What the World Eats a Day

Did you know that the average person, worldwide, consumes around 1,860 grams of food per day? And did you know that Americans consume about 50 percent more than the globalaverage?

It’s true. The typical plate around the world — if you want to look at what you chowed down on today and compare your own diet — comprises nine percent meat, 22 percent grains, 39 percent produce, 15 percent dairy and eggs, and a 15 percent block of sugar, fat, alcohol, and pulses.

As this video points out, stateside we eat twice as much meat as the average global citizen, and less grain. And — maybe no surprise, here — U.S. citizens take in proportionally more dairy, eggs, sugar, and fat.

How do other countries compare? Well, folks in the U.K. eat less sugar and fat, and more produce. Brazilians eat less food, generally. Chinese people eat the most produce, and Indian citizens eat a diet that is only 2 percent meat.

It’s a curious look at what dinner looks like around the world.

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Anal Sex Health Risks By Ken Kim

Anal Sex Health Risks By Ken Kim

Anal Sex is any stimulation of the anus meant to derive pleasure. It includes anal intercourse which is penetration of the anorectal canal with an erect penis. According to health professionals anus sex is the riskiest sexual behavior. The following are some of the reasons why anal sex is risky:

1. The tissue surrounding the anus and rectum is thin and easy to tear. In fact most of it is mucous membrane which is very prone to tears which cause complications such as fissures. The mucous membrane also plays host to many viruses such as the Human Papilloma Virus.

2. Under the mucous membrane which surrounds the anorectal canal is highly vascular tissue. This is tissue with very many blood vessels. This increases the risk of coming into contact with blood. Blood contact is a sure way of getting infected with diseases such as HIV/AIDS

3. Did you know that semen has immunosuppressive properties? This is meant to help the sperm evade the female defenses in the vagina to fertilize an egg. It lowers your defenses in the rectum making you even more prone to infections.

4. The sphincter muscles which surround the opening of the anus are not strong enough and can easily get damaged during anus sex. Damage to these muscles causes an inability to hold feces also called fecal incontinence.

5. Despite the name, the mucous membrane surrounding the anorectal canal produces no lubrication like a vagina. This makes it very prone to irritation by foreign objects which can lead to medical complications such as rectal prolapse and hemorrhoids.

6. The anorectal canal plays host to very many bacteria not meant for any other part of the body. Contact with these bacteria can cause very serious illness.

7. The rectum has a very high concentration of white blood cells. The HIV retrovirus reproduces within the T cells/cD4 cells of white blood cells. This makes infection of with HIV very likely in case of anal intercourse with an infected person due to the high viral load and concentration around the anorectal canal.

8. Most of the health complications caused by anal sex cannot be prevented by condoms. Even the rate of condom failure in anal sex is very high and only specific condoms are recommended for anal sex. Condoms can only protect you from infections during anal sex.

9. Anal cancers begin when normal cells in or around the anus begin to change and grow uncontrollably forming a mass called a tumor. A cancer is a malignant tumor meaning it can spread to other parts of the body destroying surrounding tissue. Symptoms include bloating, change in bowel habits, lump near anus, rectal bleeding or itching. Most anal cancers are caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Just like the HIV virus, the above properties of the rectum make it very easy for the transmission of the HPV virus. Anal cancer when diagnosed late usually leads to death.

10. HPV is a member of the papillomavirus family of viruses and is capable of infecting humans. The HPV virus establishes productive infections only in stratified epithelium or mucous membrane. The rectum is lined by a mucous membrane and most of the anus is covered by stratified epithelial skin. This makes the anorectal canal a good home for the HPV virus. Most of the nearly 200 strains of HPV cause no symptoms in people but some have visible ones such as warts. Some of the high risk strains of HPV have been associated with penile cancer, cervical cancer, vaginal cancer, vulva cancer and anal cancer.

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Traditional Chinese Medicine

What Is Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Traditional Chinese medicine is gaining popularity in the U.S., as more and more people are learning the benefits of acupuncture, acupressure, deep massage, Qigong, and the herbal medicines. Westerners are the new kids on the block when it comes to receiving these treatments, as over a quarter of the population of the world practices TCM, also known as Oriental medicine.

The National Institute of Health and the World Health Organization believe TCM to be a viable alternative to Western medicine, and now many health insurance companies will cover acupuncture as a treatment for various ailments. Very exciting for those of us who find acupuncture to be a great help in lessening pain and improving circulation.

