How to Stop Vomiting - Foods to Avoid

There are many reasons why people vomit and many wan to learn how to stop from vomiting. Before you try to stop vomiting you need to try to determine why you or someone else is vomiting in the first place. Most vomiting is due to diarrhea, cholera or food poisoning. Vomiting can sometimes be caused by very serious diseases like diabetes so if you can't determine the cause of your vomiting you should speak to a doctor.

One of the best treatments is to try to prevent it from happening in the first place. You can take steps to make sure that you eliminate the need to vomit. These steps include not eating stale foods, avoiding deep fried and spicy foods, don't use a lot of oil, eating fresh fruits and vegetables to keep your insides healthy, and not eating too much meat.

Some ways to stop vomiting include taking an electrolyte liquid or rice water to the individual vomiting, avoid giving them lemon water, do not drink water or liquids as it can cause the vomiting to get worse, give soda water as it can counteract vomiting, chew gum with a minty flavor, have the person lying down and resting, avoiding fatty foods, and sipping lukewarm water, but only after it has been boiled.

When you vomit you can easily become dehydrated but it can be difficult, as some liquids will cause your vomiting to get worse. It is best that you wait an hour after vomiting so you don't trigger the vomiting again. Sports drinks and flat soda are popular.

A great and effective home remedy used roasted cardamom in a mixture of honey. Ginger tea can help with the nausea associated with vomiting and honey can soothe your throat. Ginger is a natural remedy for motion sickness and is excellent at settling your stomach.

Reasons and Remedies For Blood in Stool

There are many reasons you may discover blood in your stool, and some of them are life threatening. Some are less so, but finding the cause is very important.

How do you know there's blood?

Seeing something red is one way, but that is not the only thing to watch for. If the blood has been in or through the stomach, it won't be red. It'll be black and have the consistency of tar or coffee grounds. Both types can be a sign of something bad.

What causes it?

1) Medications and herbs: Aspirin, willow bark and blood thinners can cause bleeding in the intestines. Anti-platelet medications can do the same thing. This is something you should speak to your doctor about, as you may need a change in these medications.

2) Ulcers: Whether it's in your stomach or your intestines, an ulcer can bleed. Stomach ulcers can cause this to exit on both ends of the alimentary canal. This is a potentially life threatening problem, so getting treatment fast is important.

3) Hemorrhoids: This burning, itching problem around the anus can actually rupture. If so, the color will be fairly bright red. Diverticulitis (an abnormal pocket in the intestines) can also bleed.

4) Crohn's Disease: Another name for this is ulcerative colitis, and as the name suggests it causes ulcers in the digestive tract.

5) Colon Cancer: This is obviously not something that can be treated at home, and one of its symptoms is bloody stools.

Some of these problems can be dealt with using herbal remedies and lifestyle changes. Others may need the help of your doctor, especially if cancer is the cause. It's always best to consult your doctor, especially in the above cases. The doctor can give you a diagnosis and help you come up with a plan that will be beneficial for you.

For ulcers and Crohn's Disease, you may be able to use marshmallow or licorice root to coat the digestive tract. You will probably also need an antibiotic, at least in the case of regular ulcers. Don't take any medications at the same time as the herbs, as it can prevent proper absorption. Don't use licorice root if you have high blood pressure.

Hemorrhoids may be eased by sitz baths, witch hazel and aloe vera. The witch hazel acts as an astringent, and may shrink the hemorrhoid. Aloe will help reduce inflammation. Don't drink the juice, as it can cause explosive diarrhea, which would be an irritant.

Colon cancer, as mentioned above, cannot be treated at home. If the doctor approves, oats and marshmallow may be useful. Due to the side effects, licorice root would be a bad idea.

There is one more thing to consider if you see an off-color stool. Some of the things we eat can change the color and not be a threat. Black licorice and pepto-bismol, lead, iron tablets and blueberries can turn the stool dark. Tomatoes can give a reddish color, especially if a great many are eaten.

Home Remedies For Hemorrhoids

We have veins running all through our bodies. Yet most people are only aware of the ones that are seen, like the ones in our hands and feet. Most people are not aware that we also have veins located in our rectum and anus. But we do become very aware of these veins when they become swollen and inflamed, especially when stool is passed. A hemorrhoid, or piles, is the known term used for this condition.

Natural home remedies are the best option for the caring of hemorrhoids and the uncomfortable symptoms associated with them. But what causes hemorrhoids? There is a number of underlying causes and by learning what creates this painful situation, treatment and even prevention is made easier.

1. Constipation.
*Not drinking enough water and diet low in fiber causes hard stool - makes you strain to have a bowel movement.
*Constipation and straining when defecating is a sure cause of hemorrhoids. The veins there will not be able to tolerate the pressure and therefore they will get swollen and may even start bleeding.

2. Diarrhea.
*Most people do not associate diarrhea with hemorrhoids. Diarrhea is considered as passing watery stools more than three times a day for over 2 days. When you have diarrhea, you will spend a lot of time in the toilet straining to get out the entire stool. Despite the fact that it is watery stool, you still exert pressure and this can cause hemorrhoids.

3. Pregnancy.
*Pregnant women also suffer from hemorrhoids because the baby puts pressure on the mother lower abdomen and as a result the rectal veins swell.

Some home remedies for hemorrhoids.
4. If you have pain and feel like you are on fire, use an aloe vera gel to soothe you
5. Another pain reliever is myrrh, golden seal, and Bayberry
6. Another remedy that works for swollen veins is witch Hazel. Get a clean cloth or piece of cotton and use it as an applicator.

7. A mixture of one teaspoon of flowers of sulfur and Vaseline applied three times a day will also help.

8. Soak figs in water overnight. The next morning drink the water before eating any food.
9. Get cumin seeds and roast one teaspoon. Mix a teaspoon of unroasted and roasted seeds then grind them to form a powder which you will take as another remedy.

10. Mango seeds that have been dried and ground into a powder also relieve hemorrhoid symptoms.

11. Another remedy is to grate white radish and mix with honey then take it two times a day.
12. Mixing mashed bananas and milk then drinking a glass full of this will relieve the symptoms.

13. A teaspoon of coriander juice mixed with sugar taken three times a day also works.
14. Soak in a sitz bath. Fill the bathtub with warm water and salt, or baking soda.
15. Make an icepack with a soft towel and apply directly to swollen area.

Travel Pooper

I always love to travel, but the problem with me is getting a loose bowel movement. I enjoy trying new things as I travel; trying the cultures of any country I go to. Trying new cuisine is the one thing I enjoy the most. But then I get a loose bowel movement like this one time when I went to China. This loose bowel movement is called the "Traveler's Diarrhea". Let me give you some overview about this certain disease, so as to avoid getting it.

Traveler's diarrhea is common to occur in people who travel a lot. About 20-25% of international travelers gets diarrhea. The usual onset of traveler's diarrhea is during the first week of travel but may still occur all through out the travel or even after the travel. The easiest way of determining if you got traveler's diarrhea is the destination of your travel since there is a higher chance of it developing in some countries of Middle East, Latin America, Asia, and Africa. A young adult, immunosuppressed patients, diabetic person, or a person with an inflammatory bowel disease, or even someone who takes H2 blockers or antacid has a higher risk of getting traveler's diarrhea. But men and women has an equal rate of occurrence. Traveler's diarrhea is caused by eating or ingesting a fecally contaminated food or water.

Common Symptoms of Traveler's Diarrhea

o Abrupt Onset - occurs instantly with out any warning

o Increased frequency, volume, and weight of stool

o Altered consistency of stool - it can be soft or watery

o Frequency usually ranges from four to five loose or watery bowel movement per day

o Nausea - the feeling of wanting to vomit

o Vomiting

o Abdominal cramping

o Bloating

o Fever

o Urgency to defecate

o Body malaise - also related to body weakness

This is a benign disease and disappears in 1 to 2 days without treating it. Usually traveler's diarrhea resolve in a week but in some resolves in a month. This is caused by a bacterial enteropathogen called the Escherichia coli or the ETEC. ETEC causes a watery diarrhea and is commonly developing with low-grade fever.

There are ways that we can do to avoid traveler's diarrhea. Preventive measures should be practiced, unlike me who sometimes is too stubborn, do not observe or do this preventive measures. But don't be like me, because I get what I deserve after eating those nasty foods. Here are some ways we can use to prevent ourselves from getting a traveler's diarrhea.

o Do not buy or eat food or drink beverages from unhygienic establishments or from street vendors.

o Raw or undercooked meat and seafood should be avoided.

o In eating raw fruits and vegetables, peel them yourselves. Don't eat or buy peeled fruits or vegetables.

o Tap water, unpasteurized milk and dairy products are usually fecally contaminated.

Traveler's diarrhea is a self-limiting disease, it resolves without even treating it. But we can oral rehydrate ourselves to be able to replace the lost fluid and electrolytes from our system. Clear fluids are often recommended for us adults.

So let us practice more of the preventive measures for us to enjoy more of our trip or vacation.

Why Was There Blood in My Dog's Stool?

Yeah, it can be quite a scare, but blood in dog stool is quite common and it should have to mean a trip to the emergency clinic. But, when should you really worry? Well, it all depends on the general state of the dog.

Has he been eating well?
Does he have an appetite?
Do you notice a decrease in energy?
Has she been vomiting?
How much blood was in the stool?
Do you cause him pain when you push on his belly?
Is her belly swollen?
Has he ingested something like antifreeze, plants or any other substance?
Has she had diarrhea for more than a day?
Does his anal glands look swollen?

If any of the above is happening and the dog is NOT acting normal, then a prompt trip to the vet is totally necessary to make sure it's not something more serious than having eaten a small bone in the park. But if the dog is active, and eating well and acting as his old self, then you could keep an eye on him for the next few days to see if it happens again. If it doesn't happen again, you don't have to rush to the clinic, but make sure to have your vet give him a checkup as soon as possible.

Sometimes dogs will swallow a piece of bone, or a toy or something that scratches the walls of their large intestines, causing him to pass blood in the stool. The blood might appear in the stool for a couple of days, but then it should go away. If it doesn't, an x-ray might help you see if something is stuck in there. Surgery might be necessary to remove the object.

Parasites can also be the cause of blood in the stool as they irritate the intestine walls. Parasites can be treated with the right medication.

He could have developed an allergy to the food he's been eating, or there might have been a sudden change of diet.

It could be an infection of the anal sacs. These sacs are located on either side of the anus and they contain a substance with which dogs mark their territory. They get emptied every time your dog poops, however, sometimes they can get infected if they don't get emptied completely.

