be enough supplementation to bring oxidative stress under control in someone who is already suffering from a major disease.

It became very apparent to me early on that if you were going to be able to have any effect on improving the health of someone who was already suffering from cancer, heart disease, macular degeneration, diabetes, macular degeneration, and the like that you would have to truly optimize every aspect of the body’s natural defense systems. I quickly began to realize that by placing all of my patients on basic cellular nutrition, I was able to create a synergistic effect. Vitamin E is a great antioxidant within the cell membrane. Vitamin C is a great antioxidant within the plasma. Glutathione is the best intracellular antioxidant. However, all of these antioxidants needed the antioxidant minerals and B cofactors to do their job well. Also, vitamin C was able to replenish vitamin E so it could be used over and over again. Alpha lipoic acid, another great antioxidant, was able to regenerate both vitamin E and glutathione. I found that 1 plus 1 was no longer 2, but instead, 8 or 10. This powerful approach allowed me a much better chance of bringing oxidative stress back under control.

Once my patients were consuming my recommendations of cellular nutrition, I simply began adding enhancers to their nutritional supplement regime. I began looking for the most potent antioxidants that were available. Grape seed extract was found to be 50 times more potent than vitamin E and 20 times more potent than vitamin C at handling oxidative stress. CoQ10 was not only a very important antioxidant but has been found to significantly boost our natural immune system and help provide increased energy for the cell to function at its optimal level. Other nutrients like glucosamine sulfate, saw palmetto, phytonutrients, additional vitamin E, calcium, magnesium in various illnesses produced amazing results.

Over the past 12 years, I have learned how to best support my patients’ natural defenses and allow them the best chance to take back control of their health. Again, it is all about balance. I want my patients who are already suffering from an illness to also bring oxidative stress back under control. This is my entire goal. Then and only then do they have a chance to see their health improve. By combining cellular nutrition with specific enhancers, I give all my patients the best chance of bringing oxidative stress back under control. The results that I have seen in my medical practice using these principles have been nothing short of amazing and something that I had never witnessed in my first 20 plus years of medical practice.

Now, I want to share a couple of precautions that I have learned along the way. First, nutritional medicine is not like taking drugs. It takes a minimum of 6 months to build up the body’s natural defenses and many of my patients did not even begin to see any improvements in their health until after 6 months. Not everyone responds to my recommendations; however, I feel the majority of my patients have had significant health improvements when they followed these recommendations. None of my patients were cured of their underlying illness. Nutritional supplementation is not an alternative or substitute for traditional medical care. You should never quit taking any medication prescribed by your doctor without his or her consent and direction. Many of my patients have been able to decrease their dependence of medication and in some cases even discontinue some of their medication. However, this is always because of a significant positive improvement in their health and under the direction of their personal physician.

It is my mission in life to spread these health concepts and help as many people as I can. This is why I have developed my online medical practice at http://www.drraystrand.com/. I would encourage you to take advantage of this website and share the potential health benefits of following my recommendations either to protect your health or possibly even to regain your health if you have already lost it.

RAY D. STRAND, M.D.
Specialist in Nutritional Medicine

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A fat-soluble vitamin, Vitamin D is naturally present in very few foods, added to others and is usually made available as a dietary supplement. Many of us do not know its importance in healthy living. <.p>

Apart from the aforesaid, it is also produced endogenously when ultraviolet rays from sunlight strike the skin and trigger vitamin D synthesis. Vitamin D produced from sun exposure, food, and supplements is biologically inert and must therefor undergo two hydroxylations in the body for activation and effective. The first occurs in the liver which converts vitamin D to 25-hydroxyvitamin D, also known as calcidiol while the second occurs primarily in the kidney and forms the physiologically active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, also known as calcitriol.

What exactly does Vitamin D do in our body, you may ask. Essential for promoting calcium absorption in the gut and maintaining adequate serum calcium and phosphate concentrations, it is to enable normal mineralization of bone and prevent hypocalcemic tetany. It is also needed for bone growth and bone remodeling by osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Lacking in or without sufficient vitamin D, bones can become the target of many old-age related problems. Bones become thin, brittle, or misshapen while Vitamin D sufficiency prevents rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Together with calcium, vitamin D also helps protect older adults from osteoporosis.

Its other roles in human health include modulation of neuromuscular and immune function and reduction of inflammation. Many genes encoding proteins that regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis are being modulated in part by vitamin D.

