Don’t Ruin Your Liver with Harmful Habits (MUST READ)

In humans, the liver is very important because of the numerous functions it performs. Scientists say this vital organ, being one of the largest in humans, detoxifies the body by ridding it of harmful substances, while it also produces the biochemical substances that are necessary for proper digestion of food.

The presence of a healthy liver in the body is

what makes the blood what it is, experts say, as the liver produces the albumin – a major component of blood serum.

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A General Practitioner, Dr. Daniel Ogunboyejo, says when a woman is pregnant, in the first three months, the liver is the main site of red blood cell production in the foetus. And even after the baby is born, this organ produces the hormone that plays an important role in the child’s growth and continues to aid the building up of organs and tissues in adults.

Ogunboyejo also notes that when a person’s blood pressure becomes low (hypotension), the liver, working in tandem with the kidneys, produces angiotensinogen – a hormone that is responsible for raising the blood pressure when activated by another enzyme (renin) that is released when the kidney senses low blood pressure.

Experts say the liver is thought to be responsible for up to 500 separate functions, usually in combination with other systems and organs. And that is why they conclude that this organ is necessary for survival, as there is no way to compensate for its absence in the body in the long term.

Scientists say the liver is basically the ‘body’s filter.’ The function of the liver is to process medications, alcohol, and other such chemicals and toxins and remove them from the body. “Therefore, anything you put into your body will, at some point and in some form, pass through the liver,” Ogunboyejo warns.

Liver destroyers

At a media briefing about Hepatitis C, a specialist in hepatology, gastroenterology and endoscopy, Dr. Aderemi Oluyemi, warns that numerous activities can jeopardise the liver, leading to damages that are sometimes irreversible unless the patient goes for liver transplantation – an extreme and expensive procedure that is not available in the country.

How can you damage your liver? These ways…

Abusing anabolic steroids

Many people, especially athletes, body builders and weight lifters, use anabolic steroids without supervision by a competent physician. Yet experts say these synthetic variants of the male sex hormone (testosterone), if used regularly and for a long period, can raise the risk of developing liver cancer as well as some other cancers.

It can also result in liver tumours; the liver may be enlarged, become deep red in colour and fragile.

“It may also lead to haemorrhagic cystic degeneration of the liver – a rare condition that requires urgent surgery,” Ogunboyejo notes.

Unguarded antibiotics, painkiller use

Many of the over-the-counter drugs that we use casually without consulting the doctor affect our liver the way we don’t imagine, Ogunboyejo says.

For instance, physicians say drugs used to treat epilepsy (anticonvulsants), cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins), acetaminophen (painkillers) and isotretinoin (used to treat severe acne) all have terrible effects on the liver.

Worse still, a study published in the journal Gastroenterology also shows that of all types of prescription drugs, antibiotics are the ones most likely to cause liver damage.

Ogunboyejo laments that in most cases, people don’t just take these drugs in isolation; rather, they may combine two at a time. For instance, it isn’t improbable for people to take a combination of antibiotics and paracetamol. “In which case, you increase your risks of liver damage exponentially,” the doctor warns.

The physician therefore counsels, “If you have recently finished a course of antibiotics, or if you have been taking them long-term, it is vital to ask your doctor for a liver function test to determine the health of your liver.”

Uncontrolled diabetes

According to Diabetologist/Medical Director, Rainbow Specialist Medical Centre, Lekki Phase 1, Dr. Afokoghene Isiavwe, people who are diabetic are more likely to develop liver damage than people with normal blood sugar level.

“More than people probably realise, diabetes has terrible effects on the liver. That is why I recommend that every diabetic has a blood test and ultrasound to check on the health of their liver annually,” she advises.

She adds that the closer you are to a healthy body weight, and the closer to normal your blood sugar level is, the better your liver’s health.

Impure water, alcohol use

What is the source of the water you drink? For the average Nigerian, we source our water from privately-owned wells or boreholes, which may not be bad enough if the wells are up to standard depth and the water sweet, odourless and colourless.

