For several years green tea has been toted as the most beneficial beverage besides water, however its benefits are still unproven and the FDA denies any evidence supporting green tea health benefits. On the other hand, doctors, nutritionists and other healthcare professionals are all vocalizing their recommendations of green tea. For the past several years additional research studies have been done to prove the benefits of green tea however, there is skepticism of the results because of the studies being done in Japan and China where the people have been drinking green tea for thousands of years. Although, the most recent studies show promising effects on heart disease, cancer, lowering cholesterol, burning fat, preventing diabetes, stroke and dementia.

Green tea originates from China but has also been associated with Japan, Asia, South Korea, and the Middle East. Green tea is made from the leaves of Camellia Sinensis. This bush can produce three distinct types of tea depending upon the processing of the leaves. Unfermented leaves develop green tea, semi fermented leaves create oolong tea and fully fermented leaves create black tea. For green tea the leaves must be dried quickly through a process of steaming or pan firing. Tea has been consumed as a beverage for over 5000 years however, it has also been used in traditional Chinese medicine to maintain health. Traditional Chinese medicine claims the health benefits of green tea include refreshing the mind, enhancing alertness, boosting concentration, promote fluid production, quench the thirst, clear heat and phlegm, promote urination, promote digestion, regulation of body temperature, and regulate blood sugar. It was also used to control bleeding, heal wounds, cure blotchiness, and cure Beriberi disease. Today drinking tea in China is still an important part of their culture and health maintenance.

The potential health benefits of green tea stem from it ingredients within it. However, when you talk about the ingredients of green tea you are referring to the nutritional value and nutrients found within the leaves of the Camellia sinensis bush. Green tea has over 200 bioactive compounds and contains over 300 different substances. The most prevalent substance that makes up about 1/3 of the nutritional ingredients is polyphenols. The more specific polyphenol to be exact is catechin of which the most abundant catechin is Epigallocatechin 3 gallate (EGCG). Polyphenols are antioxidants, with properties that destroy oxidative reactions, which can cause signs of aging, diseases and destroy cellular membranes. However EGCG is also known for other health benefits related to green tea such as preventing cancer, lowering blood pressure, reducing LDL cholesterol, and reducing tooth decay. Additionally caffeine is present to boost energy, increase brain function, and eliminate fatigue, tannins are available as an antihistamine and anti inflammatory, and theanine is an amino acid that reduces mental and physical stress and boosts the immune system response. Other nutritional factors include chlorophyll, butyric acid, gallic acid, quinic acid, Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C, E, F, P, and U, minerals aluminum, manganese, fluoride, magnesium, iron, copper, nickel, zinc and calcium, saponin, saccharides, pectin, and many, many more.

Green tea is the second most drank beverage in the world. Although the taste probably has something to do with it, the proposed health benefits are another major factor. Health benefits of green tea are wide ranging making it a beverage that almost anyone with a medical condition could benefit from. The most promising effect of green tea is longevity of life. Green tea has been shown to reduce mortality from all causes, protecting our bodies from death. This fact alone could get anyone to drink a glass of green tea a day. However, the list doesn’t stop there. For everyone who wants to lose weight and burn fat, drinking green tea daily or taking a green tea supplement has shown to increase metabolism of fat therefore reducing the amount of body fat. By reducing the amount of weight and fat in the body, it also lowers LDL cholesterol and improves HDL cholesterol, lowers blood pressure, decreases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, coronary artery disease and cardiovascular disease and reverses the affects of atherosclerosis.  Green tea ingredients work effectively at warding off cancer particularly stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer and prostrate cancer. It protects the liver, digestive tract, heart and brain from damage and destruction from free radicals. Additionally green tea has shown to improve memory and learning ability, which boosts brain function, therefore reducing the neurodegeneration that causes Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s prevents stroke and prevents the formation of blood clots. Green tea prevents tooth decay by increasing bone mineral density and reduces the risk of arthritis.  Health benefits of green tea are based on amount of consumption per day. Higher consumption over longer periods of time proved to be more beneficial to the body.

