QUIT SMOKING

Some Harmful Components of Cigarette Smoke

If you thought that nicotine is the only harmful component of cigarettes, you are sadly mistaken. There is a whole array of them present to harm your body. Cigarette smoke is a complex mixture of compounds produced by the burning of tobacco and additives. Apart from the usual stimulant nicotine, cigarette smoke contains tar, which is made up of more than 4000 chemicals including around 60 known carcinogenic chemicals. Nearly all of them are deadly. Some are also the cause of lung & heart disease and emphysema.

Some are known for their adverse effects on bones and skins. You might be surprised to find the names of some of the deadly chemicals in your cigarette smoke.

Some of them are as follows:
Cyanide: It is a chemical compound that contains a cyano group.
Benzene: also known as Benzol is an organic chemical compound that is a flammable and colorless liquid.
Methanol (wood alcohol): is the simplest alcohol that is also known as methyl alcohol.
Acetylene (the fuel used in welding torches): is an unsaturated chemical compound that is also the simplest alkyne hydrocarbon.
Ammonia : is found everywhere in the environment but is very toxic in combination with certain elements.
Formaldehyde: is a compound in the form of gas that has a very pungent smell.

Cigarette smoke also contains some of the deadly and poisonous gases such as nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide which can be very harmful for a person’s health.

The above given list gives a clear picture that no threat dimension is left when it comes to the components of smoke. Anything and everything that is bad for health is a part of smoke. So, just beware when you light your next cigarette.

BE AWARE OF SWINE FLU

Everything you need to know about swine flu
Rediff News Bureau

India is grappling with a swine flu epidemic. There is heightened panic among people following reports of growing number of HIN1 cases and the recent death of a school child in Pune.

Here's an FAQ on the dreaded virus:

How do people become infected with influenza A (H1N1)?

Outbreaks in humans are now occurring from human-to-human transmission. When infected people cough or sneeze, infected droplets get on their hands, drop onto surfaces, or are dispersed into the air. Another person can breathe in contaminated air, or touch infected hands or surfaces, and be exposed.

What are the signs and symptoms of infection?

Early signs of influenza A (H1N1) are flu-like, including fever, cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, sore throat and runny nose, and sometimes vomiting or diarrhoea. Like seasonal flu, swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

Is there any confirmation of transmission between pigs and humans at this point?

No.
How soon can someone with the flu infect someone else?
Infected people may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to seven or more days after becoming sick.

What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination?
Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air.

How long can viruses live outside the body?
We know that some viruses and bacteria can live two hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs, and desks. Frequent hand washing will help you reduce the chance of getting contamination from these common surfaces.

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick?
Currently available seasonal influenza vaccine does not protect against H1N1 flu. There are everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza.

Take these everyday steps to protect your health:
· Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
· Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol based hand cleaners are also effective.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
· Try to avoid close contact with people having respiratory illness.
· If one gets sick with influenza, one must stay at home, away from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. However, if one is having any respiratory distress, one should report to a nearby hospital.
·
· What should I do to keep from getting the flu?
· First and most important: wash your hands frequently. Try to stay in good general health. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food. Avoid touching surfaces that may be contaminated with the flu virus. Avoid close contact with people having respiratory illness.

· Are there medicines to treat swine flu?
· Yes. Oseltamivir is the recommended anti viral drug for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with the influenza A H1N1. If you get sick, antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster.

· They may also prevent serious flu complications. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms). The government has adequate stock and the drug is made available to government hospitals at the time of outbreak and would be available to you free of cost. The drug is to be administered under supervision of clinicians.

What should I do if I get sick?
If you live in areas where influenza A H1N1 cases have been identified and become ill with influenza like symptoms e.g. fever, body aches, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, or vomiting or diarrhea, you may contact their health care provider, particularly if you are worried about your symptoms.
Your health care provider will determine whether influenza testing or treatment is needed.
If you are sick, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people as much as possible to keep from spreading your illness to others. If you become ill and experience any of the following warning signs, seek emergency medical care.

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
· Fast breathing or trouble breathing
· Bluish skin color
· Not drinking enough fluids/eating food
· Not waking up or not interacting
· Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
· Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
· Fever with a rash

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:
· Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
· Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
· Sudden dizziness
· Confusion
· Severe or persistent vomiting

Can I get influenza A H1N1 from eating or preparing pork?
No. swine influenza viruses are not spread by food. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.


DOs:
* Wash your hands

* Avoid crowded places

* Stay more than an arm's length from persons afflicted with flu

* Get plenty of sleep

* Drink plenty of water and eat nutritious food

DO NOTs:

* Shake hands or hug in greeting

* Spit in public

* Take medicines without consulting a physician

For people who are sick:

* Stay home and limit contacts with others as much as possible

* Rest and take plenty of liquids

* Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze

* Seek medical advice if needed.

