|
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT AILMENTS
|
|
|
Essense-of-Life.com encourages personal research and a balanced view of health and nutrition topics. The information links below are intended to provide a broad overview of various research findings and hypothesis on the role of nutrition in health. This information is not intended to promote any particular product. Neither is it intended to be an endorsement.
Unless noted, the articles below may NOT include any scientific references or sources.
|
|
|
+
|
ACID REFLUX |
|
See Heartburn |
|
|
+
|
ACNE |
|
Acne is triggered by the increased production of sebum in the sweat glands. The sebum together with dead skin cells tends to clog the pores creating an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. These bacteria together with the breakdown products of sebum irritate and inflame the pores resulting to acne. Further studies on acne shows that it may also be caused by digestive problem wherein the skin becomes an eliminating organ for toxins due to poor digestion or chemical exposure.
|
|
|
+
|
AIDS |
|
AIDS is an immunodeficiency disorder which compromises the bodies ability to defend itself. When HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) invades T lymphocyte immune cells, it multiplies and breaks down the immune system, leading to overwhelming infection and other maladies. |
|
|
+
|
ALZHEIMER'S |
|
Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative disease of the brain which causes a loss of brain cells leading to memory loss and a decline in intellectual function. |
|
| + |
ANEMIA |
|
Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Red blood cells provide oxygen to body tissues. There are many types of anemia. Iron deficiency anemia is a decrease in the number of red cells in the blood caused by too little iron. Folic acid deficiency anemia happens when your body does not get enough folic acid. Folic acid is one of the B vitamins, and it helps your body make new cells, including new red blood cells. Not having enough B12 can lead to anemia. Pernicious anemia is a chronic illness caused by impaired absorption of vitamin B-12 because of a lack of intrinsic factor in gastric secretions. |
|
| + |
ARTHRITIS |
|
See Rheumatoid Arthritis. There are over 100 different forms of arthritis, all sharing one main characteristic: they all cause joint inflammation. |
|
| + |
ATHLETE'S FOOT |
|
Athlete's foot is a fungal infection of the skin of the feet, which can also involve reactions by the feet and skin to toxins produced by candida/fungus overgrowth. Many over-the-counter medications used to treat athlete's foot just weaken it, then rely on the body's immune system to kill it. |
|
| + |
CANCER |
|
Cancer begins when a cell reproduces without purpose and is not receptive to the normal signal to stop reproducing. This unchecked growth spreads through the body and interferes with the ability of the body and its cells, organs, and other structures to perform their normal functions. |
|
| + |
CANDIDA |
|
Candidiasis is the common name for a condition that results in the overproduction of a form of yeast normally found in the body at low levels. In healthy people, candida does little harm because it's kept in check by beneficial microorganisms, or probiotics. These "good" bacteria, however, can be easily destroyed by antibiotics, prescription medications, birth control pills, poor diet and daily stress, allowing candida yeast to grow out of control and produce infections. Sugar feeds candida. A diet that encourage the growth of yeast and should be avoided.1 Consume a diet consisting mainly of alkaline foods while minimizing your consumption of acidic foods to treat candidiasis. |
|
| + |
CHRONIC FATIGUE |
|
See Fibromyalgia |
|
| + |
CROHN'S DISEASE |
|
Crohn's sufferers experience profuse urgent diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and fevers. The immune system starts attacking the lining of the gut, which becomes swollen and inflamed. This inflammation narrows the digestive tract and can result in excruciating pain during digestion as well as constant uncontrollable bowel movements. Added discomforts associated with Crohn's disease include severe joint pains, weight loss and lack of energy. The intestines characteristically become so deeply ulcerated that they take on a "cobblestone" appearance. |
|
| + |
DEPRESSION |
|
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity and experiencing feelings of sadness, helplessness and hopelessness. There is now evidence that major depression is accompanied by an induction of inflammatory and oxidative and nitrosative stress pathways and by a lowered antioxidant status. Dietary changes can bring about changes in your brain structure, both chemically and physiologically. Those changes can improve mood and mental outlook. |
