Vitiligo

The most notable symptom of vitiligo is depigmentation of patches of skin that occurs on the extremities. Although patches are initially small in size, they can often start to enlarge and change shape. When skin lesions occur, they are most prominent on the face, hands and wrists. Depigmentation is particularly noticeable around body orifices, such as the mouth, eyes, nostrils, genetalia and umbilicus. Some lesions have a tendency to hyperpigment around the edges. In a more general sense, vitiligo is similar in appearance to leprosy, and as such (in countries where leprosy is prevalent), individuals with vitiligo can be stigmatized for the similarities in appearance In regards to psychological damage, vitiligo can have a significant effect on the mental health of a patient. Psychological stress may even result in an individual becoming more susceptible to vitiligo. Patients who are stigmatised for their condition may experience depression and similar mood disorders.

Vitiligo is associated with autoimmune and inflamatory diseases commonly thyroid  overexpression and underexpression.Addison’s Disease (typically an autoimmune destruction of the adrenal glands) may cause vitiligo.

Treatment

There are a number of ways to alter the appearance of vitiligo without addressing its underlying cause. In mild cases, vitiligo patches can be hidden with makeup or other cosmetic camouflage solutions. If the affected person is pale-skinned, the patches can be made less visible by avoiding sunlight and the sun tanning of unaffected skin. However, exposure to sunlight may also cause the melanocytes to regenerate to allow the pigmentation to come back to its original color.

The traditional treatment (if any) given by most dermatologists is corticosteroid cream.

Phototherapy may also be beneficial. Using exposure to long-wave ultraviolet (UVA) light from the sun or from UVA, together with Psoralen, called “PUVA”, or with UVB Narrowband lamps (without Psoralen), can help in many cases. Psoralen can be taken in a pill 1–2 hours before the exposure or as a Psoralen soaking of the area ½ hour before the exposure. Lately, PUVA is being more and more replaced with exposure UVB Narrowband light at a wavelength of 311-313 nanometers. This treatment does not involve Psoralen since the effect of the lamp is strong enough. The source for the UVB Narrowband UVB light can be special flourescent lamps that treat large areas in a few minutes, or high power fiber-optic devices in a fraction of a second.

Studies have also shown that immunomodulator creams such as Protopic and Elidel also cause repigmentation in some cases, when used with UVB Narrowband treatments.

Alternatively, some people with vitiligo opt for chemical depigmentation which uses 20% monobenzone (monobenzylether of hydroquinone). This process is irreversible and generally ends up with complete or mostly complete depigmentation.

In late October 2004, doctors successfully transplanted melanocytes to vitiligo affected areas, effectively repigmenting the region. The procedure involved taking a thin layer of pigmented skin from the patient’s gluteal region. Melanocytes were then separated out and used to make a cellular suspension. The area to be treated was then ablated with a medical laser, and the melanocyte graft applied. Three weeks later, the area was exposed to UV light repeatedly for two months. Between 73 and 84 percent of patients experienced nearly complete repigmentation of their skin. The longevity of the repigmentation differed from person to person. In the 1980s, dermatology professor Aaron  B. Lerner had pioneered a skin transplantation therapy for vitiligo.

In early 2008 scientists at King’s College London discovered that piperine, a chemical derived from black pepper, can aid repigmentation in skin, especially when combined with UV therapy produces a longer lasting and more even pigmentation than previous treatments .

A limited 2003 study in India of 25 patients with limited and slow-spreading vitiligo given orally-taken Ginkgo biloba found it to be “fairly effective therapy for arresting the progression of the disease”. A 2008 review of natural health products found studies to generally be of poor quality, but concluded that used with phototherapy, and oral Ginkgo biloba as monotherapy showed promise.

• Michael Jackson was diagnosed in 1986 with vitiligo and lupus; the latter was potentially lethal but was in remission in Jackson’s case. In a 90-minute interview with Oprah Winfrey in February 1993, Jackson dismissed suggestions that he bleached his skin, admitting for the first time that he had the illness. The admission went on to promote awareness of vitiligo, a relatively unknown condition before then.
• Graham Norton has white patches in his hair as a result of vitiligo.
• Lee Thomas, a news anchor and entertainment reporter for WJBK (FOX) Detroit.
• Krizz Kaliko, singer/rapper of the Strange Music record label. He has even named his debut album after the condition, vitiligo
• Doc Hammer, co-creator of the cartoonThe Venture Bros., has vitiligo of the scalp, which causes his hair to grow in two different colors.
• Thomas Lennon of Reno 911! fame.
• Eduardo Panlilio, Governor of the province of Pampanga in the Philippines.
• Mikel Jollett, lead singer of the band The Airborne Toxic Event.

Source: Wikipedia

Michael Jackson’s vitiligo

Home remedies on vitiligo

There are a number of remedies that you could use to treat vitiligo at home. First, to encourage the skin to begin re-pigmentation, you could take in some amounts of sunlight each day. Ensure that you do not overdo this because the white patches are very susceptible to sunburn and you could do serious damage to your skin.

It would be best if you exposed yourself to the sun for one hour a little after the sunrise and a little before the sunset. Use lemna minor or wild duckweed to treat your vitiligo. You should mix one part of lemna minor with one part of honey and take this solution twice a day.

You should also try rubbing fresh lemna juice on the white spots at least 3-4 times a day.

