How Safe Are Your Medicines?

Saturday, 14 January 2012

This is an extract of an article written by Dr Amir Farid Ishak. He is a medical specialist who is very much against the current drug-based practice of modern medicine. Instead, he advocates a lifestyle and nutrition-based approach.

In general, drugs/medicines do not heal, but only suppress or control the symptoms, and they have many side-effects. For example, people with high blood pressure condition have their blood pressure "under control" as long as they take their medications. The unfortunate news is, even if their blood pressure is normal, they are not healthy, and not cured of their problem. Why? Because if they miss their drugs for a few days, their pressure shoots up again. Of course, this situation is better than if the blood pressure is high and unsuppressed. The same applies to treating diabetes, as medicines only suppress blood glucose level.

What is a better option? Normalize the blood pressure and blood glucose level through natural methods, as follows:
  • practice healthy lifestyle 
  • healthy diet
  • weight management
  • exercise
  • nutritional therapies.

Unfortunately, it is usually difficult to reverse these chronic diseases because the patients find it difficult to follow the above prescribed regimes. It takes much discipline to regain health after having neglected it for so long.

Evidence-Based Medicine

Doctors rely a lot on scientific evidence that determines if a drug is safe and effective or not. Here are 2 scary reports that stand out because of the huge fines:

1) A major drug company was fined US$3 billion by the US Food & Drug Authority (FDA) for several offences, including concealing evidence that showed that their top-selling anti-diabetic drug may not be safe to use. This drug has the side-effect of increasing the risk of heart attack by 43% (New England Journal of Medicine, 14 June 2007).

The Mayo Clinic (US) revealed that 90% of scientists who wrote favorably about this anti-diabetic drug had financial ties with the manufacturer.

2) 2 years ago, another major drug company was fined US$2.3 billion for promoting "off-label" uses (i.e. for therapeutic use not approved by the FDA) of 4 of its drugs.

Regulating Drugs

Many of us put much trust in the FDA as a regulator of the safety and effectiveness of drugs in order that the people can confidently consume the drugs prescribed to them. However, events that have happened over the last few decades make this assumption not necessarily always true.

Many drugs that have been approved by the FDA (after seemingly very stringent assessment that took many years) had to be withdrawn when it became obvious that the risks outweighed the benefits.

Dr Amir Farid quoted an example that in 2004, a very popular anti-inflammatory analgesic (painkiller) was voluntarily withdrawn by the manufacturer after a shocking disclosure. This manufacturer withheld information about the drug's risks for over 5 years, resulting in possibly 140,000 cases of serious heart disease. What is more horrifying is this is one of the most widely used drugs ever to be withdrawn from the market. It had an annual sales revenue of US$2.5 billion.

Dr Amir Farid is highlighting all these to remind us of the dangers of relying too much on drugs. The drug/medicine safety and effectiveness reports are often skewed towards approving their use and benefiting the drug companies. Since many countries' drug regulators rely to a certain degree on FDA's approval, the reliability of FDA as an honest regulator affects us. Even if the reports are honest, all drugs have side-effects, ranging from mild to serious.

In Conclusion..

More and more doctors now are realizing the importance of nutritional therapy, i.e. relying on the goodness of proper diet and supplements to promote and maintain health, and to treat disease. When taken together with sufficient exercise and a healthy lifestyle, it is certainly a very powerful alternative to conventional drugs/medicines.

(Source: StarFit4Life, Are Your Medicines Safe? by Dr Amir Farid Ishak, 11 December 2011)

 Email me at laifuiping@gmail.com to buy the most natural, wholesome and complete nutritional supplement.

 Related Articles:
1) What Your Doctor Doesn't Know About Nutritional Medicine May Be Killing You
2) 8 Reasons Why We Need To Take Supplements Even Though We Eat "Natural Food"

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How Ganoderma Modulates Our Immune System

Wednesday, 11 January 2012

Do you know that 80% to 90% of diseases in the human body are closely related to our immune system? This article gives you an overall understanding of how the self-defense function of our immune system works and how ganoderma modulates our immune system, including controlling cancerous tumors.

Our Immune Cells (also known as Leukocytes or White Blood Cells) are generally divided into:
  • Phagocytes (including macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils etc)
  • Natural killer cells
  • T cells (Th1 and Th2 cells)
  • B cells, responsible for producing antibodies.
Normally there are between 3,500 to 9,000 white blood cells (WBC) in a micro-liter of blood in a healthy person.
When WBC count is less than 3,000, the immunity is weak and the body is prone to sickness.
When WBC count is over 10,000, the body has an infection and more WBC is produced to eliminate the pathogens.
When WBC count is extremely high, the body may be suffering from an auto-immune disease (e.g. asthma, SLE (systemic lupus erythematosis), rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, scleroderma) or leukemia.

