Wednesday, November 27, 2013

High Intake of Cholesterol Shown to Actually Repair Damaged Brains

Including high-cholesterol foods as part of a healthy diet may not be the poor dietary choice we have all been told it is, suggests a new study published in the journal Nature Medicine. It turns out that cholesterol actually helps increase production of an important component of the nervous system that facilitates proper nerve cell communication, and prevents the onset of brain diseases such as Parkinsons and Alzheimers disease.

The study focused specifically on patients with a condition known as Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD), in which nerve cells are unable to properly manufacture protective myelin sheaths. It is these myelin sheaths, which are composed of lipid fats and proteins, that allow nerves to communicate and send appropriate electrical signals that trigger movement and cognition, and that protect nerves from damage.

Cholesterol, which is commonly dismissed as harmful and something that people should avoid, actually contributes to producing and maintaining myelin sheaths. Without it, as evidenced by the recent studies, individuals with PMD -- and potentially all individuals -- are at a higher risk of developing cognitive illness and brain degradation. And particularly those with PMD, low-cholesterol diets are almost sure to leave them exceptionally prone to nerve damage.

"This six-week-long cholesterol treatment delayed the decline in motor coordination," wrote the scientists in their report. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine in Germany fed a group of mice with PMD a high-cholesterol diet for six weeks, as well as another group of PMD mice a low-cholesterol diet. Those on the high-cholesterol diet stopped experiencing cognitive decline, while the low-cholesterol mice continued to get worse.

Cholesterol appears to be beneficial for everyone

Though the researchers attributed their findings about cholesterol specifically and solely to those with PMD, the implications for all individuals are striking, as the study further reinforces the idea that cholesterol is a necessary component of proper brain and nervous system function in everyone. This unconventional concept has been confirmed in several earlier studies, including a comprehensive study published in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons. (http://www.jpands.org/vol10no3/colpo.pdf)

"Cholesterol acts to interlock lipid molecules, which stabilize cell membranes," writes Shane Ellison, M.S., in his book Health Myths Exposed. "[C]holesterol is a vital building block for all bodily tissues. Lowering such a vital molecule is absurdity. To illustrate, imagine that your house represents your body and the nails holding it together cholesterol. Now start pulling each and every nail out of the house. What happens? The house turns to a pile of rubble. The same is true for the human body."

Cholesterol-lowering statins are responsible for destroying health, causing Alzheimers

What this all means for statin drugs, which mainstream medicine has ridiculously dubbed miracle drugs, is that their cholesterol inhibiting properties can cause serious health problems down the road. By interfering with the livers natural function of producing cholesterol, statin drugs can actually strip the body of much-needed cholesterol, and cause serious nervous system and cognitive damage.

The key to promoting healthy cholesterol levels in the body is not to take synthetic drugs, but rather to achieve vibrant health through proper diet and exercise, which includes a diet rich in healthy saturated fats and, yes, even cholesterol.

"Saturated fat and cholesterol in the diet are not the cause of coronary heart disease," says Dr. George V. Mann, M.D., professor of Medicine and Biochemistry at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. "That myth is the greatest scientific deception of this century, perhaps of any century."

You can learn more about the cholesterol myths by visiting:
http://www.naturalremediescures.com

Sources for this article include:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18456749

http://blog.michaeljfox.org

http://goodworkswellness.com/six-surprising-facts-about-cholesterol/

http://www.wellbeingjournal.com

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

3 Eye Exercises To Improve Your Eyesight Naturally

Whether we are going on an adventurous trip, or enjoying a happy family gathering, seeing clearly naturally, makes these fun occasions more exciting and fulfilling. Because our eyesight is such an important aspect of our health,it is critically important that we take the necessary steps to improve it.

What happens if you dont use a muscle? The muscle becomes weak and loses its ability to function efficiently. As soon as that muscle is exercised regularly it becomes stronger, increasing muscle strength and performance. A similar principle applies to eye exercises as they help to strengthen the muscles of the eyes that control vision. Here are 3 eye exercise techniques to improve vision naturally:

Improve Your Eyesight NaturallyYou can perform these techniques while listening to your favorite music. It makes the techniques more fun and maintains your motivation to practice them regularly. All it takes is just minutes a day.

