Coconut Oil and Weight Loss – Facts vs. Fiction: what you need to know about coconut oil and losing weight!

Reposted from Health Impact News

http://healthimpactnews.com/2012/coconut-oil-and-weight-loss-facts-vs-fiction-what-you-need-to-know-about-coconut-oil-and-losing-weight/

by Brian and Marianita Shilhavy
CoconutOil.com

I would like to say that I have been on Virgin Coconut Oil for the past 2 months (4 tablespoons daily) and feel better than I have in a long time! My energy levels are up and my weight is down. I am never hungry anymore, and have incorporated a daily exercise routine & have lost 20 pounds. Paula (Coconut Diet Forums)

The above quote is quite typical of what we are seeing from those who are switching to Virgin Coconut Oil (VCNO) in place of less healthy oils in their diet. Many people are reporting that consumption of VCNO is bringing about increased energy levels, fewer cravings for carbs and sweets, and a more satisfied feeling of being “full” after meals.

Since beginning to use Tropical Traditions Virgin coconut oil, about 8 months ago, I have: experienced a noticeable increase in my energy, rid myself of cravings for carbs, cleared up my complexion (which has always been a problem) gotten the silkiest, most glorious hair from using it internally AND lost 16 pounds. This oil does all that it promises, and more! Sharon Elaine, author

So how does Virgin Coconut Oil provide these weight loss benefits?

Low-fat Diets Don’t Work

Before looking at the specific properties of coconut oil, it is helpful to understand that modern nutrition counsel has made a huge mistake in teaching that low-fat diets are healthy and lead to weight loss. For decades now we have been told to cut back on fat in our diet if we want to lose weight. Marketers of low-fat foods have championed this concept. So what has been the result? According to the US Center for Disease Control:

During the past 20 years, there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States and rates remain high. In 2010, no state had a prevalence of obesity less than 20%. Thirty-six states had a prevalence of 25% or more; 12 of these states (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia) had a prevalence of 30% or more.

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson stated ten years ago:  “We’ve seen virtually a doubling in the number of obese persons over the past two decades and this has profound health implications.  Obesity increases a person’s risk for a number of serious conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, and some types of cancer.”¹ Ten years later things are no better, but actually worse.

Obviously, low-fat diets have not helped Americans lose weight, as today nearly two thirds of all adults in the US are classified as obese. We’ve been told for years that we should avoid fat as much as possible.  Some people have been on a torturous low-fat regimen, trying to avoid all fat in their diet. Now we are learning about the dangers of low-fat diets. Certain fats are necessary and even healthy, but which ones?

My name is Kelly, and I have been on a quest for health for several years now. At one time I was severely obese. I have since lost 140 pounds.  I read about the health benefits of coconut oil over a year ago, and added the oil to my daily regimen. Within a week, I had more energy, and was feeling like a different person. I love Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil, it is the best I have tried, and I will continue to use this oil forever. The quality cannot be matched. Kelly – Lander, WY

Fats in History

Fats have always been a part of human nutrition. Rex Russell, M.D. writes:

It was 1944, and World War II was roaring. A young mother was wasting away with an infection diagnosed as tuberculosis. Antibiotics were unavailable. Her doctor prescribed (1) isolation, (2) bed rest, (3) exercise (eventually) and (4) a diet high in fat. Surprising, but true! High-fat diets were often recommended by the medical profession during those years. Before you scoff, you might want to know that this lady recovered. She is my mother, and she has stayed on this diet through the years. Presently she is enjoying her great-grandchildren”²

So while the experts claimed “fats are good” prior to World War II, now we hear just the opposite.

So what actually constituted a “high-fat” diet back in the 1800s until the 1940s?  Basically butter, eggs, nuts and animal fats such as lard and beef tallow. Margarines, which were introduced in the 1860s, were butter substitutes made with animal fats such as lard and tallow or the saturated vegetable oils from coconut oil and palm oils. These high-fat diets, considered then to be healthy, were rich in saturated fats, today seen by many as the worst possible fat one can consume. However, drastically reducing saturated fats from the modern diet has not solved any health problems, and statistics show that obesity rates are at an all-time high. The low-fat advice is losing credibility.

Fats and oils are technically known as “lipids.” If a lipid is liquid at room temperature, it is called an “oil.” If it is solid, it is called a “fat.” Fats can be found in many food sources in nature: animal meats (such as tallow and lard), marine animals (fish oil), vegetables and fruits (such as olives, avocados, coconuts, etc.), nuts and seeds/legumes (soybeans, sesame seeds, peanuts, cashews, grape seeds, etc.), and whole grains (wheat, rice, etc. – must contain the bran and all components to benefit from all the oils present). A diet rich in natural foods will be a naturally high-fat diet! It is virtually impossible to eliminate fats from our diet. And we wouldn’t want to! Fats are an essential part of life. Without them, we could not survive.

Four vitamins—A. D, E, and K—are soluble in fat; fat carries fat-soluble vitamins.  When fat is removed from a food, many of the fat-soluble compounds are also removed.
Fat also adds satiety to our meal—a feeling of having had enough to eat.  Fat-free and low-fat foods are one of the reasons some people over-eat carbohydrates, which really packs on the pounds. They just don’t feel like they’ve had enough to eat, even when the volume has been more than enough.

I have been taking a tablespoon of coconut oil three times daily with meals. Taking the oil with my meals seems to give me a “full feeling” a lot faster. My sweet tooth has practically vanished—and this is from someone who should have bought stock in Hershey’s long ago! Ironically, facilitating weight loss was my main reason for trying the coconut oil diet, but with all the wonderful benefits I am experiencing, the weight loss aspect almost seems like an afterthought. About three days into the routine, I had an energy rush on a Saturday morning that kept me going until well after lunch. I can’t believe how much I got done that day! My mental state of mind seemed to be much sharper. I was able to focus on the tasks at hand without getting sidetracked. I was not exhausted at the end of running my errands, which included traipsing around a huge mall. It seemed like I was practically running, rather than the leisurely walking that was formerly my habit. In addition to my energy level, my mood has been very stable—no up and down mood swings—even with the onset of PMS! My husband commented yesterday on how soft and silky my skin felt, and I have not used any lotion since I started taking the oil. Theresa (Coconut Diet Forums)

Fats for Animal Feeds
One interesting way to study the role of fats and their affect on weight loss or weight gain is to study the animal feed industry. If ever there was a group of people with economic interest in weight gain, it is the livestock industry.

Back in the days when fat was “in,” the fatter the pig you could raise the better. Lard was a basic staple for cooking in the days of our forefathers. It was found that feeding pigs polyunsaturated fats (primarily soybean and corn oil) would put more fat on them. This is the reaction of the longer chain fatty acids found in vegetable oils, and is well documented in the scientific literature.

Today however, we’ve come full circle with our new low-fat mantra, and the consumer demand is now for low-fat meats. So how does one produce a leaner pork? Well according the Department of Animal Science of North Carolina State University, during the “finishing time” before slaughter, you stop feeding them polyunsaturated oils and start feeding them saturated fats.³ They used beef tallow in their experiment, which they found was a bit hard for the pigs to digest.

