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How To Detox Your Body For Better Health

Exercising For Relief From Back Pain

Exercise is very good for you, as you no doubt already know, but it's especially beneficial for lower back pain treatment, if you adopt a handful of user-friendly rules of thumb, and practice the low impact routines. Here's a list of easy and effective exercises that will probably help relieve back pain and offer some welcomed chronic back pain relief:

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Shift and lift: The "shift and lift" is an easy exercise that will beef up the muscles in your lower back and buttocks (in particular) while sitting at your desk. This is therefore something that you can practice while sat at your desk, because of the nature of the 'lifting' factor of the exercise, I would not really recommend that you do this if your peers are watching you, for example. It might make them think there is something wrong with you!

Regardless of that, this is a great exercise for preventing stiff or aching muscles that could result from sitting in the same position for an extended period of time, and it strengthens those muscles too!

Start off by sitting down in a comfortable but upright chair, relax and then clench the muscle in one buttock and hold for a few seconds, lifting your cheek slightly as you do so. Relax and rest for 1 or 2 seconds and then repeat. Do this 15-20 times with each buttock.

Hip sway: This is useful exercise to do if you are standing for any length of time, as it relieves the tautness in your lower back, legs and hips and increases the blood flow around all of your lower body. It also reduces or even eliminates mid back pain that affects a lot of people if they are required to stand for long periods of time.

Stand up straight, completely relax your right knee, then at the same time pushing your left hip out to the side. Pull the hip back in again, and repeat the same action 15-20 times. After that, relax your left knee, and force your right hip out in the same fashion.

Lifting: You'll need a bag - a supermarket plastic bag, or anything else that has suitable handles for lifting will do the job. Have something fairly heavy in the bag - it's not really important what you use, as long as it weighs at least a 3 or 4 kilos (water bottles are perfect for this, because a liter bottle of water weighs almost exactly a kilo).

Place your arm straight down by your side, bend at the knees until the weight in the bag reaches the floor and then straighten your legs and lift the bag. Lift until your legs are once again straight, hold the 'lifted' position for a few seconds, and then return the bag to the floor by bending at the knees once again.

Repeat 15 times on the one side of your body, and then repeat on the other side. By doing it properly, keeping your back straight and bending at your knees - this is a very good way for strengthening the middle and lower back, buns and hips, and an added bonus is that it will help tone your arms and legs.

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Shoulder Shrugs: This is a really easy exercise that as well as keeping your lower back in great shape, it is also a great way of releasing the tension that can build across the back of your shoulders. It will help to keep your arms and shoulder muscles toned and in trim at the same time. It can also be done in either a standing or a sitting position.

For the starting postiion, simply lift your shoulders up towards your ears in a classic shrugging motion, then lift your forearms up to a position where they are parallel to the floor and turn your palms so they face outward. Finally, slant your head to touch your shoulder and hold that position for a few seconds. Return to the start position and do the whole thing again, but this time, tilt your head to the opposite side.

The Glycemic Index Food Chart

Many diabetics are looking for more natural ways to help keep their blood sugar levels under control, and some have discovered the Glycemic Index. The glycemic index is a food chart which rates the affect various foods have on your blood sugar levels. All glycemic index (GI) ratings are computated based on either standard white bread, or straight glucose. Because two methods are used, some GI charts will vary slightly based on which base food item was used for the computation.

Using the Glycemic Index, diabetics can get a general idea of how quickly their blood sugar levels might rise after eating certain foods. Anything with a GI rating of 54 or less is considered a low GI food, which means it will raise your blood sugar levels slowly. Very low GI foods have a rating of less than 39, medium GI rated foods range from 55 to 69, high GI foods are at 70 or above.

Glucose and white bread have a base rating of 100 on either type of GI food chart - which is high of course - and all other foods are compared against them. There are many foods with higher GI ratings, and many with lower ones.

But this rating system is where things can get confusing. If you try to eat foods based on their standard GI rating only, then you may find you're not having much success with controlling your blood sugar levels. You might also feel that some of the ratings make no sense at all. Many people mistakenly assume they're supposed to avoid everything with a GI rating of 70 or higher, and some even think they're supposed to avoid any foods which rate higher than 55. What they don't know is that the base food GI rating can change given different variables.

Not all oatmeal is the same for instance. Instant oatmeal has a higher GI rating than old fashioned cooked oats does. But that's not the most confusing part... sometimes how you cook your foods will change the GI rating too. Pasta for instance, that's eaten while still firm has a lower GI rating than fully cooked soft pasta does. And if you boil one inch cubes of potatoes, you'll have one GI rating, but simply mashing those cubes with your fork will increase the glycemic load of the very same potatoes.

Many fruits have low glycemic loads, but if you cook or chop those fruits, you're often increasing the glycemic load they'll produce. And some fruits are naturally high in glycemic load. Watermelon for instance, has a GI rating of 72.

So glycemic index charts are simply a starting point to use for controlling your blood sugar levels naturally.

The zone diet uses the principles of the glycemic index when recommending foods to lose weight and control blood sugar levels. You can get more information on the zone diet here.