1. Eye Motion Eye Exercise - The objective of this vision exercise is to strengthen the eye muscles. This goal is achieved by increasing their ability to focus on different objects in different positions quickly. To perform this technique, find a comfortable chair. Maintain an upright posture. Relax your body. Practice moving just your eyes not your head, across a room of your house. You are basically using your eyes to scan various objects in a room; TV, papers, tables, pictures, clocks and windows etc. Move your eyes continually while avoiding stopping at any particular object. While you are performing this technique, inhale and exhale deeply. Repeat this technique 3 times.

2. 10 second Focusing Technique - Close your eyes briefly and carefully and gently apply a very light message to your eye lids for 3 seconds. Then open them. Identify two fixed points; one that is close up and the other in the distance. For example, the close up point can be your computer and the distant point can be a window in the distance. Focus your eyes on the computer for 10 seconds then shift your focus to the window for 10 seconds. Repeat for 3 repetitions.

3. The Figure 8 Eye Exercise Technique - This eye exercise improves vision while providing the additional benefit of relieving stress and tension in the eyes. Be seated in a comfortable chair at a distance of about 3 feet from the wall, (about 10 feet away). Simply imagine a large figure 8 on the wall. The same way you would trace the outline of a shape or object on a piece of paper with a pencil or pen, In this case, pretend that your eyes are that pencil and start tracing the outline of that imaginary figure 8 moving your eyes only not your head for 10 breaths. Trace the outline of that figure exactly. The number of repetitions you perform depends on your comfort level. For example, pay attention to the way your eyes feel. 4 repetitions are recommended but if your eyes feel tired take a break and decrease the number of repetitions

We can promote eye health with the application of eye exercise techniques. They strengthen, tone and improve the efficiency of the eye muscles helping us to see better naturally; the way Mother Nature intended us to see.

My name is Joel King. I am an internet marketer, college student and vision improvement success story who enjoys helping others improve their vision. Take the next step to sharper, clearer natural eyesight today! Visit: http://www.betternaturalvision.com

By : Joel Travers King
Article Source :  3 Eye Exercises To Improve Your Eyesight Naturally

Urgent Care Center Offers Professional Medical Care

Urgent care has rapidly gained immense popularity in the health care industry. Urgent care proves to be convenient and appropriate for those who do not get a timely appointment at a primary care physician office and are suffering from injuries that are of an acute nature. With the help of urgent care the patients can have easy access to quality medicine.

An urgent medical condition is a non life threatening one but it does require immediate attention. The services available at medical care centers are generally not offered by primary care physician offices such as x-ray facilities, control nose bleeds, treatment of minor fractures, etc. Moreover there are numerous advantages of visiting such centers such as you do not need to wait for hours in the long lines at hospital-based emergency rooms. The other advantage is flexible timings. You can visit urgent care clinics as per your convenience. There are also several clinics that available 24/7 or on-call. In most of the cases no appointment is necessary. The services offered by urgent care center are affordable as compared to a visit at the hospital emergency room. If you are facing non-life threatening issues such as fever, earaches, coughs, wheezing, broken bones, sore throat, sprains, etc you can opt for a reliable medical care center.

From advance diagnostic testing, to a specialist follow up, a reliable medical care center offers unparalleled services. The trusted urgent care center has also an aftercare team that focuses at providing you with appropriate care you need in a timely manner. The board certified emergency medicine physicians at the center takes best possible care of the patients. The informed medical providers offer quality medicine to the patients.

Finding a reliable walk-in clinic is imperative as a good clinic helps you get through a difficult period in an appropriate way. In order to find out a trusted urgent care clinic you can browse the internet. While searching online you can come across numerous clinics offering several kinds of services. You can go through the websites and can read the services, treatments offered. Also read the customers testimonials as you can get an idea of the kind of service offered. Visiting yellow page directory is also a good option. Online discussion forums can also help you in providing useful information regarding the urgent care center. You can also ask from friends and family members.

