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Archive for March, 2010

Allergic to Chlorine? Here’s What You Must Know

31 Mar



If you are allergic to chlorine, you probably need a whole house chlorine water filter. Otherwise, you can be exposed in many different ways at many different times. It really depends on how severe your allergy is.

At one time, it was believed that very few people were allergic to chlorine. Now, it seems that more people either have an allergy or are at least “sensitive” to the chemical. Also, it has been noted that sensitization can occur over time. In other words, the more you are exposed to something, the more likely you will begin to experience unwanted symptoms.

When you consider that, you realize that anyone can benefit from a whole house chlorine water filter, whether allergic to chlorine or not.

If you ask someone in the cosmetic industry, you will learn that showering in chlorinated waters changes the color of your hair, causes excessive dryness of the skin and hair, as well as contributing to bad hair days. One respected hair dresser advised his clients to wash their hair in bottled waters before a big show or photo shoot. He has since started marketing his own showerhead filters.

Those are strictly cosmetic benefits, but allergy symptoms are a health concern. Symptoms may include breathing difficulties, similar to asthmatic attacks. The more common symptoms are watery, itchy eyes when exposed to the vapors. Itchy throat or even vomiting can occur after drinking chlorinated water. Exposure during showering can cause itchy skin, rashes and symptoms that at first glance appear to be eczema or psoriasis.

If your symptoms are severe, then a whole house chlorine water filter is really your only solution. If your symptoms are mild, you may be able to deal with a filtration device for you kitchen and another for your shower, but, from a strictly economic standpoint, a whole house chlorine water filter may be less expensive in the long run.

You have to remember that separate filtration devices will require separate replacement cartridges and the schedule of replacement can vary. If you live alone and are allergic to chlorine, you should keep your cell phone or a med-alert device with you at all times. Symptoms can become debilitating in a very short period of time.

I know that some doctors suggest prescription medications, as opposed to dealing with the root cause of the problem. But, in my opinion, there is no reason to simply treat the symptoms.

A kitchen purifier and one for the shower would cost far less than a six month supply of an effective allergy drug. Besides the fact that, those drugs cause unwanted side effects, such as fatigue and drowsiness.

You should also know that there may be other hazards in your water supply to contend with. A good whole house chlorine water filter will remove other chemical contaminants, as well as sediments, protecting your pipes from corrosion and protecting your health at the same time.

If you are allergic to chlorine, I would suggest that you buy a home filtration device. It just makes sense.

 
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Prevent Eczema Symptoms With A Wheat Free Diet

30 Mar



You can prevent eczema symptoms with a wheat free diet. This is what some people say as atopic eczema is linked to food allergies. A food allergy that inflicts many is the wheat allergy. You may not want to believe this because it may mean that you may have to give up eating several types of food. It is true that many products are made up of wheat nowadays. Wheat is a popular ingredient with food manufacturers as a cheap alternative to use in place of a lot more expensive substances.

If you get frequent skin problems and eczema outbreaks, then it is in your interest to determine if you have a wheat allergy. Once you find out if this is the case, go on a wheat free diet to prevent eczema symptoms. A wheat free diet is bound to make you feel a whole lot better with a reduction in the itch.

If you have a wheat allergy, then it will be the case that you cannot eat wheat completely nor ever should eat it again. Hence, consult a nutritionist to find out how to read food labels for wheat and wheat related substances. Many ingredients are wheat related. Hence, to avoid confusion, you need to know exactly what they are, for a wheat-free diet.

It is possible that instead of a food allergy, you may simply have mild wheat intolerance. In fact, many people are said to eat so much wheat that their bodies start to reject it a little. This is what is called a wheat intolerance. If you sometimes experience dizziness, nausea, or sneeze for no real reason or find yourself getting unexplained aches and pains, then your body might be rejecting wheat slightly. You may not realise this and dismiss this as merely having a normal reaction. If you are wheat intolerant, though, a wheat-free diet can help you to prevent your eczema symptoms by simply cutting down the consumption of such foods.

Some recent studies are also showing that there might be a direct link between wheat and dyslexia, and possibly several other medical conditions. In these studies, children with dyslexia, paid better attention in school suddenly and, in general, became more alert after going on a wheat-free diet. They were able to process information better and as such, scored better in tests than before.

Other symptoms of a wheat allergy or intolerance include cramping, irritable bowel, bloating, unexplained cold-like symptoms or headaches. If you really do find yourself experiencing these, and your itchy skin continues to give you problems, go see a doctor about testing yourself for wheat allergy. It may sound tedious to implement a wheat free diet, but it may be worth your time if it means that you can prevent eczema symptoms from ever attacking you again.

 
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How Can The Democrats Win In 2008? (First of Two Parts)

30 Mar

I. VICTORY OUT WEST

If the Democrats are to seize control of the White House in 2008, they need to rally behind the party’s brightest star, New York Senator Hillary Clinton. If they again parade a spineless, lackluster nominee–a la Al Gore, Bill Bradley, John Kerry, Michael Dukakis, “Hollerin’” Howard Dean, et al. They can expect another election day version of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. If the Democrats are humbled again, they have nothing to look forward to in 2012, unless the Republican President-elect makes a Gerald Ford-like gaffe or two.

