Nutrition-To-Wellness

“Food Safety” Bill Helps Big Agribiz, Food Distribution Goes to Homeland Security

Vicki — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 02:44:57 +0000

From: Natural Solutions Foundation -

Senate Bill S.510 is called ‘The Food Safety Bill’. It should be called ‘The Food Monopoly Bill’.

You see it will require all farms to purchase and use high-tech equipment that family farms and organic farms cannot afford and do not need. It will put these farms out of business.

This is shameful because the bad food occasionally produced in this country does not come from these little farms- it comes from Big Agribiz and they already HAVE the hi-tech equipment required by this law.

It seems the equipment hasn’t improved the food they produce, and they don’t like competition from responsible farmers – they prefer a Bill that hands them a monopoly over food production by destroying that competition.

Further, this Bill is written in such an open-ended way, that if the Feds choose to, they can use it to stop you from having a home garden.

Also– the Feds are handing food distribution in this country over to Homeland Security.

That means that food may be scarce in one part of the country, and plentiful in another, according to “politics”.

Of course, if family and organic farms are wiped out, the food they move around will be largely processed and not very good, anyway.

But it will be all that is available.

How to stop this travesty??

Click below to send a message to your Senators that you are aware of the Food Safety Scam and you don’t want the Feds in your kitchen.

Further – consider taking off the white gloves and calling both of your Senators’ offices and insist on knowing their positions on this Bill and let them know that you are against it — and furious that it is even being considered! Make sure your friends and family are aware of this Bill – the media will be touting it as a wonderful advancement- but they work for the same masters who own Congress.

So spread the word and click below to make sure a letter from you gets to Washington. Your family’s health depends on it!

S.510 Push Back: Act Now! Act Here:
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/568/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=4613

Viral Video: Dr. Rima on Stopping S.510
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHUeyD_KCrI&feature=player_embedded

Are You Healthy? Check Your Colon!

Vicki — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 21:03:05 +0000

Did you know that your health begins in your colon?

Many of us go along thinking that as long as we feel fine, and maybe even working out, eating healthy sometimes, or so we believe, that we’re doing as well as we can be.

But what happens in our digestive system is usually taken for granted. Thousands of chemical reactions and enzymes are at work breaking down our food as it passes through our stomach and small intestine.

By the time it reaches our large intestine, it should be digested to the point that the walls of the colon can absorb the nutrients from our food. This is where nutrient absorption takes place.

But sometimes things that we absorb are not so healthy, and actually accumulate on the walls of the colon, causing not only a depletion in nutrient absorption, but a toxic buildup as well.

These toxins are then able to pass into our bloodstream in place of the nutrients that are no longer allowed to pass through the blockages.

We all know that we should be getting colon screenings by age 50. Why is that?

It is because colon cancer is one of the most curable forms of cancer as long as it is caught early.

Not only that, it is preventable! And it’s not just colon cancer you should worry about.

The colon is as much responsible if not more for ridding your body of toxins as your kidneys and sweat glands. These are the only ways that your body has to remain at the peak of health.

But even so, over time, there begins a buildup in the colon walls that prevent both absorption of nutrients AND the elimination of toxins. You do not even notice this, but you might notice that over the years you see smaller and smaller diameter stools.

Yet the ways and means to prevent this buildup, and potentially not only colon but other cancers to begin to grow are so simple, and require only a bit of attention on our part!

The three primary things just happen to be three primary keys to your overall wellness, the correct amounts on a daily basis of water, fiber, and do not forget exercise (yes, even for your digestive health!).

Why? Your health begins in your colon!

So pay close attention, it is never too late to turn things around. If you are overweight or even if not, think about this. Even if you think you are healthy.

A dear friend of mine who is just under 150 lbs, very fit and thin, recently had two bouts of extreme constipation to the point we thought it was appendicitis and he ended up in the emergency room in dire pain (an 11 on a scale of 1 to 10).

The CT scan they gave him required a fluid that he could barely get down, it took him over an hour and a half to drink it all. Thankfully they eliminated both diverticullitis and appendicitis.

