Polyphenol Power: Nature's Disease Busters

The Degenerative Disease Dilemma
Just about every day, one can always find in the mainstream media, some kind of mention of degenerative diseases: whether its the cause of death of a prominent high profile public figure or a celebrity. Commercials are flooded with specialized treatment care in attempt to manage of what appears to be: a rampant medical scourge of our times. At last count, there have been hundreds of health cases reported, ranging from cardiovascular and diabetes to carcinogenic illnesses. Why hasn't a real effective cure been found yet?

We are what we breathe
All life on this planet as we know it, uses the essential element of oxygen for proper energy production. Whenever for some reason an anomalous reaction such as 'oxidation' occurs, then the damaging effects of toxicity is introduced. Consequently, it is of utmost important, that a balance must be maintained between the toxic production of free radicals, and beneficial antioxidant defense enzymes. It is when when the dangerous free radicals exceed the antioxidant capacity of living organisms, that the degenerative destructive diseases are let loose. Systemic organ injury occurs affecting cellular tissue growth. This resultant consequent damage is known as: oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress: A serious human health issue
As mentioned previously, it is always dangerous when free radicals outstrip the body's free radicals production capacity. This is especially true under stressful conditions. Physiological systems can undergo profound impactive changes when ROS 'reactive oxygen species' occur. This can directly affect cell signaling transduction and modulation. One highly significant byproduct of this reaction is a compound called: peroxynitrite... the most potent rapid non-enzymatic reactions in all of biology and implicated as a crucial pathogenic mechanism or smoking gun in conditions such as stroke, myocardial infarction, chronic heart failure, diabetes, circulatory shock, chronic inflammatory diseases, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders. Only recently, has oxidative stress been seriously studied as a major etiological agent in catastrophic degenerative diseases.

Polyphenols to the rescue
The fact that mounting recent evidence for ROS or 'reactive oxygen species' as a causal disease agent, has caught the real attention of scientists, clinicians and the general public alike, and even more significantly: that antioxidants can in fact, prevent these kinds of diseases and maintain human health. It is antioxidant's potent defense properties to deactivate and stabilize free radicals..before they wreck biological cellular havoc. Consequently, an interest in naturally occurring antioxidants in foodstuffs has increased. More specifically, the focus of attention has been on an antioxidant class called: polyphenols.

In 2005, the 1st International Conference on Polyphenols and Health, held a symposium with cumulative evidence detailing the strong supportive role polyphenols have in preventing degenerative disorders such as cancer and heart disease. A quote from one of the speakers on cancer

"Polyphenols can also block the action of enzymes that cancers need for growth and they can deactivate substances that promote the growth of cancers,"

And another regarding heart disease:

"Increased consumption of polyphenols has been associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, and possibly cancer and stroke."

Polyphenol Food Sources
Clearly, the best way to protect oneself against some of these diseases such as atherosclerosis and others, is to have a diet that is rich in polyphenol compounds. Green tea, cocoa, apples, berries and other fruits can enhance the body's immune system and safeguarding one's health. Vegetables such as garlic, asparagus, and carrots and fruits such as pears and prunes also are good sources of polyphenols.

Blueberry Polyphenols and neurodegenerative diseases
Of particular interest, are the polyphenol properties of blueberries and their positive effects on certain brain disorders. A recent study suggests that a diet rich in blueberries can improve motor functions like coordination and balance. Brain plasticity can be enhanced by improving neuronal communication and stimulating neurogenesis. These revelations are important factors in any Alzheimer's disease prevention and care regimen. It is of paramount importance that neuroinflammation and oxidative stress be reduced in patients with this kind of condition and especially the elderly. Nutritional intervention with blueberries can be a powerful arsenal and valuable asset in the war against age-related neurodegenerative diseases.

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Blueberry Health Power

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Reversing Kidney Disease The Natural Way

The kidneys are used to rid waste from the body and expel it. Kidneys can get problems if they develop stones or if there is an imbalance of blood pressure. Nearly twenty million people suffer from kidney disease. There are many natural remedies and herbs to reduce and reverse kidney disease. Anything that contributes a good amount of potassium or calcium is very helpful to the kidneys as well. Keeping sodium intake low and potassium high is key.

Lemons can be of great help to the kidneys. Not only are they high in potassium, they also have citric acid. The citric acid can aid by dissolving some types of kidney stones. Real lemonade can cause stones to develop at a much slower pace. Lemon juice mixed with a glass of water is the best way to take it. Pure water helps flush out the kidneys and reduces the build-up of bad toxins in the body. Doctors recommend people suffering from this disease to have about five or six cups of this drink a day. Even adding lemon slices to a cup of water can have an effect and help.

