Teaching the Body Health

By Amy Biddle

Most of us grew up believing what scientists believed. We “knew” that a cell’s nucleus contained its DNA, that DNA contains genetic material, and that the nucleus of a cell therefore functioned as its brain. We believed that the genetics coded into these cellular “brains” determined our physical characteristics, our health, and even our personalities.

Former medical school professor and Stanford biology researcher Bruce Lipton used to believe that, too. Then, his study and research showed him that these things just were not true. You can take the nucleus out of a cell, he found, and it will go on functioning for months. So the nucleus cannot be the cell’s brain.

What is the cell’s “brain,” it turns out, is the microscopically thin membrane that surrounds and encloses the cell. And that membrane takes its instructions not from the DNA at the nucleus, but from environmental factors surrounding the cell, including thoughts and perceptions. Our beliefs influence the functioning of our cells, Lipton learned, and actually alter genetic codes. As a result of his research, Lipton has become a student of quantum physics and spirituality. Like other cellular biologists, he has found that quantum physics helps explain the mechanism of communication between mind and body.

In early 20th century America, no one had heard of quantum physics, but a spiritual movement based on the principle that our thoughts create our lives was already being revived from the midst of mainstream Christianity. One of its pioneers was a woman named Myrtle Fillmore, who was exposed to this principle during the final stages of tuberculosis.

When Fillmore heard the teaching that reshaped her understanding of spirituality, she had lived with a diagnosis of tuberculosis and other illnesses for many years. Now, she faced a very poor prognosis. With a husband who was not much healthier than she, and children to provide for, Fillmore was told she had just a number of months to live.

When she heard a lecture by a spiritual teacher, Fillmore had an epiphany. She realized that she was a child of God, and as a child of God, there was no reason to “inherit” tuberculosis or any other illness, as she’d been taught. From that evening on, she began to praise her body’s essential health, wholeness, and power to heal. She spent time every day focusing on the realization that she was a child of health and wholeness, not illness. In other words, she re-trained her cells to be healthy.

It took about two years before Myrtle Fillmore saw the physical evidence of a complete healing in her body, but she did not let that trouble her. After all, she’d already outlived her death sentence. She felt that, after so many years of being conditioned for illness, it was natural that the cells of her body took a while to learn what she now taught them. Myrtle Fillmore outlived her prognosis by more than 45 years, and she helped countless others access their own power to heal by teaching their bodies to be healthy. She never heard of quantum physics, but like many in the field of spirituality, she knew how to put it to good use in her life.

Amy Biddle has been a lifetime student and teacher of spiritual principles. Spiritual Healing Secrets is a fast-growing resource for anyone who wants to improve her or himself, or simply to learn practical spiritual principles. Let Amy help you improve your life! Discover the secrets at http://www.spiritual-healing-secrets.com

This article may be reproduced in its entirety as long as the "About the Author" and links are included. Contact the author through the web site http://www.spiritual-healing-secrets.com

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Self Hypnosis Cds - Tips for Choosing Hypnosis Cds

By Steven Harold

People are so different. In fact we are all unique. Even identical twins have physical differences and differing personality characteristics. Not only are we all different in physical and personality aspects, we can also have different reactions to different stimuli.

Listening to self hypnosis cds is no different. For you a particular self hypnosis cd, produced by a particular hypnotherapist on a specific theme will have the desired effect... relief from the issue. Yet, for others, the very same self hypnosis cdwill have little or no effect.

In being a mature and responsible adult, this is something that you have to accept. There is no one universal cure all that will help every single person who has that same issue.

With a self hypnosis cd, the difference might just be a few words that are uttered by the hypnotherapist. Those few words, uttered at that particular time, might just be all that was needed to help release you from your issue. Yet, for another person those same words might have no impact whatsoever.

Additionally, the hypnotherapist's voice itself might be the difference between success and failure. You may wonder whether it is best to pick a male or female hypnotherapist's hypnosis cd. Even though you may hear the exact same words from a hypnotherapist of both sexes, because of a difference in perception, you may find that you more readily accept suggestions from one sex over another.

Even more, is the difference between same sex hypnotherapist hypnosis cds. You might find one male hypnotherapist's voice pleasant and effective whilst another male hypnothertaist's voice may grate on your nerves. Once again for someone else the opposite might be true.

So just like attending a consultation with a live therapist, part of your role as the client is to decide whether you can work with the therapist. The same can apply to any hypnotherapist's range of self hypnosis cds.

Lastly, don't forget that variety is also useful. You may find initially that one set of self hypnosis cds are useful and then after a while you may choose a different set of self hypnosis cds.

Steven Harold

Clinical Hypnotherapist

Self Hypnosis Cds Uk

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Working with Crystals to Help with Healing and Connecting

By George Lockett

Crystals are like tuning forks they bring in a specific vibration and can be used to bring your body energies into balance.

It has been known for thousands of yours that crystals and gems stones can have an influence on your Body, Mind and Spirit. Crystals and gems have connections to your astrological chart and there are books and tables available in most crystal shops to show these links and influences.

Quite often I hear people tell me that their favourite crystal or gem found them. Meaning that they felt drawn or physically attracted to specific type and one specific stone. This is tired in with the synchronies in life. That which we vibrate most closely with is drawn to us.

I have noticed myself when I choose a crystal to hold when meditating. One feels the vibration or frequency of that crystal travelling up your arms and permeating all of your being. This is a combination of crystal structure and vibration.

There is a need to be relaxed and open when choosing a crystal to work with. Use your intention to help you choose the influence you desire the crystal to have. The quality you desire will be draw to you and you will find your self-selecting a crystal with that quality.

We are all creating our lives in the moment and your intention and desire are more important than the crystal you select. It is important to put yourself first in this process. Your feelings and emotions should be your guiding light. The mind and the look and physical qualities of the crystal should take second place. As your internal feeling and the internal qualities of the crystal is much more important.

When you have selected a crystal that feels right for you. Hold it in meditation and ask to be allowed to work with it. As you go deeper in meditation feel the connection at a cellular level and at a molecular level and at an atomic level within yourself and the crystal. Feel the crystal structure and the influence it has on your body, mind and spirit.

Become aware of the balance of the five elements within the crystal of fire, air, earth, water, and the life force or space. Reach out with your feelings and feel the influence of the stars and planets on the crystal and which astrological sign is most dominate.

Then when you have allowed your awareness to connect on all these levels, let go and transcend them all. Become one with the crystal and become one with yourself. On this level of being, just feel what it feels like to be one with the crystal. To be in the crystal matrix, feel its bounders and influences; then transcend again into a deeper level of being, where all the boundaries melt away and you feel fully expanded and at one with the whole Universe.

Know that as this process of letting go and expanding your awareness takes place. Your energies are naturally being rebalanced and put in tune with the whole Universe. Know that when you come out of meditation, your life will experience more synchrony, and a feeling of connection and support will be dominant in your awareness.

You are truly blessed when you come to know yourself from within.

Message channelled by George Lockett (C) Copyright 2005, All Rights Reserved. Read HealerGeorge’s Blog: Journey into the Self
Yes, I can send you absent/distant healing: this will really help. Just follow the instructions on the home page of my web site at: HealerGeorge Web Site and Distant Healing

As you make your donation you will get the opportunity to put in your personal details, so I can focus the healing directly to you.
Or ask at question at: Ask HealerGeorge

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Improving Your Health with a Steam Shower

By Shelley Murphy

The evolution of bathroom design has taken on a new dimension with all technological advances in both bath and shower innovations. Not until the last decade daily showers were a quick means of cleansing the body, spending mere minutes in the shower feeling more like a chore rather than an enjoyable and relaxing experience.

