Breast Cancer Prevention: Use A Holistic Approach

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Posted by admin | Posted in General | Posted on 16-09-2011

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You may see a little more pink in the windows of department stores in October as the “pink ribbon” usually becomes the must-have accessory for fall. That’s because it’s breast cancer awareness month- a month where fashionistas and survivors come together to show their support for the cause. But besides donning a yourself out in pink, you can also educate yourself and others about essential breast cancer prevention methods.

Balancing a healthy lifestyle with healthy choices is key in all cancer prevention. According to the American Cancer Society, a woman in the United States is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes. There are many things you can do to prevent yourself from becoming a statistic.

Lifestyle factors such as regular exercise, increasing vitamin D intake, and eating a low-fat diet can help reduce your risk of getting breast cancer. All the prevention methods listed here can all help you live a well-balanced life – one full of energy and vitality:

Alkalize your blood. A healthy pH balance – the ratio of alkalinity to acidity in the body – is crucial to being cancer-free. Cancer thrives in acidic environments but is unable to survive in alkaline ones. Edgar Cayce, typically referred to as the “father of holistic medicine,” consistently emphasized the importance of maintaining a proper acid/alkaline balance in the body. Cayce said that “a normal diet is about twenty percent acid to eighty percent alkaline-producing.” Make sure your diet is rich in alkalizing foods such as green vegetables, beans, spices, herbs, seeds and nuts. Limit your consumption of alcohol, coffee, meat, fish, poultry and eggs. You can measure your pH levels with litmus strips to be sure your body is more alkaline than acidic.

Go braless! Or at least limit how many hours a day you wear a bra. Bras restrict the flow of lymph within breast tissue which hinders the breast’s natural cleansing process. Multiple studies done on bras have shown some astounding results. Women in Figi who don’t wear bras have almost no incidence of breast cancer. In a Harvard study researchers found that women who wore their bras 24 hours per day had a 3 out of 4 chance of developing breast cancer compared to women who wore their bras less than 12 hours per day and had a 1 out of 152 risk.

Eat your veggies. Cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage and broccoli may protect against breast cancer because they lower levels of estrogen which is a hormone that plays a role in tumor growth. Additionally isothiocyanates- the anti-cancer compounds found in broccoli- can help in the detoxification of your liver and can rid your body of carcinogens.

Get some sun! Vitamin D is a hormone that your body naturally produces when your skin is exposed to sunlight. Vitamin D is essential to your body but as many as 36% of us are deficient in Vitamin D. According to Science Daily, Vitamin D protects us from breast cancer by stimulating a protein that prevents breast cancer cells from growing. Fair-skinned individuals need just 15 minutes of sun a day while 20 to 30 minutes is needed for darker skinned people. In the winter months make sure to get your Vitamin D from fish oil, mushrooms and Vitamin D supplements.

Get regular exercise: The Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina has done multiple studies showing that moderate exercise can reduce the risk of breast cancer. Exercising promotes the circulation of oxygen in the blood and floods cells with enough oxygen to get rid of cancer. Cancer cannot survive in an oxygen-rich environment. Try to exercise for at least 30 minutes 5-6 times a week.

Drink green tea. According to a study published in The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry the EGCG in green tea aids in preventing breast cancer. The polyphenols-powerful antioxidants found in green tea- can prevent cancer cells from growing. Drink 1-3 cups of caffeine-free green tea per day.

Eat a low-fat diet. A diet high in fat significantly increases a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute concluded that women with high-fat diets had a 32 percent higher risk of getting breast cancer than those who followed a low-fat diet.

Try Black Cohosh. This is an herb used typically to treat the side effects associated with menopause. A recent study showed that extracts from Black Cohosh may stop breast cancer cells from forming.

The true cause of cancer can depend on a number of factors. Diet, environmental factors, and genetics all play a role. By making healthy lifestyle choices you can dramatically tip the odds in your favor and enjoy a vibrant, healthy, cancer-free life.

