As we get older and our bodies start to deteriorate its becoming more and more important to maintain our sexual potency and boost our interest in sex itself. By using sexual stimulants and aphrodisiacs we can not only enhance our sex lives but also recapture and strengthen the feelings that make us feel young and more alive.

There is a clear difference between the modern laboratory developed aphrodisiacs such as Viagra and Cialis, and the ancient plant based aphrodisiacs such as Ginseng and Yohimbine. Modern aphrodisiacs are meant to be used as medication to solve specific problems such as erectile dysfunction and impotence whereas ancient aphrodisiacs are meant to be used as a way of increasing sex drive and sexual pleasure.
The most popular erection inducing drug on the market is Viagra which contains Sildenafil and works by widening the blood vessels in the penis to make attaining an erection easier as long as adequate stimulation is provided. Another popular drug is Cialis which contains Tadalafil and works in a similar way to Viagra by making blood flow into the penis easier. Both of these drugs are supposed to be prescription only in most countries around the world.

Although Viagra and Cialis work in a similar way, there are some differences between the two with the major one being how long the effects of the drug last. The effects of Viagra last for about four hours but the effects of Cialis last for about twelve hours or even up to eighteen hours which is why its known as the “weekend pill” which is a common nickname.

The problem with both Viagra and Cialis is that there are now known to be many different side effects that can effect people after they have taken the drug. These side effects can include headaches, dizziness, indigestion, muscle pain, and visual disturbances. Most of these side effects will go away after a few hours although back pain and muscle aches can continue to occur up to a day later. Both of these drugs can interact with other medications so its important to consult with your doctor before taking them.

As an alternative to modern laboratory developed aphrodisiacs, many people prefer to use ancient plant based aphrodisiacs such as Ginseng and Yohimbine. Although many different tests and studies have been done, the results have been inconclusive and its hard to prove just how effective both Ginseng and Yohimbine really are.

Ginseng is found mostly in China and Korea and is a slow growing herb which consists of a light coloured root, a single stalk, and long oval green leaves. Ginseng can improve blood circulation which may help with erectile dysfunction and also increase libido. The side effects can include nausea and diarrhoea but this may be due to the fact that many products contain other substances and are not pure Ginseng.

Yohimbine is made from the bark of the tropical West African Yohimbe tree and is available as a herbal supplement or as a prescription medicine. Yohimbine can increase the dilation of blood vessels which can help men achieve and maintain an erection and it may also increase libido. The side effects can include nausea but at higher doses it can be more harmful and cause high blood pressure and insomnia.

Its important to note that all sexual stimulants and aphrodisiacs will effect people in different ways and not everyone will have the same results or the same side effects. Some people will achieve the desired effects while others will not so its just a case of finding out which one works best for you and caters for your specific needs.

The symptoms of acid reflux in both adults as well as children are very uncomfortable to say the very least. The affliction is usually associated with the terrible painful burning sensation that affects the alimentary canal. If someone happens to be lying down, the symptoms become aggravated. Acid reflux and a sore throat are very common symptoms of this disease.

Why Acid Reflux And Sore Throats Are Associated?
Amazingly, when people suffer from acid reflux, only a few of them rush to see their doctor for medical advice. These people somehow believe that their problem will disappear on its own. Very few people, unless they are really troubled by acidity will seek but doctors intervention to treat acid reflux. If left untreated, the acidity levels will grow and after some time the food that is in the stomach is thrown up the alimentary canal with some force and the food will reach the mouth. After that, the food is swallowed again or sometimes thrown out of the mouth.

If this process is repeated on a regular basis, then the acid will irritate the throat very badly and a person will experience all the symptoms of acute throat pain. Therefore, the association between acid reflux and sore throats. At this stage the person should immediately visit their doctor and have the proper treatment started. The sad thing is very few people take the acidity of the stomach seriously. Even fewer people associate acid reflux and sore throats in the right perspective. They would rather just take a painkiller and drink some hot tea, thinking that they are suffering from a slight flu, rather than an acute acid reflux.

