Drinking Tea Can Help Increase Interferons

I was reading Ladies Home Journal Magazine this week and they had a 3 page article on drinking Tea. They spoke of all the health benefits including increasing your bodies Interferon's. A Harvard study suggested that drinking 5 cups of black tea a day for two to three weeks increased production of a key immune protein, interferon. They said the reason was that L-theanine, an amino acid found in tea (and hardly anywhere else) can build up the bodies immune system and defenses against viruses and bacteria.

They also credited tea with sharpening your brain, boosting your powers of concentration, as well as relaxation. Drinking a cup of hot tea is relaxing. I will not quote the entire article, however, I do recommend giving it a read. I was intrigued, researched and found that Harvard did conclude the benefits in a 1998 study regarding Interferon's and L-theanine. It seems that all Teas may offer some benefit, however, only black tea was tested. You can also drink Green Tea, White Tea and Oolong Tea. The herbal teas, such as, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Ginger, Peppermint etc have their own health benefits as well, but were not included in the study.

This is a quote from the Harvard Study:
"Then, two weeks into the study, the researchers tested the blood of coffee and tea drinkers by exposing it to bacteria in the lab and comparing samples taken before the study to those taken two weeks later. "We found they [tea drinkers] made five times more interferon after they started drinking tea compared to before drinking tea," Bukowski says. The coffee drinkers showed no enhanced production of interferon."

So, I am going to start drinking 5 cups of decaf black tea five times a day and try to add it as part of my lifestyle. So maybe I can increase the Interferon's in my body without being on any Interferon shots. Hopefully, it will work or at least help. Can't hurt to test this theory. I'm tempted to see if my doctor has a way to measure my current interferon level and then again after a few weeks or a month. I'll have to investigate that.

Here are some links to check out if you are interested:

Tea Contains A Key Infection Fighter

Ladies Home Journal: The Healing Power of Tea

It's All About Me!

That title sounds very selfish I know. However, I am the complete opposite of that and always put everyone else's needs before my own. Which has left me needing to put myself and my needs, wants and desires for my future first. I will fly across the country to help a family member or a friend in need, however, i know that I would never get such care in return. So tonight hubby and I decided we shall put our needs first only. We have too, because, no one else will do it for us. We are just too caring and nice sometimes and will spend all our spare time, money and energy doing things for others. That has left us with nothing. So, as of 2009 we put us first. :)

Hubby started going to the gym today, I plan to start tomorrow. I had a real bad night tonight (It's 3am) with Leg Spasms so I am wide awake and it is just a reminder that I need to loose weight, and improve my flexibility and strength. So tomorrow to the gym.

Next, I need to find a job that I can do without zapping all my energy and just killing myself and my spirit. We need the cash. I need the mental challenge. I also need to find something new that is going to keep me interested. In today's economy it's hard not to just rely on my 10+ years of IT experience and stay in that field. However, I want more. Just not sure what that is...

I did my taxes and was SHOCKED to find out that with 12+ K in Medical Expenses last year I only get $800 back for that (on top of my other refund). That stinks! I would have thought I'd get more than that back. They want everyone to have Medical Benefits, but, when it comes to assisting with paying for the expenses you get nada. Nice.

Hubs and I are still throwing around the idea of moving somewhere else as TN is boring us lately, but, we can't commit to moving either. Have to wait and see how this summer goes and how I can or can't handle the heat. I want to know now. I'm impatient.

I wish I had some trip to look forward to, alas, right now I do not. Hopefully in a few months.

I'm not usually a big website promoter - but - you have got to check out the new Google Earth. WAY COOL! Download and check it out.

What's new with you?

Visualization - Can It Work?

Do you believe that you can use mental imagery and affirmations to produce positive changes in your life? That it is a choice to be positive or negative? Can you be taught to think positive thoughts and visualize positive life outcomes?

About 6 years ago I began therapy for Anxiety. And during my therapy sessions and doing my own research I was introduced to the ideas of creative visualization. Wikipedia defines it as - "Creative visualization refers to the practice of seeking to affect the outer world via changing one's thoughts." I recall thinking - no way can I change my world by controlling my thoughts. Visualization can help me worry less? Be more positive? Intrigued, I researched and read and tested some of the positive thinking teachings. From what I can recall it was easier to be positive when not thinking of anything in a negative way. However, for me without repetition the visualization of positive thinking would not last.

I am back here many years later planning to revisit this entire line of thought. Can we control our minds to the point we are healthier people? Is the key to any disease inside ourselves and our own minds? Will being more positive ensure me to living my best life and feeling fulfilled as a person?

These are questions I plan to figure out the answers too. I've been depressed as of late. I know it, I can tell by my postings (journaling is good for the soul), and now I am going to do something positive about it. We all have hard times, but, need to push on through and make the best of them. I admire how positive many of you are and I want to be positive too. Since I am currently not working, I am going to re-read and re-train myself if that is possible to focus only on positive outcomes.