Blood can also be cause by an inflammation of the colon or rectum, or a benign or malignant tumor in the abdomen or anal area.

Worst case scenario, it could be Parvovirus or Coronavirus, especially if the dog's been vomiting as well. These diseases can be very serious, even fatal.

The medical terms for blood in dog stool are hematochezia or melena. In hematochezia, the blood will look fresh and bright red, which means that the blood in the dog's stool comes most probably from the lower intestines, the colon or the rectum. Hematochezia in dogs can be a sign of a minor problem, but it can also point to a more severe disorder.

In melena, the dog's stool looks black, which means the blood is digested and comes from the upper intestinal tract. Melena is more serious than a periodic case of hematochezia. If in the past day or so, you gave Peptobismol to the dog, maybe you have nothing to worry about, since Pepto can be the cause of black dog stool.

In any case, blood in the dog's stool should not be taken lightly and you should always take him or her to the vet as soon as possible. In the meantime, you can feed them white rice with a little garlic or garlic powder mixed in, boiled potatoes, green beans, or a little boiled chicken. Avoid commercial foods until you are sure of what's going on.

Infrequent Bowel Movements? How to Treat Bowel Movement Disorder and Constipation

Infrequent Bowel Movement can be very irritating and you might suffer from mood swing due to this problem. Anybody can suffer from this problem irrespective of age and gender. In fact it has become a common phenomenon and bothers you due to many reasons. As a matter of fact when you suffer from this syndrome the metabolism rate of your body gets disturbed.

Difference between Bowel Movement Disorder, Constipation and Diarrhea

Normally a person should have 3 bowel movements per week or a day. But, if you are not experiencing 3 bowel movements a week then it is an indication that you are being affected by the constipation problem. However, in case you are experiencing 3 watery stools a day then it means you are suffering from diarrhea. Further, the bowel movement disorder would further compel you to bear abdominal pain, cramping and bloating. In fact, the bowel movement disorder can be of two types i.e., diarrhea and constipation. Laxatives can help to solve these problems without any doubt.

How to treat Bowel Movement Disorder and Constipation:

* Opt for Exercises: The best natural treatment would be exercises without any doubt. In fact, the entire movement of the body would help encourage the steady passage of the food items via intestine. You can opt for swimming, brisk-walking and running etc., to strengthen the internal system of your body.

* Increase the intake of raw vegetables and fruits: If you develop the habit of eating more vegetables and fruits on a regular basis then you can enhance your digestive system and get rid of the constipation problem at ease. This is particularly because the fiber component of these food items would make the stools very oft and allow them to pass through easily.

* Liquid Diet : If you are suffering from constipation then try to drink at least 8 glasses of water along with your favorite fruit juices. This factor would easily soften the stool and keep your internal system healthy by increasing the rate of metabolism.

Preventing Norovirus - Potentially Dangerous Situations

Stomach flu is an illness with causes which are considered to be illnesses itself. This sounds terrifying, and yes it is, everyone who had the opportunity to suffer from symptoms of this disease, knows how hard is to deal with them. Whether you experience severe diarrhea, vomiting, dizziness, fatigue, nausea or fever for several days, it would be a grueling experience for you, but imagine how it would be if you experience several of these conditions at the same time. Well this must be exhausting to death, and this is exactly what happens when you suffer from stomach flu.

Causes of stomach flu are divided into three groups and can be viral, bacterial or parasitical. The most common causes are viral and among them, certainly, norovirus is one of the most dangerous.

Norovirus causes more than 20 million cases of stomach flu each year only in United States, which actually means that each year about 8 out of 100 Americans get this virus. How dangerous it is, confirms the fact that nearly a thousand patients with this virus ending in death every year in States. With no particular vaccine to prevent it and no particular drug to treat it, norovirus represents a real threat to your health, and attacks not only stomach, but intestines too. The only prevention against this disease is to maintain personal hygiene, and especially often wash your hands.

The most common norovirus symptoms are diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach cramping, but it also may include low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue. This infection is present in all age groups, and usually there is no serious health consequences, unless symptoms which are exhausting. However, in two to three days, you should get better. Norovirus may still have adverse outcomes such are severe dehydration and hospitalization in older people, those with frequent or other diseases, people with very low level of immune system, pregnant women and in children. If you suffered once from norovirus, it doesn't mean that you'll never have it again, it can easily happen to get sick from norovirus even more than once.

Potentially dangerous situations in which you may get norovirus are usually related to the contact with person who is already infected with it. This contact may be direct or indirect.

Sharing foods or utensils, when you are in situation to take care about someone infected with virus, will bring you virus certainly. The same situation but another case, is that particular person is already infected, but period of incubation is little longer due to a strong immune system, and you catch virus without knowing it. Virus can easily incubate faster on you then on your transmitter, so you can think that you brought it upon him/her.

You can get norovirus from contaminated food or drinks, served or prepared by people who are infected. This explanation can be a little disgusting so if you are sensitive you might want to skip to the next sentence before reading it. Infected person vomit on hands and without washing them come in contact with foods or drinks intended for you. The same could happen with getting stool.

Norovirus may not necessarily be transmitted through food or by an infected person, it can easily pass through objects and surfaces that are contaminated. You can get it after contact with contaminated things and you put your hands in your mouth.

Closed places such are schools, hotels and cruise ships; crowds such are seen on stadiums and mass parties; public transport as well as restaurants, are all potentially dangerous places where norovirus can be spread with easy.

As I already mention, norovirus could not be prevented by vaccine, nor healed by medicine, but there are several simple rules that everyone should follow and decrease the chances of getting infected with norovirus. Proper washing hand is on the top of this list, especially when you are in contact with food, whether you are preparing it for you or anyone else. Wash your hands each time you use toilet, and don't hesitate to admonish friends or family members who don't do it. Thoroughly wash and clean all vegetables and fruits before serving it. Never prepare food or come in contact with food intended for anyone else if you are infected. If you are infected, always clean surfaces you come in contact with especially after having stool or vomit.

Constipation and Diarrhea in Babies

Constipation and diarrhea in babies can cause a lot of fussiness and irritability and be a major distress for the parents.

Constipation:
It is more likely to occur in babies who have been introduced to solids, but at times affects the newborns as well. Tots who thrive on breast milk are less likely to get it, than those on formula as breast milk is much easier to digest because of its perfect balance of proteins and fats.

Major causes of constipation are:
Switch from breast milk to formula, traversing between different brands of formula, introduction to solids, lack of fiber or liquids in the toddler's diet or an indication of some other illness.

You can detect constipation, if your baby's bowel movements are hard and cause a lot of pain and discomfort, he might even groan when he's having them. Constipated stools are dry, hard and may have blood streaks.

Try and cure constipation by home remedies like massaging the baby's belly, increasing the liquid intake, moving his legs like he's riding a bicycle and switching the formula milk brand. However if constipation still persists see your doctor.

Diarrhea:
Your baby might be suffering from diarrhea if he passes unusually watery stools, at a higher frequency and volume. Diarrhea, especially if accompanied by vomiting and dehydration can be potentially very alarming. If he keeps passing these watery stools for more than 24 hours then he should be rushed to the hospital.

Diarrhea can be caused by pathogen infestation (i.e. bacteria, virus and parasites), poisoning, food allergy and intolerance or because of a course of antibiotics.

The first step that needs to be taken if your child is suffering from diarrhea is to keep dehydration from setting in. You can give him an electrolyte solution and feed him more frequently, for shorter intervals of time. Since diarrhea is most commonly due to an infection, it is important that he is treated with professional medical care at the earliest.

Baby and Toddler - Poisonous Plants

Almost all households have plants indoors. Plants can be very beneficial to our health, but they can be extremely harmful to our children. A lot of plants are toxic. Find out which ones.

Having plants in the house can be beneficial to our health. They act as natural filter for toxins, carbon dioxide and purify our air. Keep in mind if you have children some of these plants are poisonous. After reading about the various poisonous plants you can decide if having them inside the house and out of reach is okay.

An Aloe Vera plant can be poisonous if the latex is ingested. The latex in it can cause purging of the large intestine. Aloe plants can be beneficial in treating burns and other minor dermatitis. If the aloe plant is going to be used make sure you cut away the skin and inner layer that produces yellow juice. Only use the gel.

Amaryllis is a bulb plant that many people use because of its wonderful winter bloom. The irritant in this plant can cause diarrhea, vomiting and nausea. The irritant is located in the bulb and a large quantity is needed to cause a reaction. Another plant whose bulb is poisonous is the Cyclamen. The bulbs are found underground and taste very bitter so it is unlikely that your child will eat them.

All parts of the Flamingo Lily are poisonous. This is a blooming plant. Although it is poisonous when ingested, ingestion does not typically occur because chewing on any part of this plant will cause painful irritation of the mouth and throat. You will know if a child has chewed on this plant if they have difficulty swallowing and they have blisters around the mouth. Another plant that may cause similar symptoms is the plant called Angel Wings. Dieffenbachia or Dumb Cane can also cause irritations of the mouth but they also can cause speech impediments that can last for several days. Similar symptoms are caused by consuming this plant, Swiss-cheese Plant or Split-leaf Philodendron.

The beautiful Kaffir Lily is poisonous. A large amount has to be consumed to see any symptoms which include diarrhea, paralysis, vomiting and collapse. It is only the roots that are poisonous. So your child would have to chow through a lot of Kaffir Lily roots to show any of these symptoms. Chewing on the bark of a Croton will cause mouth irritations. The bark, roots and leaves are poisonous.

Angel's Trumpet has been known to affect cattle who have consumed it. It is a nicknamed "loco weed" because of that effect. Sometimes it is also called the Thorn Apple. All parts of this plant are poisonous. It will causes spastic movement, drowsiness, even a coma, hallucinations and elevated temperature.

A favorite Christmastime plant can be toxic. It is the Poinsettia. The Latex, leaves and stems are considered poisonous. It used to be classified as extremely toxic but has since been downgraded. Reactions in humans include nausea and vomiting.

English ivies are grown indoors and outdoors. The leaves are poisonous. If ingested symptoms could include breathing difficulty, convulsions, vomiting, paralysis and a coma. The berries that it produces are very bitter so it is unlikely that children will consume them. Similar symptoms can develop if the leaves and buds of a Hydrangea are consumed.

