Pomegranates May reduce the likelihood of getting breast cancer

January 6, 2010 – 12:55 pm

Eating pomegranates may slow down the worsening of breast cancer, according to a new research in U.S. as quoted by news reports Wednesday. The research, published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research, showed that an ingredient in the fruit may help to slow the growing pace of breast cancer tumors. The researchers say that pomegranates reduce the likelihood of getting hormone-dependent breast cancer.

‘Phytochemicals suppress oestrogen production that prevents the proliferation of breast cancer cells and the growth of oestrogen-responsive tumours,’ the  Scotsman  quoted principal investigator Shiuan Chen  ,  director of the Division of Tumuor Cell Biology and co-leader of the Breast Cancer Research Programme at City of Hope in Duarte, California,as saying.

Eating pomegranates could reduce the risk of breast cancer. Scientists behind the research say that the fruit contains naturally occurring chemical, known as a phytochemical, called Ellagic acid, which prevents cancer cells from developing.Three-quarters of breast cancers are thought to be hormone dependent - fuelled by the hormone oestrogen.

According to  Professor Gary Stoner from the  Department of Internal Medicine at Ohio State University, the results are promising enough to warrant more experiments with pomegranate in animals and humans. Until then, Stoner said people ‘might consider consuming more pomegranates to protect against cancer development in the breast and perhaps in other tissues and organs’.

However, he warned that the study was conducted in a laboratory and the results may not be the same in humans.


Candida: The Symptoms and Treatments

December 15, 2009 – 6:34 am

Candida is a fungal micro-organism that occurs naturally in the body.There are actually around 20 different types of candida that can cause infection with the most common ones being candida albicans and cutaneous candidiasis.It can reproduce abnormally and then turns into a yeast infection. An overgrowth of Candida, a yeast that lives in your gut, can result in a serious condition called candidiasis - which causes a range of symptoms including chronic fatigue, thrush, abdominal bloating, depression and, if left unchecked, can also result in irritable bowel syndrome.There is really no need for any embarrassment as it is simply a natural way of your body signaling that it needs attention.

The candida fungus is actually not dangerous providing that the immune system and your body’s natural bacteria can restrict its growth and keep it within acceptable boundaries.The spread of Candida produces harmful toxins in your body and has a serious effect on your health. Candida albicans is a single-celled yeast (a kind of fungus) that is just one of several hundred species of micro-organisms living in your gut. Normally it poses no problem to your health, and is kept in check by beneficial gut bacteria, such as Acidophilus.Despite the perception of it as a female problem, no one is actually immune from it (including women, men, and even children).

Reasons for getting this condition:

The following are a few of most common reasons:

Long courses of antibiotic treatments are another reason. Antibiotics can impact on the friendly bacteria as well as the bad bacteria that they are intended to address. This means that the good bacteria is not able stop the candida fungus and infection can then develop.

The fungus can indirectly multiply from pregnancy and contraception which leads to many women being susceptible to infection.

Immune systems that have been weakened in some way are more likely to be open to yeast infection. There are also some people that have naturally weaker immune systems and they are clearly more susceptible to the fungus.

Serious diseases, such as cancer, also lead to increase of candida to levels that cause infection. In addition, the treatment of these diseases can in itself directly lead to proliferation of candida.

Symptoms:

The most common symptoms are sore, red skin with an intense burning or itching feeling. There is also likely to be recurring tiredness, muscle soreness, and potential reaction to certain foods. Many people also report feelings of nausea and fever. The symptoms can also get substantially worse if no action is taken to deal with problem.

It is important to deal with the source of your problem otherwise there are other potential symptoms that could occur. These include dizziness, blurred vision, eczema, gas, fluid retention, and sudden allergies. Even more serious conditions can also develop including leaky gut syndrome. So make an effort to deal with the actual root cause of the problem before it gets too serious.

Females are not the only sufferers as men get can get it as well. Males are likely to suffer with dry and sore skin. The fungus can also cause digestive problems like constipation and bloating. There is also potential for emotional problems too, especially from possible sexual dysfunction.

Many women will have the problem in the vagina and are likely to experience three key symptoms. These are a red area of skin, itching (which can vary from mild to extremely painful), and a discharge (which might be white or yellow in color and potentially odorous).

