Palm oil is used as a cooking oil, in baking, for frying foods as it can resist high temperatures and does not produce unpleasant smells. It is also used to make margarine and as a component in many processed foods.

So when you see palm oil on a food label when shopping, do not hesitate. You now know it’s a good for your health!

Tags: Palm, oil, HDL, LDL, cholesterol, antioxidants, tocotrienols

Tags: Dry, Skin, moisturizer, cracked, skin, wrinkles

Supplements will benefit those who are:

- under physical, mental or emotional stress

- are recovering from illness or surgery

- are taking certain medication (those on oral contraceptives, antibiotics, diabetic or asthma medication or anticonvulsants are prone to vitamin and mineral depletion)

- smoke (smokers need 30% more vitamin C than non-smokers)

- consume alcohol (alcohol depletes essential B vitamins and zinc)

- are an elderly or fussy eater (also if you skip meals)

- are an athelete or constant exerting themselves physically.

Supplements are a good way to compensate for the possible deficiencies caused by improper diet. It also helps to boost the body’s defense system to prevent certain illnesses. Identifying the correct selection of supplements and its dosages is vital. Consult a doctor or health professional if taking any medications or undergoing treatment for a specific medical condition.

Tags: supplements, vitamins,

1. Choose foods low in saturated fats and high in beta-carotene, vitamin C, E and mineral zinc, which protect against heart disease.

2. Take in more soluble fibre such as oats and psyllium seeds as they lower cholesterol level by binding to the bile salts for elimination.

3. Boost the intake of omega-6 and omega-3 essential fatty acids, either through diet orsupplementation as they not only lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure but decrease stickiness of blood cells. All these help reduce the risk of heart disease. Examples of omega-6 and omega-3 essential fatty acids are evening primrose oil and fish oil respectively.

4. Watch your weight as excess weight tends to increase blood cholesterol level

5. Regular exercise lowers LDL cholesterol and increases levels of desirable HDL simultaneously.

6. Abstain from alcohol, avoid smoking and manage stress

Tags: cholesterol, tips, healthy

Natural Remedy for Cholesterol

Guggulipid is a gum resin extract from the guggul tree. The active ingredients in guggulipid are guggulsterones Z and E which have lipid-lowering effect. The prime mechanism of action for guggulipid’s cholesterol effect is believed to be through inhibition of cholesterol synthesis in the liver as well as the promotion of cholesterol breakdown and excretion. Fish oils, a rich source of omega 3, can help to reduce LDL and increase HDL. It can also help to reduce triglycerides levels. These effects reduce the viscosity of the blood to facilitate blood flow and reduces the likelihood of blood clotting and artery spesms. Thus, help to reduce the risk of heart diseases.

Prescription medications

A complete cholesterol and lipid profile can only be known through a blood test. Talk to your doctor and he will decide if you need to be on medications to control your cholesterol levels. The medications that are usually prescribed are the -statin groups (simvastatin, lovastation, atorvastatin, fluvastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin), finofibrate and gemfibrozil.

Tags: cholesterol, LDL, HDL, atherosclerosis, statin

The Good and Bad Cholesterol

Cholesterol is carried through the bloodstream by special carriers called lipoproteins. These are two major types of lipoproteins: the low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL).

LDL Cholesterol

LDL is the major form in which cholesterol is carried from the liver into the blood and to the cells. If too much LDL cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can go rancid in the arterial wall upon exposure to free radicals, a process called oxidation. The oxidised LDL cholesterol can slowly build up in the walls of the arteries feeding the heart and brain, resulting in arterial blockage.

HDL Cholesterol

HDL cholesterol, by contrast, protects our body by clearing excess LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream and returning it to the liver for recycling or conversuin into bile acids to be excreted.

Triglycerides

Triglycerides are another form of fat that circulates in the blood. People suffering from heart attack often have high blood levels of triglycerides.

Reference range of total cholesterol and lipid profiles (mmol/L)

Test                    Desirable            Borderline        High
Total Cholesterol     <5.18            5.18 - 6.20        >6.21
LDL Cholesterol       <2.59            3.36 - 4.12        4.13 - 4.90
HDL Cholesterol       >1.55
Serum Triglycerides  <1.69            1.69 - 2.25        >2.26

Tags: cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides

1. Make your bedroom a haven for sleep
Your room should be quiet and sufficiently dark, because darkness prompts the pineal gland to produce melatonin, the hormone that regulates circadian rhythms (your 24-hour body clock). Cool temperatures help you sleep, so set your thermostat appropriately. Open a window or use a fan for the better ventilation in the room. Use a humidifier if the air in the room is too dry.

