Monday, December 29, 2008

Review: Preventing and Reversing Arthritis Naturally

Product Name: Preventing and Reversing Arthritis Naturally: The Untold Story
Rating: 7

Description: Inside this book you will find ways to help prevent arthritis. It also gives you ways to relieve the pain and limits of your arthritis. It also gives some more in depth insight into living a healthier lifestyle beyond just arthritis.

Review: I don’t have arthritis yet but I know someone who does. He has suffered for a couple of years now with pain, no strength in his wrist and feeling like there’s no hope it will ever feel better. I decided I needed to see if there was anything I could do to help him. I found this book and started to gather my information.

Arthritis can be a very painful disease. Not only is it painful but also it can make you feel old and helpless to some extent. Not being able to use your hand, wrists and many other part of the body can be not only embarrassing but also can give you the I just give up state of mind. After reading this book I found out it doesn’t have to be this way.

This book tells you how things such as sunlight, exercise, body therapies and even stress management can help with arthritis. It is very informative and doesn’t pull any punches. It describes different nutrients that can help the body not only with pain but also in preventing and even reversing the affects of arthritis.

It goes even further by explaining that natural hormone therapy can be helpful in maintaining good health. This is something I had heard about but never really understood. With the facts contained in this book I now understand it and I am willing to try it for my loved ones and myself.

The best part of this book for me anyway was learning that we all have the courage to be responsible and disciplined when it comes to taking of our health. The ideas and concepts set out in this book showed me I could do this if I really wanted to, All I had to do was have some patience to develop it in my own mind and body.

This book has been a great help to me in understanding about arthritis and how I can help the person that is suffering from it. Even more than that it has helped me to realize that taking care of my health is one way to keep from having to face these types of things myself.

Coconut Oil for Acne Treatment

Acne is a skin condition which can encompass blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples. This occurs when the opening near the surface of the skin is blocked and produces a build-up of oil. The result is inflammation, redness, and swelling. One effective natural remedy for acne is coconut oil.

Since one of the components in coconut oil is lauric acid, which is a saturated fatty acid that fights bacteria and other viruses, utilizing it to treat acne can be very effective. The other components in coconut oil have anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties which further assist in the treatment of skin infections.

While coconut oil can treat the underlying cause of acne, it should be mentioned that there are psychological effects of adolescent acne as well. While acne is less common among girls, boys ages 14 through 18 have a higher incidence of this condition.

Adolescence is a time when the body goes through hormonal changes. Teens are just beginning to explore who they are. Acne can inhibit teens from participating in group activities due to self-esteem issues arising from this condition.

It is important for teens to understand that acne is not a disease, but a temporary condition that may affect them at some point in their lives. For girls, pimples may occur during menstruation, while for boys it usually begins at puberty.

Good hygiene habits can prevent the acne from becoming too severe. For example, teens should not squeeze pimples or scrub the acne area too hard. Girls should avoid wearing make-up that could exacerbate the condition.

While there are a myriad of over-the-counter medications and topical creams, treating acne with coconut oil can be safer and just as effective. Unlike the medications mentioned, coconut oil does not contain any chemicals or preservatives. Further, there is no likelihood that any teen would develop side effects from coconut oil. Using coconut oil can not only treat skin infections, but produce a healthier complexion and prevent acne scars in teens.

As we continue to explore natural remedies to improve our overall health, it is good to know that coconut oil is tops on the list. Ironically, it wasn’t too long ago that scientists thought coconut oil was the cause of acne. Today, however, the medical community has embraced this natural product since it has proven to be an effective alternative to modern medicine. It makes sense, then, that the palm tree upon which coconuts grow is called “the tree of life”.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Understanding GERD and Acid Reflux

Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), the medical term for “acid reflux” is defined as the product of abnormal reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus, thus creating a mucosal damage, likewise known as the chronic symptom.

This disease strikes adults primarily, while infants and children can also be affected. Normally spurred by eating certain foods, if not pregnancy, or taking a sleep right after eating a heavy meal, a large number of people suffer from acid reflux at one time or another.

