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The Many Proven Benefits of Avocado Oil

Avocado oil, extracted from the flesh of the avocado fruit itself is just among the few plant oils not extracted from the seed. Therefore, it goes without saying avocado oil benefits are vast, and not limited to the fact that you can use it forcooking.

Some of the nutritional and medical benefits of avocado oil have been confirmed, while others still remain as they are — they’ve been peer-reviewed in various literary work.

Type of Nutrients in Avocado Oil

This oil has the highest concentration of monounsaturated fats, potassium, and vitamins A, E and D. Mono saturated fats are the good and necessary fats needed in healthy diets.

You see, this fruit is rich in antioxidants as well as beta-sitosterol, all of which have been shown to reduce the risk of developing cancer and heart diseases respectively.

Bet-sitosterol is the equivalent of cholesterol in animals. When it is consumed in acceptable quantities, it will compete with the absorption of cholesterol in the blood stream. This element has also been shown to inhibit cell division. So to some extent, it may prevent you from developing cancerous cells.

In fact, studies have shown that in both humans and animals, this element can reduce the risk of cancer by a significant percentage. And for the aging population, avocado oil gives good health to the eyesight, thanks to an element called lutein.

Mono saturated fats mainly balances the level of cholesterol in the body. What’s more, most of the essential nutrients for bone and cardiovascular health are found in avocado fruit. Magnesium is also an element that comes in large quantities in this fruit. Magnesium is said to reduce migraines or even eliminate chances of type 2 diabetes developing in individuals.

We can’t forget to mention the fact that avocado fruit is rich in omega 3 fatty acids, which is even more beneficial to your health. Omega 3 fatty acids basically reduces inflammation, high level of bad cholesterol, high blood pressure, symptoms of arthritis, depression and so forth.

Again, avocado contains an element known as folate. A serving of one cup contains 23% of your daily need of folate. This element also plays a role in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases developing.

Avocado Oil Benefits

The following are benefits that have attracted the attention of the medical fraternity and the public alike. You may want to go through them and understand how beneficial they can be to your overall health.

Arthritis and Avocado Oil

It’s good to learn that a combination of this oil with soybean oil extract have received what could be termed as prescription drug status in countries like France. On the other hand, Denmark has marked this combination as an effective food supplement that combats inflammation, while offering the ability to stimulate cartilage growth as well as repair.

So far, there are 4 studies that have been cited in relation to arthritis and avocado oil. The studies found that when avocado oil was mixed with soybean oil extract, it could treat the symptoms of hip and knee osteoarthritis.

However, the studies noted that while there was a significant improvement in the symptoms of arthritis, no structural improvements were noted. These findings were published in the August, 2010 journal named ”Ugeschrift for laeger”.

Periodontal Diseases

This issue was reported in the Journal Periodontal Disease, 2006. The study showed a strong correlation between avocado oil and periodontal disease. Researchers studied human periodontal ligaments and bone cells. They discovered that avocado oil inhibited an element known as pro-inflammatory cytokine molecule, thus reducing inflammation.

This anti-inflammatory action prevented bone erosion caused by periodontal disease — the researchers concluded.

Psoriasis

A 2001 study was published in the journal of Dermatology, stating that Psoriasis responded too well to avocado oil and Vitamin B12. In this study, researchers subjected a few participants who were suffering from psoriasis to Vitamin B12 and avocado oil. They showed consistent improvement for the entire 12-week period.

But on the contract, a control group were subjected to a vitamin E cream. They showed remarkable improvement for the first 4 weeks, after which these effects began fading away.

This study concluded that avocado oil, when combined with Vitamin B12 could be used as an effective long term topical treatment for people suffering from psoriasis.

Avocado Oil and your diet

This oil will add richness and flavor to your diet. Try it with Sauteed vegetables and see the miracle. You could even combine it with summer squash and some kale for a rich, nutritious and colorful diet. You could even mix it with balsamic vinegar to prepare a healthy salad dressing.

Avocado oil benefits your skin

Is your skin dry and itchy? You may benefit from this oil. The moment you apply it on the skin, it will be absorbed deeply into the skin layers. This automatically makes it an excellent skin moisturizer and care agent.

It’s an ant-aging agent too. Instead of using creams that don’t contain natural ingredients, you’d be safer with avocado oil since it’s natural and beneficial to the skin in every way. It will keep your skin plump, and also ensure that you don’t develop wrinkles early in life.

In addition to being kind to the skin, this oil also helps relieve itching of the scalp. Apply it regularly to enhance healthy hair growth.

