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Leukemia – The “White Blood” Cancer

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Introduction

Leukemia meaning white blood (Greek leukos, “white”; aima, “blood”) is a cancer of the blood or bone marrow and is characterized by an unusual growth of blood cells, usually white blood cells (leukocytes)and is split into its acute and chronic forms. It can affect the digestive tract, kidneys, lungs, and other parts of the body and can also collect in the testicles causing swelling. Leukemia is one of the most common types of cancers found in children, But it isn’t just a children’s disease, as many believe. It is newly found in about 29,000 adults and 2000 children every year in the US and has four primary types and many sub-types of which only a few of them are common among children. Leukemia that has spread to the brain can produce central nervous system effects, such as headaches, seizures, weakness, blurred eyesight, balance difficulties, or vomiting and the disease, or the chemotherapy used to treat it, may induce anemia.

Acute Leukemia

Acute leukemia is diagnosed by the speedy growth of immature blood cells, and is potentially curable; However only a small number of individual are cured with current methods. It begins with 1 or a few white blood cells that have a lost or damaged DNA sequence and grows worse very fast and may make you feel ill right away. It tends to develop suddenly, whereas some chronic types may exist for many years before they are even recognize. Immediate treatment is required due to the rapid progression and accumulation of the malignant cells, which then spill over into the bloodstream and spread to other areas of the body. Whereas acute leukemia must be treated immediately, chronic forms are sometimes watched for some time before treatment to produce maximum effectiveness of therapy.

Chronic Leukemia

Chronic leukemia is distinguished by the excessive build up of relatively mature, but still abnormal, blood cells and often goes undetected for many years until it is identified in a routine blood test. It is more commonly found between ages 40 and 70 and is rare among young persons. It tends to gets worse slowly and may not cause symptoms for years. Like many other cancers, it is a disease of old age. MDs often diagnose chronic leukemia during a routine checkup, before there are any recognizable symptoms. In adults, the acute forms occur in those of all ages, whereas the chronic varieties tend to occur in people older than 40 years. Although slow-growing chronic leukemia may also be seen in children, it is very unusual, accounting for less than 50 cases in children each year in North America.

Treatment

Treatment of leukemia is complex and it depends on your age and health, the type and how far it has spread. Treatment is usually considered necessary when the patient exhibits signs and symptoms such as low blood cell numbers. In general, ALL treatment is divided into several phases. In kids, an intensive six-month treatment program is required after induction, followed by 2 yrs of maintenance chemotherapy. For children with low-risk, standard therapy usually consists of three drugs (prednisone, L-asparaginase, and vincristine) for the first month of treatment. High-risk patients receive higher drug doses plus treatment with extra chemotherapeutic agents. Follow-up therapy for ALL patients normally consists of: supportive care, such as intravenous nutrition and therapy with oral antibiotics. In general, the indications for treatment are: falling hemoglobin or platelet count, progression to a later stage of disease, painful, disease-related overgrowth of lymph nodes or spleen, lymphocyte doubling time (an indicator of lymphocyte reproduction) of fewer than 12 months. Overall, the plan is to control bone marrow and systemic disease while offering specific therapy for the central nervous system (CNS), if necessary. Consolidation or “maintenance” treatments may be given to prevent disease recurrence once remission has been achieved. Whatever the plan, it is very important for the patient to understand the therapy that is being used and the reasons behind the choice.

Conclusion

Leukemia is a cancer of blood-forming cells in the bone marrow. These cells crowd out other types of blood cells produced by the bone marrow, including red blood cells, which transport oxygen to tissues throughout your body, and platelets, which help produce blood clots. Leukemia cells can migrate to the lymph nodes or other organs causing edema and/or pain and can also gather in the kidney, liver and spleen, creating enlargement of these organs. They also can affect the lungs and other parts of the body. Acute forms can occur in children and young adults. Chronic types most often occurs in older persons, but can theoretically occur in any age group. There is no single known cause for all of the different types of leukemia. Research has linked exposure to petrochemicals, like benzene, and hair dyes to the development of some types. Viruses have been linked to other forms. Until the cause or causes are found, there is no known way to prevent the occurrence of the disease. Since 1998, it is estimated that every year, approximately 30,800 individuals will be diagnosed with the disease in the US and 21,700 individuals will succomb to the disease.

