A 1984 WHO Committee report suggested that up to 30 percent of new and remodeled buildings worldwide may be the subject of excessive complaints related to indoor air quality (IAQ). Often this condition is temporary, but some buildings have long-term problems. Frequently, problems result when a building is operated or maintained in a manner that is inconsistent with its original design or prescribed operating procedures. Sometimes indoor air problems are a result of poor building design or occupant activities.

Indicators of SBS include:

• Building occupants complain of symptoms associated with acute discomfort, e.g., headache; eye, nose, or throat irritation; dry cough; dry or itchy skin; dizziness and nausea; difficulty in concentrating; fatigue; and sensitivity to odors.
• The cause of the symptoms is not known.
• Most of the complainants report relief soon after leaving the building.

Indicators of BRI include:

• Building occupants complain of symptoms such as cough; chest tightness; fever, chills; and muscle aches
• The symptoms can be clinically defined and have clearly identifiable causes.
• Complainants may require prolonged recovery times after leaving the building.

It is important to note that complaints may result from other causes. These may include an illness contracted outside the building, acute sensitivity (e.g., allergies), job related stress or dissatisfaction, and other psychosocial factors. Nevertheless, studies show that symptoms may be caused or exacerbated by indoor air quality problems.

Causes of Sick Building Syndrome

The following have been cited causes of or contributing factors to sick building syndrome:

Inadequate ventilation In the early and mid 1900’s, building ventilation standards called for approximately 15 cubic feet per minute (cfm) of outside air for each building occupant, primarily to dilute and remove body odors. As a result of the 1973 oil embargo, however, national energy conservation measures called for a reduction in the amount of outdoor air provided for ventilation to 5 cfm per occupant. In many cases these reduced outdoor air ventilation rates were found to be inadequate to maintain the health and comfort of building occupants. Inadequate ventilation, which may also occur if heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems do not effectively distribute air to people in the building, is thought to be an important factor in SBS. In an effort to achieve acceptable IAQ while minimizing energy consumption, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recently revised its ventilation standard to provide a minimum of 15 cfm of outdoor air per person (20 cfm/person in office spaces). Up to 60 cfm/person may be required in some spaces (such as smoking lounges) depending on the activities that normally occur in that space (see ASHRAE Standard 62-1989).

Chemical contaminants from indoor sources Most indoor air pollution comes from sources inside the building. For example, adhesives, carpeting, upholstery, manufactured wood products, copy machines, pesticides, and cleaning agents may emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including formaldehyde. Environmental tobacco smoke contributes high levels of VOCs, other toxic compounds, and respirable particulate matter. Research shows that some VOCs can cause chronic and acute health effects at high concentrations, and some are known carcinogens. Low to moderate levels of multiple VOCs may also produce acute reactions. Combustion products such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, as well as respirable particles, can come from unvented kerosene and gas space heaters, woodstoves, fireplaces and gas stoves.

Chemical contaminants from outdoor sources The outdoor air that enters a building can be a source of indoor air pollution. For example, pollutants from motor vehicle exhausts; plumbing vents, and building exhausts (e.g., bathrooms and kitchens) can enter the building through poorly located air intake vents, windows, and other openings. In addition, combustion products can enter a building from a nearby garage.

Biological contaminants Bacteria, molds, pollen, and viruses are types of biological contaminants. These contaminants may breed in stagnant water that has accumulated in ducts, humidifiers and drain pans, or where water has collected on ceiling tiles, carpeting, or insulation. Sometimes insects or bird droppings can be a source of biological contaminants. Physical symptoms related to biological contamination include cough, chest tightness, fever, chills, muscle aches, and allergic responses such as mucous membrane irritation and upper respiratory congestion. One indoor bacterium, Legionella, has caused both Legionnaire’s Disease and Pontiac Fever.

These elements may act in combination, and may supplement other complaints such as inadequate temperature, humidity, or lighting. Even after a building investigation, however, the specific causes of the complaints may remain unknown.

Solutions to Sick Building Syndrome

Solutions to sick building syndrome usually include combinations of the following:

Pollutant source removal or modification is an effective approach to resolving an IAQ problem when sources are known and control is feasible. Examples include routine maintenance of HVAC systems, e.g., periodic cleaning or replacement of filters; replacement of water-stained ceiling tile and carpeting; institution of smoking restrictions; venting contaminant source emissions to the outdoors; storage and use of paints, adhesives, solvents, and pesticides in well ventilated areas, and use of these pollutant sources during periods of non-occupancy; and allowing time for building materials in new or remodeled areas to off-gas pollutants before occupancy. Several of these options may be exercised at one time.

