Original text by John Uri Lloyd
About thirty years ago, Dr. F. 0. St. Clair of Washington, D. C. introduced Damiana to the medical profession of the United States. The botanical name was not known to Dr. St. Clair, but was afterward determined as Turnera aphrodisiaca. It became my duty, in 1881, to describe the drug and its (then) sophisticant (Aplopappus discoides) for the American Dispensatory, the article being published in advance by Dr. Charles Rice, editor of the American Druggist. I now find myself in the home of Damiana, and am enabled to supplement that paper, as well as, I believe, correct certain generally accepted popular American errors concerning the drug. La Paz, Lower California (Baja California), is the principal Damiana port of export, and information obtained on the ground may be considered authentic.
The Name. Damiana is the Mexican name of the plant which yields the leaf sold under the name. So far as I can discover, this name has no significance. Possibly, in days gone by, the term might have possessed a specific meaning, but more likely it is an heirloom of the Indians that inhabited the Peninsula, before the Spanish invasion. Be that as it may, the term Damiana is familiar to every Mexican, but concerning the meaning and derivation of the word, all concur in that i t is simply the name of the plant.
The Plant. The leaf of Damiana is now too familiar a drug to necessitate detailed description, the fragrant, olive-green leaf being well known to pharmacists. The plant is a low shrub, the bushy head of which is prone upon the ground, from which descends the gnarled, often twisted root stem, and spring the coarse twigs. This root is tough, hard, the central part (about one third) being brown, the remainder yellow. The main root stalk averages an inch or more in diameter, from which project tough side roots the size of a lead pencil, gray externally, but yellow within. From extreme to extreme, a damiana plant may average two to four feet, root measurement, but is less in depth. The tough stems make a scraggly bush, two to three feet high. In the dry season, which includes most of the year, the tough, brittle root seems to be nearly devoid of moisture. It may even be seemingly as dry as the dust about it, as is true of the specimens now before me, but I am told that this sapless specimen of vegetation, gray and forlorn as is the hot dry sand and soil about it, on the first touch of rain, will put forth a mass of foliage, and with wonderful activity will become a living bush, which, when the few days of rain are over, dries again in the sand, and slumbers
through the long season of heat and dust. Cattle and other animals are fond of Damiana, and it is asserted that a peculiar, sweet flavor is imparted to the flesh of such creatures during the Damiana season.
Damiana, I am told, is practically confined to the lower part of the Peninsula, of Lower California, from which, mainly from the port of La Paz, it is exported, the larger amount now going to the United States. Its habitat, even here, is in the foot hills inland, the main supply coming from forty miles west of La Paz, thence being abundant towards the town of Todos Santos, on the Pacific shore. It grows in patches or clumps, with spaces, sometimes of considerable size, between the bunches. It is gathered by the country people, and for exportation is packed in bales of convenient size, coarse coffee sacks being usually employed. 1 find in local use, small square bales in calico casing, each holding two litres, but it is generally retailed loose by grocers, as tea is sold in America,. The difference in the quality of Damiana is very great, owing both tlo care in curing, and to its condition when gathered, as well as to its age, for by age it loses much of its aroma, and fragrance. The Mexican is particular concerning this latter point, and highly values a freshness in quality. It should be nearly devoid of stems, of a lively, olive green color, a grateful, delightful fragrance, and should impart an aromatic, slightly astringent taste when chewed. As found in commerce, the small leaf is much broken. When gathered in the flowering season, it is in very best condition, and is most highly valued by Mexicans when the flowers are present. They prize the flavor in this mixture of leaf and blossom.
July 06 2008 | Herbs | Comments Off
A macrobiotic diet is a diet formulated by the belief that food, and the quality of food, has an affect on a person’s life on a greater extent than most people realize. Practitioners of a macrobiotic diet believe that food has an affect on health, as well as happiness and well being. Those who follow a macrobiotic diet believe that natural foods with little to no processing are the best choice of food. In addition, they believe in using traditional methods of cooking and they enjoy cooking for themselves, as well as for family and friends.
Literally translated, macrobiotics means “great life.” Physicians and philosophers from around the world have associated macrobiotics with living in harmony with nature while eating a simple and balanced diet. In the 1920’s, George Ohsawa, who founded the modern form of macrobiotics, claimed to have cured himself from a serious illness by changing his diet.
