Thursday, September 17, 2009

Green Tea: The Japanese Secret to Good Health

Cancer remains a number-one killer in countries around the world. Therefore, it should come as little surprise that medical researchers are exploring new avenues in an effort to find ways to attack cancer.

The investigation into alternative cancer therapies often begins by examining the cultures of specific nations in an effort to determine whether diet or other customs could help unlock the secret to curing this dreaded disease. Since green tea has been a staple of the Japanese diet for centuries, it's not surprising that new attention is being paid to the tea's therapeutic benefits.

In recent years, doctors and scientific researchers have been focusing new attention on the idea of drinking green tea in an effort to keep cancer at bay. It's been thought that the beverage possesses certain natural properties which make it a likely cancer preventative.

Studying Green Tea In-Depth

In order to look at this issue in more depth, researchers Kazue Imai, Kenji Suga, and Kei Nakachi of the Saitama Cancer Center Research Institute in Saitama, Japan, decided to examine the effects of green tea drinking among the Japanese.

In an article entitled Cancer-Preventive Effects of Drinking Green Tea Among a Japanese Population in Preventative Medicine magazine, the research team explored the therapeutic benefits of green tea at length.

When the researchers began their investigation, there had been a number of studies indicating that the main ingredient of green tea, epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG, was anti-carcinogenic. However, there was little evidence to suggest that EGCG could prevent cancer in human beings. While some human studies had been conducted, the results were far from conclusive.

The Japanese research team strongly believed that it was absolutely critical to conduct an in-depth study in an Asian nation, given the popularity of tea consumption in the Orient. Ultimately, the Japanese scientists found that those Japanese subjects who drank green tea were less likely to develop cancer. This was particularly true among women who consumed more than ten cups of green tea each day.

A Natural Cancer Prevention Tool

The rate of cancer was low among both men and women who consumed large amounts of green tea. In addition, a study of 384 cancer patients indicated that increased consumption of green tea was linked with a delay in the onset of cancer.

Again, this phenomenon was most prevalent among women who consumed more than ten cups of green tea each day. The average delay for the onset of cancer was four years four years of enhanced quality of life for the subjects involved.

To a Western mind, drinking ten cups of green tea daily can seem mind-boggling especially if one has difficulty consuming eight glasses of water each day. It should be noted that, on average, the subjects were probably consuming 150 ml of green tea per cup. That would amount to about 300 to 400 milligrams of EGCG a healthy amount, by any standard.

More Powerful Than Once Thought

It has become clear that green tea is far more powerful in fighting cancer than researchers once thought. For instance, scientists recently discovered that green tea's unique chemical makeup enables it to combat one of the key cancer-causing molecules linked to tobacco use. The ground-breaking evidence appeared in a journal published by the American Chemical Society.

In the study, researchers examined the effects of two components of green tea, EGCG and epigallocatechin, also known as EGC. These substances are close to the consistency of cancer-preventing substances in red wine, grapes, broccoli, and cabbage. The research team discovered that EGCG and EGC can inhibit a molecule that often turns on genes that can be harmful to the body, leading to the development of cancer.

However, it's unclear whether the results in the science lab could be replicated in a person's home, since the effectiveness of drinking green tea depends on how the beverage is used by the human body. In addition, there appear to be differences between varieties of green tea, so additional study is necessary to prove the beverage's effectiveness in inhibiting potentially harmful molecular processes.

The Need for More Research

Based upon the evidence presented in the study conducted by Imai, Suga, and Nakachi, there can be little doubt that their research indicates that consuming green tea can lead to the prevention of cancer. However, additional research is definitely needed in order to determine which organs of the body could best benefit from green tea.

In other words, will drinking green tea fight stomach cancer? Breast cancer? Colon cancer? At this point, the answers to these questions remain unclear. Yet, it should be noted that laboratory tests show that green tea's EGCG can zero in on organs in an effort to prevent cancer.

The initial research into cancer prevention using green tea is incredibly encouraging. To begin with, green tea is an ordinary part of many people's diets, so drinking the beverage does not necessarily mean a radical lifestyle change. If people are already accustomed to consuming green tea, it stands to reason that they wouldn't mind consuming more of it, if it would mean preventing the occurrence of cancer.

