Sunday, May 31, 2015

What Will Happen If You Stop Drinking Coffee for a Month

Reposted from Health and Love Page
http://www.healthandlovepage.com/stop-drinking-coffee-for-a-month/

(HealthAndLovePage) If you suffer from dermatological problem such as acne or an inflammatory process, you should stop drinking coffee.

The journalist Deven Hopp quit consuming coffee and the results surprised her.

He had dermatological problem and got the dermatologist’s advice to stop drinking coffee for 24 days. Coffee, actually, has a high amount of caffeine containing harmful acids and that is the reason why it is the cause for most of the skin problems. Consummation of large amount of coffee dehydrates the skin and it acts as a diuretic.

The results of Deven Hopp’s experiment are interesting. After the first week without consummation of coffee, pimples decreased and her face began to subside. After the third week her skin was not completely transformed, but pores were tightened and her face was visibly hydrated. Deven wanted to be satisfied with her skin appearance, so that is why she decided to stop consuming coffee for a long time.

At the beginning she thought she would not be able survive the day without her daily caffeine dose, but she did it. After 24 days she again accepted the challenge – not to consume coffee for another 24 days.

Friday, May 29, 2015

Histamine Intolerance, Fermented Foods and Acne

Reposted from The Healthy Home Economist

http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/histamine-intolerance-fermented-foods-acne/

By Carla Hernandez NTP, Wise Roots Nutrition
We have known since the 1930’s that beneficial bacteria, especially Lactobacillus acidophilus found in fermented foods, can help heal intestinal permeability. This condition is better known as leaky gut. The research clearly shows that foods rich in probiotics are an essential component in maintaining clear skin and avoiding problems with acne.
But what about those with histamine intolerance?
This condition, in fact, may be an important caveat to watch out for with regard to consumption of fermented foods and those prone to skin breakouts.

Histamine Intolerance and Fermented Foods

Histamine is a chemical your body produces as a result of an allergic reaction. The release of histamine frequently can express itself on the surface of the skin through a number of symptoms, including but not limited to hives, eczema, rosacea and acne.
Interestingly, the histamine molecule along with the amino acids tyrosine and arginine all have an effect on vasculature (blood flow), and have been linked to contribute to migraine headaches. Too much tyramine in the diet can increase blood pressure, whereas too much arginine reduces blood pressure.

Fermented foods are one of the biggest sources of histamines. Those who have yet to see an improvement with other suggestions and diet changes to address their acne, may have a histamine intolerance and benefit greatly from avoiding histamine and histamine releasing foods.

The enzyme DAO (Diamine Oxidase) metabolizes histamine, and research shows that those who are sensitive to foods high in histamine may produce low levels of this enzyme. In addition, people with low levels of DAO typically have other digestive concerns too, such as intestinal permeability, SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) and/ or possibly other gut related symptoms and conditions.
Although there is not direct evidence linking acne to foods high in histamine, there are studies that show improvement of Atopic Dermatitis when a low histamine diet is adopted.
Furthermore, I have personally experimented with a diet low in histamine, arginine and tyrosine and have experienced reduced irritation in the skin and minimizing of breakouts. This same improvement was noted with several of my clients with difficult to eradicate acne issues.

Acne and Possible Diet Stressors

Any form of stress causes inflammation, and eating foods promoting inflammation can certainly cause acne, even without the exposure to acne causing bacteria.
This is why traditional ways to treat acne are not always effective. When inflammation occurs, stress hormones trigger the release of histamine, which in turn can irritate the skin for those with a histamine intolerance. For some tougher acne cases, this may be the body’s way of expressing its reaction when consuming foods high in these substances.

Foods to Avoid
There are many foods containing a mixture of histamine and tyrosine, and that’s because histamine induces tyrosine production, which specifically includes foods that are aged, cured, smoked and fermented.

I’m a big proponent of self experimentation when it comes to diet and what works for an individual. A typical elimination diet would exclude the most common food suspects and sensitivities, but if you haven’t noticed an improvement with this in your skin, the following foods are worth avoiding, as they are some of the highest in histamine and histamine releasing foods:

Beverages: Teas, regular coffee, sodas, beer, wine, cider, kombucha, and milk.
Fruits: Citrus fruits, pineapple, peaches, nectarines, cranberries, strawberries, raspberries, avocados, dates, raisins, plums and papaya, olives, bananas, and tomatoes.
Vegetables: Cabbage, tomatoes, eggplant, pickles, spinach, and fermented vegetables such as sauerkraut.
Dairy: Aged cheeses, such as cheddar, brie and blue cheese (think smelly cheeses), and fermented dairy such as yogurt, kefir and buttermilk.
Spices: Cinnamon, anise, curry powder, hot paprika and nutmeg.
Nuts and seeds: Peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, and walnuts.
Animal Protein (mainly smoked or cured meats):, Mahi Mahi, tuna, sardines, cured meat like bacon, ham, deli meat, sausages, hot dogs, jerky, pepperoni.
Misc: Chocolate, cocoa powder or chocolate-derived ingredients, artificial additives/ flavors/ dyes, soy sauce, wheat germ, vinegars of all kind, miso, ketchups and mustards.
Because many of the foods on the list above are fermented, which can provide the good bacteria in order to strengthen gut and immunity health, a probiotic supplement is an appropriate choice for people who have a histamine intolerance or sensitivity. Click here for an article that details how to choose the best one for your situation.
Complete avoidance of these foods is difficult to do and not necessary forever. Eliminating them for at least a month should give you a good idea as to whether your body is being affected or not by histamine sensitivity.
Afterwards, you can reintroduce these foods back into your diet slowly. It’s important to note and keep in mind that some people will react more specifically to histamine, where others may be affected more or equally to tyrosine or arginine, or possibly have no reaction at all.
Be patient, listen and see how you’re body responds, as this is the ultimate test to know what will bring you the results you’re looking to achieve both in your skin and overall health.

Thursday, May 28, 2015

The Truth About Coconut Oil: 10 Facts You Need To Know

Reposted from Eat Local Grown

http://cdn.eatlocalgrown.com/2-coconut-oil.html

Coconut oil is one of the few foods that can be classified as a “superfood.” Its unique combination of fatty acids can have profound positive effects on health. This includes fat loss, better brain function and various other amazing benefits.
Here are the top 10 health benefits of coconut oil that have been experimentally confirmed in human studies.

1. Coconut Oil Contains a Unique Combination of Fatty Acids With Powerful Medicinal Properties

Coconut oil has been demonized in the past because it contains saturated fat. In fact, coconut oil is one of the richest sources of saturated fat known to man, with almost 90% of the fatty acids in it being saturated (1).
However, new data is showing that saturated fats are harmless. Many massive studies that include hundreds of thousands of people prove that the whole “artery-clogging” idea was a myth (2).
Additionally, coconut oil doesn’t contain your average run-of-the-mill saturated fats like you would find in cheese or steak.
No, they contain so-called Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) – which are fatty acids of a medium length.
Most of the fatty acids in the diet are so-called long-chain fatty acids, but the medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil are metabolized differently.
They go straight to the liver from the digestive tract, where they are used as a quick source energy or turned into so-called ketone bodies, which can have therapeutic effects on brain disorders like epilepsy and Alzheimer’s.
Bottom Line: Coconut oil contains a lot of medium chain triglycerides, which are metabolized differently and can have therapeutic effects on several brain disorders.

2. Populations That Eat a LOT of Coconut Are Among The Healthiest People on The Planet



Coconut is kind of an “exotic” food in the Western world, primarily consumed by health conscious people.
However, in some parts of the world, coconut is a dietary staple that people have thrived on for many generations.
The best example of such a population is the Tokelauans, which live in the South Pacific.
They eat over 60% of their calories from coconuts and are the biggest consumers of saturated fat in the world.
These people are in excellent health, with no evidence of heart disease (3).
Another example of a population that eats a lot of coconut and remains in excellent health is the Kitavans (4).
Bottom Line: Plenty of populations around the world have thrived for multiple generations eating massive amounts of coconut.

