7 keys to reducing stress in our life

(NaturalNews) Once you've identified the top sources of stress in your life, it's important to take action and start moving things in a positive direction. Most people are amazed at the improvement they see in their health after making just a few small but very significant changes. Here are seven simple keys for reducing the stress in your life:

Reduce Emotional and Psychological Stress

The impact of emotional stress cannot be underestimated, but this type of stress is often overlooked because it is difficult to make changes in this area. A difficult living situation, an unhappy marriage or a stressful job could be a source of major stress that is wearing down your health. This doesn't necessarily mean you have to move, get a divorce or quit your job, but it's important to look for ways to improve your situation in any case. If you're dealing with other stressors like depression, anxiety, or the loss of a loved one, you may want to seek counseling or join a support group that can offer you help.

Although it appears small on the surface, negative thought patterns have a way of chipping away at our quality of life by compounding our stress. Establishing healthy patterns of enjoying the moment, reframing, and learning to forgive can have a very positive effect on your health.

Prioritize Quality Sleep and Regular Downtime

The impact sleep can have on your life is well documented. Getting at least seven hours every night will balance your cortisol levels, improve your energy and brighten your mood. And just as important as sleep is downtime. It may take some rearranging if your schedule is packed with activities, but it's vital for your health to take time each day to relax and unwind. Taking a day off now and then and freeing yourself from a mile-long to-do list is very restorative as well. And by all means, if you can take a vacation and get away from it all, do it!

Improve Food Quality and Eating Habits

It can't be emphasized enough: food is the foundation of your health. A balanced diet of natural foods is a must. All macronutrient groups (fats, proteins and carbohydrates) should be included in balanced ratios. Avoid skipping meals or under-eating. Your body needs quality food for nourishment.

Avoid Allergens

If you have allergies, these can trigger a stress response in the body. Do your best to avoid allergens, which includes identifying food allergies so you can make better food choices. On the up side, if you deal properly with other stressors in your life, this may decrease the severity of your allergic reactions (which are, in part, a stress response of their own).

Exercise: Make It Smart and Sensible

Exercise is very healthy, but it's important not to overdo it if you're otherwise stressed. Emphasize activities like strength training, yoga, walking and swimming. Avoid overtraining or doing too much cardio, which can exhaust the adrenals.

Reduce Physical Stressors

If you get sick, injured or have to deal with chronic pain, try to get the rest and care you need so you can reduce the stress these cause on your body. Allow your body time to heal or, in the case of chronic pain, look for ways to treat the pain or the underlying cause that prevents you from living a normal, happy life.

Avoid Toxin Exposure

Most of us can't completely eliminate toxins from our lives, but we can take measures to greatly reduce the amount of toxins our bodies must deal with every day. Filter your water, use natural beauty and cleaning products, eat organic foods, avoid chemical food additives and take the time to enjoy fresh air as much as you can.

For More Information:

Schwarzbein, Diana. (2002) The Schwarzbein Principle II: The "Transition" - A Regeneration Program to Prevent and Reverse Accelerated Aging. Published by HCI.

Wilson, James L. (2002) Adrenal Fatigue: The 21st Century Stress Syndrome. Published by Smart Publications.

http://stress.about.com/od/stresshe...

The diary disaster-milk does not do good

(NaturalNews) From celebrities sporting milk mustaches to former horror queens touting the benefits of yogurt, the dairy industry spends billions of dollars on advertising in attempt to brainwash the public into believing that "milk does a body good." The truth is that too much dairy can cause obesity, cancer, heart disease, allergies, diabetes, and even osteoporosis.

Calcium is essential to good health and can be found in a plethora of plant sources such as broccoli, cabbage and spinach. The dairy industry has led us to believe that we can only get the calcium we need from their dairy products. "There`s no best source of calcium," says Robert Heaney, Professor of Medicine at the Osteoporosis Research Center at Creighton University School of Medicine. "The sheer quantity of calcium in dairy products certainly makes them attractive sources, but they have no monopoly on calcium. There`s no reason in the world why you couldn`t get an adequate intake from a vegetable source."

Casein, a protein present in milk, causes minor to severe allergies in many people resulting in hives, stomach pains, bronchitis, bloating, and even asthma. In actress Alicia Silverstone`s recent book The Kind Diet, Silverstone recalls growing up with bronchitis three or four times a year; she was on regular allergy medication and relied on an inhaler for her asthma. It wasn't until she gave up dairy that her allergies went away. "Very soon after becoming vegan, I stopped experiencing allergies or any asthma-type symptoms," says Silverstone. "They just disappeared."

No other species drinks the milk of another species. Drinking the milk of another mammal may even cause osteoporosis- the very disease it is touted to prevent. "When we have babies, we breastfeed them, and then at a certain point, we stop," explain Skinny Bitch authors Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin. "It is exactly the same for cows and every other mammal on the planet. They produce milk when they give birth, they feed their young, and then they stop. We are the only species on the planet that drinks the milk of another species. We are the only species on the planet that drinks milk as adults. Why? Because the multi-million dollar dairy industry has convinced us that we need milk for healthy bones. However, Yale researchers found that countries with the highest dairy and meat intakes also suffer the highest osteoporosis rates."

Milk is pasteurized in order to remove unhealthy bacteria, but this process also removes the nutritional value of the milk. Milk pasteurization destroys digestive enzymes and even doubles the amount of harmful bacteria. During pasteurization, enzymes like lactase, galactase, and phosphatase are destroyed. Without these enzymes, milk is especially difficult to process in our bodies, especially since the human pancreas cannot always create these enzymes on its own. When the pancreas is overtaxed diabetes and other diseases may occur.

Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone is a genetically engineered hormone that is given to cows in order to increase their milk production, thus increasing the profits of the dairy industry. Bovine growth hormone (rBGH) accelerates the development of IGF-1, a hormone that is not eliminated in pasteurization or digestion. IGF-1 and rBGH increase cell division which can lead to breast, prostate, or colon cancer. When we drink milk we are increasing our risk of cancer. Think of it this way, if a cow`s life is shortened by 20 years when injected with BGH, what could that do to your life?

Freedman, Rory & Barnouin, Kim. Skinny Bitch. Old Saybrook: Tantor Media, 2007

Silverstone, Alicia. The Kind Diet. Philadelphia: Rodale Press, 2010.

www.all-creatures.org, "How Milk and Dairy Products Will Destroy Your Health and Cause Cancer, Heart Disease, Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, Allergies, Osteoporosis, and Infection`" http://www.all-creatures.org/health...

Coverting sexual energy to Qi

TAOIST SEXUAL PRACTICES

OVERVIEW OF TAOIST SEXUAL PRACTICES

http://www.tao-yoga.com/deutsch/artikel4.htm

In the Taoist tree of practices with branches such as acupuncture, herbology, massage, five element nutrition, qigong, taichi, feng shui, I Ching and meditation, the practices dealing with the sexual energy occupy a prominent place.

In ancient China Taoist masters were well known for their specialized knowledge on sexual matters.

Emperors and Empresses would consult in secret Taoist masters for learning the essentials of sexual practice.

This would be done not only for enhancing sexual pleasure with the numerous concubines that filled the court, but more specifically for attaining the Chinese ideal of having a long and healthy life.

From very early times sexual energy management has been associated in China with high vitality, strong senses, sharp mind, vibrant health, personal magnetism, psychic powers and the ability to prolong life beyond its ordinary limits.

Contrary to popular belief Taoist sexual practices are not an independent discipline existing all by itself. On the contrary, sexual practices are considered a branch of the Taoist tree of disciplines having as central trunk the meditations for calming the mind and opening the infinite potential of the human spirit.

THE 5 ESSENTIALS OF TAOIST SEXUAL PRACTICE

The Two Fundamentals

The recycling of sexual energy requires first of all that the practitioner has developed an ability to feel every part of the body and specifically the movement of the Qi or life force through the meridian system. Without the ability to feel the Qi there is no Taoist practice. The ability to feel every part of the body is the opening of communication between the mind and physical body.

To attempt any energy practice without the fundamentals of feeling the body and identifying the movement of Qi the practitioner is energetically blind and unable to know determine when practice should stop or how intensely a technique should be done.

The risk of practicing without the two fundamentals is energy becoming stuck in the upper part of the body and causing a host of undesirable side effects such as headaches, insomnia, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, ringing in the ears and so on. The list becomes quite long.

Knowing How to Circulate Consciously the Qi through the Meridian System
-Any energy practice has the potential to increase the energy flow through the meridian system. Increased flow is akin to having more traffic through the avenues of a great city. As we all know if everyone is heading out of town on the holidays the traffic is going to be heavy and slow everywhere. Bottlenecks raise tempers and overheat engines, besides the increase in the personal quotient of impatience and frustration.

-Recycling sexual energy is as simple as moving the accumulated Qi in the genital area and moving it through the nervous system and the vital organs. However to do this the practitioner should be very acquainted with the best meridians for driving safely from one place to another.

