Worldwide, nearly 10 percent of adults have either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. In the United States alone, an estimated 8 percent of the population – nearly 26 million Americans – has diabetes. More than six million of those people have no idea they have it. And around the world, another 285 million people have diabetes as developing nations see a rise in obesity and inactivity.

Diabetes is a metabolic condition associated with abnormally high levels of blood sugar. It is broken into two major categories: type 1 (also known as juvenile or insulin-dependent diabetes) and type 2 (called adult-onset diabetes). Both come with distinctive struggles and complications.

Type 1 diabetes takes over when the body’s immune system attacks the pancreas, rendering it unable to produce a sufficient amount of insulin. It’s a genetic autoimmune disease that requires patients to take insulin shots to survive.

The type 2 variation generally starts after the pancreas makes an inordinate amount of insulin and the body becomes insulin resistant.

Decades ago, type 2 diabetes was only found in patients age 25 and older, but today an increasing number of teens are being diagnosed. Although genetics also play a role in type 2 diabetes, physicians point to obesity as a leading cause of the disease.

As computer-based workplaces and a propensity toward sedentary lifestyles increase, so does the diabetes epidemic, experts say. By 2050, an estimated 1 in 3 adults could have diabetes, with a bigger jump in the type 2 variation.

With this, experts want everyone on the alert for both type 1 and 2 diabetes symptoms.

Type 1 symptoms include:

• Extreme fatigue and irritability
• Unexplainable weight loss
• Extreme hunger and thirst
• Frequent urination

Type 2 often comes with no symptoms, but some of them can be:

• Frequent infections or cuts that are slow to heal
• Blurred vision
• Tingling and numbness in extremities

In trying to control either type, it is important to seek medical help. Even though there is a considerable amount of controversy surrounding nutritional therapy, most doctors recommend a diet that is high in fiber and low in fat and unhealthy carbohydrates.

Poor food choices can cause a spiral of nerve, kidney and heart damage. Medical professionals also recommend that diabetics and pre-diabetics start a daily and manageable exercise regime.

Dangerous Drug Side Effects

In addition, many diabetics take daily doses of injectable insulin and oral medications to control the disease. Although insulin is generally thought to be used only in the type 1 disease, many type 2 diabetes patients eventually move on to this treatment. Equally, many patients opt for prescription medications to control glucose levels.

However, many of those drugs are known to have severe and sometimes deadly side effects. One such drug, Actos (pioglitazone) has been linked to bladder cancer, heart failure, blindness and weight gain.

Actos, introduced in 1999, works by making the cells more receptive to insulin. Before it was released, the drug’s maker found a strong connection between the drug Actos and bladder cancer and launched a decade-long investigational study.

The first five years of the study found that those taking the drug for more than a year had a 40 percent increased risk of bladder cancer. Drug regulators around the world responded by limiting Actos sales. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) added a bladder cancer warning to the drug’s label.

Actos also causes edema (water-weight swelling) that can lead to congestive heart failure. When this occurs, the body becomes filled with excess water and bodily organs shut down. The drug carries a black-box warning for its link to heart failure.

For many years, the drug Avandia was the best-selling diabetes drug in the world. Then came a 2007 Cleveland Clinic study published by the New England Journal of Medicine that reported Avandia increased the risk of heart attack by patients by 43 percent.

The FDA subsequently adjusted Avandia’s drug labels to reflect those cardiovascular risks, and new labeling must specifying that only people who took Avandia before and cannot control their current blood-sugar levels can take the drug again.

No Cure

Since a diabetes cure isn’t on the horizon, many patients are also turning to alternative treatments, including herbal home remedies and extreme exercise regimens. None have been proven scientifically to cure the disease.

• Before you pick your stevia leaves make sure that they are full-grown. Leaves that are about two inches long and about three quarters of an inch in width are considered mature. A fully mature leaf will give you an immediate sweet taste once you chew on it.

• Cut the leaves at the stems. Leaves can be picked all year round but for optimum taste, a September harvest is recommended.