Heartburn or acid indigestion is another name that refers to acid reflux. Heartburn, the major symptom of acid reflux in the esophagus, is described as causing a burning sensation at the back of the sternum.

The symptoms may appear as coughing, hoarseness, constant earache, or sinusitis. The complications brought about by acid reflux may lead to esophageal ulcers or worse, this can lead to esophageal cancer.

However, constant heartburn sensations do not necessarily mean that one has GERD. The risk occurs when heartburn happens more than once a week, which could possibly lead to developing GERD.

The usual cause of GERD is the increase in acidity or gastric acid production in the body, obesity, pregnancy, or tight-fitting clothes; these all can add to the problem. Yeast infections are also thought to be one of the causes of GERD-like symptoms.

An added ironical cause of the GERD is the insufficient production of stomach acid in the body. This explanation says that the valve, the hollow organ with a flap that insure the one-way course of fluid through the organ, once emptied triggers acidity in the intestines. If the valve fails to open, the contents of the stomach will be blended into the esophagus, and then irritation occurs.

There are several treatments for GERD, the first of which involves healthy eating habits. If proper diet fails to work, one can shift to medication therapy or surgery as suggested by the doctor. Here are some steps you should take to treat GERD.

* A natural way to cure acid reflux is through change in eating habits. A good number of people affected by GERD find success in following this method. Avoid the triggers which can intensify heartburn such as caffeine, soft drinks, and smoking. Avoid eating two hours before sleeping; likewise, avoid lying down after taking meal.

* Another easy way to treat GERD is to elevate the head of the bed about 6 to 8 inches or 20 cm. This technique will hamper the backflow of gastric fluids. You can always utilize a wedge pillow designed to minimize acid reflux.

* Drug Treatment: Drugs such as famotidine and omeprazole reduce the secretion of gastric acids, and antacids counteract the acid.

Between pharmacological therapy, avoidance of food for two hours before sleeping and raising the head of the bed, there is a good chance of relief from symptoms.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Health And Fitness Can Be Yours With a Healthy Diet

Because of so many illnesses and chronic diseases that occur among people through the years, more and more individuals are playing attention to their health and fitness because these would help them combat certain medical conditions. Today, one of the major reasons why people are overweight or suffer from minor and major health risks is that they don’t practice having a healthy diet.

Healthy diet—which include eating balanced amount of food from all food groups—along with exercise or regular physical activity can lessen people’s inclination to health problems. Doctors say that though basic principle of healthy diet is simple, there are those people who are having a hard time sticking to it. The major reasons behind this include a super busy lifestyle, work that causes a lot of stress or even an environment that is not conducive to having a healthy diet.

Despite hectic schedules and busy lifestyles, people can start and maintain a healthy diet if they really want to. Experts say that nothing is impossible to formulating and effective diets plan if one really wants to achieve a healthy mind and body.

For starters, experts advise a mix up food choices from each food group. Eating a large variety of foods and veggies can also serve as a warm up in avoiding the foods that contribute to drastic weight gain. Having a balanced intake of calcium-rich foods, whole grains, and protein-rich products will also keep you in track. To be able to maintain eating a healthy diet, you must also know your restrictions of fats, salt and sugars levels, and intakes. Lastly, you must monitor your body weight regularly for you to determine if your body is absorbing all the nutrients that it needs.

Being free from any illness or medical condition is the major determinant that a person is healthy. For those who are having a hard time identifying what is healthy on their diet and which are now, here are some tips for you. Experts say that a diet is healthy if it is:

- based on starchy foods such as bread, cereals, rice, pasta, and potatoes because they are a good source of energy—not to mention being the main source of a range of nutrients of a person’s diet like fiber, calcium, iron, and vitamin B;

- loaded up a lot of fruits and veggies such as orange, apples, celery, broccoli, carrots, beans and peas because eating at least 5 portions of any variety can provide the vitamins the body needs and it also satisfies hunger without having to worry about fats and excess carbohydrates;

- filled with fish dishes that have high amounts of fish oil because it can provide protein, vitamins, and minerals that are not available to other food groups;

- low on saturated fats and excess sugars such as meat pies, sausages, hard cheese, butter and lard, pastry, cake, biscuits, cream and the others because they are high in complex calories stored in the muscles and sugars that can cause tooth decay.