Although more and more studies are being conducted on the benefits of green tea, statistically the numerous amounts of suspected health benefits combined with the large number of people who already drink green tea, give you a good idea of how beneficial green tea can be if added into your daily diet.

Article Source: http://sarahlabdar.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/green-tea-healthy-or-unhealthy-3813575.html

Author: Sarah Labdar
Source: http://sarahlabdar.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/green-tea-healthy-or-unhealthy-3813575.html

Author: DiseaseFreeZone
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiTbjk3qKLc

As a current lung cancer survivor I continue to look for

things that I believe might be helpful to anyone who has been diagnosed with lung cancer and the people that surround those individuals.

I am constantly reading articles that were written by people who have opinions on what are the right and wrong ways to treat lung cancer and most of them have merit in the fact that they are usually backed up with some facts and testimonials but I have yet to read anything that would give me the confidence to say, “This will cure lung cancer.”

I am confident that there are some very exciting things being researched out there that hopefully provide steps in the right direction like these tidbits of information that came from the ‘Cancer Update From Johns Hopkins’ that I received in late February.

The Article begins by reminding us that we all have cancer cells lurking in our body being held in check by our immune systems. When our immune systems are strong and on the job, cancer cells are destroyed before the can multiply and form tumors. When a person is diagnosed with cancer it is an indication that there has been a breakdown in the defenses that your immune system provides. So what causes these breakdowns? Generally the arrival of cancer is an indication of multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic factors, environmental or food and lifestyle factors. A solid diet including supplements are key to keeping the immune system strong and functioning.

Where Johns Hopkins is starting to change their thinking is in regards to chemotherapy and radiation as the only way to try to eliminate cancer.

For those of you who are not familiar with the ‘Batman and Robin’ of cancer treatment, we will start with Chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells which is a good thing. Chemotherapy’s downside, it knows no boundaries so it will destroy rapid-growing healthy cells just as quickly. Chemotherapy can also cause damage to the liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc. There are various medications that you can take while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment that will assist you in reclaiming things like red and white blood cells both crucial in your on going fight and survival, but these provide short term assistance.

Radiation is a little more cut and dry in its effects it destroys cancer cells but also destroys healthy cells and can damage healthy tissue and organs. Radiation is the proverbial ‘Bull’ in the ‘china shop’ that is your body. I could write another three pages on the immediate effects of both on the human body, but I think that you get the point, both have the potential to do as much harm as good. As far as long term consequences, as a current lung cancer survivor of three years, I’m not sure what long term means. Sounds like another article for another time.

Although both chemo and radiation can reduce the tumor size, when the body has too much toxic burden placed upon it by these two, the immune system can be compromised or destroyed altogether. This is what almost took my life in June of 07 when I found myself fighting off an infection with a very depleted immune system. The equivalent of fighting off a lion with a toothpick. Luckily for me, I ended up in intensive care before the various infections that were raging through me ended up putting an end to me.

Chemo and radiation can also cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy.

With myself, surgery was not an option. There was a fear with my small cell lung cancer spreading quickly by exposing the cells, so surgery has not been an option at any time. I will tell you this much, the two of them together, Chemo combined with radiation, comprised the treatment that I received for small cell lung cancer, that treatment has been the driving force behind my fight and has helped me stay alive as long as I have.

So here it is, John Hopkins thought is that an effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not making the foods that these cells need to multiply available to them.

According to Johns Hopkins, depriving cancer cells of such things as sugar and sugar substitutes, table salt, milk, beef and pork as well as coffee, most tea and chocolate will have a huge positive impact in your fight. As far as water is concerned drink purified or filtered water no tap water or distilled.