A Virtually Problem-Free Solution

Some approaches to preventing cancer may seem initially appealing, but can become decidedly less so because of the side effects involved. However, there are no toxic effects linked to green tea consumption, meaning that this cancer-fighting remedy is especially promising.

In addition, green tea appears to be a powerful cancer prevention tool. If the beverage's therapeutic effects were limited, there wouldn't be a great deal of interest in using it as a cancer preventative. However, the strong link between green tea consumption and cancer prevention indicated by the Japanese study means that there is good reason for people to consider adding green tea to their diets.

Effects Beyond the Orient

Some might conclude that green tea drinking only prevents cancer among Asian populations, but researchers in the field believe that would be a mistake. It's entirely possible that, if Westerners also made green tea a significant part of their daily diet, they would also see the preventative effects.

With so many supermarkets and convenience stores in the West now stocking green tea, it may be just a matter of time before Westerners will also experience the beverage's medicinal benefits. By. healthy vilage
READ MORE - Green Tea: The Japanese Secret to Good Health

Saturday, September 12, 2009

A Natural Herb May Help Lower Blood Sugar

ymnema sylvestre is found naturally in central and southern India, where it has been used in traditional Indian medicine for almost two thousand years. It is known as 'gurmar' in ancient Indian texts, a word meaning 'sugar destroyer', which gives an indication of its uses in medicine.

It is used to reduce the absorption of glucose into the body, and also reduce the sweetness of foods, both of which are desirable for those wishing to lose weight and to reduce the level of sugar in their blood. It was used for this purpose in Ayurvedic medicine, subjects being given the leaves to chew. As with many other ancient Ayurvedic remedies, this use of gymnema sylvestre has passed into modern times, and has sound scientific basis. First, however a bit more about the plant itself.

It is found predominantly in the Western Ghats, and also to the west of the mountains, around coastal Goa. It is a vinous plant that climbs on other bushes and trees, known in Sanskrit as Meshasringa, or ram's horn after the shape of the leaves from which the supplement is extracted. For what it's worth, the official name seems a mix of Greek and Latin (gymnos(Gr) - naked and Silva (L)- forest) for naked forest. That, however, is irrelevant to its uses, so let's have a look at the science involved and the active ingredients in the plant.

The main constituents are terpenoid saponins known as gymnemic acids, so one can assume that they were first found in this plant. They are glycosides, including hodulcine and ziziphin, which act as sweetness inhibitors so that there is no sweet taste in anything that is sweetened by sucrose. There are over 20 types of gymnemic acid in the leaves, of which the strongest, Gymnemic Acid 1, can suppress the sweetness even of artificial sweeteners such as aspartame.

These are not irreversible effects, and last only about 10 minutes, after which normal sweetness is detectable by your tongue. During the active period, however, a solution of normal sugar will taste like ordinary unsweetened water. However, is this just a matter of taste, or does it affect the sugar itself?

Studies have shown that animals fed the leaves of Gymnema sylvestre develop hypoglycemia, probably because it stimulates the pancreas to generate insulin that reduces the level of sugar in the blood. Further studies have shown the presence in the leaves of a number of types of acylated derivatives of deacylgymnemic acid. There are well over a dozen types of saponins known to be contained within the leaves.

Other chemicals found include anthraquinones, flavanoids, chlorophylls, querticol, phytin, a number of glycosides and anthraquinones. The bush also contains alkaloids, although these are constituents in most plants used in ancient remedies. This is by no means all of the chemicals discovered, and many of the minor benefits of using it could be due to the minor constituents of this amazing little leaf.

A study of the above constituents will reveal a few antioxidants, and it is no surprise that the extract from Gymnema sylvestre also possesses anti-inflammatory properties. Gymnemic acid is believed to have a similar chemical structure to saccharose, and the plant extracts can be used not only to reduce a craving for sugar, but also to treat digestive problems and high cholesterol levels. So what scientific evidence is there other than the obvious effects reported by those that use it?

