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What is phytotherapy?

Phytotherapy is the use of plants, either in whole food form or in the form of standardized extracts and supplements, for healing purposes. Its roots trace all the way back to the beginnings of time and still stand strong in much of the world today.

It’s not surprising that the study of plants for medicinal purposes led to what we now know as pharmaceuticals. Most of the drugs conventional practitioners prescribe today have roots in the plant world. The difference is that pharmaceutical companies change the chemical structure of the compound not only to specialize and magnify its actions, but also to patent the medication and sell it as their unique product. Since plants found in nature can be used and sold by everyone, phytotherapy is more accessible to the general world. It is also, in most cases, much gentler on our bodies than pharmaceutical medications.

The amazing thing about phytotherapy is that it’s used to prevent health concerns as well as treat them — which is much more in line with a functional approach to healing. Sadly, conventional medicine has moved into the dangerous habit of treating symptoms as they arise instead of looking at an individual’s whole health picture. Phytotherapy uses cell signaling to affect our bodies early on in the processes of disease and imbalance, which is ultimately far less disruptive to the system. For this reason the results often last longer. What’s particularly fascinating is the way phytotherapy works in conjunction with the endocrine system.

Phytotherapy: Familiar with the endocrine system

The endocrine system is basically the command center for your hormones. It consists of numerous small organs scattered throughout the body — such as the pituitary gland, thyroid, adrenal glands and ovaries — as well as diverse tissues such as the gut, breast and skin. These various glands secrete hormones that take action in the brain, liver, heart, bone, skin and blood vessels as well as the reproductive organs — in other words, everywhere.

The word endocrine is used to define a cellular response to a hormone that originates from an endocrine gland located in another part of the body. Basically, hormones are messengers. They carry instructions from the brain and endocrine glands to other parts of the body. Plant molecules can also communicate these messages. In fact, they do so extremely well.

Responses within the cells that originate from the plant world are known as phytocrine. And phytocrines are the bioactive molecules in plants that share features with our own hormones and “connect” with our endocrine system. Phytocrines can be broken down into three broad categories:

Phytohormones structurally resemble the body’s native hormones, and can weakly or temporarily bind to hormone receptors in the body, promoting or countering actions similar to the hormones in your system.
Phytohormonogenicsgently encourage the body’s tissues to generate more of their own native hormones.
Functional mimetics of hormonesmimic hormone functions and can cause the same physiological response of the hormones native to your body.
It’s amazing that plants can interact so intimately with the hormones mad in the body. But as a matter of thought, we evolved alongside the plant world. So it makes sense that the human body is fluent in their language. The other important aspect of phytotherapy is that the cells of the body and the plant molecules can communicate — which separates this kind of therapy from many prescription drugs.

Phytoestrogens — a misleading term

The word phytoestrogen literally means “plant estrogen.” But phytoestrogens are not estrogen. They do not behave the same way as the body’s own estrogens or like estrogen replacement drugs (ERT).

This is something many women — and their healthcare practitioners — are confused about. They worry that taking soy or red clover or other isoflavones will increase estrogen in their bodies, putting those with a personal or family history of breast or other cancers at increased risk.

The National Cancer Institute currently defines the word “phytoestrogen” as an estrogen-like substance found in some plants and plant products. They also state that phytoestrogens may have anticancer effects.

Phytoestrogens are part of the phytohormone class, which means they structurally resemble the body’s native estrogen. Their chemical structure is such that it allows them to weakly bind to an estrogen receptor, potentially blocking excess estrogen, or, when estrogen is low, quieting the system’s need for estrogen. But they are not estrogen.

What’s important?

the phytoestrogens used and recommended today in botanical and nutritional medicine do not increase endogenous estrogen production in the body. And there are no studies confirming that phytoestrogens increase the risk for cancer.

In fact, new research suggests that phytoestrogens commonly used in nutritional and botanical medicine may protect women from breast and other cancers.

Phytoestrogens may also decrease the risk of heart attack and stroke, and protect your bones. A 2007 study in the Annals of Internal Medicine confirmed that the phytoestrogen genistein protects against bone loss. All of this while calming the symptoms of menopause! Scientists are discovering more benefits of phytoestrogens every day, and we plan to write more about this in the future, so stay tuned.

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The adaptogenic effect — a more efficient and safe way to restore balance

In communicating with the plant molecules in herbal therapies, the body can oftentimes get what it needs — and only what it needs. Instead of slamming the system with large doses of medication — the cells talk to the plant molecule upstream of the disease process to communicate what and how much they need. We call this an adaptogenic effect, meaning our bodies can respond to and use plant molecules in various ways, depending on how much and in what proportions we have of our own hormones on board and how smoothly we’re regulating and metabolizing them. So there is an astounding back-and-forth dynamic between plant cells and human cells that a man-made substance could never mimic.

Stronger pharmaceutical drugs do their work later, or “downstream” in the physiological process, leaving little to no opportunity for the body to communicate its needs. This can sometimes leave the body with too much or too little of the hormone or medication on board, which can ultimately leave the body more vulnerable.

Think about caring for a house plant. If you had a set amount of water to give your plant every time it needed water, on certain days it would most likely end up with too much or too little. Plants, like our cells, are living things and depending on the air, the sun and the soil they’re growing in, they may need more or less water on any given day. These factors, like our own internal and external environments, are constantly changing. We can grow healthy plants when we water them based on their needs, and they communicate those needs to us by how much water they suck in or let pool above the soil, by the texture and color of their leaves. It’s a give and take process, depending on the plant, as opposed to a standard “prescription.” Phytotherapy works in a similar way with our bodies. Like the plant caretaker, it watches and listens to our cells to gauge what is needed so your body has the right amount of the hormone in need. For example, for some women Estrasorb works wonders, but others react differently. This is where conventional medicine often falls short, because it treats all women with hormonal imbalances relatively similarly. When in reality, we are all different and require different treatment. Phytotherapeutic agents give your body a chance to say something before it is forced to accept — or reject — a treatment.

Phytotherapy and menopause

Here are some of the plants that have been widely used for menopausal symptoms.

Black cohosh(Actaea racemosa)a plant native to Eastern North America, has been used by women all over the world for generations to help with hormonal balance. It is thought to act as a functional mimetic, primarily by binding to opioid receptors in the brain to affect tissues in the body.
Red clover(Trifolium pratense) is rich in phytoestrogens including lignans, coumestans, and isoflavones. As described above, isoflavones can weakly bind to estrogen receptors in the body. This makes red clover a helpful herb for menopausal symptoms.
Chastetree(Vitex agnus-castus)has active molecules that may affect our neurotransmitters, particularly dopamine, which acts in the brain and other parts of the body. Recent studies are showing that properties of this herb may mimic the soothing actions of progesterone.
Passionflower(Passiflora incarnata) has strong Native American roots and contains natural monamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI’s), which are known to have antidepressant and anti-anxiety properties.
Ashwagandha(Withania somnifera)is an herb with aphrodisiac and mood-stabilizing properties. Recent studies suggest this Ayurvedic herb can act in an adaptogenic fashion when androgen levels are low, activating the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis to increase the production of androgens.
Wild yam(Dioscorea villosa) is native to North America and has been used for both menopause and menstrual-related symptoms. Research suggests that it acts as a functional mimetic of progesterone.
Soy(Glycine max), like red clover and kudzu, is a member of the legume family and contains phytoestrogens. It has been extensively studied and found to be supportive for improved insulin regulation, weight loss, bone health, and nail, skin and hair health. It has also been shown to decrease frequency and severity of menopausal discomforts, particularly vaginal dryness, hot flashes and night sweats.
Even though these remedies have been used around the world for centuries, unfortunately many women remain skeptical.

Herbs and Menopause

There is a lot of negative news about about certain herbs for menopause. One of the biggest complaints is that they don’t work. This argument arises for two different reasons: first, the desire for a one-size-fits-all cure and second, our own impatience. The honest truth is that the-one-size-fits-all cure for menopause simply doesn’t exist. Menopause is highly subjective. While one woman may have hot flashes and insomnia, another may have anxiety and fuzzy thinking or mood swings and night sweats or any combination of these symptoms. And though the root cause of your hot flashes is hormonal imbalance, the specific hormones that are high or low are unique to each woman, and vary over time.