3. Coconut Oil Can Increase Your Energy Expenditure, Helping You Burn More Fat

Obesity is currently one of the biggest health problems in the world.
While some people think obesity is only a matter of calories, others (myself included) believe that the sources of those calories are critical too.
It is a fact that different foods affect our bodies and hormones in different ways. In this regard, a calorie is NOT a calorie.
The medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) in coconut oil can increase energy expenditure compared to the same amount of calories from longer chain fats (56).
One study found that 15-30 grams of MCTs per day increased 24 hour energy expenditure by 5%, totalling about 120 calories per day (7).
Bottom Line: The medium chain triglycerides in coconut oil have been shown to increase 24 hour energy expenditure by as much as 5%, potentially leading to significant weight loss over the long term.

4. The Lauric Acid in Coconut Oil Can Kill Bacteria, Viruses and Fungi, Helping to Stave Off Infections

Almost 50% of the fatty acids in coconut oil is the 12-carbon Lauric Acid.
When coconut oil is enzymatically digested, it also forms a monoglyceride called monolaurin.
Both lauric acid and monolaurin can kill harmful pathogens like bacteria, viruses and fungi (8).
 
For example, these substances have been shown to kill the bacteria Staphylococcus Aureus (a very dangerous pathogen) and the yeast Candida Albicans, a common source of yeast infections in humans (910).
Bottom Line: The fatty acids and breakdown products in coconut oil can kill harmful pathogens, potentially helping to prevent infections.

5. Coconut Oil Can Kill Your Hunger, Making You Eat Less Without Even Trying

One interesting feature of coconut oil is that it can reduce your hunger.
This may be related to the way the fatty acids in it are metabolized, because ketone bodies can have an appetite reducing effect (11).
In one study, varying amounts of medium and long chain triglycerides were fed to 6 healthy men.
The men eating the most MCTs ate 256 fewer calories per day, on average (12).
Another study in 14 healthy men discovered that those who ate the most MCTs at breakfast ate significantly fewer calories at lunch (13).
These studies were small and only done for a short period of time. If this effect were to persist over the long term, it could have a dramatic influence on body weight over a period of several years.
Bottom Line: The fatty acids in coconut oil can significantly reduce appetite, which may positively affect body weight over the long term.

6. The Fatty Acids in Coconut Oil Are Turned into Ketones, Which Can Reduce Seizures

A so-called ketogenic (very low carb, very high fat) diet is currently being studied to treat various disorders.
The best known therapeutic application of this diet is treating drug-resistant epilepsy in children (14).
This diet involves eating very little carbohydrates and large amounts of fat, leading to greatly increased concentrations of ketone bodies in the blood.
For some reason, this diet can dramatically reduce the rate of seizures in epileptic children, even those who haven’t had success with multiple different types of drugs.
Because the MCTs in coconut oil get shipped to the liver and turned into ketone bodies, they are often used in epileptic patients to induce ketosis while allowing for a bit more carbs in the diet (1516).
Bottom Line: The MCTs in coconut oil can increase blood concentration of ketone bodies, which can help reduce seizures in epileptic children.

7. Coconut Oil Can Improve Blood Cholesterol Levels and May Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease

Coconut oil is loaded with saturated fats, which actually do not harm the blood lipid profile like previously thought.
Saturated fats raise HDL (the good) cholesterol and change the LDL cholesterol to a benign subtype (1718).
In one study in 40 women, coconut oil reduced Total and LDL cholesterol while increasing HDL compared to soybean oil (19).
There are also rat studies showing that coconut oil reduces triglycerides, total and LDL cholesterol, increases HDL and improves blood coagulation factors and antioxidant status (2021).
This improvement in cardiovascular risk factors should theoretically lead to a reduced risk of heart disease over the long term.
Bottom Line: Studies in both humans and rats show that coconut oil improves important risk factors like Total, LDL and HDL cholesterol, which may translate to a reduced risk of heart disease.

8. Coconut Oil Can Protect Hair Against Damage, Moisturize Skin and Function as Sunscreen

Coconut oil can serve various purposes that have nothing to do with eating it.
Many people are using it for cosmetic purposes and to improve the health and appearance of their skin and hair.
Studies on individuals with dry skin show that coconut oil can improve the moisture and lipid content of the skin (22).
Coconut oil can also be very protective against hair damage and one study shows effectiveness as sunscreen, blocking about 20% of the sun’s ultraviolet rays (2324)
Another application is using it like mouthwash in a process called oil pulling, which can kill some of the harmful bacteria in the mouth, improve dental health and reduce bad breath (252627).
Bottom Line: Coconut oil can be applied topically as well, studies showing it to be effective as a skin moisturizer and protecting against hair damage. It can also be used as a mild form of sunscreen and as mouthwash.

9. The Fatty Acids in Coconut Oil Can Boost Brain Function in Alzheimer’s Patients

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia worldwide and occurs primarily in elderly individuals.
In Alzheimer’s patients, there appears to be a reduced ability to use glucose for energy in certain parts of the brain.
Ketone bodies can supply energy for the brain and researchers have speculated that ketones can provide an alternative energy source for these malfunctioning cells and reduce symptoms of Alzheimer’s (28).
In one 2006 study, consumption of medium chain triglycerides lead to an immediate improvement in brain function in patients with milder forms of Alzheimer’s (29).
Other studies support these findings and medium chain triglycerides are being intensively studied as potential therapeutic agents in Alzheimer’s disease (3031).
Bottom Line: Studies show that the fatty acids in coconut oil can increase blood levels of ketone bodies, supplying energy for the brain cells of Alzheimer’s patients and relieving symptoms.

10. Coconut Oil Can Help You Lose Fat, Especially The Dangerous Fat in Your Abdominal Cavity

Given that coconut oil can reduce appetite and increase fat burning, it makes sense that it can also help you lose weight.
Coconut oil appears to be especially effective in reducing abdominal fat, which lodges in the abdominal cavity and around organs.
This is the most dangerous fat of all and is highly associated with many Western diseases.
Waist circumference is easily measured and is a great marker for the amount of fat in the abdominal cavity.
A study in 40 women with abdominal obesity, supplementing with 30 mL (1 ounce) of coconut oil per day lead to a significant reduction in both BMI and waist circumference in a period of 12 weeks (19).
Another study in 20 obese males noted a reduction in waist circumference of 2.86 cm (1.1 inches) after 4 weeks of 30 mL (1 ounce) of coconut oil per day (32).
This number may not seem too impressive on the surface, but be aware that these people aren't adding exercise or restricting calories. They’re losing significant amounts of abdominal fat simply by adding coconut oil to their diet.

11. Anything Else?

If you want to enjoy the immense health benefits of coconut oil, then make sure to choose organic, virgin coconut oil… NOT the refined stuff.
This is really just the tip of the iceberg. People are using coconut oil for all sorts of things with incredible success.

Monday, May 25, 2015

Natural Insect Repellents

Reposted from Dr. Mercola

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/05/25/natural-insect-repellents.aspx?x_cid=20150525_nonlead2_natural-insect-repellents_facebookdoc



By Dr. Mercola
Biting insects can put a damper on your summer fun, not to mention potentially transmit diseases like Lyme disease and West Nile Virus. The majority of US adults (75 percent) said they are actually more concerned about such diseases than they are about potentially dangerous chemicals in insect repellent.1
Still, most people also told Consumer Reports that safety is important when choosing an insect repellent, and only one-third believe products on the market are safe for adults (and only 23 percent considered them safe for kids).
Concern is well-justified, as DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) is used in hundreds of products, in concentrations of up to an astounding 100 percent. DEET has been shown to harm brain and nervous system function.
Children are particularly at risk for subtle neurological changes because their skin more readily absorbs chemicals in the environment, and chemicals exert more potent effects on their developing nervous systems.
DEET is not your only option for insect repellent, fortunately, and Consumer Reports tests have recently revealed natural alternatives that may be even more effective without the harsh side effects.

