January 28, 2010

Natural Health and Beautifying Remedies from A – Z

Filed under: anxiety,bloating,cold remedies,constipation,dehydration,insomnia,joint stiffness,nausea,Uncategorized,yeast infections — Candace @ 11:03 am

Cheap natural remedies for anything from anxiety, to oily skin, to a queasy stomach, to zits!

Anxiety – Chamomile is an amazing remedy for Anxiety. Chamomile tea is cheap and widely available.

Bloating – Drink sage or fennel tea to alleviate your bloated sensation.

Constipation – Grapes, oranges, papaya, pears, and figs are great fruits to cure diarrhea and stimulate the bowels. AS for vegetables, spinach will disintegrate your diarrhea.

Dehydration – Avoid coffee, tea, and pop. The more of the bad beverages you drink, the more water you must consume. Eat fruits and veggies.

Earaches –Sprinkle basil in carrier oil and rub it in and around your ear. Oils are essential in curing earaches.

Fatigue – Mix 3 parts lemongrass, 2 parts cloves, and 1 part nutmeg, rosemary, and black pepper in boiling water to make tea to fight fatigue.

Gas – Chew your food and prevent future gas and possible embarrassment. Dandelion tea also prevents gas and can be simply homemade using the milk found in the dandelion stem.

Hiccups –Inhale as deeply as you can, until you feel you can inhale no further. Then swallow. Repeat!

Insomnia – Eat proteins to help you sleep. Herbal tea may also aid you in sleeping.

Joint stiffness – avoid cold water and attempt to get lots of calcium, vitamin c, and zinc to prevent and cure joint stiffness.

Knee pain – Rest is all I can prescribe. Don’t get down on your knees to do anything. You might need to buy a new pair of shoes.

Lost voice – Gargle with Aloe Vera juice twice a day. Boil pomegranate rinds and drink the juice. Tumeric powder dissolved into boiling water also helps considerably.

Migraines – Using menthol ointment or Vicks Vapor Rub works when applied to your face with a q-tip. It also helps if you place a warm towel over your face.

Nausea – eat a banana before breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Drink coke in very small sips. Stir 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar into water and drink.

Oily skin – Apply diluted tea tree oil to dry out oily patches of skin. For very severe oily skin use a mix of lemon juice, flour, and turmeric powder in a paste and massage it onto your face like a facial.

Post nasal drip – Drink herbal tea or eat soup. Gargle with salt water, baking soda to clear up post nasal drip.

Queasy stomach – Similar to nausea, queasy stomach can be cured with sipping coke, or smelling ginger. Sucking on ginger flavored candies can also solve the queasiness.

Rashes – Olive oil, baking powder, and provides some help in the irritation of rashes. Washing the affected area with chamomile tea can also provide relief.

Sunburn – Do not use vinegar! Although it may be suggested, vinegar is ghastly for most sunburns and for most people does not take away the burn, therefore don’t risk it. Take a bath in cool water with an added cup or two of oatmeal. Soak the sunburn in peppermint tea, but make sure it is lukewarm before applying.

Teeth whitening – Do not use lemon juice or strawberries, as they strip your enamel off your teeth. Lemon peel may be a safer option, as is eating crunchy vegetables. Baking soda is the best option. It whitens, kills bacteria, and reduces acids which may potentially harm the enamel.

Under eye dark circles – Slices of cucumber placed on the dark area for 10 minutes, refrigerated teaspoons placed on the skin under your eyes, and empty teabags (or full chamomile teabags) all help reduce the dark circles you may get under your eyes.

Vertigo – Lemon and lime peel added to your meals can help reduce vertigo symptoms. Mix almonds, pumpkin seeds, poppy seeds, and wheat and leave overnight. Grind up (to a powder) and fry with butter and cloves in the morning. Mix it with milk and boil. Drink it. It is said to cure vertigo fast.

Warts – Eat garlic, it will remove warts and prevent any viruses causing future warts. Cut a potato and rub it on the warts for 5 – 10 minutes, twice a day, for a week.

