Health Care Workers Win More Flexible Schedules

Night shifts, weekends and holidays are three words that were once synonymous with positions in health care. It is a new day. The shortage of health care professionals has made employers reconsider their demanding work schedules.

Employers feel the pinch and are now more willing to consider worker's needs and requests for flexible schedules. The Dean of Science and Health Careers at a local college agreed that health care workers now have more leeway in choosing their schedules. One may be given the 'dirty' jobs at first, and the situation is such that there are those who work only on weekends.

The following health care professions offer the most flexibility. The dean of the college of education and health services of a local university said that pharmacy, with high hourly wages, is ideal for the working mother. It is interesting to note that women make up more than half of pharmacists.

The profession is in demand these days. With pharmacies, frequently open 24 hours, popping up on every corner, each one needing at least one pharmacist, employees are free to dictate their own schedule. The Dean believes that pharmacy is a preferable area, with its flexibility and the high salary that comes with it.

Health information technologists translate doctor's orders into four or five digit codes, which are sent to Medicare or other insurance providers. Two tracks available to students are the one semester certificate and the two year degree. This way, the student can work as hard or as little as he wants. Some creative individuals hire their services out to medical offices and are able to work from home.

Countless numbers of people yearn for that type of flexibility. There is also the field of medical transcription. The main task of these professionals is encoding doctor's reports. The dean of biological and health sciences at a college in Lake County counsels those who need flexibility to try this job. Medical transcriptionists also gain a tremendous amount of knowledge about medical diagnosis and treatment. These jobs tend to be very lenient. There are lots of part time jobs in medical transcription.

For the College of Lake County, dental hygiene students are given the opportunity to work on new recruits at the nearby naval base. Upon successful completion of this program, they are privileged with one of the highest entry level salaries and the most flexible hours of any health care profession. Though there aren't many full time positions in dental hygiene, they are very flexible. Parents see this as the main advantage. Right after graduation, dental hygienists earn up to $30/hour and are thus among the most highly paid professionals in America. Nevertheless, the downside of these jobs, most of them part time, is that they frequently do not come with benefits or health insurance.

by:  Steven Hamilton -- http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_11737.shtml

Aerobics: What Is It And When Did It Start?

Aerobics is a combination of physical exercise, strength training and stretching. Thirty to sixty minutes is the amount of exercise recommended by the American College of Sports Medicine.

Not only is aerobic activity important in controlling body weight, there are an abundant health benefits that come with exercise.

Aerobic fitness can help to maintain good blood pressure levels, allows the heart to pump more effectively, decreases bad cholesterol while improving the good, and by reducing the systemic inflammation can lower the chance of having heart disease.

Another benefit of exercise in people with Type 2 diabetes is that it makes the efficiency of the body better by increasing tissue sensitivity to insulin. In addition, more glucose is produced and pressed out of the blood stream. The blood will enter the cells and decrease the amount of glucose in the blood. By allowing glucose to metabolize in the body and letting normal blood sugar levels be maintained, aerobic exercise minimizes the risk of developing diabetes.

Obesity, which is a big concern in the United States is the first noticeable health benefit of exercise. Any amount of increased activity will bring about a change in the body, including a decrease in body fat and an increase in lean muscle.

Aerobics also helps with the over all quality of life by improving sleep, reducing fatigue, increasing energy levels, improving mood, reducing depression, stress and anxiety. It increases endorphins, which make the outlook on life more positive, prevents certain cancers and may help to increase longevity all while being happier.

Reaching a target heart rate is key to benefiting the most from aerobics. Using the age method, age is taken away from 220, then that number is multiplied by 0.7. The American Heart Association recommends a target heart rate range of between 50% and 75%t. Because people exercise at different fitness levels, this method may not be completely accurate but it does give a number to work toward.

In 1968, Dr. Kenneth Cooper developed a series of exercises listed in his book, Aerobics, that he knew would help to prevent coronary artery disease. These exercises were running, bicycling, swimming and walking.

Aerobic dance came about shortly after Dr. Coopers book was published, by a woman named Jackie Sorenson. She developed dance routines that were found to improve cardiovascular fitness.