Ricardo Henri is the creator of Natural Remedies,Treatments And Cures,a website concerninga wealth of information about taking care of your health containingout depending on medications and needless surgery. Subscribe to his monthly newsletter @ Natural Remedies Treatments Cures

Colitis – Up To 2,000,000 Americans Have It

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Introduction

Colitis (also called ulcerative colitis) is an acute or chronic inflammation of the membrane lining the colon (your large intestine or bowels) producing sores, called ulcers, in the top layers of the lining of the large intestine. It can be recognized using flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy. In both of these tests, a flexible tube is inserted in the rectum, and specific areas of the colon are tested. Colitis may be acute (lasting only a few days) or chronic(lasting weeks or even many months) and may result in bleeding, ulceration, perforation (a hole in the colon). It is best managed when its cause has been determine and a specific treatment can be utilized.

Symptoms

Symptoms may encompass abdominal pain, diarrhea, dehydration, abdominal bloating, increased intestinal gas, and bloody stools and can return in up to 20% of people with this disorder, thus requiring treatment with antibiotics to be repeated. Colitis can be tough to identify because its symptoms are similar to other intestinal problems such as ibs and Crohn disease (also called Crohn’s disease). The two most common symptoms are abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea. About 1/2 of the people diagnosed with the disease have mild signs. It is not caused by emotional distress or sensitivity to a particular food or a particular food product, but these factors might trigger symptoms in some people. The stress of living with colitis may also contribute to a worsening of symptoms. A number people have remissions periods when the symptoms go away and stay away for months or even years. Occasionally, symptoms are severe enough that a person has to be hospitalized.

Treatment

Treatment for colitis depends on the severity of the disease and typical begins with prescription anti-inflammatory drugs, such as mesalamine (Rowasa or Canasa) and sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), in order to reduce swelling. Treatment may also encompass taking nutritional supplements to resturn normal growth and sexual development in children and teens. Therapy is directed at the underlying cause of the disease, whether it be infection, inflammation, lack of blood flow, or other causes. The intent is to control the inflammation, diminish symptoms, and replace any lost fluids and nutrients. Treatment varies depending upon which parts of the colon are involved. Each of us experiences colitis differently, so treatment is adjusted for each individual. Sometimes the MD will suggest removing the colon if medical treatment fails or if the side effects of corticosteroids or other drugs threaten the patients health.

If you are already being treated for inflammatory bowel disease or ibs, contact your physician if you experience any prolonged changes or pass blood in your stools. Also see your physician if you have any of these conditions: Diarrhea lasting more than 3 days, Severe abdominal or rectal distress, Signs of dehydration such as dry mouth, anxiety or restlessness, excessive thirst, little or no urination, Frequent loose bowel movements during pregnancy, More than one other person who shared food with you who has symptoms similar to yours, for example abdominal pain, fever, and diarrhea, Blood or mucus in your stool, Progressively looser bowel movements, Fever with diarrhea, Pain moving from the area around your belly to your right lower abdomen. You should go to the hospital’s Emergency Department for any of these reasons: Abdominal pain with fever, Severe acute attacks in people diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, Signs of dehydration in an old or very young person, Progression or appearance of new symptoms over a few hours, Blood in your stool along with fever and loose bowel movements. Your physician will consider the possible reasons for your colitis and any complications that need urgent treatment.

Conclusion

Colitis is an inflammation of the large intestine that can be caused by many different disease processes and is usually found in younger persons, before they reach age 30. Up to 2 million people in the United States are estimated to have either ulcerative colitis or Crohn disease. Jewish persons tend to have more incidences of of the disease than non-Jewish. It affects men and women equally and seems to run in families, with reports of up to 20 percent of individuals with the disease having a family member or relative with ulcerative colitis or Crohns disease. Along with people of Jewish descent a higher incidence is also found in Whites. People with this disease routinely have abnormalities of the immune system, but doctors do not know if these abnormalities are a cause or a result of having the disease.

