What You Need to Know About Colon Cancer

by: James Pendergraft

Colon cancer or colorectal cancer is a disease characterized by the development of malignant cells in the lining of the first and longest portion of the large intestine. These cells have lost the normal control mechanism for growth. It is also termed as colorectal cancer because in time it can affect the rectum too. The rectum is the continuation of the large intestine into the pelvis that terminates in the anus.

The Causes and Symptoms

Primarily, there are two causes of colon cancer: the sporadic case and the genetic case. Exposure to the carcinogenic agents in the environment constitutes the sporadic case. It can induce mutation, and in time, it can also turn into a cancer. Specific carcinogens for colon cancer are still unidentified, but they can be narrowed down to the dietary factors of the person. Some of the probable causes of colon cancer include:

1) Diets that are high in fat and alcohol can predispose people to this disease.
2) Age and smoking habits of the person. A person over the age of 50 is more likely to have the disease than those who are under 50. Smoking individuals have risks too.
3) Patients who suffer from inflammatory diseases of the colon like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s colitis also have increased risks.
4) Genetics like familial cases are also factors that help spread the disease.

Symptoms of colon cancer are related to the release of bowel and wastes of the affected person. They may occur alone or in combination. These symptoms are as follows:

1) Change in the bowel habit of the affected person
2) Blood in the stool
3) Bloating or persistent abdominal distention
4) Constant constipation
5) Feeling of fullness after just having a bowel movement
6) Presence of ribbon stools
7) Persistent and chronic fatigue and anemia
8) Abdominal discomfort
9) Unexplained weight loss, resulting from a systemic disease
10) Nausea and vomiting, which can occur rarely

The Treatments Available

Treatment of the colon cancer first depends on the stage of the cancer. It can be curable when caught at an early stage, but if detected at later stages, when metastases are present, it is less likely to be curable. Up until now, surgery is still the primary treatment of colon cancer. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy or the combination of both may be recommended on the patient, depending on their cancer’s stage and other medical factors. It can also be a challenge to determine how aggressive the treatment for the patient is because this type of cancer primarily affects the elderly; it is rare for young people to develop this disease. Some elderly people are not recommended for chemotherapy after the surgery because it can have ill effects on their health.

These are among the summarized treatments of colon cancer that are practiced today:

1) Surgery in the colon area
2) Chemotherapy
3) Radiation therapy
4) Immunotherapy
5) Vaccine for colon cancer
6) Treatment of liver metastases that can spread to the colon area
7) Support therapies

Treatment for Depression

by: James Pendergraft

Depression is commonly known as a major depressive mental disorder. This has a recognized clinical condition characterized by an all-encompassing low mood, low self-esteem, and loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities. There are commonly three treatments for depression, and these include psychotherapy, medication, and electroconvulsive therapy.

Psychotherapy

This treatment is an intentional interpersonal relationship therapy used by trained experts to help their clients with their problems. It primarily aims to increase the sense of well-being of an individual and reduce their sense of discomfort. The doctors use a wide array of techniques based on experiential relationship building like dialogues, communication change, and behavioral changes of the patient. They improve the mental health of the clients. This may be performed by practitioners like psychologists, marriage therapists, licensed social workers, counselors, and psychiatric nurses.

Psychotherapy helps people overcome the overwhelming feeling and makes depressed people more focused. This can help depressed people identify the reason for their depression and make changes on the problematic aspects of these people like in relationships and the way that they handle problems.

Medication

Medication is probably the most advertised treatment for depression, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is also the most effective because depression is not just a medical and chemical imbalance in the brain. Medication may help relieve some of the symptoms of depression, but it does not provide a cure to the problem; it is not a long-term solution.

Some medications like antidepressants can come with many side effects and safety concerns such that when people withdraw from using them, a difficulty would soon arise. Medications are not at all unpleasant for a depressed person; they can also help for a speedy recovery and they can prevent possible recurrence.