In 1983, Howard and Karen Schwartz developed sportaerobics. In 1984 the first national aerobic championship was organized, and in 2002 the competition consisted of 6 athletes performing a 1 minute 45 second routine done to music. The judges based their score of up to 10 points each on artistic and technical merit. In 1996 sportaerobics was changed to gymnastique discipline.

Aerobic activity is an important part of maintaining good health and having a happier, fuller and longer life.

by:  Andy Guides Jr. -- http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_11398.shtml

Suggestions On Getting Optimum Benefits From Your Health Insurance

You can count your lucky stars if you till have decent health insurance through your employer. The current situation is making it harder and harder for employees to get decent coverage from their workplace. Costs are going up, and benefits are going down. However, there are some tips and advice you can use to help get the most out of your group insurance plan. By the time you finish reading this article, you'll be able to squeeze more benefits out of your plan.

Every health plan has limitations, and you should be well aware of yours. One thing that group health insurance offers in many cases is unlimited visits to your primary physician. If this is the case, then there are a few things you can do to maximize your time with your doctor, even if it's only for ten or fifteen minutes.

One thing you can do is make up a list of questions before you go in. Make them as specific as possible, as vague questions generally invite vague answers, which aren't much help. For example, instead of saying you are having trouble sleeping at night, make up a list of everything you do before going to bed, and ask your doctor if anything on your list is causing you some problems.

Another thing to do is to prepare a concise, detailed description of your condition with as much detail and information as possible. Saying you have a backache is good, but saying your lower back hurts in the afternoon but feels better when you take a hot bath is much better. And be sure to ask for specific things to do to get rid of your discomfort. Don't be shy about putting your doctor on the spot.

Another important thing to consider is what kinds of drugs are allowed on your plan. Many group insurance plans only cover generic prescriptions, so you'll need to be aware of this when you visit your doctor. Many times a doctor will see many different patients with different plans, so it's not always clear to them what's covered and what isn't. Be sure to let him or her know that you only can accept prescriptions for generic drugs if that's the case.

These concepts are fairly basic and straightforward. But when you put them into practice on a regular basis, you'll save time, money, and notice a significant improvement in the quality of your health care.
by:  George Hutton -- http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_11764.shtml

Can Caffeine Boost Memory?

Caffeine, like chocolate, often receives unhealthy publicity. Whilst in some situations, and in extra, these can have negative effects on our body, they will also be fairly beneficial.

I'm not disputing that some persons are more sensitive to the damaging effects of either caffeine or chocolate. For instance, extra caffeine can create nervousness, nausea (significantly if taken on an empty abdomen), a rise in heart rate, and even melancholy in some people. And chocolate is certainly not something that should form the mainstay of one's diet. If struggling with sugar dependancy, or desirous to shed weight, there are extra nutritionally complete meals which can be available.

But scientists have turned up some interesting details on caffeine. For instance, caffeine actually blocks the results of a neurotransmitter in the mind (adenosine) that otherwise makes us really feel tired. This is why it works so nicely to maintain us awake. It additionally encourages the release of another brain chemical, dopamine (as well as adrenaline). Dopamine contributes to a feeling of well being.

Two studies, one a population based mostly research (which aren't as specific or rigorously outlined as different varieties of studies, but nonetheless useful indicators) discovered that consuming caffeine containing drinks like coffee and tea had a protecting impact for those liable to growing liver disease. Points that the research participants had that increased their threat of liver disease included alcoholism, hepatitis B or C, weight problems, or different complications.

And the results indicated that individuals who drank more than 2 cups of coffee a day had a forty four% lower chance of showing actual liver injury compared to those who drank no caffeine. This was not a medical trial, and the rationale why coffee and tea had such an effect shouldn't be known. Espresso and tea contain a variety of plant chemicals (phytonutrients) that could be liable for this. A 2005 Norwegian examine additionally found similar advantages for coffee with regards liver disease. This study discovered that consuming 3 cups of espresso a day may lower the risk of loss of life from liver cirrhosis.

Even when you're not susceptible to liver disease, caffeine still has some advantages. Current research from Austria showed that caffeine may very well enhance brief term memory. Researchers found that there was an increase in brain exercise (as measured by useful magnetic resonance imaging) in the components of the brain that were related to memory and attention. These parts of the brain were the frontal lobe and the anterior cingulum. This was a placebo controlled research, that means that some folks were not given any caffeine. Another, earlier study (2004) discovered that caffeine did assist short term memory, but solely when it was in relation to a topic that individuals had been already thinking about. This examine found that when testing coffee's results on unrelated topics, brief time period recall was truly inhibited.