Increasing ventilation rates and air distribution often can be a cost effective means of reducing indoor pollutant levels. HVAC systems should be designed, at a minimum, to meet ventilation standards in local building codes; however, many systems are not operated or maintained to ensure that these design ventilation rates are provided. In many buildings, IAQ can be improved by operating the HVAC system to at least its design standard, and to ASHRAE Standard 62-1989 if possible. When there are strong pollutant sources, local exhaust ventilation may be appropriate to exhaust contaminated air directly from the building. Local exhaust ventilation is particularly recommended to remove pollutants that accumulate in specific areas such as rest rooms, copy rooms, and printing facilities. (For a more detailed discussion of ventilation, read Fact Sheet: Ventilation and Air Quality in Offices)

Air cleaning can be a useful adjunct to source control and ventilation but has certain limitations. Particle control devices such as the typical furnace filter are inexpensive but do not effectively capture small particles; high performance air filters capture the smaller, respirable particles but are relatively expensive to install and operate. Mechanical filters do not remove gaseous pollutants. Some specific gaseous pollutants may be removed by adsorbent beds, but these devices can be expensive and require frequent replacement of the adsorbent material. In sum, air cleaners can be useful, but have limited application.

Education and communication are important elements in both remedial and preventive indoor air quality management programs. When building occupants, management, and maintenance personnel fully communicate and understand the causes and consequences of IAQ problems, they can work more effectively together to prevent problems from occurring, or to solve them if they do.

References:

• Indoor Air Facts, U.S.Environmental Protection Agency
• SBS topic issued by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

The primary function of the sinuses is to warm, moisten, and filter the air in the nasal cavity. The sinuses  also play a role in our ability to vocalize certain sounds. Sinusitis, which is common in the winter, may last for months or years of inadequately treated. Although colds are the most common cause of acute sinusitis, people with allergies may also be predisposed to developing sinusitis. Allergies can trigger inflammation of the sinuses and nasal mucous linings. This inflammation prevents the sinus cavities from clearing out bacteria, and increases the chance of developing secondary bacterial sinusitis.

Structural problems in the nose – such as:

• narrow drainage passages,
• tumors or polyps, or
• a deviated nasal septum (the wall between the left and right sides of the nose)

– may be another cause of sinusitis. Surgery is sometimes needed to correct these problems. Many patients with recurring or chronic sinusitis have more than one factor that predisposes them to infection.

Blood group B and to a somewhat lesser extent, blood group O are most susceptible to sinusitis that is provoked by allergies.

Sinus Health Protocols:

Blood Groups A & AB

• Stone Root (Collinsonia Canadensis), 200g: 1-2 capsules, twice daily
• Stinging Nettle leaf (Urtica dioica), 500mg: 1-2 capsules twice daily away from food

Blood Group B

• Magnolia Flower (Magnolia lilflora), 50mg: 1-2 capsules, twice daily
• Wild Indigo (Baptista tinctoria) tincture: 3-7 drops, twice daily

Blood Group O

• Stinging Nettle leaf (Urtica dioica), 500mg: 1-2 capsules twice daily away from food
• MSM (methylsulfonylmethane), 500mg: 1-2 capsules, twice daily

Non-Secretors Add:

• Vitamin A, 10,000 IU: 1 capsule daily
• Elderberry Concentrate, “Proberry”: 1tsp, twice daily

General Recommendations Usable By All Blood Groups

• Vitamin C (from Acerola cherry or rose hips), 250mg: 1 capsule twice daily
• Neti Pots, the natural way to keep your sinus passages clear and healthy
• Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon califonicum) tincture: 10-15 drops, twice daily in warm water
• Anise essential oil (Pimpinella anisum): added to a nebulizer or vaporizer

If  you are trying to find out natural way to relief and heal sinusitis, I recommend you to visit another fresh post titled Sinusitis and Neti Pot.

Source:

• Peter D’Adamo’s Newsletter, August 2010

Related posts:

1. Blood Type Diet: A Celebration of Individuality
2. Blood Type Diet: The Genetic Fingerprint

I believe that all of you want beautiful, glowing skin and there are hundreds, if not thousands of products on the market that promise to restore your skin to its youthful beauty.

A wise consumer knows that most of those products fail to deliver on their promises and contain ingredients that can disrupt hormone function or can be toxic.

To stay beautiful on the outside, start on the inside by following the diet that is right for your type – be sure to include healthy fats and oils, fruits and vegetables.

Drink six to eight glasses of water daily to flush toxins from your body. Make sure you’re getting enough exercise, which improves circulation and gives you a healthy glow. Here are a few more tips to get your skin in tip-top shape for summer:

Sun Protection – Staying out of the sun during peak hours and wearing protective clothing and a hat with a wide brim are the best all-natural “sunscreens.” When you can’t help being out in the sun, choose a broad spectrum sunscreen with fewer chemicals that can penetrate the skin. The Environmental Working Group’s website, www.ewg.org has a list of the top rated sun protection products with the fewest hazardous chemicals.

Stop Scrubbing – When washing your face, begin with warm, not hot water and use an all natural cleanser. Avoid cleansers that contain abrasive ingredients as they can cause tiny tears in the skin. Use your hands, not a washcloth, to gently wash your face in a circular motion without pulling or tugging at the skin. Rinse with cool water and pat skin dry. Don’t rub as this can irritate skin.

