The Many Health Benefits of Selenium Will Amaze You

The importance of trace minerals in the body cannot be overstated, especially when talking about the benefits of selenium. Your bodys immune system must have the right vitamins and minerals to work, and they all have their importance. But selenium is one of the special trace minerals, that can really help you if it's adequately in your system, or can lead you to illness and death if it is not.

Selenium is found in nearly every cell of your body, pancreas, spleen and kidneys and insures normal liver function. Like other essential minerals, selenium acts as an antioxidant that destroys free radicals that roam the body like little devastators. More and more, this super mineral is being linked to its role in combating a number of human diseases and illnesses.

Major benefits of selenium include heart and cancer protection

Seleniums role in protecting the heart is an incredible one. This mineral helps prevent your blood from sticking to the inside of your arteries, decreasing the risk of clotting, heart attack and stroke. How's that for a triple-threat? And, benefits of selenium include elevating levels of good cholesterol, another advantage in keeping your heart healthy.

Cancer has a natural enemy in selenium. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, high levels of selenium in the blood decrease many forms of cancer including prostate, colorectal and lung. The antioxidant properties of selenium actually prevent the formation of some cancer cells and tumor cells. And because selenium effectively raises the fighting levels of the immune system, studies show that the development of blood vessels, that support and grow tumors, is suppressed! Needless to say, medical research is conducting ongoing selenium testing against many other forms of cancer.

This essential mineral is important in overall body health, too. For instance, it's been shown to help increase male potency and fight arthritis. Its antioxidant quality helps defend the body from the effects of alcohol and other toxins. And like copper, it has an important maintenance role in your skin and your hair. Selenium supplementation helps improve asthma symptoms and helps patients recover quicker from pneumonia and bronchitis.

Certain foods, supplementation can give you the benefits of selenium

If you can find produce that has been grown in selenium-rich soil, improve your diet with nuts, oats, brown rice and leafy greens. However, most foods that used to contain beneficial levels of selenium don't have those levels, anymore. That's because farm soil has been worked so many times, that selenium levels have plummetted.

So, keep eating as healthy a diet as you can, but know that most doctors today recommend that you take a selenium supplement, so that you can maintain a healthy selenium level. The prescribed selenium dosages are 55mcg daily for women, and 70mcg daily for men. However, for cancer patients or patients with a larger risk of cancer, doctors recommend dosages of up to 400mcg to get the full benefits of selenium.

As you can see, selenium is an all-around super trace mineral that can help your body in so many important ways. Trace minerals like selenium prove the old adage that good things really do come in small packages. Your body must have selenium, so if you do not take a multi-vitamin, chances are you're shorting yourself on this essential mineral. Get some selenium into your diet just as soon as you can, so that you can start getting the healthy benefits of selenium.


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Turmeric: Nature's Wonder Drug - Or Not?

Unless you've been living underground, you have likely heard an overwhelming amount of information related to turmeric this past year. Somewhere along the way it was awarded super-spice status and now can be found almost anywhere you look, from supplements, to grocery store products, to even toothpaste!

The benefits of this wonder-spice are mainly anti-inflammatory in nature and for that it has been reported helpful in many diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, depression, and possibly even cancer. In Indian culture they even use it topically to speed wound healing. What can't this spice do?

Recently, however, a report came out saying that we were duped. Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, has little bioactive activity in the body. The report pointed out few studies showing curcumin itself to have any health benefits, and that in fact the compound often breaks down before it can elicit any sort of positive health impact.1

Oh no! How could we have gone so far astray, especially regarding an ancient spice that has been used for centuries therapeutically in other countries? Is it simply placebo effect.

Let's hold up for just one second. For starters, before we go dumping all our turmeric capsules down the toilet, let's read the article fully. What exactly are they saying?

Pay careful attention to the wording. The author in this article is mainly discussing the inability to successfully create a drug utilizing curcumin. Essentially they are saying we have been unable to isolate this active compound in such a way that has a positive and reproducible effect in the human body. Instead of acting on a target protein as they had hoped, the compound broke down and apparently produced no anti-inflammatory result. The article then goes on to say that we have very few published studies to show any benefits from turmeric, and specifically, curcumin usage, so in their conclusion, the time and money spent on turmeric is worthless.

That is all very interesting, however it is also misleading. First of all, just because they cannot isolate curcumin in a stable form suitable as a drug does not mean that curcumin does not work. The body, as we discover daily, works in mysterious ways. Simply because curcumin does not work on one specific target protein does not mean that it is not producing health benefits by other means.

