If you or someone you know had cancer before, then it’s important to know the potential health concerns from cancer and its treatment. Often people diagnosed with cancer do not remember consultations during the days after they were diagnose about problems such as depression, pain, infertility, and other physical and emotional changes. Whether the problems are permanent or temporary, most of them can be managed.
According to Pamela J. Haylock, MA, RN, “the late effects of the treatment of cancer and cancer itself for survivors diagnosed as adults remain inadequately documented. Up to 75 percent of survivors have some health discrepancies related to cancers and therapies. Being knowledgeable about the risks and learning and utilizing risk reducing strategies are crucial steps in survivor’s recovery.”

Below is some advice recommended by nurses:
*participate in stress management, regular exercise, a healthy diet, and weight management to live a healthy lifestyle.
* Schedule regular doctor appointments
*Ask your oncology specialist for a written report on your cancer diagnosis, tests, treatments, and recommendations for follow ups once treatment is done. Create a file or folder to organize and manage laboratory and diagnostic reports. You can give this folder to your doctor so they can make a copy for their records.
*Talk with your doctor about possible long term effects of your cancer therapy and ways to minimize or prevent them. Effects may differ from person to person, therefore make sure you educate yourself and find out more about your body.

*Tell your doctor about your previous cancer history, treatment, current medications and long term affects you may experience, including early menopause, infertility, dry mouth, indigestion, taste changes, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, sleep issues, memory loss, dry skin, vision problems, hearing problems, depression, anxiety, sexuality/relationship issues, pain, confidence issues, or numbness or swelling in the fingers and toes.
*Search for information that will assist with emotional, physical, or financial issues that may come up.

Top photo credit: Treating Cancer with Nano-bio Technology by Argonne National Laboratory

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In text photo credit: Cancer Institute of Columbia. By PAHO/WHO

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Many of us skip breakfast every now and then. Some of us may think that breakfast is pointless, but those of us that think that are wrong. Eating breakfast speeds up the metabolism. With your metabolism working more efficiently, the body is able to burn more fat, which is beneficial to the people trying to lose weight. Some people may drink a cup of coffee for breakfast. It may be there breakfast, but it is not a healthy breakfast.

Below we list samples of healthy breakfast:

Brown Rice: Eat brown rice. It contains Vitamin B, the source of energy; and it contains a source of fiber. You can eat brown rice with low cholesterol foods such as vegetables, fat-free meat, and fish.

Strawberry: One cup of strawberries 3 times a week is good for you. It has vitamin C and antioxidants which is beneficial to your health. You can also eat the strawberries with other berries.

Chamomile Tea: Drink a cup of chamomile tea. This tea can help you reduce your stress and make you feel calm.

Fruit smoothie: Add a cup of strawberries and banana and a glass of ice to your juicer. This will make a healthy breakfast. If you add plain yogurt, you will be adding calcium to the healthy fruit smoothie.

Orange juice: You can get more vitamin c and lower your cholesterol level by drinking one to three glasses of orange juice. According to research three glasses of orange juice a day for about a month can enhance your good cholesterol (HDL) up to 21 percent.

As you can see from the ideas mentioned above there are a lot of great and healthy options out there when choosing something for a healthy breakfast. Choose whatever dishes you know you will love and that’s healthy at the same time.

Top photo credit: strawberries by Fried Dough

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In text photo credit: Brown Rice by Rob Qld

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Some of the diseases that can be caused by obesity are liver ailments, joint pains, diabetes, high blood pressure, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, hyperlipidemia, palsy, heart ailments, female infertility, decrease libido, arteriosclerosis, cholelithiasis, mental stress, and menstrual abnormalities. The list can go on and on. A person that is considered obese is a person with a body mass index over 30. In theory the causes of obesity are consumption of fatty foods, genes, food habits, lack of exercise, endocrine problems, and laziness.

