Constipation: It’s said that this seemingly simple health condition is now a silent epidemic that is affecting the health of thousands of people. In the U.S., it affects approximately 15 percent of the population,1 and results in at least 2.5 million doctors’ appointments per year,2 as well as over 700,000 ER visits.3 It’s said that hundreds of million dollars are being spent annually on laxatives alone by those who suffer from this condition.4 Some people who are desperate for a solution often resort to various remedies to ease constipation. One of the most popular products out there is senna tea, a “natural” laxative that’s been approved by the FDA.5 But beware: There’s a hidden danger linked to consuming senna tea, mainly because people are being duped into using it as a weight loss drink.6 Here’s what you need to know about this product and why it is not a magic solution for constipation. What Is Senna Tea?Made from the leaves of senna herb, also called Cassia senna or C. angustifolia,7 senna tea is a remedy that’s commonly used to ease constipation. It’s a weedy, perennial plant that is native to tropical areas, such as China, India, Africa and the Middle East.8 In several countries, senna has been used for many years to help alleviate certain health conditions, such as skin problems, intestinal gas and dyspepsia, and bronchial congestion.9 Today, the tea form of this herb is rising in popularity because of its effect against constipation10 — however, this purported benefit should actually be taken with a grain of salt. In terms of flavor, senna tea is described to be slightly sweet but with a bitter aftertaste.11 To make it more palatable, some people add honey or lemon juice to their senna tea.12 Does Senna Tea Offer Any Benefits?Senna tea is said to offer relief for constipation, as it has a natural laxative effect. This is thanks to the glycosides found in the plant, the primary constituents being sennosides A, B, C and D. Glycosides are organic anthraquinone compounds that stimulate the smooth muscles as digested food travels through the intestines. As a result, stool volume is enhanced and moved out of the colon. Senna is often used with fennel and ginger, which are warming carminative herbs, to help minimize cramping.13 One species of senna, Senna alexandrina Mill., was found by animal studies to have anthelmintic effects, meaning it may help eliminate intestinal worms and other gut parasites, thanks to its sennosides.14 But because of its laxative effects, this concoction is now commonly treated as a “dieter’s tea” or a detox tea, used by people who are looking for a fast way to lose weight.15 Senna tea is even used in conjunction with something called “the master cleanse.”16 However, this is not recommended, as it may come with some dire results. Drinking Senna Tea May Lead to Unpleasant Side EffectsRemember that laxative-inducing concoctions like senna tea are especially not advisable to be taken for long periods of time, as this will impair the normal function of your colon. They may make your digestive system “dependent” on the tea.17 Over time, senna tea may also damage the function of your intestinal walls, decreasing the ability of your muscles to contract on their own.18 What’s more, senna tea may come with digestive issues, such as diarrhea, which may then trigger dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.19 Nausea, cramps and vomiting may also occur upon drinking this tea.20 Senna tea is also not recommended if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, as it's partly absorbed by your gut. Always consult your physician before taking any type of laxative or drinking any tea while pregnant or nursing.21 There Are Natural, Healthy Ways to Ease ConstipationKeep in mind that constipation is a symptom that may indicate an underlying disease or illness process. Thus, it is not enough to simply treat it — rather, you need to go to the root of the problem. In addition, you should also evaluate your lifestyle habits and see if any of them is disrupting your digestive process. For example, failing to get enough fiber and or to drink adequate amounts of water can heighten your risk of constipation. For more information on how to prevent this health condition, read my article “Epidemic Numbers of People Suffering From Constipation.” Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Senna TeaQ: Is it safe to drink senna tea daily? A: No. Laxatives like senna tea can damage the function of your intestinal walls if taken for long periods of time.22 As a result, it may decrease the ability of your muscles to contract on their own, further worsening your digestive process. Q: Can I drink senna tea while breastfeeding? A: Senna tea is partly absorbed by the gut and is therefore not recommended while nursing or during pregnancy.23 Q: What does senna tea do? A: Senna tea works by stimulating the smooth muscles in the intestines, as digested food travels through. This is thanks to organic anthraquinone compounds called glycosides found in the plant. As a result, stool volume is enhanced and moved out of the colon. Q: What is senna tea used for? A: Senna tea is commonly used as a laxative to help ease constipation. However, some people are using it as a weight loss product, which is not recommended. Q: Is senna tea safe? A: Although it is approved by the FDA as a nonprescription laxative,24 remember that senna tea may still pose side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and cramps. Q: Where can I buy senna tea? A: Senna tea can be bought online or from health stores. from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2018/12/01/xdjm18-teas-18mcsa-senna-tea.aspx
0 Comments
Husband and Wife Build Island Eco Resort in Indonesia to Protect and Conserve Marine Life11/30/2018 Hidden deep within an archipelago of uninhabited islands in Indonesia lies a resort that combines private enterprise with conservation. Misool Eco Resort is a special kind of paradise, doubling as a luxurious beach getaway and a marine reserve that's home to one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. The featured documentary, "The Last Resort," tells the story of how Andrew and Marit Miner succeeded in building an eco-diving resort designed to halt destructive fishing practices and protect and preserve marine life. The resort is surrounded by a large “No Take Zone” that prohibits fishing and the collection and removal of marine life, including marine invertebrates such as sea cucumbers and tortoise shells and eggs. The desire to build an eco-diving resort began when the Miners first visited Batbitim island, located in southern Raja Ampat, Indonesia, on their third date. The couple were captivated by the island’s natural beauty, but their admiration turned to horror when they discovered the remnants of an abandoned shark finning camp. The bodies of dead sharks, brutally killed for their fins, littered the beach’s shallow waters. Disturbed by what they saw, the couple embarked on a mission to transform the area, once terrorized by shark finning and dynamite fishing — practices that destroy fragile reef systems and deplete local food supplies — into an eco-resort and center for marine conservation. The resort is different from other so-called “eco-resorts,” as it’s not just “eco” in the sense of greenwashing, notes Andrew in the film. The concept of Misool Eco Resort is not just about generating profit, it’s about protecting the environment and the principles of conservation. Misool Eco Resort Connects People With NatureAndrew believes that humans are interconnected with nature, even at times when we often feel detached.
