Your Heart

Life is full of surprises, but having a heart attack shouldn’t be one of them. This special section shares the latest information about the unique needs of women’s hearts and gives you advice on how to keep your heart healthy and strong. Plus, the Duchess of York helps spread the word.

Low-dose pills, high dose benefits

Low-dose pills, high dose benefits It is well-known that use of birth-control pills cuts the risk of getting ovarian cancer. By stimulating pregnancy, the Pill shuts down ovulation and allows the ovaries to “rest”. But until recently, this extra benefit of the Pill has been studied only in women taking high-dose formulas. Now, researchers from the Graduate School of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh, US, report that newer, low-dose pills are just as effective, reducing the chances of developing the cancer by the same 40 percent as the older pills. – Stella G. de Dios, M.D.

Beat Body Odor

Q: A friend of mine has body odor. Whenever she starts to sweat, the smell comes out. Aside from using deodorants, are there any alternatives? – Stella G. de Dios, M.D.

A: Sweat itself is odorless. We start to smell when sweat mixes with bacteria which is normally found on the skin. Here’s how you can nix body odor.

● Antiperspirants stop sweat from pouring out of sweat glands. Antideodorants block sweat and destroy bacteria at the same time. She could use both.

● Take daily showers or baths. Scrubbing armpits with a washcloth and antibacterial soap, especially after heavy sweating (i.e., during a hot day, after exercising, after sex), will minimize both sweat flow and bacterial contamination .

● Liberally use cornstarch powder or the more absorbent Zeasorb powder to keep the armpits dry.

● Choose light-colored clothing made of natural fibers like cotton. They help the skin breathe. Avoid dark colors and synthetic materials like nylon and polyester.

● She should watch the food she eats. Someone on a low carbo-high protein diet like the Atkin’s diet may develop a condition called ketosis. This causes body odor and bad breath. Certain spices that may be secreted into sweat (and may even discolor it) also causes body odor.

● If all else fails, visit a dermatologist.

What's in a hotdog?

Q: My kids and my husband love eating hot dogs. I like its convenience, but I’m not so sure it’s healthy to eat. What do you thing?—Carmen Valdellon
A: Hot dogs are a staple food in many Filipino households. They’re part of our breakfast, merienda, and baon. Family outings, children’s parties, and barbecues are incomplete without them. Yes, they’re very convenient:

They’re early to prepare, relatively inexpensive, and don’t spoil easily—important in our hot and humid climate. Some mothers also believe that hot dogs are packed with protein essential for their child’s growth and development. They couldn’t be further from the truth!

This is how hot dogs are made: After removing all the choice cuts from a beef carcass and using these for other purposes, whatever remains—the skin, fat and water! It’s really not a dieter’s delight not a good source of protein. What’s more, a study conducted at the University of California San Diego in 1996 showed that because of the presence of nitrates, preservatives used to keep meat from spoiling, eating just 12 hot dogs in one month already increases your chances of developing leukemia. It’s a wise move to tell your kids and husband to find a healthier alternative to the hot dogs they love. – Stella G. de Dios, M.D.

Not a "silent killer"

Good morning everybody. There are saying that “it’s never too late, when early diagnose”. It’s true. Many of us thought that they are strong and they will not acquire any disease. It’s wrong. It happened sometimes that we don’t expect and we don’t have any single idea.

Conventional wisdom says that ovarian cancer has no symptoms early on, so diagnosis is often delayed until the disease becomes so far advanced that it is difficult to treat. But study suggests that early-stage symptoms do, in fact, exist.

Research shows that before diagnosis, women with the disease experience a cluster of symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain and urinary incontinence, says Barbara Goff, M.D., a professor of obstetrics-gynecology at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. These symptoms may provide an opportunity to detect ovarian cancer in its early, must treatable stage.

Occasional bloating and gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort, especially around the time of your period, are not uncommon, but more frequent and severe symptoms that last longer than usual may indicate something more serious. Researchers learned that women with malignant masses typically experienced symptoms 20 to 30 times a month and they were worse than those related to menstruation. The most common symptoms associated with malignancy include bloating or a feeling of fullness, constipation, abdominal or pelvic pain and frequent or urgent urination.

So tell your doctor about any persistent GI symptoms, even if they seem vague, and don’t be afraid to bring up the possibility of ovarian cancer. She’ll probably perform a recto-vaginal pelvic exam to feel for tenderness or masses and may recommend a follow-up ultrasound. – Arricca Elin SanSome

What milk can give you . . .

Good posture that comes from strong bones. Confidence that shows all over.

One glass a day of milk provides 100% calcium RDA. A healthy diet and milk keep bones strong. And from strong bones comes good posture. With good posture, women becomes more confident. So in everything you do, from back-breaking sports to being a mother, you get to stand strong, stand proud, stand straight . . . stand out.

Eating and Drinking Tips

Many people love to eat. As some said that they will eat the food they want to eat until while they are still alive.

EXCESSIVE EATING AND DRINKING CAN LEAVE YOUR BODY BEGGING FOR A DETOXIFYING OVERHAUL. ALTHOUGH SOME EXPERTS RECOMMENDS PERIODIC, INTENSIVE CLEANSING PROGRAMS, A DAILY LIVER-FRIENDLY LIFESTYLE IS MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE THAN TRYING TO PLAY CATCH-UP A FEW TIMES A YEAR.

Liver Foes

Preserved meats

Alcohol

Artificial sweeteners

Caffeine

Fried foods

Processed foods

Refined flour

Sugar

Liver Friends

Apples
Nuts and seeds
Artichokes
Papaya
Beans
Soybeans
Broccoli
Spinach
Brussels Sprouts
Tomatoes
Cabbage
Water
Cauliflower
Watermelon
Figs
Whole Grains

Easy on the Aspirin

Taking aspirin may lower the risk of a stroke, but too much might actually double the risk of stroke, according to a study that followed 79,000 women for 14 yrs. While small doses of aspirin can help prevent ischemic strokes caused by blood clot in the arteries, women who took more than 15 aspirins per week were twice as likely to suffer a hemorrhagic stroke, or bleeding in the brain. - Dominique Andrews

Heartburn? Try sleeping on your left side

The stomach acid that causes heartburn takes longer to clear in people who sleep on their right sides than those who sleep in other position. Researchers say the lower part of the esophagus turns a bit as it connects to the stomach. When you sleep on your right side, they speculate, this curve straightens and allow stomach acid to easily enter the esophagus—causing that burning pain that keeps you awake. - Dominique Andrews

Pill Precautions

Women who take the Pill and exercise need more calcium

Because studies have shown that oral contraceptives could increase bone mass, some doctors have told women at risk of osteoporosis to take the Pill. Now, a Purdue University study has found that young women on the Pill who exercise are more, not less, prone to bone loss in their hips and spines.

Although researchers don’t know why this is, they are concerned because a loss of bone density can make women susceptible to fractures and lead to osteoporosis, the brittle bone disease that affects 10 million Americans. Still, “Women shouldn’t stop exercising or taking the Pill.” Says Felicia Cosman, M.D., clinical director of the National Osteoporosis foundation.

Instead, they should increase their calcium intake to up to 1,200 milligrams a day. Three of the women in the study did just that—and those were the only three whose bones didn’t suffer. – Dorie Edelstein

Preggy Mom's Strategies (2 of 2)

● Follow Through on Folic Acid

This B vitamin is an important nutrient during pregnancy. Folic acid is essential to the baby’s organ formation and the development of his brain and nervous system. It aids in the production of red and white blood cells; it is also a genetic. Your baby will produce billions of cells in the course is sufficient source of folic acid in your diet. Pregnant women should have at least 100 mcg of folic acid a day.

● Fiber Reminder

One of the most frustrating conditions that come with pregnancy is constipation. Fiber is useful in fighting constipation. It improves bowel movement by lubrication the colon with increased water content, thereby solving any constipation problem.

It is also helpful to know that many foods that are high in fiber are also loaded with iron. B vitamins, and minerals such as zinc and magnesium, which are all just important during pregnancy. A pregnant mother should aim for 150 g of fiber a day.