So it stands to reason that what works for one woman may not work for another.In this way, diversity gives you the benefit of trying several plants in small doses, instead of trying one at a time in larger doses. Science also suggests that combination formulas work in an adaptogenic and synergistic way to restore hormonal balance within a range of variable circumstances.

Phytotherapy often requires some time to have an effect than most pharmaceuticals. This is because it is gentler than the drugs manufactured today — and I don’t think this is a bad thing. The more gently our bodies are coaxed from hormonal imbalance to balance, the better. Shock isn’t good for any system.

Returning the power to your hands

Today, scientific advances are providing a much better understanding of why phytotherapy works and the quantity and form of the plants that act most reliably and safely.

What conventional medicine does is takes something that’s oftentimes soft and gentle and makes it into a sledgehammer. Pharmaceutical companies do this because they want to make sure a drug works and they want to make sure it works for the “average” person in their studies. In part this also has to do with creating something foreign enough to the human body that they can “own” the rights to it in order to make money. But it also stems from the very real problem that we all face in medicine. And that is that most practitioners today cannot spend more than five to seven minutes with each of their patients, which makes the one-size-fits-all approach even more appealing.

Here are some guidelines to using herbal medicine that our patients have found helpful along the way:

Know your body. We are all different, and research shows that there is a subset of the population (upwards of 30–40%) who detox at a slower rate than the rest of the population. This group is generally highly sensitive to most therapeutic agents and needs a lighter dosage. If this is something you’ve learned about yourself, honor that and vary your dosages accordingly.
Monitor your progress.Though negative interactions and side effects are relatively sparse with herbal remedies (most of the truly harmful herbs have been eliminated from the herbal pharmacopoeia), we recommend monitoring yourself carefully when trying any new therapy.
Don’t take herbs and drugs in the same sitting. This can change the rate at which a drug is absorbed. In other words, take them at different times of the day, and ask your healthcare practitioner if you need to know what time to take your regular medications. Always be sure to update your healthcare practitioner on what you are taking.
Look for standardized extracts. Although some may argue that using standardized extracts takes away some of the whole-herb qualities and strays from the roots of herbal medicine, we feel that standardized extracts can help decrease some of the unpredictability of using plants for healing. Consult a dietitian or any other professional if need be
In diversity there is strength.Finding a phytotherapeutic remedy that combines a range of plant constituents is oftentimes more effective in quelling symptoms than a single herb.
Have patience.In most cases, using herbal remedies takes time to build up an effect in the body. This is because they do their gentle work at the source of the imbalance and it may take time to heal metabolic pathways that have been off-balance for many years.
A gentler path to health

Phytotherapy is an emerging aspect of nutrition and medicine. Everyday new studies are emerging, suggesting newer effects on health and our bodies. They can help boost digestion, cool an overactive inflammatory response, rebalance hormones, build immunity, facilitate stable blood sugar, improve adrenal reserve, detoxify the liver, slow our heart rates, tone our blood vessels, conserve our bones, soothe our nervous systems, restore a healthy sleep cycle, and live longer happier lives. Drawing on the gentle healing qualities of plants allows us to reconnect and reintegrate ourselves with the natural order of things. Herbs are a century long remedy!

There are so many chemicals that are used in nearly all ‘cleansing bars’ sold in stores today. An ancient belief holds it that anything you put on your face you should be able to eat.If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin!Whatever soap you use gets absorbed into your bloodstream through your skin. This is why African black soap and other natural soaps are suddenly getting more recognition today.

The same women who make black soap choose to use only black soap on their babies, as its purity makes it gentle and non-drying for babies’ sensitive skin.

African black soap is revered for having skin nourishing benefits due to an abundance of antioxidants. The soap is made from the ashes of plantain skin, cocoa pod and palm leaves, and palm oil from leaves or kernels. Some additional ingredients, depending on the makers of the soap, could behoneyto soften skin andshea butter or cocoa butterfor extramoisturizing properties (some black soap are more potent than others and can be drying).

Some Common Ingredients in Black Soap:

Plantain skins and leaves have a high concentration of iron and vitamins A and E. Vitamin E helps with tissue structure, is healing and helps moisturize the skin improving texture and tone. Vitamin A benefits collagen production. Allantoin in the leaves of plantain stimulates the growth of new skin cells.

Cocoa powder softens and firms the skin and has antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties to fight against free radicals,repair damaged skin and renew skin cells.

Cocoa butteris a natural fat extracted from the cacao bean. It’s been used for years as a moisturizer. It has vitamins A and E to fight against environmentaldamage and therefore the signs of aging. It helps the skin retain moisture and improves elasticity. Cocoa butter is also said to improve the appearance ofstretch marks. It has also beenused to ease skin conditions like rashes, eczema andpsoriasis.

Shea butter(karite butter) made from the nuts of the karite tree, also has vitamins A and E to strengthen skin and repairs damage. It has been used toheal burns,sores andscars, and to treat psoriasis, eczema, and dermatitis. It helps promote cell renewal and diminish appearance of wrinkles. It is also good for treatment of acne scars because it is non-comedogenic and has anti-microbial properties.

Palm oilis rich in antioxidants and two forms of vitamin E tocopherol and tocotrienol, which are useful in the treatment of acne and eczema and reduce cell damaged caused by environmental toxins and free radicals.

Palm kernel oil is extracted from the fruit seeds of the African palm tree. It is high in lauric acid giving it anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.

Coconut oil The fatty acids in coconut oil work to reinforce the skin’s lipid barrier and lockin moisture. Coconut oil is also helpful for repairing skin damage, dry skin and eczema, and toreduce the appearance of wrinkles. Ithas cleansing and antibacterial properties,which makes it useful for removing grime and makeup,and when combined with other ingredients works as a natural deodorant.

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Steps On How To Use Black Soap:

To combat irritation (burning, stinging, redness), take off a small amount of soap (liquid or solid), knead it into a ball and work it into a lather by rubbing it between your fingers. Be gentle if applying directly to the skin, because there may still be particles that can scratch and damage the skin.

To prevent dryness, wash and rinse skin with cool water to help skin retain more moisture and use a lightweight, non-comedogenic (not tending to clog pores) moisturizer after use.

Because raw black soap contains high concentrations of fats, waxes and fat-soluble vitamins, but no lye, beware of high concentrations of chocolate and/or caffeine. Also be cautious of high concentrations of latex from the plantains, palm oil and/or coconut oil.

African black soap is great for oily and acne prone skin. It’s efficient for deep pore cleansing because of its natural exfoliating qualities. For some oily skin types it seems to keep the skin hydrated without increasing oil.

Source:

http://blackdoctor.org/449133/qa-what-are-the-benefits-of-black-soap/2/

http://multiculturalbeauty.about.com/od/Skincare/fl/8-Top-Skin-Care-Benefits-of-African-Black-Soap.htm

http://africaimports.com/black-soap-benefits.asp

Erectile dysfunction is a hidden menace to many men today. Many have turned to herbs, supplements and even Viagra on advice of unprofessional individuals and friends. Erectile dysfunction can be caused by improperly treated STD’s, weak pelvic muscles, deficiencies in some nutrients such as vitamin D among others. Some drugs like Viagra could help on the short term but they cause dependence on the long term. Dietary and lifestyle adjustment, appropriate exercise and herbal supplements help better and provide permanent solution to erectile dysfunction.
Let’s see some long term solutions.

Recent Discovery (Vitamin D):

The list of possible causes of erectile dysfunction is long, yet one option is often overlooked, until recently. The results of numerous studies have indicated that vitamin D deficiency is linked to erectile dysfunction. If that’s the case, men who are living with this sexual challenge can take immediate action to help remedy this problem by taking vitamin D supplements. First, however, you should determine your vitamin D status to see if you have a deficiency.

Could vitamin D deficiency be causing your erectile dysfunction?

Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are common around the world.Deficiency of vitamin D(levels of 20 ng/mL or lower) has been reported in more than 80 percent of some adult populations. TheVitamin D Councilrecommends a level of 40 to 80 ng/mL as healthy. If you are experiencing erectile dysfunction, you should talk to your doctor about having a blood test to determine your vitamin D levels.

What do studies say about vitamin D deficiency and erectile dysfunction?