Another fruit that can help with preventing kidney stones is cherries. Cherry juice is, like lemon, high in potassium. Cherry juice can even prevent the formation of stones. Drinking cherry juice can lower uric acid levels as well. One more fruit - grapes. Grape seed extract gives the kidneys an agent that can aid in reversing kidney disease.

If the person in danger of kidney disease has diabetes or high blood pressure, he or she should control conditions associated with kidney disease. Buchu, an herb used to help with the disease, works as a urinary antiseptic. This can be extremely helpful for the health of kidneys.

Diabetes is the leading cause to kidney disease. Obesity is the leading cause to type II diabetes; continual high blood sugar can damage kidneys. Over 280 million people around the world live with diabetes. Exercising can help with preventing obesity, and diabetes. Eating healthy is a big part in reversing the disease. Health organizations suggest at least thirty minutes of exercise a day, five days a week. Many activities moderate in intensity can help with preventing diabetes, and thus preventing kidney disease.

Keeping blood pressure from getting too high is a vital way to prevent disease in the kidneys. Hypertension is the second leading cause of kidney disease, a standard for blood pressure is 120/80. If a person\'92s blood pressure is over 140/90 they may have high blood pressure. One way of preventing this and thus preventing the disease, is to lower the amount of sodium in your diet. An excess amount of sodium will make the body retain a larger amount of fluid. The kidneys can be overloaded with the amount of fluid already present.

Overall, the best way to keep kidneys healthy and reverse kidney disease is to keep the amount of sodium in your diet low and the amount of potassium high.

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Learn About Chagas Disease Symptoms

Most people might not be familiar with Chagas disease but they might recognize the disease after hearing its common term, the "kissing bug". The disease is endemic in Latin America and it affects almost 10 million people. It affects other countries even if it is not endemic in their place such as the United States and Spain. It is worth noting that the large part of the disease incidence occurs in rural areas where the breeding and feeding ground of the vector insect are available.

Trypanosome cruzi is the causative agent of Chagas disease. It is a parasitic protozoan that lives inside different animals such as raccoons, squirrels, mice, wood rats, and opossums. But it is also found out that even domestic animals such as dogs, cats, and cows can also be a reservoir for T. cruzi. As a result, the disease is even made more rampant.

The carrier of T. cruzi is the kissing bug. The bug feeds both in animals and humans. When it sucks blood from an infected host, the kissing bug can transfer T.cruzi to other animals. But when it comes to humans, the kissing bug is attracted to bite on the face of its victim then after it is done in sucking blood; it will defecate on the fresh wound it made, thus passing on the parasite.

Signs and Symptoms

There are two phases of Chagas disease in human. The first one is the acute phase. This may last for many weeks or even months. The acute phase may last for too long because it is asymptomatic at first. Even when the disease's manifestations start to surface, it is only mild and most will just ignore how they feel. The following are some of the manifestations of acute phase.

1. Inflamed face originating from the bite site
2. Pyrosis (fever)
3. Malaise
4. Itchy or non-itchy rash
5. Body pain
6. Headache, nausea, vomiting
7. Diarrhea
8. Splenomegaly (enlargement of the spleen)
9. Liver enlargement

The acute phase commonly subsides by itself and the body is capable of fighting the disease. But sometimes, other factors might lead to the chronic phase. If the body is already weak when the Chagas disease develops, there is a high tendency that the affected person with proceed to chronic phase. Signs and symptoms may include:

1. Myocardial inflammation or enlargement
2. Arrhythmia
3. Heart failure
4. Cardiac arrest
5. Enlargement of the esophagus
6. Dysphagia
7. Enlarged colon

When the disease is not resolved promptly, it can lead to death. Every year, around 20,000 deaths are caused by Chagas disease.

Chagas disease symptoms are serious malady that affects millions of people most especially in the Latin America. Chagas disease pictures can help in gaining more understanding with its manifestations.

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Acute V/S Chronic Kidney Disease

The kidneys play a major role in eliminating excessive toxins from the blood, preventing buildup of toxic byproducts to dangerous levels and regulating sodium, calcium and potassium levels in the blood. When they fail to function as they should, it can cause a wide range of health problems. Depending upon the causes and the way it progresses, kidney disease can be categorized as acute or chronic.

Acute Kidney Disease

In this form, organ failure develops and progresses rapidly and can go from mild to severe in a matter of days or a few weeks. This can happen if you have any health disorder that adversely affects the flow of urine or the supply of blood to the kidney or has a direct impact on the organ itself. This form is reversible. When the underlying problem has been cured, its function usually recovers completely and goes back to normal. In some cases however, there may be residual damage that could impede the functioning sometime in the future.