• You have two choices for drying. The best method, which is also the cheapest but takes more time, is to dry the leaves under the sun. But if you want to save time you can dry the leaves inside an over. Putting the leaves on a tray and turning the oven on for 20 minutes at 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius) should be enough. Another option that is available to you if you have the right equipment is to dehydrate it. You can do this if you have a dehydrator – just dry the leaves for two hours at 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 40 degrees Celsius.

• Drying is only good if you want to turn the leaves into a powder. If you plan to make stevia extract, only fresh leaves can be used.

• Once the leaves are dry. Remove all of the stems. The sweetness is only concentrated oseptembern the leaves.

Zach is a writer who has a passion for gardening and cooking. He grows his own herbs like basil, rosemary, thyme and tarragon. He recently started planting stevia in his garden.

So what causes your brain chemistry to become imbalanced? Here are 8 of the most common illnesses that can deplete your “happiness chemicals” and cause depression.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland doesn’t work as well as it should. The thyroid gland controls the rate of energy production in the body and the speed with which our cells take up glucose. Glucose is the brain’s main fuel source and if the brain can’t get enough glucose, brain function decreases, our thinking becomes fuzzy and we become depressed. The thyroid gland also controls the production of stomach acid. When stomach acid is low, we don’t absorb protein, B12, iron or calcium very well. All of these nutrients are vital for the production of the brain’s “happiness chemicals”.

Symptoms of hypothyroidism include depression, fatigue, cold hands and feet, poor memory, poor concentration and weight gain.

Omega 3 Deficiency

Omega 3 fats are a group of fats that are vital for both general health and brain function. There are 3 main types of omega 3 fats but only 2 of them, EPA and DHA, are involved in depression. EPA helps our brain use serotonin and dopamine, 2 of the main happiness chemicals. It also helps control inflammation in the brain. DHA helps keep the membranes of our brain cells flexible, allowing the brain cells to communicate with each other.

The main source of EPA and DHA is oily fish such as salmon, sardines and tuna. They can also be found in algae, krill and grass fed meat. Our intake of omega 3 fats has decreased by 80% in the last 75 years and many researchers and authors have linked this decrease to the huge increase in depression in recent years.

Symptoms of omega 3 deficiency include depression, irritability, poor memory, poor concentration, dry skin, dry hair, dry eyes, dandruff and brittle nails.

Pyroluria

Pyroluria is a common but little know cause of depression. It involves an excess of a substance called pyrroles in the bloodstream. Pyrroles bind to zinc and vitamin B6 and dump them out in the urine, causing a severe deficiency of these two nutrients. Zinc and B6 are involved in over 100 different chemical reactions in the brain, and the combined deficiency causes a deficiency of serotonin and other “happiness chemicals” as well as a number of physical symptoms.

Symptoms of pyroluria include depression, anxiety, extreme shyness, poor dream recall, thin nails, stretch marks, a poor sense of taste or smell and morning nausea.

Undermethylation

Undermethylation causes an excess of a substance called histamine in the body. Histamine stimulates the release of serotonin and dopamine in the brain and is involved in a number of other chemical reactions in the brain.

People with high levels of histamine tend to be driven, energetic and motivated and are often highly successful in their careers. On the surface, they usually don’t appear to be depressed. However they suffer from constant inner tension and an inability to switch off that can, over time, cause severe depression.

Symptoms of undermethylation include depression, perfectionism, high levels of motivation, a racing brain, insomnia, headaches, respiratory allergies and a high sensitivity to pain. Addictions to alcohol or hard drugs are common as these people often turn to drugs in an attempt to deal with their constant inner tension.

Overmethylation

Overmethylation is the opposite of undermethylation and causes a deficiency of histamine in the body. Symptoms of overmethylation can include depression, paranoia, irritability, racing thoughts, grandiose ideas, low libido and a high tolerance to pain.

Food Intolerances

A food intolerance is a negative reaction to a food or food additive that doesn’t involve the immune system. One well known example is lactose intolerance. Lactose is a substance found in dairy food, which gets broken down in our guts by an enzyme called lactase. If we don’t have enough lactase, undigested lactose remains in the gut and is fermented by bacteria, causing a lot of gas, bloating and stomach pain.

It’s fairly well known that food intolerances can cause physical symptoms such as digestive problems, rashes, blocked or runny nose, sinus problems and headaches. However, food intolerances can also cause emotional problems such as depression, anxiety, irritability and hyperactivity.

