Healty Tips: Hasil penelusuran untuk Healthy Liver

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8 tips for a healthy liver

Your liver may not be functioning at its optimal level if you have constant fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, and yellowing of skin and whites in the eyes. To improve the health of your liver, you need to give your diet and lifestyle an overhaul.

A healthy liver keeps your body's regulatory, detoxification and metabolic functions in tip top condition. Fortunately, most liver problems are reversible if discovered early.

"The liver is an amazing organ which can rejuvenate itself. Liver failure develops over time. You can stop a fatty liver condition from deteriorating into more serious liver cirrhosis and liver cancer by making significant changes to your diet and lifestyle," says Dr Victor Lee Tswen Wen, consultant, Department of General Surgery at Singapore General Hospital (SGH).

What does the liver do?

The liver is the body's major cleaning and clearing house.

A healthy liver regulates blood glucose levels and removes bilirubin from the bloodstream. Bilirubin is a byproduct from the normal breakdown of red blood cells.

In addition, the liver processes foods, extracting nutrients, and produces bile to digest fatty foods. Any excess nutrients are stored in the liver.

The liver also detoxifies. It removes toxins that are ingested through alcohol, medications and contaminated food, from the bloodstream.

8 tips for a healthy liver

1. Moderate your alcohol intake

The liver can only process or break down a small amount of alcohol every hour. For this reason, men should limit their alcohol intake to two drinks a day while women should only have one. A standard drink is equivalent to one ordinary beer or one small glass of wine.

2. Cut down on fatty foods

Reduce the amount of saturated fats, trans fats and hydrogenated fats in your diet. Saturated fats are found in deep fried foods, red meats and dairy products. Trans and hydrogenated fats are found in processed foods. The liver stores excess dietary fat, and fat buildup can eventually bring on fatty liver disease.

Related article: Fatty liver is on the rise in young Singaporeans

3. Reduce body weight

Obesity, particularly, abdominal or central obesity, is a major risk factor for developing fatty liver disease. Eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly to maintain a healthy weight. A fatty liver slows down the digestion of fats. Do aim for the ideal body mass index (BMI) target. The healthy cut-off values recommended by MOH and HPB Singapore are between 18.5 and 22.9.

4. Avoid over-supplementation with traditional medicine & remedies

Over-supplementation may cause liver inflammation. As the liver detoxifies, supplementation with certain traditional medicine or remedies can lead to liver damage or even failure. This is because some of these remedies contain heavy metals, which taken in large quantities can result in liver toxicity or affect the regular functioning of your liver.

5. Eat more fibre

Eat more high-fibre foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables. For proteins, choose more fish, beans and nuts, and cut down on red meats.

6. Get vaccinated

Get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B, both viral liver infections. Hepatitis A is contracted from contaminated food or water and hepatitis B, from sexual contact, contaminated blood and needles.

7. Get regular exercise

Regular exercise is key to a healthy liver. Exercise increases energy levels, decreases stress on the liver, and helps to prevent obesity — a high risk factor for liver disease. Aim for a total of 150 minutes of exercise, such as brisk walking, per week.

8. Be cautious of weight loss pills

Over-the-counter weight loss pills which are available without a prescription may contain ingredients such as Ephedra (ma huang in Chinese) which are harmful to the liver.

Source http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/fit-to-post-health/8-tips-healthy-liver-012414679.html

Health Benefits of Drinking Green Tea

Health benefits of drinking green tea

Here in this blog post i am going to explain you few of the health tips and benefits of green tea which helps in living a healthy lifestyle.

Origination of Green Tea:

Green tea is originated initially from china and India. It has been consumed by millions of people for their health benefits. It is extended to U.S and other countries globally as this implies that it is highly advantageous and having many benefits to human life.

After water, it is tea which is consumed by most of the people in the world. Around 78% of the people consumes black tea and the remaining 20% consumes green tea. Green tea is prepared from UN-oxidized leaves having most antioxidants and polyphenols.

Chinese most traditional beverage is Green tea and it helps in controlling bleeding, heal wounds, heart problems, maintain body temperature, digestion and etc.

Green Tea Contents:

Generally green tea contains approximately 20 to 45 milligrams of caffeine, but black tea contains around 50 milligrams of caffeine, whereas coffee contains 95 milligrams of caffeine per cup.

Green tea is one of the world's healthiest beverage which contains the highest antioxidants.

Health Benefits of Drinking Green Tea:

1. Green tea helps in reducing the risk possibilities of cancer. The antioxidants present in green tea is 100 times efficient than Vitamin C and 24 times effective than Vitamin E. This helps in protecting Cells from damage.

Relater Article on Cancer:

5 Lifestyle Tips that Lower Your Risk of Colorectal Cancer
Following healthy lifestyle tips could prevent bowel cancer
BETTER ME: Here are some tips to help you achieve good health

2. Green tea helps in preventing heart disease and stroke by lowering the cholesterol level. It also helps in recovering the heart cells even after heart attack.

Relater Article on Heart:

Vital Signs: Women's heart health
Five tips to keep your heart healthy and happy

3. Green tea helps in making you young as it contains most antioxidants and polyphenols which fights against free radicals.

4. Regular consume of Green tea helps in reducing the body weight. It helps in boosting your metabolism rate and burns most of the fat content which is present in the body.

5. Green Tea helps in protecting your skin from rashes, aging as it contains antioxidants.

Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water in Morning Empty Stomach

Health Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water in Morning Empty Stomach

Lemon is rich in Vitamin C that helps in enhancing our body by rejuvenating our body skin from within bringing a glow to our face. One of the health benefits of drinking lemon water is that it helps in losing the weight more quicker over a certain period of time. For more information on how to lose weight read the blog here.

Benefits of Vitamin C

A few benefits of vitamin C includes protection against immune system deficiencies, prenatal health problems, cardiovascular disease, skin wrinkling, eye disease and etc. A researcher Mark Moyad, MD, MPH, of the University of Michigan says that "Vitamin C has received a great deal of attention, and with good reason. Higher blood levels of vitamin C may be the ideal nutrition marker for overall health,"

Health benefits of drinking lemon water in morning empty stomach:

Here in this blog i am going to explain you the health tips and benefits of drinking lemon water in early morning in empty stomach.

