Natural Remedies Tips And Information

Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in Americans 50 years of age and older. AMD is an eye disease characterized by the deterioration of the macula, which is located in the center of the retina. The macula is a very thin tissue that has light-sensitive cells and is responsible for sending visual signals to the brain. When the macula is damaged activities such as reading and driving become difficult.

Unfortunately there is no cure for macular degeneration but treatments of AMD can delay its progression and even improve vision. For wet macular degeneration drugs such as Macugen and Visudyne are being used while pharmaceutical treatments for dry AMD have not been approved. Nonetheless dietary adjustments have been shown to be helpful in the prevention of AMD and its progression to the wet form.

Researchers have found that specific nutrients like lutein, zinc and vitamins A, C and E may play a key role. A diet rich in antioxidant and Zinc may help lower the risk for AMD and what's more, slow down the progression of the disease. Click here to check a potent antioxidant formula that has it all.

Fruits and AMD

An epidemiological study conducted by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital, showed that people who eat three or more fruits a day were able to reduce their risk of contracting macular degeneration by up to 36 percent. It's interesting to know that it was fruits, and not veggies, that were responsible for the remarkable results. Fruits come in all shapes, colors and tastes which makes it easy to grab and enjoy a pieces each day!

April 4, 2006 15:19 - Best way to prevent prostate cancer

There are certain foods that can enhance men's prostate health and prevent prostate cancer, which is currently the number one cancer diagnosed in men.

Foods that all men should be eating include: Broccoli, according to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Studies, can cut your chances of getting prostate cancer by 41%. Other cruciferous veggies that are beneficial are Brussels sprouts and cabbage.

Sesame seeds have been known to help stop the growth of cancer. They have a special form of Vitamin E called gamma-tocopherol that has been proven in its ability to halt the growth of cancers.

Another beneficial vegetable is scallions. The Journal of the National Cancer Institute reported that men who eat two tablespoons a of scallions a day lower their risk of prostate cancer by 50%, compared to men that eat only ½ a teaspoon. So, be generous with adding scallions to salads and soups.

Onions and garlic are other vegetables that are rich in cancer-fighting compounds. If you are into cooking and love these two ingredients be sure to add them at the very end so aillicin, a compound found in them that is a natural antibiotic, does not get destroyed.

April 5, 2006 16:02 - Alternative medicine for high blood pressure

Your blood pressure reading consists of two numbers. The top number is the systolic blood pressure rate and the bottom is the diastolic pressure rate. A normal or average blood pressure rate is 120/80. However, it is important to know that your blood pressure rate may increase temporarily for many reasons, especially if you become angry or upset. Your blood pressure rate is best determined by taking readings at different times of the day and then calculating the average of those numbers.

The systolic rate is calculated when the heart is beating and the diastolic rate measures the heart at rest. This is why the top number is consistently higher than the bottom number. A regular blood pressure rate of 140/90 is considered high blood pressure.

The cause of high blood pressure in most people is unknown; in some patients, this condition may be the result of another illness or medication. Certain conditions of the aorta and arteries can lead to high blood pressure. Unfortunately, the symptoms of hypertension are not evident most of the time reason why this can be very dangerous.

If you have hypertension you may wish to investigate an alternative medicine for high blood pressure called High-Rite. This is an herbal formula that contains natural ingredients, which are safe to use. High-Rite has several herbs including Ginkgo biloba that relaxes blood vessels and improves blood flow throughout the body, Passiflora incarnate, which has calming properties, Hawthorn that contains anti oxidants that protect the heart against plaque build up and Guelder rose bark, which is a muscle relaxant that reduces stress that can lead to high blood pressure.

In many instances, alternative medicines work as good - or even better, than prescription drugs, since they instead of curing symptoms treat the underlying cause. If you are already taking a prescription for high blood pressure check with your doctor to see if High-Rite can safely be combined with your medication. Many people that have taken both for a period of three weeks or longer have realized the need for lowering the dose of the prescription drug.

