13 Healing Power of Lemons

by Michelle Schoffro Cook 

1. Bowel-Cleansing: 

The bitter taste of lemon gives these fruit the ability to increase peristalsis–a pumping-motion in the bowels–which helps to eliminate waste from the bowels and improve regularity. Add the juice of one lemon to warm water and drink first thing in the morning. 

2. Cancer:  

Lemons contain 22 anti-cancer compounds, including limonene—a naturally-occurring oil that slows or halts the growth of cancer tumors in animals. Lemons also contain a substance called flavonol glycosides which stop cell division in cancer cells. 

3. Colds and Flu:  

Lemons are rich in vitamin C and flavonoids that work in conjunction for a serious punch against infection. 

4. Liver: 

Fresh lemon juice added to a large glass of water in the morning is a great liver detoxifier.

5. Nutrition: 

Lemons contain vitamin C, citric acid, flavonoids, B-complex vitamins, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and fiber. 

6. Balances Body Chemistry: 

While lemons are acidic they interact with the body’s metabolism to have an alkalizing effect on the bodily fluids helping to restore balance to the body’s pH. 

7. Allergies:  

Lemons contain the phytonutrient hesperetin which has been shown in studies to alleviate allergic symptoms. 

8. Brain and Nervous System Disorders: 

Containing the potent phytonutrient tangeretin in the peel, lemons have been proven to be effective for brain disorders like Parkinson’s disease. 

9. Eye Disorders: 

Rutin, found in lemons, has been shown in research to improve the symptoms of eye disorders, including diabetic retinopathy. 

10. Anti-Viral: 

In addition to being effective against cold and flu viruses, terpene limonoids found in lemons have proven anti-viral effects on other types of viruses. 

11. Diabetes: 

In addition to improving eye problems linked with diabetes, lemons contain hesperetin which lowers blood sugar levels (when they are high). 

12. Gall and Kidney Stones:  

The citric acid found in lemon juice helps to dissolve gallstones, calcium deposits, and kidney stones.  

13. Anti-Aging:  

The vitamin C found in lemons helps to neutralize free radicals linked to aging and most types of disease. 

Read more here:

Top 10 Superfoods

by Melissa Breyer

These are my favorites for fall, based primarily on nutritional variety and strength, but that also give me that primal, sensuous satisfaction that comes with eating what’s in season: 

Sweet Potatoes and Pumpkin

The dark orange vegetable family outdoes all others in vitamin A content. Sweet potatoes are also packed with antioxidants, vitamin C, calcium, and potassium. Other dark orange vegetable standouts include pumpkin, carrots, and butternut squash. For more, see 11 Ways to Use a Pumpkin.

Cruciferous Vegetables

Crucifers such as broccoli, cabbage, kale, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, collards and turnips contain indole alkaloids that may help prevent cancer. They are also high in fiber, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Along with their fabulous flavor, once you get the hang of cooking them, they may have an added bonus: they may help bolster memory as you age. Researchers at Harvard Medical School found that women who eat the most of these foods are the least likely to be forgetful.

Pomegranates

Pomegranates have very high antioxidant activity, offering brain and memory protection. And research shows that drinking pomegranate juice may help with lowering the risk for hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis. Read Prime Time for Pomegranates for more.

Beets

The pigment that gives beets their super-beautiful fuschia depth-betacyanin-is also a powerful cancer-fighting agent. Beets’ potential effectiveness against colon cancer, in particular, has been demonstrated in several studies. Beets are also particularly rich in the B vitamin folate.

The Alliums

Garlic, onions, leeks, scallions, chives and shallots contain sulfur compounds that may protect against heart disease and some cancers, they can all help the liver eliminate toxins and carcinogens.

Beans

An excellent source of protein, antioxidants, folic acid, potassium, dietary fiber and complex carbohydrates, beans are flavorful, nutritionally dense, inexpensive and versatile. Read about heirloom varieties and cooking tips.

Olive oil

Several large studies suggest that the monosaturated fat in olive oil is good for the heart. Olive oil lowers bad cholesterol levels and increases good cholesterol. It is high in antioxidants–and is one of the superstars of the Mediterranean diet. Recent research shows that heart-attack survivors on a Mediterranean diet had half the death rates of those on an ordinary low-fat diet.

Tea

The caffeine content in tea is useful for stimulating alertness, mood and motivation, but is also a rich source of the antioxidant called catechins. Studies suggest that catechins protect the artery walls against the damage that causes heart disease and prevents formation of blood clots. It also does wonders for the spirit on a cool autumn day. See 9 Reasons to Drink Green Tea Daily.

Red Wine or grape juice

Grapes provide vitamin C, vitamin B1 and vitamin B6–red grapes also contain powerful phytochemicals (especially phenolics) that may help decrease risk of cardiovascular disease. These phenolic compounds are housed mostly in the skin of the red grapes, which is what makes red wine red and dark grape juice red or purple. Resveratrol, a polyphenolic stilbene found in the skins of red fruits including grapes, may be responsible for some of the health benefits ascribed to the consumption of red wine. Resveratrol has been shown to have anti-oxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory activity

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/top-10-superfoods-for-fall.html#ixzz1ZuoMD3Qd

Cucumber Juice

1. General Facts

Cucumber is VERY Alkaline.
Cucumber Juice is EXTREMELY good for your Hair, Skin and Nails. It Really is True.
Cucumber Juice is High In Potassium. Cucumber Juice can Lower Your Blood Pressure.
Cucumber is a wonderful source for Silica. Silica is important for healthy connective tissue, ligaments, cartilage, muscles, tendons, and bone.
Cucumber Juice has Molybdenem, Vitamin A,Vitamin C, Manganese, Tryotophan, Magnesium, and Chlorophyll.
Cucumbers are a GREAT way to Cool Down Your Body.
Cucumber is Anti-Cancer in that it is VERY high in Alkaline Minerals and Cancer cannot Live in an Alkaline Body.
Cucumber Juices is also used to heal and cure issues with Acne, Water Retention,Arthritis, Kidneys, Eczema, Psoriasis, Weight Loss and Hair Loss.
Cucumber Juice is a usefulAnti-Flam agent. Drinking Cucumber Juice can get Your Bodies Inflammation Down.
Cucumber Juice is a Diureticand therefore has wonderful Cleansing Powers.

In Conclusion, Juicing Cucumbersis a quick way to lead a pain free live, to Prevent and Reverse Cancer – High Blood Pressure and other Dis-Ease.

2. Benefits of Cucumber Juice

Although most people are familiar with cucumbers since they typically appear on salads, few are aware that cucumber juice proves to be highly beneficial for a wide variety of health related issues. Eating cucumbers may
decrease the appearance ofblemishes such as pimples and blackheads, making it an effective and an often-referred remedy foracne. However, it is essential to understand the full potential of the cucumber by examining the benefits of drinking cucumber juice to combat everything from high blood pressure and constipation to cancer.

Along with healthier skin, cucumbers contain a lot of water making it ideal for a variety of common issues. For those wishing to decrease their blood pressure, drinking this fruit in the form of juice, may provide a noticeable amount of relief as the blood pressure slowly declines. Furthermore, anyone dealing with the pains of constipation will also benefit from this fruit due to its high levels of alkaline and increased amounts of water. In terms of dieting and diabetes, cucumbers are ideal for an afternoon snack to rebuke hunger for those wishing tolose weight.

Another great factor with this fruit includes its high percentage of sulfur and silicone. For this reason, cucumber juice may aid those wishing to increase the growth of hair. The high amounts of sulfur and silicone also make cucumbers particularly good for growinghealthier nails. Furthermore, cucumbers contain Silica, which is ideal for healthier ligaments, tendons, and muscles, making it perfect for people seeking relief of rheumatoid problems such asarthritis. Now for what may be the most important of all, cucumbers are extremely high in alkaline levels making it difficult for cancer to live in a high alkaline environment; therefore, cucumbers may prove beneficial in avoiding cancer of all types.

