What Can Herbs Do for You?
Posted by Cara
I can never keep my herbs straight, so here is a list of the most commonly taken herbal supplements and what they are good for:
Echinacea
Benefits – Strengthens the immune system, helps prevent colds and flu, and aids in overall healing.
Side Effects – May cause liver inflammation if used in conjunction with certain other medications such as anabolic steroids and methotrexate, which are often used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
Gingko
Benefits – Increases blood circulation and oxygenation, and improves memory and mental alertness.
Side Effects – May increase bleeding, especially in people who already take certain anti-clotting medications.
Goldenseal
Benefits – Reduces inflammation and can be used as a mild laxative.
Side Effects – May increase swelling or high blood pressure.
Feverfew
Benefits – Used to help prevent migraine headaches, and to treat arthritis, rheumatic disease and allergies.
Side Effects – May increase bleeding, especially in people who already take certain anti-clotting medications.
St. John’s Wort
Benefits – Used for mild-to-moderate depression, anxiety, or sleep disorders.
Side Effects – May prolong the effects of certain anesthetics.
Garlic
Benefits – Helps to lower cholesterol, triglyceride levels and blood pressure.
Side Effects – May increase bleeding, especially in people who already take certain anti-clotting medications.
Ginseng
Benefits – Increases physical stamina and mental concentration.
Side Effects – May increase heart rate or high blood pressure. May cause bleeding in women after menopause. May decrease the effectiveness of certain anti-clotting medications.
Unraveling the Benefits of Different Nutrients
Posted by Cara
There is so much hype about beauty products, especially sine care products. I figured they all must contain the same things, so I did some research and I found that these vitamins and minerals are included in most skin care products.
Chromium - For acne. Chromium reduces skin infections.
Zinc - Zinc aids in healing of the tissues and helps prevent scarring.
Vitamin E - Vitamin E has been shown to play an important role in protecting skin from environmental and oxidative damage. It’s also an excellent remedy for dry skin.
D-Panthenol - substance that is readily converted into vitamin B5. It is known to help the skin repair damage.
Hyaluronic acid - This is a natural moisturizer that already exists in our skin naturally and surrounds the collagen and elastin fibres. As we age, we produce less hyaluronic acid in our skin, making our skin less resilient and pliable. Hyaluronic acid is used in many moisturizers and can also be injected by doctors into the skin.
Niacinamide (vitamin B3) - Helps exfoliate surface skin cells to reveal, newer, younger looking skin
Retinyl proprionate - A special form of Vitamin A (retinol). It is part of a class of retinoids. It can improve the appearance of sun damaged skin by reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles, skin roughness and appearance of age spots. It is a larger molecule than retinol, which is often referred to as the pure form of Vitamin A.
Men’s Health: The Best Thing You Can Do is Stop Smoking
Posted by Cara
My male friend is on his 29th day as a non-smoker and he didn’t realize until he quit smoking just how much he hates everyone and everything. However, quitting smoking is one of the best things he can do for his health. Many times, articles about men’s health forget to address the benefits of quitting.
However, the newly-found health benefits (for men and women) can be little consolation to people who are going through the torture of quitting. My friend is all too aware of all the health problems that are attributed to smoking, and he can tell you every statistic and study out there, but for him right now, none of that health stuff matters.
What matters is the little, unimportant things right now. He’s goes crazy when the neighbors play the music he dislikes. He gets so angry when someone cuts him off in traffic. He has stopped talking to our friends that he deems “annoying” (which are most of them right now). However, I’m proud of him for sticking to it.
And for those women out there…don’t think quitting is just a benefit to men’s health…it’s good for you too!
