10 Health Benefits of Eggs

Some of you may have eaten eggs over the Easter weekend so I thought I'd post ten health benefits of eggs (and it doesn't count if they were chocolate eggs!)

1. Eggs are great for the eyes. According to one study, an egg a day may prevent macular degeneraton due to the carotenoid content, specifically lutein and zeaxanthin. Both nutrients are more readily available to our bodies from eggs than from other sources.

2. In another study, researchers found that people who eat eggs every day lower their risk of developing cataracts, also because of the lutein and zeaxanthin in eggs.

3. One egg contains 6 grams of high-quality protein and all 9 essential amino acids.

4. According to a study by the Harvard School of Public Health, there is no significant link between egg consumption and  heart disease. In fact, according to one study, regular consumption of eggs may help prevent blood clots, stroke, and heart attacks.

5. They are a good source of choline. One egg yolk has about 300 micrograms of choline. Choline is an important nutrient that helps regulate the brain, nervous system, and cardiovascular system.

Home Remedy for Common Fever

Human body has an optimum temperature range between 36.9 degree C and 37.5 degree C, or 98.4 Degree F and 99.5. Once the temperature goes beyond normal, the condition is called fever. There can be a little variation in the body temperature because of intake of food, the amount of exercise, and the temperature surrounding the atmosphere but once it exceeds this as well, it is a matter of concern. Fever occurs very frequently and is thus named common fever. In this ailment, the normal functioning of the body gets disrupted. The symptoms of common fever are rise in the temperature, profuse sweating, pulse and respiration becoming faster, slight shivering, pain in the head and body parts. Adhering to certain home remedies, common fever can be treated effectively. In the following lines, we provide remedies to cure common cold naturally.

Home Remedies For Common Fever

• The simplest and the most effective home remedy for common fever is to have a decoction of basil leaves. Take about 12 grams of basil leaves and boil them in half liter water. Intake this once a day to relieve from common fever.
• Saffron also works very well in treating common fever. Put half a tsp of saffron in 30ml of boiling water. After the water has been boiled, prepare tea out of it. Let the person suffering from it have a tsp of this tea after every hour.

Common Fever Information

Our body has a definite temperature range - between 36.9oC and 37.5o C or 98.4o F and 99.5o F. A rise or fall in the body temperature, beyond this range, is termed as fever. Striking both adults and children, common fever is characterized by a decline in the normal functioning of the body. The lowest temperature of the body occurs between 1.30 a.m. to 7 a.m. and the highest between 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. There are several factors that lead to the rise and fall in the body temperature. In the following lines, we have provided the various causes and symptoms of common fever.

Causes Of Common Fever

• Bacteria
• Virus
• Protozoa
• Sunstroke
• Intake of chemical or poison
• FUO (fever of unknown origin)

Which Type of Milk Is Best?

Question: Is there a difference in milk: skim, 2%, and whole? Our daughters are not overweight and one is 17 and one is 11. Is there some reason we should not all be drinking skim? Should the 17-year-old be drinking 2% and the 11-year-old be drinking whole to get everything they need to grow strong and healthy, or is this rating just a bunch of hype to get us to buy two or three types of milk?

Answer: The difference in those labels on milk are due to different amounts of fat in the milk. Whole milk is milk that has nothing removed. All milk has protein and carbohydrate, and in whole milk about 4 % of its total content is composed of fat. 2% milk has two percent fat; that means it has about half the fat of whole milk. Similarly, 1% milk has half as much fat as the 2%, and skim milk has all of the fat removed (The term skim comes from the way that the fat is removed. When milk is not homogenized the cream, which is the fatty part, rises to the top. A utensil is then used to "skim" the cream off the top of the milk).

Benefits of Wild Morse Milk

We often hear in the media ads that offer wild horse milk, but often ask how the hell it was, what could be wild horse drawn milk? The answer, of course, horse milk can be squeezed anything so wild. It was also not inferior to milk from other animals.

