Delicious Oils to Lower Cholesterol & Boost Immunity

Did you know? In November, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed olive oil producers to state on their labels that "two tablespoons (23 grams) of olive oil daily may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease." Yes, olive oil is good for us.

Some other oils are just as good, offering the same or other health benefits. Here's what other oils can do for you:

Flaxseed oil

Flaxseed is the richest plant source of omega-3 essential fatty acids, particularly, alpha-linolenic acid, from which the body manufactures docasahexaenoic acid, a building block of brain, retina and heart tissue. Recent research links omega-3 deficiency to a wide range of health problems, including depression, poor memory, eczema, allergies and arthritis.

You have probably seen flaxseed oil sold as a dietary supplement, but look for the edible table oil (which should not be heated). Some people enjoy the nutty taste-similar to hazelnuts-and use flaxseed oil to replace butter on corn on the cob or steamed vegetables. Others find the flavor too sharp on its own and prefer to combine it with applesauce, yogurt or peanut butter. You also can grind up whole flaxseeds in a coffee grinder and sprinkle them on yogurt or hot or cold cereal.

Sesame Oil

A study by the American Heart Association found that hypertensive patients who used sesame oil as their only cooking oil - while taking a calcium channel blocker to treat their condition - had lower blood pressure and were able to take significantly less medication after 60 days than patients who took the calcium channel blocker alone.

Sesame oil contains phyto-estrogens called lignans, which protect the heart and inhibit cancer growth. It also is an excellent source of magnesium, an important mineral in which 80% of the American population is deficient. Magnesium is needed for healthy cell function and can ease the symptoms of Crohn's disease and diabetes. Another substance in sesame oil, syrigic acid, is under review for its role in helping skin cells combat ultra-violet damage. Sesame oil is less delicate than most seed oils and can be used for stir-frying, but heating lessens its distinctive aroma. The best way to enjoy its flavor is to drizzle a few drops on stir-fries or soups before serving. You get the same benefits by eating tahini (sesame paste), an ingredient in hummus.

Walnut oil

This oil is high in ellagic acid, an antioxidant that inhibits the growth of cancer cells. It also contains saponins, phyto-chemicals that boost the immune system. The US Food and Drug Administration has said that eating an ounce and a half of walnuts a day can decrease risk of heart disease by lowering levels of triglycerides, the blood fats associated with cardiovascular disease. Walnut oil also is a great source of the antioxidant vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids.

Because it has a relatively low smoke point, walnut oil should not be used for frying. Try using it in salad dressing, or drizzle it on hot chicken or fish dishes just before serving. You also can substitute walnut oil for some of the butter or shortening when baking.

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What is Microscopic Colitis?

Microscopic Colitis is a syndrome of chronic diarrhea caused by inflammation in the colon. It is not related to Ulcerative colitis or to Crohn's Disease, which are more severe forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. There is no evidence to suggest that Microscopic Colitis has the same increased risk for colon cancer as Ulcerative Colitis. The reason that this condition is known as "microscopic" colitis is because it takes use of a microscope to see the inflammation. Strangely enough, the colon appears entirely normal when looked at through an endoscope i.e. a camera mounted at the end of a long tube that is inserted into the rectum, either during colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy.

Dr. Valentine from University of South Alabama suggests that everyone who has diarrhea and a colonoscopy should also have a biopsy done. "Even if the colonoscopy looks normal, it's essential to remove tissue samples for microscopic analysis," he says. Without these diagnostic steps, it could take weeks, months, or even years to discover the reason for the chronic diarrhea. Once the biopsy samples are examined under a microscope, various features can show the source of the inflammation and pinpoint the diagnosis even further.

"For example," says Dr. Valentine, "if the biopsy shows inflammation and a tough, non-elastic band of tissue made of a protein, called collagen, just beneath the lining of the colon, then the condition is known as Collagenous Colitis. Because the thickness of the band may vary, it may be necessary to look at several different tissue samples from different areas of the colon before arriving at the diagnosis." It is important to note that collagen is normally present just beneath the lining of the colon; however, in collagenous colitis, the amount of collagen is increased.

Another type of microscopic colitis is Lymphocytic Colitis. In this case, biopsy samples reveal an increased number of lymphocytes (a kind of white blood cell that fights infection and disease) within the lining of the colon. Lymphocytes may also be seen in collagenous colitis, which somewhat blurs the distinction between the two conditions. A thickened collagen band isn't seen in lymphocytic colitis.