According to health and wellness experts finding comfort in the shower by taking the time to unwind and relieve the body and mind of everyday stresses allows the body to replenish and re-energize. With more people living and leading hectic lifestyles in trying to find a balance between full-time work and raising a family often lends itself to insurmountable levels of stress causing physical and emotional fatigue. Until recently the only way to escape and relax was to take a trip to the spa where you could enjoy the soothing comfort of a steam shower or whirlpool bath.

With so many new shower designs available in today’s market, bathroom suppliers have seen an increase in shower purchases from electric showers to steam showers. Modern day trends depicts that more homeowners are transforming their existing bathrooms into home spa retreats, but not only for the sole purpose to repose. For centuries steam has been used for medicinal purposes to heal a number of ailments. Since the use of heat and steam helps to soothe and relax tense muscles, arthritis suffers benefit from the use of steam showers by providing relief to sore joints.

Along with the many other added benefits of steam showers, medical professionals say that steam stimulates the lymphatic system increasing blood circulation and speeds up the metabolism which can aid in weight loss and improve the overall look of the body. Among the positive therapeutic affects that a steam shower has is on the immune system causing the body to produce more white blood cells. The increase in cell count is the first defense in fighting off the common cold as well as other diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, influenza, allergies and pneumonia. Similar to a small vaporizer that emits steam into the air, steam showers serve up the same home-based solutions in order to relieve a sore throat, excessive coughing, nasal congestion, and for clearing up fluid in the lungs. Steam showers are also known to flush out the toxins and other impurities from the body through sweat glands which can have a positive affect on the skins’ appearance; making it appear more youthful and by adds moisture to dry skin.

Unlike conventional showers, one of the great features of a steam shower is that they are one compact unit and can installed wherever there is a water supply making them much more versatile and are leak proof. The two-fold benefits of a luxurious steam shower provide therapeutic relief on the body and can add a modern elegant look to your bathroom.

Written by Shelley Murphy on behalf of www.victoriaplumb.com an online retailer of bathroom furniture, steam showers, whirlpool spa baths and bath related products serving the United Kingdom.

Shelley Murphy brings with her over 10 years of Search Engine Optimization and e-marketing strategies to web based businesses. Holding two BA’s in English and Journalism Communications her writing skills have been a great asset for both onsite writing and monthly newsletters publications.

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Reducing Hypertension (high blood pressure) Naturally

By Stewart Hare

Hypertension is commonly known as high blood pressure. A healthy young adult resting blood pressure should be around 120/80 mmHg, blood pressure rises with age, a typically healthy 50 year old should have blood pressure reading of 150/90 mmHg at rest. Hypertension (high blood pressure) is diagnosed when the blood pressure is constantly above 160/95 mmHg at rest.

The contributing factors to hypertension (high blood pressure) are kidney and hormonal disease, a genetically predisposed family history to high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, high consumption of dietary salt (sodium chloride), low dietary calcium, depletion in magnesium, obesity, low intake of potassium salts, a high consumption of sugar , high alcohol consumption, high consumption of caffeine especially in beverages such as tea and coffee, smoking, high saturated fats intake, consumption of liquorice, non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the taking of the contractive pill, toxic material such as lead and cadmium, food allergy, lack of exercise and stress.

Usually, hypertension (high blood pressure) is without symptoms but typical symptoms of hypertension (high blood pressure) which are reported are feeling dizzy, tired and having headaches. If hypertension (high blood pressure) is left unchecked then blood vessels in the eyes, kidneys, heart and brain can become damaged causing serious conditions such as impaired eyesight, kidney failure, heart attacks and strokes. A man with hypertension (high blood pressure) in his 40’s is 30 times more likely to have a stroke than a man not suffering from hypertension (high blood pressure).

Changing your dieting and lifestyle can reduce the health risks associated with hypertension (high blood pressure). Avoid salt, excess alcohol, caffeine, stress and quit smoking, keep to a low fat, low cholesterol diet which is high in fresh organic fruit and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, this should provide plenty of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, potassium and fibre, take up regular exercise, if overweight try to loss it and try not to reuse vegetable oil for frying.

Supplements that have shown good results in reducing hypertension (high blood pressure) are Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), fish oil, garlic tablets and potassium.

The following supplements may help if you are suffering from hypertension (high blood pressure)

Achillea wilhelmsii

Coenzyme Q10

Evening primrose oil

Fibre

Fish oil (EPA/DHA)

Garlic

Hibiscus

Stewart Hare C.H.Ed Dip NutTh

Advice for a healthier natural life

Website: http://www.newbeingnutrition.com

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Distilled Water - Frequently Asked Questions

By Ross Bridgeford

1. What is distilled water?

Distilled water is quite simply water that has been heated up to boiling point so that it evaporates. It then rises in the distiller unit and condenses – turning back into water but minus all of the toxin and impurities behind. Using a distiller rids the water of any bacteria, viruses, cysts, heavy metals, radionuclides, organics, inorganics, and particulates.

It is no different from the process seen in the hydrologic cycle when the water on the earth is heated by the sun, turning it into a vapour which rises and forms clouds (leaving the toxins and impurities behind). As the vapours cool, the clouds turn back into droplets of water and fall as rain back to the earth. This process borrowed from nature is what the distiller uses to make pure water!

2. Doesn’t Distilled Water Leech Minerals from the Body?

This is a claim that has been made and propagated for some fifteen years without any substantial evidence or logic.

It is assumed that this myth was created by a manufacturer of a competing water purification system as a way of trying to create consumer distrust. It is unbelievable that it still survives today, regardless of it being as scientifically based as me saying that smoking can cure cancer.

However, do not just take my word for it, just have a search on the Internet – you will see that distilled water is backed by renowned health experts such as Dr Weil, Harvey and Marylyn Diamond, the American Medical Journal and Dr Schroeder.

3. Isn't distilled water void of minerals that my body needs?
This is another popular myth that is based on no scientific fact!

Put most simply, there are two types of mineral – organic and inorganic. The body is only able to absorb organic minerals and it gets these from foods. As the body does not have a need to get minerals from water the best thing we can do is make our drinking water as pure from toxins and chemicals as possible.

While it is true that the process of distillation removes certain minerals from the water it the majority of these are inorganic and are therefore useless to the body. In any case, research has highlighted that you would have to drink over 650 eight-ounce glasses of tap water to reach the Recommended Daily Allowance for calcium. The fact that distillation makes water 100% pure should not be of concern.

4. Are distillers expensive to run?

It takes an average distiller approximately 3 kilowatts to make 4 litres of distilled water. In the UK, the price of a kw of electricity is approximately 5.5p. Therefore, to make four litres of freshly distilled, pure water it costs only 16-17 pence! This is only 4 pence per litre!

From the perspective of return on investment - it would take you approximately 99 days for your distiller to pay for itself:

3 litres of distilled water per day = 12.37p

3 litres of bottled mineral water per day = £2.04

Difference = £1.92

Price of a Fresh & Pure Distiller = £189.99

Days to pay for distiller based upon saving above = 99 days!

Distilled water is the best and most economical way to turn your tap water into fresh, pure and pH neutral drinking water. Home water distillers are not vastly expensive and as you can see, they pay for themselves in as little as three months!

If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch!

For more information on home water distillers or to buy the Fresh & Pure Distiller visit energiseforlife.com - we offer a wide range of health products and nutrition resources to make it as easy as possible for you to reach your health goals.

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Why Fiber is Important in Hemorrhoids Prevention?