Yeast infection – Tea tree oil is a good remedy, but always be diluted. Inserting a garlic tab or clove into the vagina every few hours provides relief.

Zits – Cut potatoes, vinegar, lemon juice, toothpaste, garlic, lime juice, and basil, applied to the affected area are said to help rid of zits.

DoctorSolve Healthcare Solutions Inc., a Canadian Internet-based pharmacy intermediary (license #BC X23), offers low cost, long-term prescription drugs. A professionally registered pharmacist fills all Canadian prescriptions. A certified member of the Canadian International Pharmacy Association, DoctorSolve is ranked as one of the best online Canadian pharmacies by PharmacyChecker.com.
For more information on how to order Canada drugs safely and securely call 1-866-732-0305 or visit http://www.doctorsolve.com/ – a trusted and reliable Canadian online pharmacy since 1999.

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January 26, 2010

Eat Your Brussel Sprouts

Filed under: beta-carotene,breast cancer,brussel sprouts,cancer,even skin tone,follic acid,Uncategorized,vitamin A,vitamin B,vitamin C — Candace @ 12:08 pm

At Christmas time, or Thanksgiving, practically whenever you can get your family together, brussel sprouts are a delicacy. Like escargot, people either love or hate brussel sprouts. Cruciferous vegetables, including brussel sprouts, and cabbage, are jam packed with healthiness. Here is why you should pile up those brussel sprouts on your plate whenever you have a chance.

1. Cancer – Consuming brussel sprouts frequently can lessen your chance of contracting lung, colon, breast, bladder and ovarian cancer. A recent study looking at over 700 people showed those who ate cruciferous veggies had risks 29 percent lower of getting bladder cancer than those eating very few cruciferous vegetables.

2. Sulforaphane Stops Cancers- Brussel sprouts contain sulforaphane, which lowers liver cells’ emission of the cholesterol transporter. (This also is attributed to clearing substances which may cause potential cancers.

3. Protect Your DNA – Another study conducted on 10 men showed that the 5 men who ate brussel sprouts daily had 28% less DNA damage. This also can be related to cancer as mutations in DNA may allow cancer cells to develop.

4. Let Brussel Sprouts Beautify You – Brussel sprouts contain high amounts of vitamin C. This manufactures collagen, which is the protein that gives good skin structure (lack of collagen means earlier wrinkles, and visible at a younger age, you will have flexible skin). A study conducted in England proved that those with high levels of vitamin C had 50 % less risk of dying from heart disease, stroke, or cancer. Also Brussel sprouts contain huge amounts of vitamin A and beta-carotene which encourage beautiful even skin tones.

5. Brussels Prevent Birth Defects – Folic acid is vital for perfect cell division as it is necessary in DNA synthesis. Folic acid deficiency has been associated with numerous birth defects, like spina bifida. Folic acid is the most common vitamin deficiency in the world. One cup of brussel sprouts contains 93.6 mg of folic acid so eat up!

Although brussel sprouts may taste disgusting to you, they are filled with essential nutrients your body needs. Adding mustard to brussel sprouts may alter their flavor as well as garlic, balsamic vinegar and lemon juice are good to flavor brussel sprouts.

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January 25, 2010

6 Healthy things that Aren’t so Healthy

Filed under: bloating,colds,depression,exercise,fatal familial insomnia,healthy,healthy food,organic food,pilates,swine flu,Uncategorized,vitamin D,yoga — Amanda @ 4:19 pm

If you’re an avid blog reader, then you may be getting tired of blogs telling you what you should and shouldn’t do (eat this not that, whatever you do don’t do this) – and sometimes these facts seem to contradict other facts you’ve heard. There are some things that seem healthy enough but may actually do you more harm than good. Be sure to take note of these “healthy habit faux-pas” to protect your body from ailments and keep you in optimal health!