|
| + |
DIABETES |
|
Diabetes is defined as a state in which homeostasis of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism is improperly regulated by the pancreatic hormone, insulin; resulting in an increased blood glucose level. Diabetes is not a disease of blood sugar. Rather, it is a disease of insulin resistance, and perhaps more importantly, of faulty leptin signaling. Conventional treatment is focused on fixing a symptom, in this case elevated blood sugar, rather than the underlying disease. Treatments that concentrate merely on lowering blood sugar for diabetes while raising insulin levels, can actually worsen rather than remedy the actual problem of metabolic miscommunication. |
|
| + |
EPILEPSY |
|
Epilepsy is a neurological condition that from time to time produces brief disturbances in the normal electrical functions of the brain. Normal brain function is made possible by millions of tiny electrical charges passing between nerve cells in the brain and to all parts of the body. Epilepsy is the underlying tendency of the brain to produce sudden bursts of electrical energy that disrupt other brain functions. Seizures are a symptom of epilepsy. |
|
| + |
FIBROMYALGIA |
|
Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterised by soft tissue pain, disturbance of function, an often prolonged course, and variable fatigue and debility. Trauma, either physical or emotional, may also contribute to this condition. Researchers have detected abnormalities in the brains of people with fibromyalgia. The abnormalities were directly correlated with the severity of disease symptoms. An increase in blood flow was found in the brain region known to discriminate pain intensity. Evidence suggests that fibromyalgia results from local hypoxia in the muscles (low oxygen) which in turn contributes to muscle tissue breakdown. Patients with fibromyalgia reach the anaerobic threshold in their muscles earlier and have significantly lower levels of ATP and ADP in affected muscles. |
|
| + |
GOUT |
|
UPDATE IN PROGRESS |
|
| + |
HEADACHE |
|
See Migraine |
|
| + |
HEART ARRHYTHMIA |
|
Arrhythmia can manifest when the heart beats very fast (tachycardia) or very slowly (bradycardia). Arrhythmia is the result of interference with the electrical pathways that produce the heart's rhythmic muscular contractions, Normally, a heartbeat is a highly coordinated event, directed by the sequential firing of nerves that signal each chamber of the heart to contract. When things go awry, the nerve signals may be delayed, or the nerves may fire more often than necessary. The end result is that the heart pumps blood less efficiently. |
|
| + |
HEARTBURN |
|
Heartburn (or indigestion) is a feeling of burning, warmth, heat, or pain that usually starts in the upper abdomen and spreads upward into your throat, often accompanied by a sour taste in your mouth. Heartburn occurs when food and stomach juices back up into the esophagus. By bolstering stomach acid production we can alleviate most heartburn and acid reflux without the use of drugs. Using acid reducers or blockers regularly can have a negative impact on your health as your stomach must have an acid pH of 1.5 to 2.5 to work properly. Part of the problem is that the foods are not being digested correctly. This can be due to an enzyme deficiency caused by an imbalance or dysfunction in the pancreas, adrenal glands or liver. |
|
| + |
HIGH CHOLESTEROL |
|
Cholesterol is an essential structural component of mammalian cell membranes, where it is required to establish proper membrane permeability and fluidity. Within the cell membrane, cholesterol also functions in intracellular transport, cell signaling and nerve conduction. Abnormally high cholesterol levels (hypercholesterolemia); that is, higher concentrations of LDL and lower concentrations of functional HDL are strongly associated with cardiovascular disease. Statins, a popular set of drugs used to lower cholesterol, can result in muscle weakness and pain, and even debilitating and life-threatening muscle damage. Medications alone aren't the only means to lower cholesterol levels. Recently researchers have confirmed that a diet rich in fiber and vegetables works just as well at controlling your increased cholesterol levels. |
|
| + |
HYPERTENSION |
|
Blood pressure is the force exerted on your artery walls by the blood flowing through your body. High blood pressure (hypertension) is often called the “silent killer” because it has no symtoms and can go undetected for years. Untreated hypertension causes damage to the blood vessels over time. Research has shown that modest lifestyle and dietary changes can help treat and often delay or prevent high blood pressure. Research has shown that the more potassium and less sodium a person has in his/her diet, the greater the likelihood that the person will maintain normal blood pressure. Excessive sodium intake is linked with high blood pressure or hypertension in some people. |
