Endurance Athletes - A Panel

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The "Death" Conversation

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Moringa (Malunggay)

June 8, 2008-June 14, 2008

Scientifically known as Moringa oleifera, malunggay is a commonly cultivated vegetable tree with a number of medical, nutritional and economic uses. It grows chiefly in semiarid and tropical regions such as Africa, Sri Lanka, Middle East, South and Central America, Mexico, the Philippines, India and the foothills of the Himalayas. It can also grow in coastal areas wherein soil is of poor quality. Additionally, it is a fast-growing and drought-resistant tree.

Moringa is highly regarded in some parts of the world as a very useful plant. Almost all of its parts have certain beneficial properties. The leaves of moringa, is commonly used in cooking or as food for livestock. According to the Bureau of Plant Industry of the Philippine government, weight per weight, moringa's leaves have calcium equivalent to four glasses of milk, vitamin C equaling seven oranges, potassium of three bananas, thrice the iron of spinach, four times the vitamin A in carrots and twice the protein in milk. On the other hand, its immature green pods (also called “drumsticks”), seeds and flowers are also cooked and consumed. The roots are then used as a condiment yet, it is being discouraged by nutritionists for it contains spirochin, a potentially fatal alkaloid that paralyzes the nerves.

Aside from culinary purposes, moringa is also well-recognized medically. In India, its leaves are used in Siddha medicine. It is believed to have a capacity in treating erectile dysfunction in men and prolonging sexual activity in women. It is then used to cure open wounds. Other parts of moringa such as its bark, sap, roots, seeds, oil and flowers are also used in traditional medicine for treating rheumatism, venomous bites and other sorts of conditions.

Commercially, moringa is a raw material for producing the so-called ben oil. This oil can be used in cooking, cosmetics and lubrication. Various parts of moringa are also used as a fertilizer or flocculent for water purification or desalination of ocean saltwater. It is then recently discovered that moringa can become an alternative fuel source for it can be produced as a bio-fuel.

The propagation of moringa is encouraged by a number of countries to solve the problems of malnutrition and food scarcity.

Top 3 Moringa (Malunggay) Snapshots

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Tawa-tawa

May 11, 2008-May 17, 2008

Tawa-tawa is a plant that is very endemic throughout the Philippines and its neighboring islands including Celebes, Borneo and New Guinea. It is an epiphytic orchid which is also known locally as gatas-gatas or mangagaw.

Tawa-tawa is traditionally recognized in the Philippines as a remedy to those who have dengue fever caused by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. It does not fight the dengue virus. Instead, it only promotes the development of blood platelets and softens the effect of the virus which attacks the blood.

This customary belief was scientifically proven recently by researchers from Davao City, Philippines. They stated that tawa-tawa can help save lives of dengue fever patients. Based upon their findings, it has anti-viral and anti-bacterial components that can help cure even the stage four of the said dreaded disease.

On the other hand, in Ambon Island, Indonesia, a paste of the plant’s pseudobulb (storage organ derived from the part of a stem between two leaf nodes) is placed on sores or applied to the stomach to expel worms and malignant tumors. Moreover, the crushed tawa-tawa is used as a diet for dysentery.

The scientific name for tawa-tawa is Euphorbia hirta.

Top 3 Tawa-tawa Snapshots

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Masturbate Regularly to Get Rid of Cancer

To those with penises out there (I mean, men), this shocking health news is exclusively for you.

A recent study conducted by a group of Australian researchers stresses that men could reduce their risk of developing prostate cancer through regular masturbation.

According to them, by ejaculating semen regularly, the building up of carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals) within the prostate gland may be prevented. Thus, reduces the risk of obtaining prostate cancer.

Nevertheless, they added that sexual intercourse may not have the equal protective effect because of the possibility of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI), which could increase men's cancer risk.

During the conduct of the study, the researchers asked over 1,000 men who had prostate cancer and 1,250 who had not about their sexual habits. After critical analyzing, they found out that those who had ejaculated the most between 20 to 50 years old were the least likely to develop the cancer. The protective effect was greatest while the men were in their 20s. Men who ejaculated more than five times a week were a third less likely to develop prostate cancer later in life.

An earlier research has proposed that a high number of sexual partners or a high level of sexual activity increased a man’s risk of developing prostate cancer by 40%. Yet, the Australian researchers who carried out this study suggest the early work missed the protective effect of ejaculation for it is highly focused on sexual intercourse, with its associated risk of STIs.

"Had we been able to remove ejaculations associated with sexual intercourse, there should have been an even stronger protective effect of ejaculations." Graham Giles, leader of the Australian research team from the Cancer Council Victoria in Melbourne, told New Scientist (a weekly international science magazine and website covering recent developments in science and technology).

The researchers suggest that ejaculating may prevent carcinogens from accumulating within the prostate gland in such a manner that it makes the gland become busy performing its function as the one secreting fluids for the activation of sperms. The fluid has great concentrations of potassium, zinc, fructose and citric acid, which are drawn from the bloodstream. However, animal studies have shown carcinogens such as 3-methylchloranthrene, found in cigarette smoke, are also concentrated in the prostate.

“Fewer ejaculations may mean the carcinogens build up.” Giles stated. "It's a prostatic stagnation hypothesis. The more you flush the ducts out, the less there is to hang around and damage the cells that line them."

New Scientist reports that a similar connection has been found between breast cancer and breastfeeding. According to them, lactating appeared to "flush out" carcinogens, lessening a woman's risk of the disease.

Another theory presented by the researchers is that ejaculation may induce prostate glands to mature fully, making them less susceptible to carcinogens.

"This is a plausible theory." Dr Chris Hiley, head of policy and research at the United Kingdom's Prostate Cancer Charity, told BBC News Online. “In the same way the human papilloma virus has been linked to cervical cancer, there is a suggestion that bits of prostate cancer may be related to a sexually transmitted infection earlier in life."

Anthony Smith, deputy director of the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University in Melbourne, said the research could affect the kind of lifestyle advice doctors give to patients.

"Masturbation is part of people's sexual repertoire.” he said. "If these findings hold up, then it's perfectly reasonable that men should be encouraged to masturbate."

Source:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3072021.stm

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