Our Article on the Benefits of Turmeric

Before we discuss the benefits of Turmeric, we will first give a brief introduction on the Turmeric herb.

Turmeric (curcuma longa) is a natural antioxidant herb. Its main active ingredients are curcuminoids, including curcumin. Curcumin is a yellow pigment and may relieve the symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis. When taken orally, it may treat chronic anterior uveitis. It can be found in powder form and is used in cooking.

Conditons Turmeric can treat – Benefits of Turmeric

Medicinally, Turmeric is used to help treat dyspepsia, abdominal pain, hemorrhage, fever, and worms. It relieves flatulence, abdominal bloating, and hepatitis, loss of appetite, jaundice, amenorrhea, and kidney inflammation are also said to be treated with this herb. The herb helps to treat problems with the liver and the gall bladder. Headaches, cancer, bronchitis, colds and other respiratory infections can be treated with turmeric, as can leprosy, edema and cystitis. Turmeric extract may stabilize colorectal cancer.

Some further benefits of turmeric are that it helps to detoxify the body, protects the liver from pollutants, and stimulates the production of bile, needed to digest fat. The herb protects the stomach from salmonella and protozoa’s that can cause diarrhea.

Studies, Opinions and further Turmeric benefits

We will discuss the Turmeric herb and how it may benefits people suffering with Psoriasis...Many people swear by the turmeric health herb in offering some relief to their psoriasis flare-ups and offering some relief from this condition. One of the editors here at Nutritional-Supplement-Guides knows people who suffer from psoriasis personally, and after taking the turmeric herb, the symptoms of psoriasis actually faded, however this did happen over some time (after several months to be exact). But, importantly to note, this is far from a guarantee that the turmeric herb Is a cure for psoriasis an it may not relieve the symptoms at all in some people.

Turmeric acts as a powerful antioxidant, neutralizing free radical damage, and the herb also acts as an anti-inflammatory, which may well help in arthritis. The herb is also said to have anti-carcinogenic properties.

Let us illustrate the above a little further, in one study, curcumin slowed the development of prostate cancer on tumor cells and another related study at a major nutritional University showd that 'a mixture of curcumin and isoflavonoids is the most potent inhibitor against the growth of human breast tumor cells.'

A Clinical study at UCLA revealed that curcumin from tumeric may help slow the progression of Alzheimer's. Specifically, it reduced the buildup of amyloid protein 'plaques' in the brain of rats. Amyloid protein plaque buildup is one of the primary factors that characterizes Alzheimer's disease. Studies have shown that cultures such as India which use a lot of curcumin in their cooking have a much lower incidence of Alzheimer's disease than the Western world.

Other benefits of curcumin in tumeric are: potentially protecting the liver from toxic substances, and reducing platelets from clumping together--which may help guard against atherosclerosis and help improve blood circulation.

Known side effects and precautions

There are no known side effects linked to turmeric. Those taking large amounts may experience stomach upset. Those on blood thinners should not use this herb medicinally because it (turmeric) could increase the effects of these medications.

The health herb Turmeric seems to be a very safe herb. The herb is used in powder form in very large amounts in Indian cooking. Because Turmeric it is not considered an essential nutrient, the “Recommended Daily Allowance” has not been set for this herb. However, we always suggest that pregnant or nursing women should refrain from using this herb unless their physician gives them the all clear.

Our tips On getting the true benefits of Turmeric

1. The potency can vary largely from one turmeric herb to another. The highest most efficient potency supplements use Turmeric extract that is standardized up to 95% curcumin.This is because curcumin is actually the part of Turmeric that gives the herb its therapeutic properties. We suggest that you look for a supplement that gives you the standardized extract of turmeric using 95% curcumin.

2.Dietary supplements in the U.S. are unregulated and consumers have had only a 1 in 5 chance of buying a product that contains the actual ingredients stated.. Because of this industry wide problem, people should choose a manufacturer that is pharmaceutical GMP compliant. These facilities comply with the most stringent manufacturing standards, to eliminate the possibility of harmful contaminants and to also make sure that you are getting the amount of ingredients you actually paid for.

