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Learn How You Can Beat The "Defeatism" Attitude

2009-10-26T02:24:00.000-07:00

- By: Abbas Abedi

Did you know that the antidote for snakebite contains the same venom from the snake?

In the world of alternative medicine, the branch that deals with the natural healing process is called homeopathy. The notion behind its healing power is based on the idea that like cures like. Simply put, it takes the same minute amount of poison to cure a person who has been poisoned.

Similarly, when applied to negative habits like defeatism, it takes a small amount of defeat to cure you of defeatism.

Admit it or not, many of us have some sort of defeat habits. Have you ever felt that you are not good enough? Have you ever let fear dissuade you from pursuing a perceived difficult task? Have you ever let a strong comment from your family stop you from pursuing your dreams?

Defeatism usually starts small and hardly noticed until it grows into gargantuan proportions to the point that it can overwhelm you. If you are a victim of this habit, take heart. You are not alone! There are a number of ways to overcome this habit.

You can learn a number of lessons by applying the principle behind natural cures like that of homeopathy. A small dose of defeatism can totally cure you of feelings of defeat, thereby leaving room for feelings of success to come into you.

Here's an example.

You have just graduated from college with a degree in Law and have to take the bar exam so you can practice your profession. The thought of flunking exams seems to make the future uncertain. It stirs up negative and scary feelings that make you dilly-dally in your decision. "I want to take the exam but I'm afraid I might fail. What will my former classmates think if I fail? How will I inform my family of my failure?"

This thought pattern keeps you from pursuing your goal to become a full-pledged lawyer. The source of this particular thought, the defeatist attitude of fear, needs to be unearthed.

To allay your fears of defeatism, belittle it. Think of it as a minute distraction, a small irritant that prepares and trains you to effectively deal with bigger distractions.

When faced with defeatist thoughts, immediately ask yourself, "What's the big deal in failing in an exam? So what if I fail? I can always take it again, and again. And I won't stop until I pass it!" Refuse to give attention to failures. Better yet, tell yourself that failures do not deserve your attention.

Being the sport that you are, confront failure and say, "Ok, I'll see if I can squeeze in a little space for you, but no promises".

Dominate defeatism. Better yet, use the feeling of defeat to give you the courage to take that exam with enthusiasm. Support this feeling of enthusiasm with thoughts of joy. Think of the prestige and honor you will enjoy when you pass the examination. Imagine yourself as the lawyer you have always wanted to be. Feel the emotion and excitement of taking the oath. Isn't the feeling exhilarating?

By constantly visualizing such energizing thoughts, you will muster enough courage to take the exam. The feeling of excitement within you must completely overshadow your former feeling of defeatism.

By Abbas Abedi-To get more info on defeating other negative attitudes, you might take a look at my blog Depression Treatment
http://depression--treatment.blogspot.com/

How Important is Acid and Alkali Balance in Blood?

2009-10-25T02:21:00.000-07:00

- By: Nick Mutt

The ratio of acids to alkalis in blood is generally 20:80. For proper functioning of the body organs and to keep your body system away from the accumulation of toxic substances, it is very important to keep the ratio of acids to alkalis maintained. The body naturally exerts its utmost to maintain this ratio.

Some of our foods leave alkaline resides in the body after undergoing the full cycle of digestive and metabolic processes; some others leave acidic residues. We may call such foods alkali-genic and acid-genic respectively. Generally, the acids produced by the metabolic activities, (such as uric acid, lactic acid, etc.) react with the alkalis in the blood, lymph, bile, etc., thus being neutralized and rendered innocuous. But if our diet is replete with acid-genic foods, the body cannot cope with all the resulting acids. When the acids accumulate in the blood, heath problems like fatigue, anorexia, insomnia, headache, nervous tension, hyperacidity, coryza, etc., begin to appear.

Acidic blood is an abnormal condition that hinders the physical development of children and adolescents, causes degeneration in older people, and diminishes vitality. It causes difficulties in pregnancy and lactation. It is the origin of diseases like measles, pneumonia, tuberculosis, appendicitis, and cancer.

All the toxic substances in the body are in the form of acids, and that in order to prevent or counteract the accumulation of acids in the body we must take food that is mainly alkali-genic.

Meat, eggs, fish and pulses are highly acid-genic. Wholemeal wheat flour, manually dehusked unpolished rice, and such other cereals in their more or less natural forms are only mildly acid-genic, but processing or refining them makes them much more acidic in effect. All vegetables, tubers, roots and fruits are alkali-genic. Green leafy vegetables are of special importance in this respect.

It is quite possible to maintain a balance between the acids and alkalis in the body by a judicious combination of various unprocessed cereals, raw vegetables, fruits and nuts in our daily diet. The alkalis in such foods neutralize the acids in other foods, but they also help in extracting the acids and toxins accumulated in the cells of the body, and ejecting them from the system. These qualities make a diet made up of alkali-genic components not only pure and wholesome, but also an efficient cleansing and eliminating agency.

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.

Visit an extensive section of Medicinal herbs at Home remedies guide – a health guide to make you and your family live better, fit and healthy. Also know various Homemade cosmetics.
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Are You Ready and Prepared to Live Decades Longer Than Your Parents?

2009-10-24T02:19:00.000-07:00

- By: Gen Wright

The really good news is you are going to live well into your 80's, 90's even topping 100!

But, consider for a moment, what about the quality of your life and health? It has been predicted only 3 out of 10 people will be healthy enough to really enjoy these golden years, will you will be one of them?

By the time the 21st Century arrived much of the physical demands of our daily lives had been replaced by automation. Modern life today sees many of us 'sitting' and hardly moving for long stints during the day, every day. Our bodies pay the price: the stiffness of joints, the weakening of muscles, the decline in our energy level and the increased risk of disease. We are often quick to blame this on the aging process but instead these changes are a direct effect of inactivity and the sedentary lifestyles that we are living today.

In the last century, another 30 odd years of life expectancy has been added to our lives. For some these years are not a time for happiness and well-being. Although people are living longer in the industrialized world, they are also getting chronically ill at a much earlier age. It seems modern medicine can prolong life; but seems far less able to promote healthy aging.

For many people this downward spiral of declining health, the muscle and joint pain and the subsequent disability is happening at younger and younger ages – thirties, forties, fifties. For most of us exercise is something we should do, but we choose not to, continuing to live our lives without any disease preventing exercise. We can live like this for many years, or even decades while experiencing a gradual and barely noticeable decline in overall health and physical functioning.

For our bodies to become and remain healthy they require the stimulation of challenging physical activity to replace the "work" they have been designed to do. This is the primary way our bodies renew every living cell each day. In other words we are still hard wired for hard manual labor and our bodies don't know we no longer need to do it.

Our bodies have responded with the loss of our muscle mass and strength as it is no longer needed, the old "use it or lose it" scenario. Our modern world now faces an epidemic of overweight and obese people, sky rocketing levels of heart disease, cancer, diabetes and other life threatening illnesses and conditions, all of which have been labeled "lifestyle diseases" as they are considered to be premature and preventable.

Your level of strength is the absolute foundation of your life and equals your level of health. Being physically strong enables you to do more, and be more, which means more of everything – more vitality, more energy and more out of every aspect of your life.

Wellness living requires each of us taking personal responsibility for our own well-being and implementing positive programs to improve health and quality of life. A proper exercise program that includes at least 60% strength training exercise will rejuvenate virtually every organ in your body, adding energy to your days and years to your life.

This will allow you to squeeze out as much enjoyment as possible to add to your life from those extra years you have been gifted with so you don't waste them!

The really good news is you are going to live well into your 80's, 90's even topping 100! But, consider for a moment, what about the quality of your life and health?

Do you want to discover the secret to rejuvenating your body and improving the quality of your life? Download ebook "Fat Loss For Keeps" here: Fat Loss Diet Closely guarded Fat Burning secrets! Carolyn Hansen is a certified fitness expert and fitness center owner who coaches clients to look and feel younger.
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Put Some Spring in Your Step--How to Revitalize your Body and Soul this Season

2009-10-23T02:17:00.000-07:00

- By: Boda

As we move into the gloriously muddy and sneezy months known as Spring, we have, hopefully, begun to embrace detoxifying our bodies, removing the cobwebs of stored toxins and priming our bodies to burn more calories, stay awake longer, and re-energize for those long days coming up. Here are some great Spring tips to prime you for your best summer ever:

Eat Light: In Ayurvedic medicine, Winter is a time when we accumulate kapha, the dosha or constitution that represents water and earth. When kapha is balanced we feel steady, supported, calm, collected and focused. When out of balance we feel sluggish, tired and heavy. If we cannot shed the kapha of winter we risk becoming unbalanced, gaining weight or not shedding the few pounds we gained over the holidays. One great way to shed kapha is to lighten up our eating. Think about the first fare of the season and you can’t go wrong—tender mixed spicy or bitter greens, peas, shoots, seeds, nuts, asparagus. Move toward having big light salads with seeds and peas at least once a day with a light dressing of olive oil, spring herbs like mint, and lemon. Stay away from kapha producing food like dairy products, iced drinks, sugar, and fried foods.

Rise with the Sun: Again, as the days lengthen and get warmer, we tend to need less sleep. Shake off the last of winter’s blues by beginning to get up early and spending the time walking in nature or sitting quietly and watching the world around you for a bit. Spring is a time of renewal, a powerful shift in the world, and it is important to bring the body gracefully and easily into the new season. By being aware of the world around you and noticing the changes that occur it is possible to also be more aware of the body and the kind of movement and food that it wants.

Wood and Wind: Although many people associate winter with being sick, it is often spring that brings colds and flu. Spring is a time of extreme temperature changes, wind, and wet weather. These can wreak havoc on the body and the immune system. In Chinese medicine, spring is known as encompassing the wood element, which is related to the liver and gallbladder and the taste of sourness. Strengthening the liver and tonifying the blood at this time is a great way to boost the immune system and the overall health of the body. Herbs such as astragalus and fresh ginger are great for the liver right now as are fresh dandelion greens and drinking water with fresh lemon.

Setting Goals: Many of our new year’s resolutions have either been broken or could use a bit of refocusing. Spring is a great time to do this. There is more light to get outside and exercise, more fresh foods beginning to show up at farmer’s markets, CSA’s, and grocery stores, more time and energy to refresh our goals. The earth is coming alive again and we feel that vitality within us as well. It is a potent force that can be used to truly change our lives and bodies.

Shake off those winter blues and shed those winter pounds. Spring is the perfect time to re-energize, revitalize, and restore your body, mind, and soul.

http://www.bodaweightloss.com/blog

Biomarkers - Keys to Lifelong Vitality

2009-10-22T02:15:00.000-07:00

- By: Harry Johnson Jr

By Harry Johnson Jr, 1998 Body For Life Champion, Certified Personal Trainer
Weakness and frailty are not inevitable parts of aging. Most often, weakness is due to physical inactivity.

If someone has to stay in bed for a while, all of the changes that typically occur with age happen within a matter of days, even if the person is young.

These changes include:
Shift in the ratio of body fat and muscle mass, in favor of fat.
Drop in aerobic capacity
Rise in blood cholesterol
Increased tendency to develop dangerous blood clots
Calcium loss from the bones
Decreased ability to control blood sugar

These same things also happen to the astronauts I work with when they are subjected to the weightless environment of space.

