Alternative Therapies and Health News

A recent study shows that about 23% of women are not taking sufficient amounts of calcium in their diet. In addition, about 42% of the teenage girls are also neglecting the intake of milk which is an effective source of calcium. The assumption that milk is a fatty food could be making women avoid calcium-based foods.

Dr Cliodhna Foley Nolan says that milk is not a high fat diet and neither a highly fat saturated food. Instead, milk contains essential nutrients like calcium, proteins and water soluble vitamin B recommended for healthy living.

Why is Calcium Essential?
Researchers explain that calcium is beneficial for the human body in a number of ways. For example:

• Calcium restores bone health
• Calcium reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases
• Calcium reduces the risk of colorectal cancer

Other Sources of Calcium
Listed below are some other sources of calcium apart from milk:

• Soft-boned fish
• Vegetables
• Bread and other flour-based foods
• Nuts
• Pulses (both lentils and beans)

Dr Nolan further explains that if women do not wish to drink fat full milk, then low-fat or fat-free milk can be a good alternative for cutting down calories. Experts recommend 3 servings (200ml) of dairy foods for people in general. Otherwise 5 servings are recommended for teenagers, breast-feeding and pregnant mothers.

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Fermentation has been an ancient old custom to preserve foods. For example, fermented grapes, bread, etc. Researchers are here to state that you could gain more nutrition or better health by popping bits of fermented food into your mouth. As defined by experts, fermentation is the process by which microorganisms convert carbohydrates into acids or alcohol. This preservative action makes foods lees susceptible to decay thereby making it safe for people to consume them over an extended period of time.

How can Fermented Foods be Healthy?
Fermented foods are considered to be healthy for the human body because a healthy bacterium called “probiotics” is said to be an important constituent of fermented foods. Probiotics, researchers explain aids digestion and thereby contributes to an overall fit and healthy body.

Researchers opine that probiotics are available in capsule form as of today. However, fermented foods in their natural forms can bring some variation in your diet.

Easy to Find Fermented Foods
Listed below are some easy to find fermented foods which you can include in your diet:

• Yogurt (purchase yogurt with labels reading “live” or “live active cultures” to identify fermented yogurt)
• Kefir (add honey, fruit or maple syrup to sweeten kefir)
• Sauerkraut (a age-long German preparation of fermented cabbage)
• Kimchee (an ancient Korean dish prepared from spicy fermented vegetables like onions, garlic, radish, etc)

Fermented foods can ensure better health because they are easier to digest, contain natural preservative elements and at the same time are richly laden with vitamins and minerals. Live cultures present in fermented foods thereby contribute to improved digestive health which in turn helps in building a strong immune system.

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Yes, scientists are here to state that cranberry juice can kick back bad health with its antioxidant properties. As researchers have earlier claimed that colorful foods like tart cherries can help ward of cardiovascular diseases, here is a colorful drink – the cranberry juice which can pump back good health into you.

It is believed that cranberry juice has a wide number of antioxidants that can help build the immune system. However, cranberry is said to be rich in “proanthocyanidins”, which helps in protecting the walls of the bladder thereby maintaining the health of the urinary tract.

Studies have further emphasized that the daily consumption of cranberry juice can help improve urinary tract infection to a great extent. In addition, cranberries also contain another flavonoid antioxidant called “anthocyanins”. Researchers are of the opinion that these flavonoid antioxidants help in repairing and maintaining the health of tissues, arteries, cells that all contribute to a healthy heart.

Red cranberry juice can be taken in varied forms like fresh cranberries, dry cranberries, cranberry juice or sauce. Experts opine that like fresh fruits and vegetables, cranberry juice should also be drunk on a daily basis.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is of the opinion that a complete 100% blend of cranberry juice can help as a naturally curing antioxidant as compared to a cup of orange or apple juice.

5 Ways to Toss Cranberries into Your Daily Diet
Listed below are about 4 ways to toss cranberries into your daily diet:

• A cup of 100% cranberry blend
• Cranberries as part of your pure vegetable salad dressings
• Cranberries in chicken salad
• Cranberries included as a sandwich
• Snack comprising cranberries, nuts and seeds

It wouldn’t take much to drink a cup of cranberry juice every morning. So drink as much to free your body from harmful toxins, bacteria or infection.

