The danger of Asbestos

Asbestos is the collective term used to describe a family of several types of mineral fibrous rocks. There are currently six different regulated types of asbestos, with the three main types being Crocidolite, Amosite and Chrysolite. Crocidolite which is usually blue can be found a lot in southern Africa, Australia and in Russia. The Amosite which is usually brown is most commonly found in Africa. The Chrysolite is of a white colour and can be found in different places all around the world. All those three types were actually imported a lot in the United Kingdom before being banned from use in the eighties for some and at the end of the nineties for others.Asbestos fibres have been incorporated into many different materials and especially building materials since the end of the nineteenth century because of their useful properties. It was used as an acoustic insulator, a thermal insulator but also as fire proofing. The mineral fibre was actually known by the ancient Greek who recognized certain hazards of it. But its disadvantage is that it is a highly toxic material and can cause serious illnesses such as mesothelioma and asbestosis.Asbestos fibres can be easily inhaled and can become lodged in the tissue of your chest and as a result, your body’s natural defenses may not be able to break them down. This can then lead to lung diseases and cancer especially if you are exposed to the fibres repeatedly over a certain number of years.Even though the white asbestos, also called chrysolite, is still used a lot in the United States and known as less dangerous as the other types of asbestos, it can still cause cancer in humans but with some uncertainty as to the scale of the risk involved there.The first death recorded as related to asbestos occurred in 1906 and at the same period, scientists started to notice a large number of deaths and lung diseases in asbestos mining towns.The British Lung Foundation carried out a survey recently that revealed that most tradespeople were actually unaware of the health risks posed by asbestos, and that they did not think about asking if there was any asbestos on the site they were working on.Today, the best way to find out if there is asbestos in a building is to ask a company to carry out asbestos surveys. More and more companies have actually specialized in asbestos surveys as well as asbestos risk assessment and legionella risk assessment.

How Oral Health Care Can Return Bad Teeth To The Right Condition

Considered the most frequent oral health condition, bad teeth appear because of neglect or improper hygiene. These two factors are usually the ones that allow bacteria to break the natural defenses of our teeth and attack the internal dental structure creating cavities. The deeper the caries get, the more difficult they are to treat, meaning that the person is more exposed to painful episodes, and sometimes even the existence of the tooth as such is endangered. Dentists often have to extract bad teeth because the damage is so extended that they cannot reconstruct the natural dental structure. This is how many young people lose their teeth and have to get implants afterwards: it all starts with bad teeth.There is another meaning to the qualification of bad teeth, and this usually applies to the unaesthetic dental aspects that many people have come to develop because of various individual conditions. The origin of bad teeth or crooked teeth as they are called under the circumstances is written in the gene: maybe the jaw is too narrow to have allowed the correct teeth appearance or maybe it is too broad and there are gaps between the teeth. The list of examples could go one, nevertheless, modern day technologies allow to cope with such difficulties by all sorts of orthodontic procedures that reduce the impact of bad teeth on people’s looks.Regardless of what we mean by bad teeth, there is always a solution to solving the problem, and the dentist is the only person that can help one deal with the matter. Thus, if the front teeth for instance are affected by carries and there are dark areas that ruin your smile, the doctor will solve the problem by filling the cavity with a white paste that imitates the natural dental color. Furthermore, if the bad teeth problem is triggered by an incorrect and unaesthetic development, there are all sorts of orthodontic devices to be worn in order to straighten bad teeth. The process takes quite some time, and it often requires tooth extraction to make space in the mouth, but the results make the effort worth taking.Constant oral health care will return bad teeth to the right condition and will therefore enable you to enjoy a bright smile. Hence, you can say goodbye to bad breath, tight-lips smile or personal dissatisfaction, and enjoy the great achievements science has made possible for the medical world.