Fortunately, these effects can be halted -- and reversed -- at ANY AGE through physical activity and diet.

William J. Evans, PhD, director of the Nutrition, Metabolism and Exercise Laboratory at the University of Arkansass for Medical Sciences coauthored "Biomarkers: The 10 Keys to Prolonging Vitality"
In it he says through exercise and sound nutrition you can alter your body's aging process by changing 10 key aspects of good health. He calls these factors biomarkers.

Biomarkers
Biomarker 1: Muscle mass. In general, Americans carry too much body
fat and too little muscle. Rather than simply trying to lose weight William (and I) advise building muscle at the expense of fat.

Reason: People with high ratios of muscle to fat have higher metabolic rates, and don't have to worry a lot about gaining weight. A muscle that is pushed to the limits of its capacity through regular strength training will grow in size significantly, even in elderly people.

Biomarker 2: Strength. As we age, we lose the use of some motor units -- groups of muscle fibers that are linked to a certain nerve ending. This neurological loss, along with reduced muscle mass, contributes to some loss of strength as people age.

However, studies have shown that age-related declines in strength can be dramatically reduced or reversed with strength training -- elderly people can experience the same gains in muscle size and strength as younger people.
Biomarker 3: Basal metabolic rate. Basal metabolic rate is the
amount of calories burned when your exertion is minimal, e.g., while sleeping or watching TV.

This rate tends to fall with age, reducing your food needs and making weight gain more likely. For instance, the average 70-year-old needs 500 fewer calories a day than the average 25-year-old.

This decline, too, is far from inevitable. Research now suggests that this reduction in basal metabolic rate is almost wholly caused by a loss of muscle mass -- a loss that can be reversed by weight training exercise.
Biomarker 4: Body fat percentage. Obesity puts us at risk for other ailments, including heart disease and diabetes. Unfortunately, most of us add fat as we age, even if we haven't gained weight.

Again, this is why I advise forgetting about losing weight and concentrating on shedding fat and gaining muscle mass. Do that through a combination of aerobic and strength-building exercises and moderate calorie restriction.
Biomarker 5: Aerobic capacity. Most people's aerobic capacities -- the amount of oxygen the body can process in a given time -- decline with age, typically dropping by 30% or 40% in men and women by age 65. However, this decline is significantly smaller in people who exercise regularly. Intense exercise will almost eliminate any decline at all.

Biomarker 6: Glucose tolerance. Glucose tolerance is the body's ability to control blood sugar. This ability tends to decline with age -- often with no visible symptoms -- causing the body's insulin production to rise (in which the overworked pancreas often shuts down and stops producing insulin).
By age 70, about 20% of men and 30% of women have an abnormal glucose tolerance, leaving them vulnerable to diabetes, and also contrubuting to high cholesterol, hypertension and heart disease.

However, scientists now believe decreased glucose tolerance is caused not by age, but by increased body fat, physical inactivity and a diet rich in saturated fat. Switching to a high-fiber diet, combined with strength training (which increases muscles' sensitivity to insulin), can improve glucose tolerance in a few weeks.

Biomarker 7: Total cholesterol/hdl ratio. Total cholesterol levels in the US have been dropping steadily since the early 1970's -- but a low total cholesterol level is no guarantee of protection against heart disease. To be safe, you must raise your HDL cholesterol, which works to cleanse your arteries...while lowering LDL cholesterol, which causes waxy buildup in your arteries.

Biomarker 8: Blood pressure. People in the US tend to have higher
blood pressure as they get older. If your blood pressure rises above 140/90, you are considered hypertensive and your risk of a stroke or heart attack increases significantly. However, other, more active populations show no such age-related increase.

Regular exercise can help you keep blood pressure at safe levels as you get older.
Biomarker 9: Bone density. There is an unavoidable age-related decline in the mineral content of the bones, leaving an older person with a weaker, more brittle skeleton than a younger person. In its extreme form, this is known as osteoporosis.
Weight-bearing exercise -- such as lifting weights, walking, cycling or running -- can reduce the rate of bone loss, even among post-menopausal women, the group most at risk for osteoporosis.
Reason: Exercise fosters the body's absorption of dietary calcium, which is stored in the bones. A brisk daily walk helps maintain strong bones. Daily calcium supplements of 1,200 mg also helps. Just remember, calcium alone will do you
little good. You have to create a ''demand'' by your body to absorb and use the extra calcium.
Exercise creates this demand. So, when you exercise then supplement with extra calcium you are much more likely to increase your bone density. Without this demand your body is likely to use little if any any extra calcium you ingest.
Biomarker 10: Temperature regulation. Our ability to control our
internal body temperature declines as we get older, due to a reduction in our ability both to shiver, which raises body temperature, and sweat, which lowers it.
This means cold and hot weather pose a danger to elderly people. To some extent, this can't be avoided.
Regular aerobic exercise and interval weight training causes you to sweat more readily whenever you exert yourself, not just during exercise. It also increases your total blood volume -- which will make you less likely to overheat or dehydrate in hot weather.
Important: Force yourself to drink during exercise, even if you're not thirsty.
Bottom line: Regular exercise and a proper diet will do wonders for not only your outer physical appearance, but also the quality and length of your life here on earth.
Do yourself a favor and make it a goal for yourself to finally start (and stick with for good) an exercise program combined with a good diet.

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What Does Food Consumption Have To Do With My Sleep?

2009-10-21T02:13:00.000-07:00

By: Refreshed

Fast food! Too much food! The type of food! Food sensitivities! Eating too late! They all have one thing in common – eating the wrong food (and beverage), too much food or too late at night can wreak havoc with your sleep. Did you have any idea that just changing your diet could really improve your sleep?

Let’s start off with when you eat your last meal of the day. If you eat too large a meal, too late at night, you can almost be guaranteed you’ll wake up mid-night feeling the digestion process and the effects of over eating, or at least, eating that biggest meal too late in the evening. For most people, eating smaller portions in the early evening is best. I think the Europeans have the right idea. They eat their main meal somewhere between noon and 2 PM. Then for their evening meal, it is usually lighter fare, like soup and sandwich. Oh, this makes so much more sense and is so much easier on your digestion process. Eating the bigger meal midday, gives an opportunity for you to digest it while you conduct the rest of your day, instead of taking the weight of the meal to bed with you.

However, there is a caution – Don’t go to bed hungry. Hunger pangs in the middle of the night can wake you up too. And just like the circadian rhythm our bodies experience, it is important to eat your meals on a set schedule to help re-establish balance. Eating at fixed times helps to set your body’s biological clock. Our bodies operate best with regularity. Disruptive or inconsistent timing for meals can lead to disruptive sleep habits.

Now, what to eat? Be suspect of food intolerances if you have sleep challenges. Some of the common food sensitivities include wheat, dairy products, corn and chocolate. It is thought that with the intolerance, the brain releases histamines. These histamines upset your biochemistry causing restlessness, irritation and inattentiveness during the day and insomnia at night. The histamine replaces the neurotransmitters and causes a disruption in the brain’s biochemical circuitry, which is responsible for thinking, mood and behavior. When this circuitry is disrupted, on of the symptoms can be insomnia.

In addition to the release of histamines, physical discomfort can arise after the ingestion of foods that you may have sensitivity toward. A good example is that wheat can cause gastric pain and bloating – no doubt two side effects that will keep you awake (and in pain) during the night.

If you suspect that this may be one of your insomnia contributors, begin an elimination diet of the culprit. In the above example, cut out everything containing wheat. When all wheat is eliminated, if this is a contributing factor, your sleep will begin to improve almost immediately.

In terms of beverages, everyone likely knows, you need to eliminate or drastically reduce your caffeine consumption. Even a few cups of coffee in the morning can affect your sleep at night. Caffeine has a long half-life so it should be drunk with caution early in the morning. Definitely don’t drink any caffeine-laced beverages close to bedtime, or you definitely will toss and turn all night. And it’s not just coffee and cola-type beverages that can cause your sleep disturbance, many over-the-counter medications, such as cold and cough preparations, contain caffeine and can also result in sleep-challenged nights.

Typical foods to avoid – particularly late at night are:
· Tea
· Coffee
· Colas
· Spicy foods
· Alcohol
· Chocolate
· Drugs with caffeine
· Refined carbohydrates – like cookies, pastries, donuts, sweet breads
· Preservatives
· Foods likely to cause gas/bloating, like: beans, cucumbers, fatty/spicy foods
· Foods really high in protein, like beef, can inhibit sleep by blocking the synthesis of serotonin, which in turn makes us feel more alert.
· MSG (monosodium glutamate, often found in oriental food.

Food to eat – sleep enhancing foods:
· Breads, bagels and whole wheat crackers, brown rice – high in complex carbohydrates. They increase the serotonin, a brain neurotransmitter that promotes sleep.
· Mushrooms
· Fruit – lemons, figs, dates, bananas, grapefruit
· Legumes
· Fish or poultry. Turkey is high in tryptophan, which promotes sleep.
· Warm milk with honey is still one of the best remedies for insomnia. Milk contains tryptophan, which converts to serotonin, inducing sleep.

The bottom line is this – if you want to fall asleep more easily, eat a small complex carbohydrate snack and avoid protein-rich foods an hour or so before bedtime. Avoid too many ingredients in a meal and too much food late at night. And one last comment, try sticking to a new or modified food and meal routine for at least 2 – 4 weeks to evaluate whether this improves your sleep habits.

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A Healthy Lifestyle in 4 Easy Steps

2009-10-21T02:08:00.000-07:00

By: I. Worthington

Being in great health and fitness should be a major goal for all of us - at the end of the day the way we feel reflects the quality of our life we will lead - and what's more important than your life?? Feeling good, in essence, entails maximising your PHYSICAL and MENTAL state. This article will solely focus on the physical perspective (maybe I'll post an article about the mental factors if I receive a positive response to this one !). To make this exercise as pain free as possible I've broken down being healthy into 5 easy-to-use tips, which anyone can follow. My aim in doing this has been to eliminate factors which people tend to use as an excuse for not 'following through' with the suggested action. These factors can include financial, time and commitment restraints.

The beauty of these tips is they are extremely easy to implement and most people already know that they are correct. Therefore, why do the majority of people ignore such common sense or even do the complete opposite? The answer is simple, they have been conditioned, by themselves or society, to act and perform in a certain way. This article is not intended to change your daily routine, which may be poor or excellent, but to simply input additional easy and quick activities to that routine to improve your physical health. Here goes (please note, these are tips which have worked for me, and whilst they follow ideas extracted from extensive reading, they are not all specifically backed by proven data - that's the beauty of having an opinion folks!):-

Tip 1
Drink between 2-4 litres of water daily. Replace all carbonated, cordial, tea, coffee etc with water (don't like water? Drink it long enough you will!). I personally add a large slice of lemon to all water I consume - 1) because I adore the taste 2) lemon is alkaline, which is widely accepted to be healthier than acidic produce. Also, you should never feel a severe sense of thirst if you are in-taking enough water, as this is a sign of the onset of dehydration. Therefore, drink or sip water at regular short intervals throughout your day, increasing the intake where water is disposed from the body via sweating or increased physical activity has occurred. A water source not available to you all the time? Easy - always prepare a large bottle of water at the start of your day and keep it close to you throughout the day.