- less in salt content because experts believe that goods that are high in salt or meals that uses too much salt can raise the person’s blood pressure which can lead to more complicated diseases especially those related to coronary illnesses; and

- high in water content because experts believe that for a person to achieve optimum health and fitness, he or she should take in lots and lots of water and foods that are high in fluid content to keep the body well-hydrated.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Positive Thinking Is More Powerful Than You Might Think

Have you ever met someone who was so positive about life, you wish you felt that way as well? You can. Positive thinking is a powerful tool. Our minds control all of our thought processes and can be the catalyst for living a happy and positive existence or live life with a doom and gloom attitude.

Here are several ways to not only improve your mindset, but your life as well.

* If you are faced with a negative thought, change it to a positive one. Remember the movie, “Pollyanna?” Her father taught her the “glad game.” She encouraged the town to find things to be glad about. Eventually, they did and were happier than ever before.

* Surround your life with positive people. Go to events which bring you joy or have special meaning. Invoke positive memories whenever you can.

* There is a saying, “It’s the simple things in life that make me happy.” Find those simple pleasures, no matter how small or insignificant they may be. They are yours to enjoy.

* Laughter is the best medicine, especially for a heavy heart. Be around people who make you laugh; it’s quite contagious.

* Love yourself; nurture the inner you; love others, and most of all be kind. Greet the doorman in the morning, or give a hug to someone who needs it most.

* Help someone less fortunate than yourself. Volunteer your time at a nursing home or hospital.

When you give, you receive ten-fold. Remember, what you do affects others. If you are negative, people will shy away from you. However if you are positive, you will be surrounded by people who wish to be in your company all the time. Congratulate yourself on jobs well done! Positive thinking breeds positive results.

Begin your day in a positive manner. Nothing is worse then getting up in a grumpy mood. It not only sets the tone for the days’ events, but impacts your family as well. Place flowers around your home; open the curtains and let the sun shine in. Also, add more light to your home if needed. Light has a direct effect on one’s mood.

Changing the way in which you view life can make all the difference. Try not to think about the negative aspects, but focus on the positive blessings in your life. Turn off the bad news, and channel your thoughts in the direction of goodness. It may be cliché, but take time out to smell the roses. Give thanks for all you have; and be generous to those who have nothing.

Take a look at the smiles on your children’s faces. Nothing in the world can negatively impact the feelings those smiles invoke. Live life to the fullest and enjoy every precious moment of it.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Organic Food Benefits: Why You Should Eat Organic

There is a good chance that you have seen an organic food aisle at one of your local grocery stores. In fact, you may have even driven past a farmers market where organic food was sold. Unfortunately, if you are like many other Americans, there is a good chance that you kept right on walking or driving by. This is because many individuals do not eat organic foods.

Despite the fact that organic foods are not consumed by nearly all Americans, they still come highly rated and recommended. In fact, many health conscious individuals swear by them. Many claim that eating organic foods helps to promote lifelong health and happiness. Organic food consumption has increased in popularity over the years and that increase continues to rise at a relatively steady pace. If you are interested in eating organic foods, but if you have never done so before, you may be wondering what the benefits are. If so, please continue reading on.

When it comes to organic foods and their benefits, you will find an unlimited number of benefits. For starters, did you know that organic foods can help the environment? They can and this is a point that many do not take into consideration at first. Farmers who put pesticides in their fields and on their foods, are not only putting consumers at risk, but the environment at risk as well. Depending on which pesticides and other chemicals are used, the soil and other nearby areas can suffer damage. By eating organic foods, you are providing a small, yet still helping hand to help protect the environment.