Electroconvulsive Therapy

This treatment is used as the last resort when treating people with depression problems especially if they have not been respondent to any trials of antidepressant medications and any supported intervention like psychotherapy. Seizures are introduced to patients for a therapeutic effect in this type of treatment. Its effects are quicker, and it can be effective as a short-term treatment. It has side effects too like temporary memory loss, headaches, and disoriented movements of the patients. Through this treatment, it is also possible for patients to have a relapse.

Exploring the Options

Before venturing into any treatment, affected people must first learn what their options are. There are some treatments that work best for some people, while for others the treatment may seem to have no effect. Become informed first with the depression and explore the possible treatments that can be done with it.

1) Learn about the depression. Determine if the symptoms are due to medical concerns. If it is, you can treat it medically, but if it does not turn out as predicted, you can explore the other treatments for depression.
2) Take time to find the right treatment.
3) Don’t rely on medications alone.
4) Get social support.
5) Remember that treatment takes time and commitment.

Why Running Is the Best Exercise for Women

by: James Pendergraft

Women need to understand that they also need to exercise when they are planning on losing weight. Completing a diet plan is not the only way to look great. Different types of exercise can give females the long and lean figure that they desire because they can lose weight fast. There are many benefits that are provided when women exercise. These are:

* Exercise can develop a stronger heart muscle and improve the immune system.

* It can increase the metabolism of the person so that they can burn calories faster.

* Exercise is a mood booster and it can develop the person's self esteem.

* It can reduce body fat and weight and blood sugar.

* It can also reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis.

Why Running Is the Best Option

Running is considered the most accessible of all aerobic sports. An area for running is always close by. It is also inexpensive and be very easy to learn and all you need are good shoes and proper running clothes. It can reduce heart attacks, especially for pre-menopausal women and reduces stress. Running can make people feel good because the fitness, self-esteem, empowerment, and confidence are developed fully when people run. For women who want to lose weight fast, running is their best option because it is an excellent component for weight loss programs.

Running and Exercise

Running is a part of the cardiomuscular exercise that increases metabolism in the body and it may seem easy to most women but it actually is the toughest cardio exercise. Running is considered the best exercise for women especially if the women are planning to lose weight in their belly, thighs and buttocks. It involves all the muscles in the body because it is an intensive workout.

* Running burns belly fat. When you want to lose belly fat, you may want to try running. Running increases metabolism and it can stimulate the burning of fat in the belly area. The abs are used while running. It contracts and expands so that the fat in your belly will be eliminated fast.

* The leg and hip muscles are worked well when you run so this would be a very good opportunity for you to lose weight.

* Running is done by most people not just for fitness purposes but also for the health benefits that it provides. Running helps fight disease and reduce stroke and breast cancer. Regular running is often prescribed by doctors for patients who are at high risk of osteoporosis, diabetes, and hypertension. It strengthens the heart muscles, maintains the elasticity of the arteries, and lowers blood pressure.

* Running is a great way to maintain and improve the general health of women. It can raise the HDL or the good cholesterol of the body, reduces the risks of blood clots, encourages the use of 50 percent of the lungs that often go unused, and boosts the immune system by creating a much higher concentration of lymphocytes or the white blood cells that attack diseases.

Smart Snacking: Satisfying Snacks That Don't Make You Fat

by: James Pendergraft
There is that urge to eat and indulge one's palate with food. Snacks are part of an individual's meal program. Not only does it include eating three times a day but it also includes snack time. One in the morning and one in the afternoon would usually be the routine. This kind of habit is usually common for individuals who have hectic and busy schedules. They would eat too early. Waiting for their next full meal would be a long waiting process. With that, it would be tempting to grab food that would be less nutritious.

You may find yourself eating your breakfast at six in the morning, and then you would be hungry in the middle of the day. Bringing along a few snacks would buy you time to get past the hunger.

