Monday, March 28, 2011

Stress Reduces Good Bacteria in the Gut

Stress can change the balance of bacteria that naturally live in the gut, according to research published this month in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. Bacteria affect immune function, and may help explain why stress dysregulates the immune response. Researchers found that exposure to stress led to changes in composition, diversity and number of gut microorganisms. The bacterial communities in the intestine became less diverse, and had greater numbers of potentially harmful bacteria, such as Clostridium.

This was the first evidence that the gut microorganisms may play a role in innate immunological stress responses. The study reveals the dynamic interactions between multiple physiological systems including the intestinal microbiota and the immune system. Because gut bacteria have been linked to diseases like inflammatory bowel disease, and even to asthma, a future goal of the study is to determine whether alterations of gut bacteria is the reason why these diseases tend to be worse during periods of pressure.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

New Ways to Use Olive Oil

Olive oil has been a shining star in the natural health community for years; it has far more uses than salad dressings and pizza crust. But olive oil can be used in a variety of ways on the body and around the home too. Check out ten new ways to use olive oil below:
1. Deep Moisture for Dry Skin
Olive oil is one of the best kept secrets for supple skin. Apply in place of conventional lotion as a moisturizer, add a few tablespoons to a hot bath, or exfoliate with a mixture of olive oil and sugar.
2. Repair Damaged Hair
If your hair has been exposed to chlorinated water, perms, highlights, or daily heat exposure (from straighteners, curling irons or blow dryers), you might be noticing some unwanted frizziness and tangles galore. Saturate dry hair with warm olive oil and then wrap in a towel. Leave for 20 to 30 minutes and then shower as usual. Hair will be glossy and smooth when you`re all done. Recommended at least once per week for dry hair.
3. Soothe an Earache
Though it sounds unusual, olive oil is a great natural remedy for earaches. A dab of olive oil on a cotton swab is just right for dabbing outside of the ear cavity. Some alternative health professionals recommend a few drops of olive oil in the ear, but this should be done with great care.
4. Ease Nighttime Snoring and Coughing
A small sip of olive oil just before bed is the perfect trick for quelling any nighttime snoring or coughing. Olive oil acts as a natural lubricant and will ease a scratchy throat while you sleep.
5. Polish Your Furniture
Think olive oil is good for your skin? Well, it`s also good for natural wood furniture. Mix two parts olive oil to one part lemon juice for a simple and effective furniture polish. But keep in mind: a little of this polish goes a long way.
6. Polish Stainless Steel
Olive oil isn`t just for wood. A light layer can also buff stainless steel to a natural shine without resorting to chemical cleaners.
7. Quiet Those Squeaky Doors
Looking for a natural alternative to chemical lubricating sprays? Olive oil is the answer. Simply dab a cloth in olive oil, and coat all sides of the squeaky hinge. You may need to repeat this two or three times to completely get rid of the squeak.
8. Oil Pulling
Oil pulling is the practice of slowly swishing oil in the mouth for at least several minutes. It`s known for improving dental health and aiding detoxification through the tissues in the mouth.
9. A Natural Shaving Cream
A little olive oil on the skin makes for an extra smooth shave without any of the chemical preservatives and fragrances in commercial shaving cream.
10. Oil Cleansing and Make Up Removal
Did you know you can cleanse the skin with nothing more than natural oil? Olive oil offers remarkable cleansing properties, removing dirt from deep down in the pores. Simply massage oil into your skin and then remove with a very warm washcloth. The oil will also remove any make-up (including eye make up!). Learn more about oil cleansing below:

http://www.naturalnews.com/031221_o...



Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/031774_olive_oil_body.html#ixzz1HOO3MNAP

Friday, March 18, 2011

Tai Chi Helps Ease Depression in the Elderly

Tai Chi Eases Depression in Elderly
By TARA PARKER-POPE
Robert Spencer for The New York Times A tai chi group practicing in Pawtucket, R.I.
The ancient Chinese practice of tai chi appears to relieve symptoms of depression in older people, a new study shows.

The findings, published this month in The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, are the latest to suggest that the slow movement, breathing and meditation of tai chi results in meaningful benefits to patients with chronic health problems. Other recent studies have shown that practicing tai chi may provide benefits for patients with arthritis and fibromyalgia. But the newest research is important because depression is notoriously difficult to treat in older people, many of whom are already coping with other health problems and are less likely to respond to drug treatment.

Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, studied 112 older adults in whom major depression had been diagnosed, including many who had been struggling with the illness for years. Their average age was about 70. Everyone was first treated with Lexapro, and 73 exhibited a partial improvement but still scored high on depression scales. The rest of the patients dropped out of the study, including just one patient who had a full remission after drug treatment.

The remaining depressed patients were randomly assigned to either a 10-week course of tai chi or a health education class, which included 10 minutes of simple stretching exercises. Both courses were given for two hours once a week.

After 10 weeks of tai chi, 94 percent of depressed older adults showed marked improvement on depression scales, compared with 77 percent in the health education group. And 65 percent of the people in the tai chi group experienced remission, compared with 51 percent in the education group.

The tai chi group also showed marked improvement in measures of physical function, cognitive tests and blood tests measuring levels of inflammation.

“Altogether the effects were pretty dramatic,’’ said Dr. Helen Lavretsky, lead author and professor of psychiatry at U.C.L.A. “If a psychiatrist were to add exercise like tai chi, which is very nondemanding and easy to access, that would be a very beneficial thing instead of adding another drug.”

Dr. Lavretsky said one reason both study groups showed improvement was that all the patients probably benefited from spending time with other people, whether it was in the practice of tai chi or the group education class. “I’m sure the social aspect contributed to the improvement in both groups,’’ she said. “In the control group we see improvement, and that was purely because of the social interaction and bonding that occurred.”

But the marked improvement in the tai chi group suggests an additional benefit from tai chi. Research has shown tai chi can improve physical function and quality of life, relieve stress and anxiety and lead to improved sleep quality, the study authors noted.

The study used a form of tai chi called T’ai Chi Chih that uses 20 simple exercises that are nonstrenuous and easy enough to be performed by older adults.

Dr. Lavretsky said the findings are exciting because depression is so difficult to treat in older people, two-thirds of whom don’t respond to initial drug therapy. Often when a patient doesn’t respond to the first drug, an additional drug is given, but that’s not always practical for patients who are already taking 10 or 15 drugs for other health problems. A study this month found that more than 60 percent of patients over 65 experience moderate or major side effects the first time they are prescribed an antidepressant.

“This is very easily translatable into community care,’’ she said. “As their health improves, they may be able to reduce the other drugs they are taking for pain or other problems.”

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Pearls of Wisdom about Bone Health from Jeralyn C. Prior, M.D.

•Hip bone loss begins earlier than we had expected, in both men and women. Large population-based Canadian studies in which she participated show that bone loss in the hip begins in the early 20’s for both women and men, while bone loss in the spine doesn’t begin until the mid 30’s.
•Ovulatory disturbances — meaning that there was less progesterone produced than normal — commonly occur but go unrecognized because they are silent within regular menstrual cycles.
•Women are silently losing bone if they experience more than the average proportion of ovulatory disturbances, despite normal estrogen levels and regular menstruation.
•Women who learn to track their cycles and ovulation seem more likely to recover normal cycles and ovulation and even recover from infertility.
•Of all the stressors that can affect bone health — poor nutrition, environmental challenges, and emotional disturbances — emotional stress is “the big driver” of ovulatory disturbances and bone loss. So feeling good about your life and the choices you’ve made is important for healthy bones.

(Courtesy of Better Body, Better Bones)