In one recent study, the investigators noted that endothelial dysfunction is a major player in erectile dysfunction. This is a condition in which the endothelium (the inner lining of blood vessels) is in a state of imbalance and can result from and/or contribute to high blood pressure, diabetes, septic shock, and high cholesterol, or it can result from smoking, exposure to air pollution, and other environmental factors.

Since it’s known that a deficiency of vitamin D promotes endothelial dysfunction, correcting the deficiency could be a positive step toward helping men who have erectile dysfunction (ED). Therefore, a team decided to evaluate the role of vitamin D in 143 men: 50 who had arteriogenic ED, 28 with borderline ED, and 65 with non-arteriogenic ED.

Arteriogenic ED is when the arteries do not supply enough blood to the penis to allow for an erection. This can be caused by various factors, such as narrowing of the arteries, diabetes, or injury to the penile artery.

What about vitamin D deficiency, ED, and diabetes?

We already know that diabetes is a risk factor for ED, since it involves a reduction in endothelial function. A 2016studylooked at the relationship between vitamin D levels, erectile dysfunction, and vascular disease in 2 men with type 2 diabetes. After extensive evaluation, the experts demonstrated a “significant association” between vitamin D deficiency and erectile dysfunction in men with type 2 diabetes, and they believe it may be due to the impact of the deficiency on testosterone levels, endothelial dysfunction, and cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., cholesterol, blood sugar, and triglycerides).

If you are experiencing erectile dysfunction, it’s important to ask your doctor for a simple blood test to determine your vitamin D levels. How much vitamin D should you take?That’s a question you should discuss with a knowledgeable health professional who considers your personal needs. Adequatevitamin D supplementationcould be the answer you are looking for.

Flavonoids:

Studies indicate that antioxidant compounds called flavonoids help improve cardiovascular health by increasing blood flow and the concentration of nitric oxide in the blood. Chocolate, particularly the dark variety, is rich in flavonoids. Milk chocolate is lower in flavonoids and contains higher amounts of sugar and fat.

Reach for Watermelon

This favorite picnic fruit may actually improve your sexual function. Research from Texas A&M University found a connection between watermelon and ED. A compound found in the fruit called citrulline helps to relax blood vessels and improve blood flow, much like ED medications do.

What About Herbal Supplements?

Using herbal supplements to treat any condition is controversial, as their efficacy and safety are not always rigorously investigated. There are a few herbs, however, that have shown promise in treating ED. According to the Mayo Clinic, the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has been shown to improve libido in women and to help with ED in men. L-arginine, an amino acid, may help widen blood vessels to improve blood flow but side effects like nausea and diarrhea are associated with it. Ginseng also has been shown to help improve ED. Always speak with a professional before trying any supplement.

Green Vegetables:

Leafy green vegetables, like bitter leaf, ugu, scent leaf and spinach, may increase circulation because of their high concentration of nitrates. Beet juice has been found to be high in nitrates. Nitrates are vasodilators, which means they open up blood vessels and increase blood flow. The ED drugs used today are based on the relaxing effects of nitrates on the blood vessels that supply the penis.

Note:

Pay attention to your vascular health. High blood pressure, high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and high triglycerides can all damage arteries in the heart (causing heart attack), in the brain (causing stroke), and leading to the penis (causing ED). Low levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and obessity also contribute. Check with a doctor to find out if your vascular system — and thus your heart, brain, and penis — is in good shape or needs a tune-up through lifestyle changes and, if necessary, medications.

Exercise (kegels):

A strong pelvic floor enhances rigidity during erections and helps keep blood from leaving the penis by pressing on a key vein. A three months of twice-daily sets of Kegel exercises (which strengthen these muscles), combined with biofeedback and adjustment on lifestyle changes — quitting smoking, losing weight, limiting alcohol — works far better than just advice on lifestyle changes. But do not expect to see immediate improvement, these adjustments gently heal you, thereby making it more permanent. Continue for a period of two to three months and you won’t regret it!

Goodluck!!

Sources:

Barassi A et al .Vitamin D and erectile dysfunction.Journal of Sexual Medicine2014 Nov; 11(11): 2709-800

Caretta N et al. Hypovitaminosis D is associated with erectile dysfunction in type 2 diabetes.Endocrine2016 Jan 12 Epub ahead of print

http://www.health.harvard.edu/mens-health/5-natural-ways-to-overcome-erectile-dysfunction

Alcohol has received a thousand bad raps by nutritionists and dietitians all around the world, and I want  to pile a bit on the rubble.  Alcohol is basically empty calories which the body perceives as “Poison”. Why people even enjoy the bitter stuff beats me. Down to the issue at hand, why is alcohol such a bad guy and what risks does it portend to its ardent users?

Alcohol Packs on Fat:

It’s pretty simple: if you want to lose weight and decrease fat, cut out the alcohol and give your liver a rest. Among the many critical tasks the liver performs, two of them are the metabolism of testosterone and fat. However, when a person drinks it overloads the liver and causes it to metabolize the alcohol as a priority rather than fat. That extra fat just hangs around in the liver and piles on the extra weight. This process is a risk factor for development of liver diseases associated with excess alcohol intake.These include alcoholic fatty liver disease and alcoholic hepatitis, two conditions characterized by fat deposits in liver cells. Alcoholic cirrhosis, the most advanced type of liver damage associated with alcohol, involves severe scarring and disruption of liver structure and function.

Alcohol Lowers Testosterone Levels:

When you’re partying, your liver is hard at work breaking down the alcohol, and that process interferes with one of the liver’s other jobs: producing testosterone.
In a four-week study, normal, healthy men who consumed 220 grams (7.7 oz) of alcohol daily saw their testosterone levels decline significantly after only five days — and continue to drop throughout the whole period of the study.

Drinking can Contribute to Prostate Cancer:

Alcoholic beverages, especially beer, wine, and bourbon, contain congeners— substances that have estrogen-like properties that can play a role in the development of cancer. (Clear alcoholic beverages have the least amount of congeners; e.g., gin, vodka, white rum, and white wine.) Those estrogen-like traits in your drink can contribute to the development of prostate cancer by damaging genetic information in your cells and causing inflammation, two classic factors involved in the birth of cancer, even if a person just has a few drinks

Alcohol Promotes Conversion of Testosterone to Estrogen:

As one ages, Testosterone levels decline and estrogen levels tend to rise, as do levels of the enzyme (aromatase) that converts T to estrogen. Drinking alcohol interferes with the body’s ability to get rid of excess estrogen, because the liver, which is responsible for eliminating extra estrogen, has to focus on metabolizing the alcohol instead. That leads to an accumulation of extra estrogen, which contributes to extra weight and fat cells as mentioned above. And these fat cells are where aromatase converts testosterone to estrogen.

In case you were wondering what higher estrogen levels mean for men — think, low testosterone, man boobs, increased body fat, an increased risk of prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, heart attack and stroke, as well as a higher risk of bone loss and fracture. That’s just for starters. All stuff you want to avoid as you age.

Drinking Reduces Libido and Sexual Performance:

Excessive drinking is a common cause of erectile dysfunction. As the amount of alcohol in the blood increases, the alcohol decreases the brain’s ability to sense sexual stimulation. As a depressant, alcohol directly affects the penis by interfering with parts of the nervous system that are essential for sexual arousal and orgasm, including respiration, circulation, and sensitivity of nerve endings, according to Health Promotion at Brown University.

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In regard to circulation, alcohol causes the blood vessels to dilate, which influences the way the blood moves in and out of the penis. A good blood flow regulates the relaxation and contraction of the penis, so it can get and maintain an erection.

Alcohol is just wasted calories:

Alcohol contains virtually no nutritional value, and drinking can contribute to malnutrition because some people get a large percentage of their daily calories from alcohol (and sodas) rather than food. So the message is “don’t drink your calories” — get them from nutritious, plant-based organic sources — not beer and wine.

Alcohol and the Nervous System:

Contrary to popular belief, alcohol doesn’t actually kill your brain cells, says David Sack, M.D., CEO of addiction-treatment company Elements Behavioral Health. “But hooch does alter levels of neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers that control your mood, perception, and behavior”, he says.
Alcohol impairs brain areas such as the cerebellum—the control site for your balance and coordination—and your cerebral cortex, which is responsible for thinking, memory, and learning, says Kimberly S. Walitzer, Ph.D., deputy director of the University at Buffalo’s Research Institute on Addictions.

