Turmeric Benefits

Health Benefits of Turmeric – Are there any Side Effects of Turmeric?

In recent years, turmeric benefits have captured the attention of Western scientists and herbalists. However, this herb held a place of honor in India's traditional Ayurvedic medicine because they have always known the magical medicinal powers of turmeric.

Before we delve into the health benefits of turmeric, including the possible side effects of turmeric, we would like to share with you a little about its healing history and traditional turmeric benefits.

Turmeric is a perennial shrub that is grown in India and other tropical areas of Asia. It was long used as a hot yellow spice to flavor Indian cuisine. In addition, it was added to a variety of mustards to give them a potent "bite."

In India's traditional Ayurvedic medicine turmeric was a symbol of prosperity - it was considered a whole body cleansing herb. Medically, it was used as an aid for digestive disturbances and as a treatment for fever, infections, dysentery, arthritis, jaundice and other liver problems.

The traditional Chinese physicians also used turmeric medically to treat liver and gallbladder problems, stop bleeding, and relieve chest congestion and menstrual discomforts.

How Can Turmeric Benefits…Benefit You?

The Health Benefits of Turmeric……….

The health benefits of turmeric lie in the active ingredient called curcumin. This powerful compound gives turmeric its therapeutic benefits, its yellow color, and its pungent flavor. More specifically, curcumin harbors antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, stomach-soothing, and liver-and heart-protecting effects.

Turmeric is thought to reduce inflammation by lowering histamine levels and it may also stimulate the adrenal glands to increase production of a hormone that reduces inflammation. It is often used to ease joint pain and inflammation associated with arthritis. However, it is also used to reduce joint pain and in inflammation in other disorders as well.

Turmeric (curcumin) also harbors rich stores of antioxidants. Antioxidants are disease-fighting substances that mop up the continuous onslaught of free radicals. Free radicals are unstable oxygen molecules that damage cells as they travel through the body and are responsible for premature aging and diseases such as cancer if left unchecked. In fact, Naturopaths often recommend turmeric for situations in which high concentrations of antioxidants are required.

Studies with animals show that turmeric benefits liver health. Several animal studies suggest that turmeric protects the liver from the damaging effects of certain toxins, including alcohol. These findings certainly lend credence to the herb's history of use in liver aliments.

Among the many health benefits of turmeric, is that it harbors antiplatelet activity. The herb reduces the ability of the blood to form clots and, as such, this action may improve circulation as well as offer some protection against heart attacks and strokes.

If you suffer from digestive problems this may be the herb for you. Turmeric helps digest fats by stimulating the flow of bile. No wander it was used traditionally as a digestive aid.

Laboratory studies indicate that curcumin has anti-cancer activity. More specifically, it destroys some types of cancer cells. For example, in the laboratory, curcumin kills cultures of human leukemia cells. This action may be due to turmeric's antioxidant properties or some other anti-cancer activity. Needless to say, more research is needed to determine turmeric benefits as a potential cancer agent.

Other possible health benefits of turmeric:

* May help fight bacteria infections.
* May offer cataracts prevention through its antioxidant properties.

Bottom line........

More research is required to substantiate all of turmeric's purported health benefits. On the other hand, it wouldn't hurt to add it to your spice rack.

Precautions and Side Effects of Turmeric

Indeed, the possible turmeric benefits are substantial, but it is always good to be informed of possible side effects. Turmeric is considered a safe herb. However, prolong use of higher than recommended doses can cause stomach upset and other gastrointestinal disturbances.

There is no RDA (recommended daily allowance) on turmeric because it is not considered an essential nutrient. However, a typical adult dosage as a stand-alone supplement is 400 to 600 of curcumin a day.

The following people should avoid the use of turmeric.

* People with congestive heart disease whose cause remains unidentified.

* People with painful gallstones, obstructive jaundice, acute bilious colic, or extremely toxic liver disorders.

The following people should speak with a physician before starting any supplementation.

* Pregnant women, women who are trying to conceive or women that have a history of fertility problems.

* Women who are nursing.

* People with a blood-clotting disorder.

