If you think the risks of cancer , hardening of the arteries, heart attacks, stroke, and emphysema are the only negative effects of smoking, you're wrong.
Your body's capacity for physical work depends on the amount of oxygen it can take in. Without oxygen the body cells cannot burn food for energy. And the only way oxygen can get into the body cells is through the process of respiration, which occurs on two different levels. In external respiration (what we call breathing) the lungs exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen from the atmosphere. Internal respiration involves the same exchange of gases between the bloodstream and body cells.
As the blood flows through the capillaries, it releases oxygen into the cells. Simultaneously, carbon dioxide passes from the cells into the bloodstream. The blood then goes to the lungs to expel its load of carbon dioxide and picks up a fresh supply of oxygen. Because the body tissues cannot store oxygen, they must be continuously resupplied by the blood stream.
Studies have shown that some cells are unable to carry oxygen for more than 12 hours after transporting carbon monoxide. If you smoke about 20 cigarettes, the oxygen supply in your circulatory system is reduced by five to ten percent. As a result, oxygen transport (the carrying of oxygen throughout the body by the blood cells) is limited considerably. This reduction in the oxygen-transporting capacity results in the corresponding reduction in the physical performance capacity during heavy work.
A non-smoker who trains regularly can expect a 10 to 20 percent increase in his maximum oxygen absorption. However, this training improvement is cut in half for the smoker whose oxygen uptake goes up only five to ten percent. Cigarette smoking has also been linked to an increased oxygen debt after exercise.
Perhaps the most conclusive evidence of smoking's effect on performance was revealed by Dr. Kenneth Cooper, author of Aerobics, in a 1968 study of 419 Air Force recruits. Cooper and his colleagues evaluated the airmen during their first six weeks of active duty by having them perform the 12-minute maximum running test. Although both smokers and non-smokers improved by the end of six weeks, those who smoked 10 to 30 cigarettes a day showed a significantly smaller change in fitness levels than did the non-smokers. Cooper concluded that smoking causes chronic problems which affect endurance and performance improvement during training.
Cooper also proved what other researchers have been saying for years--that the airmen's smoking increased their pulse rate and oxygen consumption during rest, raised their blood pressure, constricted certain blood vessels, decreased defusing capacity (the lung's ability to exchange gases with the bloodstream) and lung capacity and incurred a larger oxygen debt during exercise. Any or all of these symptoms can cut down on your body's overall efficiency.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Gallstones Risk Can Be Reduced
Dr. Olin Thurston of Alberta, Canada, says that the risk of gallstones can be reduced significantly simply by eating a bowl of bran cereal everyday.
"By feeding gallstone patients added fiber in their diet in the form of bran, we were able to reduce the cholesterol saturation of their bile," explains Dr. Thurston.
Researchers recommend drinking celery juice to prevent the formation of gallstones.
But how do we develop gallstones?
Medical studies tell us that when cholesterol in the liver or gallbladder solidifies with the bile that is secreted by the liver to help digest fat, gallstones form.
Gallstones are formed in the gallbladder , a membrane sac attached to the liver where excess bile (or gall) is stored; they may pass through the body unnoticed, but if the gallstones get lodged
in the cystic duct--a small passageway from the liver to the gallbladder--they may eventually cause intense pain. Symptoms of the disease may vary from mild discomfort to severe pain. Nausea, jaundice, or fever may result when the patient's bile duct is blocked by the gallstones.
To help prevent gallstone formation, please follow these health tips:
Hydrochloric acid is but one component of the stomach's digestive juices and enzymes. The pancreas manufactures and secretes not only pancreatin, but a wide spectrum of enzymes and ferments, active in the small intestine, the primary site for food absorption into the blood stream.
"By feeding gallstone patients added fiber in their diet in the form of bran, we were able to reduce the cholesterol saturation of their bile," explains Dr. Thurston.
Researchers recommend drinking celery juice to prevent the formation of gallstones.
But how do we develop gallstones?
Medical studies tell us that when cholesterol in the liver or gallbladder solidifies with the bile that is secreted by the liver to help digest fat, gallstones form.
Gallstones are formed in the gallbladder , a membrane sac attached to the liver where excess bile (or gall) is stored; they may pass through the body unnoticed, but if the gallstones get lodged
in the cystic duct--a small passageway from the liver to the gallbladder--they may eventually cause intense pain. Symptoms of the disease may vary from mild discomfort to severe pain. Nausea, jaundice, or fever may result when the patient's bile duct is blocked by the gallstones.
To help prevent gallstone formation, please follow these health tips:
- Eat omega-3 fatty acids, like chia seeds and flaxseed oil.
