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Hair loss got you down, as in down the drain? Women’s hair loss, male pattern baldness- it all amounts to the same impairment. But don’t throw in the bath towel just yet; here are a few treatments for hair loss that include changes you can make to your diet right now to put the breaks on that receding hairline and give you shinier, healthier hair.

• Wholesome foods are just that- they benefit the body as a whole; what’s good for your digestive system is also good for your hair, skin and nails. Eating a variety of lean proteins, dairy, healthy oils, legumes and fruits and vegetables every day will ensure that your body gets the vitamins and minerals it needs to function properly inside and out.
• Remember, fat is not a four-letter word.  “Good” fats are anti-inflammatories which keep your hair shiny and lush. Avoid saturated hydrogenated oils like margarine and opt instead for unsaturated canola. Elect to make one day of the week as “fish dinner” night, as well as supplementing with a daily dose of omega 3 fatty acids for lustrous locks.
• Beware of iron deficiency.  Particularly, women approaching middle age are at risk of developing anemia, a symptom of which is hair loss.  When taking an iron supplement or having an iron-rich meal such as fortified cereal or spinach quiche, remember to include a dose of vitamin c for maximum impact.
• Many women who experience premature balding suffer vitamin b12 deficiency, a condition which often leads to pernicious anemia.  Other symptoms include chronic fatigue, short-term memory loss, tingling in the extremities and nausea. Vitamin b12 deficiency is usually caused by a diet low in eggs, meat and poultry; standard vegan diets do not maintain a sufficient amount of vitamin b12 and are often a factor in vitamin b12 deficiency.  A blood test by a physician is necessary to determine a deficiency in vitamin b12, in which a dose of 1000 mcg. of b12 is generally prescribed.
• Another b vitamin, biotin, is also essential for a healthy head of hair; not only is biotin the key ingredient for development of hair follicles, it actually regulates all hair, nail and skin functioning.  While biotin is found in some food products like egg yolks a 3 mg. supplement is required to get an adequate supply.
• Choose silicone-enhanced shampoos and conditioners which coat the follicles with a silky surface for less tugging and strand pulling while combing.

Source:

Web MD

Evil Erin

Jan 15, 2010- A study recently published in BMJ reveals that walking may be helpful in preventing type 2 diabetes.

An Australian study, in an attempt to research causes of diabetes and ways in which we might prevent diabetes’ symptoms, made the following discovery: walking ten thousand steps per day not only guarantees weight loss but also prevents the onset of type 2 diabetes.

Of the 592 middle-aged test subjects who were studied over a period of five years, it was the ones who had managed to incorporate at least 10,000 footsteps into their daily routine who demonstrated the lowest body mass index and optimal sensitivity to insulin out of all other volunteers.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body is unable to utilize the hormone insulin efficiently.  Although age, stress and heredity may be factors in developing type 2 diabetes, obesity is the leading cause.  Over 80% of patients who have type 2 diabetes are clinically overweight.

How does walking help to prevent diabetes?

• Exercise regulates glucose levels by helping your muscles absorb sugar more efficiently, thus avoiding a sudden excess of sugar in the bloodstream.
• Walking induces weight loss, another important factor in avoiding diabetes. 
• Light cardiovascular workouts such as walking are essential for avoiding heart disease, which has a high correlation to diabetes.
• A Half-hour of walking per day is recommended for maximum benefit, as well as adherence to a strict low-fat diet.

Care to take the 10,000-step challenge?

Here are some necessary tools to get you on your way:

• The Omron HJ-112 digital pedometer can be hooked onto your belt or underclothes and silently calculates steps, distance, burned calories and has a 7-day memory.
• Sportline’s 344 Talking Safety Alarm tells you how you’re doing and will also send out an alert if medical assistance is needed.  Great for heart patients.
• Yamax SW-200 Digiwalker pedometer is simple to use and does exactly what it was designed to do- count steps efficiently.
• Many New Balance walking shoes for women feature an innovatively curved sole which is designed to help you achieve maximum performance during your walking workout.
• Asics GEL running shoes for men provide cushioned support for greater comfort and reduced injury.
• Many shoe stores offer diabetic walking shoes which are tailored to meet the medical needs of diabetics

Resources:

Fox News

Huffington Post

Web MD

Ever walk into a room and instantly forget what you were looking for?  Do you find that you have to scribble notes to yourself just to remember short-term errands or short shopping lists?  Short term memory loss, although usually age-related, can also be a sign of stress and vitamin deficiency.  Treatment can be found in a variety of herbs, supplements and dietary changes.