● Calling for Calcium

The baby in your stomach draws about 200 to 300 milligrams of calcium a day to form bones and teeth. It is important that your diet supports this need. Plus, if you’re planning to breastfeed, you must prepare for it even as you are pregnant. Your body must have enough calcium in store to support lactation. Calcium also reduces the risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension. Dairy products, especially milk, are the best known source of calcium.

Preggiy Mom's Strategies (1 of 2)

● Eating For Two

If you think of nothing else while you’re pregnant, please think of what you will put in your mouth and the effect it will have. We know you must be sick of hearing this now, but we cannot over emphasize the importance of nutrition while you ar pregnant. If you’re having a hard time resisting sweets and chasing after vegetables, keep these thoughts in mind.

● You will feel better and look better if you eat well.

● Good nutrition helps prevent stillbirth and low birth weight.

● If you eat well, there’s less possibility of delivering prematurely.

● Good eating habits create a strong uterus which is needed for a problem-free delivery.

● Nutrition is your best defense against infection on you and your baby.

● Good food is what your baby needs most; if you do not give him the nourishment he needs, you may stunt his growth.

Remember, eating well means eating right. Every nutrient, vitamin and mineral plays a critical role during pregnancy. You must always stay within your obstetrician recommended daily allowance of vitamins and minerals.

● Pump Up The Iron

Iron is the single most important minerals during pregnancy. It is essential for the transport and use of oxygen in the body.

For Mom: Iron deficiency is associated with low pregnancy weight gain and poor maternal immune status. Iron prevents low birth weight and premature delivery. That’s why during pregnancy, You will need to double your usual daily iron requirement (at least 30 to 40 mg.)

For Baby: Iron helps support the growth of the placenta—the main source of nourishment for your baby. It also needs to be stored in the baby’s tissue for use during the first few months after birth.

Where to get it: Lean red meats such as sirloin, rounds, and the like are good sources of iron. You may also try spinach, beans, lentils, molasses, chickpeas, dried apricots, and iron-fortified cereals.

Positively Pregnant

Pregnant should be a time for happy thoughts and hopeful anticipation. Experts say that a mother-to-be’s disposition, whether pleasant or sullen, may have a bearing on the future personality of her child. But experts stress that how a pregnant woman behaves—her lifestyle and dietary habits—during the nine-month gestation will definitely affect the baby’s physical and mental development.

The Mighty Mushroom

DON’T JUDGE A VEGGIE BY ITS COLOR. WHITE BUTOON MUSHROOMS HAVE A GREATER ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY (MEANING THEY MAY HAVE MORE DISEASE-FIGHTING ABILITY) THAN TOMATOES, GREEN PEPPERS OR CARROTS. THESE SMALL FUNGI ARE ALSO LESS EXPENSIVE THAN THE MORE EXOTIC SHITAKE AND OYSTER VARIETIES. MAKE BUTTON MUSHROOMS A SALAD STAPLE, SLICE THEM THINLY FOR A SANDWICH TOPPER OR ADD THEM TO PASTA SAUCE. - Bethany Gumper

Would you know …?

Peanut Butter and Diabetes

Eating nuts or peanut butter may lower the risk of type 2 diabetes in women. Nuts, high in good fats (polyunsaturated and monounsaturated), may help stabilize glucose and insulin levels, whereas saturated fat (from foods such a butter, cheese and meat) and trans-fat (from foods such as processed baked goods) decrease the efficiency of insulin, which controls blood sugar. – Journal of the American Medical Association

Eye Danger

A study in the Journal Lipid Research confirms previous findings that extremely high levels of statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs) in the blood may increase cataract risk studies have also shown that taking statins with certain drugs, such as the antibiotic erythromycin, can slow statin metabolism and increase blood levels of statins in the body. Be sure to inform your doctor of all the drugs you are taking when on statins.

Duct Tape Zaps Warts

Duct tape may eliminate warts more effectively than cryotherapy ( a treatment using liquid nitrogen). When using liquid nitrogen). When placed on warts for 6 days at a time for up to 2 months, duct tape made the warts disappear 85 percent of the time, compared to 60 percent for cryotherapy, researchers found. – Achieves of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine

How many hours of sleep does my 4-year-old need to be properly rested?

Preschool children (ages 3 to 5) should get between 10 and 12 hours (including naps). Older ages 6 to 12 needs at least 9 hours of sleep a night. And teenagers (age 13 to 19) need at least 9 hours of sleep a night. And teenagers (age 13 to 19) need 8 ½ to 9 hours, says Carl E. Hunt, M.D., director of the National Center on sleep Disorders Research in Bethesda, Maryland. Getting an adequate amount of sleep helps kids stay healthy and achieve their best in school, while chronic lack of sleep interferes with learning, memory, mood and behavior. It also makes children more prone to accidents. Dr. Hunt’s tips: ● limit soft drinks loaded with caffeine before bed; ● keep distractions like TV’s and computers out of kid’s bedrooms; ● try to allow time for them to unwind. – Christine Brophy

Nonsurgical Tendon Treatment

Tendon problems commonly called “tennis elbows” and “jumper’s knee” can often be treated nonsurgically with a minimal invasive procedure using an ultrasound-guided needle, according to researchers at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. When tendons (the tissue that connects muscles to bones) become stained, overused or injured, scar tissue can form, which doesn’t allow for proper movement, causing pain. These problems often are treated with surgery (in which tendons are cut and reattached and scar tissue is removed) which may or may not be successful. The new procedure works by breaking up scar tissue and calcifications (tiny calcium deposits that build up in chronically injured tendons), allowing the body to regenerate new tissue to restore tendon elasticity and normal function. – Christine Brophy

Skin Warning

Topical cosmetic products that contain an ingredients called alpha hydroxyl acids (AHAs) may increase the skins sensitivity to ultraviolet rays and up the risk of sunburn, according to research by the Cosmetic. Toiletry and Fragrance Association. These acids are purported to reduce wrinkles and freshen skin appearance by sloughing off old dead skin cells. This weakens the skin top layer, which blocks out UV light, says dermatologist and Family Circle health and Medical Advisory Board member John Romano. M.D.. for protection, use sunscreen with a high SPF (such as SPF 15). Skin sensitivity can last for up to a week after discontinuing use of skin products with AHAs. – Christine Brophy

How to skip stone

If you have a family history of kidney stones, you may want to cut down on drinking regular tea, which is loaded with calcium oxalate, the ingredient in most kidney stones. Or you can switch your Earl Grey in the morning? Then at least don’t dunk the bag so much. Researchers from Canada said you may reduce your risk of kidney stones by refraining from dunking your tea bag or stirring your tea while it’s brewing or steeping it too long, since all these things drive more oxalate out of the leaves and into your cup.

Photo courtesy: techstripe

The beast goes down

If you own a heart-rate monitor, you know how effective it can be for keeping our heart rate in your target zone while running and cycling. But one cardiologist says the monitors can be used to help eat stress during the rest of your day as well. I have a friend whose job is highly stressful, and he wears his to work, says James M. Rippe, M.D., director of the Center for Clinical and Lifestyle Research and a professor of cardiology at Tuffs University School of Medicine. He checks his heart rate now and then and he knows when he needs to take a break to unwind. Dr. Rippe is finishing a year-long study of heart-rate monitors as stress-reduction tools.

Though he won’t reveal details of the study, he says some subjects and significant and measurable reduction in stress simply by monitoring their heart rates a few times a day. (However, checking too often may actually cause stress, doctors wan.) While stress is certainly not the only thing that increases heart rate (caffeine, physical activity and excitement do, too), Dr. Ripe says “it provides a window to what’s happening in the body. You don’t have to go to Tibet to de-stress; simply being in tune with your heart rate gives you a positive effect right away. – Jeffrey Csatari

Get the Stress Out

Sitting in a chair all day can be much more stressful than it seems. Mental stress can lodge itself in your shoulders, back, eyes and head.

