Showing posts with label inflammation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label inflammation. Show all posts

April 22, 2010

Health Benefits of Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a species of plants that grow in arid climates in Africa, India, an other arid places. The leaf juices of the aloe plant has important medicinal properties and is commonly found in many gels, creams and lotions. It can be used on the skin to heal wounds, especially first and second degree burns, and to treat sunburn. It has compounds that work together to decrease and prevent inflammation and control pain. It also stimulates collagen synthesis and skin regeneration. It has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties to help prevent wound infections. It also contains vitamins and amino acids that help to repair damaged tissues.

Aloe vera extracts are also useful at improving glucose levels in diabetics and treating elevated blood lipids. It is non-toxic and has no known side effects.

January 11, 2010

Health Benefits of Sage

Sage is a herb that is native to the Mediterranean region and it is currently sold in most supermarkets. It can be used as an ingredient in dishes but it is mostly used in beverages. It is an antioxidant, which makes it good at helping the body fight off the effects of free radicals. It has antibacterial and antifungal properties and it is good at treating sore throat, inflammation and infection of the mouth and throat, gingivitis, profuse sweating, hot flashes associated with menopause, indigestion, fevers, nervous exhaustion, lactation, migraine headaches, and high blood sugar. It has memory enhancing benefits and it can be used to treat cold and flu. It is good at treating bronchitis because it can cause you to sweat, which can help to relieve the body of toxins.

Sage tea can be made by adding one teaspoon of sage to one cup of boiling water and letting it steep in a covered cup for 15 to 30 minutes. Adding honey can make the tea taste better. A compress scan be made out of sage tea by dipping a cloth into the tea and placing the cloth on the appropriate area, such as the forehead to treat migraine headaches, the abdominal area to treat cramps or other digestive problems, or over cuts or sores to make them heal faster and provide relief. For a sore throat or to clear up sinuses, make a cup of regular-strength sage tea.

January 10, 2010

Health Benefits of Thyme

Thyme is a herb that is native southern Europe and western Asia. It has many benefits and has been used for thousands of years to preserve food. It is now cultivated commercially in many parts of the world. Thyme contains an essential oil that is rich in thymol, which is a powerful antiseptic, antibacterial, and strong antioxidant.

Thyme is good at treating colds and it is commonly used in cough drops. It is also used in mouthwashes to treat inflammation in the mouth and throat infections. It has expectorant and bronchial antispasmodic properties that make it good at treating acute and chronic bronchitis, whooping cough, and inflammation of the upper respiratory tract.

Thyme is also good at easing menstrual cramps and PMS symptoms. It is effective at treating wounds, ulcers, and abscesses. It can help digestion and remove mucus from the intestinal tract. Thyme teat can be made by adding one teaspoon of crushed thyme to a half cup of boiling water, letting it steep for 10 minutes, and then straining it. It can be sweetened by adding honey.

December 27, 2009

Health Benefits of Licorice

Licorice is a flavorful herb that has been used for food and medicinal purposes for thousands of years to treat several illness from the common cold to liver disease. It grows wild in some parts of Europe and Asia and usually grows 3 to 7 feet high. Licorice roots are brown on the outside and yellow on the inside and contain a compound that is nearly 50 times sweeter than sugar. Licorice supplements are made from the roots and underground stems of the plant. Licorice candy that is commonly sold in stores is flavored with licorice root extract and is considered a healthier snack choice because it contains almost no fat per serving.

Licorice is considered a demulcent because of its soothing and coating properties. It is considered an expectorant because it can remove phlegm and mucous from the respiratory tract. It is commonly used by health care professionals to relieve respiratory ailments, allergies, bronchitis, colds, sore throat, tuberculosis, stomach problems, heartburn from reflux, inflammatory disorders, skin diseases, stress relief, hepatitis, and liver problems.

August 31, 2009

A New Better Botox

This a new product called Dysport that is suppose to be better than Botox. It has been FDA approved to treat facial lines and cervical dystonia. It temporarily restricts the muscle actions that cause creasing and frown lines. It suppose to be better than Botox because it lasts approximately 4 months instead of 3 days and works faster. Dysport is made from the same active ingredient as Botox, called Clostridium botulinim toxin type A. It is also similar to Botox in that it is injected into the skin at the site of forehead wrinkles. There are side effects, such as nose and throat irritation, headache, pain and skin reaction at the injection site, upper respiratory tract infection, eyelid swelling and drooping, sinus inflammation, and nausea.

June 24, 2009

Health Benefits of Strawberries

Strawberries are a fruit that is commonly eaten and has a lot of health benefits. It is rich in the antioxidants called anthocyanin and ellagitannin. Anthocyanins help to reduce inflammation, protect cell structures in the body, and prevent oxygen damage to the body's organ systems. Ellagitannins are effective at fighting cancer cells, especially colon and cervical cancer. Strawberries can be used to clean and whiten teeth and to freshen breath. The peak season for ripeness is between April and July.

