Health Capsule

How to Treat Constipation (masalah sembelit) With Honey

The uncomfortable effects of constipation have plagued humans for millennia, and it seems that all through history, countless remedies and tonics have been made to ease constipation--from senna pods and aloe to dandelion tea and herbal infusions. Another time honored remedy to treat constipation is honey and lemon juice.

Select a few smaller, nearly ripe lemons from the produce aisle. Look for a bright waxy peel and clean citrus smell. Lemons are a natural disinfectant and eating them greatly improves your overall health as well as helps to maintain healthy immune function and healthy digestive function in the body.

Honey is a proven, powerful antioxidant and eating honey native to your region also helps to alleviate symptoms from environmental allergens and irritants.

Drink a cup of warm water or herbal tea mixed with fresh lemon juice and honey every morning on an empty stomach to treat your constipation. You want to use about half a squeezed lemon and around three tablespoons of honey for each cup that you make.

Continue taking this honey and lemon juice natural remedy for at least a week. This natural laxative should have you regular again in no time, and then keep drinking it to help maintain your overall health for a lifetime.

Article taken from: http://www.ehow.com/how_2079057_treat-constipation-honey-lemon-juice.html

China poisoned milk

China milk poisoning incidents make everyone afraid to look at the daily news report. Everyday, the reports are changing. No one can clearly tell us what to eat and not to eat..

1.What really is poisoned milk?

It is the milk powder mixed with "MELAMINE"



What is Melamine use for?

It is an industrial chemical use in the production of melawares.



It is also used in home decoration. "US resistant board"






Do you understand! Melamine is use in industrial production! It cannot be eaten.

2.Why is Melamine added in milk powder?
The most important nutrient in milk is protein. And Melamine has the same protein that contains "NITROGEN"



Adding Melamine in milk reduces milk content and it is cheaper then milk so it lowers capitalization.
It can give the business man more profit! Below is Melamine. Doesn't it look like milk? It doesn't have any smell, so cannot be detected.






3.When was it discovered?
Year 2007!! US cats and dogs died suddenly, they found that pet food from China contains Melamine.



Starting 2008, In China , an abnormal increase in infant cases of kidney stones.



August 2008 China Sanlu Milk Powder tested with Melamine



Sept. 2008 - New Zealand gov't ask China to check this problem
Sept. 21, 2008 - Lots of food products in Taiwan tested with Melamine

4.What happens when Melamine is digested?
Melamine remains inside the kidney. It forms into stones blocking the tubes. Pain will be eminent and person cannot urinate. Kidney will then swell.


Although surgery can remove the stones, but it will cause irreversible kidney damage. It can lead to loss of kidney function and will require kidney dialysis or lead to death because of uremia.

What is dialysis?

In fact, it should be called "blood washing". It is filtering all of the body's blood into a machine and then go back to the body.



The whole process takes 4 hours and it is necessary to dialysis once for every 3 days for the rest of your life.

Here is a dialysis center


Large dialysis center



A small hole is required in the arm to insert the
sub-dialysis catheter.



Why is it more serious in babies?

Because the kidney is very small and they drink a lot of milk powder.

Here is a baby undergoing dialysis.



China currenty has 13,000 infants hospitalized

It does not matter how much a human being took Melamine. The important point is "It cannot be EATEN!"

5.What are the foods to be avoided?

Foods that contain dairy products should be avoided.


Remember: Foods with creamer or milk should be avoided.

6.Which companies are affected?
Hereunder are the companies affected with Melamine.



7.What do we do next?

Avoid the above foods for at least six months.

If you have snack bar, restaurant or coffee shops, Stop selling dairy products for the meantime.

If you have infants at home, change to mother's milk or find other substitutes.

Finally, share this information with friends so they will understand the risk of milk poisoning.

10 symptoms you shouldn't ignore

Most of us recognize the signs of a heart attack and the life-and-death stakes of reacting quickly. And while few would blithely ignore such symptoms as chronic chest pain or shortness of breath, we also need to pay attention to the more subtle signs our bodies give us that something could be wrong.

While some signals are certainly more urgent than others, milder symptoms can also signal trouble and can impact on your quality of life.

