Trivia Quiz

In the past, a midlife crisis may have conjured up associations with rash decisions like abandoning a spouse or quitting a long time job. Today this normal phase of life has been redubbed a midlife transition because it can often be a positive time of change for adults.

The age a person may experience a midlife transition can vary from the late thirties to the fifties. The death of someone close, the celebration of a “zero” birthday, or a child getting married or graduating from college may all trigger a midlife transition. This is a normal stage in life that may be invigorating for some but quite difficult for others. Men may seem to be set on proving something but may also begin to examine their worth within their careers. Women may gain validation via relationships but may reevaluate roles as a wife, mother or accomplishments in their career.

People experiencing midlife transitions often wish to put things in their lives in a different perspective but may not know where to begin.  Generally speaking, family, work, religion and perhaps economic status are the focus of structure in many people’s lives.  Starting a new career, returning to school, or taking up a forgotten favorite hobby may be a new focus in life for some. However, since everyone does not move seamlessly through this phase of life, it is important to recognize when there may be signs of depression in an individual wrestling with tough midlife changes. Here are some symptoms to look for.

• Loss of interest in what once were enjoyable activities
• Restlessness, fatigue, anxiety or irritability
• A change in sleeping or eating habits
• Physical aches or pains like headaches that don’t get better with treatment
• Feelings of helplessness, pessimism or guilt
• Thoughts of suicide

With support and understanding from loved ones a midlife transition can be a time for growth and positive change. It’s important to remember that change can be hard for some and recognize signs of depression.

Doheny, Kathleen. “Midlife Crisis:  Transition or Depression?”  WebMD.com. 11 Nov. 2009. 16 Apr. 2013

http://www.webmd.com/depression/features/midlife-crisis-opportunity.

Knott, Karen. “Mid Life Crisis – Top 10 Symptoms.” Midlifeclub.com. 2008. 16 Apr. 2013.

http://midlifeclub.com/mid-life-crisis-top-10-symptoms.htm.

Bone thinning occurs as part of the natural process of aging. If the thinning continues to the point that your bones become fragile and in danger of breaking, you have osteoporosis. However, osteoporosis is considered a preventable disease. After age 30, men and women naturally begin to lose bone mass. You can slow bone loss and possibly prevent osteoporosis by eating a diet rich in calcium and vitamin D. Getting enough calcium and vitamin D is especially critical for women in the first few years after menopause, when bone mass is lost more rapidly.Osteoporosis affects 10 million people in the United States, with another 34 million at risk of developing the disease, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Osteoporosis occurs when the body cannot rebuild new bone as fast as the old bone gets broken down. Increasing your intake of certain vitamins and minerals, through food and supplements, supports the formation of strong bones and helps prevent osteoporosis.

Calcium serves many vital functions in the body, and 99 percent of your calcium is stored in the bones and teeth. To support your continued need for calcium deposits to build new bone as the old bone gets broken down, the National Institute of Medicine Food and Nutrition Board recommends adults between the ages of 19 and 50 consume 1,000 mg of calcium per day. As you age, the risk of osteoporosis increases, so those over the age of 50 should increase their calcium consumption to 1,200 mg per day. In addition to calcium, your body needs vitamin D and other minerals to efficiently absorb calcium. The formation of strong bones also depends upon several essential minerals. Approximately 50 percent of all the magnesium in your body is found in the bones. Phosphorus, the second most abundant mineral in the body, not only helps to balance vitamin D and magnesium levels but also works with calcium to build bone tissue. The University of Maryland Medical Center reports that 85 percent of all phosphorus in the body remains in the bones. Zinc and boron also help support the formation of strong bones.

Supplements can help boost your levels of these vitamins and minerals. Dairy products, including milk, yogurt and cheese, are good sources of calcium. Some vegetables, like turnip greens, kale, Chinese cabbage and broccoli, also contain calcium. Cabbage contains some calcium and also serves as a good source of boron. Other sources of boron include dandelion and parsley. Green vegetables, peas, beans, nuts and seeds all provide magnesium. Eggs, dairy products, nuts and beans provide phosphorus.

Calcium, combined with vitamin D and weight-bearing exercise, keeps bone loss from getting worse or helps reduce the rate of bone loss that occurs with osteoporosis. Any type of movement helps strengthen bones. If you are concerned about osteoporosis, you have to be physically active, preferably throughout life. Walk, dance, do pushups, do yoga or stretching for flexibility. When muscles contract, they pull tendons that are attached to the bones, and this tells the bones to deposit calcium and thus bones become stronger and less apt to fracture. Bone is a living tissue that responds to exercise by becoming stronger. So, eat healthy and let’s go for a walk!