But of course after a second bout of the same thing within 2 months he now has an endoscopy and colonoscopy scheduled.

That one took 2 of the smaller and 3 hot water bottle size warm water enemas to clear the blockage.

Now he’s on a regimen of fiber (and of course, getting the required 1/2 oz. per lb. of body weight in water!), digestive enzymes and probiotics which have helped him recover (and will still take a while, the enemas clear the lower intestine of the good flora which is necessary for healthy digestion).

I too had issues that were of great concern to me a few years ago. For over a year and a half my entire digestive system was in a degenerative state, finally ending up with no solid waste at all, and constant gas and bloating.

After a year of trying various probiotics, I finally found some that had me regulated within 48 hours and ever since. Then adding digestive enzymes, the upper digestion has been completely normal, quiet, no gas or acid reflux to speak of.

Since then I make sure to get my 25 grams of fiber per day and plenty of water, along with a healthy diet.

My point is that you should be concerned if your digestive health is not good, because this can be a warning sign that you are not only accumulating toxicity, but even getting less nutrition into your system to counteract that toxicity.

Paying attention to your body is a must, and taking the proper steps to ensure your health is a must for preventing serious chronic disease in the future!

Wishing You the Best of Health!

Beware OTC Drugs Are Not Always Safe!

Vicki — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 14:15:04 +0000

It is well known that prescription drugs can have harmful side effects, but the same is true for OTC drugs, which aren’t necessarily safe just because they do not require a prescription!

For example, this chart lists the inherent side effects of many known OTC drugs, most of which cause an improper acid balance in the body, a prerequisite for chronic disease.

And I may as well include here a similar chart on the side affects of many familiar prescription drugs.

They also inhibit nutrient absorption in many cases, and even deplete vital minerals and nutrients from your system!

This post from Dr. Mercola describes some additonal warnings that you must be aware of – including the harmful effects on brain function from something seemingly as innocuous as Benadryl, Unisom and other similar drugs.

Simply put – limit your use of OTC as well as prescription drugs to the absolute necessary!

Solutions to the Problem that Your Body’s Vitamin D Production is Blocked by Sunscreen

Vicki — Thu, 13 May 2010 13:42:34 +0000

Most of us have heard that Vitamin D deficiency is rampant these days, causing many chronic diseases and conditions.

And we also know that Vitamin D is produced by our bodies when exposed to sunlight.

But we block these important sun rays with sunscreen in order to protect ourselves from the sun’s damaging radiation to reduce the risk of skin cancer.

So what do we do to balance the benefits of sunshine and the dangers of exposure? Well Dr. Mercola has a few suggestions that will help those of us who are concerned with this conundrum!

To Your Health!

Your Top Priority is Your Wellness; Preventing Chronic Illness and Age Related Disease

Vicki — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 21:23:32 +0000

With our focus on our health as our number one asset, we had a special guest on our recent session of Inspiring Minds Radio, Dr. Joe Kosterich, or @DrJoesDIYHealth as some of you on Twitter may know him!

Dr Joe is an author, speaker, doctor and health industry consultant, who wants you to be healthy and get the most out of life.

Dr Joe believes your health is the most important thing you have. His passion is empowering people to take charge of their health through easy to understand steps enabling you to live better for longer.

He is the founder of Dr Joe’s DIY Health, which is based on the principle that your health is directly influenced by how you live your life. The decisions and choices you make every day impact on your health vitality and well-being.

Previously Dr Joe held senior positions in the Australian Medical Association and sat on numerous industry and government boards as well as having extensive corporate experience in the setting up and management of medical centres.

He has a regular column in the Mind and Body section of the West Australian Newspaper, is the regular Nightline doctor on Radio 6PR and Medical spokesperson for Virtual Medical Centre. He has been featured on Today Tonight.He has written for numerous medical and mainstream publications and is regularly sought for comment by the electronic and print media.

You can connect with Dr Joe at www.drjoe.net.au follow Joe’s blog at http://drjoesdiyhealth.wordpress.com and twitter page at www.twitter.com/drjoesdiyhealth

Here is our replay, we hope you enjoy it!

