Understanding Thrombosis

Deep vein thrombosis is a common chronic health condition extensively present amongst adults. The condition is caused by the clotting of blood in the veins causing an obstruction in the blood flowing through the circulatory system. Whenever a vein experiences injury, fibrin and platelets forms a clotting in the blood to prevent further blood loss. But blood clot can also form under certain conditions. An obstruction in the blood passages of more than 25 percent of the artery walls affects the oxygen supply of the tissues resulting to a complication called embolism.

Thrombosis can be highly hereditary. A condition called hypercoagulability is a genetic deficiency wherein the blood has heightened tendencies to clot. The condition can also be caused by the quality of the walls of the blood vessels and the disturbance of blood flow due to an injured vessel causing blood stagnation; this may be brought about by sitting for a long period of time, for example.

Cases of thrombosis can be classified depending on where the condition is located. Deep vein thrombosis happens when the blood clots within the deep veins. This normally happens in the leg’s femoral veins. Superficial symptoms include reddening, swelling and chronic pain on the affected area. A study aimed at finding an effective means of alleviating the symptoms of deep vein thrombosis finds exercise as a potential supplementation to pharmaceutical intervention.

Study on the Benefits of Exercise on Deep Vein Thrombosis

A group of researchers from Canada conducted a study involving a group of thrombosis patients. They evaluated the effects of performing long-term leg exercises to the symptoms of the health condition. The researchers designed a specialized training program lasting for six months dedicated at improving leg flexibility and strength and overall fitness and they found that the program improves symptoms of deep vein thrombosis and its chronic complications. It has also been found to improve the symptoms of post-thrombotic syndrome. The study was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

A professor of medicine from the Division of Internal Medicine and Center for Clinical Epidemiology at McGill University, Dr Susan Kahn, said that given the divergence in treatment plans for managing the symptoms of post-thrombotic syndrome, the pilot study, aimed at determining the effectiveness of exercise training to treat post-thrombosis, establishes a new approach on more effective ways of fighting the condition. The researchers, led by Dr Kahn, gathered a group of 95 thrombosis patients. The authors said that findings of the small trial procedures will need further confirmation and that conducting a larger study is recommended. A variable was that most of the patients were young active and well-educated; results may differ on different demographics. Despite the preliminary quality of their findings, the researchers concluded that exercise training designed at improving leg flexibility and strength can help alleviate the pains of post-thrombotic syndromes.

Natural Methods of Preventing Thrombosis

The body has its natural means of repairing and maintaining itself. When the vascular system experiences damage like a cut or any incision that causes blood to flow out of the blood vessels, structures dedicated at preventing blood loss works to clot the blood. But not all blood clotting is healthy to the body. Serious health problems like stroke are caused by the undesirable clotting of the blood that leads to obstructed blood flow. The condition results to the insufficient oxygen supply to the tissues and, as a result, thrombosis develops. Research has found different reasons for a person to develop thrombosis.

Smoking has never been good to the body. The different toxins and other chemicals in tobacco have been found to cause different diseases. Cancer and pulmonary diseases are on top of the list. Smoking also reduces the body’s natural ability to protect itself against diseases by weakening the immune system. A common condition that results to the development of thrombosis is hypercoagulability. This happens when the blood easily coagulates with minimal or no reason to do so. Smoking results to myocardial infraction which is associated with hypercoagulation. Though primarily genetic, the condition can be developed by unhealthy practices like smoking and prolonged immobility and bed rest.

The common pharmaceutical treatments for thrombosis include aspirin, coumadin, heparin and ticlopidines. These medications are formulated to either prevent the coagulation of blood or to dissolve blood clots that obstruct healthy blood flow. But these medications have side effects. They can slowly impair the body’s natural ability to initiate and maintain blood clots even in situations where it is highly needed to prevent blood loss.