The Dangers Associated By Letting The Acid Reflux Fester

When the acid reflects and sore throats stage is reached, it is time to take the proper medicines to help neutralize the acid that is rising in the esophagus. As well, making sure that having the proper diet is in place so that it will not aggravate the situation any further. If left untreated for too long, it can literally burn up the inside of the alimentary canal. In fact, it can become so bad that even belching would be painful for those who have esophagus damage in the form of bleeding ulcers.

It will be very difficult to drink or eat, once the ulcers have set in. The use of the alimentary canal (esophagus) will become very painful. You should never allow it to reach this far. Learn to identify the symptoms as early as possible and then get the proper treatment as soon as possible.

Just about everyone loves the taste of chocolate. Well the news is out that chocolate can actually benefit the body. Although the dark chocolate is bitterer than the semi-sweet the health benefits of dark chocolate are greater. Along with dark chocolate consuming red wine and green tea also have great health benefits. The main key is moderation, as with any indulgence of passion.

Dark chocolate contains antioxidants. There is a strong belief that antioxidants can reduce your chances of cardiac disease, cancer, and even high blood pressure. In addition these antioxidants improve endothelial cells, your digestive process, and kidney function. Dark chocolate helps fight bad cholesterol (LDL) and improves the circulation of blood from the heart to the brain. Furthermore there is belief that it has similar effects as aspirin does on the body in preventing stroke and heart attack (inhibiting platelet aggregation).

In the chocolate are flavonoids. These flavonoids interact with the natural antioxidation system in the body (the vitamins and enzymes). The flavonoids itself is not the actual benefit it is the reaction inside of the body that is tipped off by the ingestion of these powerful plant derived elements. When there is an imbalance of between the antioxidants and free radicals a level of oxidative stress is place on the body that will cause cellular damage. People suffering from anemia and kidney stones have been treated with flavonoids. Flavonoids that are found in chocolate have been used to help people who suffer from anemia, a poor appetite and kidney stones.

Where Do You Find Flavonoids? Fruits Vegetables (onions, parsley, legumes) Teas Wines (grape skins)

The body uses minerals such as copper and magnesium to maintain a functioning heart and blood pressure. Experts point to the dried extract of roasted cocoa beans as one of the best sources for dark chocolate. If you cannot consume the extract, then eating a 1.6-ounce chocolate bar is the second best option. This should introduce just an ample amount of ingredients to achieve some effect. Be aware however that chocolate is fattening and it contains caffeine so never overdo a good thing. There are several brand s of chocolate available on the market today and each person has to find a suitable taste for him or her. By eating only 2-3 squares of chocolate can be of great benefit to the body.

Eating chocolate is not the only way to keep a heart healthy. There are some specific contents in the chocolate that help. The most beneficial is the dark chocolate because of the flavonoids that it contains. Oddly enough the manufactures of the chocolate destroyed many of the flavonoids in the early days. Since the discovery of the health effects, manufacturers work very hard to maintain 95% of it in the product. Since the taste of dark chocolate is bitterer than semi-sweet, consider buying one with almonds and raisins of one of each. This can add a little flair and variety to the bar.

What good are they? You may not realize the benefits of eating a food that is not very interesting or exciting. There are ways to make boring food exciting. Aside from being boring they should be a part of your healthy diet. They contain an abundance of protein and fiber and are low in fat content. In addition they contain antioxidants and something called phytochemicals. Diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer and inflammatory diseases can be prevented or minimized through eating phytochemicals. In particular black beans contain soluble fiber, which is effective in lowering the bad cholesterol (LDL) by up to 24%, in turn can lower your blood pressure. These beans can also keep sugar levels at a healthier level thus blocking the effects of hunger for diabetics. This concept may lead to a reduction or elimination for the need of insulin in the diabetics. Black beans are not the only beans that are chocked full of fiber- so are many other types of beans and peas as well. The most popular kinds of beans and peas include chickpeas (or garbanzo beans), lima beans, fava beans, kidney beans, black-eyed peas, navy beans, pinto beans and great northern beans.
Lentils are rich in many nutrients but are particularly rich when it comes to the B vitamins. Consuming sufficient amounts of B vitamins from food sources such as lentils and other foods can help to prevent heart attacks. Besides B vitamins, lentils are also very rich in protein, fiber and a variety of minerals such as ones that help support the strength of the immune system. Examples of these are copper, zinc and manganese. Iron is another mineral that lentils are rich in.