What Are Essential Sugars and Why Are They Essential?

Vicki — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 16:38:50 +0000

Essential sugars, or ‘good sugars’ as they are also known, are the necessary carbohydrates, the glyconutrients that we get from nutritious fruits and vegetables. They are also known as Biological Sugars, Saccharides, and Mono-saccharides.

Glyconutrients are part of an even broader category known as Nutraceuticals. The words nutrition and pharmaceuticals are combined in this word because they are food-based substances that have a pharmacological effect on the body.

The eight essential sugars are actually necssary for our health and proper cell functioning. All eight of them are required for our cells to interact and function properly.

After being processed by our digestive system, these sugars are transformed into glycoproteins and glycolipids.

Glycoproteins are molecules made of sugars and proteins found coating the surface of every cell in the human body that contains a nucleus.

Glycolipids are molecules made of sugars and fats. Lipids is often a term used to refer to fat cells.

Glycoproteins and glycolipids are essential for our cell structure. They facilitate the formation of tiny antennae on the cellular wall.

These antennae allow the cells to interact, and to be able to absorb and process nutrients, enzymes, hormones and other chemicals. This type of functioning is at the heart of our immune system, and allows for healing to occur in a wide variety of conditions from skin conditions to bacterial infections, as well as arteriosclerosis, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.

Extensive research is ongoing, and many studies have been published about the structure and content of glycoproteins and glycolipids found on the surface of cells.

The Eight Glyconutrients

1) Glucose

Glucose is a simple Mono-saccharide, and one of the most widely available of all the essential sugars. It is paired with fructose in common table sugar (sucrose), which is a disaccaride.

Glucose is a primary energy source for all plants and animals, and is absorbed into the bloodstream quickly. Very few people are deficient in glucose due to it’s high usage in processed foods.

Too much Glucose raises insulin levels and with unchecked consumption, can lead to obesity and diabetes.

When Glucose is processed into table sugar, nutrients and the fiber are completely stripped away. This causes the absorption period to be greatly reduced, taxing the liver so that it store most of the energy as fat.

Healthier forms of Glucose can be obtained from certain fruits such as grapes, bananas, cherries, strawberries, mangoes, as well as Aloe Vera, seaweed, kelp, honey, licorice herb, sasparilla, garlic, hawthorn, echinacea, and cocoa.

2) Galactose

Galactose is found predominantly in diary products. When combined with Glucose, it forms Lactose, a disaccharide which is the sugar that comprises around 5% of the solids in dairy products. People who are lactose intolerant may be lacking in this essential sugar.

Galactose is readily available in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, and even in some herbs, but it is difficult to obtain a sufficient amount of it due to food processing, green harvesting, and cooking at high temperatures.

3) Fucose

Fucose is only found in great quantities in human breast milk, sea kelp, brewers yeast, and is also found in certain types of mushrooms.

Studies have indicated that it may help long term memory, prevent respiratory infections, and inhibit tumor growth. It is known that the glycoproteins and glycolipids from Fucose are essential to controlling inflammation and enhancing the immune system.

4) Mannose

Mannose was the first essential glyconutrient identified. It appears to be the foundation of all the essential sugars, so much so that it is an integral part of the immune system.

Its deficiency can lead to inflammation and disease. It is absorbed at a much slower rate than glucose, and goes to the bloodstream directly from the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Mannose is one of the easier essential sugars to obtain in our diets. One of the main sources is the Aloe Vera, and other sources include sea kelp, green beans, capsicum (the hot stuff in cayenne or jalapeno peppers for example), cabbage, eggplant, tomatos, currants, turnips, and Shittake mushrooms.

5) Glucosamine

This is a well known glyconutrient that has benefits in joint health, shown to improve osteoarthritis and is a precursor to cartilage. It is readily available though shark cartilage, and the shells of crustations such as shrimp and crabs.

While some of the ingested glucosamine is oxidized, the remainder is converted into glycoproteins and glycolipids.

