STROKE signs

Stroke has a New Indicator     They say if you email this to ten people, you stand a chance of saving one life. Will you send this along?  Blood Clots/Stroke - They Now Have a Fourth Indicator,  theTongue  I will continue to forward this every time it comes around! STROKE: Remember the 1st Three Letters.....S. T. R.   STROKE  IDENTIFICATION It only takes a minute to read this. A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.  RECOGNIZING A STROKE Thank God for the sense to remember the '3' steps - STR. Read and Learn! Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke. Now doctors say a  bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions: S  *Ask the individual to SMILE. T  *Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK    A SIMPLE SENTENCE  (Coherently)  (i.e.  Chicken Soup) R  *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS. If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher. New Sign of a Stroke -------- Stick out Your Tongue NOTE:  Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other that is also an indication of a stroke. A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this e-mail sends it to 10 people; you can bet that at least one life will be saved. I have done my part. Will you?

The healing power of yogurt and kefir

May 1, 2009

fotolia.com

If someone suggested that you swallow a spoonful of live organisms, you’d probably think Fear factor auditions had come to town…but what if they told you that every spoonful would provide extraordinary improvements in your health?
Well, billions of people willingly eat billions of live organisms every day when they eat yogurt or drink kefir! Both are absolutely brimming with bacteria, the live and active cultures you read about on the label. And that’s a really good thing, because research has shown that these “friendly” bacteria can provide an abundance of benefits such as:
· Strengthen your immune system.
· Help ulcers heal more quickly.
· Help prevent recurrent yeast infections.
· Aid in weight loss, belly fat in particular.
· Reduce several risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
· Reduce several risk factors for intestinal cancers.
· Alleviate microbe-induced traveler’s diarrhea.
· Reduce the rate of childhood respiratory infections.
· Help prevent tooth decay.
Even if you took out the bacteria, it’s still an excellent source of calcium. Yogurt can be especially important for people who lack the enzyme lactase that’s needed to digest the lactose, or sugar, in milk. Even though yogurt does contain lactose, the live bacteria in yogurt help your body break lactose down so it’s less likely to cause discomfort. One cup of plain low-fat yogurt provides 40 percent of the Daily Value.
Kefir, if you’re not familiar, is a fermented, probiotic milk drink that means “good feeling” when translated from the Russian language spoken in the mountains where it originated. It has a distinctive mild but tangy taste. Best-selling author and world-renowned dermatologist Dr. Nicholas Perricone has named kefir as one of his top 10 superfoods. Dr. Perricone’s research has uncovered that hospitals in the former Soviet Union used kefir “to treat conditions ranging from atherosclerosis, allergic disease, metabolic and digestive disorders, and tuberculosis to cancer and gastrointestinal disorders.” Dr. Perricone points out that scientists have discovered that many inflammatory diseases (including some types of heart disease) can be triggered by bacteria. “That provides all the more reason to enjoy kefir as part of your daily diet.” Dr. Perricone recommends Helios or Lifeway kefir.
Top tips for getting the most
Eat it cold
The bacteria in yogurt or kefir are destroyed by heat. When using them in recipes, add after the dish is finished cooking and removed from the heat.
Eat it first
Dr. Perricone suggests starting each day by making a quick smoothie made with two tablespoons of POM Wonderful pomegranate juice (pure pomegranate extract) and a glass of unsweetened whole-milk kefir. I’ve been drinking this breakfast brew for years, mixing either Sambazon acai or pomegranate juice into kefir and I credit it for making huge improvements in my own health.
A lower carb alternative to pomegranate juice is Jarrow Formulas Pomegranate Juice Concentrate, which has only 9 grams of carbs per serving.
Buy it fresh, and organic
Fresh yogurt contains about 100 million bacteria per gram. However, after a few weeks on the shelf, that number quickly dwindles. Therefore, it’s best to buy it from health food stores since these stores usually sell a lot of yogurt and you have a much better chance of getting it fresh. I like Seven Stars Farm low-fat organic yogurt. Stonyfield Farm yogurt is widely available in most grocery stores.
Avoid yogurt that contains added sugars, sweetened fruit or things you can’t pronounce like stabilizers and thickeners. These ingredients will actually detract from the live cultures by disturbing the balance that enables the cultures to thrive.
If you’re not a yogurt fan, and the idea of eating plain yogurt doesn’t thrill you, try mixing it in with cold soups or in to smoothies blended with fresh fruit to mask the taste. It’s a great substitute for sour cream too.

 http://www.examiner.com/article/the-healing-power-of-yogurt-and-kefir

 

Turmeric Against a Virus

Sep 10, 2011 | By Shamala Pulugurtha
Viruses are tiny capsules containing genetic material. They invade healthy cells of the body, multiply there and eventually kill the host cells. This can lead to a variety of infections ranging from common cold and warts to small pox and AIDS. Antibiotics cannot be used to treat viral infections because the pathogen is within the human cell. Your doctor may prescribe antiviral medications to control the infection. Certain herbs and supplements such as turmeric may also help treat or prevent viral infections. However, you must talk to a doctor before using them.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a flavorful, yellow powder that is obtained from the roots and rhizomes of the perennial Curcuma longa plant native to Southern Asia. It has been used as a spice and flavoring agent for several centuries, especially in Indian curries. Turmeric also contains a phenolic antioxidant chemical known as curcumin, which gives it an immense medicinal value. The Chinese and Ayurvedic schools of medicine have used turmeric to treat several conditions including ulcers, heart disease, diabetes, infections and certain types of cancers. Turmeric supplements are available as capsules, tablets, powders, tinctures and liquid extracts. Your doctor may help determine a form and dose that is right for you, depending on your age and overall health.

Viral Infections

Curcumin can inhibit the growth of the influenza virus including that of the H1N1 swine flu virus, says a study published in the April 2010 issue of the journal “Food Chemistry.” Another study in the April 2008 issue of the journal “Virology” reveals that curcumin, extracted from turmeric, can block the spread of herpes simplex virus infection by inhibiting the expression of the viral genes. A February 2010 article published in the journal “FEBS Letters” also reveals that curcumin can show anti-viral activity against several viruses including adenovirus, coxsackievirus and human immunodeficiency virus. However, these benefits of turmeric have not been demonstrated in actual clinical cases, says the University of Maryland Medical Center. Hence, more research is needed before the spice can replace your existing medications.

Side Effects

Turmeric has been used in food for centuries and is generally considered safe in moderate amounts. High doses of the spice, however, can cause upset stomach and ulcers. It may also lead to hypoglycemia in people taking diabetes medications. The supplements may also interfere with antacid and anticoagulation medications.

Precautions

You do not need a prescription to buy turmeric or its supplements but you must consult a doctor before using them. Also, the supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. So, make sure that the product has been tested for safety and efficacy by an independent agency such as the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/540671-turmeric-against-a-virus/#ixzz2NlLOJorr

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/540671-turmeric-against-a-virus/#ixzz2NlL5FTGD