Radang sendi

PARA ilmuwan di University of East Anglia (UEA) telah meluncurkan sebuah proyek baru yang inovatif untuk menyelidiki manfaat brokoli dalam memerangi osteoartritis. Hasilnya kabar baik bagi para penderita radang sendi.

Penelitian awal di laboratorium UEA telah menemukan bahwa suatu senyawa dalam brokoli yang disebut sulforaphane memblokade enzim penyebab kerusakan sendi pada osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis sendiri merupakan bentuk radang sendi yang paling umum.

Dengan pendanaan dari Arthritis Research UK dan Diet and Health Research Industry Club (DRINC), proyek penelitian membahas bagaimana sulforaphane dapat bertindak untuk memperlambat atau mencegah perkembangan osteoarthritis. Demikian seperti dikutip Health24, Sabtu (18/9/2010).

Sulforaphane adalah senyawa bioaktif yang ditemukan pada sayuran, terutama brokoli. Makan brokoli meningkatkan sulforaphane dalam darah, tetapi para ilmuwan belum tahu apakah jumlah sulforaphane yang masuk ke sendi cukup untuk menjadikannya efektif mencegah osteoarthritis. Hal inilah yang menjadi salah satu hal di mana tim UEA berharap menemukannya, karena osteoarthritis merupakan penyebab besar kasus cacat tubuh.

Tidak ada pengobatan yang efektif

Osteoarthritis merupakan penyakit sendi degeneratif yang secara bertahap menghancurkan tulang rawan pada sendi, terutama pada tangan, kaki, tulang belakang, pinggul, dan lutut orang lanjut usia. Hingga saat ini, tidak ada pengobatan yang efektif selain pemulihan nyeri atau operasi penggantian sendi.

Prof Ian Clark, dari UEA School of Biological Sciences, yang memimpin penelitian mengatakan, "Inggris memiliki populasi lanjut usia dan mengembangkan strategi-strategi baru untuk penyakit yang berkaitan dengan usia. Memerangi penyakit seperti osteoarthritis sangat penting untuk meningkatkan kualitas hidup penderita, tetapi juga untuk mengurangi beban ekonomi masyarakat.”

Sebagai bagian dari proyek selama tiga tahun ini, tim UEA juga akan menyelidiki efek dari senyawa lain pada makanan yang berhubungan dengan osteoarthritis, termasuk diallyl disulphide yang ditemukan cukup tinggi dalam bawang putih.

Brokoli sebelumnya telah dikaitkan dengan pengurangan risiko kanker, tetapi ini adalah pertama kalinya dilakukan studi besar efek brokoli terhadap kesehatan sendi
Fitri Yulianti - Okezone
Read Full Article...>>>

Treating Arthritis: Use Apple Cider Vinegar

Arthritis is amongst the most prevalent ailments today, affecting literally millions around the globe. There are actually over a hundred kinds of arthritis, with the common signs and symptoms of joint pain and inflammation. This causes great discomfort, and often those with arthritis experience it to a degree that it can take over their lives. For this reason, people with arthritis often try to find remedies that will provide effective, long-term relief, in order to enjoy life as normally as possible.

Arthritis apple cider vinegar treatments are one of many methods people consider. It's been in use for many centuries, and has been proven to relieve the inflammation and pain caused by arthritis. It has actually been utilized for other conditions as well. Being full of minerals and vitamins, it allows the body to fight illnesses effectively.

One arthritis apple cider vinegar remedy uses a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar mixed to a glass of water. Honey or even some spice may be added to this mixture to improve the taste; honey is even thought to enhance the strength of the solution. This mixture is then taken in the morning and before going to bed at nighttime, to provide relief from arthritis symptoms.

An additional way to use apple cider vinegar is to apply it as a liniment, using it straight to afflicted joints. It is almost always warmed, then applied through the use of a clean washcloth. It can then either be massaged in or simply applied to provide immediate respite from the pain.

Many people believe in the effectiveness of apple cider vinegar for arthritis. Nevertheless, whenever employing an alternative form of treatment, it's always best to check with your medical doctor to avoid any possible complications.

Apple cider vinegar is available in supermarkets, and even on the web. In purchasing this vinegar you need to also look at the quality so it will be more effective for the management of diseases. Organic vinegars are believed more potent, specially those with the mother-of-vinegar still included.

Apple cider vinegar is one of the techniques that arthritis has been treated through the years, and it has been considered effective and safe - important points for those with arthritis.
by: Meredith Walker
Read Full Article...>>>

Makan 3 Buah Pisang Sehari Turunkan Risiko Stroke

STROKE merupakan penyakit nomor tiga yang mematikan setelah jantung dan kanker. Karena itu, menjalani hidup sehat merupakan solusi jitu untuk mencegah penyakit berbahaya ini. Salah satu cara yang dapat ditempuh ialah makan tiga buah pisang untuk menurunkan risiko terkena stroke.

