Archive for the ‘Alternative Health’ Category

Alternative Health: Vitamins

Monday, June 23rd, 2008

How do you know which vitamins you should be taking? Of course, depending on your gender, age, and body weight, different vitamins and natural dietary supplements will have different effects. You also have to decide whether you want to get a doctors prescription or procure natural dietary supplements on your own. In a way, you should decide which medical ideology you prescribe to.

Eastern medicine and homeopathic medicine have, for centuries, extolled the virtues of natural supplements. These supplements are usually used as regulatory drugs–that is to say, they are taken regularly when there are no health issues. Natural supplements are health products which have been extracted from plants. Flax seed oil and horny goat weed are two good examples.

The Vitamins Debate: Natural Supplements vs. Prescription Drugs
A few decades ago in America, there was no debate at all. People just assumed that prescription drugs were designed to cure what ailed you. However, centuries and centuries of success in places like China and Japan have not been overlooked. There are advantages and disadvantages to both systems when it comes to vitamins and natural supplements.

Just what combination of vitamins is right for you? More is not always better. Remember that moderation is sometimes just as effective as taking as many vitamins as possible. The more research you do on your particular affliction, the more certain you will be when it comes to taking vitamins.

Alternative Health: Hair Loss Products

Sunday, June 22nd, 2008

When men start losing their hair, they look for hair loss products. The sheer number and brands of hair restoration products is staggering, so how do you know which one is right for you? Let us start with the most widely available, which come in topical creams and gels.

Many doctors will say that all this is a chief function of heredity, and if you are going to go bald, there is nothing you can do about it. For some people, this might be true, but other men might be able to slow their rate of hair loss. Certain gels and creams can be used that stimulate existing hair follicles and slow or even halt hair loss.

Quality Hair Loss Products
Other hair loss products lie in more subtle areas, like shampoo or skin sprays. For instance, super-oxide spray contains antioxidants that protect skin from harmful UV rays. The more healthy a mans scalp is, the more healthy his hair will be, and the more hair he will have. Overall, a combination of supplements and behaviors will be the best for keeping your hair. For instance, wearing a hat every day is probably not the best thing to let your scalp breathe, is it?

If you are concerned about hair loss, see a doctor or medical professional. He or she can recommend hair loss products that you are comfortable taking, and fit into your budget. In fact, there may be natural supplements that you can procure that do not require a doctors prescription. You have many options to choose from.

Alternative Health: Healthy Body

Saturday, June 21st, 2008

There are many environmental hazards that can prevent you from having the healthy body that you need for optimum daily stamina. Studies such as The Nugent Toxin Report say that there are about five hundred new toxins present in our world today. These toxins were not around 60 years ago. Many believe that the presence of these toxins can be linked to the fact that diseases and dysfunctions such as cancer and allergies have become far more common over the past few decades.

There are several different reasons for the presence of these new toxins. Scientific advancements have created several new chemicals since the Second World War. Nuclear experiments have created large amounts of nuclear waste that cannot be safely disposed of. Instead, the waste is being mixed with fertilizers and distributed in small amounts over croplands. That means that every year, Americans are being exposed to small amounts of radiation that could have cumulative effects on our bodies.

Many of us do not know it, but we are five times more likely to be exposed to toxins within our own home than we are outdoors. Several chemicals and carcinogens can be found in various household products such as toilet bowl cleaners, mothballs, pesticides, ink toners and dry cleaning fluid. In residential areas where the water is heavily chlorinated, chloroform gas is produced every time the hot water is run.

Eating for a Healthy Body
The high quantities of processed foods that we eat are also affecting our bodies negatively. Food products containing hydrogenated oils can hardly be avoided in the supermarket. Consumption of hydrogenated oils has been proven by scientists to be a leading cause in heart disease and cancer. This is probably why most countries in Europe have already banned hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated foods. Individuals who want a healthy body are advised to stay away from hydrogenated oils of any sort.

Another negative factor that may be contributing to our societys general lack of health is something called green harvesting. This is when produce suppliers pick fruits and vegetables approximately 10 days before they are fully ripened. They do this to allow time for shipping and to give the produce a shelf life of at least a week. Almost all produce that is found in our local grocery stores has been picked before it was ripened. This means that almost all of our produce is lacking essential nutrients and phytochemicals that we need.