6) Galactosamine

One is the least known essential sugars is Galactosamine, although is just as critical for cell to cell communication as the other seven.

It is an important part of joint health, as well as being necessary for systemic functions used in the regulation of inflammation and normal operation of the immune system.

It has been found that people with cardiovascular disease are shown to have lower levels of this glyconutrient.

It too is found in shark cartilage and the shells of crustations, as well as red algae.

7) Neuraminic Acid

This glyconutrient has been found to be important in brain function, particularly for development and learning. Studies have also shown it to be linked to memory and performance as well as an important immune system facilitator.

It is found in breast milk, organic hen’s eggs, whey protein (non-powdered form).

8 ) Xylose

This last essential sugar is not the least important. It has been shown in research studies to be a key contributor to the prevention of cancer in the digestive tract.

Xylose is found in many fruits and vegetables including guava, pears, raspberries, blackberries, sea kelp, Aloe Vera, broccoli, spinach, eggplant, peas and green beans.

Find Your Glyconutrients!

If you eat plenty of unprocessed fruits and vegetables, you are probably supplying your body with some of the essential glyconutrients.

But beware the green harvested produce. When fruits and vegetables are picked green, they lack many necessary vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, enzymes, and glyconutrients.

Without a steady supply of uncontaminated, ripe harvested fruits and vegetables, our intake of these nutrients is most likely limited. And we should be cautious about eating too many high fructose fruits and stay within 15 g of fructose per day.

The amount of high concentrate fruit juices can provide our bodies with too high a concentration at one time, leaving the liver to process the sugars it cannot convert to energy into fat.

And, juices with high fructose corn syrup, HFCS as an ingredient, should be aovided completely.

Although the first two essential sugars listed above are readily available in our daily diets, the others are not. This is why supplementation of these nutrients is recommended.

Personally, I do drink an ounce or two a day notice a lot of benefit from LimuPlus, which contains both a sea kelp known as LimuMoui, and Aloe Vera.

Top Five Keys to Wellness

Vicki — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 02:21:10 +0000

Our health is our most important asset. And with our busy lives, even given the resources we have at hand, it is sometimes difficult to maintain good health. But it is even more difficult if we need to recover it, once we experience disease, or begin to accumulate toxins in our bodies as we age.

Fighting chronic illness has become a common pass time in our society. Chronic diseases accounting for at least 70% of the deaths in America, HALF of which are preventable. We all know that obesity and type 2 diabetes have become an epidemic, as is cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

But with a focus on five key areas of health, you should be in good shape to age gracefully and without illness, dependent on prescription drugs and in chronic pain. And if you are in poor health, it takes the willingness to make some critical changes, taking small steps consistently, which will eventually result in turning your health around.

I have written about these topics in individually, but although this article is by far my longest ever, I think it may be helpful to highlight the top five areas that we should continually be focusing on.

I. Emotional Health

This is number one for a very good reason. Thousands of studies have shown for hundreds of years a profound connection between the mind and body.

As many physicians know, the brain controls the genes, the cells, the entire body. And your mental attitude is absolutely key to your ability to maintain good health, heal, and fight disease.

Mental and emotional stress have a great deal to do with the deterioration of our physical condition. In fact, there are definite physiological effects that have been studied and documented over the years.

For example, a joint study in March of 2009, was conducted by the University of Kansas and Gallup, and was presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychosomatic Society in Chicago. It involved over 150,000 people in both industrialized and non-industrialized countries, and in even impoverished conditions.

This study showed that in these conditions, even given lack of sufficient food, water and shelter, the link between emotional and physical health was very apparent. It indicated that emotional health was even more important to than nutrition to physical health.

To better understand the reasons behind this, it is helpful to know the two nervous systems that controls our bodily functions. The parasympathetic nervous system controls the hormones and chemicals essential for nutrient processing, healing and restoration, and the detoxification functions of digestion.

The sympathetic nervous system prepares us for aggression and is the key to our ‘fight or flight’ mechanism, increasing adrenalin output, heightening senses, and raising blood pressure, etc. so that our physical response is quick and accurate.