Before selecting an urgent medical care center ensure that it is staffed with highly trained and board?certified physicians in emergency medicine. Ensure that whether the center deals with a variety of health issues or not. Also make sure whether the walk-in clinic has highly knowledgeable physicians and has necessary equipments that are needed to perform specific procedures like x-rays, etc. Another thing to be considered is the qualification of the staff and whether they are certified so as to provide the services. Make sure that they are licensed. It is also advisable to check the equipments and ensure that they are the latest. It is better to look in for a state-of-the-art facility.

Article by : Patricia Susan

Article Source : Urgent Care Center Offers Professional Medical Care

Finding The Right Health Insurance Policy

Doing the proper research is important when searching for a health insurance policy. It is a complicated market, but by considering as many of the important factors as possible you should be able to find the ideal coverage.

First you should consider the level of cover you require. Standard inclusions are usually the cost or any stays in hospital and any fees which may be incurred through visits to consultants. You should also be covered for any surgery required providing it is not for a pre existing condition. Beyond these standard inclusions many policies can be highly customised and there are many options available. 

To help you determine exactly what you would like covered by your policy it is a good idea to make a list of the things you would like to incorporate. If you need glasses or contact lenses it might be a good idea to include an optical care component. This could reimburse you for a set percentage of the cost of eye tests, frames or lenses. 

For women considering having children in the near future a maternity care component may be a worthwhile investment. Many insurers also offer a dentistry option which will refund some or all of the cost of any dental work you may require. If you can put together a list of things you really want it will be easier to reject any other potential additions to the policy when it is time to purchase. 

If you have a particular doctor or specialist you like to visit you should check if they are included in the insurers preferred treatment network. The more expensive policies will allow you to make use of a far wider range of doctors and facilities, but you will certainly pay for the privilege. You should enquire about the treatment network to ensure there are good facilities close to where you live. Should you require longer term care it will be far better to be closer to home than at the other side of the country. 

The last thing to consider is how much you can afford to pay. Once you have outlined your needs you need to find one which bests matches them as well as your budget. Many employers will offer a group health insurance plan which could save you money, so its worth checking to see if your place of work provides this. If you start getting quotes which are too expensive you may need to reconsider which elements are really essential and remove some of those which you do not need. 

There is an overwhelming amount of information available at times, so it is important to take your time and make sure you understand everything before committing to a policy. There are services available that will evaluate your needs and find you the best policy available, so if you are lacking time or are not confident about doing your own research it can be worthwhile looking into these services.  

Eating Star Fruit Raw

The Star fruit is a tropical fruit, also known as carambola, yellow skin or pale green. The flavor of this fruit is easy, "rough" a little. This result is known as the star, because the way in which, as a star like the fruit through the ribs, instead of watching the entire length. It is not the skin easy to peel fruit, but it is edible, so the results can be estimated easily without peeling.

Wash fresh fruits and water. Cut the brown edges on the coast and all points in discolored fruit with a sharp knife.

Fruit placed on a clean cutting board. Cut in half the time, the largest area of the fruit, which is perpendicular to the ribs. Keep sliced ​​fruit to the desired thickness. Remove seeds from fruit with the tip of the knife and discard.

Transfer slices of star fruit on a plate or bowl. Wash your hands after eating the fruit with bare hands or a fork, pierce. Alternatively, you can put the slices in a salad or dessert.

Sources of Calcium Besides Milk

Sources of calcium besides milk - If you want to have strong bones, there are two key nutrients that must be met, namely calcium and vitamin D. Calcium is needed to support the structure of bones and teeth, while vitamin D will increase calcium absorption and bone growth.

Talk about the calcium, the memory of people would go directly to the milk. Indeed there is a reason why milk is identical with calcium. Eight ounces of low-fat milk contains 90 calories and 30 percent meet the daily requirement of calcium.

Nevertheless there are many other sources of calcium that is not less powerful and easy everyday materials.