A study in the UK in 2005 found that an aqueous extract of Gymnema sylvestre caused the secretion of calcium and insulin from mouse and human cells to be increased at a specific concentration without affecting the cellular function. This means that the supplement can be used to stimulate the secretion of insulin with people with Type 2 diabetes without otherwise affecting health. Its usefulness to diabetics is obvious, but there are other health benefits to those that are not diabetic.

Anything that modulates a sweet tooth must be of use to those seeking to lose weight, particularly if they feel the need for sweet foods. In fact Gymnema tends to reduce food cravings for carbohydrates and sweets, and can be used by those seeking a natural means of curbing their appetite for sweet and sugary foods. Because excess weight can lead to diabetes,

Although there have been many discussions about the biochemical mechanism of the gymnemic acids in this effect on taste, recent evidence suggests that the phytochemicals act on both your taste buds and on those parts of the intestine responsible for absorbing nutrients from digested foods.

Not only that, but studies have also indicated that Gymnema sylvestre removes the bitterness of acerbic chemicals such as quinine in the same way that it removes the sweetness form cakes and candies, and if you drank tonic water it would taste just like water. On the other hand, if you ate an orange, you would taste the acidity but not the sweetness.

The way to use this remarkable supplement is to follow the instructions, and within about a week you will be able to control your appetite much better, and any cravings for carbohydrates you previously had will be much reduced. After a month or so, you will notice an accelerated rate of weight loss if you had been overweight, and diabetics will find a significant reduction on blood sugar between insulin shots.

Gymnema sylvestre can take care of any sugar or carbohydrate cravings, and is of significant use to the overweight, obese or to diabetics, and the mechanism by which it works has now been all but understood, although there are still some biochemical secrets that this amazing plant has yet to reveal. This amazing herb can be found at your local or internet vitamin store. by. heathy villave
READ MORE - A Natural Herb May Help Lower Blood Sugar

Friday, September 11, 2009

Binge Drinking Affects Brain, Memory

That old joke about going out drinking to kill a few brain cells may not be so funny any more.

Young people who binge drink could be risking serious damage to their brains now and increasing memory loss later in adulthood, according to new research. Adolescents may be even more vulnerable to brain damage from excessive drinking than older drinkers.

Researchers at Duke University, studied frequent binge exposure to alcohol in rats to compare the effects of binge drinking on younger and older rats. The animals were given doses of alcohol which were comparable to multiple instances of binge drinking in humans.

"We are not concerned about college students who only drink one or two drinks every now and then. We are concerned about heavy drinkers." lead author Dr. Aaron M. White told Reuters Health. "The alcohol dose was very high because we don't know what is an appropriate dose, so we want to show an effect if one is present."

"We believe that the adolescent brain is more vulnerable to the neurotoxic effects of alcohol than the adult brain." he said. Alcohol was found to impair activity in the brain receptors responsible for memory and learning.

Later Memory Loss
Researchers gave the adolescent rats alcohol in a binge pattern where they received a lot of alcohol one day, then they had a day off. This was repeated over a 20-day period.

After a 20-day break, the rats were tested in mazes to determine their basic motor and memory skills. The "binge drinking" adolescent rats were compared with adult rats that were also given high amounts of alcohol, and to both adult and adolescent rats that were not exposed to binge drinking.

There was no difference in test performance between the groups of rats until they were given more alcohol. After a moderate dose of alcohol, the rat exposed to binge drinking during adolescence exhibited memory loss.

"What we found was that the group that was most affected -- made the most errors -- was the group that had the binge pattern exposure as adolescents," White said. "These rats had a more difficult time finding their way through a maze that they were trained to navigate."

"The implications of this study are that teenagers who drink heavily and often may be susceptible to the neurobehavioural effects of alcohol than would adults with similar drinking experiences," Dr David McKinzie, assistant professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine told the BBC News. "Of special concern is the possibility that the effects of early chronic drinking may have long-lasting consequences."
by. alcohol.
READ MORE - Binge Drinking Affects Brain, Memory

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Anti Aging Solution

Anti-aging solutions of many types are available in the market. Wrinkles can develop faster than nature allows mainly due to dry skin, injuries, smoke, sun, cold weathers, tanning beds, and other harmful elements in the world. Seems nowadays everyone has the antiaging solution for reducing wrinkles and restoring the facials youth.