For the Democrats once-promising candidate Gavin Newsome is already out of the running. His endorsement of gay marriage left him with the maverick label and knocked him out of contention. (Is he (the new “Governor Moonbeam?”) The name of Bob Graham pops up every year, but he is as faceless as they come. Dennis Kucinich and John Edwards are two more young guns that might make a strong showing at future Democratic conventions. Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer has the same maverick label, but is seen as a fiscal conservative. Some mention the name of Obama Barack, but I don’t see that as a realistic option.

However, if a minority candidate from the Party is to make a strong push in the future, I’d bet on California Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante or New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. If Bustamante is elected Governor in 2006, or 2010, he will be catapulted onto the national stage, especially if he can solve the state’s fiscal woes. He is intelligent, well-liked and the high Latino populations of California, New York, Florida and Texas offer a substantial voter base.

Richardson will also hold sway with Latinos and Demo party bigwigs. If Hillary Clinton were to win the nomination and Richardson was her choice for Veep, they would create a formidable ticket.

Since the Dems have no southern strategy, their hopes lie out west. This is essential, since in 2004 George W. Bush won four states with Democratic Governors (New Mexico, Montana, Wyoming and Arizona). These states, along with Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah and Nevada want to vote as a bloc. They form an aggregate of 53 electoral votes–almost as many as California’s 55–which is solidly Democratic. Add this 108-vote bloc to New York, Illinois and Pennsylvania–which have all gone Democratic in each election since 1992 (73 electoral votes total), and the Dems would be 2/3 of the way to the White House.

Whoever garners the nomination must sleep with two conflicting entities–labor and big business. Labor has been a long-time Demo stronghold. On the other hand, the presidency is financed and thus, partially owned by business conglomerates that will contribute the majority of the 450 million dollars needed to run a successful campaign. There are other factors to be considered: Gasoline prices, which will have a profound impact on inflation; unemployment and interest rate levels. The ost important factor may be whether or not our military is engaged in conflict with any number of countries–including North Korea, Iran, Iraq and in Southeast Asia–and to what extent.

II. CAN LATINO POWER RESUSCITATE THE DEMOCRATS?

If the Dems focus their strategy out west they would be wise to seek the ever-growing Hispanic vote. Not only are Bustamante and Richardson well-known, but Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has a rising popularity. The question will be whether or not he is seasoned enough. However, Bustamante and Richardson will be invaluable in selling the Dems platform in their heavily-Hispanic states, as will former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Henry Cisneros.

Arizona’s population is 25 percent Hispanic. New Mexico’s is 42. California, Florida, Texas and New York also have sizable Latino populations. These six states account for 162 electoral votes, 60% of the total needed to win. The dramatic increase in the number of Latino citizens in the 1990s has created a powerful voting bloc that both Democrats and Republicans are wooing. Statistics show that between 1984 and 1996, the GOP’s share of the Hispanic vote in presidential elections dropped from 37 to 21 percent, while the voter registration for this group increased by nearly 30%.

Washington Post reporter Terry M. Neal writes, “The GOP has long been accused by critics on the left of seeking electoral advantage by using race as a subtext–on issues from welfare, busing, affirmative action, immigration and crime–to drive a wedge to court white voters.” Bush’s approval rate among black voters is 2%, which is why the GOP would be wise to woo this resource. Though blacks shun the Republican party, their votes have failed to put the last two Democratic candidates over the top. This is why the Dems must expand their base. Strangely, Black American Political Action Committee (BAMPAC) showed that Condoleezza Rice had an approval rating (41%) just over half of that of Jesse Jackson and Colin Powell. However, “Rice experienced the largest surge in name recognition and approval rating. Fifty-nine percent of the black registered voters polled recognized Rice’s name in 2002, compared with 38 percent last year; and her favorable rating rose to 41 percent this year from 17 percent in 2001.”

The ever-growing clout of Latinos is most evident in California, where they comprise about 30 percent of the population. This political weight has enabled Latinos to combat anti-immigration sentiment, including denial of social services to legal immigrants.

California’s Lieutenant Governor, Cruz M. Bustamante is expected to launch another Gubernatorial bid in 2006. Early polling shows him defeating current Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger 46-42% in a two-man race. Bustamante’s chances are improving as Schwarzenegger’s popularity is dwindling even among fellow Republicans. Furthermore, during the November elections four Schwarzenegger-backed ballot initiatives were defeated, making him vulnerable come June.

Bustamante sought the State’s top job during the 2003 recall vote of Gray Davis. State Democratic leaders had urged prominent party members not to run, hopeful it would increase Davis’s chances of holding onto the seat. Bustamante denounced the recall but ran anyway, losing by 1.3 million votes. Subsequently, many Dems considered him disloyal. Bustamante also alienated some blacks when he “accidentally” used the word “nigger” in a speech.

It is Richardson who has the more impressive credentials. He was nominated as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. In 1998, he was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Secretary of Energy. He was elected Governor of “The Land of Enchantment” in 2002. He has also negotiated with Saddam Hussein and the government of the Sudan to free prisoners and his work addressing human rights abuses earned him a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1995, 1997, 2000 and 2001. He also assisted in the arms negotiations with North Korean delegates.