Trap Moisture – Applying moisturizer after a warm face wash or shower is one of the best remedies for skin. Using a good quality, all natural moisturizer helps to restore the oils that our skin has lost and helps to keep skin hydrated. Hydrated skin is plumper and has a more youthful appearance than dry, flaky skin.

Avoid Petrochemicals – Avoid products that contain petrolatum, mineral oil and paraffin. Toxic and environmentally unfriendly, these chemicals are created from petroleum and don’t belong on your skin!

Say No to Fragrance – Artificial fragrances, which frequently contain phthalates, may trigger allergic reactions, irritation, and other health problems are often found in cosmetics and skin care products. Be mindful of the hidden dangers that “fragrance” or “parfum” listed on the ingredient labels can pose and choose fragrance free products.

Do you know that there are 20 times more bacteria than cells in your body, or that you have more bacteria in your body at this very moment than the total number of people who have ever lived on the planet? This may sound alarming, but these tiny organisms are crucial to good health.

What is Probiotic

A probiotic is an organism which contributes to the health and balance of the intestinal tract.These “friendly” or “beneficial” bacteria live in your small and large intestines, support your immune system, and contribute to healthy digestion.

A number of companies have recognized the importance of these friendly bacteria and are supplementing their yogurt products with probiotics. Turn on the TV during the traditional mid-morning and afternoon programming hours aimed at women, and you’ll be invited to take the “challenge” that one company is offering—your money back if you don’t see improvement in digestion after one month. While it’s great that people are becoming more aware of how these good bacteria contribute to digestion, they don’t mention that specific strains of bacteria are beneficial or harmful in the gut of people with different blood types.

What does blood type have to do with friendly bacteria? According to Dr. D’Adamo, there are three things:

• Your blood type antigens are prominent in your digestive tract and in about 80% of individuals (secretors), are also prominent in the mucus that lines your digestive tract. Because of this, many of the bacteria in your digestive tract actually use your blood type as a preferred food supply. In fact, blood group specificity is common among intestinal bacteria with almost 1/2 of strains tested showing some blood type A, B, or O specificity. To give you an idea of the magnitude of the blood type influence on intestinal microflora, it has been estimated that someone with blood type B will have up to 50,000 times more of some strains of friendly bacteria than either blood type A or O individuals.
• Some strains of beneficial bacteria can have lectin-like hemagglutinin activity directed against your blood type, so avoiding those is a good idea.
• Polyflora Blood Type Specific Probiotics also blend prebiotics (foods which provide special growth factors for probiotic bacteria) that are right for each blood type.

In a recent blog, Dr. D’Adamo referenced two recent studies that link type II diabetes, obesity, and the lack of intestinal flora. He says, “Increasingly, studies are showing that changes in the microflora content of the digestive tract can be linked to metabolic illnesses, including type II (adult onset) diabetes and obesity. Blood group and secretor status play an important role in conditioning the overall characteristics of the digestive tract, including influencing the appearance and frequency of many strains of bacteria.”

Routinely taking probiotics that are Right for Your Type improves digestion, enhances bioavailability, promotes detoxification and better absorption of nutrients, and enhances immunity. There is also evidence that routine use of probiotics lowers LDL (bad cholesterol), inhibits Candida (yeast), and may even prevent nitrates from being converted into cancer causing nitrosamines.

As a point of interest, the word probiotic means, “in favor of life.” I’m in favor of that!

Source:

• Dr. D’Adamo Newsletter of June 2010

Related posts:

1. Secretor, Non-secretor, and Syndrome X

Secondhand smoke is being investigated for promoting a large number of other health problems as well. The current case-control study examines the potential link between secondhand smoke and chronic rhinosinusitis among adults.

Secondhand smoke exposure is linked to chronic rhinosinusitis, according to the results of a matched case-control study reported in the April issue of Archives of Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery.

“Most studies of the associations between SHS [secondhand smoke] exposure and respiratory disease in adults have investigated odor and irritation, respiratory symptoms, lung function, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer,” write C. Martin Tammemagi, DVM, MSc, PhD, from Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, and colleagues. “Few studies have focused on chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), although evidence suggests that such a relationship may exist.”

The goal of this study was to evaluate the association of secondhand smoke with chronic rhinosinusitis using conditional logistic regression odds ratios (ORs). At the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Michigan, 306 nonsmoking patients diagnosed with an incident case of chronic rhinosinusitis were matched by age, sex, and race/ethnicity to 306 nonsmoking control subjects. The primary endpoints were exposure to secondhand smoke for the 5 years before diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis in case patients and before study entry in control subjects, in the home, work place, public places, and private social functions outside the home.