Here’s simple plan for adapting your work style to one that’s better for your mind and body:

● Watch for unhealthy habits. When you’re on the phone, do you use your chin to pin the receiver against your shoulder? Do you lunch over the keyboard when you’re typing? Are you accustomed to using your legs to drag yourself, seated in your swivel chair, across your office to retrieve your mail? All of these unnatural movements—when repeated day after day—can lead to muscle strain and soreness.

● Relax your neck. This is often the fris place you feel stress. Try this: Extend your right arm over your head and grasp your neck just below your left ear. Now gently pull your head toward your right shoulder and hold for a moment. Repeat with your left arm, pulling your head toward your left shoulder.

● Take regular breaks. If your job requires you to stay in the same position for long periods, or if you repeat the same motion continuously, take one-minute breaks every 15 minutes. Stand up, stretch against a wall, go for a walk—anything to get the blood flowing again.

Source: men’s health

What about fish?

Definitely eat fish—particularly omega 3—rich fish such as lake trout, herring, sardines, albacore tuna, and salmon. The fatty acids in fish decrease lesion formation inflammation, platelet aggregation, and triglyceride levels.

Those who don’t consume two fish meals per week may want to ask their health care provider about taking 1 gram of fish oil per day. In one study of more that 11,000 heart attack survivors, daily supplements equivalent to one fatty-fish meal reduced the risk of sudden cardiac death. Researchers believe that consuming fish-oil fats helps stabilize heart muscle cells, making them more resistant to arrhythmia.

Which foods should I avoid from now on?

Sharply reduce intake of saturated and trans fats. These fats raise blood cholesterol and contributre to atherosclerosis. Avoid’ fatty meats, whole-milk products, processed foods such as bakery items, hard margarines, shortenings, and lard.

Do I have to worry about sodium?

That depends. Not everyone who has cardiac problems needs to restrict sodium, but those who have high blood pressure, congestive heart failure or a severely damaged heart should be especially vigilant. Reducing sodium reduces blood pressure, which helps lower heart attack and stroke risk. To go sallt-free season your food with chopped fresh dried herbs, spices, lemon juice and zest or high-quality flavored vinegars.

Moderate alcohol consumption may reduce heart attack risk and read wine contains added antioxidant benefits.

Vitamins for All

Vitamins are complex chemical substances contained mainly in food. They enable the body to break down and use the basic elements of food, proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Certain vitamins are also involved in producing blood cells, hormones, genetic material and chemicals in your nervous system. Unlike carbohydrates, proteins and fats, vitamins and minerals do not provide calories. However, they do help the body to use the energy from food.

Most vitamins cannot be made in your body, so they must be acquired from food. One exception is vitamin D, which is made in the skin when it is exposed to sunlight. Bacteria present in the gut can also make some vitamins.

Ginseng (Panax ginseng)

Approved by German health authorities to promote energy and mental focus, but evidence is inconclusive. Can be prepared as a tea but is generally taken as a standardized extract that provides 4% ginsenosides. Typical daily amount is 200 mg of a standardized extract, taken as 100 mg twice daily. Generally safe in appropriate amounts, but may cause insomnia in high doses. Not for use during pregnancy.

Cancer cells in our body? (3 of 3)

Oncogenes

Normal (non-cancerous) cells have a regulated, well-controlled, cell division and growth, thanks to the genes that produce proteins that provide such auto-regulation and control. These are the proto-oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes, which regulate the cell cycle and keep the cells in good control. Tumor-suppressor genes produce proteins that prevent the uncontrolled cell growth and abnormal cell division.

When the cells are constantly exposed to cancer-causing agents (either toxic substances, chemicals in food or drinks, excess sunlight, radiation, etc.), the body produces an abnormal proteins called oncogenes which cause the cells to lose their ability to control their regulation. The non-regulated cells then go wild and divide abnormally fast, uncontrolled, transforming the cells into cancer cells that lose their original characteristics and functions (like cancerous lungs tissues turning into a solid mass, losing their air-cells and ability to oxygenate blood). The uncontrolled growth and replication of the cancer cells lead to large space-occupying masses in the body, crowding out other organs and pressing on vitals blood vessels and nerves. The most adverse outcome of this malignant process is the transformation of the cancerous organ into a useless hard mass of tissues and the loss of original function of the organ, as in cancer of the lungs, liver, kidney, brain, breast, prostate, etc.

Conclusion

Normal, healthy, persons do not have cancer cells in their body. That includes the general population at large. Only individuals with a cancerous disease have cancers cells in them. And you can email this medical fact to your friends.

Knowing how deadly cancers can be, it behooves all of us to live a healthy lifestyle, and to be knowledgeable and keenly aware that cancer is best prevented. And if it still occurs, in spite of our diligence and discipline, it is best diagnosed early. A regular medical check-up is a prudent prophylactic health strategy in our fight against diseases, especially against cancer. –The Inquirer

Cancer cells in our body? (2 of 3)

That is why our organs, our body as a whole, have the average sizes and shapes, according to our genetic make-up. There is no run-away, uncontrolled, growth in cases of normal cells. Muscle cells are greater in mass and stronger among those who exercise daily, especially among body builders. Fat cells increase in number and size when we overeat and become overweight. But even these “growths” are still within the expected “norm.”

From time to time, as our activities and lifestyle “damage” our cells as a result of the wear and tear in our body, our older cells (including blood cells) die and are replaced by new cells efficiently and automatically. An example of this is our dead skin, which flakes off, to be replaced instantly by new skin. Worn out or dead cells in a normal body are constantly replaced with new ones almost every day. But all this happens in an organized, systematic, orderly, and “disciplined” process. Our body system’s self-protective and auto-control mechanisms are always in control maintaining our health. If we do something that will adversely alter this natural internal balance and harmony, then disease sets in.

Cancer cells are something else. Cancer cells are different. They grow and divide with blatant disregard for the body’s needs and limitations. They do not stop reproducing. There is random multiplication and replication that it out of bounds, without order and direction. These cells become very aggressive, attacking tissues and organs nearby, as in malignant tumors, where in many cases even spread to, and destroy, distant organs (like in cancer of the lungs with metastases to the brains, bones, adrenals, etc).

Unless cancer cells are treated effectively to induce cure or remission when they first form, they are unstoppable in their growth and aggressiveness. This behavior and characteristic of cancer cells alone are a self-evident proof that normal healthy bodies do not have what is claimed as “dormant cancer cells.” If any cancer cell forms in a person’s body, it will continue to grow and multiply unceasingly and be clinically obvious in a matter of weeks or months in almost all cases. –The Inquirer

Cancer cells in our body? (1 of 3)

Good morning friends. As everybody were remembering the death of our former President Corazon Aquino, everybody were sympathizing her. Her recent death made the country sad as she was a good lady. She died of colon cancer. I have read one article about cancer. I want to share all with you so that you will have some knowledge of it.

The Internet is recently flooded with a medical claim that is scaring the public. Circulating in the email world is the statement that says “normally, we all have dormant cancer cells in our body.” Implied is the assertion that all healthy people are walking around with a time bomb within them, ready to explode.

This senseless and unkind fabrication is obviously the work of someone with an ignorant, or confused, if not twisted, mind.

The healthy person does not carry any cancer cell in their body, period. If every tissue in the body of a normal person is biopsied, or if a person who dies of any non-cancerous disease, like heart attack or stroke, or trauma, is autopsied from head to foot, no cancer cells will be found. The only exception to this is if the person had an undiagnosed cancer, which is incidentally found on autopsy, a finding that excludes this person from being healthy in the first place.

Therefore, all healthy individuals, from birth to adulthood to their death, do not normally carry, or have, any cancer cells in their body, unless they develop a malignancy. If they abuse themselves and subject their body to carcinogens, substances or toxins that cause cancers, then the tissues of the organs involved (like the lungs among smokers, the esophagus or food pipe, and the liver, among alcoholics) could be so irritated and damaged by the toxic agent for the cells of those tissues to change into cancer cells.