Secondly, we do in fact have some studies to show beneficial effects. Do a quick search on PubMed and you will see what I mean. Some of these studies use the isolated curcumin, and others use the turmeric whole. Both do have research to show some effectiveness. One study, in fact, showed that turmeric was just as effective as ibuprofen in reducing pain from osteoarthritis.2 That is exciting news if you ask me! In fact there are many studies showing positive outcomes with arthritis patients.

Additionally, there are also many in-vitro and rat studies demonstrating the anti-inflammatory benefits this spice can have. While obviously these results are not always directly relatable or applicable to humans, the take-away is that this compound is very active and holds promise for a wide variety of disease states.

On the whole, based on this one critique, I would not be so fast to discount the powerful effects turmeric can have for our health. Ancient tradition and wisdom aside, there are actually studies showing benefit which should lead us to conclude that turmeric is actually doing something, but maybe not in the precise way we are looking at it currently.

Don't forget that like with most things in nature, compounds work synergistically. Another reason why food, not supplements and fortification, is paramount for health. For example, we know that the phytochemicals in fruit are more powerful when eaten together in the whole food. When we try to isolate specific phytochemicals to make a pill, we find that the compound is unstable and frankly doesn't work. But these compounds DO work when ingested in the right form and combination that nature intended.

All that to say, keep up with your turmeric if you find it to be working for you. Consider eating it in the whole form in cooking rather than isolated pill forms. If you do choose a pill, purchase from a reputable company and even consider purchasing the same forms used in the studies. When using the whole spice for the root, combine it with other foods known to enhance the bioavailability such as fats and black pepper.

The use of spices, and especially turmeric, is a great addition to an overall healthy diet. While important to take into consideration, don't let one detracting article like this completely change your viewpoint just yet.

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Arthritis Problems

Your doctor tells you, you have arthritis. Can he or she tell you what kind of arthritis you have or what is causing it? These are not unreasonable questions, yet you will rarely get answers. This is because arthritis is largely a disorder of symptoms- a syndrome, to be more accurate. As long as physicians lump symptoms into one category, and do not examine the causes of the symptoms, there can be no hope or cure. All is not lost, however, or you would not be reading this chapter!

Causes of arthritis are: digestive problems, malnutrition, a high fat diet, chemical sensivity, food allergies, and even a little organism known as the limax amoeba.

The allergy Connection

Your body can be its own worst enemy, if you don't treat it right. Researchers consider arthritis an autoimmune disease because the symptoms are caused by the body's immune system attacking its own tissues. Just as we have come to identify red, itchy eyes as an allergic symptom, arthritis must be accepted as another. In getting to the cause of arthritis, we have to look at the possible allergens responsible.

When arthritis patients had their food allergies identified and eliminated, their symptoms ended or were improved.

When it comes to identifying allergens, scratch the conventional test. The food elimination diet and Coca Pule Test are much more reliable. Because allergens can cause the heart rate to soar, taking your pulse in the morning upon rising, and comparing it to your rate after eating certain foods will help you target offending foods.

Narrow your list down to the following foods suspect for most allergy sufferers: beef, sugar, chocolate, eggs, citrus fruits, coffee, corn, malt, milk, pork, potatoes, soybeans, spices, tomatoes, wheat and yeast.

Consider also eliminating nightshade foods, which many are allergic to. Approximately one-third of those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis are sensitive to nightshade plants.

Tobacco is a nightshade. Can you imagine rolling up a leaf of poison ivy and smoking it? That's what people who are allergic to nightshades do when they smoke. Other nightshades are potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers, Read you labels! Nightshades can be hidden ingredients in processed foods, Better yet, avoid processed foods altogether. Researchers have found those with allergic symptoms are often sensitive to the 3,000 chemical additives we ingest, plus 10,000 environmental chemical contaminants assaulting our bodies every day.

A lack of hydrochloric acid and digestive enzymes in the stomach, common among people over forty, can also contribute toward food allergies. This slowdown of digestion will also create over-large food molecules, which end up in the bloodstream. The defensive reaction by the body to these molecules creates the allergic response that leads to arthritis symptoms.

It may sound hopeless, considering the sheer volume of chemical antagonists present in our environment today. But I would not be here if there weren't answers and solutions to the arthritis dilemma.

As with any ailment, disorder or disease, good nutrition is essential. For such an extreme symptom as arthritis, supplementation is the best way to go.

An imbalance of prostaglandins-too much or too many -can be a source of may common diseases, arthritis for one. Borage oil is a good source of prostaglendins and early tests have shown it to be not only a valuable treatment for arthritis, but a substitute for commonly used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nsaids. NSAIDS have dangerous side effects. Frequent use causes stomach ulcers and liver and kidney disease. Deaths have even been associates with MSAID use.