Every thing does have a flip aspect though. Adenosine, which is blocked by espresso, is also calming. This may very well be why it could additionally trigger nervousness in extra, and in some individuals. In any case, the steadiness of our mind chemistry is unique. And after we are addicted to stimulants like caffeine, we lose the sensitivity to our own natural stimulants (dopamine and adrenaline).
by:  Noel Chua -- http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_11756.shtml

Three Advantages Of Quitting Smoking

Have you thought about the advantages of quitting smoking that you will enjoy once you do? It might seem like a great plan to stop smoking but unless you take a few moments to really figure out what rewards you will enjoy afterwards, you will not succeed. Consider these three rewards for giving it up.

Friends and family. Have your friends and family been telling you to stop smoking? When you finally quit, they will stop bothering you. If you have been smoking in your car or home, they will start smelling better right away. So will your hair and clother. You might not have noticed, but they will notice right away.

Budget and money. Your wallet will be a little heavier and fatter as soon as you stop buying on cigarettes. If you smoke a pack a day, you could easily save as much as $40 each week. Just imagine all the things you could spend that money on instead. In about one year, you could buy a big screen tv and throw a party. How much are you wasting on cigarettes?

Health and vitality. Did you know that your health will begin to improve as soon as you quit? Within twenty minutes of giving up smoking, your blood pressure and heart rate become normal once again? You will also reduce your chance of high blood pressure and other heart problems. The damaging effects of smoking can be turned around no matter how long you have been smoking.

Which of these three advantages of quitting smoking will motivate you to stop? Being clear about the answer to that question is the key. Not everyone has the same reasons to stop smoking, so figure out what matters for you. Some are more concerned about saving their money, others have had a health scare and are now highly motivated to change. What is important for you?

So how do you quit? Just stop buying cigarettes and putting them in your mouth! It sounds so simple yet it is not always easy to actually do. Especially when the habit has become ingrained over the years.

It's not necessarily your strength of will that will make you successful either. It's more about changing your mindset so that you are completely focused on what will trigger you to succeed. This intense focus is a type of self hypnosis which gives you the mind power to change your thoughts.

Keep focusing on what motivates you and you will soon be enjoying all of these advantages of quitting smoking.

by:  Sherri Frost -- http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_11846.shtml

Tips For Choosing The Right Organic Food

Your eating habits have changed - you are buying organic food and health shop products, now you just need to know exactly what to look for. Combining a variety of different health vitamins and nutrients with your diet is extremely important. To assist you with creating the perfect healthy eating plan, we have put together some helpful tips that should answer some of your questions:

Healthy carbs and whole grains:

Choosing healthy carbs and fibres, most importantly whole grains, is excellent for providing energy that lasts. Another benefit is that whole grains are packed with antioxidants and phytochemicals that assist in protecting against heart disease, diabetes and even some cancers. Don't confuse healthy carbs with the bad carbs. Unhealthy carbs have had the bran, fibre and nutrients removed, allowing the food to digest quickly which causes spikes in your blood sugar and energy. Refined sugar as well as white rice and flour are examples of bad carbs.

Enjoy fats without getting fat:

Your heart, brain and cells need fats to be healthy. The big question is - how do you choose your fats wisely? The answer is actually simple. Your diet needs to include monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats. Foods that offer these fats include avocado, certain nuts and seeds as well as fish such as salmon, anchovies and herring. Fats that you should limit include saturated fats and trans fats. These are found in red meat, dairy products and a variety of processed foods.

Choose protein power:

Forget Red Bull. Protein provides you with a natural energy boost and will last a lot longer than an expensive energy drink. The key with proteins is to try different types. Some variations include beans, nuts and soy products. Also remember to limit your portions as it is common for people to have too much protein. The key is to focus on quality proteins, found in fresh fish, chicken, eggs etc...

