Monday, January 09, 2006

Cystic Acne Treatment

Cystic Acne Treatment
By Donald Amodeo

Normal zits are already unpleasant enough, but cystic acne is a much more painful and potentially scarring experience for your skin (and your self esteem!). There is no "easy" remedy for getting rid of acne cysts, but there are certainly some treatment options that can help speed the process, as well as some things that you should be sure NOT to do. This advice is meant for acne sufferers with a mild to average number of cysts. If you have severe cystic acne that covers your face and body, you should really seek the advice of a dermatologist immediately, as an affliction such as this can leave your skin scarred for life.

Understanding cystic acne:

Unlike the small whitehead pustules that most people with acne experience on the surface of their skin, cystic acne appears as large irritated bumps, often with the pustule hidden deep beneath the skin's surface. These cysts are caused when hormonal shifts result in your skin glands overproducing oil (sebum) at an unnatural rate. The gland becomes swollen and eventually bursts, but not before the sebum has swelled and hardened into a clump too large to escape by means of your pores. The irritation from your gland bursting results in inflammation, and buried pustule can remain in your skin for a very long time.

What to do:

The first thing to keep in mind is what you should not do. Never try to force a deep cyst to the surface of your skin prematurely. Trying to force cysts to burst is one of the major causes of acne scars, and will often leave your face looking much worse than it did before.

There are some things that you can still do to help. Strong acne creams with 2.5% benzoyl peroxide will help speed the healing process by killing the bacteria that forms in the cyst. Anti-inflammatory treatments such as Neosporin can also help by taking some of the red out of the inflamed region. After this, it simply takes patience and the discipline not to pick at your skin. Your cysts will eventually be broken down by the body, and this usually takes less time than healing from the inflammation caused by forcing them out.

Prevention:

Cystic acne happens below the surface of your skin and has very little to do with personal hygene. Creams and cleansers will not help much at all in preventing it. You need to target your oil glands in order to counter those hormonal shifts. Start with a daily multivitamin to make sure you're getting the minimum of essential nutrients that your body needs to metabolize oil, and then consider other supplements.

Zinc is an important mineral in regulating the activity of your oil glands, as well as being a powerful antioxidant. Taking an extra 30-50 mg per day of Zinc has helped many acne sufferers. Vitamin B5 is also a key ingredient in fighting excess oil. There are many online resources about vitamin B5 acne treatment. B5 is necessary in order to produce Coenzyme-A, which in turn is needed for the metabolism of skin oil. Supplementing with 5-10 grams of vitamin B5 (less if time-released) has helped many acne sufferers get their skin under control by enhancing oil metabolism. Since cystic acne is caused by excessive oil production, this may be exactly what you need.

If nothing else works for you, see a dermatologist, as you may need a prescription treatment such as Accutane (a vitamin A derivative that directly lowers your production of skin oil). However, this should only be a last resort, as the side-effects from prescription acne treatments can sometimes be more serious than the acne itself.

About the Author
Don Amodeo is the webmaster of Acne-Vitamins.com, where you can find vitamin B5
acne products and a free guide to vitamins for acne. This article may be republished provided that the author's information and all active links are left intact.

How Colon Cleansing Takes Care Of Your Insides

How Colon Cleansing Takes Care Of Your Insides
By Isabelle Boulay

Doctors promote cleansing of the colon to promote good health. If the colon is not working right, toxins must leave the body through other avenues. Bad halitosis, body odor can be taken care of with colon cleansing. Doctors say that cleansing the colon cleanses every tissue and cell in the human body. Toxic matter in the colon can cause colon diseases, headaches, fatigue, muscle aches, lupus, and cardiovascular disease. Cleansing the colon can also get rid of unwanted parasites that our bodies might be harboring. These parasites can come from insect bites, rare meat, vegetables not cleaned properly, and pets and even through sexual activity. In fact, it's more common to pass on parasites than it is to pass on a venereal disease.

Our body is designed for the bowels to move after every meal. In our western civilization, that is hard to do so we have trained our body to once a day. When our colons become backed up then serious problems can develop. A toxic colon can lead to food intolerance and becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. Even though you may have regular bowel movements, the waste can pass through the colon and still leave accumulated residue on the walls behind it. A dirty colon can cause the muscles of the colon wall to lose tone, and ballooning or pouches can form causing diverticulosis. Food is trapped in these pouches and become breeding grounds for bacteria.