A calcium deficiency can actually cause arthritis symptoms. Vitamin C is another arthritis essential. Studies have shown vitamin C, enhanced with bioflavonoids, reduces inflammation and this synovial joint fluid, contributing to easier and greater range of motion.

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7 Foods That Reduce Inflammation Naturally

Do you or someone you love suffer from inflammation and the pain that comes with it? If so, I'm happy to share with you a little of what I have learned through my journey to heal my inflammation. I will share with you 7 foods that reduce inflammation naturally.

  Before I share some of the secrets I have found, it is important to know what inflammation is. So, what is inflammation?

Inflammation is part of the biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli. These stimuli could be damaged cells, pathogens, or irritants. Inflammation is a protective attempt by your body to remove the detrimental stimuli and to start the healing process. Infections and wounds would never heal without inflammation. Symptoms of inflammation can include swelling, pain, redness, and restriction in movement.

Inflammation can be acute or chronic. Chronic inflammation is prolonged inflammation. It leads to a progressive shift in the type of cells existing at the site of inflammation and is characterized by concurring destruction and healing of the tissue from the inflammatory process. It can cause a load of diseases, such as arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, periodontitis, hay fever, cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases, hypersensitivities, diabetes, stroke, heart disease, acne, celiac disease, autoimmune diseases, asthma, etc. So for that reason, the body closely regulates inflammation.

It is important to reduce inflammation not just because of the pain that it causes you, but also because chronic inflammation is very detrimental to the body. Unlike acute inflammation, where the immune system responds to injury or infection by activating inflammatory chemicals that fight abnormal substances, chronic inflammation isn't beneficial for the body.

The foods you choose to eat can help reduce and prevent inflammation. Foods reduce inflammation naturally, so if you want to get rid of your inflammation naturally, then read on! Below I will share with you 7 foods that reduce inflammation naturally. These foods are called anti-inflammatory foods.

Berries

Goji berries are one of the first foods I choose to eat to rid myself of my horrible inflammation pain, and I noticed a difference within weeks. Goji berries are very high in antioxidants, so they are a great anti-inflammatory along with other wonderful qualities. Blueberries are full of antioxidants and high in phytonutrients. Phytonutrients give anti-inflammatory protection against many diseases. Other types of berries such as raspberries, blackberries, strawberries and cranberries are also high in antioxidants.

Papaya

Papain is a protein-digesting enzyme found in papaya. Papain, along with other nutrients such as vitamin E and C, helps to reduce inflammation and improves digestion. If you are interested in foods that reduce inflammation, and you are a tropical fruit fan, then this is a perfect food for you to eat.

Pineapple

Pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme that aids in the healing of indigestion, sports injury, trauma and other kinds of swelling and inflammation. Extracts of bromelain are used in various natural anti-inflammatory supplements for arthritis.

Spices

Turmeric is a spice with high anti-inflammatory qualities. Add a teaspoon to your diet each day. Some ways to include turmeric into your diet would be to add it to soups, sprinkling it on scrambled eggs, mixing it into sauces, or salad dressings. Ginger is a relative of turmeric that is also revered internationally for its anti-inflammatory qualities. If you want to reduce inflammation naturally, then try incorporating these spices in your next meals.

Kelp

Kelp contains fucoidan, a kind of carbohydrate that is anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative. Kombu, arame, and wakame are a few types of kelp that can be bought at the grocery store. Kelp has a high fiber content so it also helps to make your feel full and promotes weight loss. Get organic kelp from unpolluted waters.

Spinach

Spinach is a dark green leafy vegetable that is a high source of anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative flavonoids and carotenoids. It contains vitamin A, B, B, C, E, K, iron, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and folate. Make sure to buy organic spinach. Non-organic spinach is sprayed with pesticides and you don't want to be putting more toxins into your body, because that will increase your inflammation. Vegetables, especially dark leafy vegetables are great for decreases inflammation. Choose dark green or brightly colored vegetables.

Broccoli

Broccoli contains anti-inflammatory phytonutrients that help the body to get rid of carcinogenic compounds. It is also a highly nutritious vegetable. Cauliflower is a relative of broccoli, which contains similar components that aid the body's detoxification.

I hope you have found this list of foods that reduce inflammation helpful. Start eating some of these foods, and see what happens. If you already eat some of them, try eating more. The more you eat of these foods, the more you should see a reduction in your inflammation and the pain that goes with it. Here's to a new you... inflammation and pain-free!



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Is Exercise Really the Key to Good Joint Health?

