Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Morning Sickness during Pregnancy


Approximately 50 percent of all pregnant women experience some degree of nausea and vomiting between the sixth and twelfth weeks of pregnancy. This condition is called Morning sickness, pregnancy sickness, vomiting of pregnancy or nausea gravidarum. Although it is considered normal during pregnancy, but more than half of the all pregnant women affected by morning sickness. It is also present in those women who take hormonal contraception or hormone replacement therapy. The condition of morning sickness can occur at any time of the day, but usually in the early hours of the morning and gradually reduces as the day progress.

Symptoms of Morning Sickness

Symptoms of morning sickness include abnormal vomiting, severe continual nausea, dizziness and ill feelings. In extreme cases vomiting may be severe that can results in dehydration, acidosis, malnutrition and substantial weight loss. Morning sickness doesn’t harm the baby nevertheless if you lose weight, along with sever vomiting. If this condition persists, it can endanger the fetus. This intense condition is called hyperemesis gravidarum and occurs approximately 1 in 300 pregnancies.

Proximate Causes of Morning Sickness

The condition of morning sickness is very common among pregnant ladies. Although the reason of the abnormal severe nausea is not clear but several theories exist in this regard. Several folk medical traditions claim that it is a nature’s way of cleaning toxins from the mother’s body. Now, most health experts believe that it is due to hormonal changes especially because of very high levels of the hormones estrogen and chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which is a hormone that is produced by placenta that continuously increases in quantity until the end of first trimester. High levels of chorionic gonadotropin are thought to over stimulate the brain centre that controls nausea and vomiting.

Other possible culprits of morning sickness include bile duct disease, drug toxicity, pancreatitis, low blood sugar levels, molar pregnancy, or carrying more than one baby problems and inflammatory bowel disorders. An enhanced sense of smell over stimulates normal nausea triggers. Increased levels of progesterone contribute to relax stomach and intestines which in turn cause excess stomach acid and displacement of digestive organs. Emotional stress and a high fat diet are other proximate causes of morning sickness. 

Useful Recommendations for Morning Sickness

To cope the condition of morning sickness attempt some home care suggestions that would definitely help alleviate morning sickness. Dietary and lifestyle changes may help you to prevent morning sickness.
  • Eat small, frequent meals per day rather than three large meals. Include a diet high in protein and complex carbohydrates. 
  • Avoid an unfilled stomach and accommodate food cravings and aversions.
  • Add snack on whole-grain crackers with nut butters or cheese in your diet.  It will assist to keep your stomach full all the times.
  • It is better to keep crackers or whole wheat toast near your bed and eat before arising. Make sure that you don’t go without food or drink because of nausea.
  • Avoid eating fatty foods because a high fat diet can cause morning sickness.
  • Perform slow and calm morning activities and don’t try to sit up or get out too quickly.
  • Use of fresh lemons, cabbage, bananas, rice, applesauce, toast and tea are good for the health.
  • Drink plenty of liquids but avoid immediate drinking of liquids after eating solid food. It is better to take liquids after 30 to 45 minutes.
  • Keep your blood sugar levels within normal range by eating and drinking small portions of frequent meals.
  • Avoid smoking cigarettes and try to get extra sleep to minimize stress as much as possible.

Nutritional Approach towards Morning Sickness

Dietary and nutritional approach is helpful for pregnancy associated with vomiting and nausea. There are numerous nutrients, vitamins, herbs and supplements that have valuable effects on morning sickness. Use of Vitamin B6 is good for pregnant ladies because it shows its healthful effects on nausea and vomiting and lessens the risks of morning sickness. Ginger is good for the condition of morning sickness because it can improve digestion, nausea and vomiting. Peppermint owes its beneficial value to menthol which has stomach soothing effects and can treat stomach distress. Raspberry leaves have good effects on women related problems including menstrual cramps, morning sickness and labor pains.  Other useful herbs that help improve morning sickness include catnip, dandelion & black horehound. Cabbage, peach and citrus fruits are also a healthy addition in your diet.



Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Benefits of using Eyewear


Eyes are the most sensitive body parts that require extra protection and intense care to keep healthy. Using eyewear is a prudent decision to maintain your eyes health and keep them safe from light and foreign particles. There is a variety of protective eyewear available that are very effective in preventing your eyes from damage as well as improve your vision. In this post, I will highlight a few significant advantages of using eyewear.