During Richardson’s fifteen years representing New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District, “He sponsored and passed a bill to retain and improve health care for rural New Mexicans as well as a bill to increase the amount of nurses in the state. He traveled to Missouri and convinced milk producers to open a dairy factory in eastern New Mexico, creating jobs and bringing economic development to the state.”

Richardson understands the power of the Hispanic voting bloc, saying “These are changing political times…We have to band together and that means Latinos in Florida, Cuban-Americans, Mexican-Americans, Puerto Ricans, South Americans – we have to network better. We have to be more politically minded, we have to put aside party and think of ourselves as Latinos, as Hispanics, more than we have in the past.”

Latinos are concerned about laws that would restrict immigration. Richardson however, has no clear position on the issue. He declared four counties along the New Mexico border as disaster areas and stepped up border patrols; at one time he called for an amnesty program; another time he was against building a fence along the border, calling it “easily porous.” In 2003 he signed a bill allowing illegal immigrants to obtain drivers’ licenses.

What Richardson does believe in is strong alliances between the U.S. and Mexico, saying, “Now is the time to increase our economic cooperation, our trade, our educational exchanges.” Further, Richardson is praised by New Mexico’s conservatives for cutting state taxes.

Cisneros, who is also the former Mayor of San Antonio has a scandal-ridden past (An affair, divorce and a convicted of making false statements to federal officials), but he still holds sway among Latinos. In Texas, such support will be crucial. (Cisneros guilty plea was negotiated and he received a $10,000 fine, but was later pardoned by President Clinton).

He believes that Latinos can make a difference in states representing 214 electoral votes adding, “We have just now begun to achieve critical mass with enough votes to make a difference,” Cisneros said. “We have within our reach the ability to influence the outcome.”

A non-Hispanic candidate the Dems may consider is fifty-year old Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer. He is not quite through his first year in office, however, and has already sparked controversy by first choosing Republican State Senator John Bohlinger his running mate and by once suggesting the return of Montana National Guard troops from Iraq to help battle wildfires across the state.

Schweitzer is a rancher and holds an undergraduate degree in international agronomy from Colorado State University and a Master’s Degree in soil science from Montana State. He was also appointed by President Clinton to the United States Department of Agriculture. In 2000 he ran unsuccessfully for a U.S. Senate seat.

As a last resort the Democrats could always emulate George W. Bush and add a wizened member of the party to their ticket. In this case they could opt for Florida Senator Bob Graham. The 69-year old Graham is considered a moderate. Michael Grunwald of the Washington Post says of Graham, “The Almanac of American Politics had described him as ‘careful, methodical, thorough,hardworking, reliable’–it might as well have added ‘zzzzzzz’.” This means he won’t outshine the top of the ticket, expected to be Hillary Clinton. Plus, he hails from a state that has 27 electoral votes, which would be important if the GOP nominee is current Florida Governor Jeb Bush.

Michael Grunwald writes, “Graham differs from President Bush on several fronts. Graham supports tax cuts, but ones aimed more at low- and middle-income workers. But he is most effective at dismantling the Bush record when it comes to fighting terrorism. Graham says that the administration had Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda ‘on the ropes’ after Afghanistan but let them get away by focusing on going to war against Saddam Hussein…He is running for the nomination as a centrist.or, as he would say, from the ‘electable wing of the Democratic Party’.”

Health considers might hinder his chances as he has had open-heart surgery and would be nearly 70 when the campaign begins. Graham is convinced had he rather than Joe Lieberman been on the ticket in 2000, Gore would have won the Presidency.

III. THE COST OF A PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN

The next presidential election is a mere three years away, but candidates have made fund raising a non-stop affair. Before the last ballot from the 2004 election was counted, both political parties were gearing up for 2008, a campaign expected to cost between 450 and 500 million dollars. During the 2004 campaign President Bush and Senator Kerry raised $693,664,838. Each candidate also received 74.6 million in government funding for the general election.

Even the campaign “reform” laws fail to keep the Presidency out of the grasp of corporate America. These laws were enacted to prevent political parties from collecting money from corporations and unions. The parties were allowed to solicit donations from wealthy individuals (i.e., corporate CEOs and the lot), but such donations were capped. “527 groups”–a reference to a section of the aforementioned law–are allowed to raise unlimited amounts of money for advertising, usually in the form of attack ads. As in the case of John Kerry, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth launched successful ads against him during the 2004 Presidential campaign.

Congress should enact legislation that eliminates donations from so-called “Political Action Committees” and all but individual campaign contributions (with a cap). The government could issue each candidate 75 million dollars. Each would have to spend wisely, but more important the Presidency would no longer be for sale to corporations and the officeholder would no longer be tied to special interest money.

Astronomical financing costs keep third party candidates out of the loop, unless the ticket is headed by a billionaire who can finance his own campaign, or has a personality so outlandish that the mere announcement of “contemplating” a run nets them 19 points in the polls. (Read Trump, Donald). Even a third party ticket with well-known candidates (H. Ross Perot, Jesse Ventura, Ralph Nader, Pat Buchanan) stands little chance of raising enough money to be competitive, let alone get a significant number of votes. This means no hope for America First (Buchananites who split with the Reform Party), Green Party (Nader), Independence (Jesse “The Body” Ventura), Libertarians–with more than 400 elected officials nationwide–including members of school board committees, etc. (even dogcatcher, perhaps), Peace & Freedom, Reform Party (formerly Perot’s boys and temporarily commandeered by Bo Gritz) and the Socialist Party.

