扯鼻鼾 Snoring

當喉嚨組織在放鬆狀態下開始振動並在睡眠中發出聲音時，就會扯鼻鼾。如果扯鼻鼾情況嚴重，則可能導致失眠、破壞睡眠質素並引起煩躁。

幸而有許多簡單有效的天然補救措施可以舒緩這問題。

胡蘆巴

胡蘆巴是一種很好的天然療法，可防止因消化問題引起的扯鼻鼾。胡蘆巴對睡眠呼吸暫停也有效。

維他命C

維他命C是扯鼻鼾的絕佳天然療法，因為它可使我們的免疫系統保持健康並保持鼻竇通暢。

薑黃

薑黃含有天然抗生素和防腐劑，有助於治療發炎和扯鼻鼾。這將有助於緩解呼吸困難並提高免疫力。

桉樹油(尤加利油)

桉樹油是針對扯鼻鼾最有效的方法之一。它也將幫助解決胸部翳悶和清理鼻腔。

方法：在蒸汽香芬器中加入幾滴桉樹油，睡前盡量吸入香芬蒸汽。也可以使用盛有熱水的容器吸入蒸汽。取一碗熱水，加入約五滴桉樹油，然後吸入蒸汽。用毛巾遮住頭部，使其更有效。

Snoring happens when the tissue of your throat, in a relaxed state, starts vibrating and making noise during sleep.  If the snoring is severe, it can lead to insomnia, disrupt sleep patterns and cause irritability.

However, there are many simple and effective home remedies to rectify the issue.

Fenugreek is an excellent home remedy against snoring caused by digestive issues. Fenugreek also is effective against sleep apnea.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is a great home remedy against snoring as it keeps our immune system healthy and keeps the sinuses clear.

Turmeric

Turmeric contains antibiotic and antiseptic properties, which help cure the inflammation and snoring. It will help ease breathing and improve your immunity.

Eucalyptus oil

Eucalyptus oil is one of the most effective remedy for snoring. It will also help fight chest congestion and clear your nose.

Method: Add a few drops of eucalyptus oil in the steam inhaler and inhale the steam before hitting the bed. You can also use a container of hot water to inhale steam. Take a bowl of hot water and add in about five drops of eucalyptus oil and inhale the steam. Cover your head with a towel to make it more effective.

甲狀腺與人生 Thyroid changes your life

你最近感覺呆滯 ？對所有事情失去熱情？鬱悶？焦慮？體重增加而沒有食慾？ 對冷暖變化感覺很難受？消化不良？甚至覺得一切都崩潰了， 而你卻無能為力？ 一連串症狀， 除了歸咎於香港的現狀，你的甲狀腺可能也是罪魁禍首！

甲狀腺活動

甲狀腺功能障礙有兩種基本形式-甲狀腺激素過多（甲狀腺功能亢進）或甲狀腺激素不足（甲狀腺功能低下）。

甲狀腺功能欠佳對健康的影響極大。這意味著即使減少一點點，也可能導致很多困擾。

常見症狀包括，心情總是不好，常常覺得很累，並且體重增加而飲食卻沒有變化，這些都可能與甲狀腺功能不理想有關。其他症狀可能是皮膚紋理變化，脫髮或頭髮乾燥，一直感到寒冷，月經失血過多或週期不規律等。

甲狀腺保健產品

礦物質碘能增加甲狀腺活性

增加甲狀腺激素產生的最有效方法是補充碘。

碘有多種形式，包括碘化鉀，分子碘和碘化鈉等。比較天然的選擇是巨藻(Kelp)，含豐富礦物質碘。所有的碘形式對甲狀腺都有好處。

為甲狀腺提供L-酪氨酸，幫助生成甲狀腺素

L-酪氨酸是一種氨基酸，存在於多種食品中，包括家禽、魚、牛奶、酸奶、奶酪、花生、杏仁、南瓜籽、芝麻、大豆和利馬豆、香蕉和鱷梨。L-酪氨酸作為補充劑，與碘結合使用，為甲狀腺提供製造更多甲狀腺激素所需的營養。

