Sai Vibrionics Newsletter

" Whenever you see a sick person, a dispirited, disconsolate or diseased person, there is your field of seva. " Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Hands Reaching Out

In Addition

Vol 2 Izdaja 5
September 2011


COCONUT OIL HELPS KEEP WEIGHT OFF 

Several studies published in the International Journal of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders show that coconut oil helps keep weight off. One study measured fat burning and calorie expenditure in obese men who ate coconut oil – not only were both accelerated, but the coconut oil also resulted in diminished fat storage. Another study evaluated women who followed a diet for 27 days in which 30% of their daily total calories came from medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), the kind found in coconut oil, and it was found to boost fat burning and calorie expenditure. The MCTs also feed healthy bacteria in the large intestine and fight off harmful pathogens in the digestive tract.

Coconut oil also contains some other very healthy fatty acids, including lauric acid, which is known to be antimicrobial and protective against the bacterium H. Pylori, and capric acid which has strong anti-yeast properties. Like omega-3 oils, coconut oil reduces blood "stickiness" -- a factor in heart disease. The natives of the Trobriand Island in New Guinea, who consume about 80% of their daily calories from coconut and coconut oil, have virtually no ischemic heart disease or stroke and they are also notable in their apparent lack of excess body fat.

More research is needed to learn how much coconut oil one might consume to promote weight loss, though you can cook with it, blend it in a smoothie, or use it on rice or pasta and it is always a good addition to any curry you might make. So a tablespoon with each meal would be a reasonable starting point, and could also bring a healthy addition to your diet. When you buy coconut oil avoid those labelled ‘RBD’, this stands for “refined, bleached and deodorized” and that means it has been processed with chemicals. Choose those labelled “extra virgin coconut oil” or “organic coconut oil”.

Source: Sally Fallon Morell, MA President, Weston A. Price Foundation 

 

HOW TO SURVIVE A HEART ATTACK WHEN ALONE 

Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack, without help, the person whose heart is beating improperly and who begins to faint, has only about 10 seconds left before losing consciousness. However, these victims can help themselves by coughing repeatedly and very vigorously. A deep breath should be taken before each cough, and the cough must be deep and prolonged, as when producing sputum from deep inside the chest.

A breath and a cough must be repeated about every two seconds without let-up until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating normally again.

Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood circulating. The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm. In this way, heart attack victims can get to a hospital. Tell as many other people as possible about this. It could save their life!! 

 

11 SIGNS CHOLESTEROL IS HARMING YOUR LEGS 

Cholesterol can clog the heart's blood vessels, but it can also affect the legs, leading to Peripheral Arterial Disease, or PAD. Up to 12 million people in the US and an unknown number worldwide, have PAD, which is linked to a higher risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke, says David Slovut, MD, director of advanced interventional therapy at Montefiore Medical Centre. After five years, 20% of people with PAD will have had a nonfatal heart attack.

Here are 11 signs you could have PAD. The good news? It's treatable.

Pain in the Legs

An extremely common PAD symptom is claudication, a type of leg pain or discomfort. Because the arteries are clogged, they can't deliver enough blood to the legs to support exertion. Some people say their legs feel "heavy" or tired, or they report a burning pain, Dr. Slovut says. The pain can be in any part of the leg, from the calf to the thigh or buttock, and it may be in one or both legs. It's also reproducible: The pain happens when walking a certain distance (like two blocks), it's relieved by rest, and then occurs again when walking the same distance.

Night time Cramps

While sleeping, people with PAD may get cramps or spasms, typically in the heel, forefoot, or toes, says Darren Schneider, MD, director of the Centre for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery at New York– Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Centre. The pain can often be relieved by dangling the foot off the bed or sitting in a chair, which allows gravity to assist blood flow to the feet, Dr. Schneider says.

Skin and Nail Changes

PAD can cause changes in the toenails and the skin on the legs. Because the legs aren't receiving normal blood flow or nourishment, you may notice that you are losing hair on the feet and legs, or that it's growing back more slowly if you shave it. The skin on the legs may get shiny and tight, and toenails may thicken or grow more slowly. All of these are usually experienced together, Dr. Schneider says.

Unusual Skin Colouring

One of the things doctors look for is a change in the colour of your legs. When raised, a leg may be white because of compromised blood flow. Then, when the leg is dangled from the table, it can turn reddish or purplish in colour, says Dr. Schneider, because the body has dilated the blood vessels to increase flow to the feet. In some people with PAD, the feet or toes are pale or bluish when they're sitting, due to a lack of circulation.

Cold Feet

Feet or legs that feel cold, or are cool to the touch, may be an indicator that you have PAD. But it's not really the best indicator, says Dr. Schneider. That's because this is a common problem, and it can happen to anyone as they age—even someone without PAD. However, if you feel like one leg or foot is cold, but not the other, it could be time to talk to your doctor.

Sores that Don't Heal

In people with more advanced PAD, a reduction in circulation can result in foot ulcers that don't heal. Known as ischemic ulcers, these should be treated quickly, says Dr. Schneider. The ulcers may be brown or black, and they're often painful (as opposed to diabetic foot ulcers, which may be painless due to diabetes-related nerve damage).

Erectile Dysfunction

This is not a common occurrence, but it is possible for PAD to cause erectile dysfunction, Dr. Slovut says. The internal iliac arteries provide the blood supply for erections. If both are closed or severely clogged, it can cause erectile dysfunction (ED). "The number of patients who have ED on the basis of a vascular problem is a minority of them. I don't see it a lot, but it can be a vascular problem," Dr. Slovut says.

Numbness or Weakness

If your legs or feet feel numb or weak while you are resting, it could be a sign of PAD. "Some patients will just say their legs get weak and feel like they will give out, and some get numbness in their feet," says Dr. Schneider. People who have symptoms at rest, not just while walking or exercising, usually have more severe PAD, he says.

Atrophy of Calf Muscles

People with more advanced PAD may experience atrophy, or a reduction in the size of their calf muscle. On the microscopic level, a lack of adequate blood flow can lead to a decline in the number and size of muscle fibres. In fact, those with severe PAD can lose more than half of their muscle fibres in an affected area, and the remaining muscle fibres tend to atrophy or shrink in size.

Tissue Death

About 80% of people with PAD never progress beyond having relatively mild symptoms, says Dr. Schneider, but a small minority of people can experience extreme symptoms. In advanced stages, the disease can cause tissue death and even gangrene, which can be limb- and life-threatening, he says. PAD can even lead to amputation in some cases, but quitting smoking, eating healthy, taking medication, and even having bypass or angioplasty can improve circulation in the leg.

No Symptoms at All

Most people with PAD have no symptoms. However, people at a greater risk for PAD may want to be tested, since the disease ups your chance of heart attack and stroke. PAD is more likely to occur in smokers, people over 50, and those with diabetes. You're also more likely to get PAD if you have high cholesterol or blood pressure, or a strong family history of heart disease or stroke. Source:Health.com 

 

Om Sai Ram