Best Fruits for Weight Loss

Fruit is a natural and healthy food. Full of vitamins and minerals fruit is an excellent choice  Best Fruits for Weight Lossto include in any diet aimed at weight loss. Weight loss can be obtained by reducing the body’s calorie intake or by causing the body to burn up calories. The best way is a sensible combination; diet and exercise.

Fruits have a high fibre content that helps digestion and will make you feel fuller much longer. This helps you in cutting down in the quantity of food you will want to eat. Fruits are generally low in calories. These calories are in the form of fructose, an easily absorbed sugar that can be quickly burned up with some exercise. There are several fruits that are considered particularly helpful in weight loss diets.

Apples; like most fruits these have high fibre content. Easy to eat and available all year round, the apple makes a good filler food.

Grapefruit; not only is the grapefruit low in calories; it also has a fat burning effect. Regular consumption of grapefruit or grapefruit juice lowers the body’s insulin level and helps with weight loss.

Cantaloupe or Honeydew melons; a fruit with a high water content and low fat content, melons are rich in vitamins, phytochemicals and anti-oxidants.

Pears; one of the fruits with the highest fibre content, the pear’s gritty fibres will act against growths in the colon. Pears also have a cholesterol lowering effect.

Apricots; these are low calorie fruits, that are tasty either fresh or dried, and aid the immune system. Apricots are a good source of carotene.

Avocados; this fruit is packed with vitamins. Although an avocado has a higher calorific value in comparison to other fruits, it has lots of monosaturated fats that lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. This is helpful in weight loss diets.

Pomegranates; these are another fruit, high in anti oxidants, found to be good at reducing the retention of LDL cholesterol.

Blueberries; a fruit considered to be a super food due to the amount of health benefits that it proportions.

A successful diet should be well planned and followed through. Fresh fruit is an effective food, not only in losing weight through a low calorie, high fibre diet, but also in maintaining that weight loss.

.

Food & Diets , , ,

Health Benefits Of Fasting Every Other Day

In recent years the concept of fasting every other day for improved health and weight loss is growing in popularity. Researchers found that fasting and calorie reduction diets

Health Benefits Of Fasting Every Other Day

During a fast, you should drink plenty of water

have a benefit to health. Some of the many conditions that may be improved by fasting include heart health, brain function, increased lifespan and the risk of chronic disease is decreased.
There are many types of intermittent fasting diets; some people choose to fast one day a week, while others choose to fast once a fortnight or a couple of times a month. Every other day fasting may be more demanding than other types but it has many benefits.
Perhaps the main benefit of every other day fasting is the speed of weight loss that occurs. Every other day fasters can lose up to around 20lbs in a month. Every other day fasting also gives your digestive system a much-needed rest and you will notice increased energy levels. This type of fasting allows for your body to detox and cleanse, and most fasters report they have greater mental clarity. Every other day fasting can also help you heal emotional patterns where you seem to be stuck.
Researchers also found occasional fasting boosts the growth of certain cells particularly neurons. If you think about it from nature’s point of view, this makes sense because if food was scarce, natural selection would choose those who had the best memories, in order to remember where food was found previously, and work out ways to obtain it again.

Food & Diets ,

Radiation Therapy To Fight Breast Cancer

radiation therapyWhen breast cancer is found in the body, a number of different treatments will often be used to fight the disease, depending on the stage which the cancer is in. One of the strongest forms of treatment may include radiation therapy.

Radiation therapy uses different types of radiation to attack the cancer cells in the body, hoping to either kill them or prevent them from growing.

External radiation therapy will use a machine outside of the body to send radiation toward the breast cancer. These are high-energy x-rays which will attack the cancer cells in the attempt to eradicate them from the body.

Internal radiation therapy will use radioactive substances and place it inside of the body, close to the cancer. These substances can be sealed into needles, catheters, or seeds that are injected directly into the body.

It will then give off the radiation directly next to the source of the breast cancer in an attempt to kill it.

The type of radiation treatment which is used will depend largely on how advanced the breast cancer in the body is. The further along it has developed, the less time there is to fight it and more aggressive treatments are a necessity.

Women's Health

Changes Needed to Update Orthopedic Education

There is a lack of urgency in traditional orthopedic residency training to address changes needed to
deal with challenges, including the explosion of knowledge in the field, work-hour restrictions, and the limited
supply of new trainees relative to growth in demand, according to an article in the Jan. 1 issue of the Journal of
Bone & Joint Surgery.

Medicine & Ailments

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome – Benign But Invasive

birth control pillPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder of endocrine that affects nearly 5% of all women.

It is the most common hormonal disorder among women from all nationalities and races who are at their reproductive age.

If a woman has irregular periods that come every few months, excess growing hair on face and other parts of the body (called hirsutism), acne, weight gain and patches of dark skin (called acanthuses nigricans), then it is time for alarm clock to ring.

Women who have PCOS are at risk for so many additional problems like endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer also named the cancer of uterine lining.

