Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Organic Vitamin E And Vitality

Vitamin E: What is it? Eight molecules known as tocopherols are the components that make Vitamin E. The most biologically active amongst them are Alpha-Tocoperols and these molecules are indeed the most efficient in terms of the benefits they bring to the body.

Our body can absorb it with ease as it is fat soluble. It is also more stable and does not evaporates even when foods in which it is found is cooked.

The U.S. FAD (Recommended Daily Allowance) for Vitamin E is set at 8-10 milligrams per day (or about 15 IU) whilst certain experts advocate an intake of upwards of 1,000 milligrams for daily intake. (Dr William Shute for example, in The Complete Book of Vitamins recommends 800 to 1600 IU as a way to prevent devastating vascular damage and arterial degeneration in diabetes.

Vitamin E:

What is it for? VitaminE is an active player in the prevention of cell damage that often times can lead to cardiovascular disease and even cancer. It does so by preventing damaging effects of free radicals. A new survey from Yale University shows that Low levels of Vitamin E are thought to be linked with greater physical decline in older people.

Vitamin E and Diabetes:

Vitamin E as a treatment for diabetes has been found in a research lead by Swedish scientists. They recommend a daily intake of vitamin E of 200 IU spamming 2 weekly periods. The study showed that vitamin E can help decrease the requirements of insulin in patients suffering from diabetes. Breast Cancer and Vitamin E: In spite of radical advancements in various therapies, more women than ever are now being diagnosed with Breast Cancer. One method considered as a means to reduce the risk of developing this disease is the intake in proper form of vitamin E. This approach is supported by a study which shows that women with low levels of vitamin E are twice more likely to contract the disease than women who take the minimum daily requirement. The good news is that some of the food we eat is indeed a good source of vitamin E

There two classes of Vitamin E:

Tocopherol, the form usually found in supplements
Tocotrienol, found in food. For example palm oil .

Foods rich in Vitamin E are:

Oils: vegetable oils such as sunflower, palm oil, soybean, corn, and of course olive oil. Good sources of vitamin e are margarine, egg yolk, cheddar, parmesan, soya beans, chickpeas, olives, avocados, parsnips, carrots, tomatoes, red peppers, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, and watercress. Other sources can be found in goats milk, fish, whole grains,cereal germ and wheat, whole grain products,oatmeal, fruits, peanut butter, milk, vegetables and all whole raw or sprouted seeds. Whilst it is always better to try in provide your body with the "real thing" it is important to remember that there are organic nutritional supplements, which are a good source of the vitamin E not found in your foods.

Vitamin E supplements and all Dietary supplements are measured in international units (IU) .

So where does the world "Vitamin come from" anyway?

In 1887, Dr. Eijkman was in Indonesia to conduct research on the beriberi disease. He realized that there was a difference between the consumption of refined rice (which lead to more cases of the disease) as opposed to crudely milled rice (which did not). Years later(1911), Dr. Cacimir referred to his colleagues findings as "vita amine" to describe the compound that constitute the rice in its un-refined nature. Over time the two words were joined as "vitamine" and eventually the trailing "e" was removed.

About the Author: VitaMan writes about health topics in http://www.vitaspecial.com, a website completely devoted to ORGANIC VITAMINS and information.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Bitter Medicine: Pills, Profit and the Public Health

Peter Jennings - ...Dr. Drummond Rennie is an editor at The Journal of the American Medical Association. He says researchers who are critical get attacked all the time. Do you actually believe, Dr. Rennie, that drug companies are intent on keeping the consumer on drugs, which are not as good as older drugs, for the simple requirement of profit?

Dr. Drummond Rennie - Yes. Yes, very much so. Absolutely. ....They've got to be prevented.

Peter Jennings - ... The top 10 drug companies combined made profits of more than $37 billion in the year 2001. And you, the taxpayer, are subsidizing research that benefits the drug industry.

...Nancy Chockley runs an institute funded by managed care organizations...