2. Create a transition routine
This is something you do every night before bed. It could be as simple as reading a few pages of novel, turning out the lights, washing your face, and brushing your teeth. Or it could be a series of yoga or meditation exercises. As you begin to move into your “nightly routine,” your mind will get the signal that it’s time to tune down, dialing down stress hormones and physiologically preparing you for sleep. It’s also critical to go to bed and get up at the same time every day — even on weekends.

3. Take care of your tummy
Don’t have a big meal too close to bedtime or the digestion process might keep you awake. Also, if you lie down after stuffing yourself you can end up with gastric reflux — stomach acid backing up into the esophagus. If you’re hungry, have a snack rich in carbohydrates, which trigger the release of the brain chemical serotonin, associated with relaxation. Try a glass of warm milk, it will help too!

5. Don’t consume too much caffeine
Limit yourself to two cups of tea, coffee, or cola, taken at least 6 hours before bedtime. If that doesn’t work, try cutting out caffeine altogether.

6. Take a warm bath
Take a warm bath an hour or two before bed. Your body temperature will slowly drop after you get out of the tub, making you feel tired. Don’t bathe right before bed because it can briefly stimulate you enough to make it hard to fall asleep.

7. Sprinkle lavender water
Sprinke just-washed sheets and pillowcases with lavender water. The scent is scientifically proven to promote relaxation, alternatively,put lavender water in a perfume atomizer and spray above your bed just before climbing in.

Good Night! Sweet Dreams!

Tags: insomnia, sleep, bedroom, warm, bath, lavender

1.Avoid alcohol, over-the-counter decongestants, antihistamines and caffeine which tend to cause urine retention.

2.Do not limit the amount of fluids you drink. Fluids are very important to flush out the bladder and prevent infections from developing.

3.Saw palmetto has been shown to to provide improvement in urinary flow for 90% of the men taking it for mild-to-moderate BPH.This herb decreases the ability of receptors in the prostate to take in more testoterone; in effect, this slows the growth of prostate cells.

Prescription treatments

If BPH has gone unchecked for some time and urine is backed up in the bladder, it may be necessary to insert a catheter to release the pressure. Prescription medications may also be needed. Your doctor may prescribe Hytrin (terazosin), Cardura (doxazosin). These medications act to relax the bladder sphincter and let the unrine flow more freely. Proscar (finasteride) and Avodart (dutasteride) may also be prescribed. These medications shrink or halt the enlarging prostate by blocking an enzyme (5-alpha reductase) that causes the prostate cells to divide more rapidly.

Tags: BPH, saw, palmetto, hytrin, cardura, proscar, avodart

BPH is not cancerous.It is a swelling of the prostate gland. The prostate is the walnut-sized gland that helps producing semen; it encircles the urethra. So when the prostate swells, it makes it very diffucult to urinate or it can cut out the flow of urine.

The first symptoms include difficulty in starting to urinate, then feeling like you are not quite “finished”, even after the stream has stopped.ighttimr trips to the bathroom become more common. Urinary incontinence (dribbling) may develop along with bladder infections or kidney stones. If you notice any of these symptoms, it is important to contact your doctor right away.

Tags: BPH, prostate, hyperplasia, urinary, incontinence

Beta-carotene was appreciated as a precursor of vitamin A. Now it is known that beta-carotene is one of the Big Three antioxidants, the other two being vitamins C and E.

Beta-carotene also helps in strengthening the immune system by boosting the number of T-helper and infection-fighting cells. It lowers the risk of cancer and certain infectious diseases. Furthermore, it decreases the risk for cardiovascular disease by interfering with how fats and cholesterol in the bloodstream oxidize to form arterial plaques.

Colour is the key to Identify beta-carotene loaded foods. Yellow- to red-orange-coloured fruits and vegetables, and dark-green, leafy vegetables are rich in beta-carotene. The beta-carotene pigment in dark-green leaves is masked by chlorophyll.  It is estimated that the recommended cancer prevention dose of beta -carotene is 15 mg to 25 mg daily.

Vegetables that are rich in beta-carotene are carrots, capsicum peppers, sweet potatoes, bitter melon, tamarind, swamp cabbage (or water con-volvulus), spinach, kale, choi sum, lettuce and green onions. From fruit stands, your favorite provitamin A pick should be melon and ripe mangoes. These two contain about a third more beta-carotene than sweet potato and squash. You will also want some canistel, ripe papaya, bananas, jackfruit, tangerines, oranges and pink grapefruit.

Tags: beta, carotene, immune, cardiovascular, cancer, prevention