In the film, Andrew discusses some of the great challenges in bringing his dream to fruition. Raising the money to build the resort was the hardest part, he says. The couple had no experience or education in conservation, architecture, construction or small island politics, and no money for what expanded into a much bigger project than anticipated. But they did have heart, energy and a lot of enthusiasm. Eventually, the couple were able to find investors who shared their vision and passion for marine conservation, leading to the development of "a private island resort that would leverage pristine reefs as its central asset, and ultimately become the funding vehicle for the conservation work that urgently needed to be done."1 Construction began in 2005 and lasted for about two and a half years before the resort opened its doors in 2008. Incredibly, not a single tree was cut down to build the resort. Misool Eco Resort was built entirely with reclaimed wood, using driftwood that had washed up on the island's beaches. "We cleaned the beaches, and we had perfect wood," said Thorben Niemann, a German carpenter who helped the Miners build the resort. The couple slowly built up investment all the way through the building period, which meant they never had a reserve of money, and therefore couldn't stock up on the things they needed. They had to build as the money came in. "It made for a difficult way to build and was very stressful," says Andrew, adding that it meant sleeping underneath plastic tarps, subsisting on soggy rice and eggs, and occasionally breaking out in boils from malnutrition. Another major challenge the couple faced was the island's limited supply of fresh water. Batbitim island did not have a well or river, which meant they had to fetch water from a nearby island and transport it back to the build site. This was a tedious task that resulted in having little water for personal use for things like cooking and showering. The Resort’s Most Important Feature Is Its ‘No Take Zone’Since its opening, Misool Eco Resort has “welcomed a diverse array of visitors, from conservationists and nature nerds to weary city folk looking to get away from it all, snorkeling enthusiasts, devoted kayak and paddle boarders, celebrities in search of a hash tag-free oasis, parents looking to bring their kids to a gorgeous, safe series of beaches and lagoons, and scuba divers in search of the perfect reef,” according to its website. One of the most important aspects of the resort is its “No Take Zone.” Andrew worked with the local community in the early stages of development to negotiate a no-fishing zone around the island. After witnessing firsthand the damage caused by shark finning, the Miners understood the No Take Zone would be key in bringing their vision to life. The No Take Zone initially negotiated by Andrew stretched 425 square kilometers, or 164 square miles, around the island and several nearby islands. However, Andrew realized the No Take Zone needed to be extended after he went diving in a group of islands called the Daram Islands, about 25 miles east of Batbitim, and discovered several large shark finning camps and witnessed fisherman mutilating live turtles for shark bait. He also found unexploded bombs on the island, indicating that fisherman had been practicing dynamite or blast fishing. Dynamite FishingDynamite fishing is incredibly destructive as it involves the use of explosives to kill or stun fish. This method destroys the fish and shatters all of the coral in the area, leaving behind a lifeless dead zone. According to Reef Resilience Network:2
No one likes dynamite fishing, says Andrew, adding that blasting an entire area may permanently destroy its productivity, eliminating future harvests for local islanders. According to The New York Times:3
Dynamite fishing is so destructive that global fish supplies could be significantly decimated in the coming decades, scientists warn. The practice is so prevalent in the Philippines that the average daily catch has declined from 45 pounds in 1970 to 4.5 pounds in the year 2000, according to a report by the Philippine national statistics board. Shark FinningSadly, more than 100 million sharks are killed each year worldwide for their fins,4 which are sold for shark fin soup, a delicacy that costs up to a $100 per bowl and is considered a symbol of wealth and status in cities such as Tokyo. The fins are the only part of the shark that has commercial value. As a result, hundreds of shark bodies are discarded around shark finning camps. According to the Smithsonian Institution:
Aside from being incredibly cruel and inhumane, shark finning puts sharks at risk for extinction due to their slow growth and low reproduction rates, which makes it difficult for sharks to replenish their populations as quickly as they are being diminished. Scientists estimate that shark populations have decreased by 60 to 70 percent due to shark fishing by humans. Misool Eco Resort Extends Its No Take Zone to an Area Twice the Size of SingaporeIntent on eliminating shark finning camps and dynamite fishing occurring on nearby islands, the Miners worked closely with native islanders and community leaders to extend the No Take Zone, creating a protected area 1,220 square kilometers, or 471 square miles, in size, equivalent to an area twice the size of Singapore. The extension of the No Take Zone was endorsed by the Bupati of Raja Ampat and ratified by the area’s community leaders. The Walton Family Foundation and Wild Aid donated $200,000 to fund the first year’s startup costs and operation of the Daram patrol, according to the film. In order to protect the No Take Zone, Misool Eco Resort employs local islanders to patrol the area and look for fisherman invading the zone. The resort works closely with the local community's traditional system to deal with violators. If it's someone from the local community who's fishing, the resort patrol makes a report and hands it over the island's traditional leader, who deals with the fisherman through their own traditional village sanctions. It wasn't difficult to convince the island's older generation to support the No Take Zone, says Andrew, adding that they understand that if you close off an area for fishing for a certain period of time, there are more fish when you reopen it. The locals say fishing used to be good, but has declined over time. One of the locals who helps patrol the No Take Zone says fisherman used to ask him why he was stopping them from fishing there, but after two years of patrolling, they see that the harvest in Batbitim has greatly improved. “We aren’t anti-fishing; we’re protecting the resource for local fisherman and the community,” says Andrew. The No Take Zone also prevents outsiders from coming in and stealing the native islanders' harvest. If it weren't for Misool Eco Resort, there may not be a future harvest, said one of the locals in the film. Raja Ampat Is the Epicenter of Earth's Marine BiodiversityThe film also features Mark Erdmann, Ph.D., a senior adviser to Conservation International’s Indonesian Marine Program,5 who helps manage six marine parks. Over the last decade, scientists have shown that Raja Ampat is the epicenter of marine biodiversity for the planet, and is home to more species of coral, fish, crustaceans and snail than anywhere else in the world. Thanks to the area's conservation efforts, fish populations have bounced back and are thriving, especially the sharks, as it's now illegal to fish for sharks in Raja Ampat. The bay of Missol Eco Resort, once home to a shark finning camp, is now a breeding group for blacktip sharks and home to over 30 juveniles. Remarkably, two dozen new species of fish have been discovered here in the last five years. It’s essentially a species factory, says Erdmann, adding that over time it will disperse outward. Raja Ampat’s network of seven marine protected areas, which together protect 1.2 million hectares (close to 3 million acres) of the most biodiverse reefs on the planet, are the first such network in Indonesia, and the largest network of marine protected areas in Southeast Asia. According to Erdmann:
Tourism Helps Fund Eco Conservation EffortsMarine tourism in Raja Ampat has been growing at a rate of 30 to 45 percent in the past five years, notes the film. As a marine protected area, tourists are charged a fee to enter. In 2010, this generated $230,000 for conservation and community programs, the latter of which is another major focus on Misool Eco Resort. In the film, Andrew makes it clear that he’s aware he has never been anything more than a guest on Batbitim island, which is why he allocates resort and tourism profits to support community-led projects, such as job training and new employment opportunities designed to help former shark finners and illegal fisherman transition into fruitful careers centered on conservation. Batbitim island has five teachers, three of which are funded by Misool Eco Resort. The resort also launched a floating library that visits three nearby schools and supplies local children with books on conservation. Misool Eco Resort has an orchard on the island where it grows some of its own food, including bananas and papayas, and raises chickens. It also has wastewater gardens that naturally filter waste. The resort buys all of its fish from local fisherman who sell their catch from small canoes. The resort avoids buying reef fish (due to the species' threatened status) and instead buys only blue water fish such as tuna and mackerel. Balancing the demands of investors and conservation is no easy task, says Andrew. Some of the investors disagree with the amount of money spent on patrolling the resort’s No Take Zone, as they think it should go toward the business side of things. "It's a nightmare sometimes," says Andrew, adding that unless you live and work here, you have no idea how difficult it is to preserve and protect the No Take Zone. "We constantly have to convince people it's worth putting money into." from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2018/12/01/misool-eco-resort.aspx Animals and alcohol don’t mix. Residents of Gilbert, Minnesota, have reported birds flying under-the-influence in their community. They were flying into windows and cars and generally acting confused after partaking of fermented berries in the neighborhood before flying south. The chief of police reported the younger birds were getting more “tipsy” as their livers may not handle the toxins as efficiently as the more mature birds.1 In Wayne Township, Indianapolis, a woman called on firefighters in the early morning hours, frightened her pet raccoon was in danger after having eaten someone else’s marijuana.2 More animals are presenting at the veterinarian’s office after having imbibed alcohol or marijuana-laced treats as they typically don’t have the impulse control to stop at one.3 Just as overindulging on alcohol is not healthy for animals, it isn’t for humans either. Incidence of Alcohol Use RisingAlcohol use disorder is a diagnostic classification that is widespread and often untreated in the U.S. While lifetime prevalence is 29.1 percent, only 19.8 percent of adults have ever been treated, according to data released in JAMA Psychiatry.4 Alcohol use disorders are among