How do you clean out the colon? There are several different ways, some that will do it quickly and some gradually. There is even colonic irrigation that is very quick and an efficient way to wash away years of impacted feces and toxins.

A more gradual process will do the same thing, but you will begin to see improvements within a short time after starting the process. Skin problems disappear, chronic fatigue is alleviated, and the whites of the eyes regain their youthful clearness. The gradual process takes a period of several weeks, with the patient starting out eating raw food as 50 percent of their diet. By adding two teaspoonfuls of Metamucil or Citrucel and drinking a lot of water can get you started on your colon cleansing. Water is an important part of the cleansing. Some people believe they shouldn't drink a lot of water because they tend to retain fluids. The opposite is true. The body retains the fluids because it isn't getting enough fluid and tries to hang on to what it gets. The recommendation is to drink two quarts of water a day and start the day with at least a pint of hot water before breakfast.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome can be helped with a colon cleansing. I can personally attest to that, as I was required to do a bowel cleansing before having a colonoscopy. I had suffered for years with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, I was terrified to eat at fairs or street festivals, or eat and then get right in a car to travel. After going through three days of fasting and laxatives and foul tasting stuff to drink, I had my test. Nothing was found, but the result was that I felt wonderful and had no Irritable Bowel Attacks for over three years after I had my test. I'm not saying it was a pleasant experience to go through as it wasn't the gradual process described above, but it did leave me feeling great and totally rejuvenated.

There are supplements available that are designed specifically for colon cleansing. These come in capsule form and are not too expensive. They can be found at any drugstore or natural food store.

It's been said that a positive effect of colon cleansing is a positive feeling and becoming extremely energetic. Reducing the toxins and the breeding ground for germs also can result in a dramatic increasing in immunity from any type of infection.

About the Author
Ms. Boulay writes for
www.medopedia.com, which has information on lasik Wavefront surgery and sleep apnea treatments.

Skin Care Trends For 2006

Skin Care Trends For 2006
By Dr Danny T Siegenthaler

Skin care has certainly been in the news during 2005. The increasing concern of retaining youthful looking skin has led to skin care companies developing skin care products that include all kinds of exotic ingredients supposedly being able to reduce lines and wrinkles on your face, eliminate age spots and other blemishes, hydrate, smooth and tone your skin as well as making various other amazing claims.

In addition, concerns have been raised about some of the potentially harmful ingredients being applied to our skin and thus absorbed into our bodies, with potentially harmful effects on our health.

These reports have led to a 'natural' skin care ingredient boom right across the skin care industry and increasingly we see advertisements promoting natural skin care products.

Toward the end of 2005 however, buyers have been realising that natural skin care products may not necessarily be all-natural skin care products and are starting to doubt the validity of advertisements promoting their skin care products as being natural.

Further, the men's skin care market has been more strongly targeted with many well-known brands creating and promoting a skin care range specific for men.

So what can we expect in 2006?

I believe, that the above trends will continue during this year and will intensify in certain areas. These areas include:

* An increased focus on Men's skin care
* More anti-aging 'miracle' products
* Increased focus on promoting so called 'natural' skin care products
* An increased 'buyer be ware' attitude from consumers about just how natural the promoted skin care products are, and
* An increase of scepticism toward the promotion of natural in respect to skin care products by manufacturers.

I see the manufacturing of skin care products to be divided into three types of manufacturers:

1. Traditional Skin Care Manufacturers

These produce skin care products that will provide good results, but these products are not advertised to be natural, organic or anything other than skin care products. Their products include emulsifiers, preservatives and possibly potentially harmful ingredients, but they do work and customers do get results.

2. Jump on the Bandwagon Manufacturers

These are manufacturers market their products as being natural and actually do include natural ingredients or at least naturally derived concentrates together with other ingredients. They will promote these products as being natural and will attract buyers who are concerned about what they are putting on their skin and subsequently into their body.

This category contains another type of manufacturer, I call it the Psydo-Natural manufacturer. This type uses only natural ingredients, but does not use these ingredients in their natural state. That is, they will not always use traditionally made herbal extracts, but will use isolated, active ingredients from herbs or essential oils in their products.