Below are some remedies people utilize for getting out of obesity.
• Liposuction: This is a surgical procedure in which fat is sucked out the body by utilizing a needle that is inserted into the body.
• Surgery: Usually this process involves surgery on the stomach and intestines to reduce food consumption.
• Diet pills: Most of the diet pills are for short term use. Diet pills are only effective if they are used in conjunction with a diet and exercise.
• Fat burning pills: These are short term pills. However the results don’t last long. Once you stop taking this medication you start gaining the fat back.
• Exercise: It is one of the best techniques for obesity reduction. There are no side effects because exercise is natural
• Dieting routine: This is natural just like exercise. A certain amount of food is consumed, which controls the development of fat in the body.
• Acupressure and acupuncture
Whatever method you chose to reduce obesity, just know that the best methods are the natural ones such as diet and exercise. Taking diet pills will have some effects, but will not last long.
Aside from the physical effects of obesity, you may also feel unhappy, rejected, and may keep away from social gatherings. If you are experiencing obesity you should start acting on it now. Before choosing your remedy for losing weight consult with your doctor first to get their views and recommendations.

Photo credit: Obesity #1. By Ingo Bernhardt

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Everybody knows that exercise and weight loss if needed, makes you feel and look better. In addition to that, it also helps you become healthy and maintain health. Also it is well known that if you exercise regularly, control your diet, and lose weight you will get a healthier heart and body. There are more benefits than the ones mentioned above when it comes to exercise and proper diet. There are other benefits from regular exercise and weight loss.

One of the additional benefits of exercise and weight loss is protection against osteoporosis, which is the disease that makes the bones brittle and weak with age. With osteoporosis bones become so brittle that they can break very easily. People with osteoporosis can break their bones simply by just falling to the ground. So people with osteoporosis should be very careful and consult with a doctor.
Different activities such as jogging, walking, and the use of the elliptical machine have been proven to strengthen the skeletal system and lower the risk of developing osteoporosis. The main reason for these different activities is that exercise that force the body to endure weight makes the bones denser over time in contrast to a sedentary lifestyle, in which the bones get brittle and weaker due to the simple fact that a lack of force is placed against them.

Specifically in women, low estrogen levels comes with menopause and or very irregular menstruation which can make the problem even worse as the bones weaken and lose a lot of their mineral content. The activities that people choose to participate in to lose weight or maintain health have also been shown to help prevent further development of osteoporosis, for those who have already been diagnose and received permission from their doctor.

Top photo credit: Human Bones by jwinfred

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In text photo credit: Older woman from North Greenland by greenland_com

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The urinary system is responsible for eliminating waste from the body. If the body does not eliminate the waste, it will turn against itself and be poisoned from the excess waste. The bladder, Kidneys, and urinary ducts are a part of the urinary system that helps the body eliminates waste. Your kidneys play a crucial role in how the system functions. You can improve your kidneys function and your overall health by cleansing your kidneys.

The kidneys serve as a filter that gets rid of the toxins from the blood. Also the kidneys help the body maintain an appropriate fluid balance and manage the amount of electrolytes in the body. These are substances such as salts that will dissolve into ions when mixed with water. For good health you have to have the right balance of water and electrolytes in the body. If the kidneys are unhealthy then the rest of the body will be as well.
Every cell in your body produces a waste that is a result of your metabolism in action. This waste is scattered into your blood and continues on to your kidneys to be filtered out. Drugs and alcohol you may consume is filtered through your kidneys. When your kidneys are not functioning properly you may experience a pain in your lower back. Other symptoms for problems with the kidneys may be nausea, side pain, strong urine odor, cloudy urine, frequent urination, burning sensation when you urinate, and blood in the urine, which is serious. If you experience these symptoms consult with your doctor for more information and possible treatment immediately.
Some people get kidney stones, when their kidneys are not working properly. Kidney stones develop when the body is not breaking down protein properly and crystallized mineral deposits develop in the kidneys. Kidney stones can be very painful if they are eliminated through the urine and if they are huge. Kidney stones can block the urine from being eliminated out the body. Cleansing the kidneys will help break down any crystallized mineral deposits that may have developed in the kidneys.
You should start a cleansing routine for your kidneys to improve your overall health and kidney functions. Some of the ingredients and herbs that are used in a kidney cleanse are hydrangea root tincture, ginger root, unfiltered organic apple juice, bearberry, parsley, and gravel root. These are organic and will help break down any kidney stones that may have developed. Vitamin B6 and magnesium oxide may prevent any more kidney stones from developing in the future.

