Eddie On Everything » health

Improve Your Memory With Magnesium

eddie — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 04:44:14 +0000

A new study from MIT and Tel Aviv University shows that increased magnesium helps improve memory.

Published in the scientific journal Neuron, the study found that elevation of brain magnesium enhanced learning and memory rats, both young and old. Working memory, short term memory, and long-term memory were all improved.

Quick, run out and buy a magnesium supplement before you forget! Not so fast.

The study also found that current over-the-counter magnesium supplements don’t cross the blood-brain barrier, and are thus not beneficial in improving memory in humans.

There is a hope, though. The same researchers have developed a new compound that does cross the blood-brain barrier, which may one day become commercially available.

In the meantime, the researchers recommend that people continue to get their magnesium the old-fashioned way, through diet. Broccoli, leafy greens, almonds, cashews, and fruit all contain high levels of magnesium, and eating them should help your memory improve.

“With this persistent change in diet, memory should improve, and the effects of dementia and other cognitive impairment diseases related to aging may be considerably delayed.”

As a vegetarian, I probably get more than my fair share of veggies, nuts, and fruits. But as I grow older, I realize that I need all the help I can get in keeping my mind sharp.

So I will definitely be keeping an eye out for this supplement, should it ever hit the shelves.

Getting High Naturally

eddie — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:24:25 +0000

My earlier post about the drug-like effects of Valerian Tea has gotten quite a bit of traffic. Those so inclined may find this one interesting: A book named “Get High Now” lists ways to “get high” naturally, including one method using cheese.

Another Green Tea benefit: Inhibits Breast Cancer Growth In Female Mice

eddie — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 18:41:36 +0000

There are many well-documented health benefits to drinking Green Tea.

Green Tea reportedly helps to soothe rheumatoid arthritis, lowers high cholesterol levels, helps to prevent cariovascular disease, staves off some infections, and now, according to at least one study, it significantly inhibits breast cancer growth in female mice.

The benefits of Green Tea are largely due to a chemical called EGCG, or epigallocatechin gallate. According to this page at About.com, “EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.”

A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Mississippi researchers now finds that consuming EGCG significantly inhibits breast tumor growth in female mice.

Green tea is high in the antioxidant EGCG (epigallocatechin-3- gallate) which helps prevent the body’s cells from becoming damaged and prematurely aged. Studies have suggested that the combination of green tea and EGCG may also be beneficial by providing protection against certain types of cancers, including breast cancer.

With each passing day, it seems that the good news about green tea continues to pile up. Of course, green tea and other holistic or natural elixirs should not be thought of as a replacement for traditional medicine. However, it seems clear that working green tea into your regular routine not only can’t hurt, but it may help quite a bit, serving as a valuable preventative measure against an array of ailments.

How To Make a Homemade Heating Pad

eddie — Tue, 29 Aug 2006 02:21:42 +0000

Ow, my neck!

I don’t know how, but I’ve managed to pull something in my neck.

I’m finding that it’s a big pain to keep a standard heating pad on it, owe to both the unruly size and unrly (and confining) cord.

So I created a home-made heating pad using rice and a sock. Heres how it’s done.

Recipe: portable heating pad

Get a sock. Preferrably a clean one.
Pour some dry uncooked rice into it. I used roughly one pound. Don’t use instant rice.
If you have any available, drizzle some peppermint oil onto the rice. Not only does this have an aromatheraputic effect, but it makes the sock smell less like rice and more like candy canes.
Tie the sock shut.
Heat in the microwave for about 2 minutes. You may want to stop after one minute and shake the rice around.
Voila, you now have a cordless heatpad. Apply directly where it hurts.

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The Buzz on Valerian Tea

eddie — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 01:47:02 +0000

The immensely disappointing mid-season finale of the Sopranos let the world in on a little secret – it’s possible to catch a buzz from Valerian Tea. Or-so-they-say.