Tip 2
Don't just have your 'five a day' fruit / vegetables - ensure it outweighs the rest of your daily intake. Therefore, if you really need that juicy 12oz steak, make sure you offset it with a large salad, or a portion of vegetables which dwarf the steak in size! I'm not going to be the guy to tell you not to have certain foods, we all have our pleasures, but if you learn how to offset the pleasure (or better still, make the healthy options the pleasure - but that's delving into the mental perspective I promised not to!) with fruit / vegetables you will be on the right track.

Tip 3
Set fitness goals and broadcast them! "Why broadcast them?" I hear you ask. Well, the majority of people like to keep their word and fulfill any promises they make. Therefore, telling people who will hold you to your promise will stimulate you to complete your goal and achieve your target. Alternatively there are websites which can be used for this purpose.

Tip 4
BENCHMARK. Do you know someone who is supremely healthy, either by appearance or the vitality they exhibit? If you do, this is someone you want to interrogate (in a nice way!). Find out how they exercise, what they eat and how they operate. They have proven their method, now apply it yourself. If you don't personally know anyone who meets your specification of desired health, widen your search. Perhaps a celebrity or sportsperson has what you want. Research them, the web holds a lot of info as I guess you know, so I'm sure a person of your means can collect the 'benchmark' data you require.

Final Thought:
Actively acknowledge when you are feeling healthy. Many people do not notice the results they are achieving or believe it's pure coincidence - coincidence and health rarely co-exist! Thank you for time, I hope this article will be of some benefit to you and that you live a healthy and successful life.

My background is very sport and fitness orientated, not in my profession but in my lifestyle. I have been a keen sports player since I was 'knee high to a grasshopper' and a gym member since college. However, I honestly believe I have never felt fitter than I do at present, at the age of 32 years, 4 months and 8 days! I have recently become involved in http://www.competitiveurge.com/ , a social networking site with a difference - it actively encourages and promotes physical participation.

If You Are Not Sick, Does That Mean You Are Well?

2009-10-20T02:05:00.000-07:00

By: Gen Wright

What is the difference between health and wellness?

What is the difference between wellness and dynamic wellness?

A lot of people look at the information about nutrition and how the body breaks food down and absorbs it through the villi, putting it into the blood stream to deliver it to their cells and say, "That just makes sense".

There is a big step though from knowing how the body does this to understanding that each of us needs to be taking some personal action to give our bodies what they need for optimum performance.

Once upon a time vegetables were grown in your garden and animals grew up in fields. I say "once upon a time" but it is only 40 or 50 years ago that this was basically true.

Now we find that vegetables are grown in depleted and often contaminated soils. They are nurtured with chemicals to get best production but the trace elements that are so important to our long term health are not in the soils to begin with and son the plants cannot put them into the vegetables and fruit that we buy.

It is a difficult place to begin the food chain.

How does your body react when you put it under stress? How well can it stand outside pressures, and all the damaging things modern society throws at us every day, is directly related to our level of wellness. If we have dynamic health, if we have a reserve of energy and strength and our body is not working flat out just to keep us going then we can withstand problems much better

Having enough energy to be able to get up and do your daily tasks with enough energy to do them easily it a much better way to live. Life is more interesting and you have the capacity to go beyond your normal routine and meet a friend for a drink or get to the library for a book or to get that extra job done around the house. Life is much more pleasant when you have enough energy to do normal things without having to push yourself.

Dynamic health requires us to take positive action to ensure that our body has the things it needs to keep us well.

We need:

• Good hydration, that is, enough clean water
• Some regular exercise.
• Enough calories to allow our metabolism to stay fairly high
• Basic nutrition, including the: protein, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fibre, healthy fats and oils and the botanical factors that our body needs every day to keep healthy.
• Regular, and enough, sleep.

If we give our body these things then we have a realistic chance to keep healthy and to be able to rise to the challenges that life throws at us from time to time.

You need to just make the effort to do the things that are easy to do but that are, at the same time, easy Not to do. Get rest, Find a way to fit a little exercise into your day, find a really good broad-spectrum nutrient supplement to ensure that you are getting all the dietary factors you need every day to keep well and strong, and make sure you get enough water.

With these things taken care of then there is a good chance you will live long and that you will also be healthy enough, and fit enough, to make full use of the extra years of life that this effort will, God willing, give you.

Warren Tattersall has been a full time nutritional consultant for over a decade and works with people all over the work to help them improve their health, increase their personal energy levels and to use supplements to assist with diet related health issues. To find more about Weight Loss Programs visit http://www.thehealthsuccesssite.com/weight-loss-answers.html or email warren@TheHealthSuccessSite.com

How Probiotics May Stop Stomach Pains, Alleviate Esophagus Problems & Control Stomach Acid

2009-10-19T02:02:00.000-07:00

By: Michael Richard Burke

Louis Pasteur was the Mick Jaeger of nineteenth century science. And, rightly so.

But, rock star that he was, he made the words "bacteria" and "bacterial" synonymous with disease. This misconception is still with us today. The truth is that some bacteria can actually help you alleviate esophagus related problems, stop stomach pains and control stomach acid.

Why All Bacteria are NOT Bad Bacteria

Make no mistake, there definitely are bad bacteria. But in a healthy body, there are also trillions of good bacteria that provide many of the critical elements to good health and vitality. These microscopic mighty microbes are called probiotics (for life). Without these good bacteria or without enough of them, the bad guys take over in a bacterial war. If you let this happen life will get downright miserable for your stomach, esophagus and general health.

While Pasteur's discovery of the germ theory of disease received great notoriety and acclaim quite fast, the discovery of bacteria's healthy side has taken a lot longer to permeate the public consciousness.

The results?

Years of needless stomach pains, esophagus problems, heartburn, acid stomach and dyspepsia.

Maybe it was because the discoverer of the life enhancing benefits of probiotics, a microbiologist and 1908 Nobel Prize Winner named Ellie Metchnikoff, was a Russian. They were not PR poster boys.

But, whatever the reason, Metchnikoff, curious as to what made some people live longer than others, studied the astonishing number of individuals in Bulgaria that were living to be over 100 years old. He traced the secret of their longevity to probiotics - the beneficial microorganisms that were contained in the fermented yogurt they ate.

Ellie, we love you, Man.

12 Ways Probiotics Help You Live a Longer, Healthier Life?

1. Probiotics break food down into its most basic elements allowing nutrients to absorb through the digestive system

2. They strengthen the immune system, which enables the body to better fight disease

3. They help relieve constipation

4. They reduce the chance of infection from common pathogens (harmful microorganisms or bacteria)

5. They help the nutrients get into the cells with greater ease where they generate the physical energy of life.

6. They promote recovery from diarrhea

7. They clean the intestines

8. They can help prevent viruses and parasites

9. They help prevent yeast and fungal infections

10. They improve the digestion of vitamins

11. They inhibit the growth of harmful microorganisms or bacteria

12. They help make certain B vitamins

All of which translates into a healthy stomach, colon and esophagus.

Not bad for a bunch of microroganisms the size of a micron. There are one million microns in a meter – or, side by side, about 25,000 bacteria in an inch. So we're talking very, very, small.

How Much Good Bacteria Should Your Body Have?

Your intestines should have about 85% good bacteria and 15% bad. But the chlorinated water we drink, the presence of antibiotics in the food we eat, the medical treatments we take, the environmental chemicals and toxins we are exposed to and a multitude of other factors can wreck havoc in the gastrointestinal tract. This throws our digestive systems completely out of balance causing stomach pains, heartburn and esophagus related problems. On days like that you'd rather be burned at the stake.

What's the Mightiest of All Beneficial Microorganisms?

Some years ago a revolutionary discovery was made using a unique combination of probiotics – a team of beneficial microorganisms so coordinated, so in harmony, so dedicated to enhancing life that Vince Lombardi would have kissed their feet (if they'd had any.)

Pasteur, who discovered the effects of bad bacteria, was French. Metchnikoff, who discovered the benefits of good bacteria, was Russian. But it fell to a little known Japanese scientist named Teruo Higa to discover this combination of beneficial microorganisms that operate in a revolutionary relationship with each other and in so doing make human bodies hum like Lance Armstrong on the Tour De France.

What does this mean for you?

Stay with me here because this gets good.

The most extraordinary microorganisms in this serendipitous gathering of bacteria from the Far Side are the phototropic microbes. These fascinating micro-organism creatures have been here since before there was oxygen on the planet. In fact, they are anaerobic (hate oxygen).

How, you might wonder, does a living organism survive without oxygen?

In a simple act of adaptive Darwinian brilliance, it consumed what was in the environment: epicurean delights like carbon dioxide, ammonia, methane and hydrogen sulfide. And still does.

And in case the light-bulb didn't go on as you read that, take note that these are all modern-day toxins. In other words, we have here a microorganism that thrives on poisons and pollutants.

But that's only half the story: in a performance that confirms Mother Nature as the planet's true environmental Magic Maker, these microbes excrete oxygen, amino acids, antioxidants and other substances that enhance life.

Now watch this…

The other members of the group are aerobic (oxygen loving) bacteria. Check out this teamwork. The aerobic bacteria consume the oxygen generated by the phototropic bacteria. They in turn give off carbon dioxide. This is food for the phototropic bacteria - which they readily consume.

So you have this symbiotic union of beneficial bacteria that's like an organic PacMan. It goes charging through the environment devouring toxins and pollutants and giving off amino acids, vitamins, trace minerals, enzymes and antioxidants.

Think about a team of microorganisms that are:

1) Thriving on toxins and polluting elements in your digestive track
2) Generating antioxidants and other healthy by-products
3) Overcoming pathogenic (harmful microbes)

And, they're doing it all at the same time.

Who would have thought that ancient, toxin-eating microorganisms and their organic by-products could bring life-enhancing benefits to people in the 21st century? Don't you think it's time that you get more probiotics into your life?

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Health advocate and educator Michael Richard Burke, M.A. talks about what you can do to help relieve esophagus related problems such as acid stomach, esophagitis, dyspepsia and general stomach pains and live a happier, healthier life.

Health advocate Michael Richard Burke, M.A., is a lifetime credentialed educator and author that devours misconceptions that will affect your overall health. Now, he invites you to get more information on the revolutionary phototropic microbes that will help you end stomach pains and avoid the risk factors of esophagus related problems now. Go to http://www.mightymicrobes.com/probiotic-supplements.html

How Food Can Improve Your Mood

2009-10-18T01:56:00.000-07:00

By: Good Evening

Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food,” wrote the eminent Greek physician Hippocrates during the dawn of western medicine. We took his advice.

Let’s face it; your memory isn’t as good as it once was and your aging brain shows no mercy under stress when you need to remember that client’s name or a critical phone number. Studies do confirm that mental decline is common with age, even as early as age 29.

The first is the fairly common herbal brain food, Ginkgo Biloba. This herb has undergone a lot of review by various institutions and many of the studies done have confirmed the potency of this herb to effect the brain and body. Studies of Ginkgo have supported the use of it for improving memory and increasing blood flow to the brain which helps improve overall function.

The effect of food is both stressful and healing. It has its positive as well as negative effects. There are food like chocolate and caffeine that provide excitement initially. Caffeine improves focus and is stimulating.

Everyone has different levels of physical fitness. Don’t compete with your friend, someone at the gym, or your neighbor as this is only setting yourself up for failure. Instead, challenge yourself to do better. Challenge yourself to improve your physical fitness level from where you are today.