So some farmers are now actually starting to use coconut oil, a plant-based saturated fat, instead. So what are the fats found on the shelves of grocery stores today, that make up the majority of the US diet? Polyunsaturated fats: mostly soybean oil, which commonly is referred to as vegetable oil. These are the same fats that have been known to fatten livestock in the animal feed business. The saturated fats, which made up most of the fats in the diet of our forefathers, have been almost banned by modern nutrition advice. The result: lean pigs and obese people!!

Low-Carb Diets: Half the Story
Gary Taubes wrote a startling article in the New York Times in 2002 titled “What If it Were All a Big Fat Lie!”  In it he stated:

The cause of obesity [is] precisely those refined carbohydrates at the base of the famous Food Guide Pyramid — the pasta, rice and bread — that we are told should be the staple of our healthy low-fat diet, and then add on the sugar or corn syrup in the soft drinks, fruit juices and sports drinks that we have taken to consuming in quantity if for no other reason than that they are fat free and so appear intrinsically healthy. While the low-fat-is-good-health dogma represents reality as we have come to know it, and the government has spent hundreds of millions of dollars in research trying to prove its worth, the low-carbohydrate message has been relegated to the realm of unscientific fantasy.

Over the past five years, however, there has been a subtle shift in the scientific consensus. It used to be that even considering the possibility of the alternative hypothesis, let alone researching it, was tantamount to quackery by association. Now a small but growing minority of establishment researchers have come to take seriously what the low-carb-diet doctors have been saying all along. Walter Willett, chairman of the department of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, may be the most visible proponent of testing this heretic hypothesis. Willett is the de facto spokesman of the longest-running, most comprehensive diet and health studies ever performed, which have already cost upward of $100 million and include data on nearly 300,000 individuals. Those data, says Willett, clearly contradict the low-fat-is-good-health message ”and the idea that all fat is bad for you; the exclusive focus on adverse effects of fat may have contributed to the obesity epidemic.”⁴

This started the current low-carb tidal wave because people generally have found that it is true: if you cut out refined carbohydrates you will lose weight.

But while these new low-carb diets are now challenging the low-fat hypothesis, there still seems to be mass confusion as to which fats and oils are actually healthy, and which ones are not. And no wonder. Probably no other food group has been politicized more in American nutrition than fats. With all the books and literature written on the subject, and each one practically contradicting each other, there is really only one book written by a lipid expert with no commercial ties to anyone in the edible oil industry. That book is “Know Your Fats: The Complete Primer for Understanding the Nutrition of Fats, Oils, and Cholesterol” by Dr. Mary Enig, a nutritionist/biochemist with her Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Maryland. Much of her work is featured in the Weston Price Foundation that studies traditional foods.

I just had to tell you that your product has changed my life. For the past ten years I have been fighting hypothyroidism. I have gained over sixty pounds and it seems that lately my doctor is increasing the dosage of my thyroid medication nearly every month. After doing a lot of research, I first learned that it is probably up to me to cure myself, with a high protein – low carb diet. I started my new eating routine about three weeks ago and about a week later, after reading an article in Woman’s World Magazine, I purchased a 32 ounce jar of Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil at a local nutrition store. I mix 2 tablespoons with a low-carb protein drink every morning and the energy I sustain throughout the day is amazing. I have also lost 11 pounds in 3 weeks and walking on my treadmill for 30 minutes every evening after work is almost effortless. Thank You for this wonderful product. Cheryl – Texas

Let’s face it. The low-fat dietary dictum is a multi-billion dollar industry built upon a foundation of sinking sand. Not only does the scientific research show that the polyunsaturated vegetable oils promote weight gain, it also shows that they are not good as an animal feed either. While they do promote weight gain in livestock, they do so at the expense of another essential fatty acid: conjugated linoleic acid (CLA).  CLA is found primarily in beef and dairy products, and cannot be produced in the human body. Research has shown that animals grazed strictly on grass, their natural diet, can have levels of CLA hundreds of times higher than animals raised on grain feeds. Also, in a study done by the Department of Animal Science at Southern Illinois University in 2003, it was found that beef finished off on soybean oil directly reduced the amount of CLA produced by ruminant animals.⁵ What are the known benefits of CLA, now that we have almost lost it from our meat and dairy sources? Among its benefits are: it destroys cancer cells, it reduces tumors, and it promotes weight loss while increasing muscle growth.

So while many people are seeing weight loss on low-carb diets because they are cutting back on refined carbohydrates, many do not see weight loss because they are still lacking proper fats in their diet, and most of the popular low-carb diets are giving mixed messages about which fats are healthy and which ones are not. If you choose the wrong fat and consume large quantities of it, such as hydrogenated polyunsaturated fats full of trans fatty acids, not only will you not have much success in losing weight, you will probably develop a whole host of other health problems.

Flawed “Science”

When a dietary philosophy has been promoted as long as the current low-fat dogma has, and a multi-billion dollar industry feeds off it, we can expect it to die a slow death with much opposition, as America gets fatter and fatter because the popular media continues to propagate the low-fat myth. It is amazing to read new studies conducted that start with this myth as fact, and then construct their whole study to support it, never once questioning the “wisdom” behind the myth that is just accepted without question as fact.

In a study published by British Journal of Nutrition, entitled “Effects of including a ruminally protected lipid supplement in the diet on the fatty acid composition of beef muscle,” the abstract begins like this: “Enhancing the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and decreasing the saturated fatty acid content of beef is an important target in terms of improving the nutritional value of this food for the consumer.” With this “truth” declared without any supporting evidence whatsoever, it goes on to show how one can increase the PUFA content of beef while decreasing the saturated fat content by feeding cows soybean, linseed and sunflower-seed oils.⁶ And because this entire generation has been brainwashed into believing saturated fats are bad and polyunsaturated fats are good, this is seen as positive!

But wait, it gets even worse. Have you noticed all the news lately about the epidemic of obesity among children? A study was published in 2003 by the Journal of the American Diet Association entitled “Soy-enhanced lunch acceptance by preschoolers.” The objective: “To evaluate acceptance of soy-enhanced compared with traditional menus by preschool children. Soy-enhanced foods were substituted on a traditional cycle menu, and the amount eaten, energy, and nutrient values for traditional and soy-enhanced lunches were compared.” The conclusion? “Soy-enhanced foods were successfully substituted for 23 traditional foods included in the cycle menus. Soy-enhanced foods tended to be higher in energy, protein, and iron. Traditional lunches tended to be higher in fat, saturated fat, and vitamin A.” Therefore “Preschool programs can substitute soy-enhanced for traditional foods, which will add variety to the diet without sacrificing taste, energy, or nutrient value.”⁶ Great! So since we start with the presupposition that saturated fats are bad and polyunsaturated fats are good, we can now design a study to “prove” we should be feeding preschoolers soy instead of “traditional foods.” And people continue to ask why children are so overweight today….. Other concerns about soy and children are not even addressed in this study, such as how large amounts of plant hormones (phyto-estrogens) in soy are equal to adult levels and can cause severe damage to the endocrine system of children.⁷

Traditional Fats are Best

So while we wait for the science to catch up with the truth, here is a better idea. Let’s go back and eat the traditional fats our forefathers and other traditional societies have eaten for hundreds and even thousands of years, and were known to be healthy. These fats are rich in saturated fats, and include healthy traditionally raised meat, dairy, and eggs. In tropical climates it includes coconut oil and palm oil. Coconut oil is unique in nature with medium chain fatty acids that are also found in human breast milk, with volumes of research showing that it leads to greater metabolism and weight loss.