the most prevalent mental health disorders worldwide, contributing to an estimated 88,000 deaths from alcohol-related causes annually and an economic burden of $249 billion.5 Globally, 3.3 million deaths in 2012 were attributed to alcohol consumption. In 2014 the World Health Organization (WHO) reported alcohol contributed to more than 200 diseases. It was the fifth leading risk factor for premature death and disability worldwide, and in a 2015 national survey,6 86.4 percent over age 18 reported they had consumed alcohol at some point during their lifetime, and 70 percent reported they had something to drink in the past year. In the same survey, 26.9 percent over age 18 reported engaging in binge drinking in the past month. The number diagnosed with alcoholism increased by 49 percent during a study evaluating data from 2001 to 2013.7 Researchers from the University of Illinois in Chicago8 revealed alcohol may increase your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease by disrupting the way amyloid-beta is cleared from your brain. Binge drinking or heavy alcohol consumption may make it more likely your brain will accumulate damaging proteins and contribute to the development of Alzheimer's. Generally, women are more vulnerable to alcohol poisoning and feel the effects of alcohol faster than men of the same size. They're also more predisposed to suffer from long-term alcohol-induced damage in the body. Not All Raccoons From Milton Were Drunk on CrabapplesYou might not imagine wildlife or your pets getting drunk, but that's what appeared to have happened to raccoons in Milton, West Virginia.9 Residents of the town reported seeing raccoons acting strangely and suspected they may have been infected with rabies. Officers staked out the area where the animals had been seen and caught two. The first raccoon was caught near a crabapple tree where fruit was fermenting on the ground. It appeared the raccoons were not rabid but instead drunk from eating fermented crabapples. In an official statement to the community, the police said,10 “Turns out they appear to be drunk on crabapples.” The raccoons were held in custody to allow the alcohol to be metabolized before being released into the wild. The story quickly spread through social media outlets. Unfortunately, just days later the police were once again called about a third raccoon who had fallen out of a tree.11 At this point they called local wildlife rescue group Point of View Farm, which suggested the animals may be suffering from distemper. They suggested all three raccoons be caught and tested. The police had the third raccoon and were able to track the second, which they found just 10 feet from where he'd been released, suffering continuous seizures. The two raccoons were euthanized, but the police were unable to locate the first that had been trapped and released. Although health officials agreed with the diagnosis of distemper, the animals are being tested for rabies. In their Facebook post, police warned:12
Raccoons Aren’t the Only Animals Eating Fermented FruitIn preparation for winter hibernation, some report black bears appear to eat too many fermented apples and are found staggering near towns and residential communities. However, it’s unlikely a 600-pound bear will become intoxicated from eating fermented fruit for several reasons. The idea is when apples fall off the tree, they begin to rot and ferment. Bears eat them and the apples continue to ferment in the their stomach, releasing alcohol. However, after testing the alcohol by volume percentage in fermented berries and Hawthorn fruits, closely related to the apple, researchers found only 0.3 percent could be achieved.13 Wildlife biologist Darrell Smith from Western Wildlife Outreach, believes,14 “One of the issues with fermented fruit is that it would take a lot to get a bear drunk. You know, people don’t get drunk from fermented apples either.” Although black bears can eat a lot, often up to 20 pounds of food in preparation for winter hibernation, fermented fruit contains an extremely minimal amount of alcohol given the weight of the animal. According to the theory, the apples continue to ferment in the bear's stomach. However, the pH of a bear's stomach is around 3.5, much lower than alcohol-producing yeast prefers. Birds and Insects Also Experience the Effects of Fermented FruitThere is evidence some insects and smaller animals consume alcohol routinely. Male butterflies drink beer in order to boost spermatophores and many entomologists often bait insect traps with beer. In a study comparing the diet preferences of male fruit flies that had successfully mated with those of males who had not mated, data demonstrated unmated males preferred food containing alcohol while the mated males did not.15 Some animals have a high tolerance for fermented treats. Malaysia's pen-tailed tree shrew drinks nectar from the bertram palm, whose flower has the highest alcohol levels recorded in natural food, nearly 3.8 percent. Despite drinking this nectar nightly, they show no effects of intoxication.16 Many bats also eat fermented fruit and nectar but appear unaffected. Birds routinely eat winter berries in the northern hemisphere, which may have begun fermenting after the first frost. Meghan Larivee, laboratory coordinator at the government agency Environment Yukon in Canada, reports:17
Arriving with juice-stained beaks, several Bohemian waxwing birds ended up admitted to the Yukon territory’s Animal Health unit after they were observed flying in uncoordinated flight patterns and unable to walk. Likely intoxicated related to their small size and weight, they were checked for illnesses, recovered after a few hours and were subsequently released.18 Animals Acting Strangely May Be InfectedThese anecdotal stories indicate there are some animals that may be affected by fermented fruit. However, it is critical you don’t assume animals that appear to be incapacitated are safe to approach. The raccoons in Milton, West Virginia, were infected with distemper, a condition often fatal in animals. However, while humans may acquire the virus, it produces no illness or symptoms.19 Another condition affecting wild and domesticated animals that can cause strange behavior is rabies. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),20 wild animals accounted for 92.4 percent of cases of rabies in 2015. In the U.S., bats were most frequently reported followed closely by raccoons and skunks, with foxes a distant fourth. Reports of rabid raccoons reached an all-time high in 1994 when nearly 6,000 were reported and found.21 The number dropped to close to 2,000 in 2014. Rabies virus variants are distributed in distinct geographic regions. The majority of rabies affecting raccoons occur along the Eastern Seaboard from Maine to Florida. Skunks are more highly affected in the Midwest from the Canadian border to Texas and in small regions in California.22 The condition is a preventable viral disease most often transmitted through the bite of an infected animal.23 The rabies virus can also affect humans and domestic dogs. Cross-species infection from raccoons to dogs or humans is possible and the majority of human deaths from rabies are caused by dog bites.24 Rabies Presents in Five StagesWith the exception of Antarctica, rabies is found throughout the world.25 The virus is transmitted in the saliva of an infected animal and enters the body through the wound. The disease progresses in five unique stages26 — incubation, prodrome, acute neurological syndrome, coma and death. • Incubation — The incubation period happens after you've been exposed to saliva of an infected animal. It usually lasts between three and 12 weeks but it may be as little as five days or more than two years. The closer the bite is to your brain, the sooner you may expect to see symptoms. Unfortunately, by the time you experience early symptoms, the condition is usually fatal. Today, less than 10 documented cases of human survival from clinical rabies have been reported.27 • Prodrome — Early symptoms include fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or above, headache, anxiety, sore throat and discomfort at the site of the bite. These symptoms can last between two and 10 days and usually worsen over time. • Acute neurological syndrome — During the next phase, neurological symptoms develop, including confusion and aggression, convulsions, hyperventilation, hypersalivation and hallucinations. It is during this phase it appears the sufferer is afraid of water, as it is difficult to swallow. In some instances, contractions of the throat occur even at the thought of drinking water. • Coma and death — Once an individual enters into a coma, death often occurs in a matter of hours from a lack of respiration. Life can be extended if a ventilator is used, but rarely does a person recover at this late stage. What to Do if You Are BittenWhether an animal appears to have rabies or not, it is wise to take precautions if you're bitten. Rabies is spread through exposure to the saliva of an infected animal, so immediately wash the wound to reduce your risk for rabies or any other infection. If bitten by a domesticated animal, insist you receive a copy of the animal’s rabies vaccination certificate. If in doubt, contact the veterinarian yourself. Report your exposure to your physician immediately, whether the animal was vaccinated or not. Lab tests on the animal may show antibodies, but these often don't appear until symptoms of the disease appear.28 Since confirmation of a diagnosis from raised antibodies or visible symptoms may be too late to take action, patients normally start on a course of prophylactic treatment immediately. Discuss your options with your physician and if you aren’t satisfied with the answer, contact your local health department. A series of shots is used to prevent the virus from replicating and thriving in the body. A fast-acting dose of rabies immunoglobulin is delivered immediately and as close to the bite wound as possible.29 Next a series of rabies vaccinations will be injected over the following two to four weeks to assist the body in recognizing the virus and fighting it. Preventing the Spread of RabiesAlthough serious, the disease is preventable and controllable in domesticated and wild animals. Regular rabies vaccinations for all domesticated animals and bans or restrictions on the importation of animals may help to reduce the spread of the disease.30 In rural Canada and the U.S., bait laced with oral vaccine has been used to reduce the number of wild raccoons with rabies, and in Switzerland, authorities have distributed vaccine-laced chicken heads. The foxes that consume the chicken heads immunize themselves and the country is now nearly free of rabies in wild animals.31 Protect your own pets by vaccinating them, keeping them indoors or confined and supervised when outside. Report stray dogs and cats, or any animal that appears ill, to local authorities. Never approach wild animals as those with rabies are likely to be less cautious and more likely to approach people. Keep bats out of your home and seal exterior holes to keep them from nesting. In 2015 a woman died from rabies after having been bitten by a bat in her home during the night. She