A workout for all 78 organs in the human body
posted by Jiru at
6:46 AM
August 11, 2012
August 04, 2012
Article: Lentils Nutrition Facts
Since the first day of the fasting month, I have been preparing lentil and chickpea soup for husband and I to eat in the early morning and when we break fast. This yummy and nutritious soup was first introduced to us when we were invited to my dear Moroccan friend's house for dinner several years ago. This soup is so satisfying that we do not need to eat rice at all and DD1 loves it too!
For husband's health sake and it cost so little to feed the whole family with this ingredient, I intend to prepare this soup for the whole family regularly Allah SWT willing.
Read entire article here.
For husband's health sake and it cost so little to feed the whole family with this ingredient, I intend to prepare this soup for the whole family regularly Allah SWT willing.
Read entire article here.
Health Benefits of Masoor dal (Lentils)
-
Lentils are extremely rich in
soluble fiber, which forms a gel-like substance in the digestive
tract, thereby helping in removing bile from the body. It further
helps in eliminating and reducing blood cholesterol levels.
-
The higher fiber content of
lentils helps in increasing the size of stool; hence, speeding the
journey of waste products through the gut. In short, lentils are
useful for alleviating constipation. The fiber content also reduces
the risk and the symptoms of diverticulosis, a condition in which
small pouches form in the colon wall.
-
The soluble fiber in lentils
has the property of trapping carbohydrates. It slows down the
digestion and absorption process, hence preventing major changes in
blood sugar level throughout the day. This helps diabetic
patients.
-
The insoluble fiber in lentils
leads to the feeling of early satiation; hence, people eat less and
gain fewer pounds. Besides, insoluble fiber is indigestible, which
passes through the body adding just a few calories.
-
Lentils are rich in flavones, a
class of antioxidants with antioxidant properties. Studies have
proved that regular consumption of lentils can reduce the risk of
breast cancer.
-
Lentils prove to be significant
for a healthy heart as they prevent heart coronary problems. Fiber
in the lentils reduces blood cholesterol levels and plaque forming
on the walls of the arteries, thereby eliminating the risk of
stroke or other cardiovascular diseases.
-
Apart from providing low
burning complex carbohydrates, lentils increase energy levels by
replenishing iron stores. This is particularly very important for
menstruating women, who are at a higher risk of iron deficiency.
-
Besides fiber which contributes
to the health of the cardiovascular system, lentils contain folic
acid and magnesium, significant for reducing the level of
homocysteine, a compound known to be dangerous for the heart and
artery walls. Also, lentils promote better blood flow and passage
of oxygen and nutrients to the organs.
-
Rich in the antioxidant,
molybdenum, lentils assist the body in breaking down harmful
substances hence reducing allergy symptoms. This antioxidant is
also essential for preventing impotency, particularly in older men,
and avoiding anemia.
-
Researches indicate that the
vitamin E found in lentils helps prevent the risk of Parkinson’s
disease, though the exact connection is not yet determined.
Labels: health
posted by Jiru at
6:47 PM
为什么很多人头和脸都爱出油
Bunch of thanks to my dear sister who sent this article's link to me!
其实这些多是没有找到脸上出油的根源是什么，这里我们大家分析一下，其实原因不外乎有两点，第一，体内有湿；第二，血脂偏高。记住了这两点，你就知道如何解决了。还是那句话，症现于四肢五官，病存于五脏六腑。想要解决脸上出油的问题，绝对不能头痛医头，脚痛医脚。一定要辩证施治，才会有效果。
第一，先来谈谈关于湿的问题。我曾经在如何理解中医中提到的"湿"?一文中有过详细的论述，没有看过此文有朋友，请先阅读此文，以便帮助您理解。
我曾经把“湿”比喻成“桑拿天”，或者是“雾霾”天气。这种天，就是空气中的水处于漂浮状态，不上不下，让人感觉很难受。形成这种天的原因有三，一是缺风，二是缺太阳，三是缺冷空气。如果有风，风一吹，雾就散了；如果有太阳，太阳一照，雾也蒸腾了；如果来了冷空气，水遇冷就凝结成雨了。所以，桑拿天，是一种特殊的天气，使空气中的水处于一种悬浮的状态，上也上不去，下也下不来。那人体是怎么样的呢？取像比类，是中医最常用的方法。
脸上爱出油的人，大多是那种阳虚体质的人，体形偏胖，过食肥甘厚腻的食物，过度使用空调。由于阳虚，所以身体里阳气不足，无法将湿变成汗水排出，而是仅仅凝结在皮肤上。我说这点大家可能没有体会。大家一定爬过山，刚开始出的汗，一定是粘汗，以后通过喝水，再出的汗，就像水一样的汗，才是正常的汗。粘汗排出的就是体内肌肤表层下的湿。
那位问了，为什么这运动一出汗，就可以排湿呢？因为中医讲，动则生阳。一运动，人体的阳气就被调动起来了，阳气一足，湿就被蒸发了。就像大自然中一样，太阳一出，雾霾天就散了。
那么，脸上爱出油的，为何大多集中在中青年人这个年龄段上呢？其实，道理和我写的脚气那篇文章的道理是一样的。就是这部分人，身体刚好能把湿排出来，但又 排不尽，所以就挂在脸上。老年人体内也有湿，但因阳气衰了，所以这个湿很难排出来，就会造成体内的各个关节痛，会产生其他的病，包括癌症等。而小孩子，阳 气足，相对来说湿少一些（个别有肥胖孩子除外），所以，也不大会出现这种情况，因此只有中青年人会有脸上爱出油的情况，其实，出的这种油，绝大部分是体内 的湿。
■现代人为何血脂偏高
第二，我们来谈谈血脂高的问题。我们去医院做体检，只要告诉医生，要查血脂，一般最后会出现两个参数，一个是总胆固醇，一个是甘油三脂。如果这两个都高，那基本上可以认定为血脂高了。但是这两个数值还是有不同的意义的，下面先来解释一下：
①总胆固醇（chol）：是指血液中所有脂蛋白所含胆固醇之总和。单位：mmol/L，成人参考值：2.82－5.69.
