Garlic is a bulbous herb that is native to central Asia. The bulb breaks up into separate strong flavored cloves that are quite smaller in size. The botanical name of garlic is Allium sativum and it belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family of the plants. The other herbs that also belong to the genus “Allium” are onion, leek and shallot. Continue reading »
MHChoices
Jul 102011
Jul 052011
Prunus dulcis, commonly known as almond, is a species of tree that is famous for its edible seed. The almond is a small deciduous tree that Continue reading »
Hormones are the chemical messengers that are produced by the endocrine glands (pancreas, thyroid thymus, pituitary gland and adrenal glands) in the body. Hormones travel the bloodstream to tissues and Continue reading »
Jun 202011
The prostrate is a walnut- or chestnut-shaped organ in the man’s reproductive system that is located beneath the bladder. It surrounds the tube known as “urethra” that carries urine from the bladder and Continue reading »
Jun 122011
Watermelon is a juicy fruit of a vine-like flowering plant. Its botanical name is Citrullus lanatus and it belongs to the family Cucurbitaceae of the plants. Watermelons can be spherical or round in shape with a thick green or light-green rind and a fleshy, sweet, watery, red or occasionally yellowish pulp. Watermelon seeds make an excellent source of both essential and non-essential amino acids, protein and oil. Watermelon seeds are also rich in macro-minerals such as potassium, calcium, and phosphorus and micro-minerals such as zinc, iron and selenium. Watermelon seed is about 45% oil, 35% protein and 10% dietary fiber.
A watermelon contains about 90% water and 8% sugar by weight. They are low in calories and are mildly diuretic. Red flesh of a watermelon is rich in vitamins especially vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, vitamin C, retinol, alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E), and phylloquinone (vitamin K), minerals such as calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, copper, zinc, manganese, fluoride and selenium, lipids especially monounsaturated fatty acids and saturated fatty acids, amino acids such as tryptophan, threonine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, cystine, methionine, phenylalanine, valine, tyrosine, arginine, alanine, histidine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, serine, proline and glycine, sugars such as dextrose, sucrose, lactose, maltose and fructose, carbohydrates, fiber, and carotenoids.
Watermelons offer innumerable health benefits to their consumers. They are rich in carotenoids such as lycopene, lutein, phytofluene, beta-carotene and phytoene. Caroteniods exhibit anti-oxidant and anti-cancerous properties. Numerous researches have revealed that carotenoids reduce the risks of cardiovascular diseases and different types of cancer especially prostrate, colon and oral cancers. Beta carotenes help keep your vision sharp and protect against macular degeneration. Moreover, antioxidants help reduce the airway spasm that occurs in asthma.
A regular consumption of watermelons helps alleviate symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. They neutralize the harmful effects of free radicals which are substances in the body that are able to oxidize cholesterol. This, in turn, leads to the accumulation of plaque along the arterial walls, making them narrow and thick. Free radicals are also responsible for the premature aging and sagging skin. Watermelons help prevent the occurrences of type-2 diabetes and high blood pressure. They have a special cooling effect on your body and help remove toxins especially ammonia through urine. B vitamins in a watermelon help produce energy and boost immune system. Potassium in watermelons helps reduce the risk of kidney stones.
If hectic lifestyle doesn’t allow you to consume watermelons and other healthy diets, then make sure that you use a dietary supplement that provides your body with the recommended daily allowances of essential nutrients. The VitaOne® Multi-Nutrition Pack is a popular brand on the market that delivers the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, enzymes, concentrated green nutrients and essential fatty acids your body needs. All you need to do is to start your morning with a packet of this supplement and enjoy the benefits for the rest of the day. Each packet contains a bioavailable blend of target nutrients, antioxidants, super-concentrated green food, essential fatty acids, beta-carotenes and enzymes. Not only does VitaOne® provide optimum protection against environmental pollutants and free radicals, but it also supports digestion, immune system, liver function and circulation. Moreover, it supports visual acuity, reproduction, growth, development and skin and promotes absorption of foods and vital nutrients.