Ohsawa believed in the Chinese philosophy of Yin and Yang. They yin represents outward centrifugal movement and the yang represents inward centrifugal movement. Yin and yang are always opposite, with yin being sweet, cold, and passive and with yang being salty, hot, and aggressive. In a macrobiotic diet, the yin and yang need to be kept in balance for good health.
Because this balance of the yin and yang is at the core of the macrobiotic diet, foods are all classified as one or the other. This division is in accordance with their properties, tastes, and effects on the body.
Grains and vegetables are not strong in either yin or yang. Therefore, they are especially important in the macrobiotic diet. These more neutral types of foods make it easier to maintain balance of yin and yang and these foods that are extremes in either yin or yang or to be avoided in the macrobiotic diet.
All foods included in the macrobiotic diet must be organically grown. Whole grains, such as barley, brown rice, oats, millets, rye, core, buckwheat and whole wheat are thought to be the most balanced of foods in a macrobiotic diet. Therefore, these foods make up about 50 to 60% of the macrobiotic practitioner’s diet. Whole grains are the preferred type of grain in a macrobiotic diet, but small portions of bread and pasta derived from refined flour are acceptable.
Fresh vegetables make up approximately 25 to 30% of the macrobiotic diet. Broccoli, cabbage, kale, cauliflower, collards, turnips, mustard greens, turnip greens, radish, onion, butternut squash, acorn squash, and pumpkin are the primary vegetables to be included in a macrobiotic diet. Iceberg lettuce, celery, snow peas, mushrooms, and string beans are to be included in the diet only two or three times per week. In a macrobiotic diet, these vegetables are to be prepared by either being steamed lightly or being sautéed with unrefined cooking oil, ideally corn oil or sesame oil.
5 to 10% of the macrobiotic diet consists of sea vegetables and beans. Chickpeas, adzuki beans, tofu, and lentils are the recommended types of beans. Sea vegetables should be included in the diet. These vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals.
Soups and broths make up about 5 to 10% of the macrobiotic diet. Soups should contain a soybean paste. They also should contain beans and vegetables.
In a macrobiotic diet, a few servings of seeds, nuts, and fresh fish (such as flounder, halibut, and cod) each week are acceptable. Acceptable sweeteners in the macrobiotic diet are barley malt, and rice syrup, which is a sweet drink made from rice. Plum and brown rice vinegar may also be occasionally used in the macrobiotic diet. Tamari soy sauce and sea salt can be used to add flavor to soups and to grains.
A person following a macrobiotic diet only drinks when thirsty. The only drinks that are generally accepted in a macrobiotic diet are teas, which are made from dandelion greens, roasted grains, or the leftover cooking water from preparing soba noodles. Teas containing caffeine or aromatic fragrances are unacceptable. In addition, all cooking water and drinking water must be purified before use.
Foods such as eggs and dairy products are thought to have strong yang qualities. Similarly, chocolate, refined sugars, tropical fruits, coffee, fruit juice, soda, and hot spices are believed to contain strong yin qualities. Therefore, all of these foods are avoided in the macrobiotic diet. All foods with artificial flavors, artificial colors, and preservatives are also avoided.
The macrobiotic diet is more than just a diet, it is a lifestyle, and it embraces a simplistic diet bound closely to nature.
July 02 2008 | Diet | Comments Off
Although there is a lot of disagreement about the efficacy of vitamin supplements, there are some things that everyone agrees upon. One of them is the importance of vitamin C. Anyone who knows something about vitamin nutrition will recognize that vitamin C is good for you. You simply can’t get too much of it - or if you can, it is very difficult. C vitamin is good for all kinds of different things. It helps your immune system, fight against cancer and harmful free radicals, and may just make you live longer.
There are some people who make some very extravagant claims about vitamin supplements, including vitamin C. It is claimed by some rather noteworthy people that taking hundreds of times the US RDA of C vitamins can greatly improve mental health, increase your lifespan, and make you healthier. Although this hasn’t been proven by science, taking large doses at least doesn’t seem to hurt you. Vitamin D, vitamin A, and many other nutrients can be harmful in excessive quantities. With vitamin C, however, you are unlikely to hurt yourself by taking too much. Your body simply flushes out any excess, and uses the part that it needs. If you take way too much you can give yourself a stomach ache, but that is about it.