Many tests are employed to diagnose the disease. A colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy are the most accurate methods for making a diagnosis and ruling out other possible conditions, such as Crohns disease, diverticular disease, or cancer. Sometimes x rays utilizing a barium enema or CT scans are also used to diagnose colitis or its complications. There’s no known cure for it, but therapies are available that can dramatically minimize the signs and symptoms and even bring about a long-term remission. Your physician will decide which tests you need according to your symptoms, medical history, and clinical findings.

Ricardo Henri is the creator of Natural Remedies,Treatments And Cures,a website with a plethora of information concerning taking care of your health without relying on medications and unneeded surgery. Subscribe to his monthly newsletter @ natural remedies treatments cures

Kidney Stones – The Most Horrible Pain Of My Life!

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Introduction

Kidney stones, one of the most painful of the urological disorders, have affected humans for many centuries. They form when there is a large quantities of calcium oxalate or uric acid in the urine; a lack of citrate in the urine; or insufficient water in the kidneys to dissolve waste products. Kidney stones are most prevalent in patients between the ages of thirty and forty five, and the incidence declines after age 50. They may be as tiny as a grain of sand or as large as a pearl and frequently do not produce any symptoms.

Symptoms

Stones that produce lasting symptoms or other complications may be treated using various methods, most of which do not necessitate major surgery. Sometimes “silent” stones (those that do not produce symptoms) are found on x-rays taken during a general health exam. The doctor determines if the patient has a history of kidney stones, documents past health conditions, and evaluates present symptoms.

When the stone enters the bladder, the obstruction in the ureter is relieved and the symptoms are gone. Kidney stones routinely leave the body by passage in the urine stream, and many are formed and passed without producing any symptoms. Person’s with severe symptoms might require hospitalization. Call your health care provider if you have symptoms or if symptoms return, urinating becomes painful, urine output decreases, or new symptoms develop.

Treatment

Treatment varies, depending on the kind of stone and the cause and usually includes pain medication and increased fluids (to drink) until the stone has exit the body. If a stone has been removed, or if the patient has passed a stone and saved it, an analysis by the laboratory may help the physician in planning treatment. A second twenty four hour urine collection may be needed to determine whether the prescribed treatment is effective. Today, treatment for kidney stones is greatly improved, and many options do not need major surgery and can be performed in an outpatient setting.

To diminish the possibility of complications, physicians usually tell their patients to avoid taking aspirin and other medicines that affect blood clotting for several weeks before therapy. Often the stone is not completely shattered with 1 treatment, and additional ones may be needed. As with any interventional, surgical procedure, potential problems and complications should be discussed with your physician before making a final decision.

If no specific treatment exists, you may be able to stave off additional kidney stones simply by drinking more water and making a few dietary alterations. After treatment, the pain may return if the stone moves and causes blockage in another place. The goal of treatment is to ease and prevent further symptoms.

Conclusion

Kidney stones are tiny, hard deposits of mineral and acid salts on the inner surfaces of your kidneys and form when a change comes about in the normal balance of water, salts, minerals, and other things found in urine. They are very painful but often can be removed from the body without causing permanent damage. They normally cause no pain while in the kidneys, but can produce sudden, severe pain while traveling to the bladder. Kidney stones are more common in developed nations and do have regional variation in occurrence. They occur all year; however, most people seem to develop or become aware of stones during the summer time. They are an ancient affliction dating back to the age of the Egyptian pyramids, yet are still a common ailment in present times. Stones are usually passed out of the body within 48 hours, but attacks can sometimes last for more than 30 days. Most however, pass out of the body without help from a doctor.