Lowering one’s cholesterol levels is one of the best natural ways of preventing the onset and development of thrombosis. Cholesterol is known to be one of the fatty acids that can form in the wall of the arteries and thwart blood flow. Other common health conditions associated with high cholesterol levels are mostly cardiovascular in nature. In the treatment of specific types of thrombosis, medications that work to lower cholesterol levels and remove any cholesterol plaques from the walls of blood vessels are also used. But it is also important to remember that the use of pharmaceutical agents can bring about unwanted side effects – adverse reactions that may be life-threatening. So when looking for a treatment regimen, it is emphasized that one choose what is healthy, effective, and safe.

The natural food ingredients that have been found to have high potential in preventing thrombosis are aged garlic, gingko biloba, nutrients like niacin, vitamin E, vitamin K, and other anti-inflammatory compounds. Aged garlic has been used to serve as a strong food supplement to promote the health of the cardiovascular system. Garlic increases the synthesis of a chemical messenger called nitric oxide that inhibits the clotting of the blood. A study on the food ingredient found that consuming one clove of fresh garlic in a day for a period of 26 weeks can result to approximately 20 percent reduction of serum cholesterol.

Benefits of Frequent Exercise

There are numerous health benefits of exercise – and this starts with the decision to get up from the couch and resolve to avoid a sedentary lifestyle. It is not necessary to go to the gym or burden over hours of heavy weights in order to achieve a healthy body. A simple walk in the park for a few minutes in most days of the year will give you the effects necessary in order to improve and maintain body functions.

• Exercise exerts its effect on a person’s mood. It can serve as an effective means of alleviating stress and releasing body tension.
• Different reliable studies around the world had also established the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle in order to lower the risk of developing chronic and degenerative diseases.
• Frequent exercising, together with a balanced diet, is the most effective means of reducing and managing body weight.

Sourced & published by Henry Sapiecha

POWERFUL FOOD FOR CANCER PREVENTION –

IT IS BERRY GOOD FOR YOU

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world despite new medical breakthroughs in treatment and prevention. Cancer-related deaths have decreased by about 2 percent in the past years but cancer still remains to be one of the biggest health threats with no definite and significant economic, gender or age discrepancy. The risk level may vary depending on a person’s hereditary predisposal, gender, age and overall lifestyle but virtually can be struck with cancer without further notice.

The pathological root-cause of cancer is well on the light but medical experts and even oncologists who are dedicated to the treatment, diagnosis and study of cancer, are limited to the general description of the  disease as the uncontrolled growth, invasion and metastasis of malignant cells; current knowledge of the disease can be summarized as such. In the attempt to discover the cause of cancer in order to really battle the disease, researchers have found the significance of specific genetic markers to the onset of cancer.

A genetic abnormality called oncogenes results to the activation of cancer cells and gives them the ability to hyperactively grow and divide, protect against predetermined cell death and the capability to adapt to different tissue environments. Despite that, the most significant factors that researchers have found to be causing cancer are primarily the person’s lifestyle and his general environment; this accounts to 90 to 95 percent of all cancer cases with only 5 to 10 percent due to genetic markers. The environmental factors that promote the development of cancer can be listed as such;

• environmental pollutants
• sedentary lifestyle
• lack of exercise
• stress
• exposure to radiation
• infection
• improper diet
• obesity
• use of tobacco

A surprising fact about cancer is its absence in ancient civilizations or the lack of cancer traces in ancient human remains which suggests that cancer is a man-made disease and had only developed during the Industry Age due to environmental and dietary changes.

Natural Means for Cancer Prevention

Natural methods are being used in order to reduce the risk of developing and as well as treat different types of cancer. Lifestyle intervention, for one, has been found to significantly influence a person’s risk of developing the disease, mainly due to the fact that diet and lifestyle are the factors that primarily cause cancer, as researchers have found. Numerous naturally occurring compounds that can be acquired by eating specific types of foods or by taking processed dietary supplements have also been found to suppress the development of any malignancies in the body.

