The Benefits of Green Lipped Mussel Extract

A unique combination of fatty acids are found in green-lipped mussels that cannot be found anywhere else, including glycosaminoglycan which is said to aid in the repair of damaged joint tissues and prevent inflammation. This rich blend of natural proteins, minerals and mucopolysaccharides are necessary for maintaining cartilage, increasing the mobility of the joints, and preventing pain and damage to the body from inflammation. Several chemical mediators of inflammation are actually produced in the human body itself, with higher levels being detected in people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis compared to those who don't experience any rheumatic symptoms at all. Therefore, controlling the production of these mediators through treatment with green-lipped mussel extract can help improve the conditions of those who suffer from arthritis, asthma, psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease (including ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease) which all include elements of inflammation.

Green-lipped mussel extract is essentially an anti-inflammatory supplement that helps provide the temporary relief of arthritis pain and reduce the inflammation of joints which is commonly associated with arthritis. In addition, green-lipped mussel extract also contains essential Omega 3 fatty acids as well as Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulphate that are important building blocks of joint cartilage and aid in the repair of the structure of your joints. There are many uses for green-lipped mussel extract such as for the treatment of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulphate. Commercial extracts are generally formulated with vitamin E for its antioxidant properties and other Omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Not only is it able to suppress the symptoms of inflammation such pain and joint discomfort, green-lipped mussels also promote faster healing and is tolerated more by the body compared with other anti-inflammatory pain medications.

Supplements containing the freeze-dried tissue of the green-liped mussel are sold all over the world to relieve arthritic symptoms to aid in the regeneration of injured and arthritic joints. Although inflammation is normal under certain conditions, excessive pain and joint damage can result from too much inflammation.

Studies were conducted on rats that had inflammation induced through collagen and were then subsequently treated with green-lipped mussel extract. Rats showed reduced symptoms after taking the supplement showing reduced polyarthritis. The mussel even acted as an immunomodulating agent which affected both the humoral and cellular immunity.

There are no known major side effects to the extract although there are minor effects such as stomach upset, gas, skin rash, fluid retention and nausea due to the high protein content. Allergic reactions can include itching or hives, swelling of the face or hands, swelling or tingling in the mouth or throat, chest tightness, breathing difficulties or rash. It is recommended to take green-lipped mussel during a meal and not before it. It can also be taken with milk. If one notices any tenderness in the joints it is usually a result of the joints being "fed" and can last anywhere from 3 to 10 days. Continued use is recommended although pregnant or nursing women should consult a physician before taking any form of supplement.

Reduced Glutathione and Inflammatory Bowel Disease

In studies conduct there have been evidence to say that reduced glutathione or gsh as it is also known and the relationship to any inflammatory diseases and inflammatory bowel disease or IBD definitely has inflammation. So can replenishing essential gsh help with IBD?

Lets first start by letting you know what glutathione or GSH is. It is the master antioxidant that is produced in your body at cellular level. It is your bodies best defense against fighting inflammation that is prevalent in many diseases.

The human digestive system is made up by a set of organs (including the stomach, small and large intestines, rectum, and others) that change the foods we consume into nutrients and absorb these nutrients into the bloodstream to feed our bodies cells. We hardly if ever notice its workings unlit something goes wrong, as in the case of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

What is Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

Inflammatory bowel disease can occur at any age but most commonly occurs between the ages of 15 and 35. Environmental issues as well as diet and possibly genetics may play a role in devolving IBD. Studies have also shown a reduced glutathione in your bodies cells also to be a factor.

Inflammatory bowel disease or IBD is a generic term that covers two intestinal disorders:

Ulcerative colitis or UC

Crohn's disease or CD

What is Crohn's disease? It is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease of the intestines that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus. It most commonly occurs in the ileum (the area where the small and large intestine meet). It mainly causes ulcerations (a break in the lining) of the large and small intestines.

What causes IBD is still largely unknown. It can be traced to a problem in the bodies immune response system. You bodies immune system usually helps protect itself from harmful substances but in patients with any form of inflammatory bowel disease this is not the case. A person with IBD can not distinguish between the good substance or the foreign invaders so result is an overactive immune system response that leads to chronic inflammation. This is what an autoimmune disorder is.

What is Ulcerative colitis? It is chronic inflammation of the large intestine (colon) and part of the digestive system where your waste material is stored. The rectum is connected to the colon adjacent to the anus. Patients with ulcerative colitis have inflammation in the inner lining of the colon. Symptoms of ulcerative colitis are abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding.

With having a reduced glutathione antioxidant level , your defense system may be severely compromised and rendering it more at risk to oxidative tissue damage, hindering recovery from Inflammatory bowel disease as well as any inflammatory diseases. So by replenishing essential gsh you then increase your own bodies natural defence against inflammation.

Usable glutathione can only be gotten intravenously as a glutathione supplement can not be broken down small enough to be absorbed by the cells.

Ostomates and Childbirth

Many lady ostomates have questioned their ability to have children, and in the process have either postponed or done away with the idea of becoming pregnant. However, experience and studies have shown that ostomies are seldom a deterrent. Close professional monitoring throughout the gestation and delivery can just about assure a normal and memorable experience.