• Eat more berries.  Blueberries are rich in polyphenols which keep your brain cells busy and according to studies delay memory loss associated with aging.  According the the Journal of Neuroscience, strawberries aid in preventing short term memory loss, in addition to improving motor skills.  Indulge in a berry-yogurt smoothie for breakfast.  No fresh berries in your area? Frozen fruits are just as nutritional as the ones you find in the farmers markets’.
• Spinach contains alpha lipoic acid, an antioxidant which protects the brain from aging and memory loss.  Picky about cooked spinach? Fresh spinach leaves have a smooth buttery taste that complement tossed salads well.  Toss in some orange wedges and candied pecans for a sweet twist.
• Turmeric, a deep yellow-orange spice popular in many Indian dishes, has a powerful anti-inflammatory agent, curcumin, which was the focus of a study on preventing Alzheimer’s disease. Turmeric has a very mild flavor and if often added to basmati rice and soups.
• Fish dishes are the ultimate brain food, thanks to their Omega-3 oils, which are closer in composition to the fats found in our brain tissue and are thus more easily absorbed and utilized than any other type of oil.  Salmon and tuna are excellent sources, but fish oil supplements are also recommended for prevention of ADD and short term memory loss.  Include a dose of Phosphatidyl Serine for compounded prevention.
• Egg yolks are an important source of the B vitamin choline, which is essential for building up acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter which is necessary for healthy brain function.  Pregnant women are advised to include eggs in their diet for normal brain development in the fetus.  Avoid all-white omelets and opt instead for some nearly-white scrambled eggs with at least one yolk included in the mix.
• Chewing gum may improve your memory, at least that’s what scientists concluded after studying teenagers who chewed gum while sitting in class and studying for tests.
• Ginkgo Biloba extract contain glycosides and terpenoids, ingredients which nutritionists believe help to prevent memory loss, encourage brain activity and increase circulation to the brain.

Canker sores, oral lesions, mouth ulcers, stomatitis aphthous- call ’em what you want. I call them annoying. Having a canker sore on your tongue is like being poked in the face with a sharp stick every time you take a bite of food; after a short while it becomes excruciating and just plain intolerable.

What causes mouth ulcers? Many physicians believe that oral lesions are caused by b12 deficiency. A study conducted by Ben-Gurion University found that b12 vitamins are useful as a preventative measure against recurrent stomatitis aphthous.

Here are some popular home remedies for treatment of oral lesions:

• In one particular study 82% of test subjects with painful oral lesions reported feeling much better after an application of German chamomile extract.
• Rinsing the mouth periodically with warm saltwater or aloe juice.
• Applying a paste composed of baking soda and a bit of water.
• Sucking on a zinc tablet.
• Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) is an herb which is available as a powder and is often used in mouthwash used to treat canker sores.
• Additionally, rubbing an ice cube on the tongue or inside cheek can provide a fair amount of relief.

Crohn’s disease is a personal, often embarrassing topic to bring up with friends and family, but left untreated could have devastating results. Characterized by inflammation of the small intestine, symptoms of Crohn’s include malnutrition, diarrhea, indigestion, ulcers, stomach cramps and loss of appetite.  Early diagnosis and proper diet can go a long way towards alleviating most of these symptoms.