Medical science is limited to the treatment of the disease, and the risk of cancer having to grow back after successful treatment is still a big threat. This makes prevention a suitable approach in order to effectively fight cancer. There is no better preventive method but to get the right amount of exercise and eat the right kinds of foods. On the list of cancer-fighting foods are raspberries. Researchers from the University of Illinois found that the raspberries can prevent the development of colorectal tumors.

Raspberries against Colorectal Tumor

A study by a team of researchers from the University of Illinois in Chicago has revealed that the supplementation of raspberries in mice inhibited the growth of colorectal tumors. The study was published in the Cancer Prevention Research November issue. In the US, colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer according to the National Cancer Institute. Previous research had already established that black raspberries have anti-neurodegenerative, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. The new study is dedicated to finding a link between colon cancer prevention and raspberries. The UIC College of Medicine’s Assistant Professor of Pathology, Dr Wancai Yang, said that they saw that black raspberries are very easy to find and very powerful in fighting colon and intestinal cancer.

In their efforts to discover preventive properties from food against colon cancer, the researchers used two genetically modified mice which are vulnerable in developing intestinal and tumors. The first mouse had intestinal tumors while the other had inflammation of the intestines that contributes to the development of colorectal cancer. The two mice were subjected to randomized testing to either receive supplementation of black raspberries or be fed with a high-fat, low in calcium and vitamin D diet to encourage the growth of colorectal cancer cells. The study lasted for 12 weeks. The researchers found that the supplementation of raspberries into the mice’s diet gave it numerous protective benefits against the formation of intestinal, rectal and colon tumors. The first strain of mice which received raspberry supplementation experienced a 45 percent reduced tumor incidence and 60 percent reduction in tumors while the second strain of mice in the same conditions had a reduction in tumor incidence by 60 percent.

Foods against Cancer

Knowing which foods to eat in order to reduce a person’s risk of developing cancer needs to start by knowing what causes the disease. The modification in the cells’ genetic makeup resulting to this abnormality is what researchers are targeting to avoid. In the treatment of cancer, the approach is to kill as much cancer cells, inhibit growth and division, and at the same time fix the cells genetic abnormalities. In the prevention of cancer, on the other hand, the best approach is to combat the processes that cause the cellular abnormalities, and maintain healthy cell function. The formation of free radicals, which are thought to be the cause of cancer, is produced by the introduction of carcinogens into the body. The most common and most potent carcinogens are radiation such as UV rays, X-rays, gamma rays, arsenic, asbestos and tobacco.

In order to prevent cancer, a person needs to avoid exposure to carcinogens and at the same time consume foods that are potent in fighting free radicals that causes the cells to malfunction.

• Antioxidants are one of the most powerful naturally-occurring compounds that combat the formation of free radicals in the body and stop it from affecting the normal function of cells. Antioxidants come in many forms and names but their common function is to fight free radicals and repair damages cells. The most powerful sources of antioxidants are berries, broccoli, tomatoes, red grapes, garlic, spinach, tea, carrots soy and whole grain products.
• Resveratrol, found in red wine and grapes, are known to prevent damage to cells, even before the damage has began.
• Green tea contains flavonoids, which have been known to help prevent and slow down the progression of different cancer types such as prostate, breast, liver and colon.
• Flax seeds contain lignans, and the fatty acid omega-3 which can also help prevent cancer.
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Ginger and turmeric fight cancer

Vimala, S., et al. Anti-tumour promoter activity in Malaysian ginger rhizobia used in traditional medicine. British Journal of Cancer, Vol. 80, No. 1/2, april 1999, pp. 110-16.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Ginger, tumeric and other members of the Zingiberaceae family of rhizomes have a long history of use in Malaysian traditional medicine. Ginger, for example, is widely used in the treatment of stomach problems, nausea, vomiting, epilepsy, sore throat, cough, bruises, wounds, childbirth, sore eyes, liver complaints, rheumatism, asthma, and many other disorders. Researchers at the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia now report that several members of the Zingiberaceae family effectively block the promotion of cancerous tumors. They tested 11 different species and found that seven of them had strong anti-tumor properties. Their test involved a short-term assay of the inhibitory effect of extracts of the rhizomes (roots) on human cancer cells. They found that turmeric (Curcuma domestica) extracts (turmeric root extracted with petroleum ether, chloroform or ethanol) completely inhibited further growth of the cancer cells. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) extracts, especially the chloroform extract, also inhibited further growth, but the concentration of extract was more critical than for the turmeric extracts. The researchers conclude that tumeric, ginger and other Zingiberaceae rhizomes may be useful in preventing the promotion of cancer and that populations with high risks of cancer should be encouraged to include them in their diet. Further work is now underway to isolate the active components in the plants.