All of this may be contributing to the fact that more and more Americans are developing immunity related illnesses. Studies show that people are developing diseases and other serious health problems at younger ages. Cancer rates have nearly quadrupled over the past 20 years. Bacteria have developed that are resistant to medications such as antibiotics. Hepatitis C has now become an epidemic in North America.

Keeping a Healthy Body
A healthy body is the only defense we have against the hundreds of germs and toxins that we come in contact with on a daily basis. In order for us to stay healthy, we must be given the proper nutrients. This includes proteins and complex carbohydrates. In todays world, most North Americans are only getting two out of the eight necessary carbohydrates. These carbohydrates are absent in our food because of the large amount of refined foods in our diet as well as green harvesting. The majority of the essential nutrients are developed in fruits and vegetables when they are ripened on the vine.

In the past few years, scientists have made huge advancements in the field of glyconutrients. Glyconutrients are special nutritional supplements that provide the body with the six monosaccharides or carbohydrates that are missing from todays modern diet. Glyconutrients are known to help the body to heal itself of all kinds of ailments and disease such as allergies, chronic fatigue and even cancer.

Alternative Health: ADD

Friday, June 20th, 2008

ADD or Attention Deficit Disorder is an increasingly common dysfunction that affects the Reticular Activating System in the brain. The Reticular Activating System controls a large part of the nervous system and affects the way an individual learns and attains information. ADD means that for some reason or another, the cortical neurons in the brain have been over-stimulated, resulting in hyperactivity and an inability to focus.

Attention Deficit Disorder often comes hand in hand with other mental and emotional disorders such as depression, hyperactivity and bipolar disorder. Children and adults with Attention Deficit Disorder often become frustrated and angry with themselves. When the neural pathways are stressed, it becomes increasingly difficult to accomplish tasks. This can create a domino effect of emotional stress that only makes the problem worse.

Treatment for ADD
The most common treatment for ADD is a medication called Ritalin. While Ritalin has helped many children and teenager to focus, more and more harmful side effects are becoming apparent. Ritalin often causes severe mood swings in teenager that can lead to suicidal feelings. Ritalin also often causes a decrease in appetite, muscle cramps, hallucinations, rashes and a rise in heart rate and blood pressure. Many patients who take Ritalin also develop problems sleeping.

In order for the brain to work properly, it must be supported nutritionally. Studies show that lack of nutrients can often have adverse affects on the nervous system. Doctors have found that patients with dysfunctions such as Attention Deficit Disorder who were given glyconutrients developed faster reaction time and were better able to maintain information. This is because glyconutrients help to enhance brainwave frequencies.

Alternative Health: Advancements In Aids

Thursday, June 19th, 2008

Recent advancements in AIDS treatments have greatly improved the quality of life for most people in North America who have been diagnosed with HIV. AIDS is an autoimmune disease that has become a pandemic over the past two decades. Millions of people in North America are infected with the HIV virus that causes AIDS. AIDS is an acronym for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. This means that the immune system of an AIDS positive person has been weakened significantly, making it difficult to fight illnesses.

Most scientists hypothesize that the HIV virus infected humans in the late 1970s. These scientists believe that the disease was originally acquired through chimpanzees. People could have been infected because of blood contact during hunting. Humans began showing signs of HIV related illnesses in the early 1980s. Many of these symptoms were unusual strains of pneumonia. Today, AIDS infection is growing in third world areas such as Africa, Russia and Thailand.

New Advancements in AIDS
Medical Advancements in AIDS have done a lot to slow the disease. Protease inhibitors are some of the most effective treatments for AIDS. These drugs slow the progress of the disease by interfering with the HIV enzymes. These drugs have helped improve the quality of life for many people who are infected with HIV. However, these pills are extremely expensive. Most people living in the third world cannot afford them. Protease inhibitors can also cause several side effects such as nausea, vomiting and fatigue.

Several studies have shown that daily nutritional supplements like multi-vitamins helped to slow the progress of AIDS in patients. Many people suffering from AIDS also suffer from malnutrition. This is why there are many programs that work to bring nutritional supplements such as glyconutrients to AIDS patients around the world. For all of the recent advancements in AIDS, scientists still have not found a cure.