Researchers now know that weight loss associated with coconut oil is related to the length of the fatty acid chains contained in coconut oil. Coconut oil contains what are called medium chain fatty acids, or medium chain triglycerides (MCTs for short). These medium chain fatty acids are different from the common longer chain fatty acids found in other plant-based oils. Most vegetable oils are composed of longer chain fatty acids, or triglycerides (LCTs). LCTs are typically stored in the body as fat, while MCTs are burned for energy. MCTs burn up quickly in the body.

Coconut oil is nature’s richest source of MCTs that increase metabolic rates and lead to weight loss. MCTs promote what is called thermogenesis. Thermogenesis increases the body’s metabolism, producing energy. Researchers in Japan have found that when you consume a food rich in MCTs such as coconut oil, the MCTs are absorbed and transported directly into the liver via the portal vein. They are metabolized rapidly by beta-oxidation, and they increase diet-induced thermogenesis.⁸ People in the animal feed business have known this truth for quite some time. If you feed animals vegetable oils, they put on weight and produce more fatty meat. If you feed them coconut oil, they will be very lean.

Another benefit of coconut consumption is it helps me control my blood sugar levels.  Have you ever eaten any carb intensive food and had a sugar crash? Try eating some coconut oil along with the carb and it may prevent the sugar crash or at least mitigate them.  I try to keep my blood sugar level steady all day and so have a nice level energy all day, and not ups and downs all day long. I use to always be a little chubby. (wonder why?) Eating coconut does help control the chubbiness. So the direct health benefits that I have experienced from coconut oil consumption is: increased thyroid function and the blessings that brings; eliminate yeast infections; and, it also helps me control blood sugar levels.  I am sure the increased thyroid function and controlling the blood sugar accounts for not being chubby anymore and the stuff tastes good in food. – Phyllis (Coconut Diet Forums)

Scientific Studies on the Weight-Loss Effects of Coconut Oil’s MCTs

There are many studies proving this concept of thermogenesis and MCTs in the scientific literature. In 1989 a study was done in the Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University, at Nashville TN. Ten male volunteers (ages 22 to 44) were overfed (150% of estimated energy requirement) liquid formula diets containing 40% of fat as either MCT or LCT. Each patient was studied for one week on each diet in a double-blind, crossover design. The results: “Our results demonstrate that excess dietary energy as MCT stimulates thermogenesis to a greater degree than does excess energy as LCT. This increased energy expenditure, most likely due to lipogenesis in the liver, provides evidence that excess energy derived from MCT is stored with a lesser efficiency than is excess energy derived from dietary LCT.”⁹

In another study conducted at the School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada, the effects of diets rich in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) or long-chain triglycerides (LCTs) on body composition, energy expenditure, substrate oxidation, subjective appetite, and ad libitum energy intake in overweight men was studied. Twenty-four healthy, overweight men with body mass indexes between 25 and 31 kg/m(2) consumed diets rich in MCT or LCT for 28 days each in a crossover randomized controlled trial. Their conclusion: “Consumption of a diet rich in MCTs results in greater loss of AT compared with LCTs, perhaps due to increased energy expenditure and fat oxidation observed with MCT intake. Thus, MCTs may be considered as agents that aid in the prevention of obesity or potentially stimulate weight loss.”¹⁰

Scientific studies have reported that the fatty acids from MCTs in coconut oil are not easily converted into stored triglycerides, and that MCTs cannot be readily used by the body to make larger fat molecules. One animal feeding study evaluated body weight and fat storage for three different diets–low-fat diet, high-fat diet containing long-chain triglycerides (LCTs), and a high-fat diet containing MCTs.  All animals were fed the selected diets for a period of 44 days.  At the end of that time, the low-fat diet group had stored an average of 0.47 grams of fat per day; the LCT group stored 0.48 grams/day, while the MCT group deposited only 0.19 grams of fat per day, a 60% reduction in the amount of fat stored.  The authors conclude that “the change from a low-fat diet to a MCT-diet is attended by a decrease in the body weight gain.”¹¹

This study points out two important facts:  First, when MCTs are substituted for LCTs in the diet, the body is much less inclined to store fat.  Second, when we eat sensibly, a diet containing MCTs is more effective than a low-fat diet at decreasing stored fat.

In a human study, researchers compared the metabolic effects of 400-calorie meals of MCTs and LCTs by measuring metabolic rates prior to and six hours following the test meals.  The results showed that the MCT-containing meals caused an average 12 percent increase in basal metabolic rate as compared with a 4 percent increase with the LCT-containing meal.  The authors concluded that replacing dietary fats with MCTs could “over long periods of time produce weight loss even in the absence of reduced [caloric] intake.”¹²

Coconut oil is nature’s richest source of MCTs.  Not only do MCTs raise the body’s metabolism leading to weight loss, but they have special health-giving properties as well. The most predominant MCT in coconut oil, for example, is lauric acid. Lipid researcher Dr. Jon Kabara states “Never before in the history of man is it so important to emphasize the value of Lauric Oils. The medium-chain fats in coconut oil are similar to fats in mother’s milk and have similar nutriceutical effects. These health effects were recognized centuries ago in Ayurvedic medicine. Modern research has now found a common link between these two natural health products—-their fat or lipid content. The medium chain fatty acids and monoglycerides found primarily in coconut oil and mother’s milk have miraculous healing power.”¹³ Outside of a human mother’s breast milk, coconut oil is nature’s most abundant source of lauric acid and medium chain fatty acids.

I’ve been over 100lbs overweight for 5 years. I struggled with ear and sinus infections, headaches, fatigue, high blood pressure (never been diagnosed). Everything in life seemed like work. I was miserable emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Well I’ve been consuming about 3-5 tablespoons of coconut oil per day and I feel amazing! I get a slight cold, but never get the secondary infection and beat the fever in 24 hours! I sleep better and wake up with a smile on my face. I’m more flexible. And I feel more at peace with my body.  My spiritual life has improved and I am ready to pursue my dream of being a Christian Counselor. This has marked a pivotal change in my entire life including my marriage. This may sound silly. But I gained weight subconsciously because I didn’t want to be noticed by men. And by eating better I have allowed myself to be freed from this bondage. I don’t know how much I’ve lost, and choose not to watch the scales. But my clothes fit better, my muscles are stronger and people have noticed the loss. And now, with coconut oil, I actually have hunger pains. Our society is so focused on lowering the appetite, but a healthy appetite is good! I’m now satisfied with less food and not bound by sugar imbalance hunger. Bridgette (Coconut Diet Forums)

Over the past 18 months I’ve lost 107 pounds, going from 316 to 209 and from 52 to 36 pants (19 pounds to go). I lost the weight following a low carb, no sugar or grain, high saturated fat and high protein diet and eliminating ALL soy products and ALL polyunsatured vegetable oils. I used about 2 or 3T of Virgin Coconut Oil daily. Chuck(Coconut Diet Forums)

Do All Lose Weight While Using Coconut Oil?

No. We have also had testimonies from people stating that they did not lose weight. Coconut oil is NOT a magic bullet that one can just add to their diet and sit back and watch the pounds melt away. Some people have actually done that, but most people will not see that happen. For one thing, we have had people report that they could not lose weight until they cut out all polyunsaturated fats from their diet.