Don't forget calcium and vitamins:

Calcium and vitamin D are essential for your bones. Breakfast is a perfect opportunity to provide your body with its daily requirements, but if you don't manage to get in 1000g of calcium per day, then you should consider taking a supplement.

by:  Anita Lyon -- http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_11866.shtml

US Generics Market To Be Worth US$ 108.5 Billion By 2013

According to our new report “Booming US Generic Drug Market”, the US generic drugs market has witnessed a significant surge during the past few years. In 2009, the value of US generics market reached to the mark of US$ 74 Billion, which was estimated to cross US$ 80 Billion at the end of 2010. Several factors such as, expiring patents of blockbuster drugs, the government support, and high private investment have contributed to the remarkable growth in generics market. The market is likely to perform well in future also and it is expected that it will grow at the CAGR of around 10% during 2010-2013 to reach US$ 108.5 Billion.

Our report has found that patent expiration of major blockbuster drugs are acting as one of the biggest driver for the US generic drug industry. This trend is expected to boost the overall growth and revenue patterns in the US generics market. Branded drugs of companies like, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Merck, AstraZeneca, Novartis, Johnson & Johnson, and others are set to lose patents by 2012. Therefore, the presence of generics version of high cost branded drugs at lower prices is anticipated to create high demand for generics drugs in the US.

The report also describes some other key market trends that are likely to impact the US generics market. These trends have been identified after conducting an in-depth research of recent developments taking place in industry. The report also illustrates the importance and overview of the regulatory environment regarding generics in the US. For this, the profile and impact of various government legislatures have been included in the report.

“Booming US Generic Drug Market” provides extensive information of the US generics market and covers the potential of generic drugs in various therapy segments. New technologies and devices that may back industry in future are outlined in the report. Moreover, the forecast in key sections and segments of the report makes use of reliable methods and techniques mainly to provide effective future projections. The description and recent developments of key players has also been covered. Overall, the report is likely to facilitate investment and other decisions of clients.

by:  Shushmul Maheshwari -- http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_11876.shtml

The Role of Medical Imaging Software

There is no doubt that medical imaging software is a vital part of modern medicine. Today doctors rely heavily on imaging software to provide diagnoses of a whole variety of illnesses. In nearly all fields of medicine, scans and imaging software are used by doctors to see the body's interior for accurate diagnosis. This article discusses the role of medical imaging software in medicine and why advancements in technology are important and research should continue into the technology used.

Medical imaging software in particular is crucial to MRI scans. MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging and it involves a magnetic field being directed to the part of the body that needs investigating for problems and abnormalities. Through the magnetic field radio waves are sent. When the waves hit the body, the nuclei of the atoms in the cells give off energy. The software used detects this energy and converts the data into images for a doctor or radiologist to view. These images show any abnormalities with the cells and can detect a host of problems such as tumours. It is the scan itself that creates the information, but it is the medical imaging software that presents the data in a way that it can be used.

Imaging software is also used in other scan types (or modalities). A CT scan is another valuable and commonly used scan to help doctors gain a good understanding of what is wrong with a person's health. It is most often used to explore the brain further and will be prescribed after someone has suffered a serious head trauma. During a CT scan a very large number of pictures or images are taken at the same time. Imaging software is then used to interpret this web of pictures into one 3 dimensional image of the body or the brain. Just like with MRI scans, without imaging software neither of these scans would exist. It is one thing gathering the data, but unless it is displayed in a helpful way the data is totally useless.

Another type of scan that uses medical imaging software is an x-ray. Most people have heard of an x-ray and can picture the images produced from it. It is used mostly to detect broken bones as it is not usually able to provide a very clear picture of more intricate parts of the body like cells and tissue. It does show up broken or fractured bones however very well. During the procedure, the body receives a dose of radiation. The radiation travels through the body being absorbed in small amounts as it does so. The waves travel at different speeds and it is this data that is interpreted by software to be projected onto film. The film holds a clear image of the bones in the body. An x-ray can detect other abnormalities in the body, but will not display them as clearly as a CT or MRI scan would. If a shadow or dense area is spotted on the x ray then further scans will be required.

An ultrasound scan is another type of scan that relies heavily on medical imaging software. This can be used to detect many things in the body but is most commonly used during pregnancies. It does provide a clear picture however and therefore can be used to investigate the organs in the body and even the bones.