Plus, University of Michigan researchers found the amygdala—an area of the brain involved in fear and anger—showed less of a reaction to threatening faces after a single drink, potentially explaining why you’re prone to risky behavior (like fighting a bouncer) under the influence.

Effect of Alcohol on the Muscles:

Alcohol tinkers with hormonal and inflammatory responses to exercise, making it more difficult for the body to repair damaged proteins and build new ones (essential steps in getting ripped), according to a recent review in the journal Sports Medicine.

You’ll compound this effect if you reach for a beer before a recovery snack or shake, says study author Matthew Barnes, Ph.D., of Massey University in New Zealand.

So take the time to get some protein, carbohydrates, and non-boozy fluids into your system post-workout before cracking open your first cold one.

Some Sources:

http://www.menshealth.com/health/your-body-on-booze

https://www.everydaymale.com/30-day-alcohol-fast-increased-testosterone/

It’s no secret that obesity is a major health challenge today and one that has grown steadily over the past years. But why are we fatter today than we were three decades ago? At one time, experts thought the cause of overweight/obesity was simple: too many calories consumed plus a sedentary lifestyle equaled excess weight.

However, the reasons behind being overweight or obese are more involved than that. Of course, food intake and exercise play critical roles. But according to the Professor Jennifer Kuk, lead author of a recent study from York Universityin Toronto, excessive weight is “actually much more complex than just ‘energy in’ versus ‘energy out.’ She explained that lifestyle and environmental factors may also be key in why “ultimately, maintaining a healthy body weight is now more challenging than ever.”

If you’ve been struggling with weight, this statement probably doesn’t surprise you, but what Kuk and her colleagues uncovered during their research about obesity over the past 30 years may. The goal of their study was to determine if the relationship between three factors—total calories consumed, amount of physical exercise, and intake of protein, fat, and carbs—and obesity has changed over the past three decades.

To accomplish this, they reviewed dietary data from 36,377 Americans between 1971 and 2008 along with exercise data from 14,419 people between 1998 and 2006. When all three factors were equal, a person in 2006 who ate the same amount of fat, protein, and carbs, consumed the same amount of calories, and engaged in the same amount of exercise as a person did in 1988 (of the same age), the individual in 2006 would be fatter; that is, he or she would have a body mass index approximately 10 percent higher than the person in 1988.

“….maintaining a healthy body weight is now more challenging than ever….” owing of course to globalisation, poor information and increase in consumption of high calorie and sweet foods.
A closer look at the data revealed that between 1971 and 2008, BMI, caloric intake, and carb intake rose 10 to 14 percent while fat and protein intake declined 5 to 9 percent. In addition, between 1988 and 2006, physical activity rose 47 to 120 percent. When all the findings were considered, Kuk and her team concluded that “factors other than diet and physical activity may be contributing to the increase in BMI over time.”

Although the study did not investigate those possible factors, Kuk and her colleagues did suggest some culprits.

Genetics:

Obesity has a strong genetic component. Offsprings of obese parents are much more likely to become obese than offsprings of lean parents.

This is not to say that obesity is completely predetermined because our genes aren’t as set in stone as you may think… the signals we send our genes can have a major effect on which genes are expressed and which are not.

Non-industrialized societies rapidly become obese when they start eating a typical Western diet. Their genes didn’t change, the environment and the signals they sent to their genes changed.

It does seem clear that there are genetic components that do affect our susceptibility to gain weight.Studieson identical twins demonstrate this very well.

Insulin:

Insulin is a very important hormone that regulates energy storage, among other things. One of the functions of insulin is to tell fat cells to store fat and to hold on to the fat that they already carry. The Western diet causes insulin resistance in many individuals. This elevates insulin levels all over the body, making energy selectively get stored in the fat cells instead of being available for use.

The best way to lower insulin is to cut back on carbohydrates, which usually leads to an automatic reduction in calorie intake and effortless weight loss. No calorie counting or portion control required.

Certain Medications

There are many pharmaceutical drugs that can cause weight gain as a side effect. Examples include diabetes medication, antidepressants, antipsychotics, etc. These drugs don’t cause a “willpower deficiency” – they alter the function of the body and brain, making it selectively store fat instead of burning it.

Leptin:

Another hormone that is crucial in obesity is Leptin. This hormone is produced by the fat cells and is supposed to send signals to the hypothalamus (the part of our brain that controls food intake) that we’re full and need to stop eating.

Obese people have lots of fat and lots of leptin. The problem is that the leptin isn’t working as it should, because for some reason the brain becomes resistant to it. This is called leptin resistance and is believed to be a leading factor in the pathogenesis of obesity.

Exposure to Environmental Toxins:

We come into contact with hundreds, perhaps thousands of chemicals on a daily basis from common items including shampoo, furniture, food and food packaging, plastics, building supplies, household cleaners, pesticides, and more. Among those that have been associated with obesity are the endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which include bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, found especially in plastics and personal care products.I’ve written about this more here.

Changes in your Microbiome

Changes to the population of bacteria and other microorganisms living in our gut (the microbiome) may have a role in the obesity rise. These changes may be related to the growing use of artificial sweeteners and processed foods, both of which have a negative impact on bacteria in the gut. In fact,experts have established a close relationship between gut microbiome, obesity, and insulin resistance with the hope that further understanding will help in the fight against this epidemic. Even more reason to eat probiotic foods and take high qualityprobiotic supplements.

Smoking:

Some people gain weight when they stop smoking. One reason is that food often tastes and smells better after quitting smoking. Another reason is because nicotine raises the rate at which your body burns calories, so you burn fewer calories when you stop smoking. However, smoking is a serious health risk, and quitting is more important than possible weight gain.

Use of Prescription Antidepressants:

The use of antidepressants has increased by nearly 400 percent since 1988, and now nearly 11 percent of people aged 12 years and older are taking at least one these drugs. Among the side effects of these drugs, especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as Celexa, Lexapro, Paxil, Prozac, and Zoloft, is weight gain. In fact, up to one quarter of people who take antidepressants gain at least10 pounds.

Stress and Cortisol:

Stress takes a massive toll on health, resulting in unhealthy behaviors such as overeating. According to a 2012 American Psychological Association report entitled “Stress in America,” responses to their survey indicate that “the nation is on the verge of a stress-induced public health crisis” and that the concern is especially critical among people who are obese and/or depressed and adults 50 and older who are caregivers.

The connection between stress and obesity lies mainly with hormones, especially the stress hormone cortisol. When stress levels remain elevated, so do cortisol levels, which can increase your appetite. Emotional eating—turning to comfort foods when faced with tension, stress, anxiety, depression—can become part of this pattern as well.

Lack of sleep

Experts have shown us there is a clear relationship between lack ofsufficient sleepand obesity. One such study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention evaluated data from 13,742 adults and looked at how long they slept and their weight. The authors found that compared with individuals who slept 7 to 9 hours per night, individuals who got 6 or less hours of sleep were more likely to be obese and have abdominal obesity.

Lower metabolism:

The fight against weight gain can become a vicious cycle for many overweight people who restrict calories for a while and then experience the yo-yo effect—weight loss followed by weight gain over and over again. This weight cycling can lead to a reduction in metabolic rate, a significant hurdle when one is trying to drop pounds and keep them off. Add the fact that fatty tissue requires less energy to maintain than lean tissue, and you have a factor that contributes to obesity

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While the York University findings suggest that you need to eat less calories and exercise more than your same-age peers of three decades ago, other factors are likely involved in the fight against obesity as well. You can arm yourself for that fight by:

* Avoiding environmental toxins as much as possible by using all-natural/organic personal care items and household cleaning items as well as environmentally friendly pest control

*Ditching the aftershave and other fragranced products

*Choosing organic foods whenever possible, including grass-fed, hormone-free meats

*Using glass and stainless steel instead of plastic containers to store your food

*Only buying products in BPA-free plastic, tins and cans

*Getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night

*Practicing stress management techniques daily, such as meditation, progressive relaxation, deep breathing, yoga, tai chi, or visualization

*Supporting your microbiome by avoiding artificial sweeteners and processed foods and eating foods rich in probiotics (and/or taking aprobiotic supplement) to support beneficial bacteria in your gut

*Talking to your healthcare provider about alternatives to any prescription antidepressants you may be taking. Other prescription drugs that may contribute to weight gain include beta-blockers, corticosteroids, diabetes medications, and mood stabilizers.