1. Vision Correction Aid
Eyeglasses and contact lenses are the most effective types of eyewear that are recommended by professional eye doctors to improve vision. Since eyewear are designed to improve the refractive errors and enhance the focusing power of your lens and cornea.

2. Protect Your Eyes From UV Light
Sunglasses are the most protective type of eyewear that can provide maximum protection from harmful ultraviolet radiation that can damage your eyes during outdoor activities. Protective UV blocking sunglasses have ability to eradicate UV rays completely and protect your eyes from sunlight. Excess sun exposure may cause several ocular disorders like cataracts, blindness, photokeratitis, pterygium, or eye cancer in certain cases.

3. Fashionable & Aesthetically Appealing
Eyewear not only possess optical benefits but they also have cosmetic and aesthetic values. A number of people opt for contact lenses to enhance their physical appearance and image. Contact lenses not only help improve your vision but also provide you a stylish and attractive look.

4. Help Treat Eye Problems
The most important benefit of using eyewear is that they help treat number of eye related issues including shortsightedness, farsightedness, unequal vision, astigmatism. Eyeglasses and contact lenses have capability to treat various types of eye impairments and can maintain your eyes health.

5. Comfortable & Easy to Use
Using eyewear is very easy and a lot of people are comfortable with eyeglasses as they are easy to handle. While, image conscious people can easily use contacts with some extra care and proper handling.

6. Make Driving Easier
Eyeglasses with antiglare coating make driving easier during night time and help reduce the glare halation around lights. High quality eyewear offer protection from glare.

7. Keep Your Eyes Protected During Sports
Another advantageous quality of using eyewear is that they keep your eyes safe while playing and other sporting activities.

There are numerous other positive effects of using eyewear, but the above mentioned ones are a few significant and valuable benefits. Proper and right use of eyewear can keep your eyes healthy and provide you a healthy vision.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Lavender –The Mainstay Of Aromatherapy


Essential oil of Lavender is a mainstay of aromatherapy and successfully used in this field. The aroma of Lavender is quite relaxing and is the most loved aromatic used. Besides being versatile, its soothing and relaxing scent makes it most valuable for the people who want appealing persona. Therapeutically, Lavender is the one of the most useful essential oils that provides various health benefits and has ability to combat various health concerns.
Lavender has significant effects on anxiety, depression, mood swings, stress, nightmare, nervous tension, insomnia, migraine, headaches and also aids sleep.
Lavender is well known for its anxiolytic effects, i.e. tranquilizing effect to relieve anxiety, a recent study made by Bradley BF et al., on 2009 Apr 20. In this study researchers used anxiety provoking film clips in those subjects who were orally administered Lavender and observed a reduced anxiety state. These findings suggest that Lavender has anxiolytic effect and also has ability to reduce anxiety.
Another study conducted on 2008 Nov, by Huang L and colleagues suggest that Lavender has putative anti-agitation properties in those humans who have depressant effects in the central nervous system. Researchers revealed the worthy effect of Lavender as a sedative compound which serves as a neuronal depressant and agitation relieving substance.
Researchers have revealed that some essential oils like Lavender has the ability to reduce the flow of nerve impulse who transmit pain, hence contribute to combat pain.
Jeanne Rose, California herbalist and author of several good books, suggests essential oils, particularly Lavender oil for treatment of vaginitis.
Lavender is effectively used for improving skin health and has therapeutic effects on acne, dermatitis, eczema, minor cuts and burns, sunburn, psoriasis, rashes and also has an insect repellent property.
Lavender also has positive effects on alopecia, asthma, bee and wasp stings, bronchial problems, hay fever, lessens flu symptoms and menstruation regulation, or PMS. Lavender is useful for treating inflammation and helps in relieving the pain of carpel tunnel syndrome.

Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/alternative-medicine-articles/lavender-the-mainstay-of-aromatherapy-2173721.html#ixzz0rNh54wmz

Friday, May 21, 2010

Graviola - A Clinically Proven Miracle Herb For Cancer

Graviola is an exciting cancer alternative remedy which medicinal properties have been recognized for centuries by the native population of Amazon. Researches have been ongoing on graviola since 1940s, and still several pharmaceutical industries and universities are continued to explore the hidden healing power of this miracle herb.