When denial can be deadly

Here are 10 symptoms you ignore at your own peril, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Unexplained weight loss. While for many of us, weight loss isn't necessarily a bad thing, if you're losing excessive weight without intending to do so, it's time to consult your physician. (Unintentional excessive weight loss is considered to be 5 per cent of your weight within one month and/or 10 per cent of your weight within six to 12 months.) Unexplained weight loss could be caused by an overactive thyroid, depression, liver disease, cancer, or disorders that interfere with how well your body absorbs nutrients.

Persistent fever. A persistent low-grade fever -- over 38 C or 100.4 F -- could signal hidden infections ranging from a urinary tract infection to tuberculosis. It could, however, also be linked to malignant conditions such as lymphomas. Note: If you have an immune system problem or take immune-suppressing drugs, fever may not be a reliable warning sign. Also fever can be a reaction to certain treatments or medications, such as chemotherapy for cancer.

Shortness of breath. If you're feeling short of breath, and it's beyond the usual stuffy nose or feeling winded from exercise, this could point to an underlying health problem. Causes for breathlessness could include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, asthma, heart problems, anxiety, panic attacks, pneumonia, a blood clot in the lung (pulmonary embolism), pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension.

Note: Seek immediate medical attention if you begin wheezing or feel breathless with or without exertion or when reclining.

Unexplained changes in bowel habits. Changes in bowel habits may indicate a bacterial infection such as campylobacter or salmonella, or a viral or parasitic infection. Other possible causes are inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer.

Experts recommend seeing your doctor if you have any of the following:

- Severe diarrhea lasting more than two days
- Mild diarrhea lasting a week
- Constipation that lasts for more than two weeks
- Unexplained urges to have a bowel movement
- Bloody diarrhea
- Black or tarry-colored stools

Mental status changes. Significant changes in thinking or behaviour can be caused by infection, head injury, stroke and low blood pressure.. They can also be a result of medications, especially those you've only recently started taking. See your doctor if any of the following occur:

- Sudden or gradual confused thinking
- Disorientation
- Sudden aggressive behavior
- Hallucinations in someone who has never had them

New or more severe headaches (especially if you're over age 50).. A sudden or serious headache can be caused by stroke, blood vessel inflammation (arteritis), meningitis, brain tumor, aneurysm or bleeding on the brain after head trauma. Be particularly aware of a headache accompanied by fever, stiff neck, rash, mental confusion, seizures, vision changes, speaking difficulties and scalp tenderness or pain with chewing.

Short-term loss of vision, speaking or movement control. These are signs of a possible stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) -- so minutes count. Seek immediate emergency medical care if you have any of the following:

- Sudden weakness or numbness of the face, arm or leg on one side of your body
- Sudden dimness, blurring or loss of vision
- Loss of speech, or trouble talking or understanding speech
- A thunderclap headache (a severe headache that strikes like a clap of thunder)
- Sudden dizziness, unsteadiness or a fall

Flashes of light. The sudden sensation of flashing lights may signal the beginning of retinal detachment. To save vision in the affected eye, seek immediate medical care.

Feeling full after eating very little. Feeling full sooner than usual? If you're full after eating little food and have persistent nausea and vomiting that last more than a week, consult with your doctor. There are many possible causes, including pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer and ovarian cancer.

Hot, red or swollen joint. These could be caused by a joint infection, which requires emergency care to save the joint and keep bacteria from spreading elsewhere. Other possible causes include gout or certain types of arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Don't be alarmed, just aware

Many signs and symptoms are caused by conditions that aren't chronic, but very treatable -- but the adage 'better safe than sorry' certainly applies with it comes to your health. The bottom line: don't ignore any symptoms or concerns, but consult with your doctor.

To read more click here.

Source: The Mayo Clinic

HEALTHY EATING Very, Very, Gur!

Jaggery or gur as we know it has multiple health benefits

Expert: Naini Setalvad, nutritionist

Popularly known as the medicinal sugar, jaggery has various health benefits to help in overall wellness of a person. Jaggery is a pure, wholesome, unrefined whole sugar which contains the natural goodness of minerals and vitamins. Produced from sugarcanes, jaggery is a healthy alternative to white refined sugar.
But beware...

• Jaggery in excess makes you gain weight

• Causes blood sugar to rise.

• In larger quantities can cause diarrhoea .

• If not organic then one cannot even consume it as it is full of chemicals, pesticides leeched out of its mineral and vitamin content. Why jaggery should be in your diet....