People Who Include Avocado Oil in their Diets tend to be Healthier

For a long time, researchers have taken keen interest on people who eat avocados on a regular basis. Researchers got hold of a study dubbed ”NHANES” in the U.S. This study involved up to 17,567 participants.

Generally, those who consumed avocado fruit were found to be much healthier than those who didn’t. They were found to have a much better nutrient intake, so they were less likely to develop metabolic syndrome.

This category of people also had a lower BMI and less belly fat, and part of this is attributed to the fact that they ate avocado fruit consistently.

Conclusion

As you can see, avocado oil benefits are many. We may not be able to cover all of them here. But certainly, if you start consuming the oil as discussed above, you should see these benefits manifesting so soon.

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The True Story of Rudolph

A man named Bob May, depressed and brokenhearted, stared out his drafty apartment window into the chilling December night.

His 4-year-old daughter Barbara sat on his lap quietly sobbing.

Bob's wife, Evelyn, was dying  of cancer.

Little Barbara couldn't understand why her mommy could never come home.  Barbara looked up into her dad's eyes and asked, "Why isn't Mommy just like everybody else's Mommy?"

Bob's jaw tightened and his eyes welled with tears. Her question brought waves of grief, but also of anger.

It had been the story of Bob's life. Life always had to be different for Bob. Small when he was a kid, Bob was often bullied by other boys. He was too little at the time to compete in sports. He was often called names he'd rather not remember. From childhood, Bob was different and never seemed to fit in.

Bob did complete college, married his loving wife and was grateful to get his job as a copywriter at Montgomery Wards during the Great Depression.

Then he was blessed with his little girl. But it was all short-lived.  Evelyn's bout with cancer stripped them of all their savings and now Bob and his daughter were forced to live in a two-room apartment in the Chicago slums. Evelyn died just days before Christmas in 1938.

Bob struggled to give hope to his child, for whom he couldn't even afford to buy a Christmas gift. But if he couldn't buy a gift, he was determined to make one - a storybook!

Bob had created an animal character in his own mind and told the animal's story to little Barbara to give her comfort and hope. Again and again Bob told the story, embellishing it more with each telling.

Who was the character? What was the story all about?

The story Bob May created was his own autobiography in fable form.  The character he created was a misfit outcast like he was. The name of the character? A little reindeer named Rudolph, with a big shiny nose.

Bob finished the book just in time to give it to his little girl on Christmas Day. But the story doesn't end there. The general manager of Montgomery Ward caught wind of the little storybook and offered Bob May a nominal fee to purchase the rights to print  the book. Wards went on to print, “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and   distribute it to children visiting Santa Claus in their stores.

By 1946 Wards had printed and distributed more than six million copies of Rudolph. That same year, a major publisher wanted to purchase the rights from Wards to print an updated version of the book.

In an unprecedented gesture of kindness, the CEO of Wards returned all rights back to Bob May.

The book became a best seller. Many toy and marketing deals followed and Bob May, now remarried with a growing family, became wealthy from the story he created to comfort his grieving daughter. But the story doesn't end there either.

Bob's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, made a song adaptation to Rudolph.  Though the song was turned down by such popular vocalists as Bing Crosby and Dinah Shore, it was recorded by the singing cowboy, Gene Autry. "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was released in 1949 and became a phenomenal success, selling more records than any other Christmas song, with the exception of "White Christmas."

The  gift of love that Bob May created for his daughter so  long ago kept on returning back to bless him again and  again. And Bob May learned the lesson, just like his dear friend Rudolph, that being different isn't so bad.

In fact, being different can be a blessing.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Enjoy life...it has an expiration date! 

In God We Trust

Can Magnet Therapy Relieve Your Pain?

Updated November 25, 2014.

What is Magnetic Therapy?

Magnetic therapy is based on the theory that when delivered directly to the body magnetic fields can stimulate healing from a range of health problems. Although its health claims include the treatment of multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, arthritis, insomnia, inflammation, and even cancer and heart disease, there is little scientific evidence for magnetic therapy's effectiveness.

How Does Magnetic Therapy Work?

Magnet therapy takes many different forms. In some cases, magnets are applied to illness-affected areas with the help of wraps, shoe inserts, self-adhesive strips, belts, or "magnetic jewelry" like bracelets, necklaces, and earrings. Other products include magnetic mattress pads and blankets, as well as magnetic-field-generating machines and even magnet-conditioned water.

·         Magnetic Therapy

·         Magnetic Bracelets

·         Holistic Acupuncture

·         Acupuncture for Anxiety

·         Alternative Medicine

Since scientific support for its use is so limited, it's difficult to determine how magnetic therapy might promote healing. However, proponents maintain that magnets can stimulate circulation, relax the blood vessels, increase endorphin levels, reduce muscle tension, and normalize metabolic functioning. 