Obesity--Are you at Risk and How Will it Affect Your Health

Marjorie Salada is the owner of http://www.weightloss3000.com, a website that contains information on losing weight and living a healthy lifestyle

Marjorie Salada is the owner of http://www.weightloss3000.com, a website that contains information on losing weight and living a healthy lifestyle

Obesity Related Health Problems

According to the statistic data of the 1999-2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey or the NHANES, nearly two- thirds of the total adult population in the United States are overweight, and an astonishing figure of about 30.5% of Americans are obese. This over weight and obesity prevalence fact sheet provided by the study as well presents the accompanying obesity related health problems in the population, apart from the disease’s mortality and economic costs. And a significantly stunning 61+ million people are at risk of the deadly disorders associated with obesity.

Only some of the known and proven obesity related health problems are the following:

* type 2 diabetes

* insulin resistance, glucose intolerance

* heart disease and congestive heart failure

* stroke, respiratory breathing problems and sleep apnea

* high blood pressure (hypertension)

* high blood cholesterol (dyslipidemia)

* cholescystitis and cholelithiasis

* gallbladder disease and urine leakage (stress incontinence)

* presence of excess body and facial hair (hirsutism)

* poor female reproductive health (menstrual irregularities, infertility, irregular ovulation)

* pregnancy complications

* degeneration of cartilage and bone of joints (osteoarthritis)

* psychological disorders (depression, low self- esteem, distorted body image and eating disorders)

* some forms of cancer (breast, uterine, endometrial, prostate, colorectal, kidney, and gallbladder), and

* increased surgical risk

To note, there are also gender- specific obesity related health problems among obese women and men. Obese women who have a waist circumference of more than 35 inches is considered to have a high amount of visceral fats or accumulated fats surrounding the internal organs which are associated with higher risks of liver disease and chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease. On the other hand, among obese males, are more likely deaths caused by colon, rectum, or prostate cancer as well as acquiring a suffering disorder of sleep apnea which is seriously associated with stroke and heart attack.

Being obese causes an increased risk for developing these numbers of serious and potentially lethal health problems. What makes these obesity related health problems even more noteworthy is the fact that it causes some 300,000 premature deaths in the United States every single year. Causing government spending of billions of dollars in health care costs, and the culprit is preventable. And with these risky obesity related health problems always in mind, no one would rather eat what he wants rather than wanting to live a long healthy life with his loved ones.

Obesity is a Risk to Your Health

Friedrich Asen is a personal development and nutritional expert, counsellor, coach and author since more than 20 years. For more highly informative articles about obesity and weight loss please visit his site at http://www.obesitykiller.com

Friedrich Asen is a personal development and nutritional expert, counsellor, coach and author since more than 20 years. For more highly informative articles about obesity and weight loss please visit his site at http://www.obesitykiller.com

Title:

Major breakthrough in the understanding of cancer



Word Count:

1400



Summary:

At long last, some good news! A scientist found the cause of cancer, and it's not what many scientists in the academia, at the National Institute of Health (NIH), or in pharmaceutical/biotech companies think.





Keywords:

Cancer, cause of cancer, biology of cancer, chronic disease, NIH, tumor, cure for cancer, drugs, tumor, biotech, medical discovery, breast cancer, melanoma, lung cancer, treatment, remission





Article Body:

Hunting for Genetic Mutations and Cancer
The current paradigm in medical research holds that the cause of most cancers is a genetic mutation. For instance, according to the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), an institute at the NIH, "all cancers are based on genetic mutations in body cells." In fact, mutation hunting is big business. Just look at the NIH budget allocated to discoveries of genetic mutations, the number of biotech companies chasing genetic mutations, the magnitude of the licensing agreements between biotech and pharmaceutical companies aimed to utilize newly discovered genetic mutations, and the number of stories in the media on genetic mutations and their so-called "link" to disease. However, this huge effort and billions of dollars has produced few discoveries and little benefits to the public. The reason for this limited success is simple. The cause of cancer is not a genetic mutation.

The story of the BRCA1 gene is a typical example of mutation hunting.

The Mystery of BRCA1
Genes, in general, produce proteins, which are the building blocks of cells. The concentration of the protein is tightly regulated. A mutated gene produces an abnormal concentration of its protein, which may lead to disease. In 1994, Mark Skolnick, PhD, discovered the BRCA1 gene (BRCA1 is short for BReast CAncer 1). Following the discovery, scientists observed an abnormally low level of the BRCA1 protein in breast cancer tissues. The BRCA1 protein is a cell cycle suppressor, which means that the protein prevents cell replication. This observation created a lot of excitement. At the time, scientists believed that they were on the verge of finding the cause of breast cancer. The reasoning was that breast cancer patients must have a mutated BRCA1 gene, which would explain the decreased production of the protein, and the excessive replication of breast cancer cells in tumors.