However, many people don’t know the ‘texture’ of their water, which may be hard or soft.

A study carried out by Scottish researchers show that those who drink ‘soft’ water and who also consume alcohol risk developing Alcoholic Liver Disease – a major killer.

Soft water is water which has relatively low concentration of calcium carbonate and other ions. It lathers with soap easily and contains few or no minerals such as calcium or magnesium ions.

The study author/liver transplant surgeon, Prof. Roger Williams, says those who drink soft water are exposed to the risk of liver damage because such waters contain lower levels of magnesium – the mineral that helps to protect the liver from the effects of alcohol.

But even on its own, Alcoholic Liver Disease occurs after years of heavy drinking, says a nutritionist, Dr. Tobi Lawrence. “Alcohol can cause inflammation in the liver; and over time, scarring and cirrhosis can occur. Cirrhosis is the final phase of alcoholic liver disease,” she counsels.

Lawrence notes that the longer the time you have been using alcohol, the higher your chances of getting liver disease go up.

“It is also based on the more alcohol you consume,” she warns; advising that even those who claim to be moderate drinkers can still have damaged liver if it’s a habit they persist in for a long period.

Smoking

Smoking is harmful to virtually every organ in your body. Scientists say there are over 60 chemicals in cigarette smoke, all of which have the potential to affect and disturb all parts of the human anatomy. These chemicals prevent the liver from performing its main function by making it to age and become less efficient at removing toxins from the body.

Fatty foods

Lawrence says foods that are processed and contain lots of preservatives, fats and cholesterol can cause the liver to become clogged with fat residue. Avoid processed, deep fried or fatty foods such as sausage, bacon, corned beef, etc., to allow the liver to unblock itself and regenerate its cells.

Symptoms of liver damage

Symptoms of liver diseases include weakness and fatigue, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, and yellow discolouration of the skin (jaundice).

Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of Malaria

What Is Malaria?
Malaria is a life-threatening disease. It is usually
transmitted through the bite of an infected
Anopheles mosquito. Infected mosquitoes carry the
Plasmodium parasite. When this mosquito bites you,
the parasite is released into your bloodstream.

Once the parasites are inside your body, they
travel to the liver, where they mature. After
several days, the mature parasites enter the
bloodstream and begin to infect red blood cells.
Within 48 to 72 hours, the parasites inside the red
blood cells multiply, causing the infected cells to
burst open. The parasites continue to infect red
blood cells, resulting in symptoms that occur in
two-to-three-day cycles.

What Causes Malaria?
Malaria can occur if a mosquito infected with the
Plasmodium parasite bites you. In addition, an
infected mother can pass the disease to her baby
at birth. This is known as congenital malaria.
Because malaria is transmitted by blood, it can also
be transmitted through:
•an organ transplant
•a transfusion
•shared use of needles or syringes
What Are the Symptoms of
Malaria?
Symptoms of malaria typically develop within 10
days to four weeks following the infection. In some
patients, symptoms may not develop for several
months. Some malarial parasites can enter the
body but will be dormant for long periods of time.
Common symptoms of malaria include:
shaking chills that are moderate to severe
•high fever
•profuse sweating
•headache
•nausea
•vomiting
•diarrhea
•anemia
•muscle pain
•convulsions
•coma
•bloody stools
•sore throat

How Is Malaria Treated?
Malaria is a life-threatening condition. Treatment
for the disease is typically provided in a hospital.
Your doctor will prescribe medications based on the
type of parasite that you have. In some instances,
the medication prescribed will not be effective.
Drug-resistant parasites have been reported.
These parasites make many drugs ineffective. If
this occurs, your doctor may need to change
medications or use more than one medication to
treat your condition.

Red Meat [suya] Shortens Lifespan - Experts

We've heard many times before that too much red meat is bad for us, but this study if more than 100,000 people still got the nation's attention. For the first time, researchers estimated the effect of red meat on a person's life span - and the news wasn't Good. 