Nancy Chockley - What we found is that over the last 12 years, that there's really been a shift in the type of new drugs being approved by the FDA. And that we found that most of the growth was really in drugs that did not show any significant clinical improvement.

Peter Jennings - Eighty percent of the drugs which the FDA approves are not significantly different from the ones on the market already, and only 20 percent of the drugs are significantly new. Do you think the public even knows that? ...We're spending more on prescription drugs than we did in 1995. And the majority of the drugs approved by the FDA are simply modifications of old drugs...Consumers spend $90 billion more on prescription drugs last year than was spent just six years ago. And are we $90 billion healthier? ...But what critics call this 'gaming of the system' may have a much more damaging result.

Dr. Sharon Levine, Kaiser Permanente Medical Group - If I'm a manufacturer, and I can change one molecule and get another 20 years of patent life and convince physicians to prescribe and consumers to demand ... then why would I be spending money on a lot less certain endeavor, which is looking for brand new drugs?

Peter Jennings - The pharmaceutical industry has more registered lobbyists than the number of senators and congressmen combined.

Dr. Jerry Avorn, Brigham and Women's Hospital - I think there's a sense that, for example, when the FDA approves a drug, everything that needs to be known about it is known. I think patients believe that. I think doctors sometimes believe that. And that is not true.

Peter Jennings - How do you explain the overwhelming success of these drugs in a very short period of time?

Dr. Sharon Levine - I think the only explanation is the amount of money, the amount of time and energy that was put into promoting these drugs to doctors and advertising these drugs to consumers.

Peter Jennings - You see television ads like this all the time, including many on ABC News programs. They are part of the drug industry's $15 billion effort to get you to ask for particular drugs and to get doctors to prescribe those particular drugs. ...The drug companies spend vast amounts of money - nearly $3 billion selling to consumers, $5 billion marketing to doctors, $8 billion worth of free samples. ...Doesn't it make sense for the drug companies to at least educate the doctors about the prescription drugs that are available?

Dr. Marcia Angell - Well, that's not their business, education. Drug companies are not in the education business. Medical schools and teaching hospitals are. It's like expecting beer companies to educate people about alcoholism. It is not what they do.

Dr. Matt Handley, Group Health Cooperative - It's almost like a trade. You might not have the stomach problem, but the studies suggest you might, instead, be equally likely to have a more serious heart problem. ...I would personally wait years for long-term safety from the FDA's monitoring program before I'd consider taking them. If they were free, I would do that same thing.

Peter Jennings - What does this say about the social responsibility of the pharmaceutical industry? Or is the pharmaceutical industry supposed to have a social responsibility?

Dr. Sharon Levine - That's a very good question that the American people need to answer, do we want to entrust critical elements of the public health to an industry whose purpose, whose mission is to earn return for shareholders?

Peter Jennings - Congress has never required the FDA to routinely compare new drugs with older drugs. This is costing consumers billions of dollars that we do not need to spend. And in some cases, it could be costing lives. ...There is no law that says new drugs have to be proven 100 percent safe. ... The government says they must be relatively safe, which means that every drug comes with risks. And the result of that is that sometimes new drugs turn out to be more dangerous than old drugs.

Dr. Jerry Avorn, Harvard Medical School - If patients were aware of the limitations that all of us physicians have in terms of what we know and what we wish we know and what we don't know, they would be more scared than they are at present. ...The saying that a lot of doctors use sometimes in jest is, 'Always wait a year before prescribing a new drug. And if it's for a family member, wait five years.' And that's an awful thing to say, but it reveals a perception that we really don't know as much as we would like to know about a drug until it's been around.

Peter Jennings - The fact is, drugs can be used for years before we really know how safe they are. ...Dr. Drummond Rennie is an editor at The Journal of the American Medical Association. He says researchers who are critical get attacked all the time. Why do you think the industry is able to get away with what you have in the past called 'bullying tactics?'

Dr. Drummond Rennie, Journal of the American Medical Association - Money. Because if the shareholders are happy, whom else do they have to answer for? These are multinationals. They have no masters.