- Take lecithin daily, supplemented by vitamin E, to lower gallstone formation.
- Drink enough water to help prevent gallstones. (Water keeps the gallbladder clean)
- Do not eat animal fat as it can cause gallstones.
- Avoid processed foods, fried, sweet or junk foods.
- Do not use alcohol, caffeine, or tobacco.
- Eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruits daily, instead of refined carbohydrates, to prevent stone formation. (Richest food sources of vitamin E are: wheat germ; whole wheat; safflower nuts; sunflower seeds; walnuts; hazelnuts; almonds; brazil nuts; cashew; olive oil; cabbage; spinach; asparagus; broccoli; oats; barley; avocados--and more)
- Exercise. (Cholesterol is excreted more rapidly by the liver and bladder with regular exercise)
- Maintain an ideal weight. (Overweight women over 40--not to mention those having several children--have the most gallstones, compared with men of the same age bracket, according to studies)
Hydrochloric acid is but one component of the stomach's digestive juices and enzymes. The pancreas manufactures and secretes not only pancreatin, but a wide spectrum of enzymes and ferments, active in the small intestine, the primary site for food absorption into the blood stream.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Dangers of Cell Phone Radiation
In a timely article, Cell Phone Radiation Triggers Measurable Brain Cell Damage In Mere Minutes (originally published in Mike Adams' website, www.newstarget.com/z022429.html), we are reproducing the following report by David Gutierrez:
As little as 10 minutes on a cell phone can trigger changes in brain cells linked to cell division and cancer, suggests a new study conducted by researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel and published in the Biochemical Journal.
Previously, advocates of cell-phone safety have maintained that the phones cannot cause brain damage because the microwave radiation that they emit is at a level too low to heat the body's cells. But in the new study, changes in biological processes began at an energy level even lower than that used by a typical phone, even without heating occurring.
"Safety guidelines assume (that) health effects from mobiles can only occur when significant heating of body tissue occurs. (But) this study shows biological changes in response to low-level mobile phone radiation--something that could potentially have implications for health," said Graham Philips of the British nonprofit Powerwatch.
Researchers exposed both human and rat cells to low-level radiation at a frequency of 875 megahertz, a similar frequency to that used by most cellular phones. The intensity of the radiation was far lower than that used by most phones, however.
Even so, within 10 minutes the scientists observed changes within the cells. A chemical switch regulating cell division was switched on--a switch that has been linked to a variety of cancers.
There was no direct evidence of cancer inducement in the current study . However, the researchers point out that the changes occurring at the low radiation level were non-thermal in nature, something previously said to be impossible. Thus, the study challenges the entire the entire basis on which cell phones' presumption of safety has been based.
"The significance lies in showing cells do react to cell-phone radiation in a non-thermal way," said co-author Rony Seger. "We used radiation power levels that were around one tenth of those produced by a normal mobile. The changes we observed were clearly not caused by heating."
"This helps explain why mobile phone radiation has been linked to increases in cancer tumors," said consumer health advocate Mike Adams. "Until now, skeptics have said the radiation wasn't intense enough to cause cells to overheat, but now we're learning there can be significant cellular changes taking place at far lower levels of exposure."
(Our profound thanks to Mike Adams for sharing with us this important report which we have considered as a health "gem."--J.P.)
As little as 10 minutes on a cell phone can trigger changes in brain cells linked to cell division and cancer, suggests a new study conducted by researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel and published in the Biochemical Journal.
Previously, advocates of cell-phone safety have maintained that the phones cannot cause brain damage because the microwave radiation that they emit is at a level too low to heat the body's cells. But in the new study, changes in biological processes began at an energy level even lower than that used by a typical phone, even without heating occurring.
"Safety guidelines assume (that) health effects from mobiles can only occur when significant heating of body tissue occurs. (But) this study shows biological changes in response to low-level mobile phone radiation--something that could potentially have implications for health," said Graham Philips of the British nonprofit Powerwatch.
Researchers exposed both human and rat cells to low-level radiation at a frequency of 875 megahertz, a similar frequency to that used by most cellular phones. The intensity of the radiation was far lower than that used by most phones, however.
Even so, within 10 minutes the scientists observed changes within the cells. A chemical switch regulating cell division was switched on--a switch that has been linked to a variety of cancers.
There was no direct evidence of cancer inducement in the current study . However, the researchers point out that the changes occurring at the low radiation level were non-thermal in nature, something previously said to be impossible. Thus, the study challenges the entire the entire basis on which cell phones' presumption of safety has been based.