Picaridin and Lemon Eucalyptus Beat DEET for Repelling Insects

Consumer Reports recruited volunteers to test out spray-on repellents made of DEET, oil of lemon eucalyptus, picaridin, a chemical called IR3535, and products made with natural plant oils. After the repellents were applied and allowed to sit for 30 minutes, the volunteers reached into a cage containing (disease-free) mosquitoes or ticks.
Two products emerged on top and were able to keep mosquitoes and ticks away for at least seven hours: products that contained 20 percent picaridin or 30 percent oil of lemon eucalyptus. Picaridin resembles the natural compound piperine, an essential oil in black pepper.
However, picaridin is not a natural compound; it’s produced synthetically in the lab. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), picaridin does not carry the same neurotoxicity concerns at DEET, although it has not been tested much over the long term. They report:2
“Overall, EWG’s assessment is that Picaridin is a good DEET alternative with many of the same advantages and without the same disadvantages.”

Lemon Eucalyptus Is a ‘Biopesticide’ Repellent

Oil of lemon eucalyptus comes from the gum eucalyptus tree, but it is p-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD), its synthetic version with pesticidal properties, that is used as an insect repellent. While the term “PMD” is often used interchangeably with lemon eucalyptus oil, know that it is different from the “pure” unrefined oil, which is typically used in making fragrances.
The pure oil is not registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an insect repellant. PMD or the refined version, on the other hand, has a long history of use but only recently became important as a commercial repellent.
In 2000, the EPA registered oil of lemon eucalyptus or PMD as a “biopesticide repellent,” meaning it is derived from natural materials. Both lemon eucalyptus oil and picaridin are not actual repellents, but insteadmost likely work by masking the environmental cues that mosquitoes use to locate their target.
Side effects of both picaridin and lemon eucalyptus include potential skin or eye irritation, and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that picaridin should not be used on children under age 3. Urvashi Rangan, PhD, executive director of Consumer Reports’ Food Safety and Sustainability Center, said:
“They are not side-effect-free, but ‘those problems are much less severe than deet…’ Still, all repellents should be used sparingly and only for the time you need them—especially on children and older people.”

Why DEET-Containing Repellents Are Better Off Avoided

About 30 percent of Americans use DEET every year, but you should know that this chemical – though generally effective in keeping away insects – can have deadly repercussions. From 1961 to 2002, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry reports eight deaths related to DEET exposure.
Three of these resulted from deliberate ingestion, but five of them occurred following DEET exposure to the skin in adults and children.3 Psychological effects have also been reported including altered mental state, auditory hallucinations, and severe agitation.
In children, the most frequently reported symptoms of DEET toxicity reported to poison control centers were lethargy, headaches, tremors, involuntary movements, seizures, and convulsions. Further, in a study of more than 140 National Park Service employees, 25 percent reported health effects they attributed to DEET, including:4
RashesSkin or mucous membrane irritation
Transient numb or burning lipsDizziness
DisorientationDifficulty concentrating
HeadacheNausea
In addition, Duke University Medical Center pharmacologist Mohamed Abou-Donia spent 30 years researching the effects of pesticides. He discovered that prolonged exposure to DEET can impair cell function in parts of your brain -- demonstrated in the lab by death and behavioral changes in rats with frequent or prolonged DEET use. Other potential side effects DEET exposure include:
Memory loss HeadacheMuscle weakness and fatigue
Shortness of breathMuscle and joint painTremors
Another potentially harmful chemical found in many bug sprays is permethrin. This chemical is a member of the synthetic pyrethroid family, all of which are neurotoxins.
The EPA has even deemed this chemical carcinogenic, capable of causing lung tumors, liver tumors, immune system problems, and chromosomal abnormalities. Permethrin is also damaging to the environment, and it is particularly toxic to bees and aquatic life. It should also be noted that permethrin is highly toxic to cats.5

Non-Chemical Options to Keep Bugs Away from Your Barbecue

Consumer Reports also tested three non-chemical options for keeping pests away from a simulated backyard barbecue: a citronella candle, a portable diffuser with essential oils, or an oscillating pedestal fan set at its highest speed.

While neither the candle nor the diffuser showed much promise, the fan worked well, cutting mosquito landings by 45 percent to 65 percent among those sitting near the fan.
Similar results were found from the Consumer Reports survey, which found 45 percent of people who used fans to keep insects away reported them as “especially helpful” (compared to 31 percent of those who used candles).6
Naturally, the best way to avoid mosquito bites is to prevent coming into contact with them in the first place. You can avoid insect bites by staying inside between dusk and dawn, which is when they are most active.
Mosquitoes are also thicker in shrubby areas and near standing water. The American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) recommends the “Three Ds” of protection to prevent mosquito breeding on your property:7
  • Drain – Mosquitoes require water in which to breed, so carefully drain any and all sources of standing water around your house and yard, including pet bowls, gutters, garbage and recycling bins, spare tires, bird baths, etc.
  • Dress – Wear light colored, loose fitting clothing—long sleeved shirts and long pants, hats, and socks
  • Defend – While the AMCA recommends using commercial repellents, I highly recommend avoiding most chemical repellents for the reasons already discussed; try some of the natural alternatives instead, when necessary
Bat houses are another option since bats are voracious consumers of insects, especially mosquitoes. For more on buying a bat house or constructing one yourself, visit the Organization for Bat Conservation.8 Planting marigolds around your yard also works as a bug repellent because the flowers give off a fragrance that bugs dislike.

Enjoy the Outdoors with These Additional Natural Repellent Options

Body temperature and skin chemicals like lactic acid attract mosquitoes, which explains why you’re more likely to be “eaten alive” when you’re sweaty, such as during or after exercise, so trying to stay as cool and dry as you can may help to some degree. Some experts also recommend supplementing with one vitamin B1 tablet a day from April through October, and then adding 100 mg of B1 to a B100 Complex daily during the mosquito season to make you less attractive to mosquitoes. Regularly consuming garlic may also help protect against mosquito bites, as may the following natural insect repellants:
  • Cinnamon leaf oil (one study found it was more effective at killing mosquitoes than DEET9)
  • Clear liquid vanilla extract mixed with olive oil
  • Wash with citronella soap, and then put 100% pure citronella essential oil on your skin. Java Citronella is considered the highest quality citronella on the market
  • Catnip oil (according to one study, this oil is 10 times more effective than DEET10)
Another option is to use the safe solution I have formulated to repel mosquitoes, fleas, chiggers, ticks, and other biting insects. It's a natural insect spray with a combination of citronella, lemongrass oil, peppermint oil, and vanillin, which is a dynamite blend of natural plant extracts. In fact, an independent study showed my bug spray to be more effective than a product containing 100 percent DEET. And it's safe for you, your children, and your pets. You can also try using lemon eucalyptus oil to make a homemade insect repellent. Here is a recipe from Backpacking Spirit to try out:11
“Make your own mosquito repellent consisted of around 10% lemon eucalyptus oil. If you are using the essential (‘pure’) oil, note that it does not mix with water and will therefore require a carrier oil, such as hazel, vodka, or olive oil.
Procedure:
  • Obtain an appropriately sized bottle for travel; a 100 to 200 ml bottle will be a good choice. You may also go for a bottle that has a spritzer nozzle for easy application.
  • Choose your carrier oil
  • Use a measuring jug for more precise measurements.
  • Think 10% essential oil. If you are using a 100 ml bottle, mix 90 ml of your chosen liquid and 10 ml of lemon eucalyptus oil. If you are using a 200 ml bottle, mix 180 ml of liquid and 20 ml of essential oil.
  • Shake the bottle thoroughly before use.
  • Spritz onto skin and rub in.”

