Gado2 Ahmandonk

For people battling high cholesterol, choosing meals wisely can be a challenge. Restaurants, holiday meals, even an office potluck may present unhealthy temptations. However, making dietary modifications that cut out the bad stuff while still allowing you to enjoy your meals is possible and relatively easy – try these healthful ways to lower your cholesterol:

• Reduce saturated fat. The richest sources of saturated fat (fat that is usually solid at room temperature) in the diet are red meat and dairy foods. Substitute soy protein for animal protein, and try non-fat versions of dairy products.
• Avoid trans-fat. If “partially hydrogenated oil” is found in the ingredient list on food labels – especially snack foods – try baked or air-popped versions of those treats instead.
• Use fresh garlic regularly in your meals. Garlic has been shown to help lower cholesterol levels.
• Drink green tea daily. The antioxidants in green tea help lower cholesterol and prevent the cholesterol in your blood from oxidizing.
• Eat plenty of soluble fiber. It has a powerful cholesterol-lowering effect. The best sources are beans and lentils, apples, citrus fruits, oats, barley, peas, carrots and freshly ground flaxseed.

And don’t forget one of the best ways to lower cholesterol levels: exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight. Your doctor can provide you with diet and exercise recommendations specific to your situation.

According to the American Stroke Association, someone in America has a stroke every 45 seconds. Approximately 700,000 Americans will have a stroke this year. Stroke is the third highest cause of death in the U.S., and a leading cause of severe, long-term disability.

Try these recommendations to address risk factors and help protect yourself from stroke:

• Control your blood pressure either through lifestyle changes or medication.
• Exercise. People who exercise consistently have a lower risk for having a stroke.
• If you smoke, quit.
• Limit alcohol intake. If you drink alcohol, do so only in moderation. Moderate alcohol intake is defined as no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks a day for men.
• Manage diabetes and keep tight control of blood sugar levels.
• Lower cholesterol into a healthy range.
• Focus on your diet. Follow a diet designed for those with high blood pressure and heart disease – it may be helpful in preventing strokes.
• Take calcium and magnesium. These minerals are helpful in controlling high blood pressure, one of the strongest risk factors for stroke.

Two studies have suggested a possible link between the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in children, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Many scientists have questioned the design and results of these studies, however.

Using information from a vaccination survey provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, researchers examined vaccination records of 142 patients who were diagnosed with either Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Approximately 58% of the cases of IBD were diagnosed between 11 and 19 years of age.

Sixty-six percent of the patients had received the MMR vaccine, 27% had received a different type of vaccine that contained measles vaccine, and 7% were not vaccinated. When compared to a control group, people with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis were no more likely to have been vaccinated, or vaccinated younger than 12 months. When the researchers analyzed the date of vaccination and the onset of IBD symptoms, they found that none of the patients were vaccinated within the 2- to 4-month time period prior to the first symptoms of IBD.

What This Means to You: According to this study, there is no evidence that vaccination with the MMR vaccine or vaccination with the MMR vaccine at an early age increases the risk that a person will develop IBD. Immunizations such as the MMR vaccine reduce the risk that your child will develop a life-threatening illness. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children receive the initial MMR vaccine between 12 and 18 months and a second dose between 4 and 6 years of age.

Source: Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, March 2001

Question: Is it true that olive oil can help relieve pain?

Answer:

Originally published 1/10/2006

It appears to be true. New research suggests that extra-virgin olive oil contains a compound called oleocanthal that acts in the same way ibuprofen does to relieve pain. Scientists at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia reported in the August 31, 2005 issue of the journal Nature that oleocanthal acts as a natural anti-inflammatory by inhibiting COX-2 enzymes in the same way ibuprofen does. COX-2 enzymes take part in the process of joint inflammation that can lead to arthritis pain.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean you can treat pain by eating a salad with dressing made from olive oil or even by dipping bread into a pool of extra-virgin oil. The investigators reported that a 50-gram dose of olive oil (just under two ounces) would have only 10 percent of the pain relieving power of an adult dose of ibuprofen – that’s a lot of olive oil (and calories). However, the researchers also say it is possible that regular consumption of olive oil might provide some long-term health benefits because of COX-2 inhibition. Ibuprofen appears to reduce the risk of some types of cancer and, possibly, Alzheimer’s disease, and aspirin, another COX-2 inhibitor, protects the heart.