When we are under emotional or mental stress, or experiencing anger, depression, or rage, the sympathetic system kicks in, and most importantly, it essentially shuts down the parasympathetic system in order to operate.

Prolonged periods of stress prevents our bodies from proper hormone balance, nutrient absorption, healing and restoration. Worry, stress, depression and anger have been shown to cause a 50% increase in the risks of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

So you must learn to control your thoughts and emotions, most importantly, your reactions to what you perceive to be stressful situations. If you can turn your thoughts to the positive, then you can allow the parasympathetic nervous system to stay in control and maintain health.

Many forms of relaxation and meditation are used to combat stress, in addition to exercise and stretching. And did you know that even just smiling releases endorphins, the hormones that make you feel good? Try smiling and having a bad thought. It’s not possible! So smile, it is as contagious as laughter!

II. Sleep

Sleep is another important factor in maintaining your emotional and physical health. It is in my opinion that the second most important thing you can do to invest in your health is to ensure that you do get enough sleep.

There is significant evidence that there is a link between lack of sleep and obesity, cancer, heart disease and diabetes just to name a few.

Your body needs proper sleep in order to make use of the nutrients you consume. Studies show that we need at least 7 hours of sleep a night.

Sleep is responsible for cellular and nervous system repair and muscle building, increases energy level and strength, improves skin tone and even vision. It is also vital to the functioning of the digestive system.

One of the most important functions that occurs with proper sleep is hormone regulation, which occurs to facilitate restoration of cells, and homeostasis (maintenance of body temperature).

Many hormones are released during sleep, including the growth hormone which for adults is restorative and for children is necessary for growth. It also reduces inflammation and oxidative stress.

Melatonin is a sleep hormone that is released normally as darkness falls, and we produce less of this hormone as we age.

Sleep deficiency has been shown to be tied to weight gain, because of the effects on levels of leptin and ghrelin, two hormones that regulate appetite and body fat. Leptin is produced by fat cells and signals the brain to cause the feeling of fullness.

Ghrelin is produced in the stomach and signals hunger. A Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study found that participants who slept only 5 hours a night had lower leptin and higher ghrelin levels.

Other studies have found increased hunger for sweet, fatty, and high carbohydrate foods after less sleep, which are also related to higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol, shown to be linked to cardiovascular disease.

Things that interfere with proper sleep are drugs (this includes pharmaceutical, even sleep aids), alcohol, lighting, and choice (staying up too late and cutting into the hours of sleep needed.

Sleep deficiency causes memory and cognitive impairment, decreased performance and alertness, and a weakened immune system. It disturbs every physiological function in the body. The effects of sleep deficiency even accumulates over time.

Chronic sleep disorders can result in endocrine dysfunction, which we know is tied to our emotional state, causing anxiety, and depression. These effects of course cause the sympathetic nervous system to remain active, suppressing the parasympathetic nervous system responsible for nutrient absorption and a healthy immune system.

Sleep deprivation causes gastrointestinal ailments, also severely impacting the immune system. It even causes chronic sleep disorders, disrupting our normal sleep patterns and becoming cyclic.

So get better sleep – turn down lights and noise an hour before bedtime, do not do high energy workouts a few hours prior to retiring, and get proper nutrition. Calcium (with vitamin D and magnesium in the required proportions) and B vitamins have a sedative effect but there are still more implications of nutrition on sleep and emotional health.

Try to avoid sleep aids and get off of them as soon as you can, because they do not provide the type of sleep that your body needs most.

III. Staying Hydrated

Water comprises two thirds of the body’s mass. It is the most necessary element for survival next to air.

Water is required for the elimination of toxins and waste through the digestive system, lymph system, liver, kidneys, and sweat glands. It also promotes metabolism, provides oxygen to cells, and fills spaces inside/between cells for healthy skin & toned muscle.

Deficiencies in water can result in excess body fat, poor muscle tone, digestive diseases, muscle pain, and water-retention.

The amount of water that your body eliminates each day is between 1 and 3 liters, the equivalent of four to thirteen 8 oz. glasses of water per day.