Treat Shingles Naturally

Reposted from Secretly Healthy

http://www.secretlyhealthy.com/treat-shingles-naturally/

If you have ever had shingles, you know that they can be really painful.
-They are a viral infection that are characterized by a rash with blisters.
-They typically occur in young adults and children and can be on any body part.
-They mostly appear on the side of the torso as a single strip.
-They are caused by the virus that causes chicken pox, known as the varicella-zoster virus.

Often it will not appear at the same time as chicken pox do, but decades later. If one has come down the the chicken pox, they still most likely have the virus. Shingles are not life threatening but are very painful to deal with. It is best to treat them as soon as they have been discovered.
There are many natural treatments for shingles. Please follow these treatments to see a reduction in the shingles:
· Avoid foods that contain arginine. These include sugars, blueberries, chocolates, peanuts, pecans, grapes, cashews, pumpkin seeds, tomatoes and brussel sprouts.

Eat food that contains Lysine, such as beans, asparagus, pineapple, pears, apples, figs and yogurt, as well as meat.
· Cat Claw’s extract can be taken three times per day in 1,000 mg doses.
· Consume flax seed oil. Just one tablespoon two times per day is sufficient.
· Garlic can be consumed or garlic extract can be taken. The extract should be taken in two pills twice per day. But it is found that eating fresh garlic is dishes is much better.
· Lemon balm can be applied to the shingles. A tea can be made by mixing 2 to 4 tablespoons of lemon balm in water and then applying the the spots.
· Reishi Mushroom extract will help to fight off infections. Simply take 500 mg three times per day to help fight the virus.
Source:
www.dailynutritionnews.com

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Why won't Big Pharma ever cure cancer? They reaped $100 billion on cancer drugs in 2014

Reposted from Natural News

http://www.naturalnews.com/049816_Big_Pharma_cancer_industry_medical_profits.html

NaturalNews) Critics of modern medicine have been particularly cynical when it comes to how serious the industry and medical science are in finding cures for some diseases, especially those which generate billions of dollars in profits annually for drug makers.

In 2012 alone, for instance, Americans spent $325.8 billion on medications, and that was a year when medication spending declined for the first time in decades.

Spending on cold and flu medications runs into the billions each year; so, too, does spending on cancer -- both illnesses that some see as too lucrative to cure.

As reported by Michael Snyder of the website End of the American Dream, Americans have a 1-in-3 chance of contracting some form of cancer in their lifetime. For men, the odds are closer to 1-in-2.

Further, almost everyone in the country either knows someone who has had cancer or has died from the disease. Snyder notes that it was not always this way.

"Back in the 1940s, only one out of every sixteen Americans would develop cancer. Something has happened that has caused the cancer rate in this nation to absolutely explode, and it is being projected that cancer will soon surpass heart disease and become the leading cause of death in the United States," Snyder wrote.

$100 billion a year for cancer care alone

In all, the World Health Organization has estimated that approximately 14 million new cancer cases are diagnosed around the world every year; the number of new cases is expected to balloon by nearly 70 percent over the next 20 years.

"There are very few words in the English language that cause more fear than the word 'cancer', but despite billions spent on research and all of the technological progress we have made over the years this plague just continues to spiral wildly out of control," wrote Snyder. "Why is that?"

Because, he said, there is profit in the disease.

As reported by NBC News, spending for cancer drugs and treatment topped $100 billion in 2014 -- a "new milestone." In fact, year-over-year spending on cancer rose 10 percent last year from 2013.

The IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics said that spending five years earlier was just $75 billion. The institute further noted that, between 2010 and 2014, 45 new cancer medications hit the market.

As NBC News reported:

Two of those are so-called immunotherapies, a hot new class that harnesses the immune system to fight cancer. They are Opdivo from Bristol-Myers Squibb and Keytruda from Merck. Both are priced at $12,500 a month.

Indeed, the number of Americans getting cancer has continued to climb for a century. As reported by Health Impact News, at the beginning of the 20th century 1 person in 20 would get cancer. By the 1940s, that figure had risen to 1 in 16; by the 1970s, 1 in 10. And again, today, that figure is 1 in 3.

"Disease care system"

The health news site also reported:

The cancer industry is probably the most prosperous business in the United States. In 2014, there will be an estimated 1,665,540 new cancer cases diagnosed and 585,720 cancer deaths in the US. $6 billion of tax-payer funds are cycled through various federal agencies for cancer research, such as the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The NCI states that the medical costs of cancer care are $125 billion, with a projected 39 percent increase to $173 billion by 2020.

Snyder -- and millions of other Americans -- understand that companies must turn a profit if they are to remain viable, and that, unfortunately, includes Big Pharma as well. But forcing Americans to pay more than $12,000 a month for cancer treatment seems a bit extreme, to say the least.

What's more, for all the money we're spending on traditional cancer care, the results are sketchy, at best.

"If you are diagnosed with cancer in America today and you choose to trust the medical system with your treatment, you can say goodbye to your financial future," wrote Snyder. "Even if you have health insurance, you will probably end up flat broke one way or the other. Either you will survive and be flat broke, or you will die flat broke."

What's more, despite the expense of treatments, cancer survival rates are still not optimal. Today, the five-year survival rate for those diagnosed with cancer is just 65 percent. That means the remaining 35 percent of cancer patients won't survive past that time frame; for certain forms of cancer, the death rates are extremely high.

One of the biggest reasons for our cancer rates, notes Natural News editor Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, is the toxic foods we eat.

As Adams noted as long ago as 2005, one of the biggest causes of cancer in America is our increasingly toxic diet -- even in places of health.

"There is truly dangerous food being served right now in cafeterias at cancer centers, hospitals, clinics, and, of course, public schools, all across the country," Adams wrote, noting that the nation's healthcare system was more like a "disease care system."

Sources:

http://endoftheamericandream.com

http://www.cbsnews.com

http://www.cnn.com

http://www.who.int

http://www.nbcnews.com

http://healthimpactnews.com

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/049816_Big_Pharma_cancer_industry_medical_profits.html#ixzz3b4Zehylh

Saturday, May 23, 2015

Hydrogen Peroxide — “Medical Miracle”

Reposted from The Truth about Cancer

http://thetruthaboutcancer.com/hydrogen-peroxide-medical-miracle/#

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) ranks up there as one of the best household remedies. Hydrogen peroxide is one of the few “miracle substances” still available to the general public; it is safe, readily available, and dirt cheap. And best of all, it works!

Did you know that you probably had your first sip of hydrogen peroxide shortly after you took your first breath? That’s right… mother’s milk (especially colostrum) contains extremely high concentrations of H2O2. In light of the fact that we know that one of the main functions of mother’s milk is to activate and stimulate the immune system in the infant, the fact that it contains abnormally large amounts of H2O2 makes sense.

As far back as the early nineteenth century, hydrogen peroxide was widely used in medicine. Many bacterial diseases (including syphilis) responded to H2O2 when no other treatment was effective. In the early twentieth century, H2O2 was used to treat several common diseases, such as whooping cough, cholera, typhoid fever, ulcers, tuberculosis, and asthma. However, as the pharmaceutical industry began to develop expensive, new drugs, hydrogen peroxide was increasingly ignored and finally discarded as a treatment.

H2O2 stimulates natural killer (NK) cells, which attack cancer cells as they attempt to spread throughout the body. In the body’s immune response, hydrogen peroxide is released by T-cells to destroy invading bacteria, viruses and fungi. Blood platelets release hydrogen peroxide on encountering particulates in blood. In the large intestine, acidophilus lactobacillus produces H2O2 which keeps the ubiquitous candida yeast from multiplying out of control. When candida spreads out of the intestine, it escapes the natural control system and can gain a foothold in the organs of the body, causing what is called chronic fatigue syndrome.

During flu season, if the kiddos feel like they’re getting sick, we lay them down on their side and put a few drops of hydrogen peroxide into their ear. After a few seconds, the liquid will bubble, indicating that it is killing the infection. After 5 or 10 minutes, we turn them over and repeat on the other ear. No one yet fully understands the complete workings of hydrogen peroxide, but we do know that it is loaded with oxygen.

