Nutritional and natural methods can help us prevent from disease

Many health related sites are now created by health professionals which makes the information more valuable. You can find the latest news, medical research and relative useful stuff at these sites. Nutritional and natural methods can help us prevent or reverse disease. Dr. Joel Fuhrman, MD has proved it by applying his high nutrient and vegetable diet to a lot of patients. Joel Fuhrman M.D. is a physician who specializes in preventing and reversing disease through nutritional and natural methods. His private practice is located in Flemington, New Jersey.

'DiseaseProof' is the official blog of Dr. Joel Fuhrman MD. who promotes his high-nutrient, vegetable-based diet for optimal health and disease prevention. He believes that high-nutrient eating, as a therapeutic intervention, is more effective than drugs and surgery at restoring health from chronic diseases.

The site serves as a forum to promote discussion on diet, fitness, health and green living. The posts at the blog and site are very valuable and useful for health professionals, patients or as a general source of information. There are many patient or success stories,

'Eat to Live: The Revolutionary Formula for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss' by Dr. Fuhrman:

Dr. Fuhrman offers his healthy, effective, and scientifically proven plan for shedding radical amounts of weight quickly, and keeping it off. The key to this revolutionary diet is the idea of nutrient density, as expressed by the simple formula Health=Nutrients/Calories. When the ratio of nutrients to calories is high, fat melts away and health is restored. Losing 20 pounds in two to three weeks is just the beginning. Designed for people who must lose 50 pounds or more in a hurry, EAT TO LIVE works for every dieter, even those who want to lose as little as 10 pounds quickly. You can buy the paper back at 'Amazon'

* Download ebook for free: 5.5MB, 299 pages 'Eat to live''Download link'

* 'Official site of Dr. Fuhrman'

Link: 'Disease Proof'

You can get free e-book exclusive eBook "Break Free of the Diet Traps" and receive the Nutrient Rich Daily Tip by subscribing.

False claims of weight loss diets and products and reality behind these ads

Is there any reality behind the ads that promise quick and easy weight loss without diet or exercise? There are false claims of weight loss programs and products around the world for many years. Before you spend money on products that promise fast and easy results, weigh the claims carefully.

The cost of weight loss and obesity related health care treatments is staggering…Americans alone spend around $114 billion every year! And even with all this interest in losing weight, we continue to pack on the pounds like never before…

- A whopping 64 percent of U.S. adults are either overweight or
obese…up about eight percent from earlier estimates.

- Among children and teens ages 6-19, 15 percent or almost nine
million are overweight…triple the rate in 1980!

- Nearly one-third of all adults are now classified as obese.

When it comes to evaluating claims for weight loss products, the Federal Trade Commission recommends a healthy portion of skepticism.

Think twice before wasting your money on products that make any of these false claims:
Wouldn't it be nice if—as the ads claim—you could lose weight simply by taking a pill, wearing a patch, or rubbing in a cream? Too bad claims like that are almost always false.

Doctors, dieticians, and other experts agree that the best way to lose weight is to eat fewer calories and increase your physical activity so you burn more energy. A reasonable goal is to lose about a pound a week. For most people, that means cutting about 500 calories a day from your diet, eating a variety of nutritious foods, and exercising regularly.

"Lose weight without diet or exercise!"
Achieving a healthy weight takes work. Take a pass on any product that promises miraculous results without the effort. Buy one and the only thing you’ll lose is money.

“Lose weight no matter how much you eat of your favorite foods!”
Beware of any product that claims that you can eat all you want of high-calorie foods and still lose weight. Losing weight requires sensible food choices. Filling up on healthy vegetables and fruits can make it easier to say no to fattening sweets and snacks.

“Lose weight permanently! Never diet again!”
Even if you’re successful in taking the weight off, permanent weight loss requires permanent lifestyle changes. Don’t trust any product that promises once-and-for-all results without ongoing maintenance.

“Block the absorption of fat, carbs, or calories!”
Doctors, dieticians, and other experts agree that there’s simply no magic non-prescription pill that will allow you to block the absorption of fat, carbs, or calories. The key to curbing your craving for those “downfall foods” is portion control. Limit yourself to a smaller serving or a slimmer slice.

“Lose 30 pounds in 30 days!”
Losing weight at the rate of a pound or two a week is the most effective way to take it off and keep it off. At best, products promising lightning-fast weight loss are false. At worst, they can ruin your health.

