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Saturday, April 17, 2010

Know about iron Mineral

Dear Readers,

                  To day i am going to present you about the Iron Mineral, which is very important for all of us, Esspecially its very important for women. After reading this article the following questions will be answered for you.

What is Iron Mineral ?
Where can we find iron Mineral ?
What is the effect of Deficiency ?
How to Avoid deficiency ?

and some other details also, lets jump into the topic.


Iron (Fe) is a component of hemoglobin, myoglobin, and many enzymes in the body. Heme iron, contained mainly in animal products, is absorbed much better than nonheme iron (eg, in plants and grains), which accounts for > 85% of iron in the average diet. However, absorption of nonheme iron is increased when it is consumed with animal protein and vitamin C.

Deficiency:

Iron deficiency is one of the most common mineral deficiencies in the world. It may result from the following:

  • Inadequate iron intake, common in infants, adolescent girls, and pregnant women
  • Malabsorption (eg, celiac sprue)
  • Chronic bleeding
Chronic bleeding due to colon cancer is a serious cause in middle-aged people and the elderly.

When deficiency is advanced, microcytic anemia develops for more details please visit Anemias Caused by Deficient Erythropoiesis: Iron Deficiency Anemia.
In addition to anemia, iron deficiency may cause pica (a craving for nonfoods) and spoon nails and is associated with restless leg syndrome. Rarely, iron deficiency causes dysphagia due to postcricoid esophageal web.

Diagnosis involves CBC, serum ferritin, and possibly measurement of transferrin saturation (iron capacity). All people with moderate or severe iron deficiency and some people with mild deficiency require iron supplementation.

Toxicity: Iron may accumulate in the body because of 

  • Iron therapy given in excessive amounts or for too long.
  • Repeated blood transfusions
  • Chronic alcoholism
  • Overdose of iron


Iron overload can also result from an inherited iron overload disease, a potentially fatal but easily treatable genetic disorder in which too much iron is absorbed. Hemochromatosis affects > 1 million Americans.

An overdose of iron is toxic, causing vomiting, diarrhea, and damage to the intestine and other organs. Diagnosis is similar to that for iron deficiency.


Iron Sources

The hemoglobin contains two different types of iron which are heme iron and non-heme iron. The main difference between the two is the absorption capability. The body easily absorbs heme iron but absorbing non-heme iron is more difficult. Absorption rates of non-heme iron can be improved by including meat, fish and vitamin C to the diet.


Another difference is the source of these two types of iron. Organ meats such as liver, heart and kidneys, and lean beef, fish, seafood, sardines, anchovies and poultry are good sources of heme iron. Plant sources provide much of the body's non-heme iron. Good sources include spinach, oat bran, apricots, kidney beans, hazelnuts, almonds, cashews, whole meal bread, eggs and soy products.


Organ meats such as liver, heart and kidneys and lean beef, fish, seafood, sardines, anchovies and poultry are food sources that are rich in heme iron. Plant sources provide much of the body's non-heme iron. Some good sources include spinach, oat bran, apricots, kidney beans, hazelnuts, almonds, cashews, wholemeal bread, eggs, soy products and fortified cereals. Many other foods have been enriched with iron and this is important because most processed foods lose their natural iron supply. Pasta, bread made with refined flour, white rice and ready-to-eat cereals fall into this last category.


Women over age 50 and all older men need 8 mg of iron/day. Any woman who has not yet started menopause needs more, 18 mg/day, compensate for the blood that is lost during a woman's monthly menstrual cycle. Women who are pregnant or who may become pregnant should also get more iron.


How much is usually taken? If a nutritionally oriented doctor diagnoses iron deficiency, iron supplementation is essential. A common adult dose is 100 mg per day ( this is maximum dose). When iron deficiency is diagnosed, the doctor must also determine the cause. Usually it’s not serious (such as normal menstrual blood loss or blood donation). Occasionally, however, iron deficiency signals ulcers or even colon cancer.

Many premenopausal women become marginally iron deficient unless they supplement with iron. Even so, the 18 mg of iron present in most multiple-vitamin/mineral supplements is often adequate.

Who is likely to be deficient? Vegetarians eat less iron than nonvegetarians, and the iron they eat is somewhat less absorbable. As a result, vegetarians are more likely to have reduced iron stores. However, iron deficiency is not usually caused by a lack of iron in the diet alone; an underlying cause, such as iron loss in menstrual blood, often exists.

Pregnant women, marathon runners, people who take aspirin, and those who have parasitic infections, hemorrhoids, ulcers, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, gastrointestinal cancers, or other conditions that cause blood loss or malabsorption are likely to become deficient.