If someone in your family has them, you’re more likely to develop them too and if you’ve already had one or more, you have an increased risk of developing another. Most people who develop stones are between 20 and 70 years of age. Having high blood pressure doubles your risk. According to The National Institute of Health, 1 person in 10 develops kidney stones during their lifetime and renal stone disease accounts for ten out of every one thousand hospital admissions. Conventional wisdom and common sense have long believed that consuming too much calcium could promote the development of kidney stones. However, current evidence suggests that the consumption of low-calcium diets is ACTUALLY associated with a higher overall risk for the development of kidney stones. Call your physician right away if you have symptoms that suggest you have them.

Ricardo Henri is the creator of Natural Remedies,Treatments And Cures,a website containing a plethora of information about caring for your health containingout depending on medicationsandunneededsurgery. Subscribe to his monthly newsletter @ Natural Remedies Treatments Cures

Written by Ricardo Henri

August 1st, 2011 at 9:35 am

High Blood Pressure – More Than 65 Million Americans Have It!

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Introduction

High blood pressure or hypertension refers to high pressure (tension) in the arteries. It does not mean overly excessive emotional tension, although emotional tension and stress can increase blood pressure temporarily. Hypertension normally has no symptoms, but it can create serious problems such as stroke, heart failure, heart attack and kidney failure. It causes the heart to work a lot harder and can harm the arteries, causing them to narrow a lot faster. It can also damage other parts of the body and is a major health problem in North America affecting 33% of Americans, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).

Hypertension

Hypertension, most commonly known as “high blood pressure”, HTN or HPN, is a medical condition in which the blood pressure is chronically elevated and is said to be present when a person’s systolic blood pressure is continouslyly 140 mmHg or greater, and/or their diastolic blood pressure is consistently 90 mmHg or greater. It can be typed as either essential (primary) or secondary and is one of the most routine complex disorders, with genetic implications averaging thirty percent.

Hypertension can be a temporary or life time ailment, depending on the cause and is dangerous because it causes the heart to work much harder. Pre-hypertension is high blood tension between 120 and 139 for the top number, or between 80 and 89 for the bottom number. For example, blood pressure readings of 138/82, 128/89, or 130/86 are all in the pre-hypertension range. If your blood tension is in the pre-hypertension range, it is more likely that you will end up with hypertension unless you take preventative action. Should you have this kind of hypertension, you may not need to take medication.

Heart

Some person’s may not know they have HBP until they have trouble with their heart, brain, or kidneys. When it is not diagnosed and treated, it can cause the heart to increase in size, which may cause heart failure. With HBP, the heart works harder, your arteries take a beating, and your chances of a stroke, heart attack, and kidney problems are larger. If you don’t have hypertension by age fifty five, you have a 90 percent chance of developing it at some time in your life, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Unattended, it will cause the heart to eventually overwork itself to the point at which serious damage can happen. About 1/2 of people having first-time heart attacks and 2/3 of people having first-time strokes suffer from HBP.

Did you know, laughing heartily 100 times every day gives the same cardio results as exercising for 20 minutes?

Treatment

Treatment is focused on lowering water retention and lowering HBP to normal bounderies. When you first start treatment, your physician may want you to come to the office on a regular basis. Your physician will review the information with you and determine if your treatment program is working or if you need to make changes to it. Among the sixty one percent who are under treatment, only thirty five percent have their blood tension adequately controlled. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, talk to your physician.

Conclusion

Hypertension is called the silent killer because it usually produces no symptoms and is a risk factor for heart and kidney disease and stroke. HBP does not occur evenly throughout the population and occurs disproportionately more often in minority communities. High blood pressure rates are also rising among US children, alongside an epidemic of obesity. Hypertension in adults will usually be measured on at least 2 different MD visits before a diagnosis can be made. It can be treated with both lifestyle modifications, usually as the 1st step, and, if necessary, with medications. Diuretics work in the kidney and flush excess water and sodium from the body. Nearly one third American adults have high blood pressure. Once It begins, it normally lasts a lifetime. Fortunately, it can be easily diagnosed, and once you know you have it, you can work with your MD to control it.

