What is stroke? Know the symptoms and save a life by getting medical attention

Do you know you can have a silent stroke and not know it? You may only discover when damage has resulted.

Do you know if you get angry a lot, your blood pressure may rise and this may put you at risk for a stroke?

A stroke, is a medical condition which occurs when blood flow is prevented from reaching your brain. The cells of your brain are therefore cut off from oxygen and nutrients. If the blockage is not removed, damage could result.

According to the  National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 8 out of every 10 strokes can be prevented.

Types of stroke

1 Ischaemic stroke
This is the most common type of stroke. This occurs when the blood vessels carrying blood to your brain get blocked by blood clots or fatty deposits from your arteries. Atrial fibrillation, which is an irregular heartbeat can cause poor blood flow resulting in blood clots which can cause a stroke if it occludes a blood vessel carrying blood to the brain.

2 Hemorrhagic stroke

The most common cause of a hemorrhagic stroke is high blood pressure (hypertension). If a hemorrhage occurs along the blood vessels in the brain, a hemorrhagic stroke will result. Those who have extremely high blood pressure can suffer from this type of stroke. Those who have high blood pressure should:
know some foods that help in lowering high blood pressure 
know what foods to avoid and 
make lifestyle changes that will generally prevent high blood pressure and other non communicable diseases.

Factors that put you at risk for developing stroke

This factors that increase your risk of developing stroke can be controlled. They are:

• Hypertension

• Heart Disease

• Atherosclerosis (hardened arteries)

• Diabetes

• High cholesterol

• Overweight and Obesity

• Sickle cell disease

• Smoking

• Excessive alcohol intake

• Increase in age

• Family history

• Sleep apnea

Symptoms of stroke

If anyone around you is having stroke, it is a medical emergency and the person needs medical care as soon as possible. The most important symptoms to watch out for are:

1 slurred speech

Someone experiencing stroke will have a slurred speech even when the person is awake. Sometimes, the person may not be able to talk at all.

2 Numbness/weakness of the arms and legs

Someone who is experiencing a stroke may experience weakness in the arms or worst still the arms may be numb. The person may not be able to lift  the arm and suspend it for a while because it is weak. This numbness/weakness may also cause problems in walking.

3 paralysis of the face

Paralysis of the face is one of the symptoms of stroke. You may notice that the person’s face has dropped to one side and he or she may not be able to smile. 

other symptoms include

• headache

• unable to see clearly in one or both eyes

• confusion and not being able to understand clearly

Sources:
Web MD

NHS Choices
Mayo Clinic

HEALTH BENEFITS OF PASSION FRUIT

Passion fruit is a sweet fruit that is largely made up of seeds. It grows in warm climates all over the world. Passion fruit has so many health benefits which are attributed to its numerous nutrients. Passion fruit contains water, Carbohydrates, Protein, dietary fiber, folates, Vitamins (A, C, E, K, B6, niacin, riboflavin), calcium, iron, potassium and magnesium. Some of the potential health benefits of passion fruit include but are not limited to the following:

1 Reduction of High blood pressure

Potassium is a very important mineral needed for proper growth and functioning of our body, especially the cardiovascular system. Foods that are rich in potassium have been recommended for the reduction of high blood pressure.

2 Anti-cancer benefits

Passion fruit contain anti-oxidants which help in eliminating free radicals. Free radicals are responsible for changing the DNA of normal healthy cells, making them cancerous.

   

3 Eye health

Vitamin A, which is found in passion fruit is very essential for maintaining a healthy eye by preventing macular degeneration, night blindness and cataracts.

4 Helps in Indigestion and helps prevent constipation

Fiber is an essential component of our diet because it softens our stools and aids in bowel movement. Therefore, those who are suffering from constipation can eat fruits rich in fiber such as passion fruit.

5 Beautiful skin
if you want to have a beautiful skin naturally without spending too much on cosmetics, you should eat fruits that contain Vitamin A because it is needed for cell growth. This goes a long way to maintain a healthy skin and prevent premature aging. 