Avotone is another of the anti-aging solutions that provided no effects to few, and the reports claimed no advantages came from using the solution. The cost is apparently high. Therefore, the solution has a money back guarantee up to two months. It is wise to take advantage of the guarantee according to the dissatisfied reporter.

Alphablend is one of the better choices of ingredients to select from this solution according to online sources. Thus, if you have blemishes then the inhibitors are optional, since it works to extract conditions of the skin that causes blemishing to occur. The refiner however has a higher than average content of alcohol, thus this is not idea for applying to the face.

Many young and old are looking for an Anti aging therapy solution to stop or minimize the aging process. While anti aging therapy marketers and manufacturers claim that they have the ultimate selection of anti aging therapy products that will help you in reducing and/or eliminating wrinkles, crowfeet, sags, fine lines, splotching, and other signs of aging.

Proanthocyanidins was discovered in 1936 by Professor Jacques Masquelier and called Vitamin P. Of course they dropped the Vitamin P and went with the longer word nobody could spell.

DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is an adrenal hormone that is the precursor for steroid hormones such as testosterone and estrogen. DHEA declines precipitously with advancing age in both men and women. DHEA became credible to the medical establishment when the New York Academy of Sciences published a book entitled DHEA and Aging. This book provided scientific validation for the many life extending effects of DHEA.

Some of the better aids for preventing wrinkles are Vitamins, which are herbals that corporate into the bottle substances that help prevent wrinkles. Vitamin A, C, and B Complex are said to be the better choice of vitamins for reducing wrinkles. However, you must continue the vitamins daily to see results. Vitamins are vital for enhancing the nails growth, hair, and skin, which naturally prevents natural wrinkles. Baby Oils is said to help dry skin. The product works wonders for reducing stretch marks caused from birth. Some foams coming available on the marketplace are great sources for making the skin look healthy, while presenting a smoothness, and shiny appeal, continuing to reduce wrinkles

Gels are sometimes better than other types of methods to get rid of wrinkles. The gels sometimes restore the facial area, giving it a glowing appeal. Depends on the name, and the ingredients in the gels, but few help to minimizing wrinkles, but like many other anti aging products, few methods ever get rid of wrinkles all together.

Methyl Sulfonyl Methane-MSM is one of the many anti aging products used to fight wrinkles and is available in supplement form or else lotions. However, new studies are showing that the Supplements used for fighting wrinkles are causing harm. Government has recently placed warnings abroad the Internet. By. louis R.
READ MORE - Anti Aging Solution

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Mesothelioma cancer

When a patient learns of a mesothelioma diagnosis, confusion is often one of the first emotions experienced. What exactly is mesothelioma? Is it a disease? A virus? Mesothelioma is actually a rare type of cancer. When people refer to mesothelioma disease, they are actually referring to mesothelioma cancer. Mesothelioma develops in the mesothelium, the membrane that surrounds several body cavities. The mesothelium is comprised of mesothelial cells, which become abnormal and divide uncontrollably if mesothelioma is present.

Four different types of mesothelioma exist. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of the cancer and develops in the lining of the lungs, known as the pleura. Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining of the abdomen, known as the peritoneum. Pericardial mesothelioma is very rare, as approximately 200 cases have been reported internationally. Pericardial mesothelioma develops in the pericardium, the membrane that surrounds the heart and protects the organ. Testicular mesothelioma is the rarest form of mesothelioma and develops in the lining surrounding the testicles, known as the tunica vaginalis.

Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma annually in the United States. Many patients are not diagnosed with the cancer until it has reached later developmental stages since it may take 20 to 50 years for a patient to demonstrate symptoms of mesothelioma. The cancer is caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure and it often takes decades for a patient to express mesothelioma symptoms from the time initial asbestos exposure occurred.

