The Andropause
Chocolate
To c or not to c
Mushrooms
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For a long time, women have observed that men suffer from mood swings similar to ours. In contrast though, they are luckier, because they don't have to deal with periods, fluid retention, sore breasts and childbirth as well. Now it's official, for according to contemporary medical science; men suffer from the menopause too, or more correctly - the Andropause.
A study carried out by the male-health specialist, Dr Malcolm Carruthers, on some two-thousand male patients treated in his London Clinic over the last ten years, has led Dr Carruthers to conclude that lower than normal levels of the male hormone, testosterone, leads about fifty percent of men to suffer a loss of confidence in both their personal and business life.
This fall in testosterone levels can begin in the forty's, but for the most part the effects aren't felt until the man reaches his fifty's. A man affected by the andropause may suffer from tiredness, depression, irritability and loss of interest in sex. These symptoms are all too familiar to the menopausal female.
The man can also start to show signs of ageing such as wrinkles, aches and pains particularly in the hands and feet and experience sweating and flushing problems. A falling level of testosterone is thought to contribute to a drop in bone density, potentially leading to osteoporosis, a condition unusual in men. Dr Carruthers' approach to the treatment of the andropause is two-fold:
Firstly, he recommends the use of TRT ( Testosterone Replacement Therapy ). This treatment can be delivered in number of convenient ways. Two tried and tested tablet brands are available in Britain. For those who find taking tablets difficult they can opt to have pellets implanted, under local anaesthetic, into the buttock, after which, a controlled amount of testosterone is released into the bloodstream over a six-month period. Alternatively, dermatological patches are available, which release a controlled dose of testosterone through the skin. In the US, a cream has been recently developed. This cream contains pure testosterone, its users reporting the results as being highly successful.
Secondly, since the problem is associated with stress and weight gain, Dr Carruthers suggests, getting fit and adopting a healthy eating regime.
The male's testosterone levels naturally increases after exercise. Twenty minutes of walking, swimming or gym per day is a good start. Golfing is a very helpful stress reducer and is good exercise. Heavy weight lifting, and push-ups cause straining, and so should be avoided. As for diet, loss of testosterone can affect how your body metabolises sugar and protein, causing more of these to become converted into fat, creating a tendency to put on weight, the so called "middle aged spread." So it may not be so much due to excess, but to a chemical problem.
To combat this, try to reduce levels of these foods: lose the sweets and biscuits, and large portions of meat and cheese. Instead, switch to the more healthy options of vegetable proteins found in lentils, nuts, and meat alternatives. Increasing the use of fruit and vegetables will also help.
It is important to increase the levels of antioxidant vitamins such as A, C and E, along with the minerals zinc and selenium. As well as offering protection against heart disease and cancer, these nutrients are important for enhancing vitality.
Zinc is an especially important nutrient for male sexual health, along with the herb Saw Palmetto, which helps to reduce potential problems with the prostrate gland and encourages the production of healthy sperm. The testes - the source of testosterone - are very sensitive to the effects of alcohol, even modest amounts that would be considered no more than social drinking, are significant. Beers, even low alcohol beers, are best avoided.
Switching to red wine is a good choice for its heart protecting qualities. One or two glasses are considered the limit, though. If you are worried about your husband, partner, or best friend, suggest that he visits a doctor for a blood test. His mood swings may not be his fault, but simply due to a hormone imbalance.
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The Andropause
Chocolate
To c or not to c
Mushrooms
TOP
As a chocolate lover, I think that one of the most fantastic outcomes of recent research is the discovery, that chocolate is good for you. After all these years of being told that it was something only to be enjoyed as a guilty treat, we now learn that it has many positive properties. And since the average annual consumption per person is 11kgs, all we need to do now is ensure that the type of chocolate being eaten is the right one.
Dark chocolate, rather than the more popular milk chocolate, is the healthiest option. This is because it contains more than 70 per cent cocoa solids. Excellent news, since manufacturers of good quality chocolate have long used the amount of cocoa solids in their product as a selling point. For many years, Vegetarians have recognised the positive benefits of dark chocolate, regularly using it as an appealing supplement to their diet.
Chocolate contains protein, fat, carbohydrate in the form of sugar, and a variety of minerals. For example, a 100g bar of dark chocolate contains 2.4 mg of iron, 90 mgs of magnesium, and traces of potassium. Pregnant, and menstruating Women often crave chocolate. I have long been an advocate of listening to your body's cravings as they often reveal a deficiency in your diet. A great deal is yet to be researched about the composition of chocolate, and the possible health benefits from the 300 chemicals within its make up.
Chocolate is made from the fruit of the cacao tree, a plant native to South America, but which also grows well in Africa and South East Asia. The cocoa tree's scientific name is 'Theobroma cacao.' Theobroma means 'the food of the gods.' Its value was known to the Aztecs of Mexico who used cocoa beans as a currency some 3000 years ago.
