Cholesterol Reduction

Here's a fact for you to consider! A person with a total serum cholesterol number of 260 mg/dL (6.6 mmol/L) increases his or her chance of a heart attack by 500% (Annals of Internal Medicine (United States), 1979)

Elevated cholesterol is associated with a greater-than-normal risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. While antioxidants can inhibit cholesterol from oxidizing onto the linings of the arteries, knowing and controlling your cholesterol levels is still an important step in preventing cardiovascular disease

Types of Cholesterol, and the Impact on Your Health

Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL)

Low density lipoprotein (LDL) is called the "bad" form of cholesterol. LDL carries most of the cholesterol in the blood, and the cholesterol from LDLs is the main source of damaging accumulation and blockage in the arteries. Thus, the more LDLcholesterol you have in your blood, the greater your risk of disease. If you have coronary heart disease (CHD) and your LDL is higher than 100 mg/dL (2.5 mmol/L), your cholesterol may well be too high for you

High Density Lipoprotein (HDL)

High density lipoprotein (HDL) is called the "good" form of cholesterol. HDL picks up and transports cholesterol in the blood back to the liver, which leads to its elimination from the body. HDL can help keep LDL cholesterol from building up in the walls of the arteries. If your level of HDL cholesterol is below 35 mg/dL (0.9 mmol/L), you are at substantially higher risk for CHD. The higher your HDL cholesterol level, the better. The average HDL-cholesterol for men is about 45 mg/dL (1.1 mmol/L), and for women it is about 55 mg/dL (1.4 mmol/L)

Triglycerides (TG)

Triglycerides are a form of fat carried through the bloodstream. Most of your body's fat is in the form of triglycerides stored in fat tissue. Only a small portion of your triglycerides are found in the bloodstream. High blood triglyceride levels alone do not cause atherosclerosis. But lipoproteins that are rich in triglycerides also contain cholesterol, which causes atherosclerosis in many people with high triglycerides. So high triglycerides may be a sign of a lipoprotein problem that contributes to CHD.

Here are the 1999 dietary recommendations from the American Heart Association:

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"Cholesterol is found in meat, poultry, seafood and dairy products. Foods from plants-such as fruits, vegetables, vegetable oils, grains, cereals, nuts, and seeds-don't contain cholesterol. Egg yolks and organ meats are high in cholesterol. Shrimp and crayfish are somewhat high in cholesterol. Chicken, turkey, and fish contain about the same amount of cholesterol as do lean beef, lamb and pork."

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The following nutritional supplements offer synergistic benefits to assist dietary modification to reduce total serum cholesterol and elevate HDL cholesterol:

• Policosanol, take one tablet twice per day with meals: one in the afternoon and one in the evening. Or Sytrinol, one capsule twice daily. Note:Do not take if it causes your cholesterol to drop below 180 mg/dL


• Fiber, 4 to 6 grams before any high-fat meal.


• Chitosan, three to six 500-mg chitosan capsules and one 1000 mg ascorbic acid capsule right before a high-fat meal.


• Niacin, 1500 to 3000 mg a day (if tolerable).


• Artichoke extract, 300 mg, 3 times a day.


• Garlic, 600 to 4800 mg a day.


• Curcumin, 900 to 1800 mg a day.


• Gugulipid, 140 mg 1 to 2 times a day.


• Green tea, 750 mg a day of green tea, 93% polyphenol extract.


• Perilla oil, 6000 mg a day. We suggest taking six 1000-mg gel caps daily. If triglycerides are high, consider taking 4-8 softgels of fish oil (EPA/DHA).


• Vitamin E, 400 to 800 IU daily


• Soy protein extract, 2 heaping teaspoons (5 to 6 grams) of soy powder daily.


• Selenium, 200 to 600 mcg daily.


• Herbal Cardiovascular Formula, two-six capsules daily with food in divided doses.

-From Life Extension articles.

-For full article, click http://www.lef.org/protocols/prtcl-032.shtml

Sufi Meditation

Meditation in Islam is famous among the Sufis.

Here are some of the benefits of meditation, taken from Naqshbandi Muhibbeen website.

http://nurmuhammad.com/Meditation/Mainmeditationmuraqabah.htm

Physical Benefits

• Deep rest-as measured by decreased metabolic rate, lower heart rate, and reduced work load of the heart.


• Lowered levels of cortisol and lactate-two chemicals associated with stress.


• Reduction of free radicals- unstable oxygen molecules that can cause tissue damage. They are now thought to be a major factor in aging and in many diseases.


• Decreased high blood pressure.


• Higher skin resistance. Low skin resistance is correlated with higher stress and anxiety levels.


• Drop in cholesterol levels. High cholesterol is associated with cardiovascular disease.


• Improved flow of air to the lungs resulting in easier breathing. This has been very helpful to asthma patients.


• Younger biological age. On standard measures of aging, long-term Meditation practitioners (more than five years) measured 12 years younger than their chronological age.


• Higher levels of DHEAS in the elderly. An additional sign of youthfulness through Meditation lower levels of DHEAS are associated with aging.

Psychological Benefits

• Increased brain wave coherence. Harmony of brain wave activity in different parts of the brain is associated with greater creativity, improved moral reasoning, and higher IQ.


• Decreased anxiety.


• Decreased depression.


• Decreased irritability and moodiness.


• Improved learning ability and memory.


• Increased self-actualization.


