Category Archives: Heavy Metal Toxicit

Weight Gain From Poor Digestion And Mal-absorption

January 7, 2015

Weight Gain: A Symptom of Poor Digestion and Mal-Absorption

When you start adding extra pounds, there are several things that come to your mind. Besides thinking about what could be causing the sudden weight gain, you will also be wondering about ways to facilitate weight loss. The first thing that comes to our mind when faced with this situation is that our diet is the source of the extra ponds.

We therefore cut out foods we suspect could be causing the weight gain. Most of the time these foods include; sugars, carbohydrates and fats. To most of us these are the main causatives of weight gain.

In cutting out these foods, we deprive our body of essential nutrients that can only come from such foods.

However there are other factors that cause weight gain. Lack of exercise is one of them. When you eat without exercising, then you will certainly add weight.

Some health conditions such as allergies, bacteria over growth, yeast infections, thyroid disease and insulin resistance among others can also cause weight gain. Mal-absorption and poor digestion can as well contribute to weight gain.

fat-malabsorption

Absorption disorders

They are also referred to as mal-absorption syndromes. It occurs when food is not properly digested and nutrients from the diet are not absorbed into the blood stream as they should. These nutrients include among others, minerals, proteins, vitamins, fats and carbohydrates in form of starch and sugars.

Mal-absorption syndrome is not in particular a disease but it results from other health conditions. Digestion involves the breakdown of food so that it can be in a form that can easily be absorbed into the blood for the overall wellness of the body. It takes place in the gastrointestinal tract.

During the break down of food, the nutrients are absorbed in the small bowel. The mucosa, which is the small intestine lining, facilitates absorption of nutrients due to the villi and micro villi that provide a large surface area for this absorption. There are also specialized cells that are used to enhance this absorption of nutrients.

Mal-Absorption and Digestive Disorders and Weight Gain

It is common knowledge that if you want to lose weight, then you have to burn more calories than what you take in your diet. One of the main reasons why weight gain is common among a number of folks is the fact that people eat a lot and refuse to exercise. Your diet contributes to most of the weight you add. Following that up with exercises will ensure that the more calories you eat the more are lost. Due to this, adding weight will not be a part of you.

As seen however, conditions such as poor digestion and mal-absorption can lead to weight gain. How does this happen?

Poor digestion means that food is not being digested properly. This is followed by poor absorption of nutrients from the food into the blood.

Body wellness depends on the general condition of the body. Nutrients are essential for the health of a person. You have heard that lack of nutrients can lead to weight gain. What most people believe is that lack of nutrients will make you thin. This is not the case.

Nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats and vitamins are necessary in the body. If there is poor absorption of these nutrients, they end up accumulating in the body and this causes you to gain weight.

Carbohydrates in particular are converted into fats which are deposited in the tissues. When combined with fats in the body, they end up causing immense weight gain. So as you see, mal-absorption will not necessarily make you lose weight.

weight gain

Poor Digestion and Mal-Absorption Natural Treatment for Weight Loss

When food is not properly being digested, it means that it will not be broken down into essential nutrients. This means that the body will not get the necessary nutrients form the diet. This results in weight gain.

In the same way mal-absorption disorders results in malnutrition and the result is weight gain. So how do you manage this?

The best way to induce weight loss is to do lots and lots of exercise. Don’t just eat. Eat and engage in plenty of exercises.

Also reduce your intake of carbohydrates and fats. Normally carbohydrates are broken down into sugars. When there is poor digestion and absorption, carbohydrates are converted into fats and these are deposited in the body. This leads to weight gain. So therefore why don’t you reduce the amount of carbs and fats you take into the diet?

This information can be found at www.awaremednetwork.com for free. Dr. Dalal Akoury will provide more information about absorption and digestive disorders and how they contribute to weight gain. She has for many years provided wise counsel to patients who bear testimony to her amazing works. Just visit AwareMed for more wellness and awareness tips.

Weight Gain: A Symptom of Poor Digestion and Mal-Absorption

 

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Cancer Risk: Sugar and Insulin

January 1, 2015

Cancer Risk: Sugar and Insulin

Diabetes is a sugar disease. It is a disease in which the body does not produce insulin or make proper use of it. Insulin is useful in the body in utilization of blood glucose. It allows glucose to be absorbed in the cells to enhance the production of energy. In the condition of diabetes, insulin is not effective which results in the blood being saturated with glucose. This leads to high glucose levels in the blood.