增多：见于高脂血症、动脉粥样硬化、糖尿病、肾病综合征、甲状腺功能减退、胆总管阻塞、高血压（部分），以及摄入维生素A、维生素D、口服避孕药等药物。
减少：见于低脂蛋白血症、贫血、败血症、甲状腺功能亢进、肝病、严重感染、营养不良、肺结核和晚期癌症，以及摄入对氨基水杨酸、卡那霉素、肝素、维生素C等药物。
人体的总胆固醇含量＝低密度脂蛋白胆固醇＋高密度脂蛋白胆固醇＋甘油三酯＋血浆脂蛋白 (a)
下面我们分别进行解释。
②(LDL):如果血液循环中低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（“坏”胆固醇）水平过高，它可能慢慢阻塞 向心脏和大脑输送血液的动脉血管内壁。低密度脂蛋白胆固醇还可能与其它物质一起形成脂斑。这种坚硬厚实的沉积物可能使动脉血管变窄，柔韧性降低，称为动脉 粥样硬化。如果形成血栓并阻塞变窄的动脉血管，可能引起心脏病发作或中风。
③(HDL):大约有 1/4 - 1/3 的血胆固醇以高密度脂蛋白的形式转运。由于高密度脂蛋白较高似乎能防止心脏病发作，因此高密度脂蛋白胆固醇又被称为“好”胆固醇。高密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平 过低（低于 40mg/dL）则心脏病发生危险性增加。医学专家认为高密度脂蛋白在体内循环时，可将胆固醇从动脉内运回肝脏。有的专家认为高密度脂蛋白可以清除动脉血 管脂斑内过多的胆固醇，从而减缓胆固醇在血管内沉积速度。
④甘油三酯：是体内产生的一种脂肪。甘油三酯升高可能是由 于超重/肥胖、体能活动不足、吸烟、酗酒以及高碳水化合物饮食（占总热量的 60% 以上）引起的。高甘油三酯患者通常出现低密度脂蛋白（“坏”）升高以及高密度脂蛋白（“好”）降低，总胆固醇水平升高。许多心脏病或糖尿病患者也存在甘油 三酯水平升高的问题。
⑤血浆脂蛋白 (a) 胆固醇： 是低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（“坏”胆固醇）的一种遗传变异。血浆脂蛋白 (a) 升高是动脉壁内脂类沉积前期一种重要的危险因素。目前对血浆脂蛋白 (a) 尚不十分了解，但是它可能与动脉壁内物质相互作用，与动脉壁内脂类沉积有关。
胆固醇不溶于血液，它必须以脂蛋白为载体在细胞间运输。因此，当我们看到化验单，如果总胆固醇高，同时甘油三酯也高，那么基本上可以肯定说了，这个人是高 血脂了。但是，如果仅仅是总胆固醇高，而甘油三酯不高，那么我们就要细分了。这里我们主要看两大因类，即低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL)和高密度脂蛋白胆固 醇(HDL)。低密度脂蛋白 (LDL) 也称为“坏”胆固醇，数值越低越好；高密度脂蛋白 (HDL) 也称为“好”胆固醇，数值越高越好。因此，即使总胆固醇高，同时高密度脂蛋白也高，而低密度脂蛋白低，那么不应该算真正的血脂高。
现代人，除了体内的寒湿大以外，就是血脂普遍偏高。其实，血脂高，和我们的饮食有很大的关系。就是我们过食了垃圾食品。有关什么是垃圾食品，大家可以看本人的书《有什么别有病》WHO公布的十大类垃圾食品名单。
■如何解决脸出油问题
前面，我们谈了，体内的寒湿、血脂高，是造成我们脸上、头上出油的根本原因，那么如何解决这个问题呢？其实很简单，在我以前的文章中，都有过详细的解决方案，在这里，为方便网友阅读，再详尽的汇总以下七点：
1、打通经络。有关打通经络的问题，几乎我在每篇文章中都有提及，因此，如果您还没有看过我写的文章，只要在本站查阅如何打通经络就行了。
在中医里，最难解决的问题就是湿，因此，打通经络，是除湿的重中之重。现在很多大胖子，体内湿很重，啥办法都不好使，只有通过按摩、刮痧、拔罐才能有效解决。
2、杜绝垃圾食品。这个问题已经说了很多了。
3、泡脚。这是去寒湿的最好方法。一定要泡到出汗，什么时候看舌苔不再白腻了，就基本可以了。
4、运动。有效的有氧运动，是去湿的好方法。
5、调整饮食。要多吃粗粮，尤其是窝头。
6、喝汁。这是降血脂的最有效的方法。大家可以参看这两篇文章：如何绿色安全有效降低血脂、纯天然疗法2个月拿下脂肪肝。
7、有条件的朋友，可服用一些保健食品，像安利纽崔莱、如新等。当然，这需要在营养师的指导下服用。
以上七点，是我们大家的一点意见。当然，需要根据每个人的体质进行加减。可能有些朋友问了，一个脸上爱出油的问题，你居然写了这么一大篇，是不是有点扯的 远了。我告诉大家，中医治病，与其说是治病，不如说是调理阴阳，既然是调理，那么走的就是中庸之道，就是中和之道。热者寒之，寒者热之。
记住，症现于四肢五官，病存于五脏六腑。一个脸上出油的问题，绝对不是靠抹点化妆品，勤洗脸能够解决的。如果我们不抓住问题的根本，那脸上的油是永远出不完的。
来源：http://www.byb.cn/doc_756.aspx
Read entire article here.
Labels: health
posted by Jiru at
9:27 AM
Article: Arsenic in Our Chicken?
By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
Published: April 4, 2012
New York Times
Let’s hope you’re not reading this column while munching on a chicken sandwich.
That’s because my topic today is a pair of new scientific studies suggesting that poultry on factory farms are routinely fed caffeine, active ingredients of Tylenol and Benadryl, banned antibiotics and even arsenic.
“We were kind of floored,” said Keeve E. Nachman, a co-author of both studies and a scientist at the Johns Hopkins University Center for a Livable Future. “It’s unbelievable what we found.”
He said that the researchers had intended to test only for antibiotics. But assays for other chemicals and pharmaceuticals didn’t cost extra, so researchers asked for those results as well.
“We haven’t found anything that is an immediate health concern,” Nachman added. “But it makes me question how comfortable we are feeding a number of these things to animals that we’re eating. It bewilders me.”
Likewise, I grew up on a farm, and thought I knew what to expect in my food. But Benadryl? Arsenic? These studies don’t mean that you should dump the contents of your refrigerator, but they do raise serious questions about the food we eat and how we should shop.
It turns out that arsenic has routinely been fed to poultry (and sometimes hogs) because it reduces infections and makes flesh an appetizing shade of pink. There’s no evidence that such low levels of arsenic harm either chickens or the people eating them, but still...
Big Ag doesn’t advertise the chemicals it stuffs into animals, so the scientists conducting these studies figured out a clever way to detect them. Bird feathers, like human fingernails, accumulate chemicals and drugs that an animal is exposed to. So scientists from Johns Hopkins University and Arizona State University examined feather meal — a poultry byproduct made of feathers.
One study, just published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, Environmental Science & Technology, found that feather meal routinely contained a banned class of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones. These antibiotics (such as Cipro), are illegal in poultry production because they can breed antibiotic-resistant “superbugs” that harm humans. Already, antibiotic-resistant infections kill more Americans annually than AIDS, according to the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
The same study also found that one-third of feather-meal samples contained an antihistamine that is the active ingredient of Benadryl. The great majority of feather meal contained acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol. And feather-meal samples from China contained an antidepressant that is the active ingredient in Prozac.
Poultry-growing literature has recommended Benadryl to reduce anxiety among chickens, apparently because stressed chickens have tougher meat and grow more slowly. Tylenol and Prozac presumably serve the same purpose.
Researchers found that most feather-meal samples contained caffeine. It turns out that chickens are sometimes fed coffee pulp and green tea powder to keep them awake so that they can spend more time eating. (Is that why they need the Benadryl, to calm them down?)
Read entire article here.
Published: April 4, 2012
New York Times
Let’s hope you’re not reading this column while munching on a chicken sandwich.
