Did you know there are 92 elements found in nature and an additional 22 which are observed elements or scientists believe exists but have not been able to prove.

In addition to all of those there are also hundreds of isotopes of those elements, any one of which can play an important role in human health which has yet to of been discovered.

In these numerous elements are trace minerals which are called this because they are required in such a very small amounts.

And, while scientists and doctors believe they have identified many of the trace minerals required by the body for optimal health, they are required in such minute amounts and there are so many different trace elements that may be necessary, it is highly unlikely that physicians and scientists have identified all of them.  Read more...

Magnesium is a magnificent mineral. It is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body and essential to good health for each and every one of us. Interestingly, approximately 50% of the magnesium stored in our body can be found in the bone. The other half is found inside of the cells of our body tissue and organs and only 1% is found in the blood. But, although the amount found in the blood is so small, the body works very hard to keep this number constant.

Magnesium is a mineral found in all unprocessed foods. There is a high concentration in unmilled grain, dark leafy vegetables, fruit, nuts and legumes. Although there is an abundance in whole foods, because of the standard Western diet and potential malabsorption issues many people can create a situation where they don’t receive enough magnesium to support optimal health.  Read more...

What is that ringing in your ears? It could be a condition called tinnitus. See your doctor if you notice a ringing that wasn’t there before.

Tinnitus is more commonly known as ringing in the ears. Tinnitus is a symptom of several conditions. Think of it as being similar to the sounds you hear when you hold a seashell up to your ear. You hear the ocean as if it were a swishing sound. Some people who report ringing in the ears hear a similar sound.

Ringing can arise from any area of the ear. After a loud rock concert you may hear ringing in your ears. Ear infections can cause ringing or swishing sounds in the ear as the middle ear fills up with fluid. Even something as simple as having too much ear wax in your ears can cause ringing sounds.

Start with common explanations for the sound. It could be that your iPod volume is too loud and over time, tinnitus had become an issue. In quiet places, you hear sounds in your head that you couldn’t hear before because of other noises. This is normal.  Read more...

One of the most interesting topics on skin care is ‘anti aging skin care’. As one gets older, the natural defence of our skin (and in fact of the whole body) weakens. ‘Anti aging skin care’ is about protecting your skin from the negative effects of aging process. ‘Anti aging skin care’ helps in maintaining a young and fresh look for a longer period of time. However, ‘anti aging skin care’ doesn’t end just here. Besides maintaining your looks (good looks), ‘anti aging skin care’ is also about retaining the resistance to disease. Though the awareness about anti aging has increased over a period of time, still a lot of people are unable to recognize the aging symptoms (and hence are unable to determine if they are in need of additional anti aging skin care measures).  Read more...

If you had not heard of a vestibular migraine you would not be alone. This type of migraine can cause dizziness, vertigo, in balance, problems with hearing, nausea, fatigue, anxiety, concentration and other symptoms. This disorder will deeply affect a person’s day-to-day functioning, their ability to work, their social relationships and definitely their quality of life.

A vestibular migraine is actually a variation of the typical migraine, where instead of a headache being the most predominant feature, the person becomes dizzy. Patients often report that out of absolutely no way are they get extremely dizzy and don’t even feel like they’re even on the ground anymore. Some describe it as a spinning or rocking sensation and others have light or sound sensitivity. Episodes can last minutes or hours.

In many instances people have had a history of migraine headaches before a vestibular migraine shows up. At this time researchers believe that they are an inherited disorder. On MRI imaging the brains are usually in Colombo but looks the same as they would in any individual who suffers from migraine. This means that there is an abnormal firing and the pain pathways and researchers are still trying to understand the mechanism. This overlap in hyper excitability in the brainstem is what is believed to cause the dizziness.  Read more...

Lecithin is a compound which is the yellow-brown in color and fatty inconsistency. It occurs in animal and plant tissue and thank you but is sometimes used as is Eminem for a phospholipid that is the major component, phosphatide. It can be isolated from egg yolk or from soybeans from which it is extracted chemically were mechanically. It does not dissolve in water easily and is sold as a food supplement and for medical purposes.

Lecithin is found in living cells is a major component of the cell membrane regulates what enters and exits that cell. Scientists define lecithin as synonymous with phosphatidylcholine, a principle phospholipid found in the compound.

