Friday, November 30, 2007

Diabetes Diet, What Are The 10 Best Fruits And Vegetables For Diabetic Patients

This is the question my diabetic patients always ask. Hopefully this article will enhance your knowledge about diet for a diabetic patient.

AVOID THESE FOODS

If you are a diabetic patient try to avoid following list of foods.

1-Sugar, artificial sweeteners and honey. However you may take a sweetener like stevia. It is difficult to omit sugar from your diet at-once, I will recommend you to decrease sugar in your diet gradually.

2-You should stop taking sweets and chocolates. If you are in a party and want to take chocolate, then preferably try to take Continental dark chocolate with at-least 70% or more cocoa solids, and try to avoid chocolates where sugar is the first named ingredient

3-Try to avoid foods containing ingredients end in (ol) or (ose) as these are mainly different forms of carbohydrates like fructose, glucose, dextrose.

4-Avoid grains like cakes, biscuits, pies, tarts, breakfast cereals, wheat, rye, barley, corn, rice, bread, pasta, pastry,

5-Avoid vegetables which contain larger amount of starch and carbohydrates like potatoes,carrots, peas, beans, parsnips, beet.

6-Also avoid fruits like water gallon, mangoes, banana, Chikoos(Pakistani), jackfruit, grapes, Strawberry, Sugarcane.

7-You may take milk but in small quantity. Avoid fat yogurts and cheese. Also be careful not to drink too much coffee or tea and add only as much sugar as in needed for taste.

8-Avoid commercially packaged foods like TV dinners, "lean" or "light" in particular, and snack foods, fast foods.

9-Avoid fresh fruit juices as these are highly concentrated carbohydrates. If you like fruit juices you may dilute one part of juice with 3 or 4 parts of water.

10-Always avoid saturated fats like fatty meat, full fat dairy products, butter, lard. Try to prefer unsaturated fats like olive oil, corn oil, canula oil, sunflower oil,soya oil.Avoid cottage cheese as it has a high carbohydrate content and very little fat

You must be thinking that I have mentioned here all the stuff, and nothing is left to eat, these are foods you can eat:

1-You may take fruits like apple, Grapefruit, Lime, Peaches. You must divide your fruit and vegetable diet in five portions through all the day, by Spreading the fruit you eat through the day helps to avoid a sudden rise in blood sugar levels.

2-You must take high fibre diet. Fibrous diet is Cereals, Fruits, Nuts, Pulses, Seeds, Vegetables. Fibrous diet not only lowers your glucose level but also decreases blood cholesterol.

3-Always try to take whole grain rather than processed food and take things like whole-wheat spaghetti and brown rather than white rice(Indian Pakistani). Pakistani and Indian people do like white rice very much, but if you are diabetic, please avoid these.

4-You may take meat of lamb, beef once or twice a week. Organ meats can also be taken like liver kidneys and heart to meat your vitamin needs.

5-Try to take white meat like poultry chicken fish meat duck etc.

6-You may take Fish and seafood of all types. It is recommended to boil, steam, bake or grill fish rather than frying it.

7-Always prefer non-fatty dairy products such as "skimmed milk", non-fat cheese and yoghurt.

8-You may take eggs as well but try to take whitish part not the yellow one as it may increase your cholesterol level.

9-All cheeses can be taken except cottage cheese.

10-You may take all vegetables, onion and garlic are known for decreasing blood glucose level.

Generally Type 2 diabetic patients need 1500-1800 calorie diet per day to promote weight loss, however calories requirement may vary depending upon patients age, sex, activity level and body weight. 50% of total daily required calories should come from carbohydrates.One gram of carbohydrate is about 4 calories. A diabetic patient on a 1600 calorie diet should get 50% of these calories from carbohydrate. In other words it will be equal to 800 Calories from Carbohydrates, it means you have to take 200gms of carbohydrates everyday.It is better that you buy food tables with calories measurements to know more about your daily required food.

I hope this article will help you understand, what to eat and what not to eat in diabetes. To know more about Diabetes diet please visit my comprehensive website. www.diabetessymptomscure.com

Author Resource: Dr.Armughan maintaining site Diabetes Diet http://www.diabetessymptomscure.com/ and Blackhead Remover by Venusworldwide http://www.venusworldwide.com/

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Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Water is the Key to Health and Wellness

Our bodies are composed of three-quarters water. Dehydration means your body does not have enough water for it to function correctly. You lose water when you sweat, breathe, urinate, defecate, blow your nose, have diarrhea, or throw up. To make up for the water you lose, you must hydrate your body by eating and drinking.

Who Gets Dehydrated?

Chances are you are dehydrated right now and you do not even know it! Everyone gets dehydrated, even babies and teenagers. Babies get dehydrated in part because their thirst mechanism is not fully developed. Even in the teen years, symptoms of adequate hydration may already be present and hydration can be a problem. Athletes and anyone engaging in a regular exercise routine are also prone to becoming dehydrated.

What are the Symptoms of Dehydration?

Signs of dehydration are many. Energy loss is usually the first sign of dehydration because the cells of the body lose water first. Water is a primary driving force of energy production inside the cells, so even a little water loss causes a big drop in energy. Some say that for every one percent drop of water inside your cells energy production is cut by 10%.

Other symptoms of dehydration include:

fatigue,
moodiness,
a drained feeling,
noticeable thirst,
headaches,
feeling lightheaded or dizzy,
rapid heartbeat,
dry lips and mouth,
wrinkles and sagging skin,
infrequent urination,
a dark colored or strong smelling urine,
digestive problems,
constipation,
allergies

Dehydration is the Source of Serious Health Problems

Many researchers have suggested that dehydration is at the core of serious health problems. Some researchers even suggest that water can aid in the cure of arthritis, back pain, angina, migraines, colitis, asthma, high blood pressure, adult-onset diabetes, high cholesterol, metabolism problems, weight loss, kidney probolems, joint problems, lower back problems, morning sickness, heartburn, arthritis, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, loss of libido as well as a host of other chronic and/or degenerative diseases. Some health care researchers believe that that chronic health problems are caused by dehydration.