R. Henri is the creator of Natural Remedies,Treatments And Cures,a website with a wealth of information concerning caring for your health without depending on medicines and needless surgery. Subscribing to his monthly newsletter @ Natural Remedies Treatments Cures

What To Do If You Have Been Diagnosed With Pre Diabetes

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To hear the words “you have pre diabetes” can be a jolt. But a jolt may be a blessing in disguise.

Alarm bells should be ringing, if you have been diagnosed as having pre diabetes. Pre diabetes becomes type 2 diabetes, if you do not take steps to prevent it from happening. Believe me…… you dont want to have type 2 diabetes. It is horrible.

I know about type 2 diabetes first hand. My mother had it and she lost her foot because of it. Once type 2 diabetes sets in, not only will you risk losing your feet, but you also risk losing your eyesight, kidney failure, and even premature death.

The cause of pre diabetes is not known, but researchers know that overweight people are prone to it. Excess fat, especially abdominal fat, and inactivity seem to play an important role in who becomes pre diabetic.

What is known, is that a permanent loss of weight is the only way to prevent a pre diabetes condition from becoming type 2 diabetes. Continuous adherence to a good diet and regular exercise, are the only known ways to lose weight and keep it off.

Most people diagnosed with pre diabetes are overweight because they live a sedentary lifestyle and because their diet is poor. To avoid the onset of type 2 diabetes, both of these circustances must be changed.

This means that pre diabetics have to change their lifestyle. This is hard to do.

However you only have two options. You can either continue with your current way of eating and your current activity level, or you can change them.

If you dont make these changes, it is likely that you will become a type 2 diabetic. If you do make these changes, you will lose weight. This will prevent the onset of diabetes.

Once you lose weight, you will need to continue to eat in a way that keeps the weight off for the rest of your life. You will also need to remain physically active from now on.

A great deal of information already exists about exercise routines that brings about weight loss. Most of it is valid. You will also find that alot of information exists about diets. Unfortunately, most of the popular diets will not help you to achieve permanent weight loss. They have been developed to help people lose weight fast…..not permanently. Fast weight loss does not result in permanent weight loss. People regain weight, after doing a fast weight loss diet.

You can prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. Now you know how to do it. Dont allow type 2 diabetes to develop. Once you have it, it is irreversible.

The author suggests that you check out http://bestprediabetesdiet.com, to learn about an effective pre diabetes diet that will enable you to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes.

Why You Have Not Achieved Permanent Fat Loss

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If you see unwanted body fat when you look at the mirror, it may help you to answer this question. Who put it there? Yes – sometimes nature assists in creating it, but you had a big hand in it. Whether nature provided a helping hand or not, the reason it is still there is totally because of you.

You may be giving yourself excuses for it, but the truth is that the fat is still there, only because you permit it. You have the power to decide whether it stays or goes. If you decide to allow it to stay, you need to learn to live with it. To lose it, you must take effective action.

To lose your unwanted fat, you will need to follow a 3 step formula. The first step requires a decision from you to lose it. Step 2 is learning how to lose it. Step 3 is implementing what you learned in step 2. It sounds simple enough, doesnt it?

Step 3 is the easiest of the steps, when steps 1 and 2 have been done with care. Step 2 can be a pitfall, because too many people omit it. They think that they already know how to do it, when they dont. They go straight on to step 3 from step 1, using incorrect information. Not only does this result in fat loss failure, but it denies them the information that has been proven to bring about the permanent loss of fat.

The reason that you are carrying unwanted body fat is most likely because of step one. It is the biggest obstacle that most people face. The decision to lose your fat, has to be made with conviction. It has to be irrevocable. You have to be prepared to do whatever it takes to lose your unwanted fat, because it is hard to do. Have you made that decision yet?

Your Actions Follow Your Thoughts

Several studies have been done to determine the traits that differentiate people who succeed in achieving goals, from those who do not. A significant finding was that successful people first address their own thoughts about the goal, and get their thinking right, before they achieve the goal.

If you change your thoughts about an undesirable condition in your life, you can improve that condition. You can change your life, by changing your thinking.