Normal cellsThe normal cells our body came with when we were born have a pre-determined growth pattern and final adult size, from infancy to adulthood. As the cells, tissues and organs attain their normal number and size, the cell growth ceases at the right time. –The Inquirer

Finally! Good News About Fats

GREAT FAT NEWS: Eating more fat-not less-helps you keep weight off, according to new research. Dieters followed either a moderate-fat plan (35 percent of calories from fat) or a lower fat one (20 percent of calories from fat). Only the moderate-fat dieters kept that weight off. The low-fat dieters regained much of the weight by the study’s end.

Sure, low-fat diets will help you lose, but broiling and steaming gets boring, so dieters may return to their old eating habits, and weight rebounds. Food with fats seems to better satisfy hunger.

Eat healthy fat. Our dieters ate mostly monounsaturated fats, the heart-healthy kind found in nuts, avocados and olive oil. Limit saturated fat (think steak) and have hardly any of the artery-harming trans fats found in processed foods. Trans fat, also known as hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated fats, is a staple in many fast food menus. Trans fat is very harmful to the arteries and are found to be involved with heart disease and cancer. Studies have already proven that an increase of only 2 percent trans fat in a person elevates the risk of heart disease by 36 percent.

Keep portion trim. For instance a handful of nuts is a great snack, a bowlfull is not.

Instead of raw veggies … try cooking them in 1 T canola oil.

Instead of toast with low-calorie jelly … try toast with 2 tsp peanut butter.

Instead of reduced-fat dressing … try 1 T olive oil with vinegar.

Instead of fat-free croutons … try 4 balck olives.

Lack of sleep raises common cold risk

Good morning everyone, Not only to children that I can say that should have a good sleep. Even to adults should be enough. They say that lack of sleep raises a common cold risk. Out body got weak to it even if we are not aware of it. Some says that it’s fine even if they are lack of it as long as they eat the right food. That may be right in some ways, but it is important that we sleep at least 8 hours a day.

People who get less than seven hours of sleep at night have a three times higher risk of catching a cold than people who sleep eight hours or more, according to a study released Monday.

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania studied 153 people by documenting their sleep habits for two weeks and then administered nasal drops that contained the cold-causing rhinovirus.

"Participants were interviewed daily over a two-week period, reporting how many hours they slept per night, what percentage of their time in bed was spent asleep (sleep efficiency) and whether they felt rested," said the study.

"The less an individual slept, the more likely he or she was to develop a cold," said the findings published in the Archives of Internal Medicine's January 12 issue.

People who reported poorer quality of sleep had an increased likelihood of catching a cold, it said. "Lower sleep efficiency was also associated with developing a cold -- participants who spent less than 92 percent of their time in bed asleep were five and a half times more likely to become ill than those whose efficiency was 98 percent or more. Feeling rested was not associated with colds."

The subjects were all in good health and their average age was 37.

A possible explanation for the link between sleep and cold susceptibility was "that sleep disturbance influences the regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, histamines and other symptom mediators that are released in response to infection," the study authors wrote.

Previous research has linked sleep deprivation to reduced immune function, but there has been limited evidence that lack of sleep increased the risk of catching the common cold. - Agence France

The study was led by Carnegie Mellon University's Sheldon Cohen between 2000 and 2

Choosing the joy of wellness (4 of 4)

PAINT YOUR PLATE

“There is no good or bad food; there are only good and bad diets. Sisig, is it good or bad? Lechon and chips, are they bad? No, these are food and they contain nutrients. (But) if you are eating it morning, noon, and night, then it’s a bad diet. That’s what is wrong,” said Sager.

She continued: “There’s a basic principle in good nutrition: moderation, variety, and balance are the keys. Sa wellness, walang bawal na pagkain. A person can eat anything, but not everything.”

Sager explains that moderation is about portion control, which means providing enough but not too much of each type of food. She advises not to stop yourself from eating because “the more you deprived yourself, the more you crave for it.”

For variety, eat a wide selection of food every day. “Paint your plate. More colors in your plate, the better. Deep-colored foods such as vegetables and fruits are rich in anti-oxidants and other minerals,” shared Sager.

To have a balance diet, provide food types in proportion to each other. A plate should contain 50% carbohydrates, 25% protein, and 25% fruits and vegetables. Have more water, less sugar, salt, and fat.

Maintaining good well-being is not an easy task. It starts with being aware that something needs to be changed, that something is wrong with your body. Being conscious is just a small step to wellness, but it’s definitely a start nonetheless. – Ma. Glaiza Lee

Choosing the joy of wellness (3 of 4)

LET’S GET PHYSICAL

One of the indicators of healthy physical body is the body mass index (BMI), which is the ratio of weight to the height. Although BMI doesn’t measure the body fat, it is useful in estimating the ideal body weight based on the height of the person.

The body mass index is computed by the person’s body weight in kilogram divided by the square of his height in meter. It usually diagnoses weight problem.

For example, a 5’2 person weighs 106 lbs. To get the height in meters, multiply 5.2 (height in feet) by 12 and multiply again by 0.0254. (Answer: 1.58 meters) For the weight, divide 106 lbs by 2.2 to get the weight in meter (Answer: 48.18 kgs). Then, divide 48.18 by the square of 1.58 (which is 2.4964). His BMI is 19.2997. Ideal BMI is 18.5 to 24.9, which means if your BMI falls within that bracket, your weight is normal.

Another measuring instrument that is widely used is the waist to hip ratio (WHR), the ratio of the circumference of the waist (usually located right above the hip bone) and hip (the widest part). It shows what body type you have: are you a pear-shaped or an apple-shaped?

For the waist circumference, the target measurement is 31 inches for women and 35 inches for men.An indicator of health risks, WHR is computed by dividing the waist circumference by the hip circumference. For example, the waist measures 26 inches, while the hip is 34. If you divide 26 by 34, the answer will be 0.7647. Ideal WHR is less than 1 for men and less than 0.85 for women.

Physical activity such a walking and running can do a lot, but it should hand in hand with good nutrition. – Ma. Glaiza Lee

Choosing the joy of wellness (2 of 4)

DIETS, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, AND HEALTH

Health organizations and private wellness companies are advocating healthy lifestyle in relation to the prevailing global health trends – the graying population and the rising global healthcare cost.

“Look at the baby boomers, those who are born from 1946 to 1964. If you’ll compute, some of these baby boomers are already retired, with money and time to spent but are health poor. This is primarily the reason for the proliferation of the health supplements,” said Cora Sager, Nestle corporate wellness head.

She continued: “There’s also the rising healthcare cost. It is the number one problem in US. Diabetes, for instance, has gone so high that is already affecting the healthcare cost of the government. This is one of the reasons why WHO came up with the Global Strategy on Diets, Physical Activity, and Health which is amended in 2004, which we, at Nestle, follow.”

As an advocate of healthy lifestyle, Nestle recently launched “I Choose Wellness,” a long-term campaign to promote nutrition, health, and wellness. The campaign will support health trends, discuss key wellness concepts, and implement regular activities for its loyal consumers.

“Our campaign aims to increase awareness and encourage people to start taking small steps consciously to improve their wellness with nutrition and fitness practices. We also launched the wellness passports to help individual define their wellness goals, track their accomplishments, and give them rewards for the progress made,” said Sager.

Being healthy and achieving total wellness means changing the lifestyle that we are so used to. Lifestyle is greatly influenced by the food that a person eats and the physical activities he is doing. It doesn’t start today, last week, or last month, but during early childhood.

Sager warns that fats that a person gained during the childhood period would be carried out during her adulthood. She believes that being healthy (which means good nutrition and regular physical activities) starts during childhood years. She doesn’t advice reducing the food intake for children, but rather increasing the physical activities of the children. – Ma. Glaiza Lee

Choosing the joy of wellness (1 of 4)

Good morning friends. Being fit is feeling good. It is being able to run without getting cramps in your side, and being able to carry things without getting aches in your arms. Being fit is looking good. Your body is not too skinny, but not with many extra fatty layers either. You have a warm, healthy glow and sparkle in your eyes. So by choosing your joy of wellness made you always in tip-top shape.

Health, wellness, and well-being are such complex ideas that various societal proponents have different definitions of the terms. But the most accepted is the World Health Organization rationale which states that health is “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

Based on the book Fundamentals of Nursing, written by Barbara Kozier, Glenora Erb, et.al, to optimize health and wellness, people must deal with the physical, social, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, occupational, and environmental. components.

