VitaPuro Blog

A care for Arthritis That Works

liliana — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:24:24 +0000

Arthritis is something that can severely affect your quality of life, characterised by chronic pain in the joints and with no cure it can affect you 24 hours of the day and prevent you from being able to do the things you enjoy. In the US it is the most common cause of disability (more than 20 million people suffer from it to the point of disability). In severe cases arthritis might also lead to the loss of feeling in the fingers or feet, nerve damage and severe deformity of the affected and surrounding joints. Over time he condition gets worse, meaning the prognosis is poor for most sufferers. Of course all this means that arthritis patients make the perfect targets for some of the bottom feeders on the internet promising miracle cures and trying to sell expensive e-books (I’m looking at you ‘I Cured My Arthritis You Can Too’) through a series of lies and false-promises. Many of these claim to work through a new type of diet, but as arthritis is the result of either physical trauma to the joint or an infection the majority of the time there is no way this would affect your pain. The minute a ‘cure’ claims that ‘doctors do not want you to know about it’ then you can be sure it will not work.

The truth is unfortunately that there is no ‘cure’ for arthritis as such, though there are some important things to realise about the condition and in some cases the pain can be prevented or stopped depending on the precise situation.

Perhaps surprisingly, there are actually over 100 forms of arthritis. The most common of these is osteoarthritis which occurs as a result of trauma to the joint, wear and tear through age, or infection of the joint (septic arthritis is also cased by infection). Other forms are rheumatoid, psoriatic, autoimmune disease and more. All of which are a result of the body’s immune system attacking itself.

Most often this will manifest itself in the hand or wrist, or in the legs, back or spine. The main symptom then other than pain in these areas is the inability to use the hand or to walk. It might also be accompanied by malaise, weight loss, poor sleep, muscle ache and general tenderness. The area is also likely to swell up and become inflamed, which then exacerbates the problem further as the bones rub against each other more. Over time continued use of the affected muscle will cause it to wear away and so deteriorate. This can also lead to other complications such as nerve damage, trapped nerves, carpal tunnel syndrome and muscle loss.

As such the normal treatments are nothing more than painkillers and often anti-inflammatory drugs to bring down the swelling. The drugs prescribed will be likely to get stronger as the condition becomes more painful. In the case of other specific forms of arthritis such as autoimmune disease then immunosuppresesants can be used to limit the damage caused by the immune system, while disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and antibiotics can be used to fight infection.

One treatment however that is used can be considered a cure is arthroplasty, which is surgery to completely replace the joint. In cases of osteoarthritis this painful procedure can completely eliminate the problem by replacing the damaged joint with a new smoother one that will not grind itself away or become swollen. This is the only ‘cure’ that could work in such cases but is highly invasive. An orthopaedic brace can also be used to help with posture, position, weight bearing and/or to limit movement.

Other than surgery and medication you will be recommended to partake in some form of physiotherapy and/or exercise. This will help to gently smooth the joint and to strengthen the muscle around it which can take some of the pressure off and improve movement. Often exercise will be performed under water, particularly in warm water, which is creates no impact and also soothes the joint enabling it to move more easily. Exercise in general is recommended as is weight loss where this could be a contributory factor.

Unfortunately these are the closest things you are likely to find to a ‘cure’ at the moment and there is no silver bullet for what is a serious and long lasting condition. The only alternative advice is to learn to live with the pain which many doctors will tell you. This sounds harsh and unsympathetic, but at the end of the day you do not have much other choice unless you want to focus on the suffering. Remember that pain is only there to indicate to you a problem – acknowledge this and realise that as there’s nothing you can do for the problem you would be better to just continue with your daily behaviour and commitments. The only cure that really works? Mental hardiness.

Peruvian Maca the Magical Benefits

liliana — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:30:47 +0000

The Magical Benefits of Peruvian Macag:

Maca root grows in the mountains of Peru at high altitudes of 7,000 to 11,000 feet, making it the highest altitude growing plant in the world. Maca is a radish-like root vegetable that is related to the potato family, and is tuberous and spherical in form. The root itself is about three to six centimeters across and 4.7 centimeters in length. There are four recognized types of Maca Root based on the color of the root. Root color varies from creamy yellow or light pink to dark purple or black.

Chemically Maca root contains significant amounts of amino acids, carbohydrates, and minerals including calcium, phosphorous, zinc, magnesium, iron, as well as vitamins B1, B2, B12, C and E. Peruvian Maca also includes a number of glycosides.