Trivia Quiz

Hepatitis is a disease most often caused by viruses.  Generally hepatitis can cause inflammation of the liver which can prevent it from functioning properly. Scarring can result and cirrhosis may occur.  Cirrhosis of the liver can be the outcome of alcohol abuse or chronic hepatitis.  Approximately 29,000 people die from cirrhosis in the US each year. This disease cannot be reversed or cured.  In some cases a liver transplant has helped to slow and even stop it but only when if it is found at an early stage.

The liver is the body’s main blood detoxifier. It produces bile which assists in digesting foods. It also stores energy. The liver also has an important role in monitoring the composition of blood by regulating the levels of sugar, protein and fat that enter the bloodstream. It also helps in removing bacteria and viruses from the blood.

There are 3 types of hepatitis, and symptoms for each type of hepatitis vary. Hepatitis A (HAV) is commonly spread through water or food contamination from the feces of an infected person.  Foods like vegetables, fruit or salads can be contaminated with the virus that causes HAV. Raw oysters, mussels or clams from polluted waters can transmit it as well. Any fecal to oral contact can spread HAV. Symptoms may include jaundice, stomach pain, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and dark colored urine and pale bowl movements.

Hepatitis B (HBV) is obtained by contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids like blood, vaginal secretions or semen.  A pregnant mother can pass it on to her baby during birth. Contact with an open wound can transmit it as well. When HBV is contracted, the infected person may feel like they have the flu. If Hepatitis B does not go away on its own it can become chronic and the potential for it to last a lifetime can take effect. The good news is that there is a prevention vaccination for HBV.

Hepatitis C (HCV) is contracted by infected blood, through sexual contact or sharing hypodermic needles or other drug paraphernalia.  A mother can pass it onto the baby during childbirth as well, and there is no vaccine for it. Many people do not show symptoms of Hepatitis C for years. The primary downside of HCV does not cure on its own. Medicines can help with symptoms but may have side effects. The infection can last throughout a person’s life and can result in scarring of the liver or liver cancer. 85% of those who have acute HCV progress onto chronic HCV. Below are some tips for preventing the transmission of hepatitis.

• Do not use personal items that do not belong to you like a toothbrush, nail clippers, razors or even washcloths.

• Avoid unprotected sex – use latex condoms. 

• Take precautions when getting any body piercings or tattoos. Instruments should be sterilized or disposable. Make sure that you use a professional company with a good reputation for cleanliness. 

• Take a personal manicure kit when going to the nail salon for a manicure or pedicure. 

• Avoid sharing needles or inhalant devices. 

• Practice good hygiene and always wash hands thoroughly prior to handling or eating food or after using the bathroom.  

• If travelling, especially internationally, take care when drinking tap water as it may be contaminated. 

• Get vaccinated against hepatitis A prior to travelling to parts of the world where there is poor sanitation.

Generally most people with Hepatitis A recover entirely. However Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C can become chronic and lead to cirrhosis or cancer of the liver. It’s important to know the risks and precautions that can easily be taken. There are vaccinations for both Hepatitis A and B. See a health care provider immediately and get tested.  Identifying which type of hepatitis has been contracted is crucial to the treatment of this disease.  

Hepatitis. Nlm.nih.gov. 13 Mar. 2013. 8 Apr. 2013.
             
[http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/hepatitis.html]. 

Preventing Hepatitis. WebMD.com. 12 Jun. 2012. 9 Apr. 2013.
[http://www.webmd.com/hepatitis/digestive-diseases-preventing-hepatitis]. 

Understanding Cirrhosis of the Liver.  WebMD.com. 30 Apr. 2012. 9 Apr. 2013.

[http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/understanding-cirrhosis-basic-information?].

Freeman, David. “Viral Hepatitis: 8 Ways to Protect Your Family. WebMD.com. 7 Jan. 2010. 9 Apr. 2013.
http://www.webmd.com/hepatitis/features/viral-hepatitis-eight-ways-to-protect-your-family?.

Five Steps To Stop Allergies

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease reported that 35 million Americans suffer from seasonal allergies. Recently they reported that most people are very dissatisfied with their allergy medication and as a result, they will take more than one drug to try to get relief. All allergy and sinus medication has a potential for side effects including drowsiness, blurred vision, constipation, confusion, racing heart, and proliferation of yeast. Numerous studies have demonstrated that “gentler, nature- based products and techniques” can safely alleviate symptoms without the same side effects.

In addition, Duke and The Doctor have a HEPA air purifier in their bedroom. The brand they use is called Neoair. They purchased theirs through the Institute for Healthy Living at 1-866-Shop-IHL.

Vitamin C May Be The Fountain Of Youth And Much More

Vitamin C has been studied extensively for helping to fight colds and flu. However the benefits of Vitamin C extend beyond the flu to disease prevention and slowing the aging process. Antioxidants like Vitamin C help turn back the clock according to a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Vitamin C has been shown to keep skin younger looking by helping form collagen which is the natural support structure under skin to smooth fine lines and wrinkles.