April 6, 2006 12:00 - The symptoms of psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that can be both painful and cause stress and embarrassment to those who are afflicted with it. It is an inflammatory disease of the skin that results when cells reproduce too quickly. Areas of the body that are most commonly affected by psoriasis are the face, elbows, scalp, knees, feet, and palms of the hand

Layers of skin start to build up and result in thick red blotchy patches and dry scaly skin. The red blotchy patches are often covered with white scales that shed. The affected skin patches may be located in one area or spread throughout the body.

Skin in the affected regions will often crack causing both pain and itching. Although less common, psoriasis can even cause blisters or pustules to form on the skin. It can also affect the nails causing them to become discolored and change in shape. In severe cases the nails may even fall off.

Although the exact cause of psoriasis in unknown, it is thought to be related to the presence of bacteria and fungi. There is the notion that the immune system of people who suffer from psoriasis does not effectively protect the body from bacteria and the result is an overproduction of skin cells. About one-fourth of people with psoriasis have a relative who also has the disorder. The most common type of psoriasis is known as plaque psoriasis or psoriasis vulgaris. Many patients with psoriasis also experience symptoms of arthritis and when this happen the condition is referred to as psoriatic arthritis. Click here to learn more about this condition and natural psoriasis treatments.

April 11, 2006 16:17 - Health benefit of Tumeric

Turmeric is an herb with very large leaves that is cultivated primarily in India. It is used often as a spice in Indian cooking, but there are several health benefits of turmeric as well. The spicy part of the large-leaved turmeric plant is actually in the underground stems, which are called rhizomes. This part of the stem can be cultivated and used in cooking or as an herbal supplement. Click here to read whole article.

April 13, 2006 14:04 - Libido and causes of loss of libido in women

The term libido refers to a person's sexual desire or sex drive. It is common for women especially to experience a loss of sexual desire during certain times in their life. A woman's body contains several types of estrogen hormones but only one type of progesterone. Progesterone is what causes sex drive in women. There needs to be a healthy balance of both estrogen and progesterone in the body.

Stress, diet, and menopause can all lead to the reduction or elimination of progesterone production in the body. The estrogen then takes over and becomes dominant. When this happens women often experience a loss in sexual desire, anger, depression, mood swings, weight gain, and headaches. Although not serious, these side effects can become troubling if experienced over a long period of time.

During pregnancy a woman's hormone levels are altered. This may cause changes both physically and mentally. It is not uncommon for pregnant women to experience a temporary loss of sex drive but some may actually experience an increase in their sexual desire. It is important to remember that there is no right or wrong level, only what is normal for each individua

April 16, 2006 07:54 - Fruits, Veggies Not as Vitamin-Rich as in Past, Says New Data

By MEGAN CARPENTER
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=1671868

March 1, 2006 - Fruits and veggies aren't what they used to be, new data suggests.

Of the 13 major nutrients found in fruits and vegetables, six have declined substantially, according to a study by Donald Davis, a biochemist at the University of Texas at Austin.

Using data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Davis concludes that recently grown crops have shown decreases of up to 38 percent in protein, calcium, vitamin C, phosphorus, iron and riboflavin when compared with produce from past decades.

What accounts for this negative trend? Like any other competitive industry, farmers' attempts to drive up profits have led them to use new techniques to increase production, Davis said. The faster-grown fruits don't have as much time to develop the nutrients.

"Farmers get paid by the weight of a crop, not by amount of nutrients," Davis said. He called this the "dilution effect": As fruits and vegetables grown in the United States become larger and more plentiful, they provide fewer vitamins and minerals.

"It's a simple inverse relationship: The higher the yield, the lower the nutrients," he said.

Davis said this happens because slower-growing crops have more time to absorb nutrients from both the sun and the soil.

"Lots of agricultural scientists don't know about this, and the public doesn't know about this," he said.

Wheat Also Being Examined
Jeff Cronin, at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said scientists and the USDA often overlook farming practices.

"Breeding plants to improve crop yield at the expense of all other things seems to be the problem, as well as depleting soil and not rotating crops properly," he said.

While Davis is not pleased about the decreasing levels of nutrients in produce, he still encourages people to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.