1.Sardines

Sardines, was rich in vitamin D and calcium. These small fish are usually sold in canned form, but it would be better if you eat fresh sardines.

2. Eggs

Although eggs contain only six percent of the total daily requirement of vitamin D, but the food is easily obtainable. Vitamin D in the eggs contained in the yolk.

3. salmon

This fish is more famous for the content of omega-3, but the size is 3 ounces of salmon contains more than 100 percent of vitamin D daily. Routine consumption of salmon fish is not only strong bones but also heart healthy. Other fish rich in vitamin D is tuna.

4. spinach

Do not like to drink milk? Spinach can be an alternative source of your calcium. One cup of spinach contains 25 percent of calcium, plus fiber, iron, and vitamin A. In addition to spinach, you can also get calcium from green leafy vegetables.

5. orange juice

A glass of fresh orange juice can be a source of calcium and vitamin D. Ready to drink some orange juice has also been fortified with other vitamins.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Star fruit Upside Down Cake


When you’re new to being gluten-free (or new to cooking, for that matter), pre-packaged mixes are a godsend. Bob’s Red Mill, Pamela’s, and now more mainstream folks like Betty Crocker (I used Betty’s gluten-free yellow cake here) make brownie, bread, and pancake mixes that are darn good versions of their gluten-y counterparts. They’re a great starting point for newbies and good if you’re in a pinch, but in my humble opinion, if you’re a gluten-free baker worth your salt you’ll have at least 5 types of flours in your cupboards at all times.

I’m often gifted box mixes (in lieu of gluten-y baked treats) by folks in my life, a gesture I really appreciate. It makes a lot of sense to give a gluten-free person the gift of something good that they can feel good eating, but I have to admit that the overachieving baker in me has a hard time not wanting to “do better” than a box mix.

What I’m saying is, this cake was inspired by my baking neurosis and Betty Crocker, which turns out to be a GREAT combo. One of the first things that I noticed after moving into my new apartment was that the corner produce stand had star fruit 2 for $1. Priorities. I got a pair and let them ripen up. (Fun fact: they’re ripe when any green on the flesh is replaced by yellow.)

I have no memory of ever eating a pineapple upside down cake, but it seemed like the only appropriate way to showcase the rather adorable star fruit. I made a few adjustments to Betty’s recipe, but not too many. This still has the ease of a box mix, while the final result satisfies my inner wanna-be pastry chef.

Starfruit Upside Down Cake

Adapted from here and here. If you’re not gluten-free, or you recoil at the mention of “Betty Crocker,” use your favorite recipe for a single, 8-9 inch round yellow cake here. If star fruit are cost-prohibitive where you are (or you just can’t find them) I imagine another soft-fleshed fruit would work. Finally, I’ve been on a panela kick lately, but you could try brown sugar, not as tightly packed.

2 star fruit, seeds removed and sliced between ¼ and 1/8 inch thick

½ cup panela (packed), chopped
¼ cup butter

1 box Betty Crocker gluten-free yellow cake mix
2/3 cup whole milk
1 stick butter, softened
2 eggs
2 T applesauce (unsweetened is best)
1 t ground cardamom
2 t vanilla extract (make sure it’s gluten-free)

1. Preheat oven to 350. Arrange the sliced star fruit along the bottom of a non-stick 8 or 9 inch cake pan. Set aside.
2. In a small saucepan over low heat, combine ¼ cup butter with the panela, Heat, stirring occasionally only until completely combined. Remove from heat.
3. Pour the panela and butter mixture into the cake pan, directly over the star fruit. Set aside.
4. Mix the remaining ingredients for 30 seconds on low until combined, then on med-high for about 2 minutes
5. Pour into the cake pan, over the star fruit/panela mixture.
6. Bake until the top is brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 40 minutes.
7. Remove from the oven and immediately run a knife around the edge, between the edge of the cake and the pan.
8. Place a plate over the cake and flip to turn it out on to a plate. Be careful, some of the caramel-y liquid may splash out when you invert. Serve warm.