As a nutritional supplement, Peruvian Maca has generalized tonic effects on the biochemical functioning of the human body. Chief among these effects is the enhancement of endocrine function. The endocrine system includes all of the glands, and the hormones they secrete, that exist in the body and that control such conditions as fertility, sexual function, digestion, brain and nervous system physiology, and energy levels. Hormonal regulation is responsible for all of the physiological attributes that enable us to enjoy the myriad sensations of being vibrantly alive, including those related to sexual arousal, physical activity and mental-emotional states of being. Maca root has also been called an adaptogen, which means that it increases the body’s ability to defend itself against both physical and mental weakening, hence potential illness. It is believed it achieves this by supporting adrenal and pituitary gland health, both of which underlie proper endocrine function.

Known Modern Applications:

Traditionally, Maca has been used for a variety purposes, which can differ for men and women. For example, women have found it helps relieve the symptoms of PMS and menopause. Women tend to notice a dramtic decline in hot flashes and night sweats. Men have used it to enhance fertility and sexual function. Users of Maca root tend to derive a variety of benefits in accordance with their individual needs. However, both men and women have found that it significantly boosts libido and sex drive, increases energy, stamina and the feeling of general well-being. In fact, recently Maca has been used as an excellent alternative to anabolic steroids among athletes seeking muscle hypertrophy. Unlike many other energy- and muscle-boosting substances, such as anabolic steroids, Maca contains no chemicals that interfere with or over-activate normal endocrine function.

What is Gelatinized Maca?

Choose gelatinized Maca for greater potency and optimal absorption. Gelatinization is an extrusion process that removes the starch from the root leaving a more concentrated powder that is easier to digest. Gelatinized Maca was the form used in the first human clinical study on Maca that yielded great results. Plus if buying in the powdered form, gelatinized Maca tastes much better and mixes easier into food and beverages.

How Can Maca Benefit You?

Male:

Increases energy (Chronic Fatigue)
Treat sexual dysfunction (Loss of Libido)
Increases stamina & athletic performance
Nourishes glandular system
Fertility enhancement
Improves physical and emotional well being
Promotes mental clarity
Balance hormones

Female:

Treat PMS (Mood Swings)
Menopause symptom relief (Hot Flashes)
Sexual stimulation
Nourishes glandular system
HRT alternative(Hormone Replacement Therapy)
Increases stamina & athletic performance
Increases energy (Chronic Fatigue)
Balance hormones

Menopause is a natural progression in a woman’s life – it is the cessation of menses generally accompanied by symptoms. This transition is unique for every woman yet there are ways to prevent and diminish the symptoms that typically accompany menopause.

Benefits of Maca

Increases libido
Deeper sleep
Balances moods
Enhances memory and brain function
Increases energy levels
Helps adapt to stress
Slows the aging process
Lessens aches and pain, more endurance and stamina
Prevents osteoporosis, high calcium and vegetable protein
Reverses vaginal dryness

Slimming pills are they really works?

liliana — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:37:40 +0000

Obesity has emerged as a major health issue. Excess body weight significantly elevates the risks of cardiovascular diseases, degenerative diseases of the bones and muscles, knee and hip pain, insulin resistance diabetes and certain cancers.

However, losing weight appears to be an arduous task, at least at the initial stage. Although modification in the diet could aid weight loss, suddenly lowering the daily calorie intake causes exhaustion. On the other hand, reducing the daily calorie intake gradually would slow down the weight loss process. For a person accustomed to a sedentary lifestyle, it is usually quite difficult to increase the intensity and duration of workouts. To increase the effectiveness of a weight loss program without drastically cutting your daily calorie intake and increasing the intensity of physical activities, you can consume Morslim-Z herbal slimming capsules daily.

Health Benefits of Caracol Cream

Rosa — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 21:15:28 +0000

Snail cream is made from snail mucous, or slime as it is commonly called. Snail slime is the fluid that snails’ excrete, which allows them to glide along and climb walls without falling. Snail slime has some unique medicinal properties that are used in various dermatologic conditions and products. Snail cream is available in over-the-counter cosmetic creams to treat various skin conditions.