Acupuncture originated in China around 3,000 years ago and is the most common form of medical procedure in the rest of the world, because the same treatment not only relieves immediate pain, it is a preventative procedure because it realigns the Qi ( pronounced “Chee.”)

The Qi is the body’s vital energy, all things rise from Qi and it flows and connects a person to the earth and sky. It is also the source of the body’s natural healing, all disorders can be traced to a Qi imbalance, and the acupuncture points on the body release the bound Qi and allow it to flow naturally-the body can then begin to heal itself.

Diagnosis in acupuncture involves the practitioner asking a long list of questions, some usually considered by Americans to be of a private nature. The questions consist of everything from listing sleeping patterns to a typical day meals to how many times the patient has a bowel movement in a 24 hour period. These are necessary questions, as the more information the acupuncturist has, the better to tell where the Qi is blocked.

The patient typically will then lie down on a massage table (in the East acupuncture is usually done in the sitting position) and the practitioner will insert very thin needles into some of the 2,000 plus points in the body which connect to 14 pathways, or medians. The insertion of the needles does not hurt, and contrary to what you may have heard, he/she does not twist or bore them into the skin. They are inserted just underneath the surface and the patent is left in a soothing, dimmed room for about an hour. There are different sizes and lengths of needles, each for a specific ailments and point. The needles are made of super thin stainless steel and are pliable; they are discarded after each use.

Another form of TCM is herbal remedies; these are often used in conjunction with acupuncture. Because all things are interconnected, pains and conditions in the body have a lot to do with one’s emotions and thinking process. That is why people who experience chronic pain are also frequently depressed. TCM practitioners will often give the patient herbs to help relax or calm them along with the acupuncture sessions. This is called tonic herbalism, and some popular herbs used are probably already in your kitchen. Green tea and ginseng are two of the most well known herbs used in TCM, but here are some others-considered ”warm” foods which will help maintain good health and restore balance to a depleted Qi: Rice and noodles, broccoli, egg whites, fish and chicken. It is no coincidence that these are some of the main ingredients in all Eastern cooking.

In order to get a holistic view of TCM, we have covered acupuncture (prevention and treatment), herbal remedies and diet, it is only right that we should touch on exercise. Enter Qigong (Pronounced Chee Kung.) Qi, of course, still means energy, and gong means work or practice. The art and practice of Qigong involves practicing posture, breathing, meditation, and slow regulated movement of the limbs. Qigong is a great exercise, and because of its popularity, you can usually find classes in your area simply by opening the phone book.

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Black Cherry Health Benefits

Black Cherry Health Benefits

Amidst the growing popularity of cherries, black cherry health benefits are becoming very well known by consumers. Since red and black cherries are closely related on the berry family tree, many assume that the black varieties only have just as much nutritional value as their sweeter red cousins? However, a closer examination of black cherries reveals that their health benefits are even more potent as those from red cherries making them well worth an enterprising purchase at the local market.

To make it more transparent and easier to remember, it would help to enumerate some of the more important cherries health benefits one by one.

Anthocyanins and melatonin are two of the most prominent antioxidants found in black cherries although there are actually many useful others. We're already familiar with the benefits of anthocyanins because these are the primary antioxidants in red cherries. Anthocyanins play a variety of role in relieving inflammation and other inflammatory conditions and hence display a knack for pain management and healing. With regular consumption of either black or red cherries, consumers may actually notice significant improvement in conditions like vascular headaches, gout and other forms of arthritis, as well as lowered risks for heart disease, hypertension and stroke.

Melatonin, the other half of the antioxidant tandem that are responsible for a significant number of black cherry health benefits, helps with improving memory as well as negating sleep-related conditions. The human brain actually secretes melatonin daily to regulate body activity and encourage sleep. Additional melatonin from cherries can enhance this process thereby promoting relaxation. It is also believed that melatonin plays an essential role in learning, so individuals who regularly eat cherries may have a sharper attention for learning.

The slew of other antioxidants that make black cherry health benefits possible play significant roles in negating the effects of free radicals. These are chemicals which are highly aggressive and cause damage at the cellular level. Antioxidants in the body actually react with free radicals first before they can do any damage. A lower level of free radicals in the body can help improve one's resistance against diseases such as cancer and heart disease which are primarily caused by damage and mutation of the cells.