I'm sure that most of you have heard the phrase "use it or lose it" before. Well just yesterday I found out how true this statement really is. Yesterday, I single handedly (without a snow blower) shoveled out our entire driveway and side walk of fresh snow. Afterwards, aside from being a little tired, I felt great! I didn't have any achy joints, sore back or anything! Now before any of you so called "couch potatoes" start thumping your chest and say, well I can do that too, be careful. You need to build up to this level of activity over time with a regular exercise plan. To do otherwise might just land you in the hospital or worse. Here is why. If you live a very sedate lifestyle, sudden exercise, like shoveling show in the extreme cold can be a shock to your system, resulting in a heart attack, stroke or injury to your joints. The good news is this; you can be active again, so you don't have to be a slave to age.

So, as part of your New Year resolutions decide to begin a regular routine of weekly exercise. You'll be glad you did! There are real benefits for your joints by committing to an exercise program. Actually you can really delay the aging process by several years by exercising. Many people when they hit their 50s and 60s just give up doing the sports they used to love in their younger years using the excuse, "I'm just too old for that stuff now". Many actually withdraw from most any kind of physical activity altogether fearing that they will hurt themselves and become more disabled. Nothing could be further from the truth. It actually is beneficial for your joints when you exercise. Once you start, you will begin to notice how much more you can really do and will be amazed at how your energy level increases. You just need to make a commitment to do it. Here is what I found out from the health professionals about the benefits of exercise.

The most common affliction of the joints as people age is arthritis. According to Mayo Clinic staff representatives exercise is absolutely crucial for arthritis sufferers. It increases strength, flexibility, actually reduces joint pain and helps fight fatigue. Exercise even helps you to maintain a healthy body weight. Many people make the incorrect assumption that exercise will aggravate what joint pain and stiffness you already have. But it is the lack of exercise that actually does damage to your joints. Exercise helps strengthen the muscles and tissues around the bones and joints and protects them. In the long run exercise protects your joints, it doesn't damage them.

Here are the benefits of exercise:

· Helps strengthen the muscles around your joints

· Helps maintain bone strength

· Gives you more strength and energy to tackle the day

· Helps you get a better night's sleep

· Helps you get in control of your weight

· Makes you feel better about yourself and your well-being

Here are 4 different choices of exercise you can pick from:

Range-of-motion exercises are great for relieving stiffness and helps increase your joints ability to reach their full potential range of motion. This is the least aggressive kind of exercise you can start with. Simply raising your arms over your head or rolling your shoulders forward and backward. You can do these daily if you'd like.

Strengthening exercises can help you to build stronger muscles that better support and protect your joints. Weight training is a great example of this type of exercise. It's recommended that you do this every other day, so that your muscles can rest up between routines. Even take off an extra day if you are experiencing some pain in your joints or swelling.

Aerobic or endurance exercise is really good for both your joints and overall fitness. It improves cardiovascular health, helps with weight control, and increases your stamina. Low-impact aerobic exercises like walking, biking and swimming are particularly good for your joints.

Other activities any movement can be beneficial for your joints no matter how small. If one workout is more appealing to you, feel free to ask your doctor if it's right for you. Gentle forms of yoga or tai chi are a good choice. Tai chi can improve your balance and prevent falls.

Don't begin an exercise program without guidance, especially if you already experience a chronic pain condition such as back pain, or hip, knee or shoulder problems. Consult with your doctor first and then find an expert, either a physical therapist or athletic trainer to show you the best exercise for your joints given your current condition. One health professional commented "I may recommend a particular exercise that's great for 75% of people, but maybe another 25% really shouldn't do it."

I decided a long time ago, that I wanted to stay in shape. I'd been sick during most of my youth. I have been frequenting the gym on a minimum of 3 times a week, and as result by heart rate stays at a very low rate, about that of a seasoned athlete. I don't very often get out of breath either. So, shoveling snow was not all that different from the work out I get at the gym. As a result of exercising, I've been able to participate in most all of the sports I took part in during my youth without joint pain and continue to live a vigorous and active lifestyle. Better yet, people say I don't look my age! Hey, it's never too late. It's a new year. Start it out right, by giving yourself the gift of better health. You won't be sorry you did!


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Nutritional Salad - The Healthiest Way to Lose Weight

However much you may be keen to lose weight, it's often hard to replace meals with salads. They are, after all, so boring and tasteless! But did you know that you can add endless varieties of fruits, meats and vegetables to perk up an otherwise drab and dull salad, without of course adding calories? Moreover, the goodness of nutrition-filled salad can hasten your weight loss goals like no other food.
You could be thinking of losing weight for a variety of reasons, other than simply to have a slim waistline. Being overweight can invite a host of health problems including hypertension, diabetes, arthritis and various types of sleep disorders like sleep apnea. Being overweight can also have damaging effects on your mental health.

