Health and Diet Blog

peterhutch asked:




Hemorrhoids are varicose veins and swollen tissues in the rectum and anus. They may cause itching, burning and can bleed. Hemorrhoids can be treated easily and in some cases, prevented altogether. Hemorrhoids get worse over the years, so at the first sign of a problem, you should seek medical advice.

Hemorrhoids are usually caused by big pressure forced upon the rectum or anus often from (but not limited to) constipation, heavy lifting, and remaining seated for very long periods of time. These things can all put stress on the rectal/anal area and cause veins to bulge. Hemorrhoids can be internal, external or both. Asymptomatic hemorrhoids are considered normal in adults and children.

If you are looking for effective and powerful external hemorrhoid treatments then you are like the many others who have chosen to be proactive about finding a solution that is right for them. Having hemorrhoids is a serious medical problem and it should be treated as such. If you don’t have the proper information and awareness on your specific condition and the severity of it then you may be at risk for choosing products that might not work for you and as a result wasting your time and money.

External hemorrhoid occurs outside the anal verge and is caused when bursting of veins take place resulting in itching, swelling and sometimes resulting in bleeding. It is of more painful nature of the two. External hemorrhoids are prone to Thrombosis, if the vein ruptures and a blood clot develops, the hemorrhoid becomes a thrombosed hemorrhoid.

External hemorrhoids treatment is something millions of middle-aged individuals have to deal with, and fortunately there are many options to choose from. However, the information and choices around these treatments can be overwhelming, and sometimes hard to understand.

It may seem daunting at first, as there are a variety of ways to approach them, both natural and conventional. Finding the best treatment for hemorrhoids is accomplished by the patients educating themselves on the various options, and making a decision about what works for them.

Sitz baths with lukewarm water several times daily for about 10-15 minutes. After the bath tub sitting, the affected area should be dried gently with a clean towel in order to remove wetness from the area. When the affected area is left wet, this would cause an adverse effect – the hemorrhoids would get enlarged and more painful.

If one wishes to treat external hemorrhoids alternatively, witch hazel may be the first thing you want to try. Witch hazel can be most effective when applied after the affected area is soaked in a warm bath or treated with a cool compress. You may want to try these treatments on their own as well, if you suspect your hemorrhoids are in the early stages. But these cool compresses and warm baths also work well with other treatments you may try, be they conventional or alternative.

Nick Mutt asked:




Colon cleansing is very important in order to remove wastes and toxic materials from colon. It has a number of benefits from improving digestion to skin care. For cleansing colon, it is important to eat a healthy diet. Colon cleansing helps in relieving number of diseases such as constipation, diarrhea, indigestion, acne etc.

Do’s and Don’t for Colon Cleansing

1.    Avoid foods like fast food, potato chips, cookies and cakes. Caffeinated beverages like coffee, black tea and soft drinks are also not good.

2.    Foods not to eat on a colon cleaning diet also include pasturized milk and rice. Also say a strict no to smoking and alcohol.

3.    Drink plenty of water. This will help in flushing out the toxin from the body.

4.    Fiber rich foods are the essential part of a colon cleasing diet. Foods high in fiber content are vegetables, fruits and whole grain.

5.    Take a herbal colon cleanser. The herbs present in herbal colon cleansers helps in removing wastes and gives essential nutrients to the body.

6.    Exercise also play a crucial role in maintaing overall a good health. It help eliminate toxin naturally from the body.

7.    Aloe vera helps in detoxification. Drinking two to four ounces a day can aid your digestion, improve your circulation, detoxify your body and cleanse your colon.

8.    Triphala is a classical ayurvedic preparation that contain amalaki, bhibitaki and haritaki. It helps in evacuating the bowel and is considered as one of the best body detoxifier and facilitates expulsion of toxins out of the body.

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.

Copyright © Nick Mutt, All Rights Reserved. If you want to use this article on your website or in your ezine, make all the urls (links) active.

Here is an excellent Natural colon cleanser to remove toxins from colon and cure constipation naturally. Also read Homemade colon cleanser recipe at Natural cures website – a health guide to make you and your family fit and healthy.

peterhutch asked:




 

Colorectal cancer, also called colon cancer or large bowel cancer, includes cancerous growths in the colon, rectum and appendix. It is the third most common form of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the Western world. Colorectal cancer causes 655,000 deaths worldwide per year, including about 16,000 in the UK, where it is the second most common site (after lung) to cause cancer death.[1] Many colorectal cancers are thought to arise from adenomatous polyps in the colon. These mushroom-like growths are usually benign, but some may develop into cancer over time.

Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer

Many people with colon cancer experience no symptoms in the early stages of the disease. When symptoms appear, they’ll likely vary, depending on the cancer’s size and location in your large intestine.

Other symptoms include the following:

Abdominal discomfort (e.g., pain, bloating, cramping, fullness)

Change in bowel habits

Constipation or diarrhea

Narrow stools

Nausea and vomiting

Most of these symptoms are more likely to be caused by conditions other than colorectal cancer, such as infection, hemorrhoids, or inflammatory bowel disease. Still, if you have any of these problems, it’s important to see your doctor right away so the cause can be found and treated, if needed.

What Are the Risk Factors for Colorectal Cancer?

A risk factor is anything that affects your chance of getting a disease such as cancer. Different cancers have different risk factors. For example, exposing skin to strong sunlight is a risk factor for skin cancer, and smoking is a risk factor for cancers of the lungs larynx, mouth, throat, esophagus, kidneys, bladder, colon and several other organs.

Diabetes

Genetic disorders such as familial polyposis syndromes and hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer syndrome (HNPCC)

Inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s colitis, granulomatous colitis)

Personal history of intestinal polyps or colorectal cancer

Alcohol

Research has indicated that alcohol increases colorectal cancer risk. Research has also shown that it lowers it, or that it has no effect at all. So which is right? All of it may be. The key appears to be what kind of alcohol you’re drinking.

Treatment of Colorectal Cancer

Advertising Disclaimer

Surgery is the treatment of choice for colorectal cancer. Treatment depends on the stage of the disease and the overall health of the patient. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be used as adjuvant treatment (i.e., in addition to surgery).

Given before surgery, radiation may reduce tumor size. This can improve the chances that the tumor will be removed successfully.

Laparoscopic surgery — Also called “keyhole surgery,” this innovative approach is being used for some patients with colon cancer. During the procedure, a lighted tube, called a laparoscope, and special instruments are placed inside the body through a few small incisions in the abdomen, rather than one large one. The surgeon is then guided by the laparoscope, which transmits a picture of the intestinal organs on a video monitor and then removes diseased areas of the intestines. Laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer offers an alternative and many advantages to standard surgery, including less pain and a shorter recovery period.

Lisa Sousa asked:




Did you know that there is a connection between digestive disorders and pH balance? An unbalanced pH level can increase the acid level in your body; therefore increasing your chances of suffering from acid indigestion, acid reflux or other ailments. High acid level in your upper digestive tract also indicates high acid level throughout the rest of your body. This increased level of acid will also make you more susceptible to diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and arthritis. Because of the risks involved with increased acid levels, it is important that you take measures to balance your pH levels.

A Word About Acid Reflux And Other Ailments

In acid reflux disease, acid flows into the throat and creates a burning sensation during the digestive process. This acid flow is caused by a breakdown of the valve that separates the stomach from the esophagus; resulting from a disrupted acid-alkaline balance in the digestive tract. The accumulation of acid in the digestive tract is often the result of the sufferer eating the wrong types of food. Excessive consumption of junk food is not the only cause of acid reflux in some people; other foods, such as those containing excess additives, processed foods or other types of food may trigger symptoms as well.

Stress may also trigger symptoms of acid reflux in other people. When a person experiences stress, the blood is diverted away from the stomach to the lungs, heart and muscles for the response of fight of flight. With this diversion, the stomach is deprived of the needed oxygen and nutrients and cannot form sufficient enzymes for proper digestion.

Acid reflux disrupts the digestive process by irritating and swelling the mucous lining in the stomach, throat and esophagus. An unbalanced acid-alkaline level in the digestive tract can also lead to further accumulation of acid; which can lead to ulcers. Intestinal digestive process is meant to be alkaline, not acidic; therefore, the intestines are more adversely affected by acid than the stomach. Intestinal walls help absorb nutrients into the bloodstream and do not have the thick mucous lining that the stomach has. Acid also kills of the friendly bacteria that aid in digestion.

The liver and gallbladder are also affected by an unbalanced acid-alkaline level. The liver crystallizes bile and acid waste into gallstones because it becomes so overloaded with acidic waste that it cannot eliminate. If acid levels continue to rise, the liver will become damaged and all other body organs will be prone to deterioration.

How Can I Restore A Proper pH Balance?

