Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Sorrel could treat certain types of cancer
How to Make Sorrel Drink
Mrs. Gordon said that lung and liver cancer cells were used in the study and different types of cells were treated separately with extracts from garlic (Allium sativum), and the seed and calyx of sorrel (Hibiscus Sabdariffa). Normal cells were also treated with the extracts. The tests were done repeatedly on the samples and the effects observed at various intervals.
The researchers observed that H (liver cancer cells) which were treated with sorrel extracts decreased in vitality and dramatic cell death occurred. She further explained. "We also noticed that when liver cancer cells were treated with extracts from the sorrel seed the result was even quicker and more dramatic." The sorrel extract however had minimal effect on lung cancer cells and normal cells.
When the tests were done with garlic it was observed that garlic extracts had a marked effect on lung cancer cells. The cells lost vitality and overtime most of them died. She said however that garlic took a longer time to affect the cells and had little or no effect on liver cancer cells.
Head of the Department Of Biology, Chemistry and Medical Technology Dr. Paul Gyles who initiated the garlic section of the research said that "these findings meant that NCU had positioned itself to be a contributor to the body of knowledge on cancer research. "This," he added, "is significant for Jamaica. It also sets the stage for further research work such as clinical trials to be done," he told The Gleaner.
The head of The Scientific Research Council (SRC) Dr. Audia Barnett responded to news of the finding saying: "This could be the beginning of something great." She noted that while the results would have to be verified. "The Scientific Research Council stands ready to collaborate in further research because we think sorrel is a winner."
She said the SRC had already established a databank on sorrel. "We are also collaborating with the Department of Chemistry at the University of the West Indies (UWI) on a study to get additional information about the beneficial effect which sorrel might have to human health especially as it operates from a cellular level," she said. The researchers are studying certain chemicals known as anthocyanins which act as antioxidants.
He noted that NCU's findings on sorrel could have implications for sorrel production, for example boosting production. Last year Jamaica produced 841.47 tonnes of sorrel. Clarendon, the main sorrel producer, grew 247.3 tonnes. Jamaica grows three varieties of sorrel, a common variety, which bears in the first and last quarter of the year, a blood red variety which bears all year round and was introduced in the last two years and a white sorrel.
Story from Jamaican Gleaner
Use the power of your mind to save and get others to save with ING Canada. You can earn up to $2000.00
Research at Northern Caribbean University (NCU) in Mandeville shows that sorrel, which is grown in three varieties in Jamaica, could be a treatment or cure for certain types of cancer.
NCU lecturer and cancer researcher, Dr. Juliet Penrod initiated the study in 1998 and later supervised Patrice Gordon who looked at the effects of sorrel and garlic on certain types of cancers for her Masters thesis.
Dr. Penrod told The Gleaner that the idea to study sorrel as a possible treatment for cancer just came to her "out of the blue". She says, "It was when I started to go through the literature that I realized that everything about it was useful, and when I learnt about the nutritional properties of the seed I decided to look at both the seed and the calyx (the outer red section)."
Mrs. Gordon, who is also a lecturer in the Department of Biology Chemistry and Medical Technology at the university, completed her thesis on sorrel last December and presented her findings to members of the University and the public during a Faculty Forum on Tuesday, March 19.
The researchers observed that H (liver cancer cells) which were treated with sorrel extracts decreased in vitality and dramatic cell death occurred. She further explained. "We also noticed that when liver cancer cells were treated with extracts from the sorrel seed the result was even quicker and more dramatic." The sorrel extract however had minimal effect on lung cancer cells and normal cells.
When the tests were done with garlic it was observed that garlic extracts had a marked effect on lung cancer cells. The cells lost vitality and overtime most of them died. She said however that garlic took a longer time to affect the cells and had little or no effect on liver cancer cells.
Head of the Department Of Biology, Chemistry and Medical Technology Dr. Paul Gyles who initiated the garlic section of the research said that "these findings meant that NCU had positioned itself to be a contributor to the body of knowledge on cancer research. "This," he added, "is significant for Jamaica. It also sets the stage for further research work such as clinical trials to be done," he told The Gleaner.
