Dr. Ndu Felix Okwun Prolonging Life With Medicinal Herbs

By James Achanyi-Fontem, email: fecabpa@gmail.com

Dr. Ndu Felix Okwun is a trade-practitioner operating beside Red Cross First Aid Post in K-wn of the south west region.According to information sheets circulated, he is a producer of natural planetary herbal tea and syrups which act as a solution to high blood pressure, hypertension. It is known that Hyperion affects millions of people around the world and as a disease, it is capable of disabling and killing if not controlled. He is also interested in problems related to Fungi, very stubborn bacteria that attacks fingers and toes as well. Fungi can affect the whole body creating dark spots as symptoms generating internal heat, fever, poor blood circulation and stomach grumbling. This may result to haemorrhoids, seizure of menstruation in women, chlamydia, unnecessary tiredness sleepy condition and miscarriage in women. It results to low sperm count in men, Jedi-Jedi in children with continuous fever. Fungi can also create a situation of dysentery and diarrhoea, gastric and itches all over the body. This may lead to heart attacks, choking, hi-cough, bad eyesight and cardiac disability. Diabetic persons should be able to notice symptoms like increase in thirst,frequent urination, loss of weight, poor blood circulation in the legs, stress, heart attack, excessive food intake and general weakness. Another poor health symptom is coughing. Patients with cough may suffer from asthma, pneumonia, influenza, congestion of the lungs and chest pain. If any person coughs for up to two weeks or more, it is advised to make a tuberculosis test and if positive, start treatment immediately. Sickle cell anemia is already so common in our society and it is advisable to make a sickle cell anemia test before getting married because this is a hereditary problem created by genes. It is difficult to see a person and know whether he or she is sickle or not. Anemia is a condition where there is a reduction of a good quantity or quality of red blood cells ithe body. There is not enough haemoglobin available to carry sufficient oxygen from the lungs to supply the heart and body tissues. Diabetes and Exercise: A 10-Step Guide to Getting Started

Working Out With Diabetes 1Starting a workout program as an insulin dependent diabetic can be daunting, even if it’s something you really want to do. I hear a lot of diabetics say that working out scares them, or is very difficult, because they just end up treating low blood sugars all the time. That’s why I created this short guide to working out with diabetes. This 10-step list is based on my experience as a diabetic and fitness professional. It’s what has worked for me and what I teach my clients who have diabetes. The key is knowledge. When you learn how your body (and your blood sugar) reacts during different types of workouts, you will be able to manage your diabetes when working out, rather than letting your diabetes run the show. 10 steps to working out with diabetes

1. Set a goal – Be ambitious but realistic and take into account that you will spend a lot of time in the beginning learning your body’s limits and how it reacts to your workouts. Don’t expect dramatic results overnight 2. Start a written journal – It will be much easier to learn how your body reacts if you can go back and see what happened last workout (or last month) 3.Use your journal to track workouts, blood sugars, insulin, diet, etc. – Try to identify any trends (you always get low blood sugar when working out in the morning, best time to eat before workouts, etc.) 4.Stick with the same routine and diet for the first 3-4 weeks – The fewer variables, the easier it will be to see trends 5.Analyze your journal entries – Spend some time reading through your journal to spot patterns and understand how your body react to different types of exercise and food. If something isn’t working (like if you often have to stop your workouts because of low blood sugar), change ONE variable at a time to see if that helps. This could be changing what you eat before the workout or how much insulin you take 6.Consider changing your insulin levels – Working out will increase your insulin sensitivity a lot so if your blood sugar is consistently high or low throughout the day, it may be time to adjust your insulin. Share your journal with your endocrinologist and discuss if you should make any changes 7. Never starve yourself to lose weight! – Your body needs quality food to run, especially as a diabetic. Under eating is not a sustainable way to lose weight or manage your diabetes (you can check out myDiabetic Meal Plan example to see what I typically eat or Calculate Your Daily Calorie Need to create your own meal plan) 8.Prioritize lifting weights – Building a little muscle has helped me tremendously with controlling both my weight and my diabetes. More muscles mean higher metabolism, which means better weight control and higher insulin sensitivity (less insulin) 9.Find support – There are a lot of good groups on in most cities and on Facebook where you can connect with other diabetics for motivation and support. I have written a short post about How To Connect With The Diabetes Community 1-. Consider hiring a trainer – A personal trainer and nutritionists can help you create a good workout and diet plan (any good trainer can create your workout plan but don’t get diet advice from someone who doesn’t know a lot about diabetes). I offer customized Online Personal Training Programs for diabetics Asthma is a respiratory track infection that results to difficulty in breathing. Ou are advised to meet Dr. Ndu for counselling on how to avoid the different types of cancers that have been discovered. Eating of vegetable and fruits can help a lot in reducing attack of cancer and other diseases.

