Foods to Eat to get a Good Night Sleep!

Another article we wanted to share from eHealthforum.com I am always looking for a better way to get a good night sleep!  We hope you will find the information informative!

People who are experiencing difficulty getting to sleep or sinking into a deep and restful sleep might wonder about foods that will increase the quality of their slumber. There are a number of foods that can help improve sleep. Learning about some of the common foods that can have a healthy impact on sleep cycles can help individuals feel more rested and energized, and achieve greater vitality through an improved diet.

A common nutritional element in many "sleep-enhancing" foods is tryptophan, a naturally-occurring essential amino acid that works with the melatonin in the body and can induce sleep. Several different foods contain this amino acid. People who enjoy a large holiday feast that includes roast turkey may experience a feeling of sleepiness after their meal. This is due, in part, to the tryptophan in the turkey.

Tryptophan can be found in a number of other animal-based foods, including eggs and other dairy products. Eating eggs, in various cooked forms, can produce the relaxing effects of tryptophan. Other dairy products that include this sleep-supporting amino acid include milk and cheese.

A wide variety of vegan foods also support healthy sleep patterns. These include whole grains like brown rice or quinoa. Beans or legumes are high in B vitamins, which promote sleep and relaxation. Nuts are another food that can improve the quality of a person's sleep, as well as providing handy alternatives for protein rich snacks that are nonperishable and can be taken anywhere.

Sunflower seeds and similar foods also promote healthy sleep. Some soy products can accomplish the same goal, such as certain types of soy milk.

For more information about foods that promote relaxation and overall wellness, visit our Nutrition forum.
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We wanted to share an interesting article we came across.  Cadmium in our soil? 

Jeremy.Moore@aacr.org
215-446-7109
American Association for Cancer Research 

Dietary cadmium may be linked with breast cancer risk

PHILADELPHIA — Dietary cadmium, a toxic metal widely dispersed in the environment and found in many farm fertilizers, may lead to an increased risk of breast cancer, according to a study published in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Cadmium occurs at low concentrations naturally, but scientists are concerned because contamination of farmland mainly due to atmospheric deposition and use of fertilizers leads to higher uptake in plants.

"Because of a high accumulation in agricultural crops, the main sources of dietary cadmium are bread and other cereals, potatoes, root crops and vegetables," said Agneta Åkesson, Ph.D., associate professor at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. "In general, these foods are also considered healthy."

For the current study, Åkesson and colleagues observed 55,987 women for more than 12 years. They estimated the dietary cadmium exposure using a food frequency questionnaire. During the follow-up period, researchers observed 2,112 incidences of breast cancer including 1,626 estrogen receptor-positive and 290 estrogen receptor-negative cases.

Cadmium consumption was divided into three groups with the highest levels of exposure compared with the lowest. Overall, a higher exposure to cadmium via diet was linked with a 21 percent increase in breast cancer. Among lean and normal weight women, the increased risk was 27 percent.

Both estrogen receptor-positive and negative tumors had the same risk increase at roughly 23 percent. Åkesson said that women who consumed higher amounts of whole grain and vegetables had a lower risk of breast cancer compared to women exposed to dietary cadmium through other foods.

"It's possible that this healthy diet to some extent can counteract the negative effect of cadmium, but our findings need to be confirmed with further studies," said Åkesson. "It is, however, important that the exposure to cadmium from all food is low."

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About the AACR

Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world's first and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent and cure cancer. AACR's membership includes 34,000 laboratory, translational and clinical researchers; population scientists; other health care professionals; and cancer advocates residing in more than 90 countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise of the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer through more than 20 conferences and educational workshops, the largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting with more than 18,000 attendees. In addition, the AACR publishes seven peer-reviewed scientific journals and a magazine for cancer survivors, patients and their caregivers. The AACR funds meritorious research directly as well as in cooperation with numerous organizations. As the Scientific Partner of Stand Up To Cancer, the AACR provides expert peer review and scientific oversight of individual and team science grants in cancer research. The AACR actively communicates with legislators and policymakers about the value of cancer research and of related biomedical science in saving lives from cancer.

For more information about the AACR, visit www.AACR.org.