1. Staying in the Sun – you have probably heard that it is healthy to spend 30 minutes in the sun everyday.. well this is only half true. Yes, our bodies need vitamin D to stay strong and fight off illness by improving our immune systems, but too much time in the sun is damaging to your skin. The general rule is if you are going to spend more than 20 minutes in the sun, use SPF 30 all over your body, especially your face where the skin is more susceptible to burns.

2. Religiously using Hand Sanitizer – Ever since the Swine Flu scare, hand sanitizer sales have sky rocketed. Thanks to my former science teacher, I conducted an experiment that proved that hand sanitizer is more likely to get you sick in the long run. The “sanitizing” doesn’t just kill viruses and bad bacteria (there is actually way more good bacteria than bad bacteria on earth to begin with), but they also kill the good bacteria on your hands that do all of the fighting against viruses. So even if you feel content and clean after sanitizing your hands, they won’t stay that way for long – in fact, they’ll become worse and your good bacteria count will be compromised. Plain old soap and water should do it.

3. Exercising… a lot – Even though they say that you should get some form of moderate exercise every day, your body and mind do not need more than three or four days of cardiovascular activity (30-45 minutes per session) a week. These exercises should be done every other day alternating with more mild forms of exercise like Yoga, Pilates, walking, and weight training. The best way to stay toned and energized is to vary your exercise regime and take it easy on your body.

4. Over/Under Sleeping - If you are regularly sleeping for more than 9 hours a night, its not good. It’s also not good if you are sleeping less than 7 hours a night. We need 8 full hours of sleep per night in order to function at our best. We aren’t built to think or process at an optimal level on more than 9 or less than 7 hours of sleep. Too much or too little sleep is bad for your skin, it causes bloating, overeating, confusion, and sometimes depression.

5. Air Conditioning - AC is great, but if you rely on it day and night it is doing you harm. The recycled air can contain bad bacteria, air-born viruses and germs that will in turn give you a cold or flu. If you suffer from allergies the air conditioning can emit particles of dust that can irritate your allergies. Every couple hours, try to turn off the air conditioning and open the windows or go for a walk. Wash your air conditioning filter with warm soapy water and let them air dry once a month. If you work at an office go for a lunch or afternoon break outside in the sun.

6. Buying Organic Food - Organic foods have earned the reputation that they are not processed and more healthy than regular foods. The fact is is that they are more expensive, and may still be heavily processed. Read the labels carefully when you are buying from a health foods store. Organic doesn’t mean healthy. Choose simple items with few ingredients and a low amount of natural sugars, salts, and processed carbohydrates.

For more information on how to order Canada drugs safely and securely call 1-866-732-0305 or visit http://www.doctorsolve.com/ – a trusted and reliable Canadian online pharmacy since 1999.

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January 20, 2010

Just a Pinch Less Salt

Filed under: coronary heart disease,heart attack,obesity,salt,smoking,sodium,stroke,Uncategorized — Candace @ 6:46 pm

Only 3 grams (half a teaspoon or 2.5 mL) of salt less per day and almost 100,000 lives could be saved. This is comparable to reducing major problems, such as obesity, smoking, and other well-known health issues. If everyone in the USA reduced their intake of salt by half a teaspoon per day, we could prevent 12,000 cases of coronary heart disease from starting. We could stop 66,00 strokes, and 99,00 heart attacks.

Also, the money saved would help enlarge and improve the health care system. It would save health problems by anywhere between 10 billion dollars and 24 billion dollars annually. If all the people in the USA lowered their salt ingestion by just half a teaspoon per day for one year, it would be just as significant as if the smoking rate declined 50 percent and the level of obesity in all American adults went down 5 percent. Even if the change was not so dramatic and only 1 state lessened their salt intake, it would significantly reduce the cases of strokes and heart attacks over time. Despite all these warnings about ones salt intake, salt is actually becoming more and more popular and more and more of a danger.

Although the study was geared towards Americans, it is also quite applicable to Canadians health care as well. The recommended daily salt intake is 1,500 mg. The average intake is 3,100 mg. Amongst Americans the average intake is slightly higher, sitting at 3,400 mg. Cutting down by only half a teaspoon is a generous amount, and is simple to do.

