Health related information and news from around the world.

Modern medicine tends to equate the menopause with a formidable array of symptoms, and longer-term deterioration of body tissues that it blames on oestrogen deficiency. The implication is that menopausal women need hormone therapy to minimise or avoid symptoms and to maintain good health into old age. This view of menopause is increasingly under attack as oversimplified. Critics say that the absence of serious menopausal problems in many women who undoubtedly experience an overall drop in oestrogen (and other sex hormone) levels has not been adequately explained.

Some critics of the medical view also argue that the increased incidence of many diseases attributed to menopause may largely reflect ageing processes that would occur even if there were no such life stage as menopause. Others say that the focus on hormonal factors leads to the neglect of other possible biological contributors to symptom development and later health problems. These include lack of exercise, smoking, and poor nutrition involving inadequate vitamin and mineral intake. There is also criticism of the tendency to neglect psychological and social influences on mood states like irritability, depression and anxiety, which may be glossed over as ‘menopause-related’ without further investigation. The emergence of these symptoms at menopause may have less to do with hormones than with the reappraisal of personal relationships, or changes in self-confidence or self-esteem.

Although the medical view is widely criticised, women themselves are often the first to vouch for the effectiveness of oestrogen in relieving distressing symptoms like flushes and sweats. There is also good evidence that oestrogen has a beneficial effect on bone structure and blood vessel function, in some women at least. The challenge facing thoughtful doctors and those who run menopause clinics is to try to work out, in conjunction with their patients, the pluses and minuses of hormone use. And it is imperative that women learn all they can, so that they are equipped to make informed decisions in favour of HRT or against it.

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The idea that food intolerance might cause Crohn’s disease is highly controversial. Almost all the work on this subject has been carried out by Dr John Hunter of Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. He finds that over 80 per cent of patients recover on an elimination diet, and then react to specific foods when these are reintroduced. By cutting out the incriminated foods, these patients can remain well. Some of them later relapse – as is common in Crohn’s disease – but after two years, 80 per cent of those still on their diet remain well. This compares favourably with the standard treatment, using corticosteroids. Of patients treated with these drugs, only 40 per cent are still well after two years of treatment.

Because patients with Crohn’s disease are often very ill, carrying out an elimination diet is not all that easy, and other doctors have been reluctant to try this new approach. The technique that Dr Hunter uses is to feed his patients on an elemental diet during the first part of the elimination diet, or to feed them in some other way – using an intravenous drip which puts nutrients straight into the bloodstream, for example. Other doctors, who are sceptical about food intolerance, suggest that the Crohn’s disease symptoms clear up simply because the patient’s gut is being given a rest from digesting real food, or because the patient’s nutritional status is improved. But if this were the case, one would not expect the patients to remain well afterwards, on a normal diet that just excluded certain food items.

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Strong impressions, agitation, fear and panic usually disturb the sleep pattern. The reflexes of the subconscious mind prevent quiet relaxation during sleep. After all, not every part of the body is asleep, many functions such as the circulation and, with it, the activity of the heart and the lungs, never stop to rest. If they stopped working our life would stop too. Digestion and everything linked with our metabolism continues working during the hours of sleep. Part of the brain rests, consciousness in particular being switched off, but other parts continue their function at a reduced rate.

We should not eat much in the evening and should avoid heavy or indigestible food completely; neither should our last meal of the day be taken late if we wish to prevent the subconscious mind, with its reactions and reflexes, giving us excitable and restless dreams that rob us of valuable energy for no good reason at all. It is of equal importance to try and forget the day’s happenings, perhaps by listening to some soothing music before going to bed.

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Every anatomical detail of the human body serves a specific purpose. For example, why is the nasal space divided into three corridors through which air must pass before it can enter the nasopharyngal canal and the bronchial tubes? In flowing past the blood-vessel-lined interior of the nose the air is warmed and prepared for the lungs. In addition, the anterior nostrils are considerably smaller than the posterior nares and this causes a partial vacuum in the nasal interior, which sucks the warm air from accessory nasal cavities and mixes it with cold air coming in with each breath. With designed! Even the smallest detail has a purpose.

This finely tuned detail of anatomical construction becomes more obvious to us when we consider the ear. If the smallest detail in its structure is changed, the acoustic requirements, the reception of sound waves and the transmission to the auditory nerves, will be disturbed and our hearing impaired. Any deformation produces damage and problems. Of course, the same thing applies to our nose.

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We gratefully accept all the information science can supply us regarding effective substances found in natural foods and medicines. However, more important than long-winded dissertations on the subject is the practical application of such knowledge – at least to the patient. Anyone who has seen people suffering from scurvy, in camps and institutions and on ships, will appreciate why foods containing anti-scorbutic elements are so necessary for them. Their diet may be adequate in all other respects, but if certain vitamins are missing, their food alone cannot overcome the deficiency.