I have personally used vitamin C to good effect to combat past illnesses. I used to have a doctor - and alternative medicine practitioner - who is crazy about the stuff. Every time one of his patients would get sick, he would give them what was known as a Super-C. He would inject concentrated high levels of vitamin C in the blood, combined with a small dose of Hydrochloric acid. It was amazing how quickly and effectively it would work. Within minutes of getting the injection, I would be feeling better. All the congestion would drain out of my sinuses, and my body would immediately fight off the illness. Although this still is not a common technique among many doctors, it is growing in popularity. It is quick, easy, and powerful. What else could you ask for?
It can also be a good idea to take a multivitamin supplement. A lot of us don’t get enough nutrients in their diets, and it can never hurt to have a little bit of a boost. People who take multivitamin supplements are healthier, live longer, and gets sick much less often. What more could you ask for?
June 22 2008 | Vitamins | Comments Off
Many people nowadays are turning to “organics” and “naturals” otherwise known as herbals. The rising popularity of herbal supplements has created a new fad if not a new health lifestyle. But before you join the bandwagon, here are some things you need to know about this mean, “green” dietary supplementing machine.
What is the difference between a drug and a dietary supplement?
According to the definition set by food and drug administrations in different countries, drugs are chemicals that can prevent, prolong the life, treat other effects of a health condition, improve the quality of life, and/or cure ailments and diseases, or alter the function of any part or chemicals inside the body. These drugs have approved therapeutic claims. For example, paracetamol is a drug given to bring down the body temperature in fever. Ascorbic acid is indicated for the treatment of scurvy. Iron supplements are given to treat mild cases of anemia.
Herbal supplements are not classified as drugs but as dietary supplements. The main difference is that they do not have approved therapeutic claims unlike in the case of drugs. Moreover, dietary supplements could either contain vitamins, minerals, herbals, or amino acids, all aimed to add to or supplement the diet of an individual. They are not intended to be taken alone as a substitute to any food or medicine.
Most of the manufactured medicines we now have once came from animals and plants. Through the years, chemists isolated the life-saving or life-curing components and separated them from the harmful ones. This lead to the further drug research and drug development that lead to the production of a different variety of drugs for many ailments and conditions from synthetic sources. But still we have semi-synthetic drugs, as well as drug that more or less approximate more natural composition. Since herbal supplements are made from a mixture of crude herbs reduced into powder or gel form, and later on packaged as tablets and capsules, there is a possibility that life-threatening or at least body chemistry-altering components are still present, thus the expression of concern from the medical community.
Is there a growing concern with the use of herbal supplements?
Yes. With the rising popularity of using and consuming anything herbal or organic is the proliferation of fake herbal supplements that threaten to endanger lives. If that’s the case, then why are herbal supplements given drug administration approvals? One way of ensuring the safety of the people is to have all candidate drugs, food, drinks, and dietary supplements registered with the proper authority. Otherwise, they would pose more risk with these things being sold in the black market for a hefty sum. We could ensure the quality and safety of herbal supplements if they get proper classification with the food and drug administration. Moreover, people may be able to file the proper complaints in the event a worsening of health condition is proven to be linked to the use of a particular herbal supplement.
Is using herbal supplements worth the risk?
Yes. It cannot be discounted that many who have tried herbal supplements experienced an improvement in their health—whether this is due to the herbals themselves or due to a placebo effect, as long as they do not worsen the condition of an individual, then using them is worth the risk. But of course, certain things must be considered before taking those herbal supplements:
Your doctor knows best.
First of all, clear your condition with your doctor. Ask him/her if taking a particular herbal supplement is safe given your health condition. People with heart, liver, or kidney trouble or malfunction, are usually not advised to take these, or at the minimum is to take these herbals in minimum amounts. All substances pass through the liver and kidney to be processed and filtered respectively. Kava, which is used to relieve people from stress, has been pulled out from the Canadian, Singaporean, and German markets because it contains substances that cause liver damage. Certain herbals such as Ephedra used for losing weight, contains chemicals with heart-inducing effects that can increase heart rate, which in turn can exhaust the heart and cause heart attacks in several documented cases by the American Medical Association.
Follow the directions for use.
Never take more herbal supplements than what is directed by the doctor or as instructed on the bottle. Each individual reacts differently to the components of herbal supplements. While it is perfectly safe for one individual to take in a supplement of primrose oil capsules, another person may be allergic to it. So, do not even think about downing one bottle of
It has no approved curative effect.