That’s because my topic today is a pair of new scientific studies suggesting that poultry on factory farms are routinely fed caffeine, active ingredients of Tylenol and Benadryl, banned antibiotics and even arsenic.
“We were kind of floored,” said Keeve E. Nachman, a co-author of both studies and a scientist at the Johns Hopkins University Center for a Livable Future. “It’s unbelievable what we found.”
He said that the researchers had intended to test only for antibiotics. But assays for other chemicals and pharmaceuticals didn’t cost extra, so researchers asked for those results as well.
“We haven’t found anything that is an immediate health concern,” Nachman added. “But it makes me question how comfortable we are feeding a number of these things to animals that we’re eating. It bewilders me.”
Likewise, I grew up on a farm, and thought I knew what to expect in my food. But Benadryl? Arsenic? These studies don’t mean that you should dump the contents of your refrigerator, but they do raise serious questions about the food we eat and how we should shop.
It turns out that arsenic has routinely been fed to poultry (and sometimes hogs) because it reduces infections and makes flesh an appetizing shade of pink. There’s no evidence that such low levels of arsenic harm either chickens or the people eating them, but still...
Big Ag doesn’t advertise the chemicals it stuffs into animals, so the scientists conducting these studies figured out a clever way to detect them. Bird feathers, like human fingernails, accumulate chemicals and drugs that an animal is exposed to. So scientists from Johns Hopkins University and Arizona State University examined feather meal — a poultry byproduct made of feathers.
One study, just published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, Environmental Science & Technology, found that feather meal routinely contained a banned class of antibiotics called fluoroquinolones. These antibiotics (such as Cipro), are illegal in poultry production because they can breed antibiotic-resistant “superbugs” that harm humans. Already, antibiotic-resistant infections kill more Americans annually than AIDS, according to the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
The same study also found that one-third of feather-meal samples contained an antihistamine that is the active ingredient of Benadryl. The great majority of feather meal contained acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol. And feather-meal samples from China contained an antidepressant that is the active ingredient in Prozac.
Poultry-growing literature has recommended Benadryl to reduce anxiety among chickens, apparently because stressed chickens have tougher meat and grow more slowly. Tylenol and Prozac presumably serve the same purpose.
Researchers found that most feather-meal samples contained caffeine. It turns out that chickens are sometimes fed coffee pulp and green tea powder to keep them awake so that they can spend more time eating. (Is that why they need the Benadryl, to calm them down?)
Read entire article here.
Labels: health
posted by Jiru at
7:08 AM
May 19, 2012
Article: Top 10 Pregnancy Procedures Reject (What to Reject When You're Expecting))
Received via community mailing list. Thanks!
Seen here: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/05/what-to-reject-when-you-re-expecting/index.htm
1. A C-section with a low-risk first birth
2. An automatic second C-section
3. An elective early delivery
4. Inducing labor without a medical reason
5. Ultrasounds after 24 weeks
6. Continuous electronic fetal monitoring
7. Early epidurals
8. Routinely rupturing the amniotic membranes
9. Routine episiotomies
10. Sending your newborn to the nursery
10 Things You Should Do During Your Pregnancy1. Set your due date
2. Make a plan-have a backup
3. Consider a midwife
4. Reduce the risks of an early delivery
5. Ask if a breech baby can be turned
6. Stay at home during early labor
7. Be patient
8. Get labor support
9. Listen to yourself
10. Touch your newborn
5 Things to do Before You Become Pregnant1. Take folic acid
2. Stop bad habits
3. Take control of chronic disease
4. Watch for harmful drugs and supplements
5. Avoid toxics
Seen here: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/05/what-to-reject-when-you-re-expecting/index.htm
1. A C-section with a low-risk first birth
2. An automatic second C-section
3. An elective early delivery
4. Inducing labor without a medical reason
5. Ultrasounds after 24 weeks
6. Continuous electronic fetal monitoring
7. Early epidurals
8. Routinely rupturing the amniotic membranes
9. Routine episiotomies
10. Sending your newborn to the nursery
10 Things You Should Do During Your Pregnancy1. Set your due date
2. Make a plan-have a backup
3. Consider a midwife
4. Reduce the risks of an early delivery
5. Ask if a breech baby can be turned
6. Stay at home during early labor
7. Be patient
8. Get labor support
9. Listen to yourself
10. Touch your newborn
5 Things to do Before You Become Pregnant1. Take folic acid
2. Stop bad habits
3. Take control of chronic disease
4. Watch for harmful drugs and supplements
5. Avoid toxics
Labels: health
posted by Jiru at
6:49 AM
January 01, 2012
Article: A Shadow in the ER
A shadow in the ER: Reporter gets behind-the-scenes look at system in action
By Ellwood Shreve
Spending the graveyard shift in the local emergency department wasn't like stepping inside an episode of ER - but that's why it's real life.
When Dr. Anthony Dixon, co-chief of the emergency department at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, invited me to spend a shift shadowing him at the Chatham campus ER, I jumped at the chance.
The department has taken some heat in the media over recent incidents with patients and Dixon wanted to give a reporter the chance to experience the whole story.
When I arrived at the ER at midnight last Saturday - carting a bit of 'TV show mentality - I figured it was going to be a real zoo.
It looked as like there could be drama right away. A couple of cops had a hurting handcuffed prisoner. However, he was treated quickly and walked out quietly with the officers.
Oh well, the night was young.
Looking around, I see the largest computer screen I've ever seen, filled with patients' names, along with a description of their medical problems.
When Dixon begins his shift, there are 15 patients in the unit, and a small number of people in the waiting room.
Not exactly a busy night by ER standards, but I soon learn you don't say the "Q-word" (quiet) around here.
Read the rest here.
By Ellwood Shreve
Spending the graveyard shift in the local emergency department wasn't like stepping inside an episode of ER - but that's why it's real life.
When Dr. Anthony Dixon, co-chief of the emergency department at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, invited me to spend a shift shadowing him at the Chatham campus ER, I jumped at the chance.
The department has taken some heat in the media over recent incidents with patients and Dixon wanted to give a reporter the chance to experience the whole story.
When I arrived at the ER at midnight last Saturday - carting a bit of 'TV show mentality - I figured it was going to be a real zoo.
It looked as like there could be drama right away. A couple of cops had a hurting handcuffed prisoner. However, he was treated quickly and walked out quietly with the officers.
Oh well, the night was young.
Looking around, I see the largest computer screen I've ever seen, filled with patients' names, along with a description of their medical problems.
When Dixon begins his shift, there are 15 patients in the unit, and a small number of people in the waiting room.
Not exactly a busy night by ER standards, but I soon learn you don't say the "Q-word" (quiet) around here.
Read the rest here.
Labels: health, Inspiring Tibits
posted by Jiru at
6:13 AM
Article: How Doctors Die
It's not like the rest of us, but it should be
by Ken Murray
Years ago, Charlie, a highly respected orthopedist and a mentor of mine, found a lump in his stomach. He had a surgeon explore the area, and the diagnosis was pancreatic cancer. This surgeon was one of the best in the country. He had even invented a new procedure for this exact cancer that could triple a patient’s five-year-survival odds—from 5 percent to 15 percent—albeit with a poor quality of life. Charlie was uninterested. He went home the next day, closed his practice, and never set foot in a hospital again. He focused on spending time with family and feeling as good as possible. Several months later, he died at home. He got no chemotherapy, radiation, or surgical treatment. Medicare didn’t spend much on him.