“Everybody will lose weight!”
Your habits and health concerns are unique. There is simply no one-size-fits-all product guaranteed to work for everyone. Team up with your health care provider to design a personalized nutrition and exercise program suited to your lifestyle and metabolism.

“Lose weight with our miracle diet patch or cream!”
You’ve seen the ads for diet patches or creams that claim to melt away the pounds. Don’t believe them. There’s nothing you can wear or apply to your skin that will cause you to lose weight.

Source: Advice from the Federal Trade Commission

Useful links and resources:

* How Eating Can Help You With Weight Loss?

* 7 Bad Eating Habits You Should Change Immediately

Spiritual Experience From the Brain

I strongly believe that life is a continues journey of learning. During our life there are lots of lessons and motivational stories/happenings around us helping us learn from it. The blog I am going to write about is from a neurosurgeon who has learned valuable life lessons from his patients.

'Spiritual Experiences from the Brain' is created by a neurosurgeon Dr. Harold J. Colbassani who is a Diplomat of the American Board of Neurological Surgeons. It covers 'Lessons of hope and inspiration from patients he have treated with brain tumors and other neurological emergencies'

Dr. Harold J. Colbassani says: 'My patients who have fought through terminal brain cancer have taught me the importance of relying on God for all things. It is these stories and the lessons they have taught me I would like to share.'

The real life stories are very inspiring as there is something to learn. There may be thousands of doctors doing their jobs but there are few who look at these happenings with a different perspective.

Useful links:
* Why a prayer a day keeps the doctor away?

Are energy drinks safe for your health?

Thirty-one percent of U.S. teenagers say they drink energy drinks, according to Simmons Research. Not only teens but people of all ages are taking energy drinks to get a shot of freshness or energy.

But are they safe for your health?

According to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, the labels of popular energy drinks, such as Red Bull and Rockstar, should contain warnings about the amount of caffeine they contain and the potentially harmful side effects they could cause.

In recent years, a number of different energy drinks have been introduced to provide an energy boost or as dietary supplements. They contain high levels of caffeine as well as other additives,such as taurine, ginseng and carnitine that act as stimulants.

Scientists from Johns Hopkins have spent years evaluating the effects of caffeine and the impact these high-caffeine energy drinks can have on a person’s health. While a typical 12 ounce soft drink has about 35 milligarms of caffeine, some energy drinks contain up to 500 milligrams. The researchers suggest that most consumers are unaware of the caffeine content in these energy drinks or about the potential dangers, and that information should be added to the product labels.

In addition, many of these drinks are heavily marketed in bars or for use in combination with alcohol, which could further increase the health risks for consumers.

Energy drinks may pose various health risks, including:

Restlessness and irritability. The caffeine in energy drinks can make you irritable, restless and nervous. Excessive caffeine is also associated with headaches, tremors, nausea and insomnia.
Increased blood pressure. The caffeine in energy drinks can increase your blood pressure and make your heart beat faster. In some cases, this can trigger potentially dangerous changes in heart rhythm. Mixing energy drinks and alcohol compounds the effect, since alcohol also makes your heart beat faster.
Possible dehydration. Some studies suggest that the caffeine in energy drinks may increase the risk of dehydration during exercise, but results are mixed. Other studies don't associate caffeine with dehydration.
Weight gain. The sugar in most energy drinks can contribute to weight gain, especially for people who don't exercise regularly and those who struggle with their weight.
In addition, excessive amounts of energy drinks have been associated with manic episodes, seizures, chest pain, heart attacks and sudden cardiac death.

Suggestions from: Mayo Clinic physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist- Edward R. Laskowski, M.D

Useful links:

* Teens Abusing Energy Boosting Drinks, Doctors Fear

* An important report (I suggest readers to read comments section at the bottom of the report): Energy Drink Health Risk Warnings Needed According to Researchers

* An interesting site with reviews, news and other information about energy drinks is: 'Energy drink review'

* 12 Harmful Ingredients in Power Drinks, Colas and Artificial Juice Drinks

The Miracle Food Honey and its benefits

Honey is miracle food which has healing properties for many ailments. The amazing benefits found in honey have less to do with nutritional value and more to do with antioxidant and microbial properties that are unique to this natural sweetness.

Honey is composed of simple sugars, such as sugar-like glucose and fructose that are used quickly by the body. It was man's first and most reliable source of sweetener and an excellent substitute for sugar.