Drink more water to help clean the toxins that may have built up out of your kidneys. Expect to urinate more when you drink more water. By drinking more water for a couple of weeks, you will notice a change in how you feel. When you do not drink enough water you feel nauseated and sluggish. The extra water is giving the body what it needs to cleanse the toxins and allow it to function more efficiently.
Kidney functioning is very important to your health. Try a kidney cleansing and make sure they function properly.

Top photo credit: Kidney Art by Hey Paul Studios

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In text photo credit: Parsley by TonalLuminosity

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When you normally talk or hear about hair loss and baldness, you think about an image of a man 40 years or older. This happens, but as we all know this problem is not only faced by men. There are many women who are facing this problem. 40 percent of the people facing baldness are women.
Here are a few reasons why baldness may take place in women.
• Hormonal problems can be one of the reasons for baldness in women.
• Stress is another reason why you face severe hair loss and baldness.
• After some kind of surgery or childbirth, hair loss becomes one of the common problems in women.
• Another common reason why women face severe hair loss is due to the cosmetics or chemical based hair products that are used. Even while trying different kinds of hair styles, you will have to face this sort of problem.
Severe hair loss can be really worrysome and embarrassing, especially for women because that is going to reduce the confidence levels in women to face the public.

The best option to keep your hair safe and healthy is trying some mild shampoos and conditioners. You should never go for strong shampoos. When it comes to hair styles, it is always better to try to have a normal hair style than trying something which needs application of chemicals or usage of straightening irons, etc. Always make sure that you are not going for any damaging hair treatments until you grow your hair back, unless they are suggested by your doctor. Hair transplantation is also a good idea for those who have already lost their hair. You should also make sure that your diet is just perfect when you are facing hair loss problems, like eating green leafy veggies, vitamins and proteins. This would ensure that the rate of hair loss would decrease to a minimum.

Mushrooms are a high quality health food. They are low in calories, high in chitin, vegetable proteins, iron, Fiber, Zinc, Vitamins, Minerals, and essential amino acids. Mushrooms have been used a lot in traditional Chinese medicine. They are known to have great effects on promoting health and vitality. They increase your body adaptive abilities according to recent studies. The studies suggest that mushrooms are probiotic. They help the body strengthen and fight off illness by maintaining physiological homeostasis, which is restoring the body balance and natural resistance to disease and illness.

Agaricus Mushroom: In many places the agaricus mushroom is considered a health food because of its medicinal qualities. The agaricus mushroom is the most widely used mushroom in a lot of countries that consider it healthy and medicinal. The agaricus has been traditionally known as “god mushroom” because of its healing benefits to a variety of disorders. People have used this mushroom to treat various diseases and disorders including ones that’s related to the cardiovascular system, immune system, weight management, digestion, diabetes, cataracts, stress syndrome, hearing difficulties, chronic and acute allergies, diarrhea, chronic fatigue, disorders of the liver, and constipation.

Cordyceps Mushroom: The Cordyceps mushroom can be a wonderful stimulant for macrophage activity and making your immune system stronger to fight against viral and bacterial infection. According to clinical studies cordyceps can be successful in the treatment of arrhythmia, lung cancer, high cholesterol, poor libido/impotence, and chronic kidney failure. Also cordyceps can cause smooth muscle relaxation, which in return can be helpful for asthma, chronic coughs, and bronchial conditions.

Maitake Mushroom: The maitake mushroom is known for its health benefits and taste. This mushroom is also known by the name dancing mushroom. It’s called “king of mushroom” in japan. The mycelium and the fruiting body of the mushroom are used medicinally. Maitake mushrooms have been eaten for 3000 years in japan and china. In Japans past the maitake mushroom have been used for monetary value and was worth its weight in silver. It’s also has been used as an adaptogen and tonic. It was used to help promote wellness and vitality. Traditionally consuming the mushroom was believed to prevent cancer and high blood pressure. More research is being done for that matter. Laboratory studies show that maitake mushroom extract can inhibit the growth of tumors and stimulate the immune system of cancerous mice.