Apart from lemon, sauerkraut is the best anti-scorbutic remedy and it was sauerkraut that enabled the daring explorer James Cook to sail the farthest seas for years without any of his sailors falling victim to scurvy. Of course, in those days, such things as antiscorbutic vitamins were unknown, but through trial and error men like Cook, who observed and understood the ways of nature, eventually discovered the remedy for the insidious disease. Captain Cook always made sure that there were sufficient barrels of fermented cabbage on his ships. The supplement of sauerkraut with the sailors’ meals provided them with food and medicine at the same time, so that the devastating effects of scurvy were avoided and Cook could carry on with his explorations and discoveries.

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People who move to our regions from far away lands and exchange their natural foods for a diet of our refined foods will soon begin to experience dental problems. It is a fact that sweets and refined sugar can cause much more damage to our health than is commonly assumed. Yet there are other good sweeteners around, for example honey, grape sugar syrup made from grapes and dried fruits such as raisins, sultanas, currants, figs and dates. All these fruits contain easily assimilated natural sugar, but with an abundance of minerals.

Another very good natural sweetener or sugar is maple sugar, which the Indians of North America make from condensed maple syrup. This is very tasty and well worth trying. A further alternative is date sugar, which is discussed below.

If you want to remain healthy, watch what kind of sugar you eat. Parents should heed the advice given regarding sugar and sweets, because it is intended for the sake of their children’s well-being. If you observe these guidelines your health will benefit because of eating natural food, and you will save a great deal of money on dentist’s bills!

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Manure is for the plant what food is for the human body. The gardener or farmer will only be wasting precious time if he uses the wrong kind of manure when caring for his plants. It is the same with our nutrition. If we eat the wrong kind of food we will not achieve our goal of keeping fit and healthy. What we have become used to eating for no better reason than its pleasant taste or convenience, must in the future be considered from the standpoint of what it will do for us. Only then can we expect to benefit to the fullest degree from the food we eat. Moreover, it is only with persistence that health can be restored, for did it not require equal persistence in eating the wrong things that made us fall victim to disease? We should all remember that good health does not depend upon our physician alone; a lot depends upon ourselves. It often takes years to become sick, so it would be foolish to think that good health could be regained in a matter of days. Yet with perseverance many patients have overcome their ailments and recovered their health.

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Everyone in the Near East, particularly in Palestine, knows the sesame plant, uses and cherishes it. There, the seeds are sold under the quaint name ‘sumsum’. Seeds have always played an important part in the nutrition of primitive or aboriginal peoples. The gathering of all kinds of seeds has always been vital in areas of the world where there is limited variety regarding food. Sometimes it is the little things that provide supplementary benefits, and this can certainly be said about sesame seeds. Let us therefore not ignore the seeds because they are so small, but enjoy them to the full.

Treating Infectious Diseases of the Liver and Gallbladder There are a number of liver and gallbladder disorders that can come about through infection. The patient feels sick and brings up bile; he has diarrhoea and sickness and in some cases develops a slight attack of jaundice. Such symptoms call for great care.

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There are a number of different basic causes of constipation. Nervous tension may be responsible for it, malfunction of the liver has already been mentioned, and pancreatic insufficiency can also contribute to poor bowel movement. However, diet is probably the main factor. The various causes of constipation require specific treatment.

The farmer knows that he cannot keep his animals in the stable all the time; they need exercise and a change of diet from time to time. We can take a lesson from this and make sure we get enough exercise and pay attention to our choice of food and its variation. Avoid all constipating food items and particularly chocolate and sweets. Likewise, we would do well to keep off cheese, eggs and egg dishes. Instead, eat plenty of carrots, raw sauerkraut, and bitter salads such as dandelion and chicory. Over a long period of time, it is beneficial to eat soaked prunes and walnuts for breakfast, together with a slice of wholegrain bread. Alternate this breakfast with muesli and ground linseed. During the berry season eat plenty of muesli with fresh berries added, instead of bread. As far as possible, avoid dough products made with bleached white flour and any other starchy foods. On the other hand, natural brown rice causes no complications when boiled so that the grains do not stick together. Potatoes, however, may turn out to be constipating.

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With this in mind, it is not unreasonable for young people, before they think of getting married, to make a point of examining their particular genetic predispositions in order to determine whether starting a family appears to be advisable, bearing in mind the possible problems concerning their children’s health. If, however, they should choose to take the risk anyhow, it is even more important to consider the question of health very carefully, since much harm can be avoided through adopting a reasonable approach and by taking the appropriate action. Naturally, if the persons involved are inexperienced and have no idea whatsoever of the possible consequences, they will not be able to take any precautionary measures.

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