By Alex Fir

When it comes to hemorrhoids prevention, it is hard to overstate the importance of fiber in your diet. Even though fiber is most associated with grains, rice and breads, it is important to keep in mind that fruits and vegetables also contain significant amounts of fiber. In fact, the need for fiber is just one more reason to eat fruits and vegetables every day.

Fiber is the portion of food that the human body cannot digest. Fiber is found in foods of plant origin only; there is no fiber in meat and dairy products. Fiber plays an important role in the digestion of food and in the elimination of waste products as they travel through the body.

Good sources of dietary fiber include grains, cereals, legumes, lentils, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables.

Fiber comes in two forms – soluble and insoluble. All plant materials contain both types of fiber, but some sources contain more of one than the other. Eating a variety of foods rich in fiber every day will ensure you get adequate levels of both soluble and insoluble fiber.

Insoluble fiber is good in the prevention of hemorrhoids, and some types of colon and rectal cancers. Insoluble fiber is mainly found in wheat, some types of vegetables and in whole grain products. Some vegetables rich in insoluble fiber include carrots, peas and broccoli. The skins of fruits are also rich in insoluble fiber.

Soluble fiber, on the other hand, has shown promise in reducing levels of cholesterol in the blood, and at reducing the rate at which glucose enters the bloodstream. Soluble fiber is abundant in dried peas, lentils, beans, barley, oat bran, and in many fruits and vegetables.

Many people are unsure just how much dietary fiber they need every day, but most dietitians recommend that women consume between 21 and 25 grams of fiber per day. For men, the recommendation is 30 to 38 grams of fiber each day.

It is important to know which foods are high in fiber in order to boost your daily fiber consumption. In the case of packaged foods like breads and crackers, the fiber content will be listed as part of the nutritional label. In the case of fruits and vegetables, there are charts which show the fiber content of an average size piece.

When increasing fiber, it is best to make the increase gradual. A sudden jump in fiber can lead to bloating, gas and abdominal discomfort. In addition, it is important to drink plenty of fluids, especially water, in order for fiber to have the best effect. When choosing breads and cereals, it is best to go with healthier whole grains. In general, the less processing, the healthier the foods.

Eating the skins of fruits and vegetables is a great way to increase dietary fiber. Many people like to make fruit shakes and smoothies that use the skins of their favorite fruits. This makes a delicious and nutritious way to increase fiber consumption. In addition, keeping a variety of fiber rich foods, such as apples, nuts, seeds and bran muffins, around for snacks is a great idea.

Do you suffer from hemorrhoids? Visit Hemorrhoids Center for the latest news about hemorrhoid treatment. You will also find a lot of information about hemorrhoid symptoms.

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Sugar – Sweet, Cancer Feeding, and Deadly

By Marvin Pirila

The average American consumes two to three pounds of sugar each week. If they are ingesting more than their body can accomodate they are placing their short-term and long-term health at serious risk.

One major health issue with sugar is that is depresses the immune system. An influx of sugar into the bloodstream upsets the body’s blood-sugar balance, triggering the release of insulin. The body uses insulin to keep blood-sugar at safe, constant levels. Insulin also promotes the storage of fat, so foods high in sugar can lead to rapid weight gain and elevated triglyceride levels, both of which are linked to cardiovascular disease.

Complex carbohydrates are absorbed more slowly, lessening the impact on blood-sugar levels.

White blood cells need vitamin C to phagocytize (engulf and absorb) viruses and bacteria. To accumulate vitamin C white blood cells require a concentration inside the cell that is 50 times higher than that outside the cell.

Glucose and vitamin C have similar chemical structures and compete for one another upon entering the cell. Glucose and vitamin C enters cells after being mediated by the same thing. This means if there is more glucose than vitamin C, less vitamin C gets in. Your immune system is compromised with even a small consumption of sugar. For example, a blood sugar value of 120 reduces the phagocytic index by 75%. Note: this index measures your white blood cells ability to engulf and absorb viruses and bacteria.

The roots of disease are always at the cellular and molecular level, and more often than not insulin has a large role in it. Succombing to our desire for sweets, often to excess, has serious consequences to our health.

Habitually, ingesting sugar has certain health risks such as:

Aggravating asthma

Mood swings

Worsening nervous disorders

Promoting tooth decay

Increasing risk of coronary heart disease

Speed aging process

Glucose fuels cancer

Refined dietary sugars lack vitamins and minerals, and must rely on stored micro-nutrients within the body to be metabolized. When these stores are gone, cholesterol and fatty acid metabolization is impeded. This contributes to higher cholesterol and obesity. The American Diabetic Association and American Dietetic Association agree that sugar ingestion is one of the three major causes of degenerative disease in America.

To be healthy and remain healthy, blood-glucose levels must be controlled through diet, exercise, supplements, meditation, and prescription drugs (when necessary).

Marvin Pirila writes for his wife's alternative medicine business, Pieceful Pursuits. Pieceful Pursuits is served through the websites http://www.piecefulpursuits/, http://www.essentialoilsfirst/, and http://www.nutritionalsupplementsfirst.com/

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Getting Well – Solving the Right Problem

By Donetta Harrison

We are told to eat 5 portions of fruit and vegetables each and every day but do any of us really understand why? If I told you it was to regulate the pH balance of your body fluids, would you be surprised?

All foods are either acidic or alkaline, very few are neutral. By consuming acid forming food we make our bodies acidic and if the acid is not neutralized we risk illness, premature ageing and chronic disease. The worst culprits for acid formation in the body are meat, processed foods, coffee and dairy products. It is our increased intake of such foods that is having consequences for our health and well being.

Our bodies are 2/3rds water and they operate best in a very slightly alkaline state. All of our cells are bathed in and filled with fluid and if that fluid is not at the optimum pH level our cells will deteriorate, our immune system will be unable to cope with the rate of deterioration and our health and vitality will decline.

We’ve all heard of acid rain and the measures being taken to reverse the damage it causes. Have you also heard of the human condition Acidosis? This happens when the body becomes overwhelmed by acid forming substances.

Being physically below par becomes a way of life for us. It is like living next door to a railway line – we cease to hear the trains. In the same way we no longer notice our bodies’ cry for help. If we ignore these messages the body will begin to break down and acute illness will take hold. If and when we do finally acknowledge that we are unwell we visit the Dr and have the symptoms treated whilst ignoring the underlying cause – we solve the wrong problem.

Without any conscious input from us our natural defence mechanisms are always striving to return our bodies to an alkaline state. By ensuring a supply of good quality, natural, bioavailable minerals is provided to the body, we can support those efforts.

Even though we may eat a healthy, balanced diet (and how many of us really do this?) we can still experience problems. Our foodstuffs are lacking in mineral content as a result of intensive production and processing methods; soil exhaustion; long periods of storage and transportation and chemical treatments. Mineral depletion from soils was recognised as long ago as the 1930’s!

Without sufficient minerals in our diet our bodies will begin to scavenge for what they need. Calcium is an example. In an acidic body there will be inadequate supplies of available calcium to neutralize the acidic body fluids and our natural system will take what it needs from the bones of the skeleton. This can lead to arthritic conditions and osteoporosis developing. Simply supplementing with calcium could make the situation worse as the underlying cause of the problem is not a calcium deficiency but excess acid.

As we age our bodies’ ability to neutralize acidic substances diminishes and we begin to experience what we have come to accept and expect as age-onset problems. As we age, our bodies need more support as other natural processes become less efficient and, if left unassisted, a downward spiral of ill health begins.