The Devil's Backbone, sometimes called Mother-of-Thousands, is a plant to be very careful with. The adult plant has plantlets that grow along the leaf edges and can easily come off. Children can knock these off and have ready access to them. The poison has been known to be fatal to mice.

Rhododendrons and Azaleas have a low toxicity but it would be best to keep your children away from them. A Jerusalem-Cherry is a nursery plant that is brought home by consumers. The fruit and the leaves are poisonous. The name can be enticing enough for children to attempt consuming the leaves. It will cause abdominal pains and vomiting.

So keep all this information in mind when choosing plants. Some of these plants have low toxicity and may be used in the home with a close eye on your children.

Harmful Plants That Could Kill Or Injure Your Pet

Plants are wonderful outdoors and indoors, and they are certainly a beautiful addition to your home. However, if you have pets, you may want to reconsider which plants you choose to have in your house (and out if you have an outdoor dog). Some plants are completely harmless if they are chewed or eaten, but some are very toxic and can even cause death. Because dogs are naturally curious and will often eat anything, it is a good idea to doggie-proof your house where plants are concerned. Here is a brief list of several plants that are harmful to your pet if ingested.

The first plant on the list is the Azalea (Rhododendron sp.). This is a poisonous plant, though consumption does not usually result in death, it does cause severe irritation. The symptoms of ingestion include stomach irritation, abdominal pain, an abnormal heart rate or rhythm, and convulsions. Sometimes, in great quantities of Azalea consumption, a coma and/or death can result.

Castor bean (Ricinus communis) is a common plant that can be very harmful if it is eaten. The primary toxic ingredient in this plant is called ricin. Ricin has been used as poison for decades, and about 1 milligram is enough to kill an adult human. These plants may be grown as an ornamental plant, or they can be a household plant. Though the seeds are primarily the most harmful part of the plant, consider the whole plant toxic. The symptoms of ingestion are vomiting, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, shortness of breath, dehydration with excessive thirst and muscle twitching or convulsions.

English Ivy (Hedera helix L.) is a beautiful plant that can be found almost anywhere. They are gorgeous and elegant as they climb up the side of the house, or as they hang from a plant holder in your home. English Ivy's beauty may be deceiving, since this plant is very toxic to dogs if consumed. The symptoms of ingestion include stomach irritation, diarrhea, difficulty breath and coma resulting in death.

Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense) is not a household plant, but it grows heavily in meadows, fields, by rivers, ponds and lakes. So if you live in a rural area and have a pet that loves to roam around outside, you will want to be familiar with the appearance and symptoms of Johnson grass poisoning. The symptoms of consumption include difficulty breathing, severe anxiety, convulsions and coma. There is an antidote available, so be sure to take your dog to the vet as quickly as possible if you suspect Johnson grass poisoning.

Lantana is the final plant that is harmful if eaten. It is a popular plant that adorns gardens almost everywhere. It does not always cause death, but it can in severe cases. The leaves and berries of the Lantana plant are the most toxic part. The symptoms of ingestion include weakness, sluggishness, and bloody diarrhea. If the case is severe, death will occur within 2 to 4 days time.

Protecting your pets by considering what plants you put in your home and in your garden is an important thing to do. Since you can't keep an eye on your pets all the time, the safest and best solution is to simply remove these plants or avoid them altogether so there won't be an accident. Your pets will thank you for keeping them safe!

Do You Really Need Sports Drinks That Contain Electrolytes When Exercising

If you are someone that enjoys exercising you must stay stay hydrated. Drink fluids (water) all day long. Try drinking 8-10 ounces of fluids every 2-3 1/2 hours daily. Water helps flush the fat and toxins out of your body, while keeping the skin (largest organ in the body) looking great. Despite the popular trendiness of drinking electrolyte sports drinks, you probably don't need them. As the name implies electrolytes are substances in the body that act like electrically conductive mediums for muscle contraction and nerve conduction.

The problem is sodium (an electrolyte) concentration in sweat ranges from 0.46 to 2.3 g/L. The average American takes in about 4 to 6 g daily. Well enough to replace what would have been depleted during exercise. Potassium, magnesium and calcium (the other important electrolytes) do get lost in sweat, but at such a slow rate, it has no effect on the average person who trains for only 30-60 min daily. Electrolyte imbalances due occur if:

· Intense continuous exercise is employed for over 5 hrs

· Exercise has begun in a dehydrated state

· Vomiting and diarrhea has transpired

Here are some simple tips:

• Drink at least 1pt of fluids, 2 hrs before any activity that causes sweat to occur.


• During the activity try taking big gulps of very cold fluids.


• Studies show that gulping colder fluids actually increases absorption.

A very simple way to determine whether or not you have enough fluids in your system is to check your urine. Don't worry! I'm not going to suggest drinking your own urine like some people do. I can't even imagine! A well hydrated person will have a clear, light yellow color in their urine. A dehydrated person will have a very dark, brown color in their urine. The dark color means your kidneys are working over time to flush out wastes from your system.

You might ask what all the fuss is about? A dehydrated person might experience the following:

• Reduced blood and plasma levels= the heart works harder to supply muscles with nutrients


• Increase blood lactate levels(high lactate levels causes muscle's to fatigue and subsequently forces people to stop exercising)


• Reduced muscle blood flow= effects high power muscle movement in sports

Again, water is the best fluid out there and it's free! I choose the brand name that has lasted for years in my house, good old fashioned tap water. Tap water goes through more stringent testing than the fancy bottled water people pay $2.00 a pop for. Here's to your health!

What is E. Coli and How to Prevent It

It's green. It's leafy. It's nutritious. Who knew it could be deadly? And spinach is not the only good food that poses risks of getting the bacteria E.coli. Prior to recent events, E.coli contamination had been found mostly in undercooked ground beef but in the past decade we have been hearing more about humans getting sick and even dying from E coli from consuming fruits and vegetables. According to the Center for Disease Control, E. Coli O157:H7 can be highly contagious with an estimated 75,000 cases and 61 deaths per year in the United States alone.

E.coli is scientifically known as Escherichia coli O157:H7. The numbers after the name specifies the type of E.coli bacterium. There are many different types of E.coli that live in healthy human and animal intestines. However, the E.coli O157:H7 strain is toxic to individuals.

E.coli O157:H7 is found in unpasteurized milk or juice, undercooked or raw meat (esp. beef), sewage-contaminated water (it can be contracted by swimming in or drinking it), and any unwashed, uncooked vegetable or fruit in which manure was used as the fertilizer (such as alfalfa sprouts, lettuce, spinach).

People infected with the bacteria will have diarrhea (often bloody) and abdominal cramps. In healthy adults that contract it, it will go away in 5 to 10 days. Antibiotic treatment may or may not be required. In young children (esp. those younger than 5 years) and the elderly, symptoms can be deadly. They get not only the diarrhea but can also get kidney failure which can lead to long-term health problems such as blindness, high blood pressure, and seizure. This kidney failure can also lead to death.

Preventing the spread of E.coli involves being diligent in cooking and cleaning. All meat (esp. beef) must be cooked thoroughly. Meat that is "done" has an internal temperature of 160 degrees in its thickest part. The reason why E.coli is found in beef is because cows-even healthy ones-can carry the bacteria in their intestines. When they are slaughtered and ground, E.coli can contaminate processing equipment and meat. Remember that contaminated E.coli meat looks and smells perfectly normal.

Fruits and vegetables need to be washed with soap and water. Although with some contaminated foods (like spinach), only completely cooking it will kill the bacteria. Be aware of how you handle your food at the grocery store. Raw meat sometimes leaks blood so keep unpackaged items like your fruits and vegetables in the plastic bags provided at the store. It's also a good idea to bag them up before they take their trip down the checkout belt. Don't forget this belt held a lot of other people's leaky meat, too!

Don't put cooked meat on unwashed surfaces or plates that held raw meat. After handling or containing the raw meat, it's important to wash hands, utensils, surfaces, plates, and containers with hot soapy water.

If you or a child have diarrhea, wash your hands after using the bathroom or changing diapers. Cleaning the bathroom and toilet with a disinfectant after the infected person has used it is a good idea, too.

Only drink chlorinated, disinfected water. Don't ingest swimming pool or lake water. If you or a child has diarrhea stop the chance of spreading it by not swimming at the pool or lake or sharing baths.

Only drink pasteurized milk and juices. The pasteurization process heats the liquids enough to kill the E.coli. There have been cases where raw milk caused E.coli infections. This comes about because cows can have E.coli on their udders and transfer it to the milking equipment and into the milk.

The FDA is following and enforcing measurements to keep food safe for the public. They don't like to see companies using manure on raw consumables. Hopefully, this will bring about change in farming practices in the USA before another E coli story hits the news.

Although the government has guidelines for the safe farming and processing of foods, it is up to the consumer to be smart in food preparation, hygiene, and environmental awareness. Be sure to consume only pasteurized milk and juices, thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables, especially those that grow on the ground, do not consume undercooked meat and practice safe cooking habits.

Causes of Stomach Upset During Baby Time

Women naturally experience many changes during pregnancy: physiological and psychological. Therefore, it would not be an understatement to say that they are often countered with many health-related problems. Stomach upset is also one such problem.

However, there can be many causes of stomach upset that trouble the ladies in the family way.

Here are causes of stomach upset during pregnancy:

i. Slow Functioning of the Digestive System - The entire body undergoes innumerable changes through pregnancy; it's only natural that the functions of the digestive system slow down too. The imbalance in the acid content in the stomach causes dyspepsia often leading to constipation, gastric problems, heart burns and acid reflux.

ii. Constipation - One of the most common complaints with pregnant women is that of constipation. This is due to incomplete digestion and taking an improper diet.

iii. Food Poisoning - Pregnant women may show symptoms of food poisoning such as fever, stomach aches accompanied with diarrhea and dehydration. This is caused by a certain type of bacteria which may result in hospitalization of the patient when things go pretty bad. However, these symptoms are known to disappear within a day or two.

iv. Nausea - It is a very irritating situation for the expecting women and to an upset stomach, nausea must be treated well. The best thing to do is avoid those foods with high saturated fats and pungent smell as they trigger the episodes of nausea a lot.

v. Stomach Virus - These often lead to abdominal cramps and watery diarrhea. Pregnancy often makes women vulnerable to a whole new number of illnesses and infections. These infections feed on the immune system of women depending on their individual strengths and weaknesses. As a result, they may last for a week or ten days.

vi. Diet - Women need to monitor their diet closely when they are expecting. However, one should not rush to make changes in their eating pattern. Instead, the body should be given sometime to adapt to the sudden changes. Switching to the consumption of roughage all of a sudden will cause stomach upset, diarrhea and weakness; which will make the situation even more difficult to handle.

vii. Hormonal Changes - Fluctuations in the hormonal levels (estrogen and progesterone) in pregnant women can often result in diarrhea. These changes in the hormones relax and slow down the gastrointestinal actions. Consequently, diarrhea occurs as the symptom of an upset stomach.