Also, many people have reported that while they did not lose weight, or maybe even put on a few pounds, that somehow their clothes started fitting better. We have heard this many times. Apparently Virgin Coconut Oil does help some people build muscle mass while trimming fat, so that there may not be a net weight loss on the scales. Here is what one weight lifter, known as MG in the Coconut Diet Forums, reports:

Last year I was measured at 10.5% body fat. Last month, I hiked up my consumption [of Virgin Coconut Oil] from 4 tbsp /day to 6 tbsp/day. At the same time, I limited my carb intake at dinnertime. In a few weeks time, my bodyweight increased by about 4lbs. but body fat decreased to 9.6% – I did not change my workout intensity or frequency.  My trainer is wondering what the heck am I taking (chest and thigh measurements increased). It blows ‘em away when I say that I take Virgin Coconut Oil straight up. MG

It’s VCO and low carbs. I feel better than I have in a long time, my temp is actually over 98 (not all the time, but it’s better than those 94.5 readings).  I’m a believer and hope to stick with it! I haven’t seen a big weight loss, but my clothes fit better and I know adding an exercise program will impact the weight. Val – (Coconut Diet Forums)

A few years after we recorded these testimonials, a study conducted in 2009 and published in the journal “Lipids” confirmed that reducing “abdominal obesity” was a characteristic of virgin coconut oil. Their study showed that supplementation with 30 ml a day (about 6 teaspoons) reduced “waist circumferences.”¹⁴

So for those who continue to insist that there is no evidence that coconut oil leads to weight loss, we respectfully disagree!
References
1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “Obesity Still on the Rise, New Data Show,” Tuesday, October 8, 2002 Published on the Centers for Disease Control website: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/releases/02news/obesityonrise.htm
2. Rex Russell, M.D. What the Bible Says About Healthy Living (Regal Books, Ventura, CA 1996) p.125
3. M.T. See and J. Odle, “EFFECT OF DIETARY FAT SOURCE, LEVEL, AND FEEDING INTERVAL ON PORK FATTY ACID COMPOSITION” 1998-2000 Departmental Report, Department of Animal Science, ANS Report No. 248 – North Carolina State University
4. Gary Taubes “What If It Were All a Big Fat Lie!”  New York Times July 7, 2002
5. Griswold KE, Apgar GA, et. al. “Effectiveness of short-term feeding strategies for altering conjugated linoleic acid content of beef.” Journal Animal Science, 2003 Jul;81(7):1862-71.
6. Scollan ND, Enser M, et. al., “Effects of including a ruminally protected lipid supplement in the diet on the fatty acid composition of beef muscle.” British Journal Nutrition. 2003 Sep;90(3):709-16.
7. Endres J, Barter S, Theodora P, Welch P., “Soy-enhanced lunch acceptance by preschoolers.” Journal American Diet Assoc. 2003 Mar;103(3):346-51.
8. Aoyama T, Nosaka N, Kasai M., “Research on the nutritional characteristics of medium-chain fatty acids.” J Med Invest. 2007 Aug;54(3-4):385-8.
9. Hill JO, Peters JC, Yang D, Sharp T, Kaler M, Abumrad NN, Greene HL “Thermogenesis in humans during overfeeding with medium-chain triglycerides.” Metabolism. July.1989;38(7):641-8.
10. St-Onge MP, Ross R, Parsons WD, Jones PJ “Medium-chain triglycerides increase energy expenditure and decrease adiposity in overweight men.” Obes Res. 2003 Mar;11(3):395-402.
11. G. Crozier, B. Bois-Joyeux, M Chanex, et. al.  “Overfeeding with medium-chain triglycerides in the rat.” Metabolism 1987;36:807-814.
12. T. B. Seaton, S. L. Welles, M. K. Warenko, et al.  “Thermic effects of medium-chain and long-chain triglycerides in man.” Am J Clin Nutr, 1986;44:630-634.
13. J. J. Kabara “Health Oils From the Tree of Life” (Nutritional and Health Aspects of Coconut Oil). Indian Coconut Journal 2000;31(8):2-8.
14. Faculdade de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, AL 57072-970, Brazil. “Effects of dietary coconut oil on the biochemical and anthropometric profiles of women presenting abdominal obesity.” Lipids. 2009 Jul;44(7):593-601.

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About the authors: Unlike many people who write about coconut oil by simply reading about it, Brian and Marianita Shilhavy actually lived in a coconut producing area of the Philippines for several years. Marianita Jader Shilhavy grew up on a coconut plantation in the Philippines and in a culture that consumed significant amounts of coconut fat in their diet. She later went on to earn her degree in nutrition and worked as a nutritionist in the Philippines. Brian Shilhavy also lived in the Philippines for several years with Marianita and their 3 children observing firsthand the differences between the diet and health of the younger generation and those of Marianita’s parents’ generation still consuming a traditional diet. This led to years of studying Philippine nutrition and dietary patterns first hand while living in a rural farming community in the Philippines. They are authors of the best-selling book: Virgin Coconut Oil: How it has changed people’s lives and how it can change yours!

- See more at: http://healthimpactnews.com/2012/coconut-oil-and-weight-loss-facts-vs-fiction-what-you-need-to-know-about-coconut-oil-and-losing-weight/#sthash.9fqHP6b1.dpuf

Recovery from Today’s Medical Autism Is Possible!

Reposted From The Thinking Moms Revolution


http://thinkingmomsrevolution.com/recovery-todays-medical-autism-possible/


What I have to say right now is you have choices with regard to treating today’s autism. What I want to express is my own personal raw sentiments on how I believe today’s autism has a huge medical component and we as mothers can treat it.
I worked in medicine before autism entered my life, ten plus years. I don’t base my treatments for my son on the opinion of an actor, the American Academy of Pediatrics, or anyone else. No, I went with my gut. My son was not born with autism. He regressed horribly after his shots at 15 months old. There, I said it, that controversial phrase: “after his shots.”  After diagnosis, my husband and I were heartbroken, scared, and pretty much in a fog.

