Cholesterol is a fatty molecule, produced by your body to do the following:
Make cell membranes
Conduct the heart impulse through your heart
Precursor for sex hormones
For skin and new regrowth
Is used in inflammation
The types of Cholesterol
Cholesterol or lipids (fats) are transported around the body on protein molecules called Lipoproteins. An increased in blood cholesterol (particularly LDL and triglyerides) has been associated with a greater risk of heart disease. In Australia, Lipid lowering drugs are currently the highest expenditure of all drugs. Modifying cholesterol does at times need medicating, however lifestyle and diet can play a dramatic role keeping it low.
HDL – high density lipoproteins are cardioprotective (protect your heart) and focus can be on raising these
LDL – low density lipoproteins are have a higher fat:protein ratio and are considered bad cholesterol
Triglyceride – fat ingested from diet, is considered to be bad cholesterol and is often elevated in diabetics.
(There are other forms of cholesterol, however the 3 mentioned above are the most commonly measured in blood tests.)
National Heart Foundation (2001) recommends:
LDL
< 4.0 mmols/L in high risk patients
< 2.5 mmols/L in low risk patients
HDL
> 1.0 mmols/L all people
> 1.0 mmols/L all people
Triglycerides
< 2.0 mmols/L all people
< 2.0mmols/L all people
Total Cholesterol
< 6.0 mmols/L in low risk patients
< 4.0 mmols/L in high risk patients
Lowering Cholesterol
Exercise: Exercising should be part of your daily routine -Walking or low impact exercise min. 3-5 times/week will increase HDL significantly
keep your weight in normal ranges
Managed your stress levels or see someone that can help
Talk to someone about controlling anxiety levels
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
PROTECT YOURSELF and STAFF from Swine Flu!
This is a swine flu up-date compiled by Health Queen, Sam Beau Patrick. Circulate to staff and friends to help them prevent exposure to this virus.
“From Monday 22 June, Queensland, along with the Commonwealth and all other Australian states and territories, will enter a new phase to manage the outbreak of Human Swine Influenza. The new phase is called PROTECT. The PROTECT phase recognises that Human Swine Influenza is not as severe for the general population as originally envisaged. Most people are making a rapid and full recovery. The new phase focuses on protecting those people who are most at risk of developing severe illness from Human Swine Influenza.Health care workers who develop an influenza like illness will be required to stay away from work for 7 days or until their symptoms have resolved, which ever is longer.” (Ref: http://www.health.qld.gov.au/swineflu/)
While the government is focusing on its PROTECT phase, I strongly urge you to have your own PROTECT plan in place! I have heard reports that 95% of all flu cases in Victoria are currently the H1N1 strain. Flu (of all varieties) is responsible for 2500 deaths each year and countless days off work for employees in Australia alone.
To PROTECT yourself and your staff you need to be doing the following:
Prevent the spread of the virus and ask employees to stay at home if they are experiencing flu like symptoms.
Reduce your exposure by staying at least 1 meter from people with coughs and colds, don’t visit people if you know they are unwell.
Offer tissues, hand wipes and immune boosters, at work stations, near key boards, till-check outs and other places where multiple people share the same equipment.
Throw out tissues (definitely don’t use handkerchiefs), throw out one use-items, eg cups, don’t share cigarettes or lipsticks
Encourage people to take preventative measures such as immune boosting supplements (you may choose to offer them to staff at a discount rate or send this email on so they can order supplements for themselves)
Communicate with your staff about the strategies you are taking in the workforce and what you expect of them (ie in regards to staying at home if they feel unwell)
Take supplements every day to boost your immune system, eat lots of vegetables and drink lots of water.
Immune Boosting Pack
$68.90 inc. delivery in Australia. Enough for 6-8 weeks
Zinc & Vitamin C
A Blue Chip Supplement with Immune boosting herbs, proven to boost your immune system
You can order an immune booster pack from Sam 2 ways:
Email: sam@sanxing.com.au and she will forward the order form for you. Overseas (non Australian addresses) will incur a greater postage fee, but i will let me know on request.
Phone Sam on 0405 669 135 and she will arrange the pack for you.
HOW MUCH IS 1 day of missed work worth to you?
If it is more than $70 bucks then you had better call or email me.