The head of The Scientific Research Council (SRC) Dr. Audia Barnett responded to news of the finding saying: "This could be the beginning of something great." She noted that while the results would have to be verified. "The Scientific Research Council stands ready to collaborate in further research because we think sorrel is a winner."
She said the SRC had already established a databank on sorrel. "We are also collaborating with the Department of Chemistry at the University of the West Indies (UWI) on a study to get additional information about the beneficial effect which sorrel might have to human health especially as it operates from a cellular level," she said. The researchers are studying certain chemicals known as anthocyanins which act as antioxidants.
He noted that NCU's findings on sorrel could have implications for sorrel production, for example boosting production. Last year Jamaica produced 841.47 tonnes of sorrel. Clarendon, the main sorrel producer, grew 247.3 tonnes. Jamaica grows three varieties of sorrel, a common variety, which bears in the first and last quarter of the year, a blood red variety which bears all year round and was introduced in the last two years and a white sorrel.
Story from Jamaican Gleaner
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Monday, December 19, 2011
Use the Placebo effect to lose weight
Three steps to a new you.
by JOHN BRIFFA
Published: December 12, 2011
If you see it, you can do it!
THE BRAIN HAS AN OVERARCHING influence on all bodily actions and processes. From the regulation of the body’s internal environment, to physical actions such as walking, talking, eating and drinking, the brain acts as central HQ. In recent years there has been growing recognition that our thoughts can have a profound influence on how our body functions. Certain emotions, for example aggression and hostility, have been linked with negative effects on the body, including an increased risk of heart disease and impairment of the immune system. But there’s another side to this: certain beliefs and thought processes may positively affect health and well-being.
One of the most startling examples of the power of the mind to influence health is the placebo response. For example, give individuals in pain a dummy pill (placebo) but tell them it’s a painkiller, and a third or more of them will get significant pain-relief from it. The same is true for depressed individuals given dummy pills dressed up as antidepressants. Clearly, the mind has the capacity to induce considerable self-healing – if the mental conditions are right.
Could the same be true for, say, weight loss or fitness? Could a change in thinking have benefits here?
This was the question that was essentially posed in a study published in 2007. In this piece of research, 84 hotel chambermaids were split into two groups. One group was told that their work constituted good exercise and satisfied the official recommendations for maintaining health and fitness. To reinforce this message, the group was given examples of how their work-related activity supposedly constituted decent exercise. The other group, on the other hand, were told nothing.
The women were monitored over a four-week period, during which activity levels stayed the same in the two groups. However, the group who had been told their work constituted good exercise believed they were getting more exercise than before. And, compared to the other group, these women saw a reduction in blood pressure, weight, body fat percentage and waist-to-hip ratio. It seems that these women saw significant improvement in their weight and health, just because they thought they were doing something healthy.
This study shows that the placebo response can be powerful enough to change objective body measurements including weight and levels of body fat.
Can we use this to our advantage? You bet. Here are some simple mental exercises designed to harness the power of the placebo response, and get you in the best frame of mind for fat loss and improved fitness success.
See It
There’s an old adage: ‘What you resist, persists.’ The idea here is that if you tend to focus on the things in your life that you don’t want, then the very act of focusing on them causes them to perpetuate. One quick way to get around this problem is to change your mental tack. Instead of concentrating on, say, not being overweight, put your energy into being slim. Sounds the same? It’s not. Essentially, motivation tends to be stronger if we are moving towards something positive rather than attempting to move away from something negative.
So, instead of getting locked into focusing on those physical attributes that you are not happy with, keep in mind the size and shape of the body you really want to have. If it’s a trimmer waist and a more muscular upper body you want, then that’s the image to keep in mind as you go through the process of change. If you’re looking to be fitter and healthier, then hold that as your ultimate goal.
One thing that can help here is to have real images around you that represent the benefits you’re aiming for, such a picture of you when you were in better shape, or even pictures of others (e.g. athletes, sportspeople) you find inspirational. Have a very clear picture in your mind of how you want the new and improved version of you to look.
Once you have this, it’s time to move on to the next stage.