The energy superhighway in the human energy system is the combination of meridians ascending up the spine from the perineum and descending down the front of the chest to the perineum. This circular path goes by a variety of traditional names and is better known in the Occident as the Microcosmic Orbit.
In the same way that the traffic in a superhighway can move smoothly, slow or be totally blocked, the Microcosmic Orbit can be partially blocked and distributing Qi flow inefficiently. So one of the most important priorities in energy work is keeping the Orbit flowing as efficiently as possible.

Many are the sexual practice aspirants who proceed to recycle the sexual energy without knowing anything about the qi flow in the Orbit and end up with the sexual energy stopping either at the head or the heart.

Harmonizing the Emotions

Taoist energy work is known to increase energy flow and promote vitality. However the Taoists are not just concerned with increasing Qi flow, most important is the quality of the Qi.

One of the factors which most readily affect the quality of personal Qi is the emotions that are being produced in our organs.

The ancient Taoists discovered in the course of their meditations that our emotions, both positive and negative take their point of departure in the condition of the vital organs. If for example, the liver is circulating the Qi very smoothly then that ease of movement is experienced as a positive mental state which expresses itself as kindness, generosity and a state of personal ease. On the contrary if the flow is hindered by excessive tension and heat in the liver then the experience of such a difficult flow manifests as anger, aggression and a general state of dissatisfaction.

The Taoists also discovered that the sexual energy that expresses itself through the sperm in men and the ovum in women is a composite of the essences from each of the vital organs, the nervous system, the glands, brain and bones. In other words, sexual energy is a team effort where every part of the body contributes its finest.

If our organs at the moment of contributing their share for empowering the sperm and the ovum are congested with negative emotions and tensions, then the sexual energy is going to carry such qualities as part of its overall make up. So it is essential that the practitioner of sexual recycling pays a great deal of attention to the emotional quality that flow from the vital organs.

The Taoists developed numerous practices for transforming the energy flow in the organs and thus affecting the emotional quality. The first method is that of Six Healing Sounds utilizing simple movements and the sounds that harmonize each the vital organs. A deeper method is that of harmonizing the element in each of the organs while at the same time resolving unfinished situations which are still emotionally charged.

It can be said that any physical exercise which changes the rate of respiration and accelerates blood and energy flow will have a positive effect on the emotions and the organs.

Knowing How to Align the Physical Structure

Although it may seem remotely connected to sexual practice, the ability to align the physical body properly is fundamental in all energy work not just sexual recycling.

The alignment of the structure is learned in order to facilitate the circulation of Qi through the meridian system while at the same time opening the flow from the energies of the universe. Without a correct structure the Qi has to fight its way to circulate through every part of the organism. It is as if our superhighway out of town is covered with roadblocks and detours every few miles.

Right structure is essential in sexual practice because of the nature of sexual energy itself. Sexual energy has been called `the water of life' in many ancient cultures because it was observed that when non-aroused sexual energy is tranquil and behaves like water at room temperature. However during stimulation sexual energy becomes like water which is heating up and heading towards boiling. As we known, water at room temperature is easy to handle, but boiling water is another matter altogether, it has to be handled with lots of care and we have to be very careful where we pour it.

The recycling of aroused sexual energy requires the most direct and easy line of flow to reach the vital organs and the nervous system. In addition to having the Microcosmic Orbit flowing properly, the physical structure should be lending support to the meridian flow by providing the optimum facility of movement.
The alignment of the structure begins with something as simple as feeling an invisible cord lifting the crown and the sacrum at the bottom of the spine being pulled downward. Many specialized postures were developed by the Taoists and now form part of the basic structure of Qi Gong exercises.

The Right Nutrition

Many of the men practitioners of Taoist sexual energy recycling are unaware that the goal of learning to control the ejaculation and prolonging sexual play is related to what they had for dinner last night and what type of food predominates their diet.

The food we eat is one of the four sources of energy we have along with the air we breathe, the energy we receive from heaven and earth and the inherited ancestral energy our parents have passed to us.

Each of the four sources of energy is akin to the legs of a table-if anyone is short or weak, it unbalances the table along with everything we placed on it. A diet which is excessive in concentrated foods such as animal proteins will render more difficult the goal of sexual energy recycling because sensitivity is reduced, as well as blood circulation. Animal foods in excess also render more difficult the task of raising the energy through the back of the Microcosmic Orbit because such foods in general are strongly descending which is the opposite of what is searched in sexual recycling.

INCORPORATING THE FIVE BASIC STEPS OF TAOIST SEXUAL PRACTICE:

Many publications have appeared in recent times promoting different methods for sexual energy recycling. The impression is created that it is absolutely safe to concentrate on a few breathing exercises along with some muscle contractions and all will be well. Experience has taught that is not the case. The best evidence is the countless number of people who search out Taoist teachers to help them resolve energy problems in their sexual practice learned from books. Often there is absolutely nothing faulty with the methods in the books, simply that the practices lack the context of the five essentials outlined before.

It is important that anyone interested in learning the Taoist sexual practices places them in the context of a complete system, rather than as an isolated exercise. This is the simplest way of honoring the tremendous power inherent in the creative energy of the universe concentrated in the reproductive cycle.


Wednesday, May 21, 2008
http://taoist-yoga.blogspot.com/

Sexual Yoga

The most powerful form of Essence in our body is our sexual energy. There is sufficient Jing in one sperm cell and one ovum to provide the vital energy necessary to create a life. The Practice of Sexual Yoga is based on the principle of our ability to convert Sexual Essence (Jing) into Life force energy (Chi). The Sexual energy is the only form of energy in the body that increases in force when activated. Sexual Yoga is used to transform Sexual Jing into Chi and provide the body with more energy.

Men lose Jing Chi when they ejaculate and women do so during menstruation. This energy can be conserved through Sexual Yoga and breathing. This can be further converted into CHI. The final step involves balancing the body's male and female energies. This cab be done through techniques like single cultivation and dual cultivation.

SEXUAL DISCIPLINE

According to traditional Chinese medical views, excess loss of semen is one of the primary causes of premature aging, loss of vitality, and immune deficiency in men. This is why Chinese herbalists list of many herbs and formulas to control nocturnal emission and premature ejaculation. When a man is already weak and ailing and undertakes a course of herbal therapy, it becomes even more important for him to minimise his loss of semen in order to preserve his vital energies for internal healing. On the other hand, disciplined sexual intercourse, which involves frequent and prolonged "contact without leakage" (i.e, intercours without male ejaculation) is often recommended as a quick and effetive way of building up internal energy in men, and thus the cooperation of his partner becomes important, The two-thousand-year-old treatise on sex entitled Su Nu Ching ("Classic of the Plain Girl") says:

By treasuring his semen, cultivating his spirit, and taking medicinal herbs, a man can certainly attain long life. However, if he is ignorant of the Tao of sex, taking herbs will do him no good. . . . It is because man has lost knowledge of the Tao of sex that he now suffers such early death.

Such advice is given throughout Taoist literature and medical treatises, and many modern studies have validated this view, Thought most Western men regard genital orgasm as an inviolable rite (and right) of sexual intercourse, we suggest that they at least read some of the excellent books now available in English on Chinese sexual yoga and put some of these principles into practice on a trial basis. These ancient Chinese texts also suggest some excellent practices for women, both "dual" (with a partner) and "solo" (alone), to enhance female sexual energy and transform it into pure vitality for health and longevity.

Ref:
Art of the Bedchamber: The Chinese Sexual Yoga Classics by Douglas Wile 1992
The Tao of Health, Sex and Longevity by Daniel Reid 1989

Building a strong health foundation

(NaturalNews) Whether you want to live longer and healthier or you want to address a specific health concern, building a good healthy natural foundation is essential. Just like you cannot expect to get good results from patching a roof on a building with a shaky foundation, the same is true of your body.

To build your own healthy natural foundation, begin replacing bad habits with good ones and take healthy measures such as these:

* Avoid processed sugar as much as possible. According to the WHO, refined sugar is the number one cause of illness in the world. Likewise avoid artificial sweeteners. None of them are safe and Aspartame is the worst of all.

* Avoid excessive alcohol. A glass or two of wine is OK and so is a beer or two (though wine is healthiest).

* Avoid cigarettes and tobacco products. Likewise avoid excessive caffeine.

* Avoid cell phone use and avoid prolonged exposure to electrical and microwave radiation.

* If you are overweight, begin a slow and healthy weight loss program where you burn more calories than you consume.

* Eliminate chemical toxins from your home and workplace environment, such as commercial cleaning products, air fresheners and air sprays, cosmetics, deodorants, pesticides and herbicides.

* Eat a very healthy mostly raw and mostly vegan diet with some organic meat (good choices are oily cold water fish, free range organic chicken and small amounts of organic free range beef). Include healthy fats; get plenty of omega-3s and healthy nuts, roots, tubers and seeds. Make sure your vegetables and fruits include a wide variety of colors to get the best array of phyto-nutrients. Eat organic vegetables and fruits when possible (they usually contain more nutrients and fewer pesticides). Such a diet is much more in tune with what mankind developed to eat for millennia.

* Get plenty of regular sunshine, both direct and indirect, in order to get ample amounts of vital Vitamin D3 and other healing benefits from sunshine. Vitamin D3 is literally essential for life and it helps fight and prevent illness, including cancer. When weather, climate and/or location make it impossible to get enough , take supplemental Vitamin D3 (500 to 1000 mg daily).