Burn Treatment

The mucous that snails’ excrete is called Helix aspersa. This extract helps heal skin burns. A study by D. Tsoutsos and colleagues, published in the 2009 issue of “The Journal of Dermatological Treatment,” evaluated snail extract used as a burn treatment in 43 burn patients. One group of 27 patients used snail cream twice daily while the control group of 16 patients used moist exposure burn ointment, MEBO. The patients given the cream with snail extract had a significant improvement in burned skin. The burn patients treated with MEBO did not show the same improvements. They concluded that snail cream is a safe and effective alternative treatment for burns.

Topical Anesthetic

Snail extract used in creams to treat burns works as a topical anesthetic reducing pain from skin burns. The D. Tsoutsos study treated burn patients with snail extract cream and noted that not only did the burns heal faster, but also the pain was significantly reduced.

Other studies on sea snail neurotoxins indicate a powerful anesthetic effect, according to an article published in the March 2005 issue of “Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.” In 2004, the FDA approved the drug Ziconotide, which is made from snail neurotoxins, as a treatment for chronic pain. Ziconotide, however, is not in cream form. A medical professional must inject it.

Wound Healing

Snail cream has been used since the days of Hippocrates as a wound treatment. Spermatheca gland extract from snails was used as a topical cream to treat wounds in 12 rabbits. The rabbits were examined on days zero, three, seven and 14 for wound healing progress. The results showed significant improvements in all measured parameters, according to S. Kuumar in a 2008 study published in “The International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds.” The study conclusion recommended further testing to better understand the wound healing potential of snail cream.

Tips to Eating Healthy

Ted — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:20:57 +0000

Eating a healthy, balanced diet is an important part of maintaining good health, and can help you feel your best. It can be simple, too. Just follow these eight tips to get started.

The two keys to a healthy diet are:

Eat the right number of calories for how active you are, so that you balance the energy you consume with the energy you use. If you eat or drink too much, you’ll put on weight. If you eat too little you’ll lose weight. The average man needs around 2,500 calories a day. The average woman needs 2,000 calories. Most adults are eating more calories than they need, and should eat fewer calories.
Eat a wide range of foods to ensure that you’re getting a balanced diet and that your body is receiving all the nutrients it needs.

Get started

The eatwell plate

To help you get the right balance of the five main food groups, take a look at the eatwell plate (PDF, 120kb)
To maintain a healthy diet, the eatwell plate shows you how much of what you eat should come from each food group

These practical tips cover the basics of healthy eating, and can help you make healthier choices:

Base your meals on starchy foods
Starchy foods include potatoes, cereals, pasta, rice and bread. Choose wholegrain varieties when you can: they contain more fibre, and can make you feel full for longer. Starchy foods should make up around one third of the foods you eat.
Most of us should eat more starchy foods: try to include at least one starchy food with each main meal. Some people think starchy foods are fattening, but gram for gram they contain fewer than half the calories of fat. Learn more in Starchy foods.
Eat lots of fruit and veg
It’s recommended that we eat at least five portions of different types of fruit and veg a day. It’s easier than it sounds. A glass of 100% unsweetened fruit juice can count as one portion, and vegetables cooked into dishes also count. Why not chop a banana over your breakfast cereal, or swap your usual mid-morning snack for some dried fruit? Learn more in 5 A DAY.
Eat more fish
Fish is a good source of protein and contains many vitamins and minerals. Aim for at least two portions a week, including at least one portion of oily fish. Oily fish is high in omega-3 fats, which may help to prevent heart disease. You can choose from fresh, frozen and canned; but remember that canned and smoked fish can be high in salt. Oily fish include salmon, mackerel, trout, herring, fresh tuna, sardines and pilchards. Non-oily fish include haddock, plaice, coley, cod, tinned tuna, skate and hake. Anyone who regularly eats a lot of fish should try to choose as wide a variety as possible.
Cut down on saturated fat and sugar
We all need some fat in our diet. But it’s important to pay attention to the amount and type of fat we’re eating. There are two main types of fat: saturated and unsaturated. Too much saturated fat can increase the amount of cholesterol in the blood, which increases your risk of developing heart disease. Saturated fat is found in many foods, such as hard cheese, cakes, biscuits, sausages, cream, butter, lard and pies. Try to cut down, and choose foods that contain unsaturated rather than saturated fats, such as vegetable oils, oily fish and avocados. For a healthier choice, use a just a small amount of vegetable oil or reduced fat spread instead of butter, lard or ghee. When you’re having meat, choose lean cuts and cut off any visible fat. Learn more, and get tips on cutting down, in Eat less saturated fat.