The Super Bone Building & Allergy Fighting Herb in Your Garden

By Michelle Schoffro Cook

It’s National Herb Week! To celebrate I thought I’d share some exciting herbal medicines with you. If you’re looking for an impressive natural anti-allergy medicine that offers many other health benefits, look no further than stinging nettles. The much-overlooked weed is popping up this time of year, as gardeners who experience its prickly stinging sensation can attest. Native Americans used this plant, aptly known as stinging nettles, for many years to treat a wide variety of health conditions. Research in the medical journal Phytotherapy Research shows what Native Americans have known for many years: nettles significantly reduce allergies. The study showed that nettles effectively treats inflammation linked to allergies on multiple levels: by reducing the histamine as well as multiple other compounds linked to inflammation. Histamine is a naturally-produced substance in the body that occurs as a response to exposure to allergens and the reason we experience nasal or sinus congestion, sneezing and other symptoms of allergies. Additional research published in the same journal found that participants taking nettles had noticeably improved relief of allergy-induced nasal congestion than those who received the placebo. Other research published in the journal Neuroscience Letters found that the herb demonstrated tremendous potential for alleviating many of the health concerns linked to diabetes: from reducing high blood sugar levels, neuropathy pain, the symptoms of excessive thirst to balancing insulin, weight and improving memory and cognition. And, if all that wasn’t enough: nettles contain an abundance of calcium, in a readily absorbable form, making them an excellent dietary addition to build and maintain strong bones. Nettles readily appear in the springtime, usually in the damp and shady parts of gardens or natural areas. Be sure to wear gloves while harvesting them to avoid their hair-like stingers and the discomfort they inflict on bare skin. You can add fresh nettles to soups or stews, sautee them like spinach or another green leafy vegetable or dry them for use in teas. They are popping up in greater frequency at farmer’s markets too for those who would rather avoid foraging for them. If you do forage for then, be sure you have an experienced guide with you. Alternatively, there are many teas and tinctures (alcohol extracts) available in health food stores. Follow package directions for the product you select. Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD, DNM is an international best-selling and 19-time published book author whose works include: Be Your Own Herbalist: Essential Herbs for Health, Beauty, and Cooking (New World Library, 2016).

Does Listening to the Radio Affect Our Driving?