The problem with this type of product is that the ingredients are no longer complete, they are 'out of balance' and as a result could cause potential health concerns. This has been explained in another article called 'Natural, All Natural, Holistically-Natural or Pseudo-natural - that is the question'.

3. Holistic Manufacturers

This third type of manufacturer of natural skin care products are manufacturers that have resolved to provide purely natural skin care products to their clients and are dedicated to use holistically, natural ingredients to produce truly natural skin care products. They use pure essential oils, traditionally made herbal extracts, and follow the philosophies of natural medical practices such as herbal medicine and naturopathy.

The next 12 months or so will see consumers becoming more and more aware of what is truly natural and what is not. The Internet is a great source for gathering such information and women especially will start to research skin care products in ever increasing detail to find the type of products they prefer.

Men will start to become more aware of their skin's needs and will increasingly start to follow similar skin care regimes as women. However, I think it will take men a little longer to start thinking about the purity of their skin care. They will probably leave it up to their spouses to select their skin care range for them.

About the Author
Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and together with his wife Susan, a medical herbalist and Aromatherapist, they have created
Natural Skin Care Products by Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 years of combined expertise with you.

Safe Sex After 50

Safe Sex After 50
By Paul Douglas

I discovered later in life that I needed to make better choices about taking care of my sexual health. It was not long ago when I realized that many people are sexually active far into their eighties. I understood that when I was talking with a 79-year-old relative I'm very close to. I was telling her about my activism around HIV/AIDS and sexual health. Suddenly her animated, engaged expression froze into a look of horror. "Oh, my God, can I get it?" she asked. Then she revealed that she had been having unprotected sex with her partner, and that she knew he had relations with other women too. What's more she herself admitted she had another male friend with whom she was occasionally intimate.

Having looked at my personal experience I knew that unprotected sex regardless of age-could lead to a sexually transmitted disease (STD). At the age of 50, I realized that my lover of three years had given me one. I was astonished that this had happened to me! I started consulting women my age and older, I heard many stories of mature women who had been infected by husbands or partners who had sexual contacts on the side. This woke me up.

I came to conclusion then that the only person in the world whose sexual behavior I could be certain about was me. When I was younger, only unwanted pregnancy was the big fear. Later, menopause freed me from that concern. But suddenly I was discovering I needed to be more careful about my sexual life, so I could make better choices about protecting myself.

The HIV statistics in Black communities all over the world is sobering. The transmission of STDs, HIV and hepatitis B can be reduced by the use of condoms. But in spite of extensive public-health campaigns to promote safer-sex practices, many people over 50 still do not see the need to use condoms.

This attitude has contributed to a startling statistic: According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 1991 and 1996 HIV infections transmitted through heterosexual sex rose by 94%n men over 50, and 96% in women over 50. Although the number of patients with AIDS among seniors is relatively small-1,400 in 1996, up from 700 in 1991-experts are convinced these figures probably underestimate the problem because older people are less willing to be examined for HIV than younger adults. The symptoms of the illness can even be masked by other diseases or attributed to aging. As a consequence, one of the fastest-growing HIV demographic groups is heterosexuals age over 50.

What if you have never used condoms before? Whatever happened to growing wiser as you grow older? It's a wonderful achievement that nowadays people with HIV have access to the best drugs, can feel better and live longer than before. But the real triumph will come when all people have the information and the personal self-respect to embrace the tools of prevention-the consistent, correct use of condoms by sexually active people, no matter how old we are.

About The Author
Paul Douglas

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Monday, December 19, 2005

Stress & Hair Loss

Stress & Hair Loss
By Raj Pandey

Everyone loses hair on a daily basis - this is seen as quite normal. However there are a variety of factors that can prematurely accelerate this process - a major one is any form of stress mental or physical.

Stress has become the latest buzz word in the our lives. Whether it is from work or family many people are feeling that they are overwhelmed and simply cannot keep up with the demands made on them. In an effort to meet these demands often the first activity to go is our own self care. We think "Oh I can do without that for now". While this may be true in the moment what often occurs is a an unhealthy response to stress that goes beyond losing interest in self care. This ranges from neglect of yourself to abuse of substances or behaviours just to deal with stress.