Individuals who are overweight invariably have a body fluid pH which is acidic. Fat is an alkaline substance and the body lays down stores of alkaline fat in an attempt to neutralize the acidity. Overweight individuals who make adjustments to their food intake and lifestyle, to restore the pH balance of their bodies to the optimum slightly alkaline level, will find that fat stores are released and that their bodies change size and shape naturally, without dieting.

Simply by keeping an optimum pH balance we can slow degeneration, halt deterioration and give our bodies the best chance of functioning well, well into old age. It is for these reasons that supplementation has become advisable, indeed some would say essential.

If we accept that vitamin and mineral supplements are the answer how can we be sure that the supplements we take are available to our bodies and will not simply transit our systems to be flushed down the toilet?

One company has patented a process called Fructose Compounding specifically designed to make minerals more available to our cells. Minerals such as calcium, iron and zinc are particularly difficult for our bodies to absorb and many of the minerals we ingest bind to other molecules in our guts which prevent their absorption. Even if we do manage to get the minerals as far as the blood, the cells must then be persuaded to absorb them. Fructose Compounding is designed to deliver minerals to our cells in a form they can use.

Fructose Compounding binds minerals to fructose molecules, fructose being a substance which is recognised by the cells and readily absorbed, and the fructose becomes a Trojan Horse for the minerals allowing them to pass through cell membranes for use by the body.

There is no reason why we should not all be taking steps to ensure we give our bodies the support they need. Who does not want to lead a healthy, long life? By giving your body the supplementation it needs in a format it can utilise you increase your chances of being able to do both.

Donetta Harrison is building Wellness For Life, an information resource on all aspects of wellness in all domains of life, to encourage individuals to take responsibility for their health and wellbeing in order that that they may live life to the full.

Nothing written here or posted on http://wellnessforlife.info is designed to replace the advice of your Medical Practitioner. Please seek medical advice before making dietary or lifestyle changes if you are currently under the care of a Physician.

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Kinesiology

By Jane Thurnell-Read

Kinesiology is rapidly gaining in popularity as a powerful but gentle, holistic therapy that can be used in a wide variety of situations and for many different purposes. If you want to check out your allergies, get some help with stress or sort out health problems without drugs then a visit to a kinesiologist may be exactly what is needed. You may also experience kinesiology when your chiropractor is checking the best place to manipulate or when your aromatherapist checks for the most suitable oils to use for your massage.

George Goodheart, an American chiropractor, developed kinesiology in the 1960’s. He used muscle-testing to evaluate the effectiveness of his treatments. In kinesiology gentle pressure is applied to a muscle and the response monitored. The normal muscle response is to lock. By placing a limb in a particular position it is possible effectively to isolate an individual muscle (often an arm muscle) and test its response to this pressure. If the muscle gives way or is spongy, it indicates an energy disturbance in the meridian system. The meridian system is an essential, but unseen, factor in health. It is responsible for conveying the life force to every tissue in the body. If this is disturbed in any way then ill health is likely to occur. So, the response of the muscle can give us vital information about energy disturbances within the body. If, for example, a muscle tests spongy or unlocks in the presence of a food it may mean that the person is allergic to that food. A stressful thought will also result in an unlocked response from an associated muscle. If the muscle unlocks after a verbal question is asked, it indicates a NO answer to that question: an "other than conscious" or "body wisdom" answer.

There are various branches of kinesiology (e.g. health kinesiology, aplied knesiology, educational kinesiology, classical kinesiology, etc.). All use the basic muscle-testing skills. Each kinesiology very much reflects the interests and personality of its developer. For example, applied kinesiology reflects its origin in chiropractic with its emphasis on correcting structural problems. Health kinesiology was developed by a psychologist with an interest in nutrition and electro-magnetic pollution. Some branches of kinesiology do not accept verbal muscle-testing, but rely on a system of reflex points and finger modes instead. Kinesiology techniques have also been incorporated into other therapies, so, for example, homeopaths, Bowen practitioners, chiropractors and aromatherapists may use muscle testing to confirm their judgement about the correct course of action.

During a typical kinesiology consultation the practitioner takes a case history and then the client lies (fully clothed) on a couch. The practitioner will test one or more muscles using gentle pressure. Depending on the response, the practitioner will then stimulate or sedate various acupuncture points. No needles are involved, but the points can be re-balanced using various techniques depending on the particular branch of kinesiology. Sometimes homeopathic remedies, magnets, crystals etc. are also placed on the body. Many kinesiologists will give advice on nutritional supplements, flower remedies, exercise programmes and life-style changes as well. No two sessions are alike even for people with apparently identical symptoms.

People consult a kinesiologist for a variety of reasons. They may be physically ill and want some help with their problems. Kinesiology has successfully treated people with a wide range of physical problems including eczema, asthma, migraine, arthritis, hay fever, allergies, M.E., menopausal problems, menstrual problems, tiredness, IBS, hyperactivity, etc. They may have been through a whole range of medical tests and have no diagnosis for their symptoms. They may be anxious to reduce their dependence on drugs. They may be emotionally distressed and want help with depression, anxiety, panic attacks, lack of self-confidence, etc. They may be an athlete seeking to enhance his or her performance, a mother worried about her child’s poor school report, a businessman stressed by his work load, an accident victim suffering pain and emotional trauma or a person who cannot see the way forward. People from all walks of life find an answer within Kinesiology for their needs. They respond to a system which respects the body’s own inner knowledge about itself and its problems.

Sceptics sometimes believe it works because the client believes it does, but kinesiology works with small babies, the mentally handicapped, animals and the downright sceptical. One of the youngest clients I ever had was a baby who was 6 weeks old and was failing to thrive. In fact, she was losing weight because she was sick every time she was fed. Different feeds had been tried but without any success. The baby was brought to see me. She slept through the whole session, during which I established that she was allergic to the tap water that was used to mix the feed. This problem was quickly solved; the baby stopped being sick and started to gain weight much to everyone’s relief.

Sometimes a client will only need a single appointment for their problems, but more generally people need a series of appointments. Some clients recognise that Kinesiology can be used in a preventive manner rather than just dealing with problems when they arise. These clients will continue to have Kinesiology sessions in order to maintain their health and well-being.

Kinesiology can also be used as an emergency first aid. Earlier this year I took part in a sponsored bike ride in Cuba. As well as riding 250 miles I saw 14 “clients” – fellow cyclists with knee injuries, back problems, headaches and infected insect bites. Many of the consultations took place in the dirt beside the road but almost everyone was pleased with the speedy results of their unfamiliar treatment. Two participants – a GP and a pharmaceutical company sales rep – had thought they would be unable to complete the ride because of knee injuries. They both found that after a short kinesiology session they were able to get back on their bikes and complete the ride.

Conventional medical professionals are also becoming interested in applying kinesiology in their own work. A Swiss doctor with some training in kinesiology told me that he always uses muscle-testing before prescribing an antibiotic to check if the patient will experience an allergic reaction to it. Since he has started doing this he has not had one single patient experiencing an adverse reaction to an antibiotic. If this simple procedure were widely implemented within medicine, it would save the NHS a huge amount in drugs and save patients many uncomfortable experiences of severe drug reactions.

Dentists too are beginning to find kinesiology a useful tool. Kinesiology can be used to check bite alignment after dental work, to establish the correct order for the removal of amalgam and even to establish which tooth needs to be filled. A friend told me how she had several teeth filled and numerous X-rays in order to remove her severe toothache. Nothing had worked, until I used muscle-testing to establish which was the problem tooth. She told her dentist about my findings and he agreed to look at that tooth, although he was not surprisingly sceptical that I could pinpoint the problem when his best endeavours had failed. Much to his surprise he found that I was correct and the painful problem was quickly resolved.

