Tips to keep your liver healthy

Tips to keep the liver health as below: -


1. Avoid taking unnecessary medications (Too many chemicals can harm your liver.)
Don't mix medicines without the advice of a doctor. (You could create something poisonous that could damage your liver badly.)

2. Don't drown your liver in beer, liquor or wine. (If you drink alcohol, have two or fewer drinks per day.)

3. Never mix alcohol with other drugs & medications.

4. Use caution and common sense regarding intimate contact (Hepatitis viruses live in body fluids, including blood and seminal fluid.)

5. Hepatitis C, spread primarily through direct blood contact, can be transmitted through contaminated needles used in drug injection.

6. Untreated, chronic hepatitis B and C can cause cirrhosis and liver cancer and are the most frequent reason for liver transplants.

7. Many infected people do not have symptoms until liver damage occurs, sometimes many years after being infected.

8. Never, ever, touch a discarded syringe or needle.

9. Avoid cigarette smoking. Smoking should be terminated, as it has been linked to the development of liver cancer and may enhance the toxic effects of some medications, such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) on the liver.

10 .Safe sex. Protect yourself from hepatitis B and C. Not engaging in unprotected sex will greatly reduce the likelihood of infection with hepatitis B. While the risk of sexual transmission of hepatitis C is rare, protected sex is recommended if a person engages in anal sex, has multiple sexual partners, has frequent prostate infections, has open cuts or sores on the genitalia, or is menstruating.

Is the MSC Associated with Any Physical Symptoms?

The MSC usually occurs when a fairly large amount of MSG is consumed on an empty stomach in a broth or soup at an Oriental restaurant. Typically at least 3-5g of MSG must be consumed within short period of time to trigger the MSC. However, even in people who react consistently to MSG in a liquid the same amount of MSG consumed with solid food does not usually elicit the same reaction or any reaction at all in most cases. Under controlled conditions no objective changes in blood chemistry (except for a transient rise in GLU levels), blood pressure, skin temperature, etc. have been observed while people are experiencing these symptoms.

So while the symptoms of MSC are clearly felt by many people there are no accompanying physical changes in the body that can be measured objectively to verify the presence of such symptoms.

The MSC can be triggered in perhaps 30% of Americans who consumed at least one to two tsp. (3-6g) of MSG in a broth-type soup or other liquid on an empty stomach. Even under these circumstances the consumption of less than 2-3g of MSG is usually insufficient to create MSC symptoms in nearly all people who report having experienced the MSC in the past. It should be noted that more than 1g of MSG per serving in tomato juice or soup does not usually improve overall palatability. Therefore, the amount of MSG needed to maximally enhance flavor and sensory pleasure is well below the threshold for triggering the MSC in nearly all people. The consumption of a high carbohydrate food before or with the MSG usually blocks the MSC in susceptible individuals. If MSG is used in moderation and consumed with some carbohydrate-rich food then it seems unlikely that MSG will cause any physiological or psychological changes in the body.

(Source: http://www.foodandhealth.com/cpecourses/msg.php#_Toc508575087)

Amono Acids Promote Sleep...

Japanese amino acids supplier Ajinomoto is considering commercializing food supplements containing glycine, based on studies showing the amino acid could help people sleep better.

The company says it has tested 3g of glycine on a group of men with sleep problems. Taking the supplement within an hour before going to bed, the researchers said the subjects showed brainwave patterns associated with non-REM sleep sooner and slept longer than those who did not take the amino acid.
A study of the brains of rats revealed that glycine accumulates in the pineal gland, a part of the brain associated with the rhythms of waking and sleeping.

The market for natural sleep aids could be significant. Over 12 million sleeping pill prescriptions are issued each year in the UK alone, according to the Sleep Council, but conventional sleep aids have unwanted side effects such as drowsiness during the daytime.

Natural products already promoted as a sleep aid include milks with high levels of the hormone melatonin available in the UK and Finland. Research on green tea has found that the plant could also lull the brain into a deep sleep.

Ajinomoto, which has recently reorganised its European ingredients operations to improve operational efficiency and accelerate growth, is seeing growing sales of amino acids. In the year to 31 March 2004, its amino acid division posted a 14 per cent increase in sales to Y154.9 billion, while operating profits from the unit rose by 9.7 per cent to Y26.6 billion.

Most of the improvement came from a sharp rise in sale of feed-use amino acids such as lysine, threonine, and tryptophan, but food-use amino acids also performed well, in particular in Japan where there was strong demand for infusion applications and sales to beverage manufacturers.

(Source: http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?id=54762-amino-acid-promotes)

Clear your doubt on pregnany...

Myth: Avoid Chinese food during pregnancy.
Truth: My answer to this is simple. If Chinese people can eat Chinese food and have normal pregnancies and healthy babies, then why can’t we? Even so, I suggest that you avoid ajinomoto (monosodium glutamate), which is commonly used in Indian Chinese cuisine. It is an excitatory neurotransmitter that destroys nerve cells in the brain.