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Patrick O’Brien’s

Aboriginal Multi-Purpose Healing Lotion & bush remedy.

This age-old healing lotion is a hydrasol. Now, a hydrasol is usually the byproduct of distilling leaf material to obtain an essential oil. We all know of essential oils, peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus etc. The usual process of obtaining essential oils assumes the essential oil is the primary product, and the hydrasol, the water, and the nutrients from the leaves, are left behind after distilling, is considered a by-product.

But what if the hydrasol itself is the primary product, rather than the by-product of distilling leaf material? That is the case with this amazing Aboriginal Multi-Purpose Healing Lotion. In most eucalyptus oil distillation processes, eucalyptus globulis, grown in plantations is used. Not so with this product. Other selected eucalypt species are collected, and distilled to provide this amazing hydrasol. The eucalyptus oil is discarded, and the hydrasol is retained.

The Aboriginal Multi-Purpose Healing Lotion retains and enhances the properties of the original leaf. Eucalyptus leaves have antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, and antiviral properties. The leaves contain tannins (which are believed to help reduce inflammation), flavonoids (such as quercetin, which has antioxidant properties), and volatile oils.

Herbalist Patrick O’Brien is proud to have been chosen by Jolti (a small Aboriginal family company who make the lotion) to bottle and market this age-old healing lotion. At the request of Jolti, a charitable funding component has been built into the Healing Lotion to be donated to the Bulega Childrens Foundation of Bangalore. As well, another funding component has been added to donate to the Wildlife Protection Association of Australia Inc to further their wildlife education and information projects to schools….a total of 15% of the price of the Healing Lotion goes to charity!

Aboriginal Multi-Purpose Healing Lotion is used for skincare, rubbing the lotion on the hands, arms, face, or body refreshes and tones the skin, and helps provide skin clarity and color. The Lotion also helps keep biting insects at bay, relieves the pain of sunburn, soothes bites and scratches, and relieves itching. It also has pain relief properties for aching muscles or joints. We use it ourselves regularly, and find it wonderful. Patrick O’Brien, HH(Dip)MH Herbalist.

Articles have been used from the peoples below.Get into their link and view products

For more details and postage prices go to http://www.home-herb-garden.com/ and click on the healing lotion icon in the lefthand menu. for more information!

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Fight Stress by Healthy Eating

Whenever we get too busy or stressed, we all tend to make poor food choices that will actually increase stress and cause other problems. To get the most of your healthy eating and avoid stress, follow these simple tips. Always eat breakfast, even though you may think you aren’t hungry, you need to eat something. Skipping breakfast makes it harder to maintain the proper blood and sugar levels during the day, so you should always eat something. Keeping some protein rich snacks in your car, office, or pocket book will help you avoid blood sugar level dips, the accompanying mood swings, and the fatigue. Trail mix, granola bars, and energy bars all have the nutrients you need. If you like to munch when you’re stressed out, you can replace chips or other non healthy foods with carrot sticks, celery sticks, or even sunflower seeds.