Spartan’s son before biomedical treatments

One really horrible afternoon I was screaming, “Please JUST talk to me, please!” because my son was just sitting at the kitchen table flapping his hands and staring into space. My husband literally picked me up off the floor and said, “We can continue to feel sorry for ourselves and depressed or get our son real help. Do you know anyone from your past work in the medical field? And the light bulb went off … I remembered Dr. Kenneth Bock who worked across the bridge when I worked in Kingston. He had a book Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma and Allergies and had successfully helped parents over the years.
The naval hospital physician wasn’t really on board with my suggestions of B12 supplementation and diet change. So, until we could get off Okinawa to San Diego, we took matters in our own hands. We changed his diet and added fish oils. I am grateful for the support of my friends from afar from New York, my husband and his fellow marines, the people I did Crossfit with, and the local nationals I was friends with in Okinawa, Japan who taught me the benefits of local nutritious food and green tea.
The last two years were about getting my son back with the help of one of the most preeminent pediatricians in this country. If you’re out there reading this, Doctor, I want to say “thank you.” Thank you for treating me with respect and honesty, and validating me with the full, comprehensive blood work and other test you ran on my son after you saw him in your office flapping his hands, posturing from horrific gut pain, and being completely non-verbal.
After we got my son’s comprehensive results, I discovered my son had gut damage, mitochondrial issues, high viral load, low white-cell count, was deficient in vitamin D3 and all basic minerals. Now I had answers and an action plan to treat him. A far cry from our experience with the previous physician who sat across from my 18-month-old son and stated, “Mrs. O’Neil, accept your new normal. Your son was born this way.”
Of course we had those who didn’t believe in what we were doing. My mother-in-law judged me and called me crazy, I had friends who worked in the special education field who were telling me to just accept that he was born this way, get him more therapy, and don’t be one of those “Crazy Moms.” I just didn’t listen. It was my son that mattered at the end of the day.
Once I met with his new doctor I just knew I was doing the right thing.  At that point we were five months into diet change (gluten/casein free, etc.), and my son’s digestion, temperament and frequency of hand flapping changed. We jumped in full throttle then. Methyl b12 was added to the mix, and my son turned to me and said “I love you, Mom” not long after. I did not put my son in traditional therapies for one year during treatment to see what was working. As we targeted each ailment we found on blood work and other tests, he came back to me more and more.
This journey has been an emotionally hard, but worthy one. I faced a good bit of adversity in the beginning. I felt vindicated this year as I sat across from the IEP team and my son was released from services. I even received an apology from one therapist who doubted my methods at my son’s initial evaluation two years ago.
I am not rich or famous. I am just a marine sergeant’s wife who really researched and went against the mainstream in regards to treatment. It has given me a new perspective on life in general.  My husband has been my rock through this, even though he was deployed and I was handling all of it, along with taking care of a brand-new baby. As I sat and watched my son on the playground yesterday, I thought, “Not one person here knows what we have been through the past two years.” And, after I set up a play date with another mother for next week, I vowed to myself to help as many mothers I could by sharing our story.

Spartan’s son after biomedical treatments

Now, my son lost his diagnosis after two years of biomedical treatment. Does this work for every child? Not necessarily. Is it worth trying? Absolutely! I didn’t write this today to start a debate or make it seem like I am judging anyone’s recent choices in how they are treating their child’s autism. I am doing this so, as parents, you realize there is more than one way to treat this disorder and why not try? I am a firm believer in “heal the body and the brain will follow” and work cohesively with the traditional therapies that are most often times given as the only path for treatment. I just want you to think. Start in small steps and know that mothers like myself are here for you every step of the way. Like my husband said to me in the beginning of this journey in true marine fashion, “We will get our son back because there is no ‘can’t’ in this family.”

Where to find information about biomedical treatments and other info:
Talk About Curing Autism (TACA)
The Thinking Moms’ Revolution
Healing the New Childhood Epidemics:  Autism ADHD, Asthma and Allergies, Kenneth Bock, MD 
The Autism Book, by Robert Sears, MD
A compilation of 96 research studies and papers linking vaccines and autism
Klinghardt Academy
Nourishing Hope, by Julie Matthews and nourishinghope.com
Epidemic Answers

Dr. Simoncini Baking Soda Treatment For Cancer

Reposted from Cancer Tutor


http://www.cancertutor.com/simoncini/


by Webster Kehr, Independent Cancer Research Foundation, Inc.

NOTICE: Dr. Simoncini’s book is now available in English!!

To order the book see this website:
Order Dr. Simoncini’s Book in English

Dr. Simoncini Baking Soda Treatment For Cancer (NaHCO3)

Very Important Note
This treatment should not be used for more than three weeks at a time. During the first week no more than two TEAspoons a day of baking soda should be taken orally. During the second and third week no more than one TEAspoon a day of baking soda should be taken orally. Only under the care of a medical practitioner should these maximum internal doses be exceeded.
For skin cancers and other external cancers (inlcuding a rectal enema), where the baking soda solution comes into direct contact with the cancer, this restriction does not apply.

About the Simoncini Protocol

Did you know that the AVERAGE orthodox cancer treatment costs $350,000? This treatment costs about $3 and in most cases is far more effective than the $350,000 treatments!
This treatment was developed in Italy by an oncologist and uses baking soda or sodium bicarbonate.
This treatment is primarily used for cancer of the digestive tract, including cancers of the throat, colon, intestines, rectal area, and other cancers in between.
Cancers outside of the digestive tract generally need a health practitioner to inject the baking soda solution.
This web page is an interesting interview with Dr. Simoncini himself:
http://candida-international.blogspot.com/2007/03/is-cancer-caused-by-candida-fungus.html
Also, see this video of an interview with Dr. Simoncini (high speed internet required):
Dr. Simoncini Interview
For more details about his treatment see this website:
Simoncini Protocol (Baking Soda)

---

The ICRF Recommendation For Using Highly Alkaline Protocols

Dr. Simoncini has been persecuted in his own country. We know he has lost his medical license and has been
threatened with jail.
http://www.psiram.com/en/index.php/Sodium_Bicarbonate_Therapy_according_to_Simoncini
Whether he is currently in jail or not, he likely is not allowed to answer emails from cancer patients as that
would be considered to be “treating cancer.”
His theory is correct, but technically cancer is caused by a bacteria which is inside of cancer cells – not a fungus.
However, the fungus is highly pleormorphic.
Alkalinity CAN kill these microbes and revert the cancer cells into normal cells. Study this article:
http://www.cancertutor.com/what_causes_cancer/
We do not recommend his protocol without expert support and we are not aware of any support which is available.
However, there are three other alkaline protocols we do endorse.
There are two very good highly alkaline protocols on this website: Cellect-Budwig and Cesium Chloride. These are very proven protocols and come with expert support. Cellect contains both cesium and potassium.
If you are going to use high alkalinity as a treatment for cancer you need to work with an expert!! Cellect-Budwig is supported by Mike Vrentas and Cesium Chloride is supported by Larry of Essense-of-Life. See the left side-bar for links to these protocols.
The third protocol, the Dirt Cheap Protocol, uses fairly low doses of baking soda, but it also includes more than a dozen treatments that revert cancer cells into normal cells by killing the microbes inside the cancer cells. It is also very inexpensive:
http://www.cancertutor.com/dirtcheapprotocol/
See also the ICRF Reference Manual:
http://www.cancertutor.com/reference/


Read More http://www.cancertutor.com/simoncini/

Miraculous Thyroid Drink

Reposted from Health and Love Page
http://www.healthandlovepage.com/miraculous-thyroid-drink/


With the help of this tea, you can stimulate the work of your thyroid gland.
The best part of this thyroid drink is that this tea actually tastes wonderful.

Thyroid Drink Recipe

Ingredients:

• Seven cups of purified water.
• One cup of 100% natural cranberry juice without sweeteners.
• ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger.
• ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
• ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg.
• ¾ cup of fresh squeezed orange juice (it will take about three oranges to get this amount).
• ¼ cup of fresh squeezed lemon juice (about 1 or 2 lemons).

Preparation:
Turn the heat on, place the water and wait until it reaches boiling temperature.
Pour the cranberry juice and reduce the heat to a lower level.
Add ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon, stir the tea and leave it like that for about 20 minutes until it reaches room temperature.
Pour the lemon and orange juice and stir it briefly.
Drink and enjoy!