"The significance lies in showing cells do react to cell-phone radiation in a non-thermal way," said co-author Rony Seger. "We used radiation power levels that were around one tenth of those produced by a normal mobile. The changes we observed were clearly not caused by heating."
"This helps explain why mobile phone radiation has been linked to increases in cancer tumors," said consumer health advocate Mike Adams. "Until now, skeptics have said the radiation wasn't intense enough to cause cells to overheat, but now we're learning there can be significant cellular changes taking place at far lower levels of exposure."
(Our profound thanks to Mike Adams for sharing with us this important report which we have considered as a health "gem."--J.P.)
Monday, August 29, 2011
Our Saliva's Vital Functions
As we had earlier discussed in the two-part article, Hormone Imbalance: Disease Indicator (posted last August 15 and 22, 2011), our saliva is not only used for testing hormone levels but also performs other functions necessary for cellular energy and metabolism.
The secretion of saliva is one such function, often ignored, that can go wrong for most people as age advances. Looking like tiny clusters of grapes, there are six salivary glands, three on each side of the mouth. The parotid, below the ear, is the largest; the sublingual glands are under the tip of the tongue; the remaining two submaxillary glands are under the lower jaw. Together, the glands secrete more than two and a half pints of saliva a day (not much, considering the cow produces about 12 gallons daily).
Because we seldom miss the water until the well runs dry--or we feel thirsty--we take saliva for granted. But saliva does more than wet our tongue: it is important in the digestion of food. While our teeth grind food into the pulp called bolus, digestive juices in the saliva begin the breakdown of carbohydrates.
The reason we are advised to chew our food well is that digestion starts in the mouth. Anything put into the mouth causes a flow of saliva. It not only liquifies and lubricates the food to be swallowed, it activates the taste bud glands which stimulate the release of digestive juices in the stomach. And to keep our mouth healthy, our saliva excretes germ-killing substances that protect our mouth from disease.
The smell, and even sight, of savory food will make the mouth water, while fear, nervousness and depression can cause dry mouth, all demonstrating that our salivary glands are influenced by the nervous system.
Dry mouth is often a symptom of disease, and possibly the most serious is diabetes. The research group at the University of Alabama Department of Oral Medicine, headed by E. Cheraskin, M.D., D.M.D., found that a dry mouth is not only a symptom of diabetes or a similar condition of hyperglycemia but actually reflects any disorder of the carbohydrate metabolism that will cause the blood to contain too much or too little sugar.
Physiological disorders can influence the salivary flow. Mumps and other virus infections affect the parotid gland, and such infections are fairly common in people over sixty.
Salivary ducts (tubes) can be blocked by stones (calculi). When this occurs in the submaxillary duct, it is sometimes possible to feel a tender lump in the lower mouth under the tongue. Abscess is a frequent result and surgery is usually required to bring relief.
Hypersecretion can result in up to 10 quarts of saliva in a day. The cause can be ill-fitting dentures, drugs, various poisons, and a long list of organic and emotional disorders. If your flow of saliva has changed and you think it might be more or less normal, see your doctor.
The secretion of saliva is one such function, often ignored, that can go wrong for most people as age advances. Looking like tiny clusters of grapes, there are six salivary glands, three on each side of the mouth. The parotid, below the ear, is the largest; the sublingual glands are under the tip of the tongue; the remaining two submaxillary glands are under the lower jaw. Together, the glands secrete more than two and a half pints of saliva a day (not much, considering the cow produces about 12 gallons daily).
Because we seldom miss the water until the well runs dry--or we feel thirsty--we take saliva for granted. But saliva does more than wet our tongue: it is important in the digestion of food. While our teeth grind food into the pulp called bolus, digestive juices in the saliva begin the breakdown of carbohydrates.
The reason we are advised to chew our food well is that digestion starts in the mouth. Anything put into the mouth causes a flow of saliva. It not only liquifies and lubricates the food to be swallowed, it activates the taste bud glands which stimulate the release of digestive juices in the stomach. And to keep our mouth healthy, our saliva excretes germ-killing substances that protect our mouth from disease.
The smell, and even sight, of savory food will make the mouth water, while fear, nervousness and depression can cause dry mouth, all demonstrating that our salivary glands are influenced by the nervous system.
Dry mouth is often a symptom of disease, and possibly the most serious is diabetes. The research group at the University of Alabama Department of Oral Medicine, headed by E. Cheraskin, M.D., D.M.D., found that a dry mouth is not only a symptom of diabetes or a similar condition of hyperglycemia but actually reflects any disorder of the carbohydrate metabolism that will cause the blood to contain too much or too little sugar.