It is also highly recommended that you drink the extract of the St John’s wort herb for at least 5 months because this herb increases your photosensitivity. You should also control your diet and ensure that you are eating a healthy and balanced diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, pulses, and nuts. It is also very important that you get plenty of rest and try to avoid taking on any stress. Quitting both smoking and drinking and detoxifying your system is beneficial to curing vitiligo. Adding vitamin B complex and vitamin C to your diet can also be help you treat vitiligo. However, you should also seek the advice of your primary healthcare giver because vitiligo can be caused by a number of other disorders.

Source: Home remedies

Homeopathy system offers reasonably positive treatment. Certain home remedies have been found useful in the treatment of Vitiligo. The use of goose foot is beneficial in the treatment of this disease. Avoid fast foods, citrus fruits, coffee, tea, cold drinks, alcohol, beer, non-veg, egg, etc. Turmeric mixed with mustard oil has also proved useful in vitiligo. The clay should be mixed in ginger juice and applied over the white spots once a day. Use a mild soap while bathing. Avoid using creams, powders and any other cosmetic applications. Another useful remedy for leucoderma is red clay found by the river side or on hill slopes. A paste made from the seeds of the radish is valuable in treating leucoderma. This vegetable should be taken twice daily.

Vitiligo Home Remedies Treatment Tips

1. Another useful remedy for Leucoderma is using the red clay.
2. A paste made from radish seeds is extremely useful in treating leucoderma.
3. Goosefoot vegetable is considered valuable in treating white patches.
4. Grind harad in garlic juice and apply on white spots. Eating garlic will also help.
5. Try to avoid stimulating beverages like carbonated cold drink, coffee and tea.
6. Avoid fast foods, citrus fruits, coffee, tea, cold drinks, alcohol, beer, non-veg, egg, etc.
7. Turmeric mixed with mustard oil has also proved useful in leucoderma.
8. Eat figs regularly. Figs have healing property for Leucoderma.

Source: Article click

Scientific studies on vitamins and vitiligo

Abnormally low levels of Vitamin B12, Folic Acid and Vitamin C are found in a large number of vitiligo patients.

A group of 48 people ranging in age from 10-70 years were given all B vitamins. Within two months, the white areas turned
pinkish, and after six months, all 48 people were reportedly free of the colorless patches.

“Folic acid and vitamin B12 supplementation combined with sun exposure can induce repigmentation better than either the vitamins or sun exposure alone.

Nutritional deficiencies, both in animals and in humans, are known to alter melanin production. Copper and zinc deficiencies have been reported to induce hypopigmentation in various animals. Hypopigmentation of the skin and hair results from copper deficiency in humans; the depigmentation associated with chronic excessive molybdenum intake is related to a decreased storage of copper in the liver. Copper would seem of prime importance because tyrosinase is a known copper-requiring enzyme.

Patients with vitiligo show diminished blood levels of folic acid, Vitamin B12, and ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Prolonged oral administration of these vitamins was followed by definite repigmentation without side affects.

Source:  www.recouleur.com/studies-vitamins-vitiligo.asp

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

what is Swine Flu Virus?

Swine influenza (also called swine flu, hog flu and pig flu) is an infection of a host animal by any one of several specific types of swine influenza virus. In 2009 the media labeled as “swine flu” flu caused by 2009’s new strain of swine-origin A/H1N1 pandemic virus just as it had earlier dubbed as “avian flu” flu caused by the recent Asian-linage HPAI (High Pathogenic Avian Influenza) H5N1 strain that is still endemic in many wild bird species in several countries.

A swine influenza virus (SIV) is any strain of the influenza family of viruses that is usually hosted by (is endemic in) pigs. As of 2009, the known SIV strains are the influenza C virus and the subtypes of the influenza A virus known as H1N1, H1N2, H3N1, H3N2, and H2N3. Swine flu is common throughout pig populations worldwide.

Transmission of swine influenza virus from pigs to humans is not common and does not always cause human influenza, often only resulting in the production of antibodies in the blood. The meat of the animal poses no risk of transmitting the virus when properly cooked. If transmission does cause human influenza, it is called zoonotic swine flu. People who work with pigs, especially people with intense exposures, are at increased risk of catching swine flu. In the mid-20th century, identification of influenza subtypes became possible, which allows accurate diagnosis of transmission to humans. Since then, fifty confirmed transmissions have been recorded. Rarely, these strains of swine flu can pass from human to human. In humans, the symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of influenza and of influenza-like illness in general, namely chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness and general discomfort. Pigs can also become infected with human influenza, and this appears to have happened during the 1918 flu pandemic.

The 2009 swine flu outbreak in humans is due to a new strain of influenza A virus subtype H1N1 that contains genes closely related to swine influenza. The origin of this new strain is unknown. However, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) reports that this strain has not been isolated in pigs. This strain can be transmitted from human to human, and causes the normal symptoms of influenza.[

What is an influenza H1N1 virus?

Influenza A(H1N1) virus is a subtype of influenza virus A and the most common cause of influenza (flu) in humans. Some strains of H1N1 are endemic in humans and cause a small fraction of all influenza-like illness and a large fraction of all seasonal influenza. H1N1 strains caused roughly half of all human flu infections in 2006. Other strains of H1N1 are endemic in pigs (swine influenza) and in birds (avian influenza).

In June 2009, WHO declared that flu due to a new strain of swine-origin H1N1 was responsible for the 2009 flu pandemic. This strain is commonly called “swine flu” by the public media.