1. Do not add salt while cooking

2. Do not put salt on the table

3. Avoid seasoning salts, soy sauce, salsa, bouillon and ketchup

4. When eating out, ask for low sodium options

5. Season your food with other ingredients such as garlic, lemon, pepper, and other herbs.

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January 18, 2010

7 Ways to Prevent Cancer

Filed under: breast cancer,cancer,Diabetes,green tea,heart disease,multivitamins,omega-3,quit smoking,Skin cancer,Uncategorized,vitamin D — Amanda @ 5:07 pm

There are many simple lifestyle changes you can make in order to prevent cancer. Following these tips will put you on the path towards better health and hopefully a cancer-free future.

1. Don’t smoke - You’ve probably been warned of this many times before, but whoever was warning you had a valid reason to. Smoking is the highest cancer risk factor that we can control. Smoking is responsible for lung cancer, and many other types of cancer. The best way to prevent cancer is to never start – or quit if you already smoke. Secondhand smoke is also a significant cancer risk factor. The smoke contains more than 60 carcinogens which disturb natural cell development and can trigger the development of cancer cells.

2. Be sun safe – It is important to try to get 15 minutes of sunlight on your skin each day. Researchers have found that getting too little sunlight can be a cause of numerous cancers such as breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, and stomach cancer. In addition, a lack of vitamin D can cause osteoporosis, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and high blood pressure.

Be careful not to get too much sun though. Over one million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer each year. In order to prevent skin cancer, avoid UV ray over-exposure by wearing sunscreen when outside, avoiding the hot mid day sun, and staying away from tanning beds. If you want to be safe, yet still get the vitamin D you need, get vitamin D supplements.

3. Drink more water! – Stop for a glass of water whenever you can. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1996 found that men who drank 6 full glasses of water every day reduced their risk of contracting bladder cancer by half. Another study found that women who drank a lot of water reduced their risk of developing colon cancer by up to 45%.

4. Drink Green tea – Ancient cultures have always believed that the benefits of green tea are superfluous – it’s no wonder that new research shows that green tea protects against numerous cancers, as well as heart disease. Some scientists believe that a certain chemical in green tea is one of the most powerful anticancer agents ever discovered!

5. Eat more fish – Researchers found that people who ate four or more servings of fish each week were 1/3rd less likely to develop blood cancers such as leukemia, myeloma, and non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The omega 3 acids in fish are said to reduce a woman’s risk of developing endometrial cancer.

6. Eat your veggies - a proper diet (and regular exercise) will ensure that you get your essential vitamins and nutrients and keep you healthy. Fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants which help damaged cells, and many important vitamins which make you healthy. Many studies suggest that reaching ideal levels of vitamins and minerals in the body can improve the immune system and prevent a variety of cancers and illnesses. If you’re a picky eater, take a multivitamin every morning.

7. Wet your Whistle… in moderation – Beer protects the body against a bacteria which is known to cause ulcers and can be linked to stomach cancer. Easy on the drinks though, more than one or two alcohol beverages a day can actually increase your risk of developing mouth, throat, esophageal, liver, and breast cancer.

For more information on how to order Canada drugs safely and securely call 1-866-732-0305 or visit http://www.doctorsolve.com/ – a trusted and reliable Canadian online pharmacy since 1999.

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January 14, 2010

Drugs Past Their Expiration Date; Are they Safe to use?

Filed under: do medications expire?,drug effeciency,epipen,expiration dates,expired drugs,expired medication,liquid drugs,safety,storing medicine,Uncategorized — Amanda @ 5:33 pm

You may have wondered whether or not drugs that have passed their expiration date are still save and effective to use. A recent article in The Medical Letter – Volume 51, December 14 2009 reports that Doctors are often asked by their patients if expired drugs can still be taken safely. The answer is entirely dependent on the circumstances of the drug; including what type of drug it is, how it has been stored over a long period of time, and the relative stability of the drug in its original sealed container.