What is the bottom line? Consult with your doctor about your health problems. When your doctor tells you that all things considered, you need to drink more water, you have a choice. You can respond by thinking to yourself, "I already know this. I paid you money to give me this advice." Or, you can respond by thanking your doctor for the best advice you have ever been given.

Author Resource: Robert Rodgers, Ph.D. and Deborah Russell, M.S. (http://www.zeropointhealers.com)believe that the body knows how to heal itself. It just needs a little help sometimes. They provide extensive information on treatments for dehydration at http://www.aquas.us./

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Monday, November 26, 2007

The Relationship Between Heart Disease And Kidney Disease

When you suffer from some type of heart disease, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be very difficult. We all need to eat healthy, maintain a good regular exercise routine and have regular checkups from our health care provider. When heart disease is not managed well the effects on our kidneys can be catastrophic.

The kidneys job is to filter the blood to remove carcinogens that we take in daily through the ingesting of out highly refined and processed foods. In addition it also removes excess fluid from the blood stream. The kidneys filter the waist products from the blood stream by using the natural pressure of the blood supply.

When this excess fluid is not being remove then the heart will have to work harder to pump the blood throughout our bodies by increasing our blood pressure. Higher blood pressure will cause more damage to our kidneys causing less fluid and toxins being removed from the blood stream.
As you can see the cycle of the heart damaging the kidneys which in turn cause more damage to the heart is a leading cause of death for patients suffering from heart disease. This viscous cycle must be control as soon as possible before permanent damage is done to the effected organs.

The leading causes of kidney disease are as follows:

Decreased blood flow to the kidney is usually caused by clogged arteries. Arteriosclerosis, congestive heart disease, plaques or fatty deposits containing large quantities of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood stream can all cause a decreased blood flow to the kidneys.

Acute Tubular Necrosis (ATN) is the death of tissue do to a loss of oxygen to the kidney. Long term decreased of oxygen to the kidney can be caused by congestive heart disease, clogged arteries, anemia, iron deficiency, cycles cell anemia and infections such as acute septicemia. Short term loss of oxygen to the kidney can be caused a heart attack or by direct kidney injury.

Damage to the kidneys can be the result of over exposure to metals, solvents, drugs and other pollutants.

Excessive amounts of alcohol will cause death of muscle and organ tissue. When tissue dies myoglobin is released into the blood supply. Myoglobin is very toxic to the renal tubular epithelium and may cause kidney failure. One of the blood test done after a heart attack is the testing for the amount of myoglobin in the blood stream. The larger amount of myoglobin found has a direct correlation to the amount of damage caused to the heart muscle by a heart attack.

High blood pressure will also cause damage to the filtering process of the kidneys.
Prevention is always better than a cure and knowing you are at risk for heart or kidney disease should go a long way in your ability to prevent long term damage to these vital organs. Take steps today to maintain a health life style and to improve the quality of life.

Common vitamins and and minerals can help with preventing disease such as vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin E, Cranberry Juice, Natural diuretics and Garlic.

Vitamin A is a known antioxidant and can assist the human body in the healing process. Vitamin A is stored in the liver and fat cells of the human body and can reach toxic levels. DO NOT take more than the recommended dosage of Vitamin A.

Vitamin B taken together as a team perform vital biological processes including aiding in the healing process for congestive heart failure and reduces fluid retention. It is required for the development of red blood cells.

Vitamin C has been shown to combat the development of cholesterol deposits in the arteries. Within a few hours after receiving vitamin C patients showed a sharp decline in the cholesterol levels of the blood. Take 1,000 to 5,000 mg daily.

Vitamin E is known to help the red blood cells to live longer and keep them from breaking down too soon.

Cranberry Juice may also help prevent kidney and bladder infections. If you are taking COUMADIN then check with your doctor before using cranberry.

Natural diuretics are contained in cranberries, anything that has caffeine and apple cider vinegar. Fruits and vegetables such as watermelon and cucumbers contain a lot of water and will help increase urination.

Garlic counteracts the usual result of high fats in the diet and to help reduce high blood pressure.

This report is nutritional in nature and not to be construed as medical advice.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

Author Resource: David Cowley has created numerous articles on heart disease. He has also created a Web Site dedicated to heart disease and how to treat them. Visit Heart Disease

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Sunday, November 25, 2007

How Does Sunlight Affect Breast Cancer?

If one is to believe Esther John, an epidemiologist of Northern California Cancer Center, a daily dose of sunlight can decrease the chances of breast cancer by an amazing 40%. A short walk in the sun can also relieve stress and increase blood circulation in addition to reducing the risk of breast cancer. It is a well known and researched fact that the instance of breast cancer is more in cloudy and colder regions. An exposure to the full spectrum light is inversely correlated to colon, rectal and breast cancers.

Exposure to sun stimulates production of certain hormones underneath the human skin. The Ultraviolet B rays react with a certain variety of cholesterol in the skin triggering organs like liver and kidneys to produce vitamin D3, which in fact is not a vitamin but a king of steroid that boosts the human immune system. It inhibits the growth of malignant cells and also motivates the digestive tract to absorb more calcium and hinders angiogenesis that aids growth of cancerous cells. Vitamin D3 also stops formation of blood vessels that aid cancer thus effectively curbing the malignancy of any tumors.

Vitamin D3 taken in high does can result in toxic complications. Medications administered for breast cancer thus contain Vitamin D3 in derivative form. These derivatives have been found to be effective in stopping the spread of cancer cells in breast cancer patients and reducing the size of mammary tumors.

It is a cause of grave concern that most sunscreens lotions used today block the Ultraviolet B rays thus inhibiting the formation of Vitamin D3. What the human race needs to realize today is that the harm done by sun is far less compared to the goodness that comes from its radiation. Exposure to sun benefits people having prostrate, ovarian, breast or colon cancer, osteoporosis, heart ailments and multiple sclerosis. If one can imagine statistically, people dying from the any of the above diseases are far more then people effected by skin cancer. Moreover, exposure to sun is more beneficial than detrimental as per the past 5 decades of medical research.

