Identifying the Disease through the Eyes

Eye was more than just a window of the soul. Senses of vision can also be a window to see the availability of health disorders that we have experienced.

"The eyes are the first places in the body which can be used physicians to see blood vessels and arteries without the camera or the operation," said Shantan Reddy, eye specialist doctors from New York University Langone Medical Center.

That's why, sometimes ophthalmologist was the first to find that there is a serious disease in patients with diabetes or high blood pressure. In fact, 65 percent could identify ophthalmologist high cholesterol levels in patients before other doctors.

Simak health disorder that can be seen from the eyes. You will be surprised.

1. Arteries in the eyes of a silvery color

More than 20 percent of people who suffer from high blood pressure or hypertension are unaware of its condition. "We can see the condition of hypertension through the eyes because the condition causes the arteries to the retina become quite keperekan so often referred to as silver cable," said Reddy.


2. Spots on the lining of the eye 

Sunlight not only damage skin, but also the eye. In the worst case, exposure to sunlight can trigger cancer in the eyeball called also with eye melanoma. "Cancer could look like a small point in the pigment layer of the eye," she said J.Bakri, eye doctors from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesotta.

3. Blood vessels was evident 

High blood sugar levels can clog blood vessels in the retina that causes it to break more easily. Optometrists are often found abnormal new blood vessels in the eye instead of a ruptured blood vessel. Furthermore, diabetes can also damage nerves in the eye, causing blindness.

4. inflammatory 

Autoimmune disorder that causes the body to attack healthy cells that will trigger inflammation, including in the eye. Symptoms of inflammation are often found among other ocular surface inflammation, itching, and dry eye. It could be a sign of lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.

5. Swelling of blood vessels in the eye 

Allergens in the air such as dust, animal dander, or pollen can affect the eyes. Naturally, the eye will produce histamine and other chemicals to fight the allergen. This process can cause swelling of blood vessels in the eye so that the whites of the eyes look red and itchy.

Source : Kompas.com

10 Quick And Healthy Breakfasts To Go

Although breakfast is considered to be the most important meal of the day, many people skip it because they feel pressed for time before they go to work or school. Out of those who do eat breakfast, many choose convenience over nutritional value and choose to eat a doughnut, pastry or a fast-food breakfast sandwich.

1. Peanut Butter Pita

Peanut butter is high in protein, which is an ideal nutrient to consume in the morning. Studies show that a protein-packed breakfast will make you feel full for a longer period of time and, therefore, will reduce your cravings for snacks throughout the day. It will also reduce the brain signals related to food motivation and reward-driven eating.

To make this meal, spread some peanut butter on whole wheat pita and top with some banana slices and wheat germ, which is a good source of iron and zinc. You can stuff everything inside the pita pocket to make it easier to transport and you can also experiment with different types of nut butters and fruits.

2. Peanut Butter Waffle

Instead of drenching your waffle in butter and syrup, spread some peanut butter on it. It would be best to make your own waffle, but if you have to use the frozen kind, choose a waffle that contains whole grains, which will stabilize your blood sugar and will make you feel fuller, longer. To add a little pizzazz, sprinkle some chopped nuts or raisins on top.

3. Egg Sandwich

Those egg-and-muffin sandwiches that you get at fast-food restaurants are full of fat, particularly saturated fat. Make your own egg sandwich instead, with a whole wheat English muffin or whole wheat bread. Use the entire egg, including the yolk, which contains the muscle-building vitamin B12. You can even add a few slices of turkey-bacon for a protein boost, or substitute your egg with tofu for a vegetarian breakfast.

4. Cereal And Yogurt

Cereal and milk is a great breakfast, but it�s a little tough to eat while commuting to work. Instead of using milk, mix bran flakes or granola clusters into a container of yogurt. Yogurt is high in calcium, phosphorus, vitamin B12 and protein and, it also contains live bacteria cultures that can rev up your immune system.

5. Vegetarian Breakfast Burrito

If you want to add a little kick to your morning, try this breakfast burrito. In a whole wheat tortilla, roll up some slices of a hard-boiled egg, green peppers and avocado. For a spicy kick, add a spoonful of salsa, which is full of vitamin C. What makes this breakfast fun is that you can mix and match different fillings.

6. Veggie Egg Scramble

If the breakfast burrito doesn�t satisfy your egg craving, make this instead. While a traditional omelet may require extra time and care, it�s a lot faster to scramble some eggs and throw in the same ingredients you would use in your omelet. Use vegetables like green peppers, olives and mushrooms. Add in tomatoes, which are heart healthy and whatever other vegetable you like.

