Ganoderma RG (reishi gano) GL (ganoceluim)

Ganoderma Lucidium is widely known as the “king of the herbs” and contains more than 400 active elements.

Reishi Gano (RG) and Ganoderma Lucidum (GL) are consumed in pairs.

Reishi Gano) is a mushroom essence

RG  is 100% crushed spore powder and is the extract from the fruit body of the adult Ganoderma Lucidum mushroom.

Contents of Reishi Gano (RG)

Reishi Gano contains more than 400 active elements, which can be divided into 3 categories.

• 30% water soluble elements.
• 65% organic soluble elements.
• 5% volatile elements.

Active ingredients of RG:

• Polysaccharides
• Organic germanium
• Triterpenoides
• Adenosine
• Ganoderic Essence
• Protein
• Fibre

POLYSACCHARIDES  (The Cleanser) Water Soluble

• Strengthen the body’s immune system
• Balance blood sugar level and improves pancreatic functions
• Protect against degeneration of skin cells and eliminates dead surface cells which improves skin texture and reduces the appearance of aging
• Controls destruction of healthy cells throughout the body
• Helps cleanse toxic deposits from the body (Detoxification)
• Strengthens cell membranes
• Increases oxygen carrying capacity of the red blood cells.

ORGANIC GERANIUM (The Balancer) Partially Soluble

• Increases the oxygen content in the body and regulates the electrical charges in the body. (Electrical Charge Balancer)  Removes abnormal electrical charges around abscess cells.
• Increases oxygen in the blood system
• Reduces fatigue and increases vitality
• Strengthens the immune system
• Increases the metabolism
• Contains an abundance of anti-oxidants that control or inhibit damaging free radicals. Free radicals are a major cause of cell degeneration, cancer and aging.
• Assists our body’s natural ability to fight cancer cells
• Revives cell tissues by increasing oxygen supply to body oxygen
• Cleanses blood
• Serves as a brain tonic and Stabilizes the nervous system
• Stabilizes blood pressure
• Stabilizes electrical function in the body
• Eliminates water soluble toxins.
• Prevents numbness in the hands and the legs
• Helps patients recover  from stroke

ADENOSINE (The Regulator) Organic soluble elements

• Reduces cholesterol and body fat
• Helps to unclog arteries plugged with fatty deposits, and supports liver function
• Lowers the level of blood lipid and stabilizes red cell membranes
• Can lower the level of platelets agglutination and enhance thrombosis
• Prevents fragmentation of platelets which can cause blockages in the circulatory system
• Improves the function of the cortex of the adrenal glands to maintain endocrine balance
• Balances the metabolic rate and boosts energy
• Balances the ph of the blood

TRITERPENOIDS  (The Builder) Bitter in taste. Organic Soluble

• Fortifies and improves the digestive system
• Inhibits allergies, relieves sinus congestion, and helps with respiratory problems
• Reduces cholesterol and neutral fats in the body
• Ganoderic Essence
• Rejuvenates the body’s tissues and cells
• Boosts all the body’s functions
• Helps to maintain youthfulness and contributes to improved vitality
• Overcomes skin disorders and beautifies the skin
• Is effective for relieving external problems such as scrapes, skin wounds, psoriasis, bug bites, stings, sunburn, mouth ulcers, and external bleeding.

GANODERIC ESSENSE (The Regenerator)  Volatile Elements

• Can assist in the treatment of skin diseases
• Beautification of the skin
• Can be used as an external application on skin diseases, mouth ulcers, and external wounds )also stops bleeding)
• Rejuvenates body tissues

Effects of RG:

• RG is a scanner (1-30 days). RG has the wider range of scanning because it contains all the natural elements of Gano. Water soluble, organic soluble and volatile elements.
• RG does functions like cleansing and detoxification (1-30 weeks).
• RG removes toxins such as uric acid, excess cholesterol, fat deposits, calcium deposits, bad tissue and chemical accumulation through 1, sweating 2, urination and stool 3, boils, rashes, phlegm and mucus discharge.
• RG is a regulator (1-12months). After the toxin removal from the body, RG exerts a balancing effect to restore the body function to normal.
• RG is a builder (6-24 months). RG builds and heals body parts that are injured or damaged. It strengthens the body; Immune System, restores mental calmness and gives more resistance to disease.
• RG supplies essential elements such as Minerals and Triterpenoides for the recovery of body function.
• RG is a regenerator (1-3years). It ensures our body is functioning at its optimum level, which is actually a rejuvenating effect and thus restores youthful appearance, strength and peacefulness of mind. 