did not seek treatment as she did not realize she'd been bitten.32 Even if you don't have bite marks or any outward sign of injury, you're encouraged to seek medical health after an encounter with a wild animal. In the U.S., between 30,000 and 60,000 people seek post-exposure prophylaxis each year after contact with suspected animals. Despite U.S. vaccinations to control rabies in domesticated animals, between 60 and 70 dogs and nearly 250 cats are reported rabid each year. Many of these have not been vaccinated and were exposed to the virus through wild animals. The prevalence of the disease varies in different countries, so it's important to determine the probability of infection when traveling. If you're preparing to participate in activities where it's likely to come in contact with wild animals, such as caving or camping, discuss the potential for a vaccination with your doctor prior to travel.33 from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2018/12/01/animals-drunk-from-fermented-fruit.aspx With this recipe, now you can curl up with this healthy guilt free vegan ice cream with Nia Pure Nature Golden Turmeric Latte! Warning: It is addictively so gooood!!! Via https://www.facebook.com/niapurenature/photos/a.336915603176385/942147542653185/?type=3 Maca (Lepidium meyenii) is a cruciferous herb that is often compared to a turnip or radish because of its appearance.1 Also called Peruvian ginseng,2 this plant was first documented in the Peruvian Andes, where the Incas used it as a stamina and strength booster for their warriors.3 At one time, only the elite and the royals were permitted to consume this herb. Today, the maca root is utilized in different parts of the globe. Maca extract is now valued as a liquid extract or tincture or as a nutritional supplement because of its impressive nutrient content. It contains amino acids, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and many other compounds that can provide the body with wholesome benefits.4 Maca for Men: Improving Sexual Drive and FertilityMaca has been called "Peru's Natural Viagra" because of its strong effect on male sexual drive and stamina.5 As an aphrodisiac, maca has the ability to boost libido and endurance in males,6 even in people who are affected by impotency and infertility.7 In an animal study, it was observed that daily intake of maca helped improve and preserve spermatogenesis. It has also been found out that maca generally protects prostate health by increasing zinc levels and helping convert testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT).8 Studies also revealed that ingesting maca helped improve the quality, quantity and motility of the sperm of both fertile and infertile men. It does not directly affect or increase the amount of testosterone in the male body, but it normalizes the production of hormones.9 For Women, Maca May Help Regulate Menstruation and Ease Menopause SymptomsMaca can be used by women as a supplement to boost sexual drive.10 Lack of sex drive in women can be caused by numerous factors, such as a decrease in hormone production, fatigue, intake of certain medications, relationship problems and illness.11 However, while it has been proven that maca helps in improving sexual drive, it is still not clear on how it's able to yield this kind of result.12 According to numerous sources, maca is an adaptogen, a natural substance that helps you deal with different stressors.13 This may be one of the reasons why maca may help address decreased sex drive. Additional research also showed that women who added maca to their diet were able to ease menstruation-related pain and cramps14 and had improved fertility.15,16 Maca helps regulate women's menstruation cycles as well.17 Maca may help address menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes, vaginal dryness and loss of libido.18 It is also being used as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy (HRT).19 Instead of introducing external hormones into the body, maca works to help balance the estrogen and progesterone levels.20 Other Maca Root BenefitsMaca is famous for its aphrodisiac effects, but its benefits are not limited to this. It contains numerous vitamins and minerals that provide you with more than a healthier sex drive.21 Here are some of the benefits that you can get when you add maca to your diet:
How Do You Use Maca?Because of the increasing demand for maca, different forms of this herb have been introduced to the market:29
Be aware of the proper guidelines when taking maca products so you can reap its benefits without the side effects. Learn the ideal ways to incorporate maca in your lifestyle by reading "Maca Is Good for More Than Your Mojo." Grow Your Own Maca and Reap Exciting BenefitsMaca was originally grown in the Andes, where the temperatures reach below 14 degrees F (-10 degrees C). It is a very tolerant plant that can survive cold temperatures, poor soil conditions31 and drought.32 The maca plant yields a root that's off-white, yellow or purple, and produces leaves that grow close to the ground and flowers with four small and white petals.33 To grow a maca plant you need to gather seeds from the roots.34 It's typically grown as an annual, although it's a perennial,35 and requires well-drained and alkaline soil and full sun. According to "Rodale's 21st Century Herbal," try planting maca in the early fall, so it'll produce crops in the winter.36 Try These Maca Powder RecipesWhile maca is usually taken as a supplement, it is also added to smoothies and other food recipes to provide a unique nutty flavor. Here are some tasty and healthy recipes that you can try: Seedy Chocolate, Banana and Maca Smoothie RecipeIngredients
Procedure
Preparation time: 10 minutes Total time: 10 minutes This recipe makes 2 16-ounce glasses. (Recipe adapted from The Blender Girl37) Golden Milk RecipeIngredients
Procedure
Total time: 10 minutes This recipe makes 1 serving Recipe adapted from New Nostalgia38 Maca Side Effects You Should Look Out ForWhile maca root has not been directly linked to serious side effects, you should still exercise caution if you plan to use this extract, as certain side effects have been noted during the first few days of taking maca-based products. Side effects to watch out for include:
Pregnant or breastfeeding women should also avoid intake of maca because there is little research concerning its potential adverse effects on these groups of women.42 from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2018/11/29/xdjm18-herbs-spices-18mcsa-maca.aspx Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the compound responsible for marijuana’s psychoactive effects, may offer hope for treating Alzheimer’s disease, at least according to a study on mice.1 Rodents with a disease similar to Alzheimer’s were given a synthetic form of THC, which resulted in fewer lost brain cells, 20 percent less sticky plaques in the brain (which are linked to Alzheimer’s) as well as a boost in memory. In fact, Alzheimer’s mice given THC did as well on memory tests as healthy mice, while those given a placebo lost some of their memory.2 The study was presented at the Society for Neuroscience 2018 meeting in San Diego, California, and hasn’t yet been published, but it raises hope that a cannabis-based treatment could prove to be therapeutic for Alzheimer’s. THC Improves Memory in Alzheimer’s MiceThe study was interesting in that it found THC — but not cannabidiol (CBD) — to be beneficial on memory function and neuron loss in mice with Alzheimer’s. Cannabidiol is the nonpsychoactive component of cannabis, which has previously been found to offer many benefits for pain relief, seizures and other health conditions. Cannabinoids interact with your body by way of naturally occurring cannabinoid receptors embedded in cell membranes throughout your body. There are cannabinoid receptors in your brain, lungs, liver, kidneys, immune system and more; the therapeutic (and psychoactive) properties of marijuana occur when a cannabinoid activates a cannabinoid receptor. Your body also has naturally occurring endocannabinoids similar to THC that stimulate your cannabinoid receptors and produce a variety of important physiologic processes. So, your body is actually hard-wired to respond to cannabinoids through this unique cannabinoid receptor system. It’s likely that both THC and cannabidiol exert their effects via your body’s endocannabinoid system. According to the researchers:3
THC May Reverse Brain AgingResearchers of the featured study cautioned that people should not take the results to mean they should light up in order to preserve their brain health. When healthy mice were given THC, they actually had learning difficulties. However, previous research on mice has also found THC to be beneficial for brain health. One such study, published in Nature Medicine, found that a low dose of THC reversed the age-related decline in cognitive performance of mice aged 12 and 18 months.4 The dose was small enough to avoid any psychoactive effects, yet strong enough to reverse the loss of performance in the old animals (mice typically live to be 2 years old). Further, gene activity and the molecular profile in the brain tissue of THC-treated mice were that of much younger animals. Specifically, neurons in the hippocampus grew more synaptic spines — points of contact necessary for communication between neurons. Previous research has also shown that the brain ages much faster in mice who do not have functional receptors for THC, suggesting THC may be involved in the regulation of the aging process.5 The next logical step would be to test marijuana and its compounds in people with Alzheimer’s, but political red tape is holding up the scientific process. Speaking to NPR, cannabis researcher Jamie Roitman, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Illinois at Chicago, explained, “‘There are just no venues to do it.” NPR continued, “Getting approval for any study involving people and compounds related to marijuana is ‘very difficult,’ she said, despite the fact that the drug is now legal in many states.”6 Still, cannabis therapeutics are at the forefront of the future of neurology, according to researchers writing in Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, and because they work via multiple mechanisms it’s possible they could be useful not only for Alzheimer’s but also for Parkinson’s disease, brain tumors, epilepsy and traumatic brain injury. They noted:7
What Else Is Medical Marijuana Good For?Cannabinoid receptors play an important role in many body processes, including metabolic regulation, cravings, pain, anxiety, bone growth and immune function. "Medical marijuana" refers to the use of the whole, unprocessed marijuana plant or its extracts for medicinal purposes. Through traditional plant breeding techniques and seed exchanges, growers have started producing cannabis plants that have higher levels of CBD and lower levels of THC for medical use. Since the 2018 election, which resulted in a few states approving various forms of marijuana, medical cannabis is now legal in 33 U.S. states, while recreational use is legal in 10 states and Washington, D.C.8 Most of the areas where medical cannabis is legal permit its use under certain medical circumstances only, and some allow CBD oils or pills only. What are people using it for? Pain and anxiety are top uses, but there is also potential for its use as a cancer treatment. For example, Harvard researchers found THC cuts tumor growth in lung cancer while significantly reducing its ability to spread.9 Even in cases of glioblastoma, one of the deadliest types of cancer, cannabinoids may help, as they’ve been shown to inhibit the invasiveness of glioblastoma tumors and improve survival of glioblastoma patients.10 In addition, cannabinoids have shown promise for a variety of medical uses, including:11