Why Healthy Snacking Is Good for You

Snacks are a terrific way to satisfy your hunger and they allow you to get all the vitamins and nutrients your body would need. However, you should pay attention to the food that you eat.

To avoid weight gain and keep energy levels going, you should keep away from food that contains simple carbohydrates like soda or candy bars. Instead, opt for foods that contain complex carbohydrates like cereals and whole-grain breads and mix your diet with protein-rich snacks such as cheese, low-fat yogurt, or peanut butter.

Smart Snacking Strategies

Here are some tips on how to have smart snacks.

* Prepare healthy snacks ahead of time. Making and preparing your own snacks is most beneficial. It allows you to control the amount of ingredients you are using. Preparing these in advance would allow you to just grab them and stuff them in your bag. It is best to opt for fruits and vegetables, nuts, and the like.

* Keep healthy snacks with you all the time. You can never tell nor predict your urge to eat. It comes to you depending on your body's metabolic rate. Make it a habit to keep a stash of whole grain crackers, nuts, baby carrots in your stash bag. That way, you can just easily grab something when you find yourself hungry.

* Make it interesting. Just because it has to be healthy it doesn't mean that you would have to always watch and count the calories you would be eating. There are a variety of healthy foods that you can always mix and match up. You can have pretzels, raisins, yogurts, and many more.

* Satisfying cravings with nutritious options. If you are craving for a chocolate cake or ice cream, there is another approach for you to take at the same time be able to avoid all those high sugar contents with the food you are craving for. Instead of indulging with ice cream, you can opt for yogurt ice cream instead. With chocolate cake, you can just substitute it with granola bars. There are ways for you to have what you are craving in a much more nutritious way.

As with everything, moderation is the key to smart snacking. Those who eat regular meals and eat healthy snacks are less likely to overeat and gain weight than people who skip meals or go for long periods without eating and then gobble down a large order of fries and burgers.

Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes (Type 2 Diabetes)

by: James Pendergraft
What is the cause? How do we prevent and treat it?

Non-Insulin dependent or Type II diabetes has reached epidemic proportions around the world. Over 50% of the population that has this disease does not know they are affected. Elevated blood sugars over a long period of time begin to effect bodily organs; including the heart, kidneys, eyes, liver, and peripheral vasculature and nerves. There is a increase in heart disease (angina, heart attack), stroke, blindness, fatty liver, kidney failure, lack of circulation to the lower extremities leading to gangrene and amputation of the lower limbs, and decrease pressure and pain sensation of lower extremities due to peripheral nerve damage. There can also be pain in the extremities due to nerve damage.

Immediate initiatives must be taken to treat high blood sugars. Normal blood sugar control occurs due to secretion of insulin by pancreatic Beta cells. Type 2 diabetes is caused by an inadequate amount of insulin being released, and insulin resistance. Insulin works by attaching to receptors (special areas on the surface of the cell) on muscle and fat cells. Glucose is picked up and transported inside where it is utilized for energy. Patients with Type 2 diabetes are not able to transport the glucose into the cell. This is called “insulin resistance”. There are many theories to why this occurs. What we do know is the following:

1) Type II diabetes is related to obesity. Obesity has increased astronomically in the past 10 years. As obesity has increased, so has the diagnosis of Type II diabetes.

2) Weight loss decreases level of blood sugars.

3) Decreasing fat intake reduces the amount of glucose in the blood

4) Exercising increases a certain protein in muscle that causes the cells to increase their uptake of glucose into the muscle cell which decreases blood sugars

