Thursday, June 21, 2012

New Health Benefits of Super Food 'Spice' Cinnamon Uncovered

Recent medical research as well as new information posted at Health and Wellness portal BeWellBuzz.com, have uncovered several new key medical benefits of one of the world's most versatile and sweet tasting natural herbs including new ways of reducing blood sugar levels for people who suffer with Type 2 Diabetes.
Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) June 21, 2012
The healing powers of the natural spice Cinnamon has been well documented in recent years. However, recent medical research as well as new information posted at Health and Wellness portal BeWellBuzz.com, have uncovered several new key medical benefits of one of the world's most versatile and sweet tasting natural herbs including new ways of reducing blood sugar levels for people who suffer with Type 2 Diabetes.
Cinnamon is classified as an herb which is found underneath the bark of a Cinnamomum tree commonly grown in South East Asia and Sri Lanka. There are two types of cinnamon commonly used in Western Culture marketplace known as Ceylon and Cassia. Recent research conducted by the American Diabetes Association uncovered information which has shown how effective cinnamon can be towards reducing blood sugar levels for Diabetic patients.
In a recent study conducted by Dr. Alam Khan at the American Diabetes Association, a group of sixty people were tested to see how the introduction of cinnamon could potentially decrease glucose levels in the blood. The results of the study showed that a total of 40 out of 60 people tested, (66 percent) showed a decrease in glucose and LDL and HDL Cholesterol when consuming up to 6 grams of cinnamon on a daily basis.
The results of this study confirmed that intake of 1, 3, or 6 grams of cinnamon per day reduces serum glucose, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol in people with type 2 Diabetes and suggest that when people who suffer with type 2 Diabetes include cinnamon in their daily diet this could reduce risk factors often associated with diabetes and even cardiovascular diseases.
Cinnamon is a versatile herb and is used for many health treatments and ailments beyond Diabetes. According to Dr. David Jockers from the Exodus Health Center in Kennesaw, GA, cinnamon is one of the most powerful antioxidants available naturally. It has the second highest content of antioxidant property among all spices. It contains ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity), which oxidizes and neutralizes the Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) into harmless compounds that can be easily metabolized.
According to the study by Peter Ward from University of Michigan, Cinnamon can significantly reduce inflammation often associated with pain, redness, swelling and heat. Cinnamon contains cinnamaldehyde that is used to arrest the release of inflammatory agents from the cell membrane. Cinnamon can also be used as a great way to treat digestive problems such as gas and bloating based on author Laura Dolson, the writer of 'Low Carb Diets' guide.
These recent medical discoveries have concluded that cinnamon may in fact be one of the newest super foods which use natural ingredients to help reduce several of the common ailments common in Western Culture today. To learn more about additional benefits of Cinnamon, and review detailed information on the medical benefits of Cinnamon, please click the link provided below to the article posted at BeWellBuzz.com.
www.bewellbuzz.com/nutrition/cinnamon-natural-blood-sugar-stabilizer
About BeWellBuzz.com
Bewellbuzz.com is a wellness website which aims to provide all-inclusive information, findings, and factoids on health sciences, nutrition, and holistic living. Its archives and articles mainly focus on diets, lifestyle, natural remedies, and other factors that promote general well-being. Follow the latest and newest health and wellness articles and other daily input on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/bewellbuzz
For the original version on PRWeb visit: www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2012/6/prweb9626313.htm

Radiation Exposure from medical imaging drastically increasing, study finds

From:  FoxNews

It’s important for patients to know what options are available to them and whether or not certain procedures are necessary or not.
“We have to justify the use of radiation,” Smith-Bindman said. “It’s not that patients shouldn’t get radiation, but use it wisely. If a patient is going to a facility to get a CT scan, they need to know that the scan is being done in the safest way possible. [Patients need to ask,] ‘What kind of doses do you use?’ and the facilities can’t currently answer that…We need to make sure the technologists are certified and the facilities know the doses they’re using and benchmark those doses.”
 
“Everything in medicine has trade-offs,” she continued. "There’s no free bee. Often we have thought we’ll get this test and think about the results later. These really sophisticated imaging tests come with risks and benefits just like anything else in medicine.”

Some patients undergoing CT scans of the abdomen would receive anywhere from 13 mSv (millisieverts – the unit of measure for radiation) to 50 mSv.
Numerous studies have examined the link between radiation exposure and increased risk of various adverse health effects – most namely cancer. Smith-Bindman referenced a recent report published in the Lancet revealing that childhood CT scans can increase the risk of brain cancer.