The next time they run out of fresh red cherries at the supermarket shelf, think about the above black cherry health benefits. When you consider that you are getting even greater health value with the darker variety, you may find it truly worth your while to make the transition. Eat them fresh or cook with them, it doesn't matter. They even come in dried form, cherry concentrate and cherry vitamins. At the end of the day, cherries health benefits are there for the taking. The question is: are you ready to take advantage?

Black cherries are also known as tart or sour cherries. We have over 200 quality articles on the subject of cherries health benefits and even some tasty recipes. Be sure and browse through them for some great information.

From : cherrieshealthbenefits.com

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Glyconutrients A New Paradigm

Glyconutrients A New Paradigm
Glyconutrients A New Paradigm

For many years carbohydrates and sugars were considered a bad and unnecessary addition to the diet. With the advent of Glycobiology (the study of carbohydrates) Science has proved that this is not so. In fact on the contrary, Glyconutrients have been proved to be very beneficial to our health. Now after years of neglect science is discovering some far-reaching truths about these carbohydrates.

Glyconutrients play an essential role in the structure of the cells in our bodies. All our cells are covered with fibers called glycoforms made up of proteins and fats. With the invention of the electron microscope, Scientists discovered trillions of sugar molecules adhering to these fibers or hair like structures. These sugar molecules are Glyconutrients and are in effect carbohydrate nutrients.

Contrary to previous speculation Glyconutrients are emerging as vital nutrients to the body. Their functions are varied and include hormone balance, enhancing our immune system, blood clotting. They help to create a communication system for the cells.

There are 8 necessary saccharides needed by our bodies they are called Glyconutrients

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You Can Recover From Chemical Sensitivities And Allergies

You Can Recover From Chemical Sensitivities And Allergies
You Can Recover From Chemical Sensitivities And Allergies

I used to have severe reactions to fragrances and many other chemicals in our air. I was practically allergic to everything, including lots of foods and pollen. For a while there, I was housebound.

First, I bought an air purifier that had a filter made with coconut shell carbon and zeolite. It helped dramatically. I filtered my water for drinking and bathing too.

Next, I eliminated household chemical cleaners, pesticides, all lawn care chemicals and replaced with healthier alternatives. I found natural body care products.

Then, I realized that chemical sensitivities are developed because the immune system is being compromised. I had to start from there and rebuild it with food.

If you give anything the right nourishment, it will naturally heal itself, be able to resist disease and fend off toxins much more easily.

No drug or chemical will do that for you. Even if pharmaceuticals give you relief, until you rebuild your immune system, you will just continue to develop other problems. You have to do this the old fashioned way.

My old fashioned recipe for creating health:

Try to stop focusing on the disease and concentrate on creating health.

Start with your colon. Take fiber, cut out processed food, sugar, and high glycemic carbohydrates. NO artificial sugar… use Stevia. Drink lots of water, plain clean water.

Eat lots of cultured vegetables, kefir and drink probiotic liquids every day. Get rid of all soy, eat and cook with coconut oil and take cod liver oil free from soy or synthetic ingredients. All organic vegetables, butter, protein etc……..and so on.

It worked. I am 98% better. Most, if not all of my pollen and food allergies are gone as well. Physically, I am getting stronger than I ever imagined. I have my life back.

Concentrate on creating health instead of analyzing the disease or the chemical toxin. Until you work on the real problem, your immune system, more health issues will just come knocking on your door. Eating nourishing foods and concentrating on health, instead of the disease, are my solutions.

You can recover your health and be strong again. I am living proof.

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How To Stop Migraine Headaches Now

How To Stop Migraine Headaches Now
How To Stop Migraine Headaches Now

“The good news is I feel much, much better after taking the course you prescribed and I thank you very much for your help and advice”…?

They are a common type of chronic headache. They most commonly occur in women and usually begin between the ages of 10 and 46. In some cases, they appear to run in families.

Migraine is the cause of 20 per cent of all headaches. This type of headache occurs when blood vessels of the head and neck constrict, resulting in a decrease in blood flow to the vessels. Migraine is usually experienced as a throbbing pain on one side of the head with an associated feeling of sickness and sensitivity to light and sound. Migraines are known to affect more women than men and are often chronic. Below are some of the factors that have been identified as being associated with migraines

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Colon Flush For An Overall Well Being

Colon Flush For An Overall Well Being
Colon Flush For An Overall Well Being

Bowel related problems have become an integral part of the lives of the average Americans, thanks to the abundance of fast foods in their diet. Low vitality, stomach bloat, poor digestion– are all the natural corollaries of irregular bowel movements. Add to it foul body odor, bad breath and a lackluster skin…together they indicate to one common point and that is; your colon is not in the proper state and it needs immediate attention.