The Rise, Fall and Rise of the School of Naturopathy

Naturopathy, which is also referred to as natural medicine or naturopathic medicine, is a form of alternative medicine that focuses on using the body’s natural abilities to heal itself in order to fend off illness and maintain its health. By following a holistic approach to body care, naturopathy involves taking certain natural steps to increase the body’s natural defenses while also supporting the use of conventional medicine methods to fend off illness.The History of NaturopathyThe history of Naturopathy is long and interesting. Although many people have never heard of this form of alternative medicine, it has actually been in use since the 1880s. It was during this time that Dr. Thomas Allinson began advocating the medical practice in Scotland. Allinson promoted following a natural diet and performing regular exercise in order to improve the body’s health and to help cure illness and disease. The concept of naturopathy didn’t reach the United States until the late 1890s. At this time, the term was used by Benedict Lust, who was also schooled in other forms of natural medicine such as hydrotherapy. Lust went on to found the American School of Naturopathy in 1905, which was opened in New York. The American School of Naturopathy was the first college of its kind to be opened in the United States, but the practice of naturopathy began losing followers in the 1930s when synthetic drugs and penicillin started to be used more regularly. The rise of other forms of alternative medicine, including herbalism and homeopathy, also contributed to the downfall of naturopathy. Despite its setbacks, naturopathy continued to be practice by some alternative medicine practitioners. By 1956, a new school of naturopathy was opened in Portland, Oregon. The National College of Naturopathic Medicine, which integrated scientific methodologies along with naturopathic practices, was the first modern medical school to offer studies in naturopathy.The Principles of NaturopathyIn order to encourage the body to heal naturally, naturopathy follows seven basic principles. These include:• Do no harm to the body by providing the most effective health care possible while putting the patient at the least amount of risk• Respect and promote the body’s self-healing power• Remove all causes of illness rather than simply suppressing the symptoms• Inspire hope and encourage the patient to take responsibility for his or her health• Consider individual health influences and factors when treating a patient• Promote well being in individuals and throughout the worldAlthough modern medical practices are put to use with naturopathy, following these steps follows the least invasive method possible.A look at the history of naturopathy, including the rise and fall of the School of Naturopathy and the subsequent revival of this natural method for healing the body.

Causes of Gastric Ulcer
by greenherbal

Gastric ulcer is basically due to the imbalanced secretion of stomach enzymes and acids as well as the components released in the mucosal lining of the stomach. This then will get inflamed that may be aggravated by aspirin and NSAIDs or Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs. NSAIDs are commonly taken to combat the symptoms of other ailments such as back pain and kidney pain. Interestingly enough, stress and a number of emotional problems are not labeled as risk factors to gastric ulcer. Yet there are studies that may show otherwise. They point out that stress may be a contributing factor to the aggravation of the ailment.

Ulcers are a painful introduction to ones life and will require huge changes in lifestyle to reduce the pain and alleviate the condition. Of course, this is only of any worth, if the patient knows that they have an ulcer, if he/she is unaware as to how to recognize the symptoms of a gastric ulcer then the condition will only get a lot worse. Abdominal pain is usually the most common symptom that an ulcer may be present. The pain can last a long time, sometimes up to several hours, or it could only appear as a stabbing pain and disappear as quickly as it arrived.

Gastric Ulcers are caused when there is an imbalance between the amount of stomach acid the body is secreting and an enzyme called Pepsin and the natural defenses of the stomach lining (known as mucosal). There is a spiral shaped bacteria living in the acid environment of the stomach (Heliobacter Pylori Bacterium) which can also cause gastric ulcers. On the other hand, physical stress and insufficiencies can facilitate the development of gastric ulcer.

Gastric ulcer occurs due to excessive secretion of hydrochloric acid and pepsin, which eventually damage the protective tissue that surrounds the stomach. The presence of bacteria called Helicobacter pylori also contributes to developing gastric ulcer. Furthermore, the ulcer is aggravated by the misuse of certain anti-inflammatory medicines, such as aspirin or ibuprofen. In the past, it was thought that emotional distress was also a cause of gastric ulcer. However, this theory has been contradicted by recent medical research results.

Gastric ulcer is not caused by spicy food, stress, or alcohol, it is caused by bacteria called Helobacter pylori, but billions of people are carrying this bacteria, because it is transmitted through food, drink, or contact with someone infected. So, many of us have these bacteria, and if you combine it with spicy food and stress you have gastric ulcer! Recent studies have also shown that anti-inflammatory medication (ibuprofen and aspirin) seriously contribute to the gastric ulcer’s evolution.