Most people in the UK eat and drink too much sugar. Sugary foods and drinks, including alcoholic drinks, are often high in calories, and could contribute to weight gain. They can also cause tooth decay, especially if eaten between meals. Cut down on sugary fizzy drinks, alcoholic drinks, cakes, biscuits and pastries, which contain added sugars: this is the kind of sugar we should be cutting down on rather than sugars that are found naturally in foods such as fruit and milk. Food labels can help: use them to check how much sugar foods contain. More than 15g of sugar per 100g means that the food is high in sugar. Learn more in Sugars.
Eat less salt
Even if you don’t add salt to your food, you may still be eating too much. About three-quarters of the salt we eat is already in the food we buy, such as breakfast cereals, soups, breads and sauces. Eating too much salt can raise your blood pressure. People with high blood pressure are more likely to develop heart disease or have a stroke. Use food labels to help you cut down. More than 1.5g of salt per 100g means the food is high in salt. Adults and children over 11 should eat no more than 6g of salt a day. Younger children should have even less. Learn more in Salt: the facts.
Get active and be a healthy weight
Eating a healthy, balanced diet plays an important part in maintaining a healthy weight, which is an important part of overall good health. Being overweight or obese can led to health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, heart disease and stroke. Being underweight could also affect your health. Check whether you’re a healthy weight by using our Healthy weight calculator. Most adults need to lose weight, and need to eat fewer calories in order to do this. If you’re trying to lose weight, aim to eat less and be more active. Eating a healthy, balanced diet will help: aim to cut down on foods that are high in fat and sugar, and eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. Don’t forget that alcohol is also high in calories, so cutting down can help you to control your weight. You can find information and advice to help in Lose weight. If you’re underweight, see Underweight adults. If you’re worried about your weight, ask your GP or a dietitian for advice.

Physical activity can help you to maintain weight loss or be a healthy weight. Being active doesn’t have to mean hours at the gym: you can find ways to fit more activity into your daily life. For example, try getting off the bus one stop early on the way home from work, and walking. Being physically active may help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. For more ideas, see Get active your way. After getting active, remember not to reward yourself with a treat that is high in calories. If you feel hungry after activity choose foods or drinks that are lower in calories but still filling.
Don’t get thirsty
We need to drink about 1.2 litres of fluid every day to stop us getting dehydrated. This is in addition to the fluid we get from the food we eat. All non-alcoholic drinks count, but water, milk and fruit juices are the most healthy. Try to avoid sugary soft and fizzy drinks that are high in added sugars and can be high in calories and bad for teeth. When the weather is warm, or when we get active, we may need more. Learn more in Drinks.
Don’t skip breakfast
Some people skip breakfast because they think it will help them lose weight. In fact, research shows that eating breakfast can help people control their weight. A healthy breakfast is an important part of a balanced diet, and provides some of the vitamins and minerals we need for good health. Wholemeal cereal, with fruit sliced over the top is a tasty and nutritious breakfast.

The Facts About High Blood Pressure

Rosa — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:19:19 +0000

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and people who have abnormally high pressure in their arteries are far more likely than others to die prematurely of heart disease.

Your arteries carry the blood from your heart throughout your body. Blood pressure is the measure of how hard your blood is pushing against the inside of your arteries. Although a certain amount of pressure is needed to carry blood through your body, if that pressure is too great, you have high blood pressure, orhypertension.

When blood pressure is measured, there are two numbers for each reading: for example, “120 over 80″ is written as 120/80. This is because each heartbeat sends a pressure wave through the bloodstream. The higher number (systolic blood pressure) is the peak of the wave, when your heart contracts (the loud “thump” when you listen to your heartbeat). The lower number (diastolic blood pressure) is the lower “dip” or trough of the wave, when your heart relaxes.

Blood pressure is always recorded as the systolic number over the diastolic number, and the numbers indicate pressure as measured in millimetres of mercury on the gauge (mm Hg). In general, someone has high blood pressure if several measurements of blood pressure at the doctor’s office show readings of 140 systolic or 90 diastolic or higher.

Hypertension is one of the main risk factors for heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. In Canada, it has been estimated that 20% of men and 19% of women have high blood pressure. Many are not aware of the problem. Of those who are, less than one-third receive adequate treatment to control their blood pressure.