* People on any type of medication.

* People with health conditions.

How to Maximize Your Turmeric Benefits through Turmeric Supplements

Tips on Choosing a Quality Turmeric Supplement

1. Choose a supplement using only standardized extracts of at least 95% curcumin or greater.

2. Curcumin is not well absorbed by the body when taken taken orally. As such, it is often sold with piperine to enhance absorption. Bromelain also enhances the bioavailability curcumin.

3. Select a supplement from a company that follows pharmaceutical GMP compliance. Many supplements on the market today do not provide you with enough of the active ingredient to offer turmeric benefits because it's cheaper to produce. More specifically, manufactures of dietary supplements do not have to guarantee the content, effectiveness, or even the purity of their products.

As a result, many products contain little or none of its therapeutic ingredient, therefore, no turmeric benefits or too much ingredient making consumption dangerous! While others have been reported for harboring harmful contaminates.

For this reason, we suggest that you only select a supplement from pharmaceutical GMP compliant facilities. These facilities adhere to very stringent manufacturing standards.

Featured Turmeric Product

Looking for Turmeric Benefits?

One company that meets the above requirements -- and more -- is Xtend-Life Natural Products from New Zealand. Their flagship product called Total Balance contains turmeric (98% curcumin) piperine, and bromelain, in addition to a full spectrum of other specialized nutrients that your body needs for optimal 'whole' body health including vitamins, minerals, other potent antioxidants, specialty nutrients, amino acids, enzymes, and other herbal extracts. In fact, Total Balance contains over 75 specialized total nutrients.

All of the ingredients are scientifically combined in a synergistic way to enhance and maximize the efficacy of each other.

We here at Nutritional-Supplement-Educational-Centre have been taking Total Balance for several years now and can personally attest to its excellent results such as an increase in energy levels, mental clarity, and an increase feeling of well-being.

We hope this webpage discussing turmeric benefits was useful to you.

To Your Health!

The Editors

Articles extracted from: http://www.nutritional-supplement-educational-centre.com/turmeric-benefits.html

Optometrist vs Ophthalmologist: What’s the Difference?

Confused About When to See an Optometrist versus an Ophthalmologist? We Clear It Up for You.

One of the most confusing parts of vision and eye care for many patients is understanding the difference between optometrists and ophthalmologists. Add opticians into the mix and people become even more perplexed. So figuring out where you should start when it comes to vision care and eye health can be tricky.

Fortunately, once you understand the differences between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist, it’s pretty easy to know where you should go, when, and for what. There is considerable overlap in certain areas between the two, but there are also several striking differences.

Let’s start with optometrists.

What Is an Optometrist?

Traditionally, Optometrists (also known as O.D.s or Doctors of Optometry) were trained to diagnose and treat vision conditions like farsightedness, nearsightedness and astigmatism, as well as fit and prescribe contact lenses and prescription eyeglass lenses. A large part of their job was (and still is) to perform “refractions” — or vision correction exams.

Today’s Optometrist: Trained in Disease Diagnosis & Treatment

However, over the past 20 years, optometry training has become much more medically-oriented than in the past, and optometrists now receive rigorous and comprehensive training in not just optics and refractions, but also the diagnosis and treatment of eye disease, as well as other systemic conditions that can effect vision and eye health.

Although optometrists are not M.D.s, most current optometrists can prescribe certain medications, as well as diagnose and treat a broad-range of medical conditions that impact the eye, including glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, retinal disease and ocular disorders associated with diabetes and high blood pressure.

In fact, it’s not unusual for a skilled optometrist to be the first health care professional to spot developing systemic conditions like diabetes during routine eye exams.

Optometrist Education & Training

Most optometrists will undergo four years of undergraduate training — usually a pre-med type curriculum — and then four years of post-graduate doctoral training. Coursework will typically include pharmacology, ocular disease diagnosis and treatment, vision therapy, optics, physiology and anatomy, and countless hours of hands-on clinical work.

All optometrists must pass a series of rigorous nationally-administered exams to earn their license to practice. Some optometrists will also complete a one-year post-graduate residency to gain more specialized expertise in a particular area.