A diet consisting of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seed nuts and a little fruit combined with about 20% cooked food including beans would be ideal to move your body from the acidic breeding ground for cancer cells to a more alkaline and healthy environment. I cannot begin to tell you the benefits of fresh vegetable juice which will put live enzymes into your system within 15 minutes to help enhance the growth of healthy cells. I would like to add that the introduction of organic vegetables and food into my system have been a key component of my early cancer success. There are some very good cancer diet books at your local library that can help you get on the right track as well as the internet and your health provider who will also be able to answer your questions, point is do some research in the field of proper cancer diet and nutrition it could mean the difference between life and death.

They also talk about the importance of the right supplements to help build up the immune system. I will tell you also to think about the importance of vitamin D to the health of the human body. Exercising daily which can be as simple as walking for a half hour a day and deep breathing to help get more oxygen to the cells since cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Johns Hopkins also talks about keeping a positive attitude and trying to limit stress as keys to fighting a successful battle.

I agree with all of the things that they are saying,(how often do you here that?) Let me ask you, “Why would a drastic change in your diet have such a dramatic effect on your health?” Do I really need to point this out to you?

You might want to sit down while you read this next section if you are startled by things that are as obvious as the nose on your face.

Had we paid more attention to begin with what we have been eating, we might not be a country that faces more health issues then the rest of the world. I am not just talking about cancer. I’m also talking about heart issues, high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, diabetes and probably includes a number of things that you are now taking one of the hundreds of new medications that have been advertised non stop as of late. About that, did it ever occur to you as you were listening to the various side effects of everything being advertised that these new wonder drugs are more detrimental to your health then what ever it is that they are treating? Here’s another thought for you, how many new prescriptions will you eventually need to counteract the side effects of the first prescription that you never needed to begin with? I don’t want to get too far off subject, but the prescription craze that we have so easily fallen into coincides nicely with the amount of poor nutritional choices we make. We have become the “happy meal” society, surrounded by giant size portions of questionable products. We are far too busy to prepare our own meals so we eat fast food and pre made dinners packaged in plastic containers for our convenience. Problem being that we have no idea of the quality of the product and the container that we are heating by microwaves releases toxins into the food we eat when we heat it. I am not even going to discuss the various chemicals that have been in use to grow our food or the amount of toxins that we ply upon ourselves in an attempt to make our teeth whiter, our breath fresher our skin firmer. The amount of children being born with autism coupled with the steady increase in life altering diseases that we are inflicted with should be telling us something. The childhood obesity epidemic in this country should be telling us something.

We could look back over the past few decades and look at the trail of personal destruction that we have opened ourselves up to if you want starting with banks foreclosing on our Nations family owned farms which I believe was the beginning of things all the way through the get rich quick decade where wealth on paper backed by exaggerated real estate values helped us all reach a little farther then we had any business reaching. Bringing us to today where unemployment and foreclosure have brought us back down to the Earth which we continue to destroy.

Our view on the environment seems to follow suit with the rest of the way we choose to live. In denial. But again, I’ve strayed off my path. Back to what we were talking about, Johns Hopkins is right, for the cancer patient, our diet helps determine the outcome and overall success of our treatment. My point in case you missed it is that you should not wait for a life altering event to begin taking better care of yourself and taking responsibility for your health, which means paying attention to your eating habits as well as the quality of the food you eat. If you are responsible for a family you have an obligation to ensure that your family is being provided for properly. There is a very simple thought here, change your eating habits now by investing a little time, effort and thought up front and the return on that investment will be reduced health cost in the future and a longer, happier life for the people you are responsible for.

I don’t know what the cure for cancer is hopefully someone will find it and make it available for anyone and everyone who needs it regardless of their financial status or health care plan. I do know this for a fact, lung cancer is the leading killer among all cancers. Diet, Chemotherapy, radiation and any other alternatives that are found to be of value should be explored when it comes to your treatment. As of today the only guaranteed treatment for surviving lung cancer that I know to be 100% effective is avoidance.