More Tips For Uisng The Glycemic Index

5. Learn different cooking styles. The GI rating of many foods will change based on how it's prepared. Generally the longer something is cooked, the higher the GI rating is. Raw foods tend to have the lowest blood sugar impact, but not everything can be eaten raw. Many things can be cooked less though. Pasta for instance, can be made "al dente" style, meaning it's still firm when eaten. This will cause the pasta to have less of an impact on your blood sugar levels than fully cooked soft pasta will.

6. Realize your personal blood sugar responses. The best way to integrate the glycemic index into your diabetes or hypoglycemia management program naturally, is to keep a diligent watch on how different foods affect you.

Some diabetics can eat a food and have little to no major impact on their blood sugar levels, while others will see their blood sugar go through the roof. When the food affects you can be different as well. You might notice that when you eat one thing for instance, your blood sugar levels will start rising in less than an hour. Something else however, may not start a rise for up to four hours later.

There are some diabetics who can eat pizza for instance, and have little to no problem with their blood sugar levels afterwards. Others however, may find their blood sugar levels go extremely high just hours after eating the pizza. The same examples abound for people who eat breakfast cereals, rice, breads, pasta, and candy.

Part of the reason for these differences is likely due to portion sizes or cooking methods. There is no one exact universal pizza that everyone eats for instance. Some pizzas have very thick crusts, and that gives you a lot more simple carbohydrates when you eat it. Some pizzas have lots of vegetables on them, which can help balance your GI load.

Some pizzas, sauces or toppings could have added sugar in them too. In many cases however, the response is based mainly on what kind of pizza you have. Some may just have cheese, while others have all meat, or a thin crust, and a whole variation of other differences. And all of these differences will affect your blood sugar levels.

That's why the glycemic index is not a hard and fast "diet" in the commonly accepted definition of the word. You have to understand how different foods make your own body respond, how portion sizes change those responses, and how your cooking methods affect you too.

Managing diabetes using the glycemic index can be a very complicated, sometimes overwhelming process. Given time however, and an understanding about how different food works in different people and situations, you can use it to successfully help manage your diabetes much more naturally.

For more pre-diabetes and diabeties remedies, click here. You can learn about a great natural alternative to sugar.

Tips For Using The Glycemic Index Guide Without Depriving Yourself

If you'd like to try the glycemic index diet, or you'd simply like to try eating foods based on their glycemic load to see how well it can help you naturally manage your blood sugar levels, there are many ways to get started. The first thing you'll need to do is get a copy of a Glycemic Index (GI) food chart to use for reference. There are many GI chart resources available freely on the Internet too, so you might be able to simply print those out and stick them on your fridge.

If you're a diabetic or hypoglycemic taking medications to help manage your blood sugar levels, you'll also need to inform your doctor that you'll be trying the GI diet, or integrating some of the GI principals into your eating plans. This way your doctor can help monitor your blood sugar levels, and adjust your medications as needed. Diabetics who take insulin regularly will need to keep a close eye on their blood sugar levels too, and call their doctor if you start noticing frequent blood sugar lows.

Now here are some simple tips for trying the glycemic index food charts in your daily eating plans:

1. Realize there is almost always an alternative food choice. If you happen to like having oatmeal for breakfast, you can lower the glycemic load and speed of blood sugar impacts by eating old fashioned cooked oatmeal instead of instant. You can try sweet potatoes, or yams, instead of white potatoes. Try boiled white potatoes instead of baked, and try pumpernickel or whole grain breads instead of white.

2. You don't have to avoid most high GI foods, you simply need to eat them in moderation. Eating smaller food portions will help lower the GI load on all foods, and only eating high GI foods occasionally will help minimize the overall impact those foods have on your everyday blood sugar levels.

3. Think in terms of meals instead of foods. If you choose to eat a food which has a higher GI rating, you can help minimize the overall impact on your blood sugar levels by having lower GI foods in the same meal. So if you want to have instant oatmeal for breakfast for instance, you can help balance it out a bit by sprinking some fiber bran on top and having strawberries.

Adding proteins, fiber, and good fat food sources can lower the overall GI load of your meal too, as can adding acidic foods such as lemons or vinegar. These foods help reduce the speed at which carbohydrates are absorbed into your body, thus creating a more gradual rise in blood sugar levels instead of quick high ones.

4. Realize that the Glycemic Index is a guideline to help you. It's not a set in stone diet that says what you can or cannot have. Some foods are very high in nutrition even though they may have a moderate to high GI rating. Don't avoid those foods, just eat them in smaller portions. You need the nutrition they provide.

For an herbal approach to helping regulate blood sugar levels, try these natural remedies for pre-diabetes.

Glycemic Index Guide For Diabetes

The glycemic index is a food chart which tells you how quickly certain foods raise your blood sugar levels after eating them. This method of controlling blood sugar levels is still a bit controversial, and it's highly misunderstood too.

When you eat anything - meals, snacks, drinks, anything - your body responds. If you eat or drink something with high levels of simple, quick sugars, your body will respond by quickly showing a rise in blood sugar levels. In healthy people, the body will immediately release insulin to lower those blood sugar levels fast. In diabetics however, the high blood sugar levels can be dangerous.