Obesity is the major cause of diabetes. It induces the resistance of the body to insulin. When this happens, the body is not able to break down glucose into energy. This causes glucose to accumulate in the blood.

To make do with this insulin resistance, the pancreas ends up producing more insulin. This leads to a rise in insulin in the blood. This insulin production can go on for years but it is not indefinite. Eventually insulin production will wear out and this will result in blood sugar increase. When this happens, it is then that an individual is diagnosed with diabetes.

There are different kinds of diabetes in the world today. There is type 1 diabetes which results from the inability of the blood to produce the insulin hormone. Type 2 diabetes on the other hand comes about when the body is unable to properly utilize the hormone. Another type of diabetes is pre-diabetes. This results when the blood glucose levels in the blood are higher than normal although not high enough to become type 2 diabetes. The fact is that over 79 million Americans today are pre-diabetic.

Insulin and cancer

Diabetes and cancer

As is a link between sugar and cancer, there’s the same between diabetes and cancer. Diabetes has been linked to pancreatic cancer. It is in most cases a symptom of pancreatic cancer or a risk factor. Studies have shown pancreatic cancer can occur to patients who have heard diabetes for over five years. The research done on pancreatic patients who have had diabetes for less than five years was unclear if diabetes was in itself the cause of the cancer.

As a symptom for pancreatic cancer, studies have shown that onset diabetes in people who are over 50 years of age may be in itself a symptom. Abrupt changes in the levels of sugar in the blood in diabetics who had controlled sugar level is also a symptom of pancreatic cancer.

Insulin Resistance Link to Cancer

This link may be related to the high level of insulin compensation. Obesity causes the body to resists insulin and this causes the pancreas to produce more insulin. This leads to increase in insulin levels in the blood. Insulin contributes greatly to the growth of body tissues. It increases with increase in essential nutrients and reduces when the body is derived of these nutrients.

Insulin may cause cells to rapidly increase. This occurs when insulin causes an increase in insulin-like growth factors (IGF). It could also cause cells to become more sensitive to other factors of growth. One characteristic of cancer cells is their ability to uncontrollably grow and become resistance to agents of cell death.

Growth factors play a major part in the growth of cancer cells as well as their progression. Past studies have shown that people with high levels of insulin-like growth are in more risk of developing, breast, colon or prostate cancer.

Resistance to insulin is characterized by the cells losing their sensitivity to the effects of insulin to aid in the absorption of glucose into the cells. Although this is so, it continues to promote the growth of cells in the body. Only the ability of insulin to transport glucose is affected.

The resistant state of insulin promoted by diabetes may in this case promote the development of cancerous cells. As the amount of insulin increases in the blood, so does its ability to induce cell growth. When this happens it leads to a cancer characteristic of uncontrollable growth of cells. As the pancreas continues producing insulin an individual may not get diabetes but he/she increases the rate of getting cancer.

sugar and cancer

Sugar and Cancer

When most of us hear about sugar we instantly think about the white substance we take in our beverages. Sugar has been linked to causing cancer. So what do most of us do? We cut out the sugar in our body including those that are essential. We cut out eating fruits such as oranges that have natural sugars.

You end up depriving your body of essential nutrients such as fibers found in fruits. However, sugar does not necessarily mean what you take in your tea or in fruits or soft drinks. It is widely used to describe those sugars in our body. Sugar also called glucose is very necessary for a healthy you. It is broken down into energy hence you are able to do those daily task.

High blood levels in the blood cause diabetes. This results in the insulin not being produced or appropriately used. When this happens a person is said to be diabetic. Sugar goes back to the case of diabetes and as seen it can increase a person’s risk of cancer.

Dr. Dr. Dalal Akoury has had years of experience with patients with cancer as well as diabetes. She has vast knowledge about sugar and insulin and their link to cancer. Just visit www.awaremednetwork.com for more expert opinion on this topic and more health tips.

Cancer Risk: Sugar and Insulin

 

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Are Herbicides Leading to Cancer

December 28, 2014

Herbicides and Cancer Risk

Herbicides are a class of chemicals used in agriculture. Most products containing herbicides are used in our farms and homes to control weeds and pests. These chemicals can find their way into our water and foods. When herbicides are used in plants, they end up remaining in the plant and are consumed in the food when we eat it.