Reishi Mushroom: Studies suggest that Reishi can have several effective abilities which include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgestic, lowers blood pressure, antiviral through inducing interferon production, expectorant and antitussive, cardiotonic action through lowering serum cholesterol, liver (hepatitis)-protecting and detoxifying, protection against ionizing radiation, antibacterial, and anti-HIV activity. Reishi contains Iron, Calcium, and phosphorus, Vitamins C, D, and B-including pantothenic acid, which is needed for the adrenal glands and nerve function.

Shiitake Mushroom: Shiitake was called the “elixir of life” for centuries. It has been licensed in japan as an anti-cancer drug by the Japanese FDA. Lentinan has showed some effects on liver cancer, ovarian cancer, bowel cancer, stomach cancer, and lung cancer. Lentinan stimulates the production of natural killer cells and T lymphocytes and can increase the effectiveness of AZT in the anti-viral treatment of A.I.D.S. Shiitake is high in several anti-oxidants including uric acid, selenium, and Vitamin A,E, C, and D. Shiitake mushrooms may also lower serum cholesterol levels, increase libido, lower blood pressure in those with hypertension, stimulate the creation of interferon which has anti-viral effects, and its effective against hepatitis in some circumstances.
Yun Zhi Mushroom: Yun Zhi also known as the cloud mushroom has been used to reduce phlegm, strengthen bones and tendons, treat pulmonary infections, support liver health, promotes good health and vitality, help with immune function, and its high in vegetable proteins.

Top photo credit: Edible Mushroom Gallery by Gary Soup

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In text photo: Edible Mushroom Gallery by Gary Soup

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There is a misconception that heart attacks are more common in men than women, but this perception has changed in the 1980’s. From this decade, the rate of women dying due to heart attack has increased and crossed that of men. It is identified that women of age 45 years and above have more chances of facing heart attacks or heart related diseases. Unfortunately, most women do not notice or care about the symptoms and as a result could face fatal results.

Knowing the symptoms of Heart attack in women…
The symptoms of heart attack in men are tightness in the chest, back pain, neck and jaw pain, chest pain, but the symptoms for a woman are different and much expressive. Generally, women will face heart attack 10 years earlier than that of men. Even when they see the symptoms at an early stage they tend to ignore them. It is very important for every woman to know their health status, especially once you reach the age of 40 years. Yes, knowing your sugar levels, cholesterol levels and blood pressure levels are very important. This is going to help you in some extent to know about the chances of getting a heart attack and if there are chances they could be avoided beforehand with less painful treatments.
• Bleeding before and after the periods
• Peculiar changes in the texture or color of the skin
• The occurrence of blood either in urine or excrement
• Sudden weight loss
• Heartburn when excess food or alcohol is consumed or when there is too much stress
• Continuous attack of cough, fatigue and fever along with pains.
Do not neglect the symptoms because of your younger age. It is not always true that only women of age 45 years or above will be affected by heart attack. It is just that they are more likely to be attacked by heart attack, but people of younger age also can face this health issue. In fact I met someone a few months ago, that said they were 32 and already has suffered two heart attacks. A regular checkup and thorough awareness of the symptoms would help you prevent a heart attack. Moreover, there are cases of women who fought the disease with determination and stand out as inspiration for those who are willing to know more about the disease.

Skin allergies like eczema, hives etc. are very common problems. The main causes of these troubles are still unknown. However you can find plenty of medications at your local drug store that treat these allergies. The downside of these medications is that they may have the risk of side effects plus most of them are pretty expensive. How about treating the symptoms of skin allergies like redness of skin, itchiness and rashes naturally? Here we have a few effective home remedies to cure skin allergies in a safe and inexpensive way.
• Oatmeal: the anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory compounds found in oats works great for soothing itching and irritated skin. These natural moisturizers are also good for rashes and keep the redness at bay. You can simply soak yourself in an oatmeal bath, preparing it is very easy. Just pour a cup or two of plain, uncooked oat flour or rolled oats directly into the bathtub and your oatmeal bath is ready.
• Banana: swelling and inflammation on the skin due to some kind of allergy can be readily treated with a banana because of its antioxidant properties. This fruit is also loaded with potassium which helps in maintaining the fluid balance in the affected area of the skin. Simply eat the banana and instead of throwing away the peel, rub its inside on the affected skin and do not wash it for an hour. Repeat it several times a day to keep away itchiness.

