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While there are many health issues that are universal concerns for men, women and children,

there are also a variety of health concerns that specifically to men and affect a man’s

overall health. Issues such as arthritis, heart disease, prostate cancer and other forms of

cancer, sexual health and vigor all comprise the top concerns men face today. And,

unfortunately, most, but not all, are age related.

As a man ages he is subject to several conditions that can affect his mortality. The most

common cause of morbidity in the aging man is cardiovascular disease, be it heart attack or

stroke.

The second leading cause of death is cancer, and we currently do not know exactly why. This

may be due to the oxidative stress that our bodies are under, and the inability of our diets

to provide us with enough antioxidants to combat these effects. This all get worse as we get

older, in particular, prostate cancer seems to be on the rise. The cause of this is

uncertain. Part of it may be related to improvements made in early diagnosis of the disease.

There is an obvious correlation with prostate cancer and aging.

Men suffer drastic hormonal changes as we get older, usually after the age of 35. Prostatic

enlargement known as BPH (Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy) is becoming the fastest growing

health concern men face today. BPH is in large part related to hormonal changes that occur

with aging which relates to male hormonal function (androgens). Significant BPH can lead to

obstruction of urinary function and potential renal failure if untreated. BPH has been

reported in over 90% of men over the age of 85, although it is relatively uncommon before

the age of 35.

The incidence and prevalence of osteoarthritis increase as we age as well. Painful swollen

joints, caused by the deterioration of cartilage between bones occur, as well as decreased

pain free range of motion.

But, as we mentioned earlier, not all health issues are age related. Men, in their youth

and prime, are very active. Maintaining that level energy and vigor is of great concern to

men of all ages. A well rounded, nutritionally balanced diet is essential to a man’s

readiness and ability to perform well, on the field, court even in the bedroom.

It just makes sense that better nutrition consumption would results in better performance, and nutritional deficiencies can often result in poor performance, decreased endurance, early fatigue, or inability to perform to your optimal levels of activity.

maintaining adequate amounts of vitamins and antioxidants It is essential to optimal health and vitality. B vitamins help minimize the risk of heart disease and stroke by decreasing levels of homocysteine. Antioxidants are important to combat the diseases of aging, to minimize oxidation of cholesterol (which can lead to heart attack) and to maintain proper immune function.

Any active male should be very watchful of there dietary intake. The research shows that strenuous athletic activity and or exercise can and will rapidly deplete the essential nutrient your body needs to perform daily functions properly. IN these cases,

vitamins, minerals and other supplements may be necessary to help improve performance.

Do you suffer from high cholesterol? Regardless of whether or not you get regular physical exercise, are undergoing diet therapy, or losing weight, you should look into cholesterol lowering medications. These drugs are sometimes the only strategy you can use if all the other ones fail. First of all, you should understand the role cholesterol plays in the body. It is present in all of the body’s cells. The problem is, when you have too much, your risk of heart disease is increased. For that reason, you need to eat a healthy diet and have an active lifestyle.

Taking drugs to lower your cholesterol is dependent on a few different factors. One of these is the amount of it in your blood, as well as the amount of other fats. You can lower your cholesterol level significantly with cholesterol lowering medications. However, these drugs can be expensive in some cases and might have side effects. You should be vigilant about maintaining a healthy diet that’s low in fat, exercise regularly, stay at a healthy weight, and refrain from smoking. Try to do a bit of research on the potential side effects also. If you do experience any, talk to your physician about it.

Statin

All sorts of cholesterol lowering drugs exist. One is known as statin. These drugs can be quite effective at lowering your cholesterol levels. At the same time, however, they are known to produce side effects. Studies that have been conducted on the subject indicate that you should use “Co-Enzyme Q-10″ along with the statin drugs. This is because these cholesterol reducing drugs can deplete some essential enzymes. By using the “Co-Q” supplement, your heart will be protected.

Bile Acid Sequestrates

These drugs are another option to consider. Bile acids in the body are secreted from both the gall bladder and liver in bile. They pass through the intestine to decrease the level of fatty content in food as a way to improve absorption. Following this, they are re-absorbed into the intestine, and then go to the liver once more. One disadvantage in using this type of medication is malabsorption.

Fibric Acids

Also known as “fibrates,” fibric acids are effective because they reduce the production of triglyceride and take it out of circulation. These medications also up the amount of HDL, referred to frequently as “good cholesterol. Fibric acids contain lopid, gemfibrozil, or fenofibrate (tricor). .