Conclusion:

There’s not a simple solution to maintaining a healthy weight, but it’s more complicated than eating less and exercising more. Multinational corporations pump us with toxins and hormone disrupting foods. And our high paced lifestyles drive negative eating habits and sleepless nights. Doctors and other health professionals need to be trained in a lifestyle approaches to weight management in order to better counsel their patients. And the media needs to stop the fixation on 6-pack abs and bikini bodies as indicators of health, which often they are not. True health is not about 9% body fat. It’s about having our mental, physical, hormonal, sexual, and digestive systems working in harmony. And having natural, un-medicated energy all day long. That’s what we should strive for.

Sources:

Yates, E.A., MacPherson A., Kuk J.L. (September, 2012). Secular trends in the diagnosis & treatment of obesity among U.S. adults in the primary care setting (Obesity ­– In Press).

https://www.everydaymale.com/6-reasons-were-fatter-than-3-decades-ago-besides-food-and-exercise/

https://authoritynutrition.com/10-causes-of-weight-gain/

Cipro (ciprofloxacin) is a flouroquinolone antibiotic that is commonly prescribed for infections of which one is prostatitis. Unforfortunately, there are some devastating potential side effects of this medication. Here is what you need to know about Cipro side effects.

When a man has prostatitis or other infections, many doctors immediately prescribe antibiotics like Cipro. Many times the antibiotics don’t work, and that is because the majority of prostatitits cases are not caused by bacteria. Men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) usually do not have any bacteria present and that is why traditional medicine is not usually successful in treating it.
Part of the problem is that fluoroquinolones are often inappropriately prescribed. Instead of being reserved for use against serious, perhaps life-threatening bacterial infections like hospital-acquired pneumonia, these antibiotics are frequently prescribed for sinusitis, bronchitis, earaches and other ailments that may resolve on their own or can be treated with less potent drugs or nondrug remedies — or are caused by viruses, which are not susceptible to antibiotics.

In an interview, Mahyar Etminan, a pharmacological epidemiologist at the University of British Columbia, said the drugs were overused “by lazy doctors who are trying to kill a fly with an automatic weapon.”

Side Effects and Warnings:

Adverse reactions to fluoroquinolones may occur almost anywhere in the body. In addition to occasional unwanted effects on the musculoskeletal, visual and renal systems, the drugs in rare cases can seriously injure the central nervous system (causing “brain fog,” depression,hallucinations and psychotic reactions), the heart, liver, skin (painful, disfiguring rashes and phototoxicity), the gastrointestinal system (nausea and diarrhea), hearing and blood sugar metabolism.

The rising use of these potent drugs has also been blamed for increases in two very serious, hard-to-treat infections: antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (known as MRSA) and severe diarrhea caused by Clostridium difficile.

Whether you had or have had bacterial prostatitis or CP/CPPS, if your doctor prescribed Cipro or other flouroquinolone antibiotics you may have suffered some of the devastating or less serious side effects. Each drug in this class of antibiotics has a FDA black box warning. Black box warnings are used by the FDA to communicate important information to you and your doctor. The FDA considers black box information essential information to know before taking a medication. The black box warnings for Cipro and other flouroquinolones include risk of tendinitis and nerve damage.

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Here is the black box warning for Cipro side effects:

WARNING :

*Fluoroquinolones, including CIPRO, are associated with an increased risk of tendinitis and tendon rupture in all ages. This risk is further increased in older patients usually over 60 years of age, in patients taking corticosteroid drugs, and in patients with kidney, heart or lung transplants.

*Fluoroquinolones, including CIPRO, may exacerbate muscle weakness in persons with myasthenia gravis. Avoid CIPRO in patients with known history of myasthenia gravis.

*If you are taking Cipro, make sure to let your doctor know right away if you experience any symptoms of tendinitis such as pain, swelling, tenderness, stiffness of a muscle or joint. You should stop taking Cipro and see a doctor immediately if you:

*Feel or hear a pop in a tendon area

*Bruise in a tendon area after an injury

*Experience severe pain or are not able to bear weight on an affected area

*Another serious side effect is peripheral neuropathy, or nerve damage, which can sometimes occur within the first few days of starting Cipro. Most patients describe this nerve damage as a pain, tingling, or numbness in the arms or legs, but any muscle group can be affected. Some people even experience a change in their ability to feel light touch, pain, cold, or heat. If the neuropathy generally resolves you stop the medication, but it can result in permanent damage if you keep taking it. Sometimes the nerve damage does not go away even after you stop taking the medication.

Besides tendinitis, tendon rupture, tendon swelling, and nerve damage, other common Cipro side effects include:

*Abdominal or stomach pain
*Diarrhea
*Headache
*Heartburn
*Nausea or sick at your stomach
*Urinary frequency
*Vomiting

Some of the more serious side effects include the following:

*Anxiety
*Breathing trouble
*Wheezing
*Confusion or altered mental state
*Depression
*Jaundice or yellowing of the eyes
*Passing out
*Rapid heart rate
*Rash or blistering
*Severe or bloody diarrhea
*Throat tightness or hoarseness

It is important to understand the potential side effects and risks of any medication you take. If you are not comfortable with the risks, you can always talk to your doctor about switching to a new medication or asking about alternative treatments. In cases of CP/CPPS, natural and alternative treatments are more successful than antibiotics, which can have negative effects on immunity and intestinal health as well.

Natural Ways to Restore Health:

Taking antibiotics can affect your health negatively by killing off not just any harmful bacteria but by also killing off the beneficial bacteria in your gut (normal. Flora). If you have taken any antibiotics, your balance between the probiotics(the yeasts and “good” bacteria and gut microflora) and the harmful bacteria is off. This can cause diarrhea, gum problems, ulcers, and rashes. It also can affect your immunity as scientists are now realizing that 70 to 80 percent of your immune function is controlled by the gut. That is why it is recommended to take a quality probiotic supplementto replenish the levels of good bacteria and restore this important balance. Foods that contain probiotics include yogurt, kefir, and fermented vegetables like African oil bean (ugba).

Other natural ways to restore your health and immunity, as well as control prostatitis, is to get regular exercise and to look at your diet. Eat a healthful Mediterranean style diet that includes fruits and vegetables, a lot of dietary fiber, plant-based sources of protein, and fish. Stick with whole foods and avoid processed foods. Remove foods that can exacerbate prostatitis symptoms, such as acidic foods, alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods, wheat, and gluten. Look into finding out whether you have any food intolerances or allergies. Many men find that trying a wheat-free diet or a gluten-free diet helps them to manage their prostatitis symptoms.

http://prostatitis.net/drugs-prostatitis/recovering-cipro-side-effects/

http://mobile.nytimes.com/blogs/well/2012/09/10/popular-antibiotics-may-carry-serious-side-effects/?referer=

One of the lingering concerns and questions for men is whether increased testosterone levels, either naturally produced, or in the form of prescription replacement therapy, can cause prostate cancer. However the latest studies show that not only does testosterone NOT cause prostate cancer, it may actually help protect against it, while another hormone appears to be the main culprit in promoting prostate cancer in men. At the May 2015 American Urological Association Annual Meeting, the results of a meta-analysis indicated that natural and prescription testosterone (endogenous and exogenous, respectively) do not cause prostate cancer or trigger increases in level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA). This was the widest review of studies ever undertaken that showed testosterone, on its own, did not cause prostate cancer. The medical experts who undertook the study conducted two different analyses. One included 18 studies involving 5,091 patients with prostate cancer and 11,930 controls and looked at the impact of endogenous testosterone. No relationship was found between T levels and risk of prostate cancer. The second analysis reviewed data from 24 placebo-controlled trials involving men with hypogonadism (clinically low testosterone levels) who took testosterone replacement therapy. Again, the experts concluded that testosterone replacement therapy did not appear to increase the risk of prostate cancer, nor an increase in PSA levels. The paradox of testosterone and prostate cancer risk is that prostate cancer risk increases as a man ages at the same time that a man’s normal testosterone levels start to decline. One of the most heated debates centers on whether testosterone fuels prostate cancer. If that’s true, say some experts, then why do men develop prostate cancer when they are older, at the same time their testosterone levels are dropping? Others point to the fact that many men with prostate cancer, especially those with advanced or metastatic cancers, take hormone therapy that nearly stops the production of testosterone to tamp down the disease. Under the influence of hormone therapy, tumors regress. So wouldn’t the opposite be true — that giving a man testosterone will accelerate or promote tumor growth?