Hepatitis C is a liver disorder that is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). It is a highly infectious disease that often leads to inflammation and scaring of the liver. Advanced scaring, also known as cirrhosis, may lead to other complications such as liver failure, gastric varices, esophageal varices and liver cancer. HCV is transmitted from an infected person to a healthy individual by blood-to-blood contact. According to an estimate, more than 250 million people all around the globe are infected with HCV. About 2% of the U.S population is infected with hepatitis C virus.
There are two forms of Hepatitis C virus 1) Acute 2) Chronic. Acute hepatitis C is defined as a HCV infection persisting for less than six months. Chronic infection, on the other hand, refers to an infection that persists for more than six months. Six genotypes of HCV exist. Genotype 1 is more prevalent in U.S.A and Canada and is the hardest to treat. Genotypes 2A and 3A are more common in Asian countries especially India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and China and they have the highest cure rates.
There are many causes that might be responsible for the transmission of virus. They include sharing a needle which may be contaminated with HCV-infected blood, sharing personal care items such as razors and toothbrushes with someone who has HCV, blood transfusion or organ transplantation, exposure to inadequately sterilized dental or medical equipment, accidental exposure to blood through needle sticks or open wounds at work, unprotected sexual exposure, body piercings and tattoos with contaminated instruments, kidney dialysis and transmission from an infected mother to her child during the birth process.
Usually there are no symptoms of an acute infection. If the infection has been present for many years (chronic infection), one might experience symptoms like abdominal pain especially in right upper abdomen, fever, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, clay-colored stools, dark urine, fatigue, tiredness, restlessness, itching, flu-like symptoms, abdominal swelling due to the accumulation of fluid called ascites, and bleeding from the stomach or esophagus due to dilated veins called varices. In extreme cases, the liver may be permanently scared. Chronic infection often leads to hepatic encephalopathy, also known as cognitive impairment syndrome. Hepatic encephalopathy happens due to the accumulation of ammonia and other toxic compounds normally cleared by a healthy liver.
Hepatitis C is diagnosed with Hepatitis C RNA test (measures viral load or virus levels), EIA assay (detects hepatitis C antibodies) and Hepatitis C genotype test.
The treatment of hepatitis C aims to lower the viral load in the blood and reduce the risks of advanced cirrhosis and liver cancer that can result from a chronic HCV infection. Patients are prescribed with a combination of ribavirin and pegylated interferon alfa. Ribavirin is a capsule that removes the virus form the blood and is taken twice daily. Pegylated interferon alfa injection is given on a weekly basis for 24-48 weeks.
Patients with hepatitis C should avoid the consumption of alcohol as it is a hepatotoxic and can speed up the progression of hepatitis C and reduce the effectiveness of treatment. Moreover, they should also avoid the consumption of fatty foods and red meat.
It makes a good idea for hepatitis C patients to use a dietary supplement that supports optimum liver function and maintains the health of liver. Vitamarin is a popular brand on the market that is beneficial to the health and well being of liver. It is a powerfully formulated blend of antioxidant Curcumin, Milk Thistle (standardized at 80% silymarin), bromelain (potent proteolytic enzyme) and EnZact 77k. This supplement offers a powerful enzyme support that helps remove the toxins, waste and pollutants from the liver. However, patients should you use nutritional supplements and over-the-counter medications after discussing them with their health care provider.
Arthritis is a painful condition that occurs due to inflammation of one or more joints. It is characterized by the pain, stiffness and limited movement of the joints. Arthritis involves the breakdown of cartilage, which is a flexible and stiff connective tissue in the joints, ankle, knee, rib cage, nose and intervertebral discs. Cartilage protects the joints from trauma and absorbs shock when pressure is placed on the joint. Moreover, cartilage promotes smooth movement and helps you perform routine life activities such as walking, running and jumping at a normal pace. If cartilage is damaged due to some reason, the bones rub together, causing inflammation, pain and limited movement.
The typical symptoms of arthritis are redness of the skin around an affected joint, warmth around a joint, stiffness in the joints especially in the morning, joint inflammation, joint pain and reduced ability to move a joint. The pain occurs due to swelling that occurs around the joint.