Environmental, occupational, and social aspects indicate one’s ability to improve the standard living of the community through various healthy actions, and achieve balance between professional and personal lives as well as the capability to interact with others.

As the term implies, spiritual proponent is about finding the value and meaning of life, including ability to abide by a person’s morals, values, and ethics. If a person can manage stress efficiently and express his emotions properly, then he may be fulfilling the emotional facet of his wellness.

With intellectual element, a person should be able to learn, comprehend, and utilize information effectively for his development. Physical wellness, on the other hand, refers to healthy body which is an outcome of regular exercise, balance diet and nutrition, and proper rest.

Achieving health and remaining healthy should be an active pursuit, especially nowadays when there is an alarming health trend where seven out of 10 leading causes of mortality in the country are lifestyle-related illnesses such as heart and vascular diseases, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary ailments and its allied conditions, diabetes mellitus, and kidney disorders. - Ma. Glaiza Lee

How sugary drinks can derail your fitness goal (2 of 2)

One simple way to safely lose weight is to remove all sugary drinks from your diet. Go for the sugar-free or diet varieties. Or better yet, pour a tall glass of water over ice, squeeze a wedge of lemon or a couple of calamansi, add a teaspoon of honey and you have yourself a healthier alternative.

That once a week indulgence may be all right. But if it becomes a regular habit and you end up piling on more calories on account of those sugary drinks and mate it with a sedentary lifestyle, then it becomes a hindrance to your fitness goal. Unless, of course, your fitness goal is to lard up by 15 lbs., specifically from sugar calories.

There is of course that option of “earning” that sugary drink. An additional 15 minutes on the treadmill, a 30 minute walk, five minutes of jumping jacks—anything that may off set the calories—and guilt feelings.

If you are an extreme athlete who performs taxing physical activity beyond the threshold of mere mortals, drink away. You’ve earned it. But for the average Joe and plain Jane striving for fitness nirvana, and you’ve heard this once and will hear it again, moderation is key. This cliché cannot be any more pronounced when it comes to those fitness goal poopers, aka sugary drinks.

E-mail the author: greggyromualdez@yahoo.com

How sugary drinks can derail your fitness goal (1 of 2)

That glass of ice tea you ordered at your favorite restaurant goes down real quick. The attendant is quick to give a refill. Ah, the joys of ordering bottomless.

Perhaps many of us are not aware that a primary contributor to weight gain is the wide variety of sugary drinks we consume. Softdrinks are a more obvious culprit, with a 12 oz can containing around 40 to 50 grams of sugar—that’s around 10 teaspoonfuls of table sugar.

But that seemingly harmless glass of iced tea, or some of the ready to drink variants neatly packed in a plastic bottle, and that instant powdered juice drink may contain nearly just as much sugar.

So what’s the real deal with sugar? A little sweetness in our lives can’t be all that bad right? Wrong.

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition by the Harvard School of Public Health says that sugary sodas and fruit drinks may be a major factor in long-term weight gain as well as the obesity epidemic plaguing the United States. Researchers also say that a can of soda a day may result in an additional 15 lbs. in body weight over a span of one year.

The pitfalls of a sugar rich diet begin, but do not end with weight gain and obesity. Various complications may arise. The primary sweetener used in most commercially available sodas and juice drinks is high fructose corn syrup. This substance, as shown by research, can increase triglyceride count—which may increase the risk of heart problems, diabetes and other health complications.

For the fitness conscious individual, limiting sugar intake is key to a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Thus, it is important to know what’s in those sugary drinks and how it may adversely affect our bodies if taken in excess.

I find it dangerous when the manufacturers of ready to drink ice teas and fruit juices market their products as clean, healthy alternatives when a quick peek at the nutrition labels reveals an astonishing sugar content to rival that of sodas.

E-mail the author: greggyromualdez@yahoo.com

The Wellness of Many for the Wellness of One (2)

Financial wellness can be defined as having “financial freedom” or the state where one has enough currency in his/her savings to live comfortably. That’s what motivates most of us in our jobs and careers. Current business teachings have now added that “Emotional Quotient” or “EQ” is very important in being successful in one’s career. “EQ” as opposed to IQ (Intelligence Quotient) is about being aware of emotions and knowing how to productively manage them, not to dwell too much on negative mind sets and feelings is part of EQ. IQ just measures how well one can analyze and make intelligent connections. It doesn’t measure how one manages feelings.

Even the wellness of the environment starts with wellness from within. The environment and the planet is nothing more than a reflection of the disharmony of human beings from inside. Excessive greed and the demand for non-essential goods have pushed the earth to the brink of planetary crisis. If the planet will survive, it should start with the inert wellness of humans. Only then can the earth totally heal itself.

There are currently five pillars of wellness. That doesn’t mean that there won’t be more. We can even break down the body and assign wellness campaigns for each of the organs, heart wellness, liver wellness, maybe up to toenail wellness. All the wellness classifications all begin with inner wellness. Without it all other wellness may seem half-baked and trivial. In the future the number of wellness pillars out there would be as numerous as the number of people on the planet. Our complete wellness is a journey that only we can take, defines and claim. Take the journey and heal the world. Namaste. - David C. Montecillo
www.sattvahwellness.com

The Wellness of Many for the Wellness of One (1)

Good morning friends. As my knowledge, wellness is a quality or state of being in good health. It’s very important that we should always keep ourselves in good health. We can’t do things if we don’t feel good or if we don’t have good condition. All work can be easily done no matter how hard it is. I just read one article and I want to share that with you so that you will have much more idea of how important to be well.

There’s recently been a classification of wellness called the “Five Pillars of Wellness” presented by a doctor: physical, emotional, spiritual, financial and cultural. These classifications have been broken down into other concepts and methods to achieve total wellness. These five are given equal weight in achieving wholeness and wellness, but from my view all the wellness we need must first come from within ourselves.

I believe emotional and spiritual wellness must be the foundation before all other wellness campaigns move forward. Why is this so? In the case of physical wellness, holistic and even western health principles agree that emotions can affect the health of the body. Long-term stress has been known to lower immune system and based on some research can contribute to faster aging. Emotions and mindsets are definitely the main sources for physical wellness but it contributes to physical wellness. - David C. Montecillo

www.sattvahwellness.com

A primer on allergy (2 of 2)

It is not unusual for a person to develop an allergy following contact with an allergen that he/she was not allergic to previously. In fact, as a rule, an allergic reaction does not occur if a person is encountering an allergen for the first time. This initial encounter merely sensitizes the person to the allergen and produces no symptoms. It is during subsequent encounters with the allergen that an allergic reaction develops. How is this so?

A new allergen that enters the body will invariably run into B cells (a type of white blood cell). This meeting will stimulate the B cells to produce antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE) that attach themselves on the surface of basophils (another type of white blood cell) and mast cells (a type of connective tissue cell) where they simply wait for another meeting with the allergen that triggered their production.

During the next and subsequent times the person encounters the allergen (i.e., days, months or years after the initial meeting) to which he/she has been sensitized, the IgEs that are attached to the basophils and mast cells capture the allergen. This prompts the basophils and mast cells to release inflammatory chemicals that are responsible for the signs and symptoms of allergy and that also attract other cells such as eosinophils (another type of white blood cell) that add more inflammatory chemicals.

The best way to prevent an allergic attack is by avoiding one’s allergens. Many people know their allergens. Those who do not can often identify theirs by undergoing a test for allergens.

For people who can’t avoid their allergens, immunotherapy is sometimes employed to desensitize them from their allergens. The most common form of immunotherapy consists of injecting tiny amounts of the allergen under the skin over a period of time. Allergen immunotherapy is however not always effective.

There are also some drugs that are designed to prevent and/or relieve the signs and symptoms of allergy including antihistamines, cromolyn and corticosteroids. - Eduardo Gozales, MD

(E-mail inquiries on health matters to: medical_notes@yahoo.com or wellbeing@mb.com.ph)

A primer on allergy (1 of 2)

Good morning everyone. Some people who don’t have the knowledge about what to take when they got allergy. They always ask if someone got an allergy, they always co-related that with the food they eat. Not all the time, that it came from a food.