Sebuah pisang untuk sarapan, satu untuk makan siang, dan satu di malam hari akan memberikan cukup kalium untuk mengurangi kemungkinan darah beku di otak sekitar 21 persen.

Pasalnya, pisang adalah buah yang banyak mengandung potasium, yaitu mineral yang berfungsi menstabilkan detak jantung, otak, dan proses fisiologi penting lainnya.

Penemuan yang dilakukan oleh para peneliti Inggris dan Italia itu menyarankan, stroke dapat dicegah dengan konsumsi makanan kaya kalium lain seperti bayam, kacang-kacangan, ikan bandeng, dan kacang-kacangan.

Meskipun beberapa studi sebelumnya telah menyarankan pisang sebagai buah pencegah stroke, namun hal penting lainnya ialah mengendalikan tekanan darah, sebab hasilnya tidak selalu konsisten.

Dalam penelitian terbaru, yang diterbitkan dalam Journal of American College of Cardiology, para ilmuwan menganalisis data dari studi yang berbeda, kembali ke pertengahan tahun 1960-an, dan digabungkan hasilnya untuk mendapatkan hasil keseluruhan.

Mereka menemukan orang hanya mengonsumsi kurang lebih 1.600 mg potasium per hari, kurang dari separuh jumlah kalium harian yang direkomendasikan untuk orang dewasa yaitu 3.500 mg. Jika seseorang sudah cukup mengonsumsi kalium dengan jumlah tersebut, dijamin akan mendapat risiko stroke yang lebih rendah.

Pisang rata-rata mengandung kalium sekira 500 mg, yang membantu untuk menurunkan tekanan darah dan mengontrol keseimbangan cairan dalam tubuh. Terlalu sedikit kalium dapat mengakibatkan cepat marah, mual, denyut jantung tidak teratur, dan diare.

Peneliti dari Universitas Warwick dan Universitas Naples mengatakan, asupan kalium di kebanyakan negara jauh di bawah jumlah harian yang disarankan.

Tetapi jika konsumen mengudap makanan kaya kalium yang lebih banyak, dan mengurangi konsumsi garam, maka angka kematian pengidap stroke secara global per tahunnya bisa dikurangi lebih dari 1 juta tahun.

Para peneliti mengatakan dalam laporannya, "Ini akan menerjemahkan ke dalam pengurangan sebanyak 1,15 juta kematian akibat stroke per tahunnya pada skala dunia."

Stroke, suatu kondisi yang terjadi ketika pasokan darah ke suatu bagian otak tiba-tiba terganggu, membunuh sekira 200 orang setiap hari di Inggris.

Mengobati dan merawat 100 ribu orang yang terkena stroke setiap tahun di Inggris membutuhkan biaya 2,3 miliar poundsteling.

Seorang juru bicara untuk Asosiasi Stroke mengatakan, "Penelitian ini menunjukkan makan banyak makanan kaya kalium, seperti pisang, tanggal dan bayam, dapat mengurangi risiko Anda mengalami stroke. Tekanan darah tinggi adalah faktor risiko terbesar untuk penelitian stroke dan terakhir telah menunjukkan bahwa kalium dapat membantu menurunkan tekanan darah. Ini bisa menjelaskan efek positif dari kalium ditunjukkan dalam penelitian ini."
by:Chaerunnisa-okezone
Read Full Article...>>>

Home Therapy Helps Stroke Patients Recover

Having a stroke can be a very big deal indeed. The heart is so important to so many functions in the body that any glitches -- however temporary -- can

cause major consequences. A stroke, for example, can create a number of troublesome symptoms, including problems with physical mobility. Millions of stroke survivors experience difficulty in walking. But now here's some ood news: for those recuperating after a stroke, more expensive, high-tech therapy isn't necessarily superior to intensive at-home strength and balance training.

In a massive stroke rehabilitation study, patients who had physical therapy at home improved their ability to walk just as well as those who were treated in a training program that required the use of a body-weight supported treadmill device followed by walking practice (called "locomotor training").

The National Institutes of Health study randomly assigned 400 patients into three study groups who participated in 36 90-minute sessions over 12 to 16 weeks. All patients had either severe or moderate walking impairments. The average age of the patients was 62 years old.

At the end of one year, 52% of all the study participants had made significant improvements in their ability to walk.

All groups achieved similar gains in the speed and distance of their walking, their physical mobility, motor recovery and social participation, resulting in improved quality of life.