HEALTH BENEFITS OF CUCUMBER

Cucumbers are made up of about 95% water and are low in calories, cholesterol and fats. There are so many health benefits of cucumbers, some of which are found below. Cucumbers contain potassium, manganese, magnesium, calcium, vitamin K, Vitamin C, folate, pantothenic acid, carbohydrate, dietary fiber, protein and many other important nutrients. 

1 Helps in Hydration

The high water content of cucumber helps in combating dehydration. Adding cucumber to your meal is a great way to meet up with the daily required amount of water.

2 Reduces the risk of developing cancer

Cucumbers contain phytonutrients known as cucurbitacins, which have anti-cancer properties. Furthermore,the polyphenols found in cucumber may also help in reducing the risk of breast, ovarian, prostate and uterine cancers.

3 Helps in lowering hypertension

Cucumbers contain potassium and studies have associated its consumption with a decrease in high blood pressure

4 Helps in weight loss

Cucumbers are high in water content, rich in fiber and low in calories. Foods that have these properties have been found to aid in weight loss. 

Health Benefits of Grapes

Grapes are found worldwide and are known for their unique taste and fleshy nature. They come in different sizes, shape, colour and taste. In order to get all the health benefits from grapes, it is best when eaten raw and not cooked since heat will destroy some of the nutrients. Below are some of the benefits gotten from eating grapes:

1 High Blood Pressure

Grapes contain potassium which is very beneficial in lowering blood pressure. A high amount of sodium in diet is one of the causes for an increase in blood pressure. Fruits rich in potassium are recommended to people with hypertension because it negates the effects of sodium.

2 Constipation

Grapes contain water and fiber, which are essential in preventing constipation.

3 Cancer

Grapes may be able to slow down the occurrence of certain cancers like colon, prostate, mouth, endometrial, lung, pancreatic and esophageal. This is because grapes contain antioxidants known as polyphenols which have anti-cancer benefits. 

4 Heart Disease

A diet that is rich in potassium and low in sodium is very important in reducing the risk of developing hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.  Grapes also contain polyphenol that may be able to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases by preventing platelet build-up and regulating blood pressure. Grapes can also regulate cholesterol levels in blood.

5 Blood sugar regulation

Fruits like grape help in regulating blood sugar levels and is safe for diabetics because it has a low glycemic index. The rich phytonutrient content of grapes have been associated with better blood sugar balance. 

Dr Sebi: A Pathologist, Herbalist and Biochemist who cures Cancers, Diabetes, Arthritis and many more through nutrition

Dr Sebi is a nutritional consultant who reverses diseases from a nutritional point of view. He has successfully reversed diseases like cancer and diabetes for the past 30 years. He is from Honduras but currently resides in the United States. He has discovered that our present diet and lifestyle is putting us at risk of having so many diseases that we face today. In his quest to find the solution to the diseases that plaque us today, he has come up with a list of foods that can reverse diseases through research. 

Dr Sebi reverses diseases by using an alkaline diet that consist of fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains and legumes.  He also uses herbs to cleanse our internal system to remove toxins (mucus) that have accumulated.  He believes that diseases will develop in an acidic environment.

Dr sebi has recommended that we avoid using microwaves because it kills our foods and predisposes us to cancers.

Dr Sebi’s recommended Foods

Vegetables

·         Amaranth greens – same as Callaloo, a variety of Spinach

·         Avocado

·         Bell Peppers

·         Chayote (Mexican Squash)

·         Cucumber

·         Dandelion greens

·         Garbanzo beans

·         Green banana

·         Izote – cactus flower/ cactus leaf – grows naturally in California

·         Kale

·         Lettuce (all, except Iceberg)

·         Mushrooms (all, except Shitake)

·         Nopales – Mexican Cactus

·         Okra

·         Olives

·         Onions

·         Poke salad – greens

·         Sea Vegetables (wakame/dulse/arame/hijiki/nori)

·         Squash

·         Tomato – cherry and plum only

·         Tomatillo

·         Turnip greens

·         Zucchini

·         Watercress

·         Purslane (Verdolaga)

Fruits

Dr. Sebi has recommended the following fruits. He has also advised us to avoid canned or seedless fruits.