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This suggests that having too little testosterone could be a factor and that something else—perhaps too much estrogen—could be a factor as well. Does estrogen cause prostate cancer? Estrogen as a cause of prostate cancer is gaining lots of attention. At least in rats, experts know that testosterone plus estrogen are necessary for the development of prostate cancer. In men, however, the research findings thus far have been mixed, with a few studies indicating an association between estrogens and chronically high estrogen and an increased risk of prostate cancer, but others showing the opposite. It’s widely accepted that a man’s testosterone:estrogen ratio should be in balance; that is, higher levels of testosterone than of estrogen. Because testosterone can be changed into estrogen via an enzyme called aromatase, the critical point is to adopt habits that help reduce the activity of this enzyme. This includes maintaining a healthy weight, losing excess belly and body fat (as fat promotes estrogen production), limiting or avoiding alcohol (as alcohol is estrogenic and also affects the metabolism of testosterone), maintaining healthy blood sugar levels, and taking natural supplements. Does high testosterone protect against prostate cancer? As for evidence that men who have higher levels of testosterone are protected against prostate cancer, the jury is still out. However, a European Urology report noted that numerous reports have shown that men who receive testosterone therapy after treatment for localized prostate cancer have shown no or low recurrence rates. Some men with untreated prostate cancer who have taken T therapy also have not had any progression of their disease. One recent (November 2015) study, for example, involved 98 men with hypogonadism (excessively low T) who were treated with testosterone therapy after they received radiation for prostate cancer. Use of testosterone therapy raised T levels from a mean of 209 ng/dL before treatment to 420 ng/dL. At the same time, there was a nonsignificant increase in PSA levels. Based on the studies and latest research it does not appear that testosterone causes prostate cancer, nor that it has a negative impact on men who already have the disease.
Although some studies show that early in their development, prostate cancers need relatively high levels of androgens to grow. Such prostate cancers are referred to as androgen dependent or androgen sensitive because treatments that decrease androgen levels or block androgen activity can inhibit their growth.
Most prostate cancers eventually become “castration resistant,” which means that they can continue to grow even when androgen levels in the body are extremely low or undetectable. Testosterone production is regulated by luteinizing hormone (LH) and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH). The hypothalamus releases LHRH, which stimulates the release of LH from the pituitary gland. LH acts on specific cells in the testes to produce the majority of testosterone in the body. Most of the remaining androgens are produced by the adrenal glands. Androgens are taken up by prostate cells, where they either bind to the androgen receptor directly or are converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which has a greater binding affinity for the androgen receptor than testosterone.

At the same time, another hormone—estrogen—seems to have a role in the disease. Signs and symptoms of elevated estrogen in men—low libido, breast development, risk of stroke and heart attack, infertility, weight gain—are the same as those associated with low testosterone, so estrogen, not testosterone, is a hormone that needs to be equally managed as part of living a healthy and cancer free life. –

Source:

http://www.prostate.net/2016/prostate-cancer/does-testosterone-cause-prostate-cancer/#sthash.tDyYmiOO.dpuf

http://www.harvardprostateknowledge.org/testosterone-supplementation-after-prostate-cancer

http://www.cancer.gov/types/prostate/prostate-hormone-therapy-fact-sheet

Diabetes, also called hyperglycemia, is a disease in which the body causes blood glucose (sugar) levels to rise higher than normal. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, “diabetes is [a] condition in which the body does not properly process food for use as energy.” According to the American Diabetes Association, in 2012, 29.1 million Americans (9.3 percent of the population) had diabetes. Of this number, 21.0 million were diagnosed, while 8.1 million were undiagnosed.

Symptoms of diabetes include chronic fatigue, frequent urination, excessive thirst, unexplained weight loss, extreme hunger, sudden vision changes, tingling or numbness in hands or feet, very dry skin, sores that are slow to heal, and more infections than usual. Diabetes can result in heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and lower-extremity amputations.

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, with about 76,000 people dying each year from the disease. Blacks are 1.7 times more likely to develop the condition than whites. Of sufferers, 26 percent are age 65 or older. It is estimated that this disease costs Americans $245 billion per year — and this figure reflects only diagnosed cases.

A 2005 research paper published by the American Alliance for Medical Cannabis (AAMC) states that cannabis has the following benefits for diabetes patients:

Stabilizes Blood Sugars:

*Acts as an anti-inflammatory that may decrease arterial inflammation.

*Acts as a “vasodilator” to help keep blood vessels open and improve circulation.

*Lowers blood pressure (over time), a critical benefit for diabetics.

*Relieves neuropathic pain and tingling in the hands and feet when applied topically as creams, balms, and salves.

*Helps still diabetic “restless leg syndrome” (RLS), improving sleep.

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Two Types of Diabetes:

There are two varieties of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1, previously known as “juvenile diabetes” or “insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus” (IDDM), afflicts children and young adults, but is responsible for only five percent of all cases of diabetes. Type 2, previously called “adult-onset diabetes” or “non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus” (NIDDM), is the most common form of the disease. Diabetes patients suffering from Type 2 cannot use insulin properly, a condition called insulin resistance.

One variety of Type 2 diabetes is metabolic syndrome, which is the combination of diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure. Metabolic syndrome significantly increases a sufferer’s chances of heart disease or stroke. Although many diabetes patients are able to sufficiently moderate their insulin levels using conventional drugs (often supplemented by cannabis), it remains a life-threatening disease that impacts the lives of tens of millions of Americans daily.

Diabetic Retinopathy:

Cannabis can also be used to treatdiabetic retinopathy, a condition that can result in blindness that is the most common form of diabetic eye disease. Retinopathy, which typically only afflicts patients who have had diabetes for several years, involves intra-ocular pressure, similar toglaucoma.

It is caused by changes in blood glucose levels that result in swelling retinal blood vessels (a condition called macular oedema), after which they sometimes leak fluid into the eye. Any diabetic patient can develop retinopathy. As with glaucoma, cannabis use significantly decreases pressure within the eye, relieving the condition.

Cannabis works well as an anti-inflammatory treatment due to the fact that diabetics frequently suffer arterial inflammation. Steroids and corticosteroids (such as cortisone, hydrocortisone, and prednisone) can be used to treat this condition, but they cause many negative side effects, including suppression of the immune system (something not experienced with cannabis). However, a class of diabetes drugs called NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) that is commonly used in place of steroids can cause liver and kidney damage (again, not experienced with cannabis).

Glaucoma:

Glaucoma is another complication that can arise with diabetes. The general term for glaucoma-related complications is retinopathy. People who have diabetes are 40 percent more likely to contract glaucoma than people without the disease. Glaucoma occurs when pressure builds inside the eye, eventually cutting off blood flow and damaging the optic nerve. Vision is gradually lost due to the continued pressure and nerve damage.
Medical marijuana is already being recommended for glaucoma sufferers, as it can directly reduce the inflammation caused by the nerve damage and increased blood flow. However, since the relief is only temporary, some doctors believe that people need to partake every 2 or 3 hours (around the clock) to maintain a consistent eye pressure. This could lead to other health complications, making doctors more hesitant to recommend it. There is also a fear that glaucoma sufferers, without first consulting a doctor, might choose to self-medicate due to the belief that ‘it can’t hurt.’ Marijuana does help ease the pain, but glaucoma is a progressive disease with no cure. Without a doctor’s supervision, those who choose to self-medicate can harm the results of tests that could detect or track the progression of the disease.

