Spring is in the Air !!

Yes, spring is in the air. And, so are a wide variety of pollens. Tree pollen, grass pollen....oh, they can make our lives miserable. Runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes...we all know the routine.
But, there are other allergens that can affect our health year round.
Do you have pets ?

Specifically, do you have

CATS ?

Cats are one of the most allergenic pets. Some evidence suggests that
dogs may be worse than cats, but cats are probably responsible for more allergic
reactions. The allergens from cats can cause hayfever like symptoms. They can
also cause asthma and cat scratch fever.
Cat fur is always blamed for the allergies.

But, the fur is not the problem.
Cats clean themselves, and the saliva deposited on the fur
drys and becomes dandruff.

Here lies the source of the allergic reaction:

DANDRUFF

The allergy occurs as a reaction to an allergen, and histamines are produced

Symptoms include:

itchy eyes
sneezing
and even rashes.

The allergen is a protein in the saliva.

FEL d 1
Petting the cat releases the dandruff from the fur.
That is why cats need brushing, and long hair cats need even more.
Bathing can reduce the allergen, but we all know how cats love water!!

Scratches from cats can cause cat scratch fever.
Although the name refers to fever, a fever rarely occurs.
The reaction is to a bacteria,

Bartonella henselae.
In stead of fever, systemic illness and lymph node
lesions can occur.

Healthy humans will have a minor infection.
Those with poor immune systems are at greater risk.

Learn more about cat disease and humans:

cats

St. Patty's Day Cabbage

Did you know that cabbage is really good for you ? Cabbage contains phytonutrients that can protect the body against free radicals that can damage cell membranes. These phytonutrients are antioxidants.
Cabbage is a :

muscle builder

cleanser

eye strengthener


Cabbage contains iron and sulfer. It also contains:

140mg potassium

46 mg calcium

per 100g serving.

Cabbage may lower the incidence of cancer in:

stomach

lungs

colon

Cabbage contains sulforaphone, a chemical that stimulates the production of
glutathione which is an antioxidant. This antioxidant is neccesary for liver detoxification. And, did you know that red cabbage is better than green cabbage ?
Red cabbage contains 6 to 8 times the vitamin C of
green cabbage.
It also contains anthocyanin, and antioxidant the protects brain cells and
may help in preventing Alzheimer's disease.

Antioxidant power in green or red !!!

Learn more about corned beef nutrition.

cornedbeef

Heart Healthy Vitamins

As you might know, February is heart month. It is important to realize that our diets do not always provide us with essential vitamins. Vitamins are necessary for proper cell function, organ function and overall wellness.
Heart vitamins keep our heart healthy and help to prevent cardiovascular disease. Heart vitamins include the following:

folic acid(B9)
B6 and B12
In general, the B vitamin family is good for your heart.
B vitamins can be found in meat.
Vegetarians should take supplements because of
their meatless diets.

Homocysteine , in high levels, can cause artery damage. B vitamins help to reduce homocysteine in the blood. B3 may also help to reduce cholesterol levels. More testing is necessary to establish this fact.
In addition, vitamins C and E help to keep your heart healthy.
These vitamins are antioxidants. There function is to help the body remove free radicals from our systems. Free radicals can cause heart disease, cancer and premature aging. It is important to eat healthy and to take supplements of these vitamins. Our bodies cannot produce vitamin C , unlike our domestic pets, the cats.
Also, minerals are needed for heart health.

Want to learn more ?
pomegranate


Reference:

www.healthy-heart-guide.com/heart-vitamins.html

Resource:

www.health-heart.org/vitamins.htm

Afro American Diseases: January 2010

The month of January brings the celebration of Martin Luther King day. As we know, Doctor King was an outstanding Afro american individual, who lead the crusade for equal rights with his example and oratory skills. As an Afro american, Dr. King
may have been subject to diseases associated with the Black community. I am not aware of any such information, however, having just observed the holiday; I became curious about any such acute or chronic complications.
Sickle cell anemia is a disease associated with Afro americans. It is an hereditary disease. It is a life long blood disorder characterized by sickle shaped blood cells. This sickling is caused by a mutation in the hemoglobin gene.

Life expectancy is short.

42 yrs. for males

48 years for females

It is genetically transmitted to descendants of individuals born in tropical or
sub-tropical regions. That is because malaria is common in these areas. Survival is increased by having sickle cells which halt the malaria infecting the blood cells.

1 in 500 black births
have sickle cell anemia.

Sickle cell anemia can lead to:
renal failure

stroke

jaundice

leg ulcers

and....even blindness.