Anti-cancerous effects of graviola have been demonstrated in various vitro studies, and because of its traditional usage it is touted as cancer fighting herbal supplement. Graviola's leaves, bark, seeds and fruit possess various health promoting properties that can be helpful for variety of health concerns.

Graviola contains many active compounds and chemicals which have numerous healing properties; one of them is natural phytochemicals known as annonaceous acetogenins which is the main focus of researchers. Some researches have confirmed that annonaceous acetogenins has potent anti-tumor properties and exhibit selective toxic property against tumor cells. Other clinical studies also demonstrated the powerful anticancerous, antitumorous, and antiviral properties of annonaceous acetogenins.

Recent studies have found that natural compounds of graviola, acetogenins have superb property to inhibit the enzyme processes that are specifically present in membrane of cancerous cells. Through this mechanism of action they are toxic for cancerous cells and don't create toxicity in healthy cells. Purdue University published a promising news in 1997, that Annonaceous acetogenins are not only effective in destroying tumor cells but also have ability to show resistance to anti-cancer agents and appear to have a unique affinity for such resistant cells.

National Cancer Institute has been also explored the toxic effects of graviola against cancerous cells in its plant screening program in 1976. In this plant screening program, it is illustrated that graviola stem and leaves demonstrated active toxic effects against cancer cells. In various vitro clinical trials, it has been studied that specific phytochemical acetogenins that are found in graviola herb, have been shown their selective toxic effects against various cancerous cells like lung carcinoma cell lines, prostate adenocarcinoma, breast tumor lines, liver cancer cell lines, pancreatic carcinoma cell lines, colon adenocarcinoma cell lines and multi-drug resistant breast adenocarcinoma. Other clinical findings conducted by scientists of Taiwan suggested that at very low dosages, annonaceous acetogenins of graviola exhibited highly toxic effects particularly to ovarian, breast, cervical, bladder and skin cancer cell lines.

Along with the antitumourous effects of graviola, it is also discovered that the compound annonaceous acetogenins which are found in graviola herb, also exhibit antiparasitic, insecticidal, and antimicrobial activities. The graviola (Annona muricata) leaves possess antioxidant potential and play a role as an effective radical scavenger and augments its therapeutic effects. Another clinical study on graviola also suggests that alkaloids present in graviola fruit showed antidepressants effects in animals.

Graviola cancer cure is still under investigation, but it is clearly inspiring that it is used world widely for its potential to cure serious ailments. Graviola extracts,Graviola powder other and Graviolasupplements are easily available to promote optimal health and can be taken as general health tonic. But still further detailed researchers are needed to be conducted on graviola to prove that graviola is an ultimate cancer cure.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Graviola---A-Clinically-Proven-Miracle-Herb-For-Cancer&id=3839527

Friday, April 16, 2010

Pantethine - an active form of Pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5)


Pantethine is a dimeric form of Pantothenic acid which belongs to vitamin B family. This stable form of Pantothenic acid is very effective in release of energy, metabolism of fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Pantethine is important for the production of antibodies, lipids, neurotransmitters, steroid hormones, hemoglobin and also for utilization of vitamins. Pantethine plays a significant role in production of adrenal hormones which assist the metabolism, help to combat allergies and are favorable for maintenance of healthy skin, nerves and muscles. 

Pantethine is helpful in improving the health of bones and joint and also reduces the pain, stiffness and inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
Pantothenic acid is considered as “anti-stress vitamin” which may also be useful for sports related injuries. It is a stamina enhancer, may improve exercise tolerance and delay the onset of fatigue and may also be helpful in healing of wounds. 

This vitamin is also helpful for the condition that is created due to exaggerated responses of the body. Pantethine is needed for the gastrointestinal tract functioning and used for the digestive problem called ulcerative colitis, assists red blood cells production, boosts immunity, and helpful to fight wrinkles and reduces graying of hair also. Pantethine is also helpful for treating the condition of depression and anxiety.