“There has been no carcinogen that has been studied as much as radiation,” Smith-Bindman said. “The studies are pretty clear – high exposure to radiation causes cancer…That being said, radiation is very helpful, but we try to keep those exposures as low as possible.”
With so many studies warning against too much exposure to medical imaging radiation, Smith-Bindman theorized that people have become so accustomed to doing imaging tests that they don’t think about the adverse health effects associated with them.
“Clearly the tests are great,” Smith-Bindman said. “Partly the reason is they’re useful and show a broader range of diseases. Partly it’s because physicians and patients are so incredibly enamored with imaging. There’s a belief that any imaging is good and so patients go to their providers wanting imaging, or physicians think their patients want imaging. There’s a lot of testing when no one thinks it’s going to help the patient. Sometimes they’re just trying to see what’s going on, to appease the patient.”
However, according to Smith-Bindman, getting a CT scan or MRI is not always what a patient needs or should get. The overuse of medical scans can create problems of their own – apart from possibly causing cancer.

“There’s the possibility of over diagnosis and false positives – when you say there’s a problem when in fact nothing’s there. It takes time from a person’s life and leads to unnecessary treatment. If you’re going to order an MRI, or if you order a CT, think: ‘How is this going to help me?’”
While she does not advocate stopping the use of medical imaging, Smith-Bindman said that discretion and balance is necessary.

It’s important for patients to know what options are available to them and whether or not certain procedures are necessary or not.
“We have to justify the use of radiation,” Smith-Bindman said. “It’s not that patients shouldn’t get radiation, but use it wisely. If a patient is going to a facility to get a CT scan, they need to know that the scan is being done in the safest way possible. [Patients need to ask,] ‘What kind of doses do you use?’ and the facilities can’t currently answer that…We need to make sure the technologists are certified and the facilities know the doses they’re using and benchmark those doses.”

“Everything in medicine has trade-offs,” she continued. "There’s no free bee. Often we have thought we’ll get this test and think about the results later. These really sophisticated imaging tests come with risks and benefits just like anything else in medicine.”

Related Links:
Which doctor does your colonoscopy may matter
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/06/15/which-doctor-does-your-colonosc...
Proton therapy: Radiation without the side effects?
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/06/14/proton-therapy-radiation-withou...
After cancer, kids get too many CT scans
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/06/14/after-cancer-kids-get-too-many-...
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/06/12/radiation-exposure-from-medical...


Wednesday, June 20, 2012

New Research Links Anxiety and Depression with Arthritis

Recent findings discovered by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, GA as well as new information posted on Health and Wellness portal BeWellBuzz.com, a new link has been found between the Nation's largest disability affecting senior citizens and Anxiety as well as previously linked signs of Depression.
Las Vegas, Nev. (PRWEB) June 20, 2012
Across the United States, well over 21 million adult suffer with Arthritis. However, based on recent findings discovered by the Center of Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, GA as well as new information posted on Health and Wellness portal BeWellBuzz.com, a new link has been found between the Nation's largest disability affecting senior citizens and Anxiety as well as previously linked signs of Depression.
It is estimated by the CDC that well over 50 million American's currently live with Arthritis or symptoms similar to this condition daily. Although in recent years a strong link existed between people who live with Arthritis and some forms of Depression, new research recently printed in an edition of the American College of Rheumatology's journal Arthritis Care & Research in April 2012 discovered that Anxiety is also one of the more impactful side-effects of this highly debilitating and painful disease.
In the new study conducted by the CDC, researchers conducted surveys on approximately 1800 adults above the age of 45 who have been diagnosed with Arthritis by a licensed medical professional in the past three years. The team from the CDC in Atlanta, led by Dr. Louise Murphy who heads up the Arthritis Program at the CDC in Atlanta, discovered that nearly 85% of the patients who had signs of depression also had signs of Anxiety. And that a total of 30% of the entire group surveyed had extreme signs of Anxiety.
"People with arthritis face a lot of challenges associated with the physical symptoms. If you're worried about your livelihood and your ability to perform at your job, this can be very stressful," stated Dr. Murphy. "When we looked at the characteristics of the people with anxiety, there was not a specific group that popped out which suggested that all people with arthritis have a risk of anxiety and depression. Knowing the significant complications they can create shows there is a need to address anxiety and depression on a wider scale."
According to the CDC, at some time of most American's lives, some sort of Anxiety has existed. Whether due to job interviews, waiting on medical test results or child-hood fears and frustration, Anxiety affects many people across the world today. However, according to the survey and study conducted by the CDC, patients suffering with the debilitating and chronic pain associated with Arthritis can have severe triggering factors which cause increased levels of Anxiety to exist.
Anxiety has been proven to have adverse physical effects like heart palpitations, muscle weakness, tension, fatigue, and head and stomach aches. The body's own defenses will move to face the threat and will command an increase in blood flow, heart rate, and perspiration. The external signs of anxiety include pallor, sweating and sometimes physical extremities trembling.
To read more about other factors which have contributed to increased Anxiety being discovered in Arthritis patients as well as several natural ways to reduce Anxiety from occurring, please click on the link below to the article posted at BeWellBuzz.com.
www.bewellbuzz.com/wellness-buzz/arthritis-anxiety-closely-linked/
About BeWellBuzz.com