As of April 30, 2009 the World Health Organization (WHO) began referring to “swine flu” as the new influenza virus as influenza A(H1N1). The pork industry is suffering due to the name of the virus “swine flu” and so the more technical term is being used instead.

Swine flu symptom checker

Take Dr Hilary’s symptom checker to see if you could have any of the symptoms of swine flu

Swine flu does not normally infect us, and has only rarely crossed over into the human population. When it has, it has died out rapidly.

This time however the virus has proved to be more resilient. The Health Protection Agency has said that this particular strain of the virus is highly contagious and has managed to spread quickly from person to person.

If you have recently been to Mexico or parts of America, or you have come into contact with someone who has recently been there, you may have become infected, especially if you are now displaying flu-like symptoms.

Take this quick test to check your symptoms, and find out what you need to do next in the event of infection.

Please bear in mind that the symptoms of human seasonal flu and swine flu are almost identical, so it is important not to get alarmed if you are displaying flu symptoms as they are most likely to be caused by human seasonal flu. However, you should always contact your GP if you suspect you have any type of flu as there can be complications arising from the infection, especially in the very young or the elderly.—Swine flu symptom checker by GM.TV

Search GM.TV

Top 20 Laboratory-confirmed cases of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 as officially reported to WHO by States Parties to the International Health Regulations

Cases                                                                               Deaths
USA————————– 33,902                                                 170
Mexico————————10,262                                                119
Canada————————7,983                                                     25
United kingdom—————–7,447                                                 3
Chile—————————7,376                                                     14
Australia———————–5,298                                                    10
Argentina———————-2,485                                                    60
Thailand———————–2,076                                                        7

China————————–2,040                                                          0
Japan————————–1,790                                                          0
Philippines———————-1,709                                                       1
New Zealand——————–1,059                                                       3
Singapore———————–1,055                                                        0
Peru——————————916                                                            0
Spain—————————–776                                                            1
Brazil—————————–737                                                            1
Israel—————————–681                                                             0
Germany————————-505                                                            0
Panama—————————417                                                            0
Bolivia—————————–416                                                           0

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Miso is made by adding a yeast mold (known as “koji”) to soybeans and other ingredients and allowing them to ferment. The fermentation time, ranging from weeks to years, depends upon the specific type of miso being produced. Once this process is complete, the fermented ingredients are ground into a paste similar in texture to nut butter.

The color, taste, texture, and degree of saltiness depend upon the exact ingredients used and the duration of the fermentation process. Miso ranges in color from white to brown. The lighter varieties are less salty and more mellow in flavor while the darker ones are saltier and have a more intense flavor. Some misos are pasteurized while others are not.

The different types of miso include:

* hatcho miso (made from soybeans)
* kome miso (made from white rice and soybeans)
* mugi miso (made from barley and soybeans)
* soba miso (made from buckwheat and soybeans)
* genmai miso (made from brown rice and soybeans)
* natto miso (made from ginger and soybeans)

While miso is the Japanese name we are most familiar with in the United States, this fermented soybean paste is also known as “chiang” in China, and “chao do” in Vietnam.

History

The origins of miso, like many other foods made from soybeans, can be traced to ancient China. Its predecessor was known as “hisio,” a seasoning made from fermenting soybeans, wheat, alcohol, salt and other ingredients. Some accounts hold that it was a luxury food item, only enjoyed by the wealthy aristocrats.

This fermented soybean paste was introduced into Japan around the 7th century. The refined and elaborate process of making miso was further developed throughout the centuries to produce the miso that we know today.-www.whfoods.org
Health Benefits
Miso is a soy paste that is created by inoculating trays of rice with the vitamin B12 synthesizing fungus, Aspergillus oryzae, then mixing in a ground preparation of cooked soybeans and salt, and letting the mixture ferment for several days before grinding it into a paste with a nut butter consistency. Because it is fermented with a B12-synthesizing bacteria, miso has been commonly recommended as a B12 source for vegans. Miso is quite high in sodium (1 ounce contains 52% of the recommended daily value for sodium), but a little miso goes a long way towards providing your daily needs for the trace minerals zinc, manganese, and copper. In addition, a single tablespoon of miso contains 2 grams of protein for just 25 calories. An impressive nutrient profile for a flavoring agent! Use miso in your cooking instead of plain old salt and reap a variety of benefits in addition to enhanced flavor.
Miso’s Minerals Support Immune Function, Energy Production, Bones and Blood Vessels and protection against Breast Cancer.
—-www.whfoods.org

How to make Homemade Miso?

To make miso you need the following ingredients:

* 400 g whole soybeans
* 600 ml water
* 150 g salt
* 300 g dried rice koji (rice fermented with special moulds, this can be bought are also made at home)

Miso production process
All utensils which you use for the production of miso should be clean and preferably be rinsed with boiling water. These are the steps to make miso at home:

* Soaking the soybeans – Soak the soybeans during 3 hours in the water. By that time the soybeans should have doubled in size.

* Cooking the soybeans – Put the soaked beans with the soaking water in a pressure cooker and cook at max pressure during 40 minutes. The soybeans should be soft. Open the pressure cooker and drain the beans in a colander, making sure to recover the soaking water.If you don’t have a pressure cooker you will need to boil for about 3 to 4 hours to obtain soft soybeans.

* Mixing the soybeans – When the beans are still hot, use a potato masher to puree the beans until about one third of the soybeans is still whole. Allow he beans to cool down to 35-40°C. If temperature is too high the koji culture could become inactive.