Chronic kidney disease

In this form, there is a gradual loss of function, which progresses over a period of time. The decline could happen over a period of several months or even years and the damage is usually irreversible.

The severity of this form of the condition progresses over five very distinct stages:
In stage 1, there is very mild damage to the organ and it is still functioning almost normally.

In stage 2, there is a slight decrease in the efficiency with which the kidneys function.

In stage 3, there is a further decrease in the functioning of the kidneys.

In stage 4, the decrease is severe.

In stage 5, there is near-total loss or complete loss of function. This stage is also often called end-stage kidney disease. When a person reaches this stage, they usually need dialysis to stay alive.

Health Effects Of Kidney Disease

When the kidneys do not function as efficiently as they should, excess water, waste and toxic substances begin to accumulate in the blood stream. If it is not treated in time, the kidneys will continue to deteriorate and the toxins start accumulating to dangerous levels in the body. The buildup of toxic substances can cause a host of health problems ranging from acidosis or excessive acidity of body fluids, bone disease, anemia and other disorders associated with fatty acids and cholesterol.

Preventive Measures

Obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure are the main factors that cause kidney failure. Maintaining overall general health with a healthy diet and regular exercise can go a long way in helping to prevent the onset of this condition.

The best way to keep kidney disease at bay is by having regular health checkups especially to determine your pressure and sugar levels. High blood pressure and diabetes are the leading causes of this condition. To get that all-important health check, call Trinity Primary Care today to set up an appointment. Also check out our new page on Kidney Disease.

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Natural Remedies for Liver Disease

Liver problems: An Overview

Liver problems cover a wide range of conditions and disorders that affects the liver. These can be either being inherited or can occur due to responses from certain chemicals and viruses.

On the one hand, fewer liver problems are temporary and go away by its own while on the other hand there are certain liver disorders that last for long and leads to serious complications. One of the best and most effective ways to treat the liver disorders is to treat it naturally.

10 best natural remedies for liver disease

Following are some of the natural ways that cure liver diseases-

1. Take orange juice every morning on an empty stomach

2. Take a mixture of papaya seeds and lime juice once daily

3. Roots of dandelion work wonders in treating liver problems. Boil a small portion of dandelion root together with water for nearly 10 minutes. This herb for liver disease not only stimulates the gall bladder and liver for proper utilization of the fats in the body but also helps in detoxifying the liver.

4. Indian aloe is one of the best natural remedies for liver disease. It helps the liver to function properly and is used for treating liver enlargements as well as jaundice.

5. Drinking a mixture of spinach and carrot juice is highly beneficial in liver care especially liver cirrhosis. For best results, drink this mixture daily for a minimum of 3-4 weeks.

6. Mixture of bringharaj and honey has proven effective in providing good liver care and treating liver cirrhosis. Mix together 2 tablespoons each of honey and bringharaj and take this twice daily, once in the morning and once in the evening and keep liver problems at bay. This is one of the best natural remedies for liver disease.

7. Mixture of papaya fruit and lemon juice is an effective natural remedy to treat liver disorders. These herbs for liver disease are beneficial in treating liver cirrhosis. Make a mixture of 2 teaspoons of papaya and half tablespoon lemon juice and take this daily for a minimum of 3-4 weeks.

8. To prevent liver enlargement take 1-2 teaspoons of ground henna every day.

9. Taking a sieved mixture made of sacred fig, water and sugar, 2 times daily works wonders to improve liver condition.

10. Milk thistle is one of the most famous and effective herb to treat liver disease. Its antioxidant flavonoid properties help in protecting the liver cells against damage by preventing absorption of toxins as well as enhancing regeneration. It is one of the best natural remedies for liver disease.

8 Foods to avoid for a healthy liver

These are some of the foods that one must avoid for healthy liver functioning -

1. Avoid alcohol completely
2. Fat intake should be minimized to 20 grams or avoided
3. Avoid intake of spicy eatables and junk food stuff
4. Avoid overeating
5. Avoid food combinations such as cooked protein and sweet fruit
6. Avoid foods rich in carbohydrates
7. Avoid foods high in salt such as canned vegetables, canned meat, soups, mayonnaise and ketchup
8. Avoid intake of food rich in vitamin A and D. These include dairy products like yoghurt, cheese and milk as well as egg yolks.

Following these guidelines in conjunction with lifestyle changes, developing sound sleep habits, learning ways to manage stress and staying active are beneficial for a healthy liver functioning.

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Is Lyme Disease Contagious?