* Avoid junk foods, fast foods, trans fats, and as much as possible processed foods on grocers shelves which have had the nutrition processed out and harmful additives processed in for shelf life, taste, texture and color.

* Include regular physical activity. Healthy exercise need not be strenuous - moderate is just fine. The key is "regular".

* Eliminate stress as much as possible in your life - it is indeed the "silent killer". Avoid stressful people and situations. Take time out to "smell the roses" on a regular basis.

* Make sure that you get optimum daily amounts of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Often these amounts are significantly greater than the minimal RDA amounts, which are merely the amount needed to prevent vitamin-deficiency related disease. As many as 80-95% of us are deficient in magnesium, an essential mineral for optimum health. Likewise, most of us are deficient in other essential vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, such as digestive enzymes. Get as much of your vitamins as possible from your diet. Since it is next to impossible to get all the nutrients you need from diet alone, consider a good whole foods derived multi-vitamin product as well as a good superfoods powder.

Once you have built a healthy foundation, specific problems and concerns can be addressed with much greater chance of success.

Sources included:

http://www.naturalnews.com/025567_m...
http://www.naturalnews.com/023237_m...
http://www.naturalnews.com/022971_h...
http://www.naturalnews.com/026972_f...
http://www.naturalnews.com/026909_e...
Years of personal research on diet, nutrition and natural healing

25 ways to improve your health and happiness

(NaturalNews) The New Year is upon us, and for many people, it includes a New Year's resolution for achieving improved health and happiness in 2010. Here are twenty-five health-enhancing ideas to help you accomplish that goal.

#1 - Replace sodas or soft drinks with tea or water.

#2 - Commit to eating one raw fruit (or serving of vegetables) at every meal.

#3 - Add just 5 minutes a day to your exercise routine. Don't have an exercise routine? Start with 5 minutes a day!

#4 - Get more sunshine!

#5 - Learn some Pilates. It's probably the #1 exercise system for core strength and flexibility.

#6 - Drink a superfood smoothie every day.

#7 - Buy more indoor plants: They purify the air in your home.

#8 - Take a quality, wild-harvested fish oil supplement that contains vitamin D.

#9 - Eat more quinoa: It's a high-protein, low-carb "grain" that can easily replace rice or couscous.

#10 - When you get out of bed each morning, do five sit-ups first. It sounds simple, but just 5 sit-ups a day can make a difference.

#11 - Instead of trying to find a parking spot so close to the grocery store, park farther away. You'll get a little more walking exercise and a little more sunshine.

#12 - Get a good water filter so you can stop drinking tap water (or bottled water).

#13 - Pick up a "gentle" art like Tai-Qi or Yoga. It will reduce your stress and improve your physical stamina.

#14 - Take a relaxing hot bath with epsom salts and soothing herbs like lavender. It will do wonders for your mind and your muscles.

#15 - Get a professional massage! Massage therapy is really, really healthy, and it's a great way to reward yourself for some of the other accomplishments you're making.

#16 - Grow your own sprouts! With a simple, low-cost sprouting machine, you can grow and eat your own sprouts. Eating just one ounce of sprouts a day still had a huge impact on preventing cancer and boosting immune function.

#17 - Prepare for a Spring garden. Sure, it's cold and snowy right now, but make a commitment to start a garden this Spring, and you'll reap many health benefits in the months ahead.

#18 - Get a mini-trampoline and do some rebounding in your living room. You can even watch movies or documentary DVDs at the same time.

#19 - Make a point to get at least eight hours of sleep for 2-3 nights a week (or more, if you can). Most people are sleep deprived, and the health cost is enormous.

#20 - Start visiting local farmer's markets so that you eat more local food in 2010. You'll be healthier and happier as a result.

#21 - Got a job you don't like? Quit it! Downgrade your lifestyle to live on less money, then pursue what you really enjoy. Being happy in a small house is better than being miserable in a big one.

#22 - Get off those medications! Make a point to learn how to safely and gradually get yourself off all the medications you can by eliminating underlying imbalances or illnesses. The fewer medications you take, the healthier you'll be!

#23 - Throw out your television! Are you still watching cable TV or satellite TV? It's a complete waste of your life (but you already knew that). Disconnect the cable. Read more books and get your information online where news sources are more independent and intelligent.

#24 - Make a decision to think of food as nourishment instead of entertainment. Eat what your body needs, not what your taste buds desire.

Chinese clock holds key to liver's health

(NaturalNews) Stress of modern living and our standard American diet, which includes alcohol, fried food and fast food, strain our health, especially our Liver. Stopping eating by 7 pm may be the best thing we can do for our health. Looking to ancient Chinese medicine we find a clear explanation of why this is. In Chinese Medicine, qi, or energy, runs though the body through a series of twelve main channels, or meridians. For each meridian there is a two hour time period for which the energy is strongest.

According to Chinese Medicine, digestion is controlled by the Earth element. The organs which correspond to the Earth element are Stomach and Spleen. The Stomach meridian`s energy is strongest in the morning between 7 and 9 am, and the Spleen is strongest between 9 am and 11 am. Therefore 7 am to 11 am is the best time to eat because our digestive energy is strongest.

Twelve hours later the energy of our digestive organs is the weakest, and we should stop eating by 7 pm. Light meals of fresh fruits and vegetables or fresh juices are best if we are hungry in the evening since these foods are simplest to digest.

Digestion is naturally slower in the evening as the energy is weakest in those meridians at that time. Food stays in the stomach and tends to ferment leading to gas, bloating and discomfort. Energy is drawn from other organs to help digest food. Overnight from 11 pm until 3 am the energy is strongest in the gall bladder and liver. These organs cleanse the blood and control sleep. They become taxed when we eat late at night. We get indigestion, insomnia and a feeling of not being well rested in the morning. In addition, our joints may ache or become arthritic. Toxins get stored in our organs and joints when the liver cannot function properly.

Eating late at night strains our liver, drawing energy from it to help us digest food. There are liver flushes and herbs such dandelion and milk thistle to cleanse and regenerate the liver. Yet one of the best things we can do for the liver is to stop eating by 7 pm. Once the liver energy is not being drawn away toward digestion, the liver is able to function and heal.

When we stop eating at 7 pm, many symptoms, even those which seem unrelated to digestion such as pain and arthritis, will disappear. People often lose weight quickly as the body is able to rid itself of toxins. The meridians balance and naturally become stronger when energy is not drawn into digestion overnight.

Steps to rejuvenate the liver are:

Stop eating by 7 pm for at least one week, but try to make it a lifelong habit.

Avoid alcohol, fast food and deep fried food (at least while doing the liver cleanse, but try to make this, too, a lifelong habit.)

Follow this liver flush for a week:



Upon waking, drink the juice of 2-3 fresh squeezed oranges and 1/2 lemon blended with one clove garlic, 1 Tbsp olive oil and a sprinkle of cayenne.

Follow that with a cleansing tea of flax, fenugreek, fennel, comfrey or nettles and mint, which can be enjoyed throughout the day.

For lunch and dinner have fresh fruit or vegetable salad.



Herbs such as milk thistle and dandelion are beneficial for the liver. Milk thistle is often taken in capsule or tincture form, while dandelion root is often drunk as tea or taken as a tincture. Fresh dandelion leaves can be added to salads.



Sources:

Balch, Phyllis, A. Prescription for Nutritional Healing. Avery Trade. 2006

Maciocia, Giovanni. The Foundations of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text for Acupuncturists and Herbalists. Second Edition. Churchill Livingstone. 2005.

Pitchford, Paul. Healing With Whole Foods. North Atlantic Books. 2002.

Xinnong, Cheng. Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion. Foreign Languages Press. Beijing. 1990.

Use astralagus to boost immune system

(NaturalNews) Beginning of the school year, rumors of the swine flu sparked great fear around the world. As viruses and bacteria begin to spread like wild fire throughout our communities, you are probably searching for the best immune system supplements to protect your family in addition to a well-balanced diet. When trying to choose the best immune boosting supplement for your family, you need something that is simple to incorporate into your lifestyle. One of the best immune system supplements known throughout history is astragalus root.

You may be surprised that astragalus may also assist in reducing the following: cardiovascular disease, chemotherapy side effects, common cold, diabetes, HIV, and AIDS. Studies have shown that astragalus may actually further suppress cancerous tumors from growing. But astragalus is mainly known for its ability to boost the immune system.

Basics on Astragalus

According to drugs.com, astragalus has no known adverse effects. For those who take immunosuppressive medication you should be aware that astragalus should not be taken; it stimulates the immune system and may cause the medication to not be as effective. Also, astragalus should not be ingested during a fever.

There are many different ways to take astragalus. The root is usually created into a decoction by simmering the root in water for a couple minutes. Then you drink the decoction as you would tea. You can also purchase the extract or capsulated versions.

If you are looking to save money while boosting your immune system, purchase astragalus powder in bulk form. You can encapsulate it yourself or add the powder to your food as you cook.

Dosages for Astragalus

You should always follow the advice of a medical professional when determining the dosage for your body. Each variety of astragalus product may suggest different amounts depending on its strength. Follow the directions listed on the label.