In spite of awareness, it has been found that almost 59% of patients admitted to the Massachusetts General Hospital have been found to be lacking in Vitamin D. In light of this it is only logical to infer that Americans are more prone to caner and other ailments compared to most other people.

Vitamin D is also available in adequate measures in certain foods like tuna, salmon almost all other varieties of fish. Having Vitamin D fortified diet may also help, but look for more information than just claims on the product labels.

Author Resource: For more information on breast cancer, please visit Breast

Cancer information
.

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Monday, November 19, 2007

Irritable Bowel Pain Can Be Stopped Without Surgery Or Dangerous Drugs

Irritable bowel syndrome and chronic constipation affect millions of people each year. Excessive gas, bloating, cramps, constipation and bowel pain, this is what many people wake up to every day. If you are one of the millions of people who experience the painful symptoms due to digestive problems then you understand just how debilitating this condition can be.

Chronic constipation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome often start with an overworked colon. So, what is the actual function of the colon and how come so many folks are working theirs to death?
Learning the map of your body.

As a health care practitioner, I like to take the time to explain what is happening when people come to see me gripping their belly saying: my stomach hurts. There are a lot of misconceptions out there as to where different parts of our body actually are -the stomach being one of them. The stomach is actually just beneath the ribcage on the left hand side, beneath the heart. So when people grab their belly and they say that the stomach is hurting, they are actually in the wrong place. Most likely it is their colon that is giving them fits, not the stomach.

Most people seem to experience a lot of digestive discomfort in the colon whether it is part of the small intestine or the large intestine. Actually, the large intestine is the last 5-6 feet of your intestinal system - before you excrete waist matter in the form of feces. The entire intestinal system contains nearly 20 -25 feet of this miraculous organ, designed to eliminate waste and toxins from our system.

What does the colon do that is so different?

The colon does several different things. First of all, it tends to absorb water, minerals, vitamins and it dries out the liquid food, or chyme as it is often called, so that any waste material can then be excreted through the anus. Even though the colon removes water, it is extremely important to drink plenty of water all day long, because this entire process (and every other process in your body) requires water to make it work effectively.

It is largely responsible for bundling up all the waste materials, from the food we eat, and escorting it neatly out of our bodies. The muscles around the colon contract and literally work the excrement through the process.

Restore digestive balance and live pain free.

Detoxifying your colon can restore balance to your entire digestive system. How? By cleaning out the undigested and caked on waste material that has accumulated inside. This waste is robbing you of the valuable nutrients your body needs. It is stealing your energy and making you look old. As you age your body has more time to accumulate toxins and trash. Unless you eat a perfect diet of fresh vegetables, fruits and whole grains your system is gathering gunk. The effects are gradual and you might not even notice it until you start to hurt.

All natural ingredients work to cleanse your body. The best colon cleanses use natural ingredients that gently stimulate your body to release toxins and break down the sludge. These ingredients are natural fibers like psyllium, flaxseed and food grade bentonite clay.

A good colon detoxification starts with plenty of fresh filtered water and a healthy diet. Next, try using a colon cleanse product that doesn't include stimulants. Use it once a day for a week and then once a month. Be sure to drink many, many glasses of fresh filtered water - I cannot stress this enough. Many of my clients have returned to tell me they no longer suffer from the symptoms of Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or chronic constipation.

Freedom to enjoy your meals without pain is a beautiful thing!

Author Resource: Darren Craddock is an expert in Naturopathy, Nutrition, Herbology,

Massage, and Yoga. Free Report: Discover how to keep from getting sick and have more energy! Feel more energy and vigor with a healthy Colon Cleanse. Learn more about all natural, gentle MetaCleanse at www.enerhealthbotanicals.com

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Saturday, November 17, 2007

Diseases Caused By High Blood Pressure

There are three main diseases caused by high blood pressure. They are each life threatening and they may or may not have any symptoms other than you having high blood pressure. Many drug stores and grocery stories have blood pressure monitoring machines available to the general public for free. You should check you blood pressure every time you have you see one of these machines.

A good starting point for normal blood pressure is 120/80. The first number represents the systolic pressure. This is the maximum pressure in your arteries that is created during the contraction of the left ventricle. The second number represents the diastolic blood pressure. The diastolic pressure is the measurement of the pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes. Signs of high pressure is when the systolic pressure is over 130 or when the diastolic pressure is over 90. You should contact your health care provider when either of these conditions occur.

Coronary Heart Disease.

The same plaque that blocks arteries to the brain can clog arteries that feed the heart causing coronary heart disease. All cells need oxygen from the bloodstream to survive, so reducing the amount of blood to the heart muscle can severely weaken or damage the heart muscle. If a blood clot blocks one of these coronary arteries of the heart, a heart attack can occur. If the blood is blocked for an extended time some of the cells of the heart will die. When too many of the cells of the heart die the heart can not pump oxygenated blood throughout the body very well and this can lead to other problems with the other organs of the human body and even death.

Kidney Damage.

Your kidneys are responsible for filtering the waste products from the blood stream that passes through them and to remove excess fluid. High blood pressure can damage the kidneys causing them to become less efficient. When the kidneys stop removing excessive fluid from the blood stream the heart will have to work harder, which in turn will cause even higher blood pressure. It is very important to break this vicious cycle as soon as possible. When a complete shutdown of the functions of the kidney or renal failure occurs, you will need to have kidney dialysis or a kidney transplant in order to survive.

Aneurysm.

Increased blood pressure will create a lot of strain on your heart and arteries. Over time the walls of the arteries will weaken and an aneurysm will result. The arteries of the human body have three layers. Then the tough outer layer of connective tissue splits and allows the two inner layers of the blood vessel balloon or bulge out an aneurysm is formed. Its like a tire of an automobile that has split allowing the inner tube to balloon outside of the protective outer tire. If the blood pressure problem is allow to continue it is only a mater of time before the aneurysm explodes.

If the aneurysm is small enough then you health care provider will monitor it and watch to see if the size changes over time. If the aneurysm becomes large enough then you may require an operation to correct the problem.

