Cancer

In modern society cancer is the disease most feared by the majority of people throughout the world, supplanting the "white death" or tuberculosis, of the last century; the "back death," or bubonic plague, of the middle Ages; and the leprosy of biblical times. Cancer has been known and described throughout history, although its greater prevalence today is undoubtedly due to the conquest by medical

The 10 Nutrition Rules of Weight Loss

WebMD Feature from "Runner's World" Magazine

By Nancy Clark

Nutritionist Nancy Clark shares ten tips every runner should know if they want to lose some weight.

1. To lose 10 pounds of body fat a year, you need to eat 100 calories less per day. Cutting too many calories from your daily intake will sap your energy level and increase your hunger, making you more susceptible to splurging on high-calorie foods.

2. Don't skip breakfast. Eat within two hours of waking.

3. In fact, eat more breakfast than you think you should. Trade in some of your dinner calories for more calories at breakfast.

4. Don't allow yourself to get hungry. Eat at least every four hours, and split a meal in half to make sure you properly fuel up pre- and postrun. For example, eat part of your breakfast before your morning run (a banana) and the rest of your breakfast afterward (a bagel with peanut butter).

5. Eat at least three kinds of food each meal from these four categories: breads, cereals, and grains; fruits and vegetables; low-fat dairy and soy; and lean meats, fish, and nuts. Breads, cereals, and grains should be the foundation of each meal, with protein as an accompaniment.

6. Shoot for a gradual loss of body fat. You're more likely to put the weight back on (and more) if you drop weight too quickly.

7. Liquid calories add up fast and can lead to weight gain. Minimize the amount of sodas, juices, store-bought smoothies, sports drinks, coffee drinks, and alcohol you consume.

8. Eat closer to the earth, enjoying fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Minimize the amount of processed foods you eat; they tend to offer less fiber and are less satiating.

9. If you can't resist fast food, ask for nutritional information before you make your choices (or check in advance via restaurant Web sites). Avoid any menu items with the words "fried," "crispy," and "special sauce," which are guaranteed to be high calorie.

10. Remember that the calories in the energy bars, sports drinks, and gels you consume during a run add up, even though you're running. Consume them only as needed.

Originally published on March 1, 2008

Blood Clotting

The clotting process is initiated by a protein called tissue factor, which is bound to the membranes of most cells outside the bloodstream. Blood coming into contact with these membranes sets off a sequence of reactions involving various blood protein called factors. Thus, a molecule of factor VII coming into contact with tissue factor converts to an active form that in turn converts ten

Blood Diseases

AnemiaAnemia is a deficiency of hemoglobin in the blood, generally caused by blood loss; abnormal destruction of the red cells, as in Sickle-cell disease; or inadequate red cells formation by the bone marrow, as in a plasmatic anemia and pernicious anemia. Anemia also occurs as a result of methermoglobinemia, a disorder in which methemoglobin, a nonfunctional form of hemoglobin, is present in the

White Blood Cells

White blood cells, or leukocytes, detent the body against foreign organisms. They are almost colorless, are considerably larger than red cells, have a nucleus, and are much less numerous; only one or two exist for every 1,000 red cells. The number increases in the presence of infection.There are three types; granulocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes. Granulocytes, accounting for about 70 percent

Blood and the Type

Blood is the essential red fluid that is pumped by the heart trough the circulatory system of humans and all higher animals. It is complex in its composition and its functions. Blood has two main constituents. The cells, or corpuscles, comprise about 45 percent, and the liquid portion, or plasma, in which the cells are suspended comprises 55 percent. The blood cells comprise three main types,

Skin Diseases

The skin is subject to many disorders. They occur through the direct action of external agents or as symptoms of disease in other parts of the body. Susceptibility to skin disorders is modified and sometimes determinate by generic factors.LesionsThe appearance of abnormal changes, or lesions, in the skin is an important element in diagnosis and treatment. Various lesions can occur, not all of