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.

How Your Lymphocytes Protects Your Body from Harmful Invaders

Do you have any idea what lymphocytes are and its significant functions in our body? Our immune system  have highly trained personnel called the white blood cells team that is always ready to defend our body from unseen enemies. Lymphocytes are part of the white blood cells team or the WBC team , the defenders of our body.

Every country has a defense system, we have the police, air force, army and navy that protects us from harmful people. Our body has defense system too, it is called the immune system. Immune system’s white blood cells team or WBC team have lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils and basophils.

Every second in our lives viruses, bacteria, fungi and cancer cells gives their best shot to invade our body through any possible entries like the mouth, nose, eyes and skin. They could take advantage when our energy level, health or alertness are weaken. Stress, pollutants and harmful chemicals are known harmful elements that we usually interact to everyday that could weaken our health.

Today, we will be talking about the lymphocytes team and their functions. This group of white blood cells consist of T lymphocytes or T cells, killer cells, natural killer cells or NK cells and B lymphocytes or B cells. Lyymphocytes are assigned on the first line of defense, they keep an eye for the first sign of invasion and are always ready to take an action if ever they encounter an enemy.

Natural killer cells or NK cells are the watchdogs of the team. No single second of your life that there is no NK cells that guards your health from harmful invaders. They have no capacity to stop the invasion (infection) but they can attack the invaders and send message to other lymphocytes of the said invasion (infection).

T lymphocytes or T cells are responsible for identification of the invaders. They could easily identify if it is a group of viruses, bacteria, fungi or cancer cells. T cells gives specific command to Killer Cells to exterminate the invaders. If killer cells fails to do their job, B lymphocytes or B cells would be responsible for the destruction of the harmful invaders.

Lymphocytes are so tiny that could only be seen under the microscope plays a big role on your health. Now that you know how your lymphocytes protects you and your family health from harmful invaders, hope you will help them strengthen your body defense system, the immune system, by following healthy lifestyle.

What Everybody Ought to Know About Antibiotics

The first thing you should know about antibiotics is that it is  not an all cure drug for an infection. It is only effective against bacteria but ineffective against viral and fungal infections. Did you know that approximately 90 percent of infections are due to viruses? Antibiotics could not even slow down the viruses or reduce the symptoms so, it is better not to take a pill of antibiotic unless your doctor prescribed it.

Our body instantly produces antibodies that could fight against the usual cause of an infection, the viruses. So, better take home remedies  or give medicines that could relieve the symptom of illness than instantly taking a pill of antibiotic without doctors prescription to relieve the symptoms of an infection like cough, colds and diarrhea.

Antibiotics’ worst side effect is it could eliminate the protective good bacteria and replace them with bacteria resistant to antibiotics. So, better not take an antibiotic without doctor’s prescription. Home remedies and medicines to relieve symptoms is of great help (first aide) to lessen the symptoms of illness but it does not relieve the true illness. So, better consult your doctor if symptom persist.

Did you know that approximately 8 percent of adult population now are allergic to penicillin? And, what is the reason behind this? Penicillin is one of the most abused antibiotics. Repeated intake of antibiotic could cause allergic reaction.

I met lots of people who became resistant to certain antibiotics because of not following their doctor’s order to when or how often to take the prescribed antibiotics and to how many days they should take those prescribed drugs. Their samples like blood, sputum, urine and wound discharge are need to be cultured first to check the sensitivity and, or resistance of the possible antibiotics to be prescribe to them.

Why wait to experience the side effects of taking antibiotics before you will learn? Hope you share this piece of information to others if you care for their health.

How Disease Spread

Spread of disease is one of our main concern especially now that numbers of Influenza A (H1N1) infected people are multiplying everyday so, today we will be talking about how disease spread.

Spread of disease through contact transmission are classified into two the direct contact and indirect contact. Many infections are transmitted to others through direct contact. People who do patient care activities and those who have personal contact with the patient are the people who are high risk for direct contact infection. Examples of infectious diseases that are spread this way are boils, abscess, fungal infections and sexually transmitted diseases.

Spread of disease through indirect contact transmission are much more harder to avoid. Many objects especially those that are use by many people like doorknobs and telephones are generally assumed that contains bacteria and viruses from droplets of infected nose and throat. Intestinal infection could be transmitted through contaminated food handled by infected person. Everything on the toilet, not just the toilet tools, could be a source of intestinal infection, coins and currency, doorknobs, and other things that are touched by many people could be source for spread of disease.

Spread of disease could also be through airborne transmission. Droplets from infected individual may evaporate to the air and stay there for some time or go with dusts until inhaled by susceptible people, usually those with low immune system are the one that are infected. Examples of infections for this kind of spread of disease are Influenza A (H1N1) and other flu and, pulmonary tuberculosis.