Modern developments are keeping kinesiologists busy too. Some years ago I helped a teenager with epilepsy. As a result of my work she became fit-free and was able to stop taking her drugs much to her delight and her consultant’s surprise. Recently she started having fits again. When she came to see me she told me she had experienced 7-10 fits in the previous week after being fit-free for over two years. I established through muscle-testing that having her tongue pierced two weeks before was largely to blame. Fortunately for her we were able to use some kinesiology procedures so that she could keep her tongue stud and become fit-free again.

When I started practising kinesiology in 1982 no one had heard of it, but now it is becoming more and more popular with articles in the press and interviews on television and the radio. The popularity of kinesiology is likely to grow as more and more clients and practitioners recognise its value. My hope for the future is that Kinesiology will become integrated into the main stream medical and educational systems, without losing its ability to generate powerful new techniques to help people become truly whole.

First published in the Green Life Directory

Jane Thurnell-Read is a writer and researcher on health, stress, alternative medicine, and happiness. Visit her web site http://www.healthandgoodness.com for tips and information on how to live a happier, healthier life no matter how busy you are.

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Buying A Juicer

By Jane Thurnell-Read

There are many advantages to eating fruit and vegetables raw. Water-soluble vitamins (such as vitamin C) are destroyed by heating, so there will be less vitamin C in a cooked carrot than in a similar raw carrot.

But for some nutrients, cooking (and juicing) is more nutritious, because it makes the nutrients more easily assimilated. Cooking and juicing breaks down tough fibres and allows the digestive juices to work more effectively on the vegetable. This is particularly important for someone who is elderly, ill or who has impaired digestion.

For example, research has shown that we absorb approximately 3-4% of carotenoids from raw carrots and 15-20% from cooked carrots. Carotenoids are plant pigments that give yellow, orange and red fruit and vegetables their colour. Carotenoids are powerful antioxidants, so have a role in helping us fight old age and cancer.

Juicing fruit and vegetables is an excellent way to combine the advantages of both raw and cooked. There are a lot of different juicers out there, so I decided to ask the experts at the Wholistic Research Company in the UK for more about juicing and juicers.

What are the benefits of a juicer over just eating fresh fruit and vegetables?

The use of fresh fruit and vegetable juices in both normal and therapeutic diets has long been established as a great aid to natural health, energy and well-being. The high mineral and nutrient content, combined with the vibrant life-energy of fresh fruits and vegetables, makes pure, fresh juice a wonderful part of a healthy person's diet. In no other way can one consume the nutritional content of, for example, a pound or two of apples and carrots (in a glass) and then go on to eat a healthy breakfast.
Fresh juices are an invaluable supplement to any person's diet. Indeed there are therapies that rely almost entirely on the power and nutrition available in juices to rid an ailing body of serious illness, even cancer. The body is stimulated by such concentrated goodness to throw off negative, pathological cellular deterioration and regain excellent health.

What are the advantages of a juicer over bought juice?

Making fresh juices from your own juicer provides you with the same live enzymes that are available in raw fresh fruit and vegetables. These fresh raw foods give us more energy and sparkle than cooked, 'dead' foods, and 'dead' juices that have been sitting in a container on the supermarket shelf for days, weeks or even months. This energy (from the freshly made juice) is concentrated, and you feel it as soon as you drink it. It can clear your head and make you feel light and energetic.

Juicers can vary dramatically in price, so what should you look for in buying a juicer?

In order to extract juice from fruits and vegetables, it is necessary first to break down the cell walls and fibres and then separate out the juice. Ideally, a top quality juicer should deliver a nutrient-rich juice on the one hand and a dry pulp of cell walls and fibres, on the other. There are basically two types of juicers: centrifugal juicers and masticating juicers.

So what is a centrifugal juicer?

This is an inexpensive juicer and is widely available. It merely grates fruits and vegetables, leaving strings of unbroken cells. The juice from the cells that have been broken is then spun out at very high speed (6,000 to 10,000 rpm). Because the juice is flung out, it mixes with the air and so oxidises (turns brown) quickly. The pulp usually remains very moist, because the process has not extracted all the juice. Not only is this more wasteful, but the juice is paler, more watery, lower in nutrient value and often quite insipid in flavour.

That doesn’t sound very appetising. Are masticating juicers any better?
Masticating juicers provide richer, more flavourful, nutritious juices. They are altogether more ‘serious’, although more expensive, but should be considered to be an investment in good health. They more thoroughly break up fruit or vegetables, and press out the juice from the resulting pulp inside a nose cone with a narrow opening.

This is far more efficient than centrifugal action. A good masticating juicer will extract up to five times more nutrients than centrifugal juicers.

Masticating juicers - like the popular American champion juicer - use a rugged cutter, spinning at 1425 rpm. This will juice whole carrots and quartered apples speedily and with ease.

There are also slower masticating juicers that use a single auger or twin gears, revolving at 80 to 160 rpm, to more gently crush smaller pieces of fruit and vegetables. They are especially useful for juicing tough fibrous greens and wheatgrass (a powerful healing natural tonic).

You can also juice wheatgrass with a manual masticating juicer. A good one can be relatively inexpensive to buy, and is similar to an old fashioned table-mounted mincer that is turned with a handle. Many masticating juicers will also make smoothies, purees, nut butters, pasta, baby foods and frozen fruit ice creams.

The price of a good juicer may seem quite high, but the quality of the juice produced, and the long life of the juicer, far outweigh the initial outlay when compared to the cheaper, far less efficient models on the market.

Jane Thurnell-Read is a writer and researcher on health, stress, alternative medicine, and happiness. Visit her web site http://www.healthandgoodness.com for tips and information on how to live a happier, healthier life no matter how busy you are.

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The Real Connection Between Salt and Blood Pressure

By Charles Kassotis

Who doesn’t enjoy a salty pretzel, salt and pepper on an omelet, or a dash of salt on a baked potato? Most of us enjoy salt as a seasoning for many types of foods, from sweet to bland. You can enjoy a little bit of salt on cantaloupe to sweeten it or salt on a steak to perk up the flavor. Numerous recipes call for salt to enliven the flavor of their central ingredients or blend of seasonings.

Yet, salt has been shown to play a role in high blood pressure. If you already have high blood pressure, or yours is starting to climb gradually, you will want to cut back on your use of salt as one of several measures to control your blood pressure. If you are a committed salt addict, here are some tips that can help you to overcome this unhealthy habit.

1. Keep the saltshaker in the cupboard. If you are used to reaching for it with just about any meal or entrée, place it out of sight so you won’t be tempted. You might even want to remove all but a little in the bottom of the shaker. Then, when it runs out, you will have to fill it again, and you may be put off by the time it would take to do this, and forego your use of salt for that food item.

2. Cook with less salt. If a recipe calls for salt, substitute another seasoning if possible. But if the salt is used for leavening purposes, check your cookbook for acceptable salt alternatives. Your doctor also may be able to recommend some options that will be healthier to use.

3. Find table substitutes for salt. There are several seasoning options on the market today. Browse this section of the grocery store to find substitutes that you can live with. At first, you may need to reduce your salt intake by a third or half, making up the difference with a flavor enhancer. But over time your craving for salt may dwindle, leaving you satisfied with a tiny fraction of salt that was called for in the original recipe or table serving.