Interestingly, it’s likely that both TCH and CBD may have a beneficial role in health. One study even found that CBD may buffer some of the psychoactive effects of THC and the two compounds may offer greater therapeutic results when administered together than alone.12 If you’re considering the use of medical marijuana, and you live in a state where it’s legal, you can get a recommendation for a medical cannabis card from your physician, then join a collective, which is a group of patients that can grow and share cannabis medicines with each other. By signing up as a member, you gain the right to grow and share your medicine. There are different ways to administer medical marijuana, ranging from inhalation, vaporization and smoking to sublingual (under the tongue), oral ingestion and topically. The best form for you will depend on your medical needs, so ideally work with an experienced physician to determine the best route of administration and dosage. Keep in mind that although medical marijuana may seem like a new or trendy treatment, its medicinal properties have been valued for thousands of years, including by Traditional Chinese Medicine, in India and by ancient Egyptians, Persians and Greeks. Coffee: Another Natural Compound That Benefits Alzheimer’sAlong with marijuana, many other natural substances may also contain properties that inhibit Alzheimer’s, and coffee is no exception. “Coffee consumption has been correlated with a decreased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), but the mechanism by which coffee may provide neuroprotection in humans is not fully understood,” researchers explained.13 It’s previously been suggested that the caffeine in coffee may be responsible for many of its beneficial effects, but a new study revealed similar beneficial properties for the brain among both caffeinated and decaffeinated varieties. The distinguishing factor appeared to be the type of roast, with dark roast coming out on top. A compound called phenylindane is formed when coffee beans are roasted, with higher quantities found in darker roasts. Phenylindane is also neuroprotective, as it inhibits amyloid-beta and tau aggregation, both of which are implicated in Alzheimer’s. Researchers plan to look further into whether phenylindanes are able to enter the bloodstream and cross the blood-brain barrier. Also similar to marijuana, coffee consumption has been linked to a lower risk of glioma brain tumor, such that people in the top category of coffee consumption were 91 percent less likely to develop glioma compared with those in the bottom category.14 Drinking one to two cups of coffee daily has also been shown to lower your risk of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia, cognitive decline and cognitive impairment compared to drinking less than one cup.15 Top Tips for Lowering Your Alzheimer’s RiskAlzheimer’s disease has grown to be one of the most pressing and tragic public health issues facing the U.S. With the number of people affected expected to triple by 2050, the Alzheimer’s Association estimates that by midcentury someone in the U.S will develop Alzheimer’s disease every 33 seconds.16 Medical marijuana may one day prove to be a useful tool for Alzheimer’s prevention and treatment, but it’s not yet widely available for most people. Many other strategies that get to the root of the disease are available right now, however, like exercise to increase brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), stress reduction, optimizing your sleep, which is critical for cognitive function, and nutritional support. Important nutrients include animal-based omega-3 fats, magnesium, vitamin D and fiber. For instance, seniors with severe vitamin D deficiency may raise their risk for dementia by 125 percent, and vitamin D deficiency is associated with a substantially increased risk of all-cause dementia and Alzheimer's disease.17 Have your levels tested and maintain a blood level of 60 to 80 ng/ml year-round. As for omega-3, high intake of the omega-3 fats EPA and DHA help by preventing cell damage caused by Alzheimer's disease, thereby slowing down its progression and lowering your risk of developing the disorder. Ideally, get an omega-3 index test done once a year to make sure you’re in a healthy range. Your omega-3 index should be above 8 percent and your omega 6-to-3 ratio between 0.5 and 3.0. I also recommend a cyclical or targeted ketogenic diet to help you optimize your health by converting from burning carbohydrates for energy to burning fat as your primary source of fuel. You can learn more about this approach to improving your mitochondrial function, which is also at the heart of Alzheimer’s disease, in my book, "Fat for Fuel." One of the most common side effects of being a sugar-burner is that you end up with insulin and leptin resistance, which is at the root of most chronic disease. Intermittent fasting is another powerful tool to jump-start your body into remembering how to burn fat and repair insulin/leptin resistance. Taken together, these lifestyle strategies remain your best defense to avoid dementia and keep your brain health strong. For more information, be sure to pick up a copy of "The End of Alzheimer's: The First Program to Prevent and Reverse Cognitive Decline," by Dr. Dale Bredesen, director of neurodegenerative disease research at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine. It’s packed with tools for both prevention and treatment. from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2018/11/29/marijuana-for-alzheimers.aspx An estimated 70 million American adults have a sleep disorder, the most common of which is insomnia1 — the inability to fall asleep, or waking up one or more times during the night. If you’re in this category, despair not, because the list of strategies to improve your sleep is long. While most sleep problems are tied to lifestyle choices such as spending too much time indoors during daylight hours, and/or excessive use of technology and chronic exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs), which will require you to make (perhaps significant) changes to your lifestyle, a number of tips and tricks can be useful in the short term. A method developed by the U.S. military, revealed in the 1981 book, “Relax and Win: Championship Performance,” claims to have a 96 percent success rate after six weeks of consistent implementation. Military Method Preps Your Body for SleepThe method centers around preparing your mind and body for sleep by deeply relaxing for about two minutes. The following summary of the process was recently published in the Evening Standard:2 1. Relax your whole face, including your tongue, jaw and the muscles around your eyes 2. Drop your shoulders and relax your arms 3. Relax your chest as you breathe out 4. Relax your legs, from your thighs to your feet 5. Relax and clear your mind, then picture yourself in one of the following scenarios: a. You’re lying in a canoe on a calm lake with nothing but blue sky above you b. You’re snuggled in a black velvet hammock in a pitch-black room c. Simply repeat “Don’t think, don’t think, don’t think” for 10 seconds 21 Additional Strategies to Help You Fall Asleep FasterI’ve written numerous articles over the years, detailing all sorts of tips and tricks to help you fall asleep faster and improve the quality of your sleep. For an extensive listing of suggestions, see “Sleep — Why You Need It and 50 Ways to Improve It.” Medical News Today also recently published a list of “21 Ways to Fall Asleep Naturally,” which included the following:3
Avoid Nighttime EMF to Improve Sleep QualityWhile avoiding cellphones and other devices with electronic screens (including e-readers) is important to protect your melatonin production, another factor that can have a significant impact on your sleep quality is EMFs emitted from your home wiring. There’s actually evidence showing EMF exposure reduces melatonin production5 just like blue light from cellphones, tablets and computers do, making it particularly important to eliminate EMFs in your bedroom. EMF exposure also triggers neuronal changes that affect memory and your ability to learn,6 and harms your body’s mitochondria by producing excessive oxidative damage, so “marinating” in EMFs all night, every night, can cause or contribute to virtually any chronic ailment, including premature aging. One of the easiest ways to avoid or radically limit your nighttime electric field exposure from the wiring in your room is to pull the circuit breaker to your bedroom before going to bed. Alternatively, have an electrician install a remote breaker for convenience, which is what I’ve done. This will virtually eliminate electric fields in your bedroom, unless you have adjacent rooms with wiring in them, in which case you will need to measure the electric fields with a meter after you shut off the power to see if it goes into the lowest range. Another really important step is to turn off your Wi-Fi at night. Ideally, hard wire your home so you have no Wi-Fi 24/7 in your home. Lack of Sleep Raises Your Risk for Heart Disease and MoreA review of hundreds of sleep studies concluded that, as a general rule, most adults need somewhere between seven and nine hours — or right around eight hours — of sleep per night to maintain good health. Regularly getting less than seven hours per night has been scientifically linked to a wide array of health problems, ranging from weight gain7 to an increased risk for cancer. Most recently, researchers again confirmed that lack of sleep can over time take a significant toll on your long-term heart health.8,9 As reported by Medical Xpress:10
Men who got only five hours or less per night were also more likely to smoke, be inactive and overweight, have high blood pressure and diabetes. Other studies have shown insufficient sleep and/or poor quality sleep can increase your risk for:
Sleep and Athletic PerformanceWhile being a sleep coach may sound like a strange career, indeed, they do exist, and are slowly starting to break their way into the world of professional sports. This makes sense, considering the impact sleep can have on your athletic performance, and the fact that many professional athletes travel and have to deal with jet lag to boot. As previously noted by The Atlantic:22