7. Vegetable Pancakes

This breakfast options ensures that you get a daily serving of vegetables. Combine a half-cup of flour with an egg and a quarter-cup of milk. Add in carrots, zucchini, cabbage and some scallions for a little zest. Carrots are a good source or carotenoids, which the body turns into vitamin A, while zucchini is a good source of vitamin C and cabbage can lower your cholesterol levels.

Although you may not have time to make a batch of pancakes in the morning, you can make them ahead of time and freeze them. You can also add in any other vegetables you choose.

8. Brie-Raspberry Panini

Studies show that eating cheese for breakfast may help to lower your cholesterol levels. So melt some brie or some mozzarella on whole wheat bread and add some raspberry preserves or, better yet, fresh raspberries. Raspberries are high in vitamin C, magnesium and fiber and contain antioxidants that can prevent the development of macular degeneration and even cancer.

9. Blueberry Scones

Scones are delicious and a little indulgent, so in order to put a healthy spin on them, fill them up with fresh blueberries, which are rich in antioxidants. Use whole wheat flour, oats and flaxseed to get a dose of fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. Make a few variations with cranberries, which prevent bacteria from attaching to the urinary tract and stomach lining, and blackberries, which are a good source of vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, potassium and magnesium. Whip up a batch of these for the week, so you have a breakfast treat you can grab and eat on the go.

10. Strawberry-Banana Smoothie

Strawberries are a good source of vitamin C and antioxidants, and bananas are a good source of potassium and fiber. Blend a handful of strawberries and a frozen banana with one cup of cow�s or soy milk and a spoonful of protein powder. This smoothie is great by itself or when paired with any of these quick and healthy breakfast ideas.

Make sure you do a little prep work the night before or sometime earlier in the week for some of these breakfast ideas to help save you time. The great thing about these quick and healthy breakfasts is that most of them don�t require you to sit down and eat them with utensils.

Source : http://www.symptomfind.com/nutrition-supplements/quick-and-healthy-breakfasts/

7 Vitamins Sharpen Your Memory

Forget or do not remember is a condition that almost everyone had experienced. For example, when put phone, keys or sunglasses. Maybe you consider this to be a reasonable. But you need to know that "forgetting" is one characteristic that indicates the reduced ability of the brain to process the memory.

How to prevent it? Quite simply, namely by taking some form of vitamins such as those mentioned below. Here are seven vitamins that can help cure while improving your memory:

1. Vitamin E
Research has shown that the antioxidant properties of vitamin E may help protect nerve cells in the brain from damage. There is also evidence to suggest that vitamin E can keep the nerve cells in the brain of post-stroke mortality. Vitamin E is also believed to help improve memory function in the elderly. But before taking vitamins is a good idea to consult with a physician. Because high doses of vitamin E can interfere with the work of a drug for blood clots.

2. Vitamin B6
In addition to keeping the various functions of the body, vitamin B6 has been shown to improve memory, while also supporting brain health. Research shows that daily intake of vitamin B6 can help improve your memory from time to time, and the brain's ability to process information at a faster rate. You can get natural sources of vitamin B6 from tuna fish, eggs, carrots and vegetables.

3. Vitamin B12

Research has shown that vitamin B12 can maintain blood levels of homocysteine ??at a healthy level. Homocysteine ??is an important amino acid needed by the human brain. If amino acids are not well managed it will affect the decrease in brain function. This vitamin also has the ability to improve the brain's nerve fibers. Beef, liver, shellfish and fish contain large amounts of vitamin B12.

4. Vitamin B9

Folic acid, also known as vitamin B9 may help in the production of red blood cells, which allows one to obtain the supply of oxygen to the brain more. This vitamin has also been shown to reduce the risk of memory loss associated with aging. Natural sources of vitamin B9 can get from eating food made from grains, or drinking juice made from citrus fruits or tomatoes.

5. Vitamin C

The antioxidant properties of vitamin C is very beneficial to keep your memory health is maintained. A recent study has found a correlation between memory problems and babies who are deficient in vitamin C. Another study found vitamin C has a protective nature of memory problems and loss of mental alertness. Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources for vitamin C, especially citrus and strawberries.

6. Vitamin D

Body is deficient in vitamin D has been shown to interfere with the brain's ability to plan and process memory. Research shows that vitamin D levels decline in the elderly has been associated with memory loss due to the aging process. You can meet the needs of vitamin D from mackerel, tuna and other foods are fortified with vitamin D.