Unless Bill Gates bankrolls a celebrity-loaded ticket (such as Oprah and Warren Beatty) third party candidates won’t even garner much media attention. Personalities have won major elections before with nothing more than clever sound bites, most recently Arnold Schwarzenegger in California. (Some might argue this about Ronald Reagan in 1980, when he defeated a bumbling Jimmy Carter). This wiill leave the political limelight shining on the Democrats and GOP, which means we will see more of the personal attacks and distortions waged in every election since 1988, when George H.W. Bush slammed Michael Dukakis with the infamous “Willie Horton” ads.

While the Democrat strategy of working through the Internet has reaped rewards, it will take more than cyber-leeching and campaign spending to regain the White House. It will take a clear, coherent message from the center. The ticket will more than likely have star power at the top of the ticket, but it’s the Vice-presidential slot that will be key. The central issue will be “What does the number two man bring to the ticket?” But right behind that will be, “How much (cash) can he bring to the ticket?”

 
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Treating Insomnia

29 Mar



After completing the diagnostic process, your doctor will prescribe a variety of treatments for your insomnia depending on its seriousness and the underlying cause. If you’ve been diagnosed with secondary insomnia, your treatment will focus on the underlying medical problems disturbing your sleep.

When that problem has been resolved you’ll get better. A 1998 study published in the journal Sleep found that many people with insomnia try to treat the problem themselves. insomniacs who participated in the survey reported using alcohol, over the counter medications and prescriptions.

If you’ve been self-treating your insomnia, telling your doctor what medications or treatments you’ve been taking is vital to make sure that whatever he prescribes doesn’t conflict with those treatments.

More than likely, your doctor will put you through a “weaning off” period to stop whatever you’re doing so you can get on the treatment protocol he or she believes will be most effective.

One of the reasons it may be so difficult insomniacs to get the help they need is that many doctors still believe that all sleeping pills are dangerous and addictive, which is no longer the case. Today, prescription medications are available to help get a decent night sleep.

Prescription sleep aids are available in the following categories:

oBenzodiazepine hypnotics

oNon-benzodiazepine hypnotics-most of the benefits of the benzodiazepine hypnotics without the undesirable side effects

oSedating antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and antipyschotics-can have significant side effects and may create additional problems when patients stop taking them.

Sleep-promoting substances have evolved over the years. Since ancient times, people used opiates and alcohol to induce sleep, long before anyone knew much about their addictiveness and side effects.

In the 1860′s the 1st hypnotic medication was developed: chloral hydrate (alcohol in tablet form). Then at the turn of the century, barbiturates came on the scene and dominated the market as the leading sleep-inducing medication until the 1960s.

Barbiturates are dangerous and addictive; therefore the safer and less addictive benzodiazepines were a welcome replacement and quickly supplanted barbiturates as the leading prescribed sleep-promoting substance.

In the last 2 decades, non-benzodiazepine hypnotics have been developed and appear to be even safer and less habit forming.

 
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Degenerative Arthritis Facts

29 Mar



Studies reveal that degenerative arthritis is the most common arthritis type. For a lot of people, it is a condition that can truly change their lives. If you have reason to believe that you should prepare for it, then the first step would be to learn about it.

Osteoarthritis

Arthritis of this type is also called osteoarthritis. The progress of the disease has something to do with what happens to the cartilage. Our joints have cartilage in between. This is a crucial location for cartilage because it actually pads the joint. It therefore ensures that the joints do not sustain any damage due to movement. The cartilage is also what keeps us free from pain.

For some reason, the cartilage can wear down and even disappear. When this happens, movement will result in bones grinding against each other. This can result in terrible pain. The condition often develops only in a single joint and in one that bears weight. These joints are the knee, spine and hip joints. The finger joints may also be affected and are often uniquely affected altogether. It is not common for other joints to be affected but they can be.

Symptoms

Osteoarthritis is known as a degenerative condition for a reason. The term is simply an indication that the symptoms of the disease get worse through time. The symptoms however often develop gradually so you have more than enough time to discover it. Like other types of arthritis, degenerative arthritis results in some pain, swelling and tenderness. This is especially when the joint is moved or not moved for a period of time. One may also experience stiffness, a grating sensation and gradual loss of range of joint motion.

Causes and Risk Factors

Researchers are still trying to find out the actual causes of osteoarthritis. There are however, some factors that could contribute to a person’s chances of developing the condition. The disease may run in your family. Aging is also a possible risk factor for the disease. Aside from these uncontrollable factors, there are also controllable ones. It is generally believed that your weight and you use of your joints contribute to the progress of the disease. Overweight people, those who frequently stress their joints and those who suffer from joint injuries may develop osteoarthritis.

Treatment

Osteoarthritis cannot be thoroughly treated. You will have the condition for life. This doesn’t mean though that you have to live through years of pain and restricted movement. There are treatment options that can help put your symptoms in check. The kind and intensity of treatment will depend on the degree of osteoarthritis that you suffer from. Patients who are already at an advanced stage may have to be treated with a combination of strong medicines and surgery. These options though will only be considered when basic remedies have already been exhausted.

