Archive for the ‘Coffee Health Problems’ Category
Thyroid Health Problems How, Why, and What to Do Next
The thyroid gland is a precision instrument that is vital in growth and metabolism. This means that not only is the thyroid gland essential for the function of our bodies, but also that it needs to be working perfectly for optimum health.
One of the most common forms of thyroid problem is hypothyroidism or an under active thyroid gland. The most prevalent form of hypothyroidism is thyroiditis or Hashimoto’s Disease, an auto immune disease affecting the thyroid gland. Hypothyroidism can also be caused by a thyroid gland that is inflamed or sluggish. Thyroid problems can be due to iodine deficiency, an after effect of surgery or medication, or dysfunction of the pituitary gland. First, let’s look at the symptoms and diagnosis of thyroid problems more closely.
What are the symptoms of hypothyroidism?
One of the first signs is usually weight gain, especially if the pounds pile on quickly and are almost impossible to remove. The skin could become dry and rough, the hair dry and coarse, and constant tiredness are also symptoms of this thyroid problem. There could also be memory loss, cramps and constipation. All of these symptoms or just a few can be present, which means diagnosis of a thyroid problem by your physician I recommended.
A blood test for levels of thyroid hormones TSH and T4 is the most precise way to diagnose a health problem. Now, most precise does not necessarily mean very precise, and in fact there is no specific level of thyroid hormones that is “normal” for everyone. Thyroid problems can appear in someone who has the same levels as someone else who seems perfectly fine. The range of thyroid levels considered normal is quite wide. Nevertheless, a blood test remains the best way to diagnose a thyroid health problem, such as hypothyroidism.
Treatment of hypothyroidism
The conventional treatment for thyroid health problems is Levothyroxine, a synthetic thyroid hormone. This treatment can be often very hit-and-miss, with constant monitoring needed as to how levothyroxine levels are affecting the condition. An alternate method of treating thyroid health problems is using a natural thyroid hormone, such as an extract from cows. Here however, there is always the fear of virus contamination. In both cases it is hoped that changing the thyroid hormone levels will treat the causes of the thyroid problem, rather than just temporarily relieve the symptoms.
Natural treatment of hypothyroidism
Vitamins and supplements are also vital when treating thyroid health problems, and for general thyroid support. Vitamins A and C help a lot, as does an increased intake of copper. It’s best to cut out stimulants like alcohol, tea and coffee, as well as smoking. Food with additives and preservatives should be avoided, while fresh vegetables and fruit should be increased to restore balance to your body.
There are also natural remedies being used to treat various thyroid problems. Kelp is said to be very effective and has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine. However, if you are using it to for thyroid support, you must be sure that the kelp comes from a reputed source as it can be contaminated with effluents if it has been harvested too close to the shore. Go-ji or the lyceum berry is also said to be good for thyroid problems, as is avena sativa, a wild oat plant.
The causes of thyroid problems are numerous, so the best way to maintain thyroid health is by taking a holistic approach to health and nutrition. In addition, various herbs and natural remedies are available that are believed to actively treat the problem. Only Mitamins can create a vitamin supplement that combines the essential vitamins and minerals needed for thyroid health with herbs that are known to help in the treatment of thyroid problems.
How Does Coffee Affect Your Body?
Coffee is a popular American beverage, but it does directly affect your body. The great news for you to know is that studies have recently shown that coffee definitely affects your body for the better through the use of antioxidants and other beneficial compounds!
A coffee bean does contain chemicals that are psychotropic for human consumption. These chemicals can be toxic when taken in large doses, but the great news is that in moderation, coffee is full of many beneficial compounds. The main reason that many people rely upon the use of their daily cup of Joe is for its caffeine content. Caffeine is a stimulant, which is why many people need coffee to start their day. Studies have shown that regular coffee consumption will work to increase focus and energy, making it perfect for the work environment. Coffee will also stimulate bowel production, which will work to keep you regular.