If any of you have good stories or ever successfully used visualization to retrain your way of thinking, please do share! And here is to happier posts from me in the future! :)

Dexamethasone = Tremendous Leg Pain

Hi Blog Friends:

I saw my Neuro Monday. He thinks I may have a mild case of Optic Neuritis. Fine, blurry intermittently - I'm cool with it. We discussed my long term care options now that I am past that flare from the summer (fingers crossed as I have lingering symptoms). I am going to start Copaxone as soon as they get it to me - I bet it takes like a month. However, he tells me it takes 4 to 6 months for the Copaxone to get in there and do it's thing and he'd like to put me on pulse steroids twice a month for 3 months till the Copaxone is working soon. This is wonderful news - this is the plan I had that I wanted to do when I went in there. He looked at me, tested me and agreed I do not need Tysabri yet (about time doctors listen to the patient).

All this to say that yesterday I just took my first pulse dose (1 day supply of really high dexamethasone) and almost immediately my legs were/are in SO SO much pain. I don't understand. The steroids made my leg spasms worse too. I guess I should call him, but, don't want to feel like an idiot. Has this happened to you or anyone else and do you know why? I can't be down and out for several days each month when before I took it I was good (minus the blurry vision). My legs were fine before the steroids. If you know what is happening to me do tell....


And one other comment on my Florida post below (do read) is that Disney World is there! :)

Florida - Oh! I'm SO Excited!!!!

After my very somber previous post, I've decided to get tough and find something new to pump me up. For some time hubby and I have entertained the idea of moving to Florida. He grew up outside Tampa and I lived in Naples for a few years in the 90's. I loved it, only left due to divorce.

However after reading this article -

http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/s1048944.htm

The wheels began to turn and I'd like to give myself the best chance with this disease. And yes, heat aggravates my MS. However, MS aside in TN or PA or anywhere else with less sunshine I ever lived, I feel less healthy. It is easier to lead a healthy life in Florida where there is an abundance of seafood, veggies and fruits! And unlimited sunshine. I SO miss that. I'd never left Naples if I didn't get divorced.

So right now I am formulating some ideas about the healthiest way for both me and my husband to live and moving may be one of them. However, I am not ruling out conventional MS treatment either. I like a combo of both myself. So what I need from any of you is - What is the best MS establishment in the state of Florida? Where is it located in Florida? Any Doctor Recommendations? Suggestions where I can find info etc...

I need people who live in Florida with MS to tell me how they deal with the heat during the summer.

Oh...I'm so excited!

Hot or Cold - What's a Girl To Do?

The past 2 years I've become extremely heat sensitive. I am currently trying to get into a cooling pack program. I had no idea MS could do such a thing. I viewed my mom being "hot" with MS Symptoms every summer, but, until I experienced it I had no idea.

Today, it was in the 20's and my legs felt good. They like the cold, they seem to be less spastic and painful in cold weather. Makes no sense, I would think it would be the opposite. They also like days where I move and sit and not just sit, sit, sit. After my last flare that began last July I am fearful that next summer when the heat hits, so will another flare. This may not be logical. However, when my core body temp rises as it did just a few days ago after cooking all day in a hot kitchen my vision got weird - I can't call it blurry, it was blurry, but also just distorted. It's been okay today the first day in a while that I think so. Again it's freezing here right now and I did not expend much energy today.

So I wonder, how am I suppose to get in great shape and exercise, do yoga etc without getting hot and therefore making my symptoms act up?

Another question is I wonder in the future if it would be wise to move north to have longer winters. Only problem is I REALLY need my sunshine - it effects my mood greatly - One reason I moved from the NE to the SE. And it has helped. However, the shorter winters and more humid summers are also concerning now with the heat issue. What is a girl to do?! Has anyone ever moved for their disease? My soul can be like a gypsy anyway, so I wonder...where is the perfect climate to live...CA right...not sure that's for me...any other ideas?


GOSSIP:

I missed the Golden Globes, however, I am watching Jay Leno and I did not know Toni Collette was British and that she had some facial work done - can you say botox! And Mickey Rourke - uh...his new look...Ewww...

My Brain is Like a Magic 8 Ball

Did you ever feel like your head was a Magic 8 Ball? Like someone shook it up, asked it a question and you never know the answer that is going to come out of your mouth? The answer may be formed correctly in your head, but, when you speak you move letters around or entire words. You sound like Yoda - Grave danger you are in. Impatient you are. I am going to start just talking like him on purpose at all times. Friends can consider me a Jedi.

Or like me - I was trying to call my husband a pack rat and when I spoke...I called him a Rat Pack. His smart remark was "Oh I'm like Dean, Frank and Sammy". (Ya know the Original Rat Pack) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat_Pack

My Cognitive issues leave me feeling very stupid sometimes. I'm either searching the databases of my brain for the correct info and taking longer to speak or I form what I want to say in my mind and something else comes out of my mouth. Forget me playing any kind of trivia game. I did maybe like 1.5 years ago and my friends gave me like 5 minutes to try to think of the answer - I did get it correct - but it took me 5 whole minutes for something that should be off the top of my head.

I've been getting Brain Fog for years and it affected my work, therefore making me more stressed and whala I have more symptoms. Now I have to figure out what I want to do and can do for a career as IT is out...to stressful, always changing, too much stuff to remember. And then there is the problems I am having right now, when it is 2am and I can't shut my brain off, I am physically exhausted but wide awake. So then I will sleep late tomorrow (after drugging myself to sleep) and my whole system remains out of sync. Ugh.


May the Force Be With You. - Yoda (my new grammar coach - lol)