Depending on your condition, your doctor may recommend a couple of basic home remedies. This may include using hot or cold compresses and resting your joints. Exercise is also a typical part of mild arthritis treatment. The exercises however aren’t typical ones. They have been carefully created to help regain joint movement while preventing joints and patients from getting harmed.

Living with degenerative arthritis may be a real challenge. It is possible though so you shouldn’t lose hope.

 
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Cancer Preventive Measures and Tips

29 Mar



Cancer also called is Malignancy and Neoplasms. Cancer is a serious, but curable illness. Cancer is not one disease, but many diseases that occur in different areas of the body. Cancer is a disease characterized by disorderly division of cells, combined with the malignant behavior of these cells. Cancer is usually classified according to the tissue of origin more than the location of manifestations. Prognosis in most cases depends on the original staging of the disease. There are many theories about the cause of cancer. Cell division or cell proliferation is a physiological process that occurs in almost all tissues and under many circumstances. Normally the balance between proliferation and apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is tightly regulated to ensure the integrity of organs and tissues. Imbalances in the rates of cell division and cell death can lead to tumor growth in a tissue. Other events are usually required before metastasis can occur. Locally expansile tumors can also cause severe problems when they grow in certain locations, such as the head or airway. Environmental stimuli, or carcinogens, such as tobacco smoke, radiation, chemicals, or infectious agents, can cause cancer. Cancer can also occur in young children and adolescents, but it is rare. Some studies have concluded that pediatric cancers, especially leukemia, are on an upward trend.

Cancer is caused by exposure to carcinogens (cancer causing substances), which alter and damage DNA. Cancers are classified by the type of cell that resembles the tumor and, therefore, the tissue presumed to be the origin of the tumor. Carcinoma often develops as a result of a very improper lifestyle. Carcinoma: malignant tumors derived from epithelial cells. This group represents the most common cancers, including the common forms of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancer. Lymphoma and Leukemia: malignant tumors derived from blood and bone marrow cells Sarcoma: malignant tumors derived from connective tissue, or esenchymal cells. Mesothelioma: tumors derived from the mesothelial cells lining the peritoneum and the pleura. Glioma: tumors derived from glia, the most common type of brain cell. Germ cell tumor: tumors derived from reproductive cells, most commonly found in the testicle and ovary. Female and male infants have essentially the same overall cancer incidence rates, but white infants have substantially higher cancer rates than black infants for most cancer types. Relative survival for infants is very good for neuroblastoma, Wilms’ tumor and retinoblastoma, and fairly good (80%) for leukemia, but not for most other types of cancer.

Tips on Cancer Prevention

1. Limit alcohol.

2. Maintain a healthy weight.

3. Stay physically active.

4. Consider limiting fat in your diet.

5. Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun and other UVA/UVB sources, such as tanning beds.

6. Use ample amounts of sunscreen or sunblock with an SPF of 15 or higher every day, even if it is cloudy.

7. Wear large framed or wrap-around sunglasses to protect the eye area.

8. Have your skin checked by a dermatologist regularly.

9. Do avoid all poisonous chemical substances such as cigarettes, alcohol, car exhaust fumes, as well as fumes belched by factory chimneys, which are very toxic.

10. Anilin is a carcenogenic substance used for colouring food, so try to avoid artificially dyed foods and instead look for natural foods.

 
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Water Filters Eliminate the Need For Bottled Water While You Get Better Water Quality

26 Mar



Concerns about pollution and a shift from bottled water to tap or filtered water have resulted in the explosion in the demand for home water filtration. Everyone is beginning to realize that you don’t have to depend on bottled water to drink bottled water quality. Water treatment systems can take out rust, sediments, and other common

 
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When Treating Arthritis, There are Definite Foods to Avoid, and Specific Arthritis Foods to Eat

26 Mar



Foods to Avoid

You need to make sure that the calcium to phosphorus ratio in any of the foods you eat is as low as possible – this is because excess phosphorus will increase the loss of calcium from the body and worsen the condition. The more phosphorous-containing foods you eat, the more you need to supplement with a good source of calcium.

Reduce your intake of:

o red meat, red-fleshed fish

o most grains, especially wheat.

Eliminate:

o soft drinks – high in phosphoric acid

o organ meat (liver, kidney), processed meat – especially high in phosphorus

o caffeine – increases the rate of loss of minerals and nutrients

o fried foods and vegetable oil – a high intake of fried foods and omega 6 from vegetable oil can make the inflammation worse

o sugar – results in poor absorption of nutrients

o antacids – neutralize stomach acid and result in poor absorption of calcium (heartburn and indigestion are caused by poor eating habits and NOT ENOUGH stomach acid!)

Important Note: Eliminate the bad fats such as margarine, cooking with too much vegetable oil and fried foods from your diet. A high intake of vegetable oil (a source of Omega 6) needs to be avoided as this will aggravate any inflammation.

Arthritis Foods

The best arthritis foods are diets high in calcium and magnesium and other trace minerals – this will ensure healthy bone and bone matrix structure. Specific nutrients are also required to build bone and bone structure.
Calcium: Non fat milk, yoghurt, cottage cheese, snow peas, soybeans, tofu, sardines, salmon, walnuts and almonds, sunflower seeds, kale and other green leafy vegetables, broccoli, alfalfa seeds – to name a few. Milk isn’t a great source of calcium because it has a low magnesium content and you need magnesium to get the calcium into your bones.