High Blood Pressure:

High blood pressure is often a complication of Type 2 diabetes and, although medical marijuana does lower blood pressure, it also briefly elevates heart rate after smoking. As a result, marijuana isn’t recommended for those with pre-existing heart conditions. However, studies have shown that prolonged marijuana users have a tolerance for these side-effects and have suffered no adverse effects of the briefly quickened heart rates.
Peripheral vascular disease is caused by atherosclerosis –– the process in which fatty material builds up inside the arteries over time. This fatty material hardens as it mixes with calcium, scar tissue, and other materials, creating plaque on the arterial walls. This plaque can inhibit or completely block blood flow through the arteries. People with high blood sugar levels caused by diabetes can have narrow, weak blood vessels, in addition to accelerated fat levels in the blood, and higher blood pressure which dramatically affects the rate of developing atherosclerosis. All of this exponentially increases the chance of angina, heart attacks, and strokes.
Medical marijuana isn’t recommended for sufferers of peripheral vascular disease. Although studies have shown that medical marijuana can significantly decrease angina, it can also cause acute coronary events. The increased heart rate, combined with the combustion inhalation of smoke, is thought to be one of the main reasons for the possible coronary complications and the lack of doctor recommendation. This has begun a debate of the use of synthetic cannabinoids, like Sativex and Marinol, versus hemp oil and vaporized medical marijuana.

The Studies:

Research published in 2012 by GW Pharmaceuticals in England revealed that THCV and cannabidiol (CBD) have an effect on the body’s fat level and how patients respond to insulin. The research found that THCV increases sensitivity to insulin in animals while simultaneously protecting cells that make insulin.

The research also found that THCV and CBD boosted the metabolism of the test animals, resulting in a reduction in fat in their livers and lower cholesterol levels. According to professor Mike Cawthorne, the director of metabolic research at the University of Buckingham and director of the animal studies:

“Overall, it seems these molecules [THCV and CBD] increase energy expenditure in the cells of the body by increasing the metabolism.”

A 2013 study published in The American Journal of Medicine found that regular cannabis users had lower levels of the hormone insulin after fasting, a sign that cannabis consumers, who were also shown to have reduced insulin resistance, are somewhat protected against diabetes. The research involved nearly 5,000 patients who answered a questionnaire regarding their drug use.

Joseph Alpert, professor of medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and editor-in-chief of the journal, said:

“These are remarkable observations that are supported by basic science experiments that came to similar conclusions.”
Previous surveys revealed that, although cannabis users consume more calories, they have a lower body mass index. This indicates a more efficient metabolism and points toward better use of insulin and other systems of the body related to the burning of fat and blood sugar levels.

Sources:

Penner, E.A. et al. (2013). The Impact of Marijuana Use on Glucose, Insulin, and Insulin Resistance among US Adults. The American Journal of Medicine, Volume 126 , Issue 7 , 583 – 589.

Ellis R.J., et al. (2009). Smoked medicinal cannabis for neuropathic pain in HIV: a randomized, crossover clinical trial. Neuropsychopharmacol 2009; 34(3): 672-80.

Rabinski, G. (2015).Cannabis for the Treatment of Diabetes.

A breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts from cells of the breast. Amalignant tumoris a group of cancer cells that may grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body. Breast cancer occurs mainly in women, but men can get it, too. Many people do not realize that men have breast tissue and that they can develop breast cancer.
Normal breast structure
To understand breast cancer, it helps to have some basic knowledge about the normal structure of the breasts.
The breast is made up mainly of lobules (glands that can produce milk if the right hormones are present), ducts (tiny tubes that carry the milk from the lobules to the nipple), and stroma (fatty tissue and connective tissue surrounding the ducts and lobules, blood vessels, and lymphatic vessels).

Until puberty (on average around age 9 or 10), young boys and girls have a small amount of breast tissue consisting of a few ducts located under the nipple and areola (area around the nipple). At puberty, a girl’s ovaries make female hormones, causing breast ducts to grow, lobules to form at the ends of ducts, and the amount of stroma to increase. Even after puberty, men and boys normally have low levels of female hormones, and breast tissue doesn’t grow much. Men’s breast tissue has ducts, but only a few if any lobules. Like all cells of the body, a man’s breast duct cells can undergo cancerous changes. But breast cancer is less common in men because their breast duct cells are less developed than those of women and because they normally have lower levels of female hormones that affect the growth of breast cells.

Although the breast tissue in men differs somewhat from that in women, breast cells in men are susceptible to cancer growth, even though the chances of breast cancer developing in men is much less than it is for women. While breast cancer will affect 1 in every 8 women over their lifetime, it impacts only 1 in every 1,000 men.

Up until the beginning of puberty, males and females each have a few ducts (tube-like structures) in the breast tissue located in the area of the nipple. Once a female’s ovaries begin to produce hormones, her breast ducts grow and develop lobules, which make milk. In males, however, male hormones manufactured by the testicles prevent further development of breast tissue, ducts, and lobules.

However, the breast tissue in men can undergo changes that lead to cancer, even though men have much lower levels of the hormones that affect breast cancer growth.

Risk Factors For Breast Cancer in Men

Scientists do not completely understand the causes of breast cancer in men, but a number of risk factors have been identified.

Age: As in women, the risk of breast cancer in men goes up with age, with 68 being the average age a man is diagnosed with the disease
Gene mutations: Men who have inherited a mutation of the BRCA2 or BRCA1 genes, which are breast cancer genes, have an increased risk of the disease.
Family history: About 20% of men with breast cancer have a close male or female relative with the disease
Exposure to radiation: Prior radiation to the chest may increase risk.
Klinefelter syndrome: This rare congenital condition affects about 1 in 1,000 men and is characterized by men who have higher than normal levels of female hormones and lower than normal male hormones.
Alcohol: Excessive alcohol use increases the risk of breast cancer in men.
Liver disease: Because the liver has a key role in the metabolism of sex hormones, liver disease can lead to abnormally high estrogen levels in men.
Obesity: Fat cells transform male hormones into estrogens, and so men who are obese have higher levels of estrogens, which in turn may increase their risk of breast cancer.
Testicular conditions: Men who develops mumps as an adult, have an undescended testicle, or who have had their testicles removed may be at increased risk of breast cancer.
Types of Breast Cancer in Men

Breast cancer in mencan develop in a number of different ways. The most common type of breast cancer is called invasive ductal carcinoma, which means the breast cancer spreads beyond the duct and develops in the fatty tissue of the breast. This type of breast cancer can then spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. About 80% of male breast cancer cases are invasive.

About 10% of male breast cancer cases are called ductal carcinoma in situ, which means the cancer stays in the breast ducts and does not spread outside the duct walls. Nearly all cases of ductal carcinoma in situ can be cured with surgery.

The remaining 10% of male breast cancer cases include various rare forms of the disease, including invasive lobular carcinoma (which starts in lobules, which are uncommon in men), Paget disease of the nipple, and inflammatory breast.

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Detecting Breast Cancer in Men

Because breast cancer in men is not common, most men don’t even think about it. However, if you notice any breast lumps or growths, you should have them checked by your healthcare provider. Don’t be embarrassed; while the lump may be just an infection or be related to some other noncancerous cause (e.g., gynecomastia; see below), checking any unusual growths is important. Breast cancers in men tend to be smaller than they are in women, but because men have little breast tissue, cancer can spread more extensively.

Signs of Breast Cancer in Men

Possible signs of breast cancer men should watch out for include the following:

Appearance of a lump or swelling in the breast, which may or may not be painful
Puckering or dimpling of the skin on the breast
Scaly or red nipple or breast skin
Discharge from the nipple
Retracted nipple (nipple that turns inward)
Treatment of Breast Cancer in Men

Treatment of breast cancer in men includes methods also used in women: surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy (drugs designed to target gene changes). Most men undergo some type of surgery, or a mastectomy, that may or may not also require the removal of lymph nodes under the arm and/or the chest wall muscles under the chest if the cancer has spread that far. Radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy may be given either before or after surgery to help reduce the risk the cancer will recur after surgery, or they may be given after surgery to treat cancer that has come back.

Some men with breast cancer are also treated with bisphosphonates, which are drugs that help reduce bone pain associated with metastatic breast cancer, as well as strengthen bones and reduce the risk of fractures. Zoledronic acid (Zometa) and pamidronate (Aredia) are examples of bisphosphonates. Another drug called denosumab (Prolia) also reduces the risk of fractures and other problems associated with treatment of breast cancer, but it is not in the same drug class and seems to provide better results.