Of all the innumerable options you have to lose weight, perhaps going on a healthy and balanced diet, coupled with some amount of physical exercises is the best. Did you know that having a bowl of nutrition salad can offer the same 'balance' that you were looking for in a meal? There are several approaches you can take to turn your salad into a healthy, no-fat, no-sweet diet option. For example, when you add chicken or egg whites to your salad, you are actually making your nutrition salad even healthier.

From where does the nutritional salad get its nutrition? Take the instance when you add lettuce and leafy green vegetable like broccoli to your salad. These two things are rich in fibers and carbohydrates which are extremely low on calories but give you a full feeling. By omitting starch-filled carbohydrates like potatoes, rice or bread, you are making sure that your salad is filled with nutrition but without the calories.
How can you add more value to your nutrition salad? Depending on the kind of weight loss you have in mind, you could add chicken, nuts, cheese and eggs as the protein content. The best part about salads is that the nutritional value does not diminish even if you make it tasty and scrumptious. For instance adding rice vinegar to your nutrition salad bowl does not add any calorie but enhances the taste. This addition also enhances the original taste of the vegetables without masking their flavor.
Depending on the amount of calorie-intake plan you have for the day, you can add or deduct any amount of protein you desire from the list of ingredients given below along with their calorific value:

1 medium head of lettuce: 55 calories - 5 grams of protein;
1 medium bag of lettuce: 45 calories - 3 grams of protein;
1 boneless chicken breast: 80 calories - 16 grams of protein;
1 hard boiled egg: 80 calories - 6 grams of protein;
1 ounce of cheddar cheese: 115 calories - 7 grams of protein;
1 dozen almonds: 90 calories - 5 grams of protein;
1 medium carrot: 25 calories - 1 gram of protein and
1 Tbsp olive oil: 40 calories - 0 grams of protein.
Boneless chicken breasts are the best ingredient for making you salad nutritious without increasing the calories. With practice you can make your own repertoire of nutrition salad, which you would find hard to keep away from other weight watchers.

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Why Lose Weight? Here Is the Answer

Each year millions of people think about dieting to lose some weight only to have the thought stopped with the question, "Why Lose Weight?" After all, as most of us probably know, you torture yourself for 3 or 4 months to drop 15 or 20 pounds and before you know it the weight is back, plus a few extra pounds. So, naturally, the question of why lose weight wins out and we decide to stick with our current lifestyle of over indulging and manipulating the TV remote.

In general, the thought of the process of dieting overshadows the reason for weight loss. The thought of the miles of walking, the eating healthy, and in a lot of cases, the fasting to lose fat, blurs what should be our ultimate goal. That goal should not be to look good but to give us a healthy body. In a lot of cases, we may meet our weight loss goal and be happy with ourselves. The doubt jumps into our head when we don't maintain that goal. It then becomes, in our mind, the diet's fault. Thus comes the question, why lose weight, we're only going to gain it back again.

So, why is it important for us to drop a few pounds? Think about this. Every year, nearly 112 million people die due to being overweight. If you're an adult between 30 and 65 years of age, being 10 to 20 pounds overweight dramatically increases your risk serious illness or even of death. In general, people who are dramatically overweight are more likely to die from their unhealthy lifestyle than people of the same age living their lives at a healthy weight.

Coronary heart disease and heart attack can be directly linked to obesity. It's a fact that people who are overweight or obese suffer more heart attacks than those who are not overweight. High blood pressure and high cholesterol are also more prevalent in those who are overweight. We can also add diabetes to the list of health risks associated with obesity. Facts show that obesity is prevalent in over 80 percent of the people who suffer with diabetes. If you were compiling a list of health problems associated with obesity, you could also add cancer, sleep apnea, asthma, and even arthritis.

Taking into consideration the health risks mentioned above, the question of "Why lose weight?" should be answered. Instead of asking "Why lose weight" maybe the question should be "Why Can't I lose weight?". Keep in mind that anything worth having is worth working for. Our health is one of the most precious possessions we have. So, get back to eating healthy to lose the fat, and walking to firm the muscles, and most of all, make a pledge to keep the weight off. Set your goals beyond just meeting your weight loss goal. Make your goal to be to live healthy and maintain a good weight for a set period of time. Better yet, why not set it as a lifetime goal. That way, the question of "Why lose weight" never comes up again.

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