It can be the reason for insulin resistance and can cause type two diabetes. This problem comes with high blood pressure and frequent cardiovascular disease causing strokes.

Dyslipidemia, a disorder of lipid metabolism causing high cholesterol and increased triglycerides levels can turn into weight gain.

The worst consequence of these benign tumors is the miscarriage and the thyroid’s malfunction.

Maybe the most common fear of the women is that this disorder causes infertility. Women with PCOS have a normal uterus and healthy eggs, so the chance of getting pregnancy is high.

However, talking with a doctor and following the instructions carefully before and after treatment may maintain the high percentage of fertility.

Although the symptoms and severity of symptoms differ among women, the main features of this disorder are obesity, irregular ovulation, acne and excessive amounts of androgenic hormones.

The treatment of PCOS is related to the patient’s goals and can be categorized as four main parts. They are lowering of insulin levels, restoration of fertility, treatment of hirsutism or acne and restoration of regular menstruation, prevention of endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer.

Every area listed above has a considerable optimal treatment. Unfortunately, there are few clinical trials about this treatment. Thus, this situation makes the results more reliable.

There is medication treatment for this problem and an effective monitoring and treatment can prevent the escalation into a more severe condition and can even offer the chance to live a normal life and even become a mother.

The most common treatment of PCOS is taking a birth control pill. This pill corrects the hormone imbalance, lowers the level of testosterone, regulates menstrual periods, lowers the risk of endometrial cancer and prevents an unplanned pregnancy.

Knowing the risks of the syndrome, evaluating the dos and avoiding the don’ts will ease the treatment process as well as improve the health.


Women's Health

Skin Preparations Decrease Risk of Surgical-Site Infections

Simple preoperative skin preparations may significantly reduce the risk of surgical-site infections,
according to two studies in the Jan. 7 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Medicine & Ailments

Pancreas Pain: What Causes It?

back painAs we know, pancreas is the organ of the body that is a crucial cog in the digestive system and it is this that regulates sugar levels of the body.

Pancreas pain can be the indication of a several major problems and can manifest itself in chronic back pain.

Pancreas pain can be caused by one of different conditions, such as Pancreatitis, which is inflammation of the pancreas or a tumor in the Pancreas.

Pancreatitis is the most common cause of pancreas pain and it may be either chronic or acute; in either case the damage that it can cause can be fairly extensive and bleeding, infection, and permanent tissue damage can result from it.

Pancreas pain usually manifests itself with either a sharp, sudden or gradual pain in the upper abdomen, which can extend through to the back. The worst of the pancreas pain is usually observed when a person has just eaten.

The pain could be quite severe and the duration may extend for several days. The pain is usually severe enough to require immediate medical attention.

Pancreas pain that is caused by Pancreatitis [Pancretaic cancer] could also have other symptoms such as a swollen or tender abdomen, fever, an elevated pulse and/or feelings of nausea and vomiting.

There also can be added complications such as low blood pressure and dehydration that a person may suffer as a consequence of pancreatitis and then there can be other consequences such as organ failure.

The heart, lungs and kidneys could, as a consequence of pancreatitis, collapse and fail. If there is bleeding in the pancreas, a person may even die and so pancreas pain is never a condition to be ignored.

Pancreas pain and its causes are commonly difficult to diagnose and pinpoint since the pancreas is located very deep within the body; i.e. not close to the surface.

However one of the main ways in which pancreatic problems can be identified and diagnosed is by a blood analysis. When the pancreas is affected by acute pancreatitis, the levels of certain enzymes found in the blood such as lipase and amylase are 300% of what is considered normal.

Levels of other minerals in the body such as sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, glucose, may also be altered with may alert the physician that there may be problems associated with pancreas pain. Various tests may be required to isolate the causes of pancreas pain before effective treatment is prescribed.


Women's Health

December 2009 Briefing – Orthopedics

Medicine & Ailments

Diagnosing Breast Cancer Can Be The Most Important Step

mammogramCatching breast cancer in its earliest stages is one of the most important things you can do to help save yourself from fatal consequences.

Performing breast examinations on yourself frequently is the first thing that you need to do in order to watch for signs of breast cancer.

If a lump or anything out of the ordinary is found, you need to visit the doctor immediately.

They will perform a number of different tests to see what the abnormality is caused by and what can be done to fix the problem.

A mammogram may be the most common procedure to perform. This is basically an x-ray of the breast to determine what is inside.

If a lump is found, the doctor may perform a biopsy. This is where they will take either a section of a lump or the entire thing to examine the cells under a microscope to determine the nature of those cells and if they might be breast cancer.

An estrogen receptor test will determine how the breast cancer cells will react to an increased level of estrogen being introduced into the body. This can determine if hormone therapy will be enough.

Finally, an MRI may be performed to perform a look at the entire body to determine the state of health it is in. From here, breast cancer treatments can be decided upon.