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The brain needs enough fuel for the body to function in an effective way with the help of brain-healthy foods. Much to your belief these brain foods can increase your memory power as well. In addition, brain-healthy foods also contribute towards an overall fitness of the body.

Experts opine that the best part of naturally grown fruits and vegetables is that they lack additives and boost a person’s capabilities to do things naturally. For example, vitamins and proteins are world famous ingredients present in natural foods like vegetables, eggs, milk, etc which help in improving the performance of individuals.

Dietitians further explain that sufficient amounts of proteins and vitamins taken along with carbohydrates can help boost poor intellect in people. Experts recommend fruits and vegetables grown in organic manure to improve the intellect and academic performance of individuals.

Top 15 Brain-Healthy Foods
Listed below is a list of about 10 brain-health foods that is believed to improve intelligence and the academic performance of individuals:

• Yogurt
• Spinach
• Eggs
• Egg plants
• Red cabbage (improves blood flow)
• Broccoli (increases the iron content in the body)
• Tomatoes
• Avocados
• Green tea
• Pumpkin seeds
• Blackberries
• Strawberries (raises the though process in individuals)
• Chocolates
• Pumpkin seeds
• Almonds

The above brain-healthy foods contain essential minerals and vitamins that assist in the overall development of a person. Experts explain that the lack of essential vitamins or minerals can compel a person to suffer from some chronic problems like night blindness due to deficiency of vitamin A or scurvy which results from lack of vitamin C.

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A DASH (Dietary Approaches to stop Hypertension) diet, which is rich in vegetable and fruit intake as against a lower intake of proteins, was primarily seen to reduce blood pressure among a selected group of women, but Boston researchers claim that the diet helped in lowering the risks of heart strokes and other coronary heart diseases too.

What is the DASH diet?
Dash diet was established by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Though initially it was used to treat people with high blood pressure, the dash diet is now useful for treating other ailments as well.

The dash diet includes the following:

• Low cholesterol
• Low levels of sodium
• 30% calories from various fats
• Rich in vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fruits, nuts
• Fat-free dairy products
• Low red meat
• Less processed foods
• Low sweet beverages

Teresa Fung, who led the team of researchers in Boston, formulated scores to measure women’s diets that matched the dash diet. Women with a higher score were reported with reduced risks of coronary heart diseases and heart strokes as against those who scored low because they did not stick to the dash diets so religiously.

After 24 long years, results from the study showed that women ranking in the top 20% of the dash score were 24% less prone to heart diseases, and about 18% of them also showed reduced stroke risks as compared to women in the bottom 20% of the dash score.

The study also revealed there was a dramatic reduction in the stroke risks for women who witnessed a long history of hypertension at baseline as compared to women who didn’t.

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Most kids frown with the mention of cabbage for lunch or dinner. Contrary to people’s choices, cabbage is considered to be very healthy. Infact, the health benefits of cabbage dates back to ancient times where Greeks used cabbage to heal eye infections.

Top 10 Health Benefits of Cabbage
Listed below are some 10 health benefits of cabbage:

• Cabbage fights cancer risks
• Low on calories and least fattening as compared to other vegetables
• Rich source of vitamin C which helps in burning fat or calories
• Fiber-laden which aids digestion, water absorption and eases defecation
• Rich in potassium which is an important electrolyte that ensures nerve and heart health
• Rich in vitamin A which essentially provides a youthful and clean skin
• Rich source of vitamin E which again protects the skin from aging fast
• Rich source of vitamin B which ensures nerve health and also helps in boosting the metabolic rates
• Cures infections and ulcers
• Boosts the production of antibodies

Cabbage deposits iron, sulphur and other nutrients which boosts the immune system and can help build a body you’d be proud of. Encourage your kids to eat cabbage coupled with sufficient amounts of protein, carbohydrates, and minerals in their diet.