Is expired medication safe to use?

A column published in Pyschopharmacology Today advises that the expiration on a drug is a requirement of a law passed in 1979 where drug manufacturers are required to post an expiration date on their products. This way, the manufacturer can ensure the date at which he can guarantee the full efficiency and safety of the drug. No information on the safety of taking expired drugs has been published. Toxicity due to indigestion, injection, or topical application of drug formulas after their expiration date has not been reported. However, on one occasion it has been reported that the use of degraded tetracycline caused renal tubular damage in a patient. This form of medicine has since been removed from the market. A study conducted by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) requested by the military occurred due to the fact that the military faces tossing out and replacing a large expensive pile of drugs every few years. The study found that 90% of more than 100 different prescription and non-prescription drugs were still safe and effective to use even 15 years after the date of expiration.

Do expiration dates on drugs mean anything?

The Expiration date on the packaging of a drug is based on the stability of the medicine in its original sealed container. The date does not mean that the drug becomes unstable after the indicated date; it means that the drug in its sealed container will still be stable at that point in time. The average expiration date for a drug product in its labeled shelf life is between 1 and 5 years. When the container is opened and used, the expiration date on the container does not apply. The expiration date doesn’t necessarily indicate a time in which the medication is ineffective or unsafe. Medical authorities claim that expired drugs are generally safe to take, with the exception of Tetracycline.

Do drugs still work after their expiry date?

The stability of drug products after their expiration dates have been researched. Information from the Department of Defense/FDA Shelf Life Extension Program has shown that 88% of 3005 lots of 122 drug products stored in their unopened containers remained stable for an average of 66 months after their labeled expiration date. Of these, 18% eventually failed in terms of presence of impurities, pH levels, water content, potency, dissolution or appearance. None failed before one year or expiration, and 312 passed tests for more than 4 years past the expiration date. The original effectiveness of medicine may decrease over time; however a lot of its original potency will still remain after the date of expiration. Excluding nitroglycerin, insulin, and liquid antibiotics, many medications are safe to use due to their long-lasting abilities.

How can I store my medication safely?

Placing a medication in a cool place, such as a refrigerator will help a drug remain potent for many years. However, storing medicine in heat or high humidity can shorten the life of medications. In a published study, certain medicines such as captopril tablets, cefoxitin sodium powder for injection, and theophylline tablets stored under stressful (hot or humid) conditions remained chemically stable after storage for 25 years and remained fully antiviral after boiling and holding at 65 – 85 degrees Celsius for many days. Another study showed that theophylline retained 90% of its potency 30 years after its expiration date.

Can liquid drugs be used after they expire?

Liquid drugs such as solutions and suspensions are generally not as stable as solid forms of medicine. Solution drugs such as injections, which have become cloudy or discolored, should not be used. The EpiPen loses its potency after its expiration date. In a study of 28 EpiPen 0.3 mg and 6 EpiPen 0.15 mg that was conducted 1-90 months after the expiration date on the auto injector labels, the decrease in epinephrine content was proportional to the number of months past its expiration date. Ophthalmic drugs such as Xaltan, the problem might not be with the stability of the drug, but more about the continue ability of the preservative to prevent microbial growth in the solution.

If you have no other alternative to your expired medication and a splitting headache, outdated drugs may work. There are no current reports of toxicity from degrading products available on the market today. If drugs are stored in reasonable conditions in their original unopened containers, they can retain up to 90% of their original potency for 5 years or more past their expiration date. The EpiPen, however, is an important exception.

For more information on how to order Canada drugs safely and securely call 1-866-732-0305 or visit http://www.doctorsolve.com/ – a trusted and reliable Canadian online pharmacy since 1999.

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January 12, 2010

January is National Blood Donor Month: Time to Roll up the Sleeves and Give A Little Back

Filed under: american red cross,ask not what your country can do for you ask what you can do for your country,blood,blood donation,blood transfusion,JFK,national blood donor month,red cross,Uncategorized — John @ 4:38 pm

With the New Year many people have probably made resolutions to lose some weight, take up something new, but how about a commitment to save lives? January is national blood donor month, and we’re going to need all the help we can get.