Lacking in Vitamin D has become the center of attention of many scientists today in finding the initial causes and development of cancer. Current scientific model seem to assume that a genetic mutation begins the genesis of a malignancy. Could this assumption be wrong and disputed? Could scientists at the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California (UC) in San Diego unlock some other possibility?

In its online reporting in the current Annals of Epidemiology, a host of research suggests cancer develops when cells lose the ability to stick together in a healthy and normal way, and the key factor to this initial triggering of a malignancy could well be a lack of vitamin D. Researchers have documented that with enough vitamin D present, cells adhere to one another in tissue and act as normal, mature epithelial cells. However, should there be a deficiency of vitamin D, cells can lose this stick-to-each other quality as well as their identity as differentiated cells; resulting in their reversion to a dangerous stem cell-like state and become cancerous.

How is this possible? Vitamin D may halt the first stage of the cancer process by re-establishing intercellular junctions in malignancies having an intact vitamin D receptor. Vitamin D rich-diet and supplements (2,000 IU/day) tend to restore appropriate levels of vitamin D in the prevention of cancer development. Thus, the “cure” for cancer already exists.

Researchers have postulated a new model of cancer’s cause; dubbed as DINOMIT. Each letter stands for a different phase of cancer development: “D” refers to disjunction, or loss of communication between cells; “I” is for initiation, where genetic mutations begin to play a role; “N” refers to natural selection of the fastest-reproducing cancer cells; “O” is a for overgrowth of cells; “M” stands for metastasis, the spread of a malignancy to other tissues; “I” refers to involution and “T” for transition, both dormant states that may occur in cancer and can potentially be altered by increasing vitamin D. The first event in cancer is loss of communication among cells due to, among other things, low vitamin D and calcium levels. This loss may play a key role in cancer by disrupting the communication between cells that is essential to healthy cell turnover, allowing more aggressive cancer cells to take over.

Scientists point to a host of studies that show an apparent beneficial effect of vitamin D (and, to some extent, calcium) on cancer risk and survival of patients with breast, colorectal and prostate cancer. There is an association between a lack of sunlight exposure, low vitamin D and breast cancer. Linkages between increased levels of vitamin D3 or markers of vitamin D have a bearing on the lower risk for breast, colon, ovarian and kidney cancers. Women who are deficient in vitamin D at the time they are diagnosed with breast cancer are nearly 75 percent more likely to die from the disease than women with sufficient vitamin D levels. Moreover, their cancer is twice as likely to metastasize to other parts of the body. Healthy levels of vitamin D have been found to slash the risk of numerous cancers by 77 percent.

Genetic link between multiple sclerosis (MS) and vitamin D metabolism is prominent. Being an auto-immune disease that targets the central nervous system, it has affected many people. Vitamin D is linked to the gene on chromosome 12 which is vital in vitamin D metabolism. Vitamin D is critical in the regulation of the immune system because it acts as an anti-inflammatory and inflammation is what occurs in MS. MS prevalence increases in regions further away from the equator, as does the incidence of vitamin D deficiencies.<.p>

Vitamin D can be toxic in high concentrations, but toxicity cannot result from sunlight exposure, because the body ceases production when the needed bodily levels have been reached. Thus, exposing oneself to daily sunlight has its plus points towards maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

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Have you ever wonder why the Italians are proud of their pizzas or spaghetti which is synonymous to their identity? Well, without going deep into it, let me say, it is simply due to the fact they, apart from being tasty, are indeed very nutritious. What is that which constitute nutritious? Hey, it is the tomatoes that comes along as the main ingredients in those foods.

Tomatoes, as we all know is a fruit that is of bright red color known to be of great antioxidants source . Lycopene, being the bright red carotenoid pigment, is a phytochemical found in tomatoes and other red fruits. As the most potent carotenoid antioxidants, lycopene is the most common carotenoid in the human body.

Carotenoids which are the red, orange and yellow coloring substances found in plants and animals, make up approximately seven hundred different categories with about fifty to sixty of these are present in a typical diet. The human body is said to contain some of the major carotenoids in the forms of beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin and lycopene. Various studies show that lycopene makes up at least 50 percent of the caroteniods in the human body, accentuating its importance. These carotenoids are specifically broken down by the body, often during the process of absorption into the bloodstream from the small intestine. They make their way to specific tissues and organs where they have been shown to protect against the type of oxygen damage that can cancer, cardiovascular disease, and macular degeneration is notably significant. However, estimates of lycopene consumption have only been based; not on the use of lycopene supplements but on reported tomato intake which is the source of other nutrients including vitamin C, folate, and potassium.