It’s not a frequent topic of discussion, but doctors die, too. And they don’t die like the rest of us. What’s unusual about them is not how much treatment they get compared to most Americans, but how little. For all the time they spend fending off the deaths of others, they tend to be fairly serene when faced with death themselves. They know exactly what is going to happen, they know the choices, and they generally have access to any sort of medical care they could want. But they go gently.
Read the rest here.
by Ken Murray
Years ago, Charlie, a highly respected orthopedist and a mentor of mine, found a lump in his stomach. He had a surgeon explore the area, and the diagnosis was pancreatic cancer. This surgeon was one of the best in the country. He had even invented a new procedure for this exact cancer that could triple a patient’s five-year-survival odds—from 5 percent to 15 percent—albeit with a poor quality of life. Charlie was uninterested. He went home the next day, closed his practice, and never set foot in a hospital again. He focused on spending time with family and feeling as good as possible. Several months later, he died at home. He got no chemotherapy, radiation, or surgical treatment. Medicare didn’t spend much on him.
It’s not a frequent topic of discussion, but doctors die, too. And they don’t die like the rest of us. What’s unusual about them is not how much treatment they get compared to most Americans, but how little. For all the time they spend fending off the deaths of others, they tend to be fairly serene when faced with death themselves. They know exactly what is going to happen, they know the choices, and they generally have access to any sort of medical care they could want. But they go gently.
Read the rest here.
Labels: health
posted by Jiru at
5:49 AM
November 12, 2011
October 19, 2011
Health Benefits of Pomegranate Juice
Received from a community mailing list.
"Wherein is fruit, the date palm and pomegranate .Which is it, of the favors of your Lord, that ye deny?"- Quran
Sweet pomegranate are preferred over the sour. The juice stems coughs. All kinds of pomegranate settle palpitations of the heart.
Sayyiduna Ali said that the light of ALLAH is in the heart of whoever eats pomegranate.
It is also reported that one who eats three pomegranate in the course of a year will be inoculated against ophthalmia-( inflammation of the eye) for that year.
Pomegranate "cleanses you of Satan and from evil aspirations for 40 days." Hadith
11 Health Benefits of Pomegranate Juice
Several recent studies have shown significant potential health benefits from drinking pomegranate juice. Here are eleven:
1.Fights Breast Cancer
Studies in Israel show that pomegranate juice destroys breast cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone. It may also prevent breast cancer cells from forming.
2.Lung Cancer Prevention
Studies in mice show that pomegranate juice may inhibit the development of lung cancer.
3.Slows Prostate Cancer
It slowed the growth of prostate cancer in mice.
4. Keeps PSA Levels Stable
In a study of 50 men who had undergone treatment for prostate cancer, 8 ounces of pomegranate juice per day kept PSA levels stable, reducing the need for further treatment such as chemotherapy or hormone therapy.
5. Protects the Neonatal Brain
Studies show that maternal consumption of pomegranate juice may protect the neonatal brain from damage after injury.
6. Prevention of Osteoarthritis
Several studies indicate that pomegranate juice may prevent cartilage deterioration.
7. Protects the Arteries
It prevents plaque from building up in the arteries and may reverse previous plaque buildup.
8. Alzheimer's Disease Prevention
It may prevent and slow Alzheimer's disease. In one study, mice bred to develop Alzheimer's disease were given pomegranate juice. They accumulated significantly less amyloid plaque than control mice and they performed mental tasks better.
9. Lowers Cholesterol
It lowers LDL (bad cholesterol) and raises HDL (good cholesterol).
10. Lowers Blood Pressure
One study showed that drinking 1.7 ounces of pomegranate juice per day lowered systolic blood pressure by as much as 5 percent.
11. Dental Protection
Research suggests that drinking pomegranate juice may be a natural way to prevent dental plaque.
Other Health Benefits - Pomegranate
The Pomegranate has been touted as a superfruit due to its amazing health properties. This is because Pomegranates are rich in Potassium, folic acid, Vitamins (rich in Vitamin C) and Antioxidants called polyphenols (some studies suggest that they contain 3 times more antioxidants than red wine or green tea).
Antioxidants are chemical substances which help in the prevention of cellular damage (said to be a common pathway for cancer, heart problems, aging, and a variety of diseases) and are the main reason for the big obsession.
Much research has been done to show that Pomegranates may be able to reduce blood pressure, LDL cholesterol build up and even slow down prostate cancer.
There are Three references of the Pomegranate in the Qur'an under the name of Rumman (its Qur'anic name).
The references can be found in;
"We bring forth the green blade from, which we bring forth the thick clustered grain; and from the date palm, from the pollen thereof, spring pendant bunches; and (We bring forth) gardens of grapes, and the olive and the pomegranate, alike and unlike."[Surah vi,Verse 99]
"He it is Who produceth gardens trellised and untrellised, and the date palm, and crops of divers flavor, and the olive and the pomegranate , like and unlike. "Surah vi,Verse 141]
"Wherein is fruit, the date palm and pomegranate .Which is it, of the favors of your Lord, that ye deny?" [Surah LV ,Verse 68]
There are also a number of hadith on the Pomegranate;
"There is not a pomegranate which does not have a pip from one of the pomegranate of the Garden(of Jannah) in it."[Abu Nu'aim]
"Pomegranate and its rind strengthen digestion (stomach)."
[narrated Ali(radhiyallahu anhu), Abu Nuaim, Al-Jozi]
A pip of Jannah - Benefits of Pomegranate Juice
Some research has also evaluated the antioxidant nature of pomegranate juice and its usefulness in fighting certain forms of cancer.
Pomegranate juice has been tentatively shown to reduce incidence of breast and skin cancer. It has also been tested and shown to slow the growth of prostate cancer in mice.
Another interesting study has evaluated pomegranate juice and osteoarthritis. Pomegranate juice tends to act as an inhibitor on enzymes responsible for damaging cartilage.
These studies applied extract of pomegranate directly onto damaged cartilage. More research would have to examine a cause and effect relationship between oral ingestion of pomegranate juice and reduction in cartilage deterioration.
"Wherein is fruit, the date palm and pomegranate .Which is it, of the favors of your Lord, that ye deny?"- Quran
Sweet pomegranate are preferred over the sour. The juice stems coughs. All kinds of pomegranate settle palpitations of the heart.
Sayyiduna Ali said that the light of ALLAH is in the heart of whoever eats pomegranate.
It is also reported that one who eats three pomegranate in the course of a year will be inoculated against ophthalmia-( inflammation of the eye) for that year.
Pomegranate "cleanses you of Satan and from evil aspirations for 40 days." Hadith
11 Health Benefits of Pomegranate Juice
Several recent studies have shown significant potential health benefits from drinking pomegranate juice. Here are eleven:
1.Fights Breast Cancer
Studies in Israel show that pomegranate juice destroys breast cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone. It may also prevent breast cancer cells from forming.