Magnesium: Many fruits and vegetables, whole grains, leafy vegetables, nuts, beans, bananas and apricots – all these make great arthritis foods.
Vitamin D: is required to get the calcium into the bones. The best source is the sun – about 10 minutes per day is fine. Other sources include dairy products and fatty fish.

Trace minerals: Boron and Manganese are important to help the body absorb Calcium; the best sources of Boron are green leafy vegetables, apples, almonds pears and legumes. For Manganese, look for ginger and oats as your arthritis foods.

Collagen & Support Tissues: Collagen is part of our bone matrix, the cartilage in our joints and in the fluid that protects and lubricates our joints. It’s also part of our skin, hair and the connective tissues of the body.

Arthritis foods containing the following nutrients will provide nutrition for bone support: zinc, copper, selenium and beta-carotene (Vitamin A). Green leafy vegetables and pumpkin seeds are good sources of zinc; selenium may be found in brazil nuts from Brazil (because of the high selenium content in the soil); while Vitamin C is found in citrus fruits, berries, red and green peppers, tomatoes, broccoli and spinach. Eggs and meat are good sources of amino acids which form part of the collagen structure.
Essential Fatty Acids – are excellent arthritis foods and are required for the body’s natural pain relief and anti-inflammatory responses. They are also part of the protective joint fluid. Best sources are from fish (particularly oily fish such as salmon and mackerel), animal fat and some oils such as flaxseed (for omega 3)and borage oil (for omega 6).

Regarding essential fatty acids, ideally you should consume Omega 6 EFA & Omega 3 EFA at a ratio of 2:1. Most people find it very difficult to get this right (the average ratio in the U.S. and UK is around 10:1) so we suggest you use an EFA Supplement from a quality source.

Final Note on Arthritis Foods

While it is possible to meet some of your dietary requirements from the food you eat, if you are serious about preventing or reversing arthritis, you need to consume these arthritis foods in combination with nutrient supplements.

Also consider that the majority of the food we eat is grown in minerally-depleted soils – so an almond may not contain all the calcium and magnesium it’s supposed to have, sad but true!

If you have a busy lifestyle, eat junk food and/or can’t get enough fresh food in your daily life, then you should consider supplementing with all 90 essential nutrients including plant derived colloidal minerals and supplements containing vitamins, minerals, amino acids and essential fatty acids.

Calcium and magnesium are normally very difficult to absorb from our arthritis foods diet and from supplements, however, calcium liquid supplements containing Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Vitamin D and Glucosamine are a good way to supplement your diet.

Supplements that specifically assist with maintenance and repair of the joint such as Glucosamine, are also beneficial. If you suffer pain and inflammation, then CM Cream has been scientifically and medically proven to relieve pain and improve mobility.

The use of a digestive enzyme supplement – will improve the absorption of the good arthritis foods you eat and will maximize the benefit you receive from taking supplements. As we all reach the age of 40, our stomach acid concentration begins to fall and this can lead to complications of existing chronic disease conditions, such arthritis.

Summary

1. Avoid foods high in phosphorus – particularly SOFT DRINKS, processed foods, processed meat and organ meat. No fried foods, cooking oil or margarine – use butter small amounts of extra virgin olive oil.

2. Eliminate caffeine and sugar from your diet and stop taking antacids.

3. Consume food with a wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables and eggs. Reduce your intake of red meat and fish.

4. Consider the use of supplements to support and reverse your arthritis, and digestive enzymes to maximise the absorption of the food and of the supplements.

 
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How a Quality Sink Water Filter Can Protect You From Ingesting Chemical Poisons Every Day

25 Mar



You may not feel that there is a lot to be gained by installing a sink water filter in your home, but the truth is that one of these appliances can do you a lot of good. If you allow unfiltered tap water to freely enter your home, then you are setting yourself up for a lot of health problems in the future. You may not think that the state of our water is that bad, but believe me, it is.

Studies have shown that every time you drink a glass of unfiltered tap water you may be ingesting anywhere from three to five individual chemical agents. There are traces of as many as 80,000 different chemicals present in our reservoir system. Some of these chemicals entered our water supply by accident, but the majority of them are there due to careless disposal.

Millions of tons of chemicals have entered our water supply because of major industries dumping chemical waste directly into our lakes, rivers, and streams. The bulk of these chemical agents are toxic to human beings, but there are at least 2,100 of them that have been positively identified as cancer causing agents! Are you convinced yet that you need to install a sink water filter in your home?

If that did not do it for you then I have another fun fact that may cause you to sway towards my way of thinking. Have you ever wondered what hospitals, doctors’ offices, clinics and pharmacies do with all of the out of date medication that they have on hand? What they do is follow the instructions from the pharmaceutical companies as to the best method of disposal; they flush them down the toilet.

In order to prevent all of these chemical agents from entering your home you need a sink water filter. You can’t depend on the treatment facilities to protect you like so many others do, because they are helpless to do anything to halt the flow of chemicals, toxic metals, and parasites and cysts in your water. That’s right, not all potentially dangerous microbes are killed during the chlorine disinfection process; indeed, shockingly few dangerous substances are removed.