Another unique benefit to eating organic that many individuals do not think of right away is the assistance that is provided to organic farmers and organic food manufacturers. Right now, the number of organic food manufacturers is quite small and many are small to medium sized businesses. The same can be said for farmers. The decision for many farmers and companies to go organic can be difficult and risky. Therefore, by purchasing organic foods, especially fresh fruits and vegetables, you can take comfort in knowing that you are helping many small to medium sized farmers and organic food companies stay in business.

Organic foods can also help to improve your body and health. In fact, organic foods may be able to help cleanse or detoxify your body from harmful chemicals. When you stop eating foods that are tainted with pesticides and other chemicals, your body will expel the current and remaining toxins from your body. This means that your body should be clean, chemical free, and pesticide free after a specific period of time. Of course, remember that you want to stay healthy. For that reason, if you decide to start eating organic foods, try to stay doing so. If you are a parent, one of the best ways to help ensure that your child has a happy and healthy life is to get them started on eating organic foods as early as possible.

Another one of the many benefits to eating organic foods is the better quality. In fact, many individuals claim that organic food tastes much better. One reason why farmers claim to use potentially harmful pesticides and chemicals is to kill bacteria. While this does sound like a good idea, the bacteria that can be present when fruits and vegetables grow isn’t necessarily bad. In fact, some say that it helps to foods grow in a certain way. This, apparently, in turn helps to produce better results, which should better tasting, more natural food.

As you can see, there a number of benefits to eating organic foods. In fact, the above mentioned benefits are just a few of the many reasons why organic food should be given a close examination. If you would like more information on organic foods, including the benefits of eating them, consider speaking with a professional health care provider, like your doctor. He or she can help you decide if switching to organic foods is the right decision.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Finding Information on Natural Remedies

Are you interested in using natural remedies to your advantage? If you are suffering from pain associated with a headache, toothache, or arthritis, you may be. Home remedies can also provide assistance with those looking to kill head lice, remove an unsightly wart, and so much more. In fact, that is one of the reasons why home remedies are so popular, because they can be used to treat, cure, or seek relief for a number of minor medical complications.

If this is the first time that you are looking to try a home remedy, you may be unsure as to how you should proceed. When getting started, it is important to remember that home remedies come in a number of different formats. This means that a home remedy used to treat a headache may not provide relief for a toothache. That is why it is important that you do the proper amount of research before trying a home remedy.

Speaking of doing the proper amount of research, there are a number of different ways in which you can go about finding home remedies. One of the easiest ways is to use the internet. Online, there are a number of websites that are devoted to natural remedies and home remedies. These websites often list a large number of home remedies for a number of different minor medical complications, including irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, the chicken pox, and so forth. The information on most of these websites should be free to view. You may also be able to find online message boards where other internet users are discussing home remedies, namely those that worked.

As for how you can find these online websites and message boards, your best option is to perform a standard internet search. When doing so, you will want to target your search to exactly what it is you are looking for. For example, if you are looking to seek relief from a painful migraine, search with a phrase such as “natural remedies for migraines,” or “natural remedies for headaches.” This simple step will help to give you targeted results, which can reduce the amount of time that you have to spend searching.

Natural remedies can also be learned about by speaking with those that you know. Typically, you will find the best success when speaking with someone older than you, like a parent or a grandparent. This is because in the past more people relied on natural remedies than they did over-the-counter products and medications.

Another easy way to familiarize yourself with natural remedies is by buying a natural remedy or a home remedy book. When doing so, you should have a number of books to choose from. You may find the best success with books that are larger in size, as they often outline more remedies and cover more medical complications that can be treated naturally. For the largest selection of natural remedy books and home remedy books, the internet should be examined, but a small number of these books are also sold locally in book stores as well.

As you can see, there are a number of different ways in which you can go about finding information on home remedies, including detailed directions for preparing a home remedy. The next time that you find yourself looking for relief, try a home remedy, as opposed to an over-the-counter product. Chances are you will be pleased with the results.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Pros and Cons of Cheap Canadian Drugs

Canadian drugs are typically shipped across the world. Thanks to rulings set by Health Canada, many drugs are exported from Canadian provinces thanks to the lower costs. These rulings stop extortion of prescription prices by drug manufacturers, which permits more people to have access to the drugs that they need.

