Can Calcium Prevent Disease?

Calcium is essential for the body’s bones. But this mineral has a big role in preventing other health problems, too! Calcium has been associated with lowering blood pressure (and the risk of high blood pressure). Researchers have noted that a vegetarian diet that is high in minerals (including calcium, magnesium, and potassium), high in fiber, and low in fat tends to lead to lower blood pressure levels. Clinical studies have also looked at the effect of an increased calcium intake on blood pressure. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health tested different types of … Continue reading

Metabolic Bone Disease in Reptiles

Metabolic bone disease is a common but preventable disease seen in pet reptiles. There is no one cause for this disease — the primary problem is a disruption of calcium metabolism that leads to many related problems. Most often, metabolic bone disease is caused by poor diet and care. Iguanas are very susceptible to metabolic bone disease thanks to their specific light, diet, and environmental needs, but the disease can appear in any reptile. Without getting too technical, metabolic bone disease results from an improper ratio of calcium to phosphorus in the body. In a normal, healthy reptile, the ratio … Continue reading

Preventing Kidney Stones

Kidney stones can be painful — but there are some things you can do to prevent them. Small diet changes can make a big difference in your body’s development of kidney stones. Drink more water! Six to eight glasses of water every day can help dilute urine. When urine becomes too concentrated, minerals like calcium, phosphate, and oxalate can crystallize, forming stones. The pain comes when the stones pass from the kidneys. Diluting the urine can help prevent the crystallization in the first place. Good old water is best, but you can also drink fruit juices or drinks from mix. … Continue reading

Exercise & Heart Disease

As you may well know, exercise plays a key role for helping to prevent heart disease and to help someone with heart disease to rehabilitate their heart after an attack or surgery. The positive influence of exercise on lowering cholesterol and high blood pressure as well as helping to reduce weight and the risk for diabetes all play a vital role in improving heart health. The most common form of cardiovascular disease is coronary artery disease. Cardiovascular disease includes conditions such as congestive heart failure, stroke and hypertension. Coronary artery disease is a very gradual process that causes the arteries … Continue reading

7 Deadly Foods: Expert Advice

What are the 7 Foods You Should Never Eat? Experts interviewed by Prevention Magazine let us know how scary some food can be. And, these foods aren’t what you think. Skip the usual advice about cholesterol, fat and sugar. Instead, let us talk about chemicals and toxins that you inadvertently consuming, present in some of the most innocuous-seeming food. Who ever knew that canned tomatoes could kill you. While I pretty much had heard many of this advice before, it seems to be coming as a surprise for many others. A link to the prevention article, 7 Foods You Should … Continue reading

Searching for the Right Supplements

I have been on a search for the right supplements. Now that I am in my 40’s I seem to be taking my health a bit more seriously and I am more concerned about looking younger. I just want to look and feel as good as I can. If you are looking for the top ten supplements, you are probably on the same kind of search that I am on. Our reasons for doing it might be different but the need to find what is right is the same. One of the first supplements that I began taking is Omega-3 … Continue reading

The Benefits of Fish Oil

I have been taking fish oil for several months now. There are a few health benefits to fish oil that you may not be aware of. One of the main reasons that I began taking fish oil is because of concerns with my heart. I have a mild case of tricuspid regurgitation, which means that when my right ventricle contracts some of the blood that pumps through leaks back into the tricuspid valve. From what I have been told it is so mild there is no real concern. I have never been completely sold on that. Any possibility of a … Continue reading

Why Does My Body Need Phosphorus?

Phosphorus is a mineral that has many useful roles for the body. It is used in energy metabolism, to help the body use some B-complex vitamins, for muscle and nerve function, and for kidney function. But one of the most important roles of phosphorus is to help the body maintain its calcium balance. This mineral is essential to the formation of bones and teeth, and bone and tooth health throughout all stages of life. Cool phosphorus fact: approximately one percent of an adult’s total body weight is phosphorus. However, most of that phosphorus (about 85%) lives in your bones and … Continue reading

Selenium and Health Issues

Selenium is a trace mineral — a mineral your body needs in small amounts as compared to macrominerals (like iron and calcium) that your body needs in large amounts. But even a trace mineral can have a big impact on your health. Selenium deficiency is often seen in places where concentrations of selenium in the soil are low — like China, and parts of Russia. Studies have shown that selenium deficiency may contribute to a host of health issues, including heart disease, thyroid issues, and a weakened immune system. Researchers believe that a selenium deficiency doesn’t usually cause illness by … Continue reading

Be Kind to Your Kidneys and Liver

The human body is pretty amazing. Despite all the wear and tear the body gets on a daily basis — inside AND out — it still keeps going. Your liver and kidneys play a huge role in keeping the body clean on the inside. The liver has hundreds of functions, but one big one is filtering bad stuff (like bacteria) out of the blood. It’s also essential for digestion — the liver produces bile, which breaks down fat so the body can digest it. It’s a multitasking marvel! Your kidneys are waste and water processors. On a daily basis, they … Continue reading