Individuals who fit into one of these groups, even pregnant women, shouldn’t automatically take iron supplements. Fatigue, the first symptom of iron deficiency, can be caused by many other things. A nutritionally oriented doctor should assess the need for iron supplements, since taking iron when it isn’t needed does no good and may do some harm.

Please post your review and comments in commnets section. Please write your feed back which will help us in improving the article and topics. Once againa we thank each and every reader.




Monday, April 12, 2010

Toxins.. Detoxing.. Cleansing..

Dear Readers,

I am very happy to share this topic with all of you, most of us don’t know about this. After reading this article, following questions will be answered for you. Please write us your suggestions in the comments section. 

What are toxins and where do they come from?
What is detoxing?
How to get rid of toxins from our body naturally?

Toxins ... Detoxing ... Cleansing.... these words have become an integral part of our routine these days. We're living in an environment that's full of toxins, and there's no way of avoiding contact with them. Let us know about them in detail. A toxin is a chemical or poison that is known to have harmful effects on the body. Toxins are generally acquired from external sources like Pollution, Pesticides, Cigarettes, Chlorinated Ammoniated water, and harmful cleaning products and also through things we ingest like Food, Drinks and Drugs.
 
Detoxing is a process of getting rid of the toxins that built up in our body. Our Liver, kidneys, Skin, Lungs, Digestive, Lymphatic and Circulatory systems play a major role in the process of detox and eliminate toxins in the form of sweat, urine, and feces. But in this modern world we are exposed to a large number of toxins on a daily basis, and the natural detoxification mechanisms in our bodies cannot keep up the the detox demands. The human body will eventually reach a point where it is no longer capable of flushing toxic elements on its own, and they will begin to accumulate and slow down metabolism. They reduce our ability to burn lipids, or fat, and weaken our immune system greatly.

There are numerous ways to cleanse your body from toxins and it starts by adjusting your lifestyle.

Exercise is one of the natural, highly effective and safe forms of ‘detoxing’. Exercise speeds up your circulatory and respiratory systems and release toxins through sweating. It also increases the level of oxygen in the blood. This will provide you a higher level of energy and improve concentration. An oxygenated bloodstream will also help your body release toxins more easily.

Skin Detox speeds up the detoxification of skin-bound toxins. Saunas, steam baths, provide high-sweat environments which speeds up detox through the largest organ in your body, the skin. Epsom salts, skin brushing, massaging your body muscle and skin loosens the toxins that are stored in your cells and flushes them out of your body.

Fluids are excellent at flushing out toxins and restoring health. Drink more fluids, particularly purified water and fresh-squeezed juices. Your body will detox itself much easier if you are fully hydrated. Herbal teas, coconut water does great job in maintaining your hydration levels.
Slight changes to your eating habits through diet will improve your bodies ability to release toxins. High intake of Fiber literally brushs and sweeps out the built up toxins in your colon. Vitamin C stimulates the production of glutathione; a liver compound that drives away toxins. Lemon squeeze with warm water is the best choice to start off your day.

Fasting is another great way of detoxing your body. Consuming nothing but fresh, diluted juices from various fruits and vegetables for a day or more is a safe and helpful form of fasting. Juice fasting actually works better than a straight water fast, because it helps to eliminate wastes, old or dead cells while building new tissues with the easily accessible nutrients from the juices. Water fasting often results in more sickness and less energy, when compared to  fasting with fruit and vegetable juices. Systematic undereating and periodic fasting are the two most important health and longevity factors.

A Cleansing Diet works in two ways: It takes the stress off your digestive system for a few hours or days and restores the natural detoxing abilities of your body. Secondly, there is a ‘low toxic build-up’ because of the ‘low-calorie diet ‘and hence, the system detoxes the already existing toxics in the body. But this is suggested if you are taking enough amount of Daily Vitamins and Minerals from the food which you are taking other wise you will fall deficiency of the Vitamins and Minerals which is not good for health, Its very heard to measure how much we take that might be one reason USA Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) recommended every one to take Vitamins and Supplements on regular basis. 


For Free Online Nutrition Counseling Click Here

We shall discuss more on “Cleansing Diet” in my next post.
 
Tips to avoid toxins
  • Cut back on meat, dairy products, canned food and junk food. Always buy more fresh Organic Fruits and Vegetables. They contain phytochemicals phytonutrients that help us detox naturally. Make sure that you are taking organics other wise normal Fruits and Vegetables will contact article chemical which are used in the process of growing.
  • Avoid processed foods, they are processed with chemicals.
  • Skin care, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, soap, detergent and many other household products are toxic to your body (In general if all these are made of chemicals but if you start using phosphate free cleaners and other Go green products its is better) . Switch to Natural Alternatives you can give your body a big relief.
  • Avoid artificial air fresheners, tumble-dryer sheets, fabric softeners or other synthetic fragrances.
  • Avoid artificial food additives of all kinds, including artificial sweeteners
  • Get plenty of safe sun exposure to boost your vitamin D levels and your immune system. Make sure that you are protecting your self from UV radiation using come kind of Creams which or SPF 15 with lot of antioxidants
  • Drink bottled spring water or filtered water ( Make sure the your using good filtered water ). Reverse osmosis filtered water is best. 
Buy E-spring Click here

And Finally, My goal was to shed some light on the detox process and help you to reach your goals in increasing your quality of life. Make sure you take advantage of all the possibilities available to you so you will be able to see which option works the best for you.