|
| + |
INDIGESTION |
|
See Heartburn |
|
| + |
KIDNEY STONES |
|
Kidney stones begin as concentrations of salts, minerals, and other substances in the urine, and range in size from a grain of sand to a golf ball. |
|
| + |
LUPUS |
|
Lupus is a disease in which the immune system attacks the body's organs and tissues, leading to painful or swollen joints, fever, skin rashes, kidney or heart problems and extreme fatigue. Patients with lupus do better if they follow an anti-autoimmune diet. |
|
| + |
LYME DISEASE |
|
Lyme disease was first recognized in the United States in 1975, after a mysterious outbreak of arthritis near Lyme, Connecticut. It wasn't until 1982 that the spirochete that causes Lyme was identified. It was subsequently named Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb). Traditionally, signs and symptoms of Lyme disease include: a skin rash, often resembling a bulls-eye, fever, headache, muscle pain, stiff neck, and swelling of the knees and other large joints. Millions of people who are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, Alzheimer's, chronic fatigue syndrome and other degenerative diseases could have Lyme Disease causing or contributing to their condition. |
|
| + |
MACULAR DEGENERATION |
|
Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in elderly Americans. Age-related macular degeneration occurs when abnormal blood vessels leak fluid and blood into the tissue at the back of the eye, leading to blistering and scarring of the retina. The disease affects central vision needed for reading, driving and recognizing faces. |
|
| + |
MIGRAINE |
|
Migraines cause severe headaches and can also trigger nausea, vomiting, pins and needles, and increased sensitivity to bright light, sound or smell. A typical attack can last from four to 72 hours and can be so debilitating that the sufferer is unable to work, and in some cases, even to leave a darkened room. |
|
| + |
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS |
|
UPDATE IN PROGRESS |
|
| + |
OSTEOPOROSIS |
|
Osteoporosis is a disease of excessive demineralization of bone. Contrary to popular belief, the available published evidence suggests that osteoporosis is not primarily due to deficiencies of either calcium or oestrogen but is related to deficiencies of key nutrients. |
|
| + |
PARKINSON'S DISEASE |
|
Parkinson's disease is a medical disorder whose characteristic symptoms are due to excessive muscle contraction. This often begins as a tremor, which can develop into muscle rigidity. It is caused by the insufficient action of dopamine, which normally acts by preventing excessive muscle contraction. |
|
| + |
PMS |
|
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) refers to a cluster of mood, physical and cognitive symptoms that occur during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and subside with the onset of menstruation. Symptoms include fatigue, irritability, abdominal bloating, breast tenderness, and mood swings. |
|
| + |
PSORIASIS |
|
Psoriasis is a non-contagious skin disorder, which causes inflamed scaly patches or lesions to form on the skin. Medical professionals believe there is a genetic component to psoriasis and that it is an autoimmune disorder. Psoriasis is a chronic disease that causes a buildup of skin cells, forming thick scales and inflamed red patches on the skin. Sufferers experience cycles of flare-ups and remission. Psoriasis can appear anywhere on the skin. |
|
| + |
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS |
|
Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic inflammatory disease which affects multiple joints of the body. In rheumatoid arthritis, the body's own immune system attacks the tissues that surround and lubricate the joints. Those tissues become inflamed, attacked as they are by the immune complexes and their production of lubricating internal joint fluid is slowed. The result is pain, lack of full movement, degeneration in the internal portion of the joint from rubbing without lubrication, and eventually a deforming osteoarthritis. |
|
| + |
RINGWORM |
|
The fungi that cause ringworm can live in hair and on the top layer of the skin, and thrive in heat and moisture. Ringworm appears as a red, itchy rash, sometimes in the shape of a ring. Ringworm is contagious, and can be spread through skin to skin contact or by touching an object that has been in contact with an infected area. |
|
|
Key words for internet research: the role of nutrition in overall health
|