Usually stress is felt when change is happening that we believe we cannot control. What some call the "stress response" is also seen in your own body in the form of nutritional deficits and chemical imbalances. This "bio storm" so to speak very often adversely the proper environment for healthy hair. In fact, in some cases hair loss can be tied to a specific event such as a death, job loss or other sudden trauma. Chronic stress can have the same effect as a sudden trauma which is way maintaining balance in our lives is so important. So if you notice a sudden increase in hair loss, after checking with your Doctor, consider also as part of your Hair Loss Treatment Plan checking in with a counselor. Create a Stress Plan that will lower as much stress as possible in your life.

About The Author
Raj Pandey is the creator of a hair loss treatment program at www.inhairit.com, and has written hundreds of articles and tips about dealing with hair loss.
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Monday, December 12, 2005

Five Tips for Arthritis Pain Relief

Five Tips for Arthritis Pain Relief
By John Mancini

For millions of people through out the world arthritis pain is something that they live with everyday. Most of them are on some type of prescription drug regimen to control the pain. However, drugs alone are often times not enough to keep the arthritis pain at bay. Therefore, there are a growing number of people that are seeking alternative arthritis pain relief. If you have considered some non-traditional treatment methods, but are unsure of how they work, the following tips will help to answer your questions.

1. There are multiple pain medications available for people who suffer from arthritis pain. They consist of over the counter remedies such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen to the stronger prescription drugs such as Vioxx and Celebrex. The problem with the stronger drugs is that they often come with undesirable or even dangerous side effects. While the over the counter alternatives are safer, they often need to have other remedies used as well to achieve arthritis pain relief.

2. Exercise is a great option at your disposal when looking for natural alternatives for your arthritis pain relief. Walking is especially good; it is easy to do and does not put too much unneeded pressure on the joints. Other forms of exercises that are especially good for arthritis sufferers are balancing types of movements, such as Tia Chi and water walking. While these activities can help build muscle strength, they may cause some discomfort in the joints. If this happens, stop the exercise, if the pain persists more than a couple of days speak with your physician.

3. Losing weight is another great way to find some relief from your arthritis pain. This is because it has been found that just ten extra pounds adds thirty pounds of stress to the knees. Therefore, losing extra weight will be very effective for arthritis pain relief.

4. Researching and using any product that will make your daily life easier, will also indirectly help ease the pain associated with arthritis. For example, using a shower seat will allow you to shower without much of the pain that can result from extended period of time standing.

5. Visit your physician when you first feel that you are having arthritis pain. Together, the both of you will be able to devise a treatment regimen that is right for you and for your particular situation. Be sure to keep in contact with your doctor, this is the only way to ensure that your treatment methods will change as the pain becomes stronger.

About The Author
John Mancini has been writing about Rheumatoid Arthritis online and offline for a long time. Visit
Arthritis-Expert.net or Arthritis-Central.com to read more about matters like osteoarthritis and arthritis treatment.

Manage Diabetes The Natural Way

Manage Diabetes The Natural Way
By Troy Francis

Currently, about 20.8 million Americans suffer from some form of diabetes. That's a whopping 7% of the population. Of those 20.8 million people, it's estimated that nearly one-third of them (or 6.2 million) don't even know they have it.

There are two main types of diabetes that most of us should be concerned about: type 1 and type 2. Type one diabetes is generally diagnosed in childhood, and may also be referred to as juvenile diabetes. This form of the disease is due to the body's failure to produce adequate insulin, the hormone that allows glucose to enter our cells and fuel them. About 5 to 10% of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have this form of the disease.

Type 2 is much more common. Type 2 diabetes generally results from insulin resistance (where the body fails to utilize insulin properly), combined with relative insulin deficiency. 90 to 95% of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2.

Since type 2 diabetes is usually brought about by diet and lifestyle, this is the form of the disease we'll talk most about. Our bodies need insulin to be able to use sugar. Sugar (or glucose) is the basic fuel for our cells, and is carried throughout the body by insulin. In people with diabetes, insulin levels are insufficient, causing glucose to build up in the blood instead of going into cells. This can cause two problems: one, your cells may be starved for energy, and two, over time high blood glucose levels may damage your eyes, kidneys, nerves, or heart.