This fruit’s benefits range from beauty remedies such as removing bags, restoring hair, and promoting healthy development of skin and nails to serious concerns such as potentially decreasing the risk of cancer development. Regardless of if you need a natural laxative, acne remedy.

There are a variety of ways to prepare cucumber juice, including simply running a freshly washed cucumber through a juicer. However, you may also combine this great, refreshing fruit drink with other juices such as carrot juice. Try adding sugar and honey to your cucumber beverage to sweeten it to taste. Many people prefer to add ginger to the drink mix for a spark of flavor. Regardless of which cucumber juice mix you use, drinking and eating these healthy cucumbers will definitely help you maintain a healthy lifestyle, proving to be highly beneficial for all.

The Endless Benefits of Berries

By Joanna Evans

Berries have been a major part of our diet for centuries, but only recently have scientists taken an interest in their constituents and potential health benefits. Now, they’re finding that berries of all varieties–from strawberries and raspberries to goji and açaí berries–may hold the key to combating cancer, dementia and other diseases.

Scientists recently reported the first human evidence that blueberries can boost memory and may even help ward off dementia. Nine older adults with early memory decline drank two cups of a commercial blueberry juice every day for two months, while a control group drank a beverage without blueberry juice. Tests taken before and after revealed that those who drank the blueberry juice showed improvement in learning and memory, leading researchers to conclude that blueberries may offer neurocognitive benefits.

These results confirm the findings of previous animal studies, which showed that blueberries can reverse age-related deficits of both brain and behavioral function. Rats fed a blueberry-supplemented diet performed better in maze and object-recognition tests, as well as in tests of balance and coordination. Similar benefits have been seen with cranberries and strawberries.

Numerous studies have suggested that berries are potent cancer-fighters. In one test-tube study, extracts of six different kinds of berries–blueberry, blackberry, black raspberry, red raspberry, cranberry and strawberry–inhibited the growth of human mouth, breast, colon and prostate cancer cells. In addition, two of the extracts–black raspberry and strawberry—were able to stimulate apoptosis (cell death) in colon cancer cells. Açaí berries appear to be effective against leukemia cells, while the polysaccharides found in goji berries kill prostate cancer cells. To determine whether these lab results apply to real life, human trials are ongoing.

Berries may also have a role to play in the prevention of heart disease. A group of 72 middle-aged men and women were asked to consume either two portions of berries daily (100 grams of berries plus a small glass of a berry drink) or control products for two months. The berry group–whose members’ diets included bilberries, lingonberries, blackcurrants, strawberries, chokeberries and raspberries–ate an assortment of the berries whole, pureed or in juice form. At the end of the study, the berry-eaters saw systolic blood pressure reductions of up to 7.3mmHg, while levels of high-density lipoprotein, or HDL (“good” cholesterol), rose more than 5 percent.

Several animal studies suggest some berries may have antidiabetic effects. Indeed, a recent study in mice concluded that bilberries can improve hyperglycemia and insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes. Although human trials are scarce, one found that a dietary supplement containing blueberry and sea buckthorn (seaberry; genus Hippophae) concentrates was beneficial in treating children with type 1 diabetes.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-endless-benefits-of-berries.html#ixzz1Vi5GiTBN

Sunflowers Come To Rescue

Sunflowers May Heal Fukushima’s Radioactive Soil

• by Nancy R.

Activists are asking people to plant and grow sunflowers with a goal of decontaminating soil made radioactive in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster. A group of young entrepreneurs and civil servants are asking volunteers to grow sunflowers, then send the seeds to the Fukushima area where they will be planted next year to help clean the soil of contamination.

Fast Company magazine reports that entrepreneur Shinji Handa has sold some 10,000 packets of sunflower seeds to Japanese people at a cost of $6.00 apiece to launch the project. “We will give the seeds sent back by people for free to farmers, the public sector and other groups next year,” said Handa. Besides decontaminating the soil, the organizers hope that the project will promote concern for the afflicted area, as people see a sea of yellow blooms and support the victims of the catastrophe.

Besides the entrepreneurial campaign, Japanese scientists led by a space agriculture professor have already conducted a test by growing sunflowers in the contaminated soil on farmland near the nuclear plant. On July 2 the scientists confirmed that the sunflowers had sprouted. Once the plants have grown and if it is confirmed that they have absorbed significant quantities of cesium, scientists will employ bacteria to decompose the plants, and the result will be treated as radioactive waste.

The process of extracting contaminants from the soil via plants is called phytoremediation. While animals can move away from pollutants or other toxics (if they’re lucky), plants have evolved ways to live with the toxics and eventually extract them from the soil. The downside is that the concentrated pollutants, such as radioactivity or lead, can then pass along the food chain if not disposed of properly. Sunflowers were used to suck up radioactive cesium and strontium in a pond at the Chernobyl nuclear accident site in 1994 and to remove uranium from contaminated springs near the Oak Ridge (TN) National Laboratory in 1996.

Fungi, bacteria and plants have remarkable properties that can help clean up the messes that we humans create. While no one solution will solve the problem of irradiated soil and the struggling farmers, it’s always wise to look to nature first for the processes that can heal the land.

Read more here.

Unethical For These People Who God Has Given The Knowledge & 'Licence" To Cure

It's good advice to get a second opinion.

Case 1:

A friend of mine was diagnosed as a having a septic leg and being a diabetic, he was told by the doctors at a private specialist centre that the leg up to his ankle must be amputated since gangrene had already set in. It would cost RM25K just to saw off the leg. I told him to get 2nd opinion at a government specialist centre. The specialists there told him that there was nothing wrong with the leg and gave him antibiotics instead. Today (4 years after the incidence) , at age 61, he is still working and doing things such as climbing without much problems.

What would it be if he had listened to the unscrupulous doctors at the private specialist centre? He would be walking with crutches, poorer by 25K and without a job to support his family. What a shame for these "ugly specialists". I am sure there are many similar instances which everyone can share.

So be careful. They want to make money and make the patients suffer (more so if you have an insurance coverage). It is best to seek 2nd and 3rd opinion to be very sure....

Case 2:

I am a general surgeon in private practice in Kuala Lumpur . I would like to bring to the attention of the public the unethical practices of some doctors in private practice.

An 8-year-old boy was brought to see me by his father after suffering from fever, cough and vomiting for 1 day. He DID NOT HAVE ANY ABDOMINAL PAIN. He was initially seen by a general practitioner who insisted that the father bring him to see a surgeon G at a specific private medical centre in Kuala Lumpur. The father at first refused and had wanted to bring his son to the medical centre where he was born but relented when the medical practitioner said that surgeon G will order some blood tests and will send his son home with some medications.

However, when he brought his son to see surgeon G, the surgeon examined his son's abdomen and pressed so hard that he elicited pain. Then the surgeon told the father that the son had a perforated appendix and insisted that he be operated the same night. The father was baffled because his son did not have any abdominal pain prior to that excrutiating examination but he reluctantly agreed upon insistence by the surgeon. About 1 hour prior to the surgery, the father suspected that something was not right and he asked for his son to be discharged. He then brought his son to see me.

The first thing I noticed was that the boy had a slight cough but he was very active. His father told him to jump to prove that he did not have any abdominal pain, which he did with great enthusiasm. After a thorough examination, I was convinced that the boy did not have appendicitis and definitely not a perforated one. I treated him symptomatically for upper respiratory tract infection and sent him home with some medications. The father was outraged with what happened to his son earlier but he was relieved that his son was saved from an unnecessary surgery. Professionally, I could not tell him that surgeon G may have tried to cheat him but, in my heart, I knew that was the case because I knew surgeon G very well and had inherited a few of his patients whom he operated upon and had botched the
surgeries.