Lyme disease is one of the most infectious diseases in the world today. It is commonly emerging in the northern hemisphere and temperate regions of the globe. It is endemic in various continents and countries such as Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia, United Kingdom, South America, and North America.

This kind of disease is caused by at least three types of bacteria; Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii. The name of the disease is derived from the town of Lyme in the state of Connecticut, USA. On the other hand, the main causative pathogen of lyme disease, B. burgdoferi was named after Willy Burgdorfer who discovered the bacteria.

Disease Transmission

The main vector of the disease is of the genus Ixodus which is a tick that has a hard protective covering. Fortunately, the rate of transmission is very rare. This means that most tick bites are non-infectious and only 1% of them can cause the said disease. The infection may only happen if the tick is attached on the skin for more than a day. But this is possible since when the tick bite, a fluid is secreted along with the bite which dulls the skin from itch and pain.

Lyme disease: Contagious or Not?

This is a valid question that needs to be answered. A little background on how it is transmitted can actually answer the question.

As what was already mentioned, a person is infected with Lyme disease when he or she is bitten with a tick carrying the bacteria. At first glance, the answer is obvious. This kind of diesease is not contagious but there are some reports that raise concern to people. There are reports that the bacteria spirochete can be found in semen and breast milk. As this might be the case, there are no strong indications or evidences that suggest its spread through sexual intercourse. Even for pregnant women, the spirochete bacteria are not able to breach the blood-brain barrier of the placenta. Babies born from mothers who have lyme disease do not exhibit any teratogenicity. Though the congenital Lyme borreliosis had been named after the disease, babies rarely develop this disease.

Management

Of course, contagious or not, Lyme disease should be treated accordingly. It should not be taken for granted because advanced systemic infection can lead to serious and permanent bad effects on the body. It should be treated at its earliest stage. Antibiotics such as doxycyline, erythromycin, and ceftriaxone are the drugs of choice of Lyme disease. Use of these drugs should be collaborated with professionals and licensed physicians because there are certain medical consideration that should be observed when taking these drugs.

Asking the question " is Lyme disease contagious " deserves an answer. By looking for information about Lyme disease being contagious can be a very good step in finding the answer.

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Food and Heart Disease - Foods That Could Jeopardize Your Health

Heart disease is the greatest cause of fatalities in the United States, and it is thought that currently as many as 37% of all Americans have at least two of the risk factors for heart attack. These would be high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes to name the most common ones, and they are mostly interrelated and mostly attributed to poor diet practices. So these are just five of the foods that you should avoid as much as possible.

1. Soft drinks. This is one of the five we cite here that is difficult to justify, even in moderation. Throw 10 tsp. of sugar into your system every time you drink a regular soda, and then imagine drinking a few every day. A study followed young adults over a 20-year period and found that high consumption of sugary drinks had an association with high ldl cholesterol, hypertension and elevated levels of triglycerides, all known causes of heart disease. Diet soda yields the same nutritional benefits: zero.

2. Fish that is fried. We have written about the health benefits of fish, and it is well-known to reduce the risk of heart disease. But it all depends on how it is prepared if you will truly reap those benefits. Put it in the deep fryer and all those health benefits go by the wayside. When tests were conducted comparing fried fish to baked or broiled, the results showed a 50% greater risk of heart disease with the deep fried fish. So plan to eat fish at least twice a week, and stay away from deep fried and broil, steam, bake or sauté your fish in a small amount of olive oil for the best health results.

3. Any meat that is processed. This is another food that shouldn't be consumed, especially with so many more healthy options available. Even compared to red meats they had a 42% higher heart attack risk than red meat. They foods such as salami, bologna, sausages and other deli meats contain fat, salt, nitrates, cholesterol and preservatives. Better options are turkey, chicken and fish.

4. Donuts and muffins. The culprit here is Tran's fats, and it is thought that this terrible fat is responsible for a minimum 30000 premature deaths in the United States each year. They may be tasty, but from a nutritional standpoint they're a nightmare. Because of the high quantities of sugar and fat, along with refined flour makes them very high in calories, with practically no nutritional value in return. There are many breakfast options that are far superior, and really don't take much more time to prepare than standing in line for that scone.

5. The dressing we put on salad. We construct these amazingly healthy salads, and then bring them down with gobs of bottled salad dressing loaded with sugar, saturated fat, Tran's fat, preservatives and salt. All of these ingredients have been linked with heart disease, hypertension and high levels of cholesterol. Salads are a wonderful part of our diet, but enhance their health benefits with a healthy dressing. Think about making your own, as you can find many great recipes on the internet that offer much better health values than store-bought dressings.