• Increased feelings of vitality and rejuvenation.


• Increased happiness.


• Increased emotional stability.

Say I Am You: Jalaluddin Rumi

Amalan Kesihatan Cara Nabi Muhammad s.a.w

1. Allah tidak menjadikan penyakit melainkan dijadikan-Nya juga ubatnya kecuali mati. Firman Allah bahawa sesiapa yang hidup menurut petunjuk Allah akan lanjut usianya

2. Asal segala penyakit ialah sejuk. Oleh itu makanlah apabila anda kehendaki atau perlu dan jangan makan apabila tidak perlu

3. Perut itu rumah segala penyakit dan puasa raja segala ubat. Oleh itu jadikanlah ia kebiasaan anda.

4. Pada pandangan Allah, makanan yang paling baik ialah makanan yang dimakan beramai-ramai.

5. Makan seorang diri semasa sarapan pagi ialah makan dengan syaitan. Makan dengan seorang lain ialah makan dengan raja yang zalim, makan dengan dua orang lagi ialah makan dengan para Nabi a.s

6. Biarkan makananmu agak sejuk sebelum memakannya, kerana makanan yang panas itu tidak berkat.

7. Apabila makan tinggalkan kasutmu kerana dengan itu kakimu lebih rehat. Inilah nasihat yang baik.

8. Ada keberkatan pada makanan di tengah pinggan. Oleh itu mulakan makan makanan yang ditepi pinggan dulu, bukan mula dari tengah (pengertian hadith ini ialah seseorang itu hendaklah jangan tamak iaitu mementingkan diri sendiri dan hendaklah membenarkan orang lain mendapat berkat, jangan seorang diri saja)

9. Ada keberkatan dalam tiga perkara: dalam sarapan pagi, dalam roti dan dalam sup

10. Berus gigi dengan 'miswak' selepas makan dan kemuadian berkumur-kumur kerana amalan ini adalah penjaga gigi.

11. Gunakan 'miswak' kerana amalan ini datang dari kebersihan, dan kebersihan datang dari iman dan iman membawa seseorang itu ke syurga.

12. Makanan dalam pinggan itu memohon rahmat bagi orang yang makan sehingga habis langsung (iaitu tidak membazir)

13. Makan bersama barulah bersurai, kerana keberkatan itu ada dalam kumpulan.

14. Kurang makan kurang dosa.

15. Mengumpulkan dalam perkara berikut adalah dilarang iaitu mengumpul gandum, barli,kismis, sekoi, lemak, madu lebah, keju, sejenis pokok yang buahnya berkulit keras dan boleh dimakan (walnut) dan zaitun.

16. Jangan minum berdiri kecuali orang yang berpenyakit sengal pada peha dan pangkal peha (sciatica).

17. Sarapan pagi waktu fajar (dinihari) ada berkatnya.

18. Ketika saya mikraj, tidak ada seorang pun Malaikat pun yang tidak berkata, " Wahai Muhammad s.a.w beritahu ummatmu supaya berbekam. Rawatan yang paling baik adalah berbekam, ketumbar dan sejenis herba (costus).

19. Siapa yang sakit selama 7 hari, maka ia adalah penebus dosa selama 70 tahun.

20. Tidak ada sakit seperti sakit dalam mata dan tidak ada kerungsingan seperti kerungsingan kerana berhutang.

21. Apabila Nabi Muhammad s.a.w melawat orang sakit, baginda biasanya berkata, "Hindarilah pedaya iblis, kekuatan itu kerana dengan Allah, sembuh dan disembuhkan, tidak ada yang menyembuhkan melainkan Engkau".

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Sumber: 'Kitab Ilmu Perubatan Kesufian' oleh Sheikh Hakim Moinuddin Chishti. Terjemahan Rozali Md Isa

The Art & Science of Aromatherapy

What is Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy means "treatment using scents". It is a holistic treatment of caring for the body with pleasant smelling botanical oils such as rose, lemon, lavender and peppermint. The essential oils are added to the bath or massaged into the skin, inhaled directly or diffused to scent an entire room. Aromatherapy is used for the relief of pain, care for the skin, alleviate tension and fatigue and invigorate the entire body. Essential oils can affect the mood, alleviate fatigue, reduce anxiety and promote relaxation. When inhaled, they work on the brain and nervous system through stimulation of the olfactory nerves. read further

History of aromatherapy

Aromatherapy had been around for 6000 years or more. The Greeks, Romans, and ancient Egyptians all used aromatherapy oils. The Egyptian physician Imhotep recommended fragrant oils for bathing, massage, and for embalming their dead nearly 6000 years ago. Imhotep is the Egyptian god of medicine and healing. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, used aromatherapy baths and scented massage. He used aromatic fumigations to rid Athens of the plague. read further

How Does Aromatherapy Work?

Studies with brain wave frequency has shown that smelling lavender increases alpha waves in the back of the head, which are associated with relaxation. Fragrance of Jasmine increases beta waves in the front of the head, which are associated with a more alert state. read further

Results of Clinical Studies

Aromatherapy is particularly effective for stress, anxiety, and psychosomatic induced problems, muscular and rheumatic pains, digestive disorders and women's problems, such as PMS, menopausal complaints and postnatal depression. Here is a summary of the results from clinical studies. read further

Reference: http://www.holisticonline.com/Aromatherapy/hol_aroma.htm