Among case patients and control subjects, respectively, 41 (13.4%) and 28 (9.1%) had secondhand smoke exposure at home; 57 (18.6%) and 21 (6.9%) at work; 276 (90.2%) and 258 (84.3%) in public places; and 157 (51.3%) and 85 (27.8%) at private social functions. This yielded ORs of 1.69 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.92 – 3.10) for secondhand smoke exposure at home; 2.81 (95% CI, 1.42 – 5.57) for exposure at work; 1.48 (95% CI, 0.88 – 2.49) for exposure in public places; and 2.60 (95% CI, 1.74 – 3.89) for exposure at private functions, after adjustment for potential confounders including socioeconomic status and exposures to air pollution, chemicals, or respiratory irritants.

There was a strong, independent dose-response relationship between chronic rhinosinusitis and the number of venues where secondhand smoke exposure occurred (OR per 1 of 4 levels, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.55 – 2.66). Secondhand smoke appeared to account for approximately 40.0% of chronic rhinosinusitis.

“Exposure to SHS is common and significantly independently associated with CRS,” the study authors write. “These findings have important clinical and public health implications.”

Limitations of this study include retrospective design, possible recall bias, inability to determine whether the associations between secondhand smoke and chronic rhinosinusitis differed by causal subtype, and lack of biologic measurements of secondhand smoke exposure.

“On the basis of our findings, physicians should recommend that patients who are susceptible to CRS or who have CRS avoid exposure to SHS,” the study authors conclude. “The dose-response relationship between SHS and CRS indicates that even modest levels of exposure carry some risk.”

Source:

www.medscape.com, May 2010 Newsletter

At first, I suggest you to examine what are the appropriate  foods according to your own blood type:

• The right foods for Type O’s health
• The right foods for Type A’s health
• The right foods for Type B’s health
• The right foods for Type AB’s health

8 Tips to drop those few extra pounds

1. Eat Slowly and Mindfully – Sit at a table, not on your couch, and never in front of the TV or in your car. Set your fork down between each bite while you savor your food and swallow. Enjoy some dinner conversation, and then have another bite. Practice a slower pace at meal time. So often we’re pressed into hurrying through meals by other responsibilities. Schedule meals so that you have time to relax and enjoy your food. Stop half way through your meal, drink some water, and ask yourself, “Am I full?” Just like changing any other habit, learning to slow down at meal times takes practice and hard work.

2. Portion Control – The larger the plate or bowl, the more likely you will be to fill it up. Trade in those large plates for small, six inch dishes. When serving yourself, remember that a standard three ounce portion of meat, poultry, or fish, should be the size of a deck of cards. A one cup serving of vegetables is about the size of a tennis ball. If you’re eating out at a restaurant, order an appetizer as your main course along with a simple salad.

3. Watch out for Triggers – Are you an emotional eater? Do you tend to crave foods when stressed? Most of us are overeating for a hundred different reasons. We are eating due to boredom, irritation and frustration. When you start to feel this way, step out into the open air and walk. The mini-blast of oxygen will vanquish tiredness and mental exhaustion. Leave your worries behind and be in the moment. Look at the birds. Be thankful. Let go, breathe deeply and relax.

4. Keep a Food Diary – It’s simple, write down everything you eat and drink in a notebook or on your PDA. You may be surprised at how the calories add up. A food diary creates a conscious awareness of food intake and eating patterns – do you binge on carbs at the end of the day or generally “need” something sweet after lunch? By writing everything down, you have a sense of accountability for everything that passes your lips.

5. Join a Support Group – A big key in long term weight control comes from receiving encouragement and support from others. The community message boards on www.dadamo.com are a great resource and networking tool. There are Eat Right for Your Type groups springing up around the world – many can be found through social networking sites like Facebook. If you live in Connecticut, the D’Adamo Personalized Nutrition Store holds a support group that meets monthly.

6. Exercise – In order for exercise to be helpful in weight loss, you should strive for a minimum of five 30 minute sessions of right for your type exercise per week. The good news is that recent research has shown that three 10 minute sessions in a day are as good as one 30 minute session. This helps many in combating the old “no time for exercise” excuse. Be certain to find something you enjoy. You’ll be more apt to stick with it. Try walking with a friend, joining an intramural sports league, or trying some classes at your local gym. Once you give exercise a chance, you will begin to enjoy its positive benefits on your psyche as well; you will literally become “hooked.”

7. Eat Breakfast – When you skip breakfast, your metabolic rate slows down and your blood sugar drops. As a result, you become hungry and have less energy. This sets you up to impulsively snack in the morning – often on high-fat sweets – or to eat extra servings or bigger portions at lunch or dinner. When you eat breakfast, your body feels nourished and satisfied, making you less likely to overeat the rest of the day.

8. Take Your Oils – Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) reduces fat and preserves muscle tissue. In studies CLA has been shown to decrease abdominal fat and lower insulin resistance (particularly good for Gatherers and Warriors).

Related posts:

1. Tips for Healthy Cardiovascular

Cocoa Content is the Key

Lead author Dr. Brian Buijsse (German Institute of Human Nutrition, Nuthetal, Germany) told heartwire: “This shows that habitual consumption of chocolate is related to a lower risk of heart disease and stroke that is partly explained by blood-pressure reduction. The risk reduction is stronger for stroke than for MI, which is logical because it appears that chocolate and cocoa have a pronounced effect on BP [blood pressure], and BP is a higher risk factor for stroke than for MI.” Buijsse and colleagues report their findings online March 31, 2010 in the European Heart Journal.