Feel It
Now that you have a positive image of the person you want to be, get excited about it. How would you feel if you were slim and healthy now? Plug into your new vision of yourself with all your senses, just as if you were that person right here, right now. Imagine how you would think and feel as this improved version of you.
Once you can truly see and feel this transformed image of you, it’s time to take action.
Be It
The final step to manifesting the changes you desire is to do something about them. Behave in a way that is in accordance with the person you see and feel. As much as possible, act in a manner you would expect this transformed image of you to behave. Eat the health-giving foods the “new” you eats. Be active and exercise just as you would if you were already in great shape. Do anything and everything that is representative of the person you aspire to be. Thinking and acting positively regarding your body can be a powerful force for change.
Excerpted from Waist Disposal by Dr. John Briffa. Copyright © 2011 (Hay House).
Dr. John Briffa is a prize-winning graduate of the University College of London School of Medicine. He has successfully treated thousands of patients using unique individualized nutritional approaches that form the basis of this book, and is listed by Tatler magazine as one of the UK’s top doctors. www.thetruyoudiet.com
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Thursday, March 17, 2011
Friday, September 17, 2010
Coconutoil.com - Research on Coconut Oil's Benefits
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
The Amazing Power of Music
Listening to music is a great way to make exercising more enjoyable. MP3 players are an excellent way to do this. But as science is now beginning to document, music may have a much greater impact on your health than previously imagined.
Exercising to Music Can Boost Your Verbal Skills
For example, while studies have shown that exercising alone has the capability to improve your mood and increase the speed of your decision-making process, listening to music while exercising has been shown to improve verbal fluency as well.
A 2003 study published in the journal Heart Lung found that listening to music while exercising boosted cognitive levels and verbal fluency skills in people diagnosed with coronary artery disease.
Coronary artery disease has been linked to a decline in cognitive abilities. In this study, signs of improvement in the verbal fluency areas more than doubled after listening to music compared to that of the non-music session.
Music Reduces Stress and Improves Healing
Music is a great mood regulator, whether it’s used in conjunction with exercise or not. Loud, upbeat music generally has a stimulating effect, whereas slow music can act as a sedative.
It’s very encouraging that more and more health professionals are beginning to realize the value of simple techniques such as music, using it as an adjunct to promote healing even in more conventional medical settings. As pediatrician Linda Fisher stated in the article above, it’s the music’s rhythm, melody and tonal quality that puts the patient in that “special place of peace” where healing can be achieved faster.
For example, harp music might be particularly helpful for people who have heart trouble. Harvard researchers have shown that the rhythms of healthy hearts may be similar to those found in classical music, and that certain rhythms, such as that of harp music can cause your heart to beat more normally.
Other studies from the early 1990s concluded that music significantly lowered the heart rates and calmed and regulated the blood pressures and respiration rates of patients who had undergone surgery.
Music therapy has also been shown to:
*
Improve motor skills in patients recovering from strokes
*
Boost your immune system
*
Improve mental focus
*
Help control pain
*
Create a feeling of well-being
*
Reduce anxiety
One study published in the October issue of The Journal of Clinical Nursing found that pregnant women listening to soothing music showed significant reductions in stress, anxiety and depression.
The researchers concluded that,
“The findings can be used to encourage pregnant women to use this cost-effective method of music in their daily life to reduce their stress, anxiety and depression.”
Just more evidence that some of the simplest things in the world can benefit your health in profound ways.
Since depression, general stress and anxiety are very common issues facing many pregnant women, this is excellent advice, especially in light of the ever increasing use of antidepressant drugs during pregnancy. Although some studies claim that using antidepressants during pregnancy does not raise your risk of having a baby with birth defects, others have shown that they can cause severe rebound effects in your baby.
Clearly drugs are rarely the best choice for pregnant women who are depressed. There are so many better options – music being one of them.
In addition to various types of music, like classical, nature sounds such as birds, rainstorms, frogs or ocean waves are also often used as a stress-relief tool. The sounds have a calming effect and can help patients relax while undergoing medical procedures.
