Health & Nutrition Facts for Bodybuilders

Lyme disease is probably the most common vectored disease in the world. Its causative agent is a spirochete: Borrelia burgdorferi . Borrelia normally requires both a tick host of the Ixodes genus and a warm-blooded host to complete its infectious cycle, but insects may occasionally also be vectors, transmitting Borrelia from one host to another. Spirochetes undergo multiple changes as the ticks are biting their warm-blooded host. But these pale in comparison with the changes that occur inside a human. Inside the Human If left alone once inside a warm-blooded host, spirochetes move through the blood stream, reproduce slowly, produce blebs, change shape, and move into the host's organs and tissues where they give off toxins that often reduce host mobility. Reduced host mobility increases the probability that new ticks will find and bite the infected host and transfer the spirochetes to more vertebrates. Spirochetes Release “Cluster Bombs” Each active bacterium releases int...

Most people have been or know someone affected by Lyme Disease. The ticks that transmit this disease are found in all of the US, Canada, Mexico, European and most Asian countries. When they bite, they can inject the bacteria that cause Lyme disease and other diseases. Early Symptoms of Lyme Disease Lyme disease begins after a tick bite. This is sometimes followed by a bulls-eye rash, becoming exhausted in the middle of the day – totally incapable of continuing without collapsing in bed, flu-like symptoms that may or may not go away, or suddenly developing arthritis. Since any of these symptoms could be something else, diagnosing LD is difficult. Diagnosis Difficulties The bulls-eye rash is diagnostic for Lyme disease and treatment often begins with no further testing, but almost 50% of people affected have no or atypical rashes. When Lyme disease is suspected, doctors send blood samples for testing. This test looks for antibodies in response to the bacterium. If the...

Have you laughed at all today? Do you know the last time you laughed? How about laughed out loud. LOL. How about laughing while watching a great TV show? Can you even remember the last time you laughed? Catherine Kalamis, in “Laugh Your Way to Health” (Choice magazine, March 2001), said that a 10-minute bout of laughing can have the following effects: As the person laughs, carbon dioxide is driven out of the body and replaced by oxygen-rich air, providing physical and mental freshness. Laughing can produce anti-inflammatory agents that can aid back pain or arthritis. Laughing encourages muscles to relax and exercises muscles all over the body, from the scalp to the legs. Laughing reduces levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. It is also thought that laughter may possibly aid immune system responses, (though the evidence for that is primarily anecdotal). Laughing exercises facial muscles to prevent sagging. Laughing boosts the production of “feel-good” endorphin hormones. Gigg...

Misdiagnosis of Lyme disease is rampant. In the 40% to 45% of cases where there is no rash after infection, the early symptoms of Lyme disease are difficult to classify. Diagnostic tests are only 50% to 60% reliable. The disease mimics many other conditions, and some doctors will not diagnose it based on symptoms if test results are negative. The Basis for Misdiagnosis Without seeing a tick or rash, the symptoms are varied, vague, and mimic many maladies: flu, chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, neurological disorders, cardiac arrhythmias, muscle weakness, and others. During the progression of Lyme disease, the symptoms change as bacteria move out of the blood, transform, and mutate. The immune response is depressed, and the organism becomes extremely difficult to detect. In addition, the bacteria produce blebs (packages of active Borrelia enzymes) that attach to antibodies and divert T-cells (attack cells) from the bacteria the...

Tears may be dried up— But the heart, never. —Marguerite de Valois What makes a healthy heart? Certainly a healthful diet that includes Omega 3 fatty acids, regular exercise, adequate sleep, very moderate alcohol consumption, and no smoking. But did you realize that your emotional health is actually a better predictor of heart health than your other healthful habits? Scientist William Harvey (1578-1657) noticed a connection between heart and emotional health as early as 1625. Early physician William Osler said that the typical heart disease patient is “a keen and ambitious man, the indicator of whose engine is always ‘full speed ahead’.” Of course, to any woman reading Osler’s observation, it is clear that things have changed for our gender; today, heart disease is the leading cause of death for today’s woman, who seems always on the go and buffeted by conflicting demands. Even so, the connection between emotions and heart disease is somewhat poorly understood. Anger, depress...

What is Duane Syndrome? Duane syndrome (DS) is an eye movement disorder that is present at birth and characterized by a limited ability to move an eye inward towards the nose, outward towards the ear or in both directions. The frequency of DS in the general population of individuals with eye movement disorders is approximately 1-5%. About 40% of patients develop esotropia, a head turn toward the eye to maintain single binocular vision, or they maintain a straight head but accept esotropia, and suppression, if available. A child with Duane Syndrome My son was born with DS and diagnosed around 18 months of age. I had noticed a slight “lazy” eye and discussed it with our pediatrician. The recommendation was to watch it until he was a year old. As the year progressed the eye became worse and we were referred to a pediatric ophthalmologist. During the initial visit eye exercises, dilation and a vision screening were completed. The signs and symptoms the ophthalmologist discussed w...

Some great ideas for headaches . Brew Up Some Rosemary - Rosemary helps keep blood vessels dilated. Use 1 teaspoon of rosemary per cup of hot water, cover, and steep for 10 minutes. Strain, and sip a cup three times a day. Or Try Ginger. Ginger inhibits a substance called thromboxane A2 that prevents the release of substances that make blood vessels dilate. In other words, it can help keep blood flowing on an even keel, which is essential in migraine prevention. Grate fresh ginger into juice, nosh on Japanese pickled ginger, use fresh or powdered ginger when you cook, or nibble on a piece or two of crystallized ginger candy daily. Even if you've never had a migraine, you've almost certainly encountered other kinds of headache. Tension-type headaches are the most common variety. Marked by tightness in the head, neck and shoulders, they affect more than 75 percent of all headache sufferers, according to the American Council for Headache Information. Sinus headaches ar...

Anyone who experiences chest pain often feels a sense of alarm. People have been taught to see a physician for chest pain because it may be a heart attack. There is nothing wrong with such a concern. However, it does not mean that all episodes of chest pain are from coronary artery disease. There are other causes, including non-cardiac ones. Cardiac Causes Cardiac chest pain that isn't a heart attack can involve the outside of the heart. Normally, it sits within a fibrous sac called the pericardium. This sac can become inflamed (pericarditis) from various causes, including infection (e.g. virus, tuberculosis), autoimmune conditions (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus), uremia from kidney failure, certain medications, and radiation injury. The pain is usually in the center of the chest and is notably worsened when one takes a deep breath (pleuritic chest pain), swallows, or lies down. In contrast, this same pain can be lessened with sitting up and leaning ...