Month: August 2014

6 Reasons Why You Should EAT Cherries Every Day

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Cherries are in season here in the UK..and I believe the USA as well. Now that is something to celebrate as cherries are just so good for you  and they are yummy!

Who does not like Cherries?cherries

Today when I left college I called at a supermarket to get a new diary …can you believe it ..arriving back at college without a diary?

Anyway ..right there in the fruit stand where boxes of sumptuous big red cherries……just to difficult to ignore!

So of course I put them in my basket.

So why are cherries so good for us ?

 

Pain relief

 

That crimson color of cherries  comes from antioxidants known as anthocyanins

These have  anti-inflammatory properties and  there is even research which has found that these compounds can provide more pain relief than NSAID medications including ibuprofen and naproxen………now that is a good reason to buy those cherries!

Tart cherries may help to relieve  types of inflammatory pain, including osteoarthritis pain, muscle pain and headaches (including migraines). Cherries have  also been found to have therapeutic value for those suffering from gout which is which gives  joint pain that comes from the uric acid buildup in the blood.

Heart Health

 

The anthocyanins found in red cherries are also linked to lowering blood pressure.High blood pressure is a risk factor for  cardiovascular disease, heart attack and stroke, so any food that lowers blood pressure is got to be good.  Cherries are also high in potassium, an important mineral for keeping blood pressure levels stable.

These berries are rich in flavonoid antioxidants, which have been found to help keep platelets from clumping together.Platelets are involved in  forming blood clots which is what you need to happen if you have a cut and need the bleeding to stop. However  when blood clots form in the blood vessels it can lead to a stroke. Flavonoid antioxidants also aid in protecting the blood vessels from breaking or leaking, and additionally work to reduce system-wide inflammation which also  raises your risk of heart disease.

 

Immune system boost

 

Cherries like many fruits are rich in vitamin C, which is a crucial vitamin for immune system health. A diet rich in vitamin C can keep your immune system functioning  to prevent seasonal illnesses and other types of infections. Vitamin c also boosts your immune system to fight against any pathogens that enter your system..

The flavonoid antioxidant content of cherries works synergistically with vitamin C in the body; they each help to augment the potency of the other.

 

Anti-aging

 

Another function of the vitamin C content found in cherries is to support  skin health, and to help prevent the wear and tear that free radicals have on our skin as we age. Two of the flavonoids found in cherries, queritrin and isoqueritrin, are also known to protect the body from oxidative stress, thus helping to reduce the aging process.

in addition to skin health the anthocyanins in red cherries have been linked to protecting neurons from oxidative stress damage, potentially preserving brain health and cognitive function as we age.

 

Cancer prevention

 

Queritrin –  the flavonoid  found in cherries,  has been found by researchers to be one of the most potent anticancer agents. When  we eat cherries, the queritrin is released into the body to fight off  the  cancerous cells.

Anthocyanins have also been linked to anticarcinogenic properties, and ellagic acid, a phenolic compound found in cherries, has been associated by some research to significant potential in cancer prevention.

 

Better sleep

 

Now this benefit I like !…….

the ability of cherries to enhance the body’s levels of melatonin. Melatonin is the hormone that regulates your sleep/wake cycle. Its release is triggered by darkness, at which time it signals to your body that it is time for sleep.

Dr. Russell J. Reiter of the University of Texas Health Science Center states, “when consumed regularly, tart cherries may help regulate the body’s natural sleep cycle and increase sleep efficiency, including decreasing the time it takes to fall asleep.”

 

Enhanced cognitive function

 

The various antioxidants found in cherries, along with  their high vitamin A and flavonoid content, have been linked  to improved cognitive function, including a boost in memory…..a good thing for us older women!

As anthocyanins can help to protect neurons from damage, they may help to prevent the onset of age-related neurological disorders, including dementia…..If all the other benefits of Cherries cannot convince you ….this one aught to .

 

Digestive health

 

The fiber content of cherries is crucial for a smoothly-running digestive system, and can help ease constipation and other digestive disturbances. The vitamin content of these summer berries helps the digestive system optimally absorb nutrients from the food you eat, and the flavonoid antioxidants that they contain aid in the stimulation of digestive fluids.

So the bottom line is make sure you have Cherries in your kitchen and make sure they are organic and not covered in pesticides.