However, Buijsse cautions that only small amounts of chocolate were associated with the benefits and it is too early to give recommendations on chocolate consumption: “Maybe it’s a boring message, but it’s a little too early to come up with recommendations, because chocolate contains so many calories and sugar, and obesity is already an epidemic. We have to be careful.

“However, he added, that if people did want to treat themselves, they would be better off choosing small amounts of chocolate, preferably dark chocolate, over other sweet snacks. “We know it is the cocoa content in chocolate that is important, so the higher the cocoa content, the better.”

Dr. Steffen Desch (University of Leipzig, Heart Center, Germany), who was not involved with this study but who has performed research on the effects of chocolate on blood pressure, told heartwire: “This is an interesting study that adds to the growing body of evidence that flavanol-rich chocolate might be associated with health benefits. Several epidemiological studies (including the Zuphten Elderly Study, by the same first author) and even more physiological trials have been published before.”

“What is missing now is a large-scale randomized trial of flavanol-rich chocolate versus control. The most reasonable end point would probably be the change in blood pressure between groups.” However, Desch added, “the major problems in designing such a study are the lack of funding and finding an appropriate control substance. To the best of my knowledge, there is no commercially available flavanol-free chocolate that offers the distinct bitter taste and dark color inherent to cocoa-rich chocolate.”

Biggest Chocolate Consumers Had Lowest Blood Pressure

Buijsse and colleagues followed 19 357 people, aged between 35 and 65, who were participants in the Potsdam arm of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC). They received medical checks, including blood pressure and height and weight measurements at the start of the study (1994–1998), and they also answered questions about their diet, lifestyle, and health, including how frequently they ate 50-g bars of chocolate.

The research was conducted before the health benefits of chocolate and cocoa were recognized, so no differentiation was made between milk, dark, and white chocolate in the study. But in a subset analysis of 1568 participants later asked to recall their chocolate intake over a 24-hour period, 57% ate milk chocolate, 24% dark chocolate, and 2% white chocolate.

Participants were divided into quartiles according to their level of chocolate consumption. Those in the top quartile, eating around 7.5 g of chocolate a day, had blood pressure that was about 1 mm Hg (systolic) and 0.9 mm Hg (diastolic) lower than those in the bottom quartile.

In follow-up questionnaires, sent out every two or three years until December 2006, the participants were asked whether they had had a heart attack or stroke, information that was subsequently verified by medical records from general physicians or hospitals. Death certificates from those who had died were also used to identify MIs and strokes.

“Our hypothesis was that because chocolate appears to have a pronounced effect on blood pressure, chocolate consumption would lower the risk of strokes and heart attacks, with a stronger effect being seen for stroke,” explained Buijsse.

Those Eating Most Chocolate Had Half the Risk of Stroke

During the eight years, there were 166 MIs (24 fatal) and 136 strokes (12 fatal); people in the top quartile had a 27% reduced risk of MI and nearly half the risk (48%) of stroke, compared with those in the lowest quartile. The relative risk of the combined outcome of MI and stroke for top vs bottom quartile was 0.61 (p=0.014).

The researchers found that lower baseline blood pressure explained 12% of the reduced risk of the combined outcome, but even after taking this into account, those in the top quartile still had their risk reduced by a third (32%) compared with those in the bottom quartile over the duration of the study.

To put this in terms of absolute risk, Buijsse said if people in the group eating the least amount of chocolate increased their chocolate intake by 6 g a day, 85 fewer heart attacks and strokes per 10 000 people could be expected to occur over a period of about 10 years.

He says it appears that flavanols in chocolate are responsible for the beneficial effects, causing the release of nitric oxide, which contributes to lower BP and improves platelet function.

Dr Frank Ruschitzka (University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland) agrees. He said in a European Society of Cardiology statement [2]: “Basic science has demonstrated quite convincingly that dark chocolate particularly, with a cocoa content of at least 70%, reduces oxidative stress and improves vascular and platelet function.”

Only Small Amounts of Chocolate Beneficial; Don’t Eat Too Much

Buissje said this work builds on his earlier small trial–the Zuphten Elderly Study–performed in 500 men in Holland, which showed that chocolate consumption lowered overall cardiovascular mortality. “Due to the small size of this study, we were not able to differentiate between stroke and MI in this, but now we are able to look at stroke and MI separately, so it’s a nice addition,” he notes.

And the findings are in line with an intervention study that showed that eating around 6 g of chocolate a day–one small square of a 100-g bar–might lower cardiovascular disease risk, he says. “So the effects are achieved with very small amounts.”

