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  • Thursday, August 31, 2006

     

    Is Dementia Affecting Your Life?

    Dementia is a loss of certain brain functions to the extent that it interferes with normal daily functions. Dementia alone is not a disease, but a group of symptoms that go along with certain diseases. Dementia is caused by a number of things. Its causes have been divided into four categories. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. It affects about 50% of all people with dementia. The second category of causes involves vascular reasons, such as stroke or hypertension. About 12% of all dementias is caused by this. A small portion of the population with dementia (only about 8%) is caused by persistent substance abuse. The other 30% of people with dementia contract it from having other general medical illnesses. Many people with neurological diseases such as Parkinson's or Huntington Disease form dementia.

    Symptoms of dementia include memory loss of recent or past events. It starts out by forgetting little things such as turning off the stove or where you put your keys. Eventually you start to forget bigger things such as where you are and conversations that just took place. Dementia can cause personality changes, poor judgment, loss of impulse control, or inability to understand normal conversation. In some cases using normal motor functions become a challenge. Many people forget how to handle money or use silverware at the table.

    Unfortunately, many people with dementia become ashamed of their loss of memory and skills. This causes depression, anxiety, and emotional distress. Some people begin to make up stories to replace lost memories so they do not look foolish to others. Many times inappropriate public displays occur. Such displays include excessive crying, laughter, anger, or making demeaning sexual remarks. Alzheimer's disease usually starts around the age of 65, and progressively gets worse. Most people, who contract it, do not live more than ten years afterwards. The best help to people with dementia is family support and positive moral reinforcement.

    Vitamin Depot Online.com offers PS Caps (phosphatidylserine). It has been proven to improve neural functions, enhance energy metabolism in cells, memory, concentration, learning, and word choice, and also helps maintain cell membrane integrity and youthful synaptic plasticity.

    Wednesday, August 30, 2006

     

    Free Radicals - The Inner Killer

    Free radicals (oxidants) are responsible for 73% of all diseases in the human body. Oxidants are unstable oxygen molecules that enter the human body in many ways. The instability of these molecules is caused by their missing of an electron. Because of this, they try to steal the missing electron from molecules in normal body cells, causing cell mutation. This mutation can speed up the aging process and cause an excessive number of diseases.

    Examples of ways oxidants enter the body include: not eating right, drinking alcohol, using cosmetics or household cleaners, smoking cigarettes or cigars; being exposed to pollution, pesticides, or radiation, and using painting products. Because oxidants have so many ways of entry, it is almost impossible to avoid them. Our bodies produce antioxidants to neutralize their threat; but not at a quick enough rate to get rid of them all before it' is too late. Vitamin C helps your body produce antioxidants faster, so everyone should eat lots of foods that contain it. Unfortunately, most people do not eat the 8-10 fruit and vegetable servings per day needed to help the antioxidant production process.

    Although there is no "miracle pill" that will defend against all diseases, there are many supplements that help the human body produce more natural antioxidants. This in case slows the aging process and helps us get the nutrients we should have gotten from normal food intake. Certain supplements have been proven to increase antioxidant production by about 40%. This is a significant help to normal body functions.

    Vitamin Depot Online.com offers Super Curcumin. This is a supplement that contains the spice turmeric, which has remarkable qualities as an antioxidant.

    Tuesday, August 29, 2006

     

    What is Depression?

    Depression is an illness that is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain that affects how it functions. The human brain is a complex system of nerve cells called neurons. These neurons act as a messaging system that controls everything in your body, both physical and mental, including your emotional state. The neurons in your brain send and receive information to the rest of your body using brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. Depression occurs when the "neurotransmission" is incorrectly delivered between brain cells. Depression cannot be overcome just by wanting it to go away. In other words, if you have depression and go without treatment, you cannot just "pull yourself together."

    Everyone who suffers from depression has different symptoms. Some symptoms cause a change in thinking such as: difficulty concentrating, memory loss, pessimism, self-esteem issues, guilt, and self-criticism. Others cause a change in feelings such as: sadness for no reason, always being tired, lack of motivation, apathy, uncontrollable temper, helplessness, or no enjoyment of life. Some cause a change in behavior such as: social withdraw, appetite changes, crying, no sexual desire, complaining, or neglecting duties to your self and others. In some cases there is a change in your physical well-being such as: negative physical emotions, fatigue, sleeplessness, restlessness, or even aches and pains.

    There are many medications on the market today that can improve weak neurotransmitter signals, or improve the ability of neurons to process these signals. There are many different types of depression such as: Bipolar, Dysthymia, Unspecified, and, Adjustment Disorder. If you think you many suffer from depression, please get yourself diagnosed by a licensed professional before taking any medication.

    Vitamin Depot Online.com offers SAM-e, which is an antidepressant that does not have any side effects and also works faster than most traditional anti-depression drugs. SAM-e is offered in either 200 mg or 400 mg tablets.

    Monday, August 28, 2006

     

    The Digestive System

    After food is masticated and swallowed, it is forced through the esophagus by a muscle contraction process called peristalsis. This is why food can still be eaten while upside down. A valve called the esophageal sphincter then opens to let food into the stomach. As food enters the stomach it is mixed with gastric acids and enzymes that help break down solids. The stomach also secretes a glycoprotein, called intrinsic factor, which helps with the absorption of Vitamin B12.

    Chyme (which is partially digested food, water, acids, and enzymes) then enters the small intestine through the pyloric sphincter. While passing through the duodenum (the fist ten inches of the small intestine) chyme is mixed with bile (helps break down fats), pancreatic juices, and the intestinal enzymes: maltase, lactase, and sucrase (helps break down sugars). As food passes through the small intestine, nutrients are passed through the intestine walls into hair shaped structures called villa. Villa widens the absorption surface for nutrients. The blood that absorbs the nutrients transports them to liver through the hepatic portal vein. Once in the liver, the nutrients are processed and toxins are filtered out.

    Food that does not go through the villa is passed into the large intestine. While in the cecum (the first part of the large intestine), food that could not be broken down reabsorbs water and becomes feces. Feces is then passed through the colon to the rectum, where it is stored. Eventually, feces is released from the rectum through the exterior sphincter called the anus.

    Vitamin Depot Online.com now carries Digest Rc, which promotes the release of bile from the liver to digest fat and protein.

    Sunday, August 27, 2006

     

    Acid Reflux


    Hydrochloric Acid is the most important fluid your stomach holds to digest food. This acid turns food into a liquid for further digestion in the intestines. The walls of the stomach are protected from the acid by a mucus layer that coats them. Unfortunately, the esophagus does not contain such a layer. There is a valve at the base of the esophagus that stops stomach acid from coming up called the lower esophageal sphincter. When this valve weakens, stomach acid can splash upward into the esophagus. This splashing is called acid reflux. Constant acid reflux can damage the lining of the esophagus causing Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Over time esophageal ulcers can develop. In extreme cases Barrett's Esophagus can form, which is where the esophagus cells turn into stomach cells. This can cause deadly cancer of the esophagus. Vitamin Depot Online.com now carries Natural Esophaguard, which gives an account of relief from gastric distress.

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