Posts Tagged ‘calcium’

Treating atria fibrillation with an alternative approach, means looking at it as a systemic problem, not just a heart condition.

Atria Fibrillation and Diabetes

People with diabetes are at a higher risk of having atrial fibrillation. There is research that found an association between atrial fibrillation and diabetes. In the Journal of General Internal Medicine Dr. Sascha Dublin of Group Health Research Institute has linked diabetes to a 40 percent greater risk of developing atrial fibrillation, and she has found that the risks rises even higher the longer people have diabetes and less controlled their blood sugar is.

Atrial fibrillation is found to be more common in both diabetics and heavier people. Patients with diabetes were 40 percent more likely to be diagnosed with this disorder. The risk of atrial fibrillation rose by 3 percent for each additional year that a patient had diabetes.

Other Causes

Another cause is an overactive thyroid gland. Steroid use can contribute to this condition. Treatment with high doses of corticosteroids, increase the risk of atrial fibrillation. A high dose of 7.5 mg/day or more of prednisone equivalents is more likely to cause atrial fibrillation than a lower dose. High blood pressure, and valvular heart disease is considered a risk for this condition.

Alternative Approach

Many times there is no known cause, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a cause. Since arrhythmia and atrial fibrillation is becoming a growing problem, it is important to look at this phenomenon.

It is known that adequate stores of iodine are necessary for a smooth heartbeat. It is also a fact that our diets fall short on providing this nutrient. Amiodarone an anti-fibrillation drug is actually iodine in a toxic, sustained released form.

Due to mineral exhausted farmland, stress, processed foods, we aren’t getting enough nutrients. The aging populaton is expected to experience more atrial fibrillation. Our quality of life in our senior years is directly related to the state of our health.

Our hearts depend on magnesium, iodine, calcium, and B complex derived from whole foods. It takes years for nutrient deprivation to show up. The heart is a muscle like all muscles it depends on a good oxygen supply, vitamins, and minerals. Nothing in the body occurs in a vacuum, so when you treat atrial fibrillation you have to treat the whole person.

Researches have found a pancreatic cancer soda connection. There is a new study that found consuming two or more soft drinks (soda) a week, had about a two-fold higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer. All it took was two plus soft drinks in a week’s time. Will many people consuming two plus soft drinks a day, health care will have a run for their money.

Study

This study was published in the February issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Senior author Dr. Mark Pereira, associate professor at the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and colleagues, followed over 60,000 Singapore-based men and women for over a decade. They found that the people who consumed two or more soft drinks developed pancreatic cancer at two times more that those who did not consume soft drinks.

“Singapore is a wealthy country with excellent health care. Favorite pastimes are eating and shopping, so the findings should apply to other western countries.” stated Dr. Pereira.

What is intriguing is that after adjusting for other lifestyle factors, it was found that people who drank two or more soft drinks a week (average of 5 per week) had a higher chance of developing this disease.

There was no risk associated with the consumption of fruit juice.

Reality Check

Anyone drinking 5 sodas a week is not practicing good health habits in other areas. Carbonation along with sugar is a deadly combination. Both independent of each other cause problems.

The carbonation in soft drinks deplete calcium and causes a nutritional deficiency in that mineral. Carbonation irritates the stomach. The cure for the irritation is to find an antacid, and that is the calcium in the body. It takes it from where it can get it, from places in the body that depend on it. That is one reason osteoporosis is on the rise.

Soft drinks contain phosophoric acid, and this causes other problems related to calcium loss

The sugar in soft drinks is dissolved in liquid, and it quickly makes its presence known. The pancreas goes into overdrive. Now the pancreas pumps out plenty of insulin.

Interesting Facts

Teenagers and children are the largest consumers of soda pop. Studies have shown that teenage boys can drink three plus cans per day and girls can drink at least two cans per day.

Soda comes in an aluminum can, and aluminum is able to bind with both calcium and phosphoric acid and is excreted through the urine.

Calcium can improve signaling within cells and cause cancer cells to differentiate and/or die. What that is saying it can cause them to revert to healthy cells.

Sugar or glucose is the food of cancer cells.

Analysis

All the real time studies by credible scientist and validated data will not change anything. The soft drink industry’s public relation campaigns and targeted ads will keep the soft drink bubble going.