The next day, surgeon G called me and asked what happened to the patient. I told him I was certain that the boy did not have a perforated appendix but he insisted that the boy was very sick and had rigors (severe shivering) when he first saw him. Surgeon G said the boy improved tremendously after one dose of antibiotics. In my years of practice, I have not come across one case where one dose of antibiotics can cure a case of perforated appendicitis. IT IS JUST NOT POSSIBLE! He also said that the boy's father was a liar and had lied about his son not having any abdominal pain. Well, dear readers, I am a parent too. No father will lie about his son's health because he would have wanted the best treatment for his son.

I suspect surgeon G is giving kickbacks to many general practitioners to send patients to him to operate. In return, he would pay these general practitioners for each patient referred to him. He would cooperate with the general practitioners to convince the patients that they need urgent surgery. I have personally worked with surgeon G and I know that his skills are questionable. He told me once that it is alright for a patient to have a recurrent disease as a result of his incomplete surgery because he would then refer the patient to another surgeon to tackle the problem. He had caused one death from a thyroid operation and at least 2 cases of complications after gall bladder surgeries which he refused to admit fault. In his clinic he has medical books with pictures of dangerous diseases which he uses to scare his patients into accepting surgery.

I am writing this to alert the public that there are doctors who are out for money only and are unethical in their practices. It breaks my heart that there are such individuals practising freely and fleecing off unsuspecting and vulnerable patients and giving this noble profession a bad name. The only defence patients have is to be knowledgeable about their own illnesses and not be afraid to ask questions. All patients have to right to a second opinion and no doctors should coerce their patients to accept treatment against their will. The only consolation I have is that most doctors, both in public and private practice, are still ethical and are sincere in helping their patients.

Lets hope no one will suffer in the hands of surgeons like surgeon G. Also, beware of the general practitioner who insists that you see a particular specialist in a particular hospital because he could be working hand-in-hand with that doctor.

Source: An email from a friend.

Is Your Cell Phone a Health Hazard?

Collectively, Americans spend more than 6 billion minutes a day glued to their cell phones. But new science suggests a link between heavy cell phone use (30 minutes or more a day) and an increased risk of a type of brain cancer. And now a brand-new study from the National Institutes of Health reports that the electromagnetic radiation that’s given off by a cell phone antenna triggers an increase of brain glucose in the area of the head that’s closest to where the cell phone is held.

The health effects, if any, remain unknown. But if you want to minimize your exposure until all the evidence is in, follow these proven safety tips from Devra Lee Davis, PhD, an epidemiologist and author of the book Disconnect: The Truth About Cell Phone Radiation.

1. Try to avoid direct contact with your cell phone during calls.
Use the speaker-phone setting or wired hands-free device. Although wireless Bluetooth devices do reduce radiation, they don’t eliminate it.

2. Follow the bars.
Radiation exposure increases when a cell phone’s signal is weak or when you’re traveling in a fast-moving car or train. That’s because the phone needs to constantly reconnect to new towers. Wait till you have three or more bars showing before you make your call.

3. Tell your kids to text.
Because their skulls are thinner than adults’, children absorb radiation at a higher rate when they hold a phone to their ear.

4. Save the long chats for a noncordless landline or an Internet phone system, like Skype.
And when you’re on the go, let your fingers do the talking and send a text instead.

Source: Here

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/is-your-cell-phone-a-health-hazard.html#ixzz1J4lmnLkP

Regular Health Mistakes

All of us make little health mistakes that cause damage to our bodies in the long run - simply because we are unaware we are doing something wrong. Here are some of the most common mistakes made by many of us.

Crossing Your Legs
Do you cross your legs at your knees when sitting? Although we may believe that this is the lady-like elegant way to sit, sitting this way cuts down circulation to your legs. If you don't want varicose veins to mar the beauty of your legs and compromise your health, uncross your legs every time you realise you have one knee on top of the other. The best way to sit is to simply place both legs together on the floor, balancing your weight equally. If you feel like changing position, instead of crossing your legs, simply move both legs together to one side. As an alternative, you could also consider crossing your legs loosely at the ankles. This is a classically elegant way to sit, and is far better for your legs and your health than sitting with your legs crossed at your knees.

Not Changing Your Toothbrush
How often do you change your toothbrush? Most of us wait until most of the bristles have either fallen off, or are in such bad shape that we'd be embarrassed to pull out our brush in public. However, since not many of us need to pull out our brush in public, we carry on with our frayed one until we lose it. Replace your toothbrush often. Damaged bristles can harm the enamel, and don't massage your gums well. If you find brushing your teeth a pain like I do, but know you must do it, you might as well be doing it right. Imagine going through the annoyance of brushing your teeth twice a day only to find out that you're damaging your enamel every time you clean your teeth. Also, use a brush with soft bristles unless your dentist has advised otherwise.

Eating Out Often
There are oils that are high in cholesterol, and oils that cause little harm and are better for your heart. However, no matter how light
the oil is, it is never a good idea to eat too much of it. Avoid fried foods. Remember that in all probability your favorite Indian food
restaurant throws a huge, HUGE chunk of butter in a tiny bowl of dal. Rita, who worked in the kitchen of a 5 star hotel, was shocked when she saw the cook chop a 500gm butter slab in half, and throw half into a Paneer Makhani dish. No wonder the customers left licking their fingers. And no wonder they felt so stuffed and heavy afterwards. Limit outdoor eating unless you know that you're getting served light and healthy food.

Skipping Breakfast
Never, ever skip breakfast. Remember, when you wake up in the morning it's been around 10-12 hours since your last meal. Your body needs food now, more than at any other time. Eat a heavy breakfast. You will then be busy through the day, and the calories will get expended quickly. If you are trying to diet, eat a light dinner. Here are some more common health mistakes we make. Being informed and making a few changes can help make us feel a whole lot better.

High Heels
High heels sure look great, but they're murder for your back. This however doesn't mean you should steer clear of stilettos. Wear them, but not when you know you will be walking around a lot. Wear them when going out for lunch or dinner - when the only walking you will be doing is to your car, to the table, and back. Avoid high heels when you are going somewhere on foot. If you are constantly tempted to wear your heels, take a good look at your flats. Is there something about them you dislike? Invest in a new pair of beautiful flats or shoes with a low heel. Buy something you love, that you will enjoy wearing. If possible, get a matching bag. You will then enjoy your flats as much as you do your heels.

Sleeping On A Soft Bed
You don't have to sleep on the floor be kind to your back, but do make sure you have a firm mattress. Although a mattress on springs is soft and lovely to sink into, it's bad for your back. If you already have an old bed with springs, you don't need to invest in a new one - simply get a thick wooden plank put over the springs, and place the mattress on the plank. Similarly, if your mattress is old and lumpy, throw it out and get a new one. Your neck and your back will thank you. The same rule applies to sofas. If you will be spending hours on a sofa, get a firm yet comfortable one. Sofas you completely sink into are not the best idea.

Pillows
No matter how comfortable sleeping with ten cushions is, have pity on your neck and resist. Sleep with one pillow, and make sure it is not too thick. If your pillow gets lumpy, discard it and go for a new one. Get a thin pillow if you sleep on your stomach, and something a little thicker if you sleep on your back, to give your neck adequate support.

Not Exercising
So all of us know we should exercise more, but many of us don't. This is a health mistake we consciously make! And why is that? Simply because we refuse to admit the damage we are causing to our bodies by not working out. A number of people only start working out once they've experienced a warning signal. Don't wait for a heart attack to strike before you decide to opt for a lifestyle change. Make the change now. You don't need to train for the marathon to be in top shape. Half an hour of brisk walking three to four times a week will make a world of difference to your health. You could then increase this to forty minutes, four times a week - and you're all set. If you haven't exercised for a week, you're making a mistake.

Today's Message of the Day is:

Life is short. Forgive quickly. Love truly. Laugh often, and never regret anything that made you smile.

Now This Miracle Drink!

This MIRACLE DRINK has been circulating for a long time ago. It is worth your while to take note. There is a celebrity Mr. Seto who swears by it. He wants to make it public to draw the attention of people who have cancers. This is a drink that can protect bad cells forming in your body or it will restrain its growth! Mr. Seto had lung cancer. He was recommended to take this drink by a famous Herbalist from China. He has taken this drink diligently for 3 months and now his health is restored, and he is ready to take a pleasure trip.