B vitamins are miracle workers with moods. They all play a roll in your brain function making neurotransmitters to regulate the energy release in brain cells.

Chocolate - Chocolate is a good natural mood booster because it contains small amounts of chemicals which improve our mental wellbeing such as phenylethylamine, anandamide and tryptophan. However as these chemicals are minuscule it is believed that they make is feel good by maintaining the levels of these chemicals that are already in our bodies, so perhaps eating twenty chocolate bars in on sitting might be taking things that little bit too far.

Over time, however, eating SAD foods contributes to a SAD life. When our diets are primarily made up of these "fake" foods, is it a wonder we feel depressed, anxious, have trouble focusing, or feel stuck in a binge-diet or binge-purge cycle?

This is because in life and death situations your body does not require to build muscle, eat, have sexual thoughts etc., processes that require vital life energy, all anabolic (building) processes including testosterone are shut down. So in order to raise your T- levels you need to relax and adopt a healthy life style accompanied with good sleep. Sleep is a great stress burster and so is exercise.

Appreciate yourself. Take some pride in how you groom yourself, look and dress. Appreciate your uniqueness and self worth - the road to healthy lifestyle choices begins with liking yourself and looking after yourself.

Once the chemical has entered the brain it will metabolize into serotonin leaving you with a feeling of happiness in about 20 to 30 minutes. Following this particular pattern of nutrition can also serve as a natural sleep aid. This is due to the fact that your brain metabolizes serotonin into the natural sleep aid known as melatonin. So follow these simple steps and watch your mood improve before your eyes.
http://www.gracenglamour.com/

Medicine And Self Healing With The Mind Body Link

2009-10-15T21:00:00.000-07:00

By: Gillian Bowles

The growing body of research shows that the mind and body respond to each other, certain emotional and psycholgical states bring about changes in the chemical balance in the body. The role of thoughts and emotions on a persons ability to heal is often overlooked by medical practitioners. They know, as most do that the "Placebo effect" is well documented, for example where a sugar pill is substituted for the usual medication with a patient and yet the patient still reports an improvement as if they had the prescribed medication. The key factor here is that the patient believes the pill will make a difference.
Whilst there is no suggestion that we should all be lied to and given sugar pills instead of other medications it is important to remember what it teaches us.

When we experience illness it can be a frightening time, we feel sometimes out of control and that all adds to the stress. Certain life experiences can predispose us to illness as in for instance the death of a loved one, loss of a job. This is because it affects our whole way of thinking and being. We feel vulnerable and our thoughts and feelings take a negative turn. It can take a strong will to pull back from those feelings. Most often what is happening is that the trigger event reminds us of another time when we felt alone, abandoned or vulnerable and all the old fears start up again.

Imagine that you are a small packet of dried peas, quite comfortable in your packet but then some water starts to get in like the stress accumulating in your life, it may just dribble in to start with and you manage, but the peas are expanding inside the packet. Gradually pressure builds and builds as the peas expand taking on board all this additional water until finally something has to give. The weakest part of the packet (possibly your nervous system, or weak part of your body) gives out first. You can see that the emotional pressure has to find a way out and if it is not being dealt with then it will come out another way...lack of sleep, illness, depression.

Releasing old hurts, fears, emotional blocks and barriers can free up the body to get on with its healing process. It can also prevent illness in the first place. Quite often people need to reconnect with themselves, that is with their thoughts, feelings and physical body which quite often gets taken for granted and ignored. Illness can be the bodys' way of getting your attention to the fact that all is not well with you. The best way of dealing with this is to work with your sub conscious mind. There are many ways to do this and many CDs, books, workshops and therapists available to assist this process. Generally to achieve a result quickly you will need guidance and some practical and personal help as the most effective techniques require a competent practitioner, but just opening up to listening to your own body and being aware that the symptoms do not tell you the whole story is a good start.

The role of the mind and emotions is of the utmost importance to anyone interested in healing their own body.

Gillian is an internationally renowned metaphysical teacher, workshop leader, speaker and author of "How To Cure Your Fibroids Naturally". http://www.curefibroidsnaturally.com/
She cured her own fibroid naturally without surgery or drugs.
For more information visit http://www.aplacefortheheart.co.uk

Ayurveda Courses for Better Health Practices

2009-10-14T20:57:00.000-07:00

By: Reid Marilyn

Living in the 21st century is a real challenge. This is the reason numerous Ayurveda courses are offered to the public. For quite some time, such learning efforts have been offering useful basic knowledge and understanding about overall health. If you aim to learn more about Ayurveda, you should enlist yourself in any of the available and offered courses for such knowledge.

How would you be able to learn more and learn best about this ancient Indian medicine practice? Well, if you have not been born in India nor have you lived many years in the country, you should strive harder to learn the practice. As a matter of fact, many Indians today do not know much about Ayurveda either, even if they have been born and have been raised in the country. You need to remember that Ayurveda is only a form of alternative medicine, which complements the current forms of medicine practices. It is not imposed nor is it made a legal and only medicinal option in India or elsewhere.

Is Ayurveda effective? Of course it is. Many people from all over the world could testify and prove the effectiveness and helpfulness of the ancient medical practice. If not for its effectiveness and potency, Ayurveda would not be as popular as it is today. This is also the reason why the popularity of the medicinal practice has spread from India to other parts of the world. But because not everybody could go to and live in India just to learn more about it, Ayurveda courses are available to educate people who are willing and longing to learn the system. Through the years, many people have come to enlist in such course, a tangible proof that there is indeed clamor to spread and continue the practice.

Ayurveda courses have been designed to bring learners to step-by-step or procedural approaches to learn the discipline. The programs consist of series of learning modules and planned measures to facilitate learning and make it easier for learners. In the beginning, such programs are aimed to bring about deeper and better understanding of the practice. Course materials take learners step by step through the different processes of Ayurveda medicine. The programs are well researched and are made strategic to make learners enjoy and get into the process. It would not be much of a problem to enroll and attend such learning programs.

In a nutshell, Ayurveda course are in place to bring about better understanding of the medical discipline. It is available for people who are taking genuine interest in caring for and looking for overall health and general well being. Many medical practitioners enroll in the programs to learn a new discipline that could be integrated into their current practice. This could result to better health options and procedures offered to and provided to people.

Ayurveda courses are comprehensive and authoritative programs that are aimed at bringing about deeper and better insight about the wisdom of Ayurvedic medical practice. It is complete natural medicine system. The programs are also giving better understanding about herbal medicines, lifestyle adaptations, reference guide to balanced life, improvement or holistic health, and insights into alternative or complementary medicine. You could opt to use Ayurveda solely or integrate it with modern medicine, which is the current standard practice among learners.

Living in the 21st century is a real challenge. This is the reason numerous Ayurveda courses are offered to the public. For quite some time, such learning efforts have been offering useful basic knowledge and understanding about overall health. If yo

Discover more beneficial Ayurvedic Treatments and Medicines by visiting the blog at http://ayurvedic-treatment.com where you will find regularly updated posts, all dedicated to this very subject.

Overcome Agoraphobia with Hypnotherapy

2009-10-13T07:03:00.000-07:00

By: Peter James Field

Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder seen often in our hypnotherapy practice here in the UK. In fact, about 5% of the adult population will suffer from an agoraphobia disorder at some time in their lives. In the UK, it is the one phobia that is regularly treated as a medical issue.

As anyone who has ever experienced agoraphobia anxiety or a similar anxiety disorder is only too well aware, it is a condition that has the ability to produce intense and often incapacitating feelings of fear and panic.

Until fairly recently, agoraphobia was defined simply as the fear of open spaces, but the term has now been expanded to include a number of other fears, including the fear of public places and crowds, the fear of travelling alone, or simply the fear of leaving the home or other 'safe' area.

When the individual is in the grips of agoraphobia and panic, the feeling can be one of absolute terror. Because these attacks can be unpredictable, occurring anywhere and at any time, the person experiencing them is very often terrified of them happening in a public place, where they feel the most vulnerable.

This can really compound and intensify feelings of anxiety and panic, producing a very real fear of public places, fear of crowds, fear of travelling alone and fear of leaving home.

Indeed, such intense fear can virtually force the person needing agoraphobia help to avoid leaving the home and putting him or herself into a situation that they feel might leave them vulnerable.

Agoraphobia disorder does appear to be more common in women than in men, although this may simply be because women tend to seek outside help with the condition more than do men. This is a disorder that can often manifest in a person's twenties and can persist for years, if left untreated.

The good news is that skilfully applied transformational hypnotherapy can indeed be used as an effective agoraphobia treatment leading to an agoraphobia cure.

We know that agoraphobia and panic are intense feelings generated at the level of the subconscious mind - the home and repository of all feelings. The scary feelings are experienced because of an over-reaction by the subconscious mind which produces feelings inappropriate to the situation and circumstance. It imagines danger and so produces fear where no real reason for that fear exists.

In reality, though, the subconscious mind just cannot discern the difference between the imaginary and the real. In order to prove this, all you need do is to imagine yourself sucking on a lemon wedge. An imaginary lemon can produce exactly the same effect as a real lemon - tightening of jaw muscles, increased salivation - because for the subconscious mind there really is no difference between the imagined and the real.

With agoraphobia and panic, the subconscious mind has got things wrong. It imagines that a harmless and essentially non-threatening situation is inherently threatening and dangerous and so it responds as though the individual were in real danger by flooding the body with adrenalin - in much the same way that an imagined lemon floods the mouth with saliva - and this in turn produces feelings of anxiety and panic.

Through the medium of transformational hypnotherapy, we can adjust false beliefs and perceptions held by the subconscious mind and correctly align them with reality. Once we have understood the origin of the subconscious mind's faulty perception, we are in a position to correct and neutralise it, thereby freeing the person to move on with their life, free of this really restricting, confining condition.

There really is no need to continue to experience agoraphobia and panic. If agoraphobia disorder is a part of your life, real help is available: Transformational hypnotherapy can indeed provide effective agoraphobia treatment leading to an effective agoraphobia cure.

Peter Field is a leading British hypno-psychotherapist with practises in Birmingham and London, UK. He is the author of numerous articles on psychotherapy, hypnosis and health, a Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and Fellow of the Royal Society of Health. For more of his interesting articles and other helpful information, visit his website: http://www.peterfieldhypnotherapy.co.uk

Miraculous Cancer Fighter Like No Other

2009-10-12T06:52:00.000-07:00

By: Jeffrey Lorien

A recent study done by the American Institute for Cancer Research showed that a substance in green tea actually halted a specific stage of the cancer process and was even more effective than certain cancer drugs. Studies done on liver, skin and stomach cancer showed that green and black teas decreased the size of tumors and slowed or helped reverse some breast, colon and prostate cancers, as well.

One group of scientists is focusing efforts on researching the powerful antioxidants called “catechins” that are naturally occurring substances in various tea plants. Catechins play a powerful, still somewhat mysterious role in inhibiting the growth of cancer cells and keeping them from spreading to other parts of the body. Other groups of researchers continue to study the effect of tea constituents on the various stages of development of various cancers, and the literature is beginning to fill up with clear, compelling evidence of their efficacy and safety.

The emerging science in this area appears to validate much of the anecdotal evidence concerning the healing properties of tea, which is a very important development. Not all “ancient cures” and “folk remedies” have proven to be effective, and no responsible supplement manufacturer should be making claims that are not backed up by sold science. Cultural patterns are important to study, as well, as one needs to understand the role of healing foods in certain countries and cultures in order to develop diet and wellness plans – ones that incorporate those foods and, perhaps, other supplements as needed.

