Statins are special medications which are designed to reduce cholesterol levels and work by interrupting the activities of certain substance that our body requires to produce cholesterol. Lipitor, Mevacor, Crestor, Zocor and Pravachol are among the most commonly used statins. They are recommended to those patients who have high cholesterol (above 235-240 mg/dL) in those cases when it is necessary to decrease high cholesterol levels as soon as possible, or in those cases when other cholesterol lowering techniques (a special diet, plenty of physical activities, giving up smoking and other bad habits, using herbal remedies and homemade solutions for cholesterol lowering, etc.) did not help achieving good results. High cholesterol is linked to high risks of such serious conditions as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and others. Read the rest of this entry »

Depression is a very common health condition of modern people. Though this disorder may not look like something serious, it actually carries plenty of hidden risks and dangers to our overall health. Depression, especially chronic depression, is linked to increased risks of obesity, high cholesterol levels and cardiovascular diseases. It can lead to various emotional, psychological, and even mental problems, starting from inability to do our normal daily activities, and ending up with panic attacks or suicidal thoughts. Such factors as physical changes in human brain and hormonal shifts, imbalances related to neurotransmitters function, childhood traumas, life events, and genetic predisposition are named among possible causes of depression. Fortunately, there are plenty of effective strategies and techniques to help us treating depressions, including medications, special therapeutic programs and recovery groups, relaxation techniques, physical exercises, hobbies, homemade and herbal remedies for depression, and many more. Read the rest of this entry »

Walking and brisk walking are excellent types of physical exercises which can be recommended to all, from children to the elderly. There are numerous health benefits of walking, including reduced risks of many serious health conditions, toned and improved function of all systems and organs, lower risks of premature death and improved psychological health. The links between walking or brisk walking and some types of cancer have been known before. In particular, reduced risks of prostate cancer in men are considered among the most important benefits of brisk walking. Choosing walking for cancer risk reduction is a very good idea, and an increasing number of studies are proving that this type of physical activities can work really great for breast cancer prevention. Read the rest of this entry »

Seaweed is a unique natural remedy used to support our health and provide our body with useful nutrients. Rich in iodine, seaweed is supposed to be an effective solution, natural treatment and prevention of thyroid related problems. It was recently reported that seaweed should be considered as an excellent potential natural arthritis treatment, due to a special compound with very powerful anti-bacterial and anti0inflammatory properties. The effects of seaweed consumption for more effective weight loss have been well known, and, according to the findings of an expert group from Sheffield Hallam University, eating the foods like seaweed can assist us in consume less calories without staying hungry. Recently, the findings of one more related study were published, saying that a new technology for effective weight loss has been developed. A new seaweed supplement is on the way, to be taken on a daily basis to help us lose weight more effectively (especially for obese people) and maintain the achieved results easier. Read the rest of this entry »

Most of us are well aware about the dangers and risks linked to consuming the foods that can be found in today’s supermarkets. Most of the foods are packed with preservatives, genetically modified substances, poisonous or toxic elements, and all sorts of chemicals harmful to our health. Many foods of those that we eat are actually affected by carcinogens, the substances with cause cellular damage (by alerting our DNA) or disrupt metabolic processes in our body, this way playing a role in cancerous cells development and increasing our risks of cancer. At the same time, scientist found out that certain foods like tomatoes, blueberries, broccoli, bell peppers, and others, have quite powerful effects and can assist in cancer prevention. According to the findings of the most recent study, organic spinach should also be added to the list of the best cancer prevention foods, along with the above mentioned fruits and veggies. Read the rest of this entry »

Many experts agree to the fact that sun exposure has both good and bad effects on our health. As Dr. Paul Donohue, a health care expert and a health columnist at Herald Tribune explains, sun exposure is vital for our skin since it is the best way to stimulate vitamin D production and support our skin health. It usually takes quite a short period of time (from 8 to 15 minutes) for our body to produce sufficient amounts of this vitamin, so there is no need to stay under sun for a long period of time. Tanned, firm and healthy looking skin is the most important positive side of brief sun exposure for most of us. At the same time, there are the drawbacks which include negative changes in the body caused by UV B rays, and regular prolonged sun exposure can cause serious changes in our DNA and highly elevated cancer risk. Read the rest of this entry »