Another benefit of Vitamin C was found when Finnish researchers looked at a study of over 300,000 people over the course of 10 years and found that those who took a Vitamin C supplement everyday could reduce the risk of Heart Disease by 25%. In addition, a Harvard study showed that Vitamin C supplementation could cut stroke risk by 30%.

According to the National Institutes of Health, high Vitamin C levels are valuable in treating cancer. The study showed that intravenous Vitamin C actually killed cancer cells, but left healthy cells unharmed.
Another study published in the Archives of Neurology showed that taking Vitamin C along with E could reduce your risk of Alzheimer’s Disease by as much as 64%. And in a related study conducted by the National Eye Institute, they demonstrated that taking a Vitamin C supplement everyday would neutralize free radicals and reduce the risk of age related macular degeneration.

In conclusion, Vitamin C offers many benefits including: slows the aging process, decreases risk of Heart Disease, reduces risk of Stroke, inhibits the growth of cancer, reduces risk of Alzheimer’s Disease and prevents age related macular degeneration a leading causes of blindness.

Vita Logic Bio-C 1000™ is an excellent supplement containing a full gram of Vitamin C plus all the necessary bioflavonoids. In nature, Vitamin C is always found in conjunction with bioflavonoids. Researchers believe that bioflavonoids are the activators of Vitamin C. Taking Vitamin C with bioflavonoids enhances the activity of Vitamin C and produces better benefits than just Vitamin C alone.

Being Overweight By 30 Pounds Increases Risk Of Kidney Stone Formation

Obesity, which is defined as being 30 or more pounds overweight, has recently been demonstrated to double the risk of developing kidney stones.

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University evaluated 95,598 people over a five year period. They went on to note the presence of obesity was associated with doubling the risk of developing kidney stones.
Researchers believe dieting factors including a high salt diet, soda and excess sugar are the cause. Clearly, losing weight reduces Kidney Stone risk.

Kidney Formula™ by Vita Logic is an excellent blend of herbs and nutrients to enhance kidney function and promote better health of the urinary tract system. Kidney Formula™ should be considered by anyone with Kidney Disease including diabetics, people on prescription medications, people who consume soda and persons at risk for kidney stones. Kidney Formula™ can be taken safely and long-term by anyone wishing to promote better kidney health.

Treating Parasites Naturally

According to the World Health Organization, 3.5 billion people suffer from some type of parasitic infection. Parasites include bacteria, viruses, yeasts, molds, fungi and worms.
It’s easy to contract a parasite from water, food, pets and other people or as a side effect from antibiotics.

Symptoms of a parasite include headache, gas, bloating, indigestion, diarrhea, food cravings, weight gain, depression, poor concentration, memory loss, insomnia, loss of libido (sex drive) and hyperactivity.
Most Doctors fail to diagnose parasites and for individuals suffering with parasites, life can be miserable without proper parasite cleansing.

Vita Logic Parasite Formula™ is a safe and effective herbal cleanse. It helps rid the body of foreign invaders including bacteria, viruses, yeasts (Candida), mold, fungi and worms. One bottle lasts 10 days and can be repeated as necessary.

Liver Disease Increasing in Children

Scientists at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center have discovered that increased dietary consumption of fructose and trans fats significantly increase childhood obesity and also lead to fatty liver disease, resulting in scar tissue of the liver. Researchers looked at animal studies and found that over the course of six weeks, animals fed a diet rich in high fructose corn syrup and trans fat solids (those found in margarine) resulted in fatty liver disease which can lead to permanent liver damage.

Fructose consumption accounts for approximately 11% of the calories in the average American diet and has been linked to many health conditions including obesity, cardiovascular disease and now liver disease. Clearly the American diet is killing our children. While liver disease was once thought of as only occurring in adults, particularly those who consume excess alcohol or drugs, liver health has become a major concern for the youth population as well.

Vita Logic Liver Formula™ is a synergistic blend of herbs to help cleanse, detoxify and repair the liver. Liver Formula™ by Vita Logic should be routinely taken by anyone concerned about liver health, including people who consume meat, alcohol or other medications.

Chronic Constipation Linked to Cancer

More than 4 million Americans have frequent constipation. Chronic constipation increases the risk of polyps and Colon Cancer. The study evaluated over 114,000 individuals and found the risk of Colorectal Cancer was 1.78 times higher for chronic constipation patients and the risk for benign tumors on polyps was 2.70 times higher.

Chronic constipation is a condition of infrequent bowel movements, typically fewer than 3 bowel movements a week.

Good bowel health and disease prevention depends on proper evaluation. A normal bowel movement should occur as a minimum of once a day, well-formed and easy to pass.