We know that when H2O2 is taken into the body (orally or intravenously) the oxygen content of the blood and body tissues increases dramatically. Please remember that the hydrogen peroxide that is available at your local pharmacy (3% hydrogen peroxide) should NEVER be ingested orally, since it contains many stabilizers. The only grade recommended for internal use is 35% Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide, which must be properly diluted down to 3% with water. I use hydrogen peroxide each night before bed as a rinse and also a natural teeth whitener.

Monday, May 18, 2015

Blueberries Outperforming Pharmaceuticals In Reducing Blood Pressure

Reposted from Health Impact News

http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/dramatic-recovery-parkinson-s-patient-gluten-free-diet

by MAE CHAN
PreventDisease.com

Blueberries have been championed for their high antioxidant potential and anti-inflammatory properties. They are recognized as a good source of flavonoids, especially anthocyanins, which have strong antioxidative activity, some of which have antioxidant activity shown in laboratory studies. New research shows they can reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure and potentially better than pharmaceuticals.

The blood pressure relief comes from pterostilbene, a compound found in both grapes and blueberries. This antioxidant is chemically related to reservatrol, another heart-healthy compound that is found in the skin of grapes. Various studies have shown pterostilbene to have possible anti-cancer and anti-diabetes properties.

A growing body of research is also establishing blueberries as a potential ally to protect against diseases such heart disease and Alzheimer’s — so it’s no surprise that more and more people are picking blueberries than ever before!

Blood Pressure Benefits
Eight weeks of consuming a daily dose of 22 grams of freeze-dried blueberry powder resulted in 5.1% and 6.3% reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, wrote the researchers in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

“The potential is enormous,” said Dr. Anais Archambeault commenting on the study. “Many patients on antihypertensives experience less than a 5% decrease in overall blood pressure and here we clearly have a natural product that may eventually outperform well known drugs,” she said.

Dr. Archambeault claims that with the right nutriceutical prescription, blueberry powder in combination with other antioxidants may prove very effective for patients who don’t react well or benefit from blood pressure medication.

The benefits were also linked to an increase in levels of nitric oxide (NO), which were found to increase from 9.11 to 15.35 micromoles over the course of the study. NO is a potent vasodilator, helping to relax the walls of blood vessels and lower blood pressure.

“To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the effects of blueberries on arterial function as was done in this study, as well as in this study population,” said corresponding author Bahram Arjmandi, PhD. “These findings suggest that blueberries may prevent the progression to full-blown hypertension.”

“Considering the prevalence of hypertension in the US, preventive strategies such as dietary modifications (e.g. functional foods and dietary supplements) that aim to improve hypertension and its related complications are warranted.”

Growing Interest Based on Research
“Compelling” data published recently in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicated that blueberry flavonoids could boost endothelial function and enhance heart health.

Endothelial dysfunction may play an important role in the increases in blood pressure that occur after menopause. Further, endothelial dysfunction is known to increase arterial stiffness, which is involved in the development and progression of both hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

The exact way in which flavonoids affect the brain are unknown, but they have previously been shown to cross the blood brain barrier after dietary intake.

An acute dose of blueberries (300 grams) was found to be associated with an 18% decrease in DNA damage to blood cells due to oxidative stress, according to findings published in Nutrition Research.
A study appearing in ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, found that that although there are over 600 species of blueberries and blueberry-like fruits growing in Mexico, Central and South America, two types of neotropical blueberries were extreme super fruits — they had significantly more antioxidants than a type of blueberry commonly sold in U.S. supermarkets stores. The researchers say that these neotropical blueberries “have the potential to be even more highly promising edible fruits.”

Study Details
The Florida State researchers recruited 48 women to participate in their eight-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either 22 grams per day of freeze-dried blueberry powder or 22 grams of a control powder for eight weeks. This dose was equivalent to one cup of fresh blueberries.

The data showed that the blueberry powder was associated with significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

“The changes in blood pressure noted in this study are of clinical significance as they demonstrate that blood pressure can be favorably altered by the addition of a single dietary component (e.g. blueberries),” said lead author Sarah Johnson, PhD.

In addition, improvements in brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity were also reported. Pulse wave velocity is a non-invasive method for assessing arterial stiffness and has been shown to predict future cardiovascular events. In the current study, brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), which is a composite measure of central (aortic) and peripheral arterial stiffness, was significantly reduced after eight weeks in the blueberry-treated group, whereas there were no changes in the control group.

On the other hand, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), the best measure of aortic stiffness, did not change in either group. This suggests that peripheral arteries may be more responsive to dietary interventions than central arteries.

“This [study] suggests that regular consumption of blueberries over the long term could potentially delay the progression of hypertension and reduce cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women,” concluded the researchers.

The study was supported by the US Highbush Blueberry Council and the US Department of Agriculture.
Read the Full Article here.

Sources:

andjrnl.org

Thursday, May 14, 2015

What Eating Just One Ounce of Coconut Oil Per Day Does To Your Body

Reposted from Health and Love Page

http://www.healthandlovepage.com/uses-and-health-benefits-of-coconut-oil/

Coconut oil is a super food, although most people do not think that is truly one. Those who believe in the fact that coconut oil has many health benefits use it along with coconut milk, coconut flour, coconut water etc.

Health Benefits of Coconut Oil

Certain studies have confirmed these health benefits of coconut oil:
  1. Coconut oil contains a unique combination of fatty acids with powerful medicinal properties
Coconut oil is the richest source of fatty acids with medium length, known as medium-chain fatty acids. Your body metabolises these fats into the liver through the digestive tract and there it converts them into energy, or turns them into ketone bodies. The ketone bodies have therapeutic effects on the disorders of the brain.
  1. People that eat coconut belong to the healthiest population in the world
People from the South Pacific and New Guinea are the healthiest population, with no fear of heart disease that scares more countries. All over the world coconut is known to be an exotic fruit, however, in these countries coconut is a dietary staple and people take in 60% of their calories from it.
  1. Coconut oil can help you burn fat
Eating coconut oil increases the expenditure of energy, which burns the fat quickly. A study shown that the consumption of coconut oil reduces obesity, because it is easy to digest. For weight loss take one teaspoon of coconut oil per day.


  1. It contains lauric acid
50% of the fatty acids in the coconut are lauric acids. Your body converts Lauric acids into monolaurin that is helpful in beating fungi, viruses and also the bacteria named Candida Albicans, which is a source of most infections in people.
  1. Fatty acids can cure seizures and epilepsy
The fatty acids in the oil increase the concentration of the blood of the ketones and that leads to reducing seizures in children that suffer from epilepsy. The ketone bodies are used in patients that suffer from epilepsy in order to induce ketosis and allow more carbs in food.
  1. Coconut oil can control your hunger
The fatty acids that coconut oil contains can certainly reduce your feeling of hunger. This is because the converted ketone bodies have the effect of appetite-reducing. In a study were included 6 men, and they were given amounts of medium or long chain fatty acids. 256 fewer calories ate the men eating medium chain fatty acids.
  1. Cooks at high temperature
Coconut oil is a medium chain fatty acid, and because of that it gives the highest smoking temperature, while olive oil will oxidise at high temperature. So, you can count on coconut oil for your recipes that need high temperature to prepare.
  1. Coconut oil can moisturize skin
The coconut oil is useful for treatment for hydration of the skin, too. It prevents wrinkles and sagging skin. In order to do this treatment you should apply the virgin oil on your skin (face and body) for a shiny glow. The oil should be without additives.
  1. Coconut oil cures diabetes
Eating a teaspoon of virgin coconut oil can help you beat your need for sugar. It also helps to protect against insulin resistance and that is how it reduces the risk of diabetes. This was shown in a study that was done by Garvin Institute.
  1. It eases digestion
Add the coconut to your diet if you have poor digestion. The oil benefits the disorders of the digest such as tummy bugs and bowel syndrome. The bacteria, parasites and candida, which cause poor digestion, can be killed by the anti-microbial properties of the fatty acids of the coconut oil.


