Another way to prevent colds and flu is to get plenty of rest so your body isn’t compromised by fatigue. When you’re fatigued or tired the chances are you’ll become sick more easily, so being rested as well as unstressed is important.

Stay hydrated by drinking at least 64 ounces of water every day. If you’re trying to do the math, that’s eight 8 ounce glasses, which may seem like quite a bit, but you can include all the liquids you consume in that number, coffee, tea, low sodium soup, and so on.

Why is staying hydrated important? It helps the immune system remain strong and will help anyone already feeling sick feel better. You may have to build up to drinking 64 ounces of water a day, but your body will thank you for it even at other times of the year.

Speaking of the immune system, eating good, nutrient and vitamin-filled foods will improve it. Dieticians generally recommend eating a minimum of five fruits and vegetables each day.

However, maybe you have a picky eater in your home. Over-the-counter multi-vitamins are available to ensure you and your family gets the nutrients needed. You can also take herbs to make your immune system stronger.

Many people recommend Vitamin C in particular for warding off colds and flu. While there has yet to be any concrete evidence supporting this idea, the fact is that it’s best to get your vitamins from a variety of natural sources, and to eat a rainbow of fresh fruits and veggies every day.

People on vegetarian diets in particular will want to get their vitamins from a range of foods. Vitamin C can be found in onions and tomatoes as well as oranges, for example. Soups in particular are nourishing, low in calorie, low in sodium if you shop carefully, and have all the nutrients of their ingredients cooked right in.

Garlic may also bolster the immune system as a whole, which could mean garlic could help the body fight off illnesses that modern antibiotics aren’t appropriate for. You can find many supplements on the market which contain garlic. Quite often it’s mixed with Echinacea, which also acts to boost the immune system.

You don’t have to wait until you’re in the throes of a cold or the flu to start taking garlic. In fact, if you start taking garlic pills or eating garlic regularly, before you catch a cold or flu, it may be even more effective by preventing the infection in the first place.

Some research recommends taking large amounts of garlic to reduce recovery time if you get sick, but you may want to discuss doing so with a doctor, since garlic tablets can interfere with some prescriptions, particularly with regard to how they interact in the stomach and are digested.

Eating raw garlic is probably the best way to get the most benefit from it; however, making a tincture of 1/4 pound of peeled and separated garlic in 1/2 quart of brandy might be less offensive to others.

Place the ingredients in a clean glass jar with a lid. Seal the jar tightly and shake the mixture every day for two weeks. After the time is up, strain the jar and put the tincture in a bottle with a dropper. Take 25-30 drops a day to build up immunity.

You can also make a cough syrup out of garlic. Slice a pound of garlic and place it into a glass bowl. Pour one quart of boiling water over it and allow it to sit for 12 hours. Drain the water and add sugar to it until a syrup consistency is obtained. You can also add honey to make it taste better. Use this in place of over-the-counter cough syrups.

While you can get odorless garlic tablets so your breath isn’t offensive, some of the essential ingredients which make garlic beneficial are removed in these. Taking enteric-coated garlic tablets will enable the garlic to remain intact until it reaches the location in the digestive tract where flu bugs, or viruses, reside.

If you’ve wondered how garlic can fight off flu bugs, it does so by having antibacterial, antiviral, and antibiotic properties. Start taking garlic before the cold weather sets in, to build up your immune system. If you do get a cold or the flu, keep taking it. The illness may not stick around as long as if you fight it with garlic.

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The cold and flu season is upon us and many people prefer to use natural methods to fend off germs and stay well. You may have heard about effective natural remedies. One of the suggested remedies is garlic. Can garlic fight off cold and flu bugs to keep you feeling great during the colder months of the year?

Flu, no matter which strain, can be dangerous if your body is already weakened due to other medical conditions or a weakened immune system. However, most people who come down with the flu usually recover within a week or so.

Of course, you know to cover your mouth if you sneeze or cough, wash your hands often, get plenty of fluids, eat a healthy diet, and get plenty of rest when you feel a cold or flu coming on. You can also add garlic to your repertoire of cold and flu season remedies.

Garlic has been used for hundreds of years in herbal medicine because it is a broad spectrum antibiotic. While doctors won’t generally prescribe antibiotics for viruses, garlic is much more than an antibiotic. The compound allicin has powerful antibacterial and antiviral properties which may provide more benefits than fighting off a flu bug.

Many people hit the slopes when the temperatures drop and snow begins to fall. However, some people develop ski sickness without knowing the condition exists. It’s important to be aware of ski sickness and to learn what you can do to prevent it.

It may not shock you to learn most people don’t know what ski sickness is. However, they may have heard of the term altitude sickness or mountain sickness; they are the same condition. Altitude or ski sickness is an illness associated with spending time in high altitudes without the body being allowed to adjust to the altitude changes gradually.