Herbicides are used in all agricultural settings. It is therefore hard to do away with them if your crops are to remain healthy and yield expected results. However, there are crops that are grown without the application of herbicides.

Biotech agriculture has spread rapidly. Farmers are widely dependant on chemicals to increase yields. These chemicals have been linked to health conditions such as cancer. One of the causative factors for cancer is chemicals found in agricultural chemicals.

Most of the foods that we consume if not genetically modified is grown from chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides. These chemicals find their way into our body metabolism. This causes them to alter our body function which has been shown to greatly contribute to diseases such as cancer.

herbicides-and-cancer

Cancer is referred to as a lifestyle disease. The food you chose to eat defines your lifestyle. If your diet is mostly composed of chemical induced foods then the more likely you are at the risk of getting terminal illnesses. Refusing to regularly take exercises defines your lifestyle as well.

Exposure to herbicides occurs repeatedly and unknowingly. They are applied in different settings. Herbicides are sprayed on crops where they remain and are ingested finally in the food when we eat it. The chemicals in herbicides can also find their way into our homes through water. They are often not filtered out from our water and we end up drinking them.

Facts about Cancer

One of the factors that have been linked to cancer is chemicals. Others include, diet, lack of enough exercise, inheritance of cancer genes and infections. Cancers refer to uncontrollably growing cells in the body. This occurs when the cells are destroyed by things like chemicals. This causes cells to lose their control functions.

Cells then begin to grow uncontrollably and this leads to development of lump tissues called tumors. These tumors become toxic and end up affecting the body functioning. The cancer cells starve normal cells of energy as they consume a valuable amount of it. They grow very rapidly that they render normal cells useless.

They then start spreading to other parts of the body. They produce toxics that harm normal cells and this translates to the severe pain experienced by cancer patients.

The most common management of cancer is through surgery. Surgery is conducted on the patient to remove the cancerous tumors before they spread to other parts. If this does not work other methods such as radiation or chemo therapy are applied to kill the cancer cells and stop their growth. Others include immune therapy, stem cells transplant and many others.

How Herbicides Increase Cancer Risks

Chemicals in herbicides act as oestrogen. In normal conditions oestrogen is very important in the body. Aside from the role it plays in the reproductive cycle, it also increases essential cholesterol, maintains elasticity of blood vessels and strengthens bones for calcium absorption.

However accumulation of too much oestrogen can cause untold problems to cells by increasing their growth as well as multiplication. Increasing number of cells end up forming tumors. For this reason oestrogen is linked to breast cancer in females.

There are very many kinds of oestrogens. The natural body oestrogen is known as strong oestrogen while that found in plant foods is called weak oestrogen. Weak oestriogen counterbalances strong oestrogens and they both circulate in the body.

Herbicides causing cancer

There is also chemical oestrogen that is found in herbicides and pesticides which act like body oestrogens. All types of oestrogens work by locking onto cell receptors. High level of oestrogen in the body increases your risk of cancer.

Herbicides are continually used in agricultural setting to kill weeds and pests. The chemicals in the herbicides remain in the plant and they are ingested. Continually ingesting food grown with pesticides increases the amount of chemical oestrogen in the body. This then alters normal cell functioning leading then to grow rapidly and out of control.

In this way, chemicals found in pesticides can increase your potential for cancer. When the cells over grow they form tumors which can be cancerous. Washing vegetables and fruits well can be a remedy against consuming these chemicals found in herbicides.

Dr. Dalal Akoury has been in the medical practice for many years. She has a wide experience with cancer patients and most of them owe their health improvements to her. You too can be a part of the AwareMed community.

Can Herbicide Cause Cancer

 

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Cancer Risk: GMO and Link to Cancer

December 27, 2014

GMO and Link to Cancer

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death to a number of people. The disease is linked to lifestyle choices like wrong diet and lack of exercise. Other causes of cancer are infections, inheritance of cancer causing genes and chemicals such as carcinogens. Cancer affects your life and puts a stop to some aspects of it.

Everyday new cases of cancer emerge. Just like any other disease, cancer knows no age limits. People across all ages are at the risk of getting cancer. It ends up messing up the body functioning. Why is this so? Well, cancer affects the body cells. Cells are basically the building blocks of the body.