Miso is not a household food by any means but it is a very healthy one. Miso is a type of soybean paste that is often used as a seasoning for sauces and soups. Miso is rich in substances called isoflavones which are believed to help protect against the development and growth of breast cancer because they inhibit the growth of the blood vessels that are responsible fro the rapid growth of tumors.

Also rich in both iron and calcium (when it is sufficiently processed with the salts of calcium) is soybean curd or tofu. Other soy products that boast high levels of vitaimin A, B6, magnesium and zinc is tempeh. Tempeh has slightly lower levels of fat in it than does tofu. Other soy products that are worth considering because of their nutritional value include soymilk and other soy beverages such as chocolate soymilk, soy nuts, soy yogurt, tofu (as previously mentioned) and a variety of products made from tofu.

All soy products derive from soybeans and this means that they are high in protein content. Protein is made up of all of the essential amino acids that the body needs to function at its healthiest. Soybeans are also extremely rich in all of the B vitamins, as well as fiber, the omega 3 fatty acids, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and phosphorus.

Blood Clot Formation

If you ever wanted to know how blood clots, I am going to venture the explanation.

Blood clotting is simply to formation of a patch of blood products that create a band aid for the body. The blood can clot by means on internal (INTRINSIC) and external (EXTRINSIC) process.

Internal: is the INTRINSIC pathway of clotting inside of the blood vessel External: also called the EXTRINSIC is outside of the blood vessel; tissue injury

The primary basis for injury is exposure of the collagen that is under the endothelial (basic surface cells) linings of vessels and tissues. Collagen is the major protein in the formation of bone, ligaments, tendons, and teeth. Furthermore it provides a higher tensile strength to blood vessels. The presence of collagen in the skin is what gives it its elasticity: wrinkles come from degradation of the collagen in the skin. The important concept here is not the eye or the skin; it is the vessels in the body.
A blood clot can form from having an infection in the body, slow and turbulent blood flow to a vessel, bacterial endotoxins, formation of atheriosclerotic plaque (pre-existing), or stagnation of blood flow in a heart chamber. Atheriosclerotic plaques can develop from elevated cholesterol, smoking, poor diet, genetic predisposition, trauma, or lack of mobility (exercise is key in helping prevent clot formation).

Clots that form in the arteries, under higher pressures, are composed of platelet clumps that are bound together by fibrin protein strands. Clots in veins, under lower pressures are composed predominantly of red blood cells with fewer platelets, and contain a large amount of fibrin strands that are intertwined.

As the injured area is exposed circulating platelets begin to clump together (aggregate) at the site of injury. These platelets then release what we can simplify as transmitters to summon more platelets. The unique event is that the platelets change their shape and structure to expose a special layer of PHOPHOLIPIDS. This exposure assists these proteins that require that particular surface. These proteins (coagulation factors) cascade together to form a mesh called FIBRIN (which holds platelets together in a clot)

As this cascade continues it becomes very complex in regards to combinations of the other proteins involved.

When a clot forms it is called a thrombus (an example is the Deep Vein Thrombosis; DVT). If this thrombus becomes dislodged and it flows through circulation it is now referred to as an embolism (and example is the Embolic Stroke). These clots once lodged inside of a vessel will cause a slowing of blood flow or an obstruction of blood flow. If blood is diminished then there is a lack of nutrient exchange. If the clot blocks blood flow completely death of cells and tissues is most likely to occur. If cells tissues begin to die, the organ that they are associated with will not function properly.

The manner in which blood blots form will dictate the preventative measures. Blood clots can form as a result of high levels of cholesterol, smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise, surgery, trauma, autoimmune disorders, cardiac arrhythmias, pregnancy, and birth control pills. The list is probably endless, but prevention is paramount (aside from the unexpected)

Tips to reduce your chances of developing blood clots: Increasing mobility (improving circulation) Use of anti-clotting socks (like on long car and airplane rides) Stretching Improved diet with low fat and low cholesterol (aside from genetic disorders) Anti-Platelet drugs (another post will cover these) Electrocardiograms on a scheduled basis (monitor for arrhythmias) Exercise soon after surgery to mobilize blood flow Quitting smoking (no brainer)