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Some home remedies work just right for treating an ailment such as a bee-sting, burn, etc but you can be fooled easily without even getting to know about them properly. Experts claim that one should investigate into the effectiveness and suitability of the remedy with a doctor before trying it at home.

Top 5 Home Remedies Guaranteed to Fool You
Listed below are some 5 home remedies which should not be tried at home, say experts when reviewed by the WebMD team:

• Ear Candling to Remove Ear Wax: Experts state that ear candling is a difficult and dangerous way to remove wax from the ears. After all, the function of ear wax is to protect the ears from infection. However, ear wax can be cleaned by safer means like over-the-counter ear drops, oil, tissue paper, etc. Even then people choose to use the beeswax cone which is lit close to the ears for clearing the wax out of the ears. Jennifer Smullen, an instructor in the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston is of the opinion that ear candling has led to severe consequences like burning the ear canal and the eardrum.
• Whiskey for Comforting the Gums of a Teething Baby: Experts believe that whiskey is one of the most atrocious means that parents resort to comfort a teething baby for who suffers gum pain. Stanley Alexander, a DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine) in the Tufts University claims that whiskey is not healthy for a child and neither does it help in numbing the gums. Stanley says that the best remedy to provide comfort to your baby’s gum is to freeze a teething toy for the baby to chew on.
• Butter for Burns: Robert Sheridan from the Massachusetts General Hospital states that butter can be best applied to foods but not to skin burns. Butter certainly has a soothing effect just as toothpaste has on a burn but both do not help in curing the problem at all. Sheridan suggests over-the-counter antibiotic ointments to treat skin burns if the area affected can be categorized a first or second degree burn which is larger than 3 inches of the area affected. Sheridan also explains that butter provides a cooling effect initially but eventually melts due to body heat and can cause infections because it is not germ-free.
• Colloidal Silver Can Cure Infections and Diseases: Experts claim that there are many people who believe that colloidal silver can cure them off fungal skin infections or even cancer. Ted Epperly, MD from the American Academy of Family Physicians is of the opinion that silver can not only make the skin greyish blue in color but can also affect the cells and damage organs permanently like the stomach, kidneys or the brain.
• Home cleansing of colon: Some experts are of the opinion that colon collects a lot of waste matter, which can be cleared off with herbs, diets, laxatives, etc. Robert Siegel, MD from the American College of Gastroenterology claims that the colon is nothing but a waste container that allows the fecal matter to pass out of the human system. Siegel agrees with other experts that constant cleaning of the colon can cause dehydration or loss of salt from the body and can also make the body more vulnerable to heart failures, anemia and malnutrition. Increasing one’s fiber diet with fruits and vegetables can help solve the problem of colon otherwise in more severe cases Siegel suggests that a doctor should be consulted with to treat conditions of constipation and uneasiness.

Keep away from the above 5 home remedies that fool you and consult a doctor to get over problems with effective, reliable and suitable solutions.

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Researchers from the University of Michigan at an Experimental Biology annual meeting (San Diego) declared that tart cherries are healthy for the heart. The study, which was carried out on rats, reported that tart cherries can protect one’s heart from conditions like diabetes and heart strokes, attacks, etc.

Parameters of the Michigan Study
About 48 rats which were more likely to become obese were studied. The sampled rats were fed with a cherry-filled diet which was well complemented with calories and carbohydrates for about 90 days. The rats were tested for the following:

• Glucose levels
• Cholesterol levels
• Triglyceride levels
• Weight and fat storage
• TNF-alpha
• Interlukin-6

Researchers called the results “delicious” and said that it was amazing to confirm the role of inflammation, obesity, blood lipids, and body compositions in cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

Results of the study
The study revealed the following:

• Rats who were fed with tart cherries reported – lower weight, lesser fat mass, lesser IL-6 levels, less cholesterol, fewer triglycerides, less TNF-alpha levels
• TNF-alpha reduced in lean (by 50%) and obese rats (by 40%)
• IL-6 also dropped in lean (by 38%) and obese rats (by 31%)
• Cherries-fed rats also showed a reduction in retroperitoneal fat, which is one kind of abdomen fat responsible for triggering cardiovascular diseases and inflammation

E. Mitchell Seymour, a senior scientist of the study also confirmed that colorful fruits like cherries were helpful in preventing deaths caused due to heart diseases.