The benefits derivable from tomato-based lycopene can be seen from the many scientific literature published over time. So feel free to grab on to your dear pizzas and spaghetti to be partly on the way to healthy living.

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Many of you may have been frequently introduced by your regular pharmacist to consume Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) whenever you make inquiry about this or that supplement for keeping up to healthy living. But how many of you bother to actually find out why do you need to take this or that supplement. Many, in fact, merely rely on the words of the pharmacist and fail to make attempts to know the reason/s you consume one or another supplement.

What intrigues me often has been the marvel behind the science of such supplements that scientists today spend substantial time in discovering the great “ingredients” of the basic processes your body works on. Your body is such a complex marvel that GOD has created and no science at any level could discover all the hidden latent processes the body undergoes.

ALA, is one of these natural occurring fatty acids found inside every cell in your body. Needed by the body to produce the energy for your body’s normal functions, ALA converts glucose (blood sugar) into energy. Itself an antioxidant by nature, ALA is a substance that neutralizes potentially harmful chemicals called free radicals. Being unique by being functional in water and in fatty tissue, unlike the more common antioxidants vitamins C and E, enabling it to enter all parts of the nerve cell and protect it from damage. ALA appears to be able to recycle antioxidants such as vitamin C. Its identity in bodily functionality is seen from its ability to increase the formation of glutathione after its consumption within your body. As glutathione is an important antioxidant that helps your body eliminate potentially harmful substances, ALA indirectly aids in this important glutathione function.

Its importance has been notably used in the treatment of peripheral neuropathy which can be caused by injury, nutritional deficiencies, chemotherapy or by conditions such as diabetes, Lyme disease, alcoholism, shingles, thyroid disease, and kidney failure. Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy can be exhibited to include pain, burning, numbness, tingling, weakness and itching.

In addressing brain function, ALA can cross the blood-brain barrier, a wall of tiny vessels and structural cells and pass easily into the brain and nerve tissues which it protects by preventing free radical damage and is being investigated as a treatment for stroke and other brain disorders involving free radical dam
age. Its role in age-related conditions is primarily based on its ability to neutralize free radicals which can damage bodily cells and it is these free radical damage is thought to contribute to aging and chronic illness.

As a suggested alternative treatment for cataracts, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, burning mouth syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease and stroke, there is a need for well-designed studies to ascertain if it is effective for these conditions.

ALA plays an important part in improving blood sugar management especially for those with diabetes. However, its use in conjunction with approved diabetes medication must be supervised by a qualified health professional and have their blood sugar levels carefully monitored. Animal studies indicate that ALA may alter thyroid hormone levels, so it could theoretically have the same effect in humans. Results of animal studies suggest that people who are deficient in thiamine (vitamin B1), a condition often associated with alcoholism, should not take ALA. People taking thyroid medications such as levothyroxine should be monitored by their healthcare provider.

ALA has been suggested as a treatment for alcohol-related liver disease, but to-date there is no scientific evidence that it works except that it has been administered by IV along with silymarin to treat people who have eaten the poisonous mushroom Amanita, which causes liver damage. In vitro, ALA appears to inhibit growth of the HIV virus, but it isn’t known whether the supplement would have the same effect in people.

Side effects are generally rare and may include skin rash, headache, tingling or a “pins and needles” sensation or muscle cramps. A rare condition called insulin autoimmune syndrome in people using ALA can happen which causes hypoglycemia and antibodies directed against your body’s own insulin without previous insulin therapy. The safety of ALA in pregnant or nursing women, children, or people with kidney or liver disease is unknown.

Made naturally by your body, ALA can be found in very small amounts in foods such as spinach, broccoli, peas, Brewer’s yeast, brussel sprouts, rice bran, organ meats (such as liver), and yeast (particularly Brewer’s).

In view of its great potential in healthcare of your body, ALA must not be overlooked but careful upervision is much needed when administering it into your body. It does not mean it is harmful to your body function but you need to really know its contrindication at whatever cost it may be.

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I had previously in November 2008 posted an article pertaining to the marvel of broccoli. It has now been confirmed by a recent John Hopkins School Of Medicine study that supports my earlier revelation on the great health effects broccoli has on human health.