2.Lung Cancer Prevention
Studies in mice show that pomegranate juice may inhibit the development of lung cancer.
3.Slows Prostate Cancer
It slowed the growth of prostate cancer in mice.
4. Keeps PSA Levels Stable
In a study of 50 men who had undergone treatment for prostate cancer, 8 ounces of pomegranate juice per day kept PSA levels stable, reducing the need for further treatment such as chemotherapy or hormone therapy.
5. Protects the Neonatal Brain
Studies show that maternal consumption of pomegranate juice may protect the neonatal brain from damage after injury.
6. Prevention of Osteoarthritis
Several studies indicate that pomegranate juice may prevent cartilage deterioration.
7. Protects the Arteries
It prevents plaque from building up in the arteries and may reverse previous plaque buildup.
8. Alzheimer's Disease Prevention
It may prevent and slow Alzheimer's disease. In one study, mice bred to develop Alzheimer's disease were given pomegranate juice. They accumulated significantly less amyloid plaque than control mice and they performed mental tasks better.
9. Lowers Cholesterol
It lowers LDL (bad cholesterol) and raises HDL (good cholesterol).
10. Lowers Blood Pressure
One study showed that drinking 1.7 ounces of pomegranate juice per day lowered systolic blood pressure by as much as 5 percent.
11. Dental Protection
Research suggests that drinking pomegranate juice may be a natural way to prevent dental plaque.
Other Health Benefits - Pomegranate
The Pomegranate has been touted as a superfruit due to its amazing health properties. This is because Pomegranates are rich in Potassium, folic acid, Vitamins (rich in Vitamin C) and Antioxidants called polyphenols (some studies suggest that they contain 3 times more antioxidants than red wine or green tea).
Antioxidants are chemical substances which help in the prevention of cellular damage (said to be a common pathway for cancer, heart problems, aging, and a variety of diseases) and are the main reason for the big obsession.
Much research has been done to show that Pomegranates may be able to reduce blood pressure, LDL cholesterol build up and even slow down prostate cancer.
There are Three references of the Pomegranate in the Qur'an under the name of Rumman (its Qur'anic name).
The references can be found in;
"We bring forth the green blade from, which we bring forth the thick clustered grain; and from the date palm, from the pollen thereof, spring pendant bunches; and (We bring forth) gardens of grapes, and the olive and the pomegranate, alike and unlike."[Surah vi,Verse 99]
"He it is Who produceth gardens trellised and untrellised, and the date palm, and crops of divers flavor, and the olive and the pomegranate , like and unlike. "Surah vi,Verse 141]
"Wherein is fruit, the date palm and pomegranate .Which is it, of the favors of your Lord, that ye deny?" [Surah LV ,Verse 68]
There are also a number of hadith on the Pomegranate;
"There is not a pomegranate which does not have a pip from one of the pomegranate of the Garden(of Jannah) in it."[Abu Nu'aim]
"Pomegranate and its rind strengthen digestion (stomach)."
[narrated Ali(radhiyallahu anhu), Abu Nuaim, Al-Jozi]
A pip of Jannah - Benefits of Pomegranate Juice
Some research has also evaluated the antioxidant nature of pomegranate juice and its usefulness in fighting certain forms of cancer.
Pomegranate juice has been tentatively shown to reduce incidence of breast and skin cancer. It has also been tested and shown to slow the growth of prostate cancer in mice.
Another interesting study has evaluated pomegranate juice and osteoarthritis. Pomegranate juice tends to act as an inhibitor on enzymes responsible for damaging cartilage.
These studies applied extract of pomegranate directly onto damaged cartilage. More research would have to examine a cause and effect relationship between oral ingestion of pomegranate juice and reduction in cartilage deterioration.
Labels: health
posted by Jiru at
4:31 AM
October 16, 2011
Library book sale
Yesterday, I brought DD1 to the public library to check out some videos.
Instead, we spent an hour at the library book sale.
All praise be to Allah SWT, I bought some Chinese books about how to work smarter. I also found a book 'Asian Health Secrets' by Letha Hadady.
This book seems to have a substantial amount of information about Chinese herbs because it is 512 pages thick! Here is the review on Amazon.com:
This comprehensive work by an acupuncturist and herbalist brings the ancient knowledge of Chinese, Indian, and Tibetan herbal medicine to Westerners. Tools for self-diagnosis emphasize treating the person, rather than the illness, to ensure a healthy harmony of body, mind, and spirit. Herbs are recommended for a gamut of problems, ranging from eating disorders, arthritis, and PMS to sexual dysfunction and depression. Hadady tells how to prepare herbal remedies at home but also includes mail-order sources. A cross reference of herb names to their Chinese names and a general index and herb index are provided. This thorough volume is recommended as a definitive resource on Asian herbal medicine for popular alternative medicine collections. (Indexes not seen.)?Nancy Myers, Univ. of South Dakota Lib., Vermillion
Allah SWT willing, I hope to find time this week to read this book.
Instead, we spent an hour at the library book sale.
All praise be to Allah SWT, I bought some Chinese books about how to work smarter. I also found a book 'Asian Health Secrets' by Letha Hadady.
This book seems to have a substantial amount of information about Chinese herbs because it is 512 pages thick! Here is the review on Amazon.com:
This comprehensive work by an acupuncturist and herbalist brings the ancient knowledge of Chinese, Indian, and Tibetan herbal medicine to Westerners. Tools for self-diagnosis emphasize treating the person, rather than the illness, to ensure a healthy harmony of body, mind, and spirit. Herbs are recommended for a gamut of problems, ranging from eating disorders, arthritis, and PMS to sexual dysfunction and depression. Hadady tells how to prepare herbal remedies at home but also includes mail-order sources. A cross reference of herb names to their Chinese names and a general index and herb index are provided. This thorough volume is recommended as a definitive resource on Asian herbal medicine for popular alternative medicine collections. (Indexes not seen.)?Nancy Myers, Univ. of South Dakota Lib., Vermillion
Allah SWT willing, I hope to find time this week to read this book.
posted by Jiru at
9:08 PM
September 26, 2011
Movie: Osmosis Jones
Story: A policeman white blood cell, with the help of a cold pill, must stop a deadly virus from destroying the human they live in, Frank.
Labels: health
posted by Jiru at
10:44 PM
August 28, 2011
Keeping away the blues
Just took an online postpartum depression test.
My result:
Total Score = 6
Total Score Analysis
The total score is below the typical score for a major depressive episode.
Husband is going back to work tomorrow, but will take Tuesday off to celebrate the end of the Islamic month of fasting.
All praise be to Allah SWT he has been a great help around the house since the birth of DS. I haven been blessed to have a loving husband who takes good care of me and the kids. He has been taking care of diaper duties, feeding, bathing the girls and letting me rest as much as I need during my confinement. He has been fasting since August 1st for more than 12 hours per day, and taking sinus congestion medicine since last week. His love and devotion has certainly helped to keep the postpartum blues away.
Allah SWT willing I hope I can keep up with taking care of the three kids on my own before I go back to work in October.