Women's Health

Scans Identify Common Injuries After Earthquake

Multiple fractures and lung injuries were common in victims of a major earthquake in China who
suffered crush thoracic trauma, according to research published in the January issue of Radiology.

Medicine & Ailments

Therapy Found Ineffective for Chronic Low Back Pain

Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation is not recommended for treating chronic low back pain,
though it appears effective in treating the pain of diabetic peripheral neuropathy, according to an American
Academy of Neurology guideline published online Dec. 30 in Neurology.

Medicine & Ailments

7 Warning Signs Of Breast Cancer That You Should Watch Out For

coughAs most of us know, breast cancer, if detected in time, can help us to arrest the spread and help control the disease.

Paying attention to warning signs of breast cancer can actually help in detecting the deadly condition and consequently help in saving lives.

Being one of the most common and wide spread cancers in the world, it is important for women to be aware of the warning signs of breast cancer that will help in early detection, which are as follows:

A lump or a thickening of any area of the breast or underarm: There are several physically palpable changes that women may experience through their menstrual cycle.

However if there is an unusual lump or growth that a woman can feel regardless of the time of month, this could be a warning sign of breast cancer.

Any change in the feel of breast: If one finds that there is a change in the shape of feel of the breast, which is either palpable or visible, then this may well be a sign of breast cancer. Any change in the size, shape, or contour of the breast should not be ignored.

Pain: Sometimes pain maybe the indicator that something is wrong, even if other signs of breast cancer do not manifest themselves. Any unusual and persistent or long lasting pain in the breast or armpit area should be looked at more closely.

Nipple Discharge: Any nipple discharge such as a clear fluid or blood could be a warning sign of breast cancer, so any nipple discharge other than milk, in fact any unusual bleeding or discharge ought to be considered seriously.

Change in appearance of the breast: If the skin of the breast area appears rough and scaly, if there is puckering or dimpling of the skin, if there is some redness or irritation, or if there is a pulling in of the nipple, these could be early symptoms of breast cancer which should be examined.

Changes in Bowel Movements: Constipation, diarrhea or other changes in bowel habits could be an early sign of breast cancer.

Other signs: If there is a sore that won’t heal right away, or if a woman experiences some difficulty swallowing, if she feels full without eating or without eating a normal meal, a nagging cough, or any changes in the shape and size of any moles or warts on the body, any of these could actually be one of the warning signs of breast cancer.


Women's Health

Ultrasound Detects Shoulder Dislocation After Birth Injury

Ultrasound can be used to detect a posterior shoulder dislocation in infants 3 to 6 months old with a
permanent brachial plexus birth injury, according to a study in the January issue of Radiology.

Medicine & Ailments

Ultrasound-Guided Injection Can Benefit Lateral Hip Pain

In patients with gluteus medius tendinopathy, peritendinous ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection
may be an effective treatment, according to a study published in the January issue of the American Journal of
Roentgenology.

Medicine & Ailments

Causes For Early Miscarriages

stressSome miscarriages happen so early on in a pregnancy that they may occur before a woman has actually even realized that she is pregnant.

However, those pregnancies that are confirmed and then end in miscarriage, are known as early miscarriages; those which take place between conception and the 13th week of pregnancy, or within the first trimester.

Most early miscarriages or pregnancy losses are impossible to prevent and sometimes they are simply nature’s way of correcting an error.

And though the causes of some miscarriages are simply not understood, there are several reasons why early miscarriages do take place.

Age of the mother: There is a definite causal link between a woman’s advanced age and her increased chances of having a miscarriage. Women above the age of 35 are known to have increased chances of suffering a miscarriage.

According to some experts, about half of the pregnancies of women over 40 end in miscarriage.

Chromosomal or Genetic Abnormalities: Chromosomes are what determine our genetic characteristics and when there are abnormalities detected in the chromosomes of a fetus such as in terms of number or structure, this results in a miscarriage.

This is the most common among the reasons for early miscarriage, since more than half the number of early miscarriages takes place due to these chromosomal or genetic abnormalities.

Very often these abnormalities are not passed on from either of the parents, nor do they owe themselves to the parent’s health or their habits; however they do occur, rather like nature’s errors which a miscarriage may be a way of correcting.

Infections & Diseases: some infections and diseases may contribute to rather than become the sole cause of an early miscarriage. Viral infections like cytomegalovirus, bacterial infections like Chlamydia, mycoplasma, ureaplasma, and streptococcus, and even in some cases parasitic infection such as toxoplasmosis may be contributing causes of early miscarriage.

Stress and other disorders: Sometimes a woman, who is under excessive amounts of pressure and stress, may suffer an early miscarriage or pregnancy loss due to stress, and sometimes it could be undetected medical conditions that cause such loss such as diabetes that a woman may not realize she has etc.

Environmental Factors and substance abuse: Substance abuse can cause serious abnormalities in a baby that is carried to term as well as be the cause of early miscarriage.

Similarly women exposed to toxins in other ways or those that have been working in hazardous environments may also find that their chances of suffering miscarriage are increased.


Women's Health