7. Vitamin B3

The experts are superbly find a particular form of the vitamin B3 Nicotinamide, which is believed to reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease. Given these new findings tested in mice, further clinical testing is needed to determine the effect of vitamin B3 in humans. In addition to reducing the risks and effects of Alzheimer's disease, vitamin B3 also reduce the risk of heart disease and lowering LDL cholesterol. Tuna, chicken, turkey, salmon and asparagus provide an important source of vitamin B3.

Source : kompas.com

8 Foods for Preventing Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer or colon is a form of malignancy that occurs in the colon, rectum, and appendix (appendectomy). The experts explained that by making lifestyle changes can prevent about 70 percent of developing colon cancer.

To protect yourself from the threat of cancer, it's time you make a plan and a proper diet program, especially by eating some of the following foods, which is believed to be the main enemy of colon cancer:

1. Beans, lentils, peas and other foods high in folate
Plenty of food as mentioned above if one of your family members of colorectal cancer. Beside rich in fiber, these foods are also high in folate, a B vitamin that protects cells from DNA damage. According to a study from Harvard University involving nearly 89 000 women aware that they are - who have a family history of colorectal cancer - which consume more than 400 mcg (micrograms) of folate per day, 52 percent lower risk of colorectal cancer than women who consumed only 200 mcg folate a day. You can get about 100 to 150 mcg simply by eating a cup of cooked beans or spinach. One medium-sized citrus fruit also contains approximately 50 mcg.

2. Milk
Milk has a very vital role in building strong bone growth. But not many know that milk can also help protect you from colon cancer. Research involving more than half a million people showed that drinking at least a cup of milk every day may lower risk of colon and rectal cancer about 15 percent. Meanwhile, those who drank over two glasses a day, the risk dropped 12 percent.

A recommendation suggests, a person must meet at least 250 milliliters of milk a day. Given the saturated fat associated with tumor growth, it would be better if you choose low-fat milk or skim milk.

3. Vegetables from the cruciferous family
Types of vegetables that are intended, among others, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, radish. This group of vegetables is the most powerful cancer fighter because it contains a variety of compounds able to drive the cancer, which damage cell DNA. Research consistently shows that people who eat vegetables, 50 percent had a lower risk of colon cancer than those who eat small amounts. You must meet at least four half-cup (125 milliliters) servings per week.

4. Wheat, fruits and vegetables high in fiber
Although no studies that definitively prove the benefits of fiber to prevent colon cancer, but experts are still pushing for a person eats more than 15 grams of fiber each day. Why? Because the fibers can quickly help food pass through the digestive system, so if there are foods that are carcinogens, the food was not long lived in the digestive tract.

A study of large-scale European Prospective Investigation of Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) show that people who eat lots of fiber, 40 percent less likely to develop colon cancer.

5. Turmeric
Turmeric is the spice that is quite widely known and often used as a spice in cooking. Natural yellow color in turmeric, called curcumin, believed to have anti-cancer agents and anti-inflammatory effects (reducing inflammation which is thought to contribute to tumor growth). Curcumin can also help clean the carcinogens in the body prior to DNA cell damage and help repair the damage was done.

Lab studies show this spice also helps stop the growth and spread of cancer cells. No recommendation is encouraged, but you only need to use it more often in your cooking mixture.

6. Fish and chicken
Various research shows evidence of an association between red meat consumption and colon cancer risk. But you need not be afraid to eat meat, because meat chicken and fish can be an alternative choice.

Results from the study of EPIC suggests that eating at least 300 g of fish (two or three servings) a week can reduce the risk of colon cancer by 30 percent. This finding is not surprising. If you choose fatty fish like salmon or mackerel, directly you will get the omega-3 fatty acids more that help reduce inflammation in the intestine.

If you do not really like eating fish, try the chicken. Studies show that consumption of chicken meat is not as red meat, because it does not actively trigger colon cancer. Remember, most of the fat found in chicken skin, so it is advisable to remove the chicken skin before cooking.

7. Garlic and onions
Garlic may not be able to protect you from vampires, but it can help rid the colon cancer. Both garlic and onions contain sulfide, which helps to clean carcinogens and cancer cells. Research shows that women who consumed 1-2 cloves of garlic per week had a 32 percent lower risk of colon cancer than women who rarely ate garlic.

And according to a study that examined fruit and vegetable consumption among more than 650 people in South Australia showed that participants who frequently eat onions risk of colon cancer was reduced to 52 percent. Eating a few cloves of garlic and about a half cup (125 mL) garlic at least several times a week can help lower your cancer risk.

8. Black tea and green tea
Lab studies show that compounds in tea helps to deactivate cancer-causing agents. In fact, these compounds are also able to inhibit cancer cell growth. Among the more than 35,000 women involved in the Iowa Women Health Study showed that those who drank two or more cups of tea every day almost 30 percent lower than those developing colon cancer is rarely drink tea.