All of this is done to prepare optometrists to serve as the “front-line” for day-to-day vision care.

Optometrist Services

Today, most optometrists provide a broad range of vision care services, including:

General vision services like eye exams, and treatment of conditions like strabismus and amblyopia

Diagnosis and basic treatment of eye conditions like glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and conjunctivitis (pink eye.)

Prescribing medications for certain eye conditions (for example, antibiotics for eye infections)

Eye disease and injury-prevention

Prescribing and fitting eyeglasses and contact lenses

Vision therapy services, such as eye exercises and low-vision aids

Pre- and postoperative care for people who have had eye surgery or Lasik surgery.

Not all optometrists will have specialized training in these areas, especially if they graduated prior to 2000, so it’s always a good idea when choosing an optometrist to ask questions about their specific training and specialties – especially when it comes to ocular disease diagnosis and treatment.

What’s an Ophthalmologist?

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor (M.D.) that specializes in the eye.

While the training between ophthalmologists and optometrists is now very similar (especially around ocular disease diagnosis and treatment,) there are some marked differences between the two.

First, ophthalmologists are trained to perform surgery, which optometrists are not. This includes things like Lasik vision correction as well as removal of cataracts, or surgery related to eye trauma, burns or detachments of retina.

Second, ophthalmologists have additional specialized training in diagnosing and treating more complex medical eye conditions. So it is not unusual for optometrists and ophthalmologists to work closely-together on hard-to-diagnose conditions or ongoing disease treatment and management.

Third, as M.D.s, ophthalmologists are allowed to prescribe a broader-range of prescription drugs than optometrists.

Ophthalmologist Education & Training

Ophthalmologists will receive four or more years of premedical undergraduate education, four years of medical school, and then one year of internship to get their doctorate degrees. Once they become licensed physicians, they will then undergo a residency of three or more years, with medical and surgical training in eye care.

Ophthalmologist Services

While all ophthalmologists are trained in vision services such as eye exams, refraction, vision correction and lens prescription, not all ophthalmologists will choose to practice vision correction as a primary service.

Performing eye surgery is more profitable than refractions, so although ophthalmologists by training must be able to perform these services, they will often leave these day-to-day vision services to optometrists to perform instead.

Also, optometrists tend to have more eyewear product (like eyeglass frames and prescription sunglasses), so most primary vision correction is performed not by ophthalmologists, but by optometrists (and often technicians.) It is also not unusual for ophthalmologists and optometrists to work in the same office and co-treat patients.

What About Opticians?

Although opticians have a similar-sounding name to optometrists and ophthalmologists, they are very different from eye doctors: Opticians specialize in filling the lens prescriptions that optometrists and ophthalmologists prescribe.

Opticians will typically receive a one or two-year degree or certification. In a typical optometry practice, the optician will:

Evaluate the lens prescriptions written by the eye doctor

Dispense, repair, adjust and replace eyeglass frames, lenses and contacts

Take measurements of a patient’s face in order to match them up with glasses that are appropriate for their facial structure

Assist in determining which lenses are appropriate for a patient

Provide guidance on how to match eyeglass frames with a patient’s personal fashion style or lifestyle

Should I See an Optometrist or an Ophthalmologist?

For most day-to-day eye and vision-care needs, an optometrist will generally be your best choice. Optometrists typically have better appointment availability than ophthalmologists and will often have more eyeglass frame stock options, as well.

Like ophthalmologists, optometrists are trained to perform thorough eye examinations and refractions, as well as vision therapy for things like lazy eye. Some argue that optometrists are actually more skilled at vision correction because they typically perform many more refractions on a day-to-day basis than ophthalmologists. So practice makes perfect … or so the theory goes.

And, because optometrists now have more specialized education in ocular disease diagnosis and management, they are trained to spot many of the same diseases and conditions that in the past only an ophthalmologist was trained to diagnose.

If more serious eye health conditions are found by an optometrist, the optometrist will then refer you out to an ophthalmologist for a more detailed examination or ongoing treatment.