Cancer begins with a tumor. A tumor refers to a mass of tissue that is formed by an overgrowth of cells. Getting cancer depends on whether the tumor is malignant or not. Malignant tumors are basically cancerous while those that aren’t cancerous are referred to as benign tumors.

If left unchecked, cancer can end up being terminal. The good news is that cancer can be cured if it is detected early. Medical experts advocate for regular medical check-ups to ensure that your body is healthy. This allows the doctors to detect problems like cancer early and deal with it before it becomes severe.

GMO

Understanding cancer

As explained, cancer starts form a tumor. Cells end up dividing uncontrollably and this leads to development of tumors. These tumors affect the functioning of cells. This translates to entire body dysfunctioning.

There are over 100 types of cancers in the world. Over 1.4 million cases of cancer are reported every year. Cells are damaged and they lose their functioning. When this happens, the cells begin to divide uncontrollably forming masses of tissues.

In normal conditions cells grow and die. Old and worn out cells are replaced by new cells which are generated by the body. In the case of cancer, cells neither wear out nor die. Generation of new cells does not however stop. This clumping of cells in excess is what leads to emergent of the tissue masses we are calling tumors.

One fact about cancer that most people don’t comprehend is that cancer can end up affecting multiple body parts. This happens when cancerous tumors move from one part to another in a process called mitosis. For example, cancerous tumor from the stomach can end up spreading to the colon.

When cancer is detected, the patient is put under medication and therapies to prevent the cancer from spreading. Some treatments of cancer include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immune therapy among others.

What are GMO?

The term refers to either animals or plants that have been genetically altered. They are created by inserting genes from one organism to another to alter its genetic composition. The organisms are mostly modified to improve the quality of genes in them. Genetically modified plants become resistant to disease and pesticides. They also become resistant to droughts and are able to survive worse drought conditions they never would have surpassed if not modified.

Genetically Modified Organisms have been linked to cancer. Their contribution to causing cancer cannot be overlooked. Many countries today are banning the use of GMO the latest being Russia. Today basically almost every food is genetically modified.

Genetically modified plants grow faster that organic ones. They are a solution to the starving population for most governments. But is it worth the risk? Are GMO really as safe as we are made to believe? The truth is that GMO are unhealthy compared to organic food.

Most of the foods that find their way into our diets are in one way or another genetically modified. Corn and soy are the known modified crops. Therefore avoid eating anything that is made from soy lecithin or corn syrup.

Most animals like chicken, cows and pigs are fed from these genetically modified crops like corm. Therefore GMO ends up finding its way to you through their meat. Always opt for animals you know are grass fed, like those raised in farms.

Organic foods on the other hand are safe and are made from non GMO seeds. Always read the label of cans when purchasing food. Go for foods which are labeled GMO- free as this means that they are not made from any genetically modified organisms.

GMO

How GMO can cause cancer

The most common cancer linked to GMO is breast cancer. When GMO are made, the genetic composition of the original plant is altered by inserting genes from another plan. This alters the DNA of the original plant.

Studies show that when DNA is altered it increases a person’s risk of getting cancer. This is because the genetic substances in GMO end up altering the DNA of humans. This alters normal body functioning.

When this happens, a person is at risk getting cancerous tumors. The cells are affected by this DNA modification and due to this they end up functioning abnormally and this is what can lead to cancer.

To find out more about GMO and cancer risks join the AwareMed community. Dr. Dalal Akoury will provide more facts about cancer and how you can avoid it. Contact her for more health and awareness tips.

Cancer Risk: GMO and Link to Cancer

 

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Estrogen Replacement Therapy

December 25, 2014

Estrogen Replacement Therapy

Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT)The estrogen hormone plays crucial roles in the life of a woman. Among other things this hormone is responsible for the maintenance of human skin. They improve collagen content and quality, increase skin thickness and improve blood supply to the skin, maintaining good moods in women. Estrogen has effects on other hormones too as it increases cortisol and Sex hormone binding globulin. Estrogens increase melanin and pheomelanin and reduce eumelanin.

The known basic roles of estrogen hormones in women is that it promotes the growth and health of the female reproductive organs and keeps the vagina moisturized, elastic and well supplied with blood. Moisturized vagina is safe for sex as it will not allow for bruises that may be a source of pain during sex. This hormone also makes the vagina elastic hence making it able to accommodate a good size of penis during intercourse without pain.  When this hormone declines all its functions will become unattended to making sex a rare practice for those in post menopause.