You may not have any symptoms of high blood pressure that is why it is called the silent killer. Some symptom you can watch out for are the following. Ringing in your ears. Present head aches. Pain in your chest, abdominal area or lower back. Excessive fluid retention. Heart palpation or irregular heart beat at rest.

Common Vitamins and over the counter products can help with blood pressure problems such as Vitamin C, Garlic, Ginkgo Plus and Potassium.

Vitamin C has show to reduce cholesterol levels and lowers blood pressure.

Garlic counteract the usual result of high fats in the diet and to help reduce blood pressure.

Ginkgo Plus widen blood vessels, increases circulation and speeds blood flow in the capillaries.

Potassium may help prevent an increase in blood pressure and reduce the risk of stroke.

Life style changes such as exercise, weight loss and proper diet can also lead to lower blood pressure.

This report is nutritional in nature and not to be construed as medical advice.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

Author Resource: David Cowley has created numerous articles on heart disease. He has also created a Web Site dedicated to heart disease and how to treat them. Visit Heart Disease

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Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Prostate Cancer Symptoms: Early Detection is Key

As prostate cancer involves the male reproductive system, the prostate, it is a disease that primarily affects the male. Early detection of its symptoms is vital to treatment and recovery. When you have prostate cancer, your prostate cells mutate and multiply out of control. These cancerous cells start to attack all the surrounding healthy cells in the prostate, and can spread to other parts of the body. Very often, this disease also affects the bones around the prostate.

Most men do not realize that they have prostate cancer until it is in an advanced stage. Once it is diagnosed in a later stage, it is usually more difficult to cure or treat. Hence, early detection can help in controlling the spread of the cancer cells. Here are some important prostate cancer symptoms that you should keep a look out for:


  • general pain in the prostate area

  • an uncontrollable desire to urinate frequently, especially at nighttime

  • difficulty in urinating, both in starting or holding back

  • poor flow of urine

  • the presence of blood and in urine and semen

  • pain or burning sensation when urinating

  • erectile dysfunction (inability to have or sustain an erection)

  • uncomfortable or painful ejaculation

  • a frequent pain or stiffness in the upper thighs, hips, or lower back

It does not mean that you have prostate cancer just because you notice the above symptoms. These symptoms can also be an indication of other diseases. Your best course of action is to go for an accurate and proper diagnosis by a doctor or specialist. You will have to undergo a series of tests in order to determine if you have prostate cancer or some other health problems.

Several factors appear to increase the risk of getting this disease.

Age is a key factor. It has been found that prostate cancer is most common in men over fifty years of age.

Family history is also another key indicator of increased risk. If you have a close male relative who is suffering from the disease, you are twice as likely to have prostate cancer yourself.

In addition, nationality or where you come from can mean different risk levels. Statistics reveal that African-Americans are most at risk, followed by Americans and Europeans. Least at risk are Asians, particularly those that live in the East and Southeast portions of the continent.

It has been said that an unhealthy lifestyle and diet also increases your risk to getting this disease. Although this disease is not preventable, making substantial changes to your diet and lifestyle have been shown to improve your chances of recovery greatly.

To find out if you really have prostate cancer, you need to consult a specialist. Once you describe to him about the symptoms that you have observed, he may order a series of tests to make sure.

The PSA, or prostate specific antigen test, is used to detect the disease. During this process, a small piece of the prostate will be removed and examined under a microscope to check for prostate cancer cells. Additionally, other tests such as X-rays and bone scans may also be used to determine the extent of the cancer.

While it appears cumbersome to go for that many tests, it is important to remember that they may actually help you save your live. You can get treated for prostate cancer symptoms if you take early action.

Author Resource: Prostate Cancer can kill. Find out more about Prostate Cancer Prevention on this site http://www.Prostate-Cancer-Treatment-Hub.com.

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Monday, November 12, 2007

Phytochemicals and Good Health

Many vegetables and fruits are known for numerous health benefits. Diets composed of five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables may help reduce the risk of chronic disease and other health ailments. Vegetables and fruits can supply the body of necessary nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fiber that are vital for the development and maintenance of the human body. In addition, many vegetables contain disease-fighting phytochemicals. Phytochemicals is term that is used to describe the fiber, vitamins, sugar, and other components of plants. Many research suggests that phytochemicals and other nutrients in plants, may help slow the aging process, and lessen the risk of many ailments including cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, urinary tract infections, and many more.

There are different types of phytochemicals and each works diversely in promoting improved health. Here are some types of phytochemicals and their possible health actions:

· Flavonoids – Flavanoids may aid against the damage that can be done by cholesterol. Many flavanoids are found in green tea, dark chocolate, red wine, and apples.

· Organosulfurs – Studies show that organosulfurs found in onions and garlic are able to reduce the formation of plaque in the arteries, therefore reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

· Isoflavones – Isoflavones are primarily found in soy and may be able to reduce menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis among women. Soy protein can also reduce blood pressure in men.

· Sterols – Plant sterols are known to reduce the levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or bad cholesterol in the body. Sterols are naturally acquired from nuts, legumes, seed, and cereals.

· Proanthocyanidins – Proanthocyanidins may be able to reduce the development of urinary tract infections and may improve dental health.

· Allicin – Allicin is an antibacterial and anti-fungal compound that is found in garlic. This compound is not present in garlic in its natural state, but is developed when garlic is chopped or damaged. Allicin also helps fight arteriosclerosis, a disease that effects the the arteries.

· Lycopene – Lycopene us a proven antioxidant that slows down the aging process by eliminating free radicals that may damage the body's cells.

Lack of fruits and vegetables deprive individuals of antioxidants and phytochemicals that are essential in promoting good health. In addition, unhealthy lifestyles and exposure to many carcinogens increases the risk of cancer and other health ailments. Smoking and excess alcohol may dehydrate the cells and cause many health ailments. Smoking exposes the body to nicotine that causes the blood vessels to develop cancer cells. Excess alcohol on the other hand dehydrates cells which may cause cancer. Air pollution and smoke from solid fuels and carcinogens in the air, may expose individuals to viruses that may cause cancer and other health difficulties.