Causes of High Blood Pressure

Primary (or essential) hypertension is when the cause is unknown. The majority of hypertension cases are primary. When there is an underlying problem such as kidney disease or hormonal disorders that can cause hypertension, it is calledsecondary hypertension. When it is possible to correct the underlying cause, high blood pressure usually improves and may even return to normal.

Other factors that can contribute to hypertension include:

age (blood pressure usually increases with age)
diet
excessive alcohol consumption
lack of exercise
obesity
sleep apnea
stress

Symptoms and Complications of High Blood Pressure

Hypertension can occasionally cause headaches, vision problems, dizziness, or shortness of breath, but most people with hypertension have no symptoms. This is why hypertension is referred to as the “silent killer.” Hypertension is usually discovered at a regular medical checkup when a doctor or nurse takes a blood pressure reading.

Diagnosing High Blood Pressure

If your blood pressure is above the normal range for up to 5 readings (taken at different visits), your doctor will likely diagnose you with high blood pressure. Sometimes the doctor may diagnose you after a fewer number of readings, depending on how high above normal your blood pressure is and if you have other medical conditions. Blood pressure tends to be at its highest during exercise, physical work, or stress, and lowest during sleep. Everyone can have a temporary increase in blood pressure at one time or another, which is why it’s important to take multiple readings.

If blood pressure is high, a physician will also want to know if there are any other risk factors such as high cholesterol, diabetes, inactivity, obesity, smoking, or a family history of heart disease. The more risk factors someone has, the higher the chance of getting heart disease or a stroke.

A doctor might take an electrocardiogram (ECG) for a reading of the electric activity of the heart, or get blood samples to see if high blood pressure has caused any organ damage.

Treating and Preventing High Blood Pressure

The management of hypertension includes lifestyle changes and the use of medications. Proper treatment of high blood pressure can add years to a person’s life. Controlling blood pressure with medications can decrease the risk of stroke and heart disease.

Medications used to lower blood pressure include diuretics (e.g., hydrochlorothiazide*), beta-blockers (e.g., atenolol, metoprolol), ACE inhibitors(e.g., ramipril, enalapril, lisinopril), calcium channel blockers (e.g., nifedipine, amlodipine), angiotensin II blockers (e.g., losartan, valsartan), and direct renin inhibitors (e.g., aliskiren).

People who have other risk factors, especially those who have diabetes or have already suffered heart damage, may be started on medications even if their blood pressure is below “official” hypertensive levels.

In most cases, the goal of treatment is to bring down the systolic pressure to less than 140 mm Hg and the diastolic pressure to less than 90 mm Hg. For people with diabetes or kidney disease, target blood pressure goals are lower (e.g., less than 130/80 mm Hg). Your doctor will determine the most appropriate goal for you.

To prevent hypertension and heart disease, here are some healthy lifestyle tips:

control alcohol intake (no more than 2 drinks per day to a maximum of 9 per week for women, or 14 per week for men)
cut down on your salt consumption
eat more fruits, vegetables, grains, and fibre
get regular physical activity – at least 150 minutes (2 and a half hours) of physical activity per week in sessions of at least 10 minutes
lose weight
stop smoking

It is important for people to know their blood pressure in mm Hg and the importance of keeping it controlled. The evidence suggests that even a small increase in blood pressure can cause a significant change in life expectancy.

50 Tips for Healthier Skin at Any Age

Rosa — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:56:08 +0000

It’s important to remember that your skin is a giant organ, and just like the heart or lungs, you need to take care of your skin to ensure it performs at it’s peak. When your skin is healthy, you feel better and look younger. You also work to prevent more serious illnesses such as skin cancer. The fifty tips below will help you improve your skin and keep it healthy no matter if you are fifteen or sixty-five.

Protection from the Sun

Surely everyone has heard of the damaging effects the sun has on skin. The next time you walk outside, keep in mind that whether it’s cloudy or sunny, the sun is reaching your skin. Follow these steps to make sure you keep your skin safe and healthy.