Q. What causes allergy? Why do some people get allergic to certain things to which they are not previously allergic to? How can you prevent allergies?– Miguel P., San Fernando City

A. Allergy or allergic reaction refers to an inappropriate—and sometimes overwhelming—reaction of a person’s immune system to something (called allergen) that is harmless to most other people. Allergens come in a variety of forms—pollen, house dust, animal dander, molds, cockroaches, drugs, certain foods, etc. They trigger an allergy by getting in contact with the skin or the mucous membrane of the eyes, or by getting inhaled, ingested, or injected.

Why a particular substance can elicit an allergy in some people and not in others is unknown, but it is almost certain that allergy has a genetic basis. In fact, a family history of allergy is the most important predisposing factor for the condition.

The signs and symptoms of allergy are usually mild sneezing, itchy and runny nose, watery eyes and skin itch or rashes including hives. Rarely, allergy manifests in the form of an anaphylactic shock, a life-threatening condition that is characterized by sudden swelling and constriction of the airways causing difficulty of breathing and widening of blood vessels causing a drop in blood pressure. Incidentally, among asthmatics, an allergy can trigger an asthma attack.

Allergy is one of the four forms of hypersensitivity reactions that the immune system can exhibit. The immune system is the body’s main defense system against infectious agents and harmful substances. It is composed of a variety of cells, chief of which are the white blood cells.

Allergy is otherwise known as type I or immediate hypersensitivity reaction and consistent with its technical name, its signs and symptoms usually appear 15 to 30 minutes from the time of exposure to the allergen, although sometimes they appear after a 10- to 24-hour delay. -Eduardo Gonzales, MD

(E-mail inquiries on health matters to: medical_notes@yahoo.com or wellbeing@mb.com.ph)

Why we shouldn’t fear eating egg (3 of 3)

Dry skin mask. One raw egg yolk, scrambled. Add a few drops of fresh milk, apply on the face, avoiding the eye area. Leave on until dry. Rinse with cool water.

Oil control/facelift mask. Get one beaten egg white and add three drops of lemon. Apply on freshly washed face. Leave on until it dries up and tightens skin. Acts like a natural facelift treatment. Rinse with cool water.

Basically, I am a happy person. So why do I get depressed?

Do you know that mental illness has a relation to a nutritionally deficient diet? Biochemical causes create mental disturbances. Research has shown that a mental and emotional affliction like depression is linked to a deficiency in vitamin B complex or vitamin C.

Normal people with a cheerful disposition can be victims of the “blues” if they lack niacin or folic acid. Remember, if you are depressed, alcohol or drugs are not the answer. Alcohol is a depressant and will bring you to lower levels of sadness. And never combine a sedative with alcohol, it’s a deadly combination.

Look into the possible causes of your depression: oral contraceptives, penicillin, estrogens, antihistamines, beta-blockers, laxatives, prednisone, potassium supplements, diuretics. Know that an overstressed mental and emotional state causes severe bouts of depression and anxiety. So try to control your stress.

Why we shouldn’t fear eating egg (2 of 3)

Remember this: It is abnormal to be hungry all the time. Cravings for sweets and particular food stimulants like caffeine is a sign of blood sugar stress. This, with tiredness after meals, shakiness if you don’t eat regularly, cold sweats and nervousness/dizziness, is symptomatic of blood sugar instability.

You must eat regular meals on schedule (five small meals a day is ideal), balance your carbohydrate intake with protein and vegetables, and avoid completely for the next 30 days refined sugar (cakes, candies, sugar).

Is egg bad food?

Eggs are considered the perfect food found in one single cell. The egg has the highest protein rating compared to any other food. Two eggs are equivalent to more than 12 g of protein.

More protein is found in the white part than in the yolk. Nutrients include A, D, E, B1, B2, B6, B12, folic acid, minerals zinc, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, choline, and biotin.

Eggs also have the essential fatty acids linoleic and linolenic. No, the cholesterol in eggs is not to be feared. In fact, egg yolks are rich in lecithin, which assists bile from the gallbladder in controlling cholesterol.

A new discovery was published in the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of Internal Medicine: The fat in egg yolk is a perfect balance of monounsaturated fats and 36-percent saturated fats. Monounsaturated fat has been known to raise good cholesterol or HAL levels. So eggs are good inside and out.

Here are two simple egg-based skin treatments.

Why we shouldn’t fear eating egg (1 of 3)

Good morning everyone. I wake up early and I did took my breakfast . Guess what could it be? Of course, my favorite . . . . coffee, toasted bread and egg. J Some of us don’t want to eat eggs.

They said it has too much cholesterol that may affect our heart. Somehow it is true, but we shouldn’t fear eating eggs.

THERE is a need to personalize your wellness regimen, and to create a program that suits your energy requirements and is in harmony with your lifestyle.

To do that, here are a few reminders to help you along:

Fitness experts say the best time to exercise is during the day, but my schedule doesn’t permit it. What do you suggest?

It’s really all about energy. Your body must generate the necessary energy to get you going through the day. If optimal health is your goal, you must make time for exercise, even if it is only 20 minutes a day.

Dr. Philippe Maffetone in “In Fitness and In Health” says, “Fitness and health equals human performance.” Balance your day by making time to exercise. You can exercise at lunch break or early evening – whatever suits your schedule. But try to combine aerobic (cardiovascular) and anaerobic (weight training) types of activities.

How can I control my hunger pangs and sugar cravings?

If you are hungry all the time, you must be depriving yourself of food. Starving yourself may be effective in slimming down, but you are also causing your body unnecessary shock. -Cory Quirino

Perils of sugar-free food (2 of 2)

Vitamin B6

What’s popular these days is the low- or zero-carb diet. While this is effective for weight loss, over a period of time, there are health concerns.

The body will increase its need for B6 if one’s diet is high in protein. B6 is needed for the production of antibodies and red blood cells. Natural food sources include brewer’s yeast, wheat flour, liver, fish, soybeans, cabbage, egg, peanuts, oats and walnut.

B6 is also needed to prevent kidney stone formation, nervous and skin disorders, and helps assimilate fats and protein. Carbohydrates are important for the prevention of ketosis, an acid condition of the blood wherein your own body fat is used as energy, which is what happens in a high-protein, zero-carb diet.

Weight lifting

Exercise stimulates the release of growth hormones (G.H.), but not just any kind of exercise. Weight lifting, where there is muscular peak output (even if this is sustained briefly), promotes a significant release of G.H. Other forms of exercise, even if sustained, release negligible amounts only.

Remember: Exercise promotes sweat because amino acids are lost through perspiration. Take amino acid supplements in order to stimulate growth hormones. Start with a moderate weight training program and move your way up to a more intense workout.

Ice cravings

Constant craving for ice might indicate iron deficiency. Add more iron to your diet (liver, red meat, oysters, asparagus, oatmeal). Also, take 30-100 mg of iron daily.

Energy drink

In a blender, mix one cup of chopped pineapples and one cup of chopped oranges. Add two sprigs of mint and five ice cubes. Refresh yourself. –Cory Quirino

Perils of sugar-free food (1 of 2)

Good morning everyone. Most of us people love to eat. Even we are not hungry we just eat life that. As it is our hobbies. Many love to eat sweets but they don’t want to get fat with it. So sometimes when they buy sweets foods they are looking to the tag that says it is sugar-free. But there is a danger of sugar-free foods.

ACCORDING TO DR. EARL MINDELL’S “Vitamin Bible For The 21st Century,” people who drink diet sodas or eat food with sugar substitutes end up eating an average of 11 percent more fat. Dr. Mindell says the body has a tendency to make up for the loss of sugar by having more appetite for fat. Vitamin CAccording to the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, daily Vitamin C supplements reduce the risk of developing cataracts. There are many forms of Vitamin C—from ascorbic acid to ester C to sodium ascorbate to calcium ascorbate. A new arrival in town is the US-manufactured Miracle C, which is calcium ascorbate (not derived from sodium). It’s safe enough to consume on an empty stomach (unlike ascorbic acid).