The deadly Helicobacter Pylori (H Pylori) , a widespread type of bacterial infection and a major cause of stomach cancer, can indeed be defeated with, amongst some of the cheapest methods, the continued consumption of three-day old broccoli sprouts. This is primarily due to broccoli having that special cancer preventive phytochemical called sulforaphane.

It is important to realize that H Pylori has taken lives away and many at times its eradication may pose other health problems to humans such as increasing the occurrence of esophageous cancer. It is a choice of one or the other.

Certain compounds, one of which is the yoghurt lacobacilli, are used as natural therapies to suppress but not cure Helicobacter pylori. No vaccines at present is available yet to prevent H Pylori but current antibiotic treatments have many side effects.

Well, if there are other inexpensive and yet without side effects avenues, I would not hesitate to consume them so long as they are from natural forms. It is nature’s intention that anything that is derived from nature shall be of less harm to the human body.

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Green tea, being a dominant ingredient of Tea 4Life, has a host of beneficial health properties. As the ancient therapy in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine, practitioners have been using green tea as a stimulant, diuretic, astringent, flatulence, body temperature and blood sugar regulator, enhancing digestion and in the improvement of heart health as well as mental processes.

Apart from its great taste, the asking for green tea is due to its host of polyphenol content which are chemicals with potent antioxidant properties. Polyphenol antioxidant properties effects surpasses that of Vitamin C in neutralizing free radicals responsible for the many health challenges of today.

Tea based polyphenols are classified as catechins and there are six categories of catechin compounds. Apigallocatechin gallate (known as ECGG) is the most active polyphenols in green tea. Alkaloids such as caffeine, theobromine and theophylline are other ingredients of green tea that provide it stimulant effects, L-theanine (an amino acid compound) in calming the nervous system.

However, most researches had produced evidence on the effects of green tea; amongst which are:-

• High Cholesterol

Lowers total cholesterol and raises the good high-density lipoprotein

• Cancer

Polyphenol researches have revealed it helps to kill cancerous cells and stop their progression.

• Diabetes

Traditionally, used in the control of blood sugar apart from lowering the haemoglobin A1C level in individuals having borderline diabetes.

• Liver Diseases

Those who drink more than 10 cups of green tea per day are less likely to develop liver disorders arising from alcohol consumption. May also help in viral hepatitis.

• Weight Loss

It helps to boost metabolism rate and burns fats.

• Dental Health
• Anti Arthritis Inflammation
• Prevention of Common Cold & Influenza Symptoms

Well, beware of drinking it hot as the effects of drinking hot green tea cancels off its benefits to a certain extent.

Keep reading for more articles of interest to come.

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I have just posted my last article on the benefits of green tea.

Behold. There must be, in any other case of consumption of anything, some form of risk in the ingestion of external substances into our body. Many may be good, most are bad for our health but some may need some form of control its intake.

Just as in the case of tea drinking. Irrespective of the type of tea, be it green tea and other forms of teas and their benefits, researches in Iran have found that drinking hot tea beyond 70 degrees Celcius or 158 degrees Fahrenheit is detrimental to our oesophagus.

It was suggested that in the event you wish to drink it hot, let the tea cool off before drinking it. Of course, drinking cooled tea do not have the …….ummmmph. Well, do you want to risk your health. What is good for the mouth or the tongue may not be good for your body. Health shall prevail over any form of likings.

Drinking tea at 65 degrees and below can double your oesophagal cancer risk whereas drinking it at 70 degrees and above give rise to a eight fold increase of that cancer. In addition to this, avoid drinking hot tea immediately upon its making as you are risking yourself to a five fold increase to the deadly disease if you drink it within 4 minutes. These findings are consistent with thermal injury which may cause epithelial cancers although the underlying mechanism is not clear and should be studied further. You should not be alarmed over these findings and your enthusiasm for drinking tea is not curtailed or diminished. You should just let food and drinks cool from “scalding” to “tolerable” before swallowing them.

Like I believe, anything in excess, being a deviant form the normal in whatever you do or consume, shall pose great challenges to you. I had never allowed my children to consume anything that is hot from the wok or oven, apart from eating healthy foods and they are living testimonies to healthy living. None of my three kids, aged 18, 16 and 13 do maintain great health and do not seek out medical treatments for the last 10 years or so.