Myth: Eating vegetables and fruits with seeds will create stones in the child.
Truth: There is no scientific proof of this.

Myth: Eat lots of ghee and butter so the baby will slip out easily.
Truth: Eating lots of ghee and butter will not help the baby ‘slip’ out anywhere. What can slip is your health! Ghee is fattening and though it is allowed in moderation, any excess can adversely affect your health. Overweight pregnancies have higher complication rates and difficult labours.

Myth: Eating a lot of sugar during pregnancy will make your baby hyperactive.
Truth: This is false. But too much sugar can make you, and your baby, obese. Excessive sugar intake can be a problem if you have gestational diabetes.

Myth: An occasional glass of wine during pregnancy is fine.
Truth: The problem with recommending any safe level of alcohol during pregnancy is that safe levels of episodic drinking have not been clearly defined. This is why we recommend abstaining from alcohol completely. ‘Fetal alcohol syndrome’ and ‘fetal alcohol effect’, characterised by pre and postnatal growth deficiency, mental retardation and behavioural disturbances, occur in 30 to 40 per cent of women who are admitted alcoholics.

(Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1062120) - Dr Duru Shah

Choose the good salt for consumption....

Himalayan Crystal Salt

The balanced crystalline structure reveals fine branching, no shadows or rough edges. The crystal is not isolated from the inherent mineral elements (84) but is connected to them in a harmonious state. This tells us that the energy content, in the form of minerals, is balanced and can be easily metabolized by the body. This crystal is full of life. When taken as food, it will have a vital energetic effect on the body. The result is only a net gain for the body with zero energy loss

Common Table Salt

The unnatural crystals are totally isolated from each other and dead. In order for the body to try to metabolize these crystals, it must sacrifice tremendous amounts of energy with very little results, resulting in a damaging loss and zero gain. The salt deposits in our bodies look similar to this photo, isolated and dead.

Sea Salt

Irregular and isolated crystalline structures disconnected from the natural elements surrounding them. Because of this, the vital minerals, however many it may contain, cannot be absorbed by the body unless the body expends tremendous energy to vitalize them. The net gain is small with an even greater loss of energy

(Source: http://www.himalayansalt.magmed.co.nz/BIODETOX/12/howtheywork.html)

Salt.... how bad is it?

Sodium is one of the primary electrolytes in the body. All four cationic electrolytes (sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium) are available in unrefined salt, as are other vital minerals needed for optimal bodily function. Too much or too little salt in the diet can lead to muscle cramps, dizziness, or even an electrolyte disturbance, which can cause severe, even fatal, neurological problems. Drinking too much water, with insufficient salt intake, puts a person at risk of water intoxication (hyponatremia). Salt is even sometimes used as a health aid, such as in treatment of dysautonomia.

People's risk for disease due to insufficient or excessive salt intake varies due to biochemical individuality. Some have asserted that while the risks of consuming too much salt are real, the risks have been exaggerated for most people, or that the studies done on the consumption of salt can be interpreted in many different ways.

Excess salt consumption has been linked to:

Exercise-induced asthma.On the other hand, another source counters, "…we still don't know whether salt contributes to asthma. If there is a link then it's very weak…".
Heartburn

Osteoporosis: One report shows that a high salt diet does reduce bone density in girls. Yet "While high salt intakes have been associated with detrimental effects on bone health, there are insufficient data to draw firm conclusions."

Gastric cancer (Stomach cancer) is associated with high levels of sodium, "but the evidence does not generally relate to foods typically consumed in the UK." However, in Japan, salt consumption is higher.

Hypertension (high blood pressure): "Since 1994, the evidence of an association between dietary salt intakes and blood pressure has increased. The data have been consistent in various study populations and across the age range in adults." Professor Dr. Diederick Grobbee claims that there is no evidence of a causal link between salt intake and mortality or cardiovascular events. One study found that low urinary sodium is associated with greater risk of myocardial infarction among treated hypertensive men

Left ventricular hypertrophy (cardiac enlargement): "Evidence suggests that high salt intake causes left ventricular hypertrophy, a strong risk factor for cardiovascular disease, independently of blood pressure effects." "…there is accumulating evidence that high salt intake predicts left ventricular hypertrophy." Excessive salt (sodium) intake, combined with an inadequate intake of water, can cause hypernatremia. It can exacerbate renal disease.

Edema (BE: oedema): A decrease in salt intake has been suggested to treat edema (fluid retention).

Duodenal ulcers and gastric ulcers : A large scale study by Nancy Cook et al shows that people with high-normal blood pressure who significantly reduced the amount of salt in their diet decreased their chances of developing cardiovascular disease by 25% over the following 10 to 15 years. Their risk of dying from cardiovascular disease decreased by 20%.