* Making miso paste – Take 200 ml of the soaking water (add more water if you don’t have enough of it) and dissolve the salt (except for 2 teaspoon salt which you need in the following step). Add this liquid slowly to the soybeans while mixing stirring continuously. Crumble the koji into the miso mixture and with your clean hands mix until you obtain a smooth mixture.

* Preparation of miso container – As a fermentation vat use a glazed ceramic cylindrical container of about 5 kg. Make sure that the ceramic container is suitable for food preparations. Rub the inside of the container with 1 teaspoon of salt and add the miso mixture. Level the miso surface and sprinkle 1 teaspoon of salt, this to prevent unwanted moulds and bacteria from spoiling the surface which is in contact with the air. Cover the miso with a round piece of kitchen paper and press it firmly on the miso. Top with a round wooden lid that just fits in the container and some weights (about 3 kg, well washed stones). Cover the container with wrapping paper and tie in place with a string or rubber. Repeat all steps as before to make more batches in the following days and add them to the container (first removing lid and rubbing the inside of the container with about 1 teaspoon salt) until the container is about 80% full.

* Miso fermentation – The fermentation will start immediately. The container should be place in a clean room with moderate temperatures (15°C – 25°C). The miso will be ready after 6 to 12 months fermentation. During the fermentation some liquid (=tamari) will rice to the surface. If no liquid tamari is seen on the surface then the pressing weight must be increased.
Each time you want to inspect the fermentation process you will loose quality, so don’t do it when not necessary and not more frequently then once every 2 months. This miso can be kept in the container for a few years.
———-Soya.be

How to make Miso Soup?

While Miso, is a traditional Japanese seasoning and widely used both in traditional and modern cooking, it’s also popular in most of Asia especially in the Philippines. As a proof here’s a traditional miso recipe that most of the Filipinos enjoy.

fish head sour soup with miso

Ingredients :

1 fish head (salmon, talakitok or maya-maya), about 500 grams in weight, split open and gills removed
half a head of garlic, peeled and minced
1 large onion, peeled and finely sliced
2-3 tomatoes, diced
1/4 c. of yellow miso
1 c. of tamarind extract
a bunch of mustard leaves, root ends cut off
2 tbsps. of cooking oil
salt or patis
Cooking procedure :

For the tamarind extract, place a cup to a cup and a half of young tamarinds in a small pan. Pour in about a cup of water. Bring to a boil and simmer until the tamarinds are soft and pulpy. Mash the tamarinds in the water and strain.

To remove the excess bitterness of the mustard leaves, soak in water for around 15 minutes  or blanch in boiling water from a minute, douse with cold water and drain.

Heat the cooking oil in a pot. Saute the garlic, onion and tomatoes until they start to soften. Add the miso and continue sauteeing until the vegetables are soft. Pour in about five cups of water. Season with salt or patis. Add the fish head. Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes. Pour in the tamarind extract. Add more salt or patis, if necessary. Add the mustard leaves. Simmer for a minute longer if the mustard leaves have been blanched; if not, for about three minutes more.

Serve at once.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is an incurable fatal neuromuscular disease characterized by progressive muscle weakness, resulting in paralysis.Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a form of motor neuron disease. ALS, sometimes called Maladie de Charcot, is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease caused by the degeneration of motor neurons, the nerve cells in the central nervous system that control voluntary muscle movement.The disorder causes muscle weakness and atrophy throughout the body as both the upper and lower motor neurons degenerate, ceasing to send messages to muscles. Unable to function, the muscles gradually weaken, develop fasciculations ( muscle twitches) because of denervation ( loss of nerve supply ) and eventually atrophy ( is the partial or complete decrease in size or wasting away of a part of the body ) because of that denervation. The patient may ultimately lose the ability to initiate and control all voluntary movement; bladder and bowel sphincters and the muscles responsible for eye movement are usually spared.Over time, Lou Gehrig’s disease causes these motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord to shrink and disappear, so that the muscles no longer receive signals to move. As a result, the muscles become smaller and weaker, gradually the body becomes paralyzed
ALS often called Lou Gehrig’s disease is named after Lou Gehrig, a hall-of-fame baseball player for the New York Yankees who was diagnosed with ALS in the 1930s. People in England and Australia call ALS Motor Neurone Disease (MND). The French refer to it as Maladie de Charcot, after the French doctor Jean-Martin Charcot, who first wrote about ALS in 1869.ALS is one of the most common neuromuscular diseases worldwide, and people of all races and ethnic backgrounds are affected. One to 2 people per 100,000 develop ALS each year.  ALS most commonly strikes people between 40 and 60 years of age, but younger and older people can also develop the disease. Men are affected slightly more often than women. “Familial ALS” accounts for approximately 5%–10% of all ALS cases and is caused by genetic factors.
Early Symptoms
A-myo-trophic comes from the Greek language. “A” means no or negative. “Myo” refers to muscle, and “Trophic” means nourishment–”No muscle nourishment.” When a muscle has no nourishment, it “atrophies” or wastes away. “Lateral” identifies the areas in a person’s spinal cord where portions of the nerve cells that signal and control the muscles are located. As this area degenerates it leads to scarring or hardening (”sclerosis”) in the region.As motor neurons degenerate, they can no longer send impulses to the muscle fibers that normally result in muscle movement. Early symptoms of ALS often include increasing muscle weakness, especially involving the arms and legs, speech, swallowing or breathing. When muscles no longer receive the messages from the motor neurons that they require to function, the muscles begin to atrophy (become smaller). Limbs begin to look “thinner” as muscle tissue atrophies.As motor neurons degenerate, they can no longer send impulses to the muscle fibers that normally result in muscle movement.
How to confirm the disease?
Although the cause of ALS is not completely understood, the recent years have brought a wealth of new scientific understanding regarding the physiology of this disease. Electromyography (electrical studies of muscle) is often performed to confirm the disease. A biopsy (removal of a small piece of tissue) of muscle tissue may also been performed if the diagnosis is in doubt.