SWINE FLU- PRECAUTIONS

Precautions to keep swine flu at bay

The deadly Swine Flu has reached the Indian shores following the global outbreak and now, claimed one life. However, Swine Flu is certainly one of those diseased where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Here are ten tips for you to keep away from the pandemic.

1. Wash your hands frequently
Use the antibacterial soaps to cleanse your hands. Wash them often, at least 15 seconds and rinse with running water.
2. Get enough sleep
Try to get 8 hours of good sleep every night to keep your immune system in top flu-fighting shape.
3. Drink sufficient water
Drink 8 to10 glasses of water each day to flush toxins from your system and maintain good moisture and mucous production in your sinuses.
4. Boost your immune system
Keeping your body strong, nourished, and ready to fight infection is important in flu prevention. So stick with whole grains, colorful vegetables, and vitamin-rich fruits.
5. Keep informed
The government is taking necessary steps to prevent the pandemic and periodically release guidelines to keep the pandemic away. Please make sure to keep up to date on the information and act in a calm manner.
6. Avoid alcohol
Apart from being a mood depressant, alcohol is an immune suppressant that can actually decrease your resistance to viral infections like swine flu. So stay away from alcoholic drinks so that your immune system may be strong.
7. Be physically active
Moderate exercise can support the immune system by increasing circulation and oxygenating the body. For example brisk walking for 30-40 minutes 3-4 times a week will significantly perk up your immunity.
8. Keep away from sick people
Flu virus spreads when particles dispersed into the air through a cough or sneeze reach someone else’s nose. So if you have to be around someone who is sick, try to stay a few feet away from them and especially, avoid physical contact.
9. Know when to get help
Consult your doctor if you have a cough and fever and follow their instructions, including taking medicine as prescribed.
10. Avoid crowded areas

Try to avoid unnecessary trips outside.

Source:-Yahoo News

CANCER...

Excellent article on cancer. Pass it on.
AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY ANDELIMINATE CANCER, JOHNS HOPKINS IS FINALLY STARTING TO TELL YOU THEREIS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY .

Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins:

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells donot show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a fewbillion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no morecancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the testsare
unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached thedetectable size.
2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime.
3.... When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells willbe destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumours.
4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiplenutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic,environmental,food and lifestyle factors.
5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing dietand including supplements will strengthen the immune system.
6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cellsand also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow,gastro-intestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver,kidneys, heart, lungs etc.
7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars anddamages healthy cells, tissues and organs.
8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reducetumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not
result in more tumor destruction.
9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy andradiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hencethe person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.
10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate andbecome resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also causecancercells to spread to other sites.
11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells bynot feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.

WHAT CANCER CELLS FEED ON:
a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off oneimportant food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like
NutraSweet, Equal,Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it isharmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molassesbut only in very sma ll amounts. Table salt has a chemical added tomake it white in colour. Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or seasalt.

b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in thegastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milkandsubstituting with unsweetened soy milk, cancer cells are being starved.

c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet isacidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growthhormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to peoplewith cancer.

d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds,nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment.... About 20% can be from cooked food including beans.Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbedand reachdown to cellular levels within 15 minutes to no urish and enhancegrowth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthycells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including beansprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes aredestroyed attemperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).

e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Greentea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties. Water-best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxinsand heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.

12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot ofdigestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines becomeputrified and leads to more toxic buildup.

13... Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refrainingfrom or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the proteinwalls ofcancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence,Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable thebody's own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplementslike vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death,the
body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive andpositive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger,unforgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidicenvironment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn torelaxand enjoy life.

16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment.Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down tothe cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.

(PLEASE FORWARD IT TO PEOPLE YOU CARE ABOUT)

This is an article that should be sent to anyone important in yourlife.I just did !
______________________

HUMAN SYSTEM - FEW FACTS

Amazing facts about Human body

The Skeletal System
The largest bone is the pelvis, or hip bone. In fact it is made of six bones joined firmly together.The longest bone is the ‘femur’, in the thigh. It makes up almost one quarter of the body’s total height.The smallest bone is the ’stirrup’, deep in the ear. It is hardly larger than a grain of rice.The ears and end of the nose do not have bones inside them. Their inner supports are cartilage or ‘gristle’, which is lighter and more flexible than bone. This is why the nose and ears can be bent.After death, cartilage rots faster than bone. This is why the skulls of skeletons have no nose or ears.

The Muscular System
There are about 60 muscles in the face. Smiling is easier than frowning. It takes 20 muscles to smile and over 40 to frown.The longest muscle in the body is the sartorius, from the outside of the hip, down and across to the inside of the knee. It rotates the thigh outwards and bends the knee.The smallest muscle in the body is the stapedius, deep in the ear. It is only 5mm long and thinner than cotton thread. It is involved in hearing.The biggest muscle in the body is the gluteus maximus, in the buttock. It pulls the leg backwards powerfully for walking, running and climbing steps.