Eating a balanced diet may provide different phytochemicals that may be essential in achieving improved health and overall well-being. Individuals do not need to eat raw fruits and vegetables to accomplish the health benefits of phytochemicals. Though some of the these compounds may be lost when cooked, many still hold their health properties. It also does not matter if the vegetables are peeled, juiced, frozen, or canned. A nutritious diet composed of fruits and vegetables, coupled with exercise may promote good health and overall health.

Author Resource: Choose Variety of High Quality Medicines at Online Medicines

Enjoyed Reading this article? More here: Pharmacy Articles

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Sunday, November 11, 2007

Acupuncture During Pregnancy

Acupuncture is the ancient Chinese method of using tiny needles to stimulate specific areas or "meridians" of the body and to rebalance the body's energy, or chi. Because acupuncture is especially effective for chronic conditions, many pregnant women are turning to acupuncture to provide drug-free relief from many of the unpleasant symptoms of pregnancy.

An Australian study showed that women who received acupuncture treatments regularly before their 14th week of pregnancy had less nausea and shorter bouts of morning sickness than women who did not receive the treatment. Acupuncture has also been used to treat the more serious condition hyperemesis gravidarum, which causes serious vomiting that persists throughout pregnancy.

During the second trimester, acupuncture has been used to successfully treat heartburn and hemorrhoids. In the third trimester, acupuncture can provide relief from sciatica, joint pain and carpal tunnel syndrome, which many women develop late in pregnancy. Acupuncture has even been used to relieve pain during labor and delivery.

Pregnant women seeking to use acupuncture to treat conditions developed during pregnancy should be sure to visit a licensed and experienced acupuncturist. For example, although acupuncture can be used to treat edema, or swelling of the ankles, edema can be an indicator of a serious problem. An acupuncturist experienced in treating pregnant women would be more likely to recognize this problem and refer the patient back to her obstetrician.

The most serious risk of using acupuncture during pregnancy is that it may stimulate labor if it is improperly applied. Choosing an experienced practitioner reduces this risk to almost negligible levels. In fact, many women have turned to acupuncture to purposefully stimulate labor when their baby is overdue. Some women have found that labor induced by acupuncture is gentler than labor induced by drugs such as Pitocin.

In addition to benefits during pregnancy, labor and delivery, acupuncture has been used to promote fertility and to treat infertility. In a small German study, women who used acupuncture in conjunction with in vitro fertilization had a 42.5% success rate compared to 26.3% in women who used in vitro fertilization alone. Fertility specialists attribute this to the overall improvement of health that comes from receiving regular acupuncture treatments.

Finally, acupuncture may have some benefits in treating post-partum depression. Although no research has been done to support the efficacy of acupuncture treatments on post-partum depression, anecdotal evidence shows that some women do benefit from its use. Because acupuncture does not cause harmful drug interactions, it can be a useful complimentary therapy.

Author Resource: Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Alternative Health, Nursing, and Weight Loss

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Saturday, November 10, 2007

Understanding Acid Reflux Difficulty Swallowing

Sometimes, acid reflux is something that is a nuisance, but can be controlled with medications, changes in diet and sleep habits, or possibly by using homeopathic methods. However, when reflux has been left unchecked for some time, or when it is severe, bigger problems can occur. Sinus problems can be a complication, and some sufferers may find that they are prone to respiratory problems because of acid damage within the lungs. Even more troublesome for many is that they have, as a result of acid reflux, difficulty swallowing.

Acid that escapes the stomach and works its way up the esophagus can be very damaging to many of the tissues that it encounters. It can burn and damage the esophagus. The lungs and voice box might not fair too well, and some damage in the throat can scar over. When this scarring occurs, it may not be reversible by just treating your acid reflux. The muscles and tissues must flex for swallowing, and when scarred, they can no longer do that.

If you think you’re having difficulty swallowing as a result of acid reflux, you should make sure you see your doctor. As you can imagine, this is a serious situation that means you need medical evaluation and treatment. Difficulty swallowing can be indications of other more serious conditions and these may need to be ruled out before treatment can begin.

To determine why you’re having difficulty swallowing an endoscopy is usually carried out. This is where a tube with a small camera is inserted into your throat to see what is causing the obstruction in your throat or esophagus. That helps a doctor gauge the damage and also to see what they might have to do to fix it. Many things can happen next. In some cases, they may believe the issue will clear up on its own, and there are times the esophagus can be stretched with a special tool to loosen any tight scar tissue.

When the obstruction is severe, you may face surgery. While treatment is on-going, you may be told to eat only soft foods, to crush your mediations, and to get as many calories as you can in liquid form.

Thankfully, acid reflux difficulty swallowing is actually a very rare occurrence. When reflux is bad enough to cause such damage, it is very painful otherwise, and most seek treatment and get it under control before it becomes a problem. When you think about all of the things that the acid can do to your body, you can see why it is wise to seek help and take preventative measures. The problem of reflux can be considered just an inconvenience and not that serious in nature, but that is exactly what it can become if left untreated.

When the obstruction is severe, you may face surgery. While treatment is on-going, you may be told to eat only soft foods, to crush your mediations, and to get as many calories as you can in liquid form.

Author Resource: Grab your free copy of Kathryn Whittaker's brand new Acid Reflux & GERD Newsletter here http://www.naturally-stop-acid-reflux.com/?source=is which is overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you combat Acid Reflux and GERD.

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Thursday, November 8, 2007

One Lecithin A Day Helps Keep The Doctor Away

Produced by the liver when nutrition and diet is adequate, lecithin is a fat like substance needed by every cell in the body. It is in fact an essential component of the cell membranes which would harden if Lecithin wasn’t present in sufficient quantities.

Lecithin acts as a protector of cells oxidation and comprises the protective sheaths surrounding the brain. It plays an intrinsic role in long term memory and helps maintain the nervous system.
It is composed mostly of vitamin B, choline, inositol, linoleic acid as well as phosphoric acid.

As a fat emulsifier, Lecithin is also vital the supporting and maintaining a healthy heart and circulatory system.

