Mushroom and its health benefits

What no one told you about mushrooms.........

Mushroom popularly known as "osun or olu" in Yoruba land, Igbo call it "ero", Hausa call it "naman kaza"  
There about 140,000 species of mushroom, about 300 are edible, 100 species are being studied for there health promoting benefits,  while 10 are grown commercially. If you plan to go on a mushroom-picking trip, then make sure you take someone with an extensive knowledge of mushrooms, with you. It is important to identify the mushrooms accurately.
Edible mushrooms are often described as vegetables or herbs, but they are actually fungi. it may sound strange, but we are actually closely related to fungi than we are to any other kingdom. we share the same pathogens, meaning bacteria and viruses.
Mushrooms were reserved for royalty in ancient Egypt and ancient Romans thought it was conferred to warriors.
Apart from the distinct flavour it adds to soup, it has a lot of nutritional and health benefits, which include the following :

1. Weight Loss:
 According to studies, substituting red meat with mushroom is the best for weight management. Because, mushrooms are extremely low in calories and contain negligible amounts of sodium and fat. This alone makes mushrooms a viable food choice for anyone looking to achieve weight loss.

2. Cancer Prevention:
Mushrooms commonly found in grocery stores and salad bars, help remove excess estrogen from circulation, making them helpful for preventing  cancer.According to research, Cordycepin one of the active compounds  found in fungi is a potential cancer drug.

3. Hypertension / High blood pressure :
Pink oyster mushrooms  are a good source of chitin and beta-glucan, and fibers that lower cholesterol and improve cardiovascular health. They also reduce total cholesterol and prevent arterial plaque formation.  A compound in shiitake mushrooms, called critadenine, helps the liver process cholesterol.\

4. Immune Boost:
Beta-glucan long chain polysaccharides, particularly alpha and beta glucan molecules in mushrooms provides protection against colds, flu and other viruses. According to studies, Shiitake, portobello, oyster and reishi mushrooms contain a polysaccharide molecule called lentinan that stimulates production of interferon, which stimulates the immune system.

5. Vitamins and Minerals:
Mushrooms are among the only natural food sources of vitamin D, and  are one of the few foods that contain germanium, a trace mineral that helps your body use oxygen efficiently and prevents against damaging effects of free radicals. Many mushrooms are also good sources of selenium, an antioxidant mineral, as well as copper, niacin, riboflavin  potassium and phosphorous. Additionally, mushrooms provide protein, vitamin C and iron. Because their cells walls are indigestible unless exposed to heat, you must cook mushrooms to get their nutritional benefits.

In recent studies,mushroom has anti-inflammatory characteristics that may be helpful for those suffering from the following

• asthma
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Renal failure
• stroke damage.

However, whether someone likes to eat mushrooms or not is a  personal choice that can also be ruled by preference, taste and beliefs. But is of no doubt that edible mushroom is a must in all homes because of its health benefits. 

Your Food And Cancer

Foods scientifically proven to kill cancer.

Greet your body each morning with with a glass of warm water, organic baking soda and lemon. . This keeps our bodies more alkaline/ less acidic , which is critical for health . But that is just one of the amazing foods that can keep you free of diseases including cancer.....

Below are some of the cancer killing foods.

Omega-3. oily fish
fish oil, flax seed oil, hemp moil, and healthy oil blend supplements provide Omega -3 fatty acids (and other beneficial fatty acids) which fight inflammation and make the body less hospitable to cancer cells.

Cruciferous vegetables
Broccolli, cauliflower, cabbage , Brussel sprouts, watercess, kale, collard greens, cauliflower, bok choy, turnips, rutabagas, radishes, argula, and more. . These vegetables contain sulforaphane and other helpful compounds, which help fight against tumors, breast, prostrate, brain and colorectal cancers, as well as leukemia.

Berries.
Black raspberries appear to reign supreme, though all berries contain cancer fighting phytonutrients and high amounts of ellagic acid (a natural phenol antioxidant found in fruits and vegetables), which inhibit tumor growth. Walnuts popularly called "ausa or asala" in Yoruba land could  be used in place of berries if you find it expensive or scarce. Also, walnuts is a good source of omega-3 fatty acid

How Do I Get Rid Of Vaginal Odour/ Prevention

                                  Getting Rid of Vaginal Odour/ Prevention.

