Many students dream of taking a well-deserved vacation or out-of-town trip with their families or friends. But why risk spoiling one’s long-planned and much sought-after vacation because of an unexpected illness?

Flights have been booked, the whole group’s schedule has been synchronized, and bags have been packed — only to be postponed at the last minute when one member suddenly feels under the weather.

In other cases, the vacationers have already reached their destination and settled into their rooms, only to realize upon waking up the following day that they are not feeling well.

There are also those who are into the swing of things, partying all night till the wee hours of the morning. But after a short dip and a few hours on the beach they find themselves nursing a fever, left behind by their friends who paint the town red for a second night in a row.

Many vacations have been marred by these horror stories that made the victims feel they did not get their money’s worth just because their body resistance got the better of them.

Why be victimized by such an occurrence when you can protect yourself from low body immunity by simply adding a few packs of vitamin-C into your vanity or traveling bag?

Vitamin C has always been considered as an essential nutrient for overall health and well being. Since traveling on vacation means long nights and irregular eating hours, we become more susceptible to common illnesses when we least expect and welcome it. That is why most parents advise their children to take a lot of Vitamin C as a preventive measure especially during vacations and on special occasions.

“Better yet, make that Sodium Ascorbate FERN-C, the non-acidic Vitamin C,” says Dr. Amelia Obusan of Fern Foundation.

Taking FERN-C is an excellent way to strengthen body resistance plus it helps fight the effects of free radicals. It is made from 100 percent Quali-C by DSM Switzerland and has been awarded the Superbrands Seal of Quality and Excellence.

Since FERN-C is alkaline, it is readily absorbed and tolerated by the body. With a pH range of 7.5 to 7.8, one can take large doses of FERN-C without the negative effects of highly acidic vitamin C tablets, like gastric irritation, bloating, and intestinal irritation.

Call 982-FERN (3376) or log on to www.fern-c.com for more details.

Courtesy of : www.philstar.com

Natural family planning refers to methods for planning and preventing pregnancies by observation of the naturally occurring signs and symptoms of the fertile phases of the menstrual cycle. Intercourse is avoided during the fertile phase if pregnancy is not desired.

Advantages

• May strengthen the understanding, partnership and affection between husband and wife
• Easy to stop practicing once the couple wants to have another child
• No supplies or devices required; no procedures done
• No side effects
• Acceptable to the Catholic Church

Disadvantages (if you could call them that)

• Requires couples to avoid sex during the fertile days of the woman’s menstrual cycle if pregnancy is not desired
• Requires daily and close observation of what the woman feels in her body
• Effective only if there is correct interpretation of what the woman feels, her body temperature, physical symptoms, or quality of the cervical mucus discharge
• Needs the cooperation of the male partner

The four techniques of NFP are:

Cervical Mucus Method. This involves the daily observation and recording of the consistency of the mucus or cervical secretion. A feeling of wetness in the opening of the vagina during the phases of the menstrual cycle – the peak symptoms being a lubricant sensation and wet, stretchy mucus – signals the onset of ovulation; and the couple must abstain from intercourse during this period, if pregnancy is not desired.

Basal Body Temperature (BBT). This involves the daily recording of the temperature changes in the woman’s body. In recording her temperature, the woman needs at least three hours to continuous, uninterrupted sleep. She records her temperature at the same time every day before getting up or doing anything in the morning. A rise in the BBT may mean ovulation; and the couple should abstain from intercourse if pregnancy is not desired.

Sympto-Thermal. This is a combination of the cervical mucus and BBT methods and other physiological indicators of ovulation, such as tenderness of the breast and mid-cycle pain. This involves recording. If pregnancy is not desired, couples should abstain from intercourse until the third day of elevated temperature or the fourth day after the peak day of mucus, whichever comes first.

Breastfeeding or Lactational Amenorrhea (LAM). This is considered a natural contraceptive and is known to protect a woman from pregnancy for the six months after giving birth, depending on certain factors.

Breastfeeding is the main factor for delaying menstruation (lactational amerrhea). As the baby sucks, the nipples are stimulated, causing the woman’s body to produce prolactin, the hormone which induces milk flow.

Prolactin is also believed to suppress ovulation in the nursing mother, in addition to its main function or increasing the supply of the breast milk. Thus the more frequent and the longer the breastfeeding, the longer the delay of the menstrual period.

Breastfeeding provides 98 percent protection against another pregnancy only as long as:

• The baby is under six months old.
• The mother is fully breastfeeding, a minimum of six feedings during the day time and two night, and complete emptying of the breast during every feeding episode
• The mother is amenorrhoeic or has not experienced menstrual bleeding 56 days after delivery.