 Ganoderma Lucidum (GL)

GL Ganocelium is the Mycelium of Ganoderma lucidum (the root of the mushroom) which has been dried and powdered at only 18 days old. It supplies a whole spectrum of vitamins to our body and serves as an oxygen supplier. 450 mg in each capsule.

Benefits of Ganoderma Lucidum 

• Enhances the Immune System
• Promote stamina and endurance. 
• Relieves the symptoms of heartburn and acid reflux
• Relieves the symptoms of Allergy and Hay Fever. 
• Temporary relief of the pain associated with Rheumatoid Arthritis. 
• Relief the symptoms of Influenza/Flu. 
• Helps relieve Nervous Tension-Stress and mild Anxiety. 
• Temporary relief of Migraine Headaches. 
• Relieves symptoms of PMS and of Menstrual Symptoms. 
• Relieves symtoms of Pre-menstrual Symptoms/Syndrome. 
• Relieves Sleeplessness. 
• Temporary relief of Coughs. 
• Formula to support Liver.

Antioxidants neutralize the oxidant effect of free radicals of normal cellular respiration and metabolism. Ganoderma is one of the most potent  Anti Oxidants at 23,500 I.U’s

If healthy the body has a healthy heart, healthy blood pressure, healthy cholesterol levels,
normal blood sugar levels, and a healthy respiratory system.
All the organs in the body operate without problems.

Effects of GL:
It enhances a whole spectrum of vitamins and minerals to our body. It serves as a brain tonic, oxygen supplier and provides the basis for body growth.

Through its polysaccharide content, GL effectively prevents growth of abnormal cells and controls their spread.

• Helps in strengthening the body Immune System.
• Reduces sugar level in blood and revives pancreas function 
• Discharges water-soluble toxins.

Contents of RG

• Polysaccharides
• Organic germanium
• A whole spectrum of Vitamins
• A whole spectrum of Minerals
• Amino acids

According to a report from Japan, GL contains 6000 parts of Organic germanium per million (PPM) whereas RG has 800-2000 PPM of Organic germanium. Thus it increases the hemoglobin content of oxygen by 1.5 times.

Why Medicines Are Expensive in the Philippines

Why Medicines Are Expensive in the Philippines

Inquirer: Last updated 01:17am (Mla time) 07/06/2006

Published on Page A12 of the July 6, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

WE ALL complain why medicines cost so much here. That’s because we follow the American way of marketing drug products -- through promotion and advertisement. Just visit a doctor in a hospital and take note how many medical or drug representatives visit him every day and how many samples of medicines, catalogues and promotional items and incentives they offer him.

All these "reps," judging from the way they dress, definitely earn decent incomes from the pharmaceutical companies they represent, and their incomes and standard of living have to be supported by the companies. To recover these overheads, the pharmaceutical companies simply tuck the costs in the prices of medicines. But all this is nothing compared to the incentives they offer doctors to promote their products.

Would you believe they offer doctors all-expenses-paid trips to places in Asia, Europe, Africa or the United States -- and with their families yet? Somebody has to pay for all these expenses and unfortunately it is the consumer. And we wonder why medicines are expensive here!

These practices are very common in the United States but unheard of in India and Pakistan where medicine prices, like cosmetics and food products, have to be labeled with an MRP (maximum retail price), determined by the government.

If we could implement this practice, we could surely bring down the prices of our medicines here. But then again, we need a trusted government body to determine what the right price should be.

Acid/Alkaline Balance

Acid/Alkaline Balance
When the body is too acidic as a result of acid forming foods, high fat, mucus forming foods, and toxic food residues, disease and infections proliferate. This is especially true in cases of arthritis and rheumatic situations. If your body is frequently in an acidic state, you will tend to suffer from fatigue, emotional stress,aches and pains, frequent infections, and have digestive problems and allergies.