So Cherries are a brilliant food to eat all round and by the way if you are watching your weight their calorific count is low as well.

We know what is good but What about the foods we should not have in our kitchen?

You can check them out here…..=> <the top 5 banned foods that should not be in your kitchen>

 

take care

Kathy

Reverse Diabetes in less than 3 weeks

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New program reveals how to permanently reverse your diabetes or pre-diabetes in as little as 3 weeks….guaranteed.

Reverse Diabetes in as little as 3 weeks

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If you or a loved one is suffering with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes or even pre-diabetes, you are about to hear something you have n-e-v-e-r heard before…

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This means …no more needles …no more fear …no more embarrassment.

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So what is this Ebola Virus about?

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Most of us listening to the news will have worked out the seriousness of the Ebola virus that is sweeping West Africa.

There is a state of emergency there with Schools  closed,  house-to-house searches for the sick, and the number dead is rising each day.

To put you completely in the picture this virus is 90% fatal.

So far 700 people have died. ebola virus

So Lets ask those common questions and see what this Virus is about.

How does this virus  exert its power and what are the symptoms?

Early symptoms are fever, headache, fatigue. and low blood pressure. The virus destroys the immune system. It  makes the capillaries (the smallest of the bodys blood vessels) permeable, which allow fluid to leak in and also the body to leak fluid. The result looks like blisters on the skin. As the fluid in the body is leaking from the   blood vessels  then the  blood pressure drops.. The person goes into shock, their organs fail, and they die. ….pretty lethal stuff.

There is no cure and the only thing that doctors can do is try to keep the blood pressure up by giving the person fluids, and trying to  make sure the organs do not fail.

How is Ebola passed from one person to another?


It is passed from one person to another by the transmission of body fluid.  This  means the Ebola virus  is very dangerous to doctors because they can get it if they are in contact with a sick person and the virus gets in through broken skin, or any other way.  If you âre caring  for someone who has the disease, or taking care of the body of someone who has died from it, you can contract it. It is a very dangerous because there is no cure for it and also it works extremely fast.

You cannot really catch it by sitting next to someone. But if you make contact with them at all, and bodily fluids are exchanged, then you can contract it. For example, if they spit and you come into contact with it, you can get it.

You may not show signs of disease for up to three weeks, but most people begin to show signs roughly a week after infection. Death comes within a few days to another week.

 

What about the Virus coming  to the US or UK?

 

The chances of that happening are very slim because the virus works so fast and  by the time the person gets on the plane, they might be dead before they reach the U.S. or the UK

 

The government is advising people not to travel to these countries and I think the government is absolutely right. This is a dangerous disease which is 80 to 90 percent fatal.

I have just come back from a trip to South Africa but from what I  have read I agree with the Government that traveling to Africa is not a good idea right now.

This is the largest out break ever in Africa and from growing up in East Africa I know first hand that diseases travel fast and are difficult to keep under control because of the isolation and detection in small villages etc.

So should we be concerned?

 

Mmmm….. well just recently a man with the virus nearly boarded a plane for USA?

The U.S. Peace Corps has evacuated hundreds of its volunteers from affected countries after two of its workers had contact with an Ebola victim who died. The workers are now under isolation.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control issued a travel advisory Thursday warning Americans not to travel to the three countries stricken with Ebola, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea.

 I feel people should be aware of the disease and that is why I have written this article.  There is however no reason to panic.

Should you go to help? Is it worth the danger?

If you go .and that is your decision you must have the correct isolation suits ,the right isolation facilities and be with a professional team that are clued up on the protocol with dealing with this virus

Personally I do not feel it is worth the danger right now

Kathy

To follow my Rant …..what a good idea?

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If you read my rant about the NHS yesterday then this article will make a lot of sense.

read this article below …..what a good idea!

As you read through you will notice that I just cannot fail to comment where I feel appropriate.

Article

Patients should be able to exercise much greater control over their NHS records, according to the Department of Health…..

I agree!

The change could see patients in England being able to log in to their health records from home, help fix inaccuracies and even interact with their doctor about how their treatment is going.

The proposal – part of the White Paper on health reform – is being put out to consultation by the Department of Health along with other initiatives designed to widen patient choice and improve information.