Honey is a remarkable viscous liquid, prepared by the bees from the nectars of various plants. It has occupied a prominent place in traditional medicines throughout world history. The ancient Egyptians, Assyrians, Chinese, Greeks and Romans employed honey for wounds and diseases of the gut. When the Children of Israel were in Egypt or journeying through the desert, their promised goal was a 'land flowing with milk and honey'.

The Quran describes the process of its formation by bees and the medical values of it and of the other bees' products.
Honey is mentioned in the Bible 61 times and two times in the Quran.

The four main products from the bees are:- Royal Jelly, Bee Pollen, Propolis and Honey.

They have been used for last few centuries by civilizations around the world to treat a wide variety of ailments and medical conditions.

They are multipurpose substances that in some forms can be applied externally to the skin and in other forms ingested as a food or supplement.

Bee Products are Mother Nature's most incredible gift to our planet, packed with vitamins, minerals and essential amino acids, bee products may provide us with essential nutrition to help with our fast-paced lifestyles.

It follows that the Quran tells us about the healing effects and the medical values of the Bees products that include the Honey.

On the other hand, the Bible says nothing about the Bees products and about their healing effects.

Healing effects of miracle food honey:

Antibacterial and antifungal properties: These properties of honey are well established. Undiluted honey inhibits the growth of bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, certain gut pathogens and fungi such as Candida albicans. At a concentration of 30-50%, honey has been shown to be superior to certain conventional antibiotics in treating urinary tract infections. The exact mechanism of the anti-microbial effect of honey remains obscure. Low pH, osmotic disruption of pathogens and the presence of bactericidal substances, collectively called inhibine may all play a part.

Anti-diarrhoeal properties: At a concentration of 40%, honey has a bactericidal effect on various gut bacteria known to cause diarrhoea and dysentery such as Salmonella, Shigella, enteropathogenic E. coli and Vibrio cholera. In one study, honey given with oral rehydration fluid was shown to reduce the duration of bacterial diarrhoea in infants and children.

Wound-healing and anti-inflammatory properties: Honey is of value in treating burns, infected surgical wounds and decubitus ulcers. Honey is very viscous, enabling it to absorb water from surrounding inflamed tissue. For example, a study in West Africa showed that skin grafting, surgical debridement and even amputation were avoided when local application of honey to wound promoted healing, whereas conventional treatment failed.

In another study, wound healing was accelerated by application of honey in women who had undergone radical vulvectomy for vulval cancer. Also, it has been suggested that honey may be useful in the treatment of chronic, foul smelling ulcers seen in leprosy.

Anti-tussive and expectorant properties: These anti-cough properties of honey are related to its capacity to dilute bronchial secretions and improve the function of the bronchial epithelium.
Nutritional properties

Uncontaminated honey is a healthy, easily digestible, natural and energy rich food. It contains carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, enzymes and vitamins. One tablespoon of honey provides 60 calories and contains 11g of carbohydrates, 1mg of calcium, 0.2mg of iron, 0.lmg of vitamin B and 1mg of vitamin C.

Honey is widely available in most communities but its medical potential remains grossly underutilised. Its mode of action remains incompletely understood and the healing properties of honey in other clinical and laboratory situations requires further evaluation. The miraculous beneficial properties of honey, so beautifully ex-pressed in the holy Qur'an and Sunnah 14 centuries ago expose the reluctance of modern science to accept and exploit this 'traditional remedy'.

Sources: The Honey in Bible and Quran
- Bees and the Hidden Miracles of Honey

More studies:

* The healing power of honey: From burns to weak bones, raw honey can help

* 'Honey Nutrition Facts'

Healing and cure from asthma with the help of acupressure therapy

Being in a country with the a humid atmosphere and increasing pollution, 9 out of 10 kids around the capital city show some kind of asthma symptoms. My son has asthma from the age of 3 which is much improved as I believe and try to use alternative therapies for the prevention and treatment of asthma. This post is a help for people having asthma or related symptoms to get prevention and healing using the acupressure therapy.

I have mentioned and given links which are suggested by various acupressure practitioners, but don't be confused as there are many pressure points around the human body which can be used for the healing and cure of asthma. You may chose the points according to your ease and keep pressing these points.

Note: Never discontinue any prescribed asthma medication without the approval of your doctor.