On average, each additional serving of  saturated fat-filled red meat was associated with a  13% higher risk of dying during 28-year study. Processed meat products such as hot dogs, bacon, and salami were especially hazardous. But is there is an antidote available? Yes! Eating more fish, poultry, whole grains, and low-fat dairy may lower your risk of dying prematurely, scientific research has found. 

Why you shouldn't tattoo your body. - The Risk

I don't know the major reason why people tattoo their bodies. But to me, it's disgusting and unreasonable! It adds no beauty whatsoever or does it? 

Well, continue reading!... 

Tattoos breach the skin, which means that skin infections and other complications are possible, including: 

- Allergic reactions. Tattoo dyes — especially red, green, yellow and blue dyes — can cause allergic skin reactions, such as an itchy rash at the tattoo site. This can occur even years after you get the tattoo. 

- Skin infections. A skin infection is possible after tattooing. 

Other skin problems. Sometimes bumps called granulomas form around tattoo ink. 

Tattooing also can lead to keloids — raised areas caused by an overgrowth of scar tissue. 

- Bloodborne diseases. If the equipment used to create your tattoo is contaminated with infected blood, you can contract various bloodborne diseases — including tetanus, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. 

- MRI complications. Rarely, tattoos or permanent makeup might cause swelling or burning in the affected areas during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams. 

In some cases, tattoo pigments can 

interfere with the quality of the image. 

Medication or other treatment might be needed if you experience an allergic reaction to the tattoo ink or you develop an infection or other skin problem near a tattoo.

Few steps to combat Body Odour.

I have seen people with this stuff, It is very embarrassing. Perhaps you are one of them suffering from this uncoverable-ailment. Do some of the listed.

- Watch what you eat

Certain foods have the potential to make our sweat more pungent. A diet high in the red meat increases body odor as does curry, garlic, and other spicy foods. “We don't fully digest garlic, curry and onions so they leave the pores with the sweat and create a strong smell,” explains Debra Jaliman, MD, author of Skin Rules: Trade Secrets from a Top New York Dermatologist.

- Shave your underarms

If you have a lot of hair under your arms, it slows the evaporation of sweat so that you have more bacteria. (If your crotch area is a problem, consider waxing. And take pit stops, meaning, if you exercise a lot or sweat a lot, wash under your arms a few times a day and change clothing.

- Wear breathable clothing

Natural fibers (linen, silk, cotton, light

wool like merino) can breathe and

decrease sweating. Also some of the high-tech fibers wick away moisture. Many exercise clothing now offer high-tech fabric that wicks away moisture from the body, so bacteria doesn’t have a chance to get at the sweat. (Clothing tags will identify them.) Dressing in layers also helps soak up the sweat.

- Use antiperspirant and deodorant

An antiperspirant blocks the sweating action while deodorants have fragrance to mask the smell. Deodorants also make the skin more acidic, making it less hospitable for bacteria. If a regular product doesn’t work for you, try a stronger over-the counter antiperspirant.

- Apply twice

Studies have shown that applying

deodorant in the morning on dry skin and at night before bed makes a big difference.

Night-time application allows the

ingredients to get into the sweat glands and clog them, as opposed to the morning, when sweat glands may already be full.

- Bath Twice daily

- Avoid wearing really really dark clothes.

- Change shoes often

If foot odor is your problem, give shoes a chance to dry inside by changing them often. Dust them and your feet with foot powder to maintain dryness.

Share to your social networks if this orientate you. 

20 Ways To Never Get Cancer

First, the good news: You probably won't get cancer.

That is, if you have a healthy lifestyle. "As many as 70% of known causes of cancers are avoidable and related to lifestyle," says Thomas A. Sellers, PhD, associate director for cancer prevention and control at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. Diet, exercise, and avoidance of tobacco products are, of course, your first line of defense, but recent research has uncovered many small, surprising ways you can weave even more disease prevention into your everyday life.

Try these novel strategies and your risk of cancer could dwindle even more.