Magnetic Therapy Research

Even though claims that magnetic therapy can treat diseases like cancer and multiple sclerosis are unfounded, there is some evidence that it may help relieve pain related to these chronic conditions:

1) Arthritis

In a 2004 study of 194 adults with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee, researchers found that those who wore magnetic bracelets for 12 weeks had a decrease in arthritis-associated pain. Meanwhile, a 2001 study of 64 people with rheumatoid arthritis of the knee showed that 68% of those who used magnetic therapy reported feeling better or much better after one week.

2) Chronic Pelvic Pain

For a 2002 study of 32 women with chronic pelvic pain, one group of patients had active or placebo magnets applied to their abdomens for 24 hours a day. After four weeks of continuous use, those who received the active magnets reported significantly lower pain levels than at the start of the study.

3) Fibromyalgia

After six weeks of sleeping on magnetized mattress pads, 13 women with fibromyalgia reported significantly less pain, sleep disturbance, fatigue, and next-day tiredness. A control group of 12 women (who slept on non-magnetized mattresses) had smaller improvements in pain, sleep, fatigue, and tiredness. The study's authors note that improvements in both groups might have been due to use of a better mattress pad.

More Science on Magnetic Therapy

There is also evidence that magnetic therapy may help reduce neck pain, post-polio pain, and diabetic foot pain. But in studies on the use of magnetic therapy for relief of chronic low back pain and wrist pain related to carpal tunnel syndrome, researchers found magnets no more effective than placebo treatments.

Magnetic therapy may show promise in the treatment of female urinary continence, however: In a 2004 study of 24 patients, 58% of participants showed improvement after eight weeks of receiving twice-weekly magnetic stimulation of the pelvic floor.

Caveats

If you're undergoing radiology, it's important to avoid the use of magnetic devices. Pregnant women and people with cardiac pacemakers should also forego magnetic therapy.

In addition, it's important to consult your doctor about the condition you're seeking to alleviate through magnetic therapy and to discuss the potential risks and benefits of magnetic therapy. Self-treating and avoiding or delaying standard care can have serious consequences.

Sources:

Brown CS, Ling FW, Wan JY, Pilla AA. "Efficacy of static magnetic field therapy in chronic pelvic pain: a double-blind pilot study." American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2002 187(6):1581-7.

Chandi DD, Groenendijk PM, Venema PL. "Functional extracorporeal magnetic stimulation as a treatment for female urinary incontinence: 'the chair'." BJU International 2004;93(4):539-42.

Colbert AP, et al. "Magnetic mattress pad use in patients with fibromyalgia: a randomized double-blind pilot study." Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation 1999;13:19-31.

Segal NA, Toda Y, Huston J, Saeki Y, Shimizu M, Fuchs H, Shimaoka Y, Holcomb R, McLean MJ. "Two configurations of static magnetic fields for treating rheumatoid arthritis of the knee: a double-blind clinical trial." Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2001 82(10):1453-60.

Tim Harlow, Colin Greaves, Adrian White, Liz Brown, Anna Hart, Edzard Ernst. "Randomised controlled trial of magnetic bracelets for relieving pain in osteoarthritis of the hip and knee." British Medical Journal 2004;329:1450-1454.

Disclaimer: The information contained on this site is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed physician. It is not meant to cover all possible precautions, drug interactions, circumstances or adverse effects. You should seek prompt medical care for any health issues and consult your doctor before using alternative medicine or making a change to your regimen.

WSJ: Science Increasingly Makes the Case for God

By

Eric Metaxas

Dec. 25, 2014 4:56 p.m. ET

In 1966 Time magazine ran a cover story asking: Is God Dead? Many have accepted the cultural narrative that he’s obsolete—that as science progresses, there is less need for a “God” to explain the universe. Yet it turns out that the rumors of God’s death were premature. More amazing is that the relatively recent case for his existence comes from a surprising place—science itself.

Here’s the story: The same year Time featured the now-famous headline, the astronomer Carl Sagan announced that there were two important criteria for a planet to support life: The right kind of star, and a planet the right distance from that star. Given the roughly octillion—1 followed by 24 zeros—planets in the universe, there should have been about septillion—1 followed by 21 zeros—planets capable of supporting life.

With such spectacular odds, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, a large, expensive collection of private and publicly funded projects launched in the 1960s, was sure to turn up something soon. Scientists listened with a vast radio telescopic network for signals that resembled coded intelligence and were not merely random. But as years passed, the silence from the rest of the universe was deafening. Congress defunded SETI in 1993, but the search continues with private funds. As of 2014, researches have discovered precisely bubkis—0 followed by nothing.