An alkalizing diet is one in which 75% of our food intake should come from alkaline-based foods like fruits (except for plums and prunes), green-leafy vegetables and other vegetables, and tubers (root vegetables). These foods help to alkalinize the blood and other tissue fluids in our body. The other 25% of our food intake can come from acid-producing foods like cereals, dairy, eggs and meat, though very acid-forming foods such as refined sugars, soft drinks, caffeine and alcohol are best cut out altogether. And we do well to drink plenty of the neutral water.

The main goal of an alkalizing diet is balanced eating in order to avoid acidosis. When this occurs, our blood reduces its ability to deliver oxygen to the cells and eliminate carbon dioxide from the body. When we reduce the alkalinity of our blood, it creates symptoms like hunger, heartburn, indigestion, nausea, vomiting,headache and drowsiness. Acidosis is the breeding ground for many disorders, and can interfere with the way our glands and organs function. When blood becomes too acidic, our bodies pull calcium from our bones and teeth to neutralize the acid and this contributes to bone loss or osteoporosis. Also, cancer cells love highly acidic environments and do not do well in healthy, alkaline environments. The correct ratio of acid and alkaline forming foods is difficult to difficult to determine for every individual since the balance is altered by chewing, food preparation, individual lifestyle, genetics, exercise, and mental outlook. However,those prone to infections, viruses, excess mucus problems and other toxic acidic conditions need to increase their alkaline diet.

Many foods are alkaline-producing by nature, but manufactured processed foods are mostly acid-producing. It is important to balance each meal with 75% alkaline-producing to 25% acid-producing to maintain health. We need plenty of fresh fruits and particularly vegetables (alkaline-producing) to balance our necessary protein intake (acid-producing). And we need to avoid processed, sugary or simple-carbohydrate foods, not only because they are acid-producing but also because they raise blood sugar level too quickly (high glycemic index therefore fattening), are nutrient-lacking and may be toxic too. Perfect body pH is 7.4, above is more alkaline and below is more acidic. It is important that your daily dietary intake of food naturally acts to balance your body pH. Here is a list of acid-producing and alkaline-producing foods, to help you plan a balanced and healthy diet...

ALKALINE-PRODUCING
Vegetables : Alfalfa sprouts, Artichokes, Asparagus, Bamboo shoots, Barley grass, Broccoli, Brussels, sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Cayenne pepper, Celery, Chives, Comfrey, Cucumber, Dandelion, Endive, French beans, Garlic, Green beans, Green cabbage,

NEUTRAL FOODS
Fruits : Pineapple, Banana, ripe (more acid), Banana, unripe (more alkaline), Blackcurrant, Blueberry, Cantaloupe, Cherry, Coconut, Cranberry, Currants, Dates, Figs, Gooseberry, Grapes, Grapefruit, Mandarin, oranges, Mangos, Papaya, Raisins, Raspberry

ACID- PRODUCING (HIGHLY PROCESSED FOODS)
Meat, Poultry and Fish : Beef, Chicken, Eggs, Liver (mildly), Ocean fish, Organ meats (mildly), Oysters (mildly), Pork, Lamb, Veal, Milk and Milk Products, Butter, Cream (mildly), Cheeses, Custard, Homogenized Milk (mildly), Quark, Yoghurt, Grains, Biscuits

What is herbal medicine?

What is herbal medicine?

Herbalism is both an ancient art and a modern science. Plants provide the principal ingredients in medicines used in most medical traditions globally. According to the World Health Organisation, 80 per cent of people in the world use herbal medicine as their primary form of healthcare. In the past, our ancestors made new discoveries of the healing power of plants through trial and error.Nowadays, more scientific approaches are commonly applied to understanding the medicinal properties of plants and developing new products.

Herbal practitioners use similar diagnostic skills to orthodox physicians, but differ in that they use whole plant preparations for treatments rather than isolated constituents, whether derived from plants or synthesised. A herbal practitioner takes a holistic approach, treating the whole person rather than just symptoms. This is based on a philosophy that suppression of symptoms alone may not lead to complete health, because underlying problems are not addressed. Herbal medicine may be used not just when ailments occur, but also to maintain the general health and vitality of patients and to reduce the chances of infection. It is suited to people of all ages, from babies to the elderly.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HERBAL PREPARATIONS AND PHARMACEUTICAL DRUGS

Traditional herbal practitioners prescribe preparations made from whole plants or parts of plants (bark, roots, leaves, flowers, fruits, etc.). There is a commonly held view that the mixture of individual constituents within plants are “balanced” from the point of view of their medicinal properties.