I had often advocated that you should eat healthy foods, drink sufficient clear water and avoid consuming in excess of anything to maintain healthy living. So, what are you waiting for? Wouldn’t you want to know more about this? Visit my other blog to know more on how you could achieve better health and live healthily

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Constipation is a common symptom involving the difficulty in passing faeces or having unusually dry stool. In simple language it is irregular and infrequent or difficult evacuation of the bowels.

It is determined in the colon which is responsible for packaging and eliminating stool. As food moves through the colon, water is absorbed from the waste food-turned stool to be excreted at the rectum by the muscle contractions in the colon. Stool that reaches the rectum is solid as most of the water has been absorbed causing constipation.

Age plays a great effect. Constipation is more common in children and older age but can affect anyone. The reason for this is that children do not consume much of a diet low in fiber while elderly people, due to absence of teeth, prefer soft foods which are again low in fiber. For those who have high economic status, their lack of time to take a proper meal contributes to this problem.

Many have resorted to different forms of solving their constipation problem by way of heading to the pharmacy. Laxatives, lubricant grease, mineral oil, milk of magnesia, osmotic agents and enemas are frequently used to relieve constipation. Some laxatives are safe for long-term use; others should be used only occasionally. Some are good for preventing constipation; others can be used to treat it. However, any form of externally induced agents may interfere with your body functions in the long run as these are not the natural form, except milk of magnesia consumption.

Well, I had tried Tea 4Life with great results. It emptied my bowel every 7 to 8 hours after consumption. At a reasonable cost of about USD17 for a 30 sachet pack, it is a specially formulated, refreshing, caffeine-free tea. This delicious apple-cinnamon tea contains a synergistic blend of herbs comprising of the many following natural ingredients of great values and which have been time-tested for their individual quality:-

• Cinnamon (Cinnamonum Cassia) leaf,
• Buckthorn (Rhamnus Cathartica) bark,
• Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) root,
• Natural Apple Flavor,
• Orange Peel (Citri Sinensis Pericarpium),
• Green Tea (Camellia Sinensis) leaf,
• Bitter Orange (Citrus Aurantium) fruit,
• Echinacea (Echinacea Angustifolia) leaf,
• Senna (Cassia Acutifolia) leaf,
• Rooibos (Aspalathus Linearis) leaf
• Astragalus (Astragalus Membranaceus) root

Tea 4Life is formulated to clear your bowels and detoxify your colon. There has been many cases of colorectal cancer and many of you are aware this is increasingly threatening the human race. Its causes are attributed to many but one of them is the diet that you consume. Studies suggest that diets high in fat (especially animal fat) and low in calcium, folate, and fiber may increase the risk of colorectal cancer. Also, some studies suggest that people who eat a diet very low in fruits and vegetables may have a higher risk of colorectal cancer. Food, especially those who consume lots of meat, do not get digested easily and by the time it reaches your large intestines and colon, such food may not be fully discharge as stools. Any remnants may be lodged in the intestines and may turn rancid over time and could be a haven to manifest cancer.

To avoid having to deal with such problems, it is advisable to have your bowel cleared daily, if not every 7-8 hours. Well, I have developed the habit of visiting the toilet each time I get up from bed; irrespective of the time I wake up. It has become very natural of me, or rather my bowel system, to “throw out” all the waste from my rectum. It relieves you for the day and you would feel very comfortable without any worries about having to inconvenient yourself to do your business in the later part of the day.

You may purchase it online

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Pomegranate, by and large, now has caught the attention of many medical experts for its medicinal qualities. It is indeed a native fruit of Iran and the Himalayan regions in India and is now widely cultivated in many parts of the world.

Scientist now has done a fair amount research into its potential in the field of health nutrition. Pomegranate aril (seed) juice provides about 16% of the Vitamin C requirement of an adult for every 100 ml serving and is a notable good source of vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), potassium and antioxidant polyphenols.

Punicalagins, a hydrolyzable polyphenol tannin found abundantly in pomegranate, are known to have free radical scavenging properties. Readily absorbed into the human body, they are said to have dietary value as antioxidants, but conclusive proof of efficacy in humans need further study confirmation. Apart from having the other polyphenols such as catechins and gallocatechins, its other phytochemicals contents include beta-carotene. Its anthocyanins contents such as prodelphinidins, delphinidin, cyanidin and pelargonidin make it more appealing to those who are constantly seeking healthy remedies to strengthen their fort. Its juice ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) of 2,860 units per 100 grams is considered moderate when compared to other herbs and spices.