Now the whole premise of the Glycemic Index, is to learn which foods raise your blood sugar quickly, which raise it at more moderate levels, and which raise it slowly. The slower your blood sugars rise after you'e eaten, the better you're able to manage, maintain and regulate your Diabetes. Foods which raise your blood sugar more slowly also tend to help keep you feeling full and satiated for longer periods of time, and are often lower in fat or higher in fiber too.

The most common misunderstanding most people have with the glycemic index, is that they think they're supposed to only eat certain things and avoid other things. Most diets and eating plans work this way. The glycemic index however, is designed to help you make better eating choices, not tell you what to eat or not eat.

Most people also don't realize that there are conditions which can change the glycemic load of certain foods. Boiled potatoes for instance, have a GI rating which is lower than instant mashed potatoes. But if you mash those boiled potatoes with a fork, you've instantly created a higher GI food.

Glycemic index ratings are also based on certain portion sizes. Many people for instance, think they're not supposed to eat carrots when using the Glycemic Index for diabetes to control their blood sugar levels, because carrots have a GI rating of 71. But that rating is for cooked carrots only. Raw carrots have a much lower GI rating, and you'd have to eat an entire pound to get that large of a glycemic load from them.

Another example is pasta. Most people think they're not allowed to eat pasta when using the Glycemic Index to help regulate their diabetes, but this is not always the case. How well you cook your pasta will change the Glycemic Index rating for it. Undercooked pasta, also known as "al dente" pasta, has a lower GI load then pasta that is cooked until fully soft. Instant rice has a much higher GI rating than long grain or wild rice, and instant oatmeal has a higher GI rating than old fashioned cooked oatmeal. Even the differences in ripeness of a banana can dramatically change the glycemic load from eating that fruit.

The glycemic index is not the only option open to people looking to control their diabetes naturally. This article talks about some of the other natural health strategies.

Arthritis Treatments

Science doesn't have a cure for arthritis yet, but there are many types of treatments available that can help relieve the pain and keep you active.

The exact type of treatment available depends on the particular details of your specific situation, including the joints affected, the extent of the damage, the severity of your pain and how the condition affects your daily activities.  Your physical care practitioner also takes into consideration, when treating you, your age and your occupation.

Ultimately, treatment attempts to focus on eliminating the underlying cause of your arthritis.  But, keep in mind, that the chances are great that the cause of your arthritis is not curable.  Therefore, your personal care practitioner will try to alleviate the symptoms as much as possible.  He'll try to maximize your comfort, minimize your pain, and prevent any disability or further damage.

Your personal care practitioner will try to alleviate your symptoms through a variety of medications starting with acetaminophen – commonly sold as Tylenol.  More than likely, he'll instruct you to take a maximum of  four grams of acetaminophen daily.  That equals two extra-strength Tylenol tablets every six hours. 

If you are using this method, be sure that you don't exceed this dosage.  And  don't drink alcohol in any excess.  Doing either of these – or both – may cause damage to your liver.

Not every treatment recommended by your health care practitioner needs to be prescription strength.  And this recommended approach is one of those. This initial treatment option can be very effective.  It can provide significant relief of the pain associated with arthritis without subjecting you to the adverse side effects of prescription drugs.

Another option that doesn't include prescription drugs involves a class of over-the-counter pain relievers called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, better known as NSAID's.  These, too, are more effective than many people realize.  But they also come with a price, especially if you use these for an extended period of time.  These include ibuprophen (which you may know better as Advil or Motrin), aspirin and naproxen, sold under the brand name of Aleve.

First, keep in mind that you should not take these in any large amount without consulting with your health care practitioner.  Long-term use, in large amounts, can have very serious consequences, including increased risks of hart attacks, strokes and stomach ulcers.  Extended use of these over-the-counter drugs may also cause bleeding in the digestive tract as well as kidney damage.

If these non-prescription drugs do not relieve your symptoms sufficiently, then your health care practitioner may prescribe Cox2 inhibitors.   These medications work by blocking the inflammation promoting enzyme called a Cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2).  These drugs were initially hailed as an improvement over the NSAID's.  They perform the same duties, but with supposedly less risk of potential stomach problems.

In recent years, though, this class of drugs has been in the news for its potentially deadly side effects.  Marketed under such names as Vioxx and Bextra, arthritis patients soon discovered an increased risk of heart attacks.  Indeed, several deaths were supposedly attributed to these medications.  These two, in particular, were removed from the market.

However, Celcoxib, sold under the brand name Celebrex, is still available to those with arthritic pain.  But most professionals recommend that it be prescribed for only the shortest amount of time with the least possible dosage.  Only you and your health care practitioner can determine whether this is the proper treatment for your particular case of arthritis.