In America, for example, tea is reputed to be the greatest source of catechins in the average diet. Part of this is attributable to the fact that green tea, in general, undergoes less processing than other teas. It can contain three times the catechins of black or white teas. In fact, if the kind of tea being discussed in an article or study is not specified, it is more likely than not green tea.

Doing your homework

It is important to stay educated on health matters, of course, which means one has to be ready for findings to be confirmed, contradicted or revised by more recent research. The only way you will know what is old news and what is current science is by taking the responsibility for continuing education about the foods and supplements you are adding to your diet for health reasons.

For a number of years, many health practitioners have recommended drinking six cups of tea per day as a way to maximize its health benefits. However, studies are now showing that measurable heath benefits, including cancer prevention, can be achieved by consuming only 1-2 cups of tea per day. Of course, you can take your green tea in the form of extract, which is added to pills, powders and other preparations. Be careful to calculate the right amount for your purposes, and drink (or otherwise ingest) what you and your medical advisor deem appropriate for your health, present condition and wellness goals.

The main factor in receiving the true health benefits of tea, as with any other supplement, is consistency. In fact, when long-term effects are studied, it can be demonstrated that even the consumption of less potent black, oolong and white teas over a period of several years can also offer some protection from cancer and other diseases. This is why these substances must be considered part of a “life plan,” not a short-term fix or a temporary treatment.

The future of cancer/tea research

With the number and quality of research studies on tea increasing worldwide, there is much that will be discovered in the near future about the specific properties of the catechins, polyphenols and other cancer-fighting ingredients of tea, green tea in particular. This makes it more important than ever for you to get your information from trusted, peer-reviewed sources. No matter how honest and science-based a tea or supplement manufacturer is, none would ever advise you against investigating original sources on your own for corroboration of any health claims.

Scientists in China, Russia, the UK, the U.S. and other countries are hard at work even now, attempting to qualify and quantify the curative, restorative and regenerative capabilities of tea and its constituents. Your best move in the meantime is to stay educated, discuss your condition and your health goals with trusted, informed medical advisors, and take responsibility for safeguarding your health and life, and that of your loved ones and family.

Cancer is a major killer in the Western world, and anything that can protect you from this disease should be included, post haste, in the diet portion of your overall “life/health” plan. Don’t forget that nutrition is just one part of your balanced healthy-living program. Exercise, sufficient rest and the reduction of “stressors” in your life are all important parts, too.

Do not fall into the trap of believing that you can do whatever you want, eat whatever you want and ignore whatever you want, and simply fill up on green tea and mung beans to counteract the negativity. When it comes to your health, particularly in regards to cancer, you need to be persistent, consistent and insistent about your wellbeing. Adopt this attitude toward tea and it will do you a great deal of good.

Zhi Tea is a leading provider of high-quality organic tea online. Visit them today for a full selection of high-grade, fair trade organic Green, Black, White and Oolong teas. Also view their tea gift basket selection – a great gift for the holidays.
http://www.zhitea.com/

Made in the Shade

2009-10-11T06:43:00.000-07:00

By: Peter Games, L. Ac.

Last year, my wife and I moved to Boise, Idaho, also known as the city of trees. The name Boise comes from the French word boisé, which means "wooded" or "forest-covered", and compared to the desert landscape to the south and west, the name Boise is very appropriate. A few days ago, on a hot, sunny August afternoon, I was passing by one of the city parks and noticed a massive tree with a huge canopy of leaves. The tree provided welcome shade for the many people relaxing in the park and enjoying a break from the hot sun and triple digit temperatures. The scene made me recall a quote I had heard years before.

Warren Buffet, the brilliant investor and businessman, once said, "Somebody's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago." Put another way, if we have the foresight and discipline to take appropriate action, we will reap the benefits in years (or even decades) to come. I think he was referring primarily to finances, investments, and the accumulation of wealth, but the quote can be applied to other aspects of our lives, as well. In fact, I think the quote can apply equally well to becoming healthy as it can to becoming wealthy.

There is no simple shortcut available to attain health. We are largely responsible for our own health based upon the lifestyle choices that we make. There are a few external factors which influence our health landscape, such as the genes that we inherit from our parents and the healthy or unhealthy behavior that we learn from those around us. Yet despite these factors, we have the opportunity to become healthier and more balanced by way of making healthier, more mindful decisions. The best way to improve upon your current health situation is by making healthier choices, so that in years to come you are able to enjoy the shade provided by your wise and prudent action today.

This entire concept underscores the importance of preventive health care, or health care aimed at promoting health and reducing our risks of health problems before they occur. As a society, we tend to be more reactive, seeking medical care when our problems can no longer be ignored, than proactive, taking preventive measures and making healthy lifestyle choices that may reduce or eliminate our risks before problems actually arise.

Whether you are aware of it or not, you make myriad decisions every day that affect your health. Do you fuel your body with natural foods, including vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, and essential fatty acids? Does your diet include processed foods, junk foods, or fast foods, often containing sky-high levels of sugar, fat, or sodium? Are you getting adequate and appropriate levels of exercise? Do you forego exercise completely because there's not enough time? Are you a weekend warrior, exercising infrequently, too intensely, and without warm-up, only to lead to injury? Do you take time out to reduce stress and anxiety in your life? Are you constructively expressing your feelings or keeping them bottled up to avoid potentially uneasy situations? Are you allowing yourself to get enough sleep? Do you set aside time to take part in activities that make you feel good, such as walking, gardening, being in nature, or spending time with a beloved pet? Do you smoke? Do you drink alcohol to excess? Do you require stimulants, such as caffeine, to get you through the day? All of these choices that we make, sometimes unconsciously, can positively or negatively affect our health today and for years to come.

In addition to making healthy lifestyle choices, there are also a variety of preventive health care modalities which promote wellness and balance, including acupuncture, massage, and yoga. A well-trained acupuncturist recognizes subtle imbalances in an individual and focuses treatment on returning that individual to a state of balance by using Chinese medicine techniques such as acupuncture and Chinese herbs. In addition, most acupuncturists make lifestyle recommendations that are custom-tailored to an individual patient's unique situation. For example, an acupuncture specialist may recommend that one patient consume more cooked vegetables and fewer raw vegetables to address a constitutional imbalance, while another patient with a very different imbalance may receive the opposite advice.

It is important to recognize the numerous choices that we make which affect our health and also the importance of making mindful, healthy decisions. Your state of health is an accumulation of your actions and decisions over a long period of time. There is no way to circumvent the laws of nature and become healthy overnight. When making healthful choices becomes part of your daily life rather than a quick fix scheme to create a temporary outcome, you will naturally and inevitably migrate towards a healthier state. Making healthy lifestyle choices on a consistent basis, combined with preventive health care modalities such as acupuncture, massage, and yoga, can allow your tree of health to provide you with adequate shade today and well into the future.

Peter Games is a Licensed Acupuncturist in the state of Idaho. Peter owns and operates a Boise acupuncture clinic with his wife (also a Licensed Acupuncturist). To learn more about their clinic or the Boise acupuncturists at their clinic, please visit www.acuboise.com.

Pelotherapy - Bathe Yourself in Clay

2009-10-10T06:48:00.000-07:00

By: Ananda Mahony ND

Clay has been used as a cosmetic ingredient and healing agent in Europe as far back as the 12th century and even before then by indigenous peoples from around the world. The most familiar use of clay in the modern day is in the form of facial masks however other applications such as body wraps, baths and poultices are also common. The term relating to the use of clay is Pelotherapy which is defined as the application of peliods, such as mud, peat, or clay to all parts of the body with the aim of healing or rejuvenation. Numerous types of clay are used depending on their different healing or beneficial qualities.

Clay is composed of various mineral compounds rich in silica and aluminium, sometimes including iron, copper, zinc and magnesium and other trace minerals. The aluminium found in clay is quite different from the toxic inorganic substance used in commercial deodorants and so isn’t associated with the same risks. The two key compounds form flat layers of minute particles as rocks such as shale and mud stone are weathered by the elements. The clay layers create a large surface area which is highly reactive and due to the bond between silica and aluminium, the clay particles contain negatively charged ions. This
forms the basis for clay’s properties which include 1:

• Adsorption – This is the capacity of clay to draw compounds to the outside of the molecule and hold them there. The negatively charged ions in the clay attract the positively charged ions in pollutants, an effect similar to a magnet. This property allows clay to bind to toxic substances and micro-organisms.

• Absorption – this is the ability of clay to draw compounds inside of the molecular structure of the clay. Once inside the clays swells trapping the toxins and thereby ensuring they can’t be released again. The greater the surface area of the clay, the more it is able to attract positively charged particles or toxins. Due to this property, clay can be used to draw toxins out of the skin and reduce pus and inflammation from swellings, abscesses and cysts.

• Ionic Exchange – this is the capacity to change the electrical charge of a surface that the clay comes into contact with. This effect is quite unique and contributes to the balancing effect clay has on the skin.

Individual clays are classified by their layer structure as well as the different mineral compounds. The different minerals contained within the clay contribute significantly to the therapeutic effects. Minerals stimulate many localised skin responses in Natural skin care, such as promoting healing and tissue regeneration, enhancing local skin immune responses, help to destroy bacteria and draw out toxins. Mixing clay with water allows the minerals to be readily supplied to the skin.

The skin is an organ of elimination and as such many toxins are excreted this way. Clay applied externally can be used to help draw out and eliminate these toxins. This has the added effect of reducing the bodies overall toxic encumbrance. Process of Organic skin care such as clay baths in particular can help to reduce overall toxicity. The warmth of the bath water improves circulation to the skin and opens up pores allowing the clay to work more effectively. Facials are beneficial for localised toxic build up such as skin congestion, cysts and acne.

Along with its cleansing effect, clay can also help to improve circulation to the skin which will help to clear away internal toxins as well as improving blood supply of nutrition. Improved circulation will help to improve the appearance of the skin. Clay can have an antibacterial effect, destroying bacteria on the surface of the skin so is useful for acne where bacterial overgrowth can contribute to the condition. The high levels of minerals in clay such as zinc and silica will help provide essential nutrition to the skin externally, promoting healing and skin regeneration.

Clay has been used to effectively reduce local skin inflammation and swelling. This effect is useful in facial masks as it helps reduce skin hypersensitivity and draws out the impurities that contribute to inflammation in the first place. The ion exchange effect of clay also has a rebalancing effect on skin tissues, promoting cellular health.

There are three main types of clay; kaolin, montmorillonite and
illite:

Kaolin – gentle in action this clay is ideal for sensitive skins. It is rich in silica and is useful for helping to heal scars and damaged tissues.

Montmorillonite – containing high levels of magnesium, a three layer structure and a weak silica-aluminium bond giving it great capacity for absorption. For this reason, Montmorillonite clay is ideal for detoxification and cleansing.

Illite clay – the presence of potassium ions and a high level of calcium carbonate make this clay ideal for drawing fluids, purification and detoxification.

Cosmetically, different clays are used for different properties. Clays have greater or lesser absorbency, green being the most absorbent and white being the least. The more absorbent clays are ideal for cleansing and detoxifying congested, pimply or acne prone skins. This will help to calm inflammation and allow the skin to heal. The less absorbent clays are ideal for smoothing, softening and toning skin.

