Part One-Inflammation
The article has been clear and more elaborate, with a detailed explanation in inflammation. According to the article, inflation is one of the vital components of the body’s immune system, where the body explores relevant options towards healing itself in response to an injury. In response to cancer, patients living with the life threatening disease have a high probability of developing risk for complications related to influenza.
In a more precise manner, the article argues that at a significant rate, statins reduce cardiovascular activities in individuals admitted with cardiovascular disease. Satins, therefore, have been proven to be anti-inflammatory, since the therapy reduces the rate at which cardiovascular activities occur in the patients’ body. Inflammation, on the other hand, is known to trigger cardiovascular diseases. Inflammation is commonly reported among patients admitted with stroke and heart diseases, and further regarded as a sign or atherogenic response.
The article has come out clearly by illustrating the various approaches through which individuals can minimize inflammation. The basic principle lies in the need for reducing the urge for chronic inflammation, hence the need for considering the intake of supplements rich in Omega 3 fatty acids and plant enzymes. According to the speaker, individuals need to embark on enough water intake as a way of reducing inflammation, hence the take home message that indeed human beings require water for effective chemical reactions in the body.
Part Two- Stress
From the “Patriot of a Killer”, the major points addressed by the author are the different ways through which stress affects one’s health, some of the stress related health issues and how to manage stress. According to the author, even the stress that is believed to be short-lived and minor can negatively impact on ones’ health. Some of the sudden emotional stress, including anger, is believed to trigger heart attacks and in some extent, sudden death.
At some point, stress may interfere with one’s ability towards enjoying a normal life that is expected of him/her, and it is at this point that it becomes more dangerous. The author argues that in such situations where the stress lasts for a longer duration, the condition worsens for the respective individual’s mind and brain. This, in turn, paves way for the development of such diseases related to heart, asthma, obesity, diabetes, headaches, depression, gastrointestinal problems and accelerated aging among others. It is for this reason that the author believes that individuals should seek effective techniques of managing stress like medication and taking advantage of their support network and other related cases of physical relaxation.
Part Three- Friendship with Stress
In the TED talk, Kelly has managed to convey an important messageto his audience; stress is not an enemy. From the show, it has come to my knowledge, that indeed, individuals who are most likely to die are the stressed ones, although they are also aware that stress can negatively impact on their health. On the other hand, the highly stressed ones who believe that stress isn’t harmful to their health are more likely to dodge death as compared to the other group. These reveal that indeed, other than the stress itself, it’s the belief on the negative impacts of the stress that kills an individual. Hence, the need for people to reshape their thoughts on stress as a way of retooling their body’s response.
The talk has revealed the secret behind the increased heartbeat and breath during stressful conditions, alongside breaking out into sweat. Initially, I viewed these as primary indications that one isn’t coping well, but according to Kelly, these are ways for the body to get ready for action. This implies that increased in breadth and pumping of blood, one is preparing for a difficult task, and handling any challenge. It can therefore be concluded that oxytocin can make a stress friendly, by mediating and ensuring a well-being and social interaction.
Part Four- The Perils Associated with Higher Education
Basically, the message derived from the article is all about the life in the college can turn and be downright detrimental. According to Steve Kotler, college and Universities, the ultimate point of higher education and higher learning, can turn and be among the worst environments where students can’t retain anything that they have learnt. Being the ending point of parental supervision, it’s the best environment for either developing positive or negative values in the society, especially from the peer pressure (Spada 3).
Part Five- Nutrition, Inflammation and Disease
Mary Franz regards chronic inflammation as the long-term attempt made by human body in the process of protecting self, lasting for the relatively long duration of time; months or years. In doing so, the aim is to do away with harmful stimuli such as damaged body cells, irritant and pathogens, hence paving way for the healing process to kick off. Indeed, Mary Franz has revealed that when either part of the human body is affected by anything harmful or irritating, biological responses are triggered as a way of removing it. Furthermore, the healing of the body is evident when there are inflammation’s signs and symptoms, and to be more specific, acute inflammation.
Personally, I find Mary Franz to have made it clear that indeed, the inflammation doesn’t imply infection, even in such times when the latter triggers the former. Infection arises from the action of either a bacterium, virus or fungus. On the other hand, inflammation is basically the reaction or response by the body to the infection arising from either of these agents.
Mary Franz has revealed that HIV positive men have increased probabilities of inflammatory biomarkers as compared to their counterparts who are HIV negative. The article reveals some of the anti-inflammatory diet and foods that individual should consider taking, especially those living with HIV/Aids. Generally, individuals are advised to take a Mediterranean diet and consider taking a lot of fish, fresh fruits together with vegetables. Some of the diet and nutrients that may increase inflammation include red meat, nuts and red wine.
Part Six- Cortisol and Weight Gain
Personally, Monica Lebre has revealed to me that during tension-filled moments, there is a rise in cortisol. With this hormone, an individual’s overeating has turned into a habit. This illustrates the reason behind the increase in craving for either sugar and fatty foods, when an individual blood sugar drop, resulting from the subsequent increasing in cortisol and insulin levels. These lead to further weight gain and subsequent obesity.
Part Seven- Food as a Medication
From the video/talk by Okinawa, the phrase “food is medicine”, implies that the foundation of good health is basically what an individual eats as well as puts into his/her body. This has been coined from the belief that the basis and foundation of good health are taking wholesome food, hence the need for abandoning drugs in such cases where the patient can be healed through the nutritional approach.
Works Cited
Spada, Kathleen. “Higher Education in the Digital Age [Book Review].” IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication 57.2 (2014): 150-153.