Moreover, innumerable testimonies on the regular intake of 1,500-3,000 mg of Vitamin C say it can help prevent cold or flu. Call the Miracle C hotline, 7233878. Sources of carotenoidOkra, spinach and watercress are natural sources of zeaxanthin, a carotenoid (phytochemical and antioxidant in plant-based food). It helps protect the eyes from free-radical damage and loss of vision. –Cory Quirino

Common-sense solution: Virgin coconut oil (2 of 2)

The story of Karen, a 50-year-old homemaker whose husband was a chain smoker. He had the nasty habit of smoking before bedtime and for 25 years, she was a victim of second-hand smoke. Fearful that she may contract cancer, since second-hand smoke is more toxic for non-smokers, Karen went for an executive check-up with her husband.

Doctors were surprised to find her in good health. But her husband had stage 2 lung cancer. When asked what her regimen was, she replied that her strictest regimen was two tablespoons of VCO daily before breakfast. This, plus mega doses of Vitamin C.

George, a 35-year-old businessman, was born asthmatic. All his life he survived on antihistamines, steroids and antibiotics. Three years ago, he discovered VCO through a friend who swore he never caught a cold or the flu since consuming it. After a month of taking three tablespoons of VCO a day, he noticed he had not had a single asthma attack. He is now a VCO advocate.

There are many other success stories of people with chronic fatigue, yeast infections, hemorrhoids and skin problems who not only drank VCO but used it as topical treatment. All of them, including myself, are proponents of a healthier life through virgin coconut oil.

Take one to three tablespoons of VCO on an empty stomach before breakfast. Or mix it in your juice or oatmeal. Great as a drizzle over salads too.

Beauty oil

For scalp: Rub a few drops of VCO on your scalp for dandruff problems, just before bedtime. The itchiness and flakiness will disappear in 24-48 hours. Falling hair will stop within one week with Nubo Hair, available at Mercury and World of Wellness.

For face and body: After a shower, massage into the skin a few drops or a mist of cocogen VCO. Get more supple skin within minutes. Call World of Wellness. –Cory Quirino

Common-sense solution: Virgin coconut oil (1 of 2)

Good morning everybody. Maybe you will wonder how virgin coconut oil be the solution for the common-sense. Others may not believe on that.

The World Health Organization (WHO) raised the worldwide disease alert to phase 5—a strong signal that a pandemic or a worldwide epidemic was imminent. Countries such as the United States and Mexico have set up extensive measures to control the spread of the Influenza A(H1N1) virus.

Already, a public health emergency has been declared in the US and many countries. There have been measures to produce the prescription anti-viral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir. And the world’s medical scientists are urgently working on a new vaccine against the virus, but this mission could take five to six months.

Common sense

In the meantime, what else is to be done besides waiting? There is no known drug today that can effectively combat the swine flu virus. Anti-viral drugs are expensive, not everyone can afford them. There is not enough supply of these drugs.

Simple as it may seem, there is a food supplement that can quickly boost the immune system—virgin coconut oil (VCO). There are scientific studies validating that the major component of VCO, lauric acid, is an effective anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal compound. A natural derivative of lauric acid, monolaurin, has been shown to be a potent disease fighter.

Coconut oil is made up of 60-percent medium-chain triglycerides, which is an efficient source of energy for the body. This non-fattening oil is converted by the liver into energy (and not fat) within 20 minutes of ingesting it.

While there is no direct proof of VCO’s effectiveness against the A(H1N1) virus, there is, however, evidence of its success against regular influenza, cold, bronchitis, chronic fatigue, etc.

There is more to virgin coconut oil than meets the eye or stimulates the palate. Countless testimonials of users from across generations support several health claims: –Cory Quirino

The Best of the Snack Aisle (4 of 4)

11. Best Cookie

Nutter Butter These deliver healthy unsaturated fats and a creamy center. Per 2-cookie serving: 130 calories, 2 g protein, 19 g carbohydrates, 6 g fat (1 g saturated), 1 g fiber, 80 mg sodium.

12. Best Candy Bar

Snickers Almond These deliver healthy unsaturated fats and a creamy center. Per bar: 240 calories, 3 g protein, 32 g carbohydrates, 11 g fat (4.5 g saturated), 1 g fiber, 80 mg sodium.

13. Best Energy Bar

Clif Bar Chocolate Almond Fudge None of the HFCS, trans fats, or heart-stopping palm-kernel oil that clog up other energy bars. And it still tastes better than many candy bars. Per bar: 250 calories, 10 g protein, 44 g carbohydrates, 5 g fats (1.5 g saturated), 5 g fiber, 140 mg sodium. – Philip Rhodes

The Best of the Snack Aisle (3 of 4)

7. Best Sweet-Potato Chip

Terra Spiced Sweet-Potato Chips The perfect balance of sweet and salty. Per 1-ounce serving: 160 calories, 1 g protein, 14 g carbohydrates, 11 g fat (1 g saturated), 3 g fiber, 95 mg sodium.

8. Best Cheese Cracker

Kraft Cheese Nips, Reduced Fat Cheddar Lower-fat and –sodium entries have hit the market, but these still have hit the market, but these still have the best Cheddar-cheese flavor. Per 30-g serving: 130 calories, 3 g protein, 21 g carbohydrates, 3.5 g fat (1 g saturated), less than 1 g fiber, 310 mg sodium

9. Best Cracker

Pepper Farm Hearty Wheat Dense and crunchy. And not in the Swedish-cardboard-cracker kind of way, either. Per 16-g serving: 80 calories, 2 g protein, 10 g carbohydrates, 3.5 g fat (0 g saturated), 1 g fiber, 100 mg sodium.

10. Best Wheat Pretzel

Rold Gold Honey Wheat Pretzels Crunchy, sweet wheat with a touch of salt. Per 1-ounce serving: 110 calories, 2 g protein, 23 g carbohydrates, 1 g fat (0 g saturated), 1 g fiber, 230 mg sodium – Philip Rhodes

The Best of the Snack Aisle (2 of 4)

3. Best Trail Mix

Woodstock Frams Gourmet Tart dried blueberries and cherries elevate this one above more pedestrian mixes. Per ¼-cup serving: 120 calories, 2 g protein, 19 g carbohydrates, 4 g fat (0.5 g saturated), 2 g fiber, 10 mg sodium.

4. Best Dried-Fruit Mix

Woodstock Farms Tropical Fruit Mix Big chunks of sweet fruit that you can really sink you teeth into. No metallic, sulfurous aftertaste. Per ¼-cup serving: 90 calories, 0 g protein, 22 g carbohydrates, 0 g fat, 2 g fiber, 10 mg sodium.

5. Best Jerky

SnackMaster's Natural Turkey Jerky, Original Flavor None of our testers guessed it was turkey instead of beef. Per 1-ounce serving: 80 calories, 14 g protein, 3 g carbohydrates, 1 g fat (0 g saturated), - g fiber, 550 mg sodium

6. Best Potato Chip

Low Fat Kettle Krisp Guiltless snacking at its finest, with no heart-stopping trans fats to spoil the party. Per 1-ounce serving: 110 calories, 3 g protein, 22 g carbohudrates, 1.5 g fat (0 g saturated), 2 g fiber, 160 mg sodium – Philip Rhodes

The Best of the Snack Aisle (1 of 4)

A man cannot live by bread alone—it doesn’t have enough protein. So what’s a guy to eat?

The answers are here. There are more than 50,000 prepared foods for sale in U.S. supermarkets, and with the help of our panel of nutritionist and ravenous taste-tasters, we found the 125 best ones. Out with the trans fats, high-fructose corn syrup, and carb hype. In with the good fats, protein, and complex carbohydrates.

Gentlemen, start your grocery carts. This is a race of you win.

The Best of the Snack Aisle

“Protein and fiber are nutrients that regulate insulin and therefore are longer-lasting sources of energy, they also help make snack foods more satisfying, so you’ll put the bag back in the cabinet rather than tossing it cause it’s empty.