A patient of asthma shows symptoms of wheezing, coughing and tightness in the chest which is due to inflammation of the bronchioles (the tubes that carry air within the lungs). During an asthma attack, this swelling worsens, and the bronchial tubes narrow. Asthma can also make mucus glands work overtime, producing a thick, sticky fluid that congests the airways.

Asthma attacks are often triggered by allergies. Strong emotions such as fear and anxiety can also kick off an attack. See a doctor if you think you have asthma.

Natural remedies in conjunction with medical care and used with your doctor's approval may provide relief, according to some health professionals.

Michael Reed Gach, Ph.D., director of the Acupressure Institute in Berkeley, California, and author of Acupressure's Potent Points. He suggests pressing the Lu 1 points to breathe easier. To find these points, also named Letting Go, make fists in front of your chest with your thumbs pointing up. Place your thumbs on the outer portion of your chest, pressing on the muscles that run horizontally below your collarbone. You?ll find a sensitive, knotted spot on each side of your chest. Underneath each spot is Lu 1. Let your head hang forward, then breathe slowly and deeply as you press the points with your thumbs for two minutes.

Pressing the Lu 1 points is helpful for prevention as well as relief of asthma attacks.

You can also press the B 13 points, called the Lung Associated points. Each point is situated one finger-width below the upper tip of the shoulder blade, between the spine and the shoulder blade. Try using tennis balls to press these hard-to-reach points. Lie on your back with your knees bent, placing a pillow under your head for comfort, if you wish. Raise your shoulders slightly while you reach behind your back with your hands to position the tennis balls. Now cross your arms over your body and breathe deeply, letting your weight sink into the floor. Let the tennis balls press into your shoulder muscles for a few minutes or for as long as it feels comfortable.

Source: 'Mother nature'

Useful links and resources:

* 'YouTube' videos for acupressure points.

* Video of 'Acupressure points for asthma' at eHow.

* 'Instructions for acupressure points' with pictures showing the exact location of pressure points.

* 'Asthma Acupressure'

Suggested diet tips for asthma patients

Alternative therapy, along with your health practitioner's suggested medication and following diet or food tips can help you prevent and heal from next asthma attack. These diet suggestions would trigger the healing process so check the routine diet and make changes accordingly.

Diet tips for asthma patients:

• Eat a healthy whole-foods diet based on lean protein foods, such as fish; fresh vegetables and fruits; and whole grains. Fatty fish such as salmon, sardines, and tuna, which are high in omega-3 essential fatty acid, have natural anti-inflammatory properties. Eating fish three or four times a week can be very beneficial.
• Include onions in your diet. Onions contain diphenyl-thiosulfinate, an anti-inflammatory compound with anti-asthmatic effects. Moreover, some researchers believe that asthma has its roots in infection by an organism known as Chlamydia pneumonia, and onions have natural infection-fighting properties as well.
• Avoid saturated fats, hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated oils, and simple carbohydrates, such as refined sugar.
• If you have sensitivity to dairy foods, avoid them. Remember that dairy foods tend to increase the production of mucus.
• Beware of foods such as nuts, citrus fruits, whole-wheat products (especially yeasted breads), seafood, and foods containing additives like preservatives or food dyes, as well as contact with animals. Any of these things can cause or exacerbate an allergy-induced asthma attack.
• Certain food additives, especially metabisufite, can be dangerous for individuals with asthma. Sulfites are commonly found in commercially prepared foods such as dried fruits. They are also used by many restaurants to keep fruits and vegetables at salad bars looking fresh and attractive. If you have asthma, it's best to avoid salad bars and to buy only unsulfured dried fruits. Monosodium glutamate (MSG) can also cause problems for some people with asthma, so avoid food products prepared with this additive. You should also be aware of "hidden" sources of MSG. these often show up on food labels as "hydrolyzed protein," "autolyzed yeast," "sodium caseinate," and "calcium caseinate."
• Following an asthma attack, drink plenty of fluids once your condition is stable enough for you to do so. It is important to thin secretions so that they are easily coughed out.
• If you suffer fatigue, hair loss, dry skin, constipation, and have difficulty losing weight, ask your physician to check your thyroid function. Asthma is often exacerbated by low thyroid function.

Source: 'Asthma diet'

More studies:

* Nutritional supplements for asthma are intended to prevent or support recovery from an asthma attack, rather than to treat. Read more at: Asthma Nutritions & Supplements