Therefore, in order to protect one from the causes of stomach upset during pregnancy, healthy dietary habits should be practiced, a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle should be followed. Above all, the mothers-to-be should be showered with lots of attention and love. This way they'll be perfectly ready to welcome their little bundle of joy happily and healthily.

Infants With Dairy Allergies - How to Identify and Treat the Problem

Many infants suffer needlessly from dairy allergies simply because their parents may not realize that there is a problem. It can be frustrating for parents and potentially life-threatening for infants.

Dairy allergies in infants are most commonly caused by cow's milk. Although, some infants are even allergic to soy milk. Whether a parent breastfeeds or bottle feeds, knowing what to look out for can save time, money and unnecessary suffering.

How to Tell if Your Infant Suffers from Dairy Allergies

An infant who suffers from dairy allergies can be in a lot of pain. This is why it's particularly important to diagnose and treat the problem as soon as possible. Following are some common symptoms to look for if you suspect your baby suffers from dairy allergies:

Skin Abnormalities: These can include hives (akin to diaper rash) and eczema.

Respiratory Problems: Asthma and/or breathing difficulty are common.

Gastrointestinal Symptoms: Diarrhea, vomiting, bloating and sometimes a bloody stool are outward signs. If your child cries a lot, he or she may be experiencing stomach pains as well.

Many parents may mistake the constant crying as colic or another form of distress. This is what makes diagnosing dairy allergies so difficult in infants. After all, they can't tell you what's going on with their little bodies.

How to Rule Out Normal Infant Problems and Rule in Dairy Allergies

Your baby, even though he or she can't speak, is the best conveyor of information. Pay attention to recurring symptoms like the ones listed above, particularly if they occur regularly after feedings.

Because pain can't be seen, it is crucial to notice if your child exhibits cries that you just "feel" indicate that they are in pain. Most parents become attuned to their children cries. There is the "I'm wet and want to be changed cry;" the "I don't want to go to sleep cry," and the "I'm in pain cry."

Don't for a minute second-guess your gut. If you feel that something is wrong, call your doctor and relay the symptoms, your concerns and why you think they're valid.

How to Treat Dairy Allergies in Infants

Once the problem is diagnosed, it's relatively seamless to correct it. There is one sure-fire "cure" for infant dairy allergies :milk avoidance.

If you breast-feed, you will have to eliminate all dairy products from your diet. If you bottle-feed, you will have to start using dairy-free products.

Pseudomembranous Colitis - Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment

Pseudomembranous colitis is an inflammatory condition of the colon that occurs mostly in adults who have received antibiotics. Common symptoms of this condition include watery diarrhea; abdominal cramps; high fever; urgency for bowel movement; nausea; dehydration; and blood, pus or mucous in the stools. Antibiotic use, age over 65 years, a weakened immune system, inflammatory bowel diseases, colorectal cancer, intestinal surgery and cancer chemotherapy, are risk factors for this condition.

The Ayurvedic treatment of pseudomembranous colitis is aimed at controlling the diarrhea, reducing inflammation in the intestines and preventing complications like perforation. Ayurvedic medicines like Kutaj-Ghan-Vati, Kutaj-Parpati, Praval-Panchamrut, Panchamrut-Parpati, Kutajarishta, Bilva-avaleha and Laghu-Sutshekhar-Ras are used to treat the diarrhea. Herbal medicines which can be used for this purpose include Vishwa (Zinziber officinalis), Musta (Cyperus rotundus), Bilva (Aegle marmelos), Dadim (Pomegranate), Maiphal (Quercus infectoria), Jaiphal (Myristica fragrans), Lavang (Eugenia caryophyllata), Haridra (Curcuma longa) and Daruharidra (Berberis aristata).

Patients who do not respond to the above mentioned medicines can be given additional medicines like Saariva (Hemidesmus indicus), Usheer (Vetiveria zizanioidis), Rakta-Chandan (Pterocarpus santalinus), Pittapapda (Fumaria vaillantii), Shankh-Bhasma and Praval-Bhasma. Medicines like Kamdudha-Ras and Yashtimadhuk (Glycerrhiza glabra) can be used to prevent perforation in the intestine. Medicines like Ras-Parpati, Kutaj-Parpati and Panchamrut-Parpati are effective both for treating the diarrhea as well as helping the normal bacteria to grow again in the intestines.

Patients affected with pseudomembranous colitis have a tendency to relapse several times. Medicines like Panchamrut-Parpati and Suvarna-Parpati can be given to prevent this. Medicines like Bilva-avaleha and Kutajarishta can also be given for this purpose on a long term basis. Pomegranate juice, curd and buttermilk are recommended for this condition. It is important to treat dehydration in order to prevent complications like circulatory collapse, toxic megacolon and kidney failure.

What Are the Signs of A Bacterial Skin Infection in Diabetics?

Take a look at some of these famous signs that have become a part of our American culture:

The Coca-Cola Logo

The Golden Arches

The Holywood Sign

The No Parking Sign

The One Way Sign

The Stop Sign

The Visa Logo

The Wet Paint Sign

and

Bacterial Skin Infection Signs

Okay, so we're talking about a different kind of sign than these famous and notorious signs, but these signs can save your life . . . if you catch them before they cause harm to you.

Bacterial skin infections are the 28th most common diagnosis in hospitalized diabetic patients today. Why? Because ddiabetes restricts blood flow to the skin and that leads to poor skin health and skin infections. To make the matter worse, diabetics are prone to slow healing and when that is added to the possibility of an infection, special care is needed.

Diabetics are no strangers to watching their health, keeping aware of their feet, visiting their doctor, taking blood sugar levels, maintaining a healthy weight, and eating healthy, but sometimes a medical condition (like a bacterial skin infection) will happen, despite worthwhile intentions.

Diabetics should be aware of the symptoms of bacterial skin infections. If you don't know what the signs are, read the following list. What are the signs of a bacterial skin infection in diabetics? They are:

1. Fever over 101 degrees

2. Sweating or chills

3. Skin rashes

4. Pain, tenderness, redness, or swelling

5. Wounds or cuts that won't heal

6. Red, warm, or draining sores

7. Sore throat, scratchy throat, or pain when swallowing

8. Sinus drainage, nasal congestion, headaches, or tenderness along upper cheekbones

9. Persistent and dry cough that lasts for more than two days

10. White patches in your mouth or on your tongue

11. Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

12. Flu-like symptoms or generally feeling terrible

13. Trouble urinating, pain or burning, constant urge, or frequent urination

14. Bloody, cloudy, or bad-smelling urine

If you experience more than two of these signs, or suspect you do, please consult your doctor.

What are the common diseases that occur as a result of bacterial skin infections? Here's a list of diseases to look out for:

DISEASE: DESCRIPTION

Carbuncle: A collection of pus, larger than a boil, that oozes onto the skin.

Cellulitis: An infection of deep skin with poorly separated borders.

Erysipelas: An infection of superficial skin with sharply separated borders

Erythrasma: A skin infection of the top layers of skin.

Folliculitis: An infection of the hair follicles that causes scarring or hair loss.

Furuncle: An abscess (collection of pus) originating from a hair follicle.

Impetigo: A skin infection that produces blisters or sores on the face and hands.

Paronychia: A skin infection around a fingernails or toenails.

What Are the Common Symptoms of Gastritis?

Symptoms of Gastritis cover a large range. Know them to be able to identify Gastritis. Gastritis is not a disease, it is a condition that can be caused due to many reasons.

What is gastritis? Gastritis refers to the irritation or inflammation suffered in the stomach lining. It can be an acute or a chronic condition. Sometimes it is a part of other diseases or conditions.

The symptoms of gastritis can be very misleading. Sometimes a very minor inflammation can cause severe symptoms and at the same time severe inflammation may cause minor symptoms. The severity of the condition can only be judged after an endoscopic examination of the stomach has been performed by the doctor. An endoscope is a like an optical fiber with a minuscule camera at its end, which is introduced into the patient's stomach to view the conditions inside.

This is especially so in the case of elderly patients. They may come into hospital with internal bleeding of the stomach without ever having suffered from any symptoms of gastritis before this particular incident.

Gastritis is a very common condition and it has been observed that almost 10% of the patients brought into emergency for abdominal pain are suffering from it.

One of the first symptoms that alert a person is discomfort or pain in the upper abdominal region.

The pain that one suffers due to gastritis is very typical. It may be felt in the pit of the stomach. People have described the feeling as cutting pain from front to back. The pain has been described as soreness, gnawing, aching or even burning sensation. It may feel as if it is cutting, stabbing or gnawing at you.

The other symptoms of gastritis include belching, nausea accompanied with vomiting, blood in the vomit, bloating, and an uncomfortable feeling of fullness and burning in the stomach.

The vomit could be clear, yellow or green. If the case is severe we may expect a bloody vomit and in moderate cases streaks of blood.

If the gastritis is particularly bad, there may be bleeding in the stomach too. This is marked by symptoms like sudden sweating, pallor or racing heart beat. Other symptoms could be feeling of faintness, short breath, and severe pain in chest or stomach. The characteristic symptom is vomiting blood. The patient may also suffer from bloody stools or sticky foul smelling stools.

The other symptoms that the patient might suffer from are black stools, a significant loss of appetite, stomach cramps, persistent fever, and lethargy, fetid taste in mouth, indigestion, diarrhea, and belching.

These symptoms of gastritis may or may not be present in a person suffering from gastritis. Sometimes the patient will realize this condition only when it has reached a severe state, where bleeding has begun. This is a marked aspect of patients on the wrong side of sixty. This condition may sometimes be caused due to excessive drinking or even because of aspirin consumption. It can be a part of other medical conditions too.

Hemroid Treatment - Understanding Your Options

Veins in the anal region become swollen when they go through friction and inflammation in this manner can cause hemorrhoids, commonly spelt hemroids. Hemroids is a common enough condition and is suffered in silence by many people due to lack of understanding or embarrassment. However it is very simple to heal with the right hemroid treatment.

They are mainly caused by things like pregnancy and excessive eating on hot and spicy food, and recurrent diarrhea and straining.