Look at early detection testing, (Respiragene is the only one I know of) along with a strong smoking sensation program(many available programs out there) if you are a person who smokes. Review your diet and change your eating habits if need be to become a healthier person. A little exercise and some vitamins and maybe your immune system will remain at a level that allows you to avoid many life altering illnesses. Take the money you were going to spend on the next playstation game for your 6 year old and build him or her a sandbox or swing set instead. I believe that kids who are active and allowed to get their hands dirty reduce their chances for immediate and long term health issues.

Sure there is no accounting for your genetic makeup which makes us all individuals and many times is the main catalyst in deciding which of us will be more susceptible to what. What I’m talking about is controlling the things in your life that you can control to lessen the likelihood of you needing to make life and death decisions regarding treatments. Who knows maybe we can change the path we are currently on and set a better example for generations to come.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cancer-articles/lung-cancer-so-much-advice-so-little-time-2023652.html

Author: Tim Giardina
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cancer-articles/lung-cancer-so-much-advice-so-little-time-2023652.html

Author: aslmike
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssg1V9c7E5s

Chaga mushroom tea has long been considered a health elixir in Russia, Siberia and many northern European countries but has so far largely avoided the limelight in the Western world. This drink, derived from the irregularly-shaped and strange-looking mushrooms that grow along the barks of birch tree trunks in Russia and northern countries, has made a name for itself as a potent strengthener of the immune system and has shown great promise in the treatment of cancer.

The chaga mushroom has a black, solid, charcoal-like appearance, very much different from the appearance of the typical mushroom. It is parasitic in nature, and eventually contributes to the death of its host. The inside of the mushroom bears the color of rusted iron and has cream-colored veins. It has a texture that resembles that of a cork.

Chaga mushroom tea was introduced to much of the world by the Russian author Alexandr Solzhenitsyn through his novel ‘Cancer Ward’ where the main character is cured of cancer with help from this beverage. Curiosity about the chaga mushroom tea was thought to have increased as interest in Solzhenitsyn himself deepened in the West. The novel was thought to be autobiographical, as Solzhenitsyn likewise suffered from cancer himself.

Over the decades, there have been studies conducted in various parts of the world on the purported cancer-fighting abilities of the mushroom. In 1958, researchers in Russia and Finland found that chaga mushroom has potent fighting capabilities against cancer affecting the breast, the liver and the uterus. Japanese researchers meanwhile tested chaga extracts in the mid-1990s and came to the conclusion that cells exposed to such extracts were less likely to grow uncontrollably. Two years after that, Polish researchers were able to demonstrate that chaga inhibits tumor growth. And in 2005, Korean researchers were able to show that cells infused with chaga mushroom extracts were considerably more resistant to DNA damage upon exposure to oxidating agents.

The anti-cancer properties of chaga mushroom are said to be derived from the huge load of phytochemicals, polysaccharides and antioxidants that are naturally found within the herb. Many of these substances are also found in many types of medicinal mushrooms that are also thought to impart anti-cancer properties like reishi, cordyceps and shiitake. In addition, it is also a source of betulinic acid, a compound derived from the wood of the birch trees that typically host the mushrooms. Betulinic acid is said to help counter viral infections and fight tumors.

Traditionally, the chaga mushroom has been taken as a tea in Russia. The inner parts of the mushroom are typically shredded, then soaked and softened in cold water for a couple of hours. The water with the chaga essence is then saved and stored in a container while the softened mushrooms are further placed in a cup of hot water and allowed to stand for about two days at room temperature. After two days, the remnants of the chaga mushrooms are discarded and the resultant tea is combined with the stored essence to create a potent drink that can be taken (and believed to be effective) within four days. The tea is quite bitter, is slightly astringent, has a coffee-like flavor, but has no aftertaste.

While chaga mushroom tea is chiefly believed to be effective in fighting tumors, strengthening the immune system and promoting cellular health, it has likewise been used in folk medicine as treatment for pains, stomach problems, hypertension, viral infections, and diabetes. It has also grabbed some attention as a potential treatment for HIV.