Blood is a very important substance, obviously, but many people never take the time to go and donate. The truth is, donating blood doesn’t take very long, and is very rewarding to both the person donating and the person receiving the blood. Obviously the person who needs the blood will be pleased that their life has just been saved because someone took that one hour out of their day to donate. However, when you go to donate you get a feeling of accomplishment. After donating you know that you may have just given a person another shot at life. You must remember that it could be anyone that might someday need blood, a complete stranger, maybe a relative of yours, maybe one day, you will need blood.

However, blood supplies are low, especially during these winter months. Unfortunately, winter is the time of year when blood is needed most. There are many accidents occurring every day, this combined with those that need blood for different conditions, like cancer, or surgeries puts a lot of stress on the American Red Cross. Not to mention, blood only remains usable for about forty-two days, making regular donations necessary.

Giving blood isn’t some giant obstacle, like competing in the Olympics. It takes about an hour, and you can do it about six times a year (every eight weeks or so). So why haven’t you gone and helped save a life. As long as you’re seventeen and healthy you should try to donate every so often. If you can only donate once a year, that’s great. If you can donate twice a year, awesome. If you can donate the complete six times a year, that’s fantastic. Try to donate and give back to your community this year. Remember, “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”

For more information on how to order Canada drugs safely and securely call 1-866-732-0305 or visit http://www.doctorsolve.com/ – a trusted and reliable Canadian online pharmacy since 1999.

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January 11, 2010

7 Health Benefits of Cheese

Filed under: bone strength,calcium,Cancer prevention,heart disease,high blood pressure,hypertension,lack of calcium,nutrition,osteoporosis,Uncategorized,vitamin B,vitamins,weight gain,zinc — Amanda @ 4:53 pm

No matter what type of cheese you eat (cheese in a can and cheese whiz don’t count) you are doing your body good. Cheese doesn’t get enough credit for it’s health benefits which include things like cancer prevention, bone strengthening, and cavity fighting – but the best part is that is also tastes great!

1. Nutrition - There is a very high concentration of essential nutrients in cheese including high quality proteins and calcium. There are also other elements in cheese such as phosphorous, zinc, vitamin A, riboflavin, and vitamin B12.

2. Cavity Prevention - Cheese is extremely high in its calcium content. This is the most important thing when it comes to strong teeth. In addition, cheese has a very low content of Lactose. Lactose is a substance that comes from food and can harm teeth (The older the cheese, the lower the Lactose levels). Eating certain varieties of cheese such as aged Cheddar, Swiss, Blue, Monterey Jack, Brie, Gouda, and processed American cheese immediately after a meal or as a snack has been proven to prevent tooth decay.

3. Cancer Prevention - Cheese contains substances called Conjugated Linoleic Acid and Sphingolipids that help prevent cancer. In addition the vitamin B in cheese is good for maintaining body functions and protecting the body from disease.

4. Weight Gain - Be careful if you are trying to loose weight – cheese contains a lot of natural fats which may cause weight gain. There are cheese which have a low-fat content that can be very healthy for you to eat and perfect for keeping your weight balanced. However, if you are trying to gain weight, whether its muscle weight, fat, or bone density, cheese is the healthy way to go. Cheese is full of protein, fat, calcium, and vitamins and minerals that keep muscles and bones strong and healthy. The vitamins and minerals are better for a balanced metabolism.

5. Bone Strength - Cheese is high in calcium content and rich in vitamin B. This is especially good for the bones of children, elderly people, and pregnant and lactating women for strengthening bones and cartilages. the vitamin B in cheese helps the body absorb and distribute calcium.

6. Osteoporosis - Since Osteoporosis is a deficiency diseased caused due to a lack of calcium, cheese is a perfect way to help the bone density of those suffering from Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis can be treated with protein, calcium, and a high intake of vitamins and minerals. All three of these things are found abundantly in cheese.