As you can see above, our immune system should be "modulated" so that it is not over-active or under-active. A person has a strong immune system when:
1) he rarely gets sick; and
2) he recovers quickly when sick.

When a foreign substance invades our body, our immune system is triggered and gives rise to a reaction called an immune response, which can be categorized as:
1) Non-specific / innate immune response. Front-line immune cells are the phagocytes and natural killer cells.
2) Specific / adaptive immune response. Second-line immune cells are the T cells and B cells.

How the Battle Works

Front-line Defence: Phagocytes 

Phagocytes act like a country's patrol police, with 2 main functions:

1) It destroys the harmful pathogens that invade our body.
2) It activates the adaptive immune response, by informing the T cells of these pathogens. Antibody production is triggered and the T cells memorize the pathogens to accelerate immune response upon future encounters.

How Ganoderma Works

Ganoderma reinforces and strengthens the phagocytes, so that the timing for initiating the innate response can be triggered quickly. The pathogens can be quickly eliminated and thus prevent further invasion. It boosts up our immune system and increases the number of immune cells.

Researchers report that mice taking ganoderma have a stronger immune system. A study by Professor Sheng-Yuan Wang of Taiwan Yang Ming University found that ganoderma can suppress tumor cells. In 2004, Prof Chi-Huey Wong from Taiwan's Academia Sinica found results that demonstrated the anti-tumor activity mechanism for a ganoderma polysaccharide.

Front-line Defence: Natural Killer Cells (NKC)

NKC makes up 15% of WBC in the human blood. NKC are in charge of terminating mutated/cancer cells before these cells turn into malignant tumors. The less active the NKC, the more active and serious the cancer progression.

How Ganoderma Works

Prof Da-Cheng Dong at Taipei Medical university found a significant increase in the NKC activity based on a clinical study on healthy adults. This is further supported by a similar study carried out following the official validation method for immune modulation established by the Department of Health of Taiwan. NKC activities in the human body may be enhanced by long-term consumption of at least 5 capsules of Yung Kien Ganoderma per day.


Second Line Defence: T Cells

If the number of viruses and bacteria is too high, it is beyond the capability of the Front-line immune system. They die and along with other dead cells, all these dead materials pile up in the body, resulting in symptoms like redness, swelling, inflammation or even suppuration (formation and discharge of pus).

Fortunately, the Second-line defense T cells have been alerted. T cells undertake many tasks, including:
1) receiving messages
2) eliminating enemies
3) storing information.

T cells are divided into:
1) Cytotoxic T cells (Tc). When T cells receive information sent by Phagocytes on the characteristics of the pathogens, they will propagate so that Tc cells are ready to mount a strong response should they encounter the same pathogens.

2) Helper T cells (Th). They "key-in" the info received to the "pathogen database" and familiarize other Phagocytes and B cells with information on the pathogen.

In order to accomplish the numerous tasks, Helper T cells differentiate into 2 types of Helper cells which are in charge of different types of immune responses. They will decide what kind of weapons to employ to destroy the enemies in this immune war.

(i) Helper T cells 1 (Th1). Assist Tc cells.
(ii) Helper T cells 2 (Th2). Help B cells in producing antibodies, especially a type of allergy antibody called IgE (immunoglobulin) that plays an important role in allergic asthma reaction.

The optimal Th1/Th2 balance is when there is more Th1 cells than Th2 cells. Increase in Th1 cell activity helps to strengthen immunity and declines in Th2 assist in modulating immunity and avoiding allergic reactions.

Loss of this balance may induce immune disorder diseases such as allergy, peripheral neuritis, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and SLE. The conventional clinical treatment include steroids and immuno-suppressive drugs.

How Ganoderma Works

An animal test suggested that mice taking ganoderma had more Th1 and less Th2 cells. Ganoderma strengthens immunity in times of low immunity (polysaccharide) and lowers immunity in times of over-reaction (triterpenes) - i.e. "capable of modulating T-cells function". 

In other words, there are 2 substances with contrasting mechanisms existing in the same ganoderma, and they share the same goal despite their differences. The 2 substances work together simultaneously, helping Th1 enhance immunity and Th2 prevent allergy. That is how ganoderma modulates our immune system.