Also, vaso-occlusive crisis can occur
where the sicklie cells block blood vessels. This can lead
to pain and organ damage. Usually, the spleen is affected.
Also, acute chest syndrome.
The patient suffers pain, fever, difficulty in breathing
and water buildup in the lungs, similar to
pneumonia.

For more information:

http://en.diagnosispro.com

Resource

http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sickle_cell_anemia

Want to look your beautiful best ?

cosmetics

Learn more about diseases and the Afro american community:

http://en.wikipedia.org

Research Lupus nephritis, Tibia vara/Blount's disease

and Blackwater fever.

BECOME AWARE.

Every picture tells a story.

winter

Happy Holidays !!

I would like to wish everyone a Happy Holiday season. During this time of year, different faiths celebrate their holidays with age old traditions. Many of us are familiar with mistletoe...hung above doorways. In ages past, mistletoe was used to keep the home free of witches and evilk spirits. But, did you know that drinking mistletoe tea can be good for you ? That's right ! Mistletoe tea is good for your circulation. It can also help with menopausal and period problems. Of course, never drink unprocessed mistletoe tea. It can be fatal !!
However, you can purchase commercially available mistletoe leaves or tea bags. The berries are poisonous. If anyone is familiar with mistletoe tea or other hormonal herbs like maca, I would like you to share your experience with our readers.

You can purchase mistletoe tea at:

www.buymistletoetea.com

For more info :

mistletoe

Thanksgiving and Nutmeg

Thanksgiving Day is almost here. Each year, we celebrate the goodness of the Lord and all that is bestowed upon us. We celebrate in much the same way as the Pilgrims of the Mayflower, who landed at Plymouth rock. The first Thanksging was held in 1621. Pilgrims and native Americans of the Wampanoag tribe celebrated together. They feasted on deer and wild turkeys. Some vegetables were present, but meat was the main staple. The noon hour was set aside for the "noon meat".
The Pilgrims used spices in their meals. Among the spices were ginger, pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg. Let's take a minute to discuss the nutritional value of nutmeg.
Nutmeg is a seed from a tree. The most common species of nutmeg trees is the Myristica fragrans. This tree is indiginous to the Banda Islands.
Nutmeg not only tastes good, but it has nutritional value. Nutmeg is commonly used in pumpkin pie. However, pumpkin pie was probably not served at the first Thanksgiving. The Pilgrims has used up their supply of sugar from the Mayflower by harvest time in the autumn of 1621.

7g of Nutmeg contains:

37 calories

2g of satured fat

3g of fat

0 cholesterol

1mg of sodium

12.8mg of manganese

12.9mg of calcium

24.5mg of potassium

1g fiber

0 protein

Low sodium content ,and no cholesterol,
makes nutmeg a good food to eat.

The fat content is not so attractive.

Nutmeg also contains vitamin A, C, and choline.

Nutmeg helps digestion. It reduces stomach acidity and flatulence.
It also is used in medicine for respiratory problems.

Nutmeg cures:

stomach aches

diarrhea


It also
detoxifys the body.

Nutmeg helps to increase circulation and reduces blood pressure.

Enjoy some pumpkin pie this holiday season
and reep the benefits of Nutmeg.

Socialized Medicine

With all the talk about President Obama's new health plan, it might do well to refresh our memories about socialized medicine. The term is used in the USA when talking about publically funded health care. It was first used by the AMA in 1947 in
opposition to President Truman's health care initiative of that same year.
The original meaning of the term referred to a system that the goverrment would operate and employ health care professionals. This meaning applies to the British National Health Service and other health programs operating in other countries.
These countries include:

Finland
Spain
Ireland
and Cuba.

The term is more recently used to include Canada's Medicare system.

Most industrialized countries have some form of publically funded health care.
Only the USA does not provide universal care
according to the Institute of Medicine.

The term, socialized medicine, has a negative connotation in the USA, since it is associated with socialism. The first system of this type was initiated by Otto Van Bismarck after the Franco-Prussian war of 1870.

The following countries adopted some form of socialized medicine
in the following years:

Soviet Union-1920

New Zealand -1939

China- 1950's thru 1970's

Cuba- 1960's under Castro

In Australia, the federal government remains total responsible. In the UK, taxes are collected to subsidize health care. In the USA, public opinion believes that government involvement would increase costs and require more taxes. However, data from other countries does not support this belief even when taxes are collected ,as in the British system. The debate continues about socialized medicine versus our current USA system and proposed new plans such as Obama's reform ideas.

What is your opinion ?

Share your ideas with other readers.

Interested in learning more about health care reform ?

Visit my website.