The largest performance drop-offs can be seen among endurance athletes, and sports requiring quick reaction times and reflexes. To determine whether an athlete might gain a competitive edge simply by sleeping more, Stanford researcher Cheri D. Mah reached out to the Stanford Cardinal men’s basketball team. For two weeks, the players’ athletic performance was assessed after getting their normal amount of sleep. They were fitted with motion-sensing wristbands to determine the actual length of their sleep, which averaged in at a mere 6.5 hours per night. Next, the players were asked to extend their sleep time as much as possible for five to seven weeks. The players increased their average sleep time by about two hours, to 8.5 hours nightly. By the end of this test, players had improved their free throws by more than 11 percent, and their three-point shots by nearly 14 percent. Sprint drill speeds also improved for every single player on the team. As noted by The Atlantic:
Sleep Coaching in the Big LeaguesA 2015 article in The Guardian23 discusses the impact sleep coach Nick Littlehales, a former golf pro and marketer of bedding, has had on the Manchester United Football Club:
Whether you’re a professional athlete or not, sleep is an important yet all too often overlooked factor in health and well-being. If you’re still skimping, thinking you’ve managed to get by OK so far, I urge you to reconsider and give sleep the attention it deserves. You can do everything else right, but if you’re not sleeping enough, or not sleeping well, many of the benefits of your healthy lifestyle will be lost. from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2018/11/29/military-method-for-falling-asleep.aspx Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S.,1 and health authorities warn that while traditional (combustible) cigarette use has declined,2 the number of teens using e-cigs, also known as vaping, has steadily risen in recent years. Between 2011 and 2015, vaping among high school students rose by an astounding 900 percent.3 According to the 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey,4 3.6 million teens are now vaping.5 A high schooler quoted in The New Yorker expresses a common view when he says that while smoking is "gross … Juuling is really what's up."6 FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gotttlieb commented on the findings, saying:7
Unfortunately, the general perception is that e-cigs are safer than traditional cigarettes. Research does not bear this out, however. It's really important to realize there are no safe tobacco products, be they smokeless or combustible. Underage Vaping Prompts New RestrictionsIn an undercover investigation conducted over the summer, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued warnings and fines to more than 1,300 stores for the illegal sale of vaping products to minors.8 To rein in the use of e-cigs among children and teens, the agency recently announced it will restrict sale of sweet-flavored vaping products in convenience stores and gas stations.9,10 Stores selling child-friendly e-cig flavors must keep the products in an age-restricted section and must have age verification measures in place to prevent underage sale. While e-cig makers insist they're not targeting youth, their marketing tells a different story. The marketing of child-friendly flavors alone is evidence of this. As noted by Meghan Morean, a psychology professor at Oberlin College who has studied the appeal of flavors, "We're not reinventing anything here, we've already lived this … It's the exact reason that flavored cigarettes were banned."11 Health and Human Services secretary Alex Azar echoed this sentiment in a statement, saying:12
The policy will also cover flavored cigar products introduced between 2007 and 2016, and menthol cigarettes. If the manufacturer wants to continue selling these products, they must apply for FDA approval. The FDA urges manufacturers to voluntarily remove their products from locations where children and teens can access them within the next 90 days, although it may take several months before the restrictions officially go into effect. The FDA is also proposing tighter rules on the use of cartoons and naming of products that might appeal to youth. E-Cig Makers Announce Plans to Cut Back Marketing and Sales to TeensJuul — which has cornered three-quarters of the e-cig market — has announced its plan to remove child-friendly fruit- and dessert-flavored nicotine pods from retail stores. The company is also suspending its Facebook and Instagram promotion, and says it will prevent underage users from purchasing the products online by cross-checking the purchaser’s date of birth and last four digits of their Social Security number against public records. While this is good news, it seems the company is only reacting to overwhelming pressure and bad press. As reported by The New York Times:13
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., the maker of Vuse vaping devices, has submitted a similar plan to the FDA, promising to suspend marketing through social media influencers; require age-verification for access to its online store; enforce penalties for retailers selling the products to youths; and to check for compliance through a mystery shopping program. The manufacturer of Blu e-cigs, Fontem Ventures, says it will raise the minimum age to buy e-pods online to 21. How Juul Brought Smoking BackJuul — represented as the "most genuine alternative to smoking cigarettes"14 — is now so popular, its use has become a verb; it's not "smoking" anymore, it's "Juuling." And, while the company claims its primary aim is to help smokers quit the habit, not to introduce smoking to a whole new generation, company statements seem to encourage a switch to vapor and not quitting completely when they say, "adult smokers interested in switching from cigarettes should be offered high-quality alternatives that satisfy them because satisfaction is a key component to supporting their switch to vapor." These goals resulted in the production of patented JuulSalts delivering a nicotine hit much more like smoking a cigarette than any other e-cigarette product.15 The breakthrough occurred when Juul began using benzoic acid to freebase nicotine salts for rapid nicotine delivery. Since the 1960s, cigarette companies have freebased nicotine using ammonia, which can be very irritating to the chest and lungs. However freebased nicotine from JuulSalts is not as irritating and is readily absorbed into the lungs and brain. As a result, Juul has one of the highest nicotine content of any e-cigarette sold in the U.S.16 JuulPod e-liquid cartridges can contain up to twice the amount of nicotine as a pack of cigarettes, and they're just as easy to inhale.17,18 For these reasons, Juul, more so than any other e-cig, poses a significant threat to youngsters. E-Cigs Cause Nicotine Addiction Just Like Traditional CigarettesVapers who've tried Juuls agree they have a much stronger nicotine hit than other e-cigs. One ex-smoker found that once he started on Juuls, the vaping habit became "remarkably difficult to kick."19 Indeed, as noted by one addiction expert,20 "The modern cigarette does to nicotine what crack does to cocaine." Further facilitating use, the Juul's built-in battery is charged via a magnetic USB adapter, takes an hour to charge and lasts for 200 puffs (one full day of regular use), and the fruity flavored pods contain 50 milligrams of nicotine while emitting such a mild fragrance, they've been mistaken for a light perfume. While research into the long-term health effects of vaping is still limited, we already know that:21 • Nicotine is more addictive than alcohol and barbiturates.22 • Nicotine affects cognitive development, decision making, emotional control and impulse regulation in children and teens.23 • Brain changes from nicotine also increase sensitivity to other drugs.24 • If addicted to nicotine at a younger age, young people are more susceptible to other addictions later on in life,25 including alcohol.26 According to the researchers, exposure altered the neurological circuitry in the brain's reward pathway. Administration of nicotine during adulthood did not produce the same alteration in function of the inhibitory midbrain circuitry as did exposure during adolescence. A PLOS One study27 also suggests there's a two to seven times greater possibility that vaping teens will move on to combustible cigarettes. • When addicted at a younger age, it's harder to quit nicotine, whether it's vaped or a smoking product. One study28 shows that 85 percent of those who try to stop either smoking or vaping end up relapsing. E-Cigs Are Just as Harmful as CigarettesMounting research also shows e-cigs are just as hazardous to your health as traditional cigarettes. For example, studies have found: • The liquid used to flavor e-cigarettes may induce early signs of cardiovascular disease leading to heart attack, stroke and even death.29 The scientists found changes appeared almost immediately on the cellular level. One of the key factors in this study was the direct testing of the effect of just flavoring at levels likely to be reached inside the body. According to lead author Jessica Fetterman, Ph.D., the measures evaluated during data collection were some of the first changes seen in the development of heart disease.30 At the highest level of exposure the chemicals triggered outright cell death. At a lower level, researchers noted impaired nitric oxide production and increased inflammation. • Vaping devices produce and emit significant levels of toxic lead, nickel, chromium and manganese31 — Nearly 50 percent of the vapor samples contained lead levels higher than limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).32 Concentrations of the other three metals either approached or exceeded safety limits set by the EPA. • The nicotine-containing aerosol produced by the devices contains fine particulate matter easily absorbed through inhalation by bystanders, including highly reactive free radicals.33 Secondhand vapor may contain at least 10 chemicals identified on California's Proposition 65 list of reproductive toxins and carcinogens.34 And, despite the lower levels of nicotine pollution e-cigs produce, researchers found people exposed to e-cigarette air pollution have a similar level of cotinine — a measure of the amount of nicotine taken into the body — as those exposed to traditional secondhand cigarette smoke.35 The reason for this discrepancy remains unclear. • E-cig vapor also contains acetaldehyde36 and formaldehyde,37 both known carcinogens.38 At least one brand tested had 10 times more than found in traditional cigarettes. The FDA has also detected antifreeze chemicals in e-cigarettes — another known carcinogen.39 • Vaping damages your lungs, increasing your risk for lung disease — The vapor from e-cigs boosts production of inflammatory chemicals and impairs the activity of macrophages, leading researchers to conclude it may damage vital immune system cells.40,41 Many of the effects were similar to those seen in people who regularly smoke and those with chronic lung disease. How to Make Quitting Smoking EasierI believe the "secret" to quitting smoking is to get healthy first, which will make quitting mentally and physically easier. Exercising is an important part of this plan, as research shows people who engage in regular strength training double their success rate at quitting smoking compared to those who don't exercise.42 Healthy eating is another crucial factor to improving your health and strengthening your ability to quit. In