硒激活甲狀腺激素

雖然硒不是專門用於製造甲狀腺激素，但人體需要硒將甲狀腺激素從貯藏物轉化為活性成分。最佳劑量是每日100至300 mcg。

結合各種營養素效果最理想

這些營養素結合一起使用效果最好。你可能需要幾週的時間才能體會到轉變，也可能需要調校一些劑量，一旦這些營養成分使甲狀腺功能恢復正常， 你將能體驗一種完全不同的生活！

Are you feeling sluggish? Lost your spark?  Depressed? Anxious? Gaining weight with no appetite? Lost all tolerance for cold or heat? Struggling with digestive issues? Or maybe just feel like everything's falling apart, and you've lost your ability to deal? Your thyroid may be blame!

Increasing Thyroid Activity

There are two basic forms of thyroid dysfunction—either you are making too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) or too little (hypothyroidism). 

There is a great deal of interest in suboptimal thyroid function and its impact on health. That means that even little decreases can cause you a lot of distress.

If your mood is not the best, you are tired all the time, and you are gaining weight without changes in your diet, you may have suboptimal thyroid function. Other symptoms can be changes in your skin texture, hair loss or hair dryness, feeling cold all the time, and heavy, sometimes irregular, menstrual cycles.

Supplements for Thyroid Health

Increase Thyroid Activity with Iodine

It only makes sense that the most powerful way to increase thyroid hormone production is to use iodine. 

Iodine comes in many forms, including potassium iodide, molecular iodine, and sodium iodide. All iodine provides benefits.

Provide the Thyroid with the Hormone Building Blocks it Needs with L-Tyrosine

L-Tyrosine is an amino acid that is present in several foods, including poultry, fish, milk, yogurt, cheese, peanuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, soy and lima beans, bananas and avocados. Used in a supplement, it is combined with iodine to provide the thyroid with the building blocks it needs to make more thyroid hormone. 

Selenium to Activate Thyroid Hormones 

While selenium is not used specifically to make thyroid hormone, it is required to convert thyroid hormone form the storage to the active form. The optimal dosage is 100 to 300 mcg.

Nutrients That Work Better Together

These nutrients often perform better together. It may take a few weeks to feel the difference, and you may need to experiment with dosages, but these nutrients can make a world of difference in your thyroid function—and your life!

健康蘑菇 Mushrooms for Health

所有蘑菇品種都不含脂肪且熱量低。 它們也是維他命B、維他命D和礦物質（如硒（強力抗氧化劑）和鉀（有助降血壓））的來源。

常見蘑菇中，含有稱為β-葡聚醣的有助增強免疫力的物質。 最近的一項研究發現，經常服用白蘑菇提取物具有明顯增強免疫力作用。

最近的研究發現，在舞茸、姬松茸、啡菇、秀珍菇和白蘑菇中可以找到對抗乳腺癌的化合物。

香菇如肉
適當烹飪通常會增添蘑菇的美味，並增強質感。 可以將蘑菇放湯、做沙律甚至低溫煎煮，都可以保持其味道和健康益處。


All mushroom varieties—and this includes the tasty ones in the produce aisle—are fat-free and low calorie.  They’re also a source of B vitamins, vitamin D, and minerals like selenium (a strong antioxidant) and potassium (great for blood pressure).

Immunity-boosting substances called beta-glucans are abundant in several mushroom species, too. A recent study found significant immune-boosting effects from extract of the commonly consumed white button mushroom.

And recent research found breast-cancer-fighting compounds in maitake, crimini, portabella, oyster, and white button.

Meaty Mushrooms
Cooking usually intensifies the flavor of any mushroom and also enhances the texture. Throw them into soups, sauces, and stir fries for their taste and health benefits.