Now, don't get me wrong: finding out you have type 2 diabetes can be scary and is no laughing matter. However, there is no need to panic. Diabetes is serious, but victims of the disease can live long, healthy, happy lives.

There is new research every day that helps shed some light on how to live with and control diabetes. Especially with type 2, there is a lot you can do to help keep the disease in check. Oral medications can be extremely helpful and offer a good level of convenience. But probably the most important things you can do to keep your diabetes from taking over your life is to watch your diet very carefully, and exercise.

It's a known scientific fact that physical activity can help lower blood sugar, reducing the body's need for insulin. The more exercise you get, the less medication you're likely to need. And the more you can control your diabetes without taking extra medication, the better. If you have diabetes (or even if you don't!), make sure you're exercising regularly. It doesn't have to be ultra-strenuous--a walk will do--but it does have to be consistent.

The other vital factor in controlling your diabetes naturally is with your diet. Diabetics need to keep a close eye on their carbohydrates, sugars, fats, and proteins. If you can maintain a proper balance and keep your blood sugar from spiking, you'll have a much easier time keeping your diabetes in check. Pay close attention to food labels. The meal planning exchange lists available from the American Diabetes Association could prove to be your best friend and will help simplify the whole process.

And of course, getting regular exercise and watching your diet could have a fantastic side effect, and it's something else that will help you control your diabetes: weight loss. Losing just 10% of your body weight could have a major positive impact on your health, so if you have some weight to lose, shoot for 10% for starters.

If you don't have type 2 diabetes, you can do much to prevent it. Try to maintain a healthy weight with proper diet, exercise, and plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. And above all, see your doctor if you have any concerns.

About the Author
Troy is founder of
Exercise-Diet.com. You can see more great articles on Weight Loss, Exercise, Fitness, Health and much more by going to: Exercise-Diet.com

Monday, November 28, 2005

Understanding Varicose Veins

Understanding Varicose Veins
By Anne Wolski

A vein is a blood vessel that carries blood throughout the body. Normally, these veins do their job like a well oiled pump but sometimes these veins break down, causing the flow of blood to become abnormal.

I am sure most of us have, or know someone who has the enlarged, twisted, superficial veins in their lower legs and ankles known as varicose veins.

Varicose veins can occur in any part of the body but are more common in the lower extremities.

These veins can be due to genetic default but this is not the only cause. Other contributing factors can be prolonged standing or pregnancy. For many women, the first signs of varicose veins appear during pregnancy. Obesity is also a contributing factor. The added pressure of supporting excess weight is almost certain to result in chronic venous breakdown.

The signs and symptoms of varicose veins not only includes the unsightly rope-like veins but also a constant dull ache, cramps, swelling and fatigue after standing.

There may also be a brownish discolouration of the skin which is known as stasis pigmentation. This is caused by a breakdown of blood cells leading to a leakage in the affected area and is common in people who have suffered from this condition for a lengthy period of time.

Usually diagnosis is simply a case of visual observation but sometimes a procedure called phlebography is used. This is a painless procedure in which a solution called a radio-opaque contrast medium is introduced into the bloodstream. Imaging of the veins is then carried out to detect the abnormalities in the blood flow and venous pressure.

Another diagnostic procedure available is the use of ultrasound to examine the blood flow in the major arteries and veins in the arms and legs. This procedure is known as Doppler’s ultrasonography. Ultrasound is high frequency sound waves that echo off the body. It is performed by applying a water soluble gel to the body and then passing a hand held device known as a transducer over the area.

Treatment of varicose veins an be as simple as wearing elasticised compression stockings, controlling your weight, undertaking a moderate exercise program, avoiding prolonged periods of standing, and elevating the legs whenever possible.

Another method of treatment is called compression sclerotherapy. In this procedure, points of abnormal flow from deep to superficial veins are located and permanently obliterated by the injection of a substance called a sclerosant. Application of continuous pressure then restores the pumping capacity of the vein.

In severe cases, a surgical procedure called stripping and ligation may be considered necessary. During this surgery, one or more incisions are made over the varicose veins, and the vein is tied off (ligated). If several valves in the vein and the vein itself are heavily damaged, the vein (or the diseased part of the vein) is usually removed (stripped). An incision is made below the varicose vein, a flexible instrument is threaded up the vein to the first incision, and the vein is grasped and removed.