The researchers found that the at-home group was the most likely to stick with the program, however. Only three percent dropped out of this arm of the study, compared to 13% of the more high-tech locomotor training groups.

And some more good news: patients made significant improvements in walking speed long-term, despite widely held beliefs in the medical community that most improvements after stroke are complete by six months. The researchers noted that, based on these results, recovery beyond six months could be helped with continued therapy.

The home exercise program in this study requires less expensive equipment, less training for therapists, and fewer clinical staff members. The researchers suggest another benefit, too: this intervention may help keep stroke survivors active in their own homes and community environments.
by: Cate Stevenson
Read Full Article...>>>

Heartburn and Acid Reflux Relief During Pregnancy!

Heartburn is a common condition for many, unfortunately, is even more common for women during pregnancy. The acidity is caused by stomach acid to escape and move into the esophagus. It can create pain, pressure and burn the women during pregnancy and naturally women would like a natural and effective solution that will not affect your growing baby.

There are two reasons why the heartburn becomes a particular issue for pregnant women;

First, the growing baby restricts a woman's organs. The stomach, in particular, is pushed up and restricted. This physical pressure can force stomach acid into the esophagus causing pain and can damage the esophagus.

Secondly, during pregnancy, progesterone levels rise.Progesterone serves many beneficial functions to protect the growing fetus and the strengthening of the placenta. The disadvantage is the high level can also cause swelling and relax the esophageal sphincter allowing acid to escape the stomach. Progesterone also may slow the digestion process.

Resources are available over the counter, but pregnant women should really take the advice of your doctor before taking any of these remedies. A better approach might be to adopt some simple lifestyle changes.

The following steps should be helpful...

Try to eat smaller meals and eat 5-6 meals a day instead of the traditional three large meals. To distribute food in this way you are allowing your stomach to digest food more efficiently and are avoiding creating more pressure than necessary.

Try eating more slowly. Chewing food thoroughly is also compatible with your digestive system. One way to curb your power is to put your fork down between mouthfuls.

Avoid spicy foods and foods high in acidity.. Also note any food that seems to be a trigger for heartburn.

Foods high in fat, particularly animal fats, can be difficult to digest. Eat in moderation

Drink plenty of water, as it will help your digestive system. A glass of water will also provide very fast, unfortunately temporary, acid wash solution into the stomach.

Wear comfortable clothing that does not restrict the stomach.

Never go to bed with a full stomach. . Staying vertical will allow gravity to help keep the acid in the stomach.

You can use pillows to support the upper body to help you sleep.

Finally, if you have not stopped smoking to protect your growing baby , then here's another good reason to quit smoking as well make heartburn less common.

The good news is that the symptoms of acid reflux is likely to ease after the birth of your baby...

Using the methods I have described will also help control symptoms during pregnancy.
by: Obadiea Jones
Read Full Article...>>>

Head Sweating And Your Social Life

Three percent of people in the world suffer from head sweating. This is a staggering statistic. If one suffers from this medical condition one need not feel alone. The entire surface of the body is covered in millions of sweat glands that control the body temperature and allows the skin to perspire to cool down when hot. When this intricate system gets out of sink excessive head sweating of a primary or secondary form takes place.

Primary hyperhidrosis (head sweating), affects ninety-five percent of suffers and can be controlled to a certain degree by natural herbal homeopathic remedies. These medications have been known to help in the reducing and sometimes in certain cases completely stopping the sweating. These natural substances may also be able to treat the underlying causes of excessive sweating. With the wide variety of herbal solutions now available on the market one should always consult a reputable herbal consultant for optimum results, when seeking a remedy for this problem.

Secondary hyperhidrosis is endured by five percent of afflicted people. This small group may have excessive head sweating problems as a result of an underlying medical condition and it is advisable to consult a doctor.

It is an embarrassing dilemma that can often create severe psychological problems in a person's life. Wet hair and an itchy scalp, clammy face ruining makeup, forever feeling untidy and self-conscious about one's appearance all leave one insecure. Together with all these problems one still has the underlying fear of unpleasant odors resulting from the perspiration.

There are a number of helpful tips that can go a long way to helping lessen the chances of a head sweat. Loose clothing made from natural fibers, avoiding nylons and other synthetic materials will help one feel cooler. Keeping one's feet cool also allows the whole body to be cooler.

Hot, peppery foods and stimulants should be avoided at all costs. One should endeavor to use natural shampoos and not to wash one's hair too often. A well balanced nourishing diet is also recommended to prevent unnecessary sweating.