Sugar Addiction

For some people, sugar acts just like a drug, and like any other drug, it can cause an initial high followed by a corresponding low. Sugar causes a surge in the production of dopamine, one of our main “happiness chemicals”. Over time, our brains react by becoming less sensitive to dopamine. At this point we are addicted – our brains need higher levels of dopamine just to feel normal and without a sugar hit to boost dopamine levels, we feel tired, dull, sluggish, unable to concentrate, irritable and depressed.

Symptoms of sugar addiction can include depression; anxiety; cravings for sugar, alcohol or refined carbohydrates; mood swings; headaches; digestive problems; insomnia; dizziness; fatigue and feeling a real boost after eating sugar.

Candida

Candida is a yeast that lives in the digestive tract, usually existing in balance with our “good bacteria”. However if an overgrowth of Candida occurs, the yeast cells and the toxins they produce can be absorbed into the bloodstream, causing a wide range of symptoms.

Candida sufferers tend to feel sick all over. Symptoms can include recurring fungal yeast infections, fungal nail infections, fungal rashes, depression, fatigue, feeling “spacey”, digestive problems and sinus infections. Symptoms tend to be worse in damp weather.

Lifestyle factors can also cause or contribute to depression. Stress, poor diet, lack of exercise and lack of sunshine can all affect our brain chemistry and lead to depression. Lifestyle factors often work hand in hand with an underlying illness to exacerbate symptoms. However if your depression is caused by an underlying illness, the most important thing you can do to overcome your depression is to identify and treat the underlying illness. Doctors can test you for most of these conditions and treatment can lead to profound changes in mood as well as an improvement in your physical health and overall wellbeing.

Jane Henderson suffered depression for over 20 years and eventually cured her depression by finding and treating the underlying cause. She is the author of a website about causes of depression that has 13 depression tests to help you find the cause of your depression.

Would you give cod liver oil (CLO) a try, for you and the rest of the family? Its main benefits are Omega 3 fatty acids (including the memory-improving Docosahexaenoic acid) and vitamin D. Why do these components promote overall health? Let’s take a look:

• Most Americans are deficient in vitamin D in the winter, when sunlight alone is not enough to meet a person’s need for the vitamin. Vitamin D – which appears in very few foods –  is essential for healthy bones, and cod liver oil is an excellent source of this vitamin for everyone, but particularly children and women who are expecting a baby and suffering from pregnancy signs. Vitamin D deficiencies can lead to brittle bones and osteoporosis, dental problems, and a weak immune system.
• Omega 3 fatty acids can help toward preventing arthritis, a Cardiff-based study confirmed in 2002.
• Cod liver oil can play a role in lowering cholesterol levels.
• Some studies indicate that cod liver oil prevents ear infections.
• The elongated omega-3 fatty acids in cod liver oil were found to improve brain function, specifically memory and concentration, in various studies. According to some sources, cod liver oil may even have a calming effect on children who have been diagnosed with ADHD. Students may be able to focus on their homework more easily if they regularly take cod liver oil.

But, cod liver oil may not be the “liquid amber” that previous generations thought it to be. Cod liver oil also contains vitamin A, of which you want to be careful not to get too much. Unlike water-soluble vitamins, vitamin A cannot just be expelled from the body if too much is ingested. That’s right: There are indications that the fat-soluble vitamin is toxic in large amounts. Moreover, not all cod liver oil capsules sold today are of the same quality. Tests in the United Kingdom have shown several brands to contain harmful chemicals, like the carcinogenic dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls!  Cod liver oil may well have benefits for you and your children, but before you jump on the “magical cure” bandwagon, as seen on many websites promoting CLO capsules, a little more research is warranted.

Olivia writes about fertility, pregnancy, babies, and weight loss after pregnancy at her blog, Trying To Conceive. 

