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Time to Quit Smoking

Can there possibly be anyone left in the modern world that doesn’t know about the risks of smoking? People are finding more and more about the disadvantages of smoking and that there are fewer places for them to smoke at least in public. The general consensus seems to be that there should be more places banned from what non-smokers see as the curse of smoking.

Smoking causes cancer and it may also accelerate the growth of existing cancers, so now is the time to quit smoking before it is too late to undo the smoking damage being done to your system. Nicotine in cigarette smoke could stimulate the production of a molecule which can make lung cancer cells more aggressive and encourages them to divide and multiply. Smoking may also boost the growth of existing tumors as well as triggering cancer.

Now that smoking has been banned from all workplaces, it won’t be long before the government outlaws smoking in your own car, which amounts to saying they already have if you drive a company car.

In many ways it would be a good thing if smoking is banned in more places because more people every year are looking for easier ways to quit smoking and the fewer places to smoke will help because anyone who has ever tried to quit, knows how hard it really is…

Smoking causes cancer. We’ve all heard that. Everyone knows that developing lung cancer is one of the most devastating side effects of smoking. However, what is less known is that it puts smokers at risk of many other types of cancers as well, for example, mouth cancer, cancer of the larynx (voice box), bladder (to which I can personally testify), pancreas and cervix among several others.

My time to quit smoking came when my Consultant Surgeon told me I had a tumor in my bladder and that smoking was the cause of the cancer. I did quit then and there and I’m glad I did because I’m still here to tell the tale.

Smoking dramatically raises the risk of lung disease such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis which are progressive in nature and can eventually be life threatening. When you understand what smoking does to you and that the likelihood of you dying from a heart attack is twice that of non-smokers, it makes you realize that the effect of smoking is to gradually kill you. And all the while, cost you your deteriorating health and lots of money!

When you accept that it is time to quit smoking, the first few weeks can seem interminable but it is important not to let this overshadow the greater purpose and really keep going with a positive attitude. Knowing that the damaging effects are diminishing every day will help you to resist the craving to light a cigarette. Because nicotine is such a powerful stimulant, your body needs time and a great deal of effort to learn to live without it. It is natural to feel tired, drained out and fatigued during the first few days after you quit smoking.

Try to set a new routine, such as working out or going to the gym to raise your energy levels. If that isn’t possible, you should try waking up earlier and going for a short walk. If you can turn that walk into a run or a jog, it is going to be very stimulating and the best way that you can start your day after you quit smoking.

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Healthy Eating with Detox Recipes for your Body

You probably know by now what detoxification is and the ways that it can be done. A detox diet provides the simplest way to detoxifying yourself. A rule of thumb in detox diets: the more fiber and water, the better. Eat lots of vegetables and fruits, beans and nuts. On the other hand, steer clear of caffeine, carbonated drinks, sugars like chocolates, alcohol and yeast.

Dr. Kiki Sidhwa recommends going on a monotrophic diet after a three-day fast. By monotrophic, we mean eating only one type of fruit for every meal. Example, for breakfast, you can eat apple. For lunch, try out oranges or pineapples. Eat until your hunger is satisfied. You can squeeze in a grapefruit juice at around 4 pm for your snack. And in the evening, eat only apples, pears, grapes or bananas.

Of course, this is just one of those do-it-yourself diet plans that you can take on when you’re on a detox program. For most people, however, detox recipes are the best way to go. These detox recipes are especially designed to provide you with the necessary nutrient in the body and at the same time, providing you with the necessary antioxidants and substances that will cleanse your body from toxins.
For more fluid intake, you can try Ginger Healing Tea with Turmeric. What you need are the following: 2 cups of water, ½ teaspoon of powdered ginger, ½ teaspoon of tumeric, 1 tablespoon of maple syrup and lemon extract. To make your special healing tea, add powdered herbs to boiling water and let it simmer for 10 minutes. Strain the tea into a mug and add maple syrup and lemon extract. Stir and whalaaah— you can start drinking!

For breakfast, you can try the vegetable super juice. This juice gives you the needed energy boost for your senses, wakens your digestive system and can keep you going until lunchtime. For starters, you need 1 whole cucumber, 4 celery sticks, 2-4 handfuls of spinach, 8 lettuce leaves. You can also add other green vegetables like parsley and fresh alfalfa sprouts. The process is easy and simple, juice all ingredients and add distilled water. You can also add lemon juice for better taste.

And now for lunch, try the Alkalising RAW Soup. All you need are 1 avocado, 2 spring onions, ½ red or green pepper, 1 cucumber, 2 handfuls of spinach, ½ clove of garlic, 100 ml of light vegetable Bouillon, lemon or lime juice and Bragg Liquid Aminos for added taste. Just like our vegetable juice, the recipe is simple and easy to do. Blend the avocado and stock to form a light paste. Add other ingredients and blend. And then you can start eating!

Our dinner treat is Warm Broccoli Soup. All you need is ½ avocado, 6-8 broccoli heads, 1/3 red onion, 1 celery stick, a big handful of spinach, inch of root ginger, cumin and bragg liquid amino for added taste. Lightly steam the broccoli for 5-6 minutes. After steaming, blend all the ingredients together and add garlic and pepper to taste. This is perfect for a cold winter night.

Feeling hungry still? These recipes are just few of the hundred other detox recipes available on the net. The key here is to pack yourself with enough water and nutrients to keep you going without ingesting a plateful of additives, sugars and food preservatives. So what are you waiting for? Start eating healthy!

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What causes mitral valve prolapse?

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is among the most common heart conditions; however it remains something of a puzzle. Although MVP affects about two percent of the population, the cause is unknown. MVP often occurs in people who have no other heart problems, and the condition may be inherited.

The mitral valve is located in the heart between the upper-left chamber (the left atrium) and the lower-left chamber (the left ventricle). The mitral valve consists of two flaps called leaflets.

In normal operation the leaflets open and close in a specific sequence. This allows the blood to flow in one direction, from the atrium to the ventricle. The left ventricle is the heart’s main pumping chamber and pushes oxygen-rich blood into the arteries, which carry the blood throughout the body.

In patients with MVP, one or both of the leaflets are enlarged, and the leaflets’ supporting muscles are too long. Instead of closing evenly, one or both of the leaflets collapse or bulge into the atrium sometimes allowing small amounts of blood to flow back into the atrium. By listening to the heart with a stethoscope, the doctor may hear a “clicking” sound caused by the flapping of the leaflets.

Sometimes, MVP leads to a condition known as mitral regurgitation or mitral insufficiency. This means a large amount of blood is leaking backward through the defective valve. Mitral regurgitation can lead to the thickening or enlargement of the heart wall. This is caused by the extra pumping the heart must do to make up for the backflow of blood. It sometimes causes people to feel tired or short of breath. Mitral regurgitation can usually be treated with medicines, and some people need surgery to repair or replace the defective valve.

Most of the time, MVP is not a serious condition, even when some patients report palpitations or sharp chest pains. Most patients do not need treatment

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