While it is often described as free of side effects, it is best that patients with cancer and other ailments should always discuss the use of chaga mushroom with their physician so that it is used in a complementary method with their existing treatments.

Clearly, the world is yet to fully discover and realize the maximum potentials of the chaga mushroom tea in preventing, treating and even curing many of today’s most pervasive ailments and diseases. But it is worthwhile to note that many eons ago, the Chinese herbalist and monk Shen Nong has already declared and described chaga as a ‘precious gift of nature’ and ‘king of herbs’. He even classified chaga mushroom as a ‘superior herb’.

There seems to be a wellspring of evidence that the chaga mushroom indeed imparts valuable health benefits, particularly to those who suffer from cancer. The world may just need to study and evaluate the evidences thoroughly to truly unlock the health properties so that generations may fully realize the benefits of ‘nature’s precious gift’.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cancer-articles/chaga-mushroom-tea-widely-considered-powerful-anti-cancer-beverage-in-russia-3040286.html

Author: Edwin Bartolome
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cancer-articles/chaga-mushroom-tea-widely-considered-powerful-anti-cancer-beverage-in-russia-3040286.html

Cancer. It’s perhaps the most frightening word in the English language. Although our medical system has made tremendous advances in the last few decades the grand prize of them all, the holy grail of medical science – a cancer cure – continues to elude researchers.

A cancer diagnosis is serious business. This disease claims over a half million lives each year in the United States alone. Cancer, in its many forms, has the ability to threaten each and every one of us no matter what our age.

Most Common Cancers:

The four most common types of cancer are prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer and colorectal cancer. Although cancer death rates have been slowly declining for years, the death rate for prostate cancer remains 28.0 per 100,000. The death rate for breast cancer is 25.4 per 100,000. Colorectal cancer has the lowest death rate of the top four cancers, coming in at 19.6 per 100,000. The highest death rate is attributed to lung cancer at 54.8 per 100,000 (Source: Randolph E. Schmid; Associated Press).

Although researchers haven’t yet discovered a fail-proof cancer treatment, early detection can greatly improve the odds of survival. Screening tests that can find the first sign of cancer are becoming more popular. “As of 2003, 69.7 percent of women over 40 had a mammogram in the last two years, up from just 29 percent in 1987…..79.2 percent had a pap test for cervical cancer” (Source: Randolph E. Schmid; Associated Press).

How To Lower The Risk Of Most Cancers:

There is no cancer center or alternative cancer treatment that can promise a cure. However, it’s important to note that we do have the power to raise or lower our cancer risk. In fact, the choices we make in everyday life have a surprisingly large impact on our chances of contracting cancer. “Evidence suggests that one third of the 550,000 cancer deaths that occur in the United States each year are due to unhealthy diet and insufficient physical activity” (Source: Dr. Tim Byers and Colleen Doyle, MS, RD of the American Cancer Society).

Experts, such as those at the American Cancer Society, point to several behavior modifications that can be made to lower the risk of cancer. For example, wearing sun-block and minimizing exposure to the sun can lower the risk of skin cancer. Reducing or stopping smoking altogether will lower the risk of many types of cancer, including mouth cancer and throat cancer. Other lifestyle changes that may lower cancer risk include limiting the consumption of alcohol and high-fat foods.

Although rarely mentioned in the major media, scientists are now realizing that perhaps the biggest cause of cancer in our society today is lack of exercise. As a matter of fact, it’s no understatement to say that the best cancer insurance you can purchase today is to invest in a gym membership.

“For the majority of Americans who do not smoke, eating a healthful diet and being physically active are the most important ways to reduce cancer risk” (Source: Dr. Tim Byers and Colleen Doyle, MS, RD of the American Cancer Society). Regular exercise helps you maintain a healthy weight, which is important for cancer prevention. Overweight or obese individuals have a higher risk of several cancers, including breast and colon cancer, esophageal cancer, and kidney cancers.