Celebrated for years as a wonderful food able to fight a diverse number of ailments such as atherosclerosis, multiple sclerosis, liver cirrhosis, gall stones, psoriasis, eczema, scleroderma, anxiety, tremors and brain aging and was even claimed by a leading purveyor of soybean to be a nerve tonic which could even help alcoholics reduce the effect of intoxication and withdrawal. Chinese researchers even went as far as publishing and article entitled "A Comfortable and Spontaneous Cure for the Opium Habit by Means of Lecithin"

Later popularized by bestselling health authors Adelle Davis, Linda Clark and Mary Ann Crenshaw it didn’t become a star of the health food industry by accident. Several studies were conducted in the past 50 years suggesting the health benefits of this food substance and in 2001 the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) authorized products containing enough of it to bear labels such as "A good source of choline." In fact eggs, milk and soy products are the leading dietary sources of choline, according to recent research conducted at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and at Duke University.

Lecithin is regarded as safe except for people who are highly allergic to soy. The late Robert Atkins, MD, advised patients not to take large doses of supplemental lecithin without extra vitamin C.

As with everything concerning health, the object is to aim for an optimal health and the preferable method of achieving this is by the consumption of a balanced diet, which includes all the necessary nutrients indispensable for our health.

The problem is that a perfectly balanced diet is difficult to achieve in today’s society. In addition to most American’s deficit in terms of nutritional supplements furnished and derived by their food intake, people are now exposed to a level of stress which can exacerbate food deficiencies. As a result of these additional external factors, health may become compromised.

It is my opinion that if all was being equal and perfect in our consumption of food, we would not need to supplement our diet with nutritional supplements. Vitamins, minerals are normally produced in sufficient quantities by our body. The problem arises when these quantities diminish over time creating a disequilibrium which then may cause more serious complications.

Organic Vitamins and nutritional supplements such as Lecithin have been shown to redress this imbalance, thus improving our general health.

Author Resource: Observations about health, lecithin, weight loss, vitamins, nutritional supplements and more. http://www.vitahow.com/

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Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Canadian Health Care: The Difference

Canada is a former member of the British Empire, not that you would know to look at it at the moment! It is now a long-standing independent country but still bears a resemblance to the country that it was once under in certain ways, and health care is one of those ways. Canada health care is extremely good and based on the national health care system still in existence in the UK. In other words, everyone gets access to a good system that is affordable and non-discriminatory, but those who wish to can pay for private care as and when they like. Canada health care insurance plans are funded by the government and publicly as well, and an individual’s policy in maintained by the province that they live in.

Canada health care guidelines are set by the government and are thus uniform throughout the country. It is similar in its make up to that in the UK, meaning that it offers both remedial and preventative health care to anyone that needs it as and when the need arises. This includes doctors, hospitals, dentists and other health care practitioners that come under the one blanket that is Canada health care. All Canadians can get the health care that they want and need as a result because nobody is excluded. The quality of care, though, is unparalleled. Despite being a publicly funded service, the standards are so high that other countries look to Canada for inspiration if their health care system is in need of a makeover!

The average life expectancy in Canada is 80 years old, and that is higher than the age set for most other countries. This pays testament to just how good Canada health care actually is. The infant mortality rate is also low, and these two facts combine to speak volumes about just how good care actually is.

The Canada health care system has been much debated over the years because is has been and still remains socialized. Some individuals have called for private health care but you only have to look at the existing standards and practices to know that it is better left alone. Why try to fix something that is not broken at the risk of making it worse?

There are no problems with the system as it is and making Canada health care resemble US health care is a risk that is not worth taking. At the moment, all Canadians are entitled to the same health care, regardless of age, postcode and annual income. This works well because the nation’s health is far higher than any of their neighboring and fellow Western countries. Whilst the system is not cheap to maintain, it works and surely the nation’s health is more important than money?

We only live once and should make the most of every day via opportunities that are presented to us. Not everyone in the world has access to good health care so make the most of the opportunity that you have been given!

Author Resource: You can also find more info on http://www.tophealthcarehelp.com/Health_Care_Insurance on Health Care Insurance and http://www.tophealthcarehelp.com/Health_Care_Plans on Health Care Plans. http://Tophealthcarehelp.com is a comprehensive resource to know about Health Care.

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Monday, November 5, 2007

The Dark Side Of The Vaccination Game

New parents are regularly being advised to bring their children in for vaccinations shots. Children can be given vaccines for everything from measles to smallpox, though the latter is only rarely given out nowadays. The purpose of the vaccine is to prevent a child from developing a potentially life-threatening illness. This practice has been around for far longer than most people would believe, with records of ancient Chinese doctors administering vaccinations for chickenpox and polio. However, there is also a less-known dark side to the many benefits of vaccination. Some vaccines, particularly the ones administered to children, can cause side effects. While most of these side effects are mundane and can be safely ignored in most cases, there are circumstances that demand attention.

A recent example would be the reports that a variety of measles vaccines are causing juvenile diabetes in the children they were administered to. The research that was conducted eliminated all other possible factors over the course of their study, leading them to find that the only remaining commonality was that the children were all administered the same vaccine. Naturally, the only logical conclusion for them to have was that the diabetes development was among the possible side effects of the vaccine. The research team took the time to compare the relevant statistics and discovered that as the use of that vaccine went up, so did the number of children who developed diabetes. Whether this is a concrete connection is only suggested, but it isn't the first time vaccine side effects have been recorded.

Various children who were vaccinated eventually developed something that they weren't supposed to. The side effects vary from case to case, but the most common form of damage tends to come in the form of compromised mental health and stability. One child was reported to have developed psychosis and several minor neurological disorders because of a reaction that the vaccine had with certain parts of his central nervous system. There isn't a whole lot of certainty as to how that happened, but there are several theories being looked into.

Genetics are pointed as being as big a factor in this as the vaccines themselves, but that opens up an entirely new can of worms. There is ample evidence to suggest that a number of the side effects are triggered not by the vaccine itself, but by the interaction of the vaccine's components with certain factors determined by genetic make-up. Certain genes make a person more likely to develop side effects from the use of some of the compounds in vaccines. It is arguable whether or not these people are risking more by getting the vaccine than by ignoring it and letting nature take its course.

