Combating Chronic Disease

We are what we eat.
If we aren't eating 50% of our food from organic vegetable sources we are no doubt doing our bodies a disservice and lining ourselves up for a range of chronic diseases.
Raw vegetables and salads are what is required for your body to process and absorb the 'Vital Nutrients' that it needs. The enzymes, vitamins and minerals. Proteins, and meaning complete proteins can be taken from plant sources, such as Chia seeds etc, or combine to create complete proteins, with all the essential amino acids . We tend to over do it with protein thinking that its needed for our bodies for energy, but it takes a lot to digest it via the liver. Actual recommendations for the whole day is only 45 gms, and not three times a day, 45 gms is about half  the size of your palm. The body will use fruits and vegetables for energy much quicker than protein.
And water, lots of it. If you start the day with anything like 2 litres of water, you are going to hydrate, lose weight and feel amazing.
The Vital Nutrients is really the main items we should be putting into our mouths, as really all chronic disease is a build up of not feeding the body its requirements and excess of empty foods.
Feeding the body empty nutrients combined with poisoned environments, lack of exercise, not enough water, over 40 - 60 years = chronic disease.
Our immune system is designed to work perfectly well to fight off cell change and foriegn invaders, but mostly it is compromised by excess, then the environment with all its pollutants = immune system that is heavily overburdened and cant function effectively.
Toxins, excess fats, excess sugars are stored in the body as 'adipose tissue', in the cells of the body. Fat cells are cells.
Excess fats and sugars are stored for times of starvation, but we don't have that kind of situation anymore.
So due to our lovely lifestyles of having everything at our fingertips, and also lack of moving the body and building muscle, and also not enough water = overconsumption and storage of it all, and a slow killing of the body, as its functions are compromised.
How can we have an enjoyable lifetime if we don't give the body the building materials it needs?
Think of it as chronic malnutrition.

Endometriosis new findings

Dietary fats linked to endometriosis

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Research based on the Nurses' Health Study II has shown that certain types of dietary fats may increase the risk of endometriosis, while other types are associated with a lower risk. The study analysed 12 years of data, which equated to 568,153 person-years. Nearly 1200 cases of diagnosed endometriosis occurred over this time.
The women who consumed the most long-chain omega-3 fatty acids were 22 per cent less likely to be diagnosed with endometriosis compared to the women who consumed the least. Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids are the "good" fats found in oily fish and are associated with maintaining cardiovascular health.
Conversely, those women who consumed the most trans-unsaturated fat were 48 per cent more likely to develop endometriosis than those who consumed the least. Trans-unsaturated fats are commonly found in deep-fried foods, some take-away foods and baked goods such as pastries, cakes and biscuits.
The authors of the study suggest that increasing long-chain omega-3 fatty acids intake and decreasing trans-unsaturated fats intake could reduce a women's risk of developing endometriosis, potentially making it the first indentified modifiable risk factor.
According to Jean Hailes gynaecologist Dr Elizabeth Farrell, "Women who have an unhealthy weight are more likely to have more oestrogen, which if they have a tendency to endometriosis would stimulate growth of the endometriosis cells. Avoiding animal fats and trans-unsaturated fats and having more omega-3 fatty acids is important for health and wellbeing. This is an interesting observational study showing once again that healthy eating with appropriate foods/oils may have a positive effect on an illness or reduce its risk. More research however is needed to see how dietary oils may affect endometriosis cells."
Content updated May 4, 2010
www.jeanhailes.org.au

Cholesterol

Lipoproteins are fat/protein composition, which contain triglycerides, phospholipids, cholesterol and protein. In general the higher the percentage of lipid in lipoprotein, the lower its density. Chylomicrons, which transport absorbed lipids from GI tract have the lowest density of all.
There are VLDL, which are very low density lipoproteins,
LDL's, low density lipoproteins,
HDL's , high density lipoproteins.
Healthy oils that have been hardened by hydrogenation to make them more solid are called Trans Fats. These cause serum changes, worse than those by saturated fats. trans fatty acids spark a greater increase in LDL's and a greater reduction in HDL's, producing the unhealthiest ratio of total cholesterol to HDL. It is preferable to have higher blood levels of HDL's, they have a greater protein level.
Saturated fatty acids stimulate liver synthesis of cholesterol and inhibit its excretion from the body.
Unsaturated (mono & poly) fatty acids enhance secretion of cholesterol and its catabolism to bile salts, thereby reducing total cholesterol levels.
Cholesterol is lost from the body when it is catabolised, and secreted in bile salts, eventually excreted in feces.
Cholesterol serves as the structural basis of bile salts, steroid hormones and Vitamin D, and is a major component of plasma membranes.
So cholesterol is needed but in very small quantities and only from good oils or lipids.
15% blood cholesterol comes from the diet.
85% made from acetyl CoA, by the liver and intestinal cells. In other words the body can make what it needs.
Some articles claim that our desire for fats comes from the bodies need for good oils, its craving the essential oils, such as Omega 3's.
We really should be throwing away our frying pans, only boil, poach, steam, bake, and take Omega 3's, found in cold water fish, cod liver oil, linseed oil.