The US FDA recommends that women drink 11 glasses and men drink 16 glasses of water each day to stay hydrated. The general recommendation is that you should consume 1/2 ounce per pound of body weight (30ml/kg) per day (that’s ten eight-ounce glasses for a 160 pound person), unless you are athletically active, in which case you should drink 2/3 ounces per pound (13 to 14 glasses a day at 160 lbs of body weight).

Part of your daily water consumption may also be from foods and juices. A bowl of oatmeal, or a cup of soup, provides 8 oz. of water. A serving of broccoli or spinach, or a cup of rice, provides 5 oz. of water. Many fresh vegetables and fruits contain 3-5 oz. of water. For example, an apple or a pear contain 5 oz.

Fruit juices are ok, but one should keep in mind the amount of fructose concentrated in a glass of juice. The body has a lot of work to do to process the sugar that is concentrated in a glass of juice.

A single glass of juice may contain the fructose of up to six pieces of fruit, the liver becomes taxed and turns most of that fructose into fat. The juice is devoid of the fiber contained in whole fruit, which allows the liver has time to process the fructose into energy.

Some people argue that tea, soft drinks and coffee do not count, but this is in itself arguable. Although these contain caffeine, a known diuretic, which cause the body to expel a small amount of moisture, they do still provide additional fluids.

So staying hydrated is not as difficult as one might think. An extra glass or two over what you normally consume in food and fluids may be enough.

Indications of Dehydration

Thirst is a good indicator of the early stages of dehydration, and you should drink if you are thirsty.

Two indicators of advancing dehydration are headaches, and dark colored urine.

Some suggestions have been made that by the time you feel thirsty you are already dehydrated, but your body creates the sensation of thirst when your body is still within normal hydration limits.

However if you are actively exercising you should make it a point to stay ahead of the thirst so that the dehydration does not get ahead of you as you are sweating.

But over hydration can cause hyponatremia, a shortage of sodium and other essential minerals in then bloodstream. This is particularly dangerous during exercise, because these minerals are excreted through the sweat glands.

Distilled, purified or reverse-osmosis water is still water. It is the H2O we’re talking about here as a requirement. However, reverse-osmosis water in particular is devoid of essential minerals that we commonly get from water as one primary source. In this case these minerals must be supplemented.

In selection of your source of water, filtered water is best, to remove chlorine and associated chloroform, and fluoride. This brings us to our next key to wellness, eliminating toxic load, oxidative stress and chronic inflammation.

IV. Reducing your Toxic Load, Oxidative Stress and Inflammation

This is a huge topic because the impact of your compounded toxicity without the level of nutrition that we truly need is what is at the root of disease due to the oxidative stress and resulting chronic inflammation at the cellular level.

Your toxic load, coupled with prolonged periods of stress, lack of sleep, hydration and exercise (our last key), the risk of disease is more than double what it would be if all of these keys were utilized.

What happens with toxicity is the same thing that happens with oxidation, which occurs naturally as we burn energy. Our cells release their waste by-product which is more concentrated with a higher sugar and fat content in our foods.

Between the oxidative stress and other toxic buildup, a rampant domino affect of free radical damage occurs. Free radicals are molecules that because they are missing an electron, steal it from nearby cells which damages all of the cells’ components, the proteins, lipids and DNA.

When our bodies fight injury, inflammation is the natural mechanism which kicks our healing capabilities into action. However, because the body sees oxidative stress and free radical damage as injury, the inflammatory response occurs at the cellular level.

Then, because of the unchecked oxidative stress and excessive free radical production in the body, chronic inflammation can take hold without a constant supply of anti-oxidants and the proper balance of fatty acids (which should be one-to-one omega 6 and 3’s in our diet).

And chronic inflammation is known to be at the root of many categories of preventable diseases.

A broad category of inflammation related disease is autoimmunity. These diseases include Type I Diabetes, Rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, eczema, coronary heart disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, and even cancer.