short, if you want to quit, here are three basic tips to get started: • Read through my comprehensive free nutrition plan to get started eating right. • Develop a well-rounded exercise regimen. This is your ally to fighting disease and to quitting smoking. Ideally, incorporate strength training, high-intensity interval exercises, core-strengthening exercises, stretching and regular nonexercise movement like walking and cutting back on sitting. • Find a healthy emotional outlet. Many use exercise, meditation or relaxation techniques for this, and these are all great. I also recommend incorporating Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). This can help clear out emotional blockages from your system (some of which you might not even realize are there), thus restoring your mind and body's balance and helping you break the addiction and avoid cravings. Once you are regularly doing these three things, then you can begin to think about quitting smoking. At this point, many are ready to try quitting "cold turkey." If you need a distraction, these six things to do instead of smoking may help. Finally, if you're a parent, talk with your children about the risks of smoking, smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes. The easiest pathway to not smoking is to avoid starting in the first place. from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2018/11/28/age-restriction-for-vape.aspx In the U.S., there aren’t scheduled tea breaks or tea-related routines, but it is still one of the most widely consumed beverages, found in nearly 80 percent of all U.S. households.1 In 2017, Americans consumed over 84 billion servings of tea and more than 3.8 billion gallons.2 Nearly 86 percent of that was black tea, followed by 13 percent green tea and the small remaining amount a mixture of oolong, white and dark teas. Multiple benefits are associated with drinking tea, including consuming antioxidants, polyphenols and a variety of minerals. Long-term tea drinking may improve blood pressure,3 and studies find green tea improves brain function, staving off cognitive disorders such as dementia.4 But before drinking your next cup of tea, reconsider your use of bagged tea.5 Would You Like Some Plastic With Your Tea?Tea bags are only slightly more convenient than using loose leaf tea, yet in 2014 nearly 77 percent of the tea made in the U.S. was prepared using tea bags.6 Eighty-seven percent of millennials report regularly drinking tea, and on any given day over half the American population has a hot cup of tea. While you might imagine the U.K. claims the honor of drinking more tea than any other country, the recognition actually went to Turkey in 2016.7 There are direct links to the amount of tea a person drinks and their risk of serious health problems. However, the majority of tea brewed in the U.S. is made with tea bags, most of which are made with plastic. How tea bags are manufactured will vary depending upon the brand. Nearly 70 to 80 percent of an individual bag is made from compostable paper, while the remainder contains heat-resistant polypropylene.8 This is done to help prevent the bag from breaking apart in hot water. However, this also means minute pieces of plastic are likely deposited in your drink. The bags with the highest amount of plastic are those which are crimped and pressed shut, using heat to melt plastic to seal the bag. These are standard square, rectangular or round and crimped and pressed on all sides. Manufacturers place plastic in the paper fibers, which melt when heated to seal the tea bag shut.9 Additionally, some companies treat paper tea bags with a chemical — epichlorohydrin — to prevent tears, which has been deemed a probable human carcinogen.10 It is known to react with water to form 3-MCPD, another possible human carcinogen.11 Don’t Be Fooled by Compostable or Biodegradable LabelsManufacturers use tea bags with varying degrees of biodegradability. Some use material derived from starch treated by an enzyme to create a compound with a “plastic” character that can be spun into filaments. As explained above, most bags, including the string and tag variety, contain polypropylene with small amounts of acrylic copolymer emulsions to prevent the bag from breaking down in hot water. But, this also means small pieces of plastic will be left in the soil if you compost the bags. A spokesperson from Twinings Tea commented:12
Another type of manufactured bags are silken tea bags, often touted as an eco-friendly choice.13 However, despite the name, the bags are made from fossil fuel-based nylon, which lasts forever. Although plant-based plastic is sometimes labeled biodegradable or compostable, just because it's made of plant-based plastic does not automatically mean it will biodegrade. Biodegradable means the product can be broken down by microorganisms over time. However, there is no stipulation that no toxic residue will remain, only that the product is no longer visible. Compostable means the product undergoes a biological decomposition and breaks down into carbon dioxide, water, inorganic compounds and biomass, leaving no toxic residue. Any product making a claim of biodegradability or compostability should quote the standards used in testing, as without this the label is meaningless.14 Dangers Associated With Plastic in Your FoodPlastic will last for hundreds of years or longer, yet most of the products using plastic are used once and thrown away. Chemical additives, used to make the plastic more durable and flexible, are also harmful to the environment and human health. Phthalates, used to make plastics more durable, are loosely bound to the product. Have you noticed how some flexible plastic products slowly get more brittle over time? This happens as the phthalates are slowly released into the environment. Similarly, when you dip your plasticized tea bag in a cup of hot water, you speed the release of tiny plastic pieces and phthalates from the tea bag. The dangers associated with phthalates are related to their effect on your hormonal system. They are remarkably powerful hormone disruptors, and recent research confirms they're capable of causing males in all species to develop feminine characteristics.15 Data have demonstrated pregnant women exposed to phthalates have a higher risk of miscarriage.16 The chemicals have also been shown to feminize male genitals and to increase the risk of asthma.17 Phthalates also have negative health effects on adults. In one study, research demonstrated a link between low levels of vitamin D and an increased intake of phthalates.18 These results are important as vitamin D is essential for brain, bone and heart health. Low levels have been linked to a higher risk for depression,19 mental decline20 and chronic migraine headaches.21 Disturbingly, an alarming 10,000 chemicals are allowed to be added to food and food-contact materials in the U.S., either directly or indirectly. You'll find a discussion of the impact plastics have on your health in my previous article, "Are These Perilous Chemicals in Your Food?" Benefits From Tea Are ExtensiveThere may be good reason black tea is one of the more popular tea drinks. With each sip, it provides you with multiple antioxidants, polyphenols, tannins and various minerals with impressive health benefits. For example, black tea has been shown to:
High quality green tea is also well-recognized for its disease prevention and antiaging properties. Polyphenols may account for up to 30 percent of the dry leaf weight of green tea, including flavonoids and catechins. One of the most powerful catechins is epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). EGCG has been found to positively impact a number of conditions, including obesity, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer. EGCG also helps prevent plaque formation in your arteries and brain, enhances brain function and prevents age-associated brain degeneration.28 Oolong tea is neither a black or green tea but is produced from the Camellia sinensis plant. What sets the four true teas apart (black, green, white and oolong) is their degree of fermentation. Organic oolong tea, made from the buds and stems of the plant, is described as “slightly fermented and semi-oxidized,”29 and as a result has a taste that falls between green tea and black tea. Oolong tea offers many of the same benefits of green and black tea. It is rich in antioxidants polyphenols, accounting for oolong tea’s positive effects. Brewing Loose Leaf Tea for a Perfect CupDue to limited space, tea bags often are filled with leftover smaller leaves and dust produced when higher grade loose leaf tea is gathered. When you brew full leaf loose tea, there is room for the leaves to unfurl and move freely in the water, resulting in a more full-flavored, richer taste. Loose leaf tea is also better for the environment as bags are not fully biodegradable or compostable. Brewing the perfect cup of loose leaf tea takes only a minute or two longer than using a packaged bag. It's all about getting timing, temperature and duration right for the variety of true or herbal tea you're brewing.30 For instance, naturopath and founder of Bodhi Organic Tea, Lisa Guy, recommends brewing white and green teas at 158 F (70 C) and black tea at 185 F (85 C). Amino acids, responsible for the rich flavor, are released at lower temperatures. Steeping tea for a long period of time or using boiling water will increase the amount of tannins and result in a more astringent or bitter flavor.31 Brewing a flavorful pot of tea begins with fresh, pure water. To ensure the right temperature, either turn off the kettle before boiling or pour boiling water into a glass or ceramic cup, allowing it to cool before adding the tea leaves. Avoid using metal as it can give the tea an unwanted flavor.32 Add about 1 teaspoon of tea or herbs for every 6-ounce cup you plan to drink. Loose tea can be steeped in a reusable infuser or tea strainer.33 Timing is also important. Guy recommends white tea should be steeped for one to three minutes, while green tea should steep for one to two minutes. Black tea will Infuse the water with full flavor in just 45 seconds to one minute.34 Overall, tea is part of a healthy diet. Although some studies use far higher amounts of EGCG than you'd be able to comfortably get from drinking tea, if you enjoy it, a few cups a day is certainly a healthy and flavorful addition. Just be sure to drink your tea "straight," as adding milk and/or sugar will counter many of the benefits. Lemon juice, on the other hand, will enhance the antioxidant content. from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2018/11/28/plastic-in-your-tea.aspx Inside your inner ear are tiny hair-like structures vital to your hearing. As you age, these cells begin to degrade, reducing your sensitivity to sound. However, you may also suffer damage to your hearing from exposure to loud noises. As James Fallows, staff writer at The Atlantic discusses in this short video, dangers to your hearing don’t have to come from loud music, entertainment or massive construction machinery. The seemingly inconsequential gas-powered leaf blower may play a pivotal role increasing your risk of hearing damage and loss. Even minor hearing loss is associated with