Sunscreen. Protect your skin from the sun. Apply sunscreen every time you go out in the sun, even in the winter. Find a good quality sunscreen that will not add unnecessary oils to your skin.
Lips. Don’t forget your lips, too. Lipstick or balm with SPF will keep your lips in good shape, especially if it is of the glossy variety.
Cover up. Cover your arms and legs with lightweight clothes in the summer, and remember to apply sunscreen underneath. Also, find some fun hats to wear. Not only will you be protecting your skin, but you can make a fashion statement as well.
Stay in. Stay out of direct sunlight from 10 am to 3 pm. This is when the sunlight is at it’s peak and can do the most damage to your skin.
Sunglasses. The skin around our eyes is very sensitive. That’s where crow’s feet begin to show, too. Wear sunglasses when you go outside for added protection to that sensitive area.
Head. Your scalp gets a direct hit from the sun all the time. If putting sunscreen on it isn’t an option, then wear some type of covering like a wide-brimmed hat or scarf to protect it from the sun.
After-sun care. Just in case you forgot to protect your skin and got a little too much sun, be sure to apply an after-sun product to your skin. Something as simple as aloe vera straight from the plant will do, or get creative and make one of these soothing lavender after-sun ointments.
Tanning beds. Keep in mind that tanning beds emit the same UV light that the sun does, so they are not a safer alternative to being in the sun. If you feel you must use a tanning bed, then apply sun screen just as you would if you planned to be in the sun.

What Are the Causes of Acne?

Rosa — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:44:28 +0000

Contrary to popular believe, French fries and chocolate don’t cause acne. If greasy foods are not the causes, then what is the cause of acne?

An acne blemish begins approximately 2-3 weeks before it appears on the surface of your skin. So while it may seem like you get a pimple overnight, what you’re actually seeing is the final stage of a much longer process. Acne starts in your pores, the tiny holes in your skin. Within each pore are glands that produce the oils that keep your skin moist and flexible. When your pores become clogged – much like a cork in a bottle, than oil becomes trapped and builds up in your pores. The plugged pore begins to swell as your skin continues to produce oil. Within the clogged pore the bacteria (that is naturally found on our skin) begins to grow as it feasts on the oil. Your body, detecting a buildup of bacteria sends white blood cells to fight the bacteria and a white, pussy infection occurs. This whole process can take between 2-3 weeks resulting in a pimple.

What Causes Acne?

Above, it seems like keeping your pores unclogged is the key solution to avoiding acne. While a clogged pore causes acne, a pore can be clogged by dead skin cells, oil, hair, or more. So washing your skin is good, but often times not the solution since pores can become clogged internally by the oil that your skin produces naturally.

Nobody is completely sure what causes acne. Experts believe the primary cause is a rise in androgen levels – androgen is a type of hormone. Androgen levels rise when a human becomes an adolescent. Rising androgen levels make the oil glands under your skin grow; the enlarged gland produces more oil. Excessive oil blocks the pores and causes bacteria to grow leading to more blockage and infection.

Some studies indicate that susceptibility to acne could also be genetic. Some medications which contain androgen and lithium may cause acne. Greasy cosmetics may cause acne in some susceptible people. Hormone changes during pregnancy may cause acne to either develop for the first time, or to recur.

Treatment for My Acne?

Depending on the severity of your acne you can choose a topical ointment or medicine. VitaPuro’s Vitacara Cream treats acne by clearing the pores, reducing inflammation and swelling, and promoting new health skin cell growth. To treat more severe cases of acne VitaPuro offers medicines that naturally and effectively create hormonal balance. VitaPuro’s Purosex is made with natural ingredients that promotes hormonal balance in both men and women.

Steps to Look After Your Skin

Wash your face about twice each day. Do not wash it more often. Use a mild soap made especially for people with acne, and warm water. Do not scrub the skin. Then apply VitaPuro’s Vitacara Cream.

I Can’t Get Pregnant

Rosa — Tue, 17 May 2011 09:09:09 +0000

Primary infertility is the term used to describe a couple that has not conceived a pregnancy after at least 1 year of unprotected sex.

Secondary infertility describes a couple who has been pregnant at least once, but has not been able to achieve another pregnancy.

Causes of infertility include a wide range of physical and emotional factors. Approximately 30 – 40% of all infertility is due to the man. Male problems like retrograde ejaculation, impotence, environmental pollutants, scarring from sexually transmitted disease, or low sperm count are common factors. Factors affecting sperm count are heavy marijuana use or use of prescription drugs like cimetidine, spironolactone, and nitrofurantoin.

Females account for 40-50% of infertility in couples. Female factors include scarring from a sexually transmitted disease or endometriosis, ovulation dysfunction, poor nutrition, hormone imbalance, ovarian cysts, pelvic infection, tumor, or transport system abnormality from the cervix through the fallopian tubes.