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A recent survey shows that there is a 50% increase in the dieting habits of school boys. The study reveals that hundreds of boys aged between 11 to 15 years are resorting to severe measures to lose weight as quickly as possible. Researchers are of the opinion that there has been a dramatic rise since the last circulation of a questionnaire with regard to weight loss, way back in 1990.

During that year, about 14% of the boys who underwent the questioning rounds revealed that they were on crash diets to lose weight. In 2006 however, the same figure has risen to a whopping 20%. Researchers questioned about 6200 students who were aged 11, 13 and 15 years. In the Scottish schools, about 613 were either currently on such quick weight loss diets or had already been dieting earlier.

About 765 boys also complained about getting uneasy with their fat bodies. Though the researchers did not find any severe repercussions of dieting in these pupils they are certain that dieting is certainly an unhealthy option for kids to lose weight.

Dangers of Dieting For Kids
Researchers were prompt in reveling that extreme forms of dieting can prove to be harmful for kids in the following ways:

• Low-self esteem
• Sleep disturbances
• Poor concentration and attention skills
• Eating disorders in teenage years
• Adult obesity
• Depression
• Suicide

Dieting is not worth risking one’s life and especially those lives which have yet to live many years. It is therefore very important for parents to guide their children through healthy eating patterns.

Parents should also keep in mind that being dogmatic won’t help. Instead, keep your approach as friendly and encourage activities, games, and sports in your kids coupled with homemade nutritious diets that will keep them full, energetic and in shape for years to come.

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Yes, British researchers are here to claim that apply juice can reduce the risks of asthma. Modern society is grappling with diseases like asthma which has very much arisen from the way people have chosen to live. For instance, as of today, it is pollution, diet change and stress which can result in asthma perils. So if you don’t want to keep gasping for air, just gulp down a few glasses of apple juice to prevent the same.

British scientists have been prompt in declaring that kids who drank plenty of apple juice were less likely to develop asthma problems. This study relating to apples and lung health has been published in the European Respiratory Journal.

Health Benefits of Apple Juice
Some health benefits of apple juice are listed here below:

• Prevents early aging
• Prevents the risk of developing heart diseases
• Prevents cancer risks
• Promotes healthy bones (apple juice contains an active mineral nutrient called boron which helps in strengthening bones)
• Reduces asthma risks

Peter Burney, who led the research team at the Aberdeen University, studied kids between the ages 5-10 years in London. The team sought to ask parents about their kid’s fruit intake and the effects of the same on their bodies.

The link between apple intake and wheezing was strongly established though there were still some ambiguities remaining with relation to apple juice and asthma diagnosis. Experts were of the opinion that wheezing was a significant symptom of developing asthma, though all conditions did not lead to the illness.

Drinking fresh apple juice was not really important. Researchers said that apple juices prepared from other concentrates were also effective in reducing the symptoms of asthma.

The World Health Organization (WHO) terms “asthma” as a chronic disorder in children. About 300 million people worldwide are said to suffer from the illness. Asthma is a condition marked by the muscle tightening in the airways which causes the lining of the air passages to swell. This reduces the supply of air into the body.

The most common symptoms of asthma are – wheezing, shortness of breath and cough. Experts opine that asthma can get dangerous if the airways are severely restricted.

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Heart issues are priceless and precious for each one of us. No, it’s not the heartaches from torn relationships that are being referred to here but the heartaches that come about with age and unhealthy eating and living habits that is being addressed. Whatever be the reason, heart rules life. It is therefore very unearthly for us to feed the heart with the worst possible foods which appeals to our taste buds but not our senses.