Vitamin B Supplements and Alzheimer's

Results of a study conducted at Oxford University have shown that taking vitamin B supplements could potentially delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.  It was found that people in the early stages of failing memory can retain more of their mental faculties for longer if they take B vitamin supplements on a regular basis. Some participants in the trial found that their neurological decline reduced by as much as 50 percent after using B vitamins.

The study involved 271 people with mild cognitive impairment who either took a high dose folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 supplement or a placebo for a duration of two years. Folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 were chosen because they control the amounts of an amino acid called homocysteine in the blood. High levels of homocysteine have been linked to a greater risk of Alzheimer's. After two years participants' brains were examined using MRI scanners and their mental faculties assessed using tests of cognition. They found that those who had been receiving the supplements had experienced on average 30% less brain atrophy than those receiving the placebo. Those who started the trial with the highest levels of homocysteine experienced the greatest benefit with 50% less brain shrinkage.

Reference:  Smith, A.D., Smith, S.M., and Jager, C.A. et al (2010), ‘Homocysteine-Lowering by B vitamins slows the rate of accelerated brain atrophy in mild cognitive impairment: A randomised controlled trial’ In PLoS hub for Clinical Trials.
http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0012244

Women More Vulnerable To Tobacco Carcinogens, New Results Show

Women More Vulnerable To Tobacco Carcinogens, New Results Show

Women More Susceptible To Harmful Effects Of Smoking, Study Finds

Women More Susceptible To Harmful Effects Of Smoking, Study Finds

Women Who Smoke At Increased Risk Of Lung Disease

Women Who Smoke At Increased Risk Of Lung Disease

Marijuana Smoking Increases Risk Of COPD For Tobacco Smokers

Marijuana Smoking Increases Risk Of COPD For Tobacco Smokers

Growing Evidence Of Marijuana Smoke's Potential Dangers

Growing Evidence Of Marijuana Smoke's Potential Dangers

Study confirms association between tobacco smoke and behavioral problems in children

Study confirms association between tobacco smoke and behavioral problems in children

African-American infants at increased risk from tobacco smoke exposure

African-American infants at increased risk from tobacco smoke exposure

Children of mothers who smoked during pregnancy at increased risk of becoming smokers, mouse study suggests

Children of mothers who smoked during pregnancy at increased risk of becoming smokers, mouse study suggests

Nicotine's Effects Are Receptor Specific

Nicotine's Effects Are Receptor Specific

Nicotine can protect the brain from Parkinson's disease, research suggests

Nicotine can protect the brain from Parkinson's disease, research suggests

Nicotine May Have More Profound Impact Than Previously Thought

Nicotine May Have More Profound Impact Than Previously Thought

Thoughts and Wellness

Their is a direct correlation between thoughts, emotions and wellness. Your thoughts create a direct physical effect on your body.
Fear compromises the immune system, produces a drop in the immune systems T cells.  Also guilt, anger, resentment are physical poisons to the body, they have a chemical effect - they wear down the immune system, which makes the body more susceptible to disease.
Every cell creates messenger chemicals. these chemicals are secreted in response to feelings, emotions, intentions. Whenever we have a feeling, its effect is on all body cells, at the same instant in time.Destructive emotions are great annihilators of nerve energy, loss of nerve energy is a precursor of all disease.
Realise that fear and stress are entirely a function of your perception - how you interpret events.
Fear is a killer. Ruins the quality of both your health and your life.