The remaining 10 -30% of infertility cases may be caused by contributing factors from both partners, or no cause can be identified.

It is estimated that 10 – 20% of couples will be unable to conceive after 1 year of trying to become pregnant. It is important that pregnancy be attempted for at least 1 year. The chances for pregnancy occurring in healthy couples who are both under the age of 30 and having intercourse regularly is only 25 – 30% per month. A woman’s peak fertility occurs in her early 20s. As a woman ages beyond 35 (and particularly after age 40), the likelihood of getting pregnant drops to less than 10% per month.

In addition to age-related factors, increased risk for infertility is associated with the following:

Multiple sexual partners (increases risk for sexually transmitted diseases)
Sexually transmitted diseases
History of PID (pelvic inflammatory disease)
History of orchitis or epididymitis in men
Mumps (men)
Varicocele (men)
A past medical history that includes DES exposure (men or women)
Eating disorders (women)
Anovulatory menstrual cycles
Endometriosis
Defects of the uterus (myomas) or cervical obstruction
Long-term (chronic) disease such as diabetes

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause of infertility. It may involve simple education and counseling, medicines to treat infections or promote ovulation, or highly sophisticated medical procedures such as in vitro fertilization. It is important for the couple to recognize and discuss the emotional impact that infertility has on them as individuals and together and to seek medical advice from their health care provider.

10 Things To Know About Weight Loss

Rosa — Tue, 17 May 2011 09:08:58 +0000

Despite common belief, body weight is not always an accurate reflection of your health.

For example, you may lose muscle and gain fat over the years but see little change in weight on the scale. Such a change would reflect a decline in health, especially if the fat is gained around your stomach, but not a decline in weight. A recent report found that women drinking 2 or more sugar-sweetened drinks a day were more likely to accumulate visceral fat — even if they did not gain weight overall. Fat gained around the stomach and your abdominal organs is called visceral fat and is associated with a heightened risk in heart disease and diabetes.

According to DrBriffa.com:

“It’s entirely possible for someone to be a ‘healthy’ weight, and have biochemical and physiological evidence of enhanced risk of disease.”

Can You Be Skinny and Still Be in Poor Health?

The short answer is yes. It’s certainly possible to be thin and unhealthy. However, overall, there are far more unhealthy overweight people than unhealthy thin people.

But regardless of your physical size, measuring your insulin, leptin and cholesterol levels can give you a good indication of whether or not you are “metabolically fit,” and whether you’re headed toward chronic illness, regardless of your weight.

That said, health problems related to excess weight are definitely more common. The risks of obesity are fairly well-known by now — obese adults tend to have higher rates of high blood pressure, abnormal lipids, cancer and diabetes, for example.

How to Accurately Measure Healthiness

The body mass index (BMI) gauges your weight in relation to height. However, this measurement is rather flawed, particularly for those who are very muscular. These individuals can be easily misclassified as obese (since muscle weighs more than fat) when in fact they’re just carrying a lot of muscle and very little fat. The BMI measurement also does not give you any indication of where the fat is located in your body, and this appears to be more important than the amount of fat when it comes to measuring heart risks.

The easiest and perhaps best way to measure your body composition is to simply measure your waist size.Studies have shown that your waist size is a far more accurate predictor of your heart risks than your BMI, as abdominal fat in particular is strongly associated with heart disease. Your waist size is also a powerful indicator of insulin sensitivity, as studies clearly show that measuring your waist size is one of the most powerful ways to predict your risk for diabetes.

Determining your waist size is easy. With a tape measure, figure the distance around the smallest area of your abdomen below your rib cage and above your belly button. If you’re not sure if you have a healthy waist circumference, a general guide is:

For men, between 37 and 40 inches is overweight and more than 40 inches is obese
For women, 31.5 to 34.6 inches is overweight and more than 34.6 inches is obese

For even greater accuracy, you can resort to hydrostatic weighing, where you get weighed under water. This measures the density of your body, which is then used to calculate how much body fat you have.