Gastric ulcer usually occurs in the region of the posterior stomach wall, in the proximity of the pyloric orifice. In the initial stage of the disease, the ulcer appears as a circular lesion with a diameter of 1-2 cm. In the absence of proper medical treatment, the ulcer can expand, causing a wide hole in the stomach wall. This complication is referred to as perforated ulcer and it is considered to be a medical emergency. Along with internal bleeding, perforated ulcer accounts for thousands of annual deaths in the United States.

Gastric Ulcer Symptoms
by greenherbal

One of the primary symptoms felt by someone with a gastric ulcer is a gnawing or burning pain in the upper middle stomach or just below the breastbone which will last from 30 minutes to sometimes over 3 hours. Unfortunately a large number of people mistake this kind of pain for heartburn because it is so similar, whilst others just mistake it as hunger pains. For some people the pain caused by a gastric ulcer will wake them up during the night and for others it may come on immediately after they have eaten or meal or it may occur some 2 to 3 hours later on.

Gastric ulcers occur when there is an imbalance between the amount of stomach acid secreted and an enzyme called pepsin and the natural defenses of the stomach mucosal lining. The Helicobacter Pylori bacterium, a spiral shaped bacterium that lives in the acid environment of the stomach, can also be a cause of gastric ulcers. Obesity, smoking, and excessive use of anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin can also contribute to the development of gastric ulcers.

The pain of a gastric ulcer may cause you to awaken at night. It may occur immediately following a meal or may occur some two to three hours later. With some patients, the pain of an ulcer is relieved by food or milk and with others they may avoid eating in an effort to avoid the pain associated with eating. The pain from a duodenal ulcer is typically relieved by food, but the pain from a gastric ulcer is usually exacerbated by food. There are many patients who report that a delay in eating will cause a more severe gastric ulcer pain. Based on what we know, these patients may likely be suffering from a duodenal ulcer.

The other symptom to watch for is the most alarming situation of internal bleeding. This bleeding will normally make itself apparent in stools. This isnt always the case however, and the ulcer could cause internal bleeding which goes un-noticed for a long period of time. Jerry Lewis learned that he had internal bleeding for a very long time going completely un-noticed. However, the painkillers he was taking had suppressed all other symptoms of his gastric ulcer, which Im sure didnt help the situation! If a patient starts to notice such symptoms, do not hesitate to seek medical attention, it is much better to seek advice and catch a condition early than it is to sit on it and it be too late.

Stomach ulcer symptoms naturally, your best bet is to change your eating habits. Certain foods can irritate ulcers and should be avoided which include spicy and fried foods, fatty foods and acidic foods. Although many people think that milk is a good way to relieve ulcer symptoms it should be taken in small amounts as the milk proteins can cause more gastric acids to be made which can irritate your ulcer. You should also avoid aspirin, tea, coffee, ibuprofen, alcohol and cigarettes. Another natural way to relieve symptoms of a stomach ulcer is to make sure your diet is rich in soluble fiber. Some say that cabbage can help heal an ulcer as it contains glutamine which has been shown to heal ulcers and is also very high in fiber.

Everyone has heard the news about antioxidants and their benefits in maintaining good health and proper nutrition. It seems the more scientists learn about antioxidants, the more their value and potential increases. Antioxidants have shown promise in everything from preventing heart disease to slowing the degeneration of the eyes and brain.

Antioxidants work in a fairly straightforward way. What makes them so effective is their ability to neutralize a group of highly reactive, highly destructive compounds known as free radicals.

The production of free radicals is a normal bodily process, and it is part of the process of breathing and living. Free radicals are normally neutralized by the body’s natural defense system, rendering them harmless. However, anything that weakens the body’s natural defenses weakens its ability to fight off these free radicals. Those weakening agents include environmental pollution, excess UV radiation and even excessive consumption of alcohol.