Modern pharmaceutical drugs are typically based on single chemicals with “active” properties. Many drugs have been discovered through research into the physiological effects of chemicals found in plants. Some of these drugs are still derived directly from plants (e.g. digitalin from the foxglove, Digitalis), while others are now synthesised (e.g. aspirin, inspired by the medicinal properties of the bark of the willow, Salix alba). Chemicals in some plants are extracted and transformed, providing the building blocks of drugs (e.g. progesterone, synthesised from chemicals found in some species of Dioscorea, the wild yam).

There appears to be a trend in the herbal industry towards the marketing of plant preparations resembling pharmaceutical products by isolating the “active compounds”. In itself, this may not be a problem from the medical viewpoint, but it is an issue for traditional herbalists if such products are promoted as “traditional herbal remedies”. This is misleading, because traditional herbal remedies contain all the ingredients in those parts of the plants that are used. This is what makes herbal remedies unique.

The process of isolating active constituents from plants is relatively new and under-researched in comparison with the long histories lying behind many herbal preparations. It should not be concluded that, just because a particular herbal medicine seems effective and to have few or no side-effects, this will necessarily be the case for active principles isolated from it. Kava kava is an example. Herbal preparations from this species have been used for over 3,000 years in the Pacific without reports of serious adverse effects. Yet the over-use of standardised extracts of kava kava is reported to have caused six cases of liver failure and one death in mainland Europe.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN A HERBAL CONSULTATION

The first consultation will take about one hour, during which the practitioner will take a detailed case history. There will be discussions on past medical history, medications taken, diet, exercise and lifestyle. If relevant, the practitioner will undertake a physical examination to evaluate the overall balance of the body’s systems (musculo-skeletal, nervous, cardio-vascular, genito-urinary, digestive etc.).

After a consultation, the herbalist will dispense the appropriate herbs, explain their use, and arrange a further appointment for a follow-up consultation that will last about 30 minutes.

FORMS OF APPLICATION OF HERBAL MEDICINES

Herbal medicines can be taken in various forms, varying according to the ailments being treated and the particular needs of individual people.

Infusions are made from dry or fresh plant material, one teaspoon of the former being typically considered equivalent to three of the latter. Infusions can be prepared in the same way as tea, by pouring boiling water over the herbs. Infusions are left for between five and 10 minutes before being strained and drunk as instructed.

Decoctions are often made from the “harder” parts of plants such as roots, wood, bark, seeds and nuts. The difference between a decoction and an infusion is that the material is boiled for five to 15 minutes before straining. The decoction can be kept in a fridge for two days.

Juices are prepared by squeezing juices from plants, without heating. They are then bottled without preservatives and may be kept for up to two weeks under refrigeration. They are taken with water.

Tinctures are alcohol-based preparations. Tinctures provide the most common way in which herbal medicines are prescribed in the Western herbal tradition. Tinctures keep well and are convenient to take. The percentage of alcohol used varies according the types of constituents extracted.

Lingzhi Key Effects

Lingzhi Key Effects

Lingzhi is used very widely. According to the concept of Chinese medicine, Ganoderma lucidum can penetrate into and work on the five key human organs, so it can be served for impairment of the heart, lung, liver, pancreas, and kidney. Ganoderma lucidum can cure the sickness of various human systems including respiratory, circulatory, digestive, neural, endocrine, locomotory, etc, involving medical, surgical, gynecological, paediatric, and ENT. All these are because of its fundamental effect of "supporting the vital essence and securing the root", thus to improve the immune system. It differs from any other medicines that are used to cure specific disease, or supplementary nutrients that only address particular body requirements. Ganoderma lucidum helps regulate entire body mechanism and metabolism to ensure that all organs function properly. Some specific effects of Ganoderma lucidum are as following:

1. Effect on Tumor

Main cause to the development of tumor is the disorder of or poor performing immune system. Ganoderma lucidum can best regulate and activate the immune system. It prominently enhances the body immune function and increase self defense capability against tumor. Ganoderma lucidum enhances the function of monocytic macrophage via activating synthesis of interleukin H. It also enhances blood synthesis capacity, particularly white blood cells level. Combining with the inhibitory effect on cancer cells provided by certain ingredients in Ganoderma lucidum, it becomes one of the most effective medicines for anti-tumor, prevent cancer, and supplement to cancer treatment. Ganoderma lucidum possesses hardly any toxic to human body. This unique feature of enhancing immunity without toxigenicity is the definite advantage of Ganoderma lucidum over any other immune system intensifier.

2. Liver Protection & Detoxification

Ganoderma lucidum is able to protect the liver from damaged by various physiological and biological factors. Moreover, effect can be obtained either pre-or post-damage. Ganoderma lucidum speeds up metabolism of both medicine and toxic substances in liver, leading to curing of toxicated hepatitis. Ganoderma lucidum is also suitable for treating chronic hepatitis, effectively eliminating the related symptoms as dizzy, fatigue, and so on. Ganoderma lucidum can be used to treat chronic toxicosis, the various kinds of chronic hepatitis, and other hepatic diseases.

3. Effect on Cardiovascular

Clinical studies and experiments with animals confirm that Ganoderma lucidum can effectively dilate coronary artery, increase coronary vessel blood flow, and improve circulation in cardiac muscle capillaries, thus increase the supply of oxygen and energy to cardiac muscle. Therefore Ganoderma lucidum helps to protect the heart from shortage of blood supply, and it is ideal for both curing and preventing heart diseases like nausea. Ganoderma lucidum can obviously reduce the level of blood cholesterol, liporotein and triglycerides in hypertensive patienst. It prevents the formation of arterial atheromatous patches.

If patches are already formed, Ganoderma lucidum will reduce cholesterol in arterial wall and soften the blood vessel to avoid further damage. It also partially improves blood circulation, and inhibits platelet aggregation. All these effects contribute to preventing various kinds of stroke.

4. Aging Prevention

The polysaccharides and polypeptides found in Ganoderma lucidum can effectively delay aging by the following mechanisms.

a. To enhance and regulate immune function. Such enhancement and regulation can effectively delay aging in adult and aged people. For the youngster, the immune system will be optimized to ensure healthy growth.

b. To regulate metabolism and enhance synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins. Research works have shown that Ganoderma lucidum enhances synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins in blood plasma, liver, and bone marrow, hence effectively prevent aging. It is observed that the use of Ganoderma lucidum to prevent aging benefits not only the aged, but also the young, since growth and development process will ultimately lead to aging.

c. Effect on Free Radicals. One cause of aging is the reduction of self-originated antioxidant or antioxidant-like material (such as SOD)in the body. These antioxidants are essential for encountering damage to the body by free radicals. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides possess the properties that are very similar to SOD which can remove the free radicals and prevent its damage to the body by stopping over-oxidation of lipid. Such action protects the cells and delays their aging.

d. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides prominently enhance DNA synthesis in cell nucleus, and increase the number of cell divisions, which results in delayed aging.

5. Effect on Neurasthenia

In Chinese medication, Ganoderma lucidum has been used to treat neurasthenia and insomnia since it works on the central nervous system. Extract from Ganoderma lucidum can inhibit and reduce the level of body activity. This inhibitory effect is quantitative and is helpful for resuming the order of activity level. The fact that Ganoderma lucidum can delay the death as the result of over-dosage of a central stimulant such as caffeine demonstrates shows that Ganoderma lucidum works on the central nervous system by applying an inhibitory effect.

In ancient Chinese medical publications, Ganoderma lucidum can serve to "stabilize emotion", "increase wisdom", and "enhance memory power". Recently, it is reported that Ganoderma lucidum has prominent effect on insomnia caused by neurasthenia: Effectiveness is 87.14% to 100%.In general, effect becomes obvious after a period of 10 to 15 days, when sleep improved, appetite increased, and body weight gained. Related headache and dizzy will be reduced or stopped. Ganoderma lucidum has a relatively strong effect on the central nervous system that makes Ganoderma lucidum an effective substance for treatment of neurasthenia and insomnia. Ganoderma lucidum is becoming more and more indispensable to the sufferers of neurasthenia and insomnia. To date, the effect of Ganoderma lucidum on neurasthenia and insomnia has been clearly described and stated in the China State pharmacopoeia.