• Green tea: Green tea is considered to be a promising source of anti-allergenic agents and is therefore used topically to cure many symptoms of skin allergies. If such symptoms appear in your sensitive area like your face, neck or genitals then you can soothe it topically with green tea. For this, prepare a strong cup of green tea by making use of two green tea bags. After steeping the tea bags for about 10 minutes, remove the tea bags and with the help of a cotton ball, apply the strong tea over the allergy spots. The symptoms are likely to reduce when applied frequently.
• Aloe Vera: aloe Vera is a good source of a strong anti-inflammatory component called B-sitosterol which effectively cures almost every kind of skin irritation and also healing sunburns. The anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties of aloe Vera are also helpful in soothing the skin and restraining many infections. One of the best ways to apply aloe Vera is by breaking off a fresh leaf from the aloe plant and cutting it open to squeeze the gel directly onto the infected skin and rub it with your fingers.
• Sandalwood: if your skin allergy is accompanied with a burning sensation, then sandalwood is the best cure for this. This is not usually found in every household, but you can definitely look for a packet of powdered sandalwood at the local grocery store. Make a paste of this powder with water and apply on the infected skin to get an immediate relief from the burning sensation.

All of the above mentioned remedies are free of complex chemicals and also easy on the wallet, while treating the skin allergies efficiently.

 

Breakfast, as we know it, is the most important meal of the day. Eating a healthy breakfast is in fact the most effective method for those who want to lose weight in a healthy way. Since we have not eaten for the past eight to ten hours before eating breakfast, eating a meal in the morning is necessary to get started. A healthy breakfast gives a kick start to our metabolic system for the day. On the other hand when we skip breakfast we increase our bodies’ tendency to store fats, which can ultimately result in a weight gain. Eating a healthy and nutritious breakfast provides our body with the necessary energy needed to carry out the work for the day. You can have a fiber and protein rich breakfast to keep you full longer and help in reducing hunger cravings. This in turn helps in cutting down calorie intake and hence you lose weight. Your concentration power is also improved because of a healthy breakfast intake and you can work more productively.

When you eat a nutrient rich and healthy meal in the morning, you will feel fresh and active throughout the day. On the other hand when you just have a cookie or donut, you will certainly feel tired and sluggish while working. Therefore you must always make healthy choices for your first meal of the day. Here we have a few tips for you on having a healthy breakfast that can help you lose weight.
• Make sure to choose foods that are rich in proteins and fiber while low in fats and sugar as well. Such foods will keep you full for long. Oatmeal in fat free milk with fruit topping or corn flakes or other whole grain cereals rich in fiber with fat free natural yogurt or fat free milk and again topped with fruits are the best choices of foods for breakfast. You can also select your own recipe for breakfast, but make sure that your breakfast is well balanced and combine a group of food that offer a wide range of vitamins or minerals.
• After choosing the foods that have to be included in your breakfast, you also have to decide on the portion size of that meal. Even if you eat a healthy breakfast in large sizes, you will definitely gain weight in place of losing. For selecting the appropriate portion of your breakfast you can read the labels to count the number of calories in a serving size. Then calculate the amount of calories needed for your breakfast that is equivalent to almost a quarter of daily required calories for weight loss. You can then calculate the portion size of your breakfast.
• You should also limit your coffee and juice intake throughout the day. Although having a glass of fresh juice or a cup of coffee fills you with enormous energy, drinking them also contribute to a large number of calories. In place of juice, opt for the whole fruit, which will provide you with fiber and comparatively less calories than their juices.