By Michelle Schoffro Cook

Most people would agree that listening to the radio is almost as much a part of driving as the actual driving. The two seem to go together like a hand and a glove. Whenever I’m driving, particularly on road trips, I crank up the tunes before I hit the road. But according to new research, listening to the radio while driving may not be the best idea. According to a new study by researchers at the University of Dublin, Ireland, listening to the radio while driving has a significant impact on whether we see an unexpected animal cross our path. Using a driving simulator, the researchers specifically assessed how likely we were to see a gorilla or elephant crossing our path while driving with the radio on. Perhaps these were not the best animal choices as few of us are ever likely to come across gorillas or elephants on our path. Instead, we’re far more likely to come across pedestrians, deer, cyclists, dogs or cats, but the study results make the point. Thirty-six drivers participated in the preliminary study. Half of the participants listened to the radio and were asked to listen for a switch from a male traffic reporter to a female traffic reporter, which is considered a task requiring minimal attention. The other half were asked to pay attention to traffic updates on a specific road, which is considered a task that requires far more attention. It would be fairly common to assume that regardless which task the drivers were given they’d be able to notice a giant animal like a gorilla or elephant on the sidewalk, but the study results suggest otherwise. Seventy-one percent of the first group with the minimal attention task were able to spot the giant mammals but in the higher attention task group, only 23 percent even noticed the elephant or gorilla. Additionally, the researchers noticed that the group performing the higher attention task were less likely to observe yield signals, recall vehicles they had passed, or be aware of their speed or reaction time to hazards. The researchers indicated that audio information seems to interfere with our ability to register visual information and that paying attention to something other than our driving has a significant impact on how observant we are while performing this important task. Obviously the size of the study group was small and further research with larger groups will yield more statistically accurate results, but it shines a light on the problems of distracted driving. And the radio tasks assessed during the study seem minor in comparison to talking on the phone or texting while driving, applying makeup, reading a map or GPS or eating or drinking while on the go. I’d be curious to see how poorly people drive while conducting any of these other tasks, yet I’m always surprised at just how many people regularly participate in extracurricular activities outside of the essential task of driving. Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD, DNM is an international best-selling and 19-time published book author whose works include: Be Your Own Herbalist: Essential Herbs for Health, Beauty, and Cooking (New World Library, 2016).

Best Teas for Your Health Problem

By Michelle Schoffro Cook

Recently I participated in a guided meditation in which I was advised to visualize myself doing something that makes me happy. At the end of the meditation the woman leading it asked what I had envisioned. I visualized my husband Curtis and I taking our daily tea break. Between writing books and blogs, conducting magazine interviews, and the day to day challenges of life, our tea break provides me with the peace and calm I look forward to every day. What could be better than a respite from the busy-ness of daily life to enjoy tea with someone special: perhaps if that tea offered therapeutic value in addition to its soothing qualities? To that end I’d like to share some of my favorite teas that are both delightful and offer medicinal benefits so you can pick the best teas for your health problems. Allergies—Drink a cup of nettles to reduce allergies and allergy symptoms such as nasal and sinus congestion, sneezing and itchy eyes. Research published in the medical journal Phytotherapy Research found that nettles were effective against symptoms of seasonal allergies. Anxiety or Depression—Select lavender flowers to reap the rewards of this fragrant plant’s natural mood-boosting and calming effects. In a recent study comparing the effects of a medication for depression to drinking tea made from lavender flowers, scientists found that lavender was slightly more effective than the antidepressant drug. Study participants drank two cups of lavender tea daily to reap these effects. Coughs or Viruses—If you’re suffering from a persistent cough or fighting off a virus, then it’s thyme for tea. The herb is highly antiviral and arguably the best herbal remedy for coughs, applications that are even approved by the German government as medical treatments for these conditions. Migraines and headaches—Choose feverfew, a proven migraine and headache remedy. You probably won’t notice immediate migraine relief but consumed on a daily basis for at least a month and you’ll likely experience a reduction in the frequency of your migraines. Muscle or joint pain—Choose ginger tea made with fresh ginger root. Ginger contains a unique compound known as gingerols that are proven pain relievers. According to research published in the Journal of Pain, ginger was found to alleviate muscle pain. Other studies demonstrate its effectiveness against joint pain as well. To reap the most benefits, you’ll want to make this tea differently than the others. Boil a 2 inch piece of ginger, coarsely chopped in about cups of water for about 45 minutes, then strain and drink as desired throughout the day. How to Make Herbal Teas Use one teaspoon of the dried herb per cup of boiled water (or two teaspoons of the fresh herb). Let steep for at least 10 minutes then drink two to three cups daily for best results. Because ginger is a root, the medicinal properties are best extracted by making a decoction, which involves boiling the herb for at least 45 minutes. Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD, DNM is an international best-selling and 19-time published book author whose works include: Be Your Own Herbalist: Essential Herbs for Health, Beauty, and Cooking (New World Library, 2016).