Drugs.com says that the average recommended dose for an adult is 2-6 grams of astragalus powder. 4 grams of powder is equivalent to approximately 1 teaspoon for an adult. Since astragalus is almost tasteless, 1 teaspoon of astragalus powder can be easily hidden in different foods, like soups, sauces, or smoothies. You can also easily hide the strained decoction in foods.

How to Use Astragalus in Smoothies

Smoothies are convenient and many people, young and old, love them. It is usually easier to get your kids to drink an immune boosting smoothie than to swallow the capsules.

You have two main forms of astragalus to choose from when adding astragalus into your smoothies. The easiest way is to use the bulk powder. The second way is to create a decoction for the liquid of the smoothie. For your convenience, the recipes below use astragalus powder.

Astragalus Smoothie Recipes

Macadamia Vanilla Astragalus Shake
1/4 cup macadamia nuts, raw
1 cup water
8 dates, pitted
1/4 tsp stevia
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp astragalus powder
12 ice cubes
Blend the first three ingredients until smooth. Then add the rest of the ingredients and blend again.
Makes 2 - 1 cup servings

Strawberry Banana Smoothie
1 cup fresh strawberries
1 frozen banana
1/2 cup fresh fruit juice
2 tablespoons honey or 1/2 tsp stevia powder
1 tsp astragalus powder
8 ice cubes
Place the fresh ingredients under the frozen ingredients into the blender and blend until completely smooth. Makes 2 - 1 cup servings

Chocolate Peppermint Smoothie
1/4 cup cashews or macadamia nuts, raw
1 cup water or peppermint tea
8 dates
1/4 tsp stevia powder
1 tsp astragalus powder
1 tablespoon cocoa or cacao
1-2 drops peppermint essential oil
12 ice cubes
Blend the first three ingredients until smooth. Then add the rest of the ingredients and blend again. Makes 2 - 1 cup servings

Resources:

http://www.drugs.com/npc/astragalus...

http://www.smart-publications.com/t...

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/...

http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/691...

http://www.raisingchildrennaturally...

Saturated fats are healthy

(NaturalNews) Today we are caught between two philosophies: one says saturated fat is killing us; the other says these fats are necessary for true vitality. There is a heated back-and-forth, a constant tug-of-war scenario, with society caught in the middle like a child caught between two parents in a nasty divorce.

But fortunately, we are adults who can take a step back from the madness and look at the facts - all of the facts - before coming to our own conclusions. The trouble is finding anything but propaganda regarding saturated fats. Corporate food industry and government agencies are quick to demonize these fats, but in traditional cultures saturated fat was revered and even coveted as a source of vital energy.

Mankind has survived for century upon century thanks to saturated fats, depending on these fats to nourish our bodies and support the health of future generations. Only in recent decades have we turned away from natural fats and toward manufactured vegetable oils. And only in recent decades have we seen an explosion of degenerative conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Here are four important reasons saturated fat should have its place at the table:

#1 - Lower Your Risk for Heart Disease and Improve Your Cholesterol Profile

It's the opposite of what the medical industry tells you, but it's true: eating a diet rich in saturated fats protects your heart. Saturated fat reduces Lp(a), which is associated with increased risk for heart disease, and contributes to higher levels of HDL (good) cholesterol, which keeps your heart healthy.

#2 - Prevent Loss of Bone Density and Osteoporosis

We all know we need calcium for strong, healthy bones. We also need saturated fat to transport that calcium to our bones. This is why dairy products naturally contain both calcium and saturated fat. All those calcium supplements won't do much good if saturated fat is lacking in our diet.

#3 - Strengthen Your Immunity and Prevent Illness

Saturated fats contain specialized fatty acids which are naturally antifungal, antimicrobial and antiviral. These important fatty acids include lauric acid, myristic acid and caprylic acid. A diet rich in these beneficial fats provides the body with what it needs to fight pathogenic substances.

#4 - Feed Your Brain, Your Nervous System and Your Hormones

Your brain is fat. And that's a good thing. Your brain consists mainly of fat and cholesterol, and it needs saturated fat more than any other kind. Even the brain-friendly omega-3 fatty acids can't be utilized without ample saturated fat. In addition, saturated fat facilitates nerve signals and hormone production. All of these systems rely on saturated fat to function, and to keep you healthy and ultimately alive.

It's important to choose the right saturated fats, like real butter and virgin coconut oil. Avoid highly processed fats and especially hydrogenated oils, which have been proven to cause heart disease, cancer and a slew of other conditions.

The logic is hard to miss. We are told saturated fats cause heart disease, so we trade butter for vegetable oils: heart disease skyrockets. We are told saturated fats cause bone to lessen, so we drink low-fat milk: osteoporosis is widespread. We are told saturated fat isn't good for our brains, so we stop eating traditional fats like coconut oil: depression, ADHD, dementia and autism are more prevalent than ever before. Are saturated fats really the villain here? In reality they are the victims of misinterpreted studies and commercialized industry, which have no interest in what our ancestors could have told them: saturated fat is the key to good health.

For More Information:

http://www.westonaprice.org/Know-Yo...

http://www.naturalnews.com/026819_l...

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/a...

Raw food's health benefits

(NaturalNews) Raw food diets are becoming increasing popular, and with good reason. Foods in their raw state are truly as nature designed and they are the most biocompatible with our bodies. In fact, it's interesting to know that a boiled potato has 420 more molecular compounds than a raw potato. These new compounds are created in the cooking process, but part of the problem is that our bodies aren't always able to process new compounds - even if someone created them in a kitchen and they taste good.

Our bodies have specific enzymes for digestion, and they work like a lock and key. But when we keep changing the locks, the keys don't always fit. The result is that cooked foods aren't always digested well and particles of them end up stored in our bodies as toxic sludge, instead of used for fuel with the remainder eliminated.

Interestingly, studies have shown that cooked foods increase our white blood cell activity. This essentially means that our bodies see cooked foods as invaders, and work to defend against them. Raw foods don't have this effect.

Another reason raw foods diets are becoming popular is that raw foods contain enzymes whereas cooked and processed foods are devoid of enzymes, as heating destroys them. Enzymes are critical factors in the health equation; they're often called our life force. Enzymes are the catalysts for every function of the body, including blinking and breathing. When we run out of enzymes, we die.

Digestion requires enzymes and by eating raw foods, we're doing little to deplete our enzyme reserves. In contrast, cooked foods demand that the body give up some of its enzymes for digestion. In this manner, cooked foods literally speed our death and hasten all of the processes along the way, including aging and disease.

Unfortunately, most cultures and social circles aren't geared towards raw foods. Many don't understand the benefits of raw food diets, or understand that a diet geared around cooked foods causes problems. Many people also think raw foods are boring or difficult to prepare. In truth, they don't have to be either.

Adding Raw Foods to Your Diet

An easy way to increase your raw food consumption is to drop the cereal or toast for breakfast and start eating fruit. People often say they'd be hungry doing that, but the solution is to eat more. A pineapple or half watermelon is a delicious breakfast. Your favorite fruit can also replace candied or processed snacks.

You can also boost your raw food intake by eating more salads, and making them more substantial in the process. A salad doesn't have to be all lettuce and half a tomato. Salads can skip the lettuce entirely and can bulk up with a quarter cabbage, two tomatoes, an avocado, and perhaps half a cucumber. With a great dressing, it'll be delicious, and most people will be quite satisfied afterward. So, forget conventional salad wisdom and bulk your salads up with lots of your favorite veggies.

Raw foods can also be added to cooked foods, when the cooking is complete. For example, shredded cabbage, fresh thyme, and a diced tomato can be added on top of a boiled potato to make a great half raw "potato salad." Just season with coconut oil and sea salt.

If you're not ready to go completely raw, you can benefit by simply adding more raw foods to your diet. Many health experts recommend a diet of about 70 percent raw foods, which would be two meals a day, plus snacks. However, in truth, the more you add, the better off you'll be.

More:
Genefit Nutrition, Roman Devivo and Antje Spors
http://www.healingdaily.com/detoxif...
http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.c...

Pistachios slash lung cancer risk

(NaturalNews) People who want to avoid the leading cancer killer have a pal in the pistachio. According to the latest research on this nutritional nut, pistachios help reduce the risk of developing lung cancer because of their high gamma-tocopherol content. Gamma-tocopherol is a form of vitamin E that has been proven to be an effective cancer deterrent.

The pistachio likes to keep a "low" profile. For example, Penn State researchers say a daily dose of pistachios "lowers" cholesterol levels by as much as 11 percent; nutritionists recommend them to people who want to "lower" their calorie intake (i.e., pistachios are the lowest calorie nut); and a 2008 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition says pistachios "lower" the risk for cardiovascular disease.

How "low" can the pistachio go? Well, when it comes to how at risk someone is for lung cancer, pretty darn low.

Researchers from Texas Woman`s University in Houston supplied a group of 18 healthy participants (who were chosen at random) with two ounces of pistachios. The pistachios were to be eaten every day for a period of one month (two ounces = about 117 pistachio kernels). The other group of 18 did not eat pistachios but, other than that fact, ate the same diet as the first group.

