This subject has been discussed in so many ways, we were almost afraid to tackle  this subject. Why would someone try to write a new article on this topic, if it has been written about,  til there is nothing left to say. That sounds like pure exhaustion or just simple insanity. Yet, do we not have a morale responsibility to our readers and the world we live in…to give it our best shot.

Will anybody care what is said here, or perhaps just one person may listen, and have a better quality of health. We are hoping just that.

 When researching this topic, The Single most preventive cause of Death, was no surprise, that TOBACCO is the single most preventable cause of disease, disability, and death. This is not just in the U.S., but also in many countries.

PREVENTION

Prevention of  its ill effects, is first is Never start using tobacco, and second, if you are still using tobacco then you need to quit. The Problem does not stop there though, those who choose to use tobacco, pass on the ill effects through the use of second hand smoke. Escaping this second hand smoke is not as easy as it sounds, though several laws have been passed in our legistlation to help from being exsposed to second hand smoke, yet they have done little to enforce them.

 Because of the magnitude  on our health and controlling the use of tobacco, it has become is one of the most important public health priorities of our time. Knowing this, The  World No Tobacco Day has dedicated to drawing particular attention to the harmful effects of tobacco marketing towards women and girls. There have reports ut that have indicated, marketing to young women. This also is particularly true amonst other countries.

Some people have moved on to the smokless tobacco, thinking they might be better off, such as smokless tobacco, cigars, and pipes, this is no answer. 

Today there are many solutions to stopping smoking or the use of Tobacco.  Many people believe its one of the hardest habits to break. Others just seem to just stop Cold Turkey, and immediatly feel the results of quitting, For most, the need to seek professional help, is the answer. However, it takes courage on your part, and may take several attemps before you reach success. After all it is your health we are talking about.

Warnings Do Not Get it Done

If warnings on all the tobacco products were effective….No one would use it. But because of the addictive properties of nicotine,a tolerance and dependence develop. The absorption quantity,its frequency, and the speed of tobacco consumption are believed to be directly related to biological strength of nicotine dependence.

That is Why…

* Tobacco is an activity that is practiced by some 1.1 billion people, and up to 1/3 of the adult population.

* Estimated 443,000 people die prematurely from smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke, 

* 8.6 million have a serious illness caused by smoking.

* Despite these risks, approximately 46 million U.S. adults smoke cigarettes.

* Smokeless tobacco, cigars, and pipes also have deadly consequences, including lung, larynx, esophageal, and oral cancers.

* 126 million nonsmoking Americans, including children and adults, are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke. about 150,000–300,000 children younger than 18 months have lower respiratory tract infections.

* Secondhand smoke exposure causes serious disease and death, including heart disease and lung cancer in nonsmoking adults and sudden infant death syndrome, acute respiratory infections, ear problems, and more frequent and severe asthma attacks in children.

 * Each year, primarily because of exposure to secondhand smoke, an estimated 3,000 nonsmoking Americans die of lung cancer,

        more than 46,000 die of heart disease,

       about 150,000–300,000 children younger than 18 months have lower respiratory tract infections.

MEDICAL IMPACT

 A enormous health toll causes significant economic burden fro mtobacco use—more than $96 billion per year in medical expenditures and another $97 billion per year resulting from lost productivity.

By now, everyone should know that smoking causes lung cancer. 

 Many serious illnesses are directly attributed to smoking such as…

Bladder Cancer, Breast Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Childhood Respiratory Ailments, Diabetes, Emphysema, Esophageal Cancer,Gastrointestinal Cancer, Heart Disease, Infertility, Kidney Cancer, Mouth Cancer, Premature Aging, Stroke, and Throat Cancer.

Today,s Health and others around you may depend on our actions. If you do not smoke, do not start, if you do  read this article again, your life may depend on it, and those around you.

Here is Why!

We all know that one of the biggest benefits of cooking with spices,  they bring  and offer delicious flavors to our favorite dishes or foods. Those who do the cooking at your household, may have several of these spices in your in the spice cabinet. Those same people may use them  in their favorite dishes and have a general knowledge of what they are best used in.  We are also willing to say, most people would have no clue as to their health benefits might be.

Those who are seeking to eat healthy, may very well know that almost all spices are low in fat,  cholesterol, sugar and sodium.You will find little calories that would matter,  yet they can be concentrated with essential ingredients that can lead you to a healthier life.

Todays Health Site chooses the following spices… they  may be familiar to many of you.  We wanted to provide the health knowledge for each one.