Christine Connelly, the Director General for Informatics, said it was important to take into account the fact that we live in an information age. “The information we have changes our perspective and influences the decisions we make each and every day,” she says in a statement. “The time has come to apply these principles to the delivery of health and care services. Building from a base of accurate care records the Information Revolution will deliver more informed patients, more engaged professionals, more efficient organisations and, ultimately, improved outcomes.”….

I like this lady!

The government says patients given control of their NHS records would be able to help correct errors by notifying the doctor or professional responsible. They would also form a clearer understanding of their own health needs, treatments, care and other options available to them. The consultation document says the proposal opens up “exciting new possibilities” in which patients could interact directly online with those providing health care.

Great idea

Patients would start with access to their GP’s records, followed by those held by other health and social care providers. However, it is being pointed out that medical records are sometimes scattered and incomplete, and that ability of a patient to ‘control’ their records would depend on the individual and the nature of the record and its content.

‘More choice and a louder voice’

 

Among the other proposals being put out to consultation are:
• Allowing patients to choose services from any willing provider
• Being able to choose who provides a diagnosis
• Having a choice of which team, led by a named consultant, patients want to be seen by and what that treatment is after diagnosis
• An extension of maternity choice to include pre- conception, antenatal and postnatal care
• Being able to choose treatment and the provider of treatment in mental health services
• An improvement in the choice of end of life care

The Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley, says in a statement:

“Patients and service users should be in control and involved as much as they want to be in every decision about what, where, how and from whom they want to receive care.

By giving people real choice over their care, we can build a patient-centred NHS that achieves outcomes for patients that are among the best in the world.”

Now that is progress!…..when is it going to happen?

Kathy

Don´t you just love the NHS?

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Don´t you just love the NHS?

Ok there is a tone of sarcasm in that headline but I just had to write about my experience just a week ago.
As you know I have been on a quest to lower my cholesterol and have been posting my story on my blog here.

Some 7 weeks ago I went to the hospital for blood tests which is something I do every 8 months or so as I had a pituitary adenoma removed some 10 years ago ( story for another time) and they need to check my hydrocortisone and thyroxine levels on a regular basis.I asked the consultant if he could please include a cholesterol test among the others I had to get done ..So I had a cholesterol test done and a week later flew out to S.Africa for a month to see family and friends.(used to live there)
When I arrived back just over 10 days ago I looked for the blood results in my post….none there.

I had previously asked the consultant to send me a letter with the results in addition to the letter they would send to my GP. He made a note of this during our meeting. So back to looking for the results and guess what they weren´t in the post.

Since it Was at least 7-8 weeks since the blood tests were taken I rang the GP to find out and they had not received them either.
So I rang the Hospital and inquired about the results.
This is what I was told by a person in the endocrine ward.

“yes I have found your details but they have not been typed up yet”

…”Do you know when they will be type up?”

“Not sure …”

But they were taken 7 weeks ago is there any reason why they have not been typed up?

“Well its because some people have been off sick and also maternity leave”

(Guess that makes it ok then ?…..put someones health on hold)

“I will try to get them typed up and sent out to you”

That was the conversation…. From a top Hospital in the UK

Wow…I was completely blown away by her statement…why on earth would you say that to people who call concerned that they have not received their blood results.

So staff being off on maternity leave and staff sick is the reason for poor client care and not delivering the care values of the organisation?

I gave up on the Hospital and went to my local clinic and next week I shall get the results.

So check on my blog and I shall let you know if my quest at lowering my cholesterol is working.

That is my rant for the day !
Kathy

New ebook….keys to Happiness

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Some Days in college the students make me laugh!

Not that they say anything funny but the look on their faces and their comments following  a lesson on some or other medical condition.imagessadlooking studnets

As I have worked in the medical Industry for many years I am able to  give them a surgical perspective along with the Theory and the usual comment I get is the following

Gee Kathy …. When we walked in here we felt great!…….and now?

They are only joking of course after listening to my rendition of the realities of living with some of these medical conditions and since 90% of them are going on to be Nurses or other medical professionals then I guess they better get used to it!

So just to turn the corner from that……. I have uploaded a new ebook this morning…..

KEYS TO HAPPINESS

 

You can download it from the Health ebooks section here

 

 

Kathy

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