"Even though amounts of nutrients have declined, fruits and vegetables are still the richest source of protective nutrients, much better than eating highly refined foods such as white flour, sugars and fatty foods," he said.

Davis is currently researching the dilution effect in 14 varieties of wheat. His findings already suggest that, once again, the larger the yield of wheat, the lower the nutrients.

Copyright © 2006 ABC News Internet Ventures

April 19, 2006 08:57 - Garlic Properties

Garlic has been regarded for centuries as a medicinal plant due to its numerous properties, but it was only until the end of XIX when it started to be recognized as a natural antibiotic. The active substance in garlic is called aliina, which has bacterium fighting properties. Besides aliina, garlic contains carbohydrates, proteins, flavonoids and vitamins A, B1, B2 and C.

Apart from the antibacterial qualities of garlic, research suggests that the plant has anti-tumoural, anti-inflammatory and immunological properties. It helps increase insuline levels, which in turn reduces the amount of sugar in the bloodstream. It has been used to treat respiratory infections, lower cholesterol levels and fight hypertension. Garlic can be helpful in the prevention of arteriosclerosis. If you love cooking with garlic add it at the very end to preserve all its nutrients and properties.

April 24, 2006 12:17 - Calcium and Weight Loss

When people attempt to lose weight, they typically tend to cut back on certain products and food groups. Chief among the offenders are dairy products; milk, yogurt, and cheese are often the first foods to be sacrificed in the name of a diet because they have long been associated with fat intake.

Recent research has determined that this philosophy is entirely wrong, however. A study performed by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition proved that dairy products will actually help shed pounds. The key ingredient is the calcium contained in the dairy products. Calcium in the body causes fat cells to produce less fat than normal, and it also aids the body in burning existing fat. Tests showed that calcium intake caused people to lose an astounding 70% more fat than dieting alone.

Fats should obviously be restricted when trying to lose weight, so reduced fat milk, cheese, and yogurt are the recommended means of calcium intake. Calcium supplements can also be taken in conjunction with these foods.

April 26, 2006 08:50 - Foods that support liver detoxification

The liver is essentially the "gateway" to the body, and as such it is one of the body's most important organs. The liver cleanses the blood that flows through it of any toxins and processes them into a form that can be expelled from the body. Several different things can combine to inhibit liver performance, however. Poor diet and chronic alcohol consumption can limit the liver's ability to detoxify the body.

When the liver's function is impeded, there are several foods that can be eaten in order to detoxify and cleanse it, thus allowing it to perform its task more freely. Antioxidants such as beta carotene, vitamin E, and selenium help the liver to control free radical particles formed during the first stage of detoxification. These compounds are found in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables including beets and garlic. The second phase of detoxification requires foods with high sulfur contents in order to make the toxins water soluble. Sulfur-rich foods include broccoli and cabbage.

Through proper diet, you can help maintain your liver's ability to detoxify the body.

April 28, 2006 12:23 - Wild Salmon vs Farmed Salmon

Adding fish to your diet can be beneficial to your health, but are some fish better for you than others? Salmon is a great source of both protein and omega 3's and can be purchased at your local grocery store for a very reasonable price. Their low cost and availability make them a popular choice of fish among shoppers. However, most consumers don't pay much attention to the type of salmon they are buying. In fact, many aren't aware that a good portion of the salmon on the market contains ingredients that are actually harmful to you. Whether the salmon you buy is farm raised or wild caught can make a big difference.

Farm raised salmon may look more attractive than wild caught. They are generally fatter and tend to have a pinkish color. More importantly they can be purchased at a much lower cost. In fact, at first they seem like the obvious choice but buyers should beware.

Farmed salmon contain PCB's, polychlorinated byphenyls, which can cause illness and are believed to have a link to some types of cancers. The difference between farmed and wild caught salmon starts with the diet. Farm raised salmon are fed fish meal that when processed contains contaminants. They do not receive the same variety of food in their diet as wild caught salmon. Also, antibiotics and artificial coloring are added to spruce them up before they reach the supermarket... their original color is gray!

If you eat fish on a regular basis, you should strongly consider purchasing wild caught salmon instead. They are well worth the extra cost and much better for your health.