If you have varicose veins, it is necessary to seek medical advice. Your health practitioner will advise you of treatment options and will assist you in the care of your condition.

About the Author
Anne Wolski, Woody Point, Queensland, Australia
Learn more about varicose veins and treatment. Anne Wolski has worked within the health and welfare industry for more than 30 years. Go to http://www.magnetic-health-online.com to see many wonderful health articles, many of them written by doctors and others who have been involved in the health industry for many years.
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Natural Cure For Diabetes

Natural Cure For Diabetes
By Anita Cherry

Food Therapy should be followed under the supervision from your doctor. Check your sugar level frequently so that sugar levels do not go beyond the recommended level.

Foods to avoid
It is always advisable to avoid some foods if you are diabetic such as refined sugar, sweets, syrups, glucose, jam, molasses, fruit sugar, ice-cream, cakes, pastries, sweet biscuits, chocolates, soft drinks, condensed milk, cream and fried foods. Fats like butter, ghee and hydrogenated vegetable oil should also be avoided. White sugar and white flour should be reduced drastically. Avoid all processed foods, junk food, pastries, cookies, canned and preserved foods. They contain harmful preservatives and lot of salt. Avoid soft drinks since these have a lot of sugar. Try to avoid fried foods from your diet. Smoking results in the using up of oxygen in the body. It will result in less of oxygen needed by the body to metabolize glucose. So smoking should be avoided.

Foods to be limited
Salt consumption should be reduced to a minimum. You will get enough salt form the vegetables and fruits you eat. Reduce animal foods especially red meats. Reduce poultry and egg. Reduce caffeine and alcohol. Do not drink tea and coffee more than 2 cups a day. Try to replace it with green tea or herbal teas like Parsley tea, Blueberry leaf, Tea made of tender walnut tree leaves, Water in which kidney bean pods have been cooked is good diabetes.

Do not consume alcohol in empty stomach. Alcohol on an empty stomach can cause low blood glucose or hypoglycemia.Foods that should be consumed in moderation are honey and other natural sugars like palm sugar, dates which can be used instead of white sugar. Remember these should be consumed in very little quantity only.Pasta, coconut, other nuts, unsweetened juices, eggs should be limited. You can replace it with whole grain, unpolished rice and Soya products. Try to eat whole grain bread instead of white flour. Fats like olive oil and peanut oil are more advisable that hydrogenated fats. Low fat food like skimmed milk and low fat home made cottage cheese can be taken in moderation. You can also substitute it with yoghurt. Sea food and fish also can be taken in moderation.

Foods to be taken
Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. An alkaline diet with natural food is recommended. Wholegrain, fruits, nuts, vegetables, and dairy products form a good diet for the diabetic. Raw vegetables can be taken in high quantities. It has been found that cooked foods raise blood glucose higher than raw, unpeeled foods. Cooking destroys many of the enzymes and some vitamins and minerals.

Eat at least five fruits every day. Fruits like grape fruit, pomegranate juice, Indian blackberry, banana, granny smith apples, fig, cranberries, black berry, kiwi fruits, and citrus fruits are highly recommended. It can be taken as a snack. Cucumber, Lettuce, onion, garlic string beans cucumber radish, tomato, carrot, leaves; spinach turnip, cabbage and Jerusalem artichoke are good for diabetes. Colorful vegetables are good for the functioning of pancreas. Drink Fruit juices without sugar. Brewer’s yeast and sprouted alfalfa and mung beans are good for the body. Unripe banana also can be cooked and eaten.

The most important of all is eating high fiber diet which lowers need for insulin. It releases energy into the body slowly. It has also been found that diabetes decreases and may even disappear in people eating a high fiber or whole food diet. High fiber diet has more chromium and chromium is very good for people with diabetes. Eat lot of potassium rich foods like raw peanuts, tomato, bananas, melons, dried peas, potatoes, apple cider vinegar, skimmed milk powder, wheat but do not take potassium supplements.