In the United States, 180,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year. However, the BRCA1 gene is mutated in less than 5% of these cases. In more than 95% of breast cancer patients the gene is not mutated.

So here is the mystery. If the gene is not mutated in the great majority of the breast cancer patients, why are the tumors showing low levels of the BRCA1 protein? Today, this is one of the biggest mysteries in cancer research.

The BRCA1 gene is not unique. Many normal (non-mutated) genes exhibit a mysterious abnormal (increased or decreased) production of proteins in cancer. Moreover, studies also report abnormal gene expression of normal genes in other diseases, such as atherosclerosis, obesity, osteoarthritis, type II diabetes, alopecia, type I diabetes, multiple sclerosis, asthma, lupus, thyroiditis, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and graft versus host disease.

The Discovery
A virus is a collection of genes. To replicate, some viruses settle in the nucleus of the host cell and use the cell machinery to replicate. What is the effect of a viral gene on the production of cellular proteins?

Think of a gene as an assembly line of a protein. Like all assembly lines, the gene has two parts, a conveyor (the gene coding section), and a control panel (the gene promoter/enhancer). Imagine a cellular shop that assembles a product called BRCA1. One of the many buttons on the control panel is called N-box. Pressing the button increases production. However, only a small number of operators (called transcription factors), those who pass a special certification (called the p300 test), have permission to press this button. What happens when a virus opens a shop across the street from the cellular shop (called latent infection) to produce its viral products? The control panel in the viral shop also has an N-box button. To start production, the virus begins to hire away some of the certified operators. What is the effect of this "hiring away" on the number of available BRCA1 units? The number decreases. Moreover, the decrease becomes apparent even before the virus starts production (the "hiring away" is what creates the effect, not the viral proteins). The viral assembly line competes with the BRCA1 assembly line for the certified operators, and by hiring them away prevents the cellular shop from producing the optimum, or "healthy" number of BRCA1 units. The lower number of BRCA1 units leads to excessive cell replication and breast cancer. (See a more technical description in a recent paper published in the European Journal of Cancer.)

The infection with the latent virus causes abnormal production of other genes, and as a result, the development of other chronic diseases. This sequence of events easily explains why people who suffer from obesity are also more likely to suffer from diabetes, cancer, and heart disease, and why a recent large scale study found that a low-fat diet does not protect against breast cancer. It also explains another surprising observation that male pattern baldness is associated with heart disease and prostate cancer. In general, this sequence of events easily explains the numerous observations indicating a co-existence or co-morbidity of some chronic diseases.

This discovery was first described by Dr. Hanan Polansky in his book, Microcompetition with Foreign DNA and the Origin of Chronic Disease, published by The Center for the Biology of Chronic Disease.

To summarize: the cause of cancer, and other chronic diseases, is not a genetic mutation, it's an infection with a latent virus.

Reaction of the Scientific Community
What is the scientific community saying about Dr. Polansky's discovery?

Consider what the famous heart surgeon and "Living Legend," Michael E. DeBakey, said about the discovery, "The theory underlying the basic concept concerning the origin of chronic diseases presented by Dr. Polansky is most interesting, indeed fascinating … Perhaps a symposium could be held to provide a forum for further discussions and critiques of this fascinating theory."

Elena N. Naumova, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Tufts University School of Medicine, said, "Dr. Polansky's work compellingly demonstrates a framework that could bring together researchers from different fields. His proposed theory will work its magic by clarifying ambiguous definitions, identifying similarities and differences in various biological processes, and discovering new pathways … I believe that Dr. Polansky's book will catalyze the scientific learning process, promote interdisciplinary cross-fertilization, stimulate development of treatment strategies and drug discovery, and leave the reader inspired."

Sivasubramanian Baskar, PhD, Senior Scientist from the National Cancer Institute, NIH, said, "At first, I wish to congratulate Dr. Hanan Polansky for his scientific bravery to take such a unique, novel approach to further stimulate our understanding of the origin and establishment of chronic diseases. The philosophy underscored is an excellent one ... The amazing correlation between theoretical predictions and observed in vivo effects seems to bring us a step closer to a deeper understanding of such complex biologic processes."