Symptoms of hemroids are itching and burning sensation around the rectum, swollen veins in the region and irritated and inflamed anal tissue. These symptoms need to be treated as soon as possible to reduce the chances of it worsening in to defecating bloody stools, excessive moisture around the area due to a protruding external hemroid.

When a swollen vein pushes out of the anus, the situation is called external hemroid. This then causes the friction to increase, making matters deteriorate in to a painful situation. Do no ignore the symptoms and hope that it will go away because that will only make it worse. The pain can be unbearable after a while. Sometimes external hemroids near the anus get clotted frequently and cause something called the thrombosed hemroids.

The inflammation is often asked to be treated by applying topical creams to the area. The ointments sooth the irritation and the burning sensation around the affected area. There are also various natural substances that may be ingested or applied topically by patients to get some relief from the symptoms. While treatment for hemroids is going on, patients should avoid spicy food and high levels of caffeine.

You should increase your fiber intake to help with smooth bowel movement. The affected area should never be rubbed or scratched because that can be negative towards the condition.

For those patients who cannot find relief at all with normal prescriptions or those who have extreme conditions, laser treatment or rubber band ligation may be an option. An alternative to painful surgery is to use a proven natural hemroid treatment that offers instant pain relief and heals the hemroids.

Swollen Hemorrhoids - 3 Natural Treatments for Piles

No one likes to talk about it but swollen hemorrhoids are a condition that can cause quite a bit of discomfort. The older you get, the more likely you are to have hemorrhoids. In fact, it is very common among middle aged men and women. Hemorrhoids are also called piles.

They occur when the veins located in the lower section of the rectum or near the anus become inflamed. People with this condition may notice blood in their stools or on the toilet paper following a bowel movement. It is often caused by excessive strain to the rectum due to pregnancy, constipation, or diarrhea.

Visit a Physician
Do not begin a natural treatment for swollen hemorrhoids without first having a physician check out your symptoms. This is very important because bleeding in the rectal area can be an indication of more serious medical issues such as anal or colorectal cancer. Depending on your medical history and physical exam results, you may need more in depth tests such as a colonoscopy to rule out anything more serious that piles.

Once you get the green light from your doctor and receive the confirmation that your discomfort is indeed caused by hemorrhoids, you can then decide on a nature cure for piles.

Keep Stools Soft
According to FamilyDoctor.org, one of the most effective ways to ease the discomfort caused by piles and to prevent a recurrence is to avoid constipation. You can do this by drinking plenty of water on a daily basis. Try to drink at least eight glasses each day. Eat fiber rich foods. This includes legumes, fresh fruits, and pasta.

If you have to make a bowel movement, go right away. Don't wait. Do not take laxatives because they can cause diarrhea.

Reduce Inflammation With Horse Chestnut
Horse chestnut is an herb which may offer relief for swollen hemorrhoids. Also known as Aesculus hippocastanum, horse chestnut helps widen the walls of the veins. This leads to improved circulation. It can also reduce swelling and make the blood vessels stronger.

You can take horse chestnut as a supplement which comes in capsules or you can drink it as a tea. It can also be used externally as a compress.

Witch Hazel
Witch hazel can also be a good topical treatment for swollen hemorrhoids. It has an astringent like quality and can reduce bleeding as well as ease pain, swelling, and itching. This treatment is available in the form of an ointment, medicated pads, or distilled liquid.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treatment

Irritable bowel syndrome, IBS is a chronic situation mainly affecting the gut area. IBS is really a great threat to the smooth digestion process of human beings. Indigestion, bloating, abdominal pain, intermittent constipation or diarrhea, urgent need to defecate, loose or watery or hard or lumpy stools, feeling of incomplete, bowel movement, abdominal fullness, wind, abdominal soreness, fatigue, backache, passing mucus during defecation, abdominal swelling are the main symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, which makes the life very complicated. However, this can be prevent to a certain extend with the help of irritable bowel syndrome treatments.

The treatments available for this condition seems to be very different from the other curative forms as a lot of comfort can be attained by changing the entire eating habits. It does not depend on the medicines alone, but it works out best in changing one's lifestyle so that healthy foods are included in it. Food containing calcium, iron, multi-minerals, multi-vitamins, probiotics and psyllum husks must to be included in daily diets. Avoiding fatty oils and implement regular exercise makes them perfect. Nowadays almost all hospitals undertake irritable bowel syndrome treatments.

The scientists were unaware of the real facts and the treatments involved in this syndrome and thus it resulted in having different treatment procedures and processes in different places. It was due to this sole reason, the scientists preferred to improve the living style and the way of living to avoid this disease. Hypnosis has got its importance across the globe and is also considered to be one of the major irritable bowel syndrome treatments known till now. It is very helpful to resist this condition to a certain extend. However, unfortunately it gives only temporary security and safety from IBS.

Hypnosis is very helpful to calm down the stomach muscles and help to increase the blood flow to the stomach, giving a much more relief from the pain resulting from this condition which is far better than suppressing it. Fiber supplement and laxatives are the other main examples for irritable bowel syndrome treatments. These treatments cannot have the ability to make a positive impact on the patient. Nowadays you can also avail probiotics supplements from the market which are spreading its use and success far and wide. It helps in restoring the appropriate function by reducing pain and also in repopulating the intestinal tract which seems to be resulting in great comfort.

Hemorrhoid Cure Information

Our circulatory system is made up primarily of arteries and veins. Normally, our blood vessels work splendidly in transporting blood to our organs. However, there are some instances where some of these blood vessels swell. This what happens when a person suffers from hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are essentially just blood vessels that have expanded beyond their normal sizes.

These swollen vessels often appear in the anal canal. If the hemorrhoid is not visible, it's called an internal hemorrhoid. If the hemorrhoid has formed near the anus, or it has grown beyond its place inside rectum, then it is an external hemorrhoid.

Some people suffer from both types of hemorrhoids; it's possible to have internal hemorrhoids and external hemorrhoids at the same time. This condition is by no means unusual, and people form hemorrhoids at least once in their lifetime. Hemorrhoids are usually caused by internal pressure centered on the pelvic region.

Exerting pressure on the rectal/anal area can also cause hemorrhoids. Why does internal pressure contribute to the formation of hemorrhoids? Well, think about it this way: the tissues surrounding the anus are rich in blood vessels. The additional blood vessels help the body remove solid waste during bowel movement.

However, exerting too much pressure can cause these blood vessels to swell so much that hemorrhoids begin to form. Normally, the tissues and blood vessels go back to their normal size after a person visits the bathroom.

However, if the internal pressure is continually applied over a long time, the tissues and blood vessels in the rectal region will have a hard time going back to their original appearance/size.

If you are always straining when you need to move waste, you are probably at risk for hemorrhoids. Having diarrhea can also cause tissue in your rectal region to swell, because repeated visits to the bathroom can tire the tissues that help control the movement of solid waste. On the other hand, constipation puts a person at risk for hemorrhoids because constipated individuals often have to "push hard" every time they visit the bathroom.

Hemorrhoids can resolve with no intervention. Severe cases of hemorrhoids may require surgery, although this is usually not the case. The most common symptom of hemorrhoids is bloody stool. If you see fresh blood after visiting the bathroom, there's a chance that the fresh blood is from a hemorrhoid. Pay your doctor a visit just to be sure.

Throw Up And Diarrhea In Dogs

When your dog has diarrhea everyone in the house is unhappy. When you look into their sad eyes, you get a sense of meaning to the phrase "I'm sicker than a dog!"

Diarrhea is the number three reason people take their dogs to the vet. Before running off to the vet, look around at what you might be doing to cause your dog to have diarrhea. The good news is that most episodes of routine diarrhea can be prevented, or at least minimized.

The usual suspects are:

o Food- either too old, left out too long, or exposed to high temperatures. Such exposure can happen while being transported to the pet store. Bugs and flies may have climbed into open bags, laid eggs and left droppings during packaging or in your home after they being opened.

o Chlorinated water- your dog's intestinal tract requires a variety of bacteria to break down and process the food. Chlorinated water can kill these bacteria, causing diarrhea.

o Cleaning agents. Don't forget, dogs living indoors are walking barefoot. If not sufficiently diluted, many cleaning agents can burn their pads, their eyes, and their lungs. They will often lick their pads to stop the burning, which can lead to diarrhea.

o Pesticides/Insecticides- Similar to cleaning agents in that when dogs lick their pads, they will ingest some of the chemicals. They might also eat a bug that has been exposed to insecticides.

Dogs are notorious for eating bacteria laden morsels out of garbage cans, or found while out on a walk. Dogs off leash are more likely to drink from a stagnant puddle. A few slurps is all it takes! Puddles can be toxic cocktails containing anything from bug larvae, discarded food morsels, infected spittle, leaked automobile fluids like transmission oil, or antifreeze.

Stress is another cause of dog diarrhea. Stress comes in many forms. Small dogs are particularly sensitive to non-harmonious living environments. They prefer peace and quite to yelling, screaming, or fighting; many get crazy if you run the vacuum cleaner, blender, or just leave the room.

Travel, or the anticipation of travel (with or without them) causes stress. Traveling with your dog often means different air quality, humidity, water, sounds, even food. Rescue dogs also feel the emotional stress of all involved in the rescue mission. Now that's travel stress! Any one of these can cause your dog to have diarrhea.

Female dogs in heat will drive male dogs that have mating experience into a frenzy that can cause loose and bloody stools. The female doesn't even need to be in your house. It could be a neighbors dog out on a walk.

How to handle routine dog diarrhea?

A lot of people think it's a good idea to let their dogs outside to eat grass when they have diarrhea. Well, that's partially true. Dogs eat grass even when their GI tract is not upset. If you look carefully you will notice they pull at the grass. They do this to get at the dirt around the roots, which is teaming with soil-based organisms (SBOs). SBOs are essential digestive aids that also help maintain optimum intestinal balance.

Healthy grass and soil contains organic sulfur (MSM), as well (SBOs). However, if you live in an area where lawns are watered with municipal water (chlorinated) or are treated with inorganic fertilizers, or sprayed with pesticides and insecticides it is not a good idea to let your dogs eat the grass.

The actual cause of diarrhea is an intestinal imbalance between what is commonly referred to as "good and bad" bacteria. A balance of both is essential to break the food down so that the nutrients can be absorbed through the intestinal wall, as well as to push along what's left to be eliminated. The good bacteria get spent in the digestive process and need to be replaced daily to maintain optimum GI balance. Once the "bad bacteria" get the upper hand, they breed quickly.