What happened? As our knowledge of the universe increased, it became clear that there were far more factors necessary for life than Sagan supposed. His two parameters grew to 10 and then 20 and then 50, and so the number of potentially life-supporting planets decreased accordingly. The number dropped to a few thousand planets and kept on plummeting.

Even SETI proponents acknowledged the problem. Peter Schenkel wrote in a 2006 piece for Skeptical Inquirer magazine: “In light of new findings and insights, it seems appropriate to put excessive euphoria to rest . . . . We should quietly admit that the early estimates . . . may no longer be tenable.”

As factors continued to be discovered, the number of possible planets hit zero, and kept going. In other words, the odds turned against any planet in the universe supporting life, including this one. Probability said that even we shouldn't be here.

Today there are more than 200 known parameters necessary for a planet to support life—every single one of which must be perfectly met, or the whole thing falls apart. Without a massive planet like Jupiter nearby, whose gravity will draw away asteroids, a thousand times as many would hit Earth’s surface. The odds against life in the universe are simply astonishing.

Yet here we are, not only existing, but talking about existing. What can account for it? Can every one of those many parameters have been perfect by accident? At what point is it fair to admit that science suggests that we cannot be the result of random forces? Doesn't assuming that an intelligence created these perfect conditions require far less faith than believing that a life-sustaining Earth just happened to beat the inconceivable odds to come into being?

There’s more. The fine-tuning necessary for life to exist on a planet is nothing compared with the fine-tuning required for the universe to exist at all. For example, astrophysicists now know that the values of the four fundamental forces—gravity, the electromagnetic force, and the “strong” and “weak” nuclear forces—were determined less than one millionth of a second after the big bang. Alter any one value and the universe could not exist. For instance, if the ratio between the nuclear strong force and the electromagnetic force had been off by the tiniest fraction of the tiniest fraction—by even one part in 100,000,000,000,000,000—then no stars could have ever formed at all. Feel free to gulp.

Multiply that single parameter by all the other necessary conditions, and the odds against the universe existing are so heart-stoppingly astronomical that the notion that it all “just happened” defies common sense. It would be like tossing a coin and having it come up heads 10 Quintilian times in a row. Really?

Fred Hoyle, the astronomer who coined the term “big bang,” said that his atheism was “greatly shaken” at these developments. He later wrote that “a common-sense interpretation of the facts suggests that a super-intellect has monkeyed with the physics, as well as with chemistry and biology . . . . The numbers one calculates from the facts seem to me so overwhelming as to put this conclusion almost beyond question.”

Theoretical physicist Paul Davies has said that “the appearance of design is overwhelming” and Oxford professor Dr. John Lennox has said “the more we get to know about our universe, the more the hypothesis that there is a Creator . . . gains in credibility as the best explanation of why we are here.”

The greatest miracle of all time, without any close seconds, is the universe. It is the miracle of all miracles, one that ineluctably points with the combined brightness of every star to something—or Someone—beyond itself.

Mr. Metaxas is the author, most recently, of “Miracles: What They Are, Why They Happen, and How They Can Change Your Life” ( Dutton Adult, 2014).

The thyroid

The thyroid is a small gland in the neck just below the Adam’s apple.  Its primary function is to produce hormones that influence most of the metabolic functions of the body.  Goiter and the three primary categories of problems that can occur are described below with more information on individual pages reached using the links above.

Goiter, when the thyroid enlarges for any reason it is described as a goiter. There can be many causes but it is usually not a cancerous tumor nor an infectious inflammation but rather a result of one of the conditions described below.

Hyperthyroidism, an overactive thyroid, this can significantly accelerate the body's metabolism, causing sudden weight loss, a rapid or irregular heartbeat, sweating, and nervousness or irritability.  Symptoms can include insomnia, anxiety, irritability, bulging eyes, weakness in arms/legs, shaky hands, frequent bowel movements, weight loss, racing heart beat, premature grey hair, lighter menstrual flow, less frequent periods.  Various forms of hyperthyroidism include:

•  Graves' disease - This is also an autoimmune disorder wherein there is too much production of the thyroid hormone.   It is more prevalent among females and is the most common thyroid disorder among children and adolescents.

•  Toxic adenomas - Over activity may also come from nodules forming that secrete excess thyroid hormone or an inflammation may occur that causes the gland to “leak” the excess.  Goiters that form may contain several nodules.

•  Subacute thyroiditis – This is a temporary inflammation of the thyroid that causes excess hormones and is usually temporary lasting a few weeks to a few months.