Now the question is how do you ensure the health of your colon? It is simple, go for colon cleansing at regular intervals. There are mainly two different ways to cleanse the colon. The first is to consume high fiber supplements and second is to flush the colon with water. In the second case where the colon is provided large amount of fluids, it actually flushes itself to get rid of the fecal matters and toxins accumulated in its walls for years. The end result is: you get a clean inside and get back the vitality of health.

How does the colon flush help you to get back to the previous healthy and energetic state? To know this you have to first learn the importance of colon with regard to our over all health.

Colon is the organ responsible for conserving water in the body and eliminating the wastes from system. It also stimulates the growth of the beneficial organisms that help our body to absorb the essential nutrients like vitamin K or B complex. As a result of growing age, flawed dietary practice, stress and exposure to pollution robs our colon off its natural resilience. The passage of elimination no longer remains smooth and fecal matters are built up in the walls of colon leading to accumulation of toxins. These toxins are circulated over other parts of the body through blood and the lymphatic system. This results in a number of disorders like diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, poor skin, joint pains, and depression.

Now a good colon cleansing system is one which is divided into three steps: first it prepares the colon by creating the right environment for starting with the next and most important step of flushing. It can be achieved by consuming oral supplements.

Colon flush is the second step in which all the encrusted waste materials are flushed away from the digestive system. In this step, mainly the fluids are used to force out the internal debris accumulated for years. Also known as hydrotherapy or colonic irrigation, a colon flush ensures a thoroughly cleansed intestine.

In the last stage helpful Probiotics are introduced to support the overall health of digestive system.

In a nut shell, colon flush destroys the causes of toxin build up in the body. This is a process that triggers off energy regeneration naturally. Colon flush enables your body to repair itself and thus keeps the dangerous diseases at bay.

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What Is An Antioxidant

What Is An Antioxidant

An antioxidant is a chemical that reduces the rate of particular oxidation reactions in a specific context, where oxidation reactions are chemical reactions that involve the transfer of electrons from a substance to an oxidising agent.

Antioxidants are particularly important in the context of organic chemistry and biology: all living cells contain complex systems of antioxidant chemicals and/or enzymes to prevent chemical damage to the cells’ components by oxidation. The importance and complexity of antioxidants in biology is reflected in a medical literature of more than 142,000 scholarly articles.

A diet containing antioxidants from plants are required for good health since plants are an important source of organic antioxidant chemicals. Antioxidants are widely used as ingredients in dietary supplements that are used for health purposes such as preventing cancer and heart disease. However, while many studies have suggested benefits for antioxidant supplements, several large clinical trials have failed to clearly demonstrate a benefit for the formulations tested, and excess supplementation may be harmful.

Antioxidants are chemicals that reduce oxidative damage to cells and biochemicals. Researchers have found high correlation between oxidative damage and the occurrence of disease. For example, LDL oxidation is associated with cardiovascular disease. The process leading to atherogenesis, artherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease is complex, involving multiple chemical pathways and networks, but the precursor is LDL oxidation by free radicals, resulting in inflammation and formation of plaques.

Research suggests that consumption of antioxidant-rich foods reduces damage to cells and biochemicals from free radicals. This may slow down, prevent, or even reverse certain diseases that result from cellular damage, and perhaps even slow down the natural aging process.

Since the discovery of vitamins, it has been recognized that antioxidants in the diet are essential for healthful lives. More recently, a large body of evidence has accumulated that suggests supplementation of the diet with various kinds of antioxidants can improve health and extend life.

Many nutraceutical and health food companies now sell forms of antioxidants as dietary supplement. These supplements may include specific antioxidant chemicals, like resveratrol (from grape seeds), combinations of antioxidants, like the “ACES” products that contain beta carotene (provitamin A), vitamin C, vitamin E and Selenium, or specialty herbs that are known to contain antioxidants such as green tea and jiaogulan.

Disclaimer

The information presented here should not be interpreted as medical advice. If you need more information about Antioxidants, please consult your physician or a qualified specialist.

Permission is granted to reprint this article as long as no changes are made, and the entire resource box is included.

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