My result:
Total Score = 6
Total Score Analysis
The total score is below the typical score for a major depressive episode.
Husband is going back to work tomorrow, but will take Tuesday off to celebrate the end of the Islamic month of fasting.
All praise be to Allah SWT he has been a great help around the house since the birth of DS. I haven been blessed to have a loving husband who takes good care of me and the kids. He has been taking care of diaper duties, feeding, bathing the girls and letting me rest as much as I need during my confinement. He has been fasting since August 1st for more than 12 hours per day, and taking sinus congestion medicine since last week. His love and devotion has certainly helped to keep the postpartum blues away.
Allah SWT willing I hope I can keep up with taking care of the three kids on my own before I go back to work in October.
posted by Jiru at
10:35 PM
August 18, 2011
Newborn Metabolic Disorder
This past Tuesday, the pediatrician said that DS's first newborn screening test result shows the possibility for metabolic disorder. She also said that so far she has two infant patients who both tested positive for the first newborn screening but tested negative for the second ones. So she told husband not to worry about it.
Allah SWT willing we are praying that the second newborn screening will turn out to be negative.
Biotinidase Deficiency (BIOT) - BIOT is an enzyme deficiency that occurs in about 1 in 60,000 U.S. newborns and can result in seizures, hearing loss, and death in severe cases. Treatment is simple and involves daily doses of biotin. (1)
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) – 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency - CAH is caused by decreased or absent production of certain adrenal hormones. The most prevalent type is detected by newborn screening in about 1 in 9,000 Texas newborns. Early detection can prevent death in boys and girls and sex misassignment in girls. Treatment involves lifelong hormone replacement therapy. (1)
Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH) - Inadequate or absent production of thyroid hormone results in CH and is present in about 1 in 2,000 Texas newborns. Thyroid hormone replacement therapy begun by 1 month of age can prevent intellectual and growth disabilities.(1)
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) - An inherited disease that affects the lungs, digestive system, and overall growth. People with CF have thickened secretions, which clog the lungs and cause breathing problems. It can also affect the pancreas and make it hard to break down and absorb food. (1)
Galactosemia (GAL) – Galactose-1-Phosphate Uridyltransferase (GALT) Deficiency - Failure to metabolize the milk sugar galactose results in GAL and occurs in about 1 in 50,000 U.S. newborns. The classical form detected by newborn screening can lead to cataracts, liver cirrhosis, mental retardation and/or death. Treatment is elimination of galactose from the diet usually by substituting soy for milk products. (1)
Homocystinuria (HCY) - HCY is caused by an enzyme deficiency that blocks the metabolism of an amino acid that can lead to mental retardation, osteoporosis and other problems if left undetected and untreated. The incidence is approximately 1 in 350,000 U.S. newborns. Treatment may involve a special restricted protein diet and supplemental medicines, including Vitamin B6. (1)
Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) - MSUD is a defect in the way that the body metabolizes certain amino acids and is present in about 1 in 200,000 U.S. newborns. Early detection and treatment with a special restricted protein diet can prevent death and severe mental retardation. There is an increased risk in Mennonites. (1)
Medium Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase (MCAD) Deficiency - The most common disorder in the way the body metabolizes fatty acids is called MCAD deficiency. Undetected, it can cause sudden death. Treatment is simple and includes ensuring frequent food intake. The incidence from newborn screening is not yet known, but is thought to be approximately 1 in 15,000 U.S. newborns. (1)
Phenylketonuria (PKU) - An enzyme defect that prevents metabolism of phenylalanine, an amino acid essential to brain development, is known as PKU and occurs in approximately 1 in every 23,000 Texas newborns. Undetected and untreated with a special restricted protein diet, PKU leads to irreversible mental retardation. Persons of European descent are at increased risk. (1)
Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) – includes Sickle Cell Anemia (Hb SS), Sickle Beta Thalassemia (Hb S/?Th) and Sickle-Hemoglobin C Disease (Hb S/C) - Sickle cell anemia (Hemoglobin-SS-Disease) is the most prevalent SCD and causes clogged blood vessels resulting in severe pain and other severe health problems. Other common SCDs include Hemoglobin-SC-Disease and various thalassemias. Newborn screening detects about 1 in 2,500 Texas newborns with SCD annually. Persons of African or Mediterranean descent are at an increased risk. Early treatment with daily penicillin prevents death in the first few years of life. (3)
Tyrosinemia Type I (TYR 1) - TYR is caused by a deficiency in the liver of one enzyme that breaks down tyrosine. If not treated, the condition causes severe liver disease and other serious health problems. Treatment consists of medication including vitamin D and nitisinone, and a special restricted protein diet. The estimated incidence is 1 case in every 100,000 live births. (1)
Other Fatty Acid Oxidation (FAO) Disorders include Carnitine Uptake Defect (CUD), Long-Chain Hydroxyacyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency (LCHAD), Trifunctional Protein Deficiency (TFP) and Very-Long-Chain Acyl-Co A Dehydrogenase Deficiency (VLCAD) - Disorders besides MCAD deficiency, other FAO disorders may be detected through newborn screening. They are usually described in categories based on the length of the fatty acid involved. Undetected and untreated they can cause seizures, coma, and even death. Treatment may include a low fat diet, frequent food intake, supplementation with L-Carnitine (Carnitor) and medium chain triglycerides. The incidences of various FAO disorders are not known since it is only recently that early detection through newborn screening has occurred. (4)
Organic Acid (OA) Disorders include 3-Methylcrotonyl-CoA Carboxylase Deficiency (3MCC), Beta-Ketothiolase Deficiency (BKD), Glutaric Acidemia Type I (GAI), Hydroxymethylglutaric Aciduria (HMG), Isovaleric Acidemia (IVA) Methylmalonic Acidemia(MMA) (Cbl A and Cbl B forms) ( Cbl A,B), Methylmalonic Acidemia (mutase deficiency form) (MUT), Multiple Carboxylase Deficiency (MCD) and Propionic Acidemia (PROP) - Organic acidemias are a group of metabolic disorders that lead to accumulation of organic acids in the blood and urine and may be detected in newborn screening through analysis of acylcarnitine profiles. Symptoms can be diminished by restricting protein in the diet and supplementation with vitamins and/or L-Carnitine. Because newborn screening for these disorders is relatively new, the degree of occurrence in newborns is not yet known. (9)
Urea Cycle Disorders (UCD) include Argininosuccinic Acidemia (ASA) and Citrullinemia (CIT) - A UCD is a genetic disorder caused by a deficiency of one of the enzymes responsible for removing ammonia from the blood stream. Some UCDs may be detected as a part of newborn screening. They are characterized by seizures, poor muscle tone, respiratory distress, and coma, and result in death if left undetected and untreated. Treatment is by a special restricted protein diet and medications including phenylbutyrate to remove ammonia. Because newborn screening for these disorders is relatively new, the degree of occurrence in newborns is not yet known. (2)
Total number of disorders screened for is 28.
Last updated June 29, 2011
Allah SWT willing we are praying that the second newborn screening will turn out to be negative.
