What Is Detoxification?

Detoxification

“99 ABC’s of Wellness” Article Credit: The original article 99 ABC’s of Wellness is by Mylene Mendoza-Dayrit, which has appeared on the Philippine Star on January 12, 1999.

Principle #24: Detoxification

“Detoxification is the process of eliminating toxins from our bodies. Therapies used for this purpose include diet, supplementation, exercise and spa treatments. Crucial is intake of enough clean drinking water.” (Excerpt from the original article)

Detoxification is an alternative therapeutic approach to free the body from harmful substances that cause ill effects.

Dieting is one approach to achieve this purpose. Often, toxic substances also come from the food we eat like food with too much cholesterol content or trans fat, artificial flavorings, preservatives, etc. The objective of dieting is to remove these harmful substances by not eating any more of those harmful toxins and let the body remove the remaining toxins naturally. Diet may consist of carbohydrates, fruits, vegetables, natural juices and herbs and non-fat dairy products or oatmeal.

One example of a detox diet plan is the Gerson Therapy. German physician Max Gerson believes that disease is caused by the accumulation of unspecified toxins, and attempts to treat the disease by having patients consume a predominantly vegetarian diet including hourly glasses of organic juice and various dietary supplements (source: wikipedia).

Fasting is one approach that proponents of detoxification promote. However, while it can be effective to some people, it may not be good for all because it may cause harm instead when overdone.

Taking food supplements also help speed up the detoxification of the body. Spirulina for example, has been found to prevent damage caused by toxins affecting the heart, liver, kidneys, neurons, eyes, ovaries, DNA, and testicles (source: wikipedia).

Trace minerals also supports a healthy, energetic body and wards off diseases. It is good for bones, teeth, soft tissue, muscle, blood & nerve cells, & stimulates muscle response, nerve impulse transmission, digestion, metabolism and hormone production. It also functions as co-enzyme and influences all metabolic processes.

Detox therapy also uses water cure. Detox proponents argue that drinking stomach-full of water can clean the bowel. They say that it has various health benefits although initially, it can cause loose bowel movement due to the increase of water intake. However, intake of water in large amount can lead to a rare but harmful case of water intoxication or water poisoning, which is fatal.

We need to be conscious of our health all the time. We need to watch our diet and keep a healthy lifestyle.

Image credit:
http://www.facebook.com/NutritionSolutionLifestyle?ref=ts&fref=ts

Cooking Method Affects Diet

Breaded Fish Fillet c/o Dreamstime.Com

“99 ABC’s of Wellness” Article Credit: The original article 99 ABC’s of Wellness is by Mylene Mendoza-Dayrit, which has appeared on the Philippine Star on January 12, 1999.

Principle #23: The Cooking Method

“The cooking method you use determines your food’s fat content...” (excerpt from the original article)

Many people say that frying is not a very healthy cooking method. It would still be best to boil steam or grill meat instead of frying it in oil.

According to wiki, frying is a method of cooking that dates back to ancient Egypt, which 2,500 years ago. Up to now, fried food is still the most popular method of cooking. Perhaps, people like frying because it is the easiest method of cooking and admittedly, the most delicious to the taste. Who would resist fried chicken?

In an article I have read, it says that - "New York Times" explains that using clean oil at the right temperature and removing the food at the right time before the hissing and sizzling ceases will prevent excess fat -- and calories -- from adhering to your chicken, fish or even Twinkie. The oil you choose can make a big difference as well. Olive oil does not get as hot as other cooking oils, which means you have to leave the food in longer and will up your fat and calorie count. Peanut oil has the highest flash point of comparable cooking oils and will require the least amount of cooking time. One cup of peanut oil has 1,910 calories. Corn and canola oils, both of which have high flash points as well, have 1,980 calories per cup. A cup of lard has 1,849 calories (http://www.livestrong.com/article/504208-how-many-calories-does-frying-add) 

Diet conscious individuals avoid fried dishes. They would opt for steamed fish or grilled meat. However, steamed dishes are bland so people add mayonnaise usually. So, if one fillet of steamed fish has 157 calories and a tablespoon of mayo has 57 calories, you will consume 214 calories already.

One fillet of grilled fish has 123 calories. Well, that’s 34 calories less than a steamed fish. While a fried battered fish has 267 calories. Consuming one fillet of fried battered fish is like eating two fillets of grilled fish! It could be more ‘cause most often, we would add some gravy to it so if you will consume 3 tablespoons of brown gravy, that would add up to 291 calories.

It seems healthier to prepare grilled food than fried but I guess, if you can balance your diet with an active lifestyle, you need not worry about some excess calorie intake. Just burn them and you will still be fat free.

Image above courtesy of:

www.dreamstime.com

Coloring Agents Can Be Hazardous to Health

Pigments

“99 ABC’s of Wellness” Article Credit: The original article 99 ABC’s of Wellness is by Mylene Mendoza-Dayrit, which has appeared on the Philippine Star on January 12, 1999.

