|
10 Ways to Stop a Cold -Christmas 2011
Sometimes it seems like winter is just one long case of the sneezes; we all know what it’s like to go around for weeks with a cold we just can’t shake. Yet some lucky folks seem to get through the cold and flu season with nary a sniffle. How do they do it? As it turns out, it’s not really luck. Although it’s true that some immune systems are more robust than others, just about anyone attacked by a cold virus is going to get a cold. The secret: Prevent the cold virus from breaching your defences. And at the first sign of exposure or symptoms, mount a full-bore offense to stop it in its tracks.
1. Avoid touching your face, especially your eyes and nose. There are hundreds of viruses that cause the common cold, and most of them are rhinoviruses, which need to get into the mucous membranes lining the nose or into the tear ducts in order to cause infection. That means touching your face — specifically your nose and eyes — is the primary way people give themselves cold germs. The nasopharynx, where the nose meets the mouth, is the “sweet spot” for cold viruses. If they can reach this spot, it’s very likely you’ll get sick; if you prevent them from getting there, you won’t.
2. Try not to touch public surfaces. Studies show that teaching children to sneeze into their elbow, rather than cover their mouths with their hands, has been very effective at reducing the incidence of colds in schools. Why? Because then the virus isn’t on their hands, where it can be passed to others via shared surfaces such as doorknobs, chair backs, books, and toys. 3. Be finicky about sanitation. Dispose of dirty tissues promptly; the cold virus can live on them for several hours. Use hand sanitizer when you can’t wash your hands right away; a recent study found there was less spread of colds in families using alcohol-based hand gels frequently. 4. Don’t skimp on sleep. The studies are clear: Those who sleep less are much more susceptible to the cold virus once they’re exposed. In one study published in the January 2009 Archives of Internal Medicine, people who slept fewer than seven hours a night were three times more likely to develop a cold when exposed to a rhinovirus compared to those who slept eight or more hours a night.
5. Go to bed. Rather than getting in the car and heading to the pharmacy, get into bed and go to sleep. While you sleep, your body recharges your immune system, which is what fights off a cold. Studies show that people who get eight or more hours of sleep increase their resistance to cold viruses — and get better faster if they do catch a cold.
6. Drink a lot of water. And tea, and juice, and clear broth. Fluids help your body heal from a cold by loosening congestion and preventing dehydration. Water, juice, clear broth, or warm lemon water with honey are the best fluids to rely on; alcohol, coffee, and caffeinated sodas only make dehydration worse.
7. Cheer up with chicken soup. Recent studies that tested the effectiveness of chicken soup discovered that it does seem to relieve cold and flu symptoms. Scientists believe chicken soup acts as an anti-inflammatory by inhibiting the movement of neutrophils, the cells of the immune system that mount the body’s inflammatory response. Hot chicken soup also temporarily speeds up the movement of mucus through the nose, helping relieve congestion and limiting the amount of time viruses are in contact with the lining of the nasal passages.
8. Gargle a sore throat. Dissolve a half teaspoon of salt in an 8-ounce glass of warm water and gargle with it to temporarily relieve a sore or scratchy throat. The reason this time-honored home remedy works is that a sore throat occurs when the throat tissues become inflamed by bacteria and germs. This inflammation takes the form of tiny fluid-filled bumps called edemas. The dehydrating action of salt draws out the edema fluid, killing the bacteria, which require a warm, moist environment to survive. 9. “Irrigate” your nose with saline. Studies show that over-the-counter saline nasal sprays work to combat stuffiness and congestion and also reduce the amount of time that virus particles are in the nasal passages. And unlike nasal decongestants, saline sprays don’t lead to a rebound effect — a worsening of symptoms when the medication is used for too long. # 10. Moisten the air with a humidifier. Cold viruses are happiest in dry conditions, which is one reason colds are more common in winter. Dry air also dries out the mucous membranes, which can both contribute to a stuffy nose and scratchy throat and lessen the body’s ability’s to fend off cold viruses in the first place. Run a humidifier to add moisture to indoor air. It doesn’t matter if it’s cool or warm mist; both are effective. But be careful: Running a humidifier can also add mold, fungi, and bacteria to your environment, especially if the humidifier hasn’t been cleaned properly. Change the water in your humidifier daily, clean the humidifier with soap and water once every three days, and air out the rooms in which you’ve been running the humidifier once you’re over your cold.
Cola and Cancer?? - Update 21st April 2011
Picture for a moment a can of any generic brand simply named "Cola," it doesn't matter what it says on the can. They're all more or less the same, Fizzy, cola flavour... and that deep brown hue provided by "caramel colouring."
The colouring used in fizzy drinks (and other foods) is made through a high-pressure and-temperature reaction between sugar and ammonia and sulphites.
The reaction that results in "caramel" (quotes because, let's face it, it’s not caramel) colouring also forms 2-methylimidazole (2-MI) and 4 methylimidazole (4-MI). In laboratory studies, these caused several types of cancer (lung, liver, thyroid).
They've been deemed animal carcinogens, which usually means a compound is a cancer threat for humans, too. 4-MI also appears on California's list of "chemicals known to the state to cause cancer."
And there are significant levels of these carcinogenic compounds in at least five brands of fizzy drinks, according to US researchers at the University of California. The levels of 4-MI in these drinks may be causing thousands of cancers.
As the executive director of the Centre for Science in the Public Interest put it, these have no place in the food supply, especially considering they're only there for cosmetic reasons. So they've petitioned the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a ban of colourings made through the ammonia process.
When consumer advocacy website The Consumerist reached out to Coke and Pepsi for comments on the petition, they were passed along to the American Beverage Association (ABA) instead. Of course, all of this didn't sit too well with the ABA.