 One of the best tricks for experiencing joint pain relief is soaking your joints in warm water; yet this is far from all you can do. The following oils have been proven to offer natural pain relief:

• Camphor, peppermint, sweet birch and eucalyptus oil diluted with safflower, walnut or almond oil has been proven to be very effective at eliminating pain and offering immediate joint pain relief.
• Cayenne, pokeroot and yarrow oil has been found to increase the capillary responses of swollen joints. This helps to remove deposits and offer natural pain relief.
• Eucalyptus, peppermint and Roman chamomile (an anti-inflammatory) mixed in some olive oil (also filled with anti-inflammatory properties) has been discovered to offer arthritis pain relief as well as relief from pain caused by muscle strain.

Most natural joint pain reliefs are applied directly to the area experiencing pain either as a poultice, a salve/cream or in heat packs..

Below are some other herbs which have been found to offer joint pain relief:

• Oak, willow bark and nettle leaves are particularly effective for joint pain caused by arthritis and injuries.
• Smartwood, white birch and chamomile can be used in salves or creams in order to provide longer lasting pain relief.
• Fennel, sage or feverfew (applied once infused with hot water) have each been found to increase circulation and offer natural pain relief. Simply apply this herb infused water using a cloth directly to the area where you are experiencing pain.

To create your own cream, simply mix two parts almond or walnut oil with one part beeswax. Stir well and choose from one of the above powdered herbs and store in a jar with a tight fitting lid. This will ensure that your cream lasts longer and remains potent.

Are these herbs available in supplement form?

If you would rather take a supplement than get your hands messy applying a cream, many of these herbs can also be taken as a supplement:

• Peppermint, cayenne, yarrow, feverfew, sage and fennel can be taken as a supplement to help reduce joint swelling and pain.
• Willow bark contains salicylic acid which is commonly used in aspirin for its pain reliever qualities and ability to reduce inflammation.
• Ginger tea or simply adding dried ginger to an herbal tea can help improve your circulation and alleviate joint pain.

Alternative remedies

If herbs are not what you are looking for, then there are other natural alternatives which can offer your joint pain relief.

One proven remedy is apple cider vinegar in a heat pack/wrap. Applied directly to the area this simple vinegar can reduce swelling caused by arthritis. Similarly drinking carrot juice can help to strengthen your ligatures. Overflowing in beta-carotene, carrot juice essentially enables you to experience better movement of injured/swollen joints.

Whatever your preferences, it is possible to offer your body relief from joint pain and arthritis without having to ingest chemicals. Simply pick from one of the many herbs listed above and begin your path to a healthier, happier you.

Because of the demand for their skills, physical therapists are well compensated for their commitment to their profession. The U.S. Department of Labor Statistics indicates that physical therapy salaries stand around the $70,000 mark, with some areas in the country paying higher. Some therapists make as much as $100,000 or more per year. They often enjoy other benefits, such as vacation time, retirement accounts, and health insurance for themselves and their family members.

Work with People

A physical therapist is a licensed health care professional who helps people who have been injured or who have lost mobility because of aging or an illness. Many times, these patients also are struggling with pain and discomfort from their conditions. It is their therapist’s job to assist them in adapting to, or ideally overcoming, this lack of mobility and pain. Therapists assess the patient’s condition and then come up with a strategy for treating and improving that person’s ability to move. Many times, therapists work in a hospital or clinical setting; however, they can also own and operate their own clinics away from a city’s medical facilities. In fact, many rural communities are actively seeking therapists who want to establish their own practices and may offer incentives, such as student loan repayment programs, for people who decide to practice in these small towns.

Openings Will Double by 2018

As the population continues to age, especially the Baby Boomer generation, additional qualified therapists will be needed to help patients. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports on its website for this profession that the demand for this profession will prompt a doubling in the number of positions expected to be open by 2018. Unlike some professions that are witnessing a decline in their demand,physical therapists will be in great demand in the future.

What It Takes to Become a Physical Therapist

As with most health care jobs, physical therapists are required to undergo training at a four-year university. During their time at school, students can expect to study a range of topics that center on the human body and its functions. They can expect to study chemistry, human anatomy, biology, and even psychology. They might also undergo internships at local hospitals or health clinics. By the time they graduate, they will have a foundation for knowing how to care for their patients. Each state requires that therapists become licensed to practice their profession.
The licensing requirements vary by state. However, once a person becomes licensed to work as a therapist, he or she can also expect to update his or her training from time to time by attending classes,conferences, and workshops on the latest technology and treatments in that field.

