13 Power Foods That Help Detox the Body

Springtime is usually the most popular time for people to consider and make the decision to do a detox program. Most of these brave and committed soldiers are forced to choose between dozens of media popularized detoxes, most of which are expensive, abusive to the colon or too  low in calories.

Beneficial detoxes should help the body eliminate and neutralizing toxins from the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, lungs, lymphatic system and skin, and also help to rebuild damaged tissues through the detoxification process (done only by replenishing the body of phytochemicals, macronutrients and the right amount of calories).

Because there are so many programs out there, and picking the exact detox program right for your own body and life situation can be overwhelming.

Below is a list of top detoxing foods that will help in the day to day elimination of accumulated body toxins.

1. Beets

✵ High in B3, B6 and C vitamins. Rich in beta-carotene.

✵ Known for being abundant in iron, magnesium, zinc and calcium— which aid in successful detoxification and elimination processes in the body.

✵ Supports good gallbladder and liver functioning (organs that are important for breaking down and removing toxins).

✵ High in fiber and improves digestion while eliminates bodily waste.

2. Lemons

✵Super alkaline-forming and high in vitamin C.

✵Stimulates the release of enzymes and helps convert toxins into a water-soluble form that can be easily excreted from the body.

✵Drinking warm lemon water, first thing in the morning on an empty stomach help to balance out the acidity of foods previously consumed.

3. Grounded Flaxseeds

✵Great source of fiber that helps to bind and flush toxins from the intestinal tract.

✵Great source of omega-3 essential fatty acids.

4. Garlic

✵Wards against vampires.

✵Powerful antiviral, antiseptic and antibiotic.

✵Kills pathogenic microbes and can reduce endogenous toxins (poisons made by the body).

5. Turmeric

✵Every kitchen should have this super herb, turmeric, stocked.

✵Curcumin is the active ingredient in the spice turmeric, which gives it its yellow color.

✵The rate at which your detox pathways function depends on your genes, your age, lifestyle and a good supply of nutrients involved in the detox process.

✵Curcumin is used a lot in Ayurvedic Medicine to treat liver and digestive disorders.

6. Basil or Sabja Seeds

✵Aids in digestion

✵Antispasmotic, and is used in treating colds and the flu.

✵Due to its carminative effects, it is effective for treating digestive disorders such as stomach cramps, flatulence, constipation, irregular bowel movements and indigestion.

7. Sea Vegetables

✵Seaweeds and sea kelp are power house antioxidants that help to alkalize the blood and strengthen the digestive tract.

✵The algin in seaweeds absorb toxins from the digestive tract.

✵Perhaps one of the healthiest foods on the planet, blue green algae and sea vegetables offer the broadest range of minerals of any food, containing virtually all the minerals found in the ocean -- the same minerals that are found in human blood.

✵Eat sea vegetables daily.

8. Alfalfa and Broccoli Sprouts

✵Highly alkaline forming in the body.

✵Sprouts are part of the powerhouse brassica family of vegetables.

✵The broccoli sprouts, in particular, when chewed, release substances that break into sulphorophanes, indole-3-carbinol and D-glucarate, which all have a specific effect on detoxification.

✵Broccoli sprouts can actually provide more benefit than regular broccoli as they contain 20 times more sulfurophane.

9. Artichokes and Asparagus

✵Both superfoods have been shown to increase bile production and purify as well as protect the liver.

✵They also have a mild diuretic effect on the kidneys, ensuring proper removal of toxins once the liver breaks them down.

10. Cabbage and Kale

✵"Numerous anti-cancer and antioxidant compounds and helps the liver break down excess hormones.

✵Deep cleans digestive tract and soothes the stomach, which could in part be due to its antibacterial and antiviral properties.

✵Cruciferous vegetables like cabbage and kale demonstrate powerful detoxification activity, including neutralizing some of the damaging compounds found in cigarette smoke (and second-hand smoke).

✵They also contain a compound that helps the liver produce adequate amounts of enzymes for detoxification. (LiveStrong.com)"

11. Avocados

✵Eat one of these alkaline fruits a day.

✵Lowers cholesterol and dilates blood vessels while blocking artery-destroying toxicity.

✵Contains a nutrient called glutathione, which blocks at least 30 different carcinogens while helping the liver detoxify synthetic chemicals.

✵Researchers at the University of Michigan found that elderly people who had high levels of glutathione were healthier and less likely to suffer from arthritis.

12. Arugula

✵A culinary staple in Mediterranean cooking, arugula is a type of cruciferous vegetable (like broccoli, kale, and watercress)

✵Contains a number of compounds that aid in detoxification, such as sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol.

✵Packed with vitamins and minerals such as vitamin K, vitamin C, magnesium and folate and the phytochemicals lutein and zeaxanthin, which may protect against age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.

13. Celery and Parsley

✵Celery has phytochemicals called phthalides, which are responsible for relaxing the muscle tissue in artery walls and increasing blood flow.