Breastfeeding also provides many other benefits. It is the best nutrition for infants. It lowers the incidence of infant diseases and deaths. It promotes bonding between the mother and child.

Many experts object to junk food not merely for its low nutritional value but mainly because of the many hazards it poses to one’s health.

Junk foods are usually high in fat. The fat comes from hydrogenated oils which are considered less healthy than unhydrogenated oils. Hydrogenation converts unsaturated fats into saturated fatty acids which could clog arteries causing cardiovascular problems.

High levels of sodium salt or sugar or both reasons for concern. Increased intake of salt containing sodium is known to cause hypertension. On the other hand, sugar not only ruins the teeth, but it also plays a major part in the causation of obesity and diabetes.

Another cause of alarm is the widespread use of hazardous food additives. These include flavor enhancers, colors, artificial sweeteners and antioxidants.

Many of these additives such as BHT (Butylated hydroxytoluene), BHA (Butylated hydroxyanisole), saccharin and aspartame have been linked to cancer in laboratory animals.

BHT and BHA are antioxidants widely used in oils while saccharin and aspartame are artificial sweeteners.

Aspartame has also been implicated with other health problems. Another food additive, monosodium glutamate (locally known as vetsin), has also been very controversial. MSG originally gained a bad reputation as a causative agent of the “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome”.

Sodium and high blood pressure. Is there an association? After more than 50 years of research, scientists have concluded that almost half of the people who develop high blood pressure are sodium-sensitive. Other studies suggest that the incidence of hypertension in a population closely parallels the amount of sodium consumed. Contrariwise, hypertensive patients, placed on sodium-restricted diets by their physicians, do experience lowered blood pressure.

While sodium (salt) may not be the only nutrient involved in the development of high blood pressure, its restriction is the best advice for those suffering from hypertension and those who wish to avoid such a condition.

Your body needs some salt. The minerals which make up salt – sodium and chloride – are, along with other nutrients, essential for maintaining the body’s fluid balance, normal nerve and muscles activity, and other important functions. The actual amount needed is between 1/10 and ¼ of a teaspoon each day. A normal person can probably consume between ½ and 1 ½ teaspoons without adverse effect. However, many people consume over two teaspoons of salt daily.

Although table salt is the principal source of sodium in the diet, it is not the only one. Sodium occurs naturally in water and most foods. In addition it is also added to many foods during processing. Some popular high-sodium foods are: smoked fish, fast foods such as fried chicken, hamburgers and frankfurters, pizza, ham, tomato sauce, meat tenderizer, chili, canned stew, and canned soups.

Low-sodium foods include fresh vegetables, and fruit juices.

To help consumers monitor their dietary sodium, food processors have been encouraged to include sodium content on food package labels.

Although even among medical scientists some controversy continues regarding the role of sodium in the development and improvement of high blood pressure, most doctors still stand firmly behind the traditional position that there is a strong link between sodium and hypertension.

Because it can’t be determined exactly who is sensitive to sodium, and therefore likely to develop hypertension from its use, everyone should keep their sodium intake at or below a moderate level. In practical terms this means no added salt to food at the table, elimination or drastically reduced use of salt-rich foods such as potato chips, smoked fish, and pork products, and fast food preparations.

Moderation in salt use seems the best. Try it that way. You’ll like it, and it’ll likely keep your blood pressure down too.

How can I know if my lifestyle is reducing my life expectancy or will result in some serious ailment such as cancer or diabetes? Numerous studies of populations have shown that certain behaviors are threats to optimum health. Some of these are more important than others. Many are interrelated, so that a change in one may break a chain-like reaction.

For example, the risk of high-blood cholesterol, a factor in fatal heart disease, is linked to a cluster of health habits: excess saturated (animal) fat and cholesterol in the diet, lack of exercise, excess dietary calories, sedentary habits that contribute to obesity.

What difference does it make if I don’t change my bad habits? Quite a lot, especially if you’re willing to accept the facts.

To best understand the risk involved, let’s consider the risk of heart attack and stroke in two individuals. We will examine only six aspects of their life, all of which are related to habit patterns.

We’ll call the first individual Healthman and the second, Highrisk.

Healthman does not smoke cigarettes, is of an ideal weight, eats little salt in food, and has a low blood pressure (systolic of no more than 110), does not use foods high in saturated fats or cholesterol (virtually no animal flesh or products), is physically active (exercises vigorously four or more times a week), and is rarely tense or anxious.

Highrisk, on the other hand, smokes 35 or more cigarettes each day, likes salty and convenience foods, has a systolic blood pressure of 150 or higher, eats a lot of meat, cheese, eggs, and whole milk, rarely exercises, and is usually tense and takes tranquilizers to keep calm.