There is also mounting evidence that inflammation plays a key role in the development of hypertension. Metabolic syndrome, marked by increased levels of C-reactive protein, is associated the inflammatory response, and a known precursor to high blood pressure, and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

Inflammation is often a result of the type of our choice of carbohydrates and fats in our diet. Fats from animal sources (not fish) are obviously a contributor, as are simple carbohydrates (simple sugars, white breads and pastas for example).

Oxidation is the caramelization of sugars which occurs as we process the foods that we consume into energy. Of course this oxidation is going to be more pronounced in someone eating simple carbohydrates and processed foods. People with high sugar levels in their blood, including those who suffer with diabetics, are prone to more accelerated effects of aging.

To learn more, read these posts on oxidative stress and inflammation.

Natural Protection

Evolution has provided anti-oxidants in the plant life that we consume. Anti-oxidants are the protective mechanism that stops the production of free radicals in the body, and prevents the resulting chronic inflammation.

A balance of essential minerals, electrolytes, and omega 3 and 6 fatty acids also facilitate a proper balance of hormones that regulate the inflammatory response.
And fiber, the most important cleansing agent aside from water, helps our bodies to process the nutrients, absorb the anti-oxidants and is the one most important aspect to your colon health. And our health is, as it is often said, begins in the colon!

So to reduce our toxic load, aside from limiting toxic exposures (household chemicals, food packaging and preservatives, pesticides, herbicides, smoke and air pollution), we really need to ramp up our intake of anti-oxidants, natural anti-inflammatory compounds, get our required fiber intake, and balance our essential fatty acids.

The obvious choice to make is to eat more whole, fresh fruit and vegetables. Eat a variety of color so that you get as many of the tens of thousands of phytonutrients available. Secondly, eat more complex carbohydrates and less meat protein and saturated fats. And finally, supplement your diet with good quality anti-oxidants and phytonutrients (VitaOne is an excellent choice).

V. Exercise, Stretching and Breathing

The last and not least important investment that you can make in your living a healthy life is getting enough exercise. This includes cardiovascular, strength training (resistance or weight training), stretching and breathing.

Cardiovascular exercise is known to be necessary for good heart health and circulation, preventing hypertension and other circulatory conditions. Just 20 minutes a day of walking, yard work or house work combined can suffice. An increase of heart rate is desired for at least 10 minutes at a time, but not advisable for more than 20 minutes at a time without the supervision of a physician, coach or physical trainer.

Strength training builds muscle and bone mass, enhancing strength and balance and aiding in the prevention of osteoporosis. Weight training should be done beginning with small weights and gradually increasing, and under the guidance of a coach or health practitioner. Pilates is also a good method of strength training, particularly in the core region. At least a day of rest in between sessions is needed for your muscles to properly regenerate.

Stretching, such as with yoga, is critical for circulation and balance. It keeps the joints flexible, improves circulation, and decreases stress.

Deep, slow breathing is also a great stress reducer, and also improves circulation. Many ancient practices are based on breath, which is as a matter of fact the closest link between the mind and body. Specific exercises are practiced for targeting various parts of the body.

Which brings us back to the mental and physical connection. With exercise, stretching and breathing comes a better feeling, endorphin release, and mind-body connection.

All of these areas require attention, and changes can be affected a little at a time. The key is persistence and belief that the results will come, albeit sometimes not as quickly as we’d like. But you should immediately notice a difference if you change a bit of something in each of these areas.

Be in the best of health to enjoy the best of life!

Society’s Systematic Sickness; The Life You Save May Be Your Own!

Vicki — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:00:45 +0000

On a recent episode of Inspiring Minds Radio, “Society’s Systematic Sickness; The Life You Save May Be Your Own!”, we explored some practical advice that may be very surprising to you ( replay link at bottom ).

With the rates of cancer at about 1 in 4 people these days, not to mention the rising rate of obesity, diabetes type II, and other chronic, preventable illnesses, we have a choice to make.

Our special guest, Dr. Michael Rushnak has board certifications in both Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, a Masters in Public Health and has held senior positions in government, managed care, pharmacy benefit management and the pharmaceutical industry.