However, Canadian drugs have the disadvantage of being constantly monitored. Unlike in the United States, there are many types of drugs that have not passed the vigorous guidelines imposed by Health Canada. The affected drugs span over the counter medications as well as prescription drugs.

By taking a hard line stance on the rules relating to Canadian drugs, Health Canada works to protect the individuals of Canada from exposure to drugs that have undesired health problems associated with their use. By heavily regulating who can use experimental class drugs, Health Canada has stopped some cases of drug manufacturers selling products to individuals that have not proven safe for use over time. However, it is this same position that bans many from having the ability to take untested prescriptions that might make the difference in life or death treatments of exotic or difficult to treat diseases and ailments.

Exporting Canadian drugs to other countries may not help you get the cheaper prescriptions you want or desire. While this may apply for some people looking for specific prescriptions, the importation of these prescriptions into the United States is regulated. In many cases, the levy imposed on prescriptions entering the United States will put those prescriptions at equal price with what you pay in the drug stores. Instead of paying the difference to the drug manufacturers, you pay taxes to government instead.

As the rulings set by Health Canada are strict, there are less drug manufacturers located in Canada than in the United States. Canadian drugs manufactured by these drug manufacturers tend to have a higher reputation of quality and control. However, this is not always the situation. In some scenarios, such as in government regulated and grown medicinal marijuana, the effectiveness is lower than can be acquired on the illegal markets.

There are some cases where you can purchase high strength Canadian drugs over the counter without doctor approval. The availability of these medications is limited by province and availability. Transporting these medications out of country can also cause some problems. If you're considering exporting these medications back for personal use, please retain the receipt, as you will need it at any border crossing where you might undergo questioning.

Monday, December 1, 2008

Nutritional Hope for Schizophrenic Patients

Schizophrenia is a difficult malady, both to diagnose and to treat. It’s defined as any of a group of psychotic disorders usually characterized by withdrawal from reality, illogical patterns of thinking, delusions, and hallucinations, and accompanied in varying degrees by other emotional, behavioral, or intellectual disturbances. Recent research suggests that those who suffer from schizophrenia could benefit from incorporating more B3 (niacin), essential fatty acids (EFAs) and eating more whole grain carbohydrates to help level out blood sugar levels so that bouts with hypoglycemia are lessened.

Food sources high in niacin include light-meat chicken, tuna, salmon, turkey, enriched flour, peanuts, and fortified cereals. Niacin is an important player in the digestion process, and it aids in converting food into energy. Therefore, it also plays a role in the essential fatty acid metabolism of the brain, processes of which are disrupted in schizophrenia.

Because these processes are disrupted in the brain, it’s imperative that essential fatty acids are a base in the diet of a schizophrenic patient. Since they can’t be synthesized by the body, they must be obtained from food. Look to fish, shellfish, flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, dark green leafy vegetables and walnuts for EFAs. Essential fatty acids play a part in many metabolic processes, and there is evidence to suggest that low levels of essential fatty acids, or the wrong balance of types among the essential fatty acids, may be a factor in a number of illnesses, including schizophrenia.

Some schizophrenic patients also suffer from bouts of hypoglycemia, which can be greatly helped by choosing healthy, whole grain carbohydrates such as whole grain breads and pastas, as they help the body maintain a steady blood glucose level. Other research shows that some schizophrenic patients suffer from food allergies that greatly affect their thinking and behavior. For this reason, keeping a detailed food journal and paying close attention to moods and thinking patterns after eating is imperative.

Research has also shown that some schizophrenic patients suffer from high levels of copper, an essential metallic element that can adversely affect the brain in high doses. Vitamin B6, found in bananas, turkey and spinach, as well as zinc, found in red meats, peanuts, chickpeas and almonds, can help remove excess copper from the body.