PTSchools.com helps students locate, evaluate and contact physical therapy schools to help them achieve their career goals.

It was observed that both manual and non-manual staff are affected by the negative effects of chronic stress. Unsurprisingly, employers who are planning redundancies are significantly more likely to report an increase in stress-related absence (51 per cent) than other employers (32 per cent).

Under these circumstances, any steps taken to strengthen the nervous system and make it more robust in the face of ongoing pressures will reduce the likelihood of succumbing to stress-related ill health.

Here are a few examples of how you can cope with stress naturally.

Example 1 – I’m a bag of nerves, irritable and jumpy, and I can’t seem to concentrate properly.

• Take a deep breath. In fact, take several. Breathing exercises are very steadying and help reduce the release of inflammatory and pain-causing chemicals from the brainstem. Also anything that stimulates your circulatory system will keep oxygen flowing to the brain, which needs it in order to work well!
• Cut out, or at least cut down, on the caffeine – coffee, tea and fizzy drinks should be ruthlessly suppressed to give your suffering adrenal glands a break. Try green or white tea, or calming teas such as lemon balm, and Bambu coffee substitute.
• Have a quick overhaul of your diet and see how much refined sugar has crept in – this is also bad for irritated nerves, as it causes blood sugar swings that take your mood along for the ride.
• Try a combination of B vitamins and magnesium supplements to feed your adrenal glands and nervous system.
• Take a herbal remedy for stress relief – particularly those containing valerian which is excellent for relieving the symptoms of stress and mild anxiety.

Example 2 – My mood has plummeted and it’s harder to feel cheerful or optimistic. I’m not that keen on the dark nights and grey weather, but moving abroad seems a bit extreme!

• Implement the breathing advice above. In addition, try to get outdoors in the daylight hours each day, even if the quality of that daylight is pretty uniformly grey and damp! It helps your pineal gland to get some light exposure regularly.
• Get outside anyway, even if it’s in the dark, for some oxygenated exercise to brisk you up and stir the blood. Some believe that a good brisk walk can sort out most ailments!
• If you can’t face the cold and wind, at least commit to some form of exercise most days, as jumping about liberates happy chemicals called endorphins that cheer you up. If you can’t physically jump, then crawl, waddle or twitch gently: any movement is better than none!
• Try a light box or at the least a daylight bulb in your office or sitting room to lighten the gloom as much as possible. A daybreak-simulating alarm clock may change the quality of your mornings for the better.
• Take St. John’s Wort tablets to help lift your mood. However, as it is quite a ‘strong herb’, you will have to check the leaflet for contraindications and don’t take it if you are on the pill.

Example 3 – I just can’t sleep properly! I’m tired and fractious and long for my bed, but I keep waking up and find it hard to fall back asleep

• Implement the dietary recommendations above. Caffeine and refined sugar are not good bed partners – replace them with soothing herbal teas, water, and dried fruit/fruit bars.
• Get some exercise every day, albeit just 15-20 minutes gentle walking. It’s important to have exercised both your mind and body in order to sleep well, so if your mind is weary from a stressful day at your computer, but your body is flaccid from lack of stimulus, then dropping off can be a problem.
• It works the other way too – if your job is physical or you rush around after your family all day, but don’t have anything interesting to chew on mentally, your mind may race at night despite your tired body. In this situation it will help if you read for half an hour or so before bed, giving your body a chance to relax whilst your mind gets a workout outwith the daily grind.
• Don’t watch television or films just before bed. Tune out at least half an hour before bed and have a bath or read a good book or chat to your family. Let your body know that you’re en route to slumber. Whatever you do, don’t have the television, computer, piles of work or (especially!) the ironing board in your bedroom! Your bedroom needs to be about rest, not toil, nor electronic gadgetry.
• Try a herbal sleeping preparation such as Dormeasan containing valerian and shops.

Alison Cullen is an education manager for the leading herbal remedy company A.Vogel. She has worked in the health industry since 1987.  Alison lectures & trains on health issues, and is often to be found quoted in health magazines.

By choosing this holistic lifestyle you begin to discover your place in life and you begin to see food in a totally different way, everything you eat can have a healing influence in your life rather than be just something that you put into your mouth automatically when you feel hunger pangs.