Second Line Defence: B Cells and Antibodies

When Th cells transmit information on pathogens to B cells, B cells examine them, identify the weaknesses of the pathogens and figure out how to annihilate the invaders. They turn into plasma cells to  produce antibodies. Similar to the need for sufficient soldiers and the correct weapons in order to win a war, the T cells need B cells and the antibodies to win the immune war.

Antibodies or immunoglobulins can be categorized into 5 main types:
1) IgA - exists in tears, respiratory and digestive tracts.
2) IgD.
3) IgE - unite with mast cells that secrete histamine to cope with tissue damage or pathogens resulting from insect bites etc.
4) IgM - first to appear upon entry of pathogens.
5) IgG - next to appear after IgM.

The greater the number of B cells, the more antibodies (ammunition) can be produced. These antibodies save the information on pathogens in their long-term memory to prepare for an immediate response should the same invader be encountered again.

It usually takes 7 to 10 days for a healthy human body to produce the first batch of antibodies when new pathogens invade. The time will be longer for a person with a weaker immune system. On the 2nd encounter, the body can produce antibodies faster because the B cells already have the "patent" to create them.

How Ganoderma Works

In animal tests of mice given ganoderma orally, there was an increase in IgA, IgM and IgG compared with those in the control group. It is important to reduce the time between being attacked by pathogens and creation of new antibodies to lessen the occurrence of sickness.


Summary

First-line defense - reduce the possibility of infection and lessen the occurrence of sickness.
Second-line defense - clear away pathogens, avoid allergies, strengthen immunity thereby speed up recovery in the event of illness.

Phagocytes swallow the pathogens and send out messages.
NKC followed by T cells start their elimination work.
Th cells memorize the pathogens, inform NKC of information gathered on the pathogens and so assist their work.
B cells produce antibodies.

Source: Ganoderma The Ultimate Herbal Medicine by Dr. Deng-Hai Chen, Chapter 3, Application of Ganoderma in Immune Modulation

In a nutshell, that is how ganoderma modulates our immune system. Please email me at askfuiping@gmail.com if you wish to strengthen your immune system using Yung Kien Ganoderma.
Click here to refer to Shuang Hor company website for Product Description and Price.
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Which is Better - Wild Lingzhi or Cultivated Lingzhi?

Sunday, 8 January 2012


Some people say wild Lingzhi is better than cultivated Lingzhi. Is that true?

This brings us to the question of what are the criteria to consider in selecting a good quality Lingzhi. There are 4 main points:

1) Species. A good species will have higher quantum of active components and thus ensures greater efficacy when consumed.

2) Growing environment and age. Lingzhi is a highly absorbent plant. Thus, it is important that it is grown in a clean environment that is free from contaminants and pollutants. Further, different species of Lingzhi have different maturity period. It is crucial that the harvest time is made when the effective components are the richest. Hence, the age of the Lingzhi and the timing of harvest is very important.

3) Processing method. Different components in the Lingzhi can only be extracted using different medium and at differing temperatures. A good quality Lingzhi is one that is extracted using multiple medium and differing temperature and is in water soluble form, so that the efficacy of all the components are drawn out.

4) Endorsements by authorities. A good quality Lingzhi should have endorsements from Government and Health authorities to certify their safety and effectiveness.

For more details, please refer to this article How To Choose The Right Lingzhi/Ganoderma.

From the criteria above, we can now address the question whether wild lingzhi or cultivated lingzhi is better.

When Lingzhi is gathered from the wild, we would not know the species, the growing environment and its age. Thus it is very difficult to determine the exact quality of wild Lingzhi. Due to numerous factors beyond control, wild Lingzhi with consistent quality is difficult to obtain.

In this respect, cultivated Lingzhi would be much safer and consistent in quality, as the species, cultivation environment and its age are always monitored compared to Lingzhi grown in the wild.

So that is your answer - cultivated Lingzhi is always better than wild Lingzhi. For more info, please email me at laifuiping@gmail.com. If you are interested to buy high quality cultivated Lingzhi, please click here to refer to Shuang Hor company website for Product Description and Price.
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Heartburn: Causes and How to Prevent It

Thursday, 5 January 2012


Heartburn is a burning sensation that is felt in the chest and throat, which occurs when the acid from our stomach travels back into the esophagus. The person suffering from heartburn may also experience a sour and acidic taste in the mouth.

If you suffer from heartburn / acid reflux more than 2 times a week, this is known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).