What difference does this make? In practical terms it means that Healthman will have the very lower risk of heart attack or stroke, averaging less than one-tenth the rate in the average Western 35-65 age group.

On the other hand, Highrisk has about four to five times the same average probability of having a premature heart attack or stroke.

In other words, Highrisk is 40 to 50 times as likely to suffer severe cardiovascular problems as Healthman.

The choice is obvious. It’s our decision and we individually know what changes we need to make.

Some people assume that science and religion are in conflict with each other. Medicine, they say, is based on fact while religion is based on faith. But after carefully reading the Bible, I am amazed at how much medical knowledge can be found in the Good Book.

Allow me to discuss three examples, written before Christ’s birth that may convince you of the practical wisdom of the Bible.

• Vegetarian Is Healthier

The first health advice can be found in the book of Daniel. The prophet is famous for being thrown in the lion’s den and escaping unharmed. But little do readers know that Daniel conducted the first scientific study when he proved to the King that a vegetarian diet is healthier that a meaty diet. Daniel presents his research proposal to the king: “Please allow your servants a 10 days’ trial, during which we are given only vegetables to eat and water to drink. You can then compare our looks with those of the boys who eat the king’s food; go by what you see…”

When the 10 days were over, Daniel and company looked better and fatter than any of the boys who had eaten the meaty food (Daniel 1: 12-15). Thus, Daniel convinced the king to adopt a vegetarian diet.

A study in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that people who consume more vegetables are healthier and have lower blood pressures compared to predominantly carnivorous people. It’s funny how researchers had to spend a lot of time, money, and energy to arrive at Daniel’s same conclusion 2,560 years ago.

• Avoid Fat and Pork

The second Bible advice is to avoid fat and pork. With no knowledge of how cholesterol clogs our arteries, Moses emphatically states: “Do not eat any of the fat of cattle, sheep or goat … You must not eat (pork) or touch their carcasses; they are unclean for you (Leviticus 7:23, 11: 8).”

For doctors, it was only in the 1950s when the ravages of cholesterol came to light. If you browse medical journals, the latest warning is remarkably familiar: Avoid fatty foods, especially pork and beef fat (bad cholesterol).

• Be Clean and Avoid Infections

If the first two examples can be attributed to a prophet’s luck, then the third advice is simply incredible. Is it possible that Moses already knew about disease-causing bacteria two millenniums before any human eye saw them with a microscope? This appears to be the case when Moses warned that anyone with a skin sore should be isolated for seven days. The sick person is to burn his clothes and clean himself thoroughly. Moses gives a lengthy discussion (like a dermatologist) on what type of rash is clean or unclean. Then the high priest, acting like a doctor, will see the isolated patient every week until the sore disappears (See Leviticus 13).

What makes Moses’ pronouncements so astonishing is the fact that it was only in the 1880s, when scientists began to accept the germ theory, that bacteria caused disease. Before this time, doctors could not explain the numerous infections and deaths they encountered after operating with their bare hands. How could Moses have known that invisible particles caused disease and that burning and isolation prevented its spread? Unless, of course, he had some heavenly inspiration.

These are just three of numerous health tips I will leave for you to discover in your readings. Here are a few more to get you started:

1) A little wine is beneficial but not too much (1 Timothy 5:23, Psalm 23:20-21).

2) Don’t put infection-prone tattoo marks on your bodies (Leviticus 19:28).

3) Reduce stress by not worrying (Matthew 6:25-34) and resting on the Sabbath day (Leviticus 23:3).

• Trust God with Your Life

Finally, there is one advice, unheeded yet by science that is the essence of the Bible — the power of faith and prayer. God asks us to trust Him completely, and He will take care of all our needs including our health, finances, and career. Could this be the secret to a long and fruitful life?

In a classic case, the elderly King Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. Despite his frail health, Hezekiah prayed earnestly and God granted him a life extension, saying: “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add 15 years to your life (Isaiah 38: 5).” And just like that, the king lived 15 more years.

• Trust Your Doctors, Too

But lest we be misunderstood, patients must also seek the benefits of modern science and follow their doctor’s advice. Doctors are an extension of God’s healing hand, as the Lord Himself tells us to seek a good doctor and to trust him: “Honor physicians for their services, for the Lord created them; and their gift of healing comes from the Most High (Sirach 38: 1-2).”

As you can see, religion and science are not really at odds with each other. It is just that God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts. Let those who have eyes, see. Over 2,000 years ago, God already gave us the blueprint for a healthy life, written in the holy pages of the Bible.