Although a lot of people prefer to eat fast food for lunch, you can save a lot of money and actually eat healthier if you take a few minutes and pack a lunch at home. Even if you only do this a few times a week, you’ll see a much better improvement over eating out. As important as it is to get the bad food out of your house, it’s even more important to get the good food in! The best way to do this is to plan a menu of healthy meals at snacks at the beginning of the week, list the ingedients you need, then go shop for it. This way, you’ll know what you want when you need it and you won’t have to stress over what to eat. *

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European Union Tightens up on Herbs

On April 1, 2011, all members of the European Union will have to comply with a directive that demands all herbs — produced, manufactured, or sold — in the EU must be labeled as either foods or medicines. Herbal supplements will go through the same rigorous approval process as a prescription drug. Many small European companies worry that they will be forced out of business because of the formidable cost of getting each herb — and each herb in a compound product — tested and approved. The fear, says the German publication Deutsche Welle, is that the new rules will put the manufacturing of herbal remedies under the control of large pharmaceutical corporations, which would narrow the range of medicinal herbs available. Popular products such as ginseng, passionflower, and valerian would only be available in pharmacies, and many traditional Chinese, ayurvedic, and other herbal mixes would not be legally available. *

Sourced & published in Australia by Henry Sapiecha

Alternative Treatments for Ear Infections and Hearing Problems

Probably the best-researched alternative therapy is Ginkgo biloba extract. It has been the subject of several trials, including part of a double-blind trial with the drug pentoxifylline and 72 patients with sudden deafness. Ginkgo biloba extract proved to be more beneficial than pentoxifylline (Acta Otolaryngol, 2001; 121: 579-84). Another study of 106 patients with hearing loss found that high-dose Ginkgo could speed recovery after sudden SNHL ‘with a good chance that they will recover completely, even with little treatment’ (Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol, 2001; 285: 213-9). Homoeopathy offers Pulsatilla as an aid against middle ear infection (J Am Inst Homeop, 1986; 79: 3-4); other remedies include Chenopodium for exposure to loud noise and Causticum for build-up of earwax. Aconite and Ferrum phos. may help in early-stage otitis media, and Salicylicum acidum, Chenopodium and Cinchona officinalis can help in the treatment of tinnitus (Alternative Medicine, Tiburon, California: Future Medicine Publishing, 1999).

Alpha-lipoic acid may also help protect against damage caused by loud noises. The agent reduces free radical formation and can lessen the nerve damage induced by antibiotics. Patients taking drugs that may cause hearing loss could reduce potential harm with 250 mg of alpha-lipoic acid twice a day. Osteopathy and chiropractic may be helpful in recurrent earache if it is caused by a mechanical problem at the top of the neck (Man Med, 1987; 25: 5-10). Another approach, sound therapy, is based on high-frequency soundwaves that stimulate the cilia – the hair-like sensory cells in the inner ear. It can also flip between channels, thereby forcing the ear muscles to tense and then relax, which may help restore muscle tone. Probably the best known of the sound therapies is based on the work and research of the French specialist Alfred Tomatis.

Herbal remedies that are also worth a try include a combination of goldenseal, mullein and hypericum in a glycerine base, which may reduce ear pain and help draw out excess fluid. Echinacea and goldenseal can also be used as antibacterials. For otitis media, some herbalists suggest Echinacea and cleavers tinctures. In traditional Chinese medicine, ear problems are associated with kidney functions, so acupuncture points related to the kidney are used, often in conjunction with herbals such as er long zuo gi wan. Ayurvedic medicine uses a combination of oils, massage, herbs and nutritional supplements. The most effective oil for treating ear infections is neem, which is both antibacterial and antifungal (Alternative Medicine, 1999).