Marc Pouliot, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universit้ Laval, Canada, said, "The concept of microcompetition will change our approach in the study of chronic diseases and will furthermore give scientists a higher level of understanding in biology. Presentation of this concept undoubtedly provides a new set of opportunities for attacking chronic diseases … They lead the way to new approaches in chronic disease treatment."

Howard A. Young, PhD, Section Head, Cellular and Molecular Immunology Section, Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, National Cancer Institute, NIH, said, "In summary, Dr. Polansky is to be applauded for his attempt to provide a unifying basis for chronic diseases. His theories are stimulating and offer a basis for experimental testing and possible treatment."

Michael J. Gonzalez, PhD, Professor, Medical Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, said, "I know this book will profoundly impact medical research, drug discovery, as well as natural therapies. I also believe it will benefit the scientific community and society in general by providing further means of treatment for conditions in which only palliative care is available."

You can find more reactions and the biographies the scientists reacting to Dr. Polansky's discovery on the publisher's (see link below).

Hope for Cure and Protection
The significance of Dr. Polansky's discovery cannot be overstated. For the first time, we can start to feel a little better about these diseases. With his discovery, pharmaceutical and biotech companies can now start to design medications that will target the cause of the disease rather than its symptoms, and therefore, cure the sick and protect the healthy from these deadly diseases.

Title:

Lower Your Risk For Breast Cancer & Heart Disease



Word Count:

714



Summary:

Many postmenopausal women are looking for alternatives to hormone therapy, especially in light of the recent Women's Health Initiative research findings concerning the risks of combined estrogen and progestin therapy. Of particular interest are phytoestrogens, which have been gaining popularity due to their "natural" status, alleged health claims, and availability in a wide range of foods and supplements.





Keywords:

breast,cancer,hormones,women,health,medical,hrt,saliva,testing,estrogen





Article Body:

Many postmenopausal women are looking for alternatives to hormone therapy, especially in light of the recent Women's Health Initiative research findings concerning the risks of combined estrogen and progestin therapy. Of particular interest are phytoestrogens, which have been gaining popularity due to their "natural" status, alleged health claims, and availability in a wide range of foods and supplements.

What are Phytoestrogens?

Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring plant compounds that have some similarities to estradiol, the most potent naturally occurring estrogen. However, phytoestrogens tend to have weaker effects than most estrogens, are not stored in the body, and can be easily broken down and eliminated.

Observational studies have found a lower prevalence of breast cancer, heart disease and hip fracture rates among people living in places like Southeast Asia, where diets are typically high in phytoestrogens. In North America, knowledge of these reported health effects has stimulated great interest in the health benefits of phytoestrogens. According to the Food and Drug Administration, the sale of soy foods, a major source of phytoestrogens, has increased dramatically in the past decade.

Dietary Sources of Phytoestrogens

Phytoestrogens consist of more than 20 compounds and can be found in more than 300 plants, such as herbs, grains and fruits. The three main classes of dietary phytoestrogens are isoflavones, lignans and coumestans:

1. Isoflavones (genistein, daidzein, glycitein and equol) are primarily found in soy beans and soy products, chickpeas and other legumes.

2. Lignans (enterolactone and enterodiol) are found in seeds (primarily flaxseed), cereal bran, legumes, and alcohol (beer and bourbon).

3. Coumestans (coumestrol) can be found in alfalfa and clover. Most food sources containing these compounds typically include more than one class of phytoestrogens.

The Skeletal Effects of Phytoestrogens

Much of the evidence concerning the potential role of phytoestrogens in bone health is based on animal studies. In fact, soybean protein, soy isoflavones, genistein, daidzein and coumestrol have all been shown to have a protective effect on bone in animals who had their ovaries surgically removed.

In humans, however, the evidence is conflicting. Compared to Caucasian populations, documented hip fracture rates are lower in countries such as Hong Kong, China and Japan where dietary phytoestrogen intakes are high. Yet reports suggest that Japanese women have a greater risk of sustaining a vertebral fracture than Caucasian women.

Several studies have explored the effects of soy isoflavones on bone health, but results have been mixed, ranging from a modest impact to no effect. Most of these studies have serious limitations, including their short duration and small sample size, making it difficult to fully evaluate the impact of these compounds on bone health.