Acute ski sickness can be as simple as a mild headache and feeling fatigued. Since more people are spending time in higher altitudes for skiing and mountain climbing, this condition is coming more to the forefront of health concerns. Symptoms of acute altitude sickness include any of the following:

* Headache
* Fatigue
* Dizziness
* Insomnia
* Shortness of breath
* Nausea
* Decreased appetite
* Swelling of extremities

Many people with these symptoms don’t recognize them for what they are. They may claim the symptoms are from bad food, a hangover, or having an uncomfortable bed. If you’re in a higher altitude than you normally live, you may want to consider the symptoms as part of acute altitude or ski sickness.

Ski sickness can also lead to something as serious as a build-up of fluids in the lungs, which can be life-threatening. This is called high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). The condition causes breathing to be labored and can develop quickly, often within the first or second night of being in a higher altitude. Other symptoms include having gurgling respirations, possible fever, or wet cough. If someone develops symptoms of acute ski sickness and fails to recognize them, they may become worse if not treated. This can quickly result in respiratory collapse and possibly death.

High altitude cerebral edema (HACE) is another form of severe ski sickness. In this case, fluids build up around the brain instead of the lungs. The person may notice a change in their mental state including being confused and the person may not be able to keep up with others. If unrecognized and left untreated, HACE can result in the loss of co-ordination, receding into a coma, or death.

It is possible to reduce your chances of developing any of the forms of altitude sickness by taking your time when ascending to elevations higher than 8,000 feet above sea level. In fact, ascending faster than 1,000 feet of elevation per day may be the outer limit one would attempt. Avoid physical exertion for 24 hours after reaching elevation, hypothermia, or consuming too much alcohol or other sedatives. Also recommended is to eat a diet high in carbohydrates while in higher elevations.

If you notice any of the above symptoms of ski sickness, take time to rest at your current elevation for at least 24 hours before continuing on. Seek medical help immediately if you have shortness of breath at rest, mental confusion, or loss of muscle co-ordination. The change to a lower altitude may do the trick, but you don’t want to take a chance of developing more severe symptoms.

In addition, you will want to keep an eye on the color of your urine to make sure it is not too colored or cloudy, as this can be a sign of dehydration, both from the cold, and potentially from the altitude.

Skiing on the slopes of the Rocky Mountains is a thrill sought after by many people each year. However, many people don’t recognize the dangers that may befall them. It’s important to be aware of ski sickness (or altitude sickness), its symptoms and what to do about them so you can enjoy your trip.

The main factor to consider when treatment is discussed is the stage of the cancer.  Staging is done to let you know at what rate the cancer is progressing and the severity at the time of diagnosis.  As you know, prostate cancer grows slowly and is highly curable while the cancer is within the gland itself.  Other factors include age, diet and lifestyle.

Prostate cancer that is caught early has the most treatment options.  One option is surgery.  The gland can be removed and the cancer with it.  There are different surgical options depending on your preference.  Removing the prostate whole involves a surgical procedure called a prostatectomy.  Before performing surgery, the surgeon will perform a procedure on the lymph nodes to make sure the cancer hasn’t spread.

A less invasive procedure is trans-urethral resection of the prostate.  The prostate gland is broken into smaller pieces and removed through the urethra so there is no incision made.  Surgery is an option for younger men that have the disease, since they have a higher chance of the cancer progressing and metastasizing as they age.

Surgical intervention has its side effects.  Men who have undergone surgery can suffer from urinary or fecal incontinence or erectile dysfunction.  These conditions do get better over time with drugs but some men will need further surgery to tighten sphincter muscles to control incontinence.

Another option is radiation therapy.  This is also termed brachytherapy.  For prostate cancer, radiation therapy is usually received through the implanting of radioactive “seeds”near the tumor.  There are also other methods of radiation therapy such as external radiation.

Healthful Goddess provides information about healthy living, and in this segment we will concentrate on articles about Prostate Cancer, its causes, symptoms and treatment, so you can help the men in your life!

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Every year, over 240,000 men will get a diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Study shows that in America, prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in the male population.  Therefore, it is important to know what factors come into play when determining if you are at risk.  Here are some of the causes of prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is rare in other parts of the world.  That alone suggests that environment and diet play a significant role in the formation of this type of cancer.  It is not the number one killer of men but there are close to 30,000 deaths a year from the condition.  African-American men have the highest incidence of prostate cancer.

Like any other cancer, cancer of the prostate can begin with normal cells.  When the cells start to grow out of control you have cancer.  Prostate cancer has a very high cure rate when the cancer remains in situ (within the gland).  Once the cancer metastasizes to other organs, the brain and/or bone, it is incurable.

So, what do you need to know about prostate cancer to lower your chances of developing the disease?

The prostate is a small gland that is found below the bladder in the male reproductive system.  This gland is responsible for creating most of the fluid that goes into making semen.  The male hormone, testosterone, regulates the function of the prostate gland.

The prostate can become enlarged.  This is called BPH or benign prostatic hypertrophy.  It can be uncomfortable to say the least, but there are no cancer cells.  You wonít know if this is the case unless you get tested.  Beginning at age 50, a yearly exam is recommenced to catch any cancer that may be growing there.