Another exceptional, and more scientific, tool to help you dramatically reduce the stress that is a prime contributor to all forms of disease, while maximizing your awareness and potential for growth, is the Insight audio CD. Many of the patients at my clinic have received enormous benefits from it. Layered beneath the soothing sounds of natural rain is a “binaural beat,” which can help you achieve dramatically powerful states of altered consciousness.
How Can Your Workout Benefit From Music?
As stated earlier, exercising to music has more benefits than just making your workout more fun. As sport psychologist Costas Karageorghis explained, listening to music while working out can:
1.
Reduce your perception of how hard you are working by about 10 percent during low-to-moderate intensity activity.
2.
Profoundly influence your mood; elevating the positive aspects, such as vigor, excitement and happiness, and reducing depression, tension, fatigue, anger and confusion.
3.
Be used to set an appropriate warm-up, workout, and cool-down pace.
4.
Be used to overcome fatigue, and control your emotions if you’re in a competition.
According to Karageorghis' research, music is most effective when you are losing steam and need some motivation to keep going -- not as a constant stimulus. He recommends doing two workouts with music to every one without, so the effect of the music is not dulled.
Committing yourself to a regular exercise routine is just as important as following a nutritious eating program. Taking into consideration these positive benefits from music and exercising, I would encourage those working out at their local gyms to add a little music to their workout routine.
How I Listen to Music
There are many ways you can listen to music. In my mind, the 21st century way is not to purchase music at all but merely to rent it. There are many services available but the one I use is Rhapsody. For well under $200 a year you can download as many as you want of the over 4 million songs available.
This is typically far less than you would pay to purchase them, and you can transfer them to your MP3 player to listen to them offline. You can also use the most incredible, inexpensive system to stream the music to your home stereo system with Sonos.
Dr. Mercola-- Article courtesy of mercola.com
Exercising to Music Can Boost Your Verbal Skills
For example, while studies have shown that exercising alone has the capability to improve your mood and increase the speed of your decision-making process, listening to music while exercising has been shown to improve verbal fluency as well.
A 2003 study published in the journal Heart Lung found that listening to music while exercising boosted cognitive levels and verbal fluency skills in people diagnosed with coronary artery disease.
Coronary artery disease has been linked to a decline in cognitive abilities. In this study, signs of improvement in the verbal fluency areas more than doubled after listening to music compared to that of the non-music session.
Music Reduces Stress and Improves Healing
Music is a great mood regulator, whether it’s used in conjunction with exercise or not. Loud, upbeat music generally has a stimulating effect, whereas slow music can act as a sedative.
It’s very encouraging that more and more health professionals are beginning to realize the value of simple techniques such as music, using it as an adjunct to promote healing even in more conventional medical settings. As pediatrician Linda Fisher stated in the article above, it’s the music’s rhythm, melody and tonal quality that puts the patient in that “special place of peace” where healing can be achieved faster.
For example, harp music might be particularly helpful for people who have heart trouble. Harvard researchers have shown that the rhythms of healthy hearts may be similar to those found in classical music, and that certain rhythms, such as that of harp music can cause your heart to beat more normally.
Other studies from the early 1990s concluded that music significantly lowered the heart rates and calmed and regulated the blood pressures and respiration rates of patients who had undergone surgery.
Music therapy has also been shown to:
*
Improve motor skills in patients recovering from strokes
*
Boost your immune system
*
Improve mental focus
*
Help control pain
*
Create a feeling of well-being
*
Reduce anxiety
One study published in the October issue of The Journal of Clinical Nursing found that pregnant women listening to soothing music showed significant reductions in stress, anxiety and depression.
The researchers concluded that,
“The findings can be used to encourage pregnant women to use this cost-effective method of music in their daily life to reduce their stress, anxiety and depression.”
Just more evidence that some of the simplest things in the world can benefit your health in profound ways.
Since depression, general stress and anxiety are very common issues facing many pregnant women, this is excellent advice, especially in light of the ever increasing use of antidepressant drugs during pregnancy. Although some studies claim that using antidepressants during pregnancy does not raise your risk of having a baby with birth defects, others have shown that they can cause severe rebound effects in your baby.
Clearly drugs are rarely the best choice for pregnant women who are depressed. There are so many better options – music being one of them.