Peter Jennings - Can we trust studies funded by companies that have a vested interest in the results? ...Will the pharmaceutical industry do whatever it takes to get the results it wants from research?

Dr. Drummond Rennie - The temptation to spin those results is always there, and it's frequently used. Frequently.

Peter Jennings - For nearly every drug on the market, doctors must wrestle with conFL icting and sometimes inaccurate information.

Dr. Drummond Rennie - If only the good news about a drug is published, and never the bad news, then a false impression is given of the quality, effectiveness of that drug. It may be entirely false.

Peter Jennings - Does the drug industry, on occasion or regularly, suppress data?

Dr. Drummond Rennie - Oh, we suspect, and rather know, that this happens all the time.

Peter Jennings - Does the drug industry ever suspend a trial - a drug trial - because it believes the results will be different than it wishes?

Dr. Drummond Rennie - Yes, that's happened.

Peter Jennings - Does a drug company ever not publish the results of a trial because it doesn't like the results?

Dr. Drummond Rennie - Yes.

Peter Jennings - Do you actually believe, Dr. Rennie, that drug companies are intent on keeping the consumer on drugs, which are not as good as older drugs, for the simple requirement of profit?

Dr. Drummond Rennie - Yes. Yes, very much so. Absolutely. ... They've got to be prevented.

Peter Jennings - There is one last thing this evening which we believe is important for all of us. The questions about what we are getting for our money cannot and must not be answered only by the drug companies. Virtually everyone we talked to for this broadcast agrees on that. The rules by which this hugely profitable industry operates do not always serve consumers adequately. And nothing is going to happen, no matter how angry consumers get, unless the Congress and the president decide that the time is come. The country can do better. I'm Peter Jennings. Thank you for joining us. Good night.


visit our website: www.doctorsaloe.com

Super Health Benefits Of Antioxidants


Aging is big business, and today's market is flooded with products that blur the lines between healthcare, beauty and simple fads. Many of these products contain antioxidants to fight aging and promote wellness. We've learned about the benefits of antioxidants from marketing, but it's also important to understand what antioxidants are, and how they work.

Antioxidants are nutrients that occur naturally in the humans and fruits, vegetables and other plants. Our bodies need antioxidants in order to properly function. These are important nutrients that act as cell protectors and they maintain good health by slowing the destructive aging of cellular molecules.

With normal cellular function, cells produce damaged molecules called free radicals. These free radicals can cause further damage to the body by stealing vital components from other cellular molecules including protein, fat and DNA. When left unchecked, free radicals can cause a multitude of serious health concerns including cataracts, heart damage, cancer and a weak immune system.

One of the most important benefits of antioxidants is the ability to stabilize free radicals. With these stabilizing components, antioxidants can help to prevent widespread cellular destruction, reducing further damage to the system. Antioxidants can return to the surface level and steady the cells, instead of causing damage to other components.

Despite contradictions in research, studies on cats and dogs have shown that antioxidants can improve the immune responses and vaccine recognitions. This has been particularly useful in the vaccination of young animals that do not have fully developed immune systems.

Antioxidants have a significant function in older animals as well, reversing the reduction of immune cell functions. Studies have also shown that when a combination of many different antioxidants is given in average amounts, the effect can be greater than that of a single antioxidant given in a high level dose.

In the human body and plant life, naturally occurring antioxidants come in different forms. Vitamins A, C and E, and carotenoids including beta-carotene and lutein are familiar sources of antioxidants. These nutrients are the basis of our good health, especially beneficial in preventing heart disease as they block the spread of free radicals.

Vitamin E is a common source of antioxidants that protects us from cardiovascular disease by defending against LDL oxidation and artery-clogging plaque development. There have been numerous studies showing that antioxidants can also reduce the risk of cancer. Vitamin C has been shown to reduce rates of cancer of the larynx, mouth and esophagus.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are delicious options for boosting your antioxidant intake. Eat foods with bright and deep pigments, like tomatoes, red bell peppers, carrots and spinach. These foods provide the highest concentrations of this essential health booster.

