Get ready for the mad flurry of press on the benefits of Vitamin D in fighting cancer after some very positive research came out of the Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology suggesting a strong correlation between moderate amounts of Vitamin D and prevention of breast and colorectal cancers.
There are 3 clear sources of Vitamin D, our own bodies produce it with exposure to the sun, Vitamin D rich foods, and supplements.
While it's tempting to jump on the supplement band-waggon, the first question we must ask is can we get enough Vitamin D from the Sun and the best food for Vitamin D?
Anyone living in the North understands that the quality of the sun in the winter months combined with the fact that you can't leave anymore than about 20% of your body exposed severely limits your ability to get enough Vitamin D by the sun only.
The growing prevalance of skin cancer is also a major factor in how much time people will spend in the sun, even though most research suggests 10-15-minutes in the afternoon sun for most people is sufficient for Vitamin D levels listed in the cancer-fighting studies.
Even still, there are other methods to get our Vitamin D intake.
That leaves us next with understanding how to get vitamin D from our diet, so what are the best foods for getting vitamin D?
Here are some foods containing good amounts of vitamin D:
- Cheese and Milk as well as most dairy products (you may even see some dairy substitute products enriched or fortified with Vitamin D)
- Fish (especially smaller fish such as sardines, trout, salmon)
- Margarine
- Oysters
- Egg yolks
vitamin D is one of those vitamins that can cause nasty side effects if you ingest too much - symptoms may include kidney stones, nausea and weakness if too much is taken. So, it's not one of those vitamins that you can mega-dose on and get away with it.
Supplements should be a last resort, instead, more short-periods of exposure to the sun and eating a diet rich with vitamin D and vitamin D fortification will help to maintain a healthy level discussed in the latest research in warding off colorectal and breast cancers.
Finally, it is important to note that yoga and meditation can play a role in the battle to get more from the best food for getting vitamin D. When many of us are stressed, our digestion suffers - in effect we are no longer producing the proper enzymes in our gut to properly break down and benefit from vitamins in our foods.
So - if we are in a state of chronic stress, then we are most likely not getting the full benefit of vitamin D in the foods we eat. Mix your overall health and nutrition plan with yoga and meditation to get all of the benefits of vitamin D rich foods.
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Causes of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a chronic condition but in spite of extensive research, our understanding of the causative elements are still embryonic. The symptoms are different in individual sufferers and in individual sufferers the symptoms can vary from time to time. This makes it difficult to pin point one specific cause.
As symptoms in some Irritable Bowel Syndrome patients worsen after meals, it is suggested that IBS is a dietary problem. This, however, is a natural phenomenon. Food intake stimulates increase intestinal activity. This is the gastro-colic reflex. In Irritable Bowel Syndrome, this effect is exaggerated and symptoms develop. There is no clear evidence that food reaction is a cause of IBS but certain foods can aggravate symptoms. Lactose intolerance and gluten allergy (Coeliac Disease) are considered separate from IBS.
Some experts suggest that Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a motility disorder. In IBS the transit time of passage of food through the gut is altered. If it is too slow, more water is absorbed from the faecal residue resulting in constipation. If it is too fast, not enough water is absorbed and diarrhoea results. The chaotic behaviour of the gut in IBS results in variable transit time and can cause constipation and/ or diarrhoea. There is no clear evidence that Irritable Bowel Syndrome is simply a motility disorder.
As much as 25% of people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome admit that their IBS developed after a severe bout of gastroenteritis. This is more often bacterial. During gastroenteritis, serotonin level in the blood is elevated. High level of this hormone causes diarrhoea. In individuals that go on to develop Irritable Bowel Syndrome, the serotonin level remains high. This results in diarrhoea-predominant IBS.
This raises the possibility that IBS is an inflammatory condition. However, biopsies from the large gut of Irritable Bowel Syndrome patients have not shown inflammation.
The inflammatory module triggered the idea that in IBS the large gut is colonised by bad bacteria. Since Helicobacter pylori was implicated in stomach problems and good bacteria had conferred benefits in other gut conditions, probiotics were used to treat IBS. The results vary. There are two main types of good bacteria in the gut. Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria.There are very good trial results for some and poor results for others. Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 has shown benefits in women with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. It helped both diarrhoea and constipation. Trials, however, have been hampered by low numbers, variable criteria and different species of good bacteria. The Mayo Clinic reviewed trial results and concluded that probiotics for IBS are largely ineffective.
Some experts think that Candida is a cause of IBS. If this was this case antifungal treatment would help. A subgroup of gastroenterologists thinks IBS is a hypersensitivity disorder. It is recognised that symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome can be triggered by stress, drugs and food. Certain food will trigger significant worsening of symptoms. It is still unclear whether hypersensitivity of the gut is a cause of IBS.
The more plausible cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a faulty Brain-Gut connection. The Gut has its own nervous system called the Enteric Nervous System and is connected to the brain via the Vagus nerve. The body-mind aspect of IBS is becoming very popular with experts. Stress can cause diarrhoea and depression can result in constipation.
The Brain-Gut connection was demonstrated recently. With the use of Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Positron Emission tomography, experts are able to show gut activity directly related to brain function.
The Brain-Gut connection explains why treatment such as psychotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, biofeedback and hypnotherapy are so effective. Gastroenterologists are baffled by the great improvement derived from hypnotherapy. Some case of refractory (nothing works) IBS, following a course of hypnotherapy are symptom free and remain so at the five year follow up. Listen in on a hypnotherapy session and you will hear the hypnotherapist saying positive things about IBS and giving the patient belief that control is within reach. Some create the picture of the large gut as a river flowing smoothly along. Is the hypnotist just adjusting the Brain-Gut axis is patient with Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
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Dr.Phil Hariram is a retired GP. He believes that the mind has a powerful influence on the course of Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Read more at http://www.healingibs.com
What you should and what you shouldn’t do during pregnancy
When hearing every day different versions of what to do and what to avoid you surely wonder which steps you should actually follow.
Make sure you eat proper food, healthy for you as well as for your unborn child. Certain food such as unpasterized milk, cheese, fish and uncooked meat can cause miscarriages and all kind of birth problems.
When you had any contact with cats see a doctor about toxoplasmosis. It is caused by a parasite called Toxoplasma Gondi and can cause malformations, miscarriages or other birth defects.
Premature birth, miscarriages and low birth weight can also be caused by smoking during pregnancy period. It is absolutely forbidden to smoke while you are pregnant! Also second hand smoke can cause you harm so avoid being in smoking areas! Problems for your pregnancy can also cause a larger than 300 milligrams caffeine per day as we know larger amounts of coffee can harm you all the time.
Pregnancy problems can be caused by chemical cleaners, aerosol cans, solvents and paint fumes. If you really insist on doing the housework yourself try to be more careful and avoid the stairs area while cleaning.
Try to avoid sauna and hot baths during pregnancy, keep your fluids level and your body temperature constant especially in the first trimester. It can keep you from having problems with your pregnancy such as birth defects.
Keep in mind the fact you must completely avoid alcohol and any kind of drugs. It can always harm you too; think about the effects on a growing embryo or fetus. Cocaine was proven to stop the oxygen getting to the child. Cocaine can also create an addiction to the unborn child.
Exercise is also very important during pregnancy although it can harm if you abuse on it. Highly trained sportswomen should decrease their normal rhythm. Walking a bit every day can help you feel better and prepare for labor.
Talking about Do’s and Don’ts we must understand that needs are different for every woman. That is why our advises should not replace medical consult and supervise.
For more info about pregnancy or about pregnancy calculator please visit this website http://www.pregnancy-1st-guide.com/