Identifying and eliminating foods that cause acid reflux and allergic responses is the best way to restore the pH balance in your system. You can also include raw foods as well as vegetable juices in your diet to help heal the lining of your digestive tract as well as eliminating further accumulation of acid wastes. Supplements will also help replace the destroyed enzymes and friendly bacteria to the system.

Knut Holt asked:




WHAT IS PEYRONIE’S DISEASE?

Peyronie’s disease consists of hard, fibrous tissue, called plaques, developing within the penile shaft. The plaques are hard, thickened and stiff areas, actually a kind of internal scarring. In this fibroid tissue also calcium compounds can accumulate, making the plaques even harder.

The Peyronie’s disease is also called cavernositis, and also sometimes plastic induration. There is probably a chronic inflammation process that leads to this scarring.

The thickened area has less blood flow than normal penile tissue, and do not fill with blood and swell as the normal spongy areas in the inside of the penis. Therefore the penis swells more at the opposite side, and gets a curvature towards the side containing the plaques when erected.

If the plaques are found at several places, more complex deformations will develop. The abnormal bending, twisting or swelling within the penis, often also lead to painful erections.

Any man from the age of 18 and upwards can develop Peyronie’s disease. The average age of men suffering from Peyronie`s disease is 50.

THE SYMPTOMS AND CONSEQUENCES OF THE CONDITION

The three main characteristics of cavernositis are:



One or more small hard lumps underneath the skin, or a continuous hard, stiff and thickened area.



Abnormal bent or crooked penis when erect. All penises have some curvature, but by this disease, the penile bend increases, and one may get a very curved penis. The penis may be bent as a banana or in an angular fashion. The penile bending is most often up, but may be down, to the left side, to right or sloping.



-The bending is usually to the same side as that of the hard thickened area when the penis is erected.

-The hard areas in the erected penis may look like bumps, making the penis irregular.



Sometimes the penis bends greatly enough to make sexual intercourse difficult, or impossible.



Pain during erections caused by the pressure from the hard areas in the penis, or from the stretched skin at the opposite side of the penis.



One may not notice the bend immediately, as it tends to develop over one to three months and later than the hardness and stiffness of the indurations.



The plastic induration may progress and cause impotence. Sometimes the Peyroni’s disease will clear up by itself, but this may take several years.



 

THE CAUSES OF PEYRONIE’S DISEASE

The exact cause of the induration is unknown. It’s not a sign of an underlying serious condition, and it is not a sexually transmitted infection. It is possible that the disease can begin with an inflammation in the penile tissue. An inflammation may be caused by an allergic or auto-immune reaction. Although the Peyronie’s disease is not an infection, an initial infection can damage the penile tissue and cause an inflammation that develops into Peyronie’s disease. Men having the inflammatory condition called Systemic Lupus Erytematosus more often get Peyronie’s disease.

Vitamin E deficiency seems to be a contributing factor in causing the disease. Diabetes may cause damage of blood vessels, and if this damage occurs in the erectile bodies of the penis, Peyronie’s disease can develop. Peyronie’s disease is sometimes a side effect of the drug Inderal (propanolol) used against high blood pressure.

Sometimes a physical injury to the penis that causes internal bleeding, or a series of such injuries, is the initial cause. A habit of violent sexual activity may cause such injuries. It is thought that some men may have a genetic disposition to the condition.

Plastic induration of the penis is not a cancer, and cannot cause cancer, however a lump or deformation in your genitals that develops, must be examined.

TREATMENT OG PEYRONIE’S DISEASE

Not all men with Payronie’s disease require treatment. The disease sometimes go away by itself. If the condition is pronounced, it is also difficult to find a remedy that can cure every sign of the disease, but several methods can take away most penis changes associated with Peyronie’s. Here is a survey of treatment methods used today.

Tamoxifen – In its early stages of the disease a medication called Tamoxifen has been shown to prevent the formation of the fibrous plaque by Peyronie’s disease. This drug is also used in the treatment of breast cancer, but the two conditions are not related.

 

Vitamin E and B – Vitamin E and B is sometimes effective in easing the pain and as a treatment for the penile deformity by Peyronie’s disease.

 

Verapamil – Verapamil, often used in the treatment of high blood pressure, has been shown to decrease the size of the plaque and decrease the pain when injected directly into the plaque, and thus also improve the penis shape distortion by peyronie’s disease.

