Diet for Measles
Measles is an infection of the respiratory system which is caused by a virus of the genus Morbillivirus and species paramyxovirus. This is a single strand RNA virus. Measles is a communicable disease, which spreads through respiration, that is, by contact with the fluids from the infected person. The average incubation span of the infection is fourteen days and infectivity lasts for four to five days. The common symptoms of this ailment are fever, cough, runny nose or coryza and conjunctivitis. The most visible symptom of the affliction is the appearance of characteristic measles spots which initially occur on the face and then spread on the entire body.
The Measles virus is highly contagious and is an airborne pathogen which primarily spreads through the respiratory system. The virus may be transmitted through respiratory secretions. Once the virus invades the body, it replicates in various organs like the urinary tract, lymphatic nodules, blood vessels, and central nervous system.
The ailment may be cured by following a specific diet. The recommended diet for Measles is as follows:
• Freshly extracted juices of fruits like oranges and lemons are important as the patient loses appetite and these juices help to regain it. Oranges are particularly recommended for the treatment of Measles on account of their digestive properties. The agreeable flavor of the fruit helps in the secretion of saliva and enhances appetite.
• The patient may be given an all fruit diet for a few days to enable the cleansing of the body and also to provide the essential vitamins and minerals lost as a result of the illness.
• Turmeric is highly recommended for the treatment of Measles. The patient must be given foods that have turmeric added as a condiment. Also, the patient may consume bitter gourd juice mixed with honey and turmeric to cure the affliction.
• The patient can also consume barley water to relieve the ailment.
• The patient must be given foods rich in Vitamin A so as to enhance the resistance of the body. These foods include carrot, beet root and papaya.
• The patient may also consume parsley for quick healing and recovery.
• The patient must also consume powdered liquorice with honey as it helps relieve the severe cough, which a major symptom of the disease.
• The afflicted individual may also consume seeds of the egg plant which helps in developing an immunity against Measles.
You must make these alterations in your diet for Measles. You are also advised to consult a doctor and follow the prescribed course of medication.
Chelation Therapy:
Chelation therapy is a treatment that administers chelating agents for the purposing of flushing out heavy metals from the body. The EDTA Chelation treatment involves the administration of ETDA. This is an amino acid that is manufactured, and is used in cases where individuals have been poisoned with heavy metals. This is because it binds together mercury and lead and permits it to be flushed out from the system. It is believed that this EDTA can also bind calcium, which is what contributes towards the accumulation of plaque in atherosclerosis. The full form of EDTA is ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid. There are two types of Chelation therapies that are available; intravenous and oral chelation therapy.
The intravenous therapy involves a needle being inserted in a vein, and through this the EDTA is then administered into one’s bloodstream. The oral treatment basically performs the same function as the intravenous one, but it may not be as successful in eliminating all the heavy metals or accumulated plaque. The oral treatment normally is in the form of a tablet; however it could also be in the form of a suppository, powder and oral spray. An individual who is undergoing this therapy (oral Chelation) usually needs to consume a lot of water at the same time as that of the treatment. Before any of the treatments are carried out, a number of tests will required to be conducted in order to determine what the exact problem is and if EDTA would be suitable. The tests involved may be a chest x-ray, an electrocardiogram, urine tests, blood tests and Doppler examination.
This therapy has proved to be beneficial particularly to those with atherosclerosis, as it helps in eliminating calcium from the plaque that has accumulated in the arteries. It also provides additional benefits to people suffering from atherosclerosis such as; it reduces the activity of free radicals in the blood, stops calcium absorption, minimizes blood clots and normalizes HDL and cholesterol levels. Recently, links between autism and chelation therapy have been suggested. It is stated that the treatment could be used for treating the condition of autism as it could help in removing mercury from the patient’s brain. There are also suggestions about chelation therapy being useful in the treatment of depression, cancer, gastrointestinal problems, fatigue and skin condition. Although the therapy appears to be beneficial, there are a lot of side effects linked to it. Thus it is important to discuss having this treatment with your physician.