As we said, diet can play a big role in the development of prostate cancer.  Men who have a diet high in red meat and unhealthy fats are at greater risk.  This excess animal fat increases the production of testosterone in the body.  Prostate cancer is essentially a slow growing cancer, but testosterone increases the growth rate of the prostate tumor.

… continued

As we said, diet plays a role in the development of prostate cancer.  Men who have a diet high in red meat and unhealthy fats are at greater risk.  This excess animal fat increases the production of testosterone in the body.  Prostate cancer is essentially a slow growing cancer, but testosterone increases the growth rate of the prostate tumor.

Have you heard about cooking on a charcoal grill?  Substances produced in the char have been known to increase the incidence of cancer.  Combine that with eating a lot of red meat like steaks and you have just upped your risk factors.

One major cause of prostate cancer is genetic.  Those with a family history of prostate cancer need to seek a doctorís advice on the matter.  Yearly checkups will begin well before the age of 50 in these cases.

Doctors are hesitant to say that diet and genetics actually ìcauseî prostate cancer.  They do significantly increase the risk that you will develop it.  Changing what you eat and getting yearly tests may just keep the disease from ever touching your life in the first place.

In America, prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in the male population.  Therefore, it is important to know what factors come into play when determining if you are at risk.  Here are some of the causes of prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is rare in other parts of the world.  That alone suggests that environment and diet play a significant role in the formation of this type of cancer.

Like any other cancer, cancer of the prostate begins with normal cells.  When the cells start to grow out of control you have cancer.  Prostate cancer has a very high cure rate when the cancer remains in situ (within the gland).  Once the cancer metastasizes to other organs, the brain and/or bone, it is incurable.

So, what do you need to know about prostate cancer to lower your chances of developing the disease?  First, let’s discuss the prostate.  It is a small gland that is found below the bladder in the male reproductive system.  This gland is responsible for creating most of the fluid that goes into making semen.  The male hormone, testosterone, regulates the function of the prostate gland.

The prostate can become enlarged.  This is called BPH or benign prostatic hypertrophy.  It is uncomfortable to say the least, but there are no cancer cells.  You won’t know if this is the case unless you get tested.  Beginning at age 50, a yearly exam is recommenced to catch any cancer that may be growing there.

Many people hit the slopes when the temperatures drop and snow begins to fall. However, some people develop ski sickness without knowing the condition exists. It’s important to be aware of ski sickness and to learn what you can do to prevent it.

It may not shock you to learn most people don’t know what ski sickness is. However, they may have heard of the term altitude sickness or mountain sickness; they are the same condition. Altitude or ski sickness is an illness associated with spending time in high altitudes without the body being allowed to adjust to the altitude changes gradually.

Acute ski sickness can be as simple as a mild headache and feeling fatigued. Since more people are spending time in higher altitudes for skiing and mountain climbing, this condition is coming more to the forefront of health concerns. Symptoms of acute altitude sickness include any of the following:

* Headache
* Fatigue
* Dizziness
* Insomnia
* Shortness of breath
* Nausea
* Decreased appetite
* Swelling of extremities

Many people with these symptoms don’t recognize them for what they are. They may claim the symptoms are from bad food, a hangover, or having an uncomfortable bed. If you’re in a higher altitude than you normally live, you may want to consider the symptoms as part of acute altitude or ski sickness.

Ski sickness can also lead to something as serious as a build-up of fluids in the lungs, which can be life-threatening. This is called high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). The condition causes breathing to be labored and can develop quickly, often within the first or second night of being in a higher altitude. Other symptoms include having gurgling respirations, possible fever, or wet cough. If someone develops symptoms of acute ski sickness and fails to recognize them, they may become worse if not treated. This can quickly result in respiratory collapse and possibly death.

High altitude cerebral edema (HACE) is another form of severe ski sickness. In this case, fluids build up around the brain instead of the lungs. The person may notice a change in their mental state including being confused and the person may not be able to keep up with others. If unrecognized and left untreated, HACE can result in the loss of co-ordination, receding into a coma, or death.

It is possible to reduce your chances of developing any of the forms of altitude sickness by taking your time when ascending to elevations higher than 8,000 feet above sea level. In fact, ascending faster than 1,000 feet of elevation per day may be the outer limit one would attempt. Avoid physical exertion for 24 hours after reaching elevation, hypothermia, or consuming too much alcohol or other sedatives. Also recommended is to eat a diet high in carbohydrates while in higher elevations.

If you notice any of the above symptoms of ski sickness, take time to rest at your current elevation for at least 24 hours before continuing on. Seek medical help immediately if you have shortness of breath at rest, mental confusion, or loss of muscle co-ordination. The change to a lower altitude may do the trick, but you don’t want to take a chance of developing more severe symptoms.

In addition, you will want to keep an eye on the color of your urine to make sure it is not too colored or cloudy, as this can be a sign of dehydration, both from the cold, and potentially from the altitude.

Skiing on the slopes of the Rocky Mountains is a thrill sought after by many people each year. However, many people don’t recognize the dangers that may befall them. It’s important to be aware of ski sickness (or altitude sickness), its symptoms and what to do about them so you can enjoy your trip.