Include soluble fiber in your meals like barley, oatmeal, almond meal, dried beans, kidney beans, cooked black beans, peas, cereals, chickpeas, Bengal gram which has low glycemic index, , Black gram, lentils and corn or garbanzo beans to helps considerably in reducing blood sugar levels. Soy products like tofu, tempeh, soymilk, soya powder, soy bean sprouts, nuggets etc are also very good in containing neurological complications in diabetes. You can make bread out of any of the whole grains. Get a lot of soluble fiber into your diet. When you eat lots of bread, cereal and starchy vegetables you will get enough of starches which is very helpful for diabetes.Insoluble fibers, found in bran (oat bran, wheat bran), whole grain breads, whole grains and nuts, act as intestinal scrubbers by cleaning out the lower gastrointestinal tract. Fiber cleans your intestinal tract by moving out the food so that it wouldn’t stay there and putrefy. Butter milk and yoghurt diet are very beneficial.

Helpful herbs and vegetables
1. Bitter Gourd (Karela): Bitter gourd Momordica-charantia or bitter melon juice contains plant insulin and should be taken 2 ounce 2 times daily on an empty stomach. It is found to be very effective for diabetes. Or It can be cooked as any vegetable and eaten. Or The bitter melon powder can be made by drying. Take bitter gourd powder I teaspoon daily in empty stomach. 2. Taking half a teaspoon of cinnamon a day may help prevent the onset of diabetes. Even soaking a cinnamon sticks in your tea, could also benefit non-diabetics who have blood sugar problem but are unaware of it. 3. 30 gram fenugreek seeds can be soaked in a glass of water at night and after 12 hours take it and grind it into a paste with the soaked water and drink it on a empty stomach. Or 2 teaspoon if powdered seeds can be taken with water or milk. Or You can add fenugreek into anything you cook. 4. Eating upto 3 grapefruits a day has also been helpful. 5. 1 tablespoon of amla (Emblica officinalis) after removing the seeds extract the juice and mix with a cup of bitter gourd juice and take daily for 2months in a empty stomach. 6. Gymnema Sylvestre a traditional ayurvedic herb the leaf of which is to be taken up to 4 grams per day. 7. Indian blackberry seeds or Jamun seed powder (scientific name of Jamun is Eugenia jambolana or Syzygium cumini L and) is very good for diabetes. Take 1/4th teaspoon with 1 teasoon honey for 50 days. 8. Eating freshly crushed raw garlic 3-4 grams a day lowers blood sugar. You can wash it down with a glass of water. 9. Neem seeds daily 2 times a pinch. Taking a gram of neem leaf daily helps in diabetes. 10. Bael (Aegle marmelos) : The leave of the bael tree when chewed are very useful in diabetes. Pulp of this fruit could be dried and taken in doses of 5 to 10 gms a day . 11. A pinch of pure turmeric powders mixed in amla juice (Indian goose berry) and eat daily in empty stomach. 12. Use of turmeric and gooseberry in equal quantities in powder form taken with warm water is very useful in this behalf. These activate the pancreatic cells and more insulin is produced. 13. Wild jeerakam cumin seeds black colored 60 gm in 1 liter and boil a reduce it ti 1/4th liter and take half divide it into two equal parts and drink one part in the morning and one in the evening 2 times daily . 14. Grind (Bacopa monnieri )Bhrahmi and add a teaspoon of it to milk and drink

Vitamins that help
Supplements in natural forms are more conducive to the body. Magnesium supplementation has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity. Vitamin C: 500 mg is recommended. Vitamin E: This vitamin is very valuable for diabetes. A daily dose of 200 i.u. of Vitamin E is recommended for a fortnight at a time. Chromium: Whole grains, seeds, mushrooms, corn oil and brewer’s yeast are relatively good sources of biologically valuable chromium. Vitamin A:. Take A dose of 15,000i.u. on alternate days. Vitamin B: Avoid large dosage of vitamin B because this vitamin interferes with the absorption of insulin by cells.

Things to do
Controlling your Weight is the best way to treat diabetes. Exercise improves the body's response to insulin. An exercise program should be started only with the advice of a doctor to avoid unnecessary complications. Walking, light games, jogging and swimming are also good.