The foods you eat can certainly make a huge difference in your health. Our website http://healtheybalanceddiet.com/ has numerous articles talking about the subject. Click here to read more about dietary fiber, something that is so important to keeping healthy. Rich Carroll is a writer and health enthusiast living in London.

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Beat Kidney Disease

Kidney disease is a highly unpleasant condition that may affect many people in the world of today. Especially since so many foods are now unhealthily processed, and so many sugary drinks are made to contain harmful acids and toxins with the constantly growing human's inventory of various creations, whether they are actually beneficial to the general public or not. People are now suffering from major kidney problems that, in fact, often lead to not only a severe deficiency of overall health, but also, in some special cases, death.

But there are ways that can help people beat this disease, at least now that the issue has become much more addressed amongst both scientists and patients. Methods and strategies of various types have been developed by the devoted individuals who saw how kidney disease could affect the human body. There is a great many of these different strategies and methods in existence, and while not all of them may work with the same speed and successful results, they all attempt with great vigor to beat kidney disease and provide more and more people with the wonderful benefit of a healthy, happy, toxin-free life.

So how do people beat kidney disease today, with all of the scientists' knowledge and developed skills and treatment plans? Well, typically, a standard treatment plan includes a general set up of different aspects which must be addressed by the individual with the issue as well as various professionals in the medical field. For instance, one such aspect would include the close monitoring and keeping in control of the patient's blood pressure, as this is one of the warning signs of kidney problems.

Another idea that must be addressed immediately is the treatment of any kind of bladder infections as well as the usual regular medical care and checkups. Sometimes doctors may recommend the loss of weight for some individuals or the normal maintenance of a healthy weight, which will aid, of course, not only in beating kidney disease for the patient but also in his or her overall health and well-being as well.

However, the methods for beating kidney disease listed previously all seem to relate to doctors and physicians- is there truly no way for an individual him or herself to take matters into his or her own hands when the problem is still mild and quite easy to cure? The answer, fortunately, is yes. With the help of a low salt diet, as well as the illumination of any kind of bad habits, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, a person can not only beat an easy case of kidney disease, he or she can actually significantly improve the condition of his or her kidneys when the problem has already developed into massive trouble for the individual.

Are there any other ways to beat kidney disease? Well, for some special cases, there really are other helpful solutions as well. For instance, some patients may require a unique diet that limits fluid and protein consumption. The reduction of a patient's use of a certain medication may also provide good results. In severe cases, of course, there is also the option of getting kidney transplants.

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Taking Steps to Avoid Heart Disease

Your body's strongest muscle also gets the most exposure to risk factors that can cause it to slow down, or stop functioning well. Inasmuch as most of your body's functions rely greatly on your heart's ability to supply blood throughout your body, you need to take good care of it to sustain its energy. The things we do every day and our lifestyle can greatly affect our heart's health, which means that we have full control over its health, that is, if we choose to.

A healthy life means a healthy heart, and a healthy heart means a healthy, not to mention longer life. What we do to our body can directly affect the functioning of our heart, and most of our habits put our heart at risk for diseases. Heart diseases have been recorded to be the number one cause of mortality in the world's population, and whilst it's early, it's better to tread a path away from them. Here are some of the things you can do to avoid getting heart diseases easily and effectively, leading to a healthier, longer life.

1. Have a heart-friendly diet. Too much fat, cholesterol and calories are harmful to your heart. These are commonly linked to an elevated blood pressure, which puts you at risk for developing heart diseases. On the other hand, consumption of food that is high in Omega-3 fatty acids as well as fruits and vegetables can help prevent the development of heart diseases, aside from protecting your heart from other risk factors.

2. Be nicotine-free. Smoking poses a great risk for your heart to develop diseases. The tons of harmful contents of a single stick of tobacco can compromise your heart's health, making it vulnerable to damages in the blood vessels and arteries which may lead to atherosclerosis, which leads to heart attack. Moreover, avoiding secondhand smoke may just be as effective as avoiding or quitting that smoking habit. The carbon monoxide one can get from second hand smoke will replace some of the oxygen as soon as it hits our system, making the heart work harder, thereby increasing our blood pressure.

3. Work those muscles. At least thirty minutes of exercise daily is good for the heart, not to mention it has great effects to our physical appearance, too. It's like hitting two birds with one stone. Even making walking a habit is beneficial to the heart, and you can do this if you don't have enough spare time for a thirty-minute exercise every day.

4. Visit your doctor regularly. Also have your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar checked regularly. Any significant change in the values or levels of the aforementioned can pose a risk to your heart in developing diseases, no matter how much you try to avoid them.

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