Dr Rushnak was a commissioner in the NJ Department of Health, led a non-profit major managed care company and a national pharmacy benefit management company, worked with a biotech company making disease prevention products, and has authored a novel “Terminal Neglect” which is based on his experience with our health systems and decline in public health.

He will shed light on how we can avoid the looming health care crisis by taking control of our own health, talking to our doctors about what can be done, and spreading the word of prevention and wellness.

Please pass this along, share it where you can, so that we can continue to spread the word of wellness in order to avoid the looming crisis in our health!

Enjoy the replay!

Health Benefits of Tea & Varieties of Tea

Vicki — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:00:48 +0000

By Alex Zorach of RateTea.net

The internet is filled with websites making claims about how tea is good for you–especially green tea and white tea. The science of tea is young, and the health effects of tea are not fully understood, but there is a large and increasing body of evidence suggesting that tea has a number of health benefits. What are these benefits, and are certain types of teas really better for you than others?

Health Benefits of Tea:

Alertness & mental state: Like coffee, tea contains caffeine, which can improve mental focus. However, tea contains less caffeine than coffee, and also contains other chemicals such as theanine which enhance the positive effects of caffeine while also having a relaxing effect. One study found that tea improves alertness equally well as coffee, but with less disruption of sleep, due to its lower caffeine levels. There is also some evidence that tea may have other benefits for the mind and nervous system, including staving off Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

Cholesterol & Heart Disease: There is growing evidence, mostly from studies in rats, that chemicals in tea lower total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the balance of HDL to LDL cholesterol. Both total cholesterol levels and balance of HDL and LDL cholesterol are important in the prevention of heart disease.

Antioxidants & Cancer Prevention: Tea is a rich source of antioxidants, chemicals which have been found to play a role in the prevention of cancer, heart disease, and other diseases.

Varieties of Tea:

Tea comes in many varieties. Tea is usually classified as green, black, white, oolong, and pu-erh, and these types are further divided into hundreds of different varieties of tea, each with their own unique aroma, appearance, and chemical composition. Green and white tea tend to be the least processed. But all of these teas are made from the same plant, Camellia sinensis, and for the most part, they have similar chemistry and health benefits.

Marketing would have us believe that the different varieties of tea are more specialized in their health effects than they actually are. Oolong or wu long tea is marketed as a weight-loss product, and has been traditionally used for this purpose in China. White tea is presented as having more antioxidants than other teas. Pu-erh is widely used for lowering cholesterol. Black tea gets less attention, but it makes up most of the tea people drink in the U.S. and other countries outside southeast Asia.

The scientific evidence doesn’t back up the idea that certain types of tea are better for you than others. WebMD’s page on types of tea and their health benefits explains that all types of tea made from the tea plant have benefits. The cholesterol-lowering and balancing effects mentioned above have been shown for green, black, oolong, and pu-erh teas. Antioxidants are present in all teas. Green tea is richest in catechins, one class of antioxidants. In black tea and oolong tea, some of these chemicals are broken down, but this process creates new antioxidants unique to these oxidized teas.

In Summary:

While the science of tea is still inconclusive and many questions have yet to be fully explored, there is growing evidence suggesting that tea is good for you in a variety of ways. Tea is a widely-consumed beverage and its consumption has few downsides and many potential benefits.

Herbal teas are a completely different subject, however, as they are made from different plants! While many herbal teas have benefits too, they are very diverse. Some herbal teas are safe for consumption as beverages, but other herbs are powerful medicines and, like any medicines, can have side effects and drawbacks.

But true tea from the tea plant, regardless of which variety, is a great choice of beverage that can contribute to overall health and well-being in a variety of different ways.

The Coming Health Crisis and How to Stay Healthy

Vicki — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:56:17 +0000

In a recent session of Inspiring Minds Radio, we continue to help you to be a healthier person despite the coming health crisis in our country.

Our special guest, Dr. Donald Weber has studied Nutritional Research for the last 36 years, and is currently practicing Chiropractic and Nutrition Counseling in East Saint Paul.

He shares with us his vast knowledge and simple solutions that will be invaluable in our staying healthy – Enjoy the replay!