(Source: wikipedia.org)

Salt Basics You Should Know

Salt has become an inexpensive and readily available commodity that is taken for granted by most people. But in older times, wars were fought over salt, and huge taxes were also levied on it. In some places, salt was in such high demand that it was minted into coins that were as valuable as gold and functioned as the basic currency for ancient civilizations. Where salt was scarce it was traded ounce for ounce with gold–for as the Roman statesman Cassiodorus observed, "Some seek not gold, but there lives not a man who does not need salt." Because everyone, rich and poor, craves salt, rulers going back at least as far as the Chinese emperor Yu in 2200 B.C. have tried to control and tax it. Salt taxes helped finance empires throughout Europe and Asia, but also inspired a lively black market, smuggling rings, riots, even revolutions.

Pure salt consists of the elements sodium and chlorine. Its chemical name is sodium chloride and its formula is NaCl. Its mineral name is halite. This is the salt we eat. The basic components of salt are, by themselves, potentially dangerous. Sodium will ignite immediately if it comes into contact with water, and chlorine is poisonous if ingested or inhaled. In combination, though, the two elements form sodium chloride.

Salt is one of the main building blocks of our bodies, and is essential in maintaining their functions. Each of us contain from113 to 227 grams of salt. In the body, salt is as important to humans as water or air. It helps maintain the normal volume of blood in the body and also helps keep the correct balance of water in and around the cells and tissues. Salt plays an important part in the digestion of food and is essential in making the heart beat correctly. It is also necessary for the formation and proper function of nerve fibres, which carry impulses to and from the brain. Sodium, together with calcium, magnesium and potassium, helps regulate the body's metabolism.

The sodium in salt, in combination with potassium, regulates the acid-alkaline balance in our blood and is also necessary for proper muscle functioning. When we don't get enough sodium chloride, we experience muscle cramps, dizziness, exhaustion and, in extreme cases, convulsions and death.

For years, many " researchers" have claimed that salt threatens public health, mostly by contributing to high blood pressure. Recently, though, other researchers have begun to change salt's reputation, by publishing results of unbiased scientific studies . A recent review of salt studies conducted over the past two decades concluded that there's no reason for doctors to recommend reducing sodium intake for people with normal blood pressure. It may be that most of us are protected from excessive salt by our kidneys, which regulate the body's sodium level and eliminate any excess.

All salts come from a sea, but are processed in different ways. The oceans that once covered the earth left a generous supply of salt beds and underground deposits, often hidden hundred of metres below the surface. There are two basic methods for removing salt from the ground: room-and-pillar mining and solution mining. In room-and-pillar mining, shafts are sunk into the ground, and miners break up the rock salt with drills. The miners remove chunks of salt, creating huge rooms that are separated by pillars of salt. The room-and-pillar method requires that about half the salt be left behind as pillars. In solution mining, a well is drilled into the ground, and two pipes are lowered into the hole. The pipes consist of a small central pipe inside a larger pipe. Hot water is pumped down, into the salt deposit, dissolving it and producing a brine, which is either shipped as a liquid or evaporated in special devices called vacuum pans to form solid salt.

Only about five percent of the world's annual salt production ends up as seasoning at the dinner table. The vast majority, pours into chemical plants, where it leads the five major raw materials utilized by industry: salt, sulphur, limestone, coal and petroleum. Salt pickles cucumbers, preserves meat and canned food, cures leather, makes glass and rubber and wood pulp. Salt has some 14,000 uses, more than any other mineral. Regrettably, by far most of the salt consumed by humans today is a refined, "dead" salt; a pure chemical substance, with all benefits of the natural salt removed.

(Source: http://himalayansalt.com.au/saltfacts.htm)

HH, Can you pls stop snoring?.... Why you snore?

Snoring Treatments

Snoring statistics and men

Men snore more than women, in fact four out of every ten men snore compared to roughly 3 out 10 women. At any one time around 25 per cent of people are habitual snorers.

Causes of snoring

Reasons why men snore are mainly related to differences in lifestyle although there may be clear physical reasons why snoring occurs. Snoring is noisy breathing that occurs as a result of partial obstruction of the air passages. It is usually due to the soft tissues of the palate, uvula, tongue and tonsils relaxing during sleep.

Snoring is a problem because it affects everyone in earshot, including the person who is snoring. Many a previously happy relationship has reached or gone beyond breaking point as a direct result of broken sleep patterns.

For the snorer it can result in tiredness and irritability during the day which can increase the chances of accidents. Long-term it can cause circulatory problems such as high blood pressure, heart problems and strokes.

Snoring Facts

- Snoring is made worse by alcohol or sleeping tablets
- Overweight people are more prone to snoring
- Sleeping on your back increases the chances of snoring
- Colds, nasal polyps and allergies make snoring worse
- Older people often snore due to muscular weakness that occurs with age
- Medications may cause dryness or minor irritation of the nasal passageways and increase the incidence of snoring.

- A larger than usual evula can limit airflow

- Injuries to the nose that result in a deviation of the septum may result in snoring
- Smokers are twice as likely to snore