Another weapon in the arsenal against arthritis symptoms your health care practitioner may pull out is classified as a "steroid".  This class of drug is more formally called corticosteroids, which work by suppressing the immune system.  By doing so, it effectively alleviates the inflammation.  This can be administered either orally or through injection.  While it's an option in most forms of arthritis, it should not be used in cases of infectious arthritis.  Moreover, steroids, too, are not without their side effects.  These include upset stomach, gastrointestinal bleeding, high blood pressure, thinning of the bones, as well as cataracts.  The risks are far greater the longer you're taking them or with the higher dosages.

For natural joint care treatments, click here.

Diet And Exercise Tips For Arthritis

Conventional medical science, quite frankly, offers little in the way of long-term serious help for the arthritis sufferer.  This is ironic since there are so many people in the United States alone who are subjected to its aches and pains in some way.

Many of these people are looking towards other, more natural means to alleviate the symptoms and stop the cycle of pain.  There are two options – available to everyone – that should be at the top of your list:  diet and exercise.

Exercise.  While it sounds like the last thing someone with painful knees or other joints really wants to do, it's one of the best things you can do for your body.  Regular exercise is absolutely necessary for keeping healthy joints healthy, relieving stiffness reducing the pain and fatigue associated with arthritis, and improving both your muscle and your bone strength.  It's also an essential tool in weight control.  Being overweight, statistics say, makes you more vulnerable to developing arthritis.

Your personal health care practitioner should encourage you to exercise.  She or a physical therapist can also help you tailor a program that is suited to your individual needs.  Included in these activities should be exercises that can provide greater range of motion for more flexible joints, strength training for muscle tone and low-impact aerobic activity.

The best exercises if you have severe arthritis are water-based activities:  swimming and water aerobics.  The buoyancy of the water puts less of a strain on your joints. These are an excellent methods, additionally, to help build your strength, ease stiff joints and relax your sore muscles.

Other good low-impact activities for those who suffer with joint problems include bicycling – both outdoor biking and using a stationary bike.  You might also want to investigate yoga.  It's slow, gentle movements will, not only help you extend your range of motion, but it'll also help relieve those sore joints.  All without the pounding of running or aerobic exercises.

They say we are what we eat.  Your diet is, without a doubt, the most effective tool you have in constructing a healthy, active lifestyle.  It's only been within the last 25 or so years, that the mainstream medical establishment began noticing this. 

If you plan to lessen your arthritic symptoms by changing your dietary habits, start with water.  Drink more of it.  Drink at least six to eight glasses daily.  This, many health care practitioners agree, flushes toxins from your body.

At the same time, you'll want to carefully switch your diet from processed and packaged foods which are all too prevalent today to a more basic menu.  Increase your intake of green vegetables.  Eat more green, leafy vegetables as well as celery, kale and okra.  Ensure that you eat a wide-range of veggies and other foods, from carrots to avocados, to seaweed and spirulina.  Especially beneficial to the arthritic patient are barley and wheat grass products.  Both of these have anti-inflammatory and detoxifying effects on the body.

And don't forget to include cold-water fish in your new line of menus, too.  Cold-water fish are especially great for those with arthritis, because they possess plenty of Omega-3 fatty acids. 

Just as there are foods that help alleviate your arthritic condition, there are certain foods that are best left uneaten.  These only make the aches and pains of your arthritis worse.  Many of these are from the nightshade family of foods, including tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes and peppers. 

Another plant of the nightshade family is tobacco.  If you smoke and have arthritis, try to find a good smoking cessation program and kick the habit.  If you don't smoke, don't even think about starting.

Another category of food that only worsens your pain is called calcium inhibitors.  They include red meat, dairy, eggs and chicken.  But there are other food and drink in this category as well, including alcohol, coffee, refined sugar – and anything made with it – as well as salt.  If it's impossible to totally give up these foods, then at least try to cut back on them as much as possible.  You'll discover that the pain is far less severe when you do.

For more on joint pain during exercise, click here.

Prostate Cancer And Alternative Health

Alternative medicine is fast catching on as a treatment for all cancers, including prostate cancer.  This is mainly because of the dissatisfaction of individuals with conventional medicine.  The problem is that many individuals cannot accept that life is not eternal and conventional medicine is not a cure for all diseases. Before seeking alternative medicine, one should know that the majority of the products have never been proven scientifically and the field is full of charlatans who prey on desperate ill people.

There are numerous nutrition supplements and herbs for prostate health, which are found in every store all over the country - many of them claiming great success in treating prostate cancer and curing all other cancers.  Most of the success of these products is claimed by the industry and the sellers.

The question remains, are these therapies effective?  Anecdotal data always suggests that these products are effective but no large controlled trials are available on the majority of these products.  Even though these products are widely used, there is absolutely no regulation or control of these products.  The ingredients, their content or their purity is not assessed and their long term safety remains unknown.  In addition, fake supplements are on the increase and buyers should be cautious and consult an herbalist or other medical professional for advice on the best alternative or complementary treatment options.

As with most other medical conditions, exercise may not prevent or cure prostate cancer, but exercise has so many benefits that it would be an injustice to not recommend exercise.  Exercise has miraculous healing powers, and just 30 minutes a day can help improve your overall physical and mental health.