Through various testing procedures that analyzed their vitamin E levels, the researchers found that the pistachio-munching group had higher levels of gamma-tocopherol. As aforementioned, prior studies have found gamma-tocopherol to be effective in protecting men from prostate cancer. And based on this latest round of findings, the gamma-tocopherol in pistachios are every bit as effective in warding off lung cancer.

Lung cancer kills more people per year than breast cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer combined.

Now, 117 pistachios per day may sound like a lot, but according to the study`s lead researcher, two ounces of pistachios should not lead to any significant changes in body mass.

If you`re not jazzed about the pistachio, there are other ways to get your gamma-tocopherol fill besides supplementing. Nuts are the most abundant source of gamma-tocopherol (both nuts and nut oils), but another especially rich source is wheat germ oil. One-hundred grams of wheat germ oil contains a whopping 215 milligrams! This is important to note, because even though gamma-tocopherol is the major source of vitamin E in the diet, the blood retains more alpha-tocopherol than gamma-tocopherol.

Sources:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/release...
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/lung/stat...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tocopherol
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocent...

Enjoy an antioxidant melange !

(NaturalNews) You want to make the Cranberry Melange Recipe. The dilemma is you are wondering how to perform some of the culinary techniques to make it? Also, you may be wondering the answers to questions like why to use salt in this sweet recipe? Wonder no more...

*Citrus - How to supreme...

Segmenting citrus, or to "supreme" in culinary vernacular, means to release the individual segments or sections of a citrus fruit from the membranes (that hold the fruit together). First, slice off the tops and bottoms of the citrus. With a small sharp knife (serrated works well), cut off the peel (cutting deeply enough that the white bitter pith is removed). This can be done either in a circular motion (moving around the globe of the fruit) or by slicing from the top to the bottom of the fruit (following the contour of the fruit). To catch any juice that is released, work over a bowl. Insert knife along one side of a membrane, and slice toward the center of the fruit (keeping knife as close to the membrane as possible). One side of the segment will now be separated. Do the other side of the membrane the same way (until segment is completely freed).

*Citrus - How to zest...

With its floral and tangy tones and a slightly and sophisticated bitterness, zest refers to the vividly colored and most outer peel of citrus fruits. This very outer peel contains natural, volatile and aromatic oils that intensify citrus sapor. The white portion (or called the pith - which lies just below the zest) is less desirable (because of its bitter taste). Try tangerine or blood orange zest with their exquisite flowery aromas. Use zest from only organic citrus fruit (to avoid waxes and chemicals). Always zest the fruit just before using the zest (because this is when the zest`s volatile oils are strongest). Use only citrus fruit with a beautiful appearance and drawing fragrance (for highest quality zest). Zest only uncut citrus fruit (for ease of zesting). Before zesting, always clean the citrus fruit.

*Nuts - How to soak and dehydrate...

Place nuts into a container. Add a little highest-quality unrefined unheated salt. Fill container with cool temperature filtered water to cover nuts by a few inches. Lid container. At room-temperature, soak nuts for the time specified in recipe. Drain off soaking water. In fresh cool-temperature filtered water, submerge and swish soaked nuts. Drain nuts. Dehydrate nuts: Place flexible mesh screen over top of rigid larger-holed tray. Arrange nuts in single layer. Set dehydrator at 95 degrees. Dehydrate nuts equal to or twice as long as soak time (depending on texture desired).

*The Cranberry Melange Recipe was tested using the English = Royal = Persian walnuts.

*Allspice comes from a single tree. It tastes like a mixture of cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. If grinding allspice, about 5 whole berries = 1-teaspoon. If grinding cinnamon, 1 stick = 1/2-teaspoon. For a spectacular culinary result, preferred is to use Ceylon cinnamon.

*In lieu of highest-quality Himalayan pink crystal salt (unrefined and unheated) that is used in The Cranberry Melange Recipe, feel free to use any highest-quality unrefined and unheated salt of choice. The Hawaiian red clay salt is fabulous.

*Why is there salt used in this sweet recipe? The answer is because salt 1. Mingles flavors and 2. Increases the sweet taste in a sweet recipe.

*For health, it is important to use a honey that is pure, unprocessed, unfiltered and unheated. In addition, honey that is certified organic can be obtained.

Will you comment on the recipe?

Thanks for reading!

References:

Cranberry Nutrition:

http://www.naturalnews.com/001505_b...

Walnut Nutrition:

http://www.healingfoodreference.com...

Walnuts (culinary info):

http://www.foodsubs.com/Nuts.html

Turmeric and black pepper prevent breast cancer

(NaturalNews) Seasoning food with turmeric and black pepper can do more than just spice up a meal. Researchers at the University of Michigan (U-M) Comprehensive Cancer Center have found that the compounds curcumin, which is derived from turmeric, and piperine, derived from black pepper, could play an important role in preventing and even treating breast cancer.

Previous research has already provided evidence that curcumin and piperine may be potential cancer treatments. However, the new U-M study, just published online in the journal Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, is the first to suggest exactly how these natural spice compounds could prevent cancer. The research shows curcumin and piperine target stem cells (unspecialized cells that can give rise to any type of cell in an organ). This is of major significance because cancer stem cells comprise the small number of cells inside a tumor that fuel the growth of malignancies.

Current chemotherapy agents are useless against these cells -- that's why cancer can recur and spread despite rounds of heavy duty, toxic chemo. But if cancer stem cells could be eliminated and/or their growth shut down, cancer should be controlled.

"If we can limit the number of stem cells, we can limit the number of cells with potential to form tumors," lead author Madhuri Kakarala, M.D., Ph.D., a clinical lecturer in internal medicine at the U-M Medical School and a research investigator at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, said in a statement to the media. And the new study shows curcumin and piperine work along these lines. The spice derivatives are able to do what chemo can't -- they limit the self-renewal of stem cells.

Everyday painkillers become addictive after 3 days of use

(NaturalNews) Over-the-counter painkillers that are widely popular in the United Kingdom can become addictive with as little as three days of use, the country's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has warned.

"We are really pleased that the MHRA are now sitting up and taking notice," said Brian Iddon, who chaired the All Party Parliamentary Group on Drug Misuse when it issued a report on codeine and dihydrocodeine abuse. "It is the hidden addiction, but it is affecting many, many more people than we think."

According to government research, roughly 32,000 people across the United Kingdom are addicted to the opiate painkillers codeine or dihydrocodeine, although Iddon's group warned that this was only the "tip of the iceberg."

The drugs are so addictive that many people have become addicted simply through casual use, never having intended to abuse the products. Some addicts take as many as 70 pills a day, risking severe side effects including depression, gallstones, liver malfunction and stomach bleeding.

Under new rules, all products containing the painkillers must now carry "prominently poised" warnings reading, "Can cause addiction. For three days use only." Such medications can only be sold in packets containing 32 tablets or fewer, and advertisers can no longer promote the products for the treatment of colds and coughs. A parliamentary panel had actually suggested that packets be limited to only 18 pills or fewer.

Women are at higher risk of addiction than men, the MHRA said.

The painkillers in question can be purchased without a prescription when combined with other drugs. Some of these combinations are also available over-the-counter in the United States and Canada.

Health professionals have raised concerns that growing numbers of people are purchasing over-the-counter opiates in bulk from Internet pharmacies, and that many doctors and patients are unaware just how addictive the drugs can be.

Sources for this story include: www.dailymail.co.uk.

Warning: antidepressants increase risk of stroke

(NaturalNews) As NaturalNews previously reported (http://www.naturalnews.com/027054_d...), the U.S. is a nation on mind altering antidepressant drugs. An astounding number of Americans, some 27 million, are now taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil.

As a handful of doctors and researchers tried to warn the medical community and the public over a decade ago when these drugs began to soar in popularity, SSRIs can affect the brain and body in a host of detrimental ways. For example, evidence has accumulated that these drugs can induce suicidal and murderous actions in teens and cause young women to drop dead from heart arrhythmias (http://www.naturalnews.com/025811.html). And now there's another danger to add to the list. A huge study of over 136,000 women concludes SSRIs significantly increase the odds of stroke and death in women after menopause.


The new findings, from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded, multi-institution Women's Health Initiative Study, were just published in the December 14 online edition of the Archives of Internal Medicine. Principal investigator Sylvia Wassertheil-Smoller, Ph.D., division head of epidemiology and professor of epidemiology and population health at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and colleagues analyzed data from 136,293 women between the ages of 50 and 79 who were not taking antidepressants when they enrolled in the study. They were followed for about six years.

Data from 5,496 women who were taking antidepressants at their first follow-up visit were then compared with data from 130,797 women not taking antidepressants at follow-up. The researchers found no difference in the rate of heart disease (which they assessed by how many women had fatal or non-fatal heart attacks). However, they did find a troublesome difference in the occurrence of another potentially deadly health problem.

Antidepressant users were 45% more likely to experience strokes than women not taking the drugs. What's more, when the scientists looked at the overall death rates of the research participants, they discovered that the women taking antidepressants had a 32% higher risk of death from all causes compared to non-users.