Symptoms

Although Collagenous Colitis and Lymphocytic Colitis display different characteristics under magnification, the symptoms of the two forms of microscopic colitis are virtually identical. "The chief complaint with both conditions is chronic watery diarrhea with no sign of blood in the stool," observes Dr. Valentine. "The diarrhea may be either continuous or intermittent and may be accompanied by cramps or abdominal pain. Dehydration may occur as well."

What causes microscopic colitis and who gets it?

Some experts suggest that NSAID's (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like aspirin or ibuprofen, may be the actual culprits or may aggravate symptoms in individuals who are already prone to the syndrome. Another theory is that Collagenous Colitis and Lymphocytic Colitis are caused by an autoimmune response. This means that the body attacks itself-mistaking various cells in the colon for foreign intruders.

There is also a link between microscopic colitis and auto-immune diseases, including celiac sprue, also known as celiac disease. Celiac Disease is a digestive condition that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients. It is caused by an immunological reaction of the intestine to wheat, barley, rye, and oats, creating symptoms of chronic diarrhea and weight loss.

Dr. Valentine says that Celiac Disease is under-diagnosed in this country. "That's because not everyone that has this disease has all the classic symptoms. Some people with celiac sprue have microscopic tissue changes that can look a lot like microscopic colitis, so there does seem to be some clinical overlap between the two conditions," he says.

The average age of Collagenous Colitis onset is in the 50's with a heavy leaning toward women. Dr. Valentine indicates that some studies have shown that women outnumber men by 5 to 1 or more. Autoimmune diseases tend to be more common in women. In the case of Lymphocytic Colitis, the condition is more evenly distributed between men and women with age at onset usually in the 60s.

As with Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease, the exact cause has yet to be identified. Bacteria, bacterial toxins, and viruses are among the usual suspects that have been implicated.

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Did You Know...

Suzanne Havala Hobbs, DrPH, RD, clinical assistant professor, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, says that if you treat yourself to a fattening snack and plan to walk it off later, here's how far you'll have to go. A 155lb person would need to walk at a moderate pace for...

• More than two hours for a Big Mac.
• More than two hours for a large order of fries.
• Two hours for two glazed Krispy Kreme donuts.
• A little more than an hour for one cup of Breyers vanilla ice cream.
• Almost one hour for a Snickers bar.

A smaller person would have to walk even longer at the same pace to burn the same number of calories. Example: Someone who weighs 125 pounds would have to walk for two hours to burn off the same number of calories that a 250-pound person would burn in one hour of walking at the same pace.

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Helpful Healing Tools...

Helpful healing tools for the symptoms often associated with detoxification.

• Fever- Allow fever to run it`s course. Try some fever few herb (2 caps, I x daily).
• Head Ache- Drink more water, use yoga stretch' chart, get a neck massage, take a hot epsom salt bath and add 6 drops lavender oil and drink a cup of chamomile tea
• Fatigue- Take a cat nap, have a cup of detox tea, get one ounce of wheat grass, try some yoga stretches.
• Skin eruptions- Use a bentonite clay mud pack over effected area, hydrate skin with aloe vera gel and apply jojoba oil liberally before bed.
• Irritability- Find a quiet dimly lit rest zone, take a short nap, try a long hot shower.
• Gas- Try not to over eat, chew your food thoroughly, do not mix sweets with a heavy meal.
• Tension- Find a quiet zone, take a hot epsom salt bath and add 6 drops of lavender oil, take one full dropper of kava kava extract.
• Rash (itching)- Take an oatmeal bath, apply aloe Vera gel over skin, liberally apply jojoba oil before bedtime.
• Insomnia- Take a hot bath, drink two cups of chamomile tea, take one dropper full of valerian root extract.
• Nausea- Drink water, have a cup of ginger tea, take a short nap.
• Congestion- Make tea with 1/2 cup lemon juice, 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper, 1 tsp. maple syrup and fill cup with hot water, fill the tub with a hot shower and add 6 drops of eucalyptus oil to the water.
• Bad breath - Gargle with pineapple juice and hydrogen peroxide, chew fennel seeds through out the day and scrape tongue with dental floss.
• Dizziness- Drink more mineral water, take a rest and lie flat with legs elevated, try not to rise suddenly from a seated position, stay clam.
• Coated Tongue- Scrape tongue with dental floss, brush tongue with toothpaste. Drink more water. Take 2 cayenne pepper capsules daily.

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In Good Health.
Pamela Nathan

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