Magnesium: An Invisible Deficiency That Could Be Harming Your Health

Reposted from Dr. Mercola


http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/01/19/magnesium-deficiency.aspx?x_cid=20150217_ranart_magnesium-deficiency_facebookdoc


by Dr. Mercola


Magnesium is a mineral used by every organ in your body, especially your heart, muscles, and kidneys.¹ If you suffer from unexplained fatigue or weakness, abnormal heart rhythms or even muscle spasms and eye twitches, low levels of magnesium could be to blame.
If you’ve recently had a blood test, you might assume it would show a magnesium deficiency. But only 1 percent of magnesium in your body is distributed in your blood, making a simple sample of magnesium from a serum magnesium blood test not very useful.
Most magnesium is stored in your bones and organs, where it is used for many biological functions. Yet, it’s quite possible to be deficient and not know it, which is why magnesium deficiency has been dubbed the “invisible deficiency.”
By some estimates, up to 80 percent of Americans are not getting enough magnesium and may be deficient. Other research shows only about 25 percent of US adults are getting the recommended daily amount of 310 to 320 milligrams (mg) for women and 400 to 420 for men.²
Even more concerning, consuming even this amount is “just enough to ward off outright deficiency,” according to Dr. Carolyn Dean, a medical and naturopathic doctor.

Magnesium Deficiency May Trigger 22 Medical Conditions

Download Interview Transcript

Magnesium is often thought of primarily as a mineral for your heart and bones, but this is misleading. Researchers have now detected 3,751 magnesium-binding sites on human proteins, indicating that its role in human health and disease may have been vastly underestimated.³
Magnesium is also found in more than 300 different enzymes in your body and plays a role in your body's detoxification processes, making it important for helping to prevent damage from environmental chemicals, heavy metals, and other toxins. In addition, magnesium is necessary for:

• Activating muscles and nerves
• Creating energy in your body by activating adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
• Helping digest proteins, carbohydrates, and fats
• Serving as a building block for RNA and DNA synthesis
• Acting as a precursor for neurotransmitters like serotonin

Dr. Dean has studied and written about magnesium for more than 15 years. The latest addition of her book, The Magnesium Miracle, came out in 2014 and in it you can learn about 22 medical areas that magnesium deficiency triggers or causes, all of which have all been scientifically proven. This includes:⁴

Anxiety and panic attacks	Asthma	Blood clots
Bowel diseases	Cystitis	Depression
Detoxification	Diabetes	Fatigue
Heart disease	Hypertension	Hypoglycemia
Insomnia	Kidney disease	Liver disease
Migraine	Musculoskeletal conditions (fibromyalgia, cramps, chronic back pain, etc.)	Nerve problems
Obstetrics and gynecology (PMS, infertility, and preeclampsia)	Osteoporosis	Raynaud’s syndrome
Tooth decay

Early signs of magnesium deficiency include loss of appetite, headache, nausea, fatigue, and weakness. An ongoing magnesium deficiency can lead to more serious symptoms, including:

Numbness and tingling	Muscle contractions and cramps	Seizures
Personality changes	Abnormal heart rhythms	Coronary spasms

The Role of Magnesium in Diabetes, Cancer, and More

Most people do not think about magnesium when they think about how to prevent chronic disease, but it plays an essential role. For instance, there have been several significant studies about magnesium's role in keeping your metabolism running efficiently—specifically in terms of insulin sensitivity, glucose regulation, and protection from type 2 diabetes.
Higher magnesium intake reduces risk of impaired glucose and insulin metabolism and slows progression from pre-diabetes to diabetes in middle-aged Americans.⁵ Researchers stated, "Magnesium intake may be particularly beneficial in offsetting your risk of developing diabetes, if you are high risk."
Multiple studies have also shown that higher magnesium intake is associated with a higher bone mineral density in both men and women,⁶ and research from Norway has even found an association between magnesium in drinking water and a lower risk of hip fractures.⁷
Magnesium may even help lower your risk of cancer, and a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that higher intakes of dietary magnesium were associated with a lower risk of colorectal tumors.⁸
Results from the meta-analysis indicated that for every 100-mg increase in magnesium intake, the risk of colorectal tumor decreased by 13 percent, while the risk of colorectal cancer was lowered by 12 percent. The researchers noted magnesium’s anti-cancer effects may be related to its ability to reduce insulin resistance, which may positively affect the development of tumors.

Surprising Factors That Influence Your Magnesium Levels

Seaweed and green leafy vegetables like spinach and Swiss chard can be excellent sources of magnesium, as are some beans, nuts, and seeds, like pumpkin, sunflower, and sesame seeds. Avocados also contain magnesium. Juicing your vegetables is an excellent option to ensure you're getting enough of them in your diet.
However, most foods grown today are deficient in magnesium and other minerals, so getting enough isn’t simply a matter of eating magnesium-rich foods (although this is important too). According to Dr. Dean:

"Magnesium is farmed out of the soil much more than calcium… A hundred years ago, we would get maybe 500 milligrams of magnesium in an ordinary diet. Now we're lucky to get 200 milligrams.”

Herbicides, like glyphosate also act as chelators, effectively blocking the uptake and utilization of minerals in so many foods grown today. As a result, it can be quite difficult to find truly magnesium-rich foods. Cooking and processing further depletes magnesium.
Meanwhile, certain foods can actually influence your body’s absorption of magnesium. If you drink alcohol in excess, for instance, it may interfere with your body’s absorption of vitamin D, which in turn is helpful for magnesium absorption. If you eat a lot of sugar, this can also cause your body to excrete magnesium through your kidneys, “resulting in a net loss,” according to Dr. Danine Fruge, associate medical director at the Pritikin Longevity Center in Florida.⁹ The following factors are also associated with lower magnesium levels:¹⁰

• Excessive intake of soda or caffeine
• Menopause
• Older age (older adults are more likely to be magnesium deficient because absorption decreases with age and the elderly are more likely to take medications that can interfere with absorption)
• Certain medications, including diuretics, certain antibiotics (such as gentamicin and tobramycin), corticosteroids (prednisone or Deltasone), antacids, and insulin
• An unhealthy digestive system, which impairs your body's ability to absorb magnesium (Crohn's disease, leaky gut, etc.)

Calcium, Vitamin K2, and Vitamin D Must Be Balanced with Magnesium

It may seem like you could remedy the risks of low magnesium simply by taking a supplement, but it’s not quite that simple. When you're taking magnesium, you need to consider calcium, vitamin D3 and vitamin K2 as well, since these all work synergistically with one another. Excessive amounts of calcium without the counterbalance of magnesium can lead to a heart attack and sudden death, for instance. Research on the Paleolithic or caveman diet has shown that the ratio of calcium to magnesium in the diet that our bodies evolved to eat is 1-to-1.¹¹Americans in general tend to have a higher calcium-to-magnesium ratio in their diet, averaging about 3.5-to-1.
If you have too much calcium and not enough magnesium, your muscles will tend to go into spasm, and this has consequences for your heart in particular. "What happens is, the muscle and nerve function that magnesium is responsible for is diminished. If you don't have enough magnesium, your muscles go into spasm. Calcium causes muscle to contract. If you had a balance, the muscles would do their thing. They'd relax, contract, and create their activity," Dr. Dean explains.
When balancing calcium and magnesium, also keep in mind that vitamins K2 and D need to be considered. These four nutrients perform an intricate dance together, with one supporting the other. Lack of balance between these nutrients is one of the reasons why calcium supplements have become associated with increased risk of heart attacks and stroke, and why some people experience vitamin D toxicity. Part of the explanation for these adverse side effects is that vitamin K2 keeps calcium in its appropriate place. If you're K2 deficient, added calcium can cause more problems than it solves, by accumulating in the wrong places, like your soft tissue.
Similarly, if you opt for oral vitamin D, you need to also consume it in your food or take supplemental vitamin K2 and more magnesium. Taking mega doses of vitamin D supplements without sufficient amounts of K2 and magnesium can lead to vitamin D toxicity and magnesium deficiency symptoms, which include inappropriate calcification that may damage your heart.