British Heart Foundation dietician Victoria Taylor made the same point: “It’s important to read the small print with this study. The amount consumed on average by even the highest consumers was about one square of chocolate a day or half a small chocolate Easter egg in a week, so the benefits were associated with a fairly small amount of chocolate.

“Some people will be tempted to eat more than one square; however, chocolate has high amounts of calories and saturated fat . . . two of the key risk factors for heart disease,” she noted in a statement [3].

Ruschitzka similarly urged caution: “Before you rush to add dark chocolate to your diet, be aware that 100 g of dark chocolate contains roughly 500 calories. As such, you may want to subtract an equivalent amount of calories, by cutting back on other foods, to avoid weight gain.”

The researchers report no conflicts of interest.

References

1. Buijsse, B, Weikert C, Drogan D et al. Chocolate consumption in relation to blood pressure and risk of CV disease in German adults. Eur Heart J 2010: DOI:10.1093/eurheartj/ehq068. Available at: http://eurheartj.oxfordjournals.org.
2. European Society of Cardiology. Study shows chocolate reduces blood pressure and risk of heart disease [press release]. Available here.
3. British Heart Foundation. Eggcellent news in time for Easter! [press release]. March 30, 2010. Available here.
4. www.medscape.com

Related posts:

1. Tips for Healthy Cardiovascular

I got explanation from his family that during his teenage up to his death he had unhealthy lifestyle. As a student, he accustomed to drink instant energy drink and to consume instant noodle almost everyday. As we know that both kind of modern-processed food are rich of artificial food additives, such as MSG and artificial colorings and sweeteners. I hope you could learn from this tragic case: never consume too much food containing artificial food additives.

Many people who have chronic kidney disease don’t know it, because the early signs can be very subtle. It can take many years to go from chronic kidney disease (CKD) to kidney failure. Some people with CKD live out their lives without ever reaching kidney failure.

However, for people at any stage of kidney disease, knowledge is power. Knowing the symptoms of kidney disease can help you get the treatment you need to feel your best. If you or someone you know has one or more of the following symptoms of kidney disease, or you are worried about kidney problems, see a doctor for blood and urine tests. Remember, many of the symptoms can be due to reasons other than kidney disease. The only way to know the cause of your symptoms is to see your doctor.

Symptom 1:

Changes in Urination

Kidneys make urine, so when the kidneys are failing, the urine may change. How?

• You may have to get up at night to urinate.
• Your urine may be foamy or bubbly.
• You may urinate more often, or in greater amounts than usual, with pale urine.
• You may urinate less often, or in smaller amounts than usual with dark colored urine.
• Your urine may contain blood.
• You may feel pressure or have difficulty urinating.

What patients said:

“When you go to use the restroom, you couldn’t get it all out. And it would still feel just like tightness down there, there was so much pressure.”

“My urine is what I had started noticing. Then I was frequently going to the bathroom, and when I got there, nothing’s happening.”

“I was passing blood in my urine. It was so dark. And when I went to the hospital they thought I was lying about what color it was.”

Symptom 2:

Swelling

Failing kidneys don’t remove extra fluid, which builds up in your body causing swelling in the legs, ankles, feet, face, and/or hands.

What patients said:

“I remember a lot of swelling in my ankles. My ankles were so big I couldn’t get my shoes on.”

“My sister, her hair started to fall out, she was losing weight, but her face was really puffy, you know, and everything like that, before she found out what was going on with her.”

“Going to work one morning, my left ankle was swollen, real swollen, and I was very exhausted just walking to the bus stop. And I knew then that I had to see a doctor.”

Symptom 3:

Fatigue

Healthy kidneys make a hormone called erythropoietin (a-rith’-ro-po’-uh-tin) that tells your body to make oxygen-carrying red blood cells. As the kidneys fail, they make less erythropoietin. With fewer red blood cells to carry oxygen, your muscles and brain become tired very quickly. This condition is called anemia, and it can be treated.

What patients said:

“I was constantly exhausted and didn’t have any pep or anything.”

“I would sleep a lot. I’d come home from work and get right in that bed.”

“It’s just like when you’re extremely tired all the time. Fatigued, and you’re just drained, even if you didn’t do anything, just totally drained.”

Symptom 4:

Skin Rash/Itching

Kidneys remove wastes from the bloodstream. When the kidneys fail, the buildup of wastes in your blood can cause severe itching.

What patients said:

“It’s not really a skin itch or anything, it’s just right down to the bone. I had to get a brush and dig. My back was just bloody from scratching it so much.”

“My skin had broke out, I was itching and scratching a lot.”

Symptom 5:

Metallic Taste in Mouth/Ammonia Breath

A buildup of wastes in the blood (called uremia) can make food taste different and cause bad breath. You may also notice that you stop liking to eat meat, or that you are losing weight because you just don’t feel like eating.

What patients said:

“Foul taste in your mouth. Almost like you’re drinking iron.”

“You don’t have the appetite you used to have.”

“Before I started dialysis, I must have lost around about 10 pounds.”