Physiological disorders can influence the salivary flow. Mumps and other virus infections affect the parotid gland, and such infections are fairly common in people over sixty.
Salivary ducts (tubes) can be blocked by stones (calculi). When this occurs in the submaxillary duct, it is sometimes possible to feel a tender lump in the lower mouth under the tongue. Abscess is a frequent result and surgery is usually required to bring relief.
Hypersecretion can result in up to 10 quarts of saliva in a day. The cause can be ill-fitting dentures, drugs, various poisons, and a long list of organic and emotional disorders. If your flow of saliva has changed and you think it might be more or less normal, see your doctor.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Hormonal Imbalance:Disease Indicator, Part 2
Hormones which need testing. The major sex hormones to assess, according to Dr. Merced, are estradiol, progesterone and testosterone. The main adrenal hormones are DHEA and cortisol. These five hormones will provide crucial information about deficiencies, excesses, and daily patterns, which then result in a specifically tailored treatment approach.
Below is a brief description of each of the five hormones:
Finally, Dr. Merced enumerates the steps in checking if our hormones are balanced:
Below is a brief description of each of the five hormones:
- Estrogen comes in three forms made by the body: estrone, estradiol and estriol. Estradiol is the form used in past hormone replacement therapies, often in the form of concentrated pregnant mare's urine (premarin). It is a proliferative (causes growth) hormone that grows the lining of the uterus; a known cancer-causing hormone that can induce breast and endometrial (uterine) in women and prostate cancer in men. It can treat menopausal symptoms like hot flushes, insomnia and memory-loss. With the bio-identical formulas, estriol is matched with estradiol (biest) to provide protective effects and additional estrogenic benefits. The other major protector in keeping estradiol from running amok is progesterone.
- Progesterone is called the anti-estrogen hormone because it balances estradiol's proliferative effects. It is considered preventive for breast and prostate cancers as well as osteoporosis. In addition, too little progesterone promotes depression, irritability, increased inflammation, irregular menses, breast tenderness, urinary frequency and prostate gland enlargement (BPH).
- Testosterone is an anabolic hormone (builds tissue) that is essential for men and women. The proper level of testosterone is necessary for bone health, muscle strength, stamina, sex drive and performance, heart function and mental focus.
- DHEA is an important adrenal gland hormone which is essential for energy production and blood sugar balance. DHEA is a precursor to other hormones, mainly testosterone.
- Cortisol is your waking day hormone (highest in the morning and lowest at night). It is necessary for energy production, blood sugar metabolism, anti-inflammatory effects and stress response.
Finally, Dr. Merced enumerates the steps in checking if our hormones are balanced:
- Saliva test for hormone levels.
- Review the results with your doctor.
- Determine together the hormone supplementation program best for you.
- Repeat testing and follow up with your practitioner as advised.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Hormonal Imbalance: Disease Indicator, Part 1
Dr. Fe Jocelyn G. Merced, an Alternative and Integrative Medicine practitioner, who operates Lifestream Health Centre, in Pasig City, Philippines, recently discussed with us the health benefits of maintaining the endocrine glands.
The endocrine glands produce hormones that affect bodily processes, such as sleep and emotional well-being. As we age, the endocrine glands may begin to shrink in size, causing hormone production to decline. Melatonin, an antioxidant that affects sleep, declines with age; so does DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), a natural hormone produced by the adrenal gland that boosts T-helper lymphocytes to fight infections, increases circulation, and improves memory.
Dr. Merced has more to say about hormones and overall health:
"Hormones are powerful molecules essential for maintaining physical and mental health. We frequently think of estrogen as being a female hormone, and testosterone as being a male hormone. But men and women make both, plus several more that need to be in balance for optimum health. An imbalance of any one hormone can throw your physical and mental health out of balance, causing aggravating and even serious health problems.
"There are several ways to test for hormones (saliva, serum and urine), but the state-of-the-art method is through the saliva test. This is because only the active portions of hormones are measured and it is these portions that determine how individuals feel.
"Symptoms are an indicator that things are not right. If you have any of the following symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, memory loss, mood swings, low sex drive, depression, fatigue, irregular periods, breast tenderness, increased skin wrinkling, feeling bloated, weight gain, morning fatigue, fibromyalgia, allergies, decreased stamina, headaches, anxiety, sugar cravings, irritability, and dizzy spells--you might have hormonal imbalance. Then you might have to undergo a saliva test.