1. Filter your tap water

You'll reduce your exposure to known or suspected carcinogens and hormone-disrupting chemicals. A report from the President's Cancer Panel on how to reduce exposure to carcinogens suggests that home-filtered tap water is a safer bet than bottled water, whose quality often is not higher—and in some cases is worse—than that of municipal sources, according to a study by the Environmental Working Group. (Consumer Reports' top picks for faucet-mounted filters: Culligan, Pur Vertical, and the Brita OPFF-100.) Store water in stainless steel or glass to avoid chemical contaminants such as BPA that can leach from plastic bottles.

2. Stop topping your tank

So say the EPA and the President's Cancer Panel: Pumping one last squirt of gas into your car after the nozzle clicks off can spill fuel and foil the pump's vapor recovery system, designed to keep toxic chemicals such as cancer-causing benzene out of the air, where they can come in contact with your skin or get into your lungs.

3. Marinate meat first

Processed, charred, and well-done meats can contain cancer-causing heterocyclic amines, which form when meat is seared at high temperatures, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which get into food when it's charcoal broiled. "The recommendation to cut down on grilled meat has really solid scientific evidence behind it," says Cheryl Lyn Walker, PhD, a professor of carcinogenesis at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. If you do grill, add rosemary and thyme to your favorite marinade and soak meat for at least an hour before cooking. The antioxidant-rich spices can cut HCAs by as much as 87%, according to research at Kansas State University.

4. Caffeinate every day

Java lovers who drank 5 or more cups of caffeinated coffee a day had a 40% decreased risk of brain cancer, compared with people who drank the least, in a 2010 British study. A 5-cup-a-day coffee habit reduces risks of oral and throat cancer almost as much. Researchers credit the caffeine: Decaf had no comparable effect. But coffee was a more potent protector against these cancers than tea, which the British researchers said also offered protection against brain cancer.

5. Water down your risk

Drinking plenty of water and other liquids may reduce the risk of bladder cancer by diluting the concentration of cancer-causing agents in urine and helping to flush them through the bladder faster. Drink at least 8 cups of liquid a day, suggests the American Cancer Society.

6. Load up on green greens

Next time you're choosing salad fixings, reach for the darkest varieties. The chlorophyll that gives them their color is loaded with magnesium, which some large studies have found lowers the risk of colon cancer in women. "Magnesium affects signaling in cells, and without the right amount, cells may do things like divide and replicate when they shouldn't," says Walker. Just 1/2 cup of cooked spinach provides 75 mg of magnesium, 20% of the daily value.

7. Snack on Brazil nuts

They're a stellar source of selenium, an antioxidant that lowers the risk of bladder cancer in women, according to research from Dartmouth Medical School. Other studies have found that people with high blood levels of selenium have lower rates of dying of lung cancer and colorectal cancer. Researchers think selenium not only protects cells from free radical damage but also may enhance immune function and suppress formation of blood vessels that nourish tumors.

8. Burn off your risk

Moderate exercise such as brisk walking 2 hours a week cuts risk of breast cancer 18%. Regular workouts may lower your risks by helping you burn fat, which otherwise produces its own estrogen, a known contributor to breast cancer. (Try these 14 Walking Workouts That Blast Fat.)

9. Skip the dry cleaner

A solvent known as perc (short for perchloroethylene) that's used in traditional dry cleaning may cause liver and kidney cancers and leukemia, according to an EPA finding backed in early 2010 by the National Academies of Science. The main dangers are to workers who handle chemicals or treated clothes using older machines, although experts have not concluded that consumers are also at increased cancer risk. Less toxic alternatives: Hand-wash clothes with mild soap and air-dry them, spot cleaning if necessary with white vinegar.

10. Ask about breast density

Women whose mammograms have revealed breast density readings of 75% or more have a breast cancer risk 4 to 5 times higher than that of women with low density scores, according to recent research. One theory is that denser breasts result from higher levels of estrogen—making exercise particularly important (see #8). "Shrinking your body fat also changes growth factors, signaling proteins such as adipokines and hormones like insulin in ways that tend to turn off cancer-promoting processes in cells," Walker says.