“From Monday 22 June, Queensland, along with the Commonwealth and all other Australian states and territories, will enter a new phase to manage the outbreak of Human Swine Influenza. The new phase is called PROTECT. The PROTECT phase recognises that Human Swine Influenza is not as severe for the general population as originally envisaged. Most people are making a rapid and full recovery. The new phase focuses on protecting those people who are most at risk of developing severe illness from Human Swine Influenza.Health care workers who develop an influenza like illness will be required to stay away from work for 7 days or until their symptoms have resolved, which ever is longer.” (Ref: http://www.health.qld.gov.au/swineflu/)
While the government is focusing on its PROTECT phase, I strongly urge you to have your own PROTECT plan in place! I have heard reports that 95% of all flu cases in Victoria are currently the H1N1 strain. Flu (of all varieties) is responsible for 2500 deaths each year and countless days off work for employees in Australia alone.
To PROTECT yourself and your staff you need to be doing the following:
Prevent the spread of the virus and ask employees to stay at home if they are experiencing flu like symptoms.
Reduce your exposure by staying at least 1 meter from people with coughs and colds, don’t visit people if you know they are unwell.
Offer tissues, hand wipes and immune boosters, at work stations, near key boards, till-check outs and other places where multiple people share the same equipment.
Throw out tissues (definitely don’t use handkerchiefs), throw out one use-items, eg cups, don’t share cigarettes or lipsticks
Encourage people to take preventative measures such as immune boosting supplements (you may choose to offer them to staff at a discount rate or send this email on so they can order supplements for themselves)
Communicate with your staff about the strategies you are taking in the workforce and what you expect of them (ie in regards to staying at home if they feel unwell)
Take supplements every day to boost your immune system, eat lots of vegetables and drink lots of water.
Immune Boosting Pack
$68.90 inc. delivery in Australia. Enough for 6-8 weeks
Zinc & Vitamin C
A Blue Chip Supplement with Immune boosting herbs, proven to boost your immune system
You can order an immune booster pack from Sam 2 ways:
Email: sam@sanxing.com.au and she will forward the order form for you. Overseas (non Australian addresses) will incur a greater postage fee, but i will let me know on request.
Phone Sam on 0405 669 135 and she will arrange the pack for you.
HOW MUCH IS 1 day of missed work worth to you?
If it is more than $70 bucks then you had better call or email me.
The Health Queen
Monday, July 20, 2009
Low energy levels? Candida could be the problem
Are you lacking energy?
Do you suffer with headaches or bloating?
Then you could suffer from a very common condition caused by candida. Candida albicans is a common yeast that grows in the gastrointestinal tract of every person. Occasionally the environment in the gut changes and an overgrowth of this yeast occurs.
Some causes for the change in the gut environment can be
Use of antibiotics
Long term use of pill
A diet high in carbohydrates
Hormone imbalances
Stress
Traveling
Sickness including operations
Yeast allergy
Symptoms vary for each person but typical symptoms include
Fatigue
Cravings for sugar, bread or alcohol
Digestive problems, bloating, wind or burping
Short term memory failure and concentration issues
Aches in the body, joints and muscle,
Extreme tightness in the shoulders
Hyper-acidity or reflux
Brown coloured mucous in the back of the mouth or white coated tongue
Unrefreshing sleep
Dark circles under the eyes
Chronic sinusitis
Headaches
Dental problems
Over - sensitivity to perfume, tobacco, insecticides
Psychological symptoms may include
Depression
Irritability
Anxiety
Panic attacks
Mood swings, recurring obsessive thoughts, paranoia
More physical symptoms
Recurrent urinary tract infections
Gluten and casein intolerance
Thrush
Allergies, hayfever
Menstrual problems including PMS
Jock itch, athlete’s foot, toenail or fingernail fungus
Tinnitus
Weight changes
Low libido
If left untreated Candida causes very serious immune problems and organ dysfunction such as hypothyroidism, infertility, impotence, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and the list goes on.
Treatment
This usually takes a minimum of 3-6 months. Often vaginal thrush is treated with pessaries and creams but this does not address the candida growing in the gut.
Microcurrent:
Frequency specific microcurrent sends frequencies to the candida which kill it .
Herbals
Oral herbals either in liquid or tablet form are my preferred way of treating candida. Often I will start you on an intense program then reduce the number or tablets with time.
Supplements and homeopathics
There are other supplements that maybe needed to help your body fight the infection caused by candida. Occasionally I will use homeopathics to desensitize you to the yeast. When your gut settles, I will start you on a probiotics. These are friendly bacteria that settle into your gut and protect you from re-invasion from candida.Many herbs have anti-candida properties and are essential in treatment.
Diet
Candida loves yeast and sugar however I find most people with candida find it very difficult to cut these foods out of their diet. I have also noticed that when the bug is being starved, cravings become more severe. I believe it is easier for people to have supplements to kill the yeast and modify dietary impactors secondary.
Confirmation of diagnosis
Candida can mimic 140 conditions. You can order a self-test kit from http://www.byebyebridget.com/ecommerce.php.