Hearing loss that has a definite and identifiable cause can usually be treated. But nobody is sure what can be done to treat presbycusis, the type of hearing loss that seems to accompany old age. As with most conditions, prevention is better than cure. It’s almost certain that presbycusis is an environmental and life-style condition. A revised diet, which also includes plenty of the essential nutrients while excluding or reducing consumption of known allergens such as wheat and dairy, is important. And if you can combine this change with an avoidance of excessive noise, you should be well on the way to ensuring that you enjoy good hearing for the rest of your life. *

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Honeysuckle An Ancient Healing Favorite

Honeysuckle is one of the oldest medicinal herbs in known history. Sometimes referred to as woodbine, European honeysuckle was once used widely to treat urinary complaints, asthma, and during childbirth. However, in traditional Chinese medicine, honeysuckle has been used medicinally for thousands of years. The first known reference to the honeysuckle plant as a medicinal plant is in the Tan Ben Cao that was written in A.D. 659. In traditional Chinese medicine, honeysuckle is considered one of the most important herbs for releasing poisons from the body and clearing heat from the body. There are three main parts of the honeysuckle plant that are used medicinally: the flowers, the flower buds, and the stems. The flowers are traditionally used to make syrup that has been used as an expectorant for bad coughs, asthma, and as a diuretic. The syrup from honeysuckle flowers is still used to make medicinal syrup. The flowers of the honeysuckle plant should be harvested in the summer time.

The flower buds of the honeysuckle plant are also used to make herbal remedies. In traditional Chinese medicine, the flower buds are very important. They are called jin yin hua and are used widely to treat feverish conditions. They are especially used to treat conditions that are thought to be caused by the summer heat. They are also thought to clear toxins from the body, and the “fire poisons” that may linger in the body. In traditional Chinese medicine, fire poisons are thought to be responsible for many conditions, including boils and dysentery. Honeysuckle flower buds are also thought to help alleviate the symptoms of some kinds of diarrhea. In traditional Chinese medicine, the honeysuckle flower buds are warmed and slightly stir-fried to treat diarrhea. Flower buds should also be harvested in the summer.

The stems of the honeysuckle plant are also used, especially in traditional Chinese medicine. These are alternately called jin yin teng and ren dong teng (stems and branches) and they are especially used in acupuncture medicine. They are thought to be able to remove heat from certain acupuncture meridians by stimulating the flow of energy, or qi. The stems and branches are also used in Chinese medicine to treat feverish colds and dysentery. They are also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, and are often combined with other herbs to create a cooling remedy.

There are several applications that are created by using the honeysuckle plant. The flowers can be infused to create a hot tea that can operate as an expectorant. Honeysuckle is often combined with other herbs, including cowslip and mulberry to create a healing tea that is used to treat coughs and mild symptoms of asthma. Again, honeysuckle flowers can be made into a syrup that can be used to treat coughs. The honeysuckle flower buds can be made into a decoction that is used to treat feverish colds and sore throats. Honeysuckle flower buds can be used to make a tincture that is used by herbalists to treat gastroenteritis and diarrhea.

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Aloe Vera

The plant Aloe (scientific name Aloe vera) is originally from tropical Africa, but it can now be found all over the world. It is a very common ingredient in many herbal remedies. It is believed that related species were traditionally used as an antidote to treat poison arrow wounds. We know that the Greeks and Romans traditionally used the Aloe vera plant, making a gel to treat battle wounds. Aloe vera was also commonly used during the Middle Ages, where it was a popular purgative. Aloe vera is also widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. In India too the Aloe Vera plant is widely used as highly regarded cooling tonic in gel form. In the 16th century, Aloe Vera reached the West Indies, where it also began to be widely cultivated. The character of Aloe Vera has been described in many ways. Its leaves are often described as hot, bitter and moist. Its gel is described as salty, bitter, cool and moist. The actions of Aloe Vera are described as purgative and healing. Aloe Vera has been known to promote bile flow, heal wounds, stop bleeding, expel worms, reduces blood sugar and cholesterol levels. It has also been known for its rejuvenating and anti-aging properties.

The most common way to prepare the Aloe Vera plant is as a gel. The gel is thick and mucilaginous, and many herbalists recommend that it be used as a first-aid cure for wounds, burns, and sunburn. Aloe Vera gel can also help heal extremely dry skin, and it can be used to treat fungal infections such as ringworm. Gel extracts of the Aloe Vera plant have been successfully used to treat mouth ulcers. Recent research has also shown that Aloe Vera gel may be helpful in treating breast and liver cancers, as well as HIV. In traditional Indian Ayruveda medicine, Aloe Vera gel is used as a tonic for excess pitta (fire element).