There are over 90 different forms of arthritis. Primary forms of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, Still’s disease, gout and pseudo-gout, Ankylosing spondylitis, septic arthritis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
There are many factors that may lead to the development of arthritis. They include an autoimmune disease (rheumatoid arthritis), trauma to the joint (osteoarthritis) and infection of the joint (septic arthritis). Other factors include age, obesity, fungal infections especially blastomycosis, scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, tuberculosis and tertiary lyme disease.
As far as treatment of arthritis is concerned, it depends on the cause, severity of disease, your age and occupation. Treatment mainly focuses at reducing discomfort, pain, disability and stiffness. A combination of healthy lifestyle changes and medications may help maintain healthy joints and reduce inflammation and pain. Healthy lifestyle changes include performing range of motion exercises for flexibility, low-impact endurance exercises, and fitness exercises such as yoga. Moreover, patients should avoid movements that put extra stress on the joints. It also makes a good idea to modify home to make activities easier.
Eating a diet rich in vitamins particularly vitamin E and minerals also helps relieve symptoms associated with arthritis. Rich dietary sources of vitamin E include wheat germ, nuts, sunflower seeds, fruits and vegetables. Omega-3 fatty acids especially EPA and DHA help make joints flexible and reduce pain. Cold water fish such as herring, trout, salmon and mackerel make good food sources of omega nutrients. Other dietary plant sources include canola oil, flaxseed, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, soybean oil and soybeans. It also makes a good idea to consume a dietary supplement that makes use of glucosamine and chondroitin in its formulation. Glucosamine is known as the building block of cartilage and it helps repair the damaged cartilage.
Medications include corticosteroids, pain-killers, biologics, anti-rheumatic drugs, immunosuppressants, and cyclooxygenase inhibitors.
Naturflex Joint Support is a popular brand on the market that makes a unique blend of nutritional ingredients to improve overall function and health of joints. It contains glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, Uncaria Tomentosa and Bromelain in its formulation. Glucosamine and chondroitin help protect cartilage and promote healthy joints. MSM is a major form of sulfur that nourishes the joints, Uncaria Tomentosa helps promote a healthy immune system and Bromelain is a sulfur-containing enzyme essential to good recovery. Moreover, Naturflex Joint Support helps relieve symptoms of arthritis and targets specific mechanisms responsible for healthy joints.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Suggested product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Coronary artery disease (CAD), also known as coronary heart disease and atherosclerotic heart disease, is the narrowing of the coronary arteries due to the accumulation of plaque along the walls of arteries. Coronary arteries supply nutrients and oxygen to the muscle of the heart, also known as myocardium. Coronary artery disease leads to reduced blood flow to heart, which in turn can cause shortness of breath, stable angina, chest pain and heart attack.
Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. There are numerous factors that may contribute to the development of this disease. They include age, gender, family history, presence of other diseases particularly type-2 diabetes and high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, high triglyceride levels, obesity, chronic kidney disease, stress, depression, consumption of alcohol, smoking and a lack of exercise.
It is important to remember that the symptoms of CAD are mostly noted in the advanced state of disease. Symptoms include pain in chest, arms, upper back and stomach. One might also experience heaviness and pain under one’s sternum (breast bone). Other symptoms include fatigue, tiredness, shortness of breath and nausea. The chest pain usually occurs with emotion or activity, but goes away with medicines or rest.
CAD can be diagnosed with CT angiography, Coronary arteriography, Electrocardiogram, Magnetic resonance angiography, Exercise stress test, Nuclear scan, Echocardiogram, and Electron-beam computed tomography.
As far as the treatment of atherosclerotic heart disease is concerned, sufferers are often prescribed with medicines that help prevent formation of blood clots in their arteries, beta-blockers to lower heart rate and oxygen use by heart, diuretics to treat congestive heart failure, calcium channel blockers to relax arteries and reduce strain on heart, and nitrates to improve blood supply to the heart and stop chest pain. Patients who also have high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels are prescribed with ACE inhibitors and Statins respectively. However, it is not necessary that every patient would be prescribed with the above mentioned regimen as treatment depends on symptoms and severity of the disease. In severe cases, CAD is treated with Coronary artery bypass surgery, Angioplasty or Minimally invasive heart surgery.