Top 10 Heart-Healthy Diets
Listed below are some foods that can contribute to a healthy heart:

• Seeds and Nuts (Don’t have too much but just enough as they reduce the “bad” low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels)
• Apples (Helps in slowing down the oxidation of the “bad” LDL cholesterol levels and also prevents the formation of plaques that makes arteries hard and narrow)
• Oat Bran (Oat is an excellent source of fiber that mixes with the bile acids in the intestines and prevents the absorption of “bad” LDL cholesterol)
• Fruits and Vegetables (Calorie-free and helps in lowering blood pressure)
• Oolong Tea (Helps reduce the “bad” LDL cholesterol levels)
• Legumes (Fiber-rich source that helps in reducing the risks of cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis)
• Grapefruit (Contains photochemicals which can break the cholesterol levels but you must check with a doctor as grapefruit has also been sighted to interfere with medications)
• Dark Chocolate (Reduces blood pressure)
• Red Wine (Red wine is polyphenol-laden which protects the lining of the coronary arteries and at the same time also helps in boosting the “good HDL cholesterol levels”)
• Fish (Fish is an effective triglyceride buster which also prevents blood clots)

Whether foods or feelings, you got to feed your heart right with positive elements, which will help keep your heart beating healthy throughout life.

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Sure it must be some task for parents to put their babies off to sleep. On the contrary, Polly Moore, a sleep expert says that putting a baby off to sleep can be much easier if parents learn the art of tuning the needs of the baby during its 90-minute waking time.

Polly Moore, who explains in her book, “The 90-Minute Baby Sleep program” has loads to offer to parents to manage their child’s sleep and waking hours. The author talks of controlling various complicated situations and tantrums of a baby like – colics, waking during sleep, difficulty putting the baby to sleep, a nagging and crying baby, etc.

This explains very clearly about how uneasy a baby can be and how difficult it is for parents to identify the problem of their little ones. Moore explains that parents should organize their time and activities in such a way to provide their baby nap times, which would last for about 90 minutes of their waking hours.

Moore says that a common mistake that most parents make is trying to put the baby to sleep early. The most obvious outcome being that the baby sleeps much later than expected. Moore says that as soon as a baby wakes up, the 90-minute waking hours begin to tick. By all means parents should ensure the baby is asleep at the end of the 90-minute cycle of alertness.

Moore’s NAPS Plan
Polly Moore outlined a NAPS Plan for parents to put their babies off to sleep at the end of the 90-minute waking cycle. The 90-minute cycle theory is explained as follows:

• N – Parents are advised to take a note of exactly when their baby wakes up from sleep
• A – Add about 90-minutes from their waking time
• P – Play with your baby for some time
• S – Try soothing your baby to sleep by the end so that your baby is asleep by the end of the 90 minutes

Experts are of the opinion that babies need a minimum of 13-15 hours of sleep each day. This surely should be a hint for parents to prepare several nap times for their babies during the day.

If parents are able to abide by this 90-minute cycle theory, their baby is going to sleep faster and will awaken to be happier and better rested.

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Did you ever get a chance to tell your folks and friends how healthy chocolates can be? It’s time you bragged about some of the most interesting health benefits of eating a chocolate diet. Start by explaining about the “flavonoids” contained in chocolates. Flavonoids are a type of polyphenol antioxidant that can clear the human system off all impurities.

The University of Scranton (Pennsylvania, USA) team of researchers emphasize that the quality and quantity of antioxidant properties present in chocolates is much higher than the antioxidant properties in other foods.

Chocolate Types and Antioxidant Levels
Among several varieties of chocolates, the following chocolates rank highest to lowest according to their antioxidant properties:

• Cocoa powder (richest)
• Dark chocolate (richer)
• Milk chocolate (rich)

The Chocolate Manufacturers Association is of the opinion that dark chocolates contain 8 times more of the polyphenol antioxidants than strawberries.

The Pennsylvania State University revealed that people on a flavonoid-laden cocoa powder and dark chocolates diet had higher HDL (good cholesterol) levels. The High-density lipoproteins (HDL) carries excess cholesterol from your blood and deposits the same in the liver for disposal.

Italian researchers went a step ahead in proving that dark chocolates reduced the blood pressure levels and the LDL (bad cholesterol) levels in persons who were on a chocolate diet. The Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) deposits cholesterol along the arteries thereby making them hard and narrow which ultimately leads to fatal coronary heart diseases.