Surgery:

The most common operation for men with breast cancer is removal of the whole breast (mastectomy) including the nipple. There is not very much breast tissue in men, so it isn’t usually possible to leave any behind. Sometimes the surgeon also removes part of the underlying muscle if it is close to the cancer.

For men diagnosed with invasive breast cancer the surgeon may remove some of the lymph nodes from the armpit. They send the nodes to the laboratory to see if they contain cancer cells. Or the surgeon may check the lymph nodes closest to the breast using a procedure called sentinel node biopsy.

For men, implants currently available don’t recreate the correct shape of a man’s breast so it is not usual to have breast reconstruction. But sometimes your surgeon may be able to improve the appearance of the chest with more surgery after mastectomy.

Diet and Breast Cancer:

Some people being treated for breast cancer may experience weight loss due to side effects like nausea. However, weight gain is more common in people being treated for breast cancer. This weight gain, in addition to carrying extra body weight, may lead to poor outcomes from treatment. Maintaining bone health is also very important for people being treated for breast cancer. Also, breast cancer and its treatment can bring about metabolic changes that cause or aggravate symptoms of diabetes.

Dietary fats and breast cancer:

Fats include oils, butter and margarine as well as the fat in meats, fish and nuts. Remember there are also hidden fats in sweets, biscuits, cakes and other foods that you buy ready made.

An overview study (meta analysis) of 45 studies reported that after the menopause women who had more fats in their diet had an increased risk of breast cancer. The EPIC study has shown that women who ate higher levels of saturated fats had double the risk of breast cancer compared to those eating the least.

Foods high in saturated fat include

*Fatty cuts of meat
*Meat products, including sausages and pies
*Butter, ghee and lard
*Cheese, especially hard cheese
*Cream, soured cream and ice cream
*Some savoury snacks and chocolate products
Biscuits, cakes and pastries

Based on the evidence, it appears that saturated fat does play a role in increasing breast cancer risk. But it is probably a combination of this as well as other things that causes breast cancer.

People who eat a lot of foods containing fish oils (marine omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids) seem to have a lower breast cancer risk than people who only eat small amounts.

Sugars, carbohydrates and breast cancer:

There is no strong evidence of a direct link between sugars and carbohydrates and breast cancer. But a large study of Chinese women in the USA reported in 2009 that for women younger than 50 a high carbohydrate diet slightly increased the risk of developing breast cancer. And the EPIC study showed that high carbohydrate diets are linked to an increased risk of a type of breast cancer called oestrogen receptor negative breast cancer.

Eating too much sugar can make you put on weight and we know that being overweight increases the risk of breast cancer in post menopausal women.

Dairy foods and breast cancer:

Dairy products have been studied for their effect on breast cancer risk. Some recent studies have shown that women with a high intake of dairy products have a lower risk of breast cancer, but we need results from more studies before we can be sure about this. Dairy products are high in calcium, and several studies show a lower risk of breast cancer for women with high calcium intakes or calcium blood levels.
Fibre and breast cancer:

Fibre is found mostly in fruit, vegetables and whole meal cereals (including flour and all kinds of bread, particularly whole grain). There is some evidence that diets containing more than 25g of fibre per day reduce the risk of breast cancer in pre menopausal women.

Eating wheat bran fibre has been found to lower the levels of oestrogen in the blood in women who have not yet had their menopause. Lower levels of oestrogen may help to reduce the risk of breast cancer. Researchers aren’t quite clear about why wheat fibre reduces oestrogen levels. It may not be an effect of the fibre itself. Instead it may be that high fibre diets contain less fat and more antioxidants than low fibre diets.
Fruit and breast cancer:

An overview study found that women who ate more fruit had a lower risk of breast cancer. This may be due to the fibre and antioxidants that they contain. Anti oxidants are molecules that prevent a chemical process called oxidation, which occurs when oxygen molecules join with another chemical. Oxidation can cause gene damage in cells that may lead to cancer. Antioxidants include vitamins A, C and E and selenium.

If you change your diet to include more fruit and vegetables, as well as more starchy carbohydrates, you will almost certainly eat less fat. So you will be more likely to keep your weight within a healthy range. This helps to reduce your risk of breast cancer.
Soya foods and other phyto oestrogens:

Because of the difference in breast cancer rates in different parts of the world, scientists have been looking into whether eating phyto oestrogens, could affect the risk of getting breast cancer.

Phyto oestrogens are chemicals found in plants (phyto means plant). So they can also be called plant oestrogens. They have a similar structure to the female sex hormone oestrogen. There are different types of phyto oestrogens. Some are found in soya bean products (isoflavones). Others are found in the fibre of whole grains, fruit, vegetables and flax seed (lignans). Milk may also contain phyto oestrogens, but this depends on what the cows have been eating.

Lignans are the main type of phyto oestrogens in the Western diet. Research into the effect of lignans on breast cancer risk was conflicting. So in 2009 researchers looked at all the studies that had been done. They found that in women who had had their menopause, high levels of lignin in the diet slightly reduced their breast cancer risk. It had no effect for premenopausal women though.

A joint study reported in July 2002, produced by Cancer Research UK, the National Cancer Institute of the USA, and the National University of Singapore. It found that women with a diet high in soya had less dense breast tissue than women with low soya diets. Higher density of breast tissue has been linked to a higher risk of breast cancer. This is the first study to directly link eating soya with an effect on breast tissue. Combining the results of lots of separate studies (a meta analysis) showed that Asian women who eat the highest amounts of soy foods had a lower risk of breast cancer. In other parts of the world, most women do not eat enough soy to reduce their risk of breast cancer.

In some studies, eating phyto oestrogens (soya flour and linseed supplements) regularly over several weeks reduced oestrogen levels. One of the active ingredients in soya is isoflalavone. This chemical is similar to oestrogen and reduces the effect of human oestrogen in the body. High levels of human oestrogen can increase breast cancer risk.

Carotenoids:

Carotenoids are organic colourings (pigments) found in some plants. Foods that are good sources of carotenoids include carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, kale, greens, papaya, bell peppers, and tomatoes. A summary of published studies has shown that women with higher levels of carotenoids in blood samples may have a lower risk of breast cancer.
Flavonols and flavones:

Flavonols and flavones are substance found in plants and are also called flavonoids or bioflavonoids. Flavonols are found in high levels in

*Onions
*Broccoli
*Black tea, green tea and oolong tea
*Fruits

Flavones are found in

*Aromatic herbs (such as parsley)
*Celery
*Camomile tea

Studies have shown that people who have high levels of flavonoids in their diet have a lower risk of breast cancer than people with lower levels.
Coffee and breast cancer:

We have included information about coffee because it is often in the news. A lot of research has looked into coffee drinking and cancer risk. Breast cancer is one of the cancers investigated. But there is no research evidence to show that coffee increases breast cancer risk.
Gynecomastia Is Not Breast Cancer

Perhaps you’ve experienced or know men who have had a common male breast disorder calledgynecomastia. Sometimes referred to as “man breasts” or “man boobs,” gynecomastia often appears as a small mass of tissue under the nipple and areola that can be felt when applying slight pressure. In some men gynecomastia is more severe and causes the breasts to grow somewhat larger.

Gynecomastia is usually caused by an imbalance of hormones. That’s one reason why men who take steroids can develop gynecomastia. Other causes of gynecomastia include liver disease, obesity, use of some medications (e.g., those for treatment of ulcers, high blood pressure, heart failure, heartburn), or a rare genetic condition called Klinefelter syndrome, which can also increase a man’s risk of getting breast cancer.

Breast cancer in men is rare, but it is a serious, even deadly disease. If you experience any of the signs of breast cancer, see your healthcare provider as soon as possible.

– See more at:
http://www.prostate.net/2012/treatment/breast-cancer-in-men/#sthash.7drJTsJz.dpuf

Lisa Attebery, D.O., breast surgeon, assistant professor of surgery, Dept. of Surgery, Cooper University Hospital, The Cancer Institute of Surgery

Jennifer Harned Adams, Ph.D., Department of Behavioral Science, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/type/rare-cancers/rare-cancers-name/breast-cancer-in-men

http://m.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancerinmen/detailedguide/breast-cancer-in-men-what-is-breast-cancer-in-men