Once a diagnosis of prostate cancer is made, the news is always devastating and depressing.  Many individuals may not be able to cope with such news.  To cope with prostate cancer, the best way is to educate oneself.  One should maintain your normal routine for work and the rest of your life.  No one should suffer the burden of a cancer diagnosis on their own.  Instead, seek comfort from family members and friends.  And help is even available by calling the National Cancer Organization(s).  The best way to deal with the cancer is by being well-informed about the cancer.

Because it is not always easy to tell which alternative products may be unsafe, the best advice is to seek advice from your physician or herbalist.  Some alternative health products are by no means cheap, so by having blind faith in products, you can lose your money and also further damage your health if you are taking a therapy that is not right for you.  Therefore, seek professional advice before starting any therapy.
 

Nutrition For Prostate Cancer

Unfortunately, it is not yet known for sure how prostate cancer can be prevented, but one can take measures to decrease the risks or slow its progression.  The most important steps one can take to maintain good health is to be well, be physically active and get regular checks up from the doctor.

Studies from different geographic regions have helped to identify dietary differences between different regions of the world.  This information has led to recommendations regarding dietary changes to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. 

Selenium is a strong antioxidant.  Studies reveal that the prevalence of prostate cancer is higher in those areas where the soil is lower in selenium content than where the content of selenium is higher.  This is because selenium from the soil gets into our fruits, vegetables, other crops and even water.  Another study reported significantly lower cases of prostate cancer and a 50% reduction in mortality for men who took daily selenium supplements. 

Others have found that blood selenium levels in men are low when they are diagnosed with and subsequently development advanced prostate cancer.  A third study revealed that there are high toenail selenium levels in men with a low risk of developing advanced prostate cancer.
 
Data indicate that Asian men are much less likely to get prostate cancer than North American men.  But if these Asian men immigrate to the US, they lose adopt the same higher prostate cancer risk within one generation.  Studies reveal that the Asian diet is rich in soy, which is a major source of genistein and other isoflavonoids.  The beneficial effects of the isoflavonoids are thought to be related to its estrogen-like effects.

Data from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study indicates that increased consumption of tomatoes (which are rich in lycopene) causes a significant reduction in the risk of developing prostate cancer.  Other data indicate that even eating tomato sauces may also decrease the risk of prostate cancer.  However, the latest National Institutes of Health (NIH) study refutes this claim.

Vitamin E is known to act as an antioxidant and has the ability to stop the division of rapidly dividing cells, such as cancer cells.  In one study, it was observed that men who took vitamin E had a significantly lower risk of prostate cancer compared to those who did not.  Other studies are currently underway to determine how vitamin E works to prevent cancer and which cancers may respond to vitamin E therapy.

Other nutrients that may diminish the risk of prostate cancer include folic acid, vitamin D, vitamin A derivatives and unsaturated fatty acids.  Numerous reports exist about the benefits of these nutrients and the NIH will be undertaking controlled trials in the near future.

Current trials are evaluating use of stem cells, gene therapy and immune therapy in the treatment of prostate cancer which has already spread.  These newer treatments are currently only available at major cancer centers.

Prostate Cancer Treatments

Prostate cancer can be treated in more than one way. Depending on the rate of growth, age, life expectancy, stage and spread, many different therapies or a combination therapy is used.

You may either receive direct radiation therapy to the prostate or the surgeon may place small radioactive implants in the prostate.  They both work by killing the cancer cells.  Today, radiation therapy is applied in a very sophisticated way to prevent toxicity.  With precise focusing of radiation beams, greater doses of radiation can be without increasing the frequency of complications.  During the radiation therapy, all individuals are protected by custom-designed shields.

Radiation treatments are generally given over a 6-8 week period.  The treatment is not painful and does not require anesthesia.  The side effects of radiation therapy are not instant, and so one may gradually develop the following:

• Frequent urination
• impotence (more common in elderly men)
• loose stools
• rectal bleeding
• urgency to defecate
• rectal ulcers
• rectal pain upon defecation

Once the radiation treatment course is complete, the majority of these side effects gradually disappear.  However, a few unlucky men may continue to experience rectal pain, bleeding or ulcers.  If these do not resolve with medical therapy, surgery may be required.

Because testosterone is known to stimulate growth of prostate cancer cells, anti-testosterone therapy (called hormonal therapy) is frequently used to treat prostate cancer.  This therapy either uses drugs to stop the production of the male sex hormones or the entire source of the hormone is surgically stopped by removing the testicle (orchidectomy).

Hormonal therapy is most effective in men with advanced prostate cancer.  The treatment does help to slow the growth and frequently shrinks the tumor.  Because this therapy is effective in shrinking tumors, hormonal therapy can be used in the early stage of prostate cancer — often in combination with radiation and surgery.  Once the tumor size is reduced, surgery or radiation therapy can be used to destroy whatever tumor is left behind.

Most men develop side effects from these hormonal-based drug therapies.  These include nausea, diarrhea, breast enlargement, decreased libido, impotence, hot flashes, weight gain and loss of muscle and bone mass.  Liver function has to be regularly monitored because all these drugs have the potential to cause liver damage.