Tuesday, May 12, 2015

How to Make a Homemade Mosquito Repellent That Works

Reposted from Healthy, Holistic Living

http://www.healthy-holistic-living.com/mosquito-repellent.html

If you’re like me… you loathe mosquitoes. They’re pesky, buzzing, blood sucking summer burdens! I’m also unfortunately apart of the “delicious” population that mosquitoes tend to target most! Some of my friends don’t get bitten at all, while I struggle to keep my bite count for the night under 10!
Everybody, regardless of gender, age and race, releases 4 chemicals, one of which is called nonanal. This chemical (along with carbon dioxide) is what attracts the mosquito to you most. The reason some people get bit more than others is because everyone releases a different amount of nonanal.

Somehow, throughout all the years of being a tasty mosquito victim, I never found a bug spray that I truly trusted, until now!
Why would you waste all that money on store bought, brand name bug repellent when you can make a more effective, cost efficient version from home?
If you’re in the same boat as me, you really should try this homemade mosquito repellent, it allowed me to enjoy those beautiful summer evenings, and forget all about those irritating little beasts!

What you’ll need …

• 100 grams of fresh garlic clove
• 100 ml of baby oil
• ½ litre of isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol)
Place the garlic in a bowl with the alcohol and let sit for 4 days. You’ll get even better results if you remember to stir the mixture twice a day. At the end of the 4 days, add the baby oil and… voilá, homemade, bug repellent!
I put my repellent in an old twist top bottle so I could use it at a later date as well. The repellent is gentle enough to put on your skin but you only need a couple of drops in each of the popular biting area.
I find putting a couple drops on my wrists, ankles, back of the neck, and back of the knees keeps most of the mosquitoes away. However, you may get bitten in different areas than me so apply it where you think it’s necessary!

A major bonus about this particular repellent is that it also repels fleas! So if your dog is dealing with a bad flea problem, you can share it with your furry friend!
An important reminder: Be safe with this repellent. Like many other bug sprays, it contains harsh ingredients so you should not ingest it or put it anywhere near your eyes! I would recommend keeping it out of reach from your young children, and supervise them when they apply it. At the same time, it is significantly healthier than many of the store-bought repellents that you can find mass-distributed in your local grocery stores.

For those of you that prefer not to use baby oil or alcohol try this recipe:


  • Choose one of the following essential oils: Citronella, Clove, Lemongrass, Rosemary, Tea Tree, Cajeput, Eucalyptus, Cedar, Catnip, Lavender, Mint
  • Natural Witch Hazel
  • Distilled or boiled Water
Directions:
  1. Fill spray bottle (I used 8 ounce) 1/2 full with distilled or boiled water
  2. Add witch hazel to fill almost to the top
  3. Add 30-50 drops of essential oils to desired scent. The more oils you use, the stronger the spray will be.

Although mosquitoes are often thought of as a mere annoyance, they do carry extremely harmful diseases. The more bites you get, the more likely you are to contract diseases such as West Nile or Malaria. Finding a bug spray that works for you is important for your health and convenience.
Other than that, get back to the important things and have a wonderful, bug free evening outside!!

Sources:

http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/05/what_attracts_mosquitoes_to_ce.html
http://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2009/12/16/identifying-the-natural-chemical-that-attracts-mosquitoes-and-disease
http://www.insidescience.org/content/smelling-way-better-mosquito-management/744

After Reading, You Will Never Throw Away Eggshells

Reposted from the Health and Love Page

http://www.healthandlovepage.com/never-throw-away-eggshells/

Eggshells are a natural source of minerals. They contain zinc, copper, phosphorus, manganese, chromium, iron and molybdenum. Around 90% of its composition is calcium. According to its chemical composition, calcium from eggshells is identical with human bones and teeth and it is easily absorbed by the human body.
Calcium is essential for the bones health and the blood cells production. It helps in osteoporosis prevention, reduces high cholesterol and high blood pressure.


Experts recommend eating ¼ – ½ teaspoon (1.5 to 3 grams) of crumbled or finely grounded eggshells per day.

You Can Use Eggshells In The Following Cases

  1. Strengthening the immune system and blood cleansing
Wash the shells of five eggs, crumble or ground them finely and toss them into 12 cups (3 liters) of water. Put the mixture in the refrigerator for 7 days. Use this mixture as regular drinking water. We recommend 2-3 cups a day. You can add lemon juice for a better taste.

2.Thyroid gland

Take the shells of eight eggs and crumble or ground them finely. Pour the juice of two lemons over and leave them in the fridge for several days, until soften.  After several days, strain the mixture into a large bowl, pour 1 liter of homemade brandy and add 1 kg of honey. Mix well and leave it for 7 days in the refrigerator. Then consume a teaspoon, 2-4 times a day (after meals).

3.Gastritis, ulcer

Crumble a few eggshells and mix them with 2 tablespoons lemon juice. When the eggshells are soften, add ½ cup (1 dl.) of hot milk. Consume this mixture two times a day – in the morning on an empty stomach and at night, before sleeping.

Sources:

Seven Things You Need To Know About Fermented Foods

Reposted from Food Matters

http://foodmatters.tv/content/7-things-you-need-to-know-about-fermented-foods?fb_action_ids=962297480456047&fb_action_types=og.comments&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B648374448614949%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22og.comments%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D

1. Fermented Foods Help Fight Off DiseaseIt’s estimated that roughly 70% – 80% of your immune system is in your gut. Feed it poorly and your gut will be left with few defenses, easily overwhelmed by bad bacteria, wide open to disease-triggering inflammation and plagued by gastrointestinal ills like IBS-type symptoms (i.e., gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, etc.). In your weakened state, you may also be more susceptible to colds and flu. But, if you introduce good bacteria into the gastric mix via fermented foods, you’ll enable your gut to crush opportunistic invaders and disease-triggering inflammation, long before they can gain the upper hand. Simply put: A healthy, balanced gut can send illness packing.

2. Fill ‘er Up, Twice a Day

To fortify your gut, start incorporating small servings of fermented foods, once or twice a day. Toss fermented veggies like beets or sauerkraut into salads; enjoy them on their own; as a side dish or, if you’re feeling adventurous, consider adding a spoonful or two to your morning smoothie. I like adding a few fermented beet slices and a splash of beet juice to my berry smoothies, particularly on those days when I feel like my gut needs a boost.

3. Fermented Foods Can Save You Cash

Foods you ferment yourself can last for months, so there’s less waste, which helps save money in the long run. If you’re not the DIY type, commercially produced or store-bought fermented foods will also have a long, preservative-free shelf life, so they’re a pretty good deal too, even with the higher price. And did we mention that fermented foods also add great taste, nutrition and healthy bulk to every meal – so there’s less need to buy or eat insulin-spiking, low-nutrient filling foods like pasta, bread or potatoes.

4. They’re Alive – And They’re Busy

Fermented foods don’t just lounge around your belly doing nothing, they’re active! After you eat them, those bacterial armies get to work, helping to balance your gut bacteria and stomach acids; releasing enzymes to help ease and improve digestion – and make it easier for your body to extract and absorb more nutrients from the foods you eat. Another pleasant side effect of all that activity? Less constipation and easier elimination, drug and stimulant-free.

5. Go Ferment Yourself

While you can buy fermented products at most natural food stores and some supermarkets, fermenting is easy and inexpensive to do at home. You can ferment most edibles in the fruit and vegetable universe, but some come out better than others. So before you start, take a look some of the numerous blogs and books dedicated to the practice. Donna Schwenk’s book Cultured Food for Life: How to Make and Serve Delicious Probiotic Foods for Better Health and Wellness, is a great resource, as is Fermented Foods for Health: Use the Power of Probiotic Foods to Improve Your Digestion, Strengthen Your Immunity, and Prevent Illness, by Dierdre Rawlings, Ph.D., N.D.