 

Shock wave therapy – Extracorporeal shock wave therapy, or ESWT, a new treatment, is being used in some hospitals for the Peyronie’s disease. Although the initial results of this new approach to treat Peyronie’s disease have been promising, the long-term outcome is still undetermined.

 

Surgery – This is sometimes considered if Payroni’s disease has lasted for a year or more and it hasn’t progressed or regressed for at least three months. By the Nesbitt procedure one removes tissue opposite to the curve to straighten the penis. Another procedure involves putting a graft or part of a vein within the fibrous plaque to lengthen this area. In certain cases of Pyrenees disease, surgical insertion of a penile prosthesis (implant) is recommended.

Radiation therapy – This treatment modality has been tried, but the results are unpredictable and sometimes the opposite of the intended one.

 

Traction devices – On the market, you can buy mechanical devices to use on the penis some time daily that gently pull upon the penile tissue to straighten out the penis, and thus mending the penis from the curvature caused by Peyronie’s disease.

The Colon Cleansing & Constipation Resource Center asked:




The colon is a vital component of your body and having a clean colon is important to your overall well-being. Even the bible refers to the colon as the seat of the personality. Although there was still much left to be discovered about the colon when the bible was first written, the importance it placed on the colon was certainly warranted. Even then, it was obvious that a constipated person was not a happy or productive person. In essence, it was understood that a person with an improperly functioning colon was not in the best of mental states and those with properly functioning colons tend to be more relaxed and easy going.

The Natural Colon Cleanse as Described by the Bible

Within the bible, you can discover the secrets to a natural colon cleanse and to keeping the body healthy. Genesis 1:29 states “Behold I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.”

So, just what are these “herb bearing” seeds? Simply put, an herb bearing seed is a plan that does not develop into a long existing woody plant. This includes grains such as corn, barley, oats, millet, rye, rice, and wheat. It also includes seeds such as sesame, sunflower, pumpkin seeds, and flax. Legumes, such as lentils, peanuts, soybeans, and peas, are also herb bearing seeds. There are also a number of succulent foods containing seeds, such as cucumbers, bell peppers, green beans, eggplants, okra, melons, tomatoes, squash, and pumpkins.

The reference in the bible to trees with the fruit of a tree yielding seed include fruit and nut trees such as palm fruits, citrus fruits, sweet fruits, brazil nuts, pecans, almonds, cashews, and walnuts. Later, as man sinned within the Garden of Eden, additional foods were added to man’s diet. These original foods, however, are those that should be most prominent in your diet. And, as any nutritionist can tell you, these are the foods that tend to be the highest in fiber and that will help get your bowels moving properly and help you maintain a healthy colon.

Taking Care of Your Body, Your Temple

Caring for your colon through natural colon cleanse techniques is an important part of taking care of your body, which is your temple. According to 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17 “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”

1 Corinthians 6:19, 20 goes on to say, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are brought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

By failing to take care of your colon and the rest of your body through proper diet, you are failing to take care of your temple. As such, you will experience the destruction referred to within the first passage – namely, constipation and an overall feeling of grumpiness or fatigue.

Getting Help with Your Colon Cleanse

Of course, if your colon becomes really backed up and sluggish, you might need a little extra help with getting things moving again. Just following a high fiber diet such as the one described within the body may not be enough to get your colon moving and to have a successful colon cleanse. In this case, you might need to use a natural product such as Oxy-Powder. Oxy-Powder contains only natural herbs and actually lifts the mucus and sludge from your colon.

After completing a more intense colon cleanse with a product like Oxy-Powder, you can keep your colon healthy and clean by following the diet as recommended by the bible. Although meat and other foods was ultimately granted to man, it is best to keep a limit on these foods as they were not originally a part of God’s plan. Rather, they are symbolic of the sins we have committed while upon the earth.

The same holds true for processed foods, which were never a part of God’s plan. After all, Genesis 3:17-19 reminds us that He originally intended for us to only eat those foods which we have used the Earth to create: “And unto Adam He said, Because thou hast harkened unto the voice of they wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: Cursed is the ground of your sake; in toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground…”

And, above all, remember with everything you consume “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Caroline Miller asked:




Practice home security drills for your family members and you

First things first, safety is always a priority for your family and you. As much as possible, take more responsibility in ensuring that you provide adequate home security drills so your family members are safe and protected.

The following are some of the home security drills that you and your family could do in order to ensure that security in your residence is observed at all times.

Check, check, check

Make sure that all other entrances – this includes gates, doors and the like – are locked preferably using deadbolt.