Cure/ Treatment

While there is not a cure or treatment today that halts or reverses ALS, there is one FDA approved drug, riluzole, that modestly slows the progression of ALS. Importantly, there are significant devices and therapies that can manage the symptoms of ALS that help people maintain as much independence as possible and prolong survival. It is important to remember that ALS is a quite variable disease; no two people will have the same experiences.

Recent Studies

Research studies are continually showing that there is a link between amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) — the disease that claimed the life of legendary Yankees first-base man, Lou Gehrig — and those who play sports on grass.

Careful study concludes that there is no correlation between physical activity and ALS. Indoor athletes, ice hockey players and swimmers, are not at risk for ALS. Outdoor athletes are.

A 10 year study is underway to help to understand what may have contributed to the deaths of the growing number of soccer players in Britain.It has been determined that a common environmental chemical may increase the risk for developing ALS. Chemicals, such as fertilizers and pesticides used in gardening and lawn care, may also cause ALS.-The Nature Lyceum

Currently, there’s no way to prevent or cure Lou Gehrig’s disease, but a number of treatments are available to people with the disease. Medicines can control symptoms, such as muscle cramping and difficulty swallowing, and other drugs can slow the development of the disease.
However,if a patient develops early warning signs, it is crucial to seek an immediate evaluation from a qualified neurology specialist.

Additional Information

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Bad breath is something that all of us have. Unfortunately some of us have it much worse then others. There are many things that can cause bad breath.

Anyone who suffers from a dry mouth will also most likely battle with bad breath. Many people do not connect the two together – but according to health experts the bad breath is caused by the dry mouth. Saliva is important to people because it produces enzymes that help to digest the food we eat, balances the pH or acid levels in the mouth, and produces high amounts of oxygen that helps to keep the oral tissues healthy.

Any situation that leads to reduced saliva flow is prone to cause bad breath. Our modern environment with air-conditioned cars, workplaces and public buildings makes us prone to dehydration due to increased evaporation. This leads to reduced saliva flow and more concentrated saliva, so it?s important to increase fluid intake to compensate for the dehydration.

This is exactly what happens at night: because we don’t eat for around eight hours, the saliva slows down and leaves us with a dry mouth. The result is the dreaded ‘morning breath’!

Well, the new discovery will help you to somehow eliminate your breath odor.

This intriguing new research from Tel Aviv University by renowned breath specialist Prof. Mel Rosenberg of TAU’s Sackler Faculty of Medicine finds that a coffee extract can inhibit the bacteria that lead to bad breath. New laboratory tests have shown that the extract prevents malodorous bacteria from making their presence felt ― or smelt. “Everybody thinks that coffee causes bad breath,” says Prof. Rosenberg, “and it’s often true, because coffee, which has a dehydrating effect in the mouth, becomes potent when mixed with milk, and can ferment into smelly substances.” But not always. “Contrary to our expectations, we found some components in coffee that actually inhibit bad breath,” explains Prof. Rosenberg. The findings were presented last month to members of the International Society for Breath Odor Research in Germany by Yael Gov, a researcher in Prof. Rosenberg’s laboratory. A “Taster’s Choice” for Stopping Bad Bacteria: In the laboratory, the team monitored the bacterial odor production of coffee in saliva.–Tel Aviv University Researchers

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Sunburn is associated with microscopic changes to your skin. It is a combination of a burn (which is known as erythema) and indicates a reddening of the skin and edema (which is a swelling). This is caused when you have been exposed under the sun , more specifically the ultraviolet UV radiation that is emitted from the sun.

The sun, however, isn’t the only producer of UV rays; you could also suffer sunburn from exposure to other UV light sources including solaria or tanning salons. As discussed above sunburn is caused by excessive exposure to the sun or other ultraviolet light source. Sunburn occurs because the body is unable to make enough melanin (protective pigment in the skin) to protect the skin. Sunburn may occur in less than 15 minutes of sun exposure for light-skinned persons while it may take hours for a dark-skinned person to develop a sunburn. A big reason for the tan-colored women like me to rejoice.

Sunburn and skin cancer

Ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation causes dangerous sunburns and increases the risk of two types of skin cancer: basal-cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

In recent years, the incidence and severity of sunburn has increased worldwide, especially in the southern hemisphere, because of damage to the ozone layer. Ozone depletion and the seasonal ozone hole have led to dangerously high levels of UV radiation. Incidence of skin cancer in Queensland, Australia has risen to 75 percent among those over 64 years of age by about 1990, presumably due to thinning of the ozone layer.

UV rays cause changes to the surface and deeper layers of the skin. It reduces the stretchiness of the skin and can cause premature aging and wrinkling, as well as the formation of age spots – but the effects don’t stop here. These rays can go deeper into the skin and change the structure of cells as well as increase the risk of skin cancer. Some of the most common sites when it comes to damage to your skin are the neck, ears, temples, lips, face, and nose.A sunburn is a clear sign that ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun has damaged the genetic material in your skin cells – their DNA.
Damaged DNA can cause cells to start growing out of control. This can lead to skin cancer. Getting a painful sunburn just once every two years can triple the risk of melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer.