Principle #22: Coloring Agents

“Coloring agents can make some innocent grocery and toiletry item cancer-causing. It is better to choose cosmetics and preparations which use natural colors”.

According to US-FDA, “A color additive, as defined by regulation, is any dye, pigment, or other substance that can impart color to a food, drug, or cosmetic or to the human body. Color additives are important components of many products, making them attractive, appealing, appetizing, and informative. Added color serves as a kind of code that allows us to identify products on sight, like candy flavors, medicine dosages, and left or right contact lenses. One of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) roles is to assure that color additives are safely and appropriately used.”

The skin is a very sensitive part of the human body. It flaunts the natural physical beauty of an individual. Once our skin gets damaged, our natural beauty goes with it.

Healthy skin is not just about being beautiful, though. It is part of the total wellness of a person. Fatal infections can enter through the skin and cause even more serious harm inside the body. It is very important that we care for our skin and choose cosmetics that use chemical ingredients like color additives properly.

Image above courtesy of:
http://www.reissviking.com/industries.aspx?industryid=11

The Sting of Pneumonia

WPA poster, 1936/1937 (c/o Wikipedia)

Last February I had a very bad flu with temperature reaching 39 to 40 degrees Celsius. I thought that it was just a common cold and cough so I just took simple over the counter medicines we see on TV commercials. However, to my dismay, they did not give relief.

When my fever died down, I thought I was getting well although the cough persisted and the phlegm seemed to accumulate more and deeper inside my chest. I just thought that it would go away soon.

February 18 was an important day because we would be having a musical play in church, which I wrote. Some of the songs were my composition too and our band would be doing the songs live so I could never skip that event!

The event was a success. However, right after the event, perhaps my adrenalin had somehow died down, I began to feel sick. The cough worsen and I began to have difficulty in breathing. Our pastor and some of the church elders who were still there that night decided to rush me to the nearest hospital. While in the emergency room, I learned from the doctor that I was showing signs of pneumonia infection.

I was confined for 2 days in the hospital and they gave me intravenous antibiotic to fight the infection. Medications continued at home with oral antibiotics, nebulizer and oral expectorant. The cough was so hard that I could not sleep. It seemed to worsen whenever I lie flat on my back.

A few weeks after, I recovered from the illness and in a matter of days, I went back to my usual routine. Again to my shock, after a two to three weeks, I was down with fever again. When I went to my doctor for check up, he said that I had pneumonitis again. It was twice in just two months time! My doctor gave me oral antibiotic, which is stronger than the previous one, antihistamine, liquid expectorant and nebulizer.

The saddest part, my Mom also had pneumonia at the same time and she was hospitalized. I might have transmitted it to her so we had to take medication together. She was confined for two days and received intravenous antibiotic. Thank God she recovered fast.

I realized that pneumonia is vicious and must not be undermined.

Can We Prevent Birth Defects?

This handout photograph released by the National Institute of Child Health (NICH) on April 16, 2012, shows a newly-born child with six legs as he lies in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) ward at a hospital in Karachi. Doctors in Pakistan are fighting to save the life of a baby boy born with six legs because of a rare genetic condition, hospital officials said.AFP PHOTO/NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH (c/o Yahoo!News)

There are bizarre circumstances in life that are hard to explain and understand like birth defects.

When I have seen in Yahoo News this photo of an infant in Pakistan who has been born with six legs, I have felt a sense of sorrow for his condition. Doctors are currently working to find a way to resolve the infant’s physical abnormality through surgery. I do pray that the doctors succeed with the operation so that the baby may have a chance to lead a normal life.

Well, science explains birth defects as structural or developmental abnormalities that are present at childbirth, which cause certain disability. Genetic disorder, chromosomal imbalance or infections during pregnancy are the possible causes of birth defects.

I’m wondering, is there a way of preventing birth defects?

Birth defect prevention is not an easy process as I have learned from some reading around the internet. Health professionals are still in the process of collecting valuable data to come up with a definite and precise answer to this issue.

However, in the website that I have visited, they have found out some vital information that leads to the prevention of birth defects. Allow me to share it here:

• Folic acid is a B vitamin. Taking folic acid supplements before getting pregnant and in early pregnancy lowers the risk of having a baby with serious birth defects of the brain and spine (neural tube defects). For this reason, all women who can become pregnant should take supplements containing 400 micrograms of folic acid every day.
• Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause the baby to be born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs). Pregnant women should not drink alcohol any time during pregnancy.
• Smoking in the month before getting pregnant and throughout pregnancy increases the chance of premature birth, certain birth defects (such as cleft lip, cleft palate, or both), and infant death. Quitting smoking before getting pregnant is best. However, for women who are already pregnant, quitting as early as possible can still help protect against some health problems.
• Women who are obese when they get pregnant have a higher risk of having a baby with serious birth defects of the brain and spine (neural tube defects) and some heart defects. Helping women to reach a healthy weight before they get pregnant could prevent birth defects.
• Poor control of diabetes in pregnant women increases the chance for birth defects, and might cause serious complications for the mother, too. If a woman with diabetes keeps her blood sugar well-controlled before and during pregnancy, she can reduce the chance of having a baby with birth defects.
• Taking certain medications just before or during pregnancy might cause serious birth defects, but the safety of many medications taken by pregnant women has been difficult to determine. If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, you should not stop taking medications you need or begin taking new medications without first talking with your doctor. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medications and dietary or herbal products (http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/research.html)

I feel that this information is important for everyone to know so I am giving this valuable space here on my blog. Together, with proper knowledge, we can all contribute to the process of preventing birth defects by avoiding dangerous factors that may adversely affect pregnancy.

Is Cholesterol All Bad?

“99 ABC’s of Wellness” Article Credit: The original article 99 ABC’s of Wellness is by Mylene Mendoza-Dayrit, which has appeared on the Philippine Star on January 12, 1999.

Principle #21: Is Cholesterol All Bad?

“Cholesterol, the bad type, comes from meat and dairy products. The body produces its own serum of natural cholesterol so there is no need to include it in the diet. The good cholesterol only collects the bad ones and excesses are believed to sometimes turn into bad. Excess serum cholesterol is likewise linked to cancer. Hence, excess of any kind- LDL’s (bad), HDL’s (good), or serum cholesterol – is bad.” (excerpt from the original article)

The normal cholesterol level is between 131-200mg/dl. Beyond 200, one is starting to get into trouble.

Cholesterol is a vital component of our body. In fact, the brain is composed of cholesterol and the human breast milk has significant quantities of cholesterol. “It is an essential structural component of mammalian cell membranes and is required to establish proper membrane permeability and fluidity. In addition, cholesterol is an important component for the manufacture of bile acids, steroid hormones, and vitamin D” (source: wikipedia). The problem begins when the supply of cholesterol in blood becomes excessive. They can clog the arteries and cause them to erupt.

While a good amount of cholesterol in the body is essential to keep its normal function, any excess has potential danger particularly to the heart. It can lead to cardiovascular disease and even stroke.

As we always say, too much is always bad so we need to regulate our fat intake. We need to take care of our bodies to avoid deep complications later on in life.


Image above courtesy of:
en.wikipedia.org

What is Chelation Theraphy?

“99 ABC’s of Wellness” Article Credit: The original article 99 ABC’s of Wellness is by Mylene Mendoza-Dayrit, which has appeared on the Philippine Star on January 12, 1999."

Principle #20: What is Chelation Theraphy?

“Chelation Theraphy is a non-surgical alternative treatment for cardiovascular diseases, gangrene and metal toxicities” (excerpt from the original article)

In recent years, many patients search for alternative medicine for the treatment of various diseases. Many are afraid that certain drugs might cause some serious side effects. In an old newspaper article, I have read about chelation. I must admit that it is something new to me so I have tried to know about it.

“Chelation (pronounced key-LAY-shun) is the use of a chemical substance to bind molecules, such as metals or minerals, and hold them tightly so they can be removed from the body. Chelation has been scientifically proven to remove excess or toxic metals before they can cause damage to the body. It was first used in the 1940's by the Navy to treat lead poisoning… The most common form of chelation therapy uses a man-made amino acid called EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid). EDTA removes heavy metals and minerals from the blood, such as lead, iron, copper, and calcium, and is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating lead poisoning and poisoning from other heavy metals. (source: http://altmedicine.about.com/od/treatmentsfromatod/a/chelation.htm)

How is Chelation Theraphy administered?

EDTA is intravenously injected into the body of a patient through IV fluid. The treatment requires at least 30 sessions. It removes calcium deposits in the arteries, which clogs normal blood flow. If one can avoid surgery with the treatment, it is a very welcome alternative.

Is Chelation Theraphy Safe?

Chelation Theraphy has grown wide acceptance from physicians and alternative medicine professionals in recent years although it remains controversial. Chelation is generally safe particularly in the treatment of metal poisoning just as the excerpt above says. In fact, the use of chelation as a treatment has started during World War I, when gas poisoning has first been used in warfare. Chelation has been used as an antidote to arsenic-based poison gas.

However, there is a strong opposition to it by some doctors saying that the claim of chelation’s effectiveness to cure cardiovascular diseases is false and the studies that back up the claim are not enough.

The promise of Chelation Theraphy is beneficial to many patients who cannot and do not want to undergo surgery. However, patients must understand also the risks involved in any medical treatment that they want to take. See your doctor for proper guidance.

Image courtesy of: http://www.healingdaily.com/oral-chelation/oral-chelation-or-iv-chelation.htm