6. Effect on Hypertension

Ganoderma lucidum can effectively reduce blood pressure of an anesthetized rabbit: systolic and diastolic pressure lowered by 15% and 25% respectively. Related neural activity is also inhibited: inhibition is 20% and 40% respectively. According to a report of a hospital, there had been 18 cases of high blood pressure successfully cured by Ganoderma lucidum extract, effectiveness up to 88.9%. It was stated that the effect of reducing blood pressure by Ganoderma lucidum was mainly the result of inhibition to the sympathetic nervous system. From another report, among 30 cases using Ganoderma lucidum products to cure high blood pressure, effectiveness was 88.3%. Moreover, it was found that Ganoderma lucidum also extends and stabilizes the effect of reducing blood pressure of other medicine.

7. Treament of Diabetes

The constitutes in Ganoderma lucidum that reduce blood glucose are Ganoderma B and C. The principle is by enhancing utilization of blood glucose by body tossues. Ganoderma lucidum serves as a substitute to insulin to inhibit release of fatty acids. It thus improves symptoms in high blood glucose and high urine glucose patients. Blood glucose will be reduced from 173 to 116, cholesterol from 233 to 179, beat-protein from 580 to 465. Water-solubility polysaccharides in Ganoderma lucidum suppresse insulin-independent diabetes. The health food products manufactured by Japan Numata Kenji, has been widely used for the treatment of diabetes.

8. Effect on Chronic Bronchitis & Bronchus Asthma

Ganoderma lucidum can stop coughing, clear sputum, and suppress asthma. It also relieves the symptoms of the related illnesses. Since Ganoderma lucidum can activate the immune system, it can prevent from flu, and thus above syndromes. Ganoderma lucidum is particularly suitable for the treatment of the patients categorized as "cold and wet" by Chinese medicine, while for the "hot and dry" patients would be relatively less effective. The average effectiveness is 80%.

9. Effect on Hyper Susceptibility

When the body is invaded by an antigen that ellicits an immunological reactions and results the various abnormality and immuno-pathological symptoms, Ganoderma lucidum can be used to suppress the reactions and resume the body order. The experiment shows that Ganoderma lucidum can stop the release of hyper susceptible factors and prevent the development of allergic reactions. Therefore, Ganoderma lucidum is relatively more effective over other current medicines when treating the illnesses caused by abnormal hyper-reactivity or autoimmunity such as allergic asthma, erythematous lupus vulgaris, rheumatoic arthritis, rheumatoic heart diseases, allergic rhinitis, skin diseases, etc. Ganoderma lucidum can also help to cure the toxification patients as the result of pro-longed usage of hormones.

10. Effect on Beauty Care

Ganoderma lucidum has been named the "Medicine of Eternal Life". It is mainly contributed to the effect on skin protection, and delaying aging. Ganoderma lucidum can retain and regulate the water in skin and thus can keep the skin elasticity, hydrated and smooth. It also inhibits the formation and deposition of melanin in skin. Today, the beauty care products made from Ganoderma lucidum are becoming the new stars in the industry. Taking Ganoderma lucidum food products will obtain synergistic effect. To add Ganoderma lucidum into the bath will not only keep the skin smooth and lustrous, but also prevent it from bacterial infection.

In addition to the above effects, Ganoderma lucidum stimulates blood synthesis in bone marrow and increase WBC level, which make it suitable for the treatment of low WBC symptom caused by over dosage of radiation and blood diseases, etc. By enhancing the body immune system, Ganoderma lucidum can defend the body from viral infections like AIDS virus. Ganoderma lucidum also promotes tolerance of the body to adverse environment. It suppresses over contraction of smooth muscle in uterus to remedy the functional uterine bleeding. Ganoderma lucidum is also effective for the pigment denaturation in retina, the underdeveloped brain, as well as abnormal muscular development. Ganoderma lucidum is also an effective pain reliever for headache, neural pain, cancer pain, etc.