There is no question that antioxidants provide many health benefits. But it's still not clear how, or if, antioxidant supplements should be taken. There is also a lack of proof of long-term consequences from taking mega-doses of antioxidants. While antioxidants occur naturally, they are chemicals and should caution must be used.

If you're thinking of boosting your health by boosting your antioxidant intake, make an appointment with your doctor today.


Author Myron Huett writes for several popular web magazines, on healthy diet and muscle fitness topics.

Detox Your Body With Wasabi Rhizome

The Wasabi rhizome, the underground fleshy stem of the wasabia japonica plant, is prized not only for its fiery flavour but also its effect in detoxifying the liver. However, make sure that you are getting the real McCoy since many restaurants in the USA do not use the genuine paste.

The wasabi is a plant of the cruciferous family, the same family as cabbage, broccoli, turnip, radish, horseradish and mustard, and is native to Japan and Korea and now grown on the Pacific coast of Canada. It grows best in temperate to cold climates, especially in mountainous areas where there are plenty of cold streams.

Anybody who regularly enjoys sashimi and sushi should be familiar with the wasabi rhizome, that green lump of paste lying on the side of the plate. It is hot and fiery, although not in the same way as the chilli pepper that is fiery on the tongue and in the mouth. This tends to affect the sinuses more, and leaves a sweetish taste once the initial heat has dissipated. However, it is not always what it should be.

The last comment there refers to the practise, especially in the USA, of using dyed common horseradish as wasabi paste, so be careful of that since the two are not equivalent in the health benefits they impart to your body. Although of the same family as the horseradish, and sometimes termed the Japanese horseradish, ordinary horseradish does not have the same health benefits as genuine wasabi, and does not contain the same active ingredients so do not confuse the two.

Real wasabi is normally used grated, and there are specific techniques that should be used to grate wasabi rhizomes to bring out the fullness of the flavour. True grated wasabi should be of a natural pale greenish color rather than the brighter green normally associated with sushi restaurant wasabi.

Traditionally, wasabi rhizome is used as a condiment with sushi, although their leaves can also be used in salad dressings and or as a delicacy pickled in soy sauce or sake brine. The genuine vegetable is difficult to cultivate which explains why ordinary horseradish is dyed and used in its stead, and the vast majority of non-Japanese do not know the difference because it is likely to be all they have consumed under the name of wasabi. The health benefits of the genuine article, however, are considerable greater.

So that’s what it is, but what does it do? What are the health benefits of wasabi rhizomes and why are they considered to be so good for your liver? Wasabi rhizomes contain substances that are very effective in detoxifying you liver, and that are also very strong antioxidants that provide you with good overall health benefits in their capacity to destroy the free radicals created by the pollution of modern living.

The active antioxidants in the rhizome are precursors of isothiocyanates, which are known as phytochemicals. These are chemicals that can protect or prevent diseases through its antioxidant properties. The term ‘precursor’ means that the isothiocyanates are synthesized by your body from the nutrients contained in the wasabi rhizome. Other examples of phytochemicals that you may have heard of are carotenoids, flavonoids and polyphenols that also possess antioxidant properties.

Other antioxidants are vitamins A and E, which is why these are used in anti-wrinkle creams, since their anti-oxidant effect helps to prevent the free radicals destroying the skin cells in the dermis and epidermis that leads to the wrinkles associated with aging. Wasabi is equally effective as an antioxidant, although it has other properties that are important to your liver.

The liver is your body’s chemical plant. That is where most of the chemical reactions take place that are essential for life. If your liver is unhealthy you can develop diseases such as hepatitis and cirrhosis, and a healthy liver is essential for life let alone a healthy life. Wasabi helps to detoxify and clean out your liver.

Apart from creating the wide variety of enzymes needed to process your food, and controlling the vast majority of the biochemistry of your body, your liver is also your detoxification plant that coverts toxins into biodegradable molecules that your waste disposal system can evacuate without harm. This occurs in two phases.