(1).    The easiest and most cost effective way is maintaining good hygiene.
          Change underwear daily, change pads, tampons and pantie-liners frequently.
          Ensure you wipe front to back after bowel movements to avoid spread of rectal bacteria.
(2)     Avoid using scented product, harsh laundry detergents, or feminine products designed to                      "freshen" the vagina
(3)     Wear loose fitting clothes and cotton panties. Bacteria build up could be as a result of tight                   jeans and fabrics that doesn't allow the vaginal to breathe which causes vaginal sweating.
(4)     Avoid douching. Instead, wash with warm water and mild soap. You may find a hand held                  shower attachment can help you to feel cleaner. Be sure to wash the labia and inner folds of the          vagina as well.
(5)    Garlic is one of nature’s most powerful antibiotics. Inserting a clove of garlic into your vagina            and retaining it for a couple of hours can alleviate the bad vaginal odor to a large extent.
(6)    Apple cider vinegar helps restore the acidic quality of the vaginal flora and fights off the toxins           that cause infection. Simply indulge in a long bath with two to three cups of this natural                       antibacterial agent in your bathing water to achieve quick results.

How Do I Tell Her Her Vagina Smells Pt2

(2)the presence of Trichomoniasis is another good example while the vaginal has a fishy smell, often with a white or gray discharge.. Trichomoniasis is a very common sexually transmitted disease caused by the infeection with a protozoan parasite caused trichomonas vaginalis. It is the most common curable STI (sexually transmitted disease) in America. Though, it can be contacted through non sexual means. Trichomoniasis can cause itching, burning, redness or soreness of the genitals, discomfort with urination, or a thin discharge with unusual fishy smell that could be clear, white, yellowish or greenish. infection may last for months or even years if not treated .

(3)Yeast infection is also a major reason the vaginal smells. it comes with a faint bread - like odour, and it can smell slightly musty.

(4)Personal hygiene possess a great threat to the vaginals odour. it could be as a result of wearing too tight pants or synthetic fiber underpants who can prevent enough air into the vaginal and thus lead to a stronger than usual scent.

(5) Ladies get it wrong all in the name of clean and neat by shaving their public area. The public hair was designed to soak up vaginal secretions as well as pheromones. When the air is shaved off, the skin is raw and often open, and the area stays moister. This creates a breeding ground for nasty bacteria and pathogens. The entire theory behind public hair is to cushion the vagina against friction and to form a barrier that will keep bacteria out of the area.

(6) Sometimes what a lady eats matters a lot. spicy meal, over indulgence in alcohol or medications and supplements taken could cause offensive vaginal odour. Essentially everything you put into your body is secreted through your body fluids, including those of the vaginal region. 

To be contd.....

How Do I Tell Her Her Vaginal smells ?

Offensive odour during sex could be a difficult thing to tell your partner.....I cant just go on with this relationship he says without telling her what the problem is .....However, she thinks....could it be spiritual problem, emotional, physical,financial,  hereditory etc. She has no clue on why he breaks up with her.
You are a lady, no matter what you try, how little or how much you clean it, or what products you try, you will always have a smell... down there. You may ask yourself  what can I do to make myself scentless? A woman’s vagina normally has a mild odor, but inflammation or infection of the vagina or cervix can result in an unusually strong, persistent or bad vaginal smell that is often described as a fish-like odor. However, if you are noticing a particular offensive odour down there, chances of infection is the root of the problem.

(1) The most common is Bacteria vaginosis. It may sound scary, big and frightening but its actually very common among ladies. its the most common cause of vaginal odour. Every vaginal is filled with naturally occurring bacteria, and BV is basically an outgrowth of the bacteria. Research as shown that most women in their reproductive years will experience at least one case of BV. The reason for this still remain unknown, but unprotected sex and frequent douching can put a lady at higher risk. BV does not lead to complications, but it can increase a woman's chances of developing a sexually transmitted disease. Also, a pregnant woman with BV has an increased chance of pregnancy complications. BV may cause a fishy, malodorous discharge. This odor is usually most prominent after sexual intercourse. But it is recommended that all women with BV symptoms should seek medical attention early to prevent  rare, but serious, complications. It could be tempting to buy over-the-counter products to mask vaginal odour. Experts warn that these don't usually carry any health benefits, rather they may offer some short-term relief.
To Be Contd.........