Pre-Conception:

Most doctors would likely recommend at least a year to recoup from the surgery followed by a complete medical evaluation to assess reproductive health before attempting conception. Good physical condition including healthy vitamin and mineral levels are critical. Poor intestinal absorption may have led to lack of iron, folic acid, and vitamin B. Additionally a fully recovered abdominal wall from the ostomy surgery is a must. Usually, with no fertility issues present, a normal pregnancy should be awaiting you after that period.

Complications:

• The major complication possible is an intestinal obstruction. The uterus dilates and tends to rest on the intestines creating pressure and preventing effective stool discharge. If this occurs, you may have to switch to a liquid diet and lay on bed as much as possible. A more extreme alternative may require hospitalization and intravenous therapy. If this fails, surgery might have to be performed including a caesarean section to allow access to the obstructed intestine.


• Morning sickness and nausea may happen just like in most pregnancies. However for women with ostomies this may be a sign of intestinal obstruction. If nausea and vomiting become severe, a health professional must get involved.


• A stomal prolapse may develop but it will usually resolve after the pregnancy and will not require your doctor's intervention. If you can manage your ostomy supplies, there is probably nothing to be alarmed.


• Higher progesterone levels may lead to enlargement of the uterus which in turn might create constipation.


• Peristomal hernias may originate as well. Wearing an ostomy belt during the pregnancy would help (a few sizes might be needed as the abdomen enlarges). After delivery, the hernia is likely to wane or disappear.


• The stoma may widen due to uterine pressure. You will need to change to ostomy bags with a larger opening. The stoma may or may not return back to its original size after delivery. You may also have to deal with more frequent pouch changes.


• As the abdomen increases in size, it becomes increasingly difficult to see the stomal opening. Placing the skin barrier and the bag may require that you use a hand mirror or that you ask for help.


• Colostomates who irrigate will have to go for drainable pouches during the last stages.


• Those with ostomies because of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis might need extra precautions because of a slight chance of recurrence.


• Urostomates might experience stretching from the ureters or the ileal conduit causing mild incontinence, but when adequately watched, it can be managed effectively.

Birthing:

The birth itself should present no more complications than for a woman without a stoma. Normal vaginal deliveries are completely possible. Nevertheless your doctor might recommend a caesarean section specially if the rectum was removed, if there is an internal pouch, or another special circumstance. In case of a C-section, it might be a good idea to have a surgeon present at delivery. An incision is bound to find adhesions around organs and could complicate matters.

Specific Carbohydrate Diet for People With Celiac Disease and Crohn's Disease

A type of the diet in the offing is the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD), which is thoroughly tackled in the book Management of Celiac Disease by medical experts Dr. Sydney Valentine, Dr. Haas Gottschall and Dr. Merrill P. Haas. Dr. Sydney Haas. Dr. Haas Haas Gottschall who is pediatrician got interested in the diet of his patients with celiac disease. He discovered that there are specific carbohydrates that can be tolerated in some people, and from then on he went on to whip out the SCD as a cure for celiac disease.

A distressed mother who is searching for a cure for her daughter who is experiencing treatment-unresponsive ulcerative colitis stumbled upon Dr. Haas Gottschall. The girl followed the SCD and her health gradually improved. This was a remarkable development as it inspired Gottschall to study and research further on the SCD and then later, wrote and published the book entitled, Breaking The Vicious Cycle: Intestinal Health Through Diet, which contains comprehensive information and details about the SCD.

SCD a Useful Undertaking in Fighting Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Although it is not yet proven that SCD can fully treat IBD such as the ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease and at the same time difficult to implement and follow, it can provide a big help for the patients. Any medical professional organization and patients advocacy associations don't support the SCD yet. Nonetheless, Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America are not throwing any words that it will not diminish the inflammation and an attempt to use the diet is unsafe.

The Principles Behind The SCD

The diet doesn't allow grains, lactose, and sugar. The main idea is the exclusion of complex carbohydrates from the diet. Only plain carbohydrates are permitted. The conjecture is that complex carbohydrates are food for the detrimental bacteria in the gut. If these bacteria are famished, they will not be able to reproduce and go on with stirring and creating gastrointestinal symptoms.

Moreover, complex carbohydrates are not easy to digest. The undigested carbohydrates are suspected to contribute to the furthering of harmful toxins in the gut. The toxins can aggravate gastrointestinal symptoms and the unfinished digestion of carbohydrates.

Aloe Vera For Magical Cure Of Skin Diseases

Aloe vera is one of the most important medicinal plants in the world. It is a magical plant that cures innumerable number of diseases.it is used in a variety of products. It can be taken in raw as well as processed. It cold nature can be a relief to heat burns and suntans. Gel form of the plant is available for application on the skin.

It is a well-known moisturizer that gives instant relief to dry skin and other skin irritations. It can be used in sunscreens, soaps, perfumes etc for its smell as well as its medicinal use. Aloe vera's medicinal value extends to even animals. It is used in cats and dogs to cure symptoms of cancer. It is also used in the artificial fertilization of sheep.