Dietary deficiency of Pantethine is responsible for various health concerns like fatigue, headache, nausea, tingling in the hands, inflammation, insomnia, increased susceptibility to infection & burning foot syndrome. Supplementation with Pantethine can overcome these health concerns.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Astaxanthin

Astaxanthin is a naturally occurring caretonoid pigment present in the red yeast Phaffia rhodozyma and many other many aquatic plants. Astaxanthin is fat soluble natural caretonoid, used in Asian cooking and possesses potent antioxidant properties. Astaxanthin exhibits valuable free radical scavenging properties and keeps the body save from harmful oxidative damage of cell membranes, cells, and tissues. Astaxanthin is used for centuries because of its health promoting properties.

Astaxanthin is used as a food supplement and its potent antioxidant activity exhibit healthful effects on inflammatory, immune, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases. Some researchers suggest that Astaxanthin has an anti-cancerous effect. As an antioxidant, Astaxanthin offers its preventive effects on the body tissues from free radical damage and oxidative stress.  According to several scientific studies, Astaxanthin prevents the unstable molecules from damaging the body that make it effective treatment for age –related macular generation, glaucoma and decreases the incidence of macular degeneration. Astaxanthin also offer immune boosting effects and make the body save from incidence of infections and cancer.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Melatonin – A Natural Sleep Aid has protective effects against Cancer & Cardiovascular Disorders

Melatonin is a natural sleep aid that is universally known for its sleep inducing effect that helps insomniacs or sleep deprived people to fall asleep. Melatonin improves sleep quality, maintains circadian rhythms and improves quality of life. It is a general perception about melatonin that it has sleep stimulating effect, but now several studies conducted on melatonin, suggest that it has ability to fight various ailments like cancer, cardiovascular disorders, aging and can promote a healthy living. This potent antioxidant, melatonin can fight against cancer and exhibits protective effects on cardiovascular disorders. A latest research by Russel J. Reiter, Ph.D., Professor of Neuroendocrinology at University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, studied that walnuts contain melatonin can minimize the incidence of cardiovascular disorders & cancer and can also delay severe neurodegenerative diseases associated with aging such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s diseases. This study is published in “The International Journal of Applied and Basic Nutritional Sciences” with title Melatonin in walnuts: Influence on levels of melatonin and total antioxidant capacity of blood."

In this study Professor Russel J. Reiter observed that walnuts that are the natural source of melatonin can easily absorbed by the body. After taken walnuts, the melatonin levels in blood attain to its peak and increases up to threefold. Walnuts have melatonin and other nutritional compounds like omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants that have potential to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disorders. Dr. Reiter believes that melatonin and omega-3 helps destroy cancerous cells thus effectively starve cancer.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Fat Burners

Fat burner can be best described as any dietary supplement that enhances the loss of body fats when it is taken in combination with balance diet and exercise program. Fat burners are the most effective way to burn your stored fats. Numerous potential researches are there which demonstrate the principal functions of natural fat burners.
Actually fat burners don’t exactly burn body fat, but they assist the process by several ways. Fat burners work on the basic principal of thermogenesis which is the breakdown of body fat. A good fat burner effectively burns the stored fats of the body and generates energy. Natural Fat burner efficiently mobilizes and breaks down the fat cells. It also inhibits fat cells from enlarging.
Most fat burners help the process of thermogenesis, are called Thermogenic Fat Burners by which metabolism of the body increased and more calories are burned. Thermogenesis also results in appetite suppression, improvement in mental concentration and healthy insulin metabolism.
Functions of Some Fat burners are listed below:
Carnitine is considered as a good fat burner that promotes fat burning. Carnitine helps transport of fatty acids to muscles which results in burning of additional fat burning. Chromium Picolinate is a mineral that supports the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats, thus decreasing fat and increase lean muscle mass. Hoodia gordonii is a good appetite suppressing supplement. Green tea extract effectively helps loss extra body fats. Acai berry is another dietary supplement that helps weight loss by burning fats.
Fat burners increase the fat loss process with healthy diet and exercise program. Natural Fat burners are classified into following categories.
•    Thermogenic Fat Burners
•    Appetite Suppressants
•    Stimulant-Free Fat Burners
•    Carb Blockers
•    Fat Blockers
•    Thyroid Hormone Increasers
•    Cortisol Products
•    Other Fat Loss Products