High Calcium Level in Urine:
Calcium is not only considered to be one of the most important minerals in our body, but the most common one as well. It is required by the body in-order to fix and build teeth and bones, assist in the working of the nerves, help the muscles contract when needed, help the blood in clotting and also help the beating of the heart. Most of the calcium that is present in our body is stored within the bones, while the remainder is found in our blood. Normally, the calcium levels in the blood are very carefully controlled. When the levels increase (hypercalcemia), the bones are where the extra calcium is stored or it may be eliminated by the body through the stool or the urine. On the other hand if the levels of calcium are low (hypocalcemia), calcium is then released by the bones into the blood in order to restore the levels to normal.
The quantity of calcium in one’s body will depend on the following; the amount of calcium present in the diet, the amount of calcium that is absorbed by the intestines, the phosphate levels in the body and the amount of certain hormones in the body such as estrogen, parathyroid hormone and calcitonin. A high level of calcium in the urine could lead to the formation of kidney stones. A urine test is done in order to detect the calcium levels. This will help determine if there has been the formation of a kidney stone on account of high calcium levels, if the parathyroid glands have a problem or if there is any other underlying condition. At times a blood calcium test may also be asked for, in order to detect conditions that the urine test may not otherwise detect such as pancreatitis or a kidney disorder.
If the tests detect a high level of calcium in the urine, then this could be due to hyperthyroidism, osteoporosis, Paget’s disease, kidney disease or a cancer that could have spread to the bones. It could also be on account of dehydration or high levels of calcium or vitamin D in one’s diet. The amount of vitamin D in one’s diet is important as it controls the quantity of calcium that is absorbed from the food, as well as the amount that is passed on into the urine. The treatment will then be based upon what the cause of the high calcium levels is.
Side Effects of Color Additives:
Color additives or food coloring are substances that are added to food items or beverages to give it a certain color. It may be used in commercial food preparations as well as in domestic use. Food coloring is available widely and as such is used extensively. Color additives may also be used in other applications such as craft work projects. Particular colors are associated with certain flavors and as such may have an effect on the flavor that is perceived in certain food items. Sometimes food coloring may also be used to create a certain effect. Foods that are unnaturally bright or artificial in color are known to contain food coloring. However, natural foods such as fruits and salmon too may sometimes carry dyes in them. Natural variations in color may occur in foods in addition to effects of storage and processing, and as such manufacturers see an advantage in using dyes to mask these changes and to present the foods as appealing to customers. Other reasons why food coloring is used are to give an identity to certain food stuffs, to preserve the vitamins and flavor and prevent damage from light and weather conditions and for decorative purposes.
There have been claims of attention deficit, hyperactivity and behavioral disturbances occurring in children due to consumption of certain food additives and food coloring agents. Studies have shown that allergies result from certain food dyes. A great deal of research finds definite connections between behavioral problems and hyperactivity in children. Other effects on health from food dyes are allergies, headache, asthma, fatigue, nausea, concentration problems, agitation and nervousness. In addition to this, there may also be an increased risk of developing Hodgkin’s disease, multiple myeloma and lymphoma.
Food Dyes Health Risks:
The following food dyes have been known to have side effects; red 3, which causes thyroid related tumors in animals; D&C red 33, which causes cancer in human beings and genetic problems in animals; Red 40, which has mutagenic and carcinogenic properties; asorubine or carmoisine – used in certain sweets, which causes allergies in people suffering from asthma; blue 1 – used in dairy products and drinks, which has been known to carry a risk for cancer; blue 2, which carries links with brain tumors in animals and may also cause rash, nausea and allergies; citrus red 2 – used commonly in fruits such as oranges, which may also cause cancer; green 3, which has carcinogenic links; green S - used in cake mix, canned peas and jellies, which may cause allergic reaction; FD & C yellow 5 – used in jams, sweets and cereals, which may cause cancer, breathing problems and asthma attacks; FD & C yellow 6, which may cause kidney damage, allergic reactions and genetic damage; annatto, which may cause nervous system malfunctioning and gastrointestinal damage.