Mesothelioma Symptoms

Diagnosis can be difficult because symptoms often resemble more common illnesses and are non-specific. Patients are often unaware of the severity of their condition until they are diagnosed with mesothelioma. A patient with peritoneal mesothelioma may express symptoms such as a persistent dry or raspy cough, difficulty breathing and swallowing, night sweats and fever, among others. Pericardial mesothelioma patients may complain of swelling or pain in the abdomen, fatigue, nausea, night sweats or the appearance of lumps under the skin on the abdomen. A patient with pericardial mesothelioma may experience heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat, chest pain, difficult breathing, fever and fatigue. Testicular mesothelioma symptoms have been confined to the appearance of testicular lumps.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Once a patient demonstrates unusual symptoms and visits a doctor, a medical review and physical examination often follow. Typically, further testing will be needed and an x-ray will likely be requested to pinpoint the location of the cancer and determine whether or not it has spread to other areas of the body. Additional imaging tests such as a CT scan, PET scan or MRI are often recommended for a more detailed image of the cancer. A fluid and tissue test, known as a biopsy is then typically conducted to collect a sample of fluid or tissue to test for the presence of cancerous cells. A pathologist generally examines the sample to determine whether or not mesothelioma is present.

Mesothelioma Treatment

After diagnosis, patients and their loved ones are often anxious to do everything possible to fight mesothelioma. This may involve several different treatment options. The most common treatments mesothelioma patients utilize include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Though a cure for mesothelioma does not currently exist, many patients undergo several treatments for relief from symptoms to improve the quality of life. Patients may also experience relief through experimental options and treatments available through clinical trials and alternative therapies.
By. abestos.com
READ MORE - Mesothelioma cancer

How Much Water Are You Drinking?

Did you know that you can increase good health by making
sure that you get enough water? Yes plain water that has
been purified in some way. The water most of us get from the
tap is full of chemicals that is bad for our health. Do
not drink tap water, unless you have your own well, which
you know is not contaminated.

Drinking water is essential for a healthy body. Water regulates body
temperature, lubricates joints, keeps skin youthful and
muscles strong.

Water is present in every cell and tissue and involved in so
many biological functions: digestion, absorption,
circulation and excretion. It helps us with keeping our
hormones balanced and our brain chemistry Relies on water
for proper balance. Water gives us energy and strengthens
the immune system.

Most people are not drinking enough water and are semi
dehydrated. Your body cannot work at optimum level without
the water it needs.

What happens when you don't drink enough water?

I won't go into all the details, but do want to mention a
few things here. All the things mentioned above that water
helps keep in balance and lubricated are affected when you
don't drink water. You will not feel as well as you possibly
could, your body does not have what it needs for good health
and so your health declines.

Here is one example of what I mean: When you do not get
enough water throughout the day, your body just does not
have the needed fluid and sometimes tries to pull it from
where it can and distribute it to the places that need
hydration the most. One place that water is pulled from is
your digestive system. When you do not drink enough water it
leads to constipation.

As we all know, constipation is not a good thing. Besides
the uncomfortable, sick feeling there are other things going
on. Transit time slows down and some of the toxins and
poisons dumped into the digestive system begin to
recirculate.

If you do become constipated, I would suggest using Natural Moves. Natural Moves is a 100% natural, safe and effective herbal remedy to stop constipation naturally without risk of dehydration,
mineral imbalance or dependency.

Natural Moves Tablets can be used both for chronic and occasional constipation. The herbs used in Natural Moves promote healthy digestion and act as a good liver tonic, avoiding the risk of dependency and side effects associated with some other laxative products. Click here for Natral Moves Tablets.

As these toxins build up they store in your tissues causing
ill health. Kidneys separate water from the waste in the
blood, so there is a strain put on them when toxicity
levels increase. Along with that the Liver then has quite a
bit more to do, trying to detoxify the system as a whole.

Drinking water is the most important drink you can consume for good health. With this being the case, I suggest that you drink
one quart of water for every 50 pounds of weight. So if you
weighed 150 pounds, you would need to drink 3 quarts of
water.

I also find it best if a person will actually measure the
needed water out, into a container each day. Other wise
most people lose track of how much they did drink. So they
usually do not drink enough water for the day.

Why not put this information to use today? No matter where
your health is at this point, consuming drinking water in the required amount will aid you in reaching better health and maintaining it. By. health-doc.com
READ MORE - How Much Water Are You Drinking?