Prohormone Vitamin D

(Source: Wikipedia Commons.   URL:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Skinlayers.png. Author: Serephine. Date/Time: 12:48, 16 November 2006. Filename: Skinlayers.png‎

As winter walks in this year, there will be lesser sunshine hours. This takes up added relevance for the old and those who suffer from osteoporosis and simialr conditions of the bone. Strictly speaking, sunshine itself is not a source of Vitamin D. However, it helps our body (skin in particular) to synthesize Vitamin D.  The epidermal layers of Stratum basale and Stratum Spinosum produce maximum amount of a particular type of a pre-vitamin D3.

Another nomenclature which may be a misfit is, Vitamin. Technically, the chemical of Vitamin D is a prohormone ( or a precursor to what makes a hormone or a hormone prototype if you please).

Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that can be manufactured by the body. Vitamin D is metabolised by the liver and the kidneys and is converted to a hormone called Calcitonin. Calcitrol ensures that there is enough calcium in the blood to help form bones, teeth and maintain bone density. When ultra-violet rays shine on our skin, a cholesterol-like substance gets converted to Vitamin D and absorbed into the blood. Vitamin D is required for the metabolisation of calcium.

A light skinned person requires 15 minutes worth exposure 2-3 times a week and a darker skinned person will require a few hours longer. Vitamin D can be stored by the body. Thus stored Vitamin D from summer can come in handy during the winter months of lesser hours of sunshine. RDA for Vitamin D is fixed at 5 micrograms or mcg for women between 19 and 50 years of age, which translates to 200 IU (International Units).

Some good sources of Prohormone Vit D in the absence of regular hours of sunshine are:

Pure Cod liver oil, Salmon, Mackerel, Tuna fish, Sardines, Milk – nonfat, reduced fat, and whole, vitamin D fortified, Ready-to-eat cereals, Egg, 1 whole ( in egg yolk), Beef liver, Swiss Cheese etc

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Why You Should Eat What You Should – Heart Health

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So much has been written about workouts and fitness regimes that go in to make a healthy heart. A good amount of internet literature also covers foods that should be avoided to keep you away from the cardiology section of the hospitals, yet little is said about what can be had to sport a robust heart. In this post, I have put together a rudimentary list of some foods (list not in order of merit) that do great favours for the heart. You could have recipes involving these foods as ingredients. Here goes:

1. Salmon: This pink-fleshed fish is loaded with nutritional value – it delivers 34% RDA completeness on omega 3 fatty acids for a single 100 gm intake. For the heart, it reduces erratic heart rhythms (ischemic arrhythmia), prevents clots (that blocks arteries and cause strokes), promotes good cholesterol to bad cholesterol ratio and prevents damage of cholesterols. Try to include Salmon twice a week in your diet to maximize heart benefits. You could also use Mackerel or Sardines, which have similar heart benefits.

2. Oats: Oats are high in soluble fibre and help to lower the bad cholesterol LDL. The antioxidant unique to oats, called avenanthramides helps prevent free radicals from damaging the heart and causing diseases. All anti-oxidant rich foods are beneficial for the heart. Brown rice and Wholemeal breads have similar properties. Studies have shown including whole grains in your diet reduces the risks for heart diseases.

3. Garbanzo Beans/Chickpeas: It is not just the fibre of chickpeas that reduces LDl cholesterol but the significant amounts of Folates and Magnesium in Garbanzo Beans. Folates reduce levels of homocysteine in our blood and this helps us reduce our risk to strokes and peripheral vascular diseases. Similar benefits may be had from Kidney beans, Fava beans, Lima beans and other categories of beans.

4. Fruits: Almost all fruits are heart-healthy. Avoid fruits you know you are allergic to. Of particular value from the cardio perspective are: Strawberries, Plums, Peach, Cherries, Kiwis etc. They are all rich in heart protective compounds like phenols, flavonoids, ellagitannins, anthocyannins and have good anti-oxidant capabilities. On the whole, most fruits of purple, blue, red, pink, yellow colors will have more nutritional benefits than green ones. So, try and include as many colors as you can and see if you can stick to the richer, darker colors.

5. Veggies: Here again like fruits, you can’t go wrong with any vegetable unless you are allergic to it and if you are taking it in moderation. Zucchini, Broccoli, Spinach, Capsicums, Eggplant and Soya pretty much top the list though any vegetable will have deliverable goodies for the heart. Try and include as many colors as possible while shopping for vegetables.

6. Nuts: Nuts are good in general but Almonds, Walnuts, Pecans and Chestnuts are leaders of the pack. They all reduce LDL, reduce free radical damage are loaded with magnesium and potassium and are saturated in anti-oxidants crucial for heart-health.

7. Oils: The fats you eat should be mono-saturated or polyunsaturated. Mono saturated fats are best sourced from Olive oil, Sunflower oil, or Groundnut oil. Polyunsaturated fats could include Soya, Sunflower oil and Walnut oil. These oils reduce free radical damage to cholesterol, reduce inflammation, protect the inner lining of the blood vessels, and reduce chances of blood clot formation.

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The Function Wheel Of The Chakras

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Chakras are a part of your subtle body. These are energy systems whose images have been captured using hi-technology imagery such as holographic patterning and Kirlian photography. There are 7 chakras that operate within each of us – the Coccyx Chakra (Mooladhar), the Sacral Chakra (Swadishtan), the Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipur), the Heart Chakra (Anahit), the Throat Chakra (Vishuddhi), the Brow Chakra (Ajan) and the Head Chakra (Sahasrar).