Green Clay is the most absorbing of all the clay types. Used for face masks, it draws out impurities, cleanses the skin and helps to normalise sebum production. It is suitable for all skin types but particularly useful for oily skin types and acne prone skins. Green Clay will also assist with tissue repair and calm inflammation.

Yellow Clay is rich in minerals. Used in masks, Yellow Clay helps to improve the condition of tired and devitalised skin.

Red Clay is high in trace elements particularly iron oxide, which gives the clay its red colour. Red Clay is oily and mildly absorbent working to revitalise and improve skin radiance. It is ideal for sensitive skin and skin with capillary damage.

Pink Clay contains iron oxide, silica and trace elements. It has a softening and toning effect on the skin making it ideal all skin types and particularly for mature skins.

Suitable for all skin types White Clay is the most gentle of all clay types. White Clay is ideal for sensitive, dry and mature skin types.

When using clays for face or body masks the thicker the application the greater the drawing effect. With body masks, wrapping the body parts over the clay will increase circulation and allow the clay greater penetration. Once applied allow the clay to dry and wash it away as soon as it has dried. If left on once dried, the clay may draw essential moisture out of the skin which is generally not a desired effect. Alternatively, spray the clay with plain or floral water when
it starts to dry out. Once removed, clay takes the toxins from the skin
so avoid the temptation to reuse clay.

The ingredients mixed with clay can also enhance its actions. For example with dry skin, base and essential oils combined with white clay can have a deeply hydrating effect. Enzymes from papaya or kiwi can help to break down dead skin cells so that green clay can work more effectively for congested and acne skins.

References:

1. Brian Skinness. 2007. Pelotherapy 101. Joint Adventure

2. Stubbin C. 1999. Do It Yourself Pure Plant Skin Care. The International Centre of Holistic Aromatherapy, Brisbane.

Ananda Mahony ND is a naturopath and holistic skin specialist. Her practice focuses on the treatment of skin conditions and Food As Medicine. Ananda also owns Vitale Natural Skin care Body Care, a natural organic skin care store in Paddington.
http://www.vitalenatural.com.au/

Control Your Cholesterol the Natural Way

2009-10-09T06:42:00.000-07:00

By: Vincent Platania

If you have had your cholesterol numbers checked recently and your doctor has advised you that it’s too high, they may discuss the different medications with you that have been developed to lower cholesterol. Although medication is appropriate in some cases, there are natural options that may work for you that can be incorporated easily into your diet.

Natural Ways to Lower Cholesterol with Food

You may have seen adverts promoting oatmeal as a food product that can lower your cholesterol, but there are many different foods with this ability. Eating foods that support a healthy heart like soybeans, olive oil, walnuts green leafy vegetables and red wine along with a consistent exercise routine can increase the level of HDL cholesterol in your bloodstream. You can reduce your cholesterol level by 15% by consuming 3 ounces of walnuts daily.

Many of the foods that lower cholesterol have other properties that are protective to the heart and the total body system because of their anti-oxidant role in clearing the body of free radicals which destroy body cells.

The Role of Exercise in Lowering Cholesterol

Some people believe exercise is only beneficial for toning the muscles, but in fact a consistent exercise routine of 30 minutes at least 5 times a week gives your internal organs the stimulation they need to function at their best. Through proper stimulation, the levels of HDL or good cholesterol will increase which is important to keep the cells of your body in good shape.

There are several different forms of exercise beside aerobics and calisthenics that you can perform to reap the rewards of a healthier heart: yoga, brisk walking, swimming and jogging are only a few. The other benefit of regular exercise is that is a good way to release the stress that can cause your body to release hormones that place additional pressure on your heart.

Nutritional Supplements that Lower Cholesterol

One of the best supplements that have been proven to lower cholesterol is the Ayurvedic herb Guggal which provides results in 30-45 days. For hundreds of years, Guggal has been taken as a remedy for high cholesterol and obesity. Nutritional supplements work in harmony with the body which makes them the ideal choice. There are several comprehensive formulas specifically designed to lower cholesterol such as OC MAX. Serrazyme from the enzyme Serratia E15 silkworm is one of the powerful ingredients in this nutritional supplement that reduces cholesterol levels is said to reduce cholesterol levels.

You may have seen adverts promoting oatmeal as a food product that can lower your cholesterol, but there are many different foods with this ability. Eating foods that support a healthy heart like soybeans, olive oil, walnuts green leafy vegetables and red wine along with a consistent exercise routine can increase the level of HDL cholesterol in your bloodstream. You can reduce your cholesterol level by 15% by consuming 3 ounces of walnuts daily.

Rawleigh Products was founded in the late 1800s to create a line of "Good Health Products" that possessed both strength and quality.
Visit http://www.rawleigh-products.com or Call # 1-800-992-1089

Laying a Good Foundation for Health

2009-10-08T06:22:00.000-07:00

By: Paula Muran

In the western medicine world, we have lost touch with the basic concept of true healing. We substitute a band-aid for a cure and wonder why we don't feel better. People get ill for many reasons. Each diseased state tells us that we are ignoring some part of self, and change is necessary. While many factors contribute to healing, and it happens on many levels, all require attention throughout the entire healing practice. Ignoring the body-mind (emotions and thoughts) would not provide adequate and long-term good health.

Physical symptoms like headaches, swollen glands, sneezing and colds, including more serious diseases like cancer, communicate that there is a disturbance in the emotional fabric of our being. Negative emotions like fear, doubt and worry stop the normal flow of energy. These emotions undermine us, and over the course of our lives cause unexplained and crippling diseases that end up controlling us.

The physical body falls apart because we fall apart emotionally. Recent scientific studies have shown that emotions sabotage everything—from simple success to kidney failure. When we don't care for the "whole self," the physical body simply mirrors those effects. Over the course of time, emotions like fear, anger and confusion take their toll. Repressed anger diminishes the functions of the liver. Hopelessness and despair play havoc with the gall bladder. Fear plays havoc with the kidneys, relationships and success. Confusion on the other hand, keeps whirling thoughts spinning, creating a cloud of chaos around us and we become imbalanced and ungrounded. Head colds for instance, are a direct result of emotional confusion. Long-standing negative emotional beliefs deteriorate the entire physical being. A constant string of repetitive negative words weaken and actually exhaust the physical body.

To heal we must feel. We must identify the root emotional cause of the disease. This process lays down a new foundation for good health and begins with a new attitude about being healthy. Any negative emotion causes us to stay stuck in a false perception about our self.

How do we identify negative emotions? The easiest way to identify negative patterns is to see them in family members and friends. Examine other people's behaviors. Notice all the things you like about them and all the things you don't like, especially the things that make you angry, envious or jealous. The people around you are actually reflections of you. What you see in another person that bothers you or angers you is a part of yourself that has not yet been loved and healed. Begin by criticizing your dearest friends. By doing this practice of looking at the faults of friends and family you get in touch with the parts of you that are out of balance and seek healing. This simple exercise offers you an opportunity to look deeply at your own emotional concerns and patterns. Once you locate personal limitation it's time for change.

Emotional patterns are created when you place a judgment upon an experience. To change, we must stay conscious of our feelings in situations. Stay calm, make no judgment—simply feel the energy. For example, let's take anger because anger is one of the most profound emotions and is easily felt. Imagine yourself in an angry situation; stay completely present and deeply feel the anger. Don't judge it—simply feel it. Now, love the feeling that anger produces. Anger can be motivation. It can be passionate. Change the negative charge that anger produces; begin to embrace and love the feeling of anger instead of repelling it.

Next begin to dialogue with the anger. Yes, that is correct, strike up a conversation with anger. Ask it questions like, "What are you teaching me?" or "Why am I so angry all the time?" Permit the answers to come into your conscious mind. As they do, you realize what the true issue is. Sometimes in that moment of realization the anger pattern can release. Other times it might take a few more conversations for the anger to release. This method allows the energy constriction caused by anger and other emotions to release. Any blocked energy begins to flow giving the physical body a chance to heal.

Even though healing begins with the emotions, the physical body must be strong enough to support the emotional body.

Supplements: Supplementation is important because food chemicals, pesticides and a hurried lifestyle play havoc on our systems. Take no more than five different supplements daily. I prefer liquids including Green-Magma and other green drinks. If you don't feel immediate results, they are not working.

Water: Only 5% of the American population gets sufficient water each day. Diet drinks, high corn-syrup drinks and coffee do not count towards proper hydration; in fact these drinks cause gastrointestinal inflammation, kidney and liver problems and an acidic environment. To properly hydrate drink at least half of your body weight in purified water by the ounce each day. For example if you weight 150 lbs. you need 75 ounces of purified water daily. Exercise: The number one killer today is a stagnant lymph system caused by a lack of exercise. Take a walk around the block or take a yoga, chi-kung or Pilate's class.

We have lost touch with the basic concept of true healing. We substitute a band-aid for a cure and wonder why we don't feel better. While many factors contribute to healing, and it happens on many levels, all require attention throughout the entire healing practice. Ignoring the body-mind (emotions and thoughts) would not provide adequate and long-term good health.

Paula Muran is an awakened Spiritual Teacher, Medical Intuitive/Empath, Author and Speaker and an expert at reading energy. Pioneering the use of gemstones to heal the emotional body, Paula created the Sovereign Light System of Emotional Healing, authored the book Codes of Light—The Power of Our Beliefs, produced and narrated the best selling guided meditation on CD, Purify the Body Temple and leads profound healing journeys around the world. http://www.PaulaMuran.com

Healing Heat Pad Therapy

2009-10-07T06:27:00.000-07:00

By: Peter Marsden

The use of heat and heatpads as a treatment in the relief of pain has been popular in many cultures for perhaps thousands of years. An internet search on "heat pad therapy" produces many references to pages selling pads that you can heat up and place on a painful area, girdle or limb, to help relieve the pain. There is another kind of healing heatpad therapy that is, as yet, less well utilized in the modern 'West'. That therapy is Far Infrared Radiation (FIR).

Reports suggest that some 50 million Americans suffer due to chronic pain; and there are no doubt just as many who experience occasional muscle strain or stress-related tension. Far infrared radiation therapy offers a great benefit to this substantial part of the US population, and people everywhere who suffer with on-going and acute pain. Many chronic pain suffers will be glad to have a way to avoid many sleepless nights, and dependence upon prescription drugs.

Where Does FIR Therapy Come From?

Modern medical science has been studying FIR for about 40 years; so FIR Therapy is relatively new in the modern approach to healing. But FIR has been used in Far Eastern Medicine traditions for the last 3,000 years! In those healing schools it is well known as a means to safely and naturally reduce pain in muscles, joints and deep tissue.

What Is FIR?

FIR is a safe, deeply-penetrating form of light energy. It produces a deep-healing heat when it enters your body.

Is that safe? !

Yes indeed. You've felt the benefit of it many times, say on cold days when you can stand in the sunlight and warm up, or sit around a glowing log fire of a winter's evening.. Yes, it is so safe that it is even used in birthing units in many hospitals to keep newborns cozy & warm.

FIR Reaches Even The Deepest Pain

FIR energy therapy is an old tradition, but has only recently been engaged in western countries with a simple technology that can be used anytime and anywhere. It can be used to warm the deep recesses of your body, to ease the pain, remove stiffness, soothe cramps, and take away that day-to-day tension.