Your Lips

Lips, although a part of the skin, do not contain sebaceous glands. The sebaceous glands are responsible for keeping the skin moisturized naturally by secreting an oil called sebum. Therefore the lips are the first to experience dryness, due to climatic changes or from excess exposure to the sun. To prevent your lips from becoming dry, you should apply petroleum jelly before stepping out of the house. This will protect your lips from excessive drying and keep it moist, thus helping it to retain its softness and color.

When you find yourself with dry lips that is itchy, is warm to the touch, and burns like a sunburn, then you have sun-burnt lips. This problem can be experienced due to dehydration, overexposure to the sun, and is usually the allergic reaction a person has when they have sunburns.

Exposure to sunlight may increase the risk of lip cancer, which occurs most often on the lower lip. Avoiding the sun and/or using a sunscreen or colored lipstick on the lips may decrease the risk of lip cancer.

As an organ of the body, the lip can be a focus of disease or show symptoms of a disease:

* Lip herpes (technically Herpes labialis, a form of herpes simplex) is a viral infection which appears in the formation of painful blisters at the lip. It’s also commonly known as a cold sore.
* Carcinoma (a malignant cancer that arises from epithelial cells) at the lips, is caused predominantly by using tobacco and overexposure of sunlight. To a lesser extent, it could also come from lack of oral hygiene or poor fitting dentures. Alcohol appears to increase the carcinoma risk associated with tobacco use.
squamous cell carcinoma.[8][9]

Controversy over sunscreen

The statement that “sunburn causes skin cancer” is adequate when it refers to basal-cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. But it is false when it comes to malignant melanoma (see picture: UVR sunburn melanoma).[10] The statistical correlation between sunburn and melanoma is due to a common cause — the UV-radiation. However, they are generated via two different mechanisms: direct DNA damage is ascribed by many medical doctors to a change in behaviour of the sunscreen user due to a false sense of security afforded by the sunscreen. (Other researchers blame insufficient correction for confounding factors; light skinned individuals versus indirect DNA damage.)

Topically applied sunscreens block the UV rays as long as they do not penetrate into the skin. This prevents sunburn, suntanning, and skin cancer. If however the sunscreen filter is absorbed into the skin it only prevents the sunburn but it increases the amount of free radicals which in turn increases the risk for malignant melanoma. The harmful effect of photoexcited sunscreen filters on living tissue has been shown in many photobiological studies. Whether sunscreen prevents or promotes the development of melanoma depends on the relative importance of the protective effect from the topical sunscreen and the harmful effects of the absorbed sunscreen.

The use of sunscreen is known to prevent the direct DNA damage that causes sunburn and the two most common forms of skin cancer, basal-cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.[15] However, if sunscreen penetrates into the skin, it promotes the indirect DNA damages, which cause the most lethal form of skin cancer, malignant melanoma.[16] This form of skin cancer is rare, but it is responsible for 75% of all skin cancer-related deaths. Increased risk of malignant melanoma in sunscreen users has been the subject of many epidemiological studies.-Wikipedia

Sunscreens labeled with SPFs as high as 100 are now available. Higher numbers do mean more protection, but many people mistakenly think that the SPF scale is linear – for example, that a sunscreen with an SPF 45 rating would give 3 times as much protection as one with an SPF of 15.

This is not true. SPF 15 sunscreens filter out about 93 percent of UVB rays, while SPF 30 sunscreens filter out about 97 percent, SPF 50 sunscreens about 98 percent, and SPF 100 about 99 percent.

The higher you go, the smaller the difference becomes. No sunscreen provides complete protection. Regardless of the SPF, sunscreen should be reapplied about every two hours.

Source: American Cancer Society

Protecting your skin

1. The sun is most intense between 10am and 3pm so limit your sun exposure during these hours.
2. Clouds don’t block UV radiation. To avoid getting burned on overcast days, wear sunscreen.
3. Wear UV filtering sunglasses to protect your eyes.
4. Use lip balm with sunscreen to protect lips from burning.
5. Wear sunscreen when you are swimming in an outdoor pool. You can get a sunburn while swimming.

What to use as a home sunburn relief remedies?

Yogurt

It contains enzymes and acids that can help the sunburn. It might be a bit unpleasant to begin with, but once you apply it, relief comes in minutes. You can either soak a cloth in yogurt, or simply apply it on the area affected by sunburn.

Leave it on until it is dry (which is likely to happen soon after you placed it as the skin exerts high temperature). Rinse it off with cool water and repeat.

Lavender/yogurt remedy

Mix a few drops of lavender oil with yogurt and apply on skin.

Lavender has a soothing effect and diminishes the irritation and redness. Yogurt will cool the skin down, and trust me, you need a relief at times like that.

Cucumber and baking soda

Place chilled cucumber slices on the spots affected by sunburn. Take a bath in warm water in which you have previously added 2 cups of regular baking soda. Baking soda will neutralize any possible infections and prevent further irritation.

Cucumber is an ingredient that can be used for preparation of a facial peel recipe that is recommended as a sunburn home remedy as it nourishes the skin, and stops the inflammation.