A high quality counter top or under counter sink water filter will feature a quartet of filters each designed to remove certain contaminants from your drinking water. Due to the tremendous number of chemicals present in your water, you actually need two different filters to fish them out. The multi media block and granular activated carbon filter will effectively remove these chemical agents.

For blocking traces of toxic metals such as lead and copper in your water, your filter needs to be equipped with an ion exchange. This handy filter will replace the toxic metals that it finds with healthy electrolytes, and it will also ensure that the pH level of your water stays balanced. An ion exchange will ensure the removal of any disease bearing parasites and cysts present.

A high quality sink water filter is a major necessity in your home. You simply can’t afford to overlook this lifesaving but inexpensive device.

 
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Swine Flu – Fatal Or Not?

24 Mar



Swine flu. An expression of terror develops on the face of the individual after hearing this. The whole world was affected by this viral disease. Many innocent people lost their lives because of this deadly disease. Swine flu is also called as swine influenza or hog flu, pig influenza or pig flu. Different types of viruses are responsible for causing swine flu. Swine influenza virus (SIV) or S-OIV (swine-origin influenza virus) is a strain of influenza family of viruses which is responsible for causing endemic in the pigs.

In 2009, the strains influenza C and the subtypes of influenza A which comprise H1N1, H1N2, H3N1, H3N2 and H2N3 were more prevalent.

The swine flu virus is very common among the pig population throughout the world. The transmission of swine flu virus from pigs to human is not very common and it may not always result in the development of human flu but simply develops antibodies in the blood in response to the virus. If human influenza is caused by the swine flu virus then it is called as a zoonotic swine flu. People working continuously are at a greater risk of getting infected with the swine flu virus and development of the disease. The properly cooked pork reduces the risk of infection if the meat of an infected pig is consumed. During the mid 20th century the classification of the subtypes of the influenza virus became possible. The strains of the swine flu are transmitted from human to human very rarely. The symptoms of swine flu in humans are similar to that of influenza and include chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness and general discomfort.

Categories of Influenza Virus

Of the three influenza viruses that are known to cause flu in humans, two are known to cause flu in the pigs, out of which influenza A is very common and influenza C is very rare. Influenza B has not been reported in the pigs till now. Both the strains of influenza virus A and C are completely distinct in the humans and in the pigs. Influenza virus C is responsible for causing flu in humans as well as pigs but it does not infect birds. Transmission of this virus have been reported in the past but because of its limited host range and lack of genetic diversity only small outbreaks are known from the countries like Japan and California. The following subtypes of influenza A are known to cause swine flu in humans as well as in pigs. These subtypes are H1N1, H1N2, H2N3, H3N1 and H3N2. Three strains have been reported to be the causative agents of flu in the pigs and these are H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2.

Historical Background

Swine flu was first proposed to be related to human flu in 1918 when the pigs developed symptoms similar to that occurring in the human beings when infected with the influenza virus. The identification of human influenza virus to be the causative agent of the swine flu was done in 1930. Since past 60 years H1N1 is responsible for causing the severe drastic outbreaks of swine flu in both humans and pigs. During the period of 1997 and 2002 another strain of influenza virus A was discovered to be responsible for spread of the disease severely and this was the strain H3N2. The major destructive strain of the influenza that was responsible for the pandemic in pigs during the 1918 was H1N1.

The descendants of the virus H1N1 also caused the outbreak of the swine flu during the 20th century in humans. The direct transmission of the virus from pigs to humans is very rare and only 12 cases have been reported since 2005 in the US. Swine flu has been reported as a zoonosis in humans but its distribution has been limited. It caused heavy loss to the pig industry resulting in heavy economic loss. A pandemic of swine flu in 1918 has occurred which was associated with the H1N1 virus and the flu was transmitted from both pigs to humans and from humans to pigs. In 1976 an outbreak occurred in the United States and at this time the strain which was responsible for the spread of the disease was H3N2. A vaccination programme was run to control the spread of the virus but it didn’t proved effective. An outbreak of swine flu also occurred in 1988 and 1998. People of Philippines were infected with the swine flu virus.

All of us are familiar with the outbreak of the swine flu in the year 2009 as the initial testing indicated that the genes of the virus were exactly similar to those of the influenza virus that caused swine flu in the North American swine. The virus that was responsible for causing this outbreak was H1N1. Margaret Chan the director general of World Health Organization declared swine flu as a matter of international concern as she found that about more than hundreds of people were found infected with this disease in April 2009. Swine flu became a major pandemic by the end of 2009 as it was responsible for the development of fear among the people. 17,700 people lost their lives because of swine flu. Many individuals also lost their lives because of fear too. Vaccines to cure swine flu are presently available.

Transmission of Disease

Transmission between pigs

Influenza is a very common disease in the pigs and about half of the breeding pigs are infected with this virus in the United States. The antibodies against this virus have been commonly found in the pigs of other countries. The disease is basically transmitted by the direct contact between the infected and the healthy individuals. The close contacts are often observed during the transport. Intensive farming is also one such factor for the spread of disease among the pigs. The virus is easily transferred through the touching of nose by the pigs and through the dried mucus. Air borne transmission is also possible as the aerosols are transferred easily by coughing and sneezing of pigs. The virus spreads very rapidly and can infect all the pigs of a herd within a few days. Wild boars may also serve as a source of infection to the pigs of a farm.