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Yes, researchers from the Duke University Medical Center are here to state that lack of sleep proves to be a more serious issue for women than men. Researchers studied 3 criteria’s for arriving on the way people react to lack of sleep. The criteria’s were – the total amount of sleep, the degree of waking hours during sleep and the amount of time required to get sleep.

The Duke team revealed that sleeplessness in women led to an increased risk of cardiovascular problems. In addition, women were more vulnerable to psychological stress and heart diseases as compared to men.

Common Problems Related to Less Sleep
Some common problems related to less sleep were revealed as below:

• Falling asleep while driving
• Attention problem
• Difficulty in remembering things
• Increased irritability

J. Catesby Ware, director of the Sleep Disorders Center at the Eastern Virginia Medical School, is of the opinion that several nights of just 4 hours of sleep can lead to endocrine changes which would suggest a pre-diabetic state.

About 210 men and women were studies upon to establish the sex differences in sleep. Researchers took blood samples of the volunteers to determine the glucose and insulin levels. About 40% of the individuals were reported to be “poor sleepers” who faced two common problems:

• Difficulty getting sleep
• Waking up during sleep

Ed Suarez, who led the team, said that women were twice as more vulnerable to sleeping problems than men. Also, about one-third of the women who were reported to be poor sleepers had protein levels that were enough to cause heart ailments.

Researchers maintain that earlier studies mainly focused on studying the sleeping patterns in men but not in women. This study has paved the way to understand that sleep is more important for women than men in order to prevent mental strain and health complications in the near future.

A minimum of 7 hours of sleep is considered absolutely essential for an adult above the age of 18 years. However, the amount of sleep can vary from person to person as per the needs of an individual and the situation.

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Healthy and shinning radiant hairs are the indicators of your good health and feeling. But if you are under stressed conditions then you might observe hair loss and degradation in your hair health. Various research studies have shown that stress and hair loss are correlated. Hair loss due to stress can be of 2 types: TELOGEN EFFLUVIUM or ALOPECIA AREATA. Read more…

Are you worried about the number of hair falls every time you comb or shampoo them? Are you unable to find the exact cause of your hair loss? Till now you must have tried various things like changing of shampoo, hair oil, increased vitamin supplements, etc. But no positive result??? Have you ever thought that the work pressure, tension or stress can be the main reason behind your uncontrolled hair loss?

What is Stress: It’s Causes and Side Effects?

Do you remember grannies and oldies at home telling you that: don’t stress a lot as it may affect your health? HAIR LOSS is one of the major side effects of stress on your health. Presently stress has become an integral part of every human being. Stress could be defined as a state experienced by a person where he/she undergoes mental or emotional strain.

As defined above stress is the emotional or mental strain experienced by a person. The main factors causing stress are the work pressure, overload, expectations, competition, passion to be the best, etc. If you are stressed the common symptoms or changes you will observe in yourself are:

• Troubled sleeping
• Reduced concentration
• Tension
• Irritability
• Difficulty in breathing
• Frequent sweating in palms
• Raised heart beat
• Enhanced feeling of being tired

Stress affects your immune system badly and weakens it. Stress can be the probable cause for:

• Frequent cold
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Allergies
• Insomnia
• Eating disorder
• Hair loss
• Hypertension
• Heart ailments

Hair Loss Due to Stress:

There are various research studies which support the concept of stress causing hair loss. Depending upon the severity of stress it can lead to two types of hair loss.

• Telogen Effluvium: This type of hair loss due to stress is more common. Stress caused by physical injury, illness or surgery leads to telogen effluvium. The other factors resulting in telogen effluvium are child birth, sudden weight loss, mental shock or any other stressful event. Basically stress stops 70% of your hair in their growing phase (Anagen) and shifts them into the resting phase (Telogen). After about 3-2 months hair in the resting phase start falling. But within 6-9 months your hair grows back.
• Alopecia Areata: This type of hair loss is considerably more severe type. Chronic and intense stress triggers this type of hair loss. It is observed that during this condition your hair follicles are attacked by White Blood Cells (WBC), which arrests the hair growth. The hair starts falling out within few weeks. It is also seen that hair loss starts as a small round patch but gradually spreads to the whole scalp. There are chances that your hair might grow back but treatment is necessary.