The Good, Bad And Ugly Among Bacteria....

Diagram of a bacteria

CONVICTS AMONG BACTERIA

Bacteria are beneficial to humans because we found them useful in brewing industries, milk factories, Agriculture, pharmaceutical companies and they also aid digestion in human and livestock.  However among bacteria there are bad ones that aren’t beneficial to humans because they are responsible for various human diseases.

Talking about convicts among bacteria, this is simply in this context referring to those bacteria with exceptional abilities in resisting treatments especially with antibiotics which are expected to kill the bacteria.

Antibiotics are designed specifically for the treatment of bacteria causing various infections. There are different classes of antibiotics that are available commercially. Among these classes we have penicillin (e.g. ampicillin), aminoglycosides (e.g. gentamicin), fluoroquinolones (e.g. ciprofloxacin) to mention but few.

Before a bacteria can be termed multidrug resistance, it must be able to withstand 2 or more of the classes of antibiotics. Bacteria in this category are problematic because they often lead to treatment failures, recurrent infections, prolong hospital stay and financial burden.

These are the convicts among bacteria. They are medically important bacteria hence must be paid close attention to due to the amount of dangers they can cause. In subsequent series we shall be discussing them one after the other.

Tip. To avoid the multiplication of multidrug resistant bacteria, it is advisable to follow doctor’s prescription in taking antibiotics and avoid self-medication which is known to be among factors leading to development of resistant bacteria.

To be continued

About the author

Dr. Bamidele Odumosu is a Pharmaceutical Microbiologist in the department of Microbiology, University of Lagos Nigeria.

Effects of mosquito bite other than malaria fever .........

severe elephantoid scrotum 

elephantiasis of the leg 

Mosquito bites: Just a bite from mosquitoes could cause extreme swollen limbs, kidney damages, severe skin dermatitis, orchitis- inflammation of the testes etc

A man is going through the worst moments of his life after his leg swelled to extremely large proportions following a mosquito bite. It took just one bite from a mosquito for man to be infected with one of the most frightening and crippling tropical diseases. 

The man was bitten by the fly 20 years ago and subsequently infected with Lymphatic filariasis, a parasitic infection better known as Elephantiasis. It is called elephantiasis as a result of thickened and fissured ‘elephant-like” that occurs on the leg. Classical elephantiasis is a more unusual consequence of infection by Wuchereria bancrofti and by at least two other species of filaroids.

He has been battling the infection ever since, and watched as his left leg swelled and became thickened and fissured “elephant-like”, almost paralyzing him.

The disease targets the body's lymphatic system as the larvae reproduce and mature over a period of one year. The infection is typically characterized by extreme swelling of limbs or genitals, though the majority of people who are infected by the parasite do not develop any symptoms.

However, the worms can damage kidneys and lymph nodes even if a person does not exhibit external symptoms.

It is believed that the infection is brought to the new world by slave trade. Filariasis is found in Africa, Central and South America, South Asia, and the Pacific Islands. Global prevalence of lymphatic filariais is about 120 million cases and Wuchereria bancrofti is responsible for over 90% of lymphatic filariasis.  

Doctors can use anthelmintic drugs which will expel the parasitic worms from the patient's body. 

In cases whereby patients do not seek treatment early it can be a life-long battle.

In terms of prevention, although there is a greater risk for long-term travelers or humanitarian workers, all tourists are encouraged to use insect repellent containing DEET, or diethyltoluamide, the most common kind of insect repellent. 

Elephantiasis often leaves sufferers incapacitated as their painful and swollen limbs are incredibly difficult to move. 

It is primarily found in third world countries, it leaves many with the condition struggling to work, and can be fatal.