1. Lemon helps in protecting our body against the immune system deficiencies, as it is rich in vitamin C.

2. Drinking lemon water helps in maintaining the pH levels in the body.

3. Lemons acts as a powerful antibacterial as it contains pectin fibers which is beneficial for colon.

4. Drinking lemon water in morning empty stomach will helps in flush out of toxins.

5. Helps in digestion.

6. Lemon contains great source of calcium, magnesium, potassium, citric acid, phosphorus and etc.

7. Drinking lemon water helps in preventing the multiplication and growth of pathogenic bacteria that causes disease and infections.

8. Helps in curing common cold

9. Helps in nourish brain and nerve cells.

10. Helps in reducing pains in knees and joints as it dissolves uric acids.

11. Helps in replenish body salts after you do exercise.

12. Helps in strengthening liver by supplying energty to liver enzymes.

13. Helps in protecting eye and thus fights agains eye problems. Read more about Health Tips for a Healthy Eyes

14. Lemon water helps in protecting skin from skin problems like wrinkles, rashes, acne and etc. Read more about Skin Care Health Tips - Tips for a Healthy and Good Skin Care

15. Drinking lemon water, helps in maintaining the oxygen and calcium levels in the liver.

16. Drinking lemon water will helps in reducing the body weight over all. Here are few tips on how to lose weight

Hope the article on Health benefits of drinking lemon water in morning empty stomach will be useful for everyone.

1. Health Benefits of Drinking Hot Water in an Empty Stomach in Early Morning

2. Benefits of Drinking Water in Empty Stomach in Early Morning

Health Benefits of Different Types of Milk

1. Coconut milk:
Coconut milk is a common ingredient in South Indian cooking that makes the curry rich and delicious.

What are the health benefits of coconut milk?
Coconuts provide vitamins, minerals and fibers that prevent diseases like gallbladder stones and liver diseases, inflammation and skin diseases, to name a few. If you want proteins, coconut milk is a good source. It also provides iron, selenium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium, vitamins: C, E, B1, B3, B5 and B6. Surprisingly coconut milk is far richer in calcium than regular milk. Rest assured that coconut milk also supports the immune system, helps in weight loss and is great for digestion.

2. Almond milk:
Almonds are a great snack if you are fasting or if you simply want a potent healthy snack to keep you full for longer. Some dishes also use almonds as garnish and it is an excellent medium in desserts.

What are the health benefits of almond milk?
Almond milk, just like coconut milk, is a great alternative for vegans. Almond milk is a good source for proteins; it is also low in calories unlike cow's milk. This milk contains vitamin E, magnesium, monounsaturated fats, manganese, copper and riboflavin. Boost your energy and lower heart diseases with almond milk.

3. Cow's milk:
This is the most commonly used milk in India. Cow's milk is also used to make enticing Indian sweets.

What are the health benefits of cow's milk?
This milk contains fats, minerals and vitamins like vitamin D, proteins, vitamin B, potassium, iodine and it is a good substitute to Omega 3. Cow's milk is not fattening but it should be complimented with a healthy diet. Besides strengthening the bones with calcium, cow's milk is known to control blood pressure as it contains potassium, iodine promote thyroid function and prevents gout.

4. Goat's milk:
Most Indians may not use goat's milk, but high up in the hilly regions of northern Indian, goat's milk is widely used. But the buck does not stop there, globalization and India's love for Italian food has seen an increase in the import of goat cheese.

What are the health benefits of goat's milk?
According to researchers, goat's milk helps prevent softening of bone and anemia. It also aids digestion and 'metabolic utilization of minerals such as iron, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium'. The secret lies in the high presence of iron, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. Apparently goat's milk has less fat, builds your immune system, and reduces anti-inflammation of the bowel.

5. Raw milk:
Consuming raw milk is a trend that promotes the importance of organic food. But is it a wise choice?

What are the health benefits of raw milk?
The debate still continues on the health benefits of raw milk over pasteurised milk. Raw milk contains proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals, but scientists do not believe the claims of health benefits of raw milk. There are healthy bacteria in raw milk; some say that pasteurised milk kills these microbes, but scientists believe it's all for a good cause.

You need to know:
- Pasteurization DOES NOT reduce milk's nutritional value.
- Pasteurization DOES kill harmful bacteria.
- Pasteurization DOES save lives.

6. Soy milk:
This is a common substitute for those who are lactose intolerant or vegetarian. Soy milk also comes under probiotic food choice.

What are the health benefits of soy milk?
Soy milk contains fatty acids, proteins, fiber, vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for the smooth functioning of our body. You can count on soy milk to improve good cholesterol and help in weight loss; the omega 3 and 6 in soy milk strengthens the blood vessels, claims to prevent prostrate cancer, osteoporosis and postmenopausal syndrome.

7. Cardamom or eliachi milk:
May not be a common ingredient in milk, but flavoured milk is always refreshing on a hot day. Cardamom milk is healthier than having flavoured milk like chocolate and strawberry.

What are the health benefits of cardamom milk?
Cardamom contains potassium, calcium, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin-C and magnesium. It is also used as an antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, digestive, diuretic, expectorant, stimulant, stomachic and tonic. These are the traditional uses of cardamom.

Health Benefits of Red Palm Oil

The health benefits of olive oil have been touted for many hundreds of years. More recently, coconut oil has become all the rage and hailed by many as the king of oils. But, whatever oil you choose - whether it’s olive, coconut, almond, canola, peanut, safflower, walnut, or even avocado oil - none compare to the powerful nutritional virtues of virgin organic red palm fruit oil.

The health benefits of red palm fruit oil can be achieved by incorporating only 1-2 tablespoons into your daily diet.

Red Palm Fruit Oil vs. Palm Kernel Oil
Regarded as a sacred healing food by many civilizations, including the ancient Egyptians, crude or virgin red palm fruit oil should be regarded as one of the most nutritious edible oils in the world. It is not to be confused with palm kernel oil .

It is derived from the fruit of the oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis) and is referred to as "red palm oil" because of its rich dark red color in its unprocessed natural state. Palm kernel oil is derived from the seed or the kernel.

Power-Packed Contents

Red palm oil’s health promoting properties are largely attributed to its high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory contents. Red palm oil is a rich source of tocotrienol, a powerful form of vitamin E, lycopene and carotenoids, the latter being responsible for the oil’s distinctive red color in its unprocessed state.

Red palm oil has great science behind it for its beneficial role in fighting heart disease and high cholesterol.