Coffee also has another unknown chemical agent that can stimulate adrenaline and cortisone for an added effect. There are decaf coffee varieties available if you want to avoid stimulation, and it is recommended to drink decaf coffee that has been produced through the Swiss Water Process. This is where the raw coffee beans are soaked in water to absorb the caffeine to remove it from the coffee product. This is much safer than using a chemical process to decaffeinate coffee beans. The decaf coffee does lose some of its natural flavors, but coffee decaffeination processes have come a long way, so you can still enjoy a delicious decaf cup of Joe.
Coffee is full of many different benefits, including the potential to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. When you drink coffee in moderation at around 2 cups per day, you are less likely to develop the onset of Alzheimer’s later in life. When coffee drinkers drank up to 3 to 5 cups per day, they had even less risk of developing this disease. Wonderful!
Coffee also lowers the risk for gallstones and gallbladder disease in both women and men. This was seen in a study performed by the Harvard School of Public Health, but the same effect was not seen for those who drink decaffeinated coffee. Along those lines, coffee also does have the potential to reduce the risk for Parkinson’s disease. This study was done on coffee drinkers who drank up to 3.5 cups per day compared to those who abstained from coffee drinking. The regular coffee drinkers were less likely to develop Parkinson’s disease as they aged.
So what is the moral to this story? If you are hoping to have long-term health benefits, then there is absolutely no harm in drinking Java on a daily basis. Studies have also shown that coffee drinking will increase IQ and short-term recall. If you are hoping to function better on a daily basis in your work life and at home, then drink to your health with a cup of Joe! Coffee provides a variety of daily health benefits, including disease prevention for a longer and healthier life.
Coffee: The Good, the Bad, and the Yummy
People have been drinking coffee in one form or another for hundreds of years. During those hundreds of years there has been debate after debate about whether or not it causes health problems. The simple truth is that there is no simple answer to the question.
Coffee has both pros and cons and these should be taken into consideration. For many people starting the day off without a cup of coffee would not even be an option. Many of these same people will drink multiple cups of coffee throughout the morning and some will continue throughout the day. These are the people who should look at both sides of the coin and then decide how much coffee they should drink.
Good Coffee
As any morning coffee drinker will attest, coffee is an excellent pick-me-up. Practically everyone knows that is true. However, what many people don’t realize is that coffee does have other good qualities. Some of those good qualities are actually health boosters, such as:
Research has shown that coffee may help reduce the risk of diabetes, particularly early stage diabetes. Coffee has been shown to reduce blood sugar levels and improve the body’s sensitivity to insulin. Some researchers say that 6 cups per day can reduce the risk of diabetes by fifty percent.
Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease both have been shown to be effected by coffee. People who drink coffee on a regular basis have an eighty percent less chance of having these diseases affect their body than non-coffee drinkers.
The risk of colon cancer is reduced by twenty –five percent by drinking just two cups of coffee per day. This may be due in part to coffee aiding in bowel functions.
Other health concerns that have been shown to be positively affected by coffee include: cirrhosis of the liver risk decreases by eighty percent and the chance of having gallstones is decreased as well.
Coffee contains many chemicals that are antibacterial and also contains more antioxidants than a cup of grape juice. The antioxidants help to fight infection and the chemicals found in coffee have antibacterial effects.
In addition, coffee has been shown to help prevent dental cavities and to be helpful to asthma patients. The latter is possibly due to the hot beverage opening up the passageways for breathing.
Bad Coffee
All of the good side effects do not mean that there are not some bad side effects. Coffee is addictive. People who drink coffee daily become addicted to the caffeine. The body becomes accustomed to having caffeine and when it does not it reacts in the form of headaches, depression-like moods, and imbalanced blood sugars.
Coffee can also slow the metabolic system down which makes it harder to maintain weight. There are some people who argue that coffee keeps them from eating, while this may be true, it is also true that metabolism slows down which stops weight loss.
Bottom of the Cup
The bottom of the cup, so to speak, is that just like anything else, coffee consumption should be in moderation. Coffee doesn’t have to be banned but it should be monitored and not over–indulged in.