Causes of Acid Reflux

1) Many pregnant women experience acid reflux symptoms due to some of these reasons:-
  • In their 3rd trimester of pregnancy, due to increased levels of hormones that "soften" the ligaments that normally keep the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) tight thereby causing the acid to flow up.
  • The larger uterus during pregnancy causes the organs in the abdomen to be pushed up against the diaphragm, resulting in acid reflux, as the physical integrity of the LES is affected.
  • The extra weight gained during pregnancy around the waist often presses on the abdomen and increases the pressure inside. This pressure may force food up into the esophagus.
2) Hiatus hernia condition, which pushes part of the stomach up through the diaphragmatic hiatus.

3) People who overeat, or consume spicy and oily food, as well as acidic food. Food that may aggravate acid reflux symptoms include peppermint, chocolate, tomatoes, onions, fatty foods, coffee, tea and citrus fruit juices.

4) People who consume alcohol in large amounts.

5) People who consume certain medications.

How to Prevent Heartburn
  • Eat smaller but more frequent meals.
  • Exercise regularly.
  • Wear loose and less restrictive clothes.
  • Elevate the head of your bed and sleep on your left side.
  • Reduce intake of alcohol.
  • Stop smoking.
(Source: Tummy Troubles by Prof Madya Dr Sheikh Anwar Abdullah, StarFit4Life, 4 December 2011)

Looking for s simple solution?

Try Lacto-Berry Probiotics.
2 of my friends used to suffer from regular heartburn problems after food. Both started consuming Lacto-Berry to take care of their digestive system health. But both reported that they found Lacto-Berry to significantly reduce their discomfort caused by heartburn, even after taking just 1 sachet after meals. I advised them to take 2 sachets as they have such condition, and consume it regularly. It's the best form of prevention.

For info on the other Benefits of Lacto-Berry, please click here,
http://www.pingofhealth.com/2012/09/benefits-of-probiotics-and-how-to.html

Email me at askfuiping@gmail.com to buy Lacto-Berry. Click here to refer to Shuang Hor company's website for Product Description and Price.


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Jia Hor Seasoning: Great Taste and Good Health

Sunday, 1 January 2012


Do you cook? What do you use to enhance the flavors or taste of your food? Salt? Oyster sauces? MSG?

Gourmet powder is a common type of food flavouring that contains monosodium glutamate (more popularly known as MSG) as its main composition. It is mostly used to enhance the taste of some cuisines, notably Chinese dishes, as well as for preparing broths and sauces.

The Impact of Gourmet Powder on Human Body

Though MSG has long been classified as a safe food ingredient by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA), its use and impact on the human health remains controversial.

MSG symptom complex, or the so-called Chinese Restaurant Syndrome, is a collection of symptoms which may include:
  • headache
  • flushing on the face or other parts of the body
  • sweating
  • a sensation of pressure in the mouth or face.
The less common but more serious symptoms include:
  • swelling of the throat
  • chest pain
  • heart palpitations
  • shortness of breath.
Most people recover from mild cases of Chinese Restaurant Syndrome with no serious harm.

Introducing Jia Hor Seasoning

Jia Hor Seasoning is a formulation that is of 100% natural origin and does not contain any chemical additives. As such, in contrast to other food flavourings, it will never bring about such side-effects as thirst, headache, listlessness or hair loss. In that sense, Jia Hor Seasoning is a food flavouring that we can absolutely count on as far as safe consumption is concerned. This seasoning differentiates itself from common flavouring powders in that it is composed of a mix of ingredients that work perfectly well for all styles of dishes. It is researched and developed by the Biotechnology R&D Institute of Shuang Hor Group.


Jia Hor Seasoning's ingredients are all-natural and are perfectly suited for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. They include:

1) Ganoderma japonicum extract
2) Gynostemma pentaphyllum extract
3) Shitake extract
4) Yeast powder
5) Seaweed extract.

Instead of the strong odour typically associated with the great majority of gourmet powders, Jia Hor Seasoning produces a mildly sweet unique flavour, which enhances the taste of the food cooked with it. Apart from that, this seasoning offers 14 types of amino acids, vitamins B1 and B2, and various minerals, which give many health benefits to our body.

As Jia Hor Seasoning is purely natural extracts, it is highly soluble and hence does not form lumps of precipitation. It is very easy to use in enhancing the taste of your food, whichever way you cook them - boiling, stirring, braising, roasting, steaming or frying; western or oriental style. Another plus point is it is capable of getting rid of the stinking smell of meat and seafood. This makes it ideal to be used as seasoning.