In addition to various types of music, like classical, nature sounds such as birds, rainstorms, frogs or ocean waves are also often used as a stress-relief tool. The sounds have a calming effect and can help patients relax while undergoing medical procedures.
Another exceptional, and more scientific, tool to help you dramatically reduce the stress that is a prime contributor to all forms of disease, while maximizing your awareness and potential for growth, is the Insight audio CD. Many of the patients at my clinic have received enormous benefits from it. Layered beneath the soothing sounds of natural rain is a “binaural beat,” which can help you achieve dramatically powerful states of altered consciousness.
How Can Your Workout Benefit From Music?
As stated earlier, exercising to music has more benefits than just making your workout more fun. As sport psychologist Costas Karageorghis explained, listening to music while working out can:
1.
Reduce your perception of how hard you are working by about 10 percent during low-to-moderate intensity activity.
2.
Profoundly influence your mood; elevating the positive aspects, such as vigor, excitement and happiness, and reducing depression, tension, fatigue, anger and confusion.
3.
Be used to set an appropriate warm-up, workout, and cool-down pace.
4.
Be used to overcome fatigue, and control your emotions if you’re in a competition.
According to Karageorghis' research, music is most effective when you are losing steam and need some motivation to keep going -- not as a constant stimulus. He recommends doing two workouts with music to every one without, so the effect of the music is not dulled.
Committing yourself to a regular exercise routine is just as important as following a nutritious eating program. Taking into consideration these positive benefits from music and exercising, I would encourage those working out at their local gyms to add a little music to their workout routine.
How I Listen to Music
There are many ways you can listen to music. In my mind, the 21st century way is not to purchase music at all but merely to rent it. There are many services available but the one I use is Rhapsody. For well under $200 a year you can download as many as you want of the over 4 million songs available.
This is typically far less than you would pay to purchase them, and you can transfer them to your MP3 player to listen to them offline. You can also use the most incredible, inexpensive system to stream the music to your home stereo system with Sonos.
Dr. Mercola-- Article courtesy of mercola.com
Monday, August 23, 2010
Twelve Secrets to Living Stress Free
1.Real Success is not measured by what you are driven to achieve, but by what you can quietly understand.
2.Letting Go is the natural release which always follows the realization that holding on hurts.
3.Why seek answers to tormenting questions when it is possible to realize there is no intelligence in torment? So simply drop those painful questions.
4.See the upset not as an exterior circumstance to be remedied, but as an interior condition to be understood.
5.Your secret strength knows that your secret weakness isn't really yours at all.
6.Letting Go is all about finding out what you are not, and then having the courage to leave it at that.
7.Instead of always asking how to get others to approve of you ... learn to ask: What do I really want, the applause of the crowds or to quietly have my own life?
8.Chasing after a pleasure to ease a pain is like running after a breeze to cool you down.
9.Real freedom is the absence of the self that feels trapped, not the trappings that the self requires to make it feel free.
10.Letting Go of yourself is Letting Go of your problems, for they are one and the same.
11.The only thing you lose when you Let Go of something you are afraid to live without is the fear itself.
12.Go along with your longing to be Limitless.
- Guy Finley
2.Letting Go is the natural release which always follows the realization that holding on hurts.
3.Why seek answers to tormenting questions when it is possible to realize there is no intelligence in torment? So simply drop those painful questions.
4.See the upset not as an exterior circumstance to be remedied, but as an interior condition to be understood.
5.Your secret strength knows that your secret weakness isn't really yours at all.
6.Letting Go is all about finding out what you are not, and then having the courage to leave it at that.
7.Instead of always asking how to get others to approve of you ... learn to ask: What do I really want, the applause of the crowds or to quietly have my own life?
8.Chasing after a pleasure to ease a pain is like running after a breeze to cool you down.
9.Real freedom is the absence of the self that feels trapped, not the trappings that the self requires to make it feel free.
10.Letting Go of yourself is Letting Go of your problems, for they are one and the same.
11.The only thing you lose when you Let Go of something you are afraid to live without is the fear itself.
12.Go along with your longing to be Limitless.
- Guy Finley
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