The leaves of Aloe Vera, although much less commonly used, can also be helpful for several conditions. The leaves of the Aloe Vera plant are believed to be a strong purgative. They can be prepared and used to treat chronic and stubborn constipation. It is also believed that the leaves of the Aloe Vera plant leaves can be used to stimulate bile flow and to aid digestions. They can also be used to treat poor appetite. One of the best things about the Aloe Vera plant is that they can be grown easily indoors as a houseplant in most temperate climates. There are several practical applications for the Aloe Vera plant. The Aloe Vera gel can be applied directly to burns, wounds, fungal infections, insect bites, and areas of dry skin. You can simply split the Aloe Vera leaf and apply the gel directly. You can also collect the gel from several split leaves of the Aloe Vera plant to make an ointment. The gel of Aloe Vera can also be inhaled as a steam inhalation to treat bronchial congestion. A tincture can also be made from its leaves and taken as an appetite stimulant.

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BROCOLLI MARVEL FOOD FOR DISEASE CONTROL

Reality can be painful. For one, there are certain instances wherein a single disease can prevent people from leading independent and quality lives. While this is already terrible news in itself, things can get worse. Sometimes, scientists would break the news that such a disease is not only debilitating and painful, the harrowing condition does not have a definitive cure as of the present.

A good example is osteoarthritis, one of the most common arthritis and age-related disorders that debilitate its victims worldwide. Statistics show that in UK and in America, it is the leading disorder that causes disability as evident in its extensive repercussions on the millions of people that suffer from the disease.

However, reality also presents endless possibilities — one of which is hope through effective treatment. A new landmark project in the UK, which significantly exhibits that hopeful possibility, is launched. Funded by the Diet and Health Research Industry and Arthritis Research UK, the new project will delve into the possibility of warding off and slowing the onset of osteoarthritis through a powerful compound of broccoli.

Landmark project: Protective effects of broccoli against Osteoarthritis

For those who suffer from the disease, and at the same time, are avid fans of incorporating broccoli into their diet– possible good news awaits.

Researchers from the University of East Anglia will conduct a 3-year pioneering project that will probe the possible preventive and protective effects of broccoli against osteoarthritis. Initial research conducted at the same university has already shown that a broccoli compound, sulforaphane, blocks the enzymes that cause the debilitating disease; and the new project aims to further flesh out how beneficial broccoli is, or can be.

The bioactive compound can be acquired through consuming cruciferous vegetables, with broccoli as a notably rich resource. Broccoli consumption enables the blood to contain high levels of sulforaphane. However, whether the bioactive compound substantially and effectively gets into, or affects the joints in ample amounts or not remains unclear. The project will include investigations in relation to this.

During the 3-year study, the team of researchers from UEA will also examine other compounds that can be incorporated into one’s daily diet, in relation to how these can contribute to the fight against and prevention of osteoarthritis. The dietary compounds will include diallyl disulphide, which is acquired through high levels of garlic consumption, and which possibly slows down cartilage destruction.

A pioneering research

Former studies have already shown the potent healthy benefits of broccoli against cancer and other severe health conditions, but the new project is reportedly the first of its kind—through concentrating on the health of joints.

It will also initiate patient trials, which will enable the study to yield more accurate human-related results and assessments. Furthermore, the findings will likely provide a basis for developing new broccoli-related methods in osteoarthritis treatment and prevention.

The project offers benefits not only to the victims of disease, but also on a societal level. According to the study’s lead researcher, Professor Ian Clark: Because of UK’s aging population, it is crucial to formulate effective strategies that fight against age-related health conditions. He furthered that such measures will enhance the victims’ quality of life while simultaneously cutting down on society’s economic concerns.