It wasn't only SSRIs that raised the stroke risk -- so did the older class of antidepressants known as tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs). However, the SSRIs appeared to be even more dangerous than TCAs because they carried a higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke. In other words, the postmenopausal women on SSRIs were more likely to have a stroke caused by bleeding into the brain.

Dr. Wassertheil-Smoller and colleagues noted that even small increases in stroke and death rates can have significant implications for large patient populations. And middle-aged women on SSRIs are a huge patient population. The researchers acknowledged in their statement to the media that antidepressants are among the most widely prescribed drugs in the U.S., especially for postmenopausal women. As a matter of fact, Big Pharma has aggressively pushed the use of SSRIs in recent years as a "treatment" for mid-life hot flashes and mood swings as well as late life depression.

Predictably, in a statement to the media, the researchers defended the use of antidepressants as valuable drugs because depression can be "debilitating or even fatal." Dr. Wassertheil-Smoller stated women who may be concerned about taking their antidepressants based on this study should discuss the matter with their doctors.

The researchers also said "it remains unclear" from their data whether antidepressants are solely responsible for the greater mortality rate among users, claiming that depression itself could be related to the increased stroke and death rates. However, if that's so, then it appears the antidepressant drugs aren't working for the women being treated. After all, logic and common sense suggest if depression is linked causally to stroke, then women taking drugs that supposedly alleviate depression would have their stroke risks lowered, not increased.

For more information:
http://www.naturalnews.com/SSRI.html

Brain fitness and body fitness

(NaturalNews) We all share worries about brain decline, especially among the aging population. Scientists have long concluded that mental processing does slow with age. According to most studies, the human brain stops growing in its early 20s, after which it starts to contract. But studies show as we age it is never too late to begin a brain workout and that it can make a difference.

Brain plasticity or neuroplasticity, a familiar term among neuroscientists, is a concept that the brain is not static and will respond to new learning. A Mayo Clinic study of 487 healthy adults aged 65 and older demonstrated that with cognitive fitness training, older adults more than doubled their auditory processing speed (a 131% gain.) This translated to improved memory and attention.

A leading brain fitness company, part of a quickly growing industry, has developed brain workout software. The concept is based on neuroplasticity, the re-wiring of neural pathways, and neurogenesis, the lifelong production of new brain cells.

In the past two years, a team of scientists developed the workout software that can promote positive chemical, physical and functional changes in the brain. Dr. Michael Merzenich of the University of California San Francisco and his colleagues around the world have been leading this effort.

Does muscle strength affect cognitive fitness? The quotidian thought on this has been it was one or the other, brains or brawn. However, a fascinating report was published in the November 2009 edition of the Archives of Neurology by neurologist Dr. Patricia Boyle and her colleagues in Chicago. Researchers initially tested the strength of 970 men and women with normal memory and an average age of 80. Over a four year period they found those who ranked in the top 10% of muscle strength were less likely to experience cognitive loss. Dr. Boyle noted also that, overall, stronger people had less mental decline. She stated that good physical health is important for good brain function and emphasized the importance of staying physically active and keeping muscles strong.

On yet another note Richard Davidson and his neuroscience team at the University of Wisconsin scanned the brains of Tibetan monks to assess the effect of meditation on brain fitness. They found the experienced meditators had achieved increased activation in important areas of the brain that controlled attention and emotion. The monks were able to stay mentally in control and not react to external, distracting stimuli. Not only that but if they meditated with a deliberate goal such as compassion, it would saturate the whole mind and increase the likelihood of spontaneous acts of kindness to others.

Brain fitness is like physical fitness. Some is better than none, more is better than some, according to researcher, Dr. Henry Mahncke. He says, "Sustaining physical fitness, good nutrition, a vibrant social life, plus brain fitness will enable successful aging."

Your healthmate,
Deanna Dean

Washingtonpost.com/checkup/brain_exercises_can_delay_deme.html
http://bfc.positscience.com/about/n...
Boyle P., Buchman A. Wilson Ret al, Association of Muscle Strength With the Risk of Alzheimer Disease and the Rate of Cognitive Decline in Community-Dwelling Older Persons, Archives of Neurology, November 2009, Pp 1339-1344
Warren Davies, The Buddhist Brain, GenerallyThinking.com
INDEPTH: HEALTH
Strength, brain power and shrinking through the ages
CBC News Online | Updated Aug. 5, 2006

Chinese food therapy

Chinese Food Therapy

http://www.allchinanet.com/chinese_medicin...d_therapy.shtml

Green Onion (Scallion)

As Chinese saying goes "no onions do not cook dishes," in daily life, the green onion (scallion) , while mostly used as seasoning, its nutritional value and health value can not be underestimated. Green onion (scallion) is regarded as “warm” in nature in Chinese traditional medicine. Chinese used it for dispersing chill, relieving congestion and relaxing muscle tension. Mixing scallions, ginger and brown sugar is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription for early treatment of cold. Green onions also benefits the stomach and lungs since green onions can promot digestion and destroy oral and respiratory bacteria.

Ginger

Ginger is widely used in Chinese cooking as seasoning. But its value is far beyond serving as the flavoring agent. In traditional Chinese medicine, ginger is “warm” in nature. Ginger is often used for treatment of abdominal bloating, diarrhea, nausea, headache, and bleeding. It is also used for treating of cough, common cold, help digestion, neutralize poisons in food, promote blood circulation, support cardiovascular health. In addition, ginger is commonly used for treatment of inflammatory joint diseases, such as arthristis and rheumatism. Its healing power has made it one of the most popular food remedy in traditional Chinese medicine.

Garlic

Garlic is another food with strong healing power. Like ginger, it is “warm” in nature in traditional Chinese medicine. One could found that lots of Chinese dishes contain generous amount of garlic. Chinese not only use it to promote the flavor, but believe it kills bacteria, help digestion, and prevents diarrhea. Researchers found that eating garlic on a regular basis lowers the risk of stomach and colon cancers. Other therapeutic functions have been found in garlic, such as being used as a remedy for hypertension, diabetes, hepatitis. It is recommended to eat garlic raw and crushed. It is found that fresh raw garlic when crushed has the most effectiveness to release it’s healing power.

Cucumber

Speaking of cucumber, many people like to eat it, but few people know it's pharmaceutical value. Chinese traditional medicine believes that the cucumber is “cool” in nature. It has the effect of detoxification and could help to ease throat pain causing by some illness. Modern medical researchers found that cucumber is rich in vitamin E, which helps fighting against aging. Women like to put cucumber juice or film on the face to smooth skin and reduce wrinkle. Cucumber also contains vitamin B1, which is essential tp brain and nervous system. Chinese traditional medicine believes cucumber has the effect to soothe the nerves and aid in the treatment of insomnia.

Peach

There is Chinese saying of “Longevity peach”, reminding people the connection of peach and the promise of longevity. Chinese medicine believes that peach is moderate “warm” in nature. Peach seed is widely used in Chinese medicine to improve blood circulation, dissolve accumulated blood clots, moisten the intestines and relaxes the bowels. Since peach is rich in iron, Chinese believes consuming enough amount of peach has the beauty effectiveness.

Grape

Chinese traditional medicine believes grape is neutral regarding to “warm” or “cool” in nature. Eating grape can tune the b lood, strengthen the bone, and promote urination. Because grape contains highly effective anti-cancer substances, it is a good food choice to prevent from cancer. Also, dried grape (raisin) is rich in iron, which is especially beneficial to children or people who has anaemia.

Tomato

Tomatoes are known to be a powerhouse of nutrition. Traditional Chinese medicine regards it as “cool” in nature. Chinese medicine believes that tomatoes have the effectiveness of detoxification, reducing blood pressure, preventing from cancer and aging. It contains a multitude of vitamins and minerals that promote the immune system and support health. In addition, tomato is high in nutrition, but low in calories, it is an excellent choice for weight loss diet.

Apple

As wisdom says “one apple per day keeps the doctor away from me,” traditional Chinese medicine found that apple is “cool” in nature and promotes various health benefits. Researchers found that eating 1-2 apples per day, the rate of suffering from heart disease can be reduced by half. Apple contains soluble fibre that help to prevent from constipation. The scent of apples helps people to relax and refresh their spirit. Apple cider vinegar helps digestion and reduces fat. Eating apple slowing in the mouth can be very effective to kill the oral bacteria.

Strawberry
Strawberry’s bright red color and delicious tastes have made it a popular fruit. Chinese traditional medicine believes that strawberry is “cool” in nature. It lubricates lungs, promotes body fruids, strengthens spleen and stomach, and detoxifies in alcohol intoxication. It also contains anti-cancer ingredients that prevent people from cancer and aging.

Eating on schedule prevents obesity

(NaturalNews) Researchers have long noted that shift workers -- folks like nurses, security personnel and others on the night shift -- are extremely prone to developing metabolic syndrome, a pre-diabetic condition marked by insulin resistance, weight gain around the middle and high cholesterol levels. But why? Do they tend to simply eat too many snacks as they try to stay alert at night or is it related to disruption of the circadian clock, the body's internal master clock in the brain that's set by light exposure? Turns out, according to new research by scientists at the Salk Institute, there's probably another crucial factor: not only is what you eat important to health but when you eat appears to be crucial to weight control and healthy metabolism.