As I mentioned earlier, in most cases it is not a good idea to let your dogs eat grass. Supplements that contain SBOs are available today that are specifically formulated for dogs. If you were to give SBOs to your dogs on a daily basis, all but the most treatment resistant cases of diarrhea could actually be prevented. A side benefit is that they would be more alert, easier to train and have improved physical performance.

What You Need to Know About Rotavirus Diarrhea

What is rotavirus diarrhea?

Rotavirus diarrhea is the diarrhea caused by rotavirus infection. This is the most common cause of diarrhea and death due to diarrhea throughout the world among infants (below one year of age) and young children below five years of age. But unfortunately more than half (in developing and underdeveloped countries the unawareness is much higher) of mothers are unaware or little aware of rotavirus infection. It is estimated that by the age of five years almost every child throughout the world has been infected with rotavirus at least once. But the brighter side is that, every infection with the virus makes the child more immune against the organism and by adult age individuals become rarely affected or if affected, remain asymptomatic.

What is the mode of transmission?

Rotavirus infection is transmitted by feco-oral route via contact with contaminated objects and contaminated surfaces. Only 10-100 virus particles can transmit the disease and it is estimated that every gram of infected person's feces contain more than 10 trillions of virus particles, which can explain the high infectivity of the disease. The worst part is that, the virus can not be eliminated by normal sanitary measures used for drinking water supply.

What are the signs and symptoms?

The signs and symptoms include watery diarrhea, vomiting and low grade fever. There may be abdominal pain in some cases.

The incubation period is generally two days. The first symptom is usually vomiting, which is followed b profuse diarrhea, both of which lead to severe dehydration. Death occurs due to dehydration.

What is the treatment?

The treatment of rotavirus diarrhea is mainly symptomatic and nonspecific. The main aim of treatment is replacement of lost fluid (through diarrhea and vomiting) and maintenance of hydration. In mild to moderate dehydration, oral rehydration salt (ORS) is sufficient to replace lost fluid, but in severe dehydration intravenous fluid must be given. If treatment is started early, prognosis is excellent with almost no complication.

How to prevent rotavirus diarrhea?

At present there are two (both are approved by USFDA for use) safe and effective vaccines are available for prevention of rotavirus infection. One is produced by GlaxoSmithKline (brand name is Rotarix) and the other is produced by Merck (brand name is RotaTeq). In many countries including United States rotavirus immunization has become routine with very good results.

Improved sanitation does not reduce incidence of rotavirus infection and vaccination remain only effective way to prevent the disease.

Symptoms Of Ulcerative Colitis - What To Look For

When the large intestine or colon becomes inflamed, it is known as ulcerative colitis. The colon is part of the excretory system where the waste material is stored before expulsion through the rectum and anus. The inner lining of the colon gets inflamed and ulcerated in patients suffering from ulcerative colitis. This often leads to symptoms which can include rectal bleeding, diarrhea and abdominal pain.

Cohn's disease is a similar condition with inflammation of the intestines. Both these diseases together are referred to as IBD or Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, and they affect anywhere from half to two million people in the US alone. They are found equally in men and women, and they manifest during the adolescence period or early adulthood. Sometimes, IBD also begins during childhood. It is not very clear as to what really causes ulcerative colitis. There is no evidence to suggest that the disease is contagious or is caused by an infection.

Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis

Diarrhea and rectal bleeding are the most common symptoms of ulcerative colitis. However, there are a number of other symptoms as well, depending on the extent to which the rectum and the colon are inflamed and the intensity of inflammation. Symptoms are typically mild when only the rectum and a small adjoining portion of the colon are inflamed.

Based on the extent and the location of inflammation, ulcerative colitis is classified into different types. When the inflammation is confined to the rectum alone, it is known as ulcerative proctitis. Intermittent mild bleeding of the rectum might be the only symptom for people suffering from ulcerative proctitis. When the rectal inflammation is more severe, patients may experience rectal pain and sometimes a sudden urgency to defecate.

When the sigmoid colon which is a short colon segment connected to the rectum is inflamed along with the rectum, the condition is known as Proctosigmoiditis. The symptoms of this condition are very similar to that of ulcerative proctitis. In some cases, patients might also experience cramps and bloody diarrhea.

When the rectum and the left colon which consists of the sigmoid colon and the descending colon are inflamed, it is known as left-sided colitis. Weight loss, abdominal cramps, left-sided abdominal pain, and bloody diarrhea are the main symptoms of left-sided colitis.

When the right, transverse, and left colon along with the rectum are inflamed, the condition is called Pan colitis or universal colitis. The symptoms include those of left-sided colitis, as well as fever, night sweats and fatigue. Generally, pan colitis is more difficult to treat than colitis that is more restricted to one region.

A severe but rare form of pan colitis is Fulminate colitis where patients become very ill and suffer from dehydration, prolonged diarrhea with bleeding, severe abdominal pain and sometimes even shock.

Ulcerative colitis most often stays within the same region, but in some rare cases can also spread to other regions of the colon.

Puppy Worms - 5 Things You Should Know

Of course puppy worms is a bit of a misnomer. There are no worms that only infect puppies - the same worms infect adult dogs and sometimes humans. However, puppies are more likely to be infected with worms than adult dogs for a number of reasons.

So here are 5 facts you should know about puppy worms:

1). Although puppies can suffer from a variety of worms, roundworms (ascarids) are the most common type of worm that are involved.

2) These roundworms can infect the puppy while it is still in the mothers womb and new born pups can acquire these worms through suckling their mother's milk.

3) The eggs of these roundworms can also survive in the environment for ages and this represents a third possible route of infection for puppies. And as we know, puppies are naturally curious and spend the best part of their early lives with their noses and mouths very close to the ground, investigating and chewing anything and everything.

4) Puppy worms are parasites - they feed off the animal that they parasitize. This can lead to a range of symptoms ranging from poor growth and a dull haircoat, to vomiting and diarrhea. Sometimes the worm load is so heavy that they may vomit up the adult worms or pass the worms in their stools - but this is not always the case and a puppy may have a heavy worm load without you actually seeing any worms.

5) A very severe roundworm infestation can physically block the gastro-intestinal tract (intestines) of the puppy. If not corrected, this state of affairs can lead to the death of the puppy as it cannot keep any food or water down.This causes a cascade of physiological changes within the body which ultimately leads to the death of the puppy.

So most puppies have worms simply because they are exposed to so many sources of worms at an early age when their immune systems are immature. Later in life they are less exposed to the sources and their immune systems are fully functional, making it less likely that they will suffer from a heavy roundworm burden - unless their immune system is compromised.

Parsley: One of the World's Seven Most Potent Disease-Fighting Spices with 33 Health Benefits

Parsley (Petroselinum crispum), the world's most popular culinary herb is also known as "rock celery" and belongs to the Umbelliferae family of plants. Parsley is one of the world's seven most potent disease-fighting spices which also include Ginger, Oregano, Cinnamon, Turmeric, Sage, and Red chili peppers. Parsley grows in most climates and is readily available throughout the year. It is a biennial plant which means that it produces seeds during its second year of production and will reseed itself if you let it.

While parsley is a wonderfully nutritious and healing food, it is often under-appreciated. Most people do not realize that this vegetable has more uses than just being a decorative garnish that accompanies restaurant meals.

Parsley is native to the Mediterranean region of Southern Europe and has been cultivated for more than 2,000 years. It was originally used as a medicinal plant (see below) prior to being consumed as a food. Ancient Greeks held parsley to be sacred, using it to not only adorn victors of athletic contests, but also for decorating the tombs of the deceased. While it is uncertain when and where parsley began to be consumed as a seasoning, historians think it may be sometime during the Middle Ages in Europe. Some historians credit Charlemagne with its popularization as he had it grown on his estates.

Parsley's Many Therapeutic Health Benefits Include Its Use For:
o Anemia: Builds up the blood because it is high in iron. The high vitamin C content assists the absorption of iron.

o Antioxidant: Increases the anti-oxidant capacity of the blood.

o Bactericidal (kills bacteria)

o Bad breath

o Baldness: Believe it or not, men even scrubbed parsley onto their scalps to cure baldness--which doesn't work.

o Blood purifier

o Blood vessel rejuvenation: Maintains elasticity of blood vessels, and helps to repair bruises.

o Diarrhea is greatly helped by drinking parsley tea.

o Digestion: Parsley is an excellent digestion restorative remedy. It improves the digestion of proteins and fats therefore promoting intestinal absorption, liver assimilation and storage. Because of its high enzyme content, parsley benefits digestive activity and elimination.

o Dissolves cholesterol within the veins.

o Diureticparsley tea helps resolve swollen ankles.

o Ear health: Treats deafness and ear infections.

o Edema: Acts as a diuretic and blood vessel strengthener.

o Fatigue: Parsley is high in iron so helps repair and provides components for better blood cells.

o Gallstones: Helps dissolve them.

o Glandular support of the liver, spleen, kidneys and adrenal glands.

o Gout

o Hormonal support: In women, parsley improves estrogen and nourishes and restores the blood of the uterus. Conditions like delayed menstruation, PMS, and the menopause (dry skin, irritability, depression and hair loss) can often improve.

o Hormone balancing is achieved through the volatile fatty acids contained in parsley.

o Immune booster: The high vitamin C, beta carotene, B12, chlorophyll and essential fatty acid content render parsley an extraordinary immunity enhancing food. Parsley is an immune-enhancing multi-vitamin and mineral complex in green plant form and one of the most important herbs for providing vitamins to the body.

o Inhibits tumor formation, particularly in the lungs.

o Insect bites: Rub on to relieve the swelling and itch.

o Jaundice

o Kidneys: Parsley is effective for nearly all kidney and urinary complaints except severe kidney inflammation. It improves kidney activity and can help eliminate wastes from the blood and tissues of the kidneys. It prevents salt from being reabsorbed into the body tissues; thus parsley literally forces debris out of the kidneys, liver and bladder. It helps improve edema and general water retention, fatigue and scanty or painful urination.

o Liver congestion: It enriches the liver and nourishes the blood. Parsley helps reduce liver congestion, clearing toxins and aiding rejuvenation.

o Menstrual irregularity: Parsley helps to make the cycles regular by the presence of apiol which is a constituent of the female sex hormone estrogen.

o Menstrual pain

o Night blindness: Bad eyesight is a sign of Vitamin A deficiency.

o Rheumatism

o Spleen strengthening: The parsley root in particular strengthens the spleen, and can, therefore, treat malabsorption.

o Stamina loss and low resistance to infection, point to a sluggish liver. This can manifest itself in blood deficiencies, fatigue, a pale complexion and poor nails, dizzy spells, anemia and mineral depletion.

o Stomach problems

o Strengthens loose teeth: In the Middle Ages parsley was used for many conditions including 'fastening teeth' (Scurvy, which is caused by a Vitamin C deficiency, makes the gums spongy and the teeth loose.)

o Uterine tonic

o Weight loss benefits from being a diuretic

Nutritional Benefits of Parsley:Parsley is a nutrient powerhouse containing high levels of beta carotene, vitamin B12, folate, chlorophyll, calcium, more vitamin C than citrus fruits, and just about all other known nutrients. Parsley is a moistening, nourishing, restoring, 'warming' food, pungent with a slightly bitter, salty flavor. It enhances and stimulates the energy of organs, improving their ability to assimilate and utilize nutrients.