“Being overweight works in a variety of ways to increase cancer risk. These include mechanical ways in which abdominal obesity leads to acid reflux into the esophagus, and hormonal ways, in which obesity increases circulating levels of hormones such as estrogen and insulin that can stimulate cancer growth. Achieving an ideal weight need not be the first goal, though, as substantial benefits can come from first stopping weight gain, then beginning to achieve a modest amount of weight loss.” (Source: Dr. Tim Byers and Colleen Doyle, MS, RD of the American Cancer Society). The single best way to obtain weight loss and normalize hormonal balance is through regular exercise.

The Calle Study:

Researcher Eugenia Calle, PhD, in a study published in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine (Vol. 348, No. 17: 1625-1638), found that overweight and obesity may account for 20% of all cancer deaths in US women and 14% in US men. That means 90,000 cancer deaths could be prevented each year if Americans could only maintain a normal, healthy body weight.

According to the research done by Calle and her colleagues, the heaviest men in the study had death rates from all cancers combined that were 52% higher than the rates among normal-weight men. The heaviest women had cancer death rates 62% higher than normal-weight women.

Adding to the conclusions of previous studies, Calle found that being overweight or obese was linked to uterus cancer, kidney cancer, esophagus cancer, rectal cancer, and cancers of the gallbladder, colon, and breast (in postmenopausal women).

Because obesity increases a woman’s risk of developing the disease in the first place, and her risk of dying from it once she has it, the effects on breast cancer are compounded, Calle said,

The researchers also found that many types of cancer that were not previously linked to obesity were indeed impacted by excess body weight. Those included cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer (in men), prostate cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

“Overweight and obesity has a very broad impact on cancer across most cancer sites,” Calle said. “That’s not something that’s really in the consciousness of the American people.” In fact, in an American Cancer Society survey conducted in 2002, just 1% of Americans identified maintaining a healthy weight as a way to reduce cancer risk.

Additional Studies Reinforce The Cancer/Exercise Link:

Besides the Calle research, there are multiple studies proving a link between regular exercise and a lower risk of cancer.

“A longitudinal study of Harvard alumni found that highly active or even moderately active individuals had a substantially lower risk of developing both colon and lung cancer than alumni who were less active or sedentary” (Source: Cedric X. Bryant, Ph.D., ACE’s Chief Exercise Physiologist).

“Heart disease and diabetes get all the attention, but expanding waistlines increase the risk for at least nine types of cancer, too. And with the obesity epidemic showing no signs of waning, specialists say they need to better understand how fat cells fuels cancer growth so they might fight back. What’s already clear: Being overweight can make it harder to spot tumors early, catch recurrences, determine the best chemotherapy dose, even fit into radiation machines. That in turn hurts chances of survival. One major study last year estimated that excess weight may account for 14 percent to 20 percent of all cancer deaths — 90,000 a year.” (Source: LAURAN NEERGAARD, AP Medical Writer; Mon Aug 23, 9:09 PM ET).

The Bottom Line:

The most important behavior we can adopt to minimize our risk of cancer is to stay active and maintain a healthy weight through regular exercise. Adults should exercise at least thirty minutes each day, but with exercise more is better. Diet is important, too. The American Cancer Society recommends eating five or more servings of fruit and vegetables every day, choosing whole grains over processed grains, and limiting red meat. Of course, alcohol consumption and smoking should also be curtailed to lower the risk of most cancers.

Cancer research continues, and new cancer drugs are being developed even now. Here in the United States we are extremely fortunate to have some of the finest cancer treatment centers in the world. But we still do not have a cancer cure. Until we do, protect yourself by exercising regularly and eating a healthy low-fat diet full of vegetables.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/cancer-and-exercise-16287.html

Author: Tracie Johanson
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/cancer-and-exercise-16287.html

Author: aruffa07
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxfAHo9Z7r4

Author: uspimpclub
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl3dASkAX4g