Tea tree oil as a home remedy for sunburn

Tea tree oil wonderfully soothes the skin and prevents sunburn itching and peeling. Simply dilute 1 part of tea tree oil with 10 parts of olive oil and dab freely on the skin.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

What is insulin and what does it do?

The pancreas is an organ that is located behind the stomach. It is where insulin, digestive enzymes and other hormones are produce. the pancreas has a group of cells called islet cells, it’s the islet cells that secrete insulin. When we eat, the food is digested and broken down into glucose. glucose is the simple sugar that is the body’s main source of energy, also known as blood sugar. carbohydrates like pasta, bread, rice potatoes are broken down into glucose and are absorbed from the intestines into the bloodstream after eating. The pancreas then secretes insulin in response to the increase in blood sugar. Without insulin, the cells in our bodies would not be able to process the glucose and therefore have no energy for movement, growth, repair or other functions. Insulin is the key which unlocks the door of the cell to allow the glucose to be transferred from the bloodstream rinto the cell.

Insulin as the body’s fat storage hormone

If a person consume a lot of starch and sugar on a frequent basis, chances are his insulin levels remain to be  high. If insulin maintains its high levels, your fat is then locked into your fat cells. A good reason to easily gain weight and extremely hard to lose weight. Very high insulin levels stops the body from burning stored body fat for release as energy. Losing weight is as hard as climbing a very steep mountain because of constant craving  for sugary foods aand we know what comes next, binging on something you’ve craved for the past hours.

Glucagon the fat releasing hormone

Glucagon is an important involved in carbohydrate metabolism. Produced by the pancreas, it is released when the glucose level in the blood is low (hypoglycemia), causing thetitle liver to convert stored insulin, which instructs the body’s cells to take in glucose from the blood.

Protein stimulates the release of glucagon, which stimulates the liver to release stored carbohydrates from its glycogen stores and from fat. Glucagon also inhibits the release of insulin. By controlling your intake of protein and spreading it throughout the day, you can constantly produce adequate amounts of glucagon.

Muscle Gain

Anaerobic exercise is exercise intense enough to trigger anaerobic metabolism. It is used by athletes in non-endurance sports to build power and by body builders to build muscle mass. Muscles trained under anaerobic conditions develop differently, leading to greater performance in short duration, high intensity activities, which last up to about 2 minutes.

Anaerobic exercise is activity which promotes the growth of muscle tissue,as opposed to burning fat tissue, which is the point of aerobic exercise.Anaerobic exercise involves pushing your muscles to the limits in order to encourage them to grow to meet the demands that you put on them. Unlike aerobic exercise, anaerobic exercise is short and intense. Weight lifting, sit-ups, push-ups, chin-ups, and squats are all examples of anaerobic
exercises.  Anaerobic exercise does not cause weight loss; in fact, those who exercise anaerobically on a regular basis may find themselves actually gaining some weight due to the increase in muscle mass (even though their bodies are becoming leaner and trimmer, since muscle is denser than fat). However, anaerobic exercise is an important part in overall fitness precisely because of that increase in muscle. Your muscles, after all, are the ones that  do the work of  burning  calories, and the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Research has shown health benefits of laughter ranging from strengthening the immune system to reducing food cravings to increasing one’s threshold for pain.

Stress management/ Benefit of laughter:

Laughter reduces the level of stress hormones. It increases the level of health- enhancing hormones like endorphins. Endorphins are among the brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters, which function to transmit electrical signals within the nervous system.

How Endorphins act as a natural Pain killers and Stress Fighters?

Endorphins interact with the opiate receptors in the brain to reduce our perception of pain and act similarly to drugs such as Morphine. Secretion of Endorphins leads to feeling s of euphoria, modulation of appetite, release of sex hormones and enhancement of the immune response. With the increase of endorphin levels, there is feeling of less pain and fewer negative effects of stress. Endorphin is released when we exercise, though endorphin release varies among individuals. Certain foods such as chocolate or chili peppers, can also lead to enhanced  secretion of endorphins.. In the case of the chili peppers, the spicier the more endorphins are secreted. The release of endorphins upon ingestion of chocolate seemingly explains that ‘comforting feelings’ that many of us experience after eating chocolate and the craving for it in times of stress. One can also try engaging in various activities  to increase the body’s endorphin levels. Acupuncture and massage therapy have shown to stimulate endorphin secretion. Sex is also a potent trigger for endorphin release.The practice of meditation can also increase the amount of endorphins released in the body.

Laughter is free, convenient and beneficial in so many ways. You can get more laughter in your life with the following strategies:

1. There’s no shortage of laughter opportunities from the entertainment be it on T.V. or in movies.

2. Go to a movie or comedy bar with friends. The contagious effect of laughter may mean more laugh than you ever thought . Share jokes with friends.

3. Studies show the positive effects of smiling occur whether the smile is fake or real. Fake laughter  also gives the benefits mentioned above. So smile more and fake laughter.

Instead of complaining about life’s misfortunes and frustrations, try to laugh about them. If there’s something that is so disappointing and even depressing, always realize that you could look back on it and laugh! Think of how it will sound as a story and if it can be turned into a humorous one, why not?With this kind of attitude , you can also find yourself more lighthearted and silly, giving yourself and those around you more to laugh about. Approach life in a more mirthful manner and you’ll have a less stressed life.

Study shows that kids laugh an average of 307 times a day as compare to 17 times for adults. What happened to the latter? There many factors involved: personal and family problems including cares of this life, hopelessness, etc. But depending on the outlook of a person, he/she can laugh even in the midst of trials.