They argue that 4-MI is "not a threat to human health." Instead, they claim that the Centre for Science in the Public Interest is out to get them — that they're dedicated to attacking the food and beverage industry.
Plus, they say, 4-MI is in almost everything! So, why pick on Coke and Pepsi, huh? (Which isn't what's being done — a ban on "caramel" colouring would affect a wide variety of products.)
And of course, they wrap it all up by reminding us that safety is their number one concern! Thanks, ABA! I guess that's why high fructose corn syrup is in... oh, just about everything!
I'm not sure how this will pan out, but I highly doubt we'll be waving goodbye to that cola colour anytime soon... in the meantime, I think I'll continue to stick with good old water (and my morning cup of coffee!). From – Dr Jonathan Wright – Nutrition & Healing – 21st April 2011…. Depression ? I know anti-depressants can be life-saving for people. But unless you’re suicidal or otherwise in dire need of urgent medication, before you dose up on side-effect laden pharmaceuticals, it’s worth considering some natural treatments that might help lift your mood. How To Treat Depression Naturally 1. Consider why you might feel depressed. Sometimes depression is a symptom of something circumstantial in your life, rather than biochemical imbalances. Does your job require you to sell out your integrity every day? Have you been unable to admit that you need to end your marriage? Are you feeling spiritually disconnected or sexually restless? Are you suffering from creative blocks? Is your body failing you? Are you facing financial ruin? Be honest with yourself about what might be off-kilter in your life, and make an effort to get to the root of why you might be feeling depressed. Arrange an appointment with Mick or Hayley in Afonwen or Janet in Llanfairfechan...
2. Move your body. Exercise releases happy-making endorphins, which act like natural anti-depressants. Tony will be able to advise suitable exercise routines - see Practitioners
3. Never skip a meal. Keeping your blood sugar stable reduces mood swings. 4. Eat a serotonin-enhancing diet. Many anti-depressants like Prozac act by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin by receptors in the brain, thereby increasing serotonin levels. But you can increase your brain’s serotonin levels by eating foods that boost your serotonin levels naturally. Serotonin-enhancing foods include: - Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids (such as wild salmon, sardines, herring, mackerel, and anchovies, which are even higher in omega-3 fatty acids than other fish)
- Healthy fats like coconut oil
- Eat a high protein diet, especially proteins high in tryptophan, like free range turkey or chicken.
5. Try the Bowen Technique for relaxation. This therapy has been proven to promote relaxation, a sense of self-worth and well being after only 3 treatments – a good Bowen Practitioner is also trained in counselling. Arrange a Free appointment with Tony to discuss...
6. Expose yourself to sunlight, which can boost mood and increase Vitamin D levels. If you live somewhere that gets little sun, invest in a therapeutic light box. 7. Meditate or try guided imagery. Meditation’s effects on mood are well documented. Settling your mind can lift your mood, in addition to a whole host of other health benefits. 8. Get your hormones balanced. If your thyroid, adrenal or sex hormones are out of whack, your mood can get all wonky. See a good integrative medicine doctor and ask them to order and interpret the following tests: - Thyroid gland tests – TSH, free T4, free T3, total T3, thyroid antibodies
- Adrenal gland tests – cortisol, DHEA-S, pregnenolone
- Sex hormone tests – estradiol, progesterone, free and total testosterone
9. Make efforts to bolster your mental health by being more authentic in all aspects of your life. Too often, we walk around wearing masks, pretending to be something we’re not. We fake it at the schoolyard, in the boardroom, in the bedroom, at church — and then we wonder why we wind up depressed. Practice letting your freak flag fly and watch how your mood lifts. 10. Talk it out. See a therapist, psychiatrist, or life coach and express how you feel. Sometimes just finding someone you trust who will help you work through your feelings can make all the difference in the world. If all else fails and you need anti-depressants, don’t beat yourself up. Sometimes you can do everything right, and if your imbalance is biochemical, you may need the drugs. But don’t forget to nurture the rest of you too. Depression, like most physical and mental illnesses, is multifactorial and requires a global investigation of your whole health — not just your mind and body, but your relationships, your work, your financial picture, how you express yourself creatively, how you satisfy yourself sexually, your environment, and whether you’re letting your Inner Pilot Light...... Arrange to talk with one of our counsellors ... checkout the website.. Here's our list of the
"Top 10 Back Pain Treatments": 1. Mind-Body Therapy - Speak to Janet Levin , Mick Carpenter or Hayley Kay....... Try The Bowen Technique - Learn more about your body with this gentle hands on therapy - tony.therapy@virgin.net
2. Muscle Balance Therapy – Contact Tony Crimes or Matt Evans
(corrective exercises, stretches, muscle work)
3. Reducing Inflammation - Speak to Jane Shaw
4. Pain Relief Creams - Contact Tony Crimes
or Viv Hamilton-Shields (instant but temporary relief)
5. Inversion / Decompression Therapy – arrange an appointment with Tony
6. Far Infrared Heat Therapy – Tony Crimes offers heat treatments
7. Trigger Point Therapy – Talk to Tony about the Bowen Technique
8. Acupuncture / Acupressure
(ancient treatment proven to help with all sorts of conditions)- Veronica Wrench
9. Massage Therapy - Contact Tony, Jane or Viv
(can be great if done correctly and therapist knows your body)
10.Sleep
(got to get deep sleep and enough of it) - talk to Janet - Mick or Hayley
11. Healthy Eating – speak to Vivienne or Janet
(no, a salad at McDonalds is NOT eating healthy)
12. Change How You Sit – see Matt or Tony for advice
(for those of us who sit for too long)
So, it's more than 10... but top 10 sounds better...
If you are sitting there right now with pain and have not tried all of the above, get to work. And if you have tried them all, which is highly unlikely, then let me know and I'll give you a list of even more treatments.
|