In the episode Christopher’s girlfriend Julianna suggests that they brew up some tea using 10 bags of valerian, a root that she says is related to and has the same effects as Valium.

Hmmm, interesting. But can it be true?

A little research revealed that Valerian tea is made from the root of the Valerian plant. This plant has been known to science since at least the time of the Ancient Greeks and Romans, who used it as a medicinal herb, mostly because of it’s calming properties.

Celestial Seasonings’ Sleepytime Extra™ Wellness Tea contains at least some Valerian root:

This powerfully effective Wellness Herb Tea contains a potent herb not found in Sleepytime – valerian – that promotes extra fast, restful, natural sleep.* Valerian is a folklore favorite used for centuries to soothe the mind and body at bedtime.*

Fortunately, I learned long ago not to believe everything you read on product packaging, so I sought out the opinion of a medical professional, one whose livelyhood didn’t depend on selling me tea. Doctor Siegel, in his column that “explain[s] the medical facts behind medical fictions often depicted in the media,” shares the following:

VALERIAN is an herb with sedative properties used to ease insomnia and anxiety. It isn’t chemically related to Valium, and it won’t relieve a cough. Long-term use of the herb has been shown to have addictive properties, but there is no evidence that its use — whether in tea or capsule form — would cause someone to return to drug addiction.

OK, so according to Doc, not related to Valium, but used to cure insominia.

Being something of an insomniac myself, I headed down to my local organic market and purchased a box of Valerian Root tea distributed by Alvita, an herbal tea company owned by nutritional supplement giant Twinlab. I can tell you, first hand, that at least one thing they say about Valerian tea is true – it smells HORRIBLE. As to whether it has any sedative properties or not, I can’t say. It didn’t seem to, at least not in the preparation that I used.

More on Valerian Teas and Supplements here.

What’s the difference between Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen? What About Aspirin?

eddie — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 05:28:26 +0000

Notice: The author of this article is NOT a medical professional. This article has NOT been reviewed by a medical professional. This article is intended for general academic purposes and is not intended as a health diagnostic tool. Nothing in this article should be construed as medical advice. Please consult your physician or pharmacist before making any medical decisions.

I’ve been having some abdominal pain lately, so I travelled to the local drug store to pick up an over-the-counter pain medication. As I stood there trying to decide between two bottles, I realized that I had no idea which to get. On the one hand, as an athlete I know that ibuprofen, or “Vitamin I,” as it’s known amongst the hardcore runners, is the drug-of-choice when it comes to joint pain. But the pain I was having wasn’t joint pain, so maybe acetaminophen would be better?

I had no idea which to pick, so I did the only thing I know how to do – I bought one of each and headed home to do some research on the differences between the two.

What follows is what I was able to put together after a doing a few Google searches. For good measure, I did a little research on aspirin as well. Each sentence is followed by a number that identifies the source of the statement.

Indications

Acetaminophen and ibuprofen both provide the same basic relief from fever and pain, though each has different side effects. [1]

Ibuprofen is used for the treatment of mild to moderate pain, inflammation and fever.[2] Ibuprofen is used for minor aches, mild to moderate pain, menstrual cramps and fever.[2]

Acetaminophen is used for the relief of fever as well as aches and pains associated with many conditions.[3] Acetaminophen relieves pain in mild arthritis but has no effect on the underlying inflammation, redness and swelling of the joint.[3] If the pain is not due to inflammation, acetaminophen is as effective as aspirin.[3]

Ibuprofen is slightly more powerful than acetominophen, and is longer lasting. [1]

Aspirin is used to treat mild to moderate pain, inflammation, and fever.[4] It is also used for management of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, rheumatic fever, and gout.[4]

Dosage

The danger of overdose is greater with acetaminophen that it is with ibuprofen. [1] An overdose of 15 times the recommended dose can cause liver damage. [1]

For Ibuprofen, the usual adult dose is 200 or 400 mg every 4 to 6 hours. [2] Arthritis is treated with 300 to 800 mg 3 or 4 times daily. [2] Children 6 months to 12 years of age usually are given 5-10 mg/kg of ibuprofen every 6-8 hours for the treatment of fever and pain. [2]