Despites its benefits, after menopause the ovaries of women stops producing certain hormones and this lead to lower levels of these hormones in the body. The hormones; progesterone, estrogen and testosterone plays certain crucial roles in the body of a woman.

The decline in the levels of this hormone leads to low sex drive among other problems. The person loses interest in sex and sexual intercourse becomes a once in a while indulgence as opposed to a regular activity that it was before menopause.

Low Estrogen Symptoms

Low estrogen levels are low moments for every woman. During this time women will suffer varied symptoms that lasts for varied length of time however few women will be able to know that they are suffering the symptoms as a result of decline in the levels of estrogen hormone. It is advisable that every woman should have her levels of estrogen hormone checked frequently to shun the chances of being debilitated by these symptoms. Symptoms of low estrogen hormones include the following

  • Vaginal dryness
  • Loss of libido
  • Mood swings
  • Hot flashes
  • Night sweats
  • Anxiety
  • Thinning hair
  • Weight gain
  • Arthritis
  • Difficulty concentrating

Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) 

During menopause the production of estrogen hormones stops but the need for estrogen hormone still stands therefore the need to supplement this crucial hormone sets in, besides with low levels of this hormone women suffer such symptoms as hot flashes, vaginal dryness and osteoporosis among other conditions. Going for estrogen replacement therapy may help fight against the symptoms of menopause in women.

Estrogen Replacement Therapy has helped many women to win fight against post menopause symptoms. Here are some benefits of Estrogen Replacement Therapy.

  • Help prevent postmenopausal osteoporosis by slowing bone loss and promoting some increase in bone density.
  • Reduce the risk of dental problems, such as tooth loss and gum disease.
  • Maintain the lining of the vagina, reducing irritation.
  • Reduce the frequency and severity of hot flashes.
  • Improve moodiness and sleep problems related to hormone changes.
  • Increase skin collagen levels, which decline as estrogen levels decline. Collagen is responsible for the stretch in skin and muscle.

Risks associated with ERT

Despite its many benefits there are also risks associated with ERT. These risks may include;

  • Vaginal discharge.
  • Fluid retention.
  • Weight gain.
  • Breast tenderness.
  • Spots on skin may appear
  • In rare cases, an increased growth of preexisting uterine fibroids or a worsening of endometriosis.

Natural Estrogen Replacement

There are some risks associated with ERT, however the good news is that both diet and the right supplements provide some of the safest and most effective hormone balancing remedies. One of the favorite and best-researched foods for menopausal symptoms is flaxseed. Flaxseeds offer a high content of essential fatty acids and large quantities of a natural hormone-balancing substance known as lignins. Lignins are very potent anti-cancer agents for cancers that are hormone sensitive and extensive studies on both colon and breast cancer show that as little as 2 tablespoons per day is highly effective in reducing tumor growth. The best news of all: Lignins possess both anti-estrogen and estrogenic properties. With regard to menopausal symptoms, they are as effective as traditional HRT in lessening hot flashes and sweating. Grind up a couple of tablespoons a day and put it in your smoothie, yogurt, or cereal. You’ve then got one of the best sources for health, healing, and taking charge of your menopausal symptoms naturally.

Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT)

Another nature given remedy for low estrogen symptoms is the evening primrose oil, which is a source of GLA, an essential fatty acid has been found to be mostly helpful for getting rid of cramping, irritability, headaches, and water retention that are so common with PMS. But its benefits don’t just stop with PMS. It can also be used in a natural hormone replacement therapy in menopause. It works to suppress hot flashes and triggers the production of serotonin, the feel good hormone in the brain. Skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and plain old dry skin are marvelously helped with evening primrose oil and other GLA-containing botanicals. It is one of the most potent inner and outer menopausal and skin care treatments known.

Dr. Dalal Akoury of AWAREmed wellness and resource center is an expert in integrative treatment and has helped many women fight menopause symptoms naturally. If you’re struggling with menopause or dealing with low estrogen symptoms like hot flashes, joint pain and depression, estrogen hormone replacement therapy (ERT) may be the answer. Please call (843) 213-1480 to contact her.

Estrogen Replacement Therapy

 

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