In experiments with mice, researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies discovered there's a daily waxing and waning of thousands of genes in the liver, the organ that's the body's metabolic clearinghouse. And this revving up and slowing down is primarily controlled not just by food intake and not by the body's circadian clock, as was previously assumed.

"If feeding time determines the activity of a large number of genes completely independent of the circadian clock, when you eat and fast each day will have a huge impact on your metabolism," said the study's leader Satchidananda (Satchin) Panda, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Salk Institute's Regulatory Biology Laboratory, in a press statement.

The Salk researchers' findings, which are set for publication in an upcoming issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could explain why shift workers are at an unusually high risk for metabolic syndrome, diabetes, high cholesterol levels and obesity. "We believe that it is not shift work per se that wreaks havoc with the body's metabolism but changing shifts and weekends, when workers switch back to a regular day-night cycle," Dr. Panda explained.

The new research involved putting mice on a strict feeding schedule. They could eat during an 8 hour period but they had to fast for the next 16 hours. The result? The scientists found that genes that encode enzymes the body needs to break down sugars soar immediately after a meal, while the activity of genes which encode enzymes needed to break down fat increases the most during fasting. Bottom line: a clearly defined daily feeding schedule causes healthy regulation of the enzymes needed for metabolism and optimizes burning of sugar and fat.

"The liver oscillator in particular helps the organism to adapt to a daily pattern of food availability by temporally tuning the activity of thousands of genes regulating metabolism and physiology," Dr. Panda said in the statement to the press. "This regulation is very important, since the absence of a robust circadian clock predisposes the organism to various metabolic dysfunctions and diseases."

In fact, the more defined fasting and feeding periods are, the more robust the regulation. Dr. Panda has tried the scheduled eating himself. He quit eating between 8 pm and 8 am and reported he feels great eating this way. "I even lost weight, although I eat whatever I want during the day," he noted.

Author's note: NaturalNews is opposed to the use of animals in medical experiments that expose them to harm. We present these findings in protest of the way in which they were acquired.

For more information:
http://www.salk.edu/news/pressrelea...

Foods to increase bone desity

Use Tips from David Wolfe to Increase Bone Density

Saturday, December 05, 2009 by: Barbi Trejo
http://www.naturalnews.com/027660_David_Wo...ne_density.html


The well-known author and supporter of the raw-vegan lifestyle, David Wolfe (www.davidwolfe.com) states that, "Calcium does not build bones. This is one of the biggest misconceptions ever." He states that silicon and magnesium are the keys to increasing bone density. So, stop taking calcium and start taking silicon and magnesium to increase your bone density.

Foods that contain silicon include bell peppers, soybeans, leafy green vegetables, whole grains, alfalfa, beets, brown rice, rice bran, rice hulls, rolled oats, nettles, hemp leaf and horsetail.

Magnesium is found in nuts such as cashews, almonds, macadamia and cacao. Foods like halibut, avocados, oatmeal, baked potatoes and spinach also contain magnesium. Make sure you are adding plenty of green leafy vegetables to your diet, as they are foods rich in magnesium. They are also a good source for calcium and silicon.

Raw chocolate and cacao are not only a great source of magnesium; they are also beneficial for the teeth, as chocolate destroys Streptococcus, the organism that causes cavities. According to David, the tooth's worst enemy is sugar; chocolate is beneficial.

David Wolfe's Super Foods:

David recommends including super foods and herbs in your diet by adding them (in powder form) to meals or by brewing teas with these beneficial herbs and foods. He recommends 1-3 capsules of silica from horsetail extract daily. The herbs and super foods contain all the vitamin, mineral and protein requirements, glyconutrient requirements, essential fatty acid requirements, immune system requirements and more.

David's top super herbs include: vanilla bean, pau d'arco, cat's claw, chanca piedra, camu camu berry and horsetail.

The top super foods include: goji berries, cacao beans (cacao nibs, cacao powder, cacao butter), maca (regular maca, red maca), acai, bee pollen, honey, blue-green algae, aloe vera, noni, yacon root (powder and syrup), hemp seed, Incan berries and kelp.

David Wolfe's Favorite Teas:

1. Horsetail, alfalfa, nettles and cat's claw.

2. Gogi berry, vanilla, pau d'arco, cat's claw, nettles and horsetail. According to Wolfe, "They are amazing."

3. Goji berry, vanilla bean and pau d'arco.

4. Mushroom tea consisting of reishi and maitaki. Mushroom tea is made using the same method as is used for herbal teas; the herbs or the mushrooms are not boiled.

How David Wolfe Makes His Teas:

David slowly heats high-quality water (preferably spring water) to no more than 170 degrees Fahrenheit. When the water cools, he adds the herbs. He suggests using a stainless steel pot.

David added, "Every herbalist that I knew when I was a kid - Chinese medical doctors said you have to boil it, you have to boil it. I never boil it and it's perfectly fine. In fact, it's the best ever."

In addition, David takes horsetail tinctures daily. MariaTrebens, (www.mariatrebens.com) offers the following recipes for teas and tinctures:

Tincture - Place 10gm of fresh horsetail in 50gm of vodka or whiskey. Place the mixture in the sun for 14 days. Shake the bottle daily.

Infusion or tea - Pour 1/2 liter of boiling water over 2 heaping teaspoons of dried horsetail.

The Swiss herbalist, Abbe Kuenzle says, "All people from a certain age on should drink a cup of Horsetail tea every day all year round and all pain caused by rheumatism, gout and nerves would disappear and every person would have a healthy old age."

Horsetail should be stored in a well-sealed container in a cabinet, away from the light.

Fasting for detoxification and weight loss

Fasting for Detoxification and Weight Loss

Posted by: Michael Tierra in weight loss, nutrition, herbs, diet, Ayurveda on Jan 17, 2009
http://www.planetherbs.com/index.php?optio...8&limitstart=10


We're already halfway through January! How are you doing with your health-centered New Year's resolutions? In my last post on diet and weight loss, I discussed exercise and making reponsible food choices. In this post I'd like to address another option for detoxification, balancing and weight loss: Fasting.

All fasting is essentially a process that gives the body a rest and restores normal metabolic function. There are generally two types of fasts: a more extreme detoxifying juice-only fast, and a milder yet still balancing and detoxifying fast based on legumes and grains.

Four-Day Apple Juice Fast

If you have previously overindulged in rich foods, meat, fat, dairy and so forth, you may reap remarkable benefits from a mono-fruit juice fast. For starters, I recommend the four-day apple juice fast.

Purchase or be prepared to juice the equivalent of at least a half-gallon of organic apple juice per day for three days.

The drill is simple: to maintain blood sugar levels, have at least one 8-ounce glass of warm or room temperature apple juice every two hours or anytime you feel like eating.

To maintain healthy fats during this (or any) diet I also recommend a teaspoon of olive oil three times daily.

After three days of taking apple juice only, you 'break-fast' on the fourth day. This day is the day that can either make or break the gains achieved by the previous three days. On that day, one can have warm vegetable soup with added beans and brown rice, accompanied by a wilted salad garnished with olive oil and Bragg's amino acids (an alternative to soy tamari sauce).

A "wilted" salad is the a traditional Asian dish made by chopping up salad greens and putting them into a cheesecloth bag and dipping them briefly into a pot of salted boiling water for 30 seconds or so. This is then placed on a dish with another dish on top and a weight to press out the excess water in the salad.

The nutrients in greens are encased in a cellulose-like bond that is difficult for our digestive fluids to dissolve. Heat dissolves this bond just as it will quickly crinkle any piece of cellophane passed over an open flame. Many may ask, "Don't you lose some of the nutrients through this flash-heating method?" Yes, but the loss is very little compared to what you will now absorb. The experiential test for this is how comfortable and good your stomach feels when you have your salads prepared in this way as opposed to greens that are raw.

Certain herbs will greatly assist the detoxifying weight loss process you are trying to accomplish with this fast. For this, I recommend Planetary's Triphala Garcinia Program, two to three tablets taken with the apple juice three times daily. This formula combines the legendary balanced detoxification properties of the three Ayurvedic fruits of Triphala with the thyroid supporting effects of kelp and L-Tyrosine, which all purify the blood and lymph. Also included in the formula are burdock and cleavers, which increase the elimination of excess fluid; Chinese white atractylodes, astragalus and ginger to help raise metabolism; and dehydrated apple cider vinegar, which regulates acid-alkaline.

It is important to note that no herbal formula will directly result in weight loss. Stimulants are used medically and do suppress the appetite to some degree, but should not be exclusively relied upon in place of dietary and lifestyle solutions such as the ones I discuss on this and previous posts.

This being said, a formula such as Triphala Garcinia Program can be a powerful aid to all the elements necessary for balanced weight loss. It can be safely used in an ongoing manner to assist the body's normal digestive, assimilative and eliminative processes.

After an initial four-day fast like the one mentioned above is a good time to implement or renew your New Year's diet principles and resolutions.

Kicharee Fast

For those whose diets are not so extreme in indulgences but still would like to detoxify and cleanse, a 10-day diet based on whole grains and beans with the judicious use of spices is recommended.