Beta carotene is used for protein assimilation. This nutrient benefits the liver and protects the lungs and colon. Beta-carotene is converted by the body to vitamin A, a nutrient so important to a strong immune system that its nickname is the "anti-infective vitamin."

Chlorophyll: Parsley is abundant in chlorophyll, thus purifying and inhibiting the spread of bacteria, fungi and other organisms. Chlorophyll from parsley is slightly anti-bacterial and anti-fungal which acts to enhance immune response and to relieve mucus congestion, sinusitis and other 'damp' conditions. Chlorophyll, high in oxygen, also suppresses viruses and helps the lungs to discharge residues from environmental pollution.

Essential Fatty Acids: Parsley is a source of alpha-linolenic acid, an important essential fatty acid that is too frequently deficient in today's diets.

Fluorine is an important nutritional component abundantly found in parsley. Fluorine has an entirely different molecular structure from chemically-produced fluoride. Tooth decay results from a shortage of fluorine, not fluoride. It is the combination of calcium and fluorine which creates a very hard protective surface on teeth and bones. Fluorine also protects the body from infectious invasion, germs and viruses.

Folic Acid, one of the most important B vitamins, but one of its most critical roles in relation to cardiovascular health is to convert homocysteine into benign molecules. Homocysteine is a potentially dangerous molecule that, at high levels, can directly damage blood vessels and increase the risk of heart attacks and stroke in people with atherosclerosis or diabetic heart disease. Folic acid is also a critical nutrient for proper cell division and is therefore vitally important for cancer-prevention in two areas of the body that contain rapidly dividing cells--the colon, and in women, the cervix.

Iron: The iron content of parsley is exceptional with 5.5mg per100g (4oz). A half-cup of fresh parsley or one tablespoon dried has about 10 percent of your iron daily requirements. Plus, parsley has the vitamin C your body needs to absorb that iron.

Protein: Parsley is made up of 20% protein. (About the same as mushrooms.)

Vitamin B12: Parsley contains traces of B12 producing compounds. Such compounds are needed for the formation of red blood cells and normal cell growth, important for fertility, pregnancy, immunity and the prevention of degenerative illness. The action of vitamin B12, however, is inhibited by birth control pills, antibiotics, intoxicants, stress, sluggish liver, and excess bacteria or parasites in the colon or digestive tracts. Parsley helps to counteract these inhibitors.

Vitamin K: Getting at least 100 micrograms of Vitamin K a day can drastically cut your risk of hip fracture. Vitamin K is necessary for bones to get the minerals they need to form properly. Parsley is loaded with vitamin K (180 mcg per 1/2 cup). Cooking parsley nearly doubles its Vitamin K.

Vitamin C: Parsley contains more vitamin C than any other standard culinary vegetable, with 166mg per 100g (4oz). This is three times as much as oranges. Flavonoids, which make up the Vitamin C molecule, maintain blood cell membranes, and act as an antioxidant helper.

Volatile oil components - including myristicin, limonene, eugenol, and alpha-thujene. Parsley's volatile oils, particularly myristicin, have been shown to inhibit tumor formation in animal studies, and particularly, tumor formation in the lungs. It acts as an antioxidant that can help neutralize particular types of carcinogens (like the benzopyrenes that are part of cigarette smoke, charcoal grill smoke, and the smoke produced by trash incinerators).

Parsley also contains calcium (245mg per 100g), phosphorus, potassium (1000mg per 4 oz), manganese (2.7mg per 100g), inositol, and sulphur.
Many of my client's test they would benefit greatly from eating parsley for all kinds of health problems.

How to Use Parsley:

Top off your sandwiches with it, include it in your salad greens, put it in Tabbouli or better yet, toss it into simmering soups, stews and sauces. We eat it raw in salads and those days when I can't eat it raw, I often add a couple of parsley capsules to my nutritional supplements.

Parsley juice, as an herbal drink, is quite powerful and is usually taken in quantities of about 2 fl oz (50ml) three times a day and is best mixed with other juices. I noticed that it's most effective to juice parsley in between other vegetables as the juice is heavy and thick and doesn't move through some juicers very readily.

Types of Parsley:The two most popular types of parsley are curly parsley and Italian flat leaf parsley. They are both related to celery. The Italian variety has a more fragrant and less bitter taste than the curly variety. There is also another type of parsley known as turnip-rooted parsley (or Hamburg) that is cultivated for its roots, which resemble salsify and burdock. Chinese parsley, is actually cilantro.

How to Pick and Care for Parsley:Whenever possible, choose fresh, dark green, organically grown parsley that looks fresh and crisp over the dried form of the herb since it is superior in flavor. Avoid bunches that have wilted or yellowed leaves indicating over-mature or damaged produce.

Parsley can be stored loosely wrapped in a damp cloth or plastic bag and refrigerated for up to a week. Wash just before using. If the parsley wilts, either sprinkle it lightly with some water or wash it without completely drying it before putting it back in the refrigerator.

The best way to clean it is just like you would spinach. Place it in a bowl of cold water and plunge it up and down like you would a toilet plunger. This will allow any sand or dirt to dislodge. Remove the leaves from the water, empty the bowl, refill it with clean water and repeat this process until no dirt remains in the water.

If you have excess flat-leaved parsley, you can easily dry it by laying it out in a single layer on a clean kitchen cloth. I pre-chop mine (both varieties) and place it on a cookie sheet on top of the refrigerator where it is warm. Stir it occasionally to allow consistent drying. Once dried, it should be kept in a tightly sealed container in a cool, dark and dry place.

Some feel the curly leaved variety is best preserved by freezing, as opposed to drying. Although it will retain most of its flavor, it has a tendency to lose its crispness, so it is best used in recipes without first thawing.

Bon App矇tit!

Human Medications Toxic To Dogs

Every day, veterinarians treat puppies and dogs that have gotten into human medications; most, which can be or are toxic to our canine companions.

The degree of danger often depends on the type and amount of medication consumed as well as the size, age and general health of the dog. Smaller breeds, especially Toys, puppies and senior dogs are at higher risk of serious or fatal incidents. Dogs with pre-existing health problems such as liver, kidney or heart disease are also extremely vulnerable.

Check with your veterinarian before administering any human medications. Most likely they will approve of a buffered or baby aspirin as a general pain reliever. Follow their instructions!

It vital, for the safety of your puppy or dog, to make sure all medications are out of their reach. If you have a climber or counter surfer, put your medications in a medicine cabinet, drawer or secured cabinet.

Never store medications in plastic bags. Make sure purses, briefcases, backpacks and suitcases containing medication are where your pet cannot get into them.

A puppy or dog can easily break a medication container with their teeth! Plastic is like a magnet to them!

Inform house guests of your medication rules. Make sure to follow-up on their compliance!

Do not store pet and human medications together.

When counting out medications, get your pet out of the room. Should you drop one, they will find it quicker than you!

Keep medications in a secure container.

Do not leave medications on night tables.

Supervise children and the elderly when administering their medications. It is too easy for an accident to happen should they drop their pill, or even simply give it to the dog!

If you drop a pill, stop, and find it immediately! Don't wait, you may forget...and it won't take but a second for a puppy or dog to scoff it down!

Drooling, vomiting, seizures, disorientation, tremors, pale gums and lethargy are often common signs a dog has gotten into something they should not have eaten.

Should you even suspect your pet has taken the medication, don't take any chances; get them to the nearest veterinarian immediately.

Medications and signs to watch for:

ACE Inhibitors - High Blood Pressure (i.e. Altace, Zestril...) Especially dangerous for dogs with kidney and heart disease. Get them to the nearest veterinarian immediately! Watch for low blood pressure (pale gums), dizziness, lethargic, or weak.

Anti-Cancer Medication - (i.e. Fluorouracil) Serious! Watch for vomiting, cardiac arrest, seizures, coma and death.

Anti-Depressants (i.e. Effexor, Prozac, Cymbalta, Lexapro...) Watch for elevated heart rate, body temperature, blood pressure, sedation, tremors and seizures.

Anti-Diabetic (i.e. Avandia Oral, Actos Oral, Avandamet Oral... ) Watch for disorientation, low blood sugar and seizures.

Benzodizepines - Sleep Aids (i.e. Xanax, Ambien, Lunesta, Klonopin...) Watch for agitation, severe lethargy, disorientation, uncoordinated, appearing drunk, and slowed breathing.

Beta Blockers - High Blood Pressure and Irregular Heart Rhythms (i.e. Sectral, Coreg, Tenermin, Toral, Levatol, Inderal, Zebeta...) Serious! Watch for low blood pressure (pale gums) and slowed heart rate

Cholesterol Lowing Medications (i.e. Lipitor, Zocur, Crestor...) Watch for vomiting and diarrhea.

Cox-2 Inhibitors - Arthritis Medication - (i.e. Celebrex, Vioxx, Rubrin, Previcox, Dermaxx, Metacam, Rimadyl...) Watch for lethargy, vomiting, drooling, difficulty breathing, restlessness, pale gums, thirsty, loss of appetite, depression, diarrhea and weakness.

Muscle Relaxants (i.e. Baclofen, Soma, Flexeril, Zanaflex, Skelaxin...) Will impair their central nervous system. Watch for depression, disorientation, weakness, vocalization, seizures, coma and death.

Narcotics - Pain Medication (i.e. Codeine, Morphine, Oxycodone, Oxymorphine, Levorphanol, Methadone, Hydrocodone, Vicodin, benzodiazepeines, barbiturates...) Serious! Do not waste a minute...get your pet to the nearest veterinarian! Watch for depression, disorientation, drooling, vomiting, lethargy, weakness, vocalization, seizures, coma and death.