negative consequences. After controlling for education and other important demographic factors, hearing loss is independently associated with economic hardship and underemployment.1 Social rejection, loneliness and avoidance or withdrawal from organized social situations triggered by hearing loss also increases the risk for depression,2 and since hearing loss reduces the ability to be alert to environmental cues that may signal dangerous situations, your risk of an accident also increases. Researchers from Johns Hopkins University3 found a strong link between the degree of hearing loss and the risk for dementia. Hearing loss may also complicate the diagnosis and prognosis of those suffering from dementia. Hearing and Loud NoiseHearing is a complex function that begins in the outer ear and ends once sound waves are converted into neurological signals and transmitted to your brain. These electrical impulses are created in the cochlea after sound has vibrated your eardrum, moving a tiny group of bones in your middle ear, called the malleus, incus and stapes. These bones are collectively known as the ossicles and amplify sound force, passing them to your inner ear and cochlea. Inside the cochlea, a conch shell-shaped structure, are 20,000 to 30,000 small hair-like fibers.4 The movement from these cells sends an electrical impulse through the cochlear nerve, which is in turn transmitted to the cerebral cortex in your brain where sound is interpreted. According to the World Health Organization (WHO),5 more than 1.1 billion teens and young adults are at risk of losing their hearing due to unsafe levels of recreational noise. Nearly half of those aged 12 to 35 are exposed to unsafe sound levels from personal audio devices, and they estimate over 43 million young people worldwide are currently living with disabling hearing loss. WHO recommends levels no higher than 85 decibels (dB) for a maximum of eight hours in the workplace in order to protect against hearing loss. However, they note many are exposed to levels of 100 dBs or more in entertainment venues. As a comparison, the American Hearing Research Foundation compiled a chart of approximate levels of common sounds, including:6
The Sound of Fall WeatherFall weather used to herald the sounds of metal or plastic rakes against dry leaves and lawn debris. With the invention of the backpack gas engine leaf blower, the sound of fall has gotten noticeably louder. And, unfortunately, while these leaf blowers are highly productive, they also damage your ears and the hearing of those who happen to be nearby. According to Nancy Napolitano, interim director of audiology at St Luke’s University Health Network, more people are arriving with noise-induced hearing loss than in years past, many of them in their 50s and younger.7 According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hearing loss is the third most common chronic health condition.8 Nearly twice as many report having hearing loss as suffering from diabetes or cancer. The more often people are exposed to loud noises over 90 dBs, the greater the damage. Nearly 53 percent of those between the ages of 20 and 69 who have hearing damage report they had no on-the-job exposure to loud noise, indicating their exposure may have occurred at home or at entertainment venues.9 Approximately 20 percent of adults with no job exposure to loud sound have hearing damage. It is believed hearing damage is triggered at 85 dB of exposure for approximately eight hours. To compare, traffic noise inside your car measures 80 dB, while a leaf blower can measure between 90 and 115 dBs depending on the device. Exposure to 90 dBs of noise for two hours can trigger hearing damage. Nearly 7 percent of those between the ages of 20 and 29 report hearing loss. The prevalence rises with age, reaching 50 percent by age 50 and 68 percent by age 60.10 Noisy work environments, medications that affect your hearing, being over the age of 40 and a male are also risk factors. As discussed earlier, hearing loss is more than just an inconvenience. It can lead to cognitive decline, depression and anxiety, social isolation and even loss of income. According to the U.S. Department of Labor,11 an estimated $242 million is spent each year on workers’ compensation for hearing loss disability. The first year of treatment in older adults is projected to increase more than 500 percent from $8 billion spent in 2002 to an estimated $51 billion in 2030.12 Tinnitus May Signal Hearing Damage and Future LossesMany have experienced ringing in their ears, especially after being in a loud environment. Also called tinnitus, this perception of noise is not triggered by a source in the environment but, rather, is related to damage in the inner ear.13 In the past year, roughly 10 percent of U.S. adults have experienced tinnitus and more than a third of those have nearly constant symptoms. The exact experience differs from person to person. Some describe it as a ringing in their ears, while others as a high pitched hissing, low-pitched roar, chirping, screeching or even musical sounds. Tinnitus may be experienced in one or both ears; it may remain constant or be intermittent; and some only hear tinnitus if they're in a completely quiet setting.14 In the past, the majority of cases were diagnosed after the age of 50, but recent data demonstrates it is becoming common in youth, likely due to an increased exposure to environmental noise. In a study15 of 170 students between the ages of 11 and 17, researchers from McMaster University in Canada found “risky listening habits,” including exposure to loud noise at parties or concerts, were the norm. More than half the participants experienced tinnitus in the past, considered a warning sign for hearing damage. Nearly 29 percent of the students had already developed chronic tinnitus measured by a psychoacoustic examination in a sound booth. Those with tinnitus had a reduced tolerance for loud noises, a sign of damage to the auditory nerves. When damaged, they prompt the brain to increase sensitivity to noise, essentially making sounds seem louder than they really are. Tinnitus is also associated with coexisting anxiety and those with tinnitus have a higher risk of suffering depression and anxiety disorders. In one study, emotional exhaustion — or the feeling of being drained due to chronic stress — was a strong predictor of symptom severity.16 Age-Related Hearing Loss May Be Positively Impacted by Exercise and NutritionHearing loss reported in those over 60 may be affected by age-related cell damage in the cochlea. While benefits from exercise range from weight loss, improved bone density and cardiovascular fitness to supporting your immune system, research has also linked aerobic exercise with a lower risk for hearing loss with age. Using an animal model,17 research data showed sedentary mice lost important auditory structures in the cochlea affecting their hearing. Those who exercised experienced 5 percent hearing loss during their lifetime while sedentary mice experienced an average of 20 percent hearing loss. Researchers estimated 70 percent of hearing loss in people over 70 is related to the loss of these structures. As your auditory system never stops working, it requires a high level of energy and a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients. It is not surprising to also find nutritional imbalances may be another significant causative factor in hearing loss. Nutrients found to be most beneficial for protecting and improving your hearing are:18,19,20,21
Nutrients function by protecting against oxidative stress and preventing free radical damage. This improves blood flow and reduces the damage to the cochlea related to a compromised vascular system. Those affected by noise-induced tinnitus may benefit from higher folate levels. Folate lowers homocysteine,22 high levels of which have been associated with age-related hearing loss.23 The ideal way to raise your vitamin levels is through your diet. Folate can be found in fresh, raw (ideally organic) leafy green vegetables, asparagus, spinach, turnip greens and broccoli. There is a difference between folic acid typically found in supplements, and folate. In order for folic acid to be used by your body it must first be activated into a biologically active form to cross the blood-brain barrier. It's estimated nearly half of all Americans have difficulty converting folic acid because of a genetic reduction in enzyme activity. For this reason, if you take a B vitamin supplement, ensure it contains natural folate rather than synthetic folic acid. Gas Powered Leaf Blowers Present Yet Another RiskAside from hearing damage, wearing a leaf blower strapped to your back may also increase your risk of exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF). The most dangerous pollution affecting you today is likely the invisible sea of EMF your body swims through daily. Your risk of exposure increases with your proximity to the source. When the leaf blower is worn as a backpack, this places the source of EMF pollution directly against your body. According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences,24 EMFs are “invisible areas of energy, often referred to as radiation, that are associated with the use of electrical power.” Damage from EMF begins at the cellular level. Martin Pall, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of biochemistry and basic medical sciences at Washington State University, has identified and published several papers on the subject.25,26 For an end in-depth discussion of how EMF exposure affects the development of chronic diseases, see my previous article, “Reduce EMF Exposure.” These are important concepts as they relate to your close contact exposure when using a gas powered leaf blower harnessed on your back. Protect Your Ears and Reduce Your Risk of Hearing LossIf you’re a homeowner or work in the landscape business, a leaf blower is likely the most effective way to remove leaves and debris from the property. But, before shouldering an engine-powered yard machine, consider switching to a hand-held, cordless, battery-powered option. These are lighter weight, easier to handle and are not directly attached to your body over a large surface area — your back. If you must use an engine-powered leaf blower, it is vital you use ear muffs rated at least up to 120 dB. Although ear plugs are available, Napolitano recommends ear muffs as they are much easier to use, and provide better protection.27 It is also important to eat a diet high in nutrient-rich, organic, whole foods to protect your hearing. Foods high in nutrients important to your hearing include dark leafy greens, orange colored vegetables, quinoa, avocado and pastured, non-GMO, organic dairy products.28,29,30 The effects of noise pollution also extend to reduced sleep quality, increased risk of heart disease and rising stress levels. For a discussion of these effects and more, see my previous article, “Quieting Down Could Save Billions in Heart Disease Costs.” from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2018/11/28/gas-powered-leaf-blower-triggers-hearing-damage.aspx |
Nia Pure NatureThe Provider of premium Quality Health Products To Live Better Lives Archives
March 2022
Categories |