4. Avoid salty foods. In general, these include processed foods, like ham, bacon, sausage, hotdogs and lunchmeat, and pickled or canned meats and fish. Shop for fresh versions of these items, when possible, or make fresh food substitutions. For example, instead of canned sardines, eat fresh tuna with reduced salt on a salt cracker, which has much less sodium than pickled herrings. Get the salt-free or low-salt crackers, and look for other foods, like canned vegetables, that claim to have less salt than before.

5. Learn to enjoy other types of seasonings. A dash of lemon juice on your veggies, low-salt dressings on your salads, and sodium-reduced canned soup are just some of the food items you can enjoy that have less salt. In general, try to avoid processed frozen and canned foods, as these often have more salt than fresh foods.

Many former confirmed salt addicts have been able to kick the habit. Take a few steps like these to bring your salt addiction under control, and watch your blood pressure numbers begin to decline.

Don’t let your blood pressure soar out of control. Visit The Blood Pressure Directory and Learn the Real Story Behind Blood Pressure and What You can Do To Keep it Under Control at The Blood Pressure Directory

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Can Allergies Make You Fat?

By Jane Thurnell-Read

Craving particular foods can be a sign of a need for a nutrient that is in the food that is craved. The body is demanding food that contains a particular nutrient. This can be very straight-forward. For example, I spent three months in Sri Lanka, and my diet was very short of zinc. The moment I walked back into my house I reached for the jar of sunflower seeds (an excellent source of zinc) and started stuffing them down myself. Over the next few days I ate a huge amount of sunflower seeds. Initially I really craved them, but after a few days the obsession disappeared. It was only with hindsight that I realised why I had done that.

When petrol contained lead, I had several clients who ate a lot of apples, but testing using kinesiology showed they were not allergic to them. It took me a while to realise why. Most of them were allergic to petrol, which probably meant they were less able to deal with the lead in it than someone who was not allergic to petrol. Apples contain pectin, which is an excellent chelator of lead, (i.e. it can remove lead from the body), so it seemed that these people were instinctively reaching for the pectin to counteract the lead in the petrol.

However, cravings are more likely to indicate an allergy problem. Allergy often seems to equal addiction and the reason for this is not totally clear. It has been suggested that this may be because some protein fragments formed when food is broken down are similar to endorphins, which the body produces naturally to counteract pain and produce euphoria. Then the allergy sufferer’s body becomes adapted to that level of endorphin activity and so craves the allergen in order to maintain the endorphin levels.

One indication of a possible allergy problem is waking with a ‘hangover’ when alcohol has not been consumed the night before. This very often points to one or more food allergies. The person eats the food during the day and satisfies the craving, but during the night withdrawal symptoms begin, and classically the person wakes with a ‘hangover’. Eating the allergen switches off the withdrawal symptoms and allows the person to feel better. In fact some people will not make it through the night without having a snack of their allergen in the early hours to keep their withdrawal symptoms at bay. They are often totally surprised when told that they are reacting to the very food they like and experience as making them feel better.

Because of the addictive nature of allergies some people may have difficulty losing weight. There are two possible scenarios. Firstly they could be allergic to some high calorie food and find it extremely difficult to moderate their consumption because they are addicted to it. The second possibility is that the person experiences withdrawal symptoms, but for some reason does not seem to connect the withdrawal symptoms with a particular food. In this case they keep on eating different foods without feeling satisfied. They only stop when they consume the allergen, but the turning off of the craving only usually lasts for a short time. Overall calorie consumption can be very high in these people even if the allergen is lettuce. In any event allergy-induced addictions can lead to bingeing and an inability to control food intake.

Because of this allergy-driven addiction problem, some people will like smells that most people do not, e.g. creosote and petrol/gas. Almost invariably the person is allergic to this, and is getting their ‘fix’. Teenagers who sniff glue may be allergic to it, and while counselling may be necessary, correcting this allergy will almost certainly help enormously.

A child with a lot of food sensitivities will often be a fussy eater. The parent will frequently say: ‘My child would be happy if he/she could live on X.’ The child is probably allergic to X, whatever that is. Frequently they become irritable and bad-tempered if they have to go without their favourite food for even a short period of time. Breast fed babies with allergies are usually either difficult feeders or need to be constantly fed both day and night and may be difficult to wean.

Some years ago I had a funny example of the allergic addiction phenomenon. I went to visit a friend, who had a cat. When I went into the kitchen I saw cat food scattered over quite an area around the cat’s food bowl. My friend explained that her cat was a very untidy eater, and she had not had time to clear it up before my visit. I knew that in general cats were tidy eaters, so I wondered if the cat was desperately searching through its dinner for the particular food it craved. I did some testing and found several allergies. I corrected the problems, and after that the cat became a tidy eater like all the other cats I know.

Jane Thurnell-Read is a writer and researcher on health, stress, alternative medicine, and happiness. Visit her web site http://www.healthandgoodness.com for tips and information on how to live a happier, healthier life no matter how busy you are.

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Simple Carbs For Rookies

By Zach Bashore

Now that you know the importance of good carbohydrates, you are going to learn about one of your body`s worst enemies, simple carbs. Simple carbs are everywhere and can easily be consumed if you are not careful with your food choices. Distinguishing the difference between complex and simple carbs is also confusing. A good way to remember is by the "s`s." Simple and sugar both begin with an "s" and sugar is what you want to avoid right? So avoid simple carbs.

Simple carbs are basically just sugars added to processed foods. You can find them in soda`s, honey, cakes, many breakfast cereals, and even beer. Don`t be fooled into buying something that is fat free. Educate yourself by reading food labels on what is healthy and what is junk. Let`s say that we are going to have a bowl of "Corn Flakes." Sure, there is not much fat in them but when the first words on the list of ingredients say "enriched wheat flour, or "high fructose corn syrup," you have a problem. You should be looking for the words "whole grain wheat," instead.

If your diet consists mostly of simple carbs, do not expect to lose any fat. Your energy levels will be so low that you feel the need to be eating just to keep awake. "So why are you writing an entire article on simple carbs if they are bad for me," you may ask. Well simple carbs have positives to them.

After a hard day of training or working at a strenuous labored job, your body needs glycogen and wants it fast. This is when an "insulin spike" becomes useful. An insulin spike is repleneshing however many calories you`ve burnt throughout the workout. The nutrients you use to replenish your body should be a three to one ratio of simple carbs to protein. The most commonly used post workout simple carb is dextrose, which is the main ingredient in Gatorade powder. If you don`t have access to dextrose, then a simple liquid carb, such as orange juice, will work just fine.

Simple carbs are useful but they can become your worst enemy if you consume them at the wrong times. Almost everything you do in bodybuilding needs to be timed perfectly. There`s a time to eat, a time to sleep, a time to take your supplements,and even a time to have your post-workout meal. Welcome to the wonderful world of bodybuilding.

Simple Carbs For Rookies
Zach Bashore
November 15, 2005

20 year old bodybuilder. Check out my site for the entire list of articles. http://www.geocities.com/bashore69/bodybuildingarticles.html

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Beating Candida With Diet and Nutrition

By Stewart Hare

Candida is common and many people have Candida in their gastrointestinal tract. The problem arises when there is an overgrowth of the benign yeast Candida which causes the condition of chronic candidiasis or yeast syndrome. Chronic candidiasis normally occurs due to taking antibiotics which destroy the friendly bacteria in the gut which keep the Candida in check. Symptoms associated with chronic candidiasis are headaches, cystitis (infected bladder), mood swings, vaginitis (inflammation of vagina or thrush), fungal infections (e.g. athletes foot), bad breath, extensive food allergies, anal itching, feeling ill after eating yeast or sugary foods, nasal itch or congestion, craving for sugary things, abdominal distension or bloating, wind, diarrhoea, constipation or both, belching, indigestion, heartburn, depression, fatigue, poor memory, lack of sexual desire, craving for bread or alcohol, skin rashes, cold hands and feet, irritability, difficulty concentrating, dizziness, menstrual cramp or pain and muscle aches.