Men’s Sexual Health and Nutrition

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Posted by admin | Posted in Men's Health | Posted on 21-05-2011

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There are many reasons we need to make sure to eat a balanced diet. We want to stay healthy so we can do and see all the things that we can and also so that we can be there to enjoy time with our loved ones. Good nutrition is not only good for strong bones and muscles, for the heart or to help reduce our risk of diseases and other health conditions, nutrition also gives us energy to do the activities we enjoy. One of these activities for many people is being able to being sexually intimate with our loved ones. As we get older, we may worry that we do not have enough energy for this and many men worry that they may not be performing well. It is important for men to eat the proper nutrition for the whole body and for their sexual health as well.

According to MSN.com, Health and Fitness and “The Better sex Diet” it is important to get your blood circulating and foods high in omega 3 fatty acids such as mackerel, salmon and wild salmon can help with this. According to Dr Barbara Bartlik, an assistant professor of psychiatry and sex therapist with the Human Sexuality Program at Weill Cornell Medical Center, these foods will help the nervous system and keep circulation going which will help the sex drive.

Having good circulation helps with a better erectile response, so eating foods that contain L-Arginine such as: granola, oatmeal, peanuts, cashews, walnuts, dairy, green vegetables, root vegetables, garlic, ginseng, soybeans chickpeas and seeds may help with this.

Also, eating more soy in your diet can be beneficial to the prostate and this can also benefit a woman’s sexual health as well. Foods that are good for weight loss also have been shown to boost sexual health because obesity can put men at risk for erectile dysfunction and other problems such as low testosterone.

Also, too much saturated fat can in time clog the arteries which will prevent blood from reaching the genital region and possibly lower sexual performance. So it is important to not only eat foods that are good for your heart but for your sexual health as well. However, not getting enough fat can also be a problem because we need fat to keep our hormones and sex drive going. Eating foods such as: olive oil, nuts and salmon are foods with the good kind of fat needed to keep the sex drive going.

There are many reasons why we all need to keep our bodies healthy and to eat the proper nutrition. It not only keeps our muscles, and bones healthy and reduces our risk for diseases, but it can also help us to enjoy many activities one of which may be having sex with your loved ones. This will not only keep you happy and healthy, but keep your loved ones happy and healthy as well.

Cleansing Lungs: Home Remedy

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Posted by admin | Posted in General | Posted on 16-03-2011

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Cleansing Lungs: Home Remedy

When your body looses its defense against airborne infections as a result of smoking, you will get smokers cough. Whatever impurities and toxins enter your body while respiration as well as smoking will be flushed out by cilia through phlegm. Cilia are the fibers in your nose and trachea. They get destroyed by the cigarette smoke and consequently your body becomes more susceptible to bronchial infections.

As a sufferer of smokers cough, you may be coughing severely in the morning and after coughing for some time only you will be able to swallow the phlegm. Since the airborne impurities are not removed properly, your respiratory system is affected. The impurities are accumulated as black tar over your lungs.

How to Protect your lungs

Lungs are the most vital organs of the respiratory system. When your lungs are cleaned, you will be safe and the smokers cough also will be reduced. There are various methods for cleansing lungs. Home Remedy methods are widely accepted as the best way of cleansing lungs since they are purely natural methods and are very effective. Cleansing lungs is also known as detoxification of lungs. There are many natural methods for lungs detoxification.

You may inhale detox herbs such as black cumin, Mullein, Lobelia etc.

Practice deep breathing and do deep breathing for a few minutes daily sitting at an unpolluted place.

Detox foods are very effective in cleansing livers. You may take onions, almonds, olives, mustard green, grapes, water cress etc.

Eating more of cruciferous, green vegetables like kale, cabbage and broccoli will help to cleanse the lungs.

Home Remedies for cleansing lungs are very easy to follow. They give quick relief from smokers cough.

It is very important to maintain your body hydrated. Cigarette smoke will dry up your body. Hence as the first and foremost home remedy start drinking plenty of water daily.

Boil water on a large pot and inhale the vapor after covering your head with a towel. Take deep breath with the vapor. This will give quick relief from smokers cough.

Lungs are vital organs and they must be protected. The best protector for lungs is nature as nature knows how to protect our organs. Cleansing of lungs by way of Home Remedy ensures the best result because it is purely natural way of treatment.