A few men elect to undergo an orchidectomy.  The testes are a major source of testosterone and surgical removal of the testes eliminates the hormone.  This mode of therapy is usually for individuals with advanced prostate cancer and is quite effective.  The procedure is actually not as painful as it sounds.

Surgical removal of the prostate gland is another option for patients with prostate cancer.  This is a major surgical procedure which removes the entire prostate and adjacent lymph nodes.  The surgeon tries to preserve the nerves and muscles which control urination and sexual function.  Two surgical approaches are available to remove the prostate: retropubic and perineal.  Both have been designed to prevent the complications to the adjacent organs, however, a fair number of individuals continue to have complications.

Chemotherapy drugs are frequently used to treat prostate cancer. These toxic drugs kill the rapidly growing cancer cells.  This form of therapy is not curative but can help control the spread.  However, chemotherapy is associated with more side effects and is generally given to men who have prostate cancer that did not respond to hormonal therapy.  Today, various combinations of chemotherapeutic drugs are used and may even be combined with hormones.  Early results are positive but long term resulting are not available.

You can read about prostate health supplements here.

Natural Herbal Depression Remedies

Because of all the publicity of the harsh - even deadly - effects of some drugs prescribed for depression, many more people than ever before are searching for natural alternatives to this health condition.

And there are plenty of options from which to choose.  Many of those selections are in the form of herbs.  If you decide to go this route though you need to keep in that you should not augment your prescription medication with herbal supplements that treat the same condition.  For example, mixing St. John's Wort with prescription antidepressants can be hazardous.

In fact, it's a great idea before embarking on any alternative treatment program to check with your personal care physician and a professional herbalist.  Please keep each informed to all of your medications – even those not related to your depression. 

Herbal treatment, is indeed, many find, a kinder, gentler way to help your body move past the sluggishness and fog as well as the black veil of moodiness that envelopes those suffering from depression.  One of the most popular herbs, individuals use is St. John's Wort. 

Used as an antidepressant, its effectiveness has withstood the scrutiny of many clinical trials and double blind studies.  This legendary herb seems to work better on alleviating the symptoms of depression, than many high quality prescription drugs on the market today.

Another potent antidepressant is licorice.  Don't let the name fool you.  It may sound like the candy you gobbled down as a kid.  The herb, used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine, is an amazing source of the femail hormone, estrogen.  Believe it or not, both women and men are in need of this to stay healthy.  But more than that, licorice stimulates and regulates the body's adrenal glands.  And as an added bonus, it's also a powerful aid to the heart and circulatory system.

Ginseng is also the first choice of many people suffering from depression.  It's well known for balancing the hormonal state of the system while building a remarkable level of resistance against the ravages of stress.  It's also an energy-building supplement – and extra energy is something many individuals suffering from depression need desperately.

When searching for natural herbal remedies for depression, don't overlook gota kola.  A stimulator of the brain, this helpful herb combats the symptoms of "brain fog" that many experience during bouts of depression.  Gota kola also normalizes the hormonal and nervous systems of the body.  It's an astonishingly effective "pick-me-up" when it's combined with ginseng and cayenne. 

Fish Oils are said to have mild, mood balancing effects. These also contribute to vitamin and mineral deficiencies in your body, which can be a cause of depression as well.

In addition to using herbal remedies and supplements for treating depression, there are several natural ways to treat it as well. Meditation, Yoga, and Exercise are the three that give best results. Exercise particularly will increase your endorphins, and give you a bit of a "high". Meditation will help calm your nerves and relieve stress, while Yoga accomplishes both exercise and a form of meditation at the same time.

Natural Herbal Remedies For Menopause

Today, herbal therapies are also being used in the treatment of menopause.  There are certain vegetable foods that are known to contain phytoestrogens (similar to the female sex hormone-estrogen). 

There are two main types of phytoestrogens — isoflavones and lignans.  Isoflavones have been found in soybeans, chickpeas and peas.  Lignans have been found in flaxseeds, whole grains and some fruits and vegetables.  Researchers in Asia first noticed that women in that part of the world had very mild menopausal symptoms and a much lower incidence of heart disease and osteoporosis.  It was later discovered that their diet was rich in phytoestrogens that provided the protective effect. 

However, the addition of isoflavones to western diets has not been found to be effective at least in the short term and longer terms follow-up is required.  There has also been a concern that high estrogen levels after menopause may be associated with an increased incidence of breast cancer.  So far the data on soy products remains unknown and all reports remain anecdotal. But research on this topic is ongoing.

Vitamin E has been widely postulated to diminish the symptoms of menopause.  Its effects are immediate.  However, there are only a few reports and it only works in a few individuals.  Why it does not work in all women remains a mystery.  Some nutritionists recommend higher doses of vitamin E in women who do not respond to a low dose of vitamin E.  However, the FDA strongly advises against taking more than 400 IU of this vitamin because of the potential for serous toxicity.

Black cohosh has been widely used in northern Europe for more than 2 decades and has recently become popular in North America.  However, even the European data indicates that it does not work in all women and even today there are no scientific data on its clinical benefits.  However, the product is safe.  The North American Menopause Society does supports short-term use of black cohosh for treating menopausal symptoms because it seems to have a low risk of side effects when used for up to six months.  But the exact effects of long term use are not known. 