Tips for Increasing Your Magnesium Levels

One way to really increase your magnesium, as well as many other important plant-based nutrients, is by juicing your greens. I typically drink one pint to one quart of fresh green vegetable juice every day, and this is one of my primary sources of magnesium. Organic foods may have more magnesium if grown in nutrient-rich soils but it is very difficult to make that determination. If you opt for a supplement, be aware that there are a wide variety of magnesium supplements on the market, because magnesium must be bound to another substance. There's simply no such thing as a 100 percent magnesium supplement.
The substance used in any given compound can affect the absorption and bioavailability of the magnesium, and may provide slightly different, or targeted, health benefits. The table that follows summarizes some of the differences between the various forms. Magnesium threonate and citrate are some of the best sources, as it seems to penetrate cell membranes, including your mitochondria, which results in higher energy levels. Additionally, it also penetrates your blood-brain barrier and seems to do wonders to treat and prevent dementia and improve memory. If you take a supplement, you can use the “bowel test” to determine if you’re taking too much magnesium. Dr. Dean explains:¹²

“The best way to tell if you are getting enough magnesium is the “bowel test”. You know when you have too much magnesium when your stools become loose. This, in fact, may be a blessing for people with constipation… [which] is one of the many ways magnesium deficiency manifests.”

Besides taking a supplement, another way to improve your magnesium status is to take regular Epsom salt baths or foot baths. Epsom salt is a magnesium sulfate that can absorb into your body through your skin. Magnesium oil can also be used for topical application and absorption. Whatever supplement you choose, be sure to avoid any containing magnesium stearate, a common but potentially hazardous additive.

Magnesium glycinate is a chelated form of magnesium that tends to provide the highest levels of absorption and bioavailability and is typically considered ideal for those who are trying to correct a deficiency.	Magnesium oxide is a non-chelated type of magnesium, bound to an organic acid or a fatty acid. Contains 60 percent magnesium, and has stool softening properties
Magnesium chloride/Magnesium lactate contain only 12 percent magnesium, but has better absorption than others, such as magnesium oxide, which contains five times more magnesium	Magnesium sulfate/Magnesium hydroxide (milk of magnesia) are typically used as laxatives. Be aware that it's easy to overdose on these, so ONLY take as directed
Magnesium carbonate, which has antacid properties, contains 45 percent magnesium	Magnesium taurate contains a combination of magnesium and taurine, an amino acid. Together, they tend to provide a calming effect on your body and mind
Magnesium citrate is magnesium with citric acid, which like most magnesium supplements has laxative properties but is well absorbed and cost effective	Magnesium threonate is a newer, emerging type of magnesium supplement that appears promising, primarily due to its superior ability to penetrate the mitochondrial membrane, and may be the best magnesium supplement on the market

11 Amazing Health Benefits of Using Baking Soda

Reposted from Dr. Mercola

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/02/02/11-health-benefits-baking-soda.aspx?x_cid=20150202_nonlead2_11-health-benefits-baking-soda_facebookdoc

by Dr. Mercola

You probably have at least one box of baking soda in your home right now. If you're like many Americans, you might have a box in your pantry for baking, one in your refrigerator to absorb odors and another under your kitchen sink to use for cleaning.
What you might not have considered is that baking soda can be used for health purposes, too, so you might want to stash another box in your medicine cabinet.

What Exactly Is Baking Soda?

It's 100 percent sodium bicarbonate, which can be used as a leavening agent in baked goods. When mixed with an acid, baking soda reacts, making bubbles and giving off carbon dioxide gas, which causes dough to rise. Anecdotal reports throughout history suggest that many civilizations used forms of baking soda when making bread and other foods that required rising.
In its natural form, baking soda is known as nahcolite, which is part of the natural mineral natron. Natron, which contains large amounts of sodium bicarbonate, has been used since ancient times. And no, you don't need to get aluminum-free baking soda (you are confusing that with baking powder), as baking soda is already aluminum free.…
For instance, the Egyptians used natron as a soap for cleansing purposes. However, it wasn't until 1846 that Dr. Austin Church and John Dwight began to manufacture and sell the compound we know as baking soda today. By the 1860s, baking soda was featured in published cookbooks but was still primarily known as a cooking additive.¹ By the 1920s, however, its versatility was expanded on and by the 1930s it was widely advertised as a "proven medical agent."

11 Ways to Use Baking Soda for Your Health

You can purchase a box of baking soda for under $1, making it one of the least expensive home remedies to keep on hand. In addition to using it for minor accidents and injuries, baking soda can become a part of your regular hygiene routine.
1. Natural Deodorant

If you want to avoid the parabens and aluminum found in many deodorants and antiperspirants, try a pinch of baking soda mixed with water instead. This simple paste makes an effective and simple natural deodorant. You can also simply brush some dry baking soda under your arms.

2. Insect Bites and Poison Ivy

Apply a paste made of baking soda and water to insect bites to help relieve itching. You can also try rubbing the dry powder onto your skin. This is also effective for itchy rashes and poison ivy. Baking soda helps to relieve minor skin irritation and itching by neutralizing toxins and irritants on your skin's surface.²

3. Heartburn, Indigestion, and Ulcer Pain

Most over-the-counter antacids contain some form of bicarbonate. Baking soda works by immediately neutralizing stomach acid, helping to relieve heartburn, indigestion and even ulcer pain. I have personally recommended this to many, including family members, and have been surprised how remarkably effective it is.
Dosing is typically ½ teaspoon fully dissolved in a half a glass of water, taken every two hours (do not take more than seven ½ teaspoons in 24 hours, or three ½ teaspoons if you're over 60).³
This should only be used as an occasional (not chronic) treatment, however, and be careful not to consume excessive amounts, which can cause serious electrolyte and acid/base imbalances.⁴

4. Foot Soak and Exfoliator

Add three tablespoons of baking soda to a tub of warm water for an invigorating foot soak. You can scrub your feet with a baking soda paste for additional exfoliation. A paste made from three parts of baking soda combined with one part water can be used as an exfoliator for your face and body, too. It's natural, inexpensive and gentle enough to use every day.

5. Relaxing Soak

Baking soda and apple cider make a wonderful spa-like bath for soaking. It also cleans the tub and the drain, as a bonus!

6. Hand Cleanser

Mix three parts baking soda with one part of water to make a natural hand cleanser that will scrub away dirt and neutralize odors.

7. Splinter removal

Add a tablespoon of baking soda to a small glass of water, then soak the affected area twice a day. Many splinters will come out on their own after a couple of days using this treatment.