Hypothyroidism, an under active thyroid, not producing sufficient hormones may lead to obesity, joint pain, infertility, and heart disease.  This disorder is most common among women, over 50.  The unbalance in the body from an under active thyroid can develop slowly and initially be unnoticed but left unattended over time can lead to more serious situations.  Symptoms can include tiredness, depression, lack of concentration, feeling cold, constipation, muscle cramps, weight gain, increased menstrual flow, more frequent periods, itchy skin, thinning hair. Causes of hypothyroidism are identified as:

•  Hashimoto’s thyroiditis – This is an autoimmune disease wherein the body attacks the tissue of the thyroid.  The resulting inflammation and damage to the tissue results in reduced amounts or cessation of the hormones normally generated by the thyroid.  This is the most common of hypothyroid disorders and occurs primarily in middle aged females but is also seen in men and children.

•  Thyroid removal – The thyroid may be surgically or chemically removed to correct hyperthyroidism and hormonal balance must be achieved by other means.

•  Iodine exposure – Exposure to excessive amounts of iodine and damage thyroidal tissue and result in hypothyroidism.  Iodine can come from many medications for heart, cold, and sinus conditions as well as those use for some X-ray procedures.

Thyroid nodules themselves may form.  They may be solid or fluid filled lumps that form within the thyroid.  Most nodules are not serious and may even go unnoticed.  Small percentages are cancerous and require serious attention.

No More Apologies

I am sick of apologizing for Israel when it is Israel that really deserves an apology.

I am sick of apologizing for Israel’s right to defend itself. I am sick of the word “ceasefire” when all that really means is “time for Hamas to build more rockets” while we stand by helplessly. I am sick of the UN calling this an Israeli-Palestinian War when all along it’s clearly been a prolonged terrorist attack that the IDF is courageously trying to stop. I’m sick of people criticizing Israel for killing innocent people when they have done more than any country to warn Gazans and have even brought the gunmen into their own hospitals. I’m sick of apologizing for being a Jew. For being part of a nation whose kindness and compassion shine through even on the battlefield.

Somehow the world is turning everything around. Turning the terrorists into victims. Turning the attacked into the aggressor. This is the anti-Semitism of today. A hatred and disgust with Israel no matter what we do. And now the FAA has put a ban on US flights to Israel, isolating us from each other as the rockets continue to fall.

Now I ask you. Who should be apologizing? The millions of Jews running for cover as rockets attempting to smash into their school yards and tear apart their homes come raining down? The parents of all the soldiers who have tragically died in this frustrating, dangerous ground war in Gaza, where every move is calculated and re-calculated to prevent the loss of life?

Should the soldiers apologize for risking their lives to fight terrorism while the rest of us shake our heads over the news? I am sick of apologizing for Israel when it is Israel that really deserves an apology.

Israel deserves an apology from the media for falsely portraying them as aggressors. From the anti-Israel demonstrators who would have never protested the fight against terrorists when it was their own country being attacked on 9/11. From the UN for blaming Israel for a war they didn’t begin. From the Jews who have turned their backs on their own people when they are needed most. From the terrorists themselves, for the constant panic and fear, for the horrific loss of life, for destroying our homes, for diverting our planes, for turning our lives upside down, and for putting innocent Arab lives in mortal danger. Israel deserves an apology.

And I also want to apologize to Israel and her courageous people. I am sorry for not defending you loudly enough. For not doing more to speak up against the staged newspaper photographs and the false criticisms. I am sorry for the hours in which I forget about the pain and the suffering that you are going through. I am sorry, dear parents of all the fallen soldiers. I am sorry for your aching grief and loss, sorry that you had to sacrifice your sons in this war for Jewish survival. Because they were not just fighting for Israel, they were fighting for all of us.

I apologize to all of you, who live in the only place in the world where every Jew is welcomed home, that you are not recognized on a daily basis for holding up the fort for all of us, for teaching your children to remain calm under fire, for sending your sons to guard our borders, for holding onto your faith when everyone around you is intent on taking it away.

And I also want to say thank you. Thank you to the Israeli government for not backing down in this battle for our survival. Thank you to the soldiers for giving up everything you have, including life itself, to keep us safe. Thank you to the people who live in Israel for continuing to build families and homes in our Land with rockets falling all around you.

Thank you, Israel, for being a shining light among the nations of the world. For being brave enough to stand up and fight against terrorism, even when the world prefers to close its eyes and shake its head. No more apologies.

We stand by you, Israel. We pray for you. We are proud of you. You are not alone.

by Sara Debbie Gutfreund

Published: July 22, 2014