10 Things You May Not Know about Your Weight

A related article by Prevent Disease lists 10 things you may not know about your weight, but really should. Below are a few of them. (To review previous articles written on these topics, please follow the hyperlinks provided.) For the rest of the list, please see the original article:

You can change your metabolism: A study of sets of twins where one was fat and the other thin found that fat cells in heavier twins underwent metabolic changes that make it more difficult to burn fat. Physical activity can reverse the effect.
Stress can make you fat: Stressful circumstances can cause cravings for carbohydrate-rich foods. Stress hormones also increase fat storage.
Sleep more to promote weight loss: Sleep deprivation upsets your hormone balance, triggering a decrease in leptin (a hormone that helps you feel full) and an increase of ghrelin (a hormone that triggers hunger).
Sugar is addictive: Research has determined that foods people like excite the same parts of the brain that are activated in drug addicts.
Antioxidants are also anti-fat: Free radicals damage the cells that tell you that you’re full. Get rid of them by eating colorful, antioxidant-rich vegetables.

What’s More Important: Diet or Exercise?

If you could choose between diet or exercise, diet actually has far more influence on developing your body mass and overall health than exercise. It accounts for about 80% of the health benefits derived from a healthy lifestyle, but of course both are necessary for optimal health. Unfortunately, many are confused on this issue and believe that as long as they’re exercising appropriately, they don’t have to be very careful with their food choices.

This simply is not true.

If you want to lose weight, your first action item should be to drastically reduce all forms of sugar from your diet, particularly fructose. Fructose is a major contributor to:

Insulin resistance and obesity
Elevated blood pressure
Elevated triglycerides and elevated LDL
Depletion of vitamins and minerals
Cardiovascular disease, liver disease, cancer, arthritis and even gout

You’ll also want to cut out most grains, including organic ones, as they break down into sugar in your body. The easiest way to avoid both fructose and grains is to stop buying processed foods, and focus on a diet of fresh whole foods, cooked from scratch instead.

The reason why fructose and grain-avoidance is so important for optimal health and weight is because these are the primary contributors to insulin resistance, which not only hampers your ability to lose weight, but also gives rise to virtually every chronic disease we know of.

Diet Guidelines

As a general rule, I recommend limiting your total fructose intake from all sources to a maximum of 25 grams a day on the average, as long as you’re healthy. Of course, if you go over that occasionally and are healthy there are likely to be no problem as your body is designed to adjust to this. It will merely stimulate ancient biochemical preservation genes and cause you to gain fat .This is not healthy in our current environment where we have access to food 24 hours a day and do not need to build up fat stores for intermittent periods of relative starvation.

If you have diabetes, heart disease, high cholesterol or are overweight, you’d be wise to keep your fructose consumption below 15 grams a day, including that from whole fruits. (You can see the table in a previous article for a detailed breakdown of how many grams of fructose in most fruits.)

Now, this is a generic guideline that I believe will benefit a majority of people. If you want a more tailored guideline, you can customize it by measuring your uric acid levels.

The connection between fructose, uric acid, hypertension, insulin resistance/diabetes and kidney disease is so clear that your uric acid level can actually be used as a marker for toxicity from fructose.

Dr. Richard Johnson brought this to my attention early last year.

He believes the ideal range for uric acid lies between 3 to 5.5 mg per dl. Anything above that becomes a risk factor for diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and fatty liver. So, if your uric acid levels are below 3 mg/dl, you could consume higher amounts of fructose than the recommended 15-25 grams/day. If your levels are above 5.5 mg/dl, you’d be wise to restrict your fructose consumption accordingly.

If you’re overweight or obese, I also recommend limiting milk—both pasteurized and raw—as the lactose (which is a simple sugar) can also impair your ability to lose weight. So drop the milk until you reach your target weight.

Prescriptions for Optimal Health and Weight

Regardless of your current weight and state of health, know that there are certain basic tenets of optimal health and healthy weight that have always remained permanent truths. The following guidelines form the foundation of a long and healthy life, and as a side-effect, will automatically help you achieve your ideal weight, whatever that may be.

Eat a healthy diet consisting primarily of fresh, whole foods, ideally organic and locally-grown. Aim to consume at least one-third of your food raw.
Severely limit or eliminate sugar, particularly fructose, and grains from your diet in order to optimize your insulin and leptin levels
Drink plenty of clean water
Manage your stress
Implement a regular fitness program that includes a wide variety of exercises, including: high-intensity interval training, conventional aerobics, strength training, core exercises, and stretching
Optimize your vitamin D levels, ideally through exposure to the sun, or by using a safe tanning bed, year-round
Limit your exposure to toxins
Consume healthy fats, which include saturated fats, and animal-based omega-3 fat
Get plenty of sleep

Remember, leading a common sense, healthy lifestyle is your best bet to produce a healthy body and mind, and increase your longevity.