Transmission to Humans

Individuals involved in intensive poultry and swine are at more risk of being infected with the virus and are responsible for the zoonotic spread of the disease. Vaccination of such individuals is thus more important in order to prevent the outbreak of the disease. Meat processing workers as well as the veterinarians are also at the risk of getting infected with the virus but the chances are very small. Pigs are generally infected with the influenza virus which commonly infects three species including humans, birds and pigs. Pigs may act as hosts where the influenza virus may exchange its genes resulting in the production of more dangerous strains. The influenza virus H3N2 causes flu in the birds is endemic in China and easily produced new dangerous strains after getting entry in the pigs. H3N2 has evolved from the H2N2 virus by antigenic shift. In August 2004 scientists found that the pigs are infected with the H5N1 virus strain in China. This strain has emerged from the avian influenza virus.

Signs and Symptoms

In Pigs

The symptoms of influenza in pigs include fever, lethargy, sneezing, coughing, difficulty in breathing and decreased appetite. In some cases abortion may also take place. Mortality is low but the virus may lead to weight loss and poor growth resulting in heavy economic loss to the farmers. The infected pigs may lose about 12 pounds of body weight within a period of 3-4 weeks.

In Humans

The major symptoms of swine flu in human beings include runny nose, sore throat, fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, coughing, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Direct transmission of the swine flu virus from pigs to humans is occasionally possible. Only six deaths have been reported out of the 50 cases in the literature since 1958 for in which one case was that of a pregnant lady, one had leukemia and the other was suffering from Hodgkin disease. The outbreak of swine flu in 2009 was more intense because it was transmitted from humans to humans more in percentage rather than from pigs to humans. The death due to swine flu is mainly because of the respiratory failure. Other causes include pneumonia, high fever, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance and kidney failure. Children are at more risk of death than the elder persons. Diagnosis of swine flu can be done by RT-PCR for the isolation of H1N1. Other tests are under the process of development.

Prevention

In Pigs

Spread of the virus can be checked by facility management, herd management and timely vaccination of the pigs. Once infected with the influenza virus the pigs are also at the risk of being infected with other harmful pathogens. Control of the virus by vaccination is not completely safe as the virus is able to produce harmful strains. Presently bivalent vaccines are available for the control of the spread of the swine flu virus in the United States. These vaccines are not effective against the H3N2 strain. Facility management includes the use of disinfectants and ambient temperature to control the virus from growing. The virus cannot survive for more than two weeks outside the host except in cold and the disinfectants can easily inactivate the virus. Herd management includes avoidance of close contact between the infected pigs and the healthy pigs. The virus can remain alive in the carrier pigs up to 3 months and can result in the outbreak anytime. These carrier pigs may be responsible for the spread of the swine flu virus to the healthy pigs so such pigs must be quarantined.

In Humans

Swine may be infected easily with the avian and human influenza virus. The spread of the swine flu virus from pigs to humans is generally common among the farmers working in the pig farms. Although no strains of the swine flu virus are presently available for getting directly transferred from pigs to humans but the transfer may happen by chance. The workers working in the pig farms and the veterinarians are therefore encouraged to use masks while dealing with the infected individuals.

Vaccination may also be a preventive method. Use of gloves and avoidance of close contact with the infected individuals is also recommended. Influenza virus easily spreads from infected persons to normal persons by sneezing, coughing and touching anything containing the virus and touching with either nose or face. The virus is not transmitted by the consumption of pig products. The swine flu is contagious in humans up to 5 days and may remain contagious up to 10 days. Children are at a greater risk of getting infected. The diagnosis can be done sending a specimen collected during the first five days of infection.

The spread of the virus from humans to humans can be prevented by adopting standard methods of influenza control. These methods include frequently washing of the hands with soap and water or alcohol based sanitizers especially when present in the public places. Use of disinfectants especially the chlorine based solution and other strong disinfectants should be used for the cleaning of houses. Experts have suggested that the washing of the hands with soap and water can help in preventing the control of the virus and also always not touching the eyes and nose can also be helpful in preventing the spread of the swine flu virus. Social distancing is another measure for remaining safe from the virus.

Vaccination

Vaccines are available for different types of the swine flu. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a vaccine for the swine flu in the United States on 15September 2009. National Institutes of Health (NIH) has suggested that only a single dose is effective and it makes sufficient number of antibodies against the virus within a period of 10 days.

Treatment

In Swine

Swine influenza is rarely fatal to the pigs and little treatment and supportive care is required for preventing the virus from spreading. Vaccination and animal management techniques are the major steps that are supposed to be taken. Antibiotics may be used but they are not completely safe as they are ineffective against the virus and may be responsible for the appearance of symptoms of pneumonia and other secondary infections.

In Humans

If a person is suffering from swine flu then antiviral drugs may be taken and these help in recovering the patient. Apart from the antiviral drugs, supportive care at the hospitals and home can also help in recovering the patient faster. The FDA in 2009 has recommended the use of Tamiflu and Relenza for treating swine flu and they are completely safe.

We can conclude that swine flu is not a disease to be feared from but little attention, use of appropriate drugs and supportive care can be helpful in spread of the disease.

 
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