Irrespective of judging it from the perspective of composition, flavour or product features, Jia Hor Seasoning is far more superior to many other food flavouring sold in the market. The reason is it not only makes your food more flavorful, it is also very versatile and gives many health benefits.

(Source: Shuang Hor Magazine, Issue 1 January 2009)

Please email me at laifuiping@gmail.com should you have questions or like to buy a box of Jia Hor Seasoning. Click here to refer to Shuang Hor company website for Product Description and Price.
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Special Attributes and Benefits of Aquasense Amino Acid Cleanser

Monday, 26 December 2011


Do you use facial cleanser to wash your face? What sort of facial cleanser do you use? Does it have all the attributes and benefits listed in this article? If not, you may want to consider giving Aquasense Amino Acid Cleanser a try. The exceptional attributes of Aquasense Amino Acid Cleanser are many, including:

1) High-purity amino acid-base surfactant
Using this cleanser greatly reduces the possibility of agitation and allergic reactions associated with the use of chemical additives. Why is amino acid-base surfactant a most important ingredient for facial cleanser? Click here to discover the reason.

2) Efficient cleansing actions
It is a cream of relatively hard texture, making it able to deliver maximized cleansing benefits with minimal amount used.

3) Luxurious and fine lather
This clenaser readily melts in water and gives luxurious and find lather. It is capable of reaching deep into our skin pores to carry away impurities and oil while refining the pores.

4) Remarkable moisture-retention ability
As amino acids share the same characteristics as collagen, they exhibit a powerful affinity for water. Hence they are able to readily combine with water molecules, giving remarkable moisture-retention results. When skin cells become adequately laden with moisture, they are less likely to produce excessive sebaceous secretion, thus discouraging the formation of oily patches on the skin.

Benefits of Aquasense Amino Acid Cleanser


1) It causes negligible agitation and allergic reactions to our skin. Hence it is very suitable for people with sensitive skin.

2) It is cost effective to use, as only a small amount is needed each time.

3) It gives us a clean and clear skin, as it refines our pores and discourages acne production.

4) There is  no sense of tightness and dehydration on our face after washing, as the amino acid-base has high affinity with water and therefore is able to retain the moisture on our skin.

Please email me at askfuiping@gmail.com if you want to try out this wonderful facial cleanser.
Click here to refer to Shuang Hor company website for Product Description and Price. I am an Authorized Distributor of the company.
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Colon Cancer: Risk Factors and How To Reduce Them

Saturday, 24 December 2011

Colon, or colorectal, cancer is cancer that starts in the large intestine (colon) or the rectum (end of the colon). Most cases of colon cancer begin as small, noncancerous (benign) clumps of cells called adenomatous polyps. Over time some of these polyps become colon cancers. According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the United States. The good news is, early diagnosis often leads to a complete cure.


Risk Factors of Colon Cancer
  • Family history, especially if immediate family (parents, siblings, children) or if the relative had the cancer at a young age.
  • About 90 percent of people diagnosed with colon cancer are older than 50.
  • People with diabetes and insulin resistance may have an increased risk of colon cancer.
  • Personal medical history. Chronic inflammatory diseases of the colon, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, can increase your risk of colon cancer.
  • Unhealthy diet. Colon cancer and rectal cancer may be associated with a diet low in fibre and high in fat and calories. 
  • Sedentary lifestyle. If you're inactive, you're more likely to develop colon cancer. Getting regular physical activity may reduce your risk of colon cancer.
The absence of any risk factors does not mean a person will not develop colon cancer. However, the more risk factors one has, the higher the chances of getting it.

    Warning Signs of Colon Cancer
    • changes in bowel habit (constipation or diarrhea)
    • blood in the stools
    • severe abdominal pain
    • unexplained weight loss

    How to Reduce the Risk of Developing Colon Cancer
    • Practice a healthier diet. Eat food high in antioxidants like citrus fruits and dark green and yellow vegetables. Consume foods low in fat and high in fibre. Get enough calcium.
    • Practice a healthier lifestyle. Exercise at least 30 minutes for most days of the week.
    • Quite smoking.
    • Restrict alcohol consumption.
    (Sources: 
    StarFit4Life, Tummy troubles by Prof Madya Dr Sheikh Anwar Abdullah, 4 Deember 2011
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001308/
    http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/colon-cancer/DS00035)


    To find out what can help prevent or treat cancer, please check out this article Positive Effects of Lingzhi/Ganoderma on Cancer Patients.
    Or you may email me at laifuiping@gmail.com to buy Lingzhi.
    Click here to refer to Shuang Hor company website for Product Description and Price.



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