• Jaggery has sucrose and glucose but along with that, it also has good amount of minerals and vitamins needed for the healthy functioning of the body.

• While diabetic people are often advised replacing sugar with jaggery, you need to be careful as the latter may cause sudden spike of blood sugar levels.
• It is a good source of magnesium which in turn helps in relieving fatigue along with relaxation of muscles, nerves and blood vessels. It thus helps in relieving the symptoms of asthma, migraine, tension and soreness in muscles.

• Jaggery is very good for anaemic people as it is a good source of iron that helps in increasing hemoglobin level in the body.

• It is also a very good source of manganese and selenium and thus acts as an antioxidant scavenging free radicals from the body.

• In addition, jaggery also possesses moderate amounts of calcium, phosphorus and zinc. Jaggery thus helps to maintain optimum health and it also helps in the purification of blood, along with preventing rheumatic afflictions and disorders of bile.
HOT IDEA!
To break jaggery easily, put the entire block into your microwave for 20 seconds and set on medium. Remove it and gently press it down with your palm and watch the heap crumble. If it is still not soft enough, microwave it for another 10 seconds. But watch it before it melts.
DID YOU KNOW?
There are 300-315 calories in of 100 gms of jaggery powder and it also includes vitamins A, B1, B2, B5, B6, C, D2 and E.
EXPERT SPEAK
Often called a medicinal sugar, jaggery, along with adding sweetness to food, also adds several minerals such as magnesium, potassium, selenium and iron. They work to to improve fatigue levels, help lower blood pressure, reduce water retention, increase haemoglobin levels and work as an antioxidant. However it must be remembered that jaggery has the same carbohydrate and calorie content as refined sugar. Thus diabetics and people on weight loss must not overuse it.
    Expert: Pooja Makhija, dietician HOT Tip! The best way to consume jaggery is to consume it in the organic form.

KARANJIA
For the outer covering Ingredients
1 cup wheat flour, roasted ¼ cup ground nuts, roasted and then powdered Mix together to make dough
For the inner filling Ingredients
½ coconut, scraped ½ cup jaggery 50 gms mixed dry fruits 15 gms poppy seeds, roasted and slightly powdered 4 cardamoms, powdered Melt jaggery. Mix the rest of the
ingredients. Stir well. The mixture should be dry.
Method
To make the karanjia Divide the dough into equal parts. Roll into small puris. Place the filling in one half of the puri, press the other half, and make into moon shaped cones. Cut with the karanjia spoon. Bake in medium heat. Turn over when one side is slightly brown.

WORK IT OUT

FLEX-APPEAL

There is more to stretching than simply bending over and touching toes. Get up, stand up and stretch it right!

WHY STRETCH?
Stretching is one of the key components of a balanced fitness regimen. It prevents injury, increases the body's range of movement, promotes relaxation, enhances exercise performance, improves posture and keeps the body agile.
IS STRETCHING A FITNESS COMPONENT?
Yes! The growing evidence of the many benefits of stretching prompted the American College of Sports Medicine to add recommendations for flexibility exercises to its guidelines for improving overall health.
SHOULD ATHLETES STRETCH?
Definitely. Sporting activities promote tightness and inflexibility. Stretching not only keeps you flexible, but also prevents common injuries. Some examples are back problems associated with soccer, sore shoulders or tennis elbow associated with sports like tennis, or knee problems associated with running or squash.
POSTURE AND STRETCHING
Most postural problems are a result of poor alignment caused by tightness in the muscles. Stretching can help you realign soft tissue structures and maintain a good posture.
STRETCHING BASICS

• Post-workout stretching is recommended, as this releases tension from the worked muscles.

• Stretch smoothly, never bounce.

• Breathe slowly, deeply and naturally.

• Relax and feel the stretch.
    STRETCHING EXERCISES
Each stretch should be held for 10 to 20 seconds.
FRONT OF THE THIGH
Stand tall; grasp right foot with the right hand. Bring your foot towards the hip, keeping knees together. Hold and then repeat with the other leg.
BACK OF THE THIGH
Slowly raise one leg and rest it on an elevated platform, such as a park bench. Keeping your hips square, bend at your waist and lower your trunk forward. Hold and repeat with the other leg.
SHOULDER
Cross the right arm horizontally over your chest, placing your left hand or forearm just above the elbow joint, pull the right arm closer towards your chest.
UPPER BACK STRETCH
Clasp your hands in front of you so that you feel the stretch in your upper back. Lower your head during the stretch so that your chin is close to your chest.