Many food and dietary supplment manufacturers prefer pomegranate phenolic extracts over its juice mainly for its ellagic acid which becomes bioavailable when its parent molecule punicalagins are metabolized. However, as ingested ellagic acid from pomegranate juice does not accumulate in the blood in significant quantities and is rapidly excreted, it does not appear to be biologically important in vivo. In vivo studies, pomegranate juice was effective in reducing heart disease risk factors, including LDL oxidation, macrophage oxidative status, and foam cell formation; all of which are steps in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. It has also been shown to reduce systolic blood pressure by inhibiting serum angiotensin-converting enzyme, may inhibit viral infections and may have antibacterial effects against dental plaque.

While its seeds oil was effective against proliferation of breast cancer cells in vitro, it contains polyphenols which inhibit estrogen synthesis. It is vital in fighting free radicals that damage and age the skin. It is also a potent source of punicic acid, an Omega 5 conjugated fatty acid, beneficial phytoestrogen and a rare plant based source of CLA.

Pomegranate extract has quality values in inhibiting chronic inflammation linked with a variety of health problems such as heart disease and inflammatory stimuli-induced cartilage breakdown and production of inflammatory mediators in arthritis. As a great source of antioxidans, potassium and vitamin C, niacin and a substantial amount of fiber, the antioxidant powers of pomegranate juice is nearly three times as much as the antioxidant amount in green tea or red wine which may be why a number of studies show it may prevent skin cancer and kill breast and prostate cancer cells. It also helps to fight Alzheimers’s disease with studies at Loma Linda University confirming that mice which drank pomegranate juice experienced 50% less brain degeneration than animals that consumed only sugar water.

Pomegranate drinkers also did better in mazes and tests as the aged. Another study that he mention was performed by Israeli researchers with a group of diabetics who drank about 2 ounces of pomegranate juice a day for 3 months and results showed that they kept their bodies from absorbing bad cholesterol into their immune system cells. In a different study about a comparison between antioxidant contents in pomegranate fruit and peel extracts, pomegranate juice has been demonstrated to be high in antioxidant activity and is effective in the prevention of atherosclerosis. The results showed that pomegranate peel extract had markedly higher antioxidant capacity than the pulp extract. The contents of total phenolics, flavonoids and proathocyanidins were also higher in peel extract than in pulp extract. It was concluded that pomegranate peel extract appeared to have more potential as a health supplement rich in natural antioxidants than the pulp extract and merits further intensive study. Pomegranate juice seems to stave off hardening of the arteries and may even reverse it. A recent study in the proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that pomegranate juice reduced the rate of cholesterol plaque buildup in mice by 30% while heart cells treated with the juice showed a 50% increase in the production of nitric oxide, a substance that helps fight plaque.

Another beneficial antioxidant property of pomegranates is the antidiarrheal activity of the aqueous extract of peels which contain some biologically active principles that may be active against diarrhea which is the basis for its traditional use for gastrointestinal disorders. Apart from this, pomegranate fruit extract possesses remarkable antitumor-promoting effects, anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic properties, cancer-chemopreventive as well as cancer-chemotherapeutic effects against prostate & lung cancer in humans.

Natural methods to reduce inflammation are becoming more popular as increasing concern emerges over the health effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or ibuprofen. While NSAIDs are some of the most frequently prescribed drugs globally, potential side effects include gastrointestinal toxicity, raised blood pressure and a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. There is no known specific human drug interactions for pomegranate juice.

Well, as mother nature has provided a path to the many diseases of today, it is only wise for all of you to be aware of the benefits of this wonderful product. Stay healthy and live healthily with pomegranate consumption.

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Cells die via apoptosis, a process every cell in your body is programmed in its DNA genetic material to grow a certain number of days and it kills itself. Skin cells have a lifespan of 28 days and red blood cells live for 120 days before they die.

The first solid clue that human beings may possess genes that protect against ageing came in 1930 basing on researches on rats which were fed with low-calorie diet lived much longer than normal. The studies have now been confirmed in mice, fruit flies, dogs and other lab animals that reducing intake of food by 30% and still supplying all the nutrients can prolong by up to a similar percentage increase in lifespan.