With this technology you can put away the pills, and enjoy a more relaxing experience of deep-healing heat. You can experience a tranquil, drowsy, and pain-free glide into a good nights sleep...

Most heat therapies penetrate just 2-3mm beneath the skin.

FIR heat penetrates as much as 75mm, warming deep tissues and organs.

It increases blood flow to the tissues and stimuilates elimination of toxins. FIR heat has been scientifically tested and shown to relieve all kinds of pain. It provides relief from common chronic conditions such as arthritis, bursitis, sciatica and rheumatism. It offers relief for respiratory ailments such as colds, flu, asthma and even pneumonia.

There's Too Much Back Pain!

Estimations indicate that 80 percent of the population will suffer back pain at some time in their lives. It is the second greatest cause for visiting doctors. Neck pain is second only to back pain and has become increasingly common over the last two decades. Some estimates put neck pain as the number
one cause for disability among working Americans.

Joint inflammation is another major class of chronic and severe pain that many of us have to manage. X-ray studies suggest that nearly all of us will have some type of inflammation in our joints by age 65. Overall it is clear that there is a large section of the public that will need to manage chronic and / or severe pain at some time, especially as we grow older.

The question is: what treatments do we put our trust in? Many people wish to look beyond 'conventional' treatemnts that involve anti-inflammatory or pain-killing drugs, as well as surgery. Fortunately there are alternative treatments that do actually work and that can often eliminate back pain, neck pain, joint pain etc. Pain sufferers canreturn to normal life without resorting to surgery,
prescription drugs, cortisone injections, etc.

FIR - Another Way To Heal

FIR energy offers an important non-invasive choice against resorting to
drugs and surgery. Its waves penetrate your skin and muscles all the way to the bone with healing heat. This heat safely and gently warms deep tissues and increases the blood flow to the painful area. This in turn reduces inflammation and relieves pain. The increased blood flow accelerates the
removal of toxic waste products from the tissues.

This deep penetrating infrared heat delivers more oxygen-rich blood to painful or injured areas. This in turn speeds up your body's own natural healing ability. FIR is easy to use, it takes just15-30 minutes a day to achieve the results.

FIR energy has been traditionally used in the relief of pain from arthritis, back strains, bursitis, carpal tunnel, tendonitis, hemorrhoids, migraines, joint and muscle injuries, sciatica, frozen shoulder, lumbago, abdominal pain and diarrhea, rheumatism and more.

FIR healing Heat therapy has much to offer as part of a modern, safe and effective approach to treatment of many chronic and often severely painful conditions.

Peter Marsden was a chronic back pain sufferer for a decade, and found ultimate relief from natural therapies, which he promotes now from beneficial experience. For more information about FIR therapy see his blog: http://backpain-relief.biz/heat-therapy/

Aren’t Celebrities Aware of Natural Healing?

2009-10-06T08:32:00.000-07:00

By: Sonnyj

It seems that more often than not you hear of celebrities who have some deadly disease and they are usually being treated with prescription drugs. It's rare to hear any of them treated the natural healing way.

I attended a motivational seminar recently and was so surprised to see the results of Zig Ziglar health problem, which is Hydrocephalus. What is Hydrocephalus? It means "water on the brain" and is caused by a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain and the spinal cord.

In his regular newsletter that I receive, I understand in the fall last year he took a tumble down the stairs in his home. Since then he has had conventional surgery to put a shunt in his brain to solve his problem which is suppose to restore his balance and memory.

But did they solve his problem? I don't think so.

His appearances now include his daughter, Julie, who interviews him as he sits on a stool. He was very unsteady while approaching the platform and his memory was not that sharp in his replies to Julie's questions.

It was so sad to see Zig no longer capable of speeding across the stage back and forth, getting close to the audience at the edge of the stage, then squatting low and pointing his finger at someone to emphasize a point in his speech. Surgery is never practical if you can solve a person's illness the natural way.

In my research of this problem, I came across a product that makes a 100% claim and refund if the product doesn't solve the ailment. Its called Cephlatin and it's supported by testimonials.

It comes in an easy to take form and is consumed orally through the mouth. The ingredients are 100% safe and are purely natural and free from any side effects. WOW! Doesn't that sound like a better treatment than brain surgery?

Do you think Zig's doctor knows about this treatment? I doubt it because most conventional doctors don't know a thing about natural treatments. Medical Schools only teach them to prescribe drugs.

What a shame it is that so many celebrities have fallen victim to conventional medical treatments. Remember Tim Russert, Peter Jennings, Bernie Mack and several others within the last year who met this fate?

Here's another sad story I came across the other day that involves fund raising for cancer research. Dick Vitale, a well-celebrated sports figure and former coach of the Detroit Pistons headed up this event. Why is it a said story? Because there are already cures for all kinds of cancer.

Don't believe it? One of my friends, Bill Henderson, has written a book, "Cancer Free", and over 2000 people who have bought his book are cancer free now.

Would "Big Pharma" want anyone to read this book? I don't think so? What if Bill would sell 2 million books instead of 2000, what would that do to "Big Pharma"? You know what that answer would be.

Dick Vitale drew 700 people to his event and he was expecting to raise a few million dollars. I haven't heard yet what he did raise but in his 16 years of this event, he has raised $80 million.

Dick targets famous sports figures to this event. The other night, a few of them that he drew were notables such as Rick Pitino, coach of University of Louisville Cardinals; Billy Donavan, coach at the University of Florida; Doug Williams, former Super bowl MVP and pro golfer, Paul Azinger.

Paul Azinger has 12 PGA tour victories but just one since his cancer was detected in 1993. His remark at that function was, "cancer will never be cured, and it can't be prevented either. It's part of the fabric of human existence, unfortunately.

Oh Yeah, Paul! Would you like to see all the proof I have uncovered in my five years of intensive search about natural healing? What a shame you think like this.

Here are my closing remarks about this subject. Can you imagine what all the millions of dollars raised in all the fund raising events around the U.S. could do if that money was applied to educational programs to teach people how to prevent all kinds of diseases?

I'm trying to wake up people to the fact that natural healing is the way to go. But, of course, I'm a small voice here in this big world. It's hard to complete with "Big Pharma, the medical profession and the U.S. Government who believe drugs solve all illnesses.

However I'm on a mission to spread my beliefs and I will continue voicing my message until the day I die.

One of the saddest of situations in our world today is those celebrities that are dying of various diseases at such a young age. With all their wealth they still choose to treat their illnesses with prescription drugs instead of natural healing methods. While natural healing methods expenses are not usually covered by Medicare or insurance, they are saver and free of terrible side effects. However prescription drugs do more harm than good.

Sonny grew up in a family florist business.. For 29 years he was personally involved in it. He eventually left to become a sales representative and spent more than 20 years in sales roles. He is now retired and
a advocate of natural healing. Go http://www.AhealthyLifeForSure.com for more info.

Use Herbs And Supplements Rather Than Undergo Risky Surgery For Weight Loss

2009-10-05T08:25:00.000-07:00

By: Ray Ricardo

Increasing numbers of obese people have driven up the rates for weight-loss surgeries. Weight-Loss Operation Statistics are soaring. In the United States, 20,000 weight-loss operations were performed in 1995. This year, 144,000 are predicted to be performed Obesity surgery has become big business, and medical centers have scrambled to start programs.

Researchers expressed their concerns over the operations being performed on children and teenagers and the number of doctors who were not properly trained and performing the surgeries.
Also, due to the drastic changes in the digestive system, most patients required heavy counseling on how to eat properly and which vitamins to take in order to avoid malnutrition or gaining the weight back. Reported risks of the surgery include bleeding, blood clots, bowel obstructions, and severe infections caused from leaks in the abdomen area where the stomach and small intestines had been cut open and sealed or reconnected.

Research showed that almost 30 percent of the people who had undergone the surgery experienced nutritional deficiencies that led to health conditions such as anemia and bone loss. Does it really make sense to pay $30,000 for an operation that is only necessary because people refuse to change their lifestyle and address the underlying causes of obesity, and undergo a surgery that is fraught with complications? It is far safer and better to treat morbid obesity with lifestyle and nutritional modifications. Lifestyle modifications needed for weight loss are well known: eat less, choose the right foods and exercise more. People however are less aware of certain equally important non drug and nonsurgical ways for weight reduction:

1. Hormonal supplementation with testosterone, Dihydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), progesterone and thyroid hormone in older people. Lack of these essential hormones are responsible for insulin resistance, a cause of adult diabetes and obesity. These can be supplied in the form of bioidentical hormones— hormones that are identical in molecular structure to the hormones made in the body. They’re not found in this form in nature but are made, or synthesized, from a plant chemical extracted from yams and soy. Technically, the body can’t distinguish bioidentical hormones from the ones your organs produce. Many of these hormones are FDA-approved and available with a prescription at your local drugstore.

2. Tryptophan which has been banned for years by the FDA is now again available to the public and is a useful adjuvant in weight loss treatment. Obese patients have been shown to have low levels of tryptophan. Tryptophan allows your brain to produce serotonin, a substance responsible for satiety. Serotonin stops you from overeating.

3. Fiber, such as oats and barley which are rich in Beta glucans are another natural and effective means of reducing weight. Fiber adds bulk to food and causes satiety. In addition, it reduces the absorption of carbohydrates and calories. It has also been proven to blunt the post meal surge in glucose and insulin in the blood stream, decreasing the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

4. There are now natural substances that have been shown to increase body metabolism even while at resting state. Pomegranate seed oil and fucoxanthine, a carotenoid derived from seaweed are two powerful adjuncts to your weight loss plan. These two will burn your fat, especially the dangerous form of fat around your abdomen and around your abdominal organs even while you are sleeping.

5. Choose the right kind of foods. Avoid saturated fat and trans fat and avoid overcooking your foods at high temperatures. Foods cooked at temperatures over 250 degrees have been shown to damage body proteins and cause free radical damage to our tissues.

6. Increase insulin sensitivity by taking nutrients such as chromium and magnesium. Grapefruit has been shown to help obesity and diabetes by reducing levels of insulin and glucose. They believe the enzymes found in grapefruit affect the way the body deals with sugar and makes it less likely to be laid down as fat. This may help the body to use food for energy more efficiently and reduce the amount as stored fat, they explain. Because of this finding, researchers say eating grapefruit may help protect obese people from diabetes.

A comprehensive non surgical fat-loss program which includes improving insulin sensitivity, achieving youthful hormone balance, controlling the rate of carbohydrate absorption, increasing physical activity, normalizing brain serotonin, restoring energy expenditure rate, and adopting a long-term healthy eating strategy is a safer and better choice than obesity surgery.

Dr. Ray Ricardo is a board certified pathologist and has been in practice for 35 years. He trained at New York University, Bellevue Medical center and N.Y. Veterans Medical Hospital. His main interest and subspecialty is Immunopathology. He is currently chairman and president of Totalmed Corporation http://www.totalmedsubic.com, a health delivery company and International College of Integrative Medicine, a teaching and training institution for complementary medicine.

You Should Discover The Rewards Of A Natural Health Existence

2009-10-04T08:23:00.000-07:00

By: Ferdy Wise

You may consider it odd, that nowadays when lots of people are well informed, they don't treat their bodies with the respect they deserve. Absurdly, the body is regularly abused by the deliberate, or passive, intake of pollutants, to the extent that it compels you to doubt whether you have received appropriate advice. It seems to have failed, insofar as dealing with natural health is concerned, and also in equipping people to avert health problems, that are usually created by themselves.