小檗鹼(黃連素)和糖尿病 Berberine and diabetes

香港的糖尿病患者有年輕化的趨勢，很多患者也會設法尋找一些天然而安全的草藥配方，希望能幫助控制血糖，減少并發症。

很多研究都顯示小檗鹼(或稱為黃連素)有調節葡萄糖和脂質代謝的作用。近年一項先導研究充分表明了小檗鹼在治療2型糖尿病患者中的療效和安全性。在研究A中，在為期3個月的試驗中，將36名新診斷為2型糖尿病的成年人隨機分配至接受小檗鹼或二甲雙胍治療(一種主要的西藥降糖藥)，服用方法都是每日3次，每次服用500毫克。結果發現小檗鹼的降血糖作用與二甲雙胍相似。服用小檗鹼組的糖化血色素A1c、空腹血糖、餐後血糖和血漿甘油三酸酯水平得到明顯降低。在研究B中，在3個月的試驗中，對48位2型糖尿病控制不佳的成年人補充了小檗鹼的治療。結果發現，從一周開始到試驗結束，小檗鹼能將空腹血糖值和餐後血糖值有效降低。 糖化血色素A1c從8.1％降至7.3％。空腹血漿胰島素和HOMA-IR分別降低了28.1％和44.7％。總膽固醇和低密度脂蛋白膽固醇（LDL-C）也顯著降低。該初步研究得出結論，小檗鹼是一種有效的口服降糖草藥，對脂質代謝具有良好益處。



Berberine has been shown to regulate glucose and lipid metabolism. There is one pilot study demonstrated the efficacy and safety of berberine in the treatment of type 2 diabetic patients. In study A, 36 adults with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to treatment with berberine or metformin (500mg three times daily) in a 3-month trial. The hypoglycemic effect of berberine was similar to that of metformin. Significant decreases in hemoglobin A1c, fasting blood glucose, postprandial blood glucose and plasma triglycerides were observed in the berberine group. In study B, 48 adults with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes were treated supplemented with berberine in a 3-month trial. Berberine acted by lowering FBG and PBG from one week to the end of the trial. HbA1c decreased from 8.1% to 7.3%. Fasting plasma insulin and HOMA-IR were reduced by 28.1% and 44.7%, respectively. Total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were decreased significantly as well.  This pilot study concluded that berberine is a potent oral hypoglycemic agent with beneficial effects on lipid metabolism.

Source
Efficacy of Berberine in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Metabolism. 2008 May; 57(5): 712–717.
doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2008.01.013

NAC對病毒的影響 NAC’s Effect on Viruses

洋蔥中發現的其中一種營養物質NAC可能有助舒緩病毒感染的症狀。

自1960年代以來，在洋蔥中大量發現的抗氧化劑n-乙酰半胱氨酸（NAC）作為某些毒藥的解毒劑和粘液稀薄物質而廣受歡迎。

現在，隨著COVID-19的迅速傳播（潛伏期更長，死亡率也比流感高），您可能想知道特定的營養素是否可以幫助保護您和您所愛的人。近來普遍提到的一種補品就是NAC。

NAC對冠狀病毒有效嗎？
未針對COVID-19進行測試
NAC對導致COVID-19的病毒的影響目前尚無研究。一項流感研究顯示，與安慰劑組相比，每天服用兩次每次600毫克（mg）NAC，連續六個月的一組“流感樣發作和臥床時間明顯減少”。

顯示減少表觀A / H1N1
NAC對另一種病毒性疾病A / H1N1的有效性研究的作者得出結論，長期服用NAC不能預防感染，但確實可以減少“臨床上明顯的疾病”的發生。

NAC’s Effect on Viruses
A nutrient found in onions may reduce symptoms.

Since the 1960s, the antioxidant n-acetylcysteine (NAC), which is found abundantly in onions has known popularity as an antidote to certain poisons and as a mucus-thinning substance.

Now, with the rapid spread of COVID-19, which has both a longer incubation period and a higher mortality rate than influenza, you may wonder whether particular nutrients can help protect you and those you love. One supplement that is being mentioned is NAC.