There is currently an on-going debate on whether or not it should be mandatory that parents have their children vaccinated. The benefits of such a thing are clear. The children are going to be protected from a variety of illnesses that could otherwise be either difficult or expensive to treat, making it an economically sound decision. However, that also puts the small percentage of people with genetic vulnerabilities at risk. Is needlessly putting them at risk worth preventing illness in the rest of the population? Would making vaccinations mandatory be considered an infringement of parental rights?

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Sunday, November 4, 2007

Reduce Pain with Natural Reflex Therapy®

Natural Reflex Therapy (NRT) is an advanced massage technique that reduces pain by placing the body into positions of comfort. The notion that certain body positions can benefit health goes back thousands of years, (from yoga to the martial arts). In America, different systems of healing have emphasized the use of positioning to release acute and chronic pain. Though not as well known as more traditional methods, releasing pain through positioning is effective, safe and gentle.

In the 1950’s Lawrence Jones, D.O. discovered by accident that when he placed the body into a comfortable position pain and dysfunction would heal quickly. He initially called this approach to pain “spontaneous release by positioning.” This work is now known generically as Positional Release or as the "fold and hold" technique." In most cases the position created is the original position of injury or an abnormal bony relationship. NRT is a variation of positional release that has been developed for use by Massage professionals.

NRT works with the sensors within our muscles that cause most of our painful symptoms. Tender points develop when the sensors of the proprioceptive reflex system in the body become dysfunctional. These sensors monitor our physical structure at all times including our sense of movement and posture. The reflex arcs, which are created by this information, help coordinate all of our movements, muscle tone, and maintain our posture and form physical habits.

The correct position allows proprioceptors to reset and stop firing protective signals. Within 10 to 90 seconds the body begins to release spasm, restore normal muscle tone, increase circulation, remove pressure on nerves, and allow bones and joints to move freely. All the energy and attention that was used to deal with pain is now available to the body’s healing process.

Practitioner of NRT are applying this technique to many kinds of painful condtions including: arthritic conditions, back problems, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Fibromyalgia syndrome, foot pain, headaches, neck pain, psoas pain, Sciatica, sprains, stress management, and Whiplash.

NRT works with pain from a holistic perspective. Holistic healing is a philosophical approach to health care that evaluates and treats the patient as a complex and integrated being. Rather than search for a single reason for pain the NRT Practitioner looks at the whole person including the origins and history of a problem; its relationship with other pains in the body; and multiple factors that may be directly or indirectly involved.

The potential to provide long lasting relief from pain is intrinsic to NRT. It gives the Massage Therapist, Bodyworker and/or the client powerful tools to address a wide range of problems in a comprehensive fashion.

Author Resource: Barry Krost is the co-founder of Natural Reflex Therapy, a Licensed Massage Therapist and Massage Instructor in San Antonio, Texas. He has been a professional Massage Therapist and Bodyworker for 24 years. For more information go to http://naturalreflexes.com/pages/NRT.html or http://www.selfgrowth.com/experts/barry_krost.html

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Saturday, November 3, 2007

Colon Health And Your Nerves

The nervous system is closely related to bowel health. This can be seen from the fact that if we are nervous - such waiting for an interview - this can easily translate into loose bowels.

More problematic are long term stress and nerve weaknesses which sometimes produce chronic inflammatory bowel conditions. These are most commonly:

* IBS or irritable bowel syndrome

* Diverticulitis

* Colitis

All these are inflammatory conditions of the colon. They are most predominantly found in people who are 'high stress' types. In other words, the constitution of such people is that they don't deal well with stress. You might be a person who reacts with stress to many situations for all to see; or you might be someone who 'bottles up' their stress. In either case, the colon can be affected and inflammation can be easily caused. Also, any inflammation already present - such as that caused by waste food becoming stuck in a small diverticulum, or pocket - can be made worse.

The long term answer in all these conditions includes colon cleansing which almost invariably helps improved bowel function. However, this may be too much to start with on its own, so measures to calm the bowel down must be used either alongside, or before colon cleansing is begun.

The prime methods to 'calm down' the colon are:

1. Supplements to build the nervous system. An example would be a 3 month programme of herbs which are known to build nerve health. For some people this will easily product a dramatic improvement. Other options are a course of homoeopathic treatment or acupuncture.

2. Behavioural and lifestyle measures to deal with, or reduce,stress.

There are various possibilities when considering behavioural and lifestyle changes:

A. If you can see you are producing stress in your life, take measures to reduce this. These commonly include:

i. 'Martyr syndrome'; that is, spending too much time on others. Answer: spend more time on yourself. After all, if you are ill you are no good to yourself or others

ii Overwork; Answer, clearly, is to somehow make it OK to work either less, or less stressfully

B. If you are not quite sure why you produce your stress, ie it 'just happens', you need to break the habit. Valuable aids, if pursued diligently, are one of the various types of meditation, or NLP. The latter is best followed with qualified assistance; however, it can be studied from a book too, and some of its methods are fairly easy to learn, and might produce good effects quickly. To help you practice it on yourself, videos are available. (In the UK you can rent these from the company 'The Anglo American Book Company', located in Wales.)

Regularity Is Essential

Behavioural methods combined with nerve building measures - eg with a 3 month nerve programme - will work very, very well IF you do them regularly, daily, assiduously... for 3 months or more.

As always, the help of alternative practitioners as well as your doctor's advice are invaluable.

Temporary - But Welcome - Relief

Palliative measures - to give relief while the above are taking effect, include:

* Slippery Elm - a miracle aid for colon inflammation. Best is the pure powder (no sugar please!) where you mix a teaspoon to a paste with a little cold water, and add hot water to make a mugful of a drink resembling a thin porridge. This wonderful drink, which can be drunk 2-3 times a day if you wish, will often give relief to inflammation of the bowel within the hour. If the drink sounds awful it is available in additive-free capsules. But... the drink is much better if you can possible take it.

* Cayenne Pepper if there is any bleeding present. Again, a 'specific' herb, in this case to stop bleeding. This works well internally. Best taken with food or a drink - or with the slippery elm drink, to avoid any slight burning.