6. Be A Smart Shopper – In Five Steps

If you’re not planning to “grow your own,” then here are a few pointers on what to look for when buying fermented foods. Your mission: to get the most active cultures for your buck. To do that, be on the lookout for:

  • KEEP COOL: Fermented foods are full of live organisms that must be kept cool to survive, so buy only fermented items in the refrigerated section of the store
  • IT IS WHAT IT IS: Fermented foods will, not surprisingly, have the phrase “fermented” printed somewhere on the label, so make sure it says so.
  • PUT IT OUT TO PASTURE: Be sure the label does not say “pasteurized” – because the pasteurization process wipes out the cultures you need to help fortify your gut.
  • FERMENTED AND PICKLED ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS: So don’t confuse the two – they’re not interchangeable. Pickled foods are exactly that – they’re pickled in liquids like vinegar or brine, but not fermented (unless it says otherwise on the label).
  • BUY ORGANIC: Look for fermented foods that are made from the best raw materials possible, namely those made from organic, non-GMO or locally farmed produce.

7. Get to Know The Classics

So what to buy or make yourself? Try a variety of fermented organic veggies and fruits – the possibilities are endless. Among the more popular ones to work into your daily diet:
Fermented beets, radishes, tomatoes, onions, garlic, kimchi, green beans and sauerkraut.

Condiments that have been fermented (either at home or commercially), such as ketchup, relish, salsa, chutney and hot sauce make great meal-time add-ons.
For dairy-eaters, fermented yoghurts, kefir, cultured buttermilk and some cheeses are good options. Non-dairy eaters can try fermented yoghurt made with coconut milk as a tasty alternative.

And while natto, miso, tempeh, tofu and soy sauce are popular fermented foods, generally I advise my patients to avoid them as they tend to be heavily processed and are usually made with GMO soy.

Friday, May 8, 2015

10 benefits of Sea Salt

Reposted from Secretly Healthy

http://www.secretlyhealthy.com/sea-salt/

Sea salt restoring harmful cells and rejuvenates

Natural sea salt is formed from natural processes of evaporation of salt water, but the ingredients are preserved. That is why it is extremely healthy and helps in the prevention or treatment of many diseases or health problems.

Strengthens the immune system
The organism is more resistant to the allergies, viruses, flu, and other autoimmune diseases.

Alkalizing effect

Maintains the level of acid in the body, thus eliminating the potential risk for serious and life threatening disease.

Helps with weight loss

Makes digestive juices in the body, but the food is digested faster. Thus, it prevents accumulation in the digestive tract, which can lead to constipation and weight gain.

Skin Diseases

It relieves dry skin and itching, but works well against serious diseases such as psoriasis and eczema. The bath opens the pores, improves circulation in the skin and hydrates the tissue.

Asthma

Sea salt is effective for reducing inflammation in the respiratory tract. It slows down the production of mucus, which makes it easier to breathe. Apparently, putting a bit of sea salt on the tongue after you drinking a glass of water has the same effect as an inhaler.

Heart

A glass of water with sea salt can help reduce high blood pressure , high cholesterol levels and regulates the heartbeat. He’s a great fighter against atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke.

Diabetes

Sea salt can help to reduce the need for insulin, because it is good for maintaining proper blood sugar levels.

Osteoporosis

Just over a quarter of salt, which is located in the body is stored in bones. When the body lacks salt and water begins to ‘pull’ of sodium from the bones, which then can lead to osteoporosis. Thus, consuming plenty of water and entering the sea salt in moderation can help prevent osteoporosis.

Muscle cramps

A good source of calcium, therefore, facilitates the functioning of the muscle fibers. Effectively relieve pain and muscle spasms.

Depression

Proved to be extremely effective in treating various types of depression . It maintains levels of two hormones that are important in order to get better cope with stress. These hormones serotonin and melatonin, and they help you feel good, relaxed and have a better sleep.

Russian method that successfully restoring harmful cells and rejuvenates!

This super simple method helps the body as soon as possible to replace old and damaged cells with new ones (e.g., cells damaged by nitrate carcinogens, free radicals, heavy metals, radionuclides, and various other toxins), and also to remove the cancer cells and other challengers diseases in the organism.
This is done by stimulating the secretion of additional own gastric juice as follows:
Half an hour after a meal put on the tongue about 1 gram of salt. Wait a few minutes to dissolve the salt and swallow saliva. During the day you can repeat this process 1-10 times.

How and why this method works?
From this small amount of salt reflexively begins abundant secretion of gastric juice, which contains all the necessary ingredients for the elimination of harmful cells.

Sources for more information:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/09/20/salt-myth.aspx
http://www.naturalnews.com/033716_sea_salt_health_benefits.html
http://chriskresser.com/shaking-up-the-salt-myth-healthy-salt-recommendations

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

What Happens if You Eat a Little of This Hypnotic Powder before Bedtime

Reposted from The Health and Love Page

http://www.healthandlovepage.com/salt-and-sugar-hypnotic-powder/

(HealthAndLovePage) You should not take salt in large quantities, but it strengthen the immune system, reduces headache and increases the body energy.  Salt and sugar have not healthy properties. That’s why they are not recommended in large amounts.
However, they have positive sides too, especially the mix of salt and sugar, which is very good for your health. This explained Matt Stone in his book “Eat for Heat”, the author of many other books for metabolism and nutrition.


You are wondering why you are waking up at the middle of the night? According to a study,  42% of Americans reported waking up in the middle of the night and 29% finding it difficult to fall back asleep. There must be an answer. The reason is that you are literally under stress. Now when we found the answer, what is the solution? Salt and sugar!


This mix is “a must” for the stress that appears at night. It allows a production of energy and respiration of cells. Just put the mixture in your mouth below the tongue if you wake up at the middle of the night with a feeling of stress and adrenaline. The sugar will help you reduce the production of the stress hormones. Leave the salt and sugar mix close to your bed because these hormones are the reason why you wake up at night.
Using salt and sugar mixture to manage the stress is not considered as unhealthy, because the sugar does not have the effect of causing hyperactivity when is used in small quantities.


The best way to do this sweet and salty mixture is with sea salt and brown sugar. If you do not have brown sugar and sea salt, ordinary salt and sugar are also good way.
Hypnotic Powder Mix Ratio
  • 1 tablespoon of salt
  • 5 tablespoon of sugar
Put the ingredients in a baggie and shake it well. You need 2 minutes to do this.
After you do this, put a small pinch with your fingers, or a spoon under your tongue after you shake the bottle. You can do this before sleeping or when you wake up at night. This will put you back to sleep in no time.

 
 

Top 10 Food Lies That Keep Us Sick and Fat

Reposted from Dr. Mercola

http://eatlocalgrown.com/article/13790-food-lies-that-keep-us-sick-and-fat.html?t=dmr

When it comes to weight loss, there’s a ton of advice out there. The problem is, most of it is terrible, outdated and scientifically disproven. And if you believe it, it could be getting in your way.  So let’s take a look at the Top Ten Food Lies that keep you sick and fat.

Food Lie #1: All Calories Are Created Equal

When I walked into an 8th grade class recently, I asked if them if there was a difference between 1000 calories of broccoli and a 1000 calories of soda. You know what I heard? A unanimous, “Duh! Yes!”
The idea that, as long as we burn more calories than we consume, we will lose weight IS SIMPLY DEAD WRONG.  The lie is that losing weight is all about energy balance or calories in/calories out. Just eat less and exercise more is the mantra we hear from the food industry and government agencies. It’s all about moderation. How’s that working for America?
The truth is there are good and bad calories. And that’s because it’s more than a simple math problem.
When we eat, our food interacts with our biology, which is a complex adaptive system that instantly transforms every bite. Every bite affects your hormones, brain chemistry and metabolism. Sugar calories cause fat storage and spike hunger. Protein and fat calories promote fat burning.

What counts even more are the QUALITY of the calories.