For any questions and comments please write us in comments section below.

Thanks & Regards, 
Chalasani Rajitha

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Tips for long lasting beautiful smile

Dear Friends,

                Recently I was working in some dental care related project in which I found very interesting information to maintain very good dental health, so with that information I did some online search about the topic which helped me in creating this article; I hope this will help you in better way. So please read this article and post your comments in the comments section, which will help me to come up with good articles for all your usage.

Increase your vitamin C intake

Vitamin C is the cement that holds all of your cells together. "So just as it's vital for your skin, it's important for the health of your gum tissue," says Paula Shannon Jones, DDS, spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry. People who consumed less than 60 mg per day of C were 25% more likely to have gum disease than people who took in 180 mg or more, according to a study of more than 12,000 US adults conducted at the State University of New York University at Buffalo.

Smile Rx: Add a daily glass of pure Orange Juice ( not from the stores home made with out sugar ) to your breakfast routine, and make sure your multi meets the RDA for vitamin C.


Have an apple a day

Yep, it helps keep the dentist away too. Crunchy foods, including apples, celery, and carrots, act like little toothbrushes when you chew them, and they actually help scrub away stubborn stains over time. The cleansing effect on your teeth may be noticeable — if ever so slightly — especially if you're a coffee drinker who wasn't eating apples every day to begin with. "The mildly acidic nature and astringent quality of apples, combined with their rough, fiber-rich flesh, makes them the ideal food for cleansing and brightening teeth," explains Jeff Golub-Evans, DDS, founding president of the New York Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

Smile Rx: If you start eating an apple a day as a between-meal snack and don't get the chance to brush your teeth afterward, be sure to chase it with a glass of water to rinse away the sugar, acid, and any plaque it may have removed from your enamel.

Drink tea Or Antioxidants

The antioxidants are good for your gums. Black and green teas contain polyphenols, antioxidant plant compounds that prevent plaque from adhering to your teeth and help reduce your chances of developing cavities and gum disease. "Tea also has potential for reducing bad breath because it inhibits the growth of the bacteria that cause the odor," explains Christine D. Wu, PhD, professor and director of caries research at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry, who has conducted several studies on tea and oral health. Many teas also contain fluoride (from the leaves and the water it's steeped in), which helps protect tooth enamel from decay and promotes healthy teeth.

Smile Rx: Steep a cup every afternoon. Added bonus: a bit of caffeine for a post lunch perk.

Boost calcium consumption

The same way the mineral makes for strong bones, it's also necessary to protect your pearly whites. People who get at least 800 mg a day are less likely to develop severe gum disease, says a study by the Buffalo researchers. The reason: About 99% of the calcium in your body is in your bones and teeth. Dietary calcium — available in foods like cheese, milk, and yogurt — strengthens the alveolar bone in the jaw, which helps hold your teeth in place.

Eat up! A few simple changes to your diet can help keep your teeth healthy for life.

Smile Rx: The recommended amount is 1,000 mg per day for women younger than 51 and 1,200 mg for those older. A calcium supplement could do the trick, but you should aim to get as much as you can from your diet. You get about 240 mg each from an 8-ounce glass of milk, a 6-ounce yogurt, or a 1.5- to 2-ounce serving of cheese. 1 fl oz = 28ml approximately so, try to take at lest 224 ml of low fat milk to get 240 mg of Calcium.

Know more about importance of calcium

Go for whole grains

Whole grains are like dental insurance, suggests research from McMaster University, Canada.

Add this to the laundry list of their benefits, which include keeping your heart healthy, preventing diabetes, and more: Whole grains keep teeth healthier longer. Among 34,000 men studied for 14 years, those who ate at least three daily whole grain servings were 23% less likely to suffer tooth-loosening gum inflammation (periodontitis) than those averaging fewer than one. Eating more whole grains helps stabilize blood sugar levels, which has been shown to reduce periodontitis in diabetics.

Smile Rx: Swap white rice and regular pasta for brown and whole wheat versions. Check labels to make sure brown rice or whole grains are listed as the first ingredient.

Please  check with your doctor also, if you feel i am wrong.

Please post your comments in the comments section, so that we can improve the information which we are giving.