Nicotinic Acid

These acids, also commonly called “niacins,” work by reducing levels of the “bad cholesterol,” that is, LDL. They also help to increase HDL. In large enough doses, niacins vitamins can reduce triglycerides.

It’s not very difficult to take these drugs, for the most part, but be aware that there are a certain number of drug-interactions associated with their use. Stomach problems are the most common complaint of people who take them (usually cramps, pains, or constipation). The symptoms, however, while they vary in severity, usually go away as the therapy goes on. Making the right choice of cholesterol lowering medication for you is a very important decision.

Women, to put it bluntly, are biologically different from men. Those differences imply some guidelines for diet, exercise and health matters in general. Women, for example, naturally have a higher percentage of body fat than men, 27% on average compared to 15% for a fit individual. That single number alone is helpful information if one of your weight loss or exercise goals is fat reduction.

Any woman trying to reduce her percentage should take into account this natural difference, since it can help avoid guilt and provide a realistic goal.

Women experience hormonal changes that differ considerably from that of men as they age. Even young women can have irregularities in menstrual cycle and other physiological changes as a result.

This can be seen more clearly by looking at some extreme cases, for example.

Women in concentration camps in WWII frequently discontinued having regular menstrual cycles, as a result of the effects of starvation.

Highly trained female athletes also often experience similar changes, as a result of ultra-low body fat and other causes.

The ill effects of PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome) can be reduced by stabilizing blood sugar levels, regulating fat intake and other dietary changes.

For example, mood swings can be smoothed out to a degree by higher amounts of soluble fiber, which helps produce a slower rise in blood sugar. Apples, oats and beans are good sources.

Combining fat with protein and carbohydrate intake in a balanced way will help slow the rise in blood sugar from the carbohydrate consumption.

Ice cream may be a comfort food but the effect is short-lived and doesn’t provide the balance needed. Instead, increase consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables. Bananas are a good choice, along with walnuts.

Women are more prone to arthritis, fibromyalgia and other conditions. Certain previously unsuspected food allergies can worsen the symptoms.

Testing is essential, but at the same time a healthy diet will help. Rice beverages can be substituted for those sensitive to cows milk, there are wheat-free breads on the market that are still whole grain and peanuts may need to be avoided for some.

For example some women who suffer from rheumatic symptoms will find they are allergic to wheat. A gluten-free diet will help lessen that problem.

This includes finding substitutes for ordinary cereal, standard bread, pasta and other foods made from wheat flour.

During the years of menopause, as cycles become less regular and large hormonal changes are occurring, diet can help lessen the severity of any discomfort. Lowering sodium intake is helpful.

Substitutes include herbs, garlic or lemon juice for flavoring. Each individual is different, though, and you should consult a physician for proper amounts.

Menopausal women are likely to benefit from reducing saturated fats, beyond that of younger women or males. Since estrogen levels are declining,

HDL cholesterol (the beneficial type) will tend to fall and LDL cholesterol (the potentially harmful type) will rise.

One result is that, though men in general have a higher risk of heart attack as they age, during this time a woman’s risk is equal to those of men of similar age. Reducing saturated and trans fat can help reduce those risks.

Moderate wine consumption is beneficial. It provides anti-oxidants and other helpful compounds and is generally lower in calories than many alternatives. Lowering caffeine can help reduce loss of calcium, which is more needed as women age.

What constitutes a proper diet varies somewhat by gender and age, so investigate what is right for your particular circumstances. Knowledge is the key to health.

Stroke is the number one cause of adult disability in the world’s wealthiest countries and the third leading cause of death after heart attack and cancer.

That’s the bad news. The good news is that simple lifestyle changes can dramatically reduce your risk. Read on to discover the 7 top risk factors for stroke and what you can do to prevent them.

But first, what is a stroke and what are the warning signs?

A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted and brain tissue is deprived of oxygen and nutrients. Most strokes are ischaemic strokes caused by blood clots blocking an artery to the brain.

About one out of five are caused by a haemorrhage in a blood vessel to the brain. This is a haemorrhagic stroke. It can occur when an artery ruptures causing bleeding into the brain.

A stroke can also happen when a clot from elsewhere in the body becomes dislodged and blocks an artery in the brain {embolic stroke}.