• Include lean proteins such as chicken and fish.
• Avoid iron deficiency by pairing up iron-rich foods with vitamin C for increased absorption.  For example, fry up some tofu cubes with broccoli, or just remember to have an orange alongside a bowl of iron-fortified breakfast cereal.
• Stick to a low fiber diet.  Avoid foods such as corn or nuts which are more difficult to digest completely and may trigger constipation.
• Consume plenty of fluids, particularly drinks which are high in electrolytes.
• Visit your doctor.  In some cases an antibiotic such as rifaximin is all that is needed to begin the healing process.
• Your physician might prescribe steroids, so know your facts before the office visit.
• Many extol the wonders of coconut oil in easing stomach cramps and diarrhea associated with Crohn’s disease.

Don’t ignore the symptoms and think they will go away on their own.  If you think you have Crohn’s, seek professional help immediately.

Much has been said by sports enthusiasts and commentators over the controversy surrounding former Baltimore Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro and his rejection by the 2011 National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Did he use steroids back in 2005? Drugs tests conclude that he did; whether unbeknownst to him or not is the hot topic of the day.

What about his claim that he unwittingly received B12 injections which were laced with the illegal performance enhancer stanozolol, as he has repeatedly affirmed?  Well, he’s sticking to his story, even if the Baseball Writers Association of America (BWAA) doesn’t quite buy it.

Is it possible that his astonishing success these past years is due exclusively to his use of steroids?   With 3,020 hits, 569 home runs and 1,835 RBIs, Palmeiro’s record puts him in the same league as baseball legends Hank Aaron, Willie Mays and Eddie Murray.

Before we jump to any more conclusions, let’s not entirely rule out the b12 supplements, which we know he was getting on a regular basis.

• B vitamins convert proteins and carbohydrates into energy for greater stamina during a workout.
• B12 works with pyrodixine and folic acid to burn fat.
• According to the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism (IJSNEM), professional athletes who fail to maintain a sufficient balance of B12 in their diet score lower than their teammates for cardiovascular endurance and strength training.
• Athletes require more than the USRDA recommendation for B12 allowance.
• Sports competitors who are on a restricted diet are strongly advised to take B12 supplements in order to avoid b12 deficiency, an illness which can lead to fatigue, depression, nausea and lethargy.
• B12 boost red and white blood cell production, in addition to strengthening DNA.

So, let’s assign credit where credit’s due.  Will b12 vitamins give you superhuman strength, the ability to leap home runs in a single bound? Probably not.  Are ballplayers like Rafael Palmeiro wise to take advantage of b12 for greater athletic performance?  Emphatically, you bet.

A UK study which focused on memory and aging  made an amazing discovery- elderly test subjects who had high levels of vitamin b12 were found to be six times less likely to experience brain shrinkage.  This study, conducted by Anna Vogiatzoglou of Oxford University, shed some light on the correlation between b12 deficiency and dementia.

The 5-year study, published by Neurology online, followed a panel of 107 volunteers between the ages of 61 and 87.  Subjects were given yearly MRIs and regular exams gauging physical and mental aptitude. Blood tests taken at the onset and the conclusion of the investigation produced the following results:

• While none of the test subjects suffered from b12 deficiency, the ones who had the highest amounts of vitamin b12 were six times less likely to lose brain density than those who had the lowest amounts.
• Vitamin b12 deficiency could be a contributor to brain atrophy among the elderly.
• Adjusting our daily habits to include B12 in our diet could go a long way towards preventing memory loss in our old age.
• B12 deficiency is recognized as a major health problem, particularly among the elderly, as it frequently leads to loss of brain volume.

• Drink 8 8-ounce glasses of water every day. This rumor was started by the U.S. Food and Nutrition Board back in 1945. It’s important to keep your body hydrated, but keep in mind that we get plenty of water from the foods we eat and other fluids such as coffee, tea and milk.

• Stress can make you go gray. A little stress is great for motivation, a lot of stress means it’s probably time to start taking it easy, but is there such thing as enough stress to actually make your hair turn silver?  Doctors agree that excess stress does have an aging effect on the body by releasing stress hormones and free radicals, but the jury’s still out on it’s ability to change your hair color.
• Reading in dim light will ruin your eyesight. Actually, the worst it will do is give you a bit of a headache and some worry lines from squinting. No permanent damage has been linked to extended period of reading in less-than-bright conditions.
• Stop drinking coffee. Sure, a little too much of anything can be detrimental to your health, and it’s common knowledge that too much caffeine can make you feel nervous, anxious and even paranoid.  Taken in moderation, though, coffee can be a great antioxidant.  Plus, it gets you out the door in the morning.