Some general advice
You need to be motivated to kill this yeast. And tackling it head on is the best way to go. Often if one person has it, so will there partner and they will need treating aswell.If you think you have a candida infection, give me a call to see me as a client or see a naturopath close to you.
Do you suffer with headaches or bloating?
Then you could suffer from a very common condition caused by candida. Candida albicans is a common yeast that grows in the gastrointestinal tract of every person. Occasionally the environment in the gut changes and an overgrowth of this yeast occurs.
Some causes for the change in the gut environment can be
Use of antibiotics
Long term use of pill
A diet high in carbohydrates
Hormone imbalances
Stress
Traveling
Sickness including operations
Yeast allergy
Symptoms vary for each person but typical symptoms include
Fatigue
Cravings for sugar, bread or alcohol
Digestive problems, bloating, wind or burping
Short term memory failure and concentration issues
Aches in the body, joints and muscle,
Extreme tightness in the shoulders
Hyper-acidity or reflux
Brown coloured mucous in the back of the mouth or white coated tongue
Unrefreshing sleep
Dark circles under the eyes
Chronic sinusitis
Headaches
Dental problems
Over - sensitivity to perfume, tobacco, insecticides
Psychological symptoms may include
Depression
Irritability
Anxiety
Panic attacks
Mood swings, recurring obsessive thoughts, paranoia
More physical symptoms
Recurrent urinary tract infections
Gluten and casein intolerance
Thrush
Allergies, hayfever
Menstrual problems including PMS
Jock itch, athlete’s foot, toenail or fingernail fungus
Tinnitus
Weight changes
Low libido
If left untreated Candida causes very serious immune problems and organ dysfunction such as hypothyroidism, infertility, impotence, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and the list goes on.
Treatment
This usually takes a minimum of 3-6 months. Often vaginal thrush is treated with pessaries and creams but this does not address the candida growing in the gut.
Microcurrent:
Frequency specific microcurrent sends frequencies to the candida which kill it .
Herbals
Oral herbals either in liquid or tablet form are my preferred way of treating candida. Often I will start you on an intense program then reduce the number or tablets with time.
Supplements and homeopathics
There are other supplements that maybe needed to help your body fight the infection caused by candida. Occasionally I will use homeopathics to desensitize you to the yeast. When your gut settles, I will start you on a probiotics. These are friendly bacteria that settle into your gut and protect you from re-invasion from candida.Many herbs have anti-candida properties and are essential in treatment.
Diet
Candida loves yeast and sugar however I find most people with candida find it very difficult to cut these foods out of their diet. I have also noticed that when the bug is being starved, cravings become more severe. I believe it is easier for people to have supplements to kill the yeast and modify dietary impactors secondary.
Confirmation of diagnosis
Candida can mimic 140 conditions. You can order a self-test kit from http://www.byebyebridget.com/ecommerce.php.
Some general advice
You need to be motivated to kill this yeast. And tackling it head on is the best way to go. Often if one person has it, so will there partner and they will need treating aswell.If you think you have a candida infection, give me a call to see me as a client or see a naturopath close to you.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Queensland High Schools Suspension rates Rocket
Well it's no suprise to me (and to any parent, or citizen witnessing kids and young adults) that school suspensions and expulsions have rocketed in the last 3 years.
The Education Department attribute it to the tougher "responsible Behaviour Plans" at each school and good on them. They are also cited in the local paper to say it is more the rise in physical misconduct that has lead to this rise.
Some schools have experienced over 200 suspensions (that is 1 per day of EACH school day) shouldn't we be looking to WHY kids are becoming more physical?
There is a state wide "Behavious Committee" with reps from principles, teachers unions and parents - BUT no health or paediatric experts.
LOOK at the cantteen. Look at what the kids eats. LOOK for the reasons. It's not all social - it's not all mobile phones and internet access. A lot of it, is chemicals in foods making kids experience anger, rage and anxiety.
Clean up the diets of our kids please!
The Education Department attribute it to the tougher "responsible Behaviour Plans" at each school and good on them. They are also cited in the local paper to say it is more the rise in physical misconduct that has lead to this rise.
Some schools have experienced over 200 suspensions (that is 1 per day of EACH school day) shouldn't we be looking to WHY kids are becoming more physical?
There is a state wide "Behavious Committee" with reps from principles, teachers unions and parents - BUT no health or paediatric experts.
LOOK at the cantteen. Look at what the kids eats. LOOK for the reasons. It's not all social - it's not all mobile phones and internet access. A lot of it, is chemicals in foods making kids experience anger, rage and anxiety.
Clean up the diets of our kids please!
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