A considerable amount of work is involved in the production of chocolate from the raw material. The beans are fermented and sun-dried before they are bagged for export. When they reach the chocolate manufacturer they are sorted, cleaned, and roasted, to develop their flavour. The roasted beans are shelled, and then ground. During the grinding process, sufficient heat is created to melt any fat present in the cocoa beans. This fat, known in the trade as chocolate liquor, is separated off to become yellow cocoa butter. A cake of cocoa is left behind. This cocoa cake is ground and sifted to make cocoa powder.
Confectionary chocolate is created by adding sugar and fat. For milk chocolate, the manufacturer also adds milk. White, and milk chocolate, does not contain any cocoa solids, just cocoa butter, which makes for a high fat content. Additionally, both types tend to have a lot more sugar added than their dark counterpart. So, for the figure conscious out there, eat dark chocolate: it contains very little sugar or fat, particularly in the case of the better quality chocolates. Cheaper chocolates tend to have vegetable oils added, in an attempt to mimic the lovely melt in the mouth texture of chocolate with cocoa butter added. I prefer to buy the better brands, such as Green and Black's, who make excellent chocolate. Tesco's organic dark chocolate is delicious, also.
On the down side, chocolate does contain caffeine. A 125g bar of dark chocolate usually contains more than a cup of instant coffee. Migraine sufferers can find this to be a problem. And it might interfere with other people's sleep. Many though, use chocolate as a pick-me-up. The caffeine stimulates the body; the sugar gives a bit of an energy boost. There is also the chemical, phenylethylamine, which occurs naturally in the brain. It is believed that this chemical is released in times of emotional arousal, both positive and negative.
Some believe that the need for chocolate in times of distress is due to the memory of chocolate being given as a gift during a positive occasion. Others believe that chocolate stimulates the production of serotonin and endorphins, both of which have a positive effect. Hence our desire to eat chocolate when depressed. Chocolate has long been used as an essential part of a survival pack when out on a hike or fishing trip.
Expert climbers recommend carrying a hot drink and high-energy foods, such as chocolate, in case of emergency. However, it is not a good idea to use chocolate on a daily basis as a remedy for energy dips. It is better to use more complex carbohydrates with a slower energy release.
Other good news has come from a research study carried out at Harvard University: Among 8000 men aged over 65, those who ate moderate amounts of chocolate lived almost a year longer than those who ate none. I wonder... is the amount eaten proportional to the time gained?
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The Andropause
Chocolate
To c or not to c
Mushrooms
TOP
Last Autumn The Medical Journal of Australia published a report proclaiming there was no benefit to be had from taking large doses of vitamin C to reduce the length of a cold. Then a subsequent report, published in June, stated that vitamin C, rather than preventing cancers, probably increased the likelihood of getting cancer. This information grabbed international headlines for a number of weeks, to be then refuted by Dr John Briffa, health columnist for The Sunday Times.
Dr Briffa examined the evidence for the doubt in vitamin C, and dismissed it on several counts. It is well known, and agreed, that vitamin C has the ability to kill off several types of virus. As well as its antiviral properties, it can also stimulate the immune system to greater efficiency, in not one but a number of ways. Secondly, it is known that taking large quantities of vitamin C, up to 4 grams per day can reduce the duration of the common cold by up to a third. Dr Briffa considered the Australian study to be flawed because it did not utilise the strengths of vitamin C early enough in a cold, when the benefits are most likely to take effect, but chose to use the vitamin after the cold had been active for more than twelve hours.
This long a delay impaired the vitamin's ability to fight off the virus. Also, the patients in the Australian study, were not given the vitamin for long enough: only two days instead of the duration of the symptoms. Because of this late application and too short a period of use, the evidence from this study was deemed insufficient to cause any concern about the efficacy of this important vitamin.
The June study was carried out using test tube based laboratory trials in which the researchers found that vitamin C had the capacity to increase production of compounds believed to trigger cancer in the body. But, since their had been no actual human or animal physiological trials, the study - as far as Dr Briffa was concerned - was ill considered. Therefore, Dr Briffa concluded that these results, too, could be dismissed.
Unlike its Australian counterpart, The Lancet Medical Journal stated more positive support for Vitamin C. In a study of almost twenty-thousand people, conducted over a four-year period, it was found that those people who had high levels of vitamin C in their bloodstream had the lowest risk of heart disease. The study also noted that high levels of vitamin C lowered the risk of cancer in men. Even better again, those with the highest levels of vitamin C had about half the risk of dying from all causes compared with those with the lowest levels.
All causes! I don't know about you, but that is good enough for me.,
Taking a 1000mg time release tablet daily should help to reduce the chances of illness, as would an increase in fruit and vitamin C rich vegetables, such as green peppers, Brussels sprouts, strawberries, oranges and kiwi fruit.
The Lancet study found that increasing your fruit and vegetable intake by as little as 50g per day, would reduce your overall risk of death by twenty percent. An average apple weighs about that, so a big effort isn't required. Gareth Zeal, an expert nutritionist with FSC, the Supplement Company, was also un-swayed by the negative international press coverage.
In his recent book with Health Journalist Hazel Courtney, '500 Of The Most Important Health Tips You'll Ever Need,' Gareth recommends the regular use of vitamin C to prevent and treat many serious diseases such as cancers, and more minor problems such colds and flu, cold sores, and more serious skin conditions such as psoriasis.