The main principal behind Macrobiotics is Yin and Yang where everything has an equal, for example where there is light there is dark, hot there is cold. Put in simple terms Yin and Yang balance each other, yin and yang exists everywhere not only in relation to the food we eat.

The macrobiotic lifestyle is based on balancing your lifestyle with the life you lead, finely tuning this process will lead to ever increasing wellbeing and health. The Macrobiotic diet is one very similar to the nutritional intake that is recommended by the American Cancer Society and is generally high in complex carbohydrates and fibre and low in fat.

What Types Of Food Are Used In The Macrobiotics Diet?

Foods are based on the Yin and Yang principal and as thus are arraigned on a scale; meat, fish, poultry; salt, hard cheeses and eggs are classed as Yang foods. Yin foods are fruit juices, cream, milk, alcohol, molasses and sugar. Foods in the middle of this range are better balanced and these include vegetables, beans, grains, seeds, and nuts and fruit.

It is thought that eating more of a particular Yin or Yang type of food can have a reaction on our health and this is when disease and ailments can occur. Therefore by using the Yin and Yang concept a tailor made diet is based on factors relating to the individual and there circumstances, other points to be taken into consideration are age, season, and the climate and how active the person is.

For example if you live in an area where the weather changes throughout the year rather than stays relatively warm or cold throughout then more Yin type foods such as salads and fruit should be eaten during the summer months and more Yang type foods such as soups and stews should be eaten throughout the winter time.

Typical Macrobiotic Meals

Only natural foods that contain no additives or artificial chemicals are used when preparing a meal for a Macrobiotic diet, most meals are simple and only contain the smallest amount of seasoning and just one or two ingredients.

Around 30% of the diet is composed of vegetables, 8% is beans or products originating from beans and 5% of the Macrobiotic diet consists of fish, nuts, seeds and seasonings. The main meal of the day should consist of soup, grains, vegetables and protein. As cooking can alter the Yin and Yang qualities of a particular food neutral cooking methods are preferred such as stir frying, boiling or steaming.

Allergies- Ephedra is a powerful herb that has long been used in Chinese medicine; it is of particular use for asthmatics and those suffering from overall allergies and sinus problems.

Anaesthetic- Aloe Vera is often used as relief from minor burns and sunburn it has soothing anaesthetic and antiseptic qualities and aids in the restoration of damaged tissue.

Antibiotic- St Johns wort & Echinacea St Johns wort is a very popular herb that has several uses other than its antibiotic qualities, it is said to help in the relief of stress and minor depression and help combat the craving of alcohol.

Echinacea- is used to help relieve the symptoms of the common cold and bacterial infections; it is frequently used for its antibiotic properties and is thought to boost the immune system.

Anti-depressant-Ginkgo & St John wort Ginkgo has many beneficial uses including its anti-depressant properties; it is also thought to improve the flow of blood and improve concentration.

Anti-inflammatory-St John’s wort has excellent anti-inflammatory properties and is especially helpful when used externally on bruises, swellings and skin problems.

Arthritis- Sallow is a great pain reliever and is also know for its abilities in reducing inflammation. It is also said to help in the relief of headaches and minor aches and pains.

Asthma-Ephedra contains properties that are especially beneficial to those suffering from asthma and other respiratory aliments; it contains ephedrine which is used in the treatment of these ailments.

Coughs & Colds- Echinacea is used extensively in the prevention and treatment of the common cold. It is regularly used as a natural antibiotic and is thought to give a boost to the immune system.

Diarrhoea- Raspberry is commonly used for the relief of symptoms of diarrhoea especially when accompanied with nausea or vomiting.

Fever- Purple willow is useful for alleviating fever along with headaches and general aches and pains.

Sore Throat- Black Cohosh is classed as an expectorant and astringent, it eases a sore throat and is said to help with whooping cough.

Stress- St Johns wort is thought to be helpful in reducing stress and anxiety and is given as a natural anti-depression medication.

Sunburn-Aloe Vera is commonly used as an effective solution for sunburn it has excellent anaesthetic and antibiotic properties and is also used for minor burns and cuts.