Meantime lets have some fun watching the following videos:

1. Some of the Best Baby Laughters I have ever heard:

2. Bulgarian contestant who doesn’t know how to speak english sung “Can’t Live” by Mariah Carey in American Idol

3. Evolution of Dancing 1

4. Evolution of Dancing 2

Laughter connects us with others, it’s also contagious, so if you can have more laughter in your life, you can most likely help others around you to laugh more and likewise benefit from it. You can reduce their stress levels, and reduce your stress level even more.

A piece of advice

Sometimes it’s good to remove our ‘glasses’ to detach our “smart image” from our real self. Being silly sometimes will make us more human because we come to realize the essence of our true self. Laughing makes us come out of our shell. The next time you want to laugh and thought of your “smarty-goody” image. Think again. Be yourself! After all,  Life is what you make it.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

STRESS

Stress is a biological term which refers to the consequences of  the failure of a human or animal to respond appropriately to emotional or physical threats, whether actual or imagined. It is “the automatic response to environmental stimulus.

Alarm is the first stage. When the threat or stressor is identified or realized, the body’s stress response is a state of alarm. During this stage adrenaline is produced to bring out the fight-or-flight response.

Resistance is the second stage. if the stressor persists, it is necessary to attempt some ways of coping with the stress. When the body tries to adapt to the strains or demands of the environment, and eventually cannot cope with it, exhaustion happens.

Exhaustion is the third and final stage. At this point,all of the body’s resources are used up and it could no longer do its normal function. It is at this point that automatic nervous symptoms like sweating, increased  heart rate,raised blood pressure, breathing becomes shallower etc reappears and if it is extended , long term damage can result into a more obvious and serious illnesses like ulcers, depression, trouble with digestive system, heart diseases along with other mental illnesses.

But the problem is not how much stress we are under , but how we cope and adapt to stress. We all react to different levels and types of stress in various ways. When stress levels are running high, our mind, emotions, body and behaviour are affected. Some of the common symptoms are headaches, back ache, nervous twitches, teeth-grinding and sleep disorder. Stress can also cause mood swings, irritability and lack of concentration.

With the stresses and pressures of a  modern and super hi-tech living, it is of great importance that we adopt a more positive attitude and see how we can make stress work to our advantage. stress  in fact, can have a positive effect on how we feel and behave, as long as we don’t allow our stress levels to soar. Minor stress can bring a challenge and an opportunity to perform to the best of our ability. When we are under pressure our energy levels  are usually higher, causing us to function at our optimum. Once we completed  a stressful task,we can feel a sense of achievement and a  boost to our self-esteem. The secret is to learn how much stress you can live with, without letting it become a destructive force.

STRESS-RELATED FACTS

75%-90% of visits  to doctors by adults are cause by stress-related problems.

70%-80% of all disease and illness is stress-related. Common conditions include insomnia, headaches, colds, migraines and heart disease.

1 in 4 people suffer sleep deprivation as a result of stress. Studies have shown that women are more likely to suffer from stress-related sleeping disorders than men.

More people are having a heart attack at 9 o’clock on Monday morning than at any other time of the week.

Children laugh roughly 400 times a day while an average adult laughs 15 times a day. A valid reason why adults look and feel older than the kids. Don’t you think so?

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Is sugar really bad for your health? This question maybe is a difficult question to answer when it regards to one’s health. Why? Because sugar is everywhere in our diet, be it a simple one or a complex diet. Sugar is something you eat everyday, you may not think you eat much sugar, but when you take inventory of your cupboards and refrigerator, you’ll be surprised at what you discover. There’s sugar in canned fruits, juices, catsup, mayonnaise, soups, cereals, salad dressings. Sugar is often labelled as carbohydrates and this confuses us. Sugar has a way of sneaking into your life, though we may seem to be on the right path of healthy eating and well being. You may see these words on labels. They mean sugar.Dextrose-a chemical sugar, derived synthetically from starch. Fructose-fruit sugar. Maltose-malt sugar. lactose-milk sugar. Sucrose-refined sugar, the addictive kind of sugar. Glucose-a sugar found in fruits and vegetables. It is blood sugar, an essential element in the human bloodstream. Meanwhile there’s plenty of evidence that sugar intake will contribute to health problems over the long haul.

The Harm that Sugar Does

Sugar suppresses the immune system and can impair one’s defenses against infectious diseases. It feeds cancer cells and may induce normal cell death.It has been connected with the development of cancer of the breast,ovaries,lung,rectum,gallbladder, prostate,pancreas and stomach. Sugar can produce a significant rise in total cholesterol, triglycerides and bad cholesterol and a decrease in good cholesterol. It can increase the size of your liver by making your liver cells divide. It  also increases the amount of liver fat. Sugar increases your risk of Alzheimer’s disease. It can reduce the learning capacity, adversely affect school children’s grades and causes learning disorder. Sugar can cause an increase in delta, alpha and theta brain waves which can alter your mind’s ability to think clearly,  thereby causing depression.  While decrease in sugar intake can increase emotional stability. It also increase your body’s fluid retention. Sugar can worsen the symptoms of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Sugar can make your skin age by changing the structure of collagen and can cause an overall premature aging.

The human body has no nutritional need for refined table sugar. It has been linked to almost every major and modern diseases-diabetes, Heart ailments to cancer. Removing sugar from your diet is a good step toward better health and a longer life.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.