My Best Health — Page 253 — Personal Health Guide

Cancer Treatment Options- A New Hope with Paul (P) Inhibitors

June 19, 2010 by Vine

An enzyme called Cox-2 is thought to be the leading cause regarding several diseases because it oxidizes arachidonic acid in the body. When a fat gets oxidized in the body, it actually burns up and it causes inflammation. Arachidonic acid is a fat acid that is part of the omega-6 group and the body needs these fat in order to stay healthy. It is thought that the Cox-2 enzyme can be the leading factor in some cancers, such as skin cancer, esophagus cancer, colon cancer and cancer of the bladder. The enzyme has often gone ignored in cancer research and studies, but it has been recently found that if the Cox-2 enzyme can be disabled , that the inflammation caused by it can be reduced or eliminated.

It is interesting how Cox-2 inhibition can block certain cancers and diseases. Every single person makes Cox-2 enzymes and by themselves, they do not harm the body. The danger comes when these enzymes make hormones in the body that then directly cause inflammation. The hormones from the Cox-2 enzyme can produce these hormones in every area of the body, including the brain. Due to this, it is also thought that this enzyme might be responsible for Alzheimer’s disease as well as inflammation of the back, knees, shoulders and other areas of the body that normally become inflamed.

Thankfully, researchers were able to find a product promptly that inhibits that actions of the Cox-2 enzyme. There are several natural herb products that market themselves as Cox-2 blockers, but the one product that has had the most success is that tiny jar of aspirin that we all tend to have in our medicine cabinets. Aspirin has been shown to effectively be able to block the extreme inflammation that is caused by the hormones produced by Cox-2. This means that along with preventing heart attacks and strokes, aspirin can add another positive to its uses.

While there certainly needs to be more research on the Cox-2 enzyme and blocking it, this seems to be a pretty good start. Aspirin seems to be the new market niche in many healthcare fields.

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Loss of Memory And Vitamin B12

June 19, 2010 by Vine

Vitamin B12 is a nutrient that is critical for many bodily functions. It allows your body change food directly into energy and additionally helps form red blood cells. It also serves to keep your red blood cells healthy and maintain your body’s defense mechanisms in top condition.

Vitamin B12 is used medically to treat pernicious anemia, which is caused from a B12 deficiency. This severe and degenerative disease can cause forgetfulness, an inability to concentrate and also will cause intensifying nerve damage.

While not everyone agrees, recently there has been a growing trend to use a b12 shot to help with other conditions. In fact, vitamin b12 is being used for everything from weight loss to Alzheimer’s. While not all areas that b12 has been used have solid science backing them, one area that does show promise is using b12 shots to help prevent memory loss.

In one study that was completed in 2008 at the University of Oxford, the B12 levels of older individuals were examined for five years.. It was shown that those who had low levels of vitamin b12 where more than six times as likely to develop brain shrinkage during that five year time. Since brain shrinkage is a known indicator that elderly individuals will later develop Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia and memory loss, it stands to reason that taking a b-12 shot can help prevent memory loss.

Another study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine indicated that B12 deficiency can cause nerve damage leading to memory loss in up to 50% of those who are over 60. While only 2% of those who are over 60 actually have low levels of B12 in there bodies, it would appear that even a minor deficiency can be enough to cause trouble. Even having just a minor b12 deficiency is enough to cause health issues!

While not all doctors agree on the benefits of taking b12 shots, most all do agree that there is no harm in supplementing with additional b12. Because our ability to absorb B12 diminishes as we get older due to digestive issues and the reduction in intrinsic factor production, it seems to be wise for those who are over 60 to consider supplementing with vitamin B12. Since Alzheimer’s and other forms of memory loss appear to be somewhat hereditary, this is especially true for those who are predisposed to these conditions. Why not try supplementing with vitamin B12 today?