Texas Newborn Screening from the Texas Department of State Health Services
Biotinidase Deficiency (BIOT) - BIOT is an enzyme deficiency that occurs in about 1 in 60,000 U.S. newborns and can result in seizures, hearing loss, and death in severe cases. Treatment is simple and involves daily doses of biotin. (1)
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) – 21-Hydroxylase Deficiency - CAH is caused by decreased or absent production of certain adrenal hormones. The most prevalent type is detected by newborn screening in about 1 in 9,000 Texas newborns. Early detection can prevent death in boys and girls and sex misassignment in girls. Treatment involves lifelong hormone replacement therapy. (1)
Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH) - Inadequate or absent production of thyroid hormone results in CH and is present in about 1 in 2,000 Texas newborns. Thyroid hormone replacement therapy begun by 1 month of age can prevent intellectual and growth disabilities.(1)
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) - An inherited disease that affects the lungs, digestive system, and overall growth. People with CF have thickened secretions, which clog the lungs and cause breathing problems. It can also affect the pancreas and make it hard to break down and absorb food. (1)
Galactosemia (GAL) – Galactose-1-Phosphate Uridyltransferase (GALT) Deficiency - Failure to metabolize the milk sugar galactose results in GAL and occurs in about 1 in 50,000 U.S. newborns. The classical form detected by newborn screening can lead to cataracts, liver cirrhosis, mental retardation and/or death. Treatment is elimination of galactose from the diet usually by substituting soy for milk products. (1)
Homocystinuria (HCY) - HCY is caused by an enzyme deficiency that blocks the metabolism of an amino acid that can lead to mental retardation, osteoporosis and other problems if left undetected and untreated. The incidence is approximately 1 in 350,000 U.S. newborns. Treatment may involve a special restricted protein diet and supplemental medicines, including Vitamin B6. (1)
Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) - MSUD is a defect in the way that the body metabolizes certain amino acids and is present in about 1 in 200,000 U.S. newborns. Early detection and treatment with a special restricted protein diet can prevent death and severe mental retardation. There is an increased risk in Mennonites. (1)
Medium Chain Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase (MCAD) Deficiency - The most common disorder in the way the body metabolizes fatty acids is called MCAD deficiency. Undetected, it can cause sudden death. Treatment is simple and includes ensuring frequent food intake. The incidence from newborn screening is not yet known, but is thought to be approximately 1 in 15,000 U.S. newborns. (1)
Phenylketonuria (PKU) - An enzyme defect that prevents metabolism of phenylalanine, an amino acid essential to brain development, is known as PKU and occurs in approximately 1 in every 23,000 Texas newborns. Undetected and untreated with a special restricted protein diet, PKU leads to irreversible mental retardation. Persons of European descent are at increased risk. (1)
Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) – includes Sickle Cell Anemia (Hb SS), Sickle Beta Thalassemia (Hb S/?Th) and Sickle-Hemoglobin C Disease (Hb S/C) - Sickle cell anemia (Hemoglobin-SS-Disease) is the most prevalent SCD and causes clogged blood vessels resulting in severe pain and other severe health problems. Other common SCDs include Hemoglobin-SC-Disease and various thalassemias. Newborn screening detects about 1 in 2,500 Texas newborns with SCD annually. Persons of African or Mediterranean descent are at an increased risk. Early treatment with daily penicillin prevents death in the first few years of life. (3)
Tyrosinemia Type I (TYR 1) - TYR is caused by a deficiency in the liver of one enzyme that breaks down tyrosine. If not treated, the condition causes severe liver disease and other serious health problems. Treatment consists of medication including vitamin D and nitisinone, and a special restricted protein diet. The estimated incidence is 1 case in every 100,000 live births. (1)
Other Fatty Acid Oxidation (FAO) Disorders include Carnitine Uptake Defect (CUD), Long-Chain Hydroxyacyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency (LCHAD), Trifunctional Protein Deficiency (TFP) and Very-Long-Chain Acyl-Co A Dehydrogenase Deficiency (VLCAD) - Disorders besides MCAD deficiency, other FAO disorders may be detected through newborn screening. They are usually described in categories based on the length of the fatty acid involved. Undetected and untreated they can cause seizures, coma, and even death. Treatment may include a low fat diet, frequent food intake, supplementation with L-Carnitine (Carnitor) and medium chain triglycerides. The incidences of various FAO disorders are not known since it is only recently that early detection through newborn screening has occurred. (4)
Organic Acid (OA) Disorders include 3-Methylcrotonyl-CoA Carboxylase Deficiency (3MCC), Beta-Ketothiolase Deficiency (BKD), Glutaric Acidemia Type I (GAI), Hydroxymethylglutaric Aciduria (HMG), Isovaleric Acidemia (IVA) Methylmalonic Acidemia(MMA) (Cbl A and Cbl B forms) ( Cbl A,B), Methylmalonic Acidemia (mutase deficiency form) (MUT), Multiple Carboxylase Deficiency (MCD) and Propionic Acidemia (PROP) - Organic acidemias are a group of metabolic disorders that lead to accumulation of organic acids in the blood and urine and may be detected in newborn screening through analysis of acylcarnitine profiles. Symptoms can be diminished by restricting protein in the diet and supplementation with vitamins and/or L-Carnitine. Because newborn screening for these disorders is relatively new, the degree of occurrence in newborns is not yet known. (9)
Urea Cycle Disorders (UCD) include Argininosuccinic Acidemia (ASA) and Citrullinemia (CIT) - A UCD is a genetic disorder caused by a deficiency of one of the enzymes responsible for removing ammonia from the blood stream. Some UCDs may be detected as a part of newborn screening. They are characterized by seizures, poor muscle tone, respiratory distress, and coma, and result in death if left undetected and untreated. Treatment is by a special restricted protein diet and medications including phenylbutyrate to remove ammonia. Because newborn screening for these disorders is relatively new, the degree of occurrence in newborns is not yet known. (2)
Total number of disorders screened for is 28.
Labels: health
posted by Jiru at
8:46 AM
August 12, 2011
Sun Tanning for Babies
All praise be to Allah SWT, DS's jaundice level has gone down.
Husband has been given him breast milk that I've pumped in addition to putting him (in his diapers only) under that skylight, and it has helped to bring down the jaundice level.
Back in the old days in Singapore, like the 60s and 70s, when people first began moving into high rise apartments built by the government, quite a number of new parents would put their babies with jaundice on bamboo poles outside the kitchen. As a result, some babies would tragically fall to their death. The government started a campaign to educate people about the danger of these homeopathy treatment for jaundice.
Information below extracted from WebMD.com
Bilirubin
A bilirubin test measures the amount of bilirubin in a blood sample. Bilirubin is a brownish yellow substance found in bile. It is produced when the liver breaks down old red blood cells. Bilirubin is then removed from the body through the stool (feces) and gives stool its normal brown color.
Bilirubin circulates in the bloodstream in two forms:
Indirect (or unconjugated) bilirubin. This form of bilirubin does not dissolve in water (it is insoluble). Indirect bilirubin travels through the bloodstream to the liver, where it is changed into a soluble form (direct or conjugated).