Phase I coverts the toxin to a form that your body can further process (the bioactive form), and Phase II breaks it down into a form that your kidneys can handle and eject it in your urine. Isothiocyanates are involved in the production of the enzymes that enable the chemical reactions of Phase II to proceed. They allow your body to cleanse itself of toxins, and without this process you would be less healthy and more prone to cancers and other undesirable conditions and diseases in your body.

It is becoming more important in this modern age with its increasing natural and synthetic pollution that your liver is working at peak efficiency. Your liver is equally as important to you as your heart and brain, and without it you cannot survive. Wasabi also contains glucosinolates that help the isothiocyanates to induce the production of Phase II enzymes, and it is general believed that eating this tuber cab help protect you against stomach, colon and breast cancers as well as help your cardiovascular system and blood clotting.

An interesting fact is how wasabi rhizome came to be traditionally served with raw fish. The isothiocyanates precursors, and the glucosinolates that wasabi also contains, apparently help to destroy the bacteria associated with raw fish, and help prevent disease and illness. It was likely found healthier to include a dollop of this green paste with your sushi than not, and so the use of common horseradish might be somewhat questionable if it has less of an effect.

Make sure, therefore, that your have the real thing, and apart from any specific health considerations associated with eating raw fish, you are best advised to take it as a supplement to help Detox your liver rather than visit sushi bars for your consumption. It will also help your wallet!

More information on Wasabi Rhizome Liver Cleanse and detox is available at VitaNet, LLC Health Food Store. http://vitanetonline.com/

Monday, February 4, 2008

Proven Home Remedies for Acne

Acne is a skin disorder or rashes which affects the skin's oil glands. It is not a serious health problem but when it is left to reach the severe condition it can cause scars. The cause of acne is due to wrong feeding habits like irregular eating hours, improper food, and excess of starches, sugar and fatty foods. Home remedies for acne are enhanced by proper vitamin and mineral supplementation and it cannot be numbered as there are lots of them. The first and foremost of all kinds of problems in an individuals body is due to lack of water. So have to drink lots of water and this is also a major remedy for acne.

Washing the face twice a day in warm salt water will leave your face oil free without irritating the acne.

Apply a paste of fresh methi leaves on the face every night for ten to fifteen minutes and wash with warm water.

Mixture of Lemon juice extract and equal quantity of rose water will also help to cure acne, pimples. The scars and blemishes can be reduced if you apply it on the face and wash the face with fresh water after half and hour. Repeat this method for fifteen to twenty days.

Apply avocado paste mixed with water and wash it after half an hour, this is also a natural remedy for acne.

Apply the pack made by boiling fifty gram of raspberry or strawberry or blackberry leaves with one and half liters of water for three minutes and this will give itching free effect and smooth skin.

Apply a thick mixture of yogurt and oatmeal in the face and wash it with lukewarm water and then apply any antibiotic lotion according to the skin type.

Aloe vera is used as remedial measure for almost all type of skin allergies. Any kind of soaps and gels made from Aloe vera work well in reducing the acne.

A paste of honey and cinnamon powder helps to cure acne damaged skin. Apply the mixture while going to sleep and wash it next day morning.

Apply egg whites using a cotton ball on the affected area for a few hours and wash with fresh water.

Bay leaves are also a remedy for acne. Grind it with water and leave it beside till it becomes cool and then apply on the affected part and wash after a few hours.

One of the most popular remedy for acne is to put toothpaste on the affected area before going to bed. It helps to reduce swelling overnight. It must be a paste and not a gel.

More than all these neem, turmeric, tomato pulp, lemon juice, sandalwood powder, milk, rose water, potatoes, orange peel, cucumber, Lavender oil etc. are good home remedies for acne damaged skin.