To combat chronic candidiasis, change the diet by excluding all refined carbohydrates such as white flour and sugar and all foods and beverages containing them and excluding all foods and beverages containing yeast such as marmite and alcohol. There are many cook books on the market that suggest recipes for those who are on an anti Candida diet. Try not to take any antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs or the contraceptive pill. Consume plenty of nature’s anti-fungal agents such as garlic and grapefruit seed extract. Take probiotics such as Bifidus and lactobacillus acidophilus to repopulate the bowel with good bacteria to make the bowel healthier. Symptoms may well become worst with the die off of the Candida on the anti Candida diet, so it would be wise to drink plenty of mineral water daily (at least a litre) to combat these symptoms.

The following supplements may help if you are suffering from Candida.

Barberry

Betaine HCl

Caprylic acid

Echinacea purpurea

Enzymes

Garlic

Goldenseal

Goldthread

Lactobacillus acidophilus

Oregano oil

Oregon grape

Peppermint oil

Rosemary oil

Tea tree oil

Thyme oil

Stewart Hare C.H.Ed Dip NutTh

Advice for a healthier natural life

Website: http://www.newbeingnutrition.com

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The Amazing Little Berries

By Frederic Patenaude

It's time for berries! Let's rediscover those little wonders of nature, which are jam-
packed with more nutrients than most cultivated fruits. Wild berries are even more
nutritious and you can get them for free.

High in Antioxidants and Nutrients

Antioxidants are compounds that protect against cell damage inflicted by molecules
called oxygen-free radicals, which are a major cause of disease and aging. It's been
found that most berries rank higher in antioxidant activities when compared to
other cultivated fruits and vegetables. The USDA Human Nutrition Center ranked
blueberries the #1 most antioxidant rich berry. Strawberries came second on the list.
The antioxidants are usually found in the pigment that give berries their color. They
help protect us from cancer naturally.

Berries also contain a higher amount of phytochemicals than most other fruits.
Phytochemicals are components of plants that have been shown to help prevent
certain diseases, or at least influence our health in a positive sense.

Berries are generally high in vitamin C. For example, a cup of strawberries contains
as much vitamin C as a cup of orange juice. Without having to go through the list,
let's just remember that berries, especially wild ones, contain plenty of vitamins,
minerals, antioxidants and other phytochemicals, more than most cultivated fruits.

The Fun is the Variety

The best thing about berries is that there are so many of them. Strawberries,
raspberries, blueberries, but also blackberries, black raspberries, gooseberries... the
list is endless. All types of berries have their particularities and health benefits, and
we all have our favorites!

Mine are black raspberries, raspberries and blackberries. Each year it seems I
discover a new type of berry that I've never seen before... and it's always an
enjoyable experience.

Unfortunately...

The bad news is that most commercially grown berries are heavily sprayedwith
pesticides. The ones that are notoriously bad in that regard are strawberries and
raspberries. As mentioned in a previous article, those two berries are in the top-12
most contaminated produce sold in North America.
For that reason, it would be wise to seek organically-grown berries, or even better,
wild ones.

Where to Find Wild Berries

Wild berries are all around us. Honestly, it would be hard to imagine someone living
farther than 5 or 6 miles away from a bush of wild berries. Each year, I've always
made a point of seeking the wild berries in my area and I've always found some.
Sometimes the supply was scanty, yes, but no matter where I lived I've always been
surrounded by berries.

When I went to Oregon a few years ago, I discovered the magic of blackberries of
the Northwest. It appears that the woods in that area are jam-packed with big,
sweet, round blackberries during the summer. I remember picking and eating so
many of them that I eventually thought to myself: there's got to be a way to feed the
whole state with what's found in the woods!

The problem is that most people don't even see wild berries, or look for them, and
when they do, they don't eat them! A few days ago my friend and I went to a
national park nearby where I live. Suddenly, we found an endless supply of wild
blueberries. As we started picking them almost greedily, many people went by and
saw us picking berries. “Oh look honey, there are blueberries there”, they were
saying, and then just passed by us without even trying them! A few people tried
some, but found them to be too small to be worth the hassle. I couldn't believe it!
What can you expect when most people think "food" needs to be wrapped and sold
in a supermarket.?

So before you turn into an insensitive city-dweller who never gets to actually pick
the food he eats, reform yourself starting today. Go out to pick some wild berries.
They're easy to find in the outskirts of woods and around trails. If you live in a city,
you might want to check out along railways (if there are any), or do the right thing,
which is to leave the smog for a day and come back with buckets of the stuff.

A hassle-free alternative would be to go to an organic farm and ask them if you can
pick them yourself. Usually, they offer that option and charge a lot less for it. When I
do this, I generally spend hours picking and come back with so many berries I don't
know what to do with. I like that feeling...

Some Ideas on What to Do With Berries

Berries make a great entree to a dinner salad, and actually combine very well with a
salad, since they do not contain as much sugar as other fruits. You can also make
nice salad dressings with berries. A non-fat dressing recipe to try is blending
raspberries and celery stalks together.The result is surprising!

Smoothies made with berries are hard to beat. One that I really like is blending 2
thirds mango with 1 third raspberries. For example, 2 cups of mango flesh with 1
cup of raspberries. You can try variations of this with other berries and fruits. The
possibilities are endless and the
results are predictably outstanding.

Here's a nice berry recipe from my book, Instant Raw Sensations:

-----------------------------
Summer Berry Soup
-----------------------------

Makes 4 servings

1 liter (1000 ml.) freshly-squeezed orange juice

2 cups fresh raspberries

1 cup fresh blackberries

1 cup fresh blueberries or strawberries

Instructions:
Mix all ingredients together and let sit for sometime to let the flavors mix.

Notes:
This is a great soup to enjoy as often as possible during the berry season. I serve it
as an entree before the dinner meal.

-----------------------------
Freezing Berries
-----------------------------

If you've got too many berries at the height of the season, or would like to enjoy
those wild berries at other times of the year, you can certainly freeze them.
Although I don't recommend the consumption of cold, frozen fruits on a regular
basis, those thawed berries still contain most of the nutritional benefits of fresh
berries and this might be a great option to add variety during the winter. What I
want to avoid, however, is the consumption of cold frozen berries (or other fruits),
as this negatively impacts the health of our intestinal flora. So when you want to eat
your frozen berries, always thaw them beforehand. They make nice additions to
smoothies and fruit salads during the winter.

In conclusion: eat more berries.

Suggested Berry Book (In honor of the child in you.)

“Jamberry” by Bruce Degen, is a wonderful children's book all about berries.

A teaser:
"The story of a young boy and a friendly rhyme-spouting bear,
joyously romping through a fantastic berryworld. They won't
stop their berry picking until the last boomberry has blasted
in the strawberry sky.”

Here's an excerpt:
"One berry
Two berry
Pick me a blueberry
Hatberry
Shoeberry
In my canoeberry..."

“The child in you wants more berries!”

Young entrepreneur, Frederic Patenaude, is the author of the best-selling e-book “The
Raw Secrets” and is known for his no-gimmick, BS-free approach to health and
nutrition. To learn more about “The Raw Secrets,” and to read his FR*EE how-to articles
and newsletter, visit http://www.fredericpatenaude.com.

