Vitamin C

Scientific Name: Ascobic Acid.

Properties: Soluble in water

Functions:

1. Help to form collagen
2. Help absorption of iron
3. To prevent scurvy
4. Help recuperation after surgery.
5. Help lower cholesterol in the blood.
6. Can help to hold the protein cells more tightly together and thus lengthen one's life.
7. Help against the effect of pollen and other agents which cause asthmatic reactions.
8. Help prevent common cold.

RDA:

• 60 mg for adults, more for those who undergo surgery and for pregnant women.
• More will be needed for those who are under stress.

Defeciency: Scurvy

Found in: All Sorts of fruits.

Toxicity: Excessive may cause:

• Diarrhia
• Kidney stone
• More Urine.
• Skin inflammation

Enemy:

• Sunlight
• Heat
• Oxygen
• Smoking

Things to note:

1. When taking more than 750 Mg per day, must take more Magnesium
2. Do not take Korea Ginseng 3 hours before or after taking food rich in Vitamin C

Allergy explained

When allergens first entered into the body,the plasma cells generate antibodies called IgE.
IgE attached themselves to the mastcells.

When the same allergen like pollen entered the body again,the allergen proteins attached to the IgE.

The IgE triggers the mast cells to produce histamine, prostaglandins, and leukotrienes which
caused the sneezing and wheezing and other symptoms found in allergic people.
Most common allergic conditions:
1) Allergic rhinistis (hay fever)
2) Asthma
3) Eczema --- Itchy skin conditions especially in children.
4) Rhinosinusitis---Inflammation of the sinuses.
5) Otitis media--- Inflammation of the middle ear.
6) Food allergy.
7) Anaphylactic shock--- occurs in people sensitive to penicillin, insect stings , shell fish and nuts. Symptoms seen as vomiting, cramps and sudden drop in blood pressure.

Omega 3

Functions:

• Lower risk of prostate cancer.
• Lower risk of colon cancer,stroke, asthma and arithritis.
• May help to prevent Alzeheimer's disease , dementia and depression.

RDA: 500-600 mg of EPA and DHA combined.

Benefits of exercise

• lost weight
• lower LDL cholesterol
• Increase HDL cholesterol.
• Lower blood pressure.
• decrease level of triglycerides.
• Delay aging.
• Improve sensitivity to insulin.
• Decrease risk of osteoporosis.
• improve immune system.
• Improve balance and coordination, thus decrease risk of falling.
• Better sleeping quality.

Milk thistle for your liver

Functions of milk thistle:
1) Improves functioning of circulatory system and liver and thus help to clear the skin of rashes and some skin diseases.
2) It has stimulating and decongesting functions may help in the treatment of problems in a number of vital organs like kidney, bladder lungs and uterus.

The major component of milk thistle is silymarin which has the following funtions:
1) Srengthen the membrane of liver cells and thus prevent harmful substances from entering.
2) Stimulates protein synthesis and thus promote regeneration of old and damaged cells.
3) As an antioxidant to prevent against the depletion of glutathione that helps to detoxify hormones,drugs and chemicals in the liver cells.
Gultathione attaches onto toxic substances through conjugation, neutralizing them or enable them to be excreted more easily.

Eggs are good for the eyes

Egg contains lutein which is 2 to 3 times more bioavailable than supplements and spinach.
Lutein help to prevent age-related macular degenaration.
---- A recent study at Tufts university
Eggs fortified with Omega 3 gives extra benefit for your heart also.

Safety concerns of Omega-3 fatty acids

A)Source of Omega-3 fatty acids
(1) From marine fish--eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA),docosahexanoic acids (DHA)

(2) From plant origin,walnut,flaxseed,soyabean, canola.--alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
(3) Micro Algae,Crypthecodinmenters
(4) Stearidonic Acid (SDA,18:4w3)--found in hemp seed,blackcurrant seed oil

B) Safety issues of marine fish
(1) These fish may contain:
1.1 Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB)--can be reduced by removing the fats before cooking
1.2 Methylmercury, presents in larger predator fish and mammals. Pose a greater risk,as it is distributed throughout the body.
1.3) Dioxin,mercury and other marine pollutants.

C) Omega-3 fatty acids originated from plants are considered safer. Yet if they are taken with antihypertensive agents or medicines of anticoagulant nature, may result in serious complications.

Pure Fruit juice drinks,anyone !

What are the actual content of some popular fruit juice drinks:
1) 5%- 10% fruit juice.
2) Colouring agents
3) Flavourings.
4) Artificial sweeteners.
5) Stabilisers
6) preservatives
6.1 Sodium metabisulphite
6.2 Benzoic acids.
6.2 Sorbic acids

Icariin increases male's virility

1)Icariin, extracted from a chinese traditional herb Yinyanghuo increases male's virility.
2)Studies had found that it relaxed corpus cavernosum and increase nitiric oxide level
3)Icariin is a specific inhibitor of phoshodiesterase , a molecule that degrades cGMP.--- A recent study
4) cGMP is found to mediate the release of nitric oxide.

Reference: ffn

Genetically Modified Foods may modify you!

• Some companies genetically modified some crops like soya beans to withstand heavier doses of herbicides.
• Most of these herbicides contain glyphosate.
• Glyphosate increases the level of estrogens in bean family.
• High level of estrogens may disrupt the endocrine systems of consumers.
• It also results in more fats in milk from cows fed with genetically modified foods

Beware of the fruits!