It stands to reason that the same thing will occur in humans and there are ongoing studies but results are yet to come by. How wonderful it could be should it confirm this parallel reflection………in that there are many world problems previously thought as unsolved but now can be resolved such as sufficient food to feed the world population, healthier life and prolonged life. Even if it works, being constantly cold, tired, hungry and having the physical appearance of someone starving is not everyone’s vision of a life-extension programme.

Latest researches have found that Resveratrol, a member of the group of phytoalexins compounds, also activates the same logevity gene expressed during caloric restriction. Grapes and other plant produces resveratrol as a protective measure during times of stress, bad weather or poor nutrient availability or as protection against fungal and other diseases. Of all plants, including grapes, the richest source of resveratrol is from the medicinal plant Polygonum Cuspidatum which is found in China and Japan.

Scientists have found a chemical class called sirtuins that can help to prevent cell death. When stressed, cells produce this chemical and by starving a cell through caloric restriction, it activates the Sir2 gene to stimulate the cell to produce sirtuins that help to protect itself against starvation while keeping the cell alive. The effects of resveratrol mimic those of caloric restriction, the only proven way of extending lifespan. So eat less but be more nutritious to live healthily and longer. Resveratrol activates the same longevity genes expressed during caloric restriction and since caolric restriction has been successfully tested on mice and rats, scientists speculate that humans can derive longer lifespan and healthier living out of the caloric restriction benefits through the taking of resveratrol supplement.

Although studies were confined to fish, lower organisms and rodents, studies on humans may take a longer time to complete. However, since humans share many genes in common with even the simplest organisms such as bacteria and worms, it is likely the the studies in animals will have similar results in humans. Genetically, how alike all life on earth really is? Humans share many genes in common even with the simplest organisms such as yeast with 98% of your DNA identical to the mouse genome and 99.8% being identical to another human.

The interesting part about resveratrol is its health benefits properties covering as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, promotes anticancer, reduces blood pressure and menopausal symptoms, reduction in Alzheimer’s disease risks and developing diabetes and blood clot. Representing many of the known risks for developing different age-related degenerative diseases, these properties include:-

• As AntiCancer Agent

Cancer, perhaps the most dynamic resveratrol research area, is on the rise nowadays. Cancer have either been stopped or blocked by resveratrol in vitro laboratory tests at all three stages of initiation, promotion and progression. The National Institute of Health (NIH, USA) is currently sponsoring a clinical trial investigating resveratrol’s ability to fight colon cancer with its proposal as an additional supplement in cancer prevention.

• Heart & Blood Vessel Health

It has been found that resveratrol exerts a number of potentially cardio-protective effects such as:-

• increases high density lipoprotein (HDL)
• prevents low density lipoprotein (LDL) from being oxidized by free radicals as it is the oxidized LDL that forms plaque that can lead to atherosclerosis or hardening and thickening of the arteries,
• inhibits platelet aggregation as resveratrol prevents blood cells from sticking to each other and forming clots causing heart attacks or strokes,
• promotes vasodilatation by enhancing the production of nitric oxide (NO) which allows the blood vessels to relax resulting in enhanced blood flow.
• Alzheimer Prevention

One of the characteristics of Alzheimer’s disease is the deposition of amyloid-beta peptide plaques in the brain. Studies have shown that resveratrol administration into cells decreased their secretion and their amyloid-beta peptides levels. Although resveratrol did not inhibit the production of amyloid-beta peptides, it promotes the latter’s breakdown in the cells; thus assist in fighting Alzheimer’s disease

• May Minimize Risk Of Brain Damage In Stroke Victims

For many years in the past, scientists have been advocating the drinking of a glass of red wine once or twice a day would help with cardiovascular health. Resveratrol, having similar impact on brain health, in some cases may help minimize the brain damage when a stroke occurs.

• Other Benefits

Other benefits recently discovered include doubling exercise endurance and prevention of ill effects of obesity. In laboratory tests, resveratrol enables mice that were fed with high-calorie, high-fat diets to live normal, active lives despite being obese. It may also offer benefits in preventing or managing conditions associated with diabetes

It is important to understand that there are many other risk factors associated with diseases an that taking resveratrol may be one of the many important steps in risk reduction for healthy living. Resveratrol would, as researchers said, increase your lifespan six-fold like it did in worms or even 31% as in rodents. However, it is not unreasonable for someone who started taking resveratrol at age 50 to expect to add at least an extra 10 healthy years to their lifespan.

Products which have this resveratrol ingredient in abundance is Transfer Factor where it is blended for specific targeted purpose in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

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