It can be consumed as well. It is used to make desserts and juices. It is used as an additional ingredient in yogurts. In some parts of India, it is used to make curries. The juice of this medicine is used to cure irritations in the bowel. It is an excellent remedy for Ulcerative colitis and also Crohn's disease. It works by flushing out unwanted substances that might be poisonous to the body which might result in less absorption of essential nutrients. This can in turn lead to loss of energy, weight fluctuations and various other body illnesses.

Aloe vera plant acts as a natural immune booster. The extract from the leaf is known for increasing the natural immunity of the body. Digestive disorders like constipation, irregular bowel movements etc due to toxic residues are best reduces by drinking its juice or other processed products that removes aloin content from it. Sores that are formed in the stomach are cured if this medicinal plant is used. The cooling effect produced by the medicinal plant is used to treat conditions caused due to excessive amount of stomach acid produced.

Food Allergies and Your Metabolism

Elson M. Haas, M.D. believes that food reactions harm the metabolism more than any other factor. Food Reactions, to your allergic foods, make it easy to gain weight and hard to lose it. Food reactions affect your metabolism, and your ability to lose weight or not, in four major ways:

1. Allergic Foods slow down your metabolism because they block the absorption of nutrients and because they affect your thyroid. They will block the absorption of nutrients, including essential fatty acids. Essential fatty acids increase your metabolism so blocking their absorption will decrease (or slow) your metabolism and your body will then be more likely to store fat. Food allergies can also make your thyroid malfunction and then you will gain weight.


2. Allergic Foods can increase hormones that cause weight gain. These hormones include insulin, cortisol, and eicosanoids. If food allergies cause your body to create more insulin then your body will store more fat. If food allergies cause your body to produce less insulin then you will feel hungrier and want to eat more. Food allergies (and stress) can increase the amount of cortisol that your body produces. As cortisol levels increase, the levels of fat-burning enzymes decrease, causing weight gain. Food allergies can increase the production of eicosanoids, which inhibit the burning of adipose tissue and ultimately cause weight gain.


3. Allergic Foods can create hypoglycemia which, in turn, creates food cravings and weight gain.


4. Allergic Foods make you feel sick and tired. They can cause asthma, earaches, leg pains, ADD, ADHD, stomach aches, canker sores, diarrhea, headaches, moodiness, constipation, frequent colds, insomnia, food cravings, fibromyalgia, eczema, dermatitis, colitis, ulcerative colitis, colic, diverticulitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, anxiety, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, arthritis, chronic colds, sinusitis, psoriasis, dry skin, PMS, menstrual cramps, eating disorders, chronic pain, arthritis, chronic ear infections, acne, diabetes, and more! When you have any of these symptoms you just don't have the energy or motivation to do what you need to do to lose weight.

Weight Loss and Weight Gain Solution Now that you are more aware of how your body's metabolism is negatively affected by your food allergies the solution is simple: get tested for food intolerances and stop eating your allergic foods! Okay, I said the solution is simple but I never said that the solution is easy.

Weight Loss Success To succeed at losing weight you must:

• identify your food sensitivities


• eliminate your food intolerances from your diet


• make your health your priority by making time to shop for allergy-free food and prepare allergy-free food.

Why Is My Poop Green?

Human stool is a method of how our body gets rid of unwanted waste by itself. Normal poop is medium brown in color and it may vary depending on what we eat or due to a condition or disorder. It exits the body without causing strain or discomfort and has normal consistency with adequate water and fiber content. Sometimes the color of the stool is green which can happen due to many reasons. Eating green leafy vegetables rich in iron or food with artificial green color can result in green colored poop. The chlorophyll present in such vegetables contributes to the color change of the stool. Though this change in color of the stool is no reason to panic, if you feel any change in your bowel movement, it is advisable that you should speak to a doctor.

When the stool is passing through the small intestine, it is green in color due to the bile present in it. Bile is a bright-green colored digestive juice secreted by liver and is stored in the gallbladder and in the walls of the intestine. As the food reaches the small intestines from the stomach, bile present in the intestinal walls is secreted and mixed thoroughly with the digested food. Bile helps in softening the stool and gives it the green color. As the stool makes its way to the large intestine, its color changes to yellow and then finally to brown. If the stool passes faster than normal through the intestines, its color remains green. This condition is known as decreased bowel transit time. Diarrhea, especially giardia and salmonella, celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, malabsorption, traveler's diarrhea, bacterial overgrowth and food poisoning can lead to reduced bowel transit time, resulting in green poop.

If a person consumes laxatives or antibiotics even then the color of the stool results in being green. This is because such medications upset the natural bowel movement of the body making stool to pass quickly through the large intestine and thus resulting in greenish color. Generally, green poop is not a problem unless it is not accompanied by other symptoms such as abdominal pain, decrease in appetite or reflux. Under such conditions, immediate medical assistance must be sought. Drinking more water and consuming adequate food can also help in having normal brown colored stool. Healthy eating habits and regular exercise lead to normal digestion and bowel movements, thus keeping the body healthy and fit.