There are numerous other dietary supplements available that have been postulated to treat menopausal symptoms; many of menopaual females even swear by some of them.  These products include dong quai, licorice, chasteberry, evening primrose oil and wild yam (natural progesterone cream).  Even though these products have been around for more than 2 decades, there is no scientific data to back any of the claims made by the women users or the manufacturers. 
 
Before one starts to take any herbal products be sure to consult your doctor and herbalist.  There definitely are some herbals which are useful but the question is which ones are best for you.  And in the end, like all things in life, be an informed consumer.

Dealing With Menopause Symptoms Naturally

For most females, menopause is a transient period and the symptoms subside over a period of 1-3 years.  However, even this short term period can be tormenting and there are a few steps one can take to reduce the burden of being a female at this time period.

For those experiencing hot or cold flashes, exercise regularly and avoid spicy foods, hot beverages (coffee), alcohol and hot surroundings.  Dress appropriately to prevent the congested feeling. 

Menopause is associated with dryness of the vagina due to the lack of secretions (due to low estrogens).   There are numerous over the counter products available that can replace the secretions and even make sexual intercourse enjoyable.  The products are available at any pharmacy and include lubricants such as Astroglide, K-Y Jelly, moisturizers (Replens, Vagisil) or vaginal estrogen. 

Sleep patterns are always altered during menopause and one should avoid aggravating this insomnia with hot beverages and alcohol.  Try relaxation techniques, deep breathing and muscle relaxations.  Many books are available on these topics.

During menopause, the pelvic floors weaken and women feel like the whole bottom part of the body is sagging.  One should learn how to perform Kegel exercises.  These important and simple exercises will help you strengthen your pelvic and abdominal muscles.  This will go a long way to improving not only your sex life but also decrease the chance of developing urinary incontinence.

When attempting to treat the symptoms of menopause naturally, nutrition and lifestyle changes can be one of your biggest allies.  Aerobic exercise is simply all-around good for you; it helps keep your heart and lungs healthy and can help you to maintain bone density.  These things are all the more important when going through menopause. 

Exercise cannot prevent menopausal symptoms, but it can certainly help to alleviate the frequency and severity of some symptoms. Beginning and sticking with an exercise program can lessen occurrences of hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, fatigue, irritability, anxiety, and depression. A moderate level of physical activity throughout the day helps most people to sleep better.

As menopause sets in, women realize that they have less energy and have a decline in their physical activity and also a loss of lean body mass.  To avoid the ravages of age and, hormonal changes of menopause, plan on starting some type of physical activity soon.  Walking, swimming and even light jogging may be a start; the important thing is not to allow the normal weight gain of menopause to continue.  There are numerous drugs for weight loss but some have many potent side effects.  The most important is thing is to start or resume some activity.  In the end, a healthy body always represents a healthy mind.

Nutrition And Menopause

Everyone agrees that a well balanced diet is essential for good health and this is especially true when it comes to menopause.  However, the exact nutritional requirements for the menopausal female are varied and change with age.

A healthy premenopausal woman should have about 1,000 mg of calcium per day.  A 1994 consensus conference at the National Institutes of Health recommended that women after menopause consume 1,500 mg s per day if they are not using hormonal replacement or 1,000 mg per day in conjunction with hormonal replacement.  Foods which are high in calcium include milk, yogurt, cheese, some seafood products and dark green leafy vegetables (spinach and broccoli).  Calcium is also available as a pill or a powder and is easily absorbed from the gut.  For those who have milk intolerance, acidophilus milk is more tolerable.

The bone forming vitamin D is now becoming an important additive for all women nearing menopause.  It enhances calcium absorption and helps to strengthen bone.  Numerous studies have shown that post-menopausal women who take vitamin D have a lower incidence of spinal fractures and joint pains.  Other studies reveal that vitamin D consumption is associated with a marked decrease in bone pain. 

However, these issues remain controversial because not all patients demonstrate the same benefit.  One also has to be aware that excess consumption of vitamin D can lead to formation of kidney stones, constipation, abdominal pain and even bone pain.

Most dieticians and physicians indicate that an overall healthy diet for a woman during menopause should consist of foods with low fat and less saturated fat.  This diet is ideal not only for menopausal females but overall good health.  Fat intake should be less than 30% of your daily calories

Eating fruits, vegetables, and whole grain cereal products, especially those high in vitamin C and carotene are absolutely vital for obtaining all the essential nutrients for bone growth.  Other plants foods highly recommended include prunes, oranges, grapefruit, carrots, winter squash, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, and green leafy vegetables. 

These foods are good sources of vitamins and minerals and the major sources of dietary fiber.  The increased fiber content not only helps with constipation but is associated with a decrease in colon cancer.  Menopausal females are encouraged to consume 20 to 30 grams of fiber per day.