7. High Blood Pressure - Sodium and cholesterol are the elements that are considered harmful in people with high blood pressure, and hypertensive people are told to avoid them. Cheese in this situation must be considered critically. The fat in cheese depends on the quality of the milk it was made with. Full fat or cream milk, or low fat or fat free milk will determine how high the fat content of the cheese is. Typically, high fat cheese are more popular because they taste better, but many low-fat cheese are being introduced to shelves. Make sure to look for the fat content in the cheese before you buy it. The sodium content in cheese depends on the amount of salt added to the milk before it was turned into cheese. There are low-sodium cheese that are helpful in reducing agents which are associated with heart disease. The content of vitamin B in cheese is also helpful for those with high blood pressure.

For more information on how to order Canada drugs safely and securely call 1-866-732-0305 or visit http://www.doctorsolve.com/ – a trusted and reliable Canadian online pharmacy since 1999.

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January 7, 2010

Obesity is a Big, Fat Problem

Filed under: obesity,obesity research,quitting smoking,smoking,Uncategorized — Candace @ 5:28 pm

The longest adult health study conducted in the United States shows that obesity is a more worrisome threat to people’s health than smoking. It was discovered in this study that obesity causes equal or more disease than tobacco. It also shortens the same or more life spans than the use of tobacco.
The study lasted 15 years and included interviews of over 3.5 million people and calculations of the number of “quality-adjusted life years” (QALYs) which were lost due to either obesity or smoking. The QALYs were measured in quality and quantity of the life lived.

Important facts found by the study are as follows:

• In the past 15 years, while the smoking rate fell more than 18 percent, the rate of obesity was rising rapidly by 85 percent.

• Obesity can shorten your lifespan by up to 12 years.

• Type 2 diabetes causes the government over 100 billion dollars per year. This cost is expected to continue rising.

• In the United States, by 2020 (if patterns continue on their current path) smoking will decline by 21%, but 45% of the American population will be overweight.

• If the QALYS continued in the pattern they are following now, the future for a current 18 year old would not look very bright. By 2020 they will have lost 0.71 years of life.

• If things changed and all American adults were a healthy weight and did not smoke, the average 18 year old would have a life span nearly 4 years longer than normal.

Between three to five years of an overweight person’s life is spent with significant disabilities causing lack of functioning in their daily activities due to their obesity. Obesity is a major problem in America and the surrounding world, but its severity can be reduced.

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January 4, 2010

Ginkgo Biloba Proven Ineffective on Elderly

Filed under: Alzheimer\'s,Alzheimer\'s disease,cognative decline,ginkgo biloba,recent studies,Uncategorized — Candace @ 5:45 pm

A commonly used herbal supplement, Ginkgo biloba, is meant to ward off dementia and improve one’s memory, but has no effect on the elderly. A recent study done by the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory showed that Ginkgo biloba does not prevent cognitive decline for the elderly. Last year it was discovered that a twice a day dose of 120 milligrams of Ginkgo biloba for men and women ages 82 – 96 did not improve or prevent Alzheimer’s dementia or other dementia’s.

The study lasted 7 years long and included over 3,000 participants. It was one of the longest and largest scientific studies ever completed. Half of the participants were given a placebo and the other half was given Ginkgo biloba. Every 6 months the patients were observed and their mental state tested; five things were checked up on of all the participants: memory, how well people could use language, their awareness of space, how well they could concentrate, and how well they could carry out simple tasks.. At the conclusion of the 7 year study both sets of patients showed no difference in mental state. They all performed worse as time went on.
Ginkgo biloba is an extract from the root of a ginkgo tree. Ginkgo biloba has been used for 40 years in North America, and has been used for over 500 years in traditional Chinese medicine.

Ginkgo biloba is not harmful for the elderly, but is definitely ineffective. If you or someone you know is having difficulty with remembering or other tasks, make an appointment to see your doctor. If dementia is a possibility your doctor can help you look at treatments and plan for the future.

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