Ipriflavone Supplements

Ipriflavone, a synthetic isoflavone, has shown some promise in its ability to conserve bone in postmenopausal women. Ipriflavone has also been shown to have a protective effect on bone density in pre-menopausal women taking gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), a treatment for endometriosis that triggers bone loss.

However, a definitive three-year study of more than 400 postmenopausal women concluded that ipriflavone did not prevent bone loss. Additionally, the compound was linked to lymphocytopenia (a reduction in lymphocytes) in a significant number of study participants. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infection.

Risks and Benefits Are Unclear

Some studies suggest that, unlike estrogen, phytoestrogens do not appear to target breast or uterine tissue. This suggests that they may act more like SERMS (selective estrogen receptor modulators such as raloxifene and tamoxifen) than actual estrogens. However, in other studies high isoflavone levels have been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.

Clearly, additional research is needed to further evaluate the effects of phytoestrogens before judgments regarding their safety and usefulness can be made.

Key Points

Based on information available at this time, it is reasonable to make the following conclusions concerning phytoestrogens and bone health in postmenopausal women:

1. Moderate amounts of foods containing phytoestrogens can be safely included in the diet but do not expect it to help build bone. Keep to the basic rule - eat the least processed forms.

2. Due to a lack of evidence and concerns about safety, supplementation with synthetic isoflavones (ipriflavone) is in question.

3. Postmenopausal women are encouraged to view evidence concerning phytoestrogens and bone health as conflicting and incomplete. For women who are estrogen dominant increasing their phytoestrogen intake may not improve their bone position.

Title:

Is Tamoxifen Effective In Curing Breast Cancer?



Word Count:

426



Summary:

Tamoxifen, known in the trade as Nolvadex, is usually prescribed by specialists in breast cancer and is taken in pill form. A patient will stay on the drug for about five years.

Often the woman's cancer will be tested to see if it is sensitive to the amount of oestrogen in the system. If the cancer is oestrogen sensitive, tamoxifen will be given.

Because tamoxifen is such a weak estrogen, its estrogen signals don't stimulate very much cell growth. And because it has sto...





Keywords:

Tamoxifen,estrogen,Tamoxifen Citrate,Nolvadex,breast cancer,disease,sex hormone oestrogen,Breast,dia





Article Body:

Tamoxifen, known in the trade as Nolvadex, is usually prescribed by specialists in breast cancer and is taken in pill form. A patient will stay on the drug for about five years.

Often the woman's cancer will be tested to see if it is sensitive to the amount of oestrogen in the system. If the cancer is oestrogen sensitive, tamoxifen will be given.

Because tamoxifen is such a weak estrogen, its estrogen signals don't stimulate very much cell growth. And because it has stolen the place away from more powerful estrogen, it blocks estrogen-stimulated cancer cell growth. In this way, tamoxifen acts like an "anti-estrogen."

Tamoxifen may also take the place of natural estrogen in the receptors of healthy breast cells. In that way it holds down growth activity, and possibly stops abnormal growth and the development of a totally new breast cancer. By blocking natural estrogen from getting to the receptors, tamoxifen is helpful in reducing the risk of breast cancer in women at high risk who have never had breast cancer. It also can help women who have already had breast cancer in one breast by lowering the risk of a new breast cancer forming in the other breast.

One study found that radiation plus tamoxifen was much better than tamoxifen alone at reducing the risk of breast cancer coming back after a lumpectomy in women with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer. This was true even for women with very small cancers.

For pre-menopausal women, tamoxifen is the best hormonal therapy. But tamoxifen is no longer the first choice for post-menopausal women. If you've been on tamoxifen for two to three years and now you're in menopause, your doctor may recommend that you switch to an aromatase inhibitor to finish your five years of hormonal therapy. However, you can still get a lot of benefit if you take tamoxifen for up to five years and then switch to an aromatase inhibitor.

Tamoxifen was first used to fight breast cancer at the Christie Hospital in Manchester, England, in 1969. It has since proved its worth as means of stopping the spread or recurrence of the disease in women who have already been treated for it.

But, it was noticed back in the early 1980s that some women who were receiving the drug for cancer in one breast did not develop any tumorous growth in the other. This prompted the suggestion that Tamoxifen might have another preventative role for those women who are at risk of getting breast cancer but have yet to develop any signs of the disease.