The healthy benefits of broccoli

There are several cruciferous vegetables that are regularly consumed, but among these, broccoli reportedly proves to be the most concentrated or richest source of vitamin C—a key antioxidant. It also provides high amounts of flavonoids and carotenoids, vitamin E, minerals, fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and several other healthy components that aid in preventing the development of severe conditions.

Heart ailments

The high content of fiber found in broccoli, along with beta-carotene and omega-3 fatty acids, significantly aid in reducing bad cholesterols. As such, these have potent contributions in heart health and function through its regulatory effects on blood pressure.

Cancer

There are several studies that have already established the strong links between cancer development and its risk factors such as chronic inflammation, insufficient detoxification, and oxidative stress.

Given these factors, a wide range of cancer types can be prevented through broccoli. Its antioxidant, pro-detoxification, and anti-inflammatory effects enhance its potent capacity for preventing and reducing risk of developing cancer. Risks are most notably reduced for the following types–  prostate cancer, bladder cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, and ovarian cancer. These findings show the excellent remedies that broccoli can provide in battling both fatal and debilitating diseases.

Stomach problems

Broccoli’s rich fiber content also enables it to treat a wide array of stomach disorders. Fiber’s key favourable effects include constipation treatment, water retention, and bowel formation. Other favourable contents of broccoli include magnesium and vitamins, which facilitate proper food digestion and enhance the body’s capacity of absorbing and optimizing food nutrients. It also provides anti-acidity benefits.

Detoxification enhancement

Detoxification is vital to eliminating toxins and dangerous substances that put cells at risk, and fortunately, broccoli is capable of altering certain activities in an effort to strengthen and regulate the 2-step detoxification process. Made from broccoli’s glucosinolate contents, isothiocyanates are active modifiers that can hamper the production of enzymes in the first phase; it can also modify enzyme activities in the second phase. Reportedly, optimal concentrations and combinations of glucosinolates are best acquired through broccolis among other sources.

Other sources of arthritis relief

All-natural approaches are potent measures for arthritis relief. As seen in the benefits of broccoli: One effective and fun, natural remedy is eating foods that are rich in anti-inflammatory and overall anti-arthritis compounds.

Copper

Copper has the capacity for pain and swelling reduction in relation to rheumatoid arthritis, another commonly debilitating arthritis disorder. The favourable effects result from the mineral’s anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory roles. It also enhances the activity of a particular enzyme called lysyl oxidase, which is necessary for collagen and elastin cross-linking— substances that provide and enhance elasticity, strength and structure in joints. A good source of this beneficial mineral can be found in sesame seeds.

Ginger

Gingerols found in ginger are potently active in their anti-inflammatory effects. These contents, through regular ginger consumption, strongly show why pain is reduced in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis patients. Based on the findings of two clinical studies, 75% of patients with arthritis experienced a significant reduction in arthritis-related swelling and pain. Simultaneously, all participants that suffer from muscular discomfort yielded improvements in pain reduction and mobility through regular consumption of ginger.

Cinnamon

Findings from a study conducted at Copenhagen University reportedly revealed that the combination of honey and cinnamon powder led to substantial arthritis pain reduction. Links point to the anti-inflammatory components of cinnamon, which aid in reducing muscle and joint stiffness. As such, the combination of honey and cinnamon powder is one of the potent measures for arthritis relief.

Salmon

Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids— healthy and multi-beneficial polyunsaturated fats that have very potent anti-inflammatory effects. The benefits are made possible through omega-3 fatty acids’ role in hampering cytokine and enzyme production, which are substances that severely affect the cartilage. Simultaneously, these beneficial fatty acids enhance both the immune and circulatory system of the body.

Spinach

Spinach enjoys a noble reputation of combating heart ailments and a wide range of cancer types. In addition to this, its nutrients are also capable of decreasing inflammatory activities that cause and worsen joint health and arthritis symptoms. Such beneficial nutrients contained in spinach include vitamin C, vitamin K, and beta-carotene.

Sourced & published by Henry Sapiecha