Normally we are able to consume Lecithin in the diet through soy, grains, fish, yeast, peanuts and egg yolk. It is also sold as a supplement in powder, capsule or granular form. But, this dietary supplement usually contains less than 35% of the primary phospholipid, phosphatidlycholine. Most of the manufactured supplement is derived from soybeans.  Read more...

When Bell’s Palsy occurs the muscles in one side of the face become weak or paralyzed. Several muscles in the face are affected. Control of the tear glands, taste buds, the eye and glands that control saliva production are affected by Bell’s Palsy.

The facial nerve is used to pass electrochemical signals from the brain to the face muscles. When this nerve is damaged the signals no longer have a good road to travel along and the weakness in one side of the face occurs.

For people suffering with Bell’s palsy, many things that we often take for granted become a challenge. Smiling, speaking, opening or closing an eye and eating are no longer as easy as they once were. Often times, one eye will tear up, taste buds disappear, speech becomes slurred, hearing loss develops and drooling occurs. Bell’s palsy appears out of nowhere and peaks within forty eight hours.

You might have been thinking that what I just described sounds like a stroke. Well, the symptoms are very similar to a stroke and many people often mistake the symptoms of Bell’s palsy for one.  Read more...

In society, getting older is a cause for concern. The elderly are viewed as feeble and in need of care. All elderly people are not the same but more likely than not, they will keep hearing loss a secret to avoid the stigma associated with it.

As you age, hearing loss is a fact of life. Depending on your health, hearing loss may be more profound in some than in others. There is a name for this type of hearing loss, called presbycusis. Presybcusis has many causes including age, exposure to loud noises for many years, illness and auditory damage due to chemicals. Whatever the cause, the result is the same: you will slowly lose your hearing.

With moderate hearing loss, elderly people can learn to “fake” it. You can still hear well enough to distinguish conversations. When you can’t, such as in a crowded room or when someone is calling to you from behind, you pretend not to hear or to be distracted. That will work well for a while but is not a permanent solution.  Read more...

Cochlear implants are a form of implantable hearing device that helps people with sensorineural hearing loss. Cochlear implants restore the hearing chain in your head so that you no longer have to suffer with a total hearing loss. Where other hearing aids fail for this type of hearing loss, a cochlear implant makes all the difference.

There are two types of hearing loss: conductive hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss. The first is a result of something wrong with either the eardrum (tympanic membrane) or one of the three small bones in the middle ear that conduct sound to the inner ear.

Sensorineural hearing loss has to do with the cells of the inner ear which turn sound into electrical impulses for the brain to interpret. The bones of the middle ear vibrate and get fluid in the cochlea to begin moving. This movement causes hair cells in the inner ear to move and turn those vibrations into electrical impulses.  Read more...

Wearing hearing aids is a fact of life for many thousands of people. As technology has evolved, so have the types of hearing aids available to both young and old hearing-impaired patients. With each type, the cost of owning that particular hearing device varies.

Hearing aids are designed to amplify sound in your ear. If you have diminished hearing, it is hard to distinguish a conversation in a crowded room or hear the television. A hearing aid increases the volume of the sound that you hear without having to shout or turn the TV up louder.

Hearing aids used to be just the type that fits over your ear to enhance your hearing capability. They weren’t very stylish and everyone could see them. Now, hearing aids can be worn and remain completely invisible to the casual observer allowing you the privacy you want.

The most common type of hearing aid is the “behind the ear” model. The main part of the device sits securely behind your ears. A tube inside the plastic hearing aid delivers sound into the ear canal.  Read more...

Your hearing is a wonderful and delicately balanced system. Three small bones in the middle ear conduct the sound you hear in the outside world into electrical impulses that go to your brain and interpret the sound. But, the range of hearing – especially among young people – is diminishing as the loudness of their musical devices increases.

Hearing intensity is measured in decibels (dB). At 0 decibels, you can hear sounds that are near to total silence. At the 20 decibel level, you are hearing sounds just above a whisper. On the other end of the scale, listening to a jet engine is pushing 120 decibels. The human ear can distinguish all of these sounds when your hearing is normal. After damage has been done, however, your decibel range is limited.

One reason that hearing becomes impaired is listening to loud sounds for long periods of time. Musicians are a group that is no stranger to hearing problems. Listening to loud music can be physically painful to your ears. At that point, the damage has already been done.  Read more...