No matter how the product pamphlet or the label of the bottle sounds about how it has been found to be helpful in certain health conditions, these herbal supplements are not therapeutic. So do not substitute these for the medications prescribed by your doctor for the treatment of certain diseases, or for the maintenance of blood pressure, lowering of blood sugar and cholesterol, and fight off infections.
June 17 2008 | Herbs and Supplements | Comments Off
by Delynda Lardone
When people find out that they have diabetes, they assume they can no longer have sugar, but this is a false assumption. Their body does, in fact, still need sugar to supply their cells with the energy it needs to do their job. The difference between diabetics and non-diabetics is in how their body processes the sugar that is consumes. Being aware of how your body processes the sugar will help in finding the diabetic diet that is ideal for you.
Normally, when you consume sugar in your regular diet, the sugar is absorbed into your cells and muscle tissue where it becomes a fuel to be burned to give you energy. You see, glucose must have insulin in order to get into your cells and muscles. The insulin basically opens the cells up so the sugar can enter and then be turned into energy. Shortly after eating, your pancreas kicks in and starts producing enough insulin to process the sugar you are consuming.
In diabetics though, the sugar or glucose does not get into the cells or muscles as it should. This is why diabetics often find themselves very tired. A diabetic person’s body will handle the sugar differently depending on which type of diabetes they have, type 1 and type 2. We’ll examine both types and see just how their bodies process the glucose.
Type 1 diabetics have it really hard. Their pancreas basically has stopped functioning or hardly functions at all and thus, it can no longer produce the insulin the body needs. Without insulin, the sugar has no way to get into the cells and continues filtering throughout the rest of the body, causing great harm to the other organs. This is why type 1 diabetics have to take insulin shots. The insulin shots do the job that the pancreas used to do and thus keep your body in good condition.
In type 2 diabetics, their pancreas produces enough insulin to process the sugar they are consuming, but the problem lies in the fact that the insulin can not open the cells so the sugar can get in to become energy. To compensate, the pancreas will keep producing more and more insulin to help get the sugar into the cells, eventually burning it out. Once this happens, the individual will become a type 1 diabetic.
What is a known fact is that all diabetics need to watch the amount of sugar in the foods they eat. The only difference is how their bodies handle the sugar. Type 1 diabetics can no longer process the sugar and need insulin shots to replace the function of the pancreas. Type 2 diabetics still have the chance at improving their health by watching the amount of sugar they consume on a daily basis.
So, it is very important that type 2 diabetics start controlling the sugar they eat so they can maintain a healthy body. One of the best and easiest ways to get your sugar intake down is to go on a ‘diabetic diet’. Now, do not let the term ‘diet’ scare you, this is not your normal diet of starvation and eating foods that taste like cardboard. This ‘diabetic diet’ is simply substituting the foods you normally eat with brands that have less sugar. One example would be jelly. Regular jelly has 16 grams of carbohydrates whereas reduced jelly has 6 grams of carbohydrates. That’s less than the carbohydrates of the normal brand. So just by changing the brands you normally eat on a daily basis will allow you to consume less sugar and will help keep your pancreas healthy.
Yes, you need sugar in your daily eating lifestyle because that sugar provides the energy that your cells need in order to function. However, in a diabetic diet, you need to watch how much sugar you consume. One easy way to do this is read labels and choose a reduced sugar item that will still provide that same great taste but with less carbs. So, you can still enjoy eating your toast and jam in the morning with the same great taste only with fewer carbohydrates, which turns into sugar, and make less work for your pancreas.
About the Author:
Delynda Lardone supplies information on how to live with diabetes, including guidelines on how to keep your blood sugar level low, in depth examination of many diabetic diet programs, and diabetic diet recipes which serves up to 6. To learn about having
high sugar levels in system, please visit:
diabetic diets.
June 09 2008 | Diet | Comments Off
It is a fact that some pesticides, chemicals, and certain fumes are present in the environment that is affecting your immune system and jeopardizing your health. Moreover, the foods that you eat can lead to a toxic atmosphere lowering your overall immunity. Toxic load is the condition of tissues and cells where internal terrain is developed after food consumption of highly processed foods. Your body needs to be cleansed from these unwanted toxins. The process is called detoxification.