This can be applied to any conditions in your life, that are not as you want them to be. This of course includes the unwanted fat on your body. When you get your thinking right about this, the loss of fat will follow.

The author recommends that you obtain a copy of the A-Z Roadmap For Effective Weight Loss to help you achieve your fat loss goals faster. You can get free access to it, for a limited time, by going to this effective weight loss website.

Utilizing Cordyceps To Benefit Health And Well Living

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You can use cordyceps sinensis in order to benefit your health and well being in a host of ways. This is something that is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and can be applied in many useful ways that will improve various aspects of your life. In choosing to use this supplement you will notice positive changes that are made over time and this will impact upon both your physical and psychological health.

Originally grown in China it has been a handy way to help your health that people in this region of the world have been using since ancient times. It is now becoming more common in usage as people are looking for different medical solutions to benefit them mentally and physically. It is different to conventional medical options and works well for people for whom traditional approaches have been unsuccessful.

Lots of research has been undertaken and the results of this have shown that it has many positive attribute which may be directly applied to specific health conditions and it will have a beneficial effect on things ranging from blood pressure issues to helping you to endure physically as well as having mild aphrodisiac qualities which can help to create better physical relationships.

It is notable for being beneficial with regards to helping you endure for longer when undertaking physical exercise. The lifestyle and diet of Chinese athletes has been supplemented by this and they have gone on to win some of the sports highest honours, including Olympic gold medals. This has been covered extensively and was used because of the recommendation of their coaches who are experts in nutrition and fitness for those operating at the highest levels.

This will be something that will be useful when used alongside a balanced diet and the correct levels of hydration and rest to ensure that you are able to put in your best physical performance and reach any goals you have set for yourself with regards to doing exercises or carrying out strenuous tasks over a period of time

It also serves to improve your fatigue and stress resistance levels and this is a handy application when applied to a busy and stressful life whether you are affected by work pressures or family and emotional concerns. There have also been signs that it works to lower your cholesterol which is another way to help you to be healthier and watch your blood pressure.

In addition the immune system is boosted by it and it has been shown to counteract the growth of tumours internally. It also boasts of qualities that will reduce the signs of aging and this can be due to the fact that it helps the blood flow to be improved and assists the body’s natural detoxing systems due to it being a worthy anti oxidant in it’s own right.

If you are the sort of person who wants to manage their feelings of fatigue and stress more effectively then this may prove beneficial for you in the long and short term.

Have a look at our article on Cordyceps for more info about Cordysen benefits. You can also find tips for lowering cholesterol and blood pressure naturally .

Written by Andrew S Weil

June 14th, 2011 at 4:04 pm

The Advantage Of Alkaline Diet To Diabetics

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Diabetics find difficulty in maintaining the proper sugar level without keeping an ideal diet. Fortunately, there is one diet that is believed to be good for diabetes that is the alkaline diet. This diet is composed of fruits and vegetables just like other diet plans. The difference is that in this diet a person should consume the fruits and vegetables as well as other foods that are excellent source of alkaline. We know that diabetics easily develop hyper-acidity that is why they avoid eating foods rich in acid. They say that alkaline maintains the pH balance as well as improves the immune system.

Diabetics are susceptible to any infections and diseases. That is why to prevent this to happen a person should take alkaline diet. You can consume vegetables like bell pepper, cucumber, mushroom, peas as well as radish. These vegetables are excellent source of alkaline. However, you should know the right amount of vegetable that you should intake. Make sure to consume only the needed amount of the body.

On the other hand, eating fruits like dry dates, lime, kiwi fruits, raisins and watermelon is also recommended. You can obtain enough amount of alkaline in these fruits. Although lime is categorized as acidic, it transforms to alkaline when metabolized. The creator of the alkaline diet encourages eating raw fruits in order to achieve effective results. Likewise, cereals, nuts, fresh herbs and herbal teas also provide alkaline.