We have come to realize that meat is usually tasty but not so good for health.  Meat has been associated with numerous health problems, including high blood pressure, obesity, heart disease and colon cancer.  Also, meat does not contain any essential nutrients for bone growth.

Menopause is a difficult time and can be associated with mood swings and even depression.  Some menopausal women do not even like to eat or eat an unhealthy diet.  For those individuals, supplements may be necessary.  During menopause, getting sufficient levels of some nutrients can make a significant difference in having healthy bones and controlling symptoms of menopause.  Most physicians recommend vitamins C, D and E. 

It is advisable to see a dietician to supervise the initial phase of dietary manipulation.  Large doses of some vitamins can have serious side effects.  Vitamins A and D in large doses can be particularly dangerous.

Menopause Treatments - HRT

The symptoms of menopause can seem like a lot to take on, but the good news is that there is a myriad of treatments available.  It is important to remember that menopause itself is a normal part of life, not a condition or disease that requires treatment.  However, treatment of some of the symptoms of menopause is possible if they become severe. 

The best treatment approach is to try nutritional, herbal and lifestyle changes first, and if they are not effective at treating the unbearable symptoms, then considers drug therapies.  This is best, because drug therapies can have side effects worse than the menopausal symptoms themselves.

One of the most common menopausal treatments in the medical community is hormone therapy, also known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT).   HRT, administered orally usually as pills, consists of the female hormone estrogen, or a combination of estrogens and progesterone.  This helps to maintain estrogen levels in the body and can control symptoms of menopause related to the decline of estrogen, such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness. 

While an effective treatment method, HRT has been shown to have its risks.  Long-term studies of women receiving hormone therapy with both estrogen and progesterone have shown an increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and breast cancer.  Estrogen therapy alone has been associated with an increased risk of endometrial cancer.

Similar to HRT, there are also vaginal hormonal treatments available, which are sometimes combined with oral estrogen treatments.  Local (vaginal) treatments include vaginal estrogen creams, tablets, and the vaginal estrogen ring.  These treatments carry similar risks to those of oral estrogen treatments.

Oral contraceptive pills can be used as hormone therapy to treat women in the early stages of menopause who are experiencing irregular vaginal bleeding (“spotting” or “breakthrough bleeding”) by regulating menstrual periods.  It can also aid in reducing hot flashes and night sweats.  It is important to remember that while the pill is a very common prescription, it may not be right for all women, and carries its own host of risks.  Some of the more serious risks include blood clots, stroke and heart attacks, which are increased if you smoke.  And, just like young women taking the pill, menopausal women taking the pill have the risk of severe weight gain.

Anytime you are using drugs to introduce hormones into your body there will be side effects, so speak to your doctor before deciding on which treatment is right for you.

Menopause

Menopause is often lightly referred to as the "change of life".  It is a normal part of the aging process for women, signaled by irregular menstrual cycles and ending in the cessation of menstruation altogether.  This transition into a new phase of life can be confusing.  What is menopause?  When does menopause start?  What symptoms will I experience?

For most women, menopause begins between the ages of 45 and 55, though some women may reach menopause as early as 30 or not until 60.  There is no way to predict when an individual woman will reach menopause, though there does seem to be a correlation between the menopausal ages of a mother and daughter.

The start of menopause is marked by irregular menstrual cycle lengths, which can mean longer, or shorter menstrual cycles, and lighter or heavier periods.  Due to the natural hormone fluctuations in a woman’s body at this time, other signs or symptoms may present themselves in varying degrees.

As menopause progresses, a woman’s body gradually decreases production of the female hormone estrogen.  This hormone regulates menstruation and pregnancy, as well as the development of female physical characteristics such as body shape and body hair.  Estrogen also acts to protect bone; therefore women going through or who have gone through menopause are at increased risk for osteoporosis.

The severity of menopausal symptoms experienced varies greatly from woman to woman.  Some women may experience significant menopause symptoms, both physical and physiological, while others may experience few or none.  A common and much-bemoaned symptom of menopause is the dreaded hot flashes.  A feeling of warmth that spreads over the body, often most pronounced in the head and chest, hot flashes usually last several minutes.  Often times, hot flashes are accompanied by night sweats, an episode of drenching sweat that occurs in the night time.  Obviously, the quality of sleep can be affected.

Other common symptoms can become more noticeable as menopause progresses. When estrogen levels fall, the tissue lining the vagina begins to thin and lose elasticity.  This occurrence manifests itself in symptoms such as itching, dryness, and irritation.  The lining of the urethra is affected in similar ways to that of the lining of the vagina, which can lead to increased risk of urinary tract infections, or feeling the need to “go” far more frequently than usual.  Menopausal women may also notice weight gain or redistribution of body fat.  Since the body continues to produce a small amount of testosterone, women may also notice hair growth in places like the upper lip, chin, and abdomen.

Aside from the physical changes menopause can bring, emotional symptoms are common too.  Memory problems, fatigue, irritability, and rapid changes in mood are often reported by women in the early stages of menopause or pre-menopause (peri-menopause).  However, it can be difficult to say how much of any of these problems is caused by menopause itself and how big a part outside factors could play, such as outside stress or other life changes.

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