And while they are mainly black tea, it should be noted that green tea contains more of antioxidant compounds called catechins, which appears to work wonders.

Source : besthealthmag

Boing!

I just had a featured article published on Boing Boing, "Seduced by Food: Obesity and the Human Brain".  Boing Boing is the most popular blog on the Internet, with over 5 million unique visitors per month, and it's also one of my favorite haunts, so it was really exciting for me to be invited to submit an article.  For comparison, Whole Health Source had about 72,000 unique visitors last month (200,000+ hits).

The article is a concise review of the food reward concept, and how it relates to the current obesity epidemic.  Concise compared to all the writing I've done on this blog, anyway.  I put a lot of work into making the article cohesive and understandable for a somewhat general audience, and I think it's much more effective at explaining the concept than the scattered blog posts I've published here.  I hope it will clear up some of the confusion about food reward.  I don't know what's up with the image they decided to use at the top. 

Many thanks to Mark Frauenfelder, Maggie Koerth-Baker, and Rob Beschizza for the opportunity to publish on Boing Boing, as well as their comments on the draft versions!

For those who have arrived at Whole Health Source for the first time via Boing Boing, welcome!   Have a look around.  The "labels" menu on the sidebar is a good place to start-- you can browse by topic.

Eating berries helps prevent age-related memory loss

 Washington: There is strong scientific evidence that eating blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and other berry fruits has beneficial effects on the brain and may help prevent age-related memory loss and other changes, say scientists.

Barbara Shukitt-Hale, Ph.D., and Marshall G. Miller pointed out that longer lifespans are raising concerns about the human toll and health care costs of treating Alzheimer�s disease and other forms of mental decline.

They explained that recent research increasingly shows that eating berry fruits can benefit the aging brain.

To analyze the strength of the evidence about berry fruits, they extensively reviewed cellular, animal and human studies on the topic.

Their review concluded that berry fruits help the brain stay healthy in several ways.

Berry fruits contain high levels of antioxidants, compounds that protect cells from damage by harmful free radicals.

The two also noted that berry fruits change the way neurons in the brain communicate. These changes in signalling can prevent inflammation in the brain that contribute to neuronal damage and improve both motor control and cognition.

They suggest that further research will show whether these benefits are a result of individual compounds shared between berry fruits or whether the unique combinations of chemicals in each berry fruit simply have similar effects.

Their review on the value of eating berry fruits appeared in ACS`` Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 

Source : http://zeenews.india.com/

Sugar in the Morning breakfast is important to Improve Concentration

Sugary foods like donuts are not a super healthy food, but can give the brain the nutrients it needs to start the day effectively. If you have trouble concentrating or remembering things in the morning, often cause adelah because the brain is deprived of sugar is needed in order to function optimally.

"Sugar is used as an energy source the brain. One reason is because the sugar producing important chemical acetylcholine. This chemical is essential to improve memory, enhance the ability to pay attention and keep the mood," said Dr. Gary L. Wenk, Professor of Psychology, Neuroscience, Immunology and Medical Genetics at Ohio State University Medical Center and author of "Your Brain on Food '.

Brain to produce acetylcholine from components derived from the metabolism of sugar called choline. Choline derived from lecithin-containing foods. Lecithin is found in many baked goods such as donuts, cupcakes and chocolate. So, eating chocolate-covered donuts in the morning will give the brain the nutrients it needs to pay attention and learn new things.

"Billions and billions of nerve cells in the brain requires a constant supply of sugar to maintain the ability to produce energy and communicate with other nerve cells. Nerve cells can only tolerate a lack of sugar for several minutes before he died," said Prof Wenk as reported by Lifehacker.com, Thursday (08/03/2012).

Because the sugar content decreased with the passage of time since last meal, the body begins to eat something sweet. As the day wore on, the nerve cells use acetylcholine busy and changing sugar to think and learn. As a result, concentration and alertness also started emnurun.

Towards evening, the low blood sugar levels again causes a decrease in the ability to pay attention and mental slowing. Energy metabolism that are deployed for thinking and learning throughout the day increases the strong chemicals that can kill nerve cells called adenosine. To resolve this, drink coffee.

Adenosine inhibits the function of acetylcholine and causes the body to become less vigilant. Caffeine in coffee can stem the influence of adenosine and release of acetylcholine which has hampered its function. After drinking coffee, attention spans will increase and the body will be ready to do anything until the effects of caffeine runs out.

Source : http://health.detik.com