Prof. DR. Made Astawan, food technologists and nutrition from IPB ( Institute Pertanian Bogor ) mention, that the wild horse milk nutrient is not inferior to cow's milk nutrients. Popular in Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara, wild horses were also bred in Sukabumi, West Java - Indonesia. Even very popular in Southern France. Milk is also processed into cheese.

Milk protein content of horse milk Quality Approach

Content of protein content in milk and horse higher quality than cow's milk as an additional alternative to breast milk (breast milk) for infants and growing brains for intelligence.

Drinking Milk May Reduce the Risk of Heart Disease

Milk is not only complementary foods should be consumed every day. But it is also useful to support health. In fact, according to research at Wageningen University and Harvard, drink three glasses of milk every day, can reduce the risk of heart disease by 18 percent.

The results of this study at the same time denied the myth that states that the consumption of milk every day can lead to weight gain and lead to the emergence of heart disease, stroke, even death.

The study was conducted by reviewing 17 studies from Europe, America and Japan. The researchers found no association between consumption of regular or low-fat milk and increased risk of heart disease, stroke, or death.

Vitamin C in Oranges Protects Sperm From Genetic Damage

Orange

The orange is one of the most common and popular fruit.  It is well-liked because of its easy availability all year round, dense nutrition, and it tastes good.

Oranges are round citrus fruits ranging in diameter from about 2 to 3 inches, with finely texturized skins that are orange in color.

Its pulp is also orange in color and very succulent, surrounded by its skin which can vary in thickness depending on its variety.

There are oranges that are sweet, bitter and sour, so you'll need to know the variety you're buying.  The sweet variety are usually more fragrant.  They include Valencia, Navel and Jaffa oranges which are ideal for making juices.

Diabetes Is On The Increase Among Children

Thousands of children in North America are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, a condition that used to be called adult-onset diabetes, in part because it was so rare in children. There are also many more such cases in children that go undetected.

In a presentation at the annual meeting of the American Diabetes Association (ADA), 2001, I believe, doctors noted that not only is diabetes in children on the increase, but that often type 2 diabetes is not being detected because physicians falsely believe only adults can get it.

Epidemic Levels

According to the Alexandria, Va.-based ADA, diabetes is reaching epidemic levels as a result of the greater prevalence of obesity and sedentary lifestyles. Approximately 16 million people in the United States have diabetes; 90 to 95 percent of these have type 2 diabetes.

Untreated, What Can Happen

Please take note of this information. Untreated diabetes can have dire consequences. Because children are not routinely screened for type 2 diabetes, by the time they are diagnosed they may have high blood pressure or severe hyperglycemia, or elevated blood-sugar levels. Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder resulting from the body's inability to make sufficient insulin, or properly utilize the insulin it makes. Left untreated, diabetes can lead to blindness, leg amputations, kidney disease, heart attack and stroke.

Trigger Heart Attacks that Met Everyday

Various triggers heart attack may actually be found in everyday life, ranging from coffee to air pollution. The amount of the increased risk of heart attack varies depending on the trigger and this is the comparison.

Increased risk of heart attack based on the common triggers that can be found in everyday environments are as follows, as quoted from MensHealth.com, Wednesday (03/16/2011).

1. Coffee
Effects of caffeine is stimulate the heart and increases blood flow to muscles, thereby increasing blood pressure. Coffee addicts average 1.5 more prone to heart attacks within 1 hour after drinking coffee.

Aloe Vera Helps Overcome Diabetes

Beside as the nourish hair, aloe vera is also known efficacious for treating some diseases. Among diabetes mellitus and heart attacks.

Aloe vera is one of the potent medicinal plants to cure various diseases. This plant has been used the Samaritans around 1875 BC. The ancient Egyptians already know the benefits of aloe vera as a medicine about 1500 BC. caused of it usefulness, the ancient Egyptians called it a plant of immortality.

A maker of traditional medicine -from Greek- named Dioscordes, mentioning that the aloe vera can treat various diseases. For example, ulcers, skin bruising, cracking, blisters, hair loss, hemorrhoids, and sore throat.

Health food

According to one observer of health food (supplement), Dr. Freddy Wilmana MFPM SpFK, from about 200 species of aloe vera plant, which is suitable for treatment is a type Aloevera barbadensis miller. Aloe vera contains 72 types of substances needed by the body.