The oral dose for acetaminophen for adults is 325 to 650 mg every 4-6 hours. [3] For children, the dose is 80-325 mg every 4-6 hours depending on age.[3]

Side Effects

The most common side effects from ibuprofen are rash, ringing in the ears, headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, constipation and heartburn. [2]

When used appropriately, side effects from Acetaminophen are rare.[3] The most serious side effect is liver damage due to large doses, chronic use or concomitant use with alcohol or other drugs that also damage the liver.[3]

Ibuprofen can cause stomach problems and should be taken with food.[1] Acetominophen generally does not cause stomach problems. [1]

Side effects of Aspirin include nausea, vomiting, belly pain, and heartburn.[4]

Trade Names

Acetaminphen	Ibuprofen	Aspirin
Tylenol	Advil Motrin Nuprin Medipren	Anacin Ecotrin Bayer St. Joseph’s

1. http://www.babycenter.com/expert/toddler/toddlerills/todmeds/12377.html
2. http://www.medicinenet.com/ibuprofen/article.htm
3. http://www.medicinenet.com/acetaminophen/article.htm
4. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsDrugs/Aspirincd.html#Uses

So there you have it, that’s what I learned. Based on this information, I was able to pick which of the three I wanted to take, based on my own personal medical history. As always, you should check with your physician before making any medical decisions.

How many calories are in a Chipotle Burrito?

eddie — Sun, 21 May 2006 21:22:44 +0000

New! Check out my Chipotle Nutrition Calculator!

Chipotle Mexican Grill makes some of the best tasting burritos in the world – unfortunately, they’re not always the healthiest option available.

With their neat-o flash website, unconventional marketing, and commitment to natural foods, Chipotle restaurant projects and ultra-hip image. For this reason, many people are surprised to learn that Chipotle is actually owned by the McDonald’s corporation. In what must be a carefully calculated marketing strategy, Chipotle has made it difficult for consumers to learn the nutritional value of most of their menu items. In fact, one consumer reports receiving the following response when requesting nutritional information from the company:

‘Unfortunately, sorry, we have never performed any analyses of our food to determine nutritional information at this time. If you or your website clients have a specific allergy or food intolerance or the like, then I would be happy to help y’all with the ingredients.’

Fortunately, the good folks at Chipotlefan.com make it easy to estimate the nutritional value of a Chipotle burrito with this nifty Chipotle Nutrition Calculator. Here are the stats for my favorite, a steak burrito with black beans, rice, cheese, sour cream, 2 sauces and lettuce:

Wow, 49g of fat and 1280 calories! Not to even mention that the Sodium content is well over the USDA recommended maxiumu of 2400 mg per day.

How does your burrito rate?

New! Check out my Chipotle Nutrition Calculator!

What is your Maximum Heart Rate?

eddie — Sun, 21 May 2006 20:59:33 +0000

The easiest and best known method for calculating your maximum heart rate is to subtract your age from 220.

Basic Formula
Max Heart Rate = 220 – Age

While this calculation is sufficient for most purposes, recent research has shown that the relationship between a person’s maximum heart rate and age is not linear. Hence, there are a number of other methods for calculaitng your maximum heart rate as well.

A University of Missouri-Columbia suggests an alternative formula of
MHR=206.3 – (0.711 × Age)

An Indiana University study recommends using the formula
MHR=217 – (0.85 × Age)

There are number of max heart rate calculators available on the internet.

Eddie On Everything » health

Improve Your Memory With Magnesium

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Getting High Naturally

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Another Green Tea benefit: Inhibits Breast Cancer Growth In Female Mice

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How To Make a Homemade Heating Pad

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The Buzz on Valerian Tea

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What’s the difference between Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen? What About Aspirin?

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How many calories are in a Chipotle Burrito?

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What is your Maximum Heart Rate?

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