Diabetes

Diabetes Mellitus is a consequence of inadequate insulin production or abnormal insulin receptors. Without insulin or receptors that 'recognise' it, glucose becomes unavailable to most body cells.(Glucose is the bodies main nutrient fuel for the body, sugars and starches from carbohydrates).  For this reason, blood glucose levels remain high, and large amounts of glucose are excreted in urine. Metabolic acidosis, protein wasting and weight loss occur as large amounts of fats and tissue proteins are used for energy.
Diabetes can be conquered, and the homeostatic balance of the amazing body can be returned, by clever use of food and a good lot of exercise, it can actually return the body to a healthy state.
Human Anatomy & Physiology, Marieb & Hoen, 8th Ed

Way to Address All Aspects Of Life and Their Requirements

PRAISES - a model of lifestyle balance (Glaser 1997)

P physical - are your physical needs being met? health?
R recreational - spending enough time relaxing, having fun?
A artistic - creative pursuits and passions in your life.
I intellectual - are you fullfilled intellectually?
S spiritual - connection to something greater than yourself?
E employment - achieving your financial goals?
S social - friends, social settings?

The idea is that you cover every aspect and you should have a balanced life. Try it!

Essential Nutrients

So we know thr are 6 essential nutrients - carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water.  What you may not know about carbohydrates is that they essentially break down to be sugars - Glucose. Sugars or Glucose are what the body uses for energy. All the carbohydrates we ingest are derived from plant sources. So there are complex carbohydrates which derive starches as we know as bread, cereal, flour, pasta, nuts, rice and potato. And there are simple carbohydrates which are simple sugars in carbonated drinks, candy, fruit, young immature vegetables. And we cant forget fibre - polysaccarides provide in the form of Cellulose, found in most vegetables, we cant digest it but it is necessary to facilitate defecation - thats right - the poop shoot. Then there is soluble fibre, found in pectin in apples, in citrus fruits, and this reduces blood cholesterol.
So if you get your apple or 2 a day, you are reducing your blood cholesterol.
There is a misconception that athletes need to eat large amounts of protein to improve performance and maintain muscle mass.
But actually a diet rich in complex carbohydrates is much more effective in sustaining intense muscle activity, because excess sugars or Glycogen from the carbs is stored in muscles.
Alot of athletes practice glycogen loading or 'carbo loading'. which tricks the muscles into storing more glycogen. they eat a diet of 75% carbs for 3 - 4 days before an event while decreasing activity. It has been shown that it improves performance and endurance.
Human Anatomy & physiology, Marieb & Hoen, 8th Ed

Long Term Regulation of Food Intake

Hormone Leptin, is one of the hormones responsible, it is secreted by adipose cells in response to an increase in body fat mass, it acts as a ;Fat-o-Stat' it sends messages to the brain.
When Leptin levels rise in the blood, its sending message to the brain to do a few things, one of which: suppress the release of NPY which is the mose potent appetite stimulant known - Neuropeptide Y.
By blocking its release, leptin pevents the release of the appetite-enhancing hormones. This decreases appetite and subsequently food intake, eventually promoting weight loss.
When 'fat stores' shrink, leptin blood levels drop, activating receptors in the brain, releasing hormones, consequently, appetite and food intake increase and eventually weight gain occurs.
Rising Leptin levels do  promote weight loss, but only to a certain point.
Individuals who are obese have higher than normal Leptin blood levels, but are resistant to its actions, for some unknown reason.
Leptin has received the most attention as a long term appetite and metabolism regulator, but Insulin acts on NPY release in same way
Reference: Human Anatomy & Physiology, Marieb, Hoen, 8th Ed

Wellness

Wellness - its a state of mind, get with it and it will show

Parasympathetic nervous system

by Veronica Fitzgerald on Tuesday, 02 August 2011 at 09:21

Sounds like a mouthful. It is what we should all be looking after in our lives. Most of our day is run by the sympathetic nervous system, which is the fight or flight, which is a result of the stressful existence in which  is modern day.
We need to practice exercise/meditations like yoga, have massages, burn incense, use essential oils.
Eat plenty of vegies and salads, use olive oil dressings or linseed for eg.
try to eat 2 pieces of fruit a day , doesn't sound like much, but it is actually difficult.
Drink up to 3 litres of water per day.
Try eating seafood up to 5 times per week. Meat much less, like 2 times per week. Other times vegetarian rules.
Cut down on alcohol and cigarettes and other drugs.
Find something to worship and honour in your life, like yourself and your body, it is the GOD.
Eat a handful of almonds every day with maybe some dried fruit, I like apricots, dried paw paw, banana chips.
Get outdoors, breath in life, and love and appreciate it, its the only one you get.

Energy Balance

When any fuel is burned, it consumes oxygen and liberates heat. The 'burning' of food fuels by our cells is no exception. Energy can be neither created nor destroyed - only converted from one form to another. If we apply this principle - the first law of thermodynamics - to cell metabolism, it means that bond energy released as foods are catabolized must be precisely balanced by the total energy output of the body. For this reason, a dynamic balance exists between the body's energy intake and its energy output.