8. Sunburn Remedy

Add ½ cup of baking soda to lukewarm bathwater, then soak in the tub for natural relief. When you get out, let your skin air dry, rather than toweling off the excess baking soda, for extra relief. You can also add a mixture of baking soda and water to a cool compress and apply it to the sunburn directly.

9. Enhanced Sports Performance

Distance runners have long engaged in a practice known as "soda doping" -- or taking baking soda capsules -- before races to enhance performance, a measure that's thought to work similarly to carbohydrate loading. It's also been shown to improve speed among swimmers.⁵ While I don't suggest you try this at home, it's another example of baking soda benefits. Researchers noted:⁶

"Essentially, sodium bicarbonate is an alkali substance that increases the pH of the blood. This seems to reduce and offset the acidity produced in the muscles during intense, anaerobic exercise that produces lactic acid most quickly, such as fast running or swimming."

10. Tooth and Gum Paste

Baking soda has a mild abrasive action that helps to remove plaque and polish, clean, and deodorize your teeth.⁷ One review of data from five controlled clinical studies found that toothpaste containing baking soda "enhanced plaque removal effectiveness of tooth brushing to a significantly greater extent" than brushing with a non-baking soda toothpaste.⁸
Baking soda also has antibacterial activity and has been found to kill Streptococcus mutans bacteria – a significant contributor to tooth decay.⁹ For an incredibly effective tooth and gum paste, use a mixture of six parts of baking soda to one part of sea salt.
Place them in a blender and mix for 30 seconds, then place in a container to use. Wet the tip of your index finger and place a small amount of the salt and soda mixture on your gums.
Starting with the upper outside gums and then the inside of the upper, followed by the lower outside of the gums then the lower inside, rub the mixture onto your teeth and gums. Spit out the excess. After 15 minutes rinse your mouth. This mixture is incredibly effective at killing bacteria.¹⁰
You need to exert some caution in this area though as many believe baking soda can be too abrasive on your enamel, and Dr. Curatola believes that killing the oral microbiome may be highly counterproductive.

11. Teeth whitener

For a natural way to whiten your teeth, crush one ripe strawberry and mix it with 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda. Spread the mixture onto your teeth and leave on for five minutes. Then brush your teeth and rinse. This method should be used no more than once a week, as excessive use could potentially damage your tooth enamel.

How to Use Baking Soda as a Natural Cleanser

If you find it hard to believe that something as simple and inexpensive as baking soda could really clean your home, consider this: baking soda was used to clean and restore the inner copper walls of the Statute of Liberty during its 1986 restoration. It effectively removed grime without damaging the copper¹¹ – so think it might work around your home, too? Here are some of baking soda's top uses for cleaning:

Baking soda is great to scrub your bath and kitchen with. Put it in a glass grated cheese container with a stainless steel top that has holes in it, and just sprinkle the baking soda on the surfaces and scrub. You may add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to this. Lavender and tea tree oil have potent anti-bacterial qualities.	Baking soda mixed with apple cider vinegar is a bubbly combination that has many uses. As a drain cleaner, sprinkle baking soda down the drain, then add apple cider vinegar and let it bubble for 15 minutes, then rinse with hot water. This is a safer alternative to dangerous drain cleaners.
Soak pots and pans in hot water and baking soda for 15 minutes to easily wipe away baked-on food.	Use baking soda to scrub your barbecue grill.
Clean baby toys in a mixture of 4 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 quart of water.	Baking soda can also be used as a fabric softener in your laundry, or to get your clothes whither and brighter (add one cup to your laundry load).
Baking soda is a natural carpet cleaner. Sprinkle it onto carpets, let it sit for 15 minutes, then vacuum it up.	To polish silver without using toxic silver polish, fill your kitchen sink with hot water, add a sheet of aluminum foil and baking soda, and let the silver pieces soak until clean. It is an easy and fun way to clean silver.
Sprinkle baking soda in your shoes for a natural deodorizer.	In the event of a minor grease fire in your kitchen, use baking soda to help smother out the flames.
Sprinkle baking soda on a vegetable brush to help remove dirt and residue from fruits and veggies.	Make a paste of baking soda and water and use it to scrub away grime from your shower and bath.

10 Home Remedies to Remove Skin Tags

Reposted from LoveLiveHealth
http://www.lovelivehealth.com/10-home-remedies-to-remove-skin-tags/?utm_source=facebookads&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=fb_skintags_dt_us

by Ann Miller

1. Tea Tree Oil - Tea tree oil addresses a wide range of skin conditions, and it can gently remove skin tags as well. Soak a cotton swab in the oil and rub it over the skin tag very gently, using circular motions. Do this twice a day until the skin tag disappears.
2. Aloe Vera - It’s important that you use pure aloe vera extract for this remedy to work; you cannot use lotion with aloe vera added. Rub some onto the skin tag twice per day, every day. The skin tag should disappear within two weeks.
3. Pineapple Juice - The acid in the pineapple juice can easily remove skin tags. Use the same method above, and be sure you don’t wash off the pineapple juice once it’s applied. The skin tag should be gone within a week or two.
4. Lemon Juice - As with pineapple juice, the natural acid in lemon juice will gently erode the skin tag when applied twice per day. Chances are you already have lemon juice in your refrigerator, so why not try it today? With regular applications of the juice, your skin tag can be gone within the next week.
5. Apple Cider Vinegar - This too is very acidic and will remove the skin tag naturally, but the vinegar takes longer to work than the juices mentioned above. If you apply it with a cotton ball every day, twice per day, you may see the tag gone within a month.
6. Aspirin - Dissolve an aspirin tablet in a quarter cup of water and then soak a cotton ball in this mixture. Dab this onto the skin tag and cover the area with a band-aid, not removing the solution from the skin tag. The aspirin mixture will soak in and fade the skin tag. For this to work, you need actual aspirin; this is not a time to substitute ibuprofen or acetaminophen as you might when you get a headache!
7. Castor Oil and Baking Soda - To use this method, make a thick paste of the castor oil and the baking soda and then apply it to your skin tag. Cover it with a bandage and leave it on overnight. In the morning, wash with warm water and repeat unit the tag disappears, usually within two weeks.
8. Vitamin E Oil - As with aloe vera, you need to use pure vitamin E oil and not a lotion or cream with the oil simply added. Rub some of the oil on the skin tag twice per day, every day. The skin tag should disappear within about ten days.
9. Potato - Cut a thin slice of white potato and put it over the skin tag and hold it in place with a bandage. Wear this for a few hours, until the slice feels dry. Repeat this every day until the skin tag disappears, usually within a week.
10. Banana Peel - The potassium and other essential minerals in bananas help to remove skin tags, and you can treat yours by slicing a small part of a banana peel and placing it onto your skin tag at night. Be sure the inside of the peel is facing your skin tag, and keep it in place with a bandage. Wear it overnight and gently wipe the skin tag in the morning. Do this every night until the skin tag is gone, usually within two weeks.

If your skin tag is very stubborn, see a dermatologist. He or she may be able to quickly freeze it off with dry ice, use a topical ointment that dries the skin tag, or remove it with a laser. These are all painless procedures that can be done in one visit, and your skin tag can be gone just that quickly!