Vitamin C is an easy vitamin to obtain. It is contained in many tasty fruits and vegetables.
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The Andropause
Chocolate
To c or not to c
Mushrooms
TOP
Here in the west, mushrooms are in vogue: not the ones you fry with an onion and a sirloin, but the oriental varieties of Shiitake, Reishi and Cordyseps, that, for many years, trendy restaurant's chefs have used in small quantities, their intense flavours an enhancement to the flavour of their recipes. This potency has, for millennia, been employed by the Chinese in their herbal preparations to promote good health and long life.
Traditionally the Chinese used mushrooms as a liver tonic, believing that the role of the liver is to support the heart-energy, the spleen-energy, cleanse the blood, control the stomach, and have an influence over the functioning of the digestive and immune systems.
Western medicine credits the liver with detoxifying the body, controlling the level of glucose, cholesterol and hormones in the bloodstream, and is important in the proper functioning of the immune system. The protective role of the liver has become more widely recognised particularly its preventative role against heart disease and cancers.
For most of us though, our liver function is often under pressure due to the abuse we tend to give it, especially at the weekend. But it is not only the hardened party-animal who is likely to have a problem. The liver can become over worked coping with the breakdown of animal-fat rich foods such as cheese, cream, butter, as well as having to cope with additives, artificial sweeteners, and chemical pollutants.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine mushrooms have been used both to protect against liver damage and to help regain liver health. The preparation of these mushrooms is important for their efficacy, so they are neither boiled nor otherwise damaged when being prepared. Studies have shown that the greatest benefits from these mushrooms are achieved when taken in combination, instead of singly. For this reason a company attractively titled The Tea Therapy Company in conjunction with Dr James Zhou PhD- a scientist with many years experience studying "cures for cancer"- have manufactured a complex - Liver Energy Formula.
This complex contains the active compounds of six different mushrooms; Shiitake, Maitake, Reisha, Fu-Ling, Cordyseps and Hericum. Schisandra, a stimulant herb with an ability to adapt to your particular need. And, Milk Thistle, a liver cleansing herb. Shiitake mushrooms have a strong blood cleansing action. This makes them a valued remedy for treating acne. For the dieter they boast the ability to suppress the appetite, and help to lower both blood-sugar and blood-fat levels. They contain anti-cancer properties and are immuno stimulants. Shiitake mushrooms are also high in minerals and amino acids.
For cancer sufferers, one of the most important features of the Shiitake mushroom is its ability to prevent liver cancer cell metastasis, a property which is also useful in the treatment of hepatitis A, B and C, and to fight viruses such as herpes.
The popularity of the Shiitake mushroom is reflected in the fact that close to a quarter of a million tonnes of it are produced annually. Cordyseps is a parasitic mushroom, which grows mainly in China. It has traditionally been used to treat deficiencies such as low sex drive, back, knee and arthritic pain, and excessive perspiration. It is also noted for an increase in adrenal gland activity, the treatment of long-term stress, and the promotion of a higher sex drive.
Cordyseps lowers blood-sugar and blood-fat, and can also help to lower blood pressure and improve blood circulation. Scientific studies suggest that Cordyseps contains a polysaccharide - a long chain of sugar molecules - that inhibits the growth of cancer cells by empowering the body's immune system, so that it can better differentiate cancer cells from normal cells, and destroy the cancer cells.
This ability to supercharge the immune system, so to speak, is a help for other autoimmune disorders such as arthritis, lupus and psoriasis. Cordyseps also improves the liver function, which in turn lowers blood-sugar, triglycerides and cholesterol. Reishi mushrooms are revered in China for their amazing ability to strengthen the whole body, eliminate disease and promote long life. These mushrooms contain medicinal agents that protect the liver, and promote an increase in the production of white blood cells to better fight infections. They can also lower blood pressure, and make a person's heartbeat be less erratic.
A significant feature of the Reishi mushroom is its ability to ease bronchial disorders, even emphysema. In a study of 288 Chinese patients who suffered from chronic bronchitis, an 87% improvement was observed, following the use of the mushroom extract. An additional study reported that 19 out of 21 patients suffering from acute liver failure recovered their liver function following 45 days of treatment with Reishi extract. This versatile plant is also credited with anti-tumour properties attributed to a group of polysaccharides extracted from it.
Fu-Ling mushrooms also contain a distinctive polysaccharide chain. This is anti-carcinogenic, with anti-microbial and anti-parasitic properties. In Traditional Chinese medicine it is used to lower blood sugar levels and to control stomach acid. It is also used to treat conditions where the water balance has gone awry, such as oedema. Finally, the Maitake and Hericum mushrooms have been studied to identify what benefits they have to offer. These two types show promise as a treatment for tumours, and immune system deficiencies. One study showed that using the Maitake mushroom lowered the recurrence rate of bladder cancer by 50%.
To purchase Liver Energy Formula contact The Tea Therapy Company on 0118 961 9604 quoting ref. PH0202 price £19.95 plus £2.50 p&p
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