Understanding about your body

Understanding about your body

Your body is composed of between 50 and 100 thousand million cells.
A typical cell in the lining of your stomach lives only a few days.
You acquire a new stomach lining every five days (the innermost layer of stomach cells is exchanged in a matter of minutes as you digest food).
The skin’s cells multiply every second to replace those worn away.
A typical skin cell lives only two weeks.
Your skin is new every five weeks.
Your adipose tissue, (fat cells) fill with fat and empty out constantly, so that all of it is exchanged every three weeks.
A red blood cell lives longer – two or three months.
Your skeleton, seemingly so solid and rigid, is entirely new every three months.
Very long-lived cells can be found in the liver, where they take several years to replace themselves.
Heart and brain cells apparently last a lifetime without reproducing.
Every year, fully 98% of the total number of atoms in your body are replaced.
It has been estimated that if all the space was taken out of the atoms which make up the human body, the resulting mass
would be smaller in size than a pin’s head.
Your head weighs about 5kg (11 lbs).
Your scalp contains about 100,000 tiny holes called hair follicles, from which hairs grow.
The brain comprises 2% of body weight but accounts for up to 20% of the body’s energy needs.
A 1,000,000,000,000 (million million or billion) nerve cells or neurones are packed into every human head, almost 200
times as many cells as there are people currently inhabiting the planet.
There are as many stars in the Milky Way galaxy as there are cells in the brain. Each cell can be connected with up to
100,000 others.
Counting each nerve connection in the human brain cortex – the outer layer – at the rate of one a second would take 32
million years.
The number of interconnections that can be made between each brain cell is equivalent to infinite or the number one
followed by 6½ million miles (10.5 million km) of standard (11pt) typewritten zeros!
Even if we lose 10,000 brain cells a day from the time we are born, we have started with so many that the total number
lost by the age of eighty would be less than 3%.
It has been suggested that at any given moment there are between 100,000 and 1,000,000 chemical reactions taking
place in your brain.
A computer working at 400 million calculations per second would, operating for one hundred years, only accomplish
what your brain can accomplish in a minute.
More than half the human body weight is water.
We have between 2 and 3 million eccrine glands, which can produce up to 13 litres (3 gallons) of sweat on a hot day.
The number of living organisms on one person’s skin is approximately equal to the number of people on the planet.
By the time a baby is 9 days old the bacteria in the armpit will number at approximately 490,000 bacteria per 6.45cm2
(square inch).
Each human eye contains 130 million light receptors.
Our eyes can distinguish up to one million colour surfaces and take in more information than the largest telescope known
to man.

You blink your eyes about 20,000 times a day.

Each human ear contains 24,000 fibres.
The human body has 200 bones, 500 muscles and 11 kilometres (7 miles) of nerve fibres.
The human heart beats on an average 36,000,000 times each year, pumping 2,727,600 litres
(600,000 gallons) of blood each year through 150,000 kilometres (90,000 miles) of tubing,
arteries, veins and capillaries.
An average capillary is only 1mm (1/25th of an inch) long.
The combined surface of the capillaries totals 5016m2 (6,000 square yards), larger than a football field.
The blood circulating within the human body contains 22 thousand million blood cells.
Between 2 and 3 million blood cells die each second and are replaced by 2 to 3 million more.
One drop of blood contains approximately 5 million red blood cells.
Each lung contains 300-350 million alveoli (air bubbles).
The wall of each alveoli consists of a single layer of thin, flat, curved cells, only 0.0002mm (0.000008in) thick.
If all the alveoli from both lungs were spread flat they would cover an area nearly the size of a tennis court.
Our lungs inhale over two million litres (440,000 gallons) of air every day.
Each human body has four million pain-sensitive structures.
Throughout the human body there are 500,000 touch detectors.
When we touch something, we send a message to our brain at 199kph (124 mph).
There are 200,000 temperature detectors in the body.
Over 60% of the body’s nerve endings are in the forehead and the hands.
The human olfactory system, or sense of smell, can identify the chemical odorant of an object in
one part per trillion of air.