Thanks to this drink!

How to Prepare the Drink: Very Easy Indeed

You need one potato, one carrot and one apple.
Wash the above,cut with the skin on into pieces and put them into the juicer and drink it immediately.
You can add lime or lemon for more refreshing taste.

This Miracle Drink is effective for the following ailments:

1. Prevent cancer cells to develop. It will restrain cancer cells to grow.

2. Prevent liver, kidney, pancreas decease and it can cure ulcer as well.

3. Strengthen the lung, prevent heart attack and high blood pressure.

4. Strengthen the immune system

5. Good for the eyesight, eliminate red and tired eyes or dry eyes

6. Help to eliminate pain from physical training, muscle ache

7. Detoxify, assist bowel movement, eliminate constipation. Therefore, make skin LOOK healthy & more radiant. It is God sent for acne problem.

8. Improve bad breath due to indigestion and throat infection

9. Lessen menstrual pain

10. Assist Hay Fever Sufferer.

There is absolutely no side effect.

Highly nutritious and easily absorbs! Very effective if you need to loose weight. You will notice your immune system will be improved after 2 week routine. Please make sure to drink immediately from the juicer for best effect.

When to Drink It
Drink it first thing in the morning with empty stomach. Please do not take your breakfast for at least one hour after you drink this miracle drink.
For fast results drink 2 times a day, in the morning and before 5 pm.

The Miracle of Green Tea

	"Better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one." (Ancient Chinese Proverb)
	Is any other food or drink reported to have as many health benefits as green tea? The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea since ancient times, using it to treat everything from headaches to depression. In her book Green Tea: The Natural Secret for a Healthier Life, Nadine Taylor states that green tea has been used as a medicine in China for at least 4,000 years. Today, scientific research in both Asia and the west is providing hard evidence for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. For example, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol. To sum up, here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful: cancer rheumatoid arthritis high cholesterol levels cariovascular disease infection impaired immune function What makes green tea so special? The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke. Links are being made between the effects of drinking green tea and the "French Paradox." For years, researchers were puzzled by the fact that, despite consuming a diet rich in fat, the French have a lower incidence of heart disease than Americans. The answer was found to lie in red wine, which contains resveratrol, a polyphenol that limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet. In a 1997 study, researchers from the University of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol, which may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent are smokers. Why don't other Chinese teas have similar health-giving properties? Green, oolong, and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. What sets green tea apart is the way it is processed. Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. By contrast, black and oolong tea leaves are made from fermented leaves, which results in the EGCG being converted into other compounds that are not nearly as effective in preventing and fighting various diseases. Other Benefits New evidence is emerging that green tea can even help dieters. In November, 1999, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. Researchers found that men who were given a combination of caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those given only caffeine or a placebo. Green tea can even help prevent tooth decay! Just as its bacteria-destroying abilities can help prevent food poisoning, it can also kill the bacteria that causes dental plaque. Meanwhile, skin preparations containing green tea - from deodorants to creams - are starting to appear on the market. Harmful Effects? To date, the only negative side effect reported from drinking green tea is insomnia due to the fact that it contains caffeine. However, green tea contains less caffeine than coffee: there are approximately thirty to sixty mg. of caffeine in six - eight ounces of tea, compared to over one-hundred mg. in eight ounces of coffee. Green Tea Health Benefits How much Green Tea should you drink? There are as many answers to this question as there are researchers investigating the natural properties of green tea. For example, Herbs for Health magazine cites a Japanese report stating that men who drank ten cups of green tea per day stayed cancer-free for three years longer than men who drank less than three cups a day (there are approximately 240 - 320 mg of polyphenols in three cups of green tea). Meanwhile, a study by Cleveland's Western Reserve University concluded that drinking four or more cups of green tea per day could help prevent rheumatoid arthritis, or reduce symptoms in individuals already suffering from the disease. And Japanese scientists at the Saitama Cancer Research Institute discovered that there were fewer recurrances of breast cancer, and the disease spread less quickly, in women with a history of drinking five cups or more of green tea daily.

Fruits Which Are Delicious And Help To Prevent Cancer

Delicious Yet Help To Prevent Cancer

Cancer prevention starts with a healthy diet. The following fruits, while common in our daily life, are healthy and can help in prevention of the disease.

1. Grapes: Grapes contain resveratrol which prevents normal cell from becoming cancerous and inhibits the spreading of malignant cells. Chinese medicine believes that grapes are good for many body functions. Sour grapes are suitable for cancer patients after surgery or undergoing radiotherapy.
2. Strawberry: Ellagic acid in strawberry can protect the body against carcinogens harm and certain effects in anti-cancer. Strawberry is effective in easing out nasopharyngeal, lung, and laryngeal cancer patients with radiation reaction.
3. Banana: It is found that banana extract can control intrinsic carcinogens such as aflatoxin B1. Animal studies found that magnesium deficiency could significantly weaken the body's ability to fight cancer cells. Banana contains magnesium and potassium to help prevention of cancer. Banana benefits colorectal cancer patients in alleviating symptoms resulted from radiotherapy.
4. Fig: Fig contains ingredients that can fight tumors, control cancer cells and inhibit protein synthesis. Six cancer hospitals, through the observation of more than 1,300 patients, found that figs can be used as the daily diet for cancer patients including ascites carcinoma, sarcoma, liver, lung, and other tumors with good therapeutic results.
5. Kiwi: Each 100 grams of the kiwifruit contains 150 mg. of vitamin C, topping all kinds of fruits. Through the protection barriers of the interstitial cells, kiwi can eliminate carcinogenic substances. It is believe this effect can help to lengthen the survival period of cancer patients. The mildly sour kiwifruit is especially suitable for certain cancer patients after radiotherapy (i.e., breast cancer, lung cancer, cervical cancer, bladder cancer, etc.)

Bad Breath Remedial Soup

Are you embarrass by your bad breath which prevent you to talk confidently with others? Then how about trying this menu to overcome the problem!

Bad Breath Remedial Soup

Ingredients:

1 piece of green turnip,
2 pieces of tofu (bean curds),
1 tilapia (or Japanese seaperch), pan fry it before preparing soup,
3 slices of ginger.

Method:

Put the above ingredients to a cook ware, add water, slowly cook for about 2 hours. Add desirable amount of salt at your preference.

Happy nice meal and fresh breath!!!

10 Foods That Can Help You Sleep

By Sarah Jio
Source: Here

Trying to get more shut-eye? Take a look at your diet. Eating the right foods in the hours before you hit the hay may help you fall asleep faster, say experts, and even improve the quality of your sleep. Keep reading for your get-sleepy grocery list, and remember to stop noshing two hours before bedtime to give your body enough time to properly digest.

Almonds

“Almonds are a winner,” says Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, medical director of the Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers, and author of the bestselling book From Fatigued to Fantastic! “They contain magnesium which promotes both sleep and muscle relaxation,” he says. “And they have the added benefit of supplying proteins that can help maintain a stable blood sugar level while sleeping, and help promote sleep by switching you from your alert adrenaline cycle to your rest-and-digest cycle.” Try this bedtime snack: Have a tablespoon of almond butter or a 1-ounce portion of almonds to help your body relax. Photo: Shutterstock

Tea

Yes, avoiding all caffeine in the evening hours is key, but some decaf varieties can help get you into sleep mode, says Dr. Teitelbaum. “Chamomile tea is a very helpful and safe sleep aid,” he says, adding that green tea is another good choice. “Green tea contains theanine, which helps promote sleep. Just be sure you get a decaf green tea if drinking it at bedtime.” Experts recommend trying a 1-cup serving of the hot stuff. Photo: Thinkstock

Miso Soup

You love to order this comforting, broth-based soup in Japanese restaurants, but keeping a few 8-ounce packs of instant miso soup at home may be key when you’re having trouble falling asleep, says Stella Metsovas, CN, a nutritionist in Laguna Beach, California. Here’s why: Miso contains amino acids that may boost the production of melatonin, a natural hormone that can help induce the yawns. Bonus: Research shows that warm liquids like soup and tea may also relieve cold symptoms, helping you sleep better when you're feeling under the weather. Photo: Shutterstock

Find out 9 surprising facts about your dreams and what they mean.