·         Apples

·         Bananas – the smallest one or the Burro/mid-size (original banana)

·         Berries – all varieties- Elderberries in any form – no cranberries

·         Cantaloupe

·         Cherries

·         Currants

·         Dates

·         Figs

·         Grapes- seeded

·         Limes (key limes preferred with seeds)

·         Mango

·         Melons- seeded

·         Orange (Seville or sour preferred, difficult to find)

·         Papayas

·         Peaches

·         Pear

·         Plums

·         Prickly Pear (Cactus Fruit)

·         Prunes

·         Raisins –seeded

·         Soft Jelly Coconuts

·         Soursops – (Latin or West Indian markets)

·         Tamarind

Herbal Teas

·         Allspice

·         Anise

·         Burdock

·         Chamomile

·         Elderberry

·         Fennel

·         Ginger

·         Raspberry

·         Tila

Spices and Seasonings

Mild Flavors

·         Basil

·         Bay leaf

·         Cloves

·         Dill

·         Oregano

·         Parsley

·         Savory

·         Sweet Basil

Pungent and Spicy Flavors

·         Achiote

·         Cayenne/ African Bird Pepper

·         Coriander (Cilantro)

·         Onion Powder

·         Habanero

·         Sage

Salty Flavors

·         Pure Sea Salt

·         Powdered Granulated Seaweed (Kelp/Dulce/Nori – has "sea taste")

Sweet Flavors

·         100% Pure Agave Syrup – (from cactus)

·         Date Sugar

Grains

·         Amaranth

·         Fonio

·         Kamut

·         Quinoa

·         Rye

·         Spelt

·         Tef

·         Wild Rice

Nuts and Seeds – (includes Nut and Seed Butters)

·         Hemp Seed

·         Raw Sesame Seeds

·         Raw Sesame Tahini Butter

·         Walnuts

·         Brazil Nuts

·         Pine Nuts

Oils

·         Olive Oil (Do not cook)

·         Coconut Oil (Do not cook)

·         Grapeseed Oil

·         Sesame Oil

·         Hempseed Oil

·         Avocado Oil

“Dr. Sebi has recommended the foods that are listed here for the reversal of disease for over 30 years. If your favorite food is missing from the list, our research and results have proven that it has no nutritional value and may be detrimental to your health” [extracted from his website]

For more information on Dr Sebi and his works, visit his website at www.drsebiscellfood.com

Side Effects of Potassium (Too much and too little potassium)

Our body needs potassium to function properly. Although there are health benefits of potassium, the side effects of potassium should also be taken into consideration.

According to Medline Plus, the Food and Nutrition Center of the Institute of Medicine recommends the following dietary intake for Potassium.  These amounts can be gotten from foods that contain potassium.

Infants

·         0 - 6 months: 0.4 grams a day (g/day)

·         7 - 12 months: 0.7 g/day

Children and Adolescents

·         1 - 3 years: 3 g/day

·         4 - 8 years: 3.8 g/day

·         9 - 13 years: 4.5 g/day

·         14 - 18 years: 4.7 g/day

Adults

·         Age 19 and older: 4.7 g/day

When we have too much or too little potassium in our body, there will be health effects such as hyperkalemia and hypokalemia.

Hyperkalemia

Too much potassium in our blood is known as hyperkalemia. According to Mayo Clinic, some of the causes of Hyperkalemia include acute kidney failure, chronic kidney disease, excessive potassium supplement, Type 1 Diabetes and high alcohol/drug use which will cause our muscle cells to breakdown resulting in the release of potassium in our blood stream.

Symptoms of hyperkalemia include:

• Fatigue or weakness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Breathing problems
• Palpitations
• Chest pain.

Hyperkalemia is dangerous because it can cause paralysis, nausea, abnormal heart rhythms and muscle fatigue.

Hypokalemia

This occurs when we have low potassium levels in blood. Some of the symptoms of hypokalemia include muscle cramps, irregular heartbeat, lack of energy and an abnormal ECG.  Hypokalemia can be caused by some of the following:

• Severe loss of fluids through diarrhea and vomiting
• Some kidney disorders
• Taking too many laxatives
• Taking medication to treat high blood pressure