Acidic food such as processed foods and beef should be avoided by diabetics. If you love to eat processed food you need to lessen your intake especially if you are diabetic otherwise you will develop hyper-acidity. You can mitigate aggravating the condition by taking foods rich in alkaline. You can also follow the diet plan if you want to loss weight. The alkaline content helps gradual loss of weight.

Nutrition experts and medical professionals are hesitant to recommend this diet plan. However, conventional doctors suggest this diet because they see some positive results of the alkaline diet. According to them it prevents osteoporosis, kidney stone formation as well as muscle wasting.

Before you decide to take alkaline diet you should still consult your physician if it is suitable to your health. Although the diet is good for diabetes but it is ideal if you seek first professional advice. Doing this, it would be safe for you to take the diet without worrying about your health status.

Learn more about alkaline foods. Stop by Emma Deangela’s site where you can find out all about alkaline diet and what it can do for you.

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New Century Spine Centers In San Diego Reveals Cutting Carbohydrates May Be Better Than A Low-Fat Diet.

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Eating fat is no good. But no wait, aren’t carbohydrates evil. One expert will say one thing, and then another doctor will say something else. Back and forth this story goes. Maybe that new infomercial selling the latest miracle weight loss vitamin is the way to go? In the meantime, you’re confused and not losing any weight. Well, get ready for some possible answers and even a few more questions. As a chiropractor in San Diego, chiropractic patients regularly ask these questions.

First, the results of a new study in the June 19th, 2010 edition of The Endocrine Society reports obese women with insulin resistance lose more weight after three months on a lower-carbohydrate diet than on a traditional low-fat diet with the same number of calories. The study’s lead author, Raymond Plodkowski, MD, Chief of Endocrinology, Nutrition and Metabolism at the University Of Nevada School Of Medicine, Reno wrote, “The typical diet that physicians recommend for weight loss is a low-fat diet. However, as this study shows, not all people have the same response to diets.”

According to the researchers, for this group of women, the lower carbohydrate diet is more effective than the low fat diet. This is at least for the short term. The study lasted 12 weeks and was funded by the company Jenny Craig. It found the insulin resistant women on the lowest-carbohydrate diet lost 3.4 pounds more than those on the low fat diet. Total calories for all groups were the same. The low fat diet included 60% of its calories from carbohydrates, 20% from fat, and 20% from protein. The low-carbohydrate diet included 45% of its calories from carbs, 35% from primary unsaturated fats, and 20% from protein. Both diets included a minimum of 2 fruits and 3 vegetable servings a day. The use of prepared meals made the structured diets easier and more palatable for the dieter.

After you eat, blood glucose levels rise and your pancreas secretes insulin to allow cells to absorb and use the glucose. Since the women in the abovementioned study were all insulin resistant, you might be wondering, “What is insulin resistance?” Insulin resistance is a condition where the body produces insulin but does not use it properly. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas to break down glucose in the blood so it can be used for energy. Glucose is a form of sugar and is the body’s #1 source of energy. After your digestive system breaks food down into glucose, glucose is then transported to different parts of your body via the bloodstream. Glucose in the blood stream is called “blood glucose” or “blood sugar.”

Insulin resistance not only sets the stage for developing Type 2 Diabetes, it increases the odds of the number one killer in America: heart disease. According to the American Diabetes Association: “People with diabetes have a higher-than-average risk of having a heart attack or stroke. These strike people with diabetes more than twice as often as people without diabetes.” When people are insulin resistant, they do not respond properly to insulin. In other words, even though the pancreas secretes insulin, it is not effective in getting the glucose from the blood into the cells. More insulin is needed so the pancreas works harder and secretes more. Eventually, the pancreas cannot keep up with the increased demand and glucose builds up in the blood. This is the beginning of diabetes. It is common for diabetics to have high levels of both glucose and insulin circulating in the bloodstream.