✵Celery is a powerful liver detoxing food and cleaner of the small and large intestinal walls.

✵Parsley contains vitamin C, chlorophyll, beta-carotene, vitamin K and folate, which are all needed by the body for detox.

✵Raises glutathione levels and may guard against liver dysfunction due to insulin resistance.

Drinking properly structured clean, filtered, alkaline water, moving the body through exercise and daily distressing is also important to a detox program.

For more information on detoxing, please stay tuned for more articles. Have a strong and healthy day!

Extinguish Rheumatoid Arthritis Flare Ups Naturally

Extinguish Rheumatoid Arthritis Flare-Ups Naturally

If you have been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) or live with symptoms of RA, there are many natural remedies you can take to decrease the extensive pain. Rheumatoid Arthritis is a chronic disease in which the lining of the joints becomes inflamed to such an extent that pain and inability to function are the results. Because the cells of the immune system play an important role in this chronic inflammatory process, Rheumatoid Arthritis is typically classified as an autoimmune disease.

Below are several natural tips to keep those debilitating Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms at bay:

✒ Rest and Relaxation

Try to get at least eight hours of sleep a night. However, keep in mind that many people with RA need more than that. Try taking a two-hour nap during the afternoon if you don't get enough sleep at night. If you're feeling overly stressed, guided imagery, deep breathing exercises, and muscle relaxation exercises can help you relax. Hypnosis, meditation, and massage may also help ease tension. Also, soak in an Epson salt bath at night to draw out excess inflammation.

✒ Exercise

Regular exercise is a great way to fight fatigue, strengthen muscles, and increase the range of motion. Gentle stretching, walking, swimming, and water aerobics are usually good choices and you can even try working with a physical therapist to learn the proper way to exercise on your own.

✒ Apply heat and cold to arthritis pain

Applying heat to a painful joint can provide significant relief. For heat sources, you can use electric blankets and mitts, heating pads, or hot packs. Simply taking a hot bath or shower can also be soothing. Cold treatments may work equally well when joints are inflamed. Wrap an ice cube in a towel or washcloth, and press it to the sore joint.

✒ Try Eating these food items:

✑ Celery: Recommend eating cooked or raw celery daily for one to two months. Celery is a diuretic, and the loss of excess fluid can reduce the inflammation associated with arthritis.
✑ Cherries: To alleviate pain from arthritis, eat six to eight cherries a day (canned, frozen, or fresh). Cherries are good sources of minerals like magnesium (a natural painkiller) and potassium, which acts as a diuretic, reducing inflammation by ridding tissue of excess fluid.
✑ Garlic: It has the ability to reduce inflammation, garlic helps ward off the pain and discomfort felt by those with arthritis.
✑ Ginger: Eating ginger helps to alleviate arthritis pain. Because of its ability to increase blood circulation, ginger carries away inflammatory substances from the affected joint.

✒ Try Soothing and Natural Essential Oils:

✑ Birch: Use in massage
✑ Cypress: Soothing and Relaxing
✑ Juniper Berry: Cleansing and Detoxifying
✑ Grapefruit:  Cleansing, Motivating, Uplifting
✑ Frankincense: Mood Balancing, Oil Powerhouse
✑ Peppermint: Refreshing, Energy Boosting

5 Secrets for Flat Abs

Wish your stomach was flatter and more toned?  Exercise alone will not get you a toned stomach—diet is a huge part of the equation.

Here are 5 ways to improve your eating habits that will dramatically flatten your abs:

Flat Abs Secret #1: Enjoy natural sweets

Traditional sugar-filled sweets will quickly add up around your waistline. Instead of going for sugary sweets, enjoy natural sweets.

Fruit is nature’s candy. Reach for sweet, seasonal fruit for dessert.

Avoid foods that contain white sugar or high fructose corn syrup. Consider these items ‘anti-flat-abs’.

Use wholesome sweeteners such as pure maple syrup, brown rice syrup or dates in your recipes instead of white sugar. Eliminate white sugar from your kitchen.

Flat Abs Secret #2: Don’t eat after 6pm

This is such a simple and effective way to lose fat. Late night eating is the most damaging to your waistline, so cut it out completely.

Brush your teeth immediately following dinner. Once your teeth are brushed, you’ve put a period to the consumption for the day.

Change your evening routine. If you’ve always ended your day watching your favorite shows with your hand in the snack bowl, then now is the time to change things up. Find activities that don’t revolve around food and stick with those.

Make it a habit. The first few weeks will be the hardest, but soon your new no-food-after-6pm routine will feel normal.

Flat Abs Secret #3: Eat more fiber

Most people simply do not get enough fiber in their diets. Fiber is essential when it comes to getting lean since it is low calorie while filling you up.

Instead of seeing salad just as a side item, make salads into meals. Add protein to a large pile of greens for a guiltless meal