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Testimonial from a Man Suffering from Psoriasis

Wanted to share this testimonial:

"I suffer severely from Psoriasis on my legs.  As a pool service technician "Poolman" here in Los Angeles, my legs are always exposed to harsh chemicals and the skin cracks on my legs were so bad you could see all the way to the bone in some areas.  I had spent thousands of dollars on various laser and other treatments from my Doctor but nothing worked.  A housewife for one of the pools I clean gave me a tube of Burn B Gone and told me to apply it 3 times per day, after only 7 or 8 days the deep cracks sealed and then healed, it was incredible!  I have used it ever since for the last 2 years with great success, Thank you Burn B Gone!"
-Jim Sanchez, Los Angeles, CA

Let us know how we can help.  Click here to order 

Exercise Tips for People with Type 2 Diabetes

We thought we would share this article found at ehealthforum.com.  We hope you enjoy it! 

In most cases, people with Type 2 diabetes may safely exercise. In addition to taking medication to regulate insulin and following a special diet, exercise can improve the patient's condition by lowering the blood sugar. Typically, people with Type 2 diabetes are not used to exercising, so it's safest to begin exercising with approval from your doctor. It is also best to start with an easy workout plan.

Choosing a Workout Plan

A patient with diabetes should talk to a personal trainer and choose an easier workout plan to begin with. The type of workout may vary according to a patient's preferences: some may choose yoga, while others may opt for brisk walking or swimming. The tempo or pace of the workout should be slow to moderate. Also, it is advisable that the patient is monitoring blood sugar levels and overall condition to ensure that the body reacts well to the workout.

 30 Minute Workout

The amount of time spent exercising per day should be at least 30 minutes to ensure that the patient sees some results with improved fitness and lowers his blood glucose. As the patient becomes more fit and gets used to the workout routine, the time may be extended to 40 or 60 minutes per day.

Increase Activity

In addition to beginning a workout plan to improve fitness or lose weight, the Type 2 diabetes patient should also focus on being more active throughout the day and take advantage of any opportunity to move. For instance, the patient might use the stairs instead of the elevator and try to walk instead of using the car for shorter distances.

For more tips for managing diabetes, visit our Diabetes forum.

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Ways to Avoid Getting Sick this Cold & Flu Season!!

Since cold and flu season is upon us I thought I would share an article I received from ehealthyforum.com. 

With the onset of winter weather, the cold and flu season also begins. Spending more time inside increases germ exposure and person-to-person transmission of common winter illnesses.

There are many factors that weaken your body's natural defense or immune system. It is important to work at keeping your immune system functioning at its optimum level. While preventing illness is not a guarantee, here a few ways to avoid some germ exposure in the fight to keep yourself healthy this winter:

Ways to Stay Healthy

• First and foremost, avoid being around sick people.

• Get vaccinated against the flu. Early in the season is optimum because it takes three weeks to establish immunity, but anytime is helpful.

• Wash your hands frequently; soap and water with a full 15 seconds of friction is the best way. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer is effective and an easy defense to carry along with you.

• Get enough sleep, at least six hours but preferably closer to eight hours a night.

• Eat a balanced diet, rich in vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables. Vitamin supplements are a good back-up, but natural vitamins in your diet are the best choice.

• Stay hydrated by drinking six to eight glasses of water a day, everyday.

• Get enough exercise, go for a walk, or workout at the gym at least three times a week.

• Keep your stress level under control. Take a deep breath and think things through before reacting to them. Sign up for a yoga class if you need help controlling your stress level.

• Sneeze or cough into the crook of your bent elbow. This keeps germs off of your hands and also avoids spreading them through the air. Ask others around you to do the same.

• Clean contaminated surfaces, especially in the bathroom and food preparation surfaces in the kitchen, regularly with a disinfecting wipe. 

Be proactive about your preventive health. A little extra caution and awareness can help you to avoid getting sick this winter.

For more information about staying healthy, visit our Cold, Flu and Viral Infections forum.

Pressure Ulcers: How to Care for Them...

I found this article on www.howtocare.com a great resource for home healthcare professionals or family and friends taking on the care of a loved one. 

Pressure Ulcers or bed sores are painful skin ulcers that form when constant pressure on a part of the body shuts down the blood vessels feeding that area of skin. The resulting damage first appears on the skin surface as a red or dark patch. As the pressure sore progresses, the skin will break down to form blisters, dead skin, and ultimately infect underlying tissues, bones and joints. As little as two hours of sustained pressure will trigger skin damage. Skin damage can also be exacerbated by friction and moisture. The surface damage is just the tip of the iceberg; the real damage lies beneath the skin.