Kale has one of the highest levels of antioxidants of any vegetable. Kale is nutrient dense, and light on calories. Kale is a dark green leafy vegetable that belongs to the Brassica family of vegetables. These include cabbage, collards, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy, spinach, and Kohlrabi.

Phytonutrients

These vegetables have sulfur-containing phytonutrients. Kale’s sulfur-containing phytonutrients are known to help prevent cancer. Sulforaphane is formed when cruciferous vegetables are chopped or chewed. This triggers the liver to produce enzymes that detoxify cancer-causing chemicals. Sulforaphane is a compound that also exhibits anti-diabetic and antimicrobial properties.

Sulforaphane is also found in Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, bok choy, collards, turnip, radish, arugula, and watercress.

Protection

Sulforaphane may also offer special protection to those with colon cancer-susceptible genes, suggests a study conducted at Rutgers University and published online in the journal Carcinogenesis.

Sulforaphane, which is formed when cruciferous vegetables such as kale are chopped or chewed, triggers the liver to produce enzymes that detoxify cancer-causing chemicals, it inhibits chemically-induced breast cancers in animal studies, and it induces colon cancer cells to commit suicide.

Vitamins and Mineral Content

Kale is a great source of vitamin A, vitamin E vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B6, vitamin B1 (thiamine) and manganese; it also contains dietary fiber, calcium, copper, and potassium, Magnesium, iron, zinc and selenium.  Kale is a source of beta-carotene. It is a powerhouse of nutrients, that helps the body get rid of free radicals.

All this comes with 2.47 grams of protein, and 2.6 grams of fiber in a one cup serving. For calories it is a modest 36 in a one cup serving. It has half the iron of beef liver. One cup of kale contains just 36.4 calories, but provides 192.4% of the daily value for vitamin A.

Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll has anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Sources of chlorophyll are green leafy plants. Its molecular structure is just about identical to hemoglobin. When vegetarians need to build up their iron supply they turn to green leafy vegetables, kale is on top to the list. Chlorophyll helps to rebuild and replenish our red blood cells. This is what we depend on for energy.

Chlorophyll is known to eliminate bad breath. It does this in two ways it deodorizes odors in the mouth and throat. More importantly it promotes a healthy digestive track which is usually the cause of bad breath.

Fiber

Kale is known as an intestinal broom for very good reasons. It provides 10.4% the daily value for fiber. Fiber is known to reduce high cholesterol levels. It also helps regulate blood sugar levels. Kale is a cruciferous vegetable and this group of vegetables is associated with a lower incidence of cancer. Kale’s fiber binds to cancer-causing chemicals keeping them away from the lining of the colon.

Calcium

Kale is also a very good source of calcium. The debate going on is that the calcium from dairy products is not being utilized. When the absorption of calcium was compared kale was absorbed 40.9% and milk was 31.2%. Kale has the nutrients that make calcium available for use in the body. The most healthful calcium sources are green leafy vegetables. Dark greens are loaded with highly absorbable calcium and a host of other healthful nutrients. They are a source of magnesium which is needed to work with the calcium.

We are a country that has a huge appetite for dairy products. We also have a large portion of the populations on pharmaceuticals for osteoporosis. The United States has a diet based on dairy products; it has one of the highest rates of osteoporosis.

Many societies that did not use much in the way of pasteurized dairy products had strong healthy adults without signs of osteoporosis. A cup of kale supplies 93.6 mg of calcium. With two cups of kale you would get a nice daily dose of calcium. Image, the hunter-gatherers were robust without dairy products.

The most healthful calcium sources are green leafy vegetables. Dark greens are loaded with highly absorbable calcium and a host of other healthful nutrients. They are a source of magnesium needed to work with calcium. Kale does not contain oxalic acid which prevents the absorption of calcium. Spinach and chard contain oxalic acid.

Conclusion

Kale cooked or raw on your plate or in a glass, delivers superb health. It is known to make wonderful green smoothies. You can blend it with some of your favorite fruit. All it takes is a good blender, water and fruit. You thought vitamins and minerals come out of a bottle, they come out of a pan or a drinking glass. This is a must if the health of your family is a priority. Kale is a super food that delivers health.