The symptoms of candida can vary from minor irritations to very serious medical conditions. They key is to immediately act and seek assistance if you think that you may have any type of yeast infection

Natural Remedies to Treat Candida:

Olive Leaf Extract :

US research at the Upjohn Company, published by the American Society for Microbiology, found that Olive leaf extract’s active components, elenol acid and calcium elenolate, inhibited the growth of every virus, bacteria, fungi and protozoa they were tested against and this included the Candida fungus.Olive leaf extract should be taken 3 capsules daily (300mg), this can be increased to 3 capsules twice daily during times of extra need or when an acute infection occurs.Research indicates Olive Leaf Extract could be useful in conditions such as:
Candida, tinea, other yeast and fungal problems
• Chronic or recurrent viral or bacterial infections (eg. colds, flu, sore throat, etc.)
• Compromised immune systems
• Parasitic infestation.

Wormwood:

Renowned medical herbalist Gerald Green tried many well know anti-Candida remedies on his patients and found them all to be relatively ineffective compared with Wormwood. Recent research has found Wormwood to be extremely potent against the Candida Albicans fungal infection. It helps strengthening the immune system from cell level up, which helps to overcome the primary cause of the Candida infestation fungal stage - a low and damaged immune system.

Colloidal Silver:

Colloidal Silver is one of the oldest remedies and can be traced as far back as the ancient Greek and Roman Empires. It is non-toxic, non-addictive and free of side effects. It is thought to kill an average of 650 different organisms - compared to the 6 of a standard antibiotic! It is safe for adults, children, animals and pregnant and nursing women. It can be applied topically and internally and has no reaction with other medications.


Ways to Overcome Social Anxiety

November 27, 2009 – 12:38 pm

People who suffer from the concept of being critically evaluated constantly, and have excessive fear of social interactions are said to suffer from social anxiety, also known as social phobia. They have a high level of self-consciousness, and get perturbed in public places and forums. They live with the false and very unreasonable belief that everyone is watching, staring and judging them, which leads to constant panic attacks.Social anxiety affects everyday life and can become a quite a problematic issue if not treated on time.So, how to overcome social anxiety? There are a few tried and tested ways to overcome social anxiety, some of which have been listed below.

What is Social Anxiety?

Social anxiety is the fear of social situations and the interaction with other people that can automatically bring on feelings of self-consciousness, judgment, evaluation, and inferiority.Social anxiety disorder is not an actual disease, hence it has no cure. It is the third largest psychological problem in the United States today, affecting more than 15 million Americans each year. Being a psychological disorder, it has no set medical diagnostic test to determine its cause, nor does it have a ‘quick-fix’ treatment that would fit all. It is for the family, along with the psychologist and the health worker to work out a diagnosis and determine the course of treatment.

How to Overcome Social Anxiety:

One of the best ways to overcome social anxiety is to first seek help and then analyze what triggers it, but the individual, child or adult, who suffers from social anxiety must be treated with dignity throughout the course of treatment, for treatment goes beyond a few days of therapy.Medical treatment includes prescribing depression medications, beta blockers and anti-anxiety drugs. Following are a few tips to overcome social anxiety:

  • An understanding and awareness of the problem,

 

  • Practice, practice, practice to get that information (i.e., cognitive methods, strategies, and concepts) deep down into your brain - so that these cognitive  methods become habitual and automatic,
  • Foster positive thinking, especially in relation to accepting mistakes
  • Join a group of people who are dealing with this disorder
  • Spend more time with people who will encourage your participation

 

  • Participation in a social anxiety therapy group in which you can slowly and gradually work on problems that cause you anxiety in the real world.

 

  • A commitment to carry through with cognitive-behavioral therapy even when it is repetitious and seems difficult,

 

  • Mind calming by meditation, like yoga can be be very helpful in controlling the mind in social forums

 

  • Most importantly, stop being around people who are negative or foster negativity around you, always remember that you are the best and you are special

 

  • Sporting activities are a great way to build confidence, so get involved in some or the other sport activities

There are no fixed techniques to overcome social anxiety. Treating social anxiety in children is different from treating the disorder in adults, as it can be more grave. But they all work on the same belief that more than medications, it is the power of mind that will help overcome this disorder.Here’s where motivation and practice come in. The more you can practice these small techniques at home, the quicker anxiety can be reduced and social anxiety can be overcome.