Although you have the kidney and liver which are organs considered as natural detoxifiers filtering out the impurities of the bodies, you need to consider other ways to detoxify your body from toxins. Some of the methods can be extreme like long fasting from juice drinks or dialysis.
Take note, your immune system is the defense mechanism of your body. So, disease and infections should be prevented before it affects your whole body through toxin’s removal. As you could observe, the illness’ frequency of a person is dependent on the immune’s system strength which is composed of complex networks of nodes and lymph channels.
There are detox herbs that are beneficial in making your immune system strong. These herbs are the perfect and natural way of removing toxins from your immune systems to minimize acquired illnesses and to develop your general well-being.
Several herbs for detoxifying are much better for improving your immune systems than others. However, there are specific considerations for the detoxification program that you choose. But the following detox herbs can be used according to your needs.
- Psyllium seeds promote healthy bowel movement generally maintaining its good condition. It could be used in helping bowel related problems like diarrhea. This herb is good because it has an absorption property similar to a sponge where it helps in removing the toxins inside your body.
- Cascara Sagrada is generally a good natural laxative flushing the toxins out of your system. It also helps in strengthening your colon and other related muscles. This herb is used together with psyllium seeds.
- Milk thistle is also a very valuable substance used often to simulate the protein synthesis in the liver. It is used effectively in soaking different types of toxins found in drugs and alcohols that can damage your body.
- Nettles are used as a portion of the detox herb mixture in cleansing the urinary systems as well as any part of the body.
- Burdock roots are also perfect for stronger cleansing needs. It is helpful in reducing the heavy metals build-up within your body which causes immune system problems.
- Dandelion roots are detox herbs having strong cleansing properties appropriate for your liver. It is good for removing the gall bladder wastes and also works well for kidneys if used with other compatible detox herbs.
People would really need to detoxify themselves due to the presence of toxins in processed foods and in polluted air. Using herbs is not new in detoxification programs because its cleansing and healing properties have been known for so many years. Thus, it is now being accepted in the detoxification concept treating patients worldwide.
These herbs can effectively flush out unwanted toxins from your immune system allowing you to look and feel great. It can save you from acquiring severe illnesses. Brilliant detox herbs can really do wonders in a person’s life.
June 01 2008 | Herbs | Comments Off
by Lorelei Fenton
How many times have you heard people say that they can’t stop eating cookies, or bread, or pasta, or candy? They may even laugh and say they are addicted to chocolate, as they pop the 10th truffle in their mouth. Well it’s time we faced the facts. We are addicted to many of the foods we eat. And when you really look at it, it’s not so very funny. You might even say, food addiction is a debilitating phenomenon.
‘Debilitating,’ you might say. ‘That’s a bit extreme, isn’t it?’ Well maybe not.
It is often said that society favors thin people, and that the model for beauty is skin-and-bones. Now this is probably true and I don’t deny it. But you may be a size 14, and you want to be a size 8, and you know this is your ideal size, as well as very achievable. And yet you can’t get there because of all the cookies, pasta, and bread you eat, even as you say you don’t want to. Then you have a problem. And the problem is that you are fighting food cravings.
Now you’re in a pickle, and your self esteem plummets. You ask yourself, ‘Do I have no will power? Am I a weak-willed glutton?’ Now you go on crash diets. You begin to starve yourself. Your blood sugar becomes sporadic. You begin to snap at the kids and growl at your husband. Perhaps you spend 2 weeks doing this before finally giving it up. Now you go out and eat. For two weeks you eat whatever you want, whenever you want. On come the pounds you lost, plus a few more. And your self-esteem plummets even more.
All of this is what I would call a low-level food addiction, or the onset of more serious problems. Later down the line the cycles often get worse and worse. Your relatively harmless binging may turn life-threatening and bulimic. If not, your binges may become so extreme as to cause obesity. This in turn has you lethargic all day long, as well as lackluster and prone to sleeping. Your disposition is grouchy because your blood sugar is constantly shooting up and shooting down. And after a while your metabolism is destroyed, along with your self-esteem, and no diets will work any more.
People who take another path in food addiction often become anorexic. They decide it is better not to eat at all, than to fight the cravings, or be fat. This of course is life threatening. Now if you don’t become anorexic or bulimic, but you do continue in your addiction, by the age 60 you will be a diabetic. Your body will have used up its supply of insulin over the many years of carb abuse, and it will begin to deteriorate rapidly. In this case you will lessen the very years of your life, and those last years will be painful in myriad ways.