If it wasn't for medical imaging software, none of these scans would be possible. Although the data would be collected, without software it would not be displayed in a format that was possible to understand or interpret. Researching technology and ensuring medical imaging software is as good as it can be is vital to the field of medicine. Oncology software in particular is vital in the fight against cancer. Medical image fusion takes these scans even further by enabling the images to be viewed at the same time for an even clearer picture.
by:  Kathryn Dawson -- http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_11869.shtml

The Health Benefits of Broccoli

Broccoli's Anti-Inflammatory Benefits
When threatened with dangerous levels of potential toxins, or dangerous numbers of overly-reactive, oxygen-containing molecules, signals are sent within our body to our inflammatory system, directing it to "kick in" and help protect our body from potential damage. One key signaling device is a molecule called Nf-kappaB. When faced with the type of dangers described above, the NF-kappaB signaling system is used to "rev up" our inflammatory response and increase production of inflammatory components (for example, IL-6, IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, iNOS and COX-2). This process works beautifully in temporary, short-term circumstances when healing from injury is required. When it continues indefinitely at a constant pace, however, it can put us at risk for serious health problems, including the development of cancer.
Research studies have made it clear that the NF-kappaB signaling system that is used to "rev up" our inflammatory response can be significantly suppressed by isothiocyanates (ITCs). ITCsâ€"the compounds made from glucosinolates found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetablesâ€"actually help to shut down the genetic machinery used to produce NF-kappaB and other components of the inflammatory system. These anti-inflammatory benefits of ITCs have been demonstrated in the laboratory, and with consumption of the ITCs themselves. While they have yet to be demonstrated on consumption of broccoli in an everyday diet, we fully expect future research to show anti-inflammatory benefits from the routine consumption of broccoli (and its glucosinolates), not just from consumption of ITCs.

Broccoli's Antioxidant Benefits
Amongst all of the commonly consumed cruciferous vegetables, broccoli stands out as the most concentrated source of a premiere antioxidant nutrientâ€"vitamin C. This central antioxidant vitamin can provide longer-term support of oxygen metabolism in the body if it is accompanied by flavonoids that allow it to recycle. Broccoli provides many such flavonoids in significant amounts, including the flavonoids kaempferol and quercitin. Also concentrated in broccoli are the carotenoids lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene. All three of these carotenoids function as key antioxidants. In the case of lutein and beta-carotene, broccoli has been shown not only to provide significant amounts of these antioxidants but to significantly increase their blood levels when consumed in the amount of three cups. Other antioxidants provided by broccoli in beneficial amounts include vitamin E and the minerals manganese and zinc.
Considered as a group, the vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, and carotenoids contained in broccoli work to lower risk of oxidative stress in the body. The ability of these nutrients to support oxygen metabolism and avoid excess formation of overly reactive, oxygen-containing molecules makes them equally helpful in lowering risk of chronic inflammation and risk of cancer. If cancer development is compared to a 3-legged stool, the antioxidant benefits of broccoli can be viewed as weakening one leg of the stool, namely the leg called "oxidative stress." We've already seen how the glucosinolates and omega-3 fats in broccoli can be viewed as helping to weaken a second leg of the stool (chronic inflammation).

Broccoli Can Enhance Detoxification
Most toxins that pose a risk to our cells must be detoxified in our body by a 2-step process. What's remarkable about broccoli is its ability to alter activity in both of these two detox steps. Isothiocyanates (ITCs) made from the glucosinolates in broccoli are well-documented modifiers of the first step in detoxification (called Phase I). In fact, some ITCs like sulforaphane can actually help shut down the genetic machinery that produces certain Phase I enzymes. ITCs are equally capable of altering the activity of enzymes involved in the second step of detoxification (called Phase II). From research in the field of genetics, we know that ITCs can help bridge gaps in Phase II activity when it is insufficient. Taken in combination, the impact of ITCs on Phase I and II detox events is uniqueâ€"and equally unique is the presence of glucosinolate compounds in broccoli that can be used to make ITCs. Glucosinolates like glucoraphanin, gluconasturtiian, and glucobrassicin are simply not found in other foods in the same combination and concentration that is offered by broccoli. By helping to promote as well as regulate detox activity in our cells, the ITCs made from broccoli can help prevent insufficient detoxification of dangerous substances that threaten our cells.