Banana

Worried about falling asleep tonight? Have a banana before bed, says Saundra Dalton-Smith, MD, an internist and the author of Set Free to Live Free: Breaking Through the 7 Lies Women Tell Themselves. “Bananas are an excellent source of magnesium and potassium, which help to relax overstressed muscles. They also contain tryptophan, which convert to serotonin and melatonin, the brain’s key calming hormones." Try this tasty and incredibly simple bedtime smoothie: Blend one banana with one cup of milk or soy milk (and ice, if desired). Pour and enjoy! Photo: Shutterstock

Dairy

Yogurt, milk and cheese do contain tryptophan, notes Dr. Dalton-Smith, but also have a surprising sleep-inducing nutrient: “Calcium is effective in stress reduction and stabilization of nerve fibers, including those in the brain." That means a serving of your favorite Greek yogurt before bed can not only help you sleep, but also help you stop worrying about the weird thing your boss said earlier at work. Photo: Thinkstock

Oatmeal

You eat it for breakfast, but could a bowl of warm oatmeal help you get more rest? Yes, says Stephan Dorlandt, a clinical nutritionist based in Southern California. “Think about it,” he says. “Oatmeal is warm,soft, soothing, easy to prepare, inexpensive and nourishing. It’s rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, silicon and potassium—the who's who of nutrients known to support sleep.” But go easy on the sweeteners; too much sugar before bed can have an anti-calming effect. Instead, consider topping your bowl with fruit, like bananas (see above). Photo: Shutterstock

Hard-Cooked Egg

If you have trouble staying asleep at night, it may be because you didn’t eat a pre-bedtime snack high in protein, or perhaps your snack was too high in simple, high-sugar carbohydrates, like cake and candy. “The problem with simple carbs is that they can put you on a ‘sugar roller coaster’ and drop your blood sugar while you're sleeping, causing you to wake at 2 or 3 in the morning,” says Dr. Teitelbaum. A better bet? “Eat an egg, cheese, nuts or other protein-rich snack instead,” he says, “so you can not only fall asleep, but stay asleep.” Photo: Shutterstock

Edamame

Craving a salty snack before bed? Turn to lightly salted edamame, says Dr. Dalton-Smith—especially if you’re dealing with menopause-related symptoms. “The natural estrogen-like compounds found in soy-based products can be very beneficial in controlling those nighttime hot flashes that can disturb your sleep,” she says. If it’s crackers and dip you’re craving, try making this easy edamame recipe: In a food processor, blend together 2 cups of shelled, cooked edamame with 1 tsp salt, a drizzle of olive oil and 1 clove garlic (optional) until smooth. Photo: Thinkstock

Cherries

Oddly, a glass of cherry juice may be an effective way to fall asleep faster, says a team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania and University of Rochester. In their study, they found that cherries, particularly tart cherries, naturally boosted the body’s supply of melatonin, which helped people with insomnia. While the jury is still out on how much juice or how many cherries are needed to make you sleepy, experts say sipping a glass of cherry juice (available at most natural foods stores) or having a serving of fresh, frozen or dried cherries before bedtime couldn’t hurt. Photo: Thinkstock

Cereal

There’s no need to feel guilty about having a small bowl of cereal before bed, especially if it’s a low-sugar, whole-grain cereal. Not only is it a healthy snack (make sure you top it with milk to give your body the protein it needs), but it may also help you snooze. “Complex carbohydrate–rich foods increase the availability of tryptophan in the bloodstream, increasing the sleep-inducing effects,” says Dr. Dalton-Smith. Bonus: Top your bowl with a sprinkling of dried cherries (see above) for extra help catching your zzz's. Photo: Thinkstock

The Tragedy of Preventable Blindness

Sanitation, funds, simple operations could save sight for millions

According to the World Health Organization, some 314 million people are visually impaired worldwide, 45 million of them totally blind. The tragedy is that three-quarters of all blindness can be prevented or treated.

Avoidable blindness poses an enormous challenge to the global health care system, particularly in low- and middle- income countries. There are 9 million people in Africa alone with preventable blindness, 50-75 percent due to cataracts and 5 percent from glaucoma, says Keerti Bhusan Pradhan, who represents the NGO Right to Sight, and who is to present research he did in Africa at the Irish Forum for Global Health biennial conference Nov. 29 and 30.

And, while Pradhan’s work has centered on Africa, his research applies equally to Asia. There are 4 million blind in Pakistan, 1.3 million in Indonesia. There are 12 million blind in India, with eye-damaging diabetes increasing in what health authorities call epidemic proportions. Most visually impaired people are older and females are more at risk at every age, in every part of the world. About 87 percent of the world's visually impaired live in developing countries.

Although 50 to 75 percent of blindness is attributable to cataracts, the health response has been appalling. According to the WHO, cataract surgery is one of the most cost-effective treatments that can be offered in developing countries. It can allow people to increase their economic productivity by up to 1,500 percent of the cost of the surgery during the first post-operative year.

In Pakistan, for instance, it is a simple one-hour procedure that costs about US$30, but that figure is well beyond what many can afford in the developing world.

Besides cataract and glaucoma, other causes are age-related macular degeneration, corneal opacities, diabetic retinopathy, trachoma, and eye conditions in children including those caused by vitamin A deficiency. Age-related blindness is increasing throughout the world, as is blindness due to uncontrolled diabetes. The Netherlands-based IRC International Water and Sanitation Center reports that simple face washing and improved access to safe water and sanitation would play a major role in eliminating trachoma, which currently blinds more than 6 million people across the world, with 150 million at risk from infection.

NGO Right To Sight is dedicated to eradicating preventable blindness through the use of proven techniques in cost recovery, training and surgical practice. One of his major landmarks is his contribution to improving eye care and preventing avoidable blindness in India as well as many countries in Africa.

There are many challenges to initiatives that aim to eliminate avoidable blindness and two major ones are inconsistent quality of care and shortage of healthcare workers. One of the novel approaches Right To Sight brings in Africa is using private public partnership to engage the private sector in public health. Most of health care in sub-Saharan Africa is in the public sector and Pradhan envisions a growing role of the private sector in meeting public health needs in the region. According to a research study, US$20 billion of additional investment is needed for health care in private sector to improve health outcomes in Africa.

Preventing avoidable blindness mandates a stronger response at all levels and from all stakeholders. The biennial conference of the Irish Forum for Global Health could change the game for evoking a response to eliminate avoidable blindness.

Source: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it www.citizen-news.org

More Bad News For Smokers

Passive Smoking 'Kills 600,000' Worldwide

Children are particularly at risk of the effects of passive smoking in their own homes

The first global study into the effects of passive smoking has found it causes 600,000 deaths every year. One-third of those killed are children, often exposed to smoke at home, the World Health Organisation (WHO) found.

The study, in 192 countries, found that passive smoking is particularly dangerous for children, said to be at higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome, pneumonia and asthma.

Passive smoking causes heart disease, respiratory illness and lung cancer.

"This helps us understand the real toll of tobacco," said Armando Peruga, of the WHO's Tobacco-Free Initiative, who led the study.

'Deadly combination'
The global health body said it was particularly concerned about the 165,000 children who die of smoke-related respiratory infections, mostly in South East Asia and in Africa.

It said that this group was more exposed to passive smoking than any other group, principally in their own homes.

"The mix of infectious diseases and second-hand smoke is a deadly combination," Mr Peruga said.
As well as being at increased risk of a series of respiratory conditions, the lungs of children who breathe in passive smoke may also develop more slowly than children who grow up in smoke-free homes.

Worldwide, 40% of children, 33% of non-smoking men and 35% non-smoking women were exposed to second-hand smoke in 2004, researchers found.