Direct (or conjugated) bilirubin. Direct bilirubin dissolves in water (it is soluble) and is made by the liver from indirect bilirubin.
Total bilirubin and direct bilirubin levels are measured directly in the blood, whereas indirect bilirubin levels are derived from the total and direct bilirubin measurements.
When bilirubin levels are high, the skin and whites of the eyes may appear yellow (jaundice). Jaundice may be caused by liver disease (hepatitis), blood disorders (hemolytic anemia), or blockage of the tubes (bile ducts) that allow bile to pass from the liver to the small intestine.
Too much bilirubin (hyperbilirubinemia) in a newborn baby can cause brain damage (kernicterus), hearing loss, problems with the muscles that move the eye, physical abnormalities, and even death. Therefore, some babies who develop jaundice may be treated with special lights (phototherapy camera) or a blood transfusion to lower their bilirubin levels.
Husband has been given him breast milk that I've pumped in addition to putting him (in his diapers only) under that skylight, and it has helped to bring down the jaundice level.
Back in the old days in Singapore, like the 60s and 70s, when people first began moving into high rise apartments built by the government, quite a number of new parents would put their babies with jaundice on bamboo poles outside the kitchen. As a result, some babies would tragically fall to their death. The government started a campaign to educate people about the danger of these homeopathy treatment for jaundice.
Information below extracted from WebMD.com
Bilirubin
A bilirubin test measures the amount of bilirubin in a blood sample. Bilirubin is a brownish yellow substance found in bile. It is produced when the liver breaks down old red blood cells. Bilirubin is then removed from the body through the stool (feces) and gives stool its normal brown color.
Bilirubin circulates in the bloodstream in two forms:
Indirect (or unconjugated) bilirubin. This form of bilirubin does not dissolve in water (it is insoluble). Indirect bilirubin travels through the bloodstream to the liver, where it is changed into a soluble form (direct or conjugated).
Direct (or conjugated) bilirubin. Direct bilirubin dissolves in water (it is soluble) and is made by the liver from indirect bilirubin.
Total bilirubin and direct bilirubin levels are measured directly in the blood, whereas indirect bilirubin levels are derived from the total and direct bilirubin measurements.
When bilirubin levels are high, the skin and whites of the eyes may appear yellow (jaundice). Jaundice may be caused by liver disease (hepatitis), blood disorders (hemolytic anemia), or blockage of the tubes (bile ducts) that allow bile to pass from the liver to the small intestine.
Too much bilirubin (hyperbilirubinemia) in a newborn baby can cause brain damage (kernicterus), hearing loss, problems with the muscles that move the eye, physical abnormalities, and even death. Therefore, some babies who develop jaundice may be treated with special lights (phototherapy camera) or a blood transfusion to lower their bilirubin levels.
posted by Jiru at
5:28 PM
August 09, 2011
Postpartum Constipation
Feels like I am laboring for the second time after giving birth to DS.
I forgot how horrible it feels to be constipated after the c-section, but I have been drinking gallons of Chinese red dates tea and eating prunes in anticipation of this problem.Finally five days after giving birth, I did it.
Having a big bowel movement never felt so good. Now I know why my babies are always in a better mood when they had a big bowel movement.
Here are some tips for preventing and easing constipation from BabyCenter.com
I forgot how horrible it feels to be constipated after the c-section, but I have been drinking gallons of Chinese red dates tea and eating prunes in anticipation of this problem.Finally five days after giving birth, I did it.
Having a big bowel movement never felt so good. Now I know why my babies are always in a better mood when they had a big bowel movement.
Here are some tips for preventing and easing constipation from BabyCenter.com
- Never ignore the urge to move your bowels, even though it might be uncomfortable the first few times. The longer you wait, the harder your stool will get, which will only make your pain worse.
- Make an effort to eat high-fiber foods such as whole-grain cereals and breads, brown rice, beans, and fresh fruits and vegetables every day.
- Drink plenty of water – at least six to eight glasses a day. (You'll need even more if you're breastfeeding.) A daily glass of fruit juice, especially prune juice, can be helpful. Some people find that drinking warm liquid soon after waking up helps get things moving.
- Go for a walk. Walking may be painful at first, especially if you're recovering from a c-section or an episiotomy, but even a short trip around the block can help kick your sluggish bowels into gear.
- Ask your doctor or midwife whether you should take a stool softener (sold over the counter at any drugstore). You'll need to start taking one right away if you have a tear that extends into or through your sphincter. Stool softeners are also helpful if you're suffering from hemorrhoids or taking high-dose iron supplements for anemia or narcotics for pain relief.
Labels: health
posted by Jiru at
5:41 PM
July 31, 2011
Fasting for Pregnant Women
All praise be to Allah SWT, the Islamic month of fasting starts tomorrow.
Due to my pregnancy, I have decided that I will not be fasting. Although some pregnant Muslim women chose to fast to avoid making up the fasting days after the delivery of their babies, my decision for not fasting is for the sake of my unborn child. With just three more weeks to go, the baby is demanding more and more nutrients so that he'll be healthy and ready to come into this world. I am not worried about making up the days to fast before next Islamic calendar of the fasting month, I am more concern about the well-being of my baby.
Here is an article from BBC News that addresses this issue.
Pregnant women who fast during Ramadan could be putting the health of their unborn baby at risk, according to a new study.
Due to my pregnancy, I have decided that I will not be fasting. Although some pregnant Muslim women chose to fast to avoid making up the fasting days after the delivery of their babies, my decision for not fasting is for the sake of my unborn child. With just three more weeks to go, the baby is demanding more and more nutrients so that he'll be healthy and ready to come into this world. I am not worried about making up the days to fast before next Islamic calendar of the fasting month, I am more concern about the well-being of my baby.
Here is an article from BBC News that addresses this issue.
Pregnant women who fast during Ramadan could be putting the health of their unborn baby at risk, according to a new study.
posted by Jiru at
5:55 PM
January 21, 2011
News: Internet time tied to teen depression symptoms
(Reuters Health) - Spending time online is normal behavior for teenagers. But too much Internet use by teens -- or too little, for that matter -- might be related to depression, a new study finds.
The findings, reported in the journal of Pediatrics, do not mean that the Internet is to blame. For one, teens in the study who spent no time online were also at increased risk of depression symptoms.
Instead, the researchers say that both heavy Internet use, and non-use, could serve as signals that a teenager is having a hard time.
For the study, Dr. Pierre-Andre Michaud and colleagues at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, surveyed 7,200 individuals ages 16 to 20 about their Internet use.
Those who were online more than two hours per day were considered "heavy" Internet users, while those online anywhere from several times per week to two hours per day were considered "regular" users.
The teenagers also answered a number of health-related questions, including some standard questions about "depressive tendencies" that gauge how often a person feels sad or hopeless.
Compared with regular Internet users, the study found, kids who were heavy users or non-users were more likely to be depressed or very depressed.
Among male teens, heavy users and non-users were both around one-third more likely to have a high depression score, compared to "regular" users. Among girls, heavy Internet users had an 86 percent greater chance of depression, while non-users had a 46 percent greater likelihood compared to regular users.
Read the rest here.posted by Jiru at
7:31 AM