Broccoli and Cancer Prevention
The unique combination of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and pro-detoxification components in broccoli make it a unique food in terms of cancer prevention. Connections between cancer development and oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and inadequate detoxification are so well-documented in the research that any food improving all three of these metabolic problems would be highly likely to lower our risk of cancer. In the case of broccoli, the research is strongest in showing decreased risk of prostate cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, bladder cancer, and ovarian cancer. We expect that risk of other cancer types will also eventually be shown to undergo reduction from regular consumption of broccoli.

How Much Broccoli Is Needed for Cancer Prevention?
Recent studies have also provided us with a much better idea about the amount of broccoli that we need to lower our cancer risk. At the lower end of the spectrum, it looks like an average of 1/2 cup of broccoli per day only 22 calories' worth of broccoli!â€"is enough to provide some measurable benefits. Few people have broccoli on a daily basis. But a 2-cup serving twice a week would still meet this minimum average amount. It's important to remember how little this amount actually in within the context of one week's food. A person eating 2,000 calories per day would be consuming 14,000 calories per week. A 2-cup serving of broccoli twice a week would provide about 178 calories only 1% of the total weekly calories! At the higher end of the spectrum, studies show that more broccoli might be needed to accomplish other cancer-preventing tasks. For example, one study showed significantly higher urinary excretion of potential carcinogens from well-done, grilled meats given daily consumption of broccoli in the range of 9 ounces (250 grams) per day. That gram amount corresponds to approximately 1.6 cups of broccoli on a daily basis. We've also seen a study showing that "generous" amounts of broccoli can help optimize levels of antioxidants in the blood, especially beta-carotene and lutein. (Optimal antioxidant levels can help lower the risk of oxidative stress in healthy cells, which also helps lower their risk of becoming cancerous.) In this study, the term "generous" was used to describe consumption of broccoli in the amount of 3 cups daily. Once again, that amount would not be ridiculously high in terms of calories 3 cups would provide about 132 calories, or 6-7% of a 2,000-calorie diet. But it might be a greater amount that many people would want to consume on a regular basis.

Broccoli and Digestive Support

The digestive support provided by broccoli falls into two basic categories: fiber support, and ITC (isothiocyanate) support. At approximately 1 gram of dietary fiber for every 10 calories, you don't have to eat much broccoli to get a large amount of your daily requirement! 100 calories only 5% of a 2,000-calorie diet will give you about 10 grams of fiber, or 40% of the Daily Value (DV). And, 250 calories of broccoli (about 12% of a 2,000-calorie diet) will give you the full DV! Few components of food support our digestive system as well as fiber. The speed that food travels through us, the consistency of food as it moves through our intestine, and bacterial populations in our intestine are all supported as well as regulated by dietary fiber.
Alongside of broccoli's dietary fibers are its glucosinolates. These phytonutrients are converted by our bodies into isothiocyanates (ITCs). ITC and particularly sulforaphanea help protect the health of our stomach lining by helping prevent bacterial overgrowth of Helicobacter pylori or too much clinging by this bacterium to our stomach wall. Broccoli sprouts appear to have especially strong stomach support properties in this regard.

Broccoli and Cardiovascular Support
Although research in this area is still in the early stages, anti-inflammatory substances found in cruciferous vegetables are becoming the topic of increasing interest with respect to heart disease. One particular focus here involves the anti-inflammatory properties of sulforaphane, one of the isothiocyanates (ITCs) derived from the glucoraphanin in broccoli. In some individuals susceptible to high blood sugar, sulforaphane may be able to prevent (or even reverse) some of the damage to blood vessel linings that can be cause by chronic blood sugar problems. Decreased risk of heart attacks and strokes may also eventually be linked in a statistically significant way to intake of broccoli and its glucoraphanin.
A second area you can count on broccoli for cardiovascular support involves its cholesterol-lowering ability. Our liver uses cholesterol as a basic building block to product bile acids. Bile acids are specialized molecules that aid in the digestion and absorption of fat through a process called emulsification. These molecules are typically stored in fluid form in our gall bladder, and when we eat a fat-containing meal, they get released into the intestine where they help ready the fat for interaction with enzymes and eventual absorption up into the body. When we eat broccoli, fiber-related nutrients in this cruciferous vegetable bind together with some of the bile acids in the intestine in such a way that they simply stay inside the intestine and pass out of our body in a bowel movement, rather than getting absorbed along with the fat they have emulsified. When this happens, our liver needs to replace the lost bile acids by drawing upon our existing supply of cholesterol, and as a result, our cholesterol level drops down. Broccoli provides us with this cholesterol-lowering benefit whether it is raw or cooked. However, a recent study has shown that the cholesterol-lowering ability of raw broccoli improves significantly when it is steamed. In fact, when the cholesterol-lowering ability of steamed broccoli was compared with the cholesterol-lowering ability of the prescription drug cholestyramine (a medication that is taken for the purpose of lowering cholesterol), broccoli bound 33% as many bile acids (based on a standard of comparison involving total dietary fiber).