11. Head off cell phone risks

Use your cell phone only for short calls or texts, or use a hands-free device that keeps the phone—and the radio frequency energy it emits—away from your head. The point is more to preempt any risk than to protect against a proven danger: Evidence that cell phones increase brain cancer risk is "neither consistent nor conclusive," says the President's Cancer Panel report. But a number of review studies suggest there's a link.

12. Block cancer with color

Choosing your outdoor outfit wisely may help protect against skin cancer, say Spanish scientists. In their research, blue and red fabrics offered significantly better protection against the sun's UV rays than white and yellow ones did. Don't forget to put on a hat: Though melanoma can appear anywhere on the body, it's more common in areas the sun hits, and researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have found that people with melanomas on the scalp or neck die at almost twice the rate of people with the cancer on other areas of the body.

13. Pick a doc with a past

Experience—lots of it—is critical when it comes to accurately reading mammograms. A study from the University of California, San Francisco, found that doctors with at least 25 years' experience were more accurate at interpreting images and less likely to give false positives. Ask about your radiologist's track record. If she is freshly minted or doesn't check a high volume of mammograms, get a second read from someone with more mileage.

14. Eat clean foods

The President's Cancer Panel recommends buying meat free of antibiotics and added hormones, which are suspected of causing endocrine problems, including cancer. The report also advises that you purchase produce grown without pesticides and wash conventionally grown food thoroughly to remove residues. (The foods with the most pesticides: celery, peaches, strawberries, apples, and blueberries. See the full list of dirtiest fruits and vegetables here.) "At least 40 known carcinogens are found in pesticides and we should absolutely try to reduce exposure," Sellers says.

15. Do a folic acid check

The B vitamin, essential for women who may become or are pregnant to prevent birth defects, is a double-edged sword when it comes to cancer risk. Consuming too much of the synthetic form (not folate, found in leafy green veggies, orange juice, and other foods) has been linked to increased colon cancer risk, as well as higher lung cancer and prostate cancer risks. Rethink your multivitamin, especially if you eat a lot of cereal and fortified foods. A CDC study discovered that half of supplement users who took supplements with more than 400 mcg of folic acid exceeded 1,000 mcg per day of folic acid. Most supplements pack 400 mcg. Individual supplements (of vitamin D and calcium, for instance) may be a smarter choice for most women who aren't thinking of having kids.

16. Up your calcium intake

Milk's main claim to fame may also help protect you from colon cancer. Those who took calcium faithfully for 4 years had a 36% reduction in the development of new precancerous colon polyps 5 years after the study had ended, revealed Dartmouth Medical School researchers. (They tracked 822 people who took either 1,200 mg of calcium every day or a placebo.) Though the study was not on milk itself, you can get the same amount of calcium in three 8-ounce glasses of fat-free milk, along with an 8-ounce serving of yogurt or a 2- to 3-ounce serving of low-fat cheese daily.

17. Commit to whole grains

You know whole wheat is better for you than white bread. Here's more proof why you should switch once and for all: If you eat a lot of things with a high glycemic load—a measurement of how quickly food raises your blood sugar—you may run a higher risk of colorectal cancer than women who eat low-glycemic-load foods, found a Harvard Medical School study involving 38,000 women. The problem eats are mostly white: white bread, pasta, potatoes, and sugary pastries. The low-glycemic-load stuff comes with fiber.

18. Pay attention to pain

If you're experiencing a bloated belly, pelvic pain, and an urgent need to urinate, see your doctor. These symptoms may signal ovarian cancer, particularly if they're severe and frequent. Women and physicians often ignore these symptoms, and that's the very reason that this disease can be deadly. When caught early, before cancer has spread outside the ovary, the relative 5-year survival rate for ovarian cancer is a jaw-dropping 90 to 95%.

19. Avoid unnecessary scans

CT scans are a great diagnostic tool, but they deliver much more radiation than x-rays and may be overused, says Barton Kamen, MD, PhD, chief medical officer for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. In fact, researchers suggest that one-third of CT scans could be unnecessary. High doses of radiation can trigger leukemia, so make sure scans are not repeated if you see multiple doctors, and ask if another test, such as an ultrasound or MRI, could substitute.