Red palm oil has repeatedly stunned researchers with its heart-protective and cholesterol-lowering properties. Studies have shown that adding palm oil in the diet can reduce plaque build-up in arteries and, therefore, reverse the process of plaque and prevent blockages formation within blood vessel walls. Science now understands that inflammation in the artery lining is what causes cholesterol to deposit in the first place. So, it makes sense that the protective effects come from the high antioxidant, anti-inflammatory content of the red palm oil which works to quench free radicals and keep inflammation under control. Apart from helping tear away plaque from blood vessel walls, red palm oil also helps maintain healthy blood pressure and
cholesterol levels.

Brain Health
One of the natural vitamin E forms found in high amounts in red palm oil is known for its neuro-protective properties. When it comes to your brain, the special form of vitamin-E (tocotrienol) in red palm oil stops destructive damage and improves blood flow to brain cells, which can also help to prevent Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

Anti-Cancer Food
The high antioxidant content of red palm oil makes it a potent anti-cancer food. Though tocotrienols can be found in rice bran, barley and wheat, red palm oil is the richest source of tocotrienol. Research suggests that this form of vitamin E may help fight skin, stomach, pancreas, liver, lung, colon, prostate, breast, and other
cancers.

The antioxidant power of red palm oil can be of help in protecting against a variety of health problems, including osteoporosis, asthma, cataracts, macular degeneration, arthritis, and liver disease. It can even slow down the premature aging processes by protecting the skin against damaging UV rays.

Additionally, research has shown that red palm oil promotes nutrient utilization, improves liver detoxification pathways and improves immune function.

Information to Avert Noisome Foods

In this new era, without regarding their age all of them are consuming the food as the desire. By thinking deeply it is the very, very bad habit in one’s life. To sustain the healthy and longest life, you should want to have the foodstuffs that affords healthy to your body. For that what you want to do? First of all, have the excellent idea about the foodstuffs that need to consume in the excellent method. you can able to see some Information to Avert Noisome Foods that should be followed in your daily life.

There are thousands and thousands of elaborate information’s and also has small tips in the internet. Hence, go through it fully and follow the instructions as per you read in the internet. In my blog I have mentioned hundreds and hundreds of information in regarding to maintain the good health. Go through it for get clear knowledge.

Now, this posting specify you to get the ingredients you must to avert in your life span they are follows. I hope that these tips will surely makes to promote your health in the better approach.

Use hygienic vegetable oil
Take Glucose
soaring Fructose Corn Syrup
Nectar
Fat-Free foods
Fruit-Flavored foods

Generally, use the moderate level of oil in your foods but the oil must be hygienic. Hygienic implies that if you use the oil once then you won’t use it further. All the researchers are quipping about the concern to avert the fast foods and snacks which are prepared fully with oil.

Glucose is one of the sweetest and best energy makers of our health. By drinking theses wealthy drinks often in our daily life, it helps to keep away from laziness for the whole day. When you have plenty amount of Fructose then it will enhance the liver or in fat cells.

Nectar is highly rich enough in high-sugar liquid that involved in the fruits and also boosts the level of the blood glucose. It is used to lift up the calorie count and tempt to feel angry at all time. The notable aspect while consuming food whether it conveyed from the “Fat Free” conditions. Generally, the fresh fruits,

vegetables, rice, barley, and whole grains are free from fat ingredients. Highly fat contained foods are fast foods and oily made foods. Therefore, avoid such kinds of food stuffs utterly.

With pleasure, all must consume the food or snacks which are encircled with the fruit flavor. Now a day the flavor of fruits are embedded in hundreds of thousands of foodstuffs and snacks.

ADDICTION TO ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO

Dependence on anything becomes a habit when followed or practiced repeatedly. The habit of being dependent, at one stage, becomes impossible to break, making it an addiction. The more a person tries to break that habit, the weaker he becomes in will and the more dependent he becomes on that habit.

BAD EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL

It corrodes the linings of the liver, intestines and stomach.
It weakens the memory, lowers the intellectual and reasoning powers.
It reduces the ability to do ordinary work and decreases muscular power, depressing the heart and circulation.
Prolonged alcohol intake also causes impotency in a few cases.

BAD EFFECTS OF SMOKING/TOBACCO

Patients who tend to smoke a lot or take a lot of tobacco are prone to:
Cardiovascular problems like Ischaemic Heart Disease.
Respiratory troubles like Chronic Bronchitis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Vascular disease like Thromboangitis Obliterans.
Dental staining and decay.
Oral and Bronchiogenic Carcinoma.
Impotency.

SOME MEASURES AND HOME REMEDIES TO BE TAKEN TO OVERCOME ALCOHOL ADDICTION

Angelica herb -This herb is taken in the form of tea or in tincture form, thrice daily, after meals. This helps reduce craving for alcohol.

Apple - Have two to three apples a day to reduce the craving for wine and other intoxicating liquors. It is also useful to reduce any intoxicated feeling caused by alcoholic beverages.

Date (khajoor)- The person should drink half a glass of water in which four to five dates have been crushed. Do this twice daily for a few months.

Fruit juice - The best drink as a substitute for alcohol is a glass of fresh fruit juice. The patient or the alcoholic should drink lots of juices and eat a candy or other snacks whenever he has a craving for alcohol.

Grapes - Grapes contain the purest form of alcohol and are a healthy substitute for alcohol. Alcoholics should take fresh grapes or grape juice at five-hourly interval, i.e. three times a day. Eating a few raisins daily for a few months also helps in reducing the craving for alcohol.

Milk - Drink two large cups of milk daily.

Orange- Eating two to three oranges or drinking one glass of orange juice just before breakfast helps to lessen the craving for alcohol.

Water and alcohol - Add eight parts of pure water to one part of alcohol and drink it in gulps. Do not sip it. Then drink two or more glasses of water after it. If you tend to vomit, it is excellent. This will help the alcoholic to break the habit of drinking.

WAYS TO OVERCOME THE EFFECTS OF DRUNKENNESS

To reduce the toxic effects of alcohol, a tablespoonful of honey is given to the patient thrice daily.

Drink cold water frequently.

Application of a cloth dipped in cold water around the head, abdomen and loins reduces the effects of intoxication.

Three teaspoonfuls of juice of leaves of bitter gourd (karela) should be mixed with a glass of buttermilk and taken every morning for a month. This is an effective antidote for alcoholic intoxication.

Have two to three apples to overcome the complications due to chronic alcoholism.

Half a glass of juice of raw celery leaves mixed with an equal quantity of water should be taken once daily, for a month. This acts as an effective antidote to alcohol intoxication and helps reduce damage done by alcohol to liver and pancreas.

In cases of vomiting and retching following alcohol intake, give hot black coffee to the person as much as he can take.

NORMAL SALINE IS NOT SO NORMAL

In a study from England published ahead of print in Annals of Surgery, healthy volunteers given two liters of so-called "normal" saline intravenously showed signs of decreased kidney perfusion and increased fluid retention compared to infusion of a balanced salt solution. The work builds on previous research suggesting that normal saline, in use intravenously for over 100 years, is not "normal" and may not be the best fluid to use, especially in patients who are susceptible to renal dysfunction.

In an email to Reuters Health, lead author Dr. Dileep N. Lobo of the University of Nottingham said, "Had normal saline been formulated in recent times, it is debatable whether it would have survived a phase 1 trial."

Dr. Lobo's group carried out a randomized, double-blind cross-over trial involving 12 healthy male volunteers who were given two-liter infusions over one hour of either "normal" 0.9% saline or the balanced salt solution Plasma Lyte-148, several days apart. Plasma Lyte-148 contains sodium and chloride in physiologic amounts, compared to the higher amounts of those two ions found in normal saline.

During the four hours following the infusions, subjects underwent sequential blood and urine tests as well as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of their kidneys.

The main results: when the men received normal saline, they retained significantly more fluid in the extravascular space (1,484 vs 1,155 mL; p=0.031) and gained more weight (1.2 vs 0.84 kg, p=0.22). With the balanced solution, they produced significantly higher urine volumes and had a significantly shorter time to first voiding.

Furthermore, in the normal saline trials, serum chloride was significantly higher from the first hour on (p=0.0001), and a low strong ion difference indicated acidemia (p=0.025).

MRI showed that normal saline significantly decreased renal artery flow velocity (p=0.045) and renal cortical tissue perfusion (p=0.008) compared to the balanced solution - differences that could matter in patients with kidney disease.

The authors point out that some 200 million liters of normal saline are used in the U.S. every year. The paper doesn't address the issue of costs, but Dr. Lobo said, "Plasma-Lyte 148 is more expensive but this is likely to be because it is not widely used. Just because a product is more expensive does not mean that it should not be used in the clinical setting."

Dr. Lobo pointed out that a paper this year by Shaw et al, also in Annals of Surgery, showed that complications and resource use are less with Plasma-Lyte than with 0.9% saline.

Another inexpensive option, lactated Ringer's solution, has nearly normal amounts of sodium and chloride. Dr. Lobo said, "It is likely that similar results could be achieved with Ringer's lactate, however, we chose Plasma-Lyte 148 as it has a chloride content in the normal physiological range."

Dr. Laurence Weinberg of the Department of Anesthesia, Austin Hospital and Senior Fellow, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne was not a contributor to the study. Regarding lactated Ringer's, he said, "It contains lactate. In shock conditions if lactate cannot be metabolized by the liver, it will be unable to be converted to bicarbonate. This can also result in elevated lactate levels which, if being used as a marker of effective resuscitation, can lead to misinterpretation of the cause of the hyperlactatemia."

According to Dr. Lobo, "It is clear that many patients continue to receive large quantities of intravenous fluid especially in the perioperative period. We suggest that large quantities of saline may not be beneficial for those with pre-existing renal disease or those at risk of developing renal impairment."

Dr. Lobo thinks that normal saline is not appropriate for use for resuscitation or in the operating room. He said, "There is an increasing body of evidence to suggest that saline may lead to harmful effects. This study, building on evidence first obtained in animal studies, suggests that hyperchloremia associated with saline infusion may have an unfavorable effect on renal perfusion."

Dr. Weinberg said, "For many operations we only use 1000 mL of fluid. Choice of fluid for these cases is less important. However there is now overwhelming evidence that a balanced solution is better than an unbalanced and given that the costs of normal saline and Ringer's lactate are the same I would advocate Ringer's lactate as a preference."

When massive amounts of fluid are needed, however, Dr. Weinberg would advocate Plasma-Lyte 148 over both normal saline and lactated Ringer's solution. He added, "Many critically ill patients do require significant fluid/volume intervention as part of their care; the type and correct amount of fluid patients receive is paramount. The study by Lobo now gives us information that is clinically important, and I am certain that we will see many more studies examining the clinical effects of different fluid solutions."

Dr. Lobo and one other member of his group have received financial support from Baxter Healthcare, maker of Plasma-Lyte 148. Baxter Healthcare also supported the study but did not participate in its conduct or analysis.

Dr. Weinberg's department has received funding from Baxter Healthcare, which has no input or oversight of its research.

Health Benefits Of Beetroot

Image Source: "Beets-Bundle" by Evan-Amos - Own work. Licensed under CC0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Beets-Bundle.jpg#/media/File:Beets-Bundle.jpg

Commonly known as the garden beet, this firm, round root vegetable has leafy green tops, which are also edible and highly nutritious. While the most common color for beets (called “beetroots” in the British Isles) is garnet red, they can range in color from deep red to purple and from yellow to white, allowing these vegetables to create a distinctively vibrant presentation. However, their most intriguing hue is concentric rings of red and white known as chioggia, or candy cane.

Beetroot, also often known as the beet, is a root vegetable that has been consumed since ancient times. Even the ancient Romans and Greeks thought beetroot had vitamins and minerals. In fact, today's studies prove that not only are they loaded with beneficial nutrients, but beetroot is an amazing way to ensure that a person stays healthy.

A root vegetable, the reddish and bulbous portion of the beetroot is grown underground while its leafy top is seen above the ground. It grows in both tropical and temperate areas, and takes about two months to reach maturity. Though the plants have been cultivated for thousands of years due to their dietary benefits, it is only recently that their many health benefits have been
explored.

1. Beetroot enhances sex
The ancient Romans prized beetroot as an aphrodisiac and raised them as such. Today's science supports this Roman practice. Researchers have found that beets contain high amounts of boron, an element that relates directly to the production of sex hormones in humans.

2. Beetroot equalizes mental health Betaine, the same component that is used by practitioners to treat depression using certain methods, is found in beetroot. Another great element that beetroot contains is tryptophan, which has been shown to create a sense of well-being while also relaxing the mind. They are also a great way to lower blood pressure, which can help offset the effects of stress on the body.

3. Beetroot increases energy levels
Because the sugar contained in beetroot is released slowly throughout the body, even though the sugar levels are high, they help maintain steady energy levels. When compared to foods such as chocolate whose sugars are processed quickly by the body, beetroot, which is also low in calories, makes its energy boost last a great deal longer.

4. Beetroot is high in vitamins and minerals
Because they are high in vitamin B and iron, beetroot is especially beneficial to those women who are pregnant. Vitamin B and iron are necessary for the growth of new cells as well as replenishing the iron levels that often dip at this time of life. In addition, beetroot is high in the following vitamins and minerals: fiber, phosphorus, potassium, folic acid, beta-carotene, vitamin A, magnesium, vitamin C and betacyanin.

5. Beetroot helps cleanse the body
Beetroot works to cleanse and clarify the liver. It can also purify the blood and has been shown to help prevent some forms of cancer. Eating beetroot can also indicate whether a person has low amounts of stomach acid. This is shown if their urine turns pink.

6. Beetroot is great to help the bodies natural defence and strengthen the immune system.

7. Antioxidants: The red pigment found in beets is loaded with antioxidants that may help protect the body against heart disease, certain cancers and even birth defects.

8. Folate: A half-cup serving of cooked beets provides about a quarter of the recommended daily requirements of folate. Folate is used in metabolic functions and plays a critical role during pregnancy, specifically in preventing certain birth defects.

9. Iron: Beets are a good source of iron. While iron is considered a trace mineral, which means it’s needed in very small amounts, it is still critical to healthy blood because it’s a key component of hemoglobin.

10. PotassiuM: Being high in potassium, beets help maintain healthful blood pressure by maintaining proper fluid balance.

Tips For Lowering Cholesterol Naturally

There are many tools for lowering cholesterol naturally that you may want to consider if you have high cholesterol. Many people go on crash diets or change all sorts of things about their lives, taking drastic measures to lower their cholesterol.

You do not need to do any of these things to lower your cholesterol, however. Using natural products, changing your lifestyle gradually and introducing healthier foods are some of the best ways of lowering cholesterol naturally.

Cholesterol is a type of fat made by your liver. Some of that fat comes from the food you eat, while some of it is already in your body. All of the foods that come from animals have some form of cholesterol in them, whereas plant foods do not have cholesterol in them. Foods that are high in saturated fats can raise your cholesterol level considerably, so having a balanced diet is really the best way to approach the cholesterol situation.

Not all cholesterol is bad for you, however. Some cholesterol is necessary for good health, but too much of it can raise your blood pressure and make medical problems such as heart attacks or strokes more common. When you have extra cholesterol in your blood, it causes your arteries to narrow as they become clogged. This may even lead to the artery becoming completely blocked with cholesterol.

Using Natural Products to Lower Cholesterol

Lowering cholesterol naturally using natural products is one of the best ways to accomplish your goal. Remember that herbal treatments and other natural remedies have been around a lot longer than the conventional pharmaceutical treatments you are likely to find at your drug store.

Herbal treatments come from trees, plants and other natural sources, meaning that you must be careful about what you are taking. Herbal treatments typically are not regulated, so it really is a “use at your own risk” situation.

Many natural products seem to reduce cholesterol. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates natural herbal products, but much of the investigation into the products is not completed to the same high level as conventional medicines. Therefore, it is important to be careful when you are considering herbal treatments of any kind. Always consult your doctor before trying anything new when lowering cholesterol naturally.

The following products have been recognized for their effectiveness in lowering cholesterol:

- Garlic

- B vitamins

- Soy

- Fiber

- Chromium

- Grape seed extract

- Vitamin C

- Pantothine

There are many other natural products and herbal remedies that may assist in lowering cholesterol, so consult your doctor or locate a good herbalist for more information. You want to be careful when it comes to combining cholesterol medication and natural remedies, as some of the side effects may clash.

Making Lifestyle Changes

There are many things you can do to help lower cholesterol naturally and changing the way you choose to live your life is one of them. You may have to make lifestyle changes to lower your cholesterol levels and start putting yourself back on the road to health, but do not despair. Making some minor lifestyle changes is not very difficult and, in fact, many of the changes you make will benefit you in other areas of your life. With lower cholesterol, you will start feeling more energetic and you will have more vitality.

Exercise – this is probably the most important thing you can do to lower your cholesterol levels and keep them down. Try getting moderate exercise a few times a week (about 30 minutes a day for a few days a week). Ease yourself into a program and get your body moving, but take it easy. You don't need to run for miles or do thousands of weight lifting exercising in order to stave off the effects of high cholesterol. You just need to get active and start introducing your body to other forms of exercise beyond reaching for the remote control.

Quit smoking – this is arguably the second most important thing you can do. If you don't smoke, don't start. If you do, quit. Smoking actually lowers the level of good cholesterol in your blood, making it a lot harder to fight off the bad cholesterol. It also creates a higher risk of heart disease and can really zap the energy in your lungs. You can bring down your cholesterol and drastically lower your risk of heart disease if you quit smoking now, so what's stopping you?

Watch what you eat – eating a proper diet is not that complicated, especially when it comes to lowering your cholesterol. You will want to maintain a healthy balance in your diet, but you should also integrate a lot more fruits and vegetables. Remember that fruits and vegetables are low in calories and fat, so that will help out a great deal with your goal. Also cut down on your consumption of saturated fats, as these typically are not good for your diet. Use whole grains as much as possible and eat plenty of natural fiber products.

Keep your stress down – keep a lid on your anger and other emotions that you feel physically. You will want to try to find time in your day to de-stress from work properly without turning to destructive devices like drinking or smoking. Getting proper exercise is a great way to blow off steam, so try going for a quick run next time you feel angry. Part of lowering cholesterol in a natural way includes keeping your body away from harmful reactions such as stress because stress puts a strain on your system and can contribute to heart problems.

Dietary Changes

As we touched upon briefly, making some dietary changes is a good idea when it comes to lowering cholesterol naturally. You will want to achieve the balance of lowering high cholesterol foods and increasing the level of low cholesterol foods you eat. High fiber products and foods low in saturated fats are important in a low cholesterol diet, of course, but you will also want to integrate fruits and vegetables.

There are a number of dietary options for low cholesterol out there and several hundred diet books and websites that promise to lower your cholesterol. The truth is that there is no one single plan that can help you lower your cholesterol. Instead, you will need to work with your family and your doctor to find a dietary plan that best works with your lifestyle. Here are a few pointers:

-Eat more fruits and vegetables

-Avoid trans fats and saturated fats

-Use whole grains and whole wheat products instead of standard white products, such as flour or rice

-Stay away from high levels of carbohydrates

-Use low-fat dairy products, especially skim milk, instead of conventional dairy products

-Use lean meats, such as turkey, chicken or fish, instead of red meat

-Use olive and canola oils when cooking

-Attempt to use low-fat alternatives for dips and sauces

There are a number of other dietary secrets that you can use, but these are some basics. Try to find your own way to eat healthy and keep your cholesterol levels down. If you work with your diet, you will start to find that some of the solutions to your problems are right in front of you. Making a dietary change is not that difficult, after all.

Lowering cholesterol naturally can seem like a daunting and complicated task that will transform your whole life and have you eating unbuttered whole wheat bread and water for every meal while you run laps around your block. The truth is that there are some lifestyle changes you can make to help lower your cholesterol, but the effort is worth it. Try using some natural products, make some subtle lifestyle changes and try adding some healthy foods to your diet. You will find that lowering your cholesterol does not have to be an impossible goal and that it really isn't all that hard to do!

Always Consult Your Physician First

Although it is helpful to get health information by reading and talking with friends, make sure you consult your doctor first before trying any new treatment or changing your diet. Remember that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate the strength, purity or safety of herbs and supplements. Be sure to always read product labels. If you have a medical condition, or are taking other drugs, herbs, or supplements, speak with your doctor before taking medical action or changing your health routine. This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. LifeScript disclaims any liability for the decisions made by its readers based on the information provided.

Source http://news.peacefmonline.com/health/201103/148593.php

ZINC - DIETARY BENEFITS

Zinc is vital in the absorption and action of many vitamins. It is essential for the maintenance of growth, development, cell division, protein and DNA synthesis. It is a component of insulin and is necessary for proper skin, nail and hair growth and appearance. Zinc is also very useful for the fast and healthy healing of cuts and burns because we need zinc in so many enzymatic activities in repair work.

Zinc supplements are needed in diabetes, hearing affections and brain functions. The sources of zinc are brewer's yeast, egg yolk, fish, lamb chops, legumes, lima beans, liver, meat, mushrooms, oysters, pecans, poultry, pumpkin seeds, sardines, seafood, soybeans and whole grains. Indications of deficiency include:

1. Fatigue.

2. Prolonged healing of wounds.

3. Smell and taste dysfunctions.

4. Stretch marks on the skin.

5. White spots on the fingernails.

6. It causes dwarfism since it retards growth and maturity and produces anemia.

The Health Benefits of Carrots III

Image source: ""Aesthetic Carrots"" by Thamizhpparithi Maari - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%22Aesthetic_Carrots%22.jpg#/media/File:%22Aesthetic_Carrots%22.jpg

Consuming Carrots are known to be good for the overall health and specially organs like the skin, eyes, digestive system and teeth. Carrot is used in several Juice Therapy Remedies for diseases. Given below are some benefits of this Vegetable.

1. Carrots are rich in Beta carotene which is a powerful antioxidant which helps in maintaining a healthy skin and also keep one away from many diseases.

2. Carrots are rich in alkaline elements which purify and revitalize the blood. They balance the acid alkaline ratio in the body.

3. Carrots have Potassium in it which helps to balance the high levels of sodium associated with hypertension and keeps blood pressure under control.

4. The high soluble fibre content in carrot, it reduces cholesterol by binding LDL, the bad cholesterol, and also increases the HDL which helps in reducing blood clots and heart diseases.

5. Carrots are great for dental health as they kill harmful germs in the mouth and prevent tooth decay.

6. Carrots aid digestion by increasing saliva and supplying the minerals, vitamins and enzymes required for it.

7. Regular consumption of carrots helps in preventing gastric ulcers and digestive disorders.

8. Raw carrots are used as a home remedy for treating worms in children.

9. Raw or grated carrots can be used for wounds, cuts and inflammation.

10. Carrots are rich in Carotenoids which are beneficial to blood sugar regulation.

11. Carrots contain a phyto-nutrient called falcarinol which helps in promoting colon health and a reducing the risk of cancers.

12. Consuming carrots regularly are known to improve the quality of breast milk in mothers. It also helps in increasing the menstrual flow.

13. Consuming Carrots regularly can improve the appearance of skin, hair, nails etc and also improve eyes health.

14. The vital organic alkaline elements in carrots help balance the blood acidity.

15. Its powerful cleansing properties are effective in detoxifying the liver, thus overall effective for acne which are caused by toxicity of the blood.

16. Carrot's molecules are closest to human's hemoglobin molecules, making it very beneficial in blood building.

17. The highly cleansing power of this miracle juice scrubs away even the old build-up of arterial deposits, reducing the risks of heart diseases and stroke.

18. The anti-oxidants effectively protects the respiratory system from infections and free radical attacks.

19. Carrot juice is very effective in dispelling mucus from the ear, nose and throat area, easing nasal congestion, sinusitis, phlegm and mucus in the throat and other similar disorders.

20. Take five parts of carrot juice with one part of spinach juice regularly to regulate chronic constipation problems.

21. If you smoke or are exposed to second-hand smoke, taking carrot juice regularly may well save your life.

22. Beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin are some of the finest nourishment that help keep the optic system in tip-top condition, with special protection against astigmatism, macular degeneration and cataracts.

23. Its anti-inflammatory effect greatly helps reduce arthritis, rheumatism, gout and other inflammations.

24. It does wonders for boosting the immune system by increasing the production and performance of white blood cells; building resistant to various kinds of infections.

10 Surprising Health Benefits of Beer

Beer drinkers rejoice: Your favorite brew may be healthier than you think.

For years, wine drinkers have indulged without guilt, reveling in the news that red wine can help protect against heart disease. Recent research shows that beer can also be good for what ails you, from reducing risk for broken bones to helping warding off diabetes and mental decline. It can even increase longevity, a large study suggests.

However, the key to tapping into beer’s benefits is moderation, meaning just one 12-ounce beer per day for women and two for men. Heavy drinking ups the threat of liver damage, some cancers, and heart problems. Bingeing on brewskis can also make you fat, since a 12-ounce regular beer has about 150 calories, while light beer has about 100.

Here are 10 surprising—and healthy—reasons to cheer about your next beer.

1. Stronger Bones

Beer contains high levels of silicon, which is linked to bone health. In a 2009 studyat Tufts University and other centers, older men and women who swigged one or two drinks daily had higher bone density, with the greatest benefits found in those who favored beer or wine. However, downing more than two drinks was linked toincreased risk for fractures.

For the best bone-building benefits, reach for pale ale, since a 2010 study of 100 types of beer from around the word identified these brews as richest in silicon, while light lagers and non-alcoholic beers contained the least.

2. A Stronger Heart

A 2011 analysis of 16 earlier studies involving more than 200,000 people, conducted by researchers at Italy’s Fondazion di Ricerca e Cura, found a 31 percent reduced risk of heart disease in those who quaffed about a pint of beer daily, while risk surged in those who guzzled higher amounts of alcohol, whether beer, wine, or spirits.

More than 100 studies also show that moderate drinking trims risk of heart attacks and dying from cardiovascular disease by 25 to 40 percent, Harvard reports. A beer or two a day can help raise levels of HDL, the “good” cholesterol that helps keep arteries from getting clogged.

3. Healthier Kidneys

A study in Finland singled out beer among other alcoholic drinks, finding that each bottle of beer men drank daily lowered their risk of developing kidney stones by 40 percent. One theory is that beer’s high water content helped keep kidneys working, since dehydration increases kidney stone risk.

It’s also possible that the hops in beer help curb leeching of calcium from bones; that “lost” calcium also could end up in the kidneys as stones.

4. Boosting Brain Health

A beer a day may help keep Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia at bay, researchers say.

A 2005 study tracking the health of 11,000 older women showed that moderate drinkers (those who consumed about one drink a day) lowered their risk of mental decline by as much as 20 percent, compared to non-drinkers. In addition, older women who downed a drink a day scored as about 18 months “younger,” on average, on tests of mental skills than the non-drinkers.

5. Reduced Cancer Risk

A Portuguese study found that marinating steak in beer eliminates almost 70 percent of the carcinogens, called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) produced when the meat is pan-fried. Researchers theorize that beer’s sugars help block HCAs from forming.

Scientists also have found that beer and wine contain about the same levels of antioxidants, but the antioxidants are different because the flavonoids found in hops and grapes are different.

6. Boosting Vitamin Levels

A Dutch study, performed at the TNO Nutrition and Food Research Institute, found that beer-drinking participants had 30 percent higher levels of vitamin B6 levels in their blood than their non-drinking counterparts, and twice as much as wine drinkers. Beer also contains vitamin B12 and folic acid.

7. Guarding Against Stroke

Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health found that moderate amounts of alcohol, including beer, help prevent blood clots that block blood flow to the heart, neck and brain—the clots that cause ischemic stroke, the most common type.

8. Reduced Risk for Diabetes

Drink up: A 2011 Harvard study of about 38,000 middle-aged men found that when those who only drank occasionally raised their alcohol intake to one to two beers or other drinks daily, their risk of developing type 2 diabetes dropped by 25 percent. The researchers found no benefit to quaffing more than two drinks. The researchers found that alcohol increases insulin sensitivity, thus helping protect against diabetes.

9. Lower Blood Pressure

Wine is fine for your heart, but beer may be even better: A Harvard study of 70,000 women ages 25 to 40 found that moderate beer drinkers were less likely to develop high blood pressure—a major risk factor for heart attack—than women who sipped wine or spirits.

10. Longer Life

In a 2005 review of 50 studies, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that moderate drinkers live longer. The USDA also estimates that moderate drinking prevents about 26,000 deaths a year, due to lower rates of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

These benefits appear to apply in other countries as well, with an earlier studyreporting that, “if European beer drinkers stopped imbibing, there would be a decrease in life expectancy of two years—and much unhappiness.”

DIETARY ZINC

Zinc is vital in the absorption and action of many vitamins. It is essential for the maintenance of growth, development, cell division, protein and DNA synthesis. It is a component of insulin and is necessary for proper skin, nail and hair growth and appearance. Zinc is also very useful for the fast and healthy healing of cuts and burns because we need zinc in so many enzymatic activities in repair work. Zinc supplements are
needed in diabetes, hearing affections and brain functions. The sources of zinc are brewer‟s yeast, egg yolk, fish, lamb chops, legumes, lima beans, liver, meat, mushrooms, oysters, pecans, poultry, pumpkin seeds, sardines, seafood, soybeans and whole grains. Indications of deficiency include:
1. Fatigue.
2. Prolonged healing of wounds.
3. Smell and taste dysfunctions.
4. Stretch marks on the skin.
5. White spots on the fingernails.
6. It causes dwarfism since it retards growth and maturity and produces anemia.

FOOD WITH ORAL CANCER DRUGS?

Are oral oncology drugs being mislabeled? Maybe.
Most oral cancer drugs stipulate that they should be taken in a fasting state, but some actually have better bioavailability when taken with food. This is particularly true for the new prostate cancer drug abiraterone acetate (Zytiga), which has a greater interaction with food than any other marketed drug, yet it is labeled to be taken when fasting.
These points are highlighted in a comment published in the October 20 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Mark J. Ratain, MD, professor of medicine and director of the Center for Personalized Therapeutics at the University of Chicago, Illinois.
"My major concern is safety," Dr. Ratain told Medscape Medical News. "Very few patients would anticipate that the consequences of taking their medications with food...would be an effective overdose."
In the case of abiraterone acetate, the dose of the drug could be increased 10-fold by eating breakfast half an hour after taking the drug, he writes.
Dr. Ratain notes that food interactions are described in the labeling of many drugs, but are notably absent in the labeling of new oral cancer agents.
Most drugs can be taken either with or without food, he explains, because the effects of food are not clinically significant to drug absorption. There are cases in which absorption is decreased by food; generally, the labeling on those drugs instructs that they be taken on an empty stomach. Similarly, labeling on drugs for which absorption is enhanced by food typically instructs that they be ingested with meals.
"However, a recent study of oral agents approved by the US Food and Drug Administration [FDA] in the last 10 years demonstrated that oral oncology drugs have generally been labeled fasting, despite food effects as large as a 4-fold increase in bioavailability," Dr. Ratain notes.
Bias in Labeling?
This apparent bias for fasting labeling in cancer drugs is exemplified with abiraterone, he notes. Abiraterone, which was approved earlier this year in the United States for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer, has a greater food interaction than any drug currently on the market. Depending on the fat content, food can increase drug exposure 5- to 10-fold, yet it is labeled to be taken in a fasting state, Dr. Ratain points out.
The effect of a high-fat meal indicates "that absolute bioavailability in the fasting state is no more than 10%," says Dr. Ratain, and is likely due to the low absorption rate under fasting conditions; 77% of the drug is excreted as abiraterone (or its prodrug acetate) in the stool.
"In addition, there is marked interindividual pharmacokinetic variability, with a coefficient of variation in the plasma concentration area under the curve of 59% under labeled conditions," he notes.
It is unclear why this faulty labeling is occurring, or why the FDA has not been more stringent about proper labeling for oral oncology drugs, Dr. Ratain said. He told Medscape Medical Newsthat the FDA has not responded to his inquiries and "essentially stonewalled" him because of the confidentiality of their discussions with sponsors.
"The blame could be assigned to sponsors, the Office of Oncology Drug Products, and/or the Office of Clinical Pharmacology and Biopharmaceutics," he said. "Given that there are multiple sponsors, all of whom who have a different approach to oncology..., the evidence points to an FDA origin."
Oral Drugs Relatively New
Alex Adjei, MD, PhD, who was approached by Medscape Medical News for independent comment, explained that until recently, oncology drugs have generally been given intravenously; for other diseases, oral drugs have been in common use for many years.
Perhaps that is why there has not been that much attention on the food-effect data, Dr. Adjei hypothesized. He is chair of the Department of Medicine at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, in Buffalo, New York.
"In clinical trials, we tend to give the drugs on an empty stomach," he said. "So that was how the drug was tested and that was how it was approved. We don't go back and change the label."
Dr. Adjei pointed out that unlike intravenous drugs, there is considerable variation in the way oral drugs are absorbed. "We try to simplify it by giving them on an empty stomach," he said.
Food-Effect Data Ignored
In a study published last year (Clin Cancer Res. 2010;16:4446-4451), Dr. Ratain and his colleague, Soonmo Peter Kang, MD, also from the University of Chicago, evaluated the effect of food on 99 oral agents that received FDA approval from January 2000 to May 2009. They compared food-labeling patterns between oncology and nononcology drugs using Fisher's exact test.
Food had a significant effect on drug bioavailability in 34 of the 99 drugs evaluated. In cases where food markedly enhanced bioavailability, 8 of 9 nononcology drugs were labeled to be taken with food to take advantage of the food–drug interaction. However, all oncology agents were labeled to be taken in "fasted" states (P = .01).
"The food-labeling pattern of recently approved oral oncology drug products is inconsistent with fundamental principles of oral drug delivery," they write. "The labels of 3 agents (erlotinib, nilotinib, and lapatinib) minimized bioavailability through food restrictions, which is in contrast to the labeling principles used for all other classes of oral agents."
In an editorial that accompanied the study by Drs. Ratain and Kang (Clin Cancer Res. 2010;16:4305-4307), Rajul K. Jain, MD, from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, and colleagues explained that the effects of food are complex, and that multiple factors determine final labeling recommendations. "When analyzing the label given to any product or product class, all of the potential influencing factors should be considered," they said.
They also noted that "sponsors are encouraged to conduct food-effect studies early in a product's development so the results can be implemented into larger clinical trials."
In his comment, Dr. Ratain refers back to that editorial, and points out that the agency has "expressed concern about the potential for high intraindividual variability in cancer patients resulting from variability in oral intake secondary to disease or concurrent medications." This appears to indicate a preference for labeling drugs to be used when fasting, even if their bioavailability would be substantially increased when taken with food.
He explains that there isn't any evidence that this concern applies to all oral oncology drugs, and that there is no evidence that intraindividual variability in diet is greater for cancer patients than for those with other life-threatening conditions who also take daily oral drugs.
"If the US Food and Drug Administration were truly concerned about intraindividual variability in diet, why has this never come up in the labeling of nononcology drugs?" he asks.
He notes that the FDA was aware of the food-effect data from early studies of abiraterone and could have required at least 1 randomized study to be conducted to review this, so that it could have been labeled to be taken with food. The FDA has the authority to require such studies as a postmarketing requirement, but chose not to.
With the risk for poor adherence to food-effect labeling, there is a risk for overdose or underdose of a given drug, with the more serious being overdose, Dr. Ratain says.
In addition to this safety issue, there are economic implications, Dr. Ratain notes.
The standard dose of abiraterone for men without liver problems is 1000 mg once daily. But because the bioavailability of the drug is greatly increased when taken with food, it would be interesting to have studies of abiraterone at a dose of 250 mg once daily, administered with a standard breakfast. If this approach is shown to be safe and effective, it could save patients and their payers approximately $3750 per month at current prices.
"It also would send a message to the pharmaceutical industry that flawed drug development has financial consequences," he notes, "along with potential risks of product liability because of defective labeling."
He concludes: "After all, given the high attrition rate for oncology drugs, do we really need to flush our few successful products down the toilet?"
Impracticalities of Dosing and Diet
Lawrence J. Lesko, PhD, FCP, former director of the Office of Clinical Pharmacology at the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, and a coauthor of the editorial by Dr. Jain, pointed out that the principal of labeling is consistent safety.
"The most consistent way to take drugs is on an empty stomach," said Dr. Lesko, who is now at the Department of Pharmaceutics at the College of Pharmacy at the University of Florida in Gainesville. "It would be impractical to expect that patients are going to adhere to a specific diet when taking these drugs. And it is often unclear what 'food' may mean to the patient. Is it a glass of juice, breakfast cereal, a cheeseburger?"
The goal is to minimize the variability, he told Medscape Medical News. "Food studies are generally conducted in healthy volunteers and not cancer patients. Labeling can't be done on a theoretical basis; it has to reflect what was done in the study."
Dr. Lesko noted that another problem with tying an oral drug dose to food is that many cancer patients have problems with appetite, nausea and vomiting, and gastrointestinal motility. "Their appetite can change on any given day," he said. "Some days, they may not be able to tolerate a high-fat meal, for example, which raises the bioavailability of abiraterone. It would just be impractical to do this on a day-to-day basis."
The other issue that Dr. Ratain focuses on in his comment is the comparison of oncology and nononcology drugs, Dr. Lesko pointed out. "But you really can't compare them."
For most nononcologic agents, food doesn't matter, so it isn't that important how the product is labeled, he said.
But that is not the case with oral oncologic agents. "Every drug in oncology has a narrow therapeutic index, and taking the drug with food could affect the therapeutic range," he said. "The labels are intended to minimize variability and mimic approval data."