In the early stages, pressure sores can be treated at home by relieving the pressure, cleaning the sores and applying the appropriate dressing. In the later stages of severity, professional medical treatment, possibly, surgery, will be necessary. Pressure sores are especially prevalent on the lower back and buttocks, and on bony protruding areas, such as shoulders, hips, knees, heels and ankles. People who are bed-bound or in wheelchairs are particularly susceptible.

Things You Should Know

Pressure ulcers

• are caused by pressure, friction and moisture
• prolong the amount of time a person spends in the hospital
• increase risk of infection
• increase mortality
• represent an extra $10,000 a year in medical and nursing care costs, per person

Risk Factors for Pressure Sores

• age
• immobility
• incontinence
• malnutrition and dehydration
• diseases and disorders that slow healing or lessen mental awareness
• diseases and disorders such as confusion or dementia that lessen mental awareness and may prevent a person from feeling the discomfort of a harmful body position
• medications, particularly sedatives

Things to Look For

Warning signs of pressure ulcers

• discoloured, torn or swollen skin, especially over bony areas
• signs of infection — skin warmth, swelling, odour, pus
• Seek professional care & treatment immediately for sores that are getting worse, not

healing or showing signs of infection.

Four stages of severity of pressure ulcers  

1. reddened or darkened skin that will not turn white when firmly pressed
2. partial skin loss that may appear as an abrasion, blister or shallow crater
3. full skin loss extending to underlying tissue
4. full skin loss extending beyond the underlying tissue to muscle and bone

If a stage 2 -4 ulcer develops there is a product on the market that will heal the wound quickly without painful debridement.  Check out www.newmedisolutions.com DermaWound is an amazing product.  It works! 

Arsenic found in infant formula, cereal bars, 'energy shots'...

I found this very interesting article in Healthcare Purchasing News.  Sometimes I think we feel if a label reads 'Organic' nothing can be wrong with it...

Arsenic found in infant formula, cereal bars, 'energy shots' Last month, tests by Consumer Reports revealed significant levels of inorganic arsenic - a carcinogen - in about 10 percent of test samples of apple and grape juices commonly given to young children. Dartmouth College researchers are reporting similarly worrisome levels of arsenic in infant formula and cereal bars, as well as energy bars and "energy shots" marketed for adults. The apparent culprit: organic brown rice syrup, commonly used as a sweetener in place of high-fructose corn syrup. The study's authors stressed that babies "are especially vulnerable to arsenic's toxic effects," and urged them to check formula ingredients. Citing an article by the Dartmouth researchers published in the peer-reviewed Environmental Health Perspectives, Consumer Reports says: Two of 17 infant formulas tested listed organic brown rice syrup as the primary ingredient. One had a total arsenic concentration that was six times the federal limit of 10 parts per billion (ppb) for total arsenic in bottled or public drinking water. This is particularly worrisome for babies because they are especially vulnerable to arsenic's toxic effects due to their small size and the corresponding arsenic consumption per pound of body weight. Twenty-two of 29 cereal bars or energy bars tested listed at least one of these four rice products-organic brown rice syrup, rice flour, rice grain or rice flakes - among the top five ingredients. The seven other bars were among the lowest in total arsenic, ranging from 8 to 27 ppb, while those containing syrup or other forms of rice ranged from 23 to 128 ppb. Tests of high-energy products known as "energy shots" that are used by endurance athletes and others showed that one of the three gel-like blocks contained 84 ppb of total arsenic, while the other two contained 171 ppb. Previous Dartmouth studies, as well as other research, have suggested "that many people in the U.S. may be exposed to potentially harmful levels of arsenic through consumption of rice," Consumer Reports says. "Rice is among the plants that are unusually efficient at taking up arsenic from the soil, and much of the rice produced in the U.S. is grown on land formerly used to grow cotton, where arsenical pesticides were widely used for many years, just as they were in orchards and vineyards." In an email, CR quoted advice from Brian Jackson, lead author of the new study and a member of Dartmouth's Superfund Research Program: "In the absence of regulations for levels of arsenic in food, I would certainly advise parents who are concerned about their children's exposure to arsenic not to feed them formula where brown rice syrup is the main ingredient." It says Jackson noted "that infant formulas containing added rice starch did not appear to be a concern in terms of elevated arsenic." CR says organic-farming methods offer no protection if the soil bears natural arsenic or arsenic from earlier contamination.  "That's because the rice takes up natural arsenic from the soil and when the rice is used to make brown rice syrup, much of that arsenic ends up there," Jackson told CR, published by Consumers Union. Visit the Philadelphia Inquirer for the article.