20. Drop 10 pounds

Being overweight or obese accounts for 20% of all cancer deaths among women and 14% among men, notes the American Cancer Society. (You're overweight if your body mass index is between 25 and 29.9; you're obese if it's 30 or more.) Plus, losing excess pounds reduces the body's production of female hormones, which may protect against breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and ovarian cancer. Even if you're not technically overweight, gaining just 10 pounds after the age of 30 increases your risk of developing breast, pancreatic, and cervical, among other cancers.

Foods men and women over 40 should eat.

Studies suggest that the amount of energy burnt while resting begins to drop by the age of 30, and by a further seven per cent with every subsequent decade, so if you continue eating as you did in your 20s, you’ll start putting on weight.

From our fourth decade onwards, the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes becomes a concern – lead an unhealthy lifestyle and your cholesterol levels and blood pressure will rise. The good news is there are foods proven to fight these concerns. 

Here are the items:

- OATS

Tip: Oats help reduce cholesterol

WHY? Oats contain beta-glucans, a soluble fibre that can help lower the unwanted form of cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL).

Avenanthramides – antioxidants unique to oats – protect against atherosclerosis (the build-up of plaque on artery walls), so giving oats an advantage over other grains.

Reason: Researchers conclude that eating just 3g of oats daily is enough to reduce total cholesterol by five to ten per cent.

It is estimated that the risk of developing heart disease drops by two per cent for every one per cent reduction in total cholesterol.

This is a must for the 50-plus group, as it is in this decade that heart-disease risk shoots up.

- CHERRIES

WHY? Cherries are useful in combating several conditions common in middle age, including gout and arthritis. They are a rich source of the antioxidant anthocyanin.

Reason: Gout, which affects mainly men, is linked to raised levels of uric acid, forming crystals within the small joints. In a trial, researchers gave healthy participants 200g of cherries at breakfast. They noted that the rate at which uric acid was excreted increased by 60 per cent.

- ALMONDS

WHY? Benefits range from improved blood-sugar levels to reducing cholesterol.

Reason: A study revealed that 20 adults eating 60g of almonds daily for four weeks showed a nine per cent reduction in blood-sugar, suggesting almonds could offer protection against cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Another study took 22 adults and replaced about a third of their usual sources of fat with almonds. After six weeks they noted a six per cent reduction in ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol, while their ‘good’ HDL cholesterol increased by six per cent.

Tips: Almonds benefit blood sugar levels

- OILY FISH

WHY? Omega 3 fats in these fish can help lower heart rate and blood pressure, and reduce the risk of irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia).

Reason: The best sources of omega 3 fats are salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardines and herring. A trial found that women who ate oily fish on a regular basis experienced the lowest incidence of strokes. Fish must be eaten at least four times a week for optimal benefits.

Tips: Eating raw fish such as sashimi will protect the beneficial fats.

Omega 3: Herring, salmon, mackerel, tuna and sardines are recommended sources of Omega 3

- SOY BEANS

WHY? Isoflavones in soy beans have been linked to lowering cholesterol, increasing bone density in post-menopausal women and improving male fertility.

Reason: Soy-rich beans should be consumed two-three times a week to improve bone density

After 12 weeks it was noted that high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the good type of cholesterol, had increased by 3.7 per cent while total cholesterol had reduced by 5.5 per cent.

Levels of the protein osteocalcin also

increased in the blood, benefiting bone density.

Tip: They should be eaten twice or three times a week.

Soy can influence hormone levels and over- consumption is not recommended for pre-menopausal women without the advice of an endocrinologist.

In men, the isoflavones can have a mild effect on testosterone.

- TOMATOES

WHY? Tomatoes are an excellent source of the antioxidant lycopene. They offer a degree of protection against the formation and spread of cancer cells as well as protecting arteries from atherosclerosis.

Reason: Research has shown that drinking 150ml of tomato juice after 20 minutes of exercise offers protection against prostate, lung and stomach cancers and heart disease.