Symptom 6:

Nausea and Vomiting

A severe buildup of wastes in the blood (uremia) can also cause nausea and vomiting. Loss of appetite can lead to weight loss.

What patients said:

“I had a lot of itching, and I was nauseated, throwing up all the time. I couldn’t keep anything down in my stomach.”

“When I got the nausea, I couldn’t eat and I had a hard time taking my blood pressure pills.”

Symptom 7:

Shortness of Breath

Trouble catching your breath can be related to the kidneys in two ways. First, extra fluid in the body can build up in the lungs. And second, anemia (a shortage of oxygen-carrying red blood cells) can leave your body oxygen-starved and short of breath.

What patients said:

“At the times when I get the shortness of breath, it’s alarming to me. It just fears me. I think maybe I might fall or something so I usually go sit down for awhile.”

“I couldn’t sleep at night. I couldn’t catch my breath, like I was drowning or something. And, the bloating, can’t breathe, can’t walk anywhere. It was bad.”

“You go up a set of stairs and you’re out of breath, or you do work and you get tired and you have to stop.”

Symptom 8:

Feeling Cold

Anemia can make you feel cold all the time, even in a warm room.

What patients said:

“I notice sometimes I get really cold, I get chills.”

“Sometimes I get really, really cold. It could be hot, and I’d be cold.”

Symptom 9:

Dizziness and Trouble Concentrating

Anemia related to kidney failure means that your brain is not getting enough oxygen. This can lead to memory problems, trouble with concentration, and dizziness.

What patients said:

“I know I mentioned to my wife that my memory—I couldn’t remember what I did last week, or maybe what I had 2 days ago. I couldn’t really concentrate, because I like to work crossword puzzles and read a lot.”

“I was always tired and dizzy.”

“It got to the point, like, I used to be at work, and all of the sudden I’d start getting dizzy. So I was thinking maybe it was my blood pressure or else diabetes was going bad. That’s what was on my mind.”

Symptom 10:

Leg/Flank Pain

Some people with kidney problems may have pain in the back or side related to the affected kidney. Polycystic kidney disease, which causes large, fluid-filled cysts on the kidneys and sometimes the liver, can cause pain.

What patients said:

“About 2 years ago, I was constantly going to the bathroom all the time, the lower part of my back was always hurting and I was wondering why…and they diagnosed that kidney problem.”

“And then you’re having to get up all time through the night, and then you have the side ache, a backache, and you can’t move.”

“At night, I would get a pain in my side. It was worse than labor pain. And I’d be crying and my husband would get up, everybody, rubbing my legs.”

Related posts:

1. Kidney Stone: You Have to Know It Better
2. Really Healthy? Drink Plenty of Water

The word allergy means “altered working.” It was coined at the beginning of the twentieth century, after dogs inoculated with proteins from other animals had severe reactions when they came into contact with those proteins again.

Allergies are responses mounted by the immune system to a particular food, inhalant, or chemical. In a simplified sense, an allergic reaction is an adverse or inappropriately amplified immune system response to something that many other people find harmless.

Most commonly, an allergic reaction expresses itself as a headache or fatigue, and may include

• sneezing,
• watery eyes,
• nasal congestion.

More severe allergic reactions, such as those to certain nuts, fish, and insect stings are known as anaphylaxis and are characterized by:

• the swelling of tissue and
• the inability to breathe.

These reactions may need to be treated as serious medical emergencies. A synthetic epinephrine, a hormone naturally produced by the adrenal gland, may be administered to combat the reaction. People with severe allergies should carry epinephrine pens in case of accidental exposure to the allergen.

According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), people with allergies spend more than $5 billion annually on doctors’ visits, allergy shots, and prescription mediations. Many health conditions are related to allergies, including:

• acne,
• asthma,
• attention deficit disorders,
• bladder infections, and
• a host of digestive disorders.

Climate Change and Allergy

Does it feel like those first allergy symptoms are starting earlier? It could be the result of global warming! At a meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in New Orleans, scientists presented information from a study indicating that climate change may be extending pollen seasons.

According to a team at Genoa University in Italy, pollen seasons, as well as the amount of pollen in the air, progressively increased during a 26 year study in Italy. The study group recorded pollen counts, how long pollen seasons lasted and sensitivity to five different types of pollen in the Bordighera region of Italy from 1981 to 2007 (26 years span).

“By studying a well-defined geographical region, we observed that the progressive increase in the average temperature has prolonged the duration of the pollen seasons of some plants and, consequently, the overall pollen load,” Dr. Walter Canonica, who worked on the study, said in a statement.

Christine Rogers, a research associate in Environmental Science and Engineering at Harvard University agrees. In a recent interview in the Live Science newsletter, she is quoted as saying, “There have been significant increases in allergies and asthma in recent decades which cannot be explained by any change in genetics.”

Rogers reviewed the scientific literature on the change in plant flowering times and airborne pollen concentrations over the last few decades. “Plants are flowering significantly earlier over time and advancing the season by approximately 0.8 days per year,” Rogers said.

Allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever, is a reaction to indoor and outdoor airborne allergens, such as pollen. Longer pollen seasons and high levels of pollen certainly can exacerbate symptoms for people with allergies and for those who previously had minimal symptoms.

The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 25 million Americans suffer from allergies – nearly half of them are children.

Reference:

“D’adamo Personalized Nutrition”, The e-newsletter for people who Eat Right for Your Type, April 2010.

Entire cultures have survived on diets of fish. Civilizations grew along the shores of the sea and the banks of rivers. The oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, and streams often provided and incredible bounty. No wonder people thought there were gods in the water. What other explanation could there have been?

I have my own  experience with certain kind of  seafood. In my childhood until age of 40, I found my self having allergies after eating  seafood  such as shrimp, barracuda, crab, or oysters. And my allergy-specialist doctor concluded that I had to totally avoid  seafood. For fish, he advised me to consume only fresh water fish.

In 2007, I started learning the blood type diet (in my effort to overcome my kidney stones diorder) and eventually I’ve got the comprehensive knowledge, sufficient for me to get the answer for the  biggest question in my life that far:

• Why the doctor advised me to totally avoid all of seafood (to prevent me from  allergies)?

Now, it is obvious that the doctor was not correct at all.

I have B blood type and I started following the recommended food chart for type B health, and it works. Since then, I avoid only  shellfish family, anchovy, yellow tail,  barracuda, and octopus. But still there are so many other delicious deep ocean fish like cod, tuna, spanish mackerel, halibut, salmon, sardines, and also squids are waiting for me.

The blood type diet science is really very powerful and helpful for me and my family’s health. This time, I’d like to share with you the guidance in selecting the right seafood to help you achieve your optimum health.

Choose the Right Seafood for You

Type O

If your blood type is O, you should be very happy. Type O has a lengthy seafood menu from which to choose. Seafood is the second most concentrated animal protein. and is best suited to Type Os of Asian and Eurasian descent, though other Type Os can choose from a wide variety of richly oiled cold-water fish.

Fish oils are of particular importance to type Os because certain blood-clotting factors that evolved as humans adapted to environmental changes were missing from the blood of early Type Os. For this reason, Type Os often have ‘thin’ blood, resistant to clotting. Although fish oils tend to have a blood-thinning effect, this is  not an issue for Type Os.

Fish oils can also be very effective in treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, such as colitis or Chron’s disease, to which Type Os are susceptible.

Seafood is also an excellent source of iodine, which regulates thyroid function. Type Os typically suffer from hypothyroidism, a condition in which an insufficient amount of thyroid  hormone is produced. Seafood should become a regular component of the healthy Type O diet.

I suggest you to examine the food chart for the health of Type O by reading the following article:

• Real Food for Type O Health

Type A

Type As can eat fish up to three or four times a week to complement vegetable protein. Avoid the delicate white fish, such as halibut, hake, sole, and flounder; they contain lectin that can irritate the Type A digestive tract.

Type A women with a family history of breast cancer should consider introducing the edible snail Helix pomatia (escargot) into their diets. It helps fight cancer in the following way: in a precancerous condition, the body’s cells manufacture a protein that allows the cancer to spread. The snail lectin attaches to those cells and essentially takes away their internal passport, blocking their ability to spread.

Fish oils are believed to be a factor in reducing heart disease, which makes them important for Type As.

I suggest you to examine the food chart for the health of Type A by reading the following article:

• Real Food for Type A Health

Type B

Type Bs thrive on fish. Deep ocean fish rich in oils, like cod, are excellent for Type Bs, as are white fish, such as halibut, flounder, and sole. Shellfish should be assiduously avoided by all Type Bs, as shellfish  contain lectins disruptive to the Type B system. This prohibition includes lobsters, shrimp, crabs, and clams.

Many of the original Type Bs were ancient Hebrew tribes whose laws forbade the consumption of shellfish. Perhaps this dietary law was an implicit acknowledgment of  the fact that shellfish was poorly   digested by Type Bs. In this respect, some  scientists have discovered that salmon roe – eggs – may also contain a lectin that agglutinates Type B cells. Until more information is available, I suggest that you, whose blood type is B, limit your intake of salmon.

I suggest you to examine the food chart for the health of Type B by reading the following article:

• Real Food for Type B Health

Type AB

Type ABs also have a vast variety of beneficial fish and seafood, but like Type As, they should avoid the white fish halibut, hake, sole, and flounder, and like Type Bs, all shellfish.

Type AB women who have a family history of  breast cancer should consider including the edible snail Helix pomatia in their diet. Type ABs also share with Type Bs caution about salmon.

I suggest you to examine the food chart for the health of Type AB by reading the following article:

• Real Food for Type AB Health

Reference:

• “Live Right for Your Type“, Peter J. D’Adamo and Catherine Whitney, 2001, Penguin Group, New York, NY.

Related posts:

1. Fat, Fish and Fowl
2. Tips for Healthy Cardiovascular