Vitamin A

Function

Vitamin A helps form and maintain healthy teeth, skeletal and soft tissue, mucous membranes, and skin. It is also known as retinol because it produces the pigments in the retina of the eye.

Vitamin A promotes good vision, especially in low light. It may also be needed for reproduction and breast-feeding.

Retinol is an active form of vitamin A. It is found in animal liver, whole milk, and some fortified foods.

Carotenoids are dark colored dyes found in plant foods that can turn into a form of vitamin A. One such carotenoid is beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is an antioxidant. Antioxidants protect cells from damage caused by unstable substances called free radicals. Free radicals are believed to contribute to certain chronic diseases and play a role in the degenerative processes seen in aging.

Food Sources

Vitamin A comes from animal sources, such as eggs, meat, milk, cheese, cream, liver, kidney, cod, and halibut fish oil. However, all of these sources -- except for skim milk that has been fortified with Vitamin A -- are high in saturated fat and cholesterol.

Medication For The Flu

Although the flu vaccanie is the best flu prevention, antiviral flu medicine is also available by prescription. Flu medicines include:

• Tamiflu^® (oseltamivir)
• Flumadine^® (rimantadine)
• Symmetrel^® (amantadine)
• Relenza^® (zanamivir).

Tamiflu, Flumadine and Symmetrel may be used by adults and children who are 1 year of age and older. The drugs can be used for both prevention and to reduce the duration of fever and other flu symptons.

How Do Flu Drugs Work?

Flumadine and Symmetrel were the first two flu medicines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These medicines act against influenza A viruses but not against influenza B viruses. These medications inhibit the activity of the influenza M2 protein, which forms a channel in the virus membrane. As a result, the virus cannot replicate (make copies of itself) after it enters a cell.

In 1999, the FDA approved two additional drugs to fight the flu: Relenza (zanamivir) and Tamiflu (oseltamivir), which were the first of a new class of flu medicine called neuraminidase inhibitors.

The surfaces of influenza viruses are dotted with neuraminidase proteins. Neuraminidase, an enzyme, breaks the bonds that hold new virus particles to the outside of an infected cell. Once the enzyme breaks these bonds, this sets free new viruses that can infect other cells and spread infection. Neuraminidase inhibitors block the enzyme's activity and prevent new virus particles from being released. This limits the spread of infection.

Cough Medicine and Cough Syrups

Got a cold and need medicine for a nagging cough? While there is no quick fix for your cough, some over-the-counter (OTC) cough syrups and cough medicines may give you relief.

Three types of cough medicines are available OTC for the temporary relief of cough due to a cold or bronchitis. These cough medicines include cough suppressants, oral expectorants, and topical (externally applied) drugs.

Who Should not Take Cough Medicine or Cough Syrup?

Often, doctors believe that a cough from a cold should not be treated. Coughing up mucus may help keep your lungs clear. This is especially true if you smoke or have asthma or emphysema.

If you take a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), a type of prescription drug used to treat depression and other conditions, it’s important to talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking dextromethorphan, commonly noted as DM on cough syrups and cough medicines. In addition, some combination cold and cough medicines contain decongestants. If you have high blood pressure or heart disease, avoid taking these drugs. Decongestants can raise blood pressure.

The most important key is to understand how the cough syrup or cough medicine works. That includes knowing what the side effects are. Then talk to your doctor if you have concerns about your cough or cough medicine. Trust your doctor to make the best decision with your overall health in mind.

Flu (Influenza)

The Flu Types—Seasonal, Pandemic, Avian (Bird), Swine

Influenza, or flu, is a respiratory infection caused by several flu viruses. Flu viruses are classified as types A, B, and C; type A has a number of subtypes. The flu is not the same as the common cold, nor is it related to what is commonly called the “stomach flu.”

Seasonal Flu

Seasonal flu is the term used to refer to the flu outbreaks that occur yearly, mainly in the late fall and winter. Researchers estimate that between 5 and 20 percent of Americans come down with the flu every flu season.