So what causes insulin resistance? There seem to be several contributing factors. The first factor may be genetic. Weight and lack of physical activity also seem to play a major role. Some scientists think specific genes make certain people more susceptible to insulin resistance. But, genes aren’t everything. Then, there are also the types of food you eat. The more junk sugars (ice cream, candy bars, etc.) you eat, the more your little pancreas has to work to keep up with all the sugar that has been dumped into the bloodstream. Just like everything else, there is only so much work your pancreas can do. If the pace is too high for too long, it will basically burn out and quit. It is important to stop this process before it gets too far. Exercise, weight loss and proper diet can reverse many cases of insulin resistance and pre-diabetes. According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, “The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) and other large studies have shown that people with pre-diabetes can often prevent or delay diabetes if they lose a modest amount of weight by cutting fat and calorie intake and increasing physical activity; for example, walking 30 minutes a day 5 days a week. Losing just 5 to 7 percent of body weight prevents or delays diabetes by nearly 60 percent. In the DPP, people aged 60 or older who made lifestyle changes lowered their chances of developing diabetes by 70 percent.”

For more information about health and wellness, visit www.BackCareTreatment.com. With all of this information, the most important message to take away is this: Lifestyle has a major impact on your health. Different people react to different foods and diets in different ways, and it is important to pay attention to what you eat and figure out what is best for you. But no matter what, regular exercise and staying away from junk food loaded with bad fats and sugar is a very good idea. Research may not have all the answers yet, but to our knowledge, there is no study that says sitting on the couch stuffing your face with candy bars and ice cream is good for your health.

Want to find out more about diabetes and chiropractic, then visit New Century Spine Centers site on how to choose the best chiropractor for your needs.

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How Diabetes Signs Usually Manifest

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There are many different symptoms of diabetes. Some symptoms make diagnosis easy while others not so much. Another person’s diabetes symptoms might be more subtle and that person could be misdiagnosed a few times before a correct diagnosis is made. There have been great new medical strides taken to develop a short list of very descriptive symptoms that you should be aware of. Read on to learn more about a few of the major symptoms. If you have any of these symptoms or know someone who does see your doctor.

One of the most highly visible signs of diabetes is extreme tiredness. Yes, fatigue is an indicator of many different problems.There are times it can be an indication of a major sickness. Other times it is as non-complex as needing more sleep at night. However, when it is occurring because of diabetes, the fatigue is outrageous. Someone dealing with this type of fatigue probably gets more than enough sleep at night and, even if he is not very active, will often feel absolutely exhausted. This is the kind of tiredness that is often associated with mononucleosis and can be just as much of a hindrance. Beware of your energy levels. If there is no logical explanation for you to be feeling so fatigued, contact your doctor to see if they’ll run some tests.

Usually, a majority of cuts and scrapes, when medicated appropriates, will take hardly any time to recover. A majority will close up and begin to recover within a week. Some disappear in that much time. Of course, when you have diabetes, even small wounds might not recover appropriately.This is due to your body’s capability of sending in healing white blood cells and reconstructing the skin being affected by a decrease of sugar and insulin in the blood. If you have seen that you are taking longer to heal than you used to, you should think about calling your physician. This is almost always a cue for a grievous problem.

How often do you urinate during the day? This is seemingly something you prefer not to answer out loud. You should at least answer the question in your head. While some may believe that is actually the excessive thirst diabetes symptom that makes the excessive urination occur, physicians insist that it is a symptom all on it’s own. It you recognize that you are always running to the bathroom–even if you aren’t consuming much food or drink–you should talk to your medical professional about checking out your potassium and bladder functions. It is quite feasible that in the middle of the testing, the physician may find diabetes.

Diabetes is very difficult to diagnose. This is on account of many of the warning signs mimicking the warning signs of other illnesses, as well. The most direct signs can only be discovered after thorough testing. Still, there are things you can see physically and features of diabetes that you should be keeping an eye out for. Diabetes is not an illness to be taken lightly, particularly if it isn’t treated right. Appropriate treatment is dependent on a real diagnosis. So, if you end up discovering that your body is doing something funny, you should consult your physician. What you assume is a cold may turn out to be diabetes.

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categories: diabetes,disease,medicine,alternative medicine,health

Written by Eric Valdez

September 16th, 2010 at 5:58 pm

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