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Aches & Pains

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Broccoli Prevents Osteoarthritis? - If you like this post - share it with others ! A compound found in broccoli has been found to slow down and prevent the progress of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and usually affects hands, knees and hips. This condition destroys the cartilage between joints, causing swelling and pain. Osteoarthritis is sometimes referred to as wear and tear. According to Arthritis Research, more than 8.5 million people in the UK suffer with osteoarthritis, and the annual cost to the NHS is around £5 billion. The standard treatments include strong anti-inflammatory pain-killers and surgery, such as knee and hip replacements. The most common causes are wear and tear due to ageing and obesity, which is a growing problem. The cases of knee arthritis have been forecast to reach over 8 million by 2035, from 4.7 million in 2010. The good news is that an everyday vegetable can help to reduce the risk of developing this condition. Broccoli contains sulphoraphane, which works by blocking the enzymes and interferes with the inflammatory process associated with osteoarthritis. Sulphoraphane is released when eating vegetables such as Brussels sprouts, cabbage and broccoli. Researchers from the University of East Anglia propose that... [read more]
Music therapy for pain relief - If you like this post - share it with others ! There have been a few studies highlighting the benefits of music on general health ranging from depression to cardiac health, but new research has found that music could help people persistent pain. The researchers found that listening to music resulted in patients feeling more relaxed and generally feeling better. So can you really use music therapy for pain relief? 41 per cent of people benefitted from listening to their favourite songs. Pop music was the most effective followed by classical then rock and indie. Lloyds Pharmacy which undertook the study is piloting the recommendation across selected store throughout the UK. This is good news for the many people who suffer with general pain most days, such as neck ache, headaches, back and joint pain. This treatment potentially provides a safe alternative to strong painkillers, some of which are highly addictive. The results found that listening to music had the greatest impact on younger people, as 66 percent of people aged 16 to 24 claiming that it helped with their pain management. Pain can also be managed in a number of ways such as natural medicine (homeopathic and herbal remedies),... [read more]
How to keep your bones healthy - If you like this post - share it with others ! Osteoporosis is a degenerative illness of the bones that is becoming more common than before, affecting more than 2 million people in the U.K. This condition causes the bones to become weaker and increases the risk of fracture, especially in old age. But how should we keep our bones healthy? There are a number of reasons for this, ranging from poor diet, lack of regular exercise, family history through to side effects of medication. Women generally have a higher risk of developing osteoporosis than men. One in three women and one in twenty men are affected by this condition. This is partly due to the fact that women generally have smaller bones than men and during menopause, the ovaries stop producing oestrogen, which helps to protect the bones. Several medications can cause osteoporosis or weaker bones. The long term use of steroids, such as prednisolone and beclomethasone can increase your risk of developing osteoporosis. Medications such as omeprazole and lansoprazole, which are used to lower stomach acid, have been reported to decrease levels of calcium. There is some good news! Osteoporosis is a condition that can be easily prevented... [read more]
Health Benefits of Vitamin K - If you like this post - share it with others ! Vitamin K is known as such because of its German name, Koagulations-vitamin. This may give you a clue as to one of its major roles in the body, namely, blood clotting (coagulation). Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin, meaning that the body is able to store it in adipose (fat) tissue and in the liver. However there are lots of benefits of vitamin K. Deficiencies in vitamin K take a while to develop and may take some time to correct. Aside from helping to blood clot, vitamin K plays a large role in bone-building and maintenance of a healthy skeletal system and there is some evidence that it may be particularly important for post-menopausal women to maintain good bone health. What is Vitamin K and What Does it Do? The important actions of vitamin K were overlooked for a long time as scientists concentrated on other vitamins and minerals that people were more likely to become deficient in. However, in recent years the research has been filling in the gaps in our knowledge of what vitamin K is and what it does. We now know that this fat-soluble vitamin... [read more]
Alternative Treatments for Back Pain - If you like this post - share it with others ! Back pain is an issue that plagues many people. Did you know that an astonishing 80% of all people in the UK will bring up their posture or their back issues to their GP at some point? That is an astounding figure that could be much lower if more people were aware about alternative treatments. Here, we will explore more about alternative treatments for back pain.   Yoga One of the main alternative treatments for back pain is yoga and stretching. One of the largest studies conducted showed that those with moderate pain could manage their issues with on-going yoga and stretching workouts because the exercises involve the strengthening of the core muscles. Massage Therapy One of the best short-term natural remedies for back pain is massage therapy. Once again, studies have shown that when combined with stretching, massage is one of the most cost effective cures for sub-acute and chronic non specific low pain. Diet Many people are unaware that the food we eat can affect pain, which is why it is essential that we make sure we take the right supplements. Nutrition and pain have been linked... [read more]
Vitamin K Supplements - If you like this post - share it with others ! Who’s at Risk of Vitamin K Deficiency? There are many people who could benefit from vitamin K supplements. People on restricted diets are thought to have a higher risk of deficiencies of vitamin K due to lower food intake and poorer variety of foods, as well as malabsorption issues and possible interaction with medications. People who have problems absorbing nutrients from their foods are at particular risk of vitamin K deficiency, with caution warranted in the following conditions: Gallbladder or biliary disease Celiac disease (severe gluten allergy) Crohn’s disease Cystic Fibrosis Leaky gut syndrome Other risk factors for vitamin K deficiency include the use of blood-thinning medications such as Coumadin (warfarin), liver disease, serious and/or extensive burns and long-term haemodialysis. In addition to problems of vitamin K insufficiency when long-term antibiotics and anticoagulants are used, cholesterol-lowering drugs that work by reducing fat absorption may also impair absorption of vitamin K. Newborns and Vitamin K Injections It is still common practice in a number of countries, including the US, Canada and Great Britain, to administer vitamin K injections to all newborns to reduce the risk of a rare but fatal... [read more]