Regularity requires a diet rich in fiber, daily exercise and adequate water intake. Fiber is found in foods from the plant kingdom including fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains. There is no fiber in any animal product and in fact, chicken, beef, cheese and eggs actually cause constipation.

Constipation increases cancer risk. Diet, exercise and cleansing prevent the problem.

Vita Logic Mylax Formula™ is a highly effective herbal blend including Senna, Cascara and Cape Aloe plus fiber and the probiotic Acidophilus. Mylax Formula™ by Vita Logic is ideally taken before bedtime to achieve excellent results in the morning.

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Antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a worldwide health problem.  When antibiotics are misused it helps to create resistant microorganisms that produce infections that are more difficult to treat. It’s why MRSA (methicillan resistant staphylococcus aureus) exists today. Antibiotics should always be used under a health care provider’s guidance. They can be used for some fungal infections, certain parasites and bacterial infections.  But they can lose their effectiveness against disease causing bacteria when used inappropriately for viruses like the flu.  The resistant bacteria can easily spread to coworkers and family members.  Taking antibiotics unnecessarily may cause side effects like stomach discomfort, diarrhea and nausea. A bout of antibiotics can cause irritation and swelling of the large intestine referred to as Clostridium difficilecolitis (or C. difficile colitis). They can affect the balance of naturally occurring bacteria in the intestine causing bad bacteria to thrive. Stomach cramps, fever and diarrhea can occur as a result.  Women may experience yeast infections after a course of antibiotics also.

The concept of using bacteria to enhance one’s health has been around since the early 1900s. The human body contains billions of bacteria that help maintain a person’s health. The bulk of the bacteria lie within the intestines. This type of “good” bacteria supports the digestion of food. For example, the absorption of vitamin K which helps blood to coagulate would not be possible without these bacteria.

Prebiotics are indigestible carbohydrates that serve as food for probiotics. Prebiotics help probiotics to flourish and when the two are combined they form a symbiotic. They are live bacteria that exist in foods like kefir (a creamy drink made from fermented cow’s milk) or yogurt as well as other fermented dairy products. Prebiotics can be found in foods such as bananas, whole grains, honey, artichokes and yogurt. Many foods contain added prebiotics and probiotics and are also available in dietary supplement forms. They can help with digestion and may give the body protection from bacteria that are harmful. Some recent research has shown probiotics may offer help with reducing or preventing the severity of colds, treating IBS and decreasing the recurrence of bladder cancer. Other benefits include preventing and treating eczema in children, yeast infections, urinary tract infections, and treating diarrhea especially after treatment with specific antibiotics.

Other foods that prebiotics can be found in include red wine, maple syrup, asparagus and legumes. Keep in mind that eating food containing prebiotics feeds the already present good bacteria in the digestive tract. Some studies show that probiotics may help ease lactose intolerance, and tame gas. Unpasteurized sauerkraut and Korean kimchi contain lactobacillis, leuconostoc, and pediococcus, all probiotics. A tasty Japanese broth called Miso soup, has more than 160 bacteria strains, is low in calories, high in B vitamins, and full of antioxidants. Sour pickles fermented using water and sea salt can provide some digestive benefits and so can sourdough bread with lactobacilli probiotics. Gouda cheese has the lactobacillus strain and buttermilk cultured with lactic acid bacteria has good probiotics too. But when prebiotic or probiotic foods are not readily available or one’s lifestyle is on the ever constant go, supplements whether liquid, capsule, tablet or powder form, can prove to be a healthy but more convenient alternative.

Works Cited

Jaret, Peter. “The Best Ways to Use Probiotics.” WebMD.com. 14 Jan. 2013. 23 Mar. 2013.

http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/features/best-probiotics-use?page=1.

Sproule-Willoughby, Kimberley. “The Difference Between Probiotic and Prebiotic.” Livestrong.com. 5 Jan. 201.. 24 Mar. 2013.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/335114-the-difference-between-probiotic-prebiotic/

Zeratsky, RD, LD Katerhine. “Is it Important to Include Probiotics and Prebiotics in a Healthy Diet?” MayoClinic.com. 15 Sept. 2011. 23 Mar. 2013.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/probiotics/AN00389.

Antibiotics:  Misuse Puts You and Others at Risk. MayoClinic.com. 4 Feb. 2012. 21 Mar. 2013.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/antibiotics/FL00075.

The Truth About Probiotics and Your Gut. WebMD.com. 3 Jan. 2013. 23 Mar. 2013.

http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/probiotics-10/slideshow-probiotics.

Top Foods for Probiotics. WebMd.com. 3 Jan 2013. 23 Mar. 2013.

http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/probiotics-10/slideshow-probiotics.

Using Antibiotics Wisely. WebMd.com. 14 Mar. 2011. 23 Mar. 2013.

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/using-antibiotics-wisely-topic-overview.

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