This exposure was estimated to have caused 379,000 deaths from heart disease, 165,000 from lower respiratory infections, 36,900 from asthma and 21,400 from lung cancer.

According to the study, the highest numbers of people exposed to second-hand smoke are in Europe and Asia and the lowest rates of exposure were in the Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean and Africa.

The research also revealed that passive smoking had a large impact on women, killing about 281,000 worldwide. This is due to the fact that in many parts of the world, the study suggests, women are at least 50% more likely to be exposed to second-hand smoke than men.

More on This Story

Related stories

• Passive smoking hearing loss link 16 NOVEMBER 2010, HEALTH
• Passive smoking 'global threat' 09 DECEMBER 2009, HEALTH
• Smoking curbs: The global picture 01 JULY 2009, WORLD

Source: BBC Online: 26 November 2010 Last updated at 05:48 GMT

Barley for Healing and Cleansing

Healing and cleansing with barley

High in fibre, barley is also a kidney cleanser. Better yet, regular intake of it helps prevent heart disease. BARLEY water was always a regular drink when we were still living at home. Whenever we had to go for a medical exam that included a urine test, my mum would make us drink barley water a day before it to make sure we got a positive result!

My mother was a wise woman. I later found out from an Australian naturopath that barley is known to be a kidney cleanser, and she happily downed glasses of it at a meal we had in a coffee-shop here.

Barley is good for your intestinal health too. Try to eat the barley grains you find in your drink or sweet broth with fu chook (beancurd skin) and ginkgo nuts.

It's high in fibre which feeds the friendly bacteria in the colon and helps speed up the transit of fecal matter in it. In this way it helps prevent haemorrhoids and colon cancer.

The propionic acid and beta glucan from barley's insoluble fibre also help lower cholesterol and prevent the formation of gallstones.

Eating barley regularly is a preventive step against heart disease as, besides the fibre content, it is also high in niacin, a B vitamin good for lowering cholesterol.

Diabetics should eat more barley as the fibre will prevent blood sugar levels from rising too high. It also provides relief from constipation or diarrhoea for those suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Barley is rich in selenium which prevents cancer and relieves symptoms of asthma and arthritis. It is a good source of manganese, copper and phosphorous.

Malt sugar comes from sprouted barley which, when fermented, is an ingredient in beer and other alcoholic beverages.

Barley, whose Latin name is " hordeum vulgare" , has been cultivated for more than 10,000 years.

Since ancient times, barley has been used for healing purposes and has been known to the Chinese, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. Athletes in Greece and Rome in those days were known to eat barley bread to give them strength.

Besides the usual things we do with barley, I enjoy having it in a western soup. The larger pearl barley is used and I love the sticky bite of it.

Here's a recipe for barley soup:

Barley soup with roasted garlic

1 cup pearl barley
5 cloves whole garlic, roasted
2 litres chicken stock, steeped from 1 chicken breast simmered in three litres water
2 tbsps vegetable oil
2 large onions, diced
2 carrots, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
150g turkey ham, cut up
1 tsp ground white pepper
1 tsps sea salt or to taste
1 tbsp chopped parsley

Method

1. Wash barley and soak it in a bowl of water for three hours. Drain.

2. Heat oil in pan and fry onions. Add carrots and celery, then the barley and fry for three minutes.

3. Add chicken stock, pepper and roasted garlic and simmer over low heat for at least an hour, or until barley is soft.

4. Add salt to taste and serve the soup garnished with chopped parsley.

Source: An email from Mr. David Ng

Correct Way of Cooking Instant Noodles

Home Styles Instant Noodles

The correct way to cook instant noodles without harming our bodies and health. `Normally, how we cook the instant noodles is to put the noodles into a pot with water, throw in the powder and let it cook for around 3 minutes and then it's ready to eat.

This is the WRONG method of cooking the instant noodles.

By doing this, when we actually boil the ingredients in the powder, normally with MSG, it will change the molecular structures of the MSG causing it to be toxic.

The other thing that you may or may not realize is that, the noodles are coated with wax and it will take around 4 to 5 days for the body to excrete the wax after you have taken the noodles.

CORRECT METHOD :

1. boil the noodles in a pot with water.

2. once the noodles is cooked, take out the noodles, and throw away the water which contains wax.

3. boil another pot of water till boiling and put the noodles into the hot boiling water and then shut the fire.

4. only at this stage when the fire is off, and while the water is very hot, put the ingredient with the powder into the water, to make noodle soup.

5. however, if you need dry noodles, take out the noodles and add the ingredient with the powder and toss it to get dry noodles.

A large number of patient with the ages ranging from 18-24 years are ending up with pancreatitis either as a swelling or infection of the pancreas due to regular consumption of instant noodles..... If the frequency is more than 3 times a week, then it is very hazardous... So take not and enjoy your weekend.

Source: An email from Mr. David Ng.