• Feed a cold, starve a fever. Nope.  Ask any medical practitioner today and they’ll tell you the same thing:  colds, viruses, fevers, flus – they go away when they’re good and ready.  You can treat the symptoms – nothing soothes a scratchy throat like a steaming bowl of chicken soup – but nothing we do has any impact on how long the cold or virus lasts.
• Fresh veggies are better than frozen. Actually, open-air produce loses quality and vitamin content the longer it sits in the sun, while frozen fruits and vegetables retain their original nutritional essence.
• Eggs are high in cholesterol. Turns out the real culprits behind heart disease are saturated and trans-fats, while an egg a day is a good source of lean protein, vitamin A and vitamin D.
• You can catch cold from being cold. Well, not exactly. Most people catch colds from exposing themselves to a virus.  Stay warm enough to avoid hypothermia, but don’t blame your next cold on whoever left that window open all night.
• Lipstick had lead poisoning. No more lead than your average candy bar.  Lots of things contain minuscule amounts of lead, says the American Cancer Society, but serious lead poisoning is more likely linked to faulty plumbing.

Sources:

Huffington Post

saw2th

Ian Britton

A new report by Vanderbilt University reveals a link between depression and inflammatory infection in the brain. Published in the December 2010 issue of Neuropsychopharmacology,  these new findings, scientists hope, will bring us closer to understanding the correlation between mental illness and influenza.

Says Dr. Randy Blakely, PhD, director of the Vanderbilt Center for Molecular Neuroscience, “Many people exhibit signs of lethargy and depressed mood during flu-like illnesses.  Generally these have been treated as just a consequence of being physically ill, but we think there is likely to be something more brain-centric at work here.”

As part of the Vanderbilt University experiment, rats were injected with inflammatory “flu” cytokines, a chemical which is produced when the body is under attack by influenza. Inflammatory cytokines trigger serotonin transporters (SERT), which inhibit the production of serotonin.

As a result of the diminished level of serotonin affected by increased SERT levels, test rats exhibited behaviors suggesting extreme anxiety and despair. Conversely, rats who were given the cytokines who did not carry the SERT gene showed no change in behavior at all.

SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) such as Prozac and Zoloft are prescribed to patients who suffer from severe depression, anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorders.  These findings suggest that flu viruses might counter SSRI’s ability to regulate serotonin levels in treating depression.

Scientists hope to use this information to reverse cytokine production during the flu season.

It’s been called the “morning after” shot.  It’s used by celebrities to recuperate after an evening of partying and paparazzi.  Politicians rely on this vitamin to keep them in their prime.  What is this wonder drug, you ask?  No, it’s not vitamin C.

Justin Timberlake and Madonna both say they get their stamina from regular doses of vitamin B12 every day, declaring that they couldn’t get through their chaotic schedule without it.  Says an insider close to Justin, “the day Madge gave him his first shot was one of the best of his life.”

Party girl Lindsay Lohan calls up her doctor for a blast of B12 whenever she feels fatigued and wiped out from jet lag.

Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher confesses that she depended on regular vitamin B12 injections in order to keep up with the daily demands of government.

Hugh Jackman gets his hit of B12 twice a week; he says it keeps him on his toes while rehearsing his dance numbers for “The Boy from Oz.”  Even Prince makes a point of getting his B12 before every concert.

Many Hollywood doctors claim they get dozens of requests each week for a quick B12 fix.  Excessive drinking causes you to lose a lot of B12, they explain.  Celebrities go to a lot of all-nighters, and that usually translates into a lot of liquor.  In fact, alcoholism is a known cause of severe B12 deficiency.

Check out this video of Justin Bieber telling Chelsea Lately about his regular shots in the “butt.”  Oh, if only he knew…

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