NSAID Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Medicines (i.e. Tylenol, Ibupropen, Ascriptin, Naproxen...) Watch for pale gums, restlessness, breathing difficulties, excessive thirst, loss of appetite, depression, vomiting, and diarrhea. Get your pet to a veterinarian immediately.

Cold and Sinus Medications (i.e. most Over-The-Counter medications) Serious! Get your pet to the nearest veterinarian. Watch for elevated blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, seizure and death.

Thyroid Medication (i.e. Armour desiccated Thyroid, Synthroid...) Many dogs are prescribed human thyroid medications. Should your dog get an extreme dose, watch for aggression, panting, muscle tremors, drooling, and rapid heart rate.

Tuberculosis Medication (i.e. Isonziazid...) Serious! Get your pet to a veterinarian immediately. Watch for seizures, coma and death.

Bottom line: By taking precautions and concentrating when taking or giving medications, you should not have any problems. But, accidents do happen. Be prepared. Know what to watch for and do not hesitate getting your pet to the nearest veterinarian immediately! A matter of minutes could be the difference between life and death!

Green Tea Extract - How it Can Help You Lose Weight

Many of you have come across weight loss supplements being promoted as "magic" pills or the next "big" thing that works but most of them is just marketing hype in order to get their hands on your money. Don't fall for this trap! Instead, save your money and do a little homework on any supplements that you may encounter on the shelves. That's not to say that all supplements are useless. There are actually quite a few that work and will give you an extra boost to help with your overall weight loss progress.

There are tons of supplements with fat burning compounds to help you with losing weight but with my extensive researching, I can definitely count on a few that work and are worth trying out. After going through rows of weight loss supplements on the shelves, only one caught my attention and that is the green tea extract also known as EGCG.

Green tea extract is one of many fat burning compounds that actually aide with weight loss and has additional health benefits on your body. Also, it is a fat burning compound known for its high levels of anti-oxidants and anti-cancer properties.

Here is an extensive list of health benefits when supplementing with ECGC:

- Prevention or reduced risk of developing cancers

- Reduction of cholesterol levels

- Helps lower blood pressure

- Helps lower blood sugar levels

- Aids in digestion

- Relieves diarrhea

- Improving blood and bone structures

- Prevention of arthritis and osteoporosis

- Prevention of dangerous blood clots

- Aiding and preventing Type-II diabetes

And much more. What really makes green tea extract shine is that it can be used as part of a diet due to its nature of aiding with weight loss. It also appears to have thermogenic properties which promote fat loss and plays a role in controlling one's weight. Backed by plethora of scientific studies and real world results, it's no wonder that EGCG has taken a surge in popularity and you can find it on the ingredient list of most weight loss supplements.

It comes in a pill or liquid form. Make sure to look for the one that contains a minimum of 50-60% EGCG and 90% Polyphenols. It is suggested to take 250-400 mg of green tea extract daily.

There you have it folks. I have done all the boring homework for you. You have to start somewhere in order to lose weight, why not start here?

Adverse Effects of Spirulina

In spite of pretty much all the high-quality factors of this specific health supplement, always be certain to read on the subject of Spirulina negative effects. A person really should be conscious of all of probable potential issues. Examine the next guide to be aware of it.

For about 30 years Spirulina is broadly used as a diet supplementation around the world. It's in reality a blue algae which often will grow in alkaline environments. Spirulina is a very good resource of many diverse nutritional ingredients, more than 100 of them. It is full of vegetable healthy proteins,nutritional vitamins, minerals and so on.

It really is particularly important for those who happen to be on vegan diet program and not have many elements. Spirulina is without a doubt also good for adolescents and expecting mothers, simply because the two of these groups need to have excess nourishing substances. Realizing that this really is pure nutritional supplement, only some instances of Spirulina adverse effects had been recorded.

Spirulina overdose is actually almost impossible, despite the fact that quite a few men and women tend to be hypersensitive to Spirulina alone. In this sort of cases, individuals could have aggravating skin breakouts. Acquiring only fifty grams Spirulina a day shouldn't create just about any side-effects. As a result of the simple fact it has just about seventy % of necessary protein, a number of individuals have reported nausea.

That occurs due to the fact body is attempting to digest excess materials in a way it results in some additional heating. Sense of wonderful enjoyment or sleep loss might complement with a fever. The people that already have problems relevant to gastric issues or abdominal gas difficulties can get stomach ache, bowel problems or diarrhea, unwanted gas, hiccups and many others. Many sufferers felt really tired, fragile or just simply sick and tired, although some others have had troubles because of faintness and disorientation as well as feeling sick.

Over weight persons who are using Spirulina can encounter higher water supplies in their particular system (edema), that can seem like these people have acquired some pounds. That takes place due to the fact water continues to be in the body system in larger volumes compared to standard. The people that usually do not have more than enough red blood cells could experience minor nose bleeding, which often is normal in ladies. Bring just about all of these Spirulina secondary effects into concern right before coming to a decision simply how much or in what style you'll start off making use of it.

Home Treatment of Hemorrhoids - Natural and Herbal Cure in 48 Hours Only

Hemorrhoids Alternative Treatment:

More and more people are exploring for alternative home treatment for hemorrhoids

People nowadays have grown averse to modern medicines and the kind of surgeries that doctors wish to experiment upon them without any real cure. What medicines does is simply suppress the symptoms, especially the pain associated with thrombosed external hemorrhoids, so that people by and large can get on with their daily routine as long as the effect of the medicine lasts.

Medicines can at best provide some relief from the discomfort and can even stop the bleeding for sometime, but that does not really mean that the patients are able to get rid of the menace of hemorrhoids altogether. This is because by simply treating the symptoms you cannot stop the real cause that keeps triggering those piles now and again.

To best address the real cause behind the frequent reappearance of hemorrhoids, is to nip in the bud the very cause. To do that one needs to approach the problem from a holistic point of view. That means the overall health of the person, his or her lifestyle and routine, food habits and many more. For this natural hemorrhoid treatment is the best bet for a safe and fast cure.

Before setting out in our quest for a natural panacea for hemroid cures, we need to understand what exactly are hemorrhoids and what are the main factors responsible for causing them.

Factors that Cause Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids occur when the surrounding tissues and varicose like veins running alongside the walls of the lower rectum and the anus get distended from increased pressure within, caused by frequent stress and strain that they are subjected to.

The straining could be because of forced bowel movement to excrete hardened and stubborn stools that find difficulty in wriggling its way out through the anal canal, as it happens during acute constipation.

This results in the veins to swell and expand that makes them acutely painful to bear. The other factors may include during pregnancy and thereafter childbirth. This is when there is increased volume of blood and hormonal changes, that cause the veins to expand and burst wherever the inner walls of the blood vessels fail to withstand the built up pressure from within. Also the foetus sits upon the veins and tissues that adds to the compression in the anal region.

The other factors is also when a person, because of his occupation have to lift heavy loads and each time he does it, he has to hold his breath very tight to tighten his abdominal muscles for the extra thrust for the lift. This again cause the veins to bulge because of extra rush of blood, to compensate for the deficiency in the oxygen level that the muscles crave for.

Hemorrhoids can also occur when a person has to sit for long hours at a stretch because of his or her sedentary nature of work, with very few breaks in between to walk around.

The other possible reasons could be because of too much of diarrhea, anal infection or cirrhosis of the liver.

Home Treatment of Hemorrhoids with Natural Ingredients

So if we can reverse some of the above factors that trigger hemorrhoids we can possibly take control of those problem that are responsible for the hemorrhoids to occur quite frequently.

This means we have to keep the stools soft for easy movement through the rectum. For this we have to drink plenty of water, at least eight glasses in a day and also include high fiber in our diet. High fiber is found in whole grains, legumes, leafy green vegetable, raw fruits. Fiber helps to retain water and keep the stool moistened.

It's best to avoid sitting too long at one position. Keep shifting your bottom to stop compressing the underlying tissues and veins. Take frequent breaks to move around, to increase blood circulation and improve blood flow in the anal region. Where its next to impossible to get off from your desk, try to sit on something soft and cushy such as a pillow or may be on a dough like cushion having a hole in the middle.

Do not spend too long in the loo.

Do not try too hard to defecate and when doing so do not hold your breath. It's important to remember. Try to defecate in a squat or semi squat position, to allow gravity to pull down the stools through the rectum.

Keep yourself physically active. Do plenty of exercise including walking long strides that improves blood circulation.

Avoid citrus juice, aerated soft drinks, soda beverages, wines and alcohol that increases the acid ph level.

Never try to lift heavy objects and if it's absolutely necessary do so by inhaling lot of air and exhaling slowly through the nostril while you squeeze your abdominal muscles as you lift a heavy object slowly but steadily, without any jerky movement.

Apply ice cubes in the affected area after ten minutes or so, as this will provide some relief from pain.

Warm baths help to improve circulation of the blood.

Sitz bath helps to relieve pain and improve blood flow in the anal region.

Psyllium seeds taken along with a glass of water supplements you with fiber

Horse Chestnuts (Aesculus Hippocastanum) have natural anti-inflammatory and astringent properties. It helps to tone the veins.

Witch Hazel (Hammamelis viriniana) liquid too has natural astringent that reduces swelling and inflammation. Apply on the protruding portion of the anus, dipped in cotton.

Butcher's Broom (Ruscus Aculeatus) is used to treat varicose veins and hemorrhoids.

Aloe Vera too helps to reduce bleeding and pain when applied directly in the affected portion.

Cranberry Juice is good for internal hemorrhoids treatment. It improves easy bowel movement and prevents constipation.

Gingko Biloba supplements helps to improve blood circulation to portions affected by piles. This speeds up the healing process.

Herbal Hemorrhoid Remedy at Home

There are several herbs that are highly effective in not only providing relief from the acute pain and bleeding associated with hemorrhoids but also help to get rid of the real cause behind those awful piles. However not the same herbal treatment can be applicable to all the persons. This is because each person have their own body and health system quite different from others. Each person has to be approached properly for proper assessment before prescribing the kind of herbal remedy that is best suited for the person for a fast and safe cure naturally.

Herbals are not just confined to the native flora available but also to those of Chinese and Indian too, that has for centuries have successfully treated millions of people. In fact not all herbal practitioners are aware of such treatments themselves. However that does not restricts the common person from having access to such vital information.