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Common Sense for Optimum Health

By Debra Augur

Nutrition is always a hot topic. People are interested in finding ways to obtain optimum health. There is a barrage of information, some of it confusing and misleading. Every year seems to bring a new join-the-bandwagon diet, offering promises that soon fall flat.

So, what should we eat to secure optimum health?

It's possible that what you eat on a daily basis has little to no nutritional worth. How many times have you eaten a meal, and an hour later felt a craving, or even hunger pangs? When this happens, it's a safe bet that there was no "food" in your food - no true nutrition.

Our bodies - an infinitely complex and wondrous structure - often don't receive the best fuel we can provide. Junk foods, processed and refined foods, excess chemical additives have all become common in our food choices, brought to us by food manufacturers. In searching for convenience, we seem to have sacrificed value and quality.

It is critical that your body is provided the best raw materials in order to carry out its daily functions. For optimal performance, your body needs optimum nutrition. The best nutrition can be found readily enough - it doesn't require a special prescription, or specialty grocery stores. It is found in whole foods. Whole foods are those closest to their natural state, and not processed more than necessary to make them consumable. In terms of health benefits, they provide a combination of balanced nutrients, which serve to nourish and protect our bodies. In overly processed foods, the nutrients are removed, replaced with additives, fat, and salt, leaving minimal to no bang for your nutritional buck.

As people learn more about common sense nutrition, they tend to want to do better, but often look at it as an all or nothing proposition. There's no need to be overwhelmed when taking a step towards whole foods. Start small! Here's one idea for the next time you are at the grocery store: take a look at the label of the loaf of bread you are picking up to buy. Move your finger down the nutritional label to "Dietary Fiber", and see how many grams you will get in one slice of bread. Then, comparison shop. You may have been picking up whole wheat bread, thinking you are making a healthy choice, only to find out now that it has been processed to the point where there is little nutritional value remaining. You may find a loaf of whole wheat providing only 1 gram of fiber, and find in comparing that a loaf of white is offering 4 grams. Make the trade and get more value for your mouthful.

Fiber is what holds you, so your body doesn't get a mixed signal saying "I'm starving!", when what it is really trying to say is, "You gave me nothing to work with in that last meal!"

For the best health possible, ignore fads, use common sense, and take that initial step.

Debra Augur has studied holistic nutrition for years, put that knowledge into practice, and has a passion to share that knowledge with others who are seeking their own best health. If we are what we eat, are we denatured, devitalized, deficient and potentially toxic? Visit http://www.eat-well-to-be-well.com to learn more, and begin acquiring your healthiest self.

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Anaemia and Nutrition

By Stewart Hare

The term Anaemia is generally used to describe a multitude of blood conditions which affects the concentration of the red blood pigments haemoglobin. Haemoglobin is needed for the transportation of oxygen to body tissue, low concentrations of haemoglobin cause exhaustion and weakness. There are many causes of Anaemia such as genetic disorders, lack of bone marrow red blood cells due bone marrow disease, loss of blood through bowel tumour, heavy periods or peptic ulceration and serious diseases such as sickle cell anaemia, iron deficiency anaemia, and pernicious anaemia.

Typical symptoms of Anaemia are feeling tired or fatigue, lethargic, poor concentration, weakness, light-headedness, headaches, breathlessness, tinnitus, pale skin, irritability and frequent colds.

Good nutrition can help with Anaemia, if your Anaemia is caused by an iron deficiency, then including foods which have high iron content such as shellfish, sardines, red meats, wholemeal bread, green vegetables, wheat germ, egg yolk and dried fruit. Red meat has an easier form of iron to absorb than vegetables, it is also important not to overcook your vegetables. It is best to avoid tea and coffee consumption as these affect iron absorption. To increase haemoglobin concentrations eat beetroot and drink beetroot juice.

The following supplements may help if you are suffering from Anaemia.

Antioxidants

Copper (if deficient)

Folic acid

Iron (when iron deficiency is diagnosed)

L-carnitine

Magnesium

Taurine (if deficient in iron)

Vitamin A (if deficient)

Vitamin B1

Vitamin B12 (if deficient)

Vitamin B2 (if deficient)

Vitamin B6

Vitamin C

Vitamin E

Zinc

Stewart Hare C.H.Ed Dip NutTh

Advice for a healthier natural life

Website: http://www.newbeingnutrition.com

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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Nutrition

By Stewart Hare

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects mainly children of school age, about 3% to 5% of the population. It is also known as Hyperactivity and typically symptoms include the child not being able to sit still, inattention, disruptive behaviour, restlessness, feverish excitement, screaming fits, hysteria, impulsivity, hyperactivity, emotional problems, lack of social skills and learning disabilities. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms can appear before two years of age but usually it is before five years of age. Boys are more affected than girls, 40% of cases of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are grown out of by puberty but cases do continue into adolescence and adulthood causing problems with concentrating, insomnia and excessive thirst.

To combat the ADHD and hyperactive behaviour, start your child on a diet that is free from aspirin containing foods, artificial food colourings and flavours, preservatives, sugar and salt which can lead to hyperactivities in children. Keep to organic food in the diet and include wholegrain foods, seafood and legumes which are high in zinc. It is also recommended to take zinc as a supplement as children with ADHD tend to be lacking in this mineral. Boys especially need extra zinc around puberty. As well as sugar, omit artificial sweeteners especially aspartame and foods containing them, as these tend to make symptoms worst. Avoid products that contain salicylates such as suntan lotion, certain toothpastes and soap. I would also suggest that the child should drink plenty of bottled mineral water to keep them well hydrated.

During pregnancy, the mother should increase her intake of essential fatty acids (EFAs) of omega-3 and omega-6. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in oily fish such as salmon, trout, herring, mackerel, sardines and pilchards, omega-6 fatty acids are found in plant oils such as seeds, nuts, dark green leafy vegetables and whole grains. The pregnant mother should not smoke during pregnancy and try to avoid exposure to lead and other heavy-metal exposures.

The following supplements may help if your child is suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Essential fatty acids – Omega 3 and omega 6

Evening primrose oil

Iron (for deficiency only)

L-carnitine

Magnesium

Vitamin B6

Zinc B vitamins

Stewart Hare C.H.Ed Dip NutTh

Advice for a healthier natural life

Website: http://www.newbeingnutrition.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Are You Eating Too Much Salt?

By Kim Beardsmore

For most of us, eating healthfully means cutting down on salt. Even if cutting down your salt intake won't reduce your waist measurement, it'll make you a healthier person, better able to follow your weight management programme.

But it's not that simple. Have you ever been confused by the nutritional labels on food? Salt or sodium, what's the different?

Salt is the general name given to sodium chloride. 6g of salt contains about 2.5g of sodium. It's the sodium in salt that can lead to health problems. For example, sodium can lead to higher than recommended blood pressure.

It's important that you educate yourself to avoid over indulging on salt. You may feel that by reducing your calorie intake and cutting out rich creamy sauces and refined sugars you have all the bases covered. Not necessarily. Sometimes to compensate for reduced fat, you or the manufacturer may add extra seasonings. Salt is one the ways flavour can be added into a low fat diet. Be careful and read food labels carefully.

When cooking:

Add fresh natural herbs such as basil, coriander, rosemary, mint and thyme to lean protein options such as chicken, tofu and fish.

Don't add salt when cooking. Taste the cooked food, then decide how much you need - if any!

Chop fresh mint onto salads and add fresh basil to tomatoes.

When eating out:

Don't add salt until you've tried your food. It's so easy to add it automatical