Persons requiring a saliva test:
(Dr. Merced's clinic is at Units 1507-1508, One San Miguel Avenue Bldg., No. 1 San Miguel Ave. cor. Shaw Blvd., Pasig City 1608, Philippines. E-mail: jocelynmerced@yahoo.com)
The endocrine glands produce hormones that affect bodily processes, such as sleep and emotional well-being. As we age, the endocrine glands may begin to shrink in size, causing hormone production to decline. Melatonin, an antioxidant that affects sleep, declines with age; so does DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), a natural hormone produced by the adrenal gland that boosts T-helper lymphocytes to fight infections, increases circulation, and improves memory.
Dr. Merced has more to say about hormones and overall health:
"Hormones are powerful molecules essential for maintaining physical and mental health. We frequently think of estrogen as being a female hormone, and testosterone as being a male hormone. But men and women make both, plus several more that need to be in balance for optimum health. An imbalance of any one hormone can throw your physical and mental health out of balance, causing aggravating and even serious health problems.
"There are several ways to test for hormones (saliva, serum and urine), but the state-of-the-art method is through the saliva test. This is because only the active portions of hormones are measured and it is these portions that determine how individuals feel.
"Symptoms are an indicator that things are not right. If you have any of the following symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, memory loss, mood swings, low sex drive, depression, fatigue, irregular periods, breast tenderness, increased skin wrinkling, feeling bloated, weight gain, morning fatigue, fibromyalgia, allergies, decreased stamina, headaches, anxiety, sugar cravings, irritability, and dizzy spells--you might have hormonal imbalance. Then you might have to undergo a saliva test.
Persons requiring a saliva test:
- Men and women with decreasing hormone levels because of age.
- Women experiencing premenstrual syndrome (PMS) related to a hormonal imbalance.
- Peri and postmenopausal women concerned with their estradiol and progesterone levels for replacement considerations.
- Those wishing to monitor their hormone levels following replacement therapy (oral, sublingual or topical), and subsequently regulate their supplement levels.
- Anyone with symptoms involving fatigue, insomnia, stress, , immunity problems, blood sugar problems, and overweight should be tested for cortisol levels as well as 'sex' hormones.
- Men and women of any age who have symptoms of hormone imbalances should test for all hormones that may be associated with their symptoms.
- Men and women over the age of forty who may want to do a baseline test. Frequent imbalances will be detectable for a time period before symptoms gain attention."
(Dr. Merced's clinic is at Units 1507-1508, One San Miguel Avenue Bldg., No. 1 San Miguel Ave. cor. Shaw Blvd., Pasig City 1608, Philippines. E-mail: jocelynmerced@yahoo.com)
Monday, August 8, 2011
Dr. Estuita's Free Radical Scavenger Diet
"To live longer, healthier and have a better quality of life, build your nutritional fortress around these diet guidelines. This is an anti-aging diet, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-cancer, anti-arthritis and other degenerative diseases, " explains Dr. Arturo Estuita (who was featured in an earlier article, "Cardiovascular Chelation," of our June 20, 2011 posting).
The following food selections comprise Dr. Estuita's Free Radical Scavenger Diet:
In addition to his Free Radical Scavenger Diet, Dr. Estuita suggests that we take mega-vitamins and minerals as an effective preventive and maintenance program. This will serve as a therapeutic diet for those with chronic degenerative diseases being chelated. There is no way that an artery will be declogged, arthritis reversed, and other degenerative conditions improved, if junk foods are eaten, he emphasized.
Diseases that are related to junk foods and malnutrition are:
The following food selections comprise Dr. Estuita's Free Radical Scavenger Diet:
- Eat raw, fresh fruits and vegetables (5-6 servings: 1 serving is equivalent to 1 cup).
- Eat meat substitutes (vegemeat, gluten, raw assorted nuts, Japanese tofu, miso, beans).
- Eat whole grains (unpolished rice, brown wheat bread, and oatmeal).
- No chlorinated drinking and bathing water.
- Drink vegetable and fruit juices (suggested combinations for juicing vegetables and fruits: carrots, cabbage, celery, apple, pears; carrots, broccoli, raw potato, apple, pears; carrots, cucumber, apple, any favorite fruit; carrots, cauliflower, string beans).
In addition to his Free Radical Scavenger Diet, Dr. Estuita suggests that we take mega-vitamins and minerals as an effective preventive and maintenance program. This will serve as a therapeutic diet for those with chronic degenerative diseases being chelated. There is no way that an artery will be declogged, arthritis reversed, and other degenerative conditions improved, if junk foods are eaten, he emphasized.
Diseases that are related to junk foods and malnutrition are:
- Atherosclerosis
- Arthritis
- Cancer
- Mental Illness
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