Articles extract from: http://www.urbanoptiques.com/vision-care-focus-on-vision-care/vision-care-articles/optometrist-vs-ophthalmologist-whats-the-difference

LEARN THE DIFFERENCE

LEARN THE DIFFERENCE
Optician vs. Optometrist vs. Ophthalmologist

A patient that requires contact lenses or glasses will seek the help of an optician. An optician fills lens prescriptions for contact lenses and glasses, written by the optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Opticians are not responsible, nor trained, for eye examinations or treatment solutions for eye disorders. They help you pick our your frames and adjust them to fit comfortably.

Optometrists are doctors who perform annual examinations to treat any vision problems and detect signs of disease and abnormal conditions. Examinations may also include testing for glaucoma, color perception, depth, and the ability to focus and coordinate the eyes. Optometrists must be licensed, have a Doctor of Optometry degree, and pass a state board examination.

Ophthalmologists must acquire a Doctor of Medicine degree, a broad knowledge of general medicine, and clinical training. If a person requires medical or surgical care for an eye disease or an eye injury, he or she will seek the assistance of an ophthalmologist. Your refractive laser surgeon MUST be an ophthalmologist. Ophthalmologists must acquire a Doctor of Medicine degree, a broad knowledge of general medicine, and clinical training. This provides them with enough experience to diagnose and treat all types of eye disorders.

Ophthalmologists are the only eye care professionals certified to perform surgery on the eye. A subspecialist has undergone additional years of medical training exclusively in their chosen area of expertise, for example, retinal diseases, glaucoma, cornea or pediatrics.

Angeles Vision Clinic

THE THREE O'S
OPTICIAN
OPTOMETRIST / OPTOMETRIC PHYSICIAN
OPHTHALMOLOGIST

Opticians, optometrists and ophthalmologists all provide eye care services. Optometrists and ophthalmologists examine eyes and prescribe vision correcting lenses. Opticians manufacture and dispense corrective lenses. For the majority of individuals an optometrist is the doctor of choice for routine eye health and vision examinations. Today's modern Optometrist has Corneal Specialists, Retinal Specialists, Glaucoma Specialists and Oculoplastic Surgeons on their eye health care team. Patient co-management between Optometrists, Ophthalmologists and Opticians is customary to provide the best in eye health care for their patients. The following descriptions may aid you in selecting the eye care professional to meet your personal needs.

OPTICIAN
An optician makes, verifies and delivers lenses, frames and other specially fabricated optical devices and/or contact lenses upon prescription (from an optometrist or ophthalmologist) to the intended wearer. The opticians' functions include prescription analysis and interpretation; determination of the lens forms best suited to the wearers needs; the preparation and delivery of work orders for the grinding of lenses and the fabrication of eye wear, the verification of the finished ophthalmic products; and the adjustment, replacement, repair and reproduction of previously prepared ophthalmic lenses, frames and other specially fabricated ophthalmic devices. Certification by the American Board of Opticianry or the National Contact Lens Examiners is optional. Some states have regulatory agencies that license opticians.

OPTOMETRIST / OPTOMETRIC PHYSICIAN
Doctors of Optometry or, optometric physicians are independent primary health care providers who specialize in the examination, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and disorders of the eye and associated structures as well as the diagnosis of related systemic conditions. Optometric Physicians prescribe and treat glaucoma, eye infections and eye inflammations. They fit and dispense glasses and contact lenses, thus providing total eye health and vision care for all ages. Optometric physicians do not perform surgery. An optometric physician has completed four years of college premedical education and four years of graduate education at an accredited College of Optometry, earning a Doctorate in Optometry. Optometric physicians are certified by a national board of examiners and licensed by a state regulatory board.

Ophthalmologist:
The Ophthalmologist has the degree Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) and is a primary and secondary, medical/surgical eye care provider. This Doctor has completed four years of college, four years of medical school and four years of residency and internships relating to the diagnosis and treatment, including surgery, of diseases of the eye. Ophthalmologists may also perform intricate surgical procedures including cataracts removal and lens implant, corneal transplant, glaucoma surgery and various laser procedures.