Some Facts About Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Benign prostatic hypertrophy or benign prostatic hyperplasia or benign prostate hyperplasia or BPH is a non-cancerous prostate gland enlargement and is common problem of older men. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), more than 50% of men over age 60 are affected by benign prostatic hypertrophy or benign prostatic hyperplasia and as many as 90% of men over the age of 70. But, it does not mean because most men undergo BPH you will just wait and see if you will be one of them someday. You have a choice! All you need to do is to change your lifestyle.

Prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system. This walnut-sized gland is located in front of the rectum and just below the bladder (where urine is stored). The prostate also surrounds the urethra – the canal in the penis through which urine flows out of the body.

Until now it is not yet clear what really causes benign prostatic hypertrophy or benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH. But because it is widespread among older men, experts believe that age related hormonal changes are a major factor. Men produces large amount of testosterone (male hormone) and small amount of estrogen (female hormone).As they age, the amount of testosterone produced reduces leaving large amount of estrogen. Dihydrotes-tosterone (DHT) is a substance derived from testosterone  which experts believed that it helps control prostate growth. Research showed that as animals age, they lose their ability to produce DHT. But, it was shown among men with benign prostatic hypertrophy or benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH that though their blood testosterone level drops as they age, they continue to produce DHT. Thus, accumulation of Dihydrotes-tosterone (DHT) in the prostate gland happened. Accumulation of DHT triggers growth of prostate cells.

Another potential but preventable culprit of  benign prostatic hypertrophy or benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH are FATTY ACIDS and CHOLESTEROL. Autopsies of those who suffered from  benign prostatic hypertrophy or benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH shown an extraordinary high cholesterol content compared from those with normal prostates. Thus, experts suggests that reducing dietary cholesterol, saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids from diet may prevent men from acquiring benign prostatic hypertrophy or benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH or enlarged prostate.

What is the best thing to do to maintain your cholesterol on its normal level and to prevent you from acquiring benign prostatic hypertrophy or benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH? Avoid refined and processed foods aside from fatty foods and meat. You may eat meat once in a while but you need to choose the lean one, free from fats. Eat unprocessed organic plant foods, especially those that are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and soluble fibers. It is advisable that you eat tuna and other oily fishes at least three servings a week because these are rich in omega-3 that has the capacity of lowering cholesterol level, fish oil is a good alternative. Take flaxseed oil, it is good source of omega-3 as well. Drink at least 8 glasses of water everyday. Water therapy helps clean your system. Do not forget the power of exercise and sunlight in lowering cholesterol level. Healthy lifestyle is the best thing to follow if you want to live healthy until your ripe age.

The Wonder Of Touch

the wonder of touch

No, I will not be talking about ipod touch here, I am talking about the sense of touch.  It is so nice to know that among your senses touch is the first to develop and last to diminish.

A child’s first emotional bonds are built from physical connection, laying the foundation for further emotional and intellectual development. Newborn babies process most information through their skin. Babies are designed to be frequently fed in a fashion that requires skin-to-skin contact, holding, and available facial cues. Touch really helps premature babies and babies who are slow weight gainers to gain weight at a faster rate.  Amazing, isn’t it? Babies and young children are dependent on touch for learning about the world. The young child explores the physical world by touch and learns many  aspects through it like shape, softness and texture.

Touch also plays a special role as you get older. Touch serves to comfort and give assurance and self-esteem. Not only that, research shows that it lowers blood pressure, subdues heart irregularities and relieves depression. Even a frail old people with failing sight clearly understands the hold of a caring hand.

How to give and receive touch? Just extend your hand to enrich your life and the people you cared for, like a gentle tap on a shoulder, gentle squeeze on the arm, a hug or a kiss and a shake hands when greeting someone.

You may also express touch through your facial expressions, gentle words to the people around you, a loving note, an email or a text message (using your ipod touch if you have one),  when you respect and show your concern to other people especially your parents.

As for me daily dose of touch is part of a healthy lifestyle. It is not a cure all but it will make you feel better.

Do Diet Pills Work?