Yoga can help a lot. To relieve stress do meditation once a day for 10 to 40 minutes. Yogic asanas like Siddhasana, Vajrasana, Talasana, Yastikasana,, like Yogamudra, Hastapadasana, Paschimottanasana, Chakrasana, Ustrasana, Bhujangasana, Sarvangasana and Viparitakarani, as halasana, shalabhasana, dhanurasana, Pratipaksabhavana and shavasana will also be beneficial.

About the Author
Anita Cherry, Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia
Learn more about Natural cure for diabetes. Anita cherry, M.A., is a health enthusiast who offers informative tips on health.She has over 15 years experience in alternative medicine and Vegetarianism. For more information on health tips, chemical free personal care products visit http://www.healthinfoforyou.com/a/real_organic.htm
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Memory & Menopause

Memory & Menopause
By Mary Desaulniers

Last week I did it again—made a trip to deposit a check at our local bank only to discover once I got there, that my check was nowhere to be found. Hadn’t I tucked it inside one of the pockets of my purse? I ransacked my clutch bag, emptying every pocket onto the ledge of the ATM machine. Where did the check go?
I returned home and found the check neatly tucked inside another purse. This has been a familiar scenario with me since I turned 50. I cannot help but wonder if memory loss is an unavoidable part of menopause. Is this an irreversible condition that we can more or less resign ourselves to as we move on in years?

Much to my surprise, recent studies suggest otherwise. In one study, 803 women between the age of 42-52 were tested once each year over the course of 6 years. The results showed that memory performance improved by an average of 3% among the women, an improvement that surprised even the researchers themselves.

What do these results mean? One conclusion is that there is really no concrete evidence behind the assumption that declining estrogen levels in the brain are responsible for memory loss experienced by so many menopausal women.

Other studies suggest that as women go through midlife change, their ability to multitask decreases. “Multitasking appears as an estrogen-facilitated capacity and a 60 year old woman is no longer able to multitask like a 30 year old,” writes Dr. Cheri Quincy( Sonoma Medicine Fall’05). It is not inconceivable that what I had construed as ”memory loss” is actually an instance of doing too much at once. In my hurriedness to kill 3 errands at the same time—go to the post office, get milk at the store, put my check in the bank—I had placed the check in the wrong purse without realizing it—a mistake that any one, even a younger woman, could have made.

All this is not to say that “foggy brain” does not exist. Some decline in mental sharpness is part of the aging process. However, turning foggy at 50 is not a sign that we are all heading towards the end.

On the contrary, there is a lot we can do to preserve the brain.

Feed it Good Fats: Intelligence is helped by smooth transition between neurons. The nerve fibers of the brain cells are coated with myelin, a kind of fatty substance which helps the cells make more synaptic connections—the basis of the thinking process. Taking fish oil( omega fatty 3 acids) regularly will definitely ensure that your brain cells will negotiate more connections.

Feed it Vitamins C and E: Prevent free radical damage in your brain by making sure that your diet is rich in antioxidants—vitamins B( including folic acid, C, E ) and selenium. Eat fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Take a multi-vitamin supplement.

Give it Adequate Sleep: Sleep is the natural restorer of muscles and tissues. Research has shown that a rested brain works better than an “all-nighter.” In one study, 106 volunteers were shown a puzzle which they had to solve. One group was kept awake all night; the other allowed to sleep. Those kept awake were less successful in solving the puzzle. Scientists believe that sleep allowed the brain to restructure the information from the previous day and assisted the sleepers to solve the puzzle.

Exercise Your Brain: The brain will develop new neural pathways when it is confronted with something new and unfamiliar. So get out of any rut that you are in. Do something different: take a holiday, start a business, write a book, design a website, move to a new community, do crossword puzzles, learn a new language. Give your brain a chance to develop new modes of thinking.

It is so easy to blame menopause for a whole series of problems—weight gain, memory loss, fuzzy thinking. Far better it is to see that there are things we can do to turn these problems around.

About the Author
Mary Desaulniers, London,Ontario Canada
Learn more about memory loss, menopause, perimenopause A runner for 27 years, retired schoolteacher and writer, Mary is now doing what she has always done--being engaged in what she loves--running, weight training,writing,helping people reclaim their bodies by seeing that weight is just matter that needs to be processed. Nutrition, exercise, positive vision and purposeful engagement are the tools used to turn this matter into creative selves. You can subscribe to Mary's newsletter by visiting Great Body at 50.
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