What are high-quality calories? Whole foods – fresh foods, foods like great-grandma made. Good quality protein: grass-fed animal products (not factory farmed), organic eggs, chicken, small wild fish, nuts and seeds. Good carbs: vibrantly colored vegetables, the brighter the better (you can binge on these!). Fruits like wild berries, apples and kiwis. And super foods like chia and hemp seeds. And good fats like avocado, extra virgin olive oil, nuts and seeds, coconut butter and omega-3 fats from fish.

Food Lie #2: Don’t Lose Weight Too Fast, You’ll Gain it All Back


Slow and steady is what we are told. No quick fixes. Don’t lose more than a pound a week. This is dead wrong.

Studies show the opposite – that a jumpstart leads to more weight loss over time.

If you reboot your metabolism with a quick detox from sugar, processed food and junk, you will reset your hormones and your brain chemistry making it much easier to sustain the changes.
The key is to use a healthy, sustainable strategy for weight loss that balances your hormones and brain chemistry and doesn’t put you in a starvation response.
That allows you to lose the weight and keep it off – I see it with my patients all the time – if you see results, you feel empowered and get inspired to keep losing weight.

Food Lie #3: All You Need is Willpower 

This is one of the most insidious lies pushed on us by the food industry and government.
Their mantra is this: Eat Less, Exercise More.
The implicit message in this idea is that the real reason we are all fat and sick is that we are lazy gluttons. If we just stopped stuffing our faces and got up off the couch and moved our butt, we would lose weight. It is moral failing, weak psychology, apathy or worse that prevents people from moderating their food intake and exercise. This is nonsense.
If you try to control your appetite with willpower, you will fail. We have short-term voluntary control and can starve ourselves but then our bodies compensate by slowing our metabolism and dramatically increasing appetite. It is unsustainable. If I asked you to hold your breath for 15 minutes – no matter how bad you want to make it happen, you’re just not designed to pull that off.
When your taste buds, brain chemistry, hormones and metabolism have been damaged by sugar and processed foods, willpower alone won’t do it. If you are addicted to sugar and refined carbs you cannot white knuckle it for very long. You have to naturally reset your brain chemistry and hormones so your body will automatically self regulate and the cravings disappear and hunger will be in balance.
When your metabolism has been hijacked you need to detox from the addictive power of sugar and flour and replace them with real, whole high quality foods. That will allow your appetite and weight to automatically regulate without willpower.

Food Lie #4: Diet Soda Is Better Than Regular Soda 

I call soda LIQUID DEATH. And you might as well call diet soda “New & Improved Liquid Death,” because it may actually be WORSE.
In a 14-year study of more than 66,000 women, researchers found that diet sodas actually raised the risk of diabetes MORE than sugar-sweetened sodas. One diet soda increased the risk of type 2 diabetes by 33% and one large diet soda increased the risk by 66%.
The truth is, diet soda slows your metabolism, makes you hungry for sugar and carbs and packs on the belly fat.
Stay away from all artificial sweeteners, even natural ones. Just add a little real sugar to your coffee if you want. It’s not the sugar that you add to your diet that’s the problem. It’s the sugar that is added to your diet by food corporations.

Food Lie #5: Foods Labeled Low Fat or Whole Grain Are Good for You

The low-fat craze of the last 30 years has paralleled the dramatic rise in obesity and type 2 diabetes. When food companies took the fat out of the products it was replaced with sugar. And in those 30 years our sugar consumption has doubled. Fat actually makes you satisfied, curbs your appetite and a review of all the research on fat and weight found that fat does not make you fat.
The latest health buzzword is “whole grain.”  Food companies add a few flakes of whole grain to processed foods and try to convince us its healthy. A whole grain Pop Tart? Really?
Most cereals are 75% sugar, even with a little bit of whole grain added. They shouldn’t be called breakfast, they should be called dessert. And we are feeding sugary cereal to our kids for breakfast thinking we are doing something good for them. In fact, we are killing them.
My basic rule for food: If it has ANY health claim on the label, it’s probably bad for you.

Food Lie #6: It’s All About Genetics

You may think if your mom is fat and your grandma is fat, that’s why you are fat – you drew the fat card or the diabetes card in the genetic lottery.
But the truth is there are 32 genes associated with obesity in the general population and they only account for nine percent of obesity cases. So even if you had all 32 obesity genes, you would put on only about 22 pounds.
Plus, our genes only change two percent every 20,000 years. And by 2050 it is projected that over 50 percent of Americans will be obese (now it’s about 35%). Our genes don’t change that fast.
What changed is we went from eating about 10 pounds of sugar per person per year in 1800 to 152 pounds of sugar (and 146 pounds of flour) per person per year today. Those are drugs, doses of sugar and flour that hijack our metabolism and make us fat and sick.
The truth is that obesity is caused by all kinds of factors, but the least of them is genetics.

Food Lie #7: Eating Fat Makes You Fat

Fat is not a 4-letter word! Eating fat not only doesn’t make you fat, it’s critical to health and weight loss. Studies comparing an identical calorie high fat diet to a high sugar diet had totally different effects on metabolism. The higher fat diet caused people to burn an extra 300 calories a day. That’s the equivalent of running for an hour without doing any exercise. Fat speeds up your metabolism. Sugar slows it down.
In studies of animals eating identical calorie diets of low fat (high sugar) or higher fat and protein show that the higher sugar diets lead to more fat deposition and muscle loss, while the higher fat and protein diets led to more muscle mass and fat loss. And remember that’s while they were eating exactly the same number of calories.
The right fats are actually the preferred fuel for our cells, especially ones called medium chain triglycerides that come from foods like coconut butter. Yes, you need to stay away from trans fats, but good fats like extra virgin olive oil, coconut butter, avocado, nuts, seeds and nut butters keep us full AND they lubricate the wheels of our metabolism.
So don’t fear fat!

Food Lie #8: Milk Is Nature’s Perfect Food

Milk is nature’s perfect food only if you are a calf!
For many people, dairy causes inflammation, allergies, congestion, postnasal drip, sinus problems, eczema, asthma, acne and irritable bowel. It also may increase the risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis, increase the risk of type 1 and type 2 diabetes and causes certain kinds of cancers.
And it also spikes insulin, causing us to grow belly fat.
No matter what messages you hear from the dairy lobby – there is nothing perfect about milk! To read more about the dangers of milk, read my blog “Got Proof.”

[OPH Note - I disagree that Raw, Whole Milk is bad for you.  Sadly, when reporting about milk, the differences between confinement dairy, pasteurized milk and milk from grass-fed cows is not reported. ]

Food Lie #9: You Have To Starve To Lose Weight

You do NOT have to starve to lose weight! In fact, that’s one thing that my patients love to learn about, they don’t go hungry when eating real whole food. There is no way even the Guinness World Record holder of calorie counting can accurately know their calorie intake. If you eat one extra mouthful of food a day, over 30 years you will become obese. You have to let your body naturally regulate itself by eating the right foods. You can’t count your way to health or weight loss.
In fact, when you balance your hormones and insulin by eating the right combination of proteins, healthy fats, the right carbs (low glycemic) and phytonutrients, you can not only lose weight without starving, you can lose weight without craving all the junk that was making you fat!

Food Lie #10: Exercise Is the Key to Weight Loss

If you think you can exercise your way to weight loss, I am sorry to say you are in for a big disappointment. Do you treat yourself to a post workout sugar-laden smoothie, muffin, or other “healthy” snack? Suck back some Gatorade to quench your thirst after your thirty minutes on the treadmill?
Relying on exercise to lose weight without changing your diet is asking for failure. You can change your diet and lose weight, but if you exercise and keep your diet the same, you may gain some muscle, improve endurance, and be healthier overall, but you won’t shed many pounds.
Remember, if you consume one 20-ounce soda, you have to walk four and a half miles to burn it off. If you consume one super-size fast-food meal, you have to run four miles a day for one whole week to burn it off. If you eat that every day, you have to run a marathon every single day to burn it off.
The simple fact is that you cannot exercise your way out of a bad diet.