1. Best Crunchy Granola Bar
Nature Valley Peanut Butter Granola Bar Pure peanut-buttery goodness. Per package (2 bars): 180 calories, 5 grams (g) protein, 30 g carbohydrates, 7 g fat (1 g saturated), 2 g fiber, 190 milligrams (mg) sodium.

2. Best Chewy Granola Bar Health Valley Wild Berry Chewy and dense, and not high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Per bar: 100 calories, 2 g protein, 22 g carbohydrate, 1 g fat (0 g saturated), 2 g fiber, 5 mg sodium – Philip Rhodes

Don't Get Cheated Out of Calcium

If you drink calcium-fortefied beverage such as soy or rice milk, be sure to give the carton a good shake before you pour. Unlike the calcium that naturally occurs in cow’s milk, the mineral must be added to these drinks in the form of finely ground powders. These particles can settle, Creighton University researchers recently found, as the beverage sits on a shelf, forming a calcium sludge at the bottom of the container. As a result, the actual calcium you get from soy or rice drinks may be as much as 85 percent less than what the label says. –Kimberly Papa

Some Good Tips

Q: Certain fruits and vegetables make my throat itch. What does this mean and is it dangerous?

A: Some foods and plats have molecular sililarities, such as apples and birch tree pollen. So someone allergic to birch may experience an itchy mouth when eating an apple. It’s unusual for this type of reaction to be dangerous, and the problem can be avoided by not eating certain fruits and vegetables, such as apples, peaches, cherries, cantaloupe, celery and carrots. But if you feel like your throat is closing, get to the emergency room right away. A shot of epinephrine (EpiPen) may be necessary. – Gail G. Shaprito, M.D. clinical professon of pediatrics at the Univesity of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle

Help for the nearsighted
Good news for people with severe myopia (nearsightedness): A new FDA-approved lens call Verisyse may help you see more clearly, permanently. The thin lens is implanted in the eye allowing the patient to retain the ability to focus on nearby objects. The procedure is laser-free and reversible. Visit www.visioninfocus.com.

Chewy Choice for Vitamins
Do you avoid taking your multivitamin because of its size and chalky taste? Try Viactiv’s new multivitamin chew in milk chocolate or tropical fruit splash, each with 12 essential vitamins and 20 percent of the daily value of calcium. Visit www.viactiv.com.

Photo courtesy: viactiv

When you burn your tongue

Good morning everybody. How often your mouth got burn with a hot food you take. Kids always forgot that the milk they are taking is hot. They didn’t bother to touch the glass.

It’s always a surprise how much it hurts when you forget to let the coffee cool or you bite into pizza right out of the oven. What to do for the pain? Suck on some ice, or take a mouthful of any cold drink and let it sit for a minute. This was the advise given by Mary Frank, M.D., president of the American Academy of Family Physicians; Lowering the temperature inside your mouth helps stop damage of the cells, so you’ll heal more quickly. You may want to stay away from anything spicy or acid (such as hot pepper sauce or orange juice) till your tongue feels better, in a day or so.
Photo courtesy: nekkedlizardadventures

How will you know if you are starting to have a kidney problem

Good morning friends. I have a friend shoes cousin has a kidney problem. She told me that her aunt’s family is having more and more financial problem. I pity the family of my friend. She just tell that to me with no other reason. She just want to share what’s her aunt were experiencing. She is very close to her aunt. After she left home, I start to read an something and I found one good article about a kidney problem. It’s a good tip by Dona Pazzibugan who wrote the article and I want to share it with you.

Health experts are urging people to be more alert about signs of kidney problems, stressing that individuals with chronic kidney disease are often misdiagnosed until it is too late. A kidney and hypertension specialist, warning signs of a kidney problem are high blood pressure and protein in the urine manifested by “bubbles.”

“If your blood pressure is 140/90, be suspicious. If your urine looks like San Miguel Beer, with lots of bubbles on top, that's not normal.” The results of the inexpensive laboratory tests for creatinine (a blood test) and urinalysis (a urine test) would be good indicators of any kidney problem.
People should also look into their family medical history for hypertension, diabetes, stroke, gout and of course, kidney disease. “So be aware, be suspicious and set the alarm.” Once a person's kidney has been damaged, the only options to prolong a patient's life would be chronic dialysis or kidney transplant.

The Getaway Get-Strong Plan

This routine from trainer Tom Williams uses stretch bands that are effective and cheap. Do three sets of 20 reps. When these moves feel less challenging, add five more reps.

Squat Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, band under feet. Hold handles, keeping arms by sides. Squat, bending knees to 90 degrees. Press back up to start.

Step up Facing a staircase, place right foot on the second step, band under that foot, holding handles. Step left foot up to that step while pulling handles up to shoulders. Step left foot down: lower hands to start. Do all reps, then switch sides.

Shoulder press Sit on a chair with band under seat, holding one handle in each hand, hands raised toward ears, elbows bent to form right angles, palms facing forward. Press handles overhead. Lower to start.

Overhead triceps press Loop band under chair seat. Holding handles extend the band overhead, then bend elbows so hands drop behind head. Press handles up and lower back to start.

Back row Wrap band around a pole. Sit on the floor upright, facing the pole. Holding handles, bend elbows to pull hands back to waist. Return to start.

Biceps curl Stand on the center of the band, holding handles in each hand. Curl hands up to shoulders, palms facing into body. Return to start.

3 Minutes to Amaze

Even if you can’t sweat, soak or wish away the extra pounds before a big day, our body genies reveal that much of what they offer is attitude adjustment. These strategies are not a way of life, says Barry Jay, owner of Barry’s Bootcamp, where Carrie-Anne Moss, Emily Procter, Carla Gugino and Elizabeth Mitchell work out. But there’s always someone who’s going to cram before the big exam. Some lightning-fast fixes:

Look spiffy in a jiffy
♦ Trainer Jay gears up clients by having them do 100 squats and lunges, and as many push-ups and triceps dips as they can. These exercises release nervous tension as they energize you, so you feel raring to go. ♦ To stand (tall) and deliver, use quick posture fix: Stand with heels together and toes slightly apart. Inhale, pull belly in and rise onto tiptoes. Now imagine a string pulling the top of your head to the ceiling. Don’t lose the length in your torso as you slowly lower heels back to the ground. Repeat as needed during your event.

Quick poise
Close right nostril with left thumb, breathe deeply through left nostril for three minutes. Repeat on opposite side to activate your creative center, that part of us that knows we can do anything.

Staying fit this summer (2 of 2)

Go nuts

Have a handy pack of almonds, coal nuts, cashew and even peanuts within reach. They are high in potassium and fiber. And if you’re worried about uric acids, go for the big nut—coconut. It’s the best diet food in the world—low-fat, high-fiber, high-nutrient.

Hydrate

Drink up on the purest beverage ever—water, plain and simple. One glass every hour on the hour should keep you safe from the debilitating heat of summer. Put a pinch of rock salt on the tips of your tongue in order to help your body maintain water longer. Remember, salt retains water.

Move it

Take up a sport, do gardening, brisk-walk, whatever will keep you on the go. If you don’t move your body, you will not burn fat. If you keep still, you will gain weight.

Unwind

Even workaholics need to take a break. Those who cannot keep still are continuously stressed. And the organ under pressure is the heart. So draw up a relaxation regimen, one that includes weekly massages, enough sleep, and no work.

Use herb basil to unwind. Place three fresh leaves in a cup of hot water. Sip your way to a stimulated brain, uplifted spirits and perked up circulation. Basil is a potent herb so use it sparingly. It can be an effective detox tea to cleanse the digestive tract.

Summer Energy Bowl
1 cup brown rice
¼ cup goat’s cheese or quesong puti
¼ cup cashews
¼ cup freshly chopped or dried mangoes
Half a lemon
¼ green bell peppers
Mix all ingredients for an energetic meal.

Summer splash

Mix one whole orange (remove seeds), two calamansi and one dayap, chopped. Mix in a bucket of cool water. Soak in this citrus bath for seven minutes. Get energized in seconds.