Is NAC Effective Against Coronavirus?
Not Tested Against COVID-19
There is as yet no research on NAC’s effect on the virus that causes COVID-19. One flu study showed “significantly fewer influenza-like episodes and days of bed confinement” for a group that had taken 600 milligrams (mg) of NAC twice a day for six months, as opposed to a placebo group.

Shown to Reduce Apparent A/H1N1
Authors of research on NAC’s effectiveness against another viral illness, A/H1N1, concluded that long-term administration of NAC did not prevent infection, but it did reduce the incidence of “clinically apparent disease.”

Sources:
“Attenuation of influenza-like symptomatology and improvement of cell-mediated immunity with long-term N-acetylcysteine treatment” by S. De Flora et al., European Respiratory Journal, 7/97

“Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19),” Examine.com, updated 3/19/20

“Medical and dietary uses of N-acetylcysteine” by S. Salamon et al., Antioxidants, 5/19

“Nutraceuticals have potential for boosting the type 1 interferon response to RNA viruses including influenza and coronavirus” by Mark F. McCarty and James J. DiNicolantonio, Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, 2/20

甲狀腺的腫大或功能異常 Thyroid Problems

甲狀腺的功能最主要是負責調控人體新陳代謝速度、能量消耗、蛋白質的合成與其他荷爾蒙產生交互作用。一旦甲狀腺出了問題就有可能導致甲狀腺的腫大或功能異常！

多種維他命和補充劑-包括碘（ 巨藻）、維他命D、硒、酪氨酸、鋅、鐵和硫胺素均有助於甲狀腺健康。

碘
碘是產生甲狀腺激素的基礎和主要原料。甲狀腺需要從飲食中攝取碘才能產生甲狀腺激素。

維他命 D
維他命 D缺乏症與橋本甲狀腺炎和甲狀腺功能低下的風險增加有關。

硒
礦物質硒有助於甲狀腺產生甲狀腺激素，將T4轉化為T3，並能降低甲狀腺過氧化物酶抗體。

酪氨酸
氨基酸酪氨酸對於甲狀腺激素的產生以及T4到T3的轉化至關重要。


鋅
礦物質鋅對於甲狀腺激素的加工、T4至T3的轉化以及支持甲狀腺功能非常重要。鋅含量低是甲狀腺功能減退症的已知誘因。

鐵
礦物質鐵對於甲狀腺和激素的健康運轉至關重要。具體而言，低鐵水平與亞臨床甲狀腺功能減退症的高風險和降低的T4和T3水平相關。

硫胺素/ 維他命 B1
硫胺素- 維他命 B1-有助於將碳水化合物代謝為能量。當水平低時，您會感到疲勞並且難以集中精力。硫胺素缺乏症在包括甲狀腺疾病在內的自身免疫性疾病患者中更為常見。

A number of vitamins and supplements — including iodine(kelp), vitamin D, selenium, probiotics, tyrosine, zinc, iron, and thiamine — can be helpful to your thyroid health.

Iodine
Iodine is a building block and primary raw material for thyroid hormone production. Your thyroid gland needs iodine from your diet in order to produce thyroid hormone.

Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency is linked to an increased risk of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and to hypothyroidism.

Selenium
The mineral selenium helps your thyroid produce thyroid hormone, convert T4 into T3, and can lower thyroid peroxidase antibodies.

Tyrosine
The amino acid tyrosine is essential to the production of thyroid hormone, as well as T4 to T3 conversion.


Zinc
The mineral zinc is important for processing of thyroid hormone, T4 to T3 conversion, and in supporting thyroid function. Low levels of zinc are a known trigger for hypothyroidism.

Iron
The mineral iron is crucial to the healthy functioning of your thyroid and hormones. Specifically, low iron levels are associated with higher risk of subclinical hypothyroidism and reduced T4 and T3 levels.

Thiamine/vitamin B1
Thiamine — vitamin B1 — helps to metabolize carbohydrates into energy. When levels are low, you feel tired and have difficulty concentrating. Thiamine deficiency is more common in people with autoimmune diseases, including thyroid conditions.