The most ideal fast that has been used for millennia is based on the Ayurvedic food called kichari or kichidi. This is one of the most satisfying and healing foods. It can be taken as a complete food for detoxification, purification, weight loss, weak digestion or recovery from illness. You may modify it as you wish, adding vegetables, using chicken stock, adding fish, and so on. However, it is pretty complete unto itself. Depending on the type of fast you would like to do, you may choose to have it once, twice or for all three meals of the day.

With the addition of some cooked vegetables, one can live on kicharee. Here is the recipe:

Kicharee (Indian Dahl and Rice)

You will need the following ingredients:
Split yellow mung beans (dahl)
White Indian basmati rice (or other white rice)
Ghee (clarified butter)

Spices are important to kicharee and have their own healing properties:
Ground turmeric
Ground coriander seed
Ground cumin seed
Sea or rock salt

The final product will be very soupy and not like normal rice and beans. You can choose to make it thicker or thinner by using more or less water in the beginning.

In a saucepan, cook one part rice and mung beans (can be a quarter to a half cup of each) in 7 to 10 parts water until rice is tender.

In a separate large skillet, heat a level tablespoon of ghee. Add and sautee ¼ teaspoon each of turmeric, ground coriander seed, ground cumin seed and ¼ to ½ teaspoon of salt.

This should only takes a few minutes to lightly brown so that the wonderful aroma of the spices begins to arise. Then mix in the precooked mung beans and rice.

During your fast, have a bowl as often as you like. The ancients said that if one eats only kicharee for 10 days, it can cure all diseases. True or not, it is certainly a wonderful foundation to healing. To enhance the detoxification process, take three triphala tablets twice a day with water before or after eating kicharee.

While it is best to make a fresh batch everyday during your fast, kicharee will keep refrigerated for three or four days. Don't forget that you can add vegetables or small amounts of organic meats to the above basic recipe to make it more like a stew.

I look forward to hearing what your experiences with either of the above fasts are in the comments section.

Dhal image by © Monkey Business Images | Dreamstime.com

Spring tips for a happy liver

Spring Tips for a Happy Liver

Posted by: Lesley Tierra in seasonal herbs, herbs on Apr 01, 2009
http://www.planetherbs.com/index.php?optio...8&limitstart=10

Spring is the beginning of the year, when the earth awakens and new life bursts forth. It’s a time of planting seeds, physically and mentally. This season stirs the uprising of vital energy; just as sap begins to rise in trees, so our inner fire stirs and ascends in spring. The hint of new growth surges through us, moving us out of winter’s cocoon with renewed vitality. It’s time now to shake off any excess or sluggishness developed during winter. This is the key to spring: cleansing.

The Chinese associate spring with the wood element and its Organs, the Liver and Gallbladder. A healthy Liver is like a young sapling growing strong, yet flexible, flowing and rooted. Thus, the Liver controls the smooth and even flow of Energy and Blood. This is nurtured by the trust fund energies in the Kidneys, just as a tree (the wood element and Liver) is nourished by water (the water element and Kidneys). The Liver also stores and replenishes Blood, a function similar to the Western understanding of the Liver. Spring is the time to cleanse the Blood and Liver, and to regulate our habits and activities.

Spring Ailments
If spring winds invade, or stir Internal Wind, they cause tension, stiffness, spasms, tics, clumsiness, numbness, headaches, allergies, convulsions, itching, skin conditions and pains which change severity and location. The Liver then becomes congested, resulting in anger, frustration, irritability, stiff neck and shoulders, hypertension, PMS, depression, mood swings and irregular menstruation. People who feel worse in spring often have congested livers.

Those who experience red face and eyes, irritability, propensity to outbursts of anger, dizziness, dry mouth, splitting headaches or migraines, insomnia, thirst and constipation at this time of year have excessive Heat in the Liver. Prolonged ingestion of caffeine (including coffee, black tea, cocoa, colas and chocolate), alcohol, sugar, fried, fatty and greasy foods, dairy, nuts and nut butters, turkey, avocados, chips, cheese and spicy foods causes this condition. It is further aggravated when the Kidney’s trust fund is depleted from prolonged over-activity (mental, physical or sexual) and insufficient food or protein to sustain that activity.

To balance Spring’s energy, eat plenty of dark leafy greens, such as collards, kale, mustard, and chard, as these cleanse the Blood and Liver. Include other greens naturally growing at this time such as watercress, lamb’s quarters, malvae, chickweed, nettle, purslane and dandelion. Add lemon juice (to make iron more available from the greens and clear Liver Heat) and an oil high in gamma-linolenic acids (GLAs), such as flaxseed oil (which supports normal liver function). Ingest white meats (except turkey, which “heats” the Liver) instead of red, legumes, a large variety of cooked vegetables, some fresh fruit and whole grains. Use grain drinks, green tea or dandelion tea instead of coffee for energy, and chamomile tea in place of alcohol to relax.

Others may experience Dampness and Heat in the Liver this time of year, with symptoms of nausea, jaundice, vaginal discharge and itching, migraines, headaches, redness and swelling of the scrotum and frequent urinary infections. Dampening and Heating foods help cause these conditions, such as caffeine (including coffee, black tea, cocoa, colas and chocolate), alcohol, sugar, fried, fatty and greasy foods, dairy, nuts and nut butters, turkey, avocados, chips, cheese and spicy foods. Further, if digestive powers are diminished from prolonged intake of cold and damp foods (iced foods and drinks, juices, raw foods, salads, soy milk and flour products) then Dampness accumulates and impairs the Liver function.

These folks should eat plenty of protein from white meats (except turkey) and legumes, a large variety of cooked vegetables and dark leafy greens (collards, kale, mustard, dandelion and chard) and a small amount of whole grains. Avoid all cold, raw, greasy, damp foods and iced drinks and foods. Drink herb teas or green tea, and eliminate caffeinated substances and alcohol.

Many may experience symptoms of pain in the sides and chest, depression, moodiness, frustration, anger, PMS, swollen breasts before periods, irregular menses, nausea, belching, poor appetite, alternating diarrhea and constipation, abdominal distension and lumps in the neck, breast, groin or sides this time of year. Due to Stagnant Liver Energy, these are caused by a sedentary lifestyle and lack of exercise, long-term stuffed or repressed emotions, unexpressed creativity and/or weakened Kidneys.

Physical movement and exercise are extremely important to moving Stagnant Energy. Moderate your habits and balance your focus between inward and outward activities. Set routines for eating, sleeping and exercising and keep them with regularity. Alternate work with rest and play. Discover creative outlets and actively pursue them, yet pace yourself. Use appropriate channels to express pent-up emotions.

Go to sleep by 11 PM, as the Liver peaks between 11 PM and 3 AM (you’ll actually feel more rested than if you went to bed later and got the same number of hours of sleep). Directing the Liver’s energy into other activities during these hours diverts it from cleansing and renewing the Blood, causing tiredness, toxicity and stagnation. Eat the foods suggested for a Damp and Heated Liver above, as these protect the digestive powers and nourish the Kidney’s trust fund, both of which support the Liver.

If you start dressing and eating as if it were already summer instead of spring, or if you inadequately exercised during winter, then you’ll more easily experience colds and flu now. Although your internal body heat is moving toward the surface, there is still sensitivity to cool air, so remain well-covered up outdoors. This is the windy season, and External Wind blows colds and flu into the body at the back of the neck. Wear a scarf until it warms up. Likewise, refrain from eating cold foods and drinks (iced drinks and foods, juices, raw foods, salads, soymilk). Continue eating cooked foods, including beef, pork, chicken and eggs, to help your body adjust to temperature changes. Add in a large variety of cooked vegetables, dark leafy greens, some whole grains and cooked fruit with spices.

Spring Herbs and Foods for Balance
Gently stimulating herbs with pungent, bitter or sour tastes are particularly good for spring. Sorrel, dandelion, nettles, watercress and other young green leaves provided by nature now are perfect balancing foods for the liver as they cleanse the blood and release toxins. Dandelion, gentian, barberry, sarsaparilla, turmeric, chamomile, isatis, burdock, yellow dock and gardenia cleanse the liver and bowels and strengthen digestion. Bupleurum, fennel and green tangerine peel regulate Liver energy, as lycii and dang gui build Liver Blood. Milk thistle is particularly helpful for spring allergies, while an antiviral tea of one part each dandelion root, forsythia fruit and isatis leaf quickly clears spring colds and flu.

Fasting, a traditional spring ritual, cleanses the Blood and assists the Liver in releasing stored toxins and winter’s accumulated fat. A good fast benefitting the Liver combines 8 ounces each water and apple juice with 1-4 cloves garlic and 1-4 tablespoons olive oil. Take each morning on an empty stomach for four days. Follow with decoction of equal parts fennel seeds and dandelion root.

If appropriate for your body, also fast on warm apple juice and green vegetable juice, and take 1-2 “00” capsules cayenne powder 1-3 times daily.

Alternatively, eat spring kicharee for four days (or add into your regular diet): make kicharee (see Michael's blog post for a basic kicharee recipe), adding shiitake mushrooms, burdock root, carrots and dark leafy greens. Season with lemon juice.