When free radicals are not properly neutralized, the body is left open to damage. Free radicals can damage the structure and function of cells in the body, and recent evidence suggest that free radicals contribute to the aging process and may play a role in a great many illnesses, including cancer and heart disease.

While vitamin supplements containing antioxidants such as vitamin C can be important, there is no substitute for a healthy diet. It is estimated that foods contain more than 4,000 compounds that have antioxidant qualities. Eating a healthy diet is the only way to take advantage of these antioxidant properties. In addition to the well known antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin E, healthy foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains also contain lots of lesser antioxidants. Scientists are only now discovering the important role these lesser known antioxidants have in keeping the body healthy.

Let’s examine some of the dietary sources for the major antioxidant vitamins.

Vitamin C
Vitamin C is probably the most studied of all the antioxidant vitamins. Also known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin found in all bodily fluids, and it is thought to be one of body’s first lines of defense against infection and disease. Since vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin, it is not stored and must be consumed in adequate quantities every day. Good dietary sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruits, green peppers, broccoli and other green leafy vegetables, strawberries, cabbage and potatoes.

Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin that is stored in the liver and other tissues. Vitamin E has been studied for its effects on everything from delaying the aging process to healing a sunburn. While vitamin E is not a miracle worker, it is an important antioxidant, and it is important that the diet contain sufficient amounts of vitamin E. Good dietary sources of this important nutrient include wheat germ, nuts, seeds, whole grains, vegetable oil, fish liver oil and green leafy veggies.

Beta-carotene
Beta-carotene is the nutrient that gives flamingos their distinctive pink color (they get it from the shrimp they eat). In the human world, beta-carotene is the most widely studied of over 600 carotenoids that have thus far been discovered. The role of beta-carotene in nature is to protect the skins of dark green, yellow and orange fruits from the damaging effects of solar radiation. Scientists believe that beta-carotene plays a similar protective role in the human body. Sources of beta-carotene in the diet include such foods as carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, broccoli, tomatoes, collard greens, kale, cantaloupe, peaches and apricots.

Selenium
Selenium is one of the most important minerals in a healthy diet, and it has been studied for its ability to prevent cell damage. Scientists see this ability to protect cells from damage as possibly important in the prevention of cancer, and selenium is being studied for possible cancer preventative properties. It is important to get the selenium you need from your diet, since large doses of selenium supplements can be toxic. Fortunately, selenium is easily found in a healthy diet. Good sources of dietary selenium include fish and shellfish, red meat, whole grains, poultry and eggs, and garlic. Vegetables grown in selenium rich soils are also good sources of dietary selenium.

About the Author: John Mendel owns the highly informative glyconutrients information site where you will find the current information on the simple monosaccharide sugars and learn where to buy glyconutrients for less than the MLM companies.

The inevitable increase of cancer cases in the world today is mainly rooted from the advancement of technology and the industry. The different kinds of cancer suffered by some people include brain, lung, breast and colon cancers and these are often inflicted by pollution and some harsh chemicals from factory emission.

Cancer would also be suffered by those who have bad diets and who opt for unhealthy foods. Yet, it can be noted that these bad habits can be prevented so as to refrain from attracting the disease to inflict a person.

The good news is there are significant scientific researches showed that omega-3 fatty acids supplement produced positive results on cancer prevention and cures.

Bad fats cause cancer.

Noted as the substances that encourage abnormalities in the cell division, the bad fats are the ones which often lead to some fatal disease of the heart, diabetes. The bad fats are also the substances body accumulate and give away poisonous free radicals. These free radicals cause damage and cancer when the natural defenses of the body get overwhelmed.

Fish oil as good inhibitor of cancer.

Prevention of cancer is very difficult especially when the products available in the market today are filled with so many carcinogens. However, it was found that the fish oil which contains long chain omega-3 fatty acids is a good nutrient in the blood which can prevent a person from suffering cancer. A lot of cancer patients were found to have poor nutritional level of the omega-3.