The highest recorded "sneeze speed" is 165 km (102 miles) per hour

We make one litre of saliva a day.
A human body with straight intestines would be nearly 10m (33ft) tall.
An area of the intestinal wall about the size of your fingernail contains almost 3,000 villi (finger-shaped structures).
On average, the human stomach holds about 2 litres (nearly half a gallon) of contents.
An average adult stomach processes about 500kg (1,100lb) of food each year.
The breakdown of a simple sugar, such as glucose, involves more than 50 reactions.
The liver has at least 600 different roles.
Inside the liver are up to 100,000 tiny clusters called lobules.
Your kidneys contain about one million tiny filters, called nephrons.
All the blood in your body passes through each kidney 400 times in one day, so about 200 litres (44 gallons) of water
and wastes are filtered.
Your bladder can stretch to hold about 400ml (0.7 pint) of urine. By this time you are busting to go!
The testis hold about 1,000 tightly coiled tubes known as seminiferous tubules. Straightened and joined, they would
stretch 500m (1,600ft).
About 500 million sperm mature every day.
The ovaries contain about 600,000 immature eggs at birth.

What Are the Best Vitamins and Minerals to Take?

What Are the Best Vitamins and Minerals to Take?

Eating healthy, well-balanced meals and snacks is the most important thing. In particular, you should be eating five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. If your eating isn't well-rounded, a vitamin supplement isn't going to help much. Foods contain many beneficial substances that you just cannot get in pill form.

That all said, there are certain groups of people who may need supplements:
Women - calcium, iron, folic acid
Adolescents - calcium, iron, multi-vitamin/mineral
Seniors - multi-vitamin/mineral, calicium, vitamin D, vitamin B12
Vegetarians - calcium, vitamin D, iron, vitamin B12
Smokers - vitamin C

Almost anyone could potentially benefit from a vitamin and mineral supplement if their eating is less than optimal all the time. Your best bet is to pick one with no more than 100 to 150 percent of the daily value for the listed vitamins and minerals (there should be at least 20 listed). Make sure it contains 400 mg of folic acid and 400 IU of vitamin D. Men may want a supplement without iron because they need less iron than women. Store-brand supplements are just as good as name-brand supplements, so compare.

Vitamin C and E are two vitamins that are getting closer examination for people with diabetes. Both are antioxidants, i.e. substances that neutralize or inactivate free radicals. Free radicals are trouble-makers. They are unstable oxygen molecules that damage cells, which in turn can lead to diseases like cancer, heart disease and nerve disease. These free radicals are formed by pollution, ultraviolet light, X rays, and even one's own body metabolism. By neutralizing free radicals, it is believed that we can prevent some of the damage caused by these harmful molecules.

People with diabetes tend to have lower levels of vitamin C in their bodies, which may be due to higher blood sugar levels hampering the uptake of Vitamin C by cells. A 1995 study that gave 2,000 mg of vitamin C to people with type 2 diabetes showed an improvement in both blood sugar levels and lipid (cholesterol and triglyceride) levels. More research needs to be done, however. Also, more than 1,000 mg daily may cause kidney stones, diarrhea or other problems.

There is also mounting evidence that vitamin E may prevent heart disease, and may also play a role in preventing kidney and/or eye damage — all of which are problems for people with diabetes. However it's too early to make definite conclusions or to know what the right amount might be to get these beneficial effects. The recommended daily requirement for vitamin E is 30 IU, although the antioxidant properties of vitamin E seem to kick in at doses of at least 100 IU or more. Amounts greater than 800 IU may increase the risk of stroke in people with high blood pressure and may interfere with medication that prevents blood clots.

Chromium, in the form of chromium picolinate, has received a lot of press over the past few years, thanks to claims that it can reduce body fat and build muscle, all without dieting. No good evidence exists that chromium is effective in weight loss; but several studies over the past 30 years have suggested that it may help improve blood glucose and lipid levels. Unfortunately, chromium is a trace vitamin so it's hard to measure how much people take or how much we need. Fortunately, it is relatively safe. In fact, many health care providers routinely recommend chromium supplementation for their patients with diabetes, especially those with type 2. Don't take a chromium supplement without first discussing it with your health care team. Recommended dose is 50-200 mcg, and don't take more than 400 mcg. Kidney damage and chromosome damage may occur in extremely high amounts.