And this is the thing about which we joke at parties as we eat our 10th cookie.
Well it may be time to stop laughing and start listening to our own jokes. I want you to know you can stop the roller coaster of fighting food cravings. Where I got off my own whirligig of was through a 12-step program for food addicts called Overeater’s Anonymous. There is also a program called Food Addicts Anonymous. Since this is a true and bona fide addiction that masses of our society live unhappily with, these programs are good places to start. You’ll also need a good Food plan, and a lot of other tools to help you on your way. But for information on this, you can look out for my subsequent articles.
May 24 2008 | Diet | Comments Off
Ever wondered how you get all those wrinkles? Those annoying crow’s feet at the corners of your eyes? Or those laugh lines around your mouth? Sure, these things are but part of the normal aging process. But what causes aging anyway? And is there anyway to retard it?
In biological systems, the normal processes of oxidation are what lead to aging. Oxidation causes the production of substances called free radicals which are highly reactive. These free radicals can readily react with and damage other molecules. Note that it says “molecules” so that means free radicals don’t make the distinction between foreign bodies and healthy cells. And when free radicals start attacking the body’s own cells, you can guess what the results are - Aging.
If only there was a way to get rid of those harmful free radicals…
Well, have we got good news for you? Free radicals are natural enemies of antioxidants. The function of antioxidants is to destroy harmful free radicals, counteracting the damaging of tissues and in effect, treating aging or causing its retardation.
Antioxidants are commonplace in nature. In fact, antioxidants are abundant in more common vitamins such as retinol or Vitamin A, ascorbic acid or Vitamin C, tocopherol or Vitamin E, and selenium. They can be nutrients (vitamins and minerals) as well as enzymes (proteins in your body that assist in chemical reactions). Antioxidants are believed to play an important role in preventing the development of such chronic illnesses as heart disease, stroke, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, Rheumatoid arthritis, and cataracts.
Although antioxidants cannot completely rid our bodies of free radicals, they can however work to retard or minimize the damage caused. Antioxidants block the process of oxidation by neutralizing free radicals. By neutralizing, they themselves become oxidized. For this reason, our bodies are always in need of a constant source of antioxidants.
How antioxidants work is a two-way process. First is the chain-breaking. This is where the antioxidant comes in to break the chain reaction of free radicals turning other molecules into free radicals like them. Chain-breaking is also called Stabilization.
The other aspect is more on the preventive side. Antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase prevent oxidation by reducing the rate of chain initiation. This time, instead of waiting for the free radicals to make a long chain of free radicals, antioxidants scavenge initiating radicals and destroy them before oxidation is set in motion.
Thus, aging is delayed and not only that, diseases and other illnesses caused by harmful free radicals are avoided.
May 19 2008 | Antioxidants | Comments Off
Amino acids are the basic structural units of all proteins and they play a very important role in manufacturing proteins. There are twenty known amino acids that are both essential and nonessential amino acids. The essential amino acids are those amino acids that the body cannot produce or synthesize and daily intake of it is needed in the daily food diet. Nonessential amino acids on the other hand, are those amino acids that can be manufactured by the body but are also very important in the proper bodily functions.
There are two amino acids which contain a sulphur atom and are called sulphur containing amino acids; they are amino acids Cysteine and Methionine. Cysteine is a sulfur containing amino acids and is closely related to cystine. Cystine consists of two Cysteine molecules that are joined together. This amino acid is an unstable nutrient and easily converts to cystine however it does not cause a problem, since both can convert into the other as required by the body.
Cysteine contains a sulphydryl group; this is tremendously reactive and can form hydrogen bonds. This sulphur containing amino acids is very important because it can also form disulphide bridges. Cysteine can be found in many proteins throughout the body. The skin, as well as the body requires Cysteine for detoxification. It is found in the protein called beta-keratin which is the main protein in nails, skin, as well as hair. Not only is it important to collagen production but also helps in the skins’ elasticity and texture.
Sulphur containing amino acids like Cysteine, is required in the manufacture of amino acid taurine and a component of gluthione antioxidant. It detoxifies the body from harmful toxins and aids in the protection of the brain and lover from the damaging effects of alcohol, drugs, and others. It has also been found to help in the strengthening of the stomach as well as the intestines. The body manufactures Cysteine from the essential amino acid methionine, and can also be found in most high-protein foods such as cottage cheese, yogurt, pork, ricotta, sausage meat, turkey, chicken, duck, granola, luncheon meat, and oat flakes.