In order to lower your risk of coronary heart disease, you should bring healthy lifestyle changes such as consumption of heart healthy foods, performing a combination of aerobic exercises and strength training workouts on a regular basis, reducing amount of salt you eat and maintaining a healthy weight. It is also important that you avoid smoking and consumption of alcohol. If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, make sure that you keep your serum sugar or blood pressure strictly under control.
It also makes a good idea to use a dietary supplement that supports 
cardiovascular health. Vita-Che is the product of choice as it contains vitamins, amino acids, herbs, minerals, bioflavanoids, enzymes and lipids like EDTA, L-carnitine, L-argine and Coenzyme Q 10 in its formulation that work in harmony with your body to address homocysteine concerns that impact circulatory issues, promote blood circulation and stronger capillaries, address obstructions, and support normal blood lipids levels including High density lipoprotein (HDL or Good cholesterol) and Low density lipoprotein (LDL or Bad cholesterol). Moreover, Vita-Che also activates digestive and tissue healing enzymes, assists with the repair of tissues and encourages metabolism of fats into energy or metabolites.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Suggested product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Avocado, also known as “Alligator Pear”, is a pear-shaped or spherical tropical fruit with blackish skin and rich yellowish pulp. The botanical name for avocado is “Persea americana” and it belongs to the flowering plant family Lauraceae. This plant is native to America, Mexico and is cultivated in tropical climates throughout the world.
Avocados make a rich dietary source of essential nutrients that are important for your health and well-being. It contains carbohydrates, monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, sugar, dietary fiber, protein, vitamins particularly vitamins A, B1 or thiamine, B2 or riboflavin, B3 or Niacin, B5 or pantothenic acid, B6, B9 or folate, and C, and minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, potassium, zinc, selenium, and molybdenum. However, it is important to remember that the raw avocados offer maximum nutritive benefits.
There are numerous health benefits of consumption of avocados. First and foremost, avocados help reduce serum cholesterol levels as they are extremely low in cholesterol and help increase high density cholesterol (HDL), also known as good cholesterol. They decrease both low density cholesterol (LDL) or bad cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. This tropical fruit makes an excellent dietary source to treat or even prevent atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries due to the accumulation of plaque along the walls of arteries). Moreover, avocados help prevent strokes and coronary artery disease.
Avocados aid in digestion and help treat indigestion and irritation of the stomach. A regular consumption of avocados has a soothing effect on the small intestine. Another benefit of avocados is that they help maintain the health and youthful glow of your skin. Avocados make rich dietary sources of vitamins particularly vitamin A that nourish skin cells and help rebuild collagen. Furthermore, consumption of avocados helps in treating psoriasis. Vitamin C is a natural antioxidant that helps destroy free radicals and oxidants which are responsible for premature aging and different types of cancer.
As avocados are high in calories (approximately 300/100 g) and fat contents, they make an excellent gift for those people who want to increase their weight. A recent research has showed that avocados help boost immune system and stabilize serum insulin levels.
However, if you find it difficult to consume avocados and other vitamins-rich diets due to your hectic lifestyle, then make sure that you take a multivitamin supplement on a regular basis to provide your body with essential vitamins and minerals.
Vita-Che is a popular brand on the market that makes an excellent nutritional supplement to promote a good general health. It makes use of vitamins, minerals, bioflavonoids, lipids like L-argine, L-carnitine, coenzyme Q-10, amino acids, EDTA, herbs like rhizomes of Butcher’s Broom, Hawthorne Berry, and enzymes in its formulation. Not only does it promote a healthy blood circulation and stronger capillaries, but it also assists with the repair of tissues and counteracts oxidants and free radicals. Moreover, it helps activate digestive and tissue healing enzymes, and promotes healthy HDL and LDL levels. Last but not the least; it encourages metabolism of fats into metabolites or energy.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Suggested product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Osteoporosis is a disease of bones that occurs due to the deterioration of bone microarchitecture, thinning of bone tissues, reduction in the amounts of proteins and nutrients in bones, and loss of bone mineral density Continue reading »