The common symptoms are:

Numbness, weakness or paralysis of the face, arm or leg on one or both sides of the body.
Loss of vision in one or both eyes.
Speech difficulty.
Vertigo, loss of balance.
Sudden, severe headache.
Confusion and memory problems.
Difficulty swallowing.
Seizures or blackouts.

RISK FACTOR NUMBER 1.

High blood pressure or hypertension.
Defined by the US National Institutes of Health as a blood pressure reading of 140/90 or higher.
Factors such as a high fat diet, stress and being overweight can narrow arteries. The resulting pressurized blood flow damages artery walls, making the formation of fatty plaque more likely. Plaque can break off and cause blood clots to form according to studies at the Stroke Prevention and Atherosclerosis Research Centre at Robarts Research Institute London, Ontario, Canada.

Normalizing blood pressure cuts the risk of stroke in half. No other preventative measure is as effective. The Mediterranean diet can lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of stroke by up to 60%.This diet calls for five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day. It also emphasizes the importance of whole grains, beans, fish and poultry. It suggests replacing butter and cream with olive oil or oils rich in alpha-linolenic acid.

RISK FACTOR NUMBER 2.

Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke.
Cigarette smoke is a bigger risk factor than previously thought. Research conducted at the University of Auckland New Zealand divided people into three groups: smokers, non smokers exposed to secondhand smoke and non smokers not exposed to secondhand smoke.

Researchers discovered that smokers had six times the stroke risk of non smokers and non smokers exposed to secondhand smoke had almost double the risk of other non smokers.

The obvious prevention is to quit smoking. Some success has been achieved with nicotine patches, anti smoking medication and hypnosis.

RISK FACTOR NUMBER 3.

Sticky blood or platelet aggregation.
In this process, microscopic components of blood stick together, leading to clot formation. To prevent this, talk to your doctor about taking a low dose aspirin daily. Aspirin inhibits platelet aggregation and can reduce the risk of stroke by up to 30% in some people. Vitamin E can improve blood flow and prevent blood clots. It is possibly the most important vitamin for promoting normal blood circulation, healthy arteries and heart.

RISK FACTOR NUMBER 4.

High cholesterol level.
High total and/or high LDL ["bad"] cholesterol levels contribute to the narrowing of arteries.
Prevention: Have a blood test. If your total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol are high, ask your doctor to discuss options with you. A number of natural options are available. These include a high fiber diet. Psillium husks and ground flaxseed are particularly high in fiber. Garlic can lower cholesterol levels as well as clean the arteries of accumulated fats.

RISK FACTOR NUMBER 5.

Ministrokes.
Before a person has a stroke, he/she might have one or more “ministrokes”, or transient ischaemic attacks [TIAs}. The symptoms are the same as a stroke.

Though TIA symptoms go away, those who have had a TIA have about a 30% risk of having a stroke within the next two months.

Prevention: If you think you have had a TIA, see your doctor without delay. It is possible that you have symptomatic carotid stenosis, a severe narrowing of the carotid artery, the main artery leading to the brain. Endarterectomy, a procedure to clear this blockage, reduces the risk of stroke to 9%.

RISK FACTOR NUMBER 6.

High Homocysteine level.
Homocysteine is an amino acid used by the body for many functions including detoxification. Normal blood levels are about 6-8mm for women and 8-12mm for men. As long as the body keeps these levels in check,it is not usually a problem.
According to Dr Kilmer McCully, author of “The Homocysteine Revolution”, this amino acid may be toxic and inflammatory when in excess and can lead to serious consequences including heart disease and stroke. It causes cholesterol to “catch” onto ridges in your artery walls. These cholesterol “traps” are the cause of a fatty build up called “plaque”, thus reducing the flow of blood and causing high blood pressure.

Some research studies have suggested that high homocysteine level is a more critical marker for heart disease and stroke than cholesterol levels.

Prevention: A blood check will determine your homocysteine level. If it is high the dietary supplement folate {folic acid} combined with vitamins B6 and B12 should help. Dietary improvements also help reduce homocysteine levels. Eliminate processed foods, including flour and sugar and eat more fresh vegetables, fresh fruits and whole grains.

RISK FACTOR NUMBER 7.

Heavy Drinking.
This can increase your stroke risk threefold, so it’s vital to limit your intake.
Prevention: A moderate intake of one or two standard drinks daily, may actually decrease your stroke risk.

FINALLY: DON’T IGNORE THE WARNING SIGNS AND RISK FACTORS!