Those who ate the most fruits and drank the most fruit juice over a period of six years are the most likely to develop Parkinson's disease----- studies on 8000 men.

The culprit are the pesticides and herbicides.

Therefore organic foods are preferred.


Source: Men'sHealth

Chamomile for anxiety

1) Its antianxiety effect is known in Europe for centuries.
2) In 1986 alone, the world consumed 4 thousands tons of Chamomile.
3) In animals studies, it is found to slow down pulses and breathing rates in cats and dogs.
4) There are no known side effects , but should not be taken in excess.
5) It is best to follow the manufacturer's directions in term of dosage.
Herb that has similar effects: passionflower, it is found to calm nerves and promote sleep and has been used in Europe for centuries
Reference:
Big Book Of Miracle Cures
by
Cornnnet.Netzer

Excercise instead of eating less!

If you try to lose weight by eating less, your body will go into a survival mode by slowing down metabolism and start burning your muscle.

It is always better to lose weight through exercising.

Preventing Stroke

There are usually detectable symptoms 0-7 days before the onset of actual stroke:
1) Numbness in one half of the body from head to toe.
2) Bodily weakness.
3) Cannot speak clearly.
4) Confusion.
5) Blurred vision.
6) Headache.
7) Difficulty walking.

If you have most of the above symptoms, call your doctor immediately.

Microwaved foods and cancer

Microwaved energy retained in food can be transmitted to humans via the food itself and not just through physical
nearness to the microwave source--- A swiss experiment 1989

FDA limits for mirowave radiation: 5mW/cm2 at 5 cm from the oven surface.

May be food posioning through uncooked spot even the oven instruction is followed e.g @ 70 oC
Minimum of 90 oC is required to kill all germs.

What is in a burger ?

1. 25-50 % of meat containing bones, intestines, skin cartilages, tongue, sinew, tail and other organs.
2. The rest contains rusk, soya flour, and onion powder.
3. Added fats
4. Emulsifiers and thickeners (wood cellulose, cotton pulp )
5.Staled bread.
6.Artificial colouring e.g. Tartrazine.
7. Artificial flavourings.
8. Salt.
9. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG).

Cold carbonated drinks may not be so cool after all (II)

A) Each 325ml carbonated drink contain 5.5-7.5 teaspoons of sugar.

1. Each teaspoon contains 16 calories
2. Daily allowable Intake by WHO of sugar is 8-11 teaspoons
3. Extra sugar may increase risk of diabetes, skin problems .
4. Sugar may be related to osteoporosis ,hypertension, liver and kidney diseases.

B) Diet soft drinks contain artificial sweeteners.

1. One common sweetener is aspartame which may cause side effects such as migraine, memory loss, depression. It has been also linked to nausea, skin itching and blurring of vision
2. The breakdown products of aspartame are potent agents for producing tumours in lab animals-- Professor John W. Olney.
3. Other sweetener like saccharin is proven to cause bladder cancer.

C) Common soft drinks have PH of 2.1-3.7.

1. It needs 32 glasses of high PH alkaline water to neutralize a glass of your favourite soft drink.
2. The excess phosphorus from phosphoric acid offset the calcium-phosphorus balance. This will lead to osteoporosis.
3. The phoshorus also fights with hydrochloric acid in the stomach causing it to be ineffective in the digestive function. This will lead to indigestion, bloating and gassiness.

D) Artificial flavouring will aggravate the conditions of hyperactive children.

E) Colouring like tartrazine (orange colour) was ban in Norway and Finland as it can cause allergic reactions like skin rashes, swelling running nose. It may be a possible cause of cancer.

1. Sunset yellow, Carmoisine (reddish), Brilliant blue are suspected cancer causing agents and are banned in many countries.

F ) Preservatives like sodium benzoate may cause asthma, rashes and hyperactvity and when consumed in excess may be carcogenic.

Have good memory, drink green tea.

Green tea can:
1) Enhance memory
2) Slow down the onset of Alzheimer's.

Do not mix herbal medicines and pharmaceuticals

1. Traditional chinese medicine for diabetes when used with insulin injection may cause hypoglycemia.
2. Gingko biloba and aspirin can cause spontaneous hyphema, in which outer chamber of the eye fills with blood.--A Hong Kong Study.
3. Liquorice and contraceptives--- high blood pressure.

Foods which are beneficial for diabetes mellitus

A)1) Fenugreek seeds are usually found in cookery and flavouring. Is has a sweet maple aroma.
2) The active ingredient is 4-hydroxyisoleucine.
2.1 It stimulate insulin production and thus help to lower blood glucose level and help to reduce body fat production.
3)15g/day will help to reduce blood glucose after meal

B)1)Banaba leaf has long been used as folk medicines in Philipines.
2)Banaba leaves contain corosolic acids which stimulate transport of glucose into the tissue.
3)It also contains other insulinlike compounds
4)Function in reducing weight gain and supppressing blood plasma glucose content.

c) Bitter melon or Bitter Gourd
1) It is sold as a type of vegetable in Asia and has beeb used as a folk remedy for colitis,dysentry, intestinal worms, jaundice and fever.
2) Active ingredient is charantin.
2.1 It demonstrate hypoglycemic effect (Blood glucose lowering)

3) it also contain other insulin like peptide--polypeptide p and alkaloids

Source: ff