Stretch It Baby!

Are late night card parties, even later fancy dinners, crazy drinking sessions and endless slouching finally taking a toll on you? Don't fret…just stretch. Practice these simple asanas and you'll be ready to roll again!

Feeling lethargic? Try this… TADASANA
Stand erect, heels together and put both hands on your chest and make sure your fingers are interlocked. Now stretch out your arms in front of your chest, and slowly raise them while breathing in. Raise your heels, stand on a tiptoe position and stretch your entire body upwards. Stay relaxed and breathe normally. Stay in the position as long as you can. Then slowly unlock your fingers and bring your arms down to your sides and relax. Repeat this asana two or three times in a day.
Benefits: Strengthens spine, ankles, knees, thighs, abdomen, shoulders and arms; beneficial for the spine, as it counters backaches, slip disc and even sciatica pain.
Rid your chest, back, shoulders and arms of all the fatigue ARDHACHAKRASANA
Stand erect, with your feet about a foot apart. Put both hands behind you; fingers interlocked. Inhale and bend your neck and waist backwards, according to your flexibility. Keep stretching your hands downward. Breathe normally in the final posture and hold it for as long as you can. Return to base position. Repeat twice.You can do this asana two to three
    times a day.
Benefits:
Strengthens spine and enhances flexibility; counters aches caused by slip disc, sciatica or other back problems. ON THE GO
Meeting, greeting and gifting can be quite exhaustive. And especially when it entails travelling or braving traffic jams! So, if you're getting really tired of all this, practise these simple exercises to overcome stress–on–the–move!

• With your full strength, clench your hands into fists and then unclench.

• Rotate your fists in both directions.

• Outstretch your arms ahead to shoulder level with your palms facing upwards. Keep arms fully flexed and bend them at the elbows to bring them towards your shoulders. Return them to original position with the same strength.

• Keep your hands on your shoulders and rotate elbows in clockwise and anticlockwise directions.
Benefits: These exercises remove weakness in the arms and alleviate joint pain; very helpful in curing stiff shoulder and neck. All you couch potatoes, take a break by watching TV in this pose
MAKARASANA
Lie on your stomach. Rest your elbows on the ground and make a receptacle with your palms and cup your chin. Bend your right leg at the knee and as you inhale, touch your hip with your right heel. Exhale and return leg to base position. Repeat for the left leg. Do this 3–5 times in a day.
Benefits:
Eases stiffness in the back. Strengthens knees, hips and spine; beneficial for those suffering from a slip disc

YOGACHARYA DR SURAKSHIT GOSWAMI

Stress a trigger for skin disease

WASHINGTON: Researchers from University of Medicine Berlin and McMaster University in Canada have found that stress may activate immune cells in the skin, leading to inflammatory skin disease. This cross talk between stress perception, which involves the brain, and the skin is mediated through the "brain-skin connection". The immune cells in skin can over-react, resulting in inflammatory skin diseases like atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. Study leader Petra Arck hypothesized that stress could exacerbate skin disease by increasing the number of immune cells in the skin. The researcher said that the team exposed mice to sound stress, and found that the stress challenge resulted in higher numbers of mature white blood cells in the skin. Moreover, blocking the function of two proteins that attract immune cells to the skin, LFA-1 and ICAM-1, prevented the stress-induced increase in white blood cells in the skin. Based on their observations, the researchers came to the conclusion that stress activates immune cells, which in turn are central in initiating and perpetuating skin diseases. The study by Arck appears in the November issue of The American Journal of Pathology.

Ginger & Its Medicinal Use

---

What is Ginger

 

Ginger is a strengthening food that has long been used to maintain health. Ginger has a long history of both culinary and medicinal use in Chinese, Japanese and Indian medicines. In ancient China , ginger was regarded as a healing gift from God and was commonly used to cleanse and warm the body.

 

Qualities of Ginger

The major active ingredients in ginger are terpenes and oleoresin called ginger oil. These two, and other active ingredients in ginger, provide antiseptic, lymph-cleansing, circulation, and constipation relief qualities.