Check the front, rear doors as well as the doors in the garage, the door in the patio, the service doors, the sliding door glass, the gate of the pool, the door in the guest house.

As much as possible, never leave any “hidden” keys outside the house. Always leave the extra house key with a colleague or a neighbor you could trust.

Make sure to also keep the doors locked even if you and your family are in the house. Locks on windows must also be installed.

However, windows of bedrooms mustn’t be locked using permanent grills because these can be used as emergency exits.

Always check your intrusion and burglar alarms to make sure they are working.

Flashlights must also be available and readily accessible in particular areas of the home. The batteries of these flashlights must also be checked as often as possible.

Educate, educate, educate

While inside the home, try to rehearse with your own family the necessary drills for safety and security. Help everyone to be aware of the appropriate procedures to do when danger arises and just how to get and ask help.

Making variations in your regular routine also helps as these avoid patterns that are predictable.

Help all members of the family know where to go when a particular crisis arises. There should be a safe and secure haven in your house. This is basically an internal designated room.

Also, a communication two way system must – as much as possible – be installed. This safehaven must also be furnished with a prepared kit for emergencies.

Try to have the following supplies and items in your safe and secure haven. Food that is good for at least five days, fire extinguisher, matches, candles, flashlights, facilities for toilet, extra batteries, first aid kit, stove, beddings.

Try to also include items that you could use for leisure and comfort such as books, clothing and games.

All in all, having home security drills for your family members is a good way to help keep your house and home secure and safe.

Corwin Brown asked:




The liver is an extremely important organ as it is the seat of the five digestive fires of the human body and also the converter of plasma into blood. So, from an Ayurvedic point of view, the liver is the master controller of the entire body. However, the liver is susceptible to a large number of disorders also. One of these is the abnormal enlargement of the liver, which is known as hepatomegaly.

Normally, an adult liver is about the size of a small football. Sometimes, however, the liver becomes enlarged. This is known as enlarged liver, or hepatomegaly (hep-uh-to-MEG-uh-le). Enlarged liver isn’t a disease. It’s a sign of an underlying problem, such as hepatitis, congestive heart failure or cancer. Treatment of an enlarged liver depends on the cause.

A swollen liver is the symptom of many possible disorders, and needs prompt professional medical investigation. It is often related to a similar symptom: swollen spleen. There are many condition that may cause swollen liver or enlarged liver, including liver disorders such as hepatitis and various other diseases not directly related to the liver.

Natural Cure for Enlarged Liver

A swollen liver is the symptom of many possible disorders, and needs prompt professional medical investigation. It is often related to a similar symptom: swollen spleen. There are many condition that may cause swollen liver or enlarged liver, including liver disorders such as hepatitis and various other diseases not directly related to the liver.

The Indian aloe is used in treatment of hepatomegaly. For treatment, the pulp of a single leaf of the plant is taken and mixed with black salt and ginger. This is taken every morning for ten continuous days.

Mix ½ teaspoon saunf, ½ teaspoon dhania, 5nos kali mirch, 5nos lasun, 5nos tulsi, ½ teaspoon adrak. Boil in 1-1/2 cups of water for five minutes, strain and add one teaspoon honey when warm and take twice a day after meals.

Mix amla powder–300 gms with dried ginger powder 100gms. Take one teaspoonful of this powder with water once in the morning and once in the evening.

Drink alcohol in moderation, or not at all. alcohol can lead to fat accumulation, inflammation and scarring in the liver. If drinking continues, liver damage may be fatal.

Chicory juice obtained from its flowers, seeds and roots is very beneficial in the treatment of several liver problems. Its juice is commonly prescribed to treat enlargement of the liver.

The kantakari herb is used in the treatment of enlargement of both the liver and the spleen, which is known as hepatosplenomegaly.

Gokulakanta: This herb is used for treatment of several liver problems including jaundice, hepatitis and derangement of the liver. Its root is prescribed in such conditions. A specially prepared decoction of the root (60 grams root powder mixed in half a liter of water and boiled for about half an hour) is given in doses of 30 to 60 milliliters twice or thrice daily.

Eat four to six small meals every day instead of only three main meals. Include : fresh fruits, vegetables and unprocessed foods in your diet. Drink plenty of water to flush toxins. Intake of supplements to boost the immune system. Required supplements are: Vitamin A, Vitamin B-complex, Vitamin C, Magnesium, Potassium and Calcium.