The Circulatory System
The heart beats around 3 billion times in the average person’s life.About 2 million blood cells die in the human body every second, and the same number are born each second.Within a tiny droplet of blood, there are some 5 million red blood cells, 300,000 platelets and 10,000 white cells.It takes about 1 minute for a red blood cell to circle the whole body.Red blood cells make approximately 250,000 round trips of the body before returning to the bone marrow, where they were born, to die.Red blood cells may live for about 4 months circulating throughout the body, feeding the 60 trillion other body cells.The brain looks like a giant, wrinkled walnut.Unlike other body cells, brain cells can not regenerate. Once brain cells are damaged they are not replaced.The brain and spinal cord are surrounded and protected by cerebrospinal fluid.

The Immune System
The skin secretes antibacterial substances. These substances explain why you don’t wake up in the morning with a layer of mold growing on your skin - most bacteria and spores that land on the skin die quickly.Tears and mucus contain an enzyme (lysozyme) that breaks down the cell wall of many bacteria.Lymph nodes contain filtering tissue and a large number of lymph cells. When fighting certain bacterial infections, the lymph nodes swell with bacteria and the cells fighting the bacteria, to the point where you can actually feel them. Swollen lymph nodes may therefore be a good indication that you have an infection of some sort.

The Digestive System
Adults eat about 1,100 pounds of food per year.About 3 pints of saliva are produced each day.The esophagus is approximately 10 inches long.Muscles contract in waves to move the food down the esophagus. This means that food would get to a person’s stomach, even if they were standing on their head.An adult’s stomach can hold approximately 3 pints of material.Every day 3 gallons of digested food, liquids and digestive juices flow through the digestive system, but only about 3 ounces of fluid are lost in feces.In the mouth, food is either cooled or warmed to a more suitable temperature.We get two sets of teeth. Our 20 ‘Baby Teeth’ are replaced starting at around 6-7 years of age with our 32 ‘Adult Teeth’.

The Respiratory System
At rest, the adult body takes in and breathes out about 1.6 gallons of air each minute.The right lung is slightly larger than the left.Hairs in the nose help to clean the air we breathe as well as warming it.The highest recorded “sneeze speed” is 102 miles per hour.The surface area of the lungs is roughly the same size as a tennis court.The capillaries in the lungs would extend 1,000 miles if placed end to end.We lose half a more than two cups of water a day through breathing. This is the water vapor we see when we breathe onto glass.A person at rest usually breathes between 12 and 15 times a minute.The breathing rate is faster in children and women than in men

Sound Healing with Tibetan Bowls and Chiron Gong

This is a short video made by Diane Mandle at the San Diego Cancer
Center, for all the oncologists, doctors, nurses and integrative therapy
team that worked with her on this project.
We pass it on to you, hoping it will be of help and inspiration.

Source:http://innerhealers-english.blogspot.com/2009/04/sound-healing-with-tibetan-bowls-and.html

BEST FOOD ITEMS

The 11 Best Foods You Aren’t Eating

Beets: Think of beets as red spinach, Dr. Bowden said, because they are a rich source of folate as well as natural red pigments that may be cancer fighters.How to eat: Fresh, raw and grated to make a salad. Heating decreases the antioxidant power.

Cabbage: Loaded with nutrients like sulforaphane, a chemical said to boost cancer-fighting enzymes.How to eat: Asian-style slaw or as a crunchy topping on burgers and sandwiches.

Swiss chard: A leafy green vegetable packed with carotenoids that protect aging eyes.How to eat it: Chop and saute in olive oil.

Cinnamon: May help control blood sugar and cholesterol.How to eat it: Sprinkle on coffee or oatmeal.

Pomegranate juice: Appears to lower blood pressure and loaded with antioxidants.How to eat: Just drink it.

Dried plums: Okay, so they are really prunes, but they are packed with antioxidants.How to eat: Wrapped in prosciutto and baked.

Pumpkin seeds: The most nutritious part of the pumpkin and packed with magnesium; high levels of the mineral are associated with lower risk for early death.How to eat: Roasted as a snack, or sprinkled on salad.

Sardines: Dr. Bowden calls them “health food in a can.” They are high in omega-3’s, contain virtually no mercury and are loaded with calcium. They also contain iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper and manganese as well as a full complement of B vitamins.How to eat: Choose sardines packed in olive or sardine oil. Eat plain, mixed with salad, on toast, or mashed with dijon mustard and onions as a spread.

Turmeric: The “superstar of spices,” it may have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.How to eat: Mix with scrambled eggs or in any vegetable dish.

Frozen blueberries: Even though freezing can degrade some of the nutrients in fruits and vegetables, frozen blueberries are available year-round and don’t spoil; associated with better memory in animal studies.How to eat: Blended with yogurt or chocolate soy milk and sprinkled with crushed almonds.

Canned pumpkin: A low-calorie vegetable that is high in fiber and immune-stimulating vitamin A; fills you up on very few calories.How to eat: Mix with a little butter, cinnamon and nutmeg.