Pandemic Flu

Pandemic flu refers to particularly virulent strains of flu that spread rapidly from person to person to create a world-wide epidemic (pandemic). 

Chronic Cough

What is chronic cough?

Chronic cough is a cough that does not resolve (go away). Chronic cough is not a disease in itself; rather it is a symptom of other disorders. It is a common problem and the reason for many doctor visits. 

What are causes of chronic cough?

Some common causes of chronic cough include asthma, allergic rhinitis, sinus problems (for example sinus infection), and esophageal reflux of stomach contents. In rare occasions, chronic cough may be the result of aspiration of foreign objects into the lungs (usually in children). It is very important to obtain a chest x-ray if a chronic cough is present. The following pertains to patients who have a normal chest x-ray.

• Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of chronic cough.
• Asthma is a disease of airways, resulting in difficulty breathing or wheezing often characterized by abnormal breathing tests. Some asthma sufferers have chronic cough as their only symptom. They may even have normal lung functions tests. This is often referred to as cough-variant asthma. Asthma symptoms can be aggravated by cold air, exposure to air pollutants or pollen, smoke, or perfumes. For further reading, please read the Asthma article.
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) refers to reflux, or backward flow, of stomach acid and other contents into the esophagus. If stomach acid moves backward up the esophagus, reflexes result in spasm of the airways that can cause shortness of breath and coughing. In some instances, reflux can be so severe that substances can be aspirated into the lungs and cause similar symptoms as well as damage to lung tissue. In some individuals, no sensation of heartburn is felt and their only symptom may be cough.
• Sinus problems and postnasal drip can also cause chronic cough. This condition can be difficult to detect. Sometimes CT scan of the sinuses is necessary for diagnosis. Patients often complain of a "tickle in their throat" and frequent throat clearing. For further reading, please read the Sinus Infection article.
• Infections such as bronchitis or pneumonia can cause coughing. These infections can be caused by virus, bacteria or fungus. Viral infections do not respond to antibiotics. In patients with asthma, viral upper respiratory infections often result in a protracted cough even after the infection has cleared.
• Certain medications, notably ace inhibitors [enalapril (Vasotec), captopril (Capoten) etc.] used in treating high blood pressure, can cause chronic cough.
• Less common causes can also include tumors, sarcoidosis or other lung disease.

If chronic cough persists a patient should be evaluated by his or her doctor. It is important to exclude; asthma, postnasal drip, esophageal reflux, drug side effect, interstitial lung disease, or other unusual infections.

What Is Leukemia? What Causes Leukemia?

The word Leukemia comes from the Greek leukos which means "white" and aima which means "blood". It is cancer of the blood or bone marrow (which produces blood cells). A person who has leukemia suffers from an abnormal production of blood cells, generally leukocytes (white blood cells).

The DNA of immature blood cells, mainly white cells, becomes damaged in some way. This abnormality causes the blood cells to grow and divide chaotically. Normal blood cells die after a while and are replaced by new cells which are produced in the bone marrow. The abnormal blood cells do not die so easily, and accumulate, occupying more and more space. As more and more space is occupied by these faulty blood cells there is less and less space for the normal cells - and the sufferer becomes ill. Quite simply, the bad cells crowd out the good cells in the blood.

In order to better understand what goes on we need to have a look at what the bone marrow does 

Function of the bone marrow

The bone marrow is found in the inside of bones. The marrow in the large bones of adults produces blood cells. Approximately 4% of our total bodyweight consists of bone marrow.

There are two types of bone marrow: 1. Red marrow, made up mainly of myeloid tissue. 2. Yellow marrow, made up mostly of fat cells. Red marrow can be found in the flat bones, such as the breast bone, skull, vertebrae, shoulder blades, hip bone and ribs. Red marrow can also be found at the ends of long bones, such as the humerus and femur.

White blood cells (lymphocytes), red blood cells and platelets are produced in the red marrow. Red blood cells carry oxygen, white blood cells fight diseases. Platelets are essential for blood clotting. Yellow marrow can be found in the inside of the middle section of long bones.