Contrary to building up their own defensive mechanisms, some people have come to depend upon professional assistance if anything goes wrong. Many of them seem unconcerned that systematic neglect, or lack of exercise, or eating the wrong foods is responsible for their present incapacity. There is no doubt that people very often don't give a reasonable amount of time to caring for their most valuable possession, their own well-being. You can only get away with not caring for yourself properly for so long, before there are noticeable effects. People may then look to orthodox medicine for an instant fix, being unaware that if it helps, it may not be for long, if they don't change and look after their natural health.

Strangely, there is a body of opinion that is inclined to dismiss complementary medicine as rubbish, or at least not proven to be of any real benefit. Ancient developments in medicine have created Acupuncture, Yoga, Transcendental Meditation, and other techniques that are broadly considered useful in Western countries. Did you know that there are highly regarded insurance companies, in the USA, who reduce life insurance premiums for those who practice transcendental meditation? Almost everybody accepts that acupuncture relieves pain, and it is apparent that some Western doctors, include some kind of Eastern treatment in their practices.

Your natural health is set in motion, on the day you are born. Nowadays, in the self-styled developed world, the majority of babies are born healthy. If they are less lucky, first-rate care and services are frequently available. Every healthy person should be persuaded to assume some liability for their own health, and not constantly think of themselves as patients to be dealt with by doctors. We would all agree that it is a comfort to know that a doctor is obtainable if circumstances arise, but preferable to prevent that possibility by adopting a natural health way of life, and doing all you can to apply what you learn, and obtain the benefits.

Adopting a natural health lifestyle, that includes wholesome food, and healthy exercise in the company of others is a recipe for success. A great British stand up comic had a hit song that began, happiness, happiness, the greatest gift you can possess, and on this occasion he wasn't trying to be funny. Happiness is an important part of being well, that conveys confidence, which is exactly opposite to being depressed, agitated, and downtrodden. You deserve congratulating if you have already enjoyed the benefits that natural health can bring, but if this is not the case there has never been as good a time to participate.

Contrary to strengthening their own defensive mechanisms, many people have come to depend upon professional assistance if anything goes wrong. Some of them appear not to realize that prolonged abuse, or lack of exercise, or eating the wrong foods has contributed to their inability to cope. It is for sure that people commonly do not spare a reasonable amount of time to caring for their most precious asset, their own well-being.

Ferdy Wise writes articles on antioxidants, herbal remedies, allergies and vegetarianism. If you require to know about natural health please visit his web site http://www.naturalhealthforall.com that contains advice regarding natural health foods, and related natural health information.

Your Wallets Best Friend Alternative Home Remedies

2009-10-03T08:20:00.000-07:00

By: Marcilio David

Alternative home remedies are the answer to many people faced with tough decisions and situations concerning health care in these difficult economic times. With the cost of health care and medicine rising and insurance becoming harder to afford people are needing help and many are finding it through some of the oldest methods of health care around. They are turning to alternative home remedies and methods of taking care of themselves.

Many alternative home remedies involve ingredients that are already around your house or are easily attainable and are also very affordable. They are usually quite natural and have been used by people in many situations for hundreds and sometimes thousands of years. There are treatments that have been used by cultures worldwide. Some may be recent discoveries but whatever the case, people are using them to live a healthier life.

In alternative home remedies the goal is to use the chemicals present in natural products like herbs and other plants and some foods to help combat the health problems that people have. They can be used to fight infection or inflammation. Alternative home remedies can be used to lessen pain and doing all of this without turning your body into a walking pharmacy. While more conventional doctors and medicines can help with more chronic conditions, many other conditions can be dealt with naturally and much more healthfully.

Some alternative home remedies can be used to treat ailments. Others are used to promote a healthier lifestyle, making your body much more resistant to the toxins that they come in contact with on a daily basis. Some of the many alternative home remedies that you will find will be for things like toothaches, bronchitis, and peptic ulcers.

For toothaches, take a clove of garlic and a little rock salt put on the affected tooth will not only relieve the pain but may also stop it. Also clove works at relieving tooth pain and decreasing infection. Either chew one or apply clove oil to the hurting area.

For bronchitis and many other home remedies a very powerful herb that is used is turmeric, which is a close relative of ginger. Turmeric powder, about a half teaspoon's worth, should be placed in a half glass of milk about 2 or 3 times a day. This will work better when done on an empty stomach.

When you are afflicted with peptic ulcers, one of the alternative home remedies that you may want to try uses a banana. There is a compound within bananas that very little is known about other than the effect it has on ulcers. Bananas will neutralize the over-acidity of the gastric juices and it will also lessen the ulcer's irritation by coating the stomach lining. If the condition is advanced your diet should consist of a couple bananas with a glass of milk a few times a day.

There are many alternative home remedies available to those who wish to not only save money but try to treat their bodies in a better way while fighting some of the most common ailments faced daily.

Alternative home remedies are the answer to many people faced with tough decisions and situations concerning health care in these difficult economic times. With the cost of health care and medicine rising and insurance becoming harder to afford people are needing help and many are finding it through some of the oldest methods of health care around.

Marcilio David is a cardiologist and internet entrepreneur, he is the owner of The Smart Weight Loss Guide

Natural Diagnosis

2009-10-02T08:15:00.001-07:00

By: Tiggy Max

Finding the root cause of a condition or illness one always wants to know exactly what is going on and what has caused it. .In both natural and mainstream medicine there are approaches which can be used to establish the cause of a complaint. Some of these address the current, acute condition. Others are more thorough and are able to isolate the long term cause. So what are the various screening methods available.

Laboratory tests are the staple of most practitioners. There are a wide choice of analytical facilities a and some practitioners may even send samples abroad to a laboratory they know and trust. Blood tests can detect a large variety of pathogens and other foreign bodies and biological imbalances. But results hinge upon what you ask the laboratory to test for. A large number of conditions can be screened for by analysing just one blood sample. But results from most blood tests normally fall into two categories: firstly there can be incontrovertible evidence of the presence of certain biochemical patterns and entities and secondly where - markers - indicate the presence of something else. Markers are biochemicals which point to the presence of other biochemicals will usually accompany the particular marker. The second method of analysis is no means infallible. Although blood testing can be the best source of physiological information, it is largely dependent upon what analytical parameters are requested of the laboratory, which they will then test for.

Urine tests are useful in revealing blood sugar levels, toxin and heavy metal content as well as several pathogenic conditions. Although a valid method, it can detect free radical activity, oxidative stress and is also helpful for early of diabetes, urine testing is essentially a snapshot of what is going on with the body. It will not normally give indicators to the practitioner of the possible location or thing that is causing the physiological imbalance.

Saliva testing is useful in revealing acid-alkaline balance, enzymal activity, hormonal imbalance and the presence of some toxins.

The highly expensive hospital machines available can often detect a huge array of pathogenic conditions but are not always easy to get access to and even then are often followed by a request for a biopsy. Having a steel implement shoved into you after just having been on a multi-million dollar machine somehow does not make sense.

In bioimpedance screening a low voltage circuit is conducted through the patient's body. Readings are then taken on acupoints. Each acupoint is on a meridian line and relates to a particular organ or function of the body. Software then interprets the readings, pinpointing areas of inflammation, normal function or cellular deterioration. Bioimpedance testing allows the practitioner to observe the status of organs, glandular activity and much more. Additionally, the energy signatures of many other items are stored within the bioimpedance machine and can be introduced into the circuit. For instance, the energy signature of mercury could be activated to see if there is a response within the patient's physiology. If the software indicates a response to mercury then the practitioner knows there is heavy metal toxicity relating to this particular element. This type of screening is a good point of entry for any practitioner or patient. The key is distinguishing symptoms or consequences from the initial cause and bioimpedance genuinely offers this.

Finding the root cause of a condition or illness one always wants to know exactly what is going on and what has caused it. .

Tigg Max has worked in nutraceutical development for over twenty years. During this time she has delivered seminars all over the world. Bioimpedance and its use in the detection of illnesses has been here key area of research . With specialised equipment, based on Dr Voll's principles, she has tested several developments in nutraceuticals to establish their efficacy and suitability for specific conditions.
http://www.vitalitydirect.net/

How To Understand You Have Acid Reflux Disease Symptoms

2009-09-30T06:02:00.000-07:00

by: Md. Mizanur Rahman

Acid reflux disease symptoms:which the stomach acids abnormally reflux into the esophagus. This phenomenon is irregularly experienced by most people, most especially after eating.

Our body uses gastric and stomach acids to break down the food that we eat. Normally, behind the digestion in the stomach, the food is delivered by the digestive muscles to the heart for extra digestion. But in patients who have acid reflux symptoms, the acidic stomach contents are moved back to the esophagus, which then causes inflammation. Cigarettes, alcohol, caffeine, pregnancy, and oily foods are some factors which worsens acid reflux conditions.

Our present information about acid reflux based on medical researches tells us that this disease is common in men as it is in women. There is no sexual preference. Moreover, the prevalence of acid reflux is more frequent in people of 40 years of age or more.

symptoms of acid reflux disease may be typical or atypical. But based on the diagnosis of acid reflux patients, only 70% of those who have this disease manifest typical symptoms.

Typical or esophageal symptoms concern indicators which are related with the esophagus. Such acid reflux disease symptoms include the following:

Heartburn. This is a condition in which the disease feels a painful burning feeling in the esophagus. The pain often develops in the chest and may swell to the neck or throat. This is most probable to occur in relation with these activities: after a heavy meal, lifting, bending over, and lying down. Based on one study, about 75% of acid reflux patients experience this symptom at night. These nigh-time patients also tend to experience more harsh pain than those whose symptom occurs at other times.

Dyspepsia. Researches show that about half of acid reflux patients have dyspepsia. This is a syndrome which consists of pain and distress in the upper abdomen, nausea after a meal, and stomach fullness. It is not a rule however, that those who have dyspepsia have acid reflux.

Regurgitation. This is when the gastric contents back up into the pharynx and frequently as far as the mouth. In cases here the acids have spilled into the tracheobronchial shrub, respiratory complications can be stimulated.

There are many instances, yet, that acid reflux patients do not demonstrate symptoms such as regurgitation and heartburn. Instead, they experience atypical or added esophageal symptoms which include the following:

Throat Symptoms. Although it does not often happen, acid reflux patients suffer from symptoms that occur in the throat. Hoarseness, the feeling of having all in the throat, dry cough are undergone by those who have acid laryngitis, a throat symptom. Patients can also have difficulty in swallowing, a condition known as dyspepsia. In critical cases, the food may get trapped in the throat or even choke, which can result to a severe chest pain. Other throat symptoms are chronic sore throat and persistent hiccups.

Vomiting and Nausea. When a patient suffers from nausea which persists for weeks, he may have acid reflux. There are few instances where vomiting can occur as often as once a day.

Respiratory Symptoms. Coughing and wheezing are counted as respiratory symptoms. These result from the overrunning of the stomach acids into the tracheobronchial tree creating bronco constriction.

There are many casual acid reflux disease symptoms that can be very irritating and are repeatedly confused as heart attack. This may be more true if you are experiencing these things at night or after eating specific foods.

Author Mizanur Rahman has been researching about natural remedy for acid reflux for over a year now.
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