“Do diet pills work?” my friend asked. She is browsing the internet for best diet pills. “Eiken told me I will be her maid of honor on her wedding this coming July. Look at me Midas. I am chubby, right? I need to lose weight. By the way, what is the basic cause for being overweight Midas?” she added. “It is when your body takes in more calories than it uses. These calories may come from overeating, eating the wrong foods, too little activity, or of combination of the factors I have mentioned” I answered. “Oh, come on Midas, you have not answered my question yet, do diet pills work? Because I am currently looking for best diet pills that could help me with my problem” she inquired again.

Do diet pills work? Yes it does! A hundred and one percent.  But, it will  do much better if you incorporate right diet and exercise to your diet pill and refrain from overeating, eating the wrong foods, too little activity, or of combination of the factors mentioned. As much as possible avoid eating an in between meals, drink plenty of water instead. For your meals eat, eat lots of fruits and vegetables. If possible, avoid processed, fatty and fried foods and dairy products. Combining diet pill with right diet and exercise or other physical activity will help you speed weight loss. Not only that, exercise conditions the body to improve overall appearance. Improving your eating habit and exercise are not just requirements to weight loss but requirements to be healthy too.

My friend studied the best diet pills on the screen and asked, “Is it really fine to take in the diet pills? Because I really want to be sexy on Eiken’s wedding day.” “As far as I know it is safe. Just chose one that is clinically proven and promised me you will not be dependent to diet pills, those are just supplements that will help you attain your goal. You may take it until July for you to be sexy” I answered. “But, you must continue your diet and exercise because as what I  said, right diet and exercise are requirements to be healthy” I added.

Meet My Bright Buddy – The Sun

The sun, my bright buddy, wants to meet you. It is so advantageous if you meet him anytime from sunrise up to eight o’clock in the morning.

Is it not it great to see the sun rose in the morning? It literally brightens your day, right? Have you ever stopped and think that without sunlight there would be no life on earth? Not a leaf or fruit could grow nor a flower bloom. Let a plant or an animal be deprived of light‚ despite of the fact that  you provide every nourishment‚ care‚ and cultivation‚ it will first lose its color‚ then its strength‚ and at last will utterly decay, right?

God made man to live largely outdoors where the body could receive abundant sunshine. In fact‚ man was created and placed in the garden so that the sun would shine on his entire body. Is it known to you that we cannot produce our own Vitamin D? Vitamin D is unique in that it is the only vitamin that human produce intrinsically after exposure to ultraviolet B light from the sun.  Vitamin D generated by sunlight on the skin is different from other vitamins in that it influences the entire body. Receptors that respond to this vitamin have been found in almost every type of human cell‚ from the brain to the bones. All the sunlight’s vitamin D’s health-effects are not yet known‚ but clearly the vitamin is a “blockbuster” nutrient capable of many things.

High sugar and cholesterol level are some of health problems nowadays, is it known to you that sunlight lowers cholesterol level? Because there is so much cholesterol just underneath the skin‚ when sunlight changed it to vitamin D‚ cholesterol from the blood is sent to take its place. Two hours after a sun exposure‚ an average of 13% reduction in human blood cholesterol level‚ takes place. Not only that, exposure to sunlight rises insulin level, which lowers blood sugar by pushing sugar into cells, where it provides them energy. Sunlight entering the eyes prevents the pineal from inhibiting the pituitary, and thereby provides a counterbalance to the hypoglycemic effect of the sun hitting the skin.

These are just some of the benefit we can get when we expose ourselves from the sun every morning, from 6A.M. to 8A.M., even just for few minutes.

Go out.  Brighten your day.  For the sun is waiting for you outside and saying, “Good Morning!”

Have a great day friend!

An Equestrian To Be

I asked my 8 years old niece what she wants to be when she grows up. She smile and said, “I want to become an equestrian Aunt Midas. I have seen the Equestrian Olympics 2008 and, I was inspired of what the equestrian do. Actually I asked my mom if we can pay visit an equestrian centre and she said yes to me. I am so excited Aunt Midas.”

“You have been to Beijing Olympics to watch the Equestrian Olympics 2008?” I asked. “I just watched it on TV. That is why I want to visit an equestrian centre Aunt Midas, so that I could see them live in action” she whispered. “I will send you my picture riding a horse Aunt Midas. I hope I am wearing an equestrian apparel too like them that time” she added. Then, we happily browse the net for some equestrian apparel for young riders.