Treatment for Stress Causing Hair Loss:

Basically the hair loss due to stress is temporary and self corrective especially telogen effluvium. Telogen effluvium is not benefited by the various hair loss treatment options. To control your hair loss you need to handle your hair with extra care. You need to avoid over and vigorous brushing or combing of your hair.

Any kind of gentle scalp massage is beneficial in this condition. Make sure that you are taking proper and balanced diet, plenty of vegetables, fruits and proteins. For treating Alopecia Areata you need to consult a dermatologist as soon as you observe a small patch on your scalp.

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Overall good health is often a result of the activities we focus on and the foods we eat. Yet, it isn’t easy to shift to new patterns of eating and living as it takes a lifetime to develop the habits we call our own. However, if you’ve decided to spring back to better health then you need to consider a healthier diet and exercise to achieve the same.

5 Steps to Spring Back to Better Health

Listed below are 5 steps to better health:

• Plant herbs in your garden and use them as salad dressings and pizza toppings
• Reduce the amount of fat (butter, margarine, cheese, etc) on your table
• Eat fiber-laden breakfast every morning
• Engage in physical activity – moderate exercises, walking (15-30 minutes)
• Include plenty of fruits and vegetables in your diet

Another key to better health is bringing yourself to eat at home as often as you can. Also, focus on eating smaller meals, more often, that will keep you filled and in shape forever.

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Carolyn O’Neil, a registered dietician revealed to the Cox News Service that there is an interesting connection between the appetite and our eyes. Carolyn, also the co-author of The Dish on Eating Healthy and Being Fabulous, claims that carrots still rank high on the eyesight-saving menu’s which primarily aids in night vision.

Scientists are going a step ahead to explore budding heroes in the vegetable kingdom as well. For instance, they are of the opinion that green leafy vegetables contain two natural carotenoid plant pigments called lutein and zeaxanthin, which protect the eyes against free radicals that can cause cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.

Top 5 Eyesight-Saving Menu’s

Some typical eyesight-saving menu’s are listed here below:

• Lutein and Zeaxanthin (found in avocados, peas, corn, brussels sprouts, etc)
• Beat Carotene (found in carrots, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, spinach, etc)
• Vitamin C (found in papayas, mangoes, citrus fruits, strawberries, berries, tomatoes, etc)
• Vitamin E (found in almonds, avocados, wheat germ, etc)
• Zinc (found in lentils, oysters, whole-grain bread, etc)

An Australian study reported that the mineral zinc could also reduce the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration.

A Harvard Medical School study reported that women who consumed more of lutein and zeaxanthin were 18% less prone to developing cataracts. Following the line, a Sydney team of scientists revealed that lutein and zeaxanthin consumption lowered the risk of age-related macular degeneration too.

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Canadian researchers have come up with a drug that can obstruct the leading cause of blindness. Ontario boasts of a drug called “lucentis”, which is injected into the eye to prevent and repair the leaking blood vessels behind the retina.

Wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is considered to be the largest leading cause of blindness. The Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB), a non-profit rehabilitation agency, claims that about 2,294 people living in the Quinte area (Canada) are visually impaired due to the wet AMD.

The lucentis injection costs about $1500 per treatment and about 12 are needed to treat people suffering from wet AMD. This sure is an expensive treatment and not all Canadians are able to avail this treatment because of the high costs of the treatment.

Nevertheless, the drug’s efficacy led Toronto’s health minister, George Smitherman, announce the coverage of all aging people above 50 years who were bound to suffer from wet AMD. Toronto, lying on the shores of Lake Ontario, is home to about 2 million people alone and is one of North America’s most promising regions.

Lisa Pretty, from the CNIB said that, now that that all aging people were going to be covered under the lucentis treatment, there was hope for restoring vision in many. Therefore, inspite of Lucentis being an expensive treatment, it has become a “go-word” for almost everyone.

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