My father died of a stroke at the age of 35. He was strong, physically fit and thought he was indestructible. His warning sign was a severe and persistent headache. Despite requests from my mother to visit a doctor, they were ignored. He rarely suffered from headaches and dismissed it as a passing inconvenience.

John Newcombe, Wimbledon Tennis Champion and former captain of the Australian Davis Cup team, is a stroke survivor.

In his inspirational book “No One’s Indestructible”, he describes how he believed he was “bulletproof”. He had many warning signs and risk factors. He was a smoker, drinker, had high blood pressure, high cholesterol and was regularly under stress. He ignored them. His description of events leading up to and following his stroke, including his recovery program, makes compulsive reading.

Never start a new treatment before consulting your doctor, especially if you are currently taking medication. The information published in this article is not intended as a substitute for personal medical advice from your physician or other qualified health-care practitioner. It is for information only.

High Blood Pressure and Cholesterol

Heart attack is the leading cause of death not only in the United States but in the entire world. It kills twice as many people than the 2nd leading cause of death, which is cancer. Heart disease is also known as the silent killer because it happens suddenly with no fair warning. More than 50% of people who die of cardiac causes have no history of heart disease because sudden cardiac death is the most common cardiac sign. According to the National Institute of health high blood pressure should be a priority concern of over 65 million Americans. That is over 1 in 3 Americans. This statistic is even higher if you’re African American. This statistic is also directly linked to the fact that 62% of Americans are overweight or obese. If you are overweight or obese you probably have high blood pressure or cholesterol and don’t even know it. High cholesterol oxidizes in your arteries and forms plaque, which blocks blood flow, which leads to a heart attack.

In addition to exercising on a regular basis and eating foods low in trans fats and cholesterol, there are many all natural ingredients you can take to lower cholesterol and high blood pressure. First you should know there is a three step process to lowering cholesterol and high blood pressure and there are all natural ingredients out there that are clinically proven to assist in all 3 of these steps, which can reduce the use of statins and drugs. Below is the 3 step process and its assisting all natural ingredients.

1) Prevent Cholesterol Absorption - It is common sense to eat less high fatty foods and eating fresh fruits and vegetables to reduce cholesterol absorption. Of course no matter what you do you will still eat food that has cholesterol therefore you should take Phytosterol to help your body to absorb much less cholesterol. Phytosterols are also called plant sterols, which are a group of steroid alcohol, photochemical naturally occurring in plants. They are white powders with mild, characteristic odor insoluble in water and soluble in alcohols. They have many applications as food additives and in medicine and cosmetics. Phytosterol have a very similar molecular structure as cholesterol therefore it mimics cholesterol in the digestive tract and blocks cholesterol from being absorbed. In this way your body absorbs less cholesterol therefore less cholesterol enters the bloodstream and the unabsorbed cholesterol passes through your body as waste. By lowering cholesterol absorption you help prevent the risk of heart attack.

2) Preventing Plaque Build Up - The second step to lowering cholesterol is to prevent it from oxidizing in the arteries and forming plaque since Plaque is what makes high cholesterol deadly. There are several all antioxidants, which are great for preventing LDL cholesterol from forming plaque. Grape Seed, Grape Skin, Bilberry Extract, Quercetin, and Gingko Baloba are all flavenoids found in certain grapes and berries which naturally prevent plaque formation, which lowers cholesterol levels. Gingko Baloba comes from a 4000 year old ancient plant which also helps to prevent blood platelet activity.

3) Break up Plaque Build Up - Of course after you reduce cholesterol absorption and reduce cholesterol oxidation which forms plaque, you’ll still have some plaque build up that needs to be broken up. Not only does plaque build up cause heart disease but it also causes damage to arteries. Omega 3 fish oil has many properties, but two of the most important properties in relation to heart health is that it breaks up plaque build up, helps your body absorb more phytosterols, helps increase HDL cholesterol levels, reduces tryglyceride levels, increases blood flow to the heart as well as the brain for better memory function and many other benefits not related to heart health.

In addition to lowering cholesterol there are 4 all natural ingredients that help lower high blood pressure

Tripeptides - Tripeptides are derived from cutured milk and were discovered in the early 1900s by Japanese scientist. Nearly a century of research led to the patented process of isolating the tripeptides that help maintain healthy blood pressure. A potent therapeutic dose of these tripeptides has been shown to protect the artery wall.