The chakra system performs a wide variety of functions for the human body. I have outlined some of the basic functions for your reading:

1. The chakras allow energy to flow into and out of the aura (as they are openings). They thus allow exchange of energy with the Universal Energy Fields.
2. Energies of higher frequencies are transformed by the chakras into glandular hormonal output and this affects our whole body. Thus chakra opening and to its full extent is vital for to attain a healthier human system through better channelization of UEF.
3. Chakras, which originate at the Etheric Body level, are also connected to physical and cellular structures through fine and subtle energy channels called nadis or auric fibres. They distribute the life force of the chakra into all the parts of our physical body.
4. This subdivision of the chakras are called auric fibres are also interconnected with our nervous system. They thus affect the quality and type of nerve transmission within the CNS and the peripheral nerves. Dysfunction at this level causes pathological changes in the nervous system.
5. As Chakras are located at every major endocrine system gland, they also activate the glands such as pancreas, thymus, thyroid, pituitary etc.
6. Chakras are also associated with the function of perception. This is in combination with the interconnection of nervous and hormonal systems exert influence on our psychodynamic functions.
7. Glandular activity and Emotional expression of every person is closely related via the chakras . The hormonal activity of the major endocrine glands is dependent on the energising influence of the chakras.
8. Apart from this, each of the chakras are associated with the following psychological functions:

1. Pubic centre Chakra – Love for the opposite sex and interchange of pleasure.
2. Solar plexus Chakra -  Consciousness of life and awareness of who we are
3. Heart Chakra – Love for others and openness to life
4. Throat Chakra – Understanding and assimilating
5. Coccygeal Center – Quantity of physical energy and a will to live
6. Sacral center – Quantity of sexual energy
7. Diaphragmatic Center 0 Healing and intention towards ones heart
8. Between shoulder blades – will towards outer world and ego
9. Neck Base – self awareness and sense of self
10. Mental executive – ability to carry out ideas in a practical way
11. Brow center – Ability to visualise and understand mental concepts
12. Crown center – Integration of total personality at the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual planes.

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An Axe to the Grime For Your Home

Pollution Where There Is None Visible

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I have often sighed in despair looking out of my window on summer afternoons seeing dust storms rage outside. The thought of stepping out to the pollution makes chores like running groceries and driving the children around to their ECAs seems depressing. Yes, the image of air pollution and that of the outdoors seem to be attached like Siamese twins. Yet, how often have you conjured up the mental picture of air pollution with that of the insides of a trendy urban home? Probably never.  Just because it is unseen makes us unaware of it. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) accounts for most of our indoor colds, skin allergies and eats into our immune system.

Sources of Indoor Air Pollution:

IAQ is dependent on the amount of air contaminants inside your home such as quantities of suspended particles, vapours from household gadgets (humidifiers, computers etc) , fumes and gases from chemical products we use (deodorants, hair sprays, nail enamel removers, dyes, perfumes, cigarettes) as well moulds, mildew and bacteria, building material (asbestos), wall and furniture paints, oil, kerosene, insect and plant pesticides, starch sprays and other aerosols, fumes from hot non-stick ware vessels, certain plants that emanate specific aroma, dirt in general and open windows that let in high emissions from the outside etc.

How Indoor Air Pollution affects you:

• Treatable conditions – Allergic rhinitis, sneezing, runny eyes and nose, shortness of breath, lethargy, nausea, coughing and throat allergies etc.
• Conditions that require aggressive management – Asthma, skin allergies etc
• Critical conditions- Sometimes health conditions come to the surface after being exposed to bad IAQ for years such as cancer or cardiac conditions etc.

What You Can Do To Improve Your IAQ:

1. Get the IAQ of your home measured/checked especially for radon and lead contamination.
2. Identify which of the above-mentioned sources is a problem for you.
3. Re-adjust and place the emitting equipments near windows or ventilation sources.
4. Check to see if you have enough and working/ effective ventilators, chimneys etc at home.
5. Install air-cleaning devices if it is not possible to eliminate the source of the pollution.
6. Consult your doctor to tackle your health condition arising from out of poor IAQ.
7. Open windows more often.
8. Clean out the house for molds and stuffy air, webs etc.
9. Grow more plants in and around your home that will use up the carbon di-oxide content of the air.
10. Smoke outside your home or with a ventilator on.
11. Purchase non-toxic material and paints for your home.
12. Check out to wash/replace filters for the air-conditioners etc
13. Use less of the polluting/emitting products and dispose them safely after the contents are used-up.

You may also refer to the guidelines issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, US for help.

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Migraines For The Informed Woman – Tips From A Sufferer

This book is now available through publishers Rupa & Co.

There is nothing that a migraineur fears more than a migraine attack. It is excruciatingly painful and comes with a flurry of stressful symptoms like nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and light and sound sensitivity. If you dread your episodes, this may be the book you need.Migraines for the Informed Woman- Tips From a Sufferer de-mystifies not just the why, what, when and how of migraine in an easy and simple way, but also gives you a positive perspective on what can be done to keep them managed and at minimum levels.

MIGRAINES FOR THE INFORMED WOMAN: Tips From a Sufferer
by
Category: Health Number of pages: 135 Book Size: 5.1×7.75 Book Weight (Hardbound): gm Book Weight (Paperback): 150 gm Published in: 08/01/2009 Available in: Paperbound ISBN_PB: 9788129115171

Shipping Info: Usually ships in 10-15 Days days. Delivery depends upon courier service.

List Price: USD 8 PB Our Price: USD 8