• Ginger is good for the respiratory system
• It is good to fight against colds and flu
• Ginger offers substantial protection from stroke and heart attack because of its ability to prevent blood clotting
• Ginger, a multifaceted herb, is crucial in the battle against cardiovascular disease
• Relieves headaches and pains
• Helps to clear sore throats
• Good for upset stomach and indigestion
• It is very effective as a cleansing agent through the bowels and kidneys and also through the skin

Some of the problems cured by Ginger

 

Colds/Flu

Kills influenza virus by improving immune system's ability to fight infections.. Ginger also relieves headaches.

 

Increases Circulation

Increases the muscular contractions of the heart atria, there by increase in overall circulation. Ginger has been proven to prevent internal blood clots and lowers blood pressure. Ginger Root stimulates the central nervous system controlling the heart and respiratory centers. Ginger helps reduce serum cholesterol, which can slow down circulation.

 

Ginger Relieves Motion/Morning Sickness

Ginger is one of the most effective herbal remedies to get rid of Motion/ Morning Sickness.

 

Digestive Aid - Indigestion, Stomach Ache

Ginger Root increases production of saliva in the mouth and dramatically increases digestive enzyme amylase in the saliva to additionally aid digestion. Ginger Root also contains a very effective digestive enzyme zingibain.

 

Women's Health

Ginger Root is good for the uterus as well as the intestinal tract and may ease menstrual cramps.

 

Skin
Very cleansing - reduces pus in infected wounds as well as boils. Clears spots caused by chicken pox and shingles. Useful for burns, sores, sunburn, ringworm, warts, herpes, athletes foot and even for dandruff.

 

Stress Protection
Ginger Root appears to limit the effects of adrenergic stimulation and there by relieves the stress.

 

Arthritis
As Ginger root is a proven anti-inflammatory agent, some arthritic victims may find it helpful.

Ginger is sometimes recommended as an alternative to aspirin for people who can not take aspirin because of its irritating effect on the gastrointestinal tract.

 

Ginger cures following ailments

 

Asthma - Adults	Athlete's Foot	Acne
Boils/ Blisters	Cold Sores	Cuts
Cold	Flu	Gingivitis
Glandular Fever	Gum Infections	Head Lice
Infections	Insect Bites / Stings	Mosquito Bites
Mouth Ulcers	Mumps	Ringworm (tinea)
Skin Conditions - Antiseptic	Sore Throat	Warts

With all the benefits to the average person, ginger should be included in the diet every day. Especially for a person who are suffering from heart problems, cold/flu, stress problem, motion sickness a daily dose of ginger combined with other herbs to enhance their effectiveness is part of a sensible, healthy diet.

Allicin from Garlic Boosts Flow of Blood to Protect the Heart

By David Gutierrez

(Natural News) The chemical that causes garlic to give you bad breath may be the same one that protects your heart, according to a new study conducted by researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Allicin is produced when garlic is chopped, crushed or chewed. It further breaks down in the body into a variety of sulfur-containing compounds, some of which cause a strong odor typically associated with garlic breath. But hydrogen sulfide can also have a relaxing effect on blood vessels, lowering blood pressure and decreasing the risk of heart attacks. Lower blood pressure also allows the blood to carry more oxygen to the body's organs, improving overall health.

Researchers took blood vessels from rats and immersed them in a solution of crushed garlic juice. They observed a 72 percent reduction of tension in the blood vessels. In addition, red blood cells that were exposed to small quantities of crushed garlic juice were observed to start giving off hydrogen sulfide immediately. The researchers found that the chemical reaction causing the emission of hydrogen sulfide appeared to take place mostly on the surface of the cells.

"Our results suggest garlic in the diet is a very good thing," said lead researcher David Kraus. "Certainly in areas where garlic consumption is high, such as the Mediterranean and the Far East , there is a low incidence of cardiovascular disease."

Garlic is also known for its anti-cancer abilities. Used topically, crushed garlic eats away cancer tumors on the skin. Used internally, garlic halts the growth of cancer tumors throughout the body, functioning as a natural, non-prescription "chemotherapy" agent that has no negative side effects.

Garlic is strongest in its raw state. The longer garlic is cooked, the more of its healing photochemical are destroyed. To use garlic medicinally, use small amounts of it raw, or cook it minimally.