Not all olive oils contain oleocanthal. You can tell if yours does with a simple taste test. If the oil triggers a stinging or irritating sensation in the throat when you swallow, oleocanthal is present. Olive oil tasters describe this quality as “peppery.” The Monell researchers said that extra-virgin olive oil from Tuscany is high in oleocanthal and that some California olive oils are also good sources.

Andrew Weil, M.D.

Fish oil is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which can help reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer, decrease inflammation, enhance mood, and encourage overall long-term health. Two ways to get your omega-3 fatty acids are through diet and supplements.

If you prefer to consume your omega-3s in food, try eating three servings of oily fish per week. Some good sources are wild Alaskan salmon, mackerel, sardines and herring. Walnuts and freshly ground flaxseed are also good sources. Avoid carnivorous fish such as swordfish and marlin, which spend a lot of time in coastal waters where pollution levels are highest. (Bluefish also tend to concentrate mercury and albacore tuna may harbor the same pollutants as swordfish and marlin.)

If you prefer to go the supplement route, you will want to choose a supplement which advertises that its products are distilled to remove PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls, a dangerous class of manufactured chemicals that remain in the environment for many years) and other contaminants. People with autoimmune or inflammatory disorders, heart disease, diabetes, mental or emotional disorders, or insulin resistance may want to take supplements in addition to consuming fatty fish.

Q: Your recent article mentioned one’s “omega-3 level.” How do I measure mine or find what my level is? I’m trying to increase my intake of omega-3s with flaxseed (ground), fish and lentils.

A: Omega-3 fatty acids are special unsaturated fats our bodies need for optimum health. Unfortunately, most Americans are deficient in omega-3s, and as a result are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, cancer, inflammatory disorders, and mental and emotional problems. Eating foods rich in omega-3s can reduce these risks and also help treat depression, bipolar disorder, autism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

I don’t think there is any practical way to measure your omega-3 levels. If there were, and if they were low, the solution would be to do what you should do anyway: increase your intake. Instead of worrying about what your levels are, try to calculate how much omega-3s your diet provides. These fatty acids are found principally in oily fish that live in cold water, primarily wild salmon, mackerel, herring, and sardines. Bluefish is also rich in omega-3s as is – to a lesser extent – albacore tuna, but both of these tasty fish are contaminated by mercury and should be avoided. Other dietary sources of omega-3s include walnuts, flaxseeds and hemp seeds – and the oils extracted from them – as well as soy and canola oils and specially fortified eggs. If you’re eating three ounces of fish two to three times a week, as I recommend, snacking on walnuts and adding freshly ground flaxseeds to cereals and salads you’re probably getting enough omega 3s. A 3-ounce serving of Alaskan salmon or herring contains about 2 grams of omega-3 fatty acids, while 3 ounces of sardines has about 1.3 grams. You can substitute one ounce of walnuts for a serving of fish, or add a tablespoon or two of freshly ground flaxseeds or hemp oil to your diet. These plant sources provide you with alpha linolenic acid, which the body converts to the omega-3s the body needs. The only problem with plant sources of these nutrients is that some people may not be able to convert alpha-linolenic acid to the longer-chain forms that occur in fish, the forms the body needs.

If you are not getting adequate amounts of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet, I recommend taking a good quality fish oil supplement. This is particularly important if you have high cholesterol, diabetes, symptoms of PMS, coronary artery disease or a family history of heart attack or sudden cardiac death, breast cancer, memory loss, depression, insulin resistance, high cholesterol, or rheumatoid arthritis. Distilled fish oils are free of mercury and other contaminants, and some taste quite good. Start with one to two grams a day.

Andrew Weil, M.D.

Q: What do you think of new research showing that olive oil causes blood vessels to constrict by 34 percent, injuring their lining and contributing to heart disease, and recommendations to stay away from olive oil because it impairs blood vessel function just like a Big Mac with fries or cheesecake?