The Spiciness of Nigerian Food and a Favorite Egusi Stew Recipe of Western Africa

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Posted by admin | Posted in General | Posted on 30-10-2010

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Nigerian cooking relies on starchy root vegetables such as yams and cassava. Nigerians also use lots of green vegetables, such as bitterleaf (similar to collard greens), okra, spinach, and other African plants. Plants are not the only things Nigerians turn to. They do like meat dishes using goat, fish or chicken.

The people of northern Nigeria love spicy-hot meat kabobs. In southern Nigeria, the people love many kinds of seafood stews with shrimp, fish, lobster, crab, rice, and vegetables. In the central part of Nigeria, the people love to have stewed meats served with mashed yams or cassava.

Egusi Nigerian Stew

In Nigeria, edible melon seeds go by the name of “egusi,” and with this popular Nigerian stew, the melon seeds are finely ground to give this dish a unique color and flavor. In place of melons seeds, pumpkin seeds work very well with this stew recipe.

And the shrimp can be replaced or added along with any smoked fish or crab. In place of the chicken, smoked oysters right out of a can, or beef can be used.

Red palm oil gives this stew a distinctive African cooking taste. It can be found on the internet, in international grocery stores, or Latino markets in particular. Do not try to substitute for the red palm oil. This oil is worth the effort to look for.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

1 3-pound chicken, cut into 8 pieces

Salt to taste

1/3 cup red palm oil

2 1/2 pounds ripe tomatoes, cut in half, seeds squeezed out, and grated through the largest holes of a grater.

1 small onion, chopped

2 habanero chile peppers, stemmed and halved

2 tablespoons tomato paste

2/4 cup water

1 1/4 pounds fresh shrimp, heads and shells removed

1 pound fresh spinach, with stems, chopped

Directions:

Put the pumpkin seeds in a food processor and blend for about 20 seconds until in a powdery form.

Reserve.

Salt the chicken, then in a large casserole frying pan, heat the red palm oil over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes. Brown the chicken pieces on both sides, for about 6 minutes in all.

Place the tomatoes, onion, and habanero pepper in the food processor, and blend for about30 seconds, or until very smooth. Reduce the heat to low, and cover partially. Cook, turning occasionally, until the chicken can be easily pulled off the bone with a fork, or about 1 1/2 hours.

Add the water and shrimp and continue to simmer for about 10 minutes.

Add the spinach and the reserved ground seeds and continue simmering for about 10 minutes more, Serve immediately. This Egusi African Stew recipe makes 6 servings.

Best Weight Loss Foods – Eat Real Food Your Body Craves

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Posted by admin | Posted in Weight Loss | Posted on 22-05-2010

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Ok, admit it, you want to lose weight but you are afraid that you will need to change the way you eat will be impossible.  You are probably thinking you need to live off carrot sticks and celery as the best weight loss foods.

What if I told you that you could still eat the foods that still make you feel like a human?  Foods that make you feel full and not getting hunger pains half an hour after eating.  It is true, in fact you may not even stray that far from what you are currently eating.  But the following will show you the best weight loss foods.

The way to do this is by eating smarter.  Avoid all those empty calories.  Learn to eat 6 times during the day.  Three meals and three snacks.  You are probably asking why are you telling me to eat more in frequency, I am trying to lose weight.  Well, for starters, starving does not work.  The only thing you accomplish is getting rid of water weight and teaching your body to function on lower caloric intakes.  In turn this lowers your metabolism.  Your metabolism is the key to burning fat.  By eating with this much frequency you are making your body work at digesting food and also burning calories at the same time.

So what are some of these best weight loss foods?  Well for breakfast you can have whole grain bread, fruit, eggs, yogurt, oatmeal or whole grain cereals.  A mid morning snack can be a smoothie, some nuts piece of fruit or peanut butter on celery. An afternoon snack can consist of some more nuts and some fruit, yogurt and berries.  For dinner try any type of lean meat or fish.  The lean meat can be red or white.  Obviously use common sense, don’t make a meal that includes a rich sauce or anything fried.  Add to dinner with some green vegetables and whole grain rice.  For an evening snack, have your favorite ice cream, as long as it is low fat.

Those are just a few examples you would be amazed at how much real food you can eat while dieting.  I have found a website that you can find much more in depth information regarding ways to eat healthier and lose weight.  I suggest you visit it now.