Did you know that Chili Pepper is a good resource of Vitamin A, Vitamin D,  Potassium, Iron, and Fiber. It also provides anti inflammatory benefits… so cook up that bowel of chili.

Everyone loves the smell of homemade apple pie baking in the oven, due to the Cinnamon  in the pie. You also might find it flavorful on cereal or applesauce. Cinnamon contains vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Iron and Manganese. It’s medical benefits allows the control of blood sugars  and promotes anti clotting.

If you want a little zest to that favorite dish or it can be found regularly on your favorite steak, Black Pepper is the spice. This spice also provides Calcium, Copper, Vitamin K, Vitamin A, Iron, Potassium, Manganese, and Magnesium.

This spice may be best known for flavoring that vegetable dish, chicken dishes or gingerbread, Ginger would be the spice. This spice known for its medical benefits when you have that upset stomach or motion sickness. The vitamins found in Ginger are Vitamin D and minerals are Copper, Manganese,  and Potassium.

The actual Mustard Seeds  or ground up mustard may be used  in your potato salad, chicken dish, or your favorite dressing.   This spice  contains Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus and a source of protein and calcium. Mustard seed is also a great source of Selenium… considered to have cancer preventive qualities.  

Tumeric is a ingredient found in Curry powder, used to season vegetable dishes and it’s mighty tasty with Lentils. Tumeric is one of the healthiest because of it anti-inflamatory  qualities, it aids in the digestion of your foods, and enables the healing of wounds. It also provides Fiber, Iron, Magnesium, Vitamin B6, Manganese, Vitamin C and Potassium. 

Todays Health Site provides this information to enhance your health needs. So in conclusion a healthier life might be found by adding a little spice in our life.                          

Knowing this,  are we becoming  a population addicted  to Sugar?

How is this “SUGAR CRAZE” affecting our Health.

The average American consumes 2 to 3 pounds of sugar each week, that translates to over 150 pounds of sugar per person per year.

Sugar as an additive,  has attributed to this alarming number. With wide popularity of Sugar, it is in everything, and may be disguised in various forms. Sucrose, dextrose, and high fructose corn syrups  may be found as an active ingredient in  your processed food or condiments. These are highly refined sweeteners.

Most professionals stress a balanced approach to eating. If we limit the intake of acidic foods and increasing the intake of alkaline foods, one can achieve optimum health. One of the main factors in the fight against acidic pH levels is sugar.

Sugar’s Radical Effect:

On insulin levels, when they do drop; so does the release of  our growth hormone. Our growth hormones depress the immune system, leaving the body open to a variety of diseases and illnesses. Insulin also inhances the body’s ability to fight off weight gain and elevated triglyceride levels. Simply put, the higher in sugars a food is, the more likely it will promote fat storage in the body. These fat cells  host  in turn degrade the structure of red blood cells in our the bloodstream.

Within our body Vitamin C and Sugar will also fight for control of the cellular development.  Vitamin C and Simple Sugar, from a structural standpoint, are quite similar. As sugar levels go up in the body, they compete with one another when they enter cells. When a higher concentration of sugar is within the bloodstream,this allows more sugar into thirsty cells leaving little to no room for Vitamin C. Without the phagocytizing effects of Vitamn C on cellular structures they are unable to fend off the attacks of viruses and bacteria. Now having lower white blood cell counts, our immune system  isn`t strong enough to protect the body.

Sugar by absorption, steals vital micro-nutrients to help it metabolize in our system. With this deficit being created, our micro-nutrients are not being replaced, causing our fat cells and cholesterol to not be metabolized, thus leading to high blood pressure and obesity.

The ability of sugar to raise insulin levels artificially eventually leaves the pancreas dysfunctional and the body dependent on sugar. This is commonly referred to as diabetes.

Simple sugars have also been attributed to gallstones, mood disorders, heart disease and even asthma. With all of the negative effects that sugars have been clinically linked to, is it any wonder that sugar is also one of the most acidic things you can put into your body.

Cancer is the most dangerous result of heavy sugar dependence.  The  relationship between sugars and unhealthy acidic levels in the bloodstream is clearly drawn through the connection of glucose (sugar) and cancerous cells.

 Simple sugars are quite simply a poison to the body that will eventually deteriorate the quality of cellular development and suppress the immune system to the point of failure.

By balancing the diet,  you can decrease the risk of disease in the body.  Look carefully at  the  ingredient labels and be aware of the many names that simple sugars hide behind.