A: The notion that olive oil could be as bad for you as Big Macs, fries, or cheesecake came from study results presented (but not yet published in a medical journal) more than a year ago at a meeting of the American College of Cardiology by heart specialist Robert Vogel, MD, of the University of Maryland.

Dr. Vogel reported on a small study in which he tested the effects of three different meals on a group of 10 volunteers who had normal cholesterol levels. Each meal contained 50 grams of fat. One meal was canola oil and bread, another was olive oil and bread, and the third was a piece of salmon. Before and three hours after each meal, Dr. Vogel and his fellow researchers measured constriction of the volunteers’ arteries, a change that Dr. Vogel says can damage the inner lining of blood vessels. The salmon meal didn’t have much effect, and the canola oil meal lowered blood flow by 11 percent. However, the olive oil and bread meal reduced blood flow by 34 percent, the same change Dr. Vogel had seen in earlier studies when volunteers ate a Big Mac and fries.

Does this mean that we all should disregard the vast body of reassuring epidemiological evidence that olive oil is good for us and that rates of heart disease are lowest in countries where olive oil is a dietary staple? I posed this question to Walter Willett, MD, of the Harvard School of Public Health, author of Eat, Drink, and Be Healthy: The Harvard Medical School Guide to Healthy Eating (Simon & Schuster, 2001) and one of the country’s most distinguished nutrition researchers. Here’s what Dr. Willett said:

“Studies that look at short-term effects of one variable at a time should never be used in making decisions about diet. The effect of olive oil, or any other food, on heart disease or overall health is mediated by many different pathways, including influences on blood cholesterol fractions, blood clot formation, heart rhythm, oxidative stress, and numerous other processes. Looking at just one or two of these variables in isolation can be completely misleading.”

Dr. Willett continues to believe in the safety of olive oil consumption, even in large amounts. I share this opinion, and my dietary recommendations to prevent heart disease encourage the use of extra-virgin olive oil along with a high intake of omega-3 oils and other foods rich in antioxidants. Based on the evidence we have today, there is no reason I know of to avoid olive oil.

Andrew Weil, M.D.

Penyakit Parkinson’s seringkali berhasil diobati dengan pengobatan konvesional (oleh dokter), dengan mengikuti prosedur pengobatan dan operasi. Namun, meskipun cara tersebut tidak bersifat menyembuhkan, tetapi paling tidak, cara tersebut dapat menghambat kemajuan penyakitnya dan membantu mengontrol gejala-gejala utamanya.

Di samping cara konvesnional tersebut, penyakit parkinson’s dapat pula diobati secara efektif dengan terapi alternatif pelengkap, terutama dengan mengikuti diet makanan yang kaya dengan zat nutrisi Omega-3 dan anti peradangan, serta mengkonsumsi Co-Enzym Q-10 dosis tinggi setiap hari.

Selain itu, pasien harus dijauhkan dari stress, sebab semua gejala utama akan segera memburuk apabila pasien mengalami stress. Olahraga pernafasan seperti yoga dan biofeedback juga sangat bermanfaat. Selain itu pasien sebaiknya tetap melakukan gerak ringan agar rasa kaku pada otot-ototnya dapat dikurangi. Olah raga jalan kaki (ringan) pada pagi hari baik untuk dilakukan. Akupunctur (tusuk jarum) dapat pula diterapkan untuk memperbaiki sementara fungsi otot.

1. Exercise your mind. Crossword puzzles, mind games, challenging reading or educational classes can help keep your brain agile and strong.
2. Exercise your body. Physical exercise seems to correlate with better mental function, perhaps because of improved circulation.
3. Eat a diet rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids. Vegetables and fruit are the best sources of antioxidants. Fish, flax seed and walnuts provide omega-3s.
4. Limit or avoid alcohol. Alcohol in almost any quantity can be toxic to the nervous system.
5. De-stress. Perform daily breathing exercises and practice relaxation techniques like meditation or yoga.
6. Take a multivitamin that contains B vitamins. Folic acid, B6 and B12 are essential to maintaining healthy nerve function.