Emotional stress, anxiety levels and fits of rage can also bring one severe sweating. One is encouraged to find ways to bring these feelings under control and to work towards lessening these fits of emotion that increase the possibility of undue facial perspiration.

To cope with head sweating one needs to determine into which of the two categories, primary or secondary, one falls in to and then decide on how to deal with this unattractive disorder. Little is known of the exact cause except that the problem is focused around an overactive sympathetic nervous system that in some cases my benefit from natural homeopathic remedies.
Primary hyperhidrosis (head sweating), affects ninety-five percent of suffers and can be controlled to a certain degree by natural herbal homeopathic remedies. These medications have been known to help in the reducing and sometimes in certain cases completely stopping the sweating. These natural substances may also be able to treat the underlying causes of excessive sweating. With the wide variety of herbal solutions now available on the market one should always consult a reputable herbal consultant for optimum results, when seeking a remedy for this problem.

Secondary hyperhidrosis is endured by five percent of afflicted people. This small group may have excessive head sweating problems as a result of an underlying medical condition and it is advisable to consult a doctor.

It is an embarrassing dilemma that can often create severe psychological problems in a person's life. Wet hair and an itchy scalp, clammy face ruining makeup, forever feeling untidy and self-conscious about one's appearance all leave one insecure. Together with all these problems one still has the underlying fear of unpleasant odors resulting from the perspiration.

There are a number of helpful tips that can go a long way to helping lessen the chances of a head sweat. Loose clothing made from natural fibers, avoiding nylons and other synthetic materials will help one feel cooler. Keeping one's feet cool also allows the whole body to be cooler.

Hot, peppery foods and stimulants should be avoided at all costs. One should endeavor to use natural shampoos and not to wash one's hair too often. A well balanced nourishing diet is also recommended to prevent unnecessary sweating.

Emotional stress, anxiety levels and fits of rage can also bring one severe sweating. One is encouraged to find ways to bring these feelings under control and to work towards lessening these fits of emotion that increase the possibility of undue facial perspiration.

To cope with head sweating one needs to determine into which of the two categories, primary or secondary, one falls in to and then decide on how to deal with this unattractive disorder. Little is known of the exact cause except that the problem is focused around an overactive sympathetic nervous system that in some cases my benefit from natural homeopathic remedies.
Read Full Article...>>>

Exercise for Stomach Fat

With all the fast food we eat, only the fortunate few avoid a flabby gut without doing some sort of exercise for stomach fat. Two of the simplest types are planks and crunches. Before you start on either, bear in mind that pregnant women shouldn’t do these exercises. Also, if you have back problems, doing crunches on a hard surface can aggravate those problems, so don’t do that. As always, warm up before and stretch afterward. Never stretch cold muscles.

Planks

For the ab plank, lie on the floor face down with your weight on your forearms and toes. Straighten your body, as rigid and straight as possible, from neck to ankles for a 30-second holds (use the old “one-Mississippi, two-Mississippi” method for counting the seconds). Do three sets of 20 (or however many you can do to begin with and work up to three sets). Thirty-second holds are a starting point. Gradually increase your hold time as you grow more accustomed to the exercise. If this becomes too easy, do the exercise with a stability ball under your feet. The more you do the more stomach fat you will burn.

Another intense exercise for stomach fat is the side plank, start in the basic plank position (weight on toes and elbows), and roll to one side, placing all your weight on one forearm and placing your upper foot on your lower foot (the weight is now on the side of your foot), and extend your free arm straight upward. Hold that for 30 seconds, and then reverse, holding that for 30 seconds. This exercise can also be done with straight arms, weight resting on the palm of the hand. That’s a little more challenging balance-wise, but like anything else, it gets easier with practice. Again, the goal is three sets of twenty.

Crunches

For a more old-school exercise for stomach fat, do some crunches. Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Position your feet as wide as your hips, hands behind your head, and tuck hands behind your ears. Use your stomach (not your hands) to lift your head, neck and shoulder blades off the floor. Don’t pull your head forward with your hands. Keep your chin off your chest. Hold that position until it starts to burn, and then count to five before lowering. Do three sets of however many you can do, and keep going until failure (i.e., until you can’t do anymore).

An oblique crunch adds rotating slightly with your shoulders, moving one of your elbows toward the opposite knee, while doing the crunches. To increase the intensity of your stomach fat exercise, add a stability ball to the mix.

Stomach fat exercise should be part of your daily routine. It not only makes you look better, but it also remedies back pain caused by extra weight imposing on weak muscles in your stomach and back. You don’t get as tired because you aren’t hauling around extra stomach fat. Working your abs helps your posture and eliminates stress. All in all, you couldn’t do yourself a bigger favor.
by: James Taylor
Read Full Article...>>>