Let’s briefly take a look at fat intake as a factor leading to insulin resistance. A single human cell is made of many parts which carry out their specific responsibility in keeping the body alive and functioning properly. When a certain part of the cell stops functioning properly, the cell will eventually die. Not only does this process affect one cell, it can do so in all the cells of the body thus resulting in death. All cells need glucose for energy which are necessary for the body to maintain strength, fight bacterial and viral infections, produce blood, live, breath, move, detoxify and excrete waste from the body. Mitochondria are the specific portion of the cell that is important to convert glucose into the forms of energy that the body needs to live. There are times when glucose is not available and the mitochondria use fat cells to produce energy for the body. This way of producing energy burns a lot more calories and takes more work in order to produce the same amount of energy than by utilizing glucose. Under normal circumstances when glucose is available, the mitochondria prefer utilizing it. In Type II diabetes, the mitochondria continue to use fat as an energy source and not glucose. There seems to be a “signal” that the mitochondria sends to the surface of cells to prevent them from taking up glucose. There is plenty of insulin, but the signal that the mitochondria sends out in the presence of fat cells over rides the presence of insulin. This is the ”insulin resistance” that is seen and the glucose level in the blood increases. With the higher amount of energy and work that it takes for the mitochondria to produce energy by utilizing fat, they burn themselves out (stop working properly)

Type II diabetes can be treated in its early stages by exercise, decreasing carbohydrate and fat intake. If the excess excretion of insulin does not decrease, and there is not a decrease in the mitochondria burning fat to produce energy, the Beta cells of the pancreas, and the mitochondria will eventually die. This is when insulin will be required to control the blood sugars, organ failure will occur, resulting in death.

It is my hope that everyone will be screened for abnormal elevation of their blood sugars and that preventive measures will start today to reduce or prevent the detrimental complications that occur with this disease.

Gestational Diabetes: Treatment with Cinnamon

Approximately 7% of women that carry a pregnancy to term develop Gestational Diabetes during pregnancy. The incidence of Gestational Diabetes doubled from 1992 to 2004. No one understands why this has occurred except that the incidence of obesity increased tremendously during this same period of time. Type II diabetes has a incidence of developing between 15 to 60 percent 5 to 15 years after patients have had gestational diabetes. The three risk factors that indicate who will develop Type II diabetes are 1) BMI >27, 2) developing gestational diabetes before 24 weeks gestation, and 3) the use of insulin or not during pregnancy.

Sugars not controlled during pregnancy can lead to fetal abnormalities, fetal macrosomia (large fetus), hypoglycemia (low blood sugars), hyperbilirubinemia (elevated bilirubin) which can cause damage to the infant’s brain, and pulmonary ( lung) immaturity. These problems are reduced tremendously when blood sugars are kept under control.

Normally the way sugars are kept under control are diet, exercise, insulin, and glyburide. There are other alternative treatments that show promise and have minimal side effects:

1) Cinnamon

2) Chromium Piccolinate

3) Bitter Melon

4) Cane Sugar

5) Alpha Lipoic Acid

Today we are going to discuss Cinnamon. Cinnamon has been shown to decrease glucose significantly in patients. 1 gm, 2 gms, and 6gms of dried Cinnamon has been shown to decrease the fasting glucose by 18 to 30 percent. It does so by its anti-oxidant effects and increasing the sensitivity of the insulin receptors located in fat and muscle cells. In essence it activates the insulin receptors which allows efficient uptake of glucose into the cells so that it can be stored and metabolized properly.

With Type II diabetes there is an over abundance of insulin floating around and attached to receptors. For some reason the receptor is not sensitive to the insulin in order to allow sugars to be taken into the cells properly. This chronic elevated sugar state leads eventually to severe heart, kidney, peripheral nerve, and eye disease.

Dried Cinnamon has no side effects or teratogenic defects on the fetus in the recommended dosages. When given in extremely high doses in rats, it has been found to cause skeletal and kidney problems including death.

In summary; Cinnamon has been found to decrease fasting glucose significantly dosages ranging from 1 to 6 grams. With the decrease in the incidence of perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality due to the significant decrease in maternal sugars, Cinnamon needs further study to determine whether or not it can be used as a first line agent to treat patients with Gestational Diabetes.

by: James Pendergraft