If a person loses a lot of blood the body can convert yellow marrow to red marrow in order to raise blood cell production.

White blood cells, red blood cells and platelets exist in plasma - Blood plasma is the liquid component of blood, in which the blood cells are suspended.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin that is necessary for normal growth and development.

Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water. Leftover amounts of the vitamin leave the body through the urine. That means you need a continuous supply of such vitamins in your diet.

Function

Vitamin C is required for the growth and repair of tissues in all parts of your body. It is necessary to form collagen, an important protein used to make skin, scar tissue, tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels. Vitamin C is essential for the healing of wounds, and for the repair and maintenance of cartilage, bones, and teeth.

Vitamin C is one of many antioxidants. Vitamin E and beta-carotene are two other well-known antioxidants. Antioxidants are nutrients that block some of the damage caused by free radicals, which are by-products that result when our bodies transform food into energy.

The build up of these by-products over time is largely responsible for the aging process and can contribute to the development of various health conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and a host of inflammatory conditions like arthritis. Antioxidants also help reduce the damage to the body caused by toxic chemicals and pollutants such as cigarette smoke.

The body does not manufacture vitamin C on its own, nor does it store it. It is therefore important to include plenty of vitamin C-containing foods in your daily diet.

Food Sources

All fruits and vegetables contain some amount of vitamin C. Foods that tend to be the highest sources of vitamin C include green peppers, citrus fruits and juices, strawberries, tomatoes, broccoli, turnip greens and other leafy greens, sweet and white potatoes, and cantaloupe.

Other excellent sources include papaya, mango, watermelon, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, winter squash, red peppers, raspberries, blueberries, cranberries, and pineapples.

VITAMIN B COMPLEX

Vitamin B1

Vitamin B1, also called thiamin is a water-soluble vitamin that is essential for the breakdown of carbohydrates into the simple sugar glucose. Thiamin is also important for the proper functioning of the nervous system.
Thiamin is found in whole-grain cereals, bread, red meat, egg yolks, green leafy vegetables, legumes, sweet corn, brown rice, berries, and yeast.
Thiamin is absorbed through the intestines.

Deficiency of Vitamin B1

Thiamin deficiency is rare. However, thiamin deficiency often occurs in alcoholics. It occurs in alcoholics because alcohol interferes with the absorption of thiamin through the intestines. Thiamin deficiency can cause beriberi, wernicke's encephelopathy, and sensitivity of the teeth, cheeks and gums.

Too Much Vitamin B1

Large doses (5,000 to 10,000 mg) can cause headaches, irritability, rapid pulse, and weakness 

Vitamin A (Retinol)

 Vitamin A and its metabolites play diverse roles in physiology, ranging from incorporation into vision pigments to controlling transcription of a host of important genes. Health depends on maintaining vitamin A levels within a normal range, as either too little or too much of this vitamin lead to serious disease. 

Structure

Vitamin A or retinol has a structure depicted to the right. Retinol is the immediate precursor to two important active metabolites: retinal, which plays a critical role in vision, and retinoic acid, which serves as an intracellular messenger that affects transcription of a number of genes. Vitamin A does not occur in plants, but many plants contain carotenoids such as beta-carotene that can be converted to vitamin A within the intestine and other tissues. 

Vitamin A - good sources of nutrients - pamphlet

This is one in a series of fact sheets containing information to help you select foods that provide adequate daily amounts of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber as you follow the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The Guidelines are--

* Eat a variety of Foods
* Maintain Desirable Weight
* Avoid Too much Fat, Saturated Fat, and Cholesterol
* Eat Foods with Adequate Starch and Fiber
* Avoid Too Much Sugar
* Avoid Too Much Sodium
* If you Drink Alcoholic Beverages, Do So in Moderation

What Is Meant By Good Food Source?

A good food source of vitamin A contains a substantial amount of vitamin A and/or carotenes (converted to vitamin A in the body) in relation to its calorie content and contributes at least 10 percent of the U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance (U.S. RDA) for vitamin A in a selected serving size or a unit of measure considered easy for the consumer to use. The U.S. RDA for vitamin A is 1,000 retinol equivalents per day.