6 Little-Known Nutrients that Build Better Vision

By Michelle Schoffro Cook

An old adage says that eyes are the windows of the soul, but we also rely on them for just about everything we do in life. It’s important to take good care of our eyes and vision through a largely or entirely plant-based diet. While there are many vitamins and minerals needed for healthy eyes and vision, it’s also important to get enough of the lesser-known nutrients that help in this area. Here are some of critical vision nutrients and the foods in which they are found: Alpha carotene—This type of carotenoid, which is in the group of about 700 different yellow-orange-red pigments found in many fruits and vegetables, tends to take a back seat to beta carotene, but is equally important to eye health. This nutrient is found in apricots, broccoli, carrots, collards, leafy greens, kale, mangoes, papayas, peaches, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, spinach, squash and tomatoes. Beta carotene—Okay, most people have heard of beta carotene, but no article on nutrients for better vision would be complete without mentioning this essential eyesight-protecting nutrient. It’s found in many of the same foods as alpha carotene, including: apricots, broccoli, carrots, collards, leafy greens, kale, mangoes, papayas, peaches, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, spinach, squash and tomatoes. Lutein—This fat-soluble nutrient is normally present in healthy eyes, but can become depleted over time. It acts as an antioxidant within the eyes to protect them from free radical damage. Lutein is a yellow-colored pigment found in many foods, including: apricots, avocados, broccoli, carrots, collards, eggs, leafy greens, kale, leeks, mangoes, papayas, peaches, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, spinach, squash and tomatoes. Naringin—If you’ve ever bit into a grapefruit and tasted their signature bitter-sour flavor, you’ve tasted naringin. This bitter-tasting plant nutrient is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect the retina in the eyes. It is mainly found in grapefruit. Rutin—Without rutin, your body cannot properly absorb vitamin C. Rutin is a powerful nutrient that improves overall eye health and strengthens blood vessels, especially the small capillaries. Because it also improves circulation and acts as an antioxidant against free radical damage, it’s especially helpful for diabetic retinopathy. It is found in citrus fruits, red apples, apricots, bilberry fruit, blackberries, broccoli, buckwheat, cherries, black currants, grapes, nuts, onions, peppers, plums, prunes, rose hips and tea. Zeaxanthin—This nutrient shares some of the same effects of lutein. It helps prevent against age-related macular degeneration of the eyes, which is a cause of blindness in the elderly. This important eye-protecting agent is found in apricots, broccoli, carrots, collards, eggs, leafy greens, kale, leeks, mangoes, papayas, peaches, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, spinach, squash and tomatoes. When it comes to nutrients for eye health, seeing is believing. The best way to see well for life is to see a wide range of yellow, orange, red, and green foods on your plate every day. Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD, DNM is an international best-selling and 19-time published book author whose works include: Be Your Own Herbalist: Essential Herbs for Health, Beauty, and Cooking (New World Library, 2016).