Saturday, June 2, 2012

10 Ways to Find Some Zen this Summer

While the official start to summer is still a few weeks away, with the coming and going of Memorial Day, it’s starting to feel more like it. Despite the possibility of heat and humidity, not many people will complain about the start of the season filled with time for the beach, barbeques and vacations.
But along with all of that fun, the summer is the perfect time to find a little “zen.” What does that mean? Well, if you’ve never gone to the beach and found a quiet spot to meditate, than you’re missing out. And, if the thought of that makes you laugh out loud, read on. There are lots of other ways to find a little “zen” or “mindfulness” without ever having to close your eyes.
  1. Make sure to take your vacation! Do you know that in 2011, American workers gave up $67 billion dollars in unused vacation time? Yes, it’s true (here’s the article in CNN Money with the stats). When we are constantly working, our mind doesn’t get a chance to disconnect. Since it’s only the beginning of the summer, look to the months ahead and book your time off.
  2. Spend as much time outdoors as you can. One of the best ways to connect to the present is to be outside. Whether it’s at the beach, running, hiking, sitting in the park, golf or any number of other ideas, being outside is one of the best ways to clear your mind, get present and relieve some of the tension of everyday life.
  3. Try something new that is best done in the summer. One of the best ways to feel alive is to try something new. I recently took up boxing and I can share that I while I feel like a total geek, I also feel empowered and enlivened by the feeling of newness I get when I box. There are lots of summer activities you can try like waterskiing, windsurfing, traveling to a new place or joining an outdoor sports league. Let yourself feel a little awkward, uncomfortable and like a beginner. It’s a sure way to feel alive.
  4. Try creative, fun, summer-like ways to meditate. If you’ve never tried meditation, this is the season (if there ever was a season to meditate). Meditation can be done by walking (hence the term “walking meditation"). This is great to try on the beach. Park your chair and take a walk in silence. Listen and feel for your breath as you walk, refrain from any talking or even looking at people as they pass. Instead, follow your footsteps and breath as you walk for at least 20 minutes. Other ideas to try: Go to the beach early, find a quiet place to sit. I like to kneel at the water’s edge. Close your eyes and take several deep breaths. Try to sit still for 10 minutes.
  5. Visit a farm and buy your dinner. Mindfulness can extend to what we eat and how. One of the best ways to introduce mindfulness to your meals is by choosing fresh foods right from the source and preparing them with attention and care. Visit a local farm, select some fresh produce and cook a meal that includes salad, vegetables and bread from a local farm. Close your eyes and say a word of thanks to the farmer before you dig in. Practicing gratitude is a wonderful mindfulness practice and has great effects on your health as well as your heart.
  6. Take your yoga practice outdoors. One of the great things about yoga is that you can do it anywhere. Take your mat to a park, a deck or just bring your body to the water edge for a little Downward Facing Dog. Being outside for practice will help you feel connected to your body and the outdoors. You’ll feel rejuvenated and alive when you’re done.
  7. Read a book that pushes you to explore yourself. Sure, you can read the hottest summer book out today or instead, you can use your reading time to push yourself outside your comfort zone to explore new habits, understand existing unhealthy habits or do some planning for the future you want to have. Sure, self-help books get a bad rap sometimes, but if you find a well-respected author and pick a meaningful topic to you, summer can be a great time to turn over a new leaf.
  8. Cut out some TV and start a journal. Whatever happened to journals? They went the way of Facebook and Pinterest. Drop a TV show each night and instead, take some time to write about your day. Focus on your feelings, your reactions, things you’d like to do differently. Set some goals, some intentions and dream. Without introspection, we’re creatures of habit, most of them reactions to what’s happening around us. Hold yourself accountable, start making connections between events and your reactions and make changes that create a healthier life.
  9. Make a photo collage of places you love.  Because of Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram and of course, the popularity of SmartPhones, you can take a photo anywhere, anytime. Use these tools to create a photo diary of your summer. Take pictures of yourself doing active things, fun activities and visiting new places. When you’re stuck in a meeting or working late or just feeling down, use these photos as a way to remind yourself of fun times as well as an illustration of your strength.
  10. Set a challenging goal for yourself. Start training for a road race in late summer or drop a bad habit and set a reward date to acknowledge your achievement. Summer is a time to use fun distractions, like outdoor activities, to shift your focus from something holding you back to something more positive. It’s also a great time to train for something physical. Challenging yourself in this way is a wonderful way to feel empowered and connected to your body- an important mindfulness technique.
 Whatever you do, don’t let summer slip by without making plans for your health and wellness. People always complain that the summer is too short so now’s the time to make a plan to make the most of it.

From:  Southend.patch.com
By:  Karen Fabian