Other Health Benefits Provided by Broccoli
Three other areas of health benefits are important to mention when considering broccoli and its unique combination of nutrients. The first area is eye health. Two carotenoids found in significant concentrations in broccoliâ€"lutein and zeaxanthinâ€"play an especially important role in the health of the eye. In fact, no tissue in the body is more concentrated with lutein than the area in the outer portion of the retina (called the peripheral retina). Similarly, in the macula near the central portion of the retina, zeaxanthin is uniquely concentrated. Risk of problems involving the macula of the eye (for example, macular degeneration) and problems involving the lens area of the eye (for example, cataracts) have both been show to lessen with intake of foods (including broccoli) that provide significant amounts of the lutein and zeaxanthin carotenonids.
A second area is skin support, including support of sun-damaged skin. Here it is the glucoraphanin found in broccoliâ€"converted into sulforaphane by the bodyâ€"that has received the most research attention. Since skin cells can carry out the process of detoxification, it may be detox-related benefits of sulforaphane that are especially important in helping to counteract sun damage.
A third area of increasing research interest involves the metabolism of vitamin D. Broccoli is not a source of this vitamin, but it is an unusually good source of vitamin K and also of vitamin A (in one of its precursor forms, beta-carotene). Many individuals have large vitamin D deficiencies that cannot be remedied through diet alone, and these deficiencies require sizable amounts of vitamin D to be provided through dietary supplementation. When large supplemental doses of vitamin D are needed to offset deficiency, ample supplies of vitamin K and vitamin A appear to help keep our vitamin D metabolism in the proper balance. Assuring adequate intake of vitamins K and A alongside of vitamin D supplementation may turn out to be important in achieving optimal vitamin D supplementation results and avoiding potential problems related to supplementation. Broccoli may turn out to play a particularly helpful role in balancing this set of events by providing its unusually strong combination of both vitamin A and vitamin K.

The Cancer/Inflammation/Oxidative Stress/Detox Connection
Exposure to potentially toxic substances in our food and water, or in the air we breathe both indoors and outdoors, exposure to allergy-triggering substances, poor general health, dietary deficiencies, use of prescription and over-the-counter medications, and other lifestyle practices can result in a level of danger to our bodies that prompts our inflammatory system to work in overdrive on a 24/7 basis. Researchers often refer to this phenomenon as "chronic inflammation." Often contributing to this level of danger is a weakened detox ability in our body. If our liver, skin, and other organ systems cannot keep up with and detoxify the number of potential toxins that we encounter, too many potential toxins remain at large throughout our body. Once again, the result is a level of risk that prompts chronic inflammation.
On a more temporary, short-term basis, inflammation is part of good health. Whether physical or chemical in nature, whenever our body detects a wound, it typically responds by trying to heal with an inflammatory response. That process is healthy, so long as it is not constant and uninterrupted. But unlike the helpful inflammation that takes place we get a simple cut or bruise, chronic inflammationâ€"when it becomes a standard feature of our metabolismâ€"is incompatible with good health. When our bodies are overwhelmed day in and day out with chronic inflammation, many other metabolic balances can get thrown out of kilter, including the balance in our oxygen metabolism. An unwanted imbalance starts to occur in which too many overly reactive, oxygen-containing molecules are formed. This condition is called oxidative stress. The increased presence of these overly reactive molecules can do damage to many parts of our cells, including their genetic material (and especially their deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA). Over time, the constant and cumulative DNA damage inside our cells can pose a major risk factor for conversion of healthy cells into cancerous ones.
It's equally possible for this sequence of events to start not with chronic, excessive inflammation, but with chronic oxidative stress. Over time, when overly reactive oxygen-containing molecules cause damage to DNA and other cell structures, our body reads this situation as being highly dangerous and it initiates an inflammatory response to try and reduce the threat posed by the oxidative stress. In either case, we end up with a combination of inadequate detoxification of toxic substances, chronic inflammation and oxidative stress that puts us at greater risk for developing cancer.
In a way that might be unique among foods, the nutrients found in broccoli are able to change this set of connections between inflammation, oxidative stress, detox and cancer. In fact, it would be fair to describe broccoli as containing anti-inflammatory nutrients, antioxidant nutrients, detox-support nutrients, and anti-cancer nutrients as well!

