Potential Healing Powers of Cinnamon

Cinnamon is not just an ordinary spice in your kitchen, it has great potential healing powers too. It could relieve indigestion, controls blood sugar of those who are suffering from type II diabetes, fights against tooth decay and gum problems, it could protect against urinary tract infections (UTI), ward off vaginal yeast infections, and reduce pain with connection to arthritis. Chinese herbalists even advice  it to be taken by those who suffer from fever, diarrhea and menstrual problems.

To those who are suffering from diabetes, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) researchers and Malmo University Hospital researchers in Sweden led by Joanna Hlebowicz showed that cinnamon may help control blood sugar level. Dr. James Duke, PhD., the author of he CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs said that 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon per meal could help a lot diabetic patients in lowering their sugar level. So, why not open this up to your doctor for you to try it?

Scientist proves that cinnamon could kill bacteria that causes tooth decay and gum problems. And, that cinnamon herb supresses Escherichia coli (E. coli) that usually causes urinary tract infection and Candida albicans (C. albicans) that is responsible for vaginal yeast infection.

I really love cinnamon rolls and cinnamon bread even before I knew the health benefits of cinnamon. And, I love it even more since the day I knew it’s value to my health.

How to Deal With Stress

Today, let us talk on how to deal with stress. Everyday we face stressful situations at different levels. Women are more prone to suffer from bad effects of stress than men. Stress either emotional or due to stress at work could make women more susceptible to hormonal imbalance, infection, and other health problems. But, it does not mean that men are excuse and will not continue to read. Stress affects everybody from newborn baby to old people regardless of gender.

Daily exercise, meditation, listening to soft music, yoga, reading self help books especially about positive mental attitude, body massage, or simply taking a bath and other relaxation techniques you know helps a lot in reducing the stress you feel, thus, could keep you away from health problems triggered by stress. Unwinding by going to the beach or going to rural or mountainous areas to appreciate the nature helps a lot too against piling up of daily stress that may result to health problems.

How to Avoid from Acquiring Vaginitis

Vaginitis is an infection or inflammation of vulva-vaginal area. What causes vaginitis? Normally, genito-urinary system are thrived by microorganisms, change in pH (acidity or alkalinity) may cause these microorganisms of normal flora to become infectious. Aside from that, vaginitis could also be caused by germs transferred from rectum or carried by male sexual partner and been transmitted through sexual contact. Low immune system due to lack of sleep, stress and poor diet may also trigger vaginitis. What are the symptoms of vaginitis? Itching or burning sensation of vulva, abnormal discharge and desire to void frequently are the usual symptoms.

How can you avoid vaginitis? As they say, “cleanliness is next to Godliness”, we need to be clean always. Try to use non-soap cleansers in washing the vaginal area and avoid use of other people’s towel. Spray, soaps, and talcum powder is not necessary, better eradicate it because it could only trigger vaginosis due to change in pH of the vaginal area. Wear cotton underpants to allow air circulation not those that are made of synthetic material because it could retain moisture that may enhance multiplication of microorganisms on vaginal area. Too tight pants is not good too. Coffee, alcohol, sugar and refined carbohydrates has great effect on vaginal pH too so better have limitation on taking these foods.

Boost your immune system and maintain cleanliness, these are the keys to fight against vaginosis. Douch is also good when it is done occassionally to thoroughly clean the vaginal area.

Strengthen Your Immune System

Be aware! Strengthen your immune system. You might be transmitted by non-seasonal viral or bacterial infection like respiratory tract infections such as tonsillitis, bronchitis and pneumonia. Its manifestations? Cough, colds, sore throat, mucous production and fever. You can get those respiratory tract infections through droplet inhalation like Influenza A (H1N1).

If you suffered the symptoms I mentioned above, you need to rest, a bed rest, and increase your fluid intake. Mucolytic, decongestant and paracetamol medications are sometimes necessary for you to feel better. And, doctor may prescribe you an antibiotic in case you are suffering from bacterial infection. So, if symptoms persist after 24 hours of rest, better go to your doctor.

They say that prevention is better than cure. And, how can you prevent from getting infected from respiratory tract infections and other illnesses? Strengthen your immune system by taking nutritious foods, particularly plant foods such as fruits and vegetables. Having time for exercise everyday and good night sleep matters too in strengthening your immune system. And, as much as possible avoid  crowded places.

The Easiest Way to Weaken Your Immune System

It is so easy to weaken an immune system if you really want to. Exposing yourself to harmful chemicals like tobacco smoke, let the stress of life engulf you, or expose yourself to pollution are some of the ways to weaken your immune system. But, did you know that the easiest way to weaken your immune system is in a sweet way? Lots of people did not know that they are doing it and ask themselves why it is so easy for them to acquire an infection.

From yesterday’s post on How Your Lymphocytes Protects Your Body from Harmful Invaders, we tackled how important are the functions of the white blood cells or WBCs in our body. Neutrophils are part of the WBC team or the white blood cells team that defends our body from harmful invaders. They are responsible when there is a bacterial invasion or bacterial infection. They multiply themselves, attacks, and engulf the bacteria. Thus, if someone is suffering from bacterial infection their total white blood cells count are high compared to the normal white blood cells count or WBC count, so as the neutrophils count (from differential counting of white blood cells).

So, what is the connection between neutrophils activity and the “sweets”? Study showed that 10 teaspoons of white sugar could lessen the neutrophil activity by 50 percent for about 5 hours. And, consuming 30 teaspoons of white sugar or an equivalent sweets could completely stop and loss neutrophils’ activity to engulf bacteria. A can of soft drink is equivalent to 10 teaspoons of sugar. How many cans of soft drinks and, or other sweetened drinks you usually take everyday? How about other sweets like cake, chocolate bars, candies and other sweet desserts?

Better lessen sweet food and drinks if you really love your health not just to strengthen your immune system but  to keep yourself away from diabetes mellitus as well.