Nutrition. Vitamins. You.
Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, is inflammation in the joints, mainly due to a breakdown of cartilage. Osteoarthritis frequently occurs in the knees, hips, spine, and the fingers. Common medical treatments do not usually improve healing or change the path of this condition. …
Diabetes is a vicious and life-threatening disease. It is a condition where your blood sugar is continuously and seriously elevated (and your triglycerides are also). The excess circulating blood sugar is very destructive inflaming tissues in the heart and circulation, in the eyes, brain, kidneys, …
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has reported roughly one in four women over the age of 65 have osteoporosis of the hip and spine, a painful and debilitating bone disorder. Yet, this disorder only plagues less than 6% of men over the age of 65. The report used data from the 2005-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
Ethel Siris, MD, director of the Osteoporosis Center at the New York Presbyterian-Columbia University Medical Center says the difference of the results between men and women are because, “Men tend to have bigger bones, and they go through different hormonal changes. Compared with men, women suffer a “double-whammy” when it comes to bone strength. They have less bone to lose and menopause’s hormonal shifts further deplete bone density.”
Here are some tips, according to Prevention, on how to practice good bone health:
Get Tested
Usually carried out by a simple X-ray test, a bone mineral density test measures the density of the minerals in your bones (like calcium) and is used to determine your bones strength. Yet, the journal Osteoporosis International reports, “…only a small proportion of older men and women have a BMD (bone mineral density) test.” This test is very important for women and men over the age of 50 who suffer from fractures of the hip, spine, shoulders and wrists, as Prevention advises those may be clear indicators of osteoporosis.
Three important factors in preventing osteoporosis
Siris explains that women over 50 and men over 70 need about 1,200mg of calcium every single day – “You can easily get adequate calcium from your diet, through foods like yogurt and cereal fortified with calcium. But you may also need calcium supplements, which you should discuss with your doctor.”
Vitamin D helps you maintain great bone health by helping the body absorb calcium, aiding in the proper function of your liver and kidneys, and boosts your immune system to be sure it is working at its full potential (USDA). Siris advises taking a vitamin D supplement, as getting enough vitamin D through food and sunlight can be difficult.
Studies have shown exercise to “improve agility, muscle strength and posture”, which in-turn will help reduce your risk of falls and fractures. Siris suggests working out your muscles to relieve some of the pressure from your bones which may slow down the progression of bone loss.
If you have already been diagnosed with osteoporosis, Siris suggests, “Several drug options are well tolerated, inexpensive and effective at reducing your fracture risk. In addition to prescriptions, your doctor may advise you to take a calcium supplement. Of course, calcium, vitamin D and exercise will continue to benefit your bones even if you’re suffering from osteoporosis. Speak with your doctor to work out the best treatment plan for you.”
A new study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research has conducted a telephone survey of adult residents in Canada during 2011 and 2012. Researchers “examined the responses of 3,933 adults aged 18 and above participating in the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s Monitor …
FEATURED IN INVITE® HEALTH’S SUMMER 2015 CATALOG Suddenly, one morning you wake up with a stiff, swollen, and painful joint. You most likely have arthritis. In the United States, more than 50% of individuals over 60 years of age have osteoarthritis, the most common form …
Aloe Vera, a well-known soothing herb, can be traced back to ancient cultures. In fact, this plant has played a major role in natural medicine for over 5,000 years! Aloe Vera is part of the lily family, Liliaceae, alongside garlic and onions, two foods also well-known for their great health benefits.
This soothing herb promotes health-boosting effects from the active constituents it provides – vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, polysaccharides, fatty acids, and more. Altogether, Aloe Vera offers around 200 nutritious ingredients! Most of the Aloe Vera leaf is filled with a clear, gel-type material, made up of around 99% water. When it comes to medicinal use, Aloe Vera can be used either on the skin or ingested in supplement form. Its soothing abilities for the skin may be the most well-known of its many benefits, but there are endless others you may not know about!
Vitamins & Minerals
Aloe Vera naturally contains Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Folic Acid, and Choline. It’s also a wonderful source of B-Vitamins, providing Vitamins B1, B2, B3 (Niacin), B6 and even Vitamin B12, which is found in very few plants. The plant also offers a whopping 20 minerals to help you reach optimal health, including Calcium, Zinc, Magnesium, Selenium, Iron, Potassium and Copper.
Digestive Health
This soothing herb is great for your overall digestive health. It’s known to soothe and cleanse the digestive tract, rid the body of unhealthy bacteria, and keep the healthy bacteria well-balanced. It works as an “adaptogen”, which means it enhances your body’s ability to adapt to external changes in the environment and better fight off infections. It levels out all the organs and systems in your body, adapting to these changes in order to provide whatever health benefits you need. For example, whether you are constipated or have diarrhea, Aloe Vera’s adaptogenic properties will help to even out the digestive process and relieve the issue.
Immune Health
The polysaccharides in Aloe Vera offer a fantastic boost for overall immunity; they stimulate the white blood cells, the cells in your immune system responsible for fighting viruses. Aloe Vera also has great antioxidant benefits, which help your body fight “free radicals”. Free radicals are damaging compounds your body creates naturally as a result of aging, or because of unhealthy lifestyle factors like poor diet, smoking, lack of exercise, etc.
Skin Health
Often used in cosmetics and other skincare products, Aloe Vera is widely known for its soothing effects on the skin. Since it is made up of over 99% water, it’s great for hydrating and smoothing your skin. Aloe Vera is also very effective in healing more harmful skin damage, including burns, cuts and wounds. It may also be used topically for bug bites and sunburns – keep this in mind during the summer months! Aloe Vera acts as an analgesic, or soothing agent for burns, cuts, bites and wounds. It also works as an antipruritic (helps prevent itching) and an astringent (allows body tissue to contract to help stop bleeding).
Fights Infections, Detoxifies the Body, and Reduces Inflammation
Aloe Vera’s health-boosting ingredients include a helpful lineup of substances that increase antimicrobial activity to fight off unhealthy bacteria, viruses and fungal infections. Aloe Vera also helps detoxify your system by absorbing toxins in your intestines when it moves through the digestive system, and it aids in inflammation reduction with ingredients like B-sisterole, which helps slow down the body’s inflammatory response.
Source: Top 12 Benefits of Aloe Vera