Source:  http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=9

Moringa Leaf Allows Peaceful Sleep

With so many qualities of the Moringa leaf, one is that it allows you to have a peaceful sleep so that you wake up fresh and lively to start your day with and stay bright throughout the day to work in a vigorous manner. Moringa leaf contains essential vitamins and minerals which makes your metabolism strong and your immune system to work accurately. When the whole system of your body will work in an efficient manner, you then get tired and at last sleep peacefully at night. But if you won’t be able to work, you will not have a calm sleep or rest to wake up the next morning fresh and bright to work again.

Moringa leaf boosts up the energy level of your body to help you work all day and then feel tired and sleep. This is what science actually calls a good and correct routine of a normal and healthy person’s life, but this can only happen when a person is healthy enough to work all day and then get rest at night after being tired, but if he won’t feel like working, he won’t get tired and then he won’t be able to sleep properly. Accordingly to doctors, a healthy diet and a healthy life allows you to spend your life in a normal way, but to have a normal way of life, you should try to make your health all the more better.

Moringa leaf allows you to work and sleep at appropriate timings, because it has a soothing ability through which it makes the blood pressure normal and allows you to have a wonderful sleep all day long. This peaceful sleep allows every person to have a normal and relaxed nervous system because your brain will have regular resting times. In this manner, Moringa leaf is also a remedy for people who have sleeping problems due to health concerns or also because they are by birth insomniac.

by:  Moringa Leaf -- http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_12213.shtml

The Many Advantages of Running

It's no secret that a solid exercise plan has many benefits. Longer life, better sleep, slimmer body, these are just a few of the things you can expect with any exercise program. For most people, they question is which exercise is best? If you step into a gym you'll be presented with hundreds of machines, all of which can be very confusing. However, many believe the best exercise doesn't require a gym at all.

If you are wondering what exercise might be right for you, then you've come to the right place. In this article you'll learn why running, or jogging if you prefer, is likely the most beneficial physical activity you can do on a regular basis. Many people have realized this, and by the time you finish reading this article, you will too.

The primary benefit of running is that you can do it anywhere, anytime, with a minimal amount of equipment. All you need are a pair of decent shoes, and you're good to go. It doesn't matter how far or how fast you run, or even how often. Just so long as you do it consistently, you are sure to enjoy some kind of benefit. You don't need to travel anywhere to run either. Two steps away from your front door is the perfect place to start.

The health benefits of running are nothing short of amazing. Several studies have shown that runners consistently have lower cholesterol and blood pressure than those that don't run, despite eating the same foods. These benefits are from running just a couple miles a day, so even with just minimal daily running, you can achieve some very good benefits. Running is also good for your heart and lungs, as you'll find out when you measure your resting pulse rate. A low resting heart rate is a sign of cardiovascular health and efficiency.

Another advantage of running that isn't discussed much is that it can be a tremendous stress buster. Those that consistently run a few miles a day know this. Many have described running as a kind of "moving meditation" that allows you to leave all your troubles and worries behind while you hit the road and wait for the endorphin rush to kick in. Sometimes after a stressful day at work, a good run is just the right activity to put things in perspective.

If you're worried that you're too out of shape to start running, relax. Even a slow jog for a couple hundred yards is enough to start. So long as you are consistent, and you gradually increase your distance as you feel comfortable, you will realize the many benefits of running.

by:  George Hutton -- http://www.articlecity.com/articles/health/article_11940.shtml