Tamoxifen

	How it works In around 60 per cent of cases breast cancer cells contain receptors for the female sex hormone oestrogen. Oestrogen is produced mainly from the ovary in women prior to the menopause, but after the menopause substantial amounts are still produced in the adrenal glands, which sit above the kidneys, and in the fat tissue of the body. The oestrogen circulates through the bloodstream and reaches any breast cancer cells where ever they may be in the body, stimulating them to divide and grow. Doctors have known for many decades that they can inhibit the growth of breast cancer by lowering the amount of oestrogen in the bloodstream. Initially this was done by removing the ovaries, in pre-menopausal women, or by removing the adrenal glands or the pituitary gland in women after the menopause. In the 1960s people began experimenting with new hormonal agents which inhibited oestrogen from binding to the oestrogen receptor on breast cancer cells. The most important of these drugs, and the one that has seen most clinical testing, is tamoxifen. Tamoxifen is a very interesting drug. Its molecular shape is very similar to oestrogen itself, and the various tissues in the human body that require oestrogen for their functioning respond to it in different ways. Some of them, like the lining of the uterus, and the cells of the skeleton, confuse it with oestrogen itself, and in these tissues tamoxifen has what is termed an "oestrogenic " action. Breast cancer cells, however, see it as an anti-oestrogen. It binds to the oestrogen receptor, and prevent oestrogen from having its normal stimulatory activity on the breast cancer cell. Deprived of this necessary stimulus to make them divide and grow, the breast cancer cells arrest. In some cases they seem to subsequently die, possibly under the influence of the body's immune system. How to take it Tamoxifen should be taken daily in a dose of 20 milligrams, or as prescribed by your doctor. Normally, we recommend that be taken after breakfast, but some women prefer to take it in the evening. It doesn't seem to matter in terms of its effectiveness. You should try to be fairly careful to take it every day, but, if you do forget one day, don’t panic: simply resume the following day. Should you forget, and take two tablets, it is quite safe. If you forget in the morning, and remember that evening, it is quite OK to take it then. It is fine to take tamoxifen with your other medications. Does tamoxifen interfere with my other medications? Tamoxifen can very much increase the potency of warfarin, a drug used to thin the blood. This may result in dangerous bleeding. You should not take tamoxifen if you are already taking warfarin unless strictly under medical supervision. There are no other known serious drug interactions.Tamoxifen should not be taken with "Specific Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor" (SSRI) antidepressant medication unless under specific medical advice. This includes Prozac, Efexor, Aropax, Zoloft and many others. These drugs may interfere with the activation of tamoxifen in the liver, reducing its effectiveness. Does the brand matter? There are several “look-alike” cheaper brands than the original one which is branded “Nolvadex”. There is no difference between the brands in the effectiveness or side-effects. What are the side-effects of tamoxifen? Generally speaking, tamoxifen causes few side-effects, and it is very rare that patients have to stop it because of an adverse reaction. There are two very important, but rare, side-effects which deserve special attention: 1. Tumours of the lining of the womb (“endometrium”) Very rarely, the use of tamoxifen has been associated with cancers of the lining of the womb, technically called uterine carcinoma, or endometrial adenocarcinoma. The risk is around three per 1000 woman-years for women taking tamoxifen. Whenever you are confronted with these sort of risk figures, you should always compare them to what the risk would be without tamoxifen. In the general community there is a risk of around one per 1000 woman-years in getting cancer of the lining of the uterus. The fact is that this has to be compared to the benefit that tamoxifen offers in both preventing recurrence of breast cancer, and also preventing the occurrence of a new primary breast cancer. For a woman who has had breast cancer, the risk of getting a second new quite separate primary breast cancer is around one per cent per annum. This means, that of 100 women who have had previous breast cancer, every year, one of those women will get a new primary breast cancer, often, but not always, in the other breast. Tamoxifen reduces the risk of this by between one third and one half. This is a benefit far greater than the risk posed by the very rare incidence of cancer of the womb. Cancer of the womb occurs more commonly in women over the age of 50. In most cases, it presents early with vaginal bleeding. This is why it is most important to report to your doctor early any instance of unusual vaginal bleeding. What do I mean by unusual? Well, in women who are past the menopause, any instance of vaginal bleeding is unusual. In women before the menopause, it has to be distinguished from normal menstruation. Most women can tell when they are having a normal period by their other symptoms, such as breast tenderness, and pelvic discomfort. However, if you are in any doubt you should talk to your doctor. However, it is most important not to panic if you do develop vaginal bleeding while taking tamoxifen. The reason is, because tamoxifen acts like oestrogen on the lining of the womb, it is very common for it to cause a build-up of the normal lining of the womb, which occasionally is shed, a bit like a normal period. In more than 90 per cent of cases, vaginal bleeding in women taking tamoxifen is completely benign. However, the only way to be absolutely certain is to see your doctor, who will probably arrange for a uterine biopsy to be performed. Nowadays, this is a simple rooms procedure which does not require a general anaesthetic. There are occasions, though, when your doctor may wish to perform a dilatation and curette under general anaesthetic. 2. Deep venous thrombosis (“DVT”) and pulmonary embolism (“clots in the lungs”). Rarely, tamoxifen may increase the stickiness of the cells in the blood which cause the blood to clot. These cells are called platelets, and they are a normal necessary part of stopping you from bleeding when, for example, the skin is wounded. However, when they're made more sticky, they can sometimes clump and cause clots in the veins of the legs. This is called deep venous thrombosis. In serious cases, these clots may migrate to the lungs. This is known as pulmonary embolism. If untreated, pulmonary embolism may be fatal. The risk of pulmonary embolism in women taking tamoxifen is around 0.75 per 1000, compared to 0.25 per 1000 in women not taking the drug. In women who are fit and active, there seems to be very little risk over and above what occurs in the general population. There are several circumstances, however, when the risk is substantially greater. These include: - Smoking Smoking increases the risk of deep venous thrombosis, and women taking tamoxifen should not smoke. - A previous history of venous thrombosis. If you have previously had clots in the veins of the leg you should tell your doctor before you start taking the tamoxifen. - Long-distance travel People embarking on long aeroplane journeys are at an increased risk of venous thrombosis. This risk is probably enhanced if you are taking tamoxifen. My advice to you is that you cease the tamoxifen one week prior to the aeroplane journey. At the airport you should purchase support stockings and wear them for the duration of the flight. You should follow carefully the airline's instructions about avoiding venous thrombosis, which include frequent exercise, the avoidance of large amounts of alcohol, tea or coffee on the flight (because they are dehydrating), and the consumption of plenty of clear fluids. When you get to your destination, you may start taking the tamoxifen immediately, but stop it again one week prior to your return journey. The same advice probably applies if you are going on a very long bus, train or car journey - basically anything that is going to see you immobilised for more than two to three hours. - Other elective surgery. Should you require surgery for any other reason, you should tell your surgeon and anaesthetist, and if you are going to be immobilised for a day or more after the operation, you should cease your tamoxifen for one week prior to the operation. Your surgeon may recommend the use of other special medicines to prevent venous thrombosis. Once you are active again, you should recommence the tamoxifen. - Prolonged immobilisation. If you are immobilised for any length of time, for example, after a serious ankle strain or breaking a bone, you should follow the same advice as that for a elective surgery. In any of these circumstances it is best to seek advice from your own doctor.. Marion "I developed some vaginal bleeding about 6 months after I'd been on tamoxifen. My GP assured me that this was nearly always due to a benign thickening of the lining of the womb, but that a simple biopsy would sort it out. My gynaecologist did this in her rooms - it wasn't very different from having a Papsmear. The results are all clear and I am carrying on with the tamoxifen. I haven't had any more problems at all." Other side-effects of tamoxifen This section contains some details about less serious reported side-effects of tamoxifen. However, I want to stress to you that tamoxifen is one of the safest drugs and one of the most widely used in the whole cancer field. Most of my patients, like Jill (not her real photo) do not know that they are taking it. Nausea About 10 to 15 per cent of women experience some nausea when first taking tamoxifen. Should this occur, my advice is that the first thing you do is to take the drug in the evening, preferably after supper when retiring. Often, after 10 to 14 days, the nausea subsides. It may be helpful to take some anti-nausea medication during this period, such as Stemetil, or Maxolon, always under the supervision of your own doctor. In some cases it is necessary to cease the tamoxifen for a week or two and then to try recommencing it at half dose. Again, this should only be done under the supervision of your doctor. Hot flushes. Hot flushes, (sometimes called hot flashes), are a common symptom of the menopause and they are commonly made worse by taking tamoxifen. They are caused by hormones released from the pituitary gland which cause dilatation of blood vessels in the skin of the face and upper body. This is accompanied by a hot prickly sensation and the strong desire to stand in front of an air conditioner, or remove clothing! They are more common at night when they might disturb sleep. In some women they are severe enough to disturb the ability to work and may severely inhibit quality of life. They can last for months to years, but the severity generally decreases rather than increases with time. Simple measures may help to ease hot flushes, including wearing several layers of thin clothing which can be removed if necessary, and sleeping in an air-conditioned room, or one with a ceiling fan. Natural products containing plant oestrogens are heavily promoted by health food stores and pharmacies as being of benefit in easing hot flushes. These products include Promensil and Remifem. However, properly conducted clinical trials have failed to show any evidence that these products are of benefit in reducing the symptoms of the menopause. None of the "natural" oestrogens are of proven safety in women who have had