Strawberries are a good source of vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese, folic acid, potassium, riboflavin, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, copper, magnesium, folate, and omega-3 fatty acids. Strawberries have more vitamin C in them per serving than oranges. Vitamin C is important because it helps the brain to function properly and helps the body to rebuild blood vessels, tendons, ligaments, and bones. It also helps to keep blood pressure low. One serving of strawberries has 210 mg of potassium, which is a mineral that helps to regulate the electrolytes in the body and lower the risk of heart attack and stroke. Strawberries are also high in folate, which are important when it comes to the manufacturing of red blood cells.

April 2, 2009

The Benefits of Olive Oil

Olive oil can have a positive effect on blood cholesterol levels, heart disease, skin cancer, earaches, constipation, colon cancer, upset stomach, dry skin, and stretch marks. It also contains vitamins E, K, A and hundreds of micronutrients. Many of its health benefits are due to its high amount of monounsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, and moisturizing properties.

Olive oil has a positive effect against heart disease by controlling LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and increasing HDL (good) cholesterol levels. It is good at activating the secretion of bile and pancreatic hormones and lowering the chance of the formation of gallstones. When it is taken orally, it can increase metabolism, help digestion, and lubricate mucous membranes. Putting extra virgin olive oil on skin after sunbathing can help to prevent skin cancer.

March 25, 2009

Ease Burns with Aloe Vera

Aloe vera gel has soothing and anti-inflammation properties that act like a second skin to protect a burned area from air, which can irritate exposed nerve endings. It also helps new skin to form and provides important nutrients that are needed to produce healthy tissue growth. It reduces inflammation and kills bacteria and other foreign organisms at a burn site. It also decreases the time it takes a burn to heal. Aloe vera works on any type of burn, including sunburns, burns from hot surfaces and liquids, and steam burns.

March 12, 2009

Use Oatmeal to Soothe Skin

Oatmeal can be used to soothe dry skin, inflammation, rashes, and eczema. It contains oats that contain avenanthramides, beta-glucan, and silicon that cause the soothing effect. It can also help to heal sun burns and relieve itching. When it is mixed with lemon juice and milk and applied to the face, it can be used to reduce the appearance of pores on the skin and tighten them.

February 11, 2009

Use Music to be Heart Healthy

It is found that listening to music can be healthy for the body. Music can create a sense of euphoria and have a positive effect on the endothelium, which is the inner lining of the blood vessels. Endothelium that are in good condition have a positive effect on blood flow and blood vessel tone. Higher amounts of the protective chemical nitric oxide are also produced, which helps to reduce inflammation and keeps platelets in the blood from getting sticky. Music also has been shown to lower blood pressure. Any type of music from any artist can generate the same positive effects.

December 17, 2008

First Face Transplant Done in America

In Cleveland, reconstructive surgeon Dr. Maria Siemionow and a team of specialists performed the first face face transplant done in America by replacing 80 percent of a disfigured woman's face by using the face of a female cadaver. Many details of the surgery have not been released but surgeons that do this usually transplant skin, facial nerves, muscles, and other deep tissue.

Skin is considered an organ and it still runs the risk of the body rejecting it, as with other organ transplants. Recipients of transplants have the risk of deadly complications, such as the new facial tissue attacking the recipient's body and the recipient's body attacking the bone marrow or the transplanted face to cause inflammation at the area of the new tissue. They also have to take immune-suppressing drugs for the rest of their lives to prevent the body rejecting the organ. This raises the risk of cancer and other diseases.

This is the fourth one done worldwide. Two have been done in France and one was done in China. The first one was a partial face transplant done in France in 2005 on a woman who had been mauled by her dog and received a new nose, chin, and lips from a brain-dead donor. Another was done in France on man disfigured by a genetic disease. One was done in China on a farmer that had been disfigured by being mauled by a bear.

October 19, 2008

The Health Benefits of Omega-3s

Omega-3s are a family of unsaturated fatty acids that are important for good health but are not naturally made by the body. They are mostly found in fish and offer good healthy benefits for the heart, eyes, joints, and brain.

Omega-3s have been found to reduce the rate of fatal and nonfatal heart attacks and can slightly lower blood pressure levels. It can reduce heart attacks by reducing inflammation and blood clots. It also slows the buildup of plaque in the arteries that can cause a heart attack. It can lower blood pressure by making it possible for blood to flow better in the veins through the reduction of plaque buildup.