With all these home remedies, one major part of it is a well-balanced healthy diet and without this the treatment will not be fulfilled. Fresh fruit juices, vegetables and sprouts are also a must. Chocolate and fried foods must be avoided. Before applying any type of lotion or any home remedy is undertaken, first cleanse the skin thoroughly. Wear clean and neat cotton clothes if the acne is in any part of your body. Whatever the treatment is, patience is very much necessary.


http://www.healinginstitute.info has exhaustive resources for tackling acne related problems. The website on skin care - http://www.guideonthenet.info helps find solutions for maintaining a glowing skin.

Tinnitus Self-Help

An estimated 36 million Americans suffer from tinnitus, or constant ear noise that is not the result of an outside source of sound. The sounds of tinnitus heard most often tend to explained as a high-pitched bell ringing, telephone dial tone, running water, hissing, cricket chirping, and many more. The ear noise is often constant and variable, meaning while it is always present, it becomes quiet or loud at different times; some people notice the sound will completely disappear, only to start again without provocation.

Perhaps the greatest saving grace about tinnitus is that people can become so accustomed to their particular tinnitus sound that after a while they will not notice it (although it is still present), if they are distracted or concentrating on an activity (watching television, playing a sport, cooking). Once they are no longer involved in that activity, or something calls their attention to their hearing, once again they become immediately aware of their tinnitus sound.

When there is no immediate medical cause of tinnitus (high blood pressure, ear pathology, chemical or drug toxicity) in most cases, it is felt that most cases are either due to the effects of old age or injury to the hearing mechanism by repeated and prolonged exposure to loud noises (factory and engine work, gun shots, music). In these cases, it is wise to attempt to control as many aspects of the local and internal environment as possible to not aggravate the tinnitus further.

For the estimated 10-18 % of life-long tinnitus sufferers whose problem is without apparent causation, the best that can be hoped for is to limit the tinnitus experience and live at peace with the internal noise. To accomplish this requires a strategy of coping and reducing stress.

For everyone who suffers from tinnitus, whether the cause is known or not, whether the ear sounds are constant or not, whether the problem is acute or chronic, it is necessary to take control of their personal tinnitus situation for greatest relief and sense of control.

To reduce or limit tinnitus sounds

Evaluate those activities and situations that might help you cope with the constant ear sounds. Perhaps the easiest and most readily available strategy is to listen to music that allows a person to become distracted and lost in the enjoyment of it. Some might find the same benefit of easy distraction by listening to the recorded sounds of nature, such as ocean waves, howling wind, rustling leaves, or even crickets clicking in the distance.

Anyone who has had tinnitus for a few years knows what aggravates the problem. Make a point to avoid anything known to increase the problem, such as being around tobacco smoke, drinking alcohol, and any loud noise. Those who work in construction or around loud noises or sudden explosive sounds, should wear ear plugs or specially insulated earmuffs to protect the hearing.

Managing tinnitus sounds

Very often tinnitus will develop in those who have suffered hearing loss, especially when associated with aging. This reduced hearing ability, coupled with the ongoing presence of internal ear sounds, can make it most difficult to conduct a conversation with people. If this is a problem, simply explain your situation and ask that the person face you when you speak together. Being able to see facial expressions can help immensely to understand the spoken word. Ask people to speak louder and more slowly, but not to shout.

Final self-help measures

The Tinnitus Treatment Institute was developed to inform the worldwide public about the causes and limited medical treatment of tinnitus, along with the large assortment of helpful and safe Alternative Medicine therapies that have been used for years. The Tinnitus Treatment Institute expanded and refined the idea of using a large group of these therapies for maximum patient benefit that can be carried out safely under self-directed care. For greatest recovery from tinnitus simply go to the Tinnitus Treatment Institute website to learn how to direct an aggressive and tested nutrition and herb therapy program.


Dr. Robert Rogers began the Tinnitus Treatment Institute (TTI) in 2004 while practicing at the world-famous Pioneer Medical Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. Learn from a doctor who understands what it is like to have tinnitus, and knows what it takes to correct it. http://www.tinnitus-treatment-insitute.com