Methionine is another sulphur containing amino acids and is a very special amino acid because it is the “start” amino acid in the process of protein synthesis, and is therefore the beginning of every single protein made. Its sulphur atom is in a thioether linkage and is relatively unreactive.
The sulphur containing amino acids of Methionine assists in the breakdown of fats and thus prevents the buildup of fat in the arteries. It also assists with the digestive system and removes heavy metals from the body since this sulphur containing amino acid can be converted to Cysteine which is very important nutrient in detoxifying the liver. Methionine is also a great antioxidant because the sulphur it supplies to the body, inactivates free radicals. It is also one of the three amino acids that is needed by the body to manufacture a compound called monohydrate, which is very essential for energy production and muscle building.
Methionine food sources can be found in good quantities of meat, beans, garlic, lentils, fish, eggs, yogurt, onions, and seeds.
May 19 2008 | Amino Acids | Comments Off
Every heard of the anti-aging pill known as vitamins? If not, read this article.
Vitamin Supplements as Anti-Aging Pills
Some health experts believe that vitamins may be the single most effective way to lengthen life. In the largest biological study of human life and death, health organizations today reviewed the habits and histories of more than a million people over 40 years and found that death rates were significantly higher among those who did not take vitamins or health supplements.
Mortality rates dropped as vitamin intake was increased, and researchers concluded that vitamins warded off heart disease and stroke and helped prolong life. With this, experts say that vitamins are the closest thing to an anti-aging pill.
Vitamins Applicable for Seniors
Vitamins are powerful as a drug and should be prescribed and used as carefully as any other drug. However, dangers may come when excessive intake is manifested. Especially for seniors, high doses of certain vitamins may cause serious health problems such as kidney damage, liver destruction, heart problems, etc.
Keep in mind that as people get older, the signs of aging can hamper the growth of new cells, hence, the body is vulnerable to diseases. That is why certain vitamins are prescribed or advised to seniors for proper nourishment.
For instance, as you get old, you will loose the abundant production of elastin and collagen in the skin, hence, wrinkles appear. But with the help of vitamin C, an antioxidant, your body will be able to produce collagen and elastin, which maintains skin elasticity and strength.
Generally, vitamin supplements that are fit for seniors are those that help in maintaining normal cell growth and repair. This is because one of the major signs of aging is the weakening production of cell growth. That is why older people acquire white hair, wrinkled skin, and memory lapses.
Vitamins C and E, which are antioxidants, counteract the destructive matters known as free radicals’ Health experts say that the damages caused by these elements may promote cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
Vitamin D is vital for healthy bones. As people grow older, they lose the bone density in their bodies. And when people lack calcium, bones tend to consume their mass faster than before. Hence, bones become fragile and weak. This is when osteoporosis sets in.
So what can these fitness concepts tell you? Why should older people take vitamins?
Think about the years of your future. A man or woman of 50 can look forward to a quarter-century of life. And the longer you live, the longer you can expect to live. Consider some statistics: The life expectancy for the average American male is 73 years; for the average female, 79 years. Yet a man who reaches 65 can expect to live another 16 years. If he makes it to 85, he can look forward to another 6 years. A 65-year-old woman has a life expectancy of 19 years; an 85-year-old woman, seven years.
Most senior of citizens are increasing in numbers even more rapidly than the youngsters between 50 and 75. And as the world heads for another century, youth may still be served.
But quality of life may be far more crucial than quantity. Living well, not simply surviving longer, is our ultimate goal. Today’s men and women over 50 can actually get healthier as they grow older. With the help of vitamins, people can easily combat the signs of aging. Health experts say that they have seen men and women in their seventies become more fit and vigorous than ever been before.
However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that vitamins can cure all that ails you. Experts have not yet discovered the fabled Fountain of Youth, nor did health practitioners ever set out to do so. There isn’t any vitamin supplement made to stretch your way to eternal youth.
But these vitamin supplements have helped many older people look and feel better than before. The kind of vigor that vitamins bring to people are totally unmatched by any forms of anti-aging items. And even though health experts can’t guarantee that regular intake of vitamin supplements will add years to your life, it does hold the rich promise of adding life to your years.
May 17 2008 | Vitamins | Comments Off
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