In one research study of 71 newly diagnosed, untreated cancer of esophageal, lung and pancreatic patients and 45 healthy subjects. Researchers measured and found that the levels of omega-3 fatty acids were reduced in pancreatic cancer and lung cancer, but not altered in esophageal cancer. Thus lung and pancreatic cancer patients would benefit from an omega-3 supplement to improve the omega-3 content of their blood.

In another study of 24 European countries, consumption of fish oil has shown to protect against the later promotional stages of colorectal cancer. Omega-3s were shown to decrease colon cancer at both the initiation and promotion stages in experiments with animals.

One of the most common types of cancer in North America is skin cancer. Research studies have shown Omega-3 fatty acids from fish have a protective effect on the skin; fish oil benefits the skin by producing prostaglandins that are anti-inflammatory, acting to reduce inflammatory components induced from ultraviolet light exposure.

Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil on animal studies have demonstrated positive results to slow the growth of cancer; increase the efficacy of chemotherapy and reduce the side effects of chemotherapy or of the cancer. Fish oil works on suppressing the proliferation (rapid growth) of cancer cells; allowing cancer cells to die; and reducing cancer-induced cachexia (extreme loss of weight and muscle mass).

Fish oils are also widely recognized for many other health benefits for both children and adults to improve brain function, mental illnesses, learning and behavior disorder, heart function and more. Visit www.keyfishoilbenefits.com.

Genes account for at most 15% of cancers. What matters most in prevention or getting the most of treatments is not our genetic makeup but the biology we create within our body to support our natural defenses against tumor growth.The Genetic FallacyMost of us live with the false belief that cancer is a genetic Russian roulette. As one in three of us will die of cancer, the odds are indeed as bad — worse actually — than those of that dreadful game. But it is NOT genetic. A large Scandinavian study of identical twins (who share exactly the same genes) found that in the majority of cases they did not share the risk for cancer. In fact, the authors concluded, in the New England Journal of Medicine, that “inherited genetic factors make a minor contribution to susceptibility to most types of [cancers]. This finding indicates that the environment has the principal role in causing common cancers.”A New Approach to Cancer: Changing the TerrainWhen it comes to treating cancer, there is no alternative to conventional treatments: surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy or, soon, molecular genetics.However, these treatments target the tumor much like an army wages war: focusing all of its efforts on destroying the cancerous cells. Yet, it’s as important to change the environment that supports the growth new cancer cells as it is to continue to pound them with targeted attacks.We all need to learn to change the “terrain” — our biology — to make it as inhospitable as possible to cancer growth.  As much for prevention as to increase the benefits of treatments.The new model of cancer that has emerged from the last 10 years of research moves us away from genetics and squarely into the life-style factors that we can control.Indeed, another New England Journal of Medicine study showed that people who were adopted at birth have the cancer risk of their adoptive parents rather than that of the parents who gave them their genes. At most, genetic factors contribute 15% to our cancer risk. What matters for 85% of cancers is what we do — or do not do enough of — with our life.Since we all carry cancer cells in us, what determines whether we do develop cancer is to a large extent the balance between factors that promote cancer, and factors that help resist cancer.Common promoters of cancer are: * Cigarette smoke and more than two alcoholic beverages per day * Refined sugar and white flour * Omega-6 fatty acids and trans-fats (corn, soybean, sunflower and safflower oils, hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils) * A variety of chemical agents present in some foods and household products (parabens, phthalates, PVCs, pesticdes and herbicides) * Complete lack of physical activity * Responses to stress that lead to feelings of helplessness and persistent despair rather than a sense that one can help oneself or count on the support of othersFactors that slow down the growth of cancer are: * Several phytochemicals contained in some fruits and some vegetables, some herbs and spices. * Omega-3 fatty acids (fatty fish, canola and flaxseed oil, flaxseeds, walnuts, some green vegetables) * Physical activity (at least 30 minutes of walking six times a week) * The ability to manage stress so as to avoid helplessness (emotional management through meditation or yoga or good psychotherapy) or benefiting from the support of intimate relationships, or both.Knowing that genetics are only a minor contribution to cancer helps us realize how much is in our power to help our body be a stronger partner in nourishing life and resisting cancer.©2008 David Servan-Schreiber, MD, PhD