Omega-3s can protect against the development and progression of retinopathy, which is the deterioration of the retina. DHA is in the omega-3 group and it is used by the photoreceptor cells of the retina in the eye. Not getting enough omega-3s in your diet can cause vision problems.

When it comes to the joints, omega-3s can improve morning stiffness and joint pain related to rheumatoid arthritis and reduce inflammation in the joints.

Omega-3s have an effect on the brain because they can increase the grey matter in the brain that is related to mood and behavior. This could help depression and improve mood and emotions.

August 21, 2008

Celery For a Healthy Mind

t is found that eating celery and bell peppers can help keep your brain healthy. They both contain a plant compound called luteolin than can prevent inflammation in the brain that is connected to aging and other diseases, such as Alzheimer's and multiple sclerosis. Celery also has compounds that can fight Alzheimer's and other degenerative diseases.

August 16, 2008

Why Fish Oil Is Healthy For You

Fish oil products are healthy because they contain the Omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, which can lower blood pressure, prevent arrhythmias, reduce inflammation, grow new brain cells, improve memory, and improve brain function. There hasn’t been a daily value set but it is recommended to consume 1,000 mg of DHA and EPA combined per day.

June 5, 2008

Save Your Skin With Antioxidants

Antioxidants are very important in achieving healthy skin. They work by turning free radicals into benign compounds and stop them from causing inflammation, DNA mutation, and loss of collagen. They can help to prevent wrinkles, spots, and possibly skin cancer. Green Tea, Vitamin C, Idebenone, Pomegranate, and CoffeeBerry are all rich in antioxidants.

Green tea is made from the steaming and drying of fresh leaves. The antioxidant properties in it are preserved very well. It is 100 times more effective than vitamin C and 25 times more effective than vitamin E at neutralizing free radicals. It also protects against DNA damage that is caused by the sun.

Vitamin C is an effective antioxidant source. Increasing the amount of vitamin C in the diet can repair some signs of aging on the skin. It does this because it plays apart in the metabolism of collagen. Vitamin C can also produce free radicals by itself.

Idebenone is an antioxidant that is a little different than others because instead of canceling out one free radical per molecule, it can cancel out multiple free radicals or stop them from forming. This would cause the skin to be protected longer and decrease fine lines and wrinkles.

Pomegranate is a fruit that is high in polyphenol, which makes the cell membrane stronger and less prone to damage and loss of moisture. This would help the skin stay hydrated and moist longer and help to prevent premature wrinkles. It can also help to prevent skin cancer because there is an extract in it that has been proved to prevent skin tumors and increases the effectiveness of sunscreen.

CoffeeBerry is the extract of the cherries of the coffee plant. It is considered to have the most potent mixture of natural antioxidants and is able to neutralize a wide variety of free radicals. It can also reverse some signs of UV damage and is good at decreasing fine lines and wrinkles. Dermatologists say that it can help with skin pigmentation problems, such as dark spots, red spots, and rosacea.

May 28, 2008

Allergies Causing Depression

It is found that tree pollen can cause symptoms of depression. A psychologist at the Mood and Anxiety Program of the University of Maryland and School of Medicine analyzed surveys of 845 men and women and found that two thirds of the people surveyed reported mood difficulties during the spring season, which is when pollen levels are very high. It is believed that airborne allergens produce inflammation in the respiratory airways and the inflammation causes symptoms of depression in some people.

Another study was done on patients with mood disorders that found that increased allergy symptoms during times of high levels of pollen were connected with depression symptoms that were more severe. This study fits with earlier evidence that suicide rates increase during late spring and a family history of allergies affects depression in women.

May 13, 2008

Broccoli Used as a Sun Protectant

The vegetable broccoli can be used as a sun-protectant. Putting a small amount of an extract found in broccoli sprouts on skin can reduce inflammation and redness by almost 40 percent. The extract has a large amount of the antioxidant sulforaphane and activates the skin’s ability to fight cancer by increasing the production of productive enzymes. The properties of the extract keep working for days after the extract is washed off.

March 3, 2008

The Healing Powers of Magnets

A recent study has found that magnets have the ability to increase blood flow and reduce inflammation. Researchers at the University of Virginia used powerful magnets on the paws of injured rats and measured the blood flow to the area. They found that the magnetic field caused by the magnets opened tiny blood vessels and increased the oxygen and nutrients to damaged tissues. Swelling was also reduced by 50 percent.

If the same results are found in humans, then doctors have the possibility of using magnets as another option for treating conditions, such as sprains and bruises.

February 17, 2008

Test That Predicts Diabetes Years Before It Happens

A test for three proteins can predict if a woman will develop diabetes years before standard screenings find a problem. The three proteins are signs of inflammation that are linked to insulin resistance. Finding out whether a person will get diabetes early could warn the person and influence them to make lifestyle changes before it’s too late.