Study Links Cell Phones to Brain Cancer

By Michelle Schoffro Cook

A new landmark study released by the National Toxicology Program, a part of the National Institutes for Health, found that cell phone radiation may be more dangerous than previously believed. The animal study assessed the effects of radiofrequency radiation (RFR) imparted by cellphones to determine whether there is a link to cancer. The study found a link between cell phone radiation and brain cancer as well as cancerous tumors of the heart. The partial evidence links cell phones to low occurrences of these cancer types and tumors–which, even at low levels, is worrisome for everyday cell phone users. The animals were exposed to radiation as early as in utero and throughout their lifetime to determine the possible ramifications of cell phone exposure. While I don’t endorse the study’s methodology, I think it’s important that we know the radiation risks for humans. The results link a type of brain cancer known as glioma as well as cancerous heart tumors to cell phone radiation exposure. This information is just one part of a multi-year study that is still ongoing. Additional animal studies assessing the radiation-cancer risk are currently underway at the National Institutes for Health. According to the study scientists: “Given the widespread global usage of mobile communications among users of all ages, even a very small increase in the incidence of disease resulting from exposure to RFR could have broad implications for public health.” The study supports the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration that cell phone radiation is a “possible carcinogen”—an announcement the organization made five years ago. At that time, the WHO found an increased risk of glioma, a type of brain cancer, in those exposed to cell phone radiation. Some of the possible symptoms of glioma include: headache; seizures; weakness in the arms, face or legs; numbness; or speech problems. Additional studies link cell phone radiation exposure to lower sperm counts and damaged sperm in men. More research outlining the health effects of cell phone radiation is needed, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take precautions if you use a cell phone. While there are no known ways to completely remove the health risk from cell phone radiation, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), here are some suggestions to reduce the damaging effects of cell phone radiation exposure: • If you’re going to use a cell phone, text more and talk less, to cut down on the amount of radiation to which you’re exposed. • Use your phone when there are more bars indicating a stronger cell phone signal. Research shows that radiation exposure increases when cell phone signals are weak (fewer bars). • Use your phone in speaker mode rather than against your head or in your ear. Of course, it’s still a good idea to use common courtesy when your cell phone is on speakerphone by going outside or finding a spot away from restaurant, café, or other public venues. • Limit cell phone use if you are pregnant. • Avoid using “radiation shields” as they reduce the quality of the phone connection, thereby forcing the phone to transmit with greater energy and higher amounts of radiation. • Don’t keep your phone in a pocket or clipped onto a belt. Check out my blog “14 Ways to Reduce Cell Phone Radiation Exposure” for more ways to reduce your risk. Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD, DNM is an international best-selling and 19-time published book author whose works include: Be Your Own Herbalist: Essential Herbs for Health, Beauty, and Cooking (New World Library, 2016).

Common Medication Increases Dementia Risk by 52%

By Michelle Schoffro Cook

If you think your memory isn’t what it used to be, you might want to check the medications you’re taking. Two months ago I shared news that common over-the-counter and prescription drugs used in the treatment of heart disease, allergies and lung disease are causing brain shrinkage and memory impairment. But a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) adds another group of commonly-used medications to the growing list of drugs that cause or increase the risk of dementia. As part of the research, 73,679 dementia-free participants 75 or older were evaluated. The study found that the widely-used group of medications known as proton pump inhibitors, which are used primarily in the treatment of stomach acid increased the risk of dementia. Also used to treat heartburn, indigestion, ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), these drugs were found to increase the risk of dementia by a whopping 52 percent! The connection between PPI drugs and dementia was so strong that the study authors concluded that avoiding these drugs may actually prevent the development of dementia. Dementia is not a disease unto itself; rather, a collection of symptoms involving a decline in memory or thinking that is severe enough to impair a person’s ability to perform essential daily tasks. This can include: short-term memory loss, language impairment, difficulty focusing, lack of attention, and difficulty reasoning or using sound judgement. Some of the other side-effects of PPIs include: stomach pain, nausea, gas, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, seizures, weight gain, kidney problems, dizziness, confusion, tremors, muscle cramps, coughing, among others. The first few sound like the precise symptoms for which the drugs are frequently prescribed, which makes me wonder about their effectiveness in the first place. Add to that a 52 percent increased risk of dementia and associated memory loss and these drugs don’t sound appealing at all. Of course, you should consult your physician before discontinuing these medications if you’re already taking them. These drugs are frequently taken with antibiotics to kill H. pylori infections that may be present in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. These bacteria are linked with ulcers, particularly of the stomach or upper intestines, along with the inflammation, irritation or erosion of the stomach lining. Fortunately, some beneficial bacteria and yeasts have shown great promise in the treatment of these conditions, without the lengthy list of side-effects or risk of dementia. The best probiotics for this purpose include: Bifidobacteria bifiform, various Lactobacillus strains and the yeast Saccharomyces. All of these probiotic strains have been found in research to be effective in the treatment of H. pylori and related GI irritation, inflammation or erosion. Dr. Michelle Schoffro Cook, PhD, DNM is an international best-selling and 19-time published book author whose works include: Be Your Own Herbalist: Essential Herbs for Health, Beauty, and Cooking (New World Library, 2016).