breast cancer. Two drugs that have been shown to reduce the severity of hot flushes are venlafaxine and medroxyprogesterone acetate ("Provera"), in a dose of between 10 and 50 mg daily, and tibolone ("Livial"). These drugs must only be used under the advice of your doctor. Whilst there is some evidence that the blood pressure table Clonidene may reduce hot flushes, I have never seen it work, and most of my colleagues are sceptical about it. Certain antidepressants like venlafaxine (Efexor) have been shown to reduce hot flashes. However, tamoxifen should not be taken with "Specific Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor" (SSRI) antidepressant medication unless under specific medical advice. This includes Prozac, Efexor, Aropax, Zoloft and many others. These drugs may interfere with the activation of tamoxifen in the liver, reducing its effectiveness. Of course, there is one sure fire way to reduce hot flushes and that is the use of hormone replacement therapy. However, I am personally loathe to recommend this to women who have a history of breast cancer unless they have menopausal symptoms that are disabling. In women who had breast tumours that were not hormone receptor positive, some specialists feel relaxed about using HRT for short periods. The hormonal agent tibolone ("Livial") is weakly oestrogenic, and might therefore be the best one to choose in the first instance. Again, I must stress that any such endeavour should be done under careful medical advice and with the full knowledge of your breast cancer specialist. The newer anti-oestrogens letrozole ("Femara")and its partner drug anastrozole ("Arimidex") have a much lower incidence of side effects like hot flushes but these drugs cannot be used in women who are premenopausal or perimenopausal. For additional information on the management of hot flushes ("hot flashes"), CLICK HERE Vaginal irritation dryness and discharge. Vaginal irritations and dryness may be relieved by the use of local oestrogen containing pessaries. The best of these is probably oestriol ("Ovestin"). This should be used twice weekly at first, then weekly Of, under strict medical supervision. Bone density After the menopause it is common for there to be a gradual reduction in bone density due to slow leaching of calcium from the skeleton. Paradoxically, tamoxifen reduces this problem in women after the menopause, but seems to exacerbate it in women who are still having periods. The best advice for all women on tamoxifen is that they have regular weight- bearing exercise, a sensible daily intake of calcium (see below), and that every two years they have the bone density measured by their doctor. There is no need to take osteoporosis preventing medicines such as vitamin D and calcium supplements unless this is indicated by your doctor. For additional information on managing bone problems in the menopause CLICK HERE Eye problems In the early days of tamoxifen there were some reports of damage to the retina, and a slightly increased incidence of cataracts. However, in more recent large scale clinical trials there has been no significant increase in the incidence of eye disease. If you experience changes in vision while taking tamoxifen you should report these to your doctor. Keep in mind, though, that changes in visual acuity are very common in the Forties and Fifties when most people need to have their glasses adjusted quite frequently. Ovarian cysts. In younger women (especially those who are still having periods) it is quite common for tamoxifen to cause benign swellings in the ovary, known as ovarian cysts. These are often palpable by your doctor at the time when you have a pelvic examination each year for a Papsmear. Sometimes these cysts cause pelvic discomfort. It is extremely rare for them to become malignant. Changes to menstrual periods In some women who are still having menstrual periods when they start taking tamoxifen, there may be an alteration to the timing and nature of menstruation. Rare side-effects These include mood changes, headache, poor concentration, trouble sleeping (CLICK HERE) , tiredeness (CLICK HERE) bald spots or thinning hair, and skin rashes. Jill: "I honestly wouldn't have known I was taking tamoxifen. If anything, I felt better on it than I did before I started it! My breast cancer is way behind me now. I know tamoxifen is just a little bit of extra insurance for me seeing these two grow up and for me to be a healthy grandmother to their children." What tamoxifen does NOT do. Although tamoxifen can sometimes cause fatty infiltration in the liver, there is no evidence that it causes liver cancer. Reports of this nature in the media and on the Internet, refer to early studies on rats. There is no evidence that tamoxifen increases the incidence of liver cancer in humans. There is no clinical trials evidence that tamoxifen increases the incidence of weight gain. Weight gain is a common event at the time of the menopause due to changes in metabolic rate. It is critical that all women in mid-life, whether on tamoxifen or not, watch carefully their caloric intake, and engage in regular weight bearing exercise. Advice to women taking tamoxifen Have your doctor perform a pelvic examinations and Papsmear befo re you start tamoxifen and then each year while you are on it. Cease tamoxifen one week before long distance aeroplane travel or a elective surgery. Ask your doctor about monitoring bone density. In young women this should be performed every two years. Engage in regular weight bearing exercise. This means, for example, walking four kilometres in under 40 minutes four times per week. Good alternatives include ballroom dancing and aerobics classes. For additional information CLICK HERE Take calcium regularly in the diet. This means having at least one good serving daily of low-fat dairy product. One 200 g tub of low-fat yoghurt is ideal. Report to your doctor your experience of any of the side-effects listed above, or any other symptoms that you attribute to the tamoxifen. Most importantly, you must report to your doctor any unusual vaginal bleeding. Tamoxifen must not be taken if you are pregnant or could be pregnant. Tamoxifen is not a contraceptive. Tamoxifen should not be taken with the blood-thinning drug warfarin, except under explicit medical advice and careful monitoring of blood coagulation parameters. Seek prompt medical attention for new breast lumps, vaginal bleeding, gynaecologic symptoms (menstrual irregularities, changes in vaginal discharge, or pelvic pain or pressure),symptoms of leg swelling or tenderness, or unexplained shortness of breath. Ensure that any of your medical attendants know that you are taking tamoxifen. Do I really need to take tamoxifen for five years? Many of my patients are often ask me whether or not they can stop tamoxifen early. There are already a number of clinical trials which clearly indicate that the optimum duration of tamoxifen is five years. An update of a large Swedish study was presented at ASCO this year which further emphasises this clinical advice. During the period from 1983 through 1992, a total of 4610 patients were entered in the trial; 4175 women remained alive and recurrence free at 2 years and could thus contribute meaningful information to the 2-year versus 5-year comparison. Patients assigned to 5 years of tamoxifen experienced significantly longer breast cancer event-free survival and overall. In the 5-year group, the incidence of cancer in the contra-lateral breast was significantly reduced while the incidence of endometrial cancer was very slightly increased. There was no significant increase in the incidence of any other type of cancer. The mortality from coronary heart disease was significantly reduced in patients randomized to 5 years of tamoxifen treatment compared with those in the 2-year group. The mortality from deep venous thrombisis and pulmonary embolism not increased. Are there alternatives to tamoxifen? The main agents that are in clinical trial to possibly replace tamoxifen in post-menopausal women are the oestrogen-lowering drugs known as “aromatase inhibitors”. There are three of them currently in use in the treatment of advanced breast cancer, letrazole ("Femara"), anastrozole ("Arimidex"), and exemestane (“Aromasin”). The main trial in early breast cancer is the ATAC (‘Arimidex’, Tamoxifen, Alone or in Combination) Trial. The early results of this trial have received considerable publicity in the Australian press, and indeed the results are promising. In this trial, over 9000 women were randomised in a double-blind fashion (neither the women nor the investigators knew who was getting what, to avoid any sort of bias). They received either tamoxifen, anastrazole or both drugs together. At 4 years of follow up the study shows that in the anastrazole-only arm there were statistically significant data to support: Fewer recurrences of breast cancer Improved disease-free survival Fewer hot flashes Less vaginal bleeding Less endometrial cancer Less thromobotic events More arthritis More bone fractures from osteoporosis However, these data are considered by most experts to be too early to recommend an overall change from tamoxifen to anastrazole in the adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer. Remember that the trial was confined to post-menopausal women with an average age of 65. Also, remember that tamoxifen has a 30-year track-record of safety. The end-point of most relevance in these studies of adjuvant treatment in early breast cancer is overall survival. This will probably not be known for another 4-5 years. However, if the differences in disease-free survival are maintained, it may be that anastrazole comes on to the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for use in early breast cancer some time in the next few years. Currently it is only available for the treatment of advanced breast cancer in post-menopausal women. For more information on the aromatase inhibitors, including how they work, CLICK HERE . Can tamoxifen make some breast cancers worse? A Swedish group have reported in th journal “Cancer Research” (September 2005) that a particular subset of women may not benefit from tamoxifen, even if their tumours are estrogen-sensitive (that is, positive for the estrogen receptor). These particular women had breast cancers that were strongly expressing another protein that regulates cell division, called Cyclin D1. There was a suggestion in this study that tamoxifen may act as a stimulatory hormone in this subset of tumours, rather than as an inhibitory drug. This study is small, on just 500 women, whereas the data showing benefits of tamoxifen have been generated from over 30,000 women. Cyclin D1 is not routinely measured in pathology laboratories, and this study is not a reason to start doing it. Rather, it is a juatification to see if other groups and laboratories can replicate the findings. At present, the report must be regarded as preliminary. Further information may be found at: http://www.bci.org.au/public/news/media/0905_1media.htm or HERE Contraception and tamoxifen In women who are still having regular menstrual periods it is possible to fall pregnant while taking tamoxifen. As tamoxifen may potential harm the development of a tiny embryo we would recommend a termination if pregnancy did occur while tamoxifen was being taken. Obviously it is better to avoid this possibility. Probably the best contraceptive in this setting, for women who have had children, is an intra-uterine device like "Mirena" which produces a local progesterone hormone. This is a highly specialised subject and one on which you should seek specialist advice. You should not take the oral contraceptive pill while taking tamoxifen.

Source: http://www.rkefford.com/Tamoxifen.html