* Wild yam, a herbal 'antispasmodic' which is sometimes combined with bayberry and agrimony ('astringent' herbs these are anti-inflammatory for the bowel) and other herbs. If you can find this formula, 6 capsules a day have achieved dramatic improvements, and can be used 'symptomatically', ie as and when required, until deeper measures as described above are taking effect.

With a careful plan, colon health which has been compromised by your nervous system has a very good chance of improving with the above measures. Do apply them every day for at least several months. After this time, you will have a good idea of what works for you. This is valuable knowledge which will help you for a lifetime.

Author Resource: Max Hill, a practitioner for over 20 years, has written extensively about colon cleansing for http://www.alternative-healthzine.com and http://www.shs100.com. Take a look today, and get the benefit of Max's valuable knowledge.

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Friday, November 2, 2007

Gastritis: More than Just a Grumbling Stomach

Ever experienced vomiting blood or having coffee-ground like material and dark stool? Ever felt abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and constant hiccups? Then you might be one of the more than 10% of people who come to a hospital emergency department with gastritis. Gastritis is a common medical problem of the stomach.

The stomach is an organ of the digestive system, located in the abdomen just below the ribs. Swallowed food is mixed with gastric juices containing enzymes and hydrochloric acid. The lining of the stomach called the epithelium is layered with multiple folds. The epithelium is coated with mucus (gastric mucosa) secreted by special glands. Inflammation caused by gastritis occurs in this lining.

Gastritis occurs when a bacterium, Helicobacter pylori, or the chronic use of drugs or certain medications weakens the protective mucous coating of the stomach and duodenum, allowing acid to get through to the sensitive lining beneath. Helicobacter pylori bacterium is also responsible for most peptic ulcers.

However, gastritis is not just one disease but a group of conditions, all of which result in the inflammation of the stomach lining. Inflammation of the stomach means that white blood cells move into the wall of the stomach as a response to an injury to the stomach. Commonly, the inflammation results from infection with the same bacterium that causes most stomach ulcers. Yet other factors such as traumatic injury and regular use of certain pain relievers can also contribute to gastritis.

Gastritis may be caused by many factors including infection, alcohol, particular medications and some allergic and immune conditions. It can be either acute, with severe attacks lasting a day or two, or chronic, with long term appetite loss or nausea. In many cases, gastritis has no symptoms (asymptomatic). But, common symptoms may include:

Loss of appetite
Pain in the upper abdomen just under the ribs
Nausea or Indigestion
Hiccups
Blood in the bowel actions
Weight loss

Gastritis can be caused by many different factors, including:

Medications such as aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)
Bacterial infection
Alcohol
Protracted vomiting
Overproduction of gastric juices, which is a stress response in some people
The backflow of bile from the small intestine (duodenum)
Some allergic and immune conditions – for example, pernicious anaemia
Severe stress due to major surgery, traumatic injury or burns
Exposure to radiation.

Diagnosing gastritis involves a variety of tests, including endoscopy and biopsy. In endoscopy, a thin flexible tube is threaded down the esophagus into the stomach. The endoscope is fitted with a small camera so the physician can look at the stomach lining. If the gastric mucosa is reddened, this may indicate gastritis. A biopsy is needed for confirmation. Biopsy involves small tissue samples which are taken during an endoscopy and tested in a laboratory. The pathologist will look for changes, including the presence of inflammatory cells and epithelium damage. Treatment of gastritis varies from person to person and depends on the specific cause. For most types of gastritis, reduction of stomach acid is helpful. Stomach acid is reduced by medication and antibiotics are given for infection. Most people recover from gastritis. Depending on the many factors that affect the stomach lining, gastritis symptoms may flare up from time to time. Overall, gastritis is generally a common, mildly troubling ailment that responds well to simple treatments. On occasion, rare forms of gastritis can be serious or even life threatening. Severe, ongoing symptoms or internal bleeding should alert a physician to search for a more serious underlying cause.

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Thursday, November 1, 2007

How To Use Natural Herbs For Healing

With cold and flu season coming up, many of us would benefit from using a vapor bath to help open the sinuses and facial pores. To start, place the herbal mixture you have chosen into a pot of boiling water and let it steep (covered) for about 10 minutes.

Make a tent with a towel over your face and neck and put your face down over the uncovered pot. Be careful; you certainly don't want to get scalded! If the steam is too hot, you can wait a short time and try again or add some cold water. Breathe deeply and enjoy!

Adding herbs to your bath water can be therapeutic. Make sure the bath is warm enough to be comfortable (somewhere around 90 degrees is recommended). You can choose sea salt, herbs, or a combination of the two. If you would like to add herbs, one way to introduce them to the water is to hang tea bags under the spout as the water fills up the tub. Herbs can also be added to water for a refreshing foot bath.

When using herbs, it is important to educate yourself about the different properties associated with different kinds, to ensure that you will get the benefit you are seeking from whatever herb or combination you choose. Check that the herbs you choose are pesticide free. Be sure that you are using natural products in a safe manner; some of them are safe to be used on the skin but will cause illness (or worse) if ingested. In the beginning, it would be prudent to experiment with just one herb at a time. If you have an adverse reaction, you will at least know which type of herb you are allergic to.

When starting out, a good choice is to work with the Aloe Vera plant. Known as the "healing plant", the juice from the leaves of the Aloe Vera can be applied to any kind of skin condition. It is especially useful to take the sting out of burns including sunburns.

These hardy plants can be grown at home by even the brownest thumb. They are very easy to use: simply peel off one of the leaves from the base of the plant and tear or cut it open. It's the "juice" inside that you will want to apply to your skin. The most convenient way to accomplish this is to simply squeeze it directly onto the skin irritation. No special preparation is required and the stinging will stop very quickly. The properties contained in Aloe Vera also help the skin heal quickly.

As you get to know more about herbs, you will be able to add to your repertoire of applications for them. Perhaps you will start your own herb garden!

Author Resource: Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as a natural health products at http://www.health-nature-wellness.com

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