Passionflower - A creeping perennial vine, recognized for its natural stress relieving and relaxing abilities.

Potassium - Potassium is an element critical to helping your body maintain the proper balance of potassium and sodium necessary for optimum heart and blood vessel health

Pomegranate - Pomegranate is a powerful antioxidant, and has been shown to possess stress-relieving properties, A three year study found that pomegranate helps promote healthy blood flow.

Your heart is the most important muscle in your body and your body can’t live without it. Start taking the right nutrients today and make heart disease beg for mercy. All of these ingredients are clinically proven and not based on folklore and home remedies. All of these ingredients are on the FDA approved ingredients list as well as being approved by the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP). For more information about these all natural ingredients as well as quality supplements and other ways to lower your High blood pressure and Cholesterol, call Toll Free 1-877-210-3216

General Description

Garlic belongs to the same family as the onion. Both these herbs have been given special importance in Ayurveda due to their immense curative properties. The first recorded incidence of garlic as a medicinal herb dates as back as 4500 B.C. when the pyramid builders in Egypt were made to eat garlic cloves everyday for building their health. It has also been recommended by Hippocrates, who is regarded as the Father of Medicine.

Garlic is a biennial herb, but it is generally cultivated as an annual herb for convenience. Morphologically, it is a short herb with fibrous roots, a condensed stem and flattened leaves. The separate cloves of the garlic are enclosed together to form a single bulb. There could be anywhere between six and thirty-five cloves in one bulb of garlic.

It is called as lahsuna in the Indian language and its binomial name is Allium sativum. It contains all the vitamins necessary in the human diet, such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin (B complex vitamins) and ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Garlic contains minerals such as calcium, phosphorus and iron. It also contains iodine, sulfur and chlorine in trace amounts. Besides all these, garlic contains allicin, allisatin I and allisatin II, all of which have been identified to be agents helpful in bringing down high blood pressure.

Properties

Garlic is known for the following curative properties:-

(i) Garlic contains antiseptic properties. Hence it is used in preventing infections.

(ii) Garlic is hypotensive, i.e. it has capacity to bring down blood pressure.

(iii) Garlic is a stimulant for appetite.

(iv) Due to its rich vitamin and mineral content, garlic is very good for the hair.

(v) Garlic increases the inner body strength and vitality.

(vi) Garlic can reduce cholesterol accumulated in the arteries. That explains its widespread use in the treatment of heart problems.

(vii) The strong juices of the garlic dissolve the mucus content in the respiratory tract.

(viii) Garlic increases perspiration, which helps in the removal of the toxins from the sweat pores.

(ix) Garlic is anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic in nature.

(x) Garlic has notable aphrodisiacal properties. It is used in the treatment of many sexual problems.

Uses

Garlic is almost worshipped in Ayurvedic medicine since it is a single treatment for a wide variety of diseases. The following are the diseases in which garlic proves to be very beneficial.

(i) Acne

Garlic is used in the treatment of acne. If the pimples are rubbed with a cut clove of garlic several times a day, then they will disappear without leaving a scar behind. Garlic must also be included in the diet since it is a blood-purifier and can treat acne from within.

(ii) Asthma

Garlic is a sure remedy for asthma patients. Each night before retiring to bed, asthmatic patients must drink a glassful of milk in which three cloves of garlic have been boiled. Another remedy is very popular in making asthmatic attacks less severe. It is as follows: Peel a clove of garlic, crush it and boil it in 120 milliliters of pure malt vinegar. Cool it, then strain it and add an equal quantity of honey in it. Preserve this syrup in a clean bottle. Take one or two teaspoons of this syrup with a decoction of fenugreek twice each day, after darkness sets in.

(iii) Digestive Problems

Garlic is unanimously considered by all Ayurvedic doctors to be the best herb in the treatment of digestive problems. Daily consumption of garlic in the food helps in the proper movement of the intestines, which helps in digestion. Due to its antiseptic properties, garlic is also good remedy for preventing the inflammations of the gastric canal. Garlic aids in the treatment of colitis, dysentery and diarrhea.

(iv) Heart Problems

Garlic has only recently been proven in the west to be a suitable remedy for heart ailments. It can disintegrate the cholesterol that collects in the arteries, and hence treat the problem of atherosclerosis. It is clinically proven that the chances of a heart attack are significantly lowered if a person who has suffered a minor heart attack begins taking three cloves of garlic on a daily basis.

(v) High Blood Pressure

Due to the rich chemicals present in it, garlic is taken as an effective treatment for high blood pressure. Garlic reduces the spasms of the arteries and reduces the pressure. In addition, it also modifies the heart rhythm and dizziness, shortness of breath and flatulence.

(vi) Parasites

Garlic is an excellent worm expeller. It is also used in treating bacterial infections in the alimentary canal. The best thing about using garlic as a remedy for bacterial parasites is that it kills the harmful bacteria without harming the useful ones.

(vii) Pneumonia

A decoction of garlic is boiled in milk. This is prepared by mixing one gram of garlic in 250 milliliters of milk and one liter of water. All this is boiled till it reduces to one-fourth of the amount. This is to be taken thrice a day. This is a wonderful remedy for pneumonia.

(viii) Ringworm

Garlic is rubbed over ringworm. This burns out the infection and the skin falls off, leaving healed skin behind.

(ix) Rheumatism

Garlic is used in rheumatism treatment due to its anti-inflammatory properties. In addition to rheumatism, garlic is also used for the treatment of lumbago and arthritis.

(x) Sexual Problems

Garlic has aphrodisiac properties. It is used to enhance libido in men and women. It is used as a sex rejuvenator, i.e. it can improve sexual activity that has been damaged due to accident or disease. It is important for people who overindulge in sex to protect them from nervous exhaustion.

(xi) Tuberculosis

Garlic is used for tuberculosis in the form of a decoction boiled in milk.

(xii) Whooping Cough

In cases of whooping cough, syrup of garlic is given in doses of five drops sweetened with some sugar. This is given thrice a day, and the dosage must be increased if the problem becomes more violent.

(xiii) Wounds

Due to its antiseptic properties, garlic can be effectively used in the treatment of wounds and ulcers. A good antiseptic lotion can be prepared for washing wounds by dissolving one part of garlic juice in three parts of distilled water. When the wound is washed with this lotion, there is marked improvement in a very short time. This also relieves the pain that is associated with wounds due to damage to the nerves.

Special Ayurvedic Preparations

Mostly garlic is eaten raw, and is prescribed to be an integral part of the diet.

Precautions

Garlic is a component of the main Indian diet, and there are no problems associated with its intake. Up to six cloves of garlic can be taken per day without any side-effects. The only problem with garlic is that it gives a bad taste in the mouth and pungent breath due to its sulfur content.

The cholesterol that is found in your blood is highly related to heart problems. That means that depending on your cholesterol levels, you can say if you are at risk or not. The main risk factor in having any heart related problems are high cholesterol levels in your blood. As the levels of cholesterol in your blood are higher, the bigger your chances are of developing a heart condition. High cholesterol levels can also lead to a heart attack. There is a very big number of people that die from heart problems that were cause by cholesterol. There are even more those that suffer from a heart disease because they did not take care of their cholesterol levels.

Cholesterol is a substance that is similar to fat and it is found in your blood. If there is too much cholesterol in the blood, this usually builds up in your arteries. In time, the cholesterol clucks build up and start to narrow the arteries, thus slowing the flow of your blood. The build up of cholesterol can also block your arteries. Because, the blood takes oxigen to your heart, when the flow is blocked, oxygen can not reach your heart anymore. This is terrifying consequence of cholesterol. If the blood is blocked, because of cholesterol and it can not reach even a small part of your heart, a heart attack occurs.

The high level of cholesterol has no symptoms. This is the main reason why a lot of people do not even know that their cholesterol levels are higher than normal. So in order to find out what your cholesterol levels are, a doctor must be seen. It is crucial that you know the levels of cholesterol before it is too late. A high cholesterol level can be lowered, thus also lowering your risk of having any heart problems. It does not matter if you are a child, an adult or an older person. A cholesterol level check must be done in all people. Then, if you find out that your levels of cholesterol are higher than normal, lowering the cholesterol level is the next step you have to take.

All people that have over twenty years of life should do the cholesterol test called lipoprotein. Some blood will be taken and by analyzing it, the cholesterol numbers that you have will be revealed. Before taking this cholesterol test, you must fast about twelve hours. What this test of cholesterol tells you are: total cholesterol levels, LDL cholesterol levels- the “bad ” cholesterol in your blood, the level of ‘good ‘ cholesterol, which is the HDL cholesterol and finally triglycerides level.

For greater resources on cholesterol please review http://www.cholesterol-info-guide.com/low-cholesterol-diet.htm or http://www.cholesterol-info-guide.com/cholesterol-levels.htm

It is not by opportunity that garlic is indigenous to central Asia, the area where people live the longest, and the occurrence of cancer is the lowest known. The ancient Egyptians included garlic in the diet of the slaves who built the pyramids.

History attributes many properties to garlic, and most of them are proven by scientific means. Conceivably garlic is the vegetal medicine with the most scientifically established properties.

The complete plant, but especially the bulb contains alliin a (a sulphured glycoside), and enzyme (alliinase), vitamins A, B1, B2, C, and niacin (a vitamin of the B group). Alliin does not smell, but by the action of alliinase, which releases and acts when garlic is crushed, it is altered first into alliicine, and then into diallyl disulphide (the genine of the glycoside), which are the most important active principles which give garlic its typical smell.

Alliin and diallyl dysulphur are highly unstable substances, which melt quite easily into liquids and gases. When transported by the blood, they infuse all tissues and organs of the body. Thus they act on the whole body, though more powerfully on the organs through which they are eliminated: Bronchi and lungs, kidneys, and skin.

In high doses, garlic produces a decrease in blood pressure, both highest and lowest. It has vasodilating effects, and is recommend for people suffering from hypertension, arteriosclerosis, and heart dysfunctions (angina pectoris or heart attacks).

Garlic helps with anticlotting of platelets (prevents an excessive tendency of platelets to group, forming clots), and fibrinolytic (disintegrates fibrin, the protein that forms blood clots). This makes garlic highly recommended for people suffering from thrombosis, embolism, or vascular accidents due to the lack of blood flow.

It decreases the level of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) in the blood, because it makes its absorption by the intestine more difficult. It has been proven that in the hours following a breakfast of toast with butter, the level of cholesterol increases 20%, however when the bread is rubbed with garlic, even if it has butter, this increase does not take place.

Since it normalizes the level of sugar in blood, it is a must for people suffering from diabetes, and obesity.

Garlic is also an antibiotic and antiseptic. It is proven to be effective against the following micro-organisms:

- Escherichia coli, which causes intestinal dysbacteriosis and urinary infections.

- Salmonella typhi, which causes typhoid, and other Salmonella genus that cause severe intestinal afflictions.

- Shigella dysenteriae, which causes bacillus dysentery.

- Staphylococcus and streptococcus, which causes furuncles (infected blemishes) and other skin infections.

- Diverse types of fungi, yeasts, and some viruses, such as herpes. The active principles of garlic are supposed to interact with the nucleic acids of the virus, thus limiting its proliferation.

The bacteria-killing powers of garlic inside the intestine are vigilant with bad bacteria, respecting the normal bacteria, for which it is good. This makes garlic better than most known antibiotics, since it regulates good intestinal bacteria instead of destroying it all.

Its use is recommended:

- In diarrhea, gastroenteritis, and colitis.

- In salmonellosis (intestinal infections usually caused by spoiled food.

- In intestinal bacterial imbalance (alteration of microbial balance of the intestine) often caused by the use of antibiotics.

- In fermentative dyspepsia, which cause flatulence in the colon.

- In urinary infections (cystitis and pyelonephritis), often caused by Esterichia coli.

- In diverse bronchial affections (acute and chronic bronchitis), because when the dysulphur of allyl is liberated through the breath, it acts directly on the bronchial mucous membrane. It is also an expectorant and antiasthmatic.

Garlic stimulates the activity of the defensive cells of the body, both lymphocytes and macrophages. These cells, which flow with the blood, protect us from microorganisms, and furthermore they are able to destroy cancerous cells, at least in the initial phases of tumor formation. Garlic is now used with some success as a complement in the treatment of AIDS.

It is also active against ascarides and oxyuridae (little white worms that provokes anal itching in children). The most frequent types of intestinal parasites.

It also prevents malignant tumors especially digestive cancers. This is likely due to its regulating action on intestinal bacteria, and normalizing action on the digestive function, though this may be related to its effects on the set of chemical reactions of the body (metabolism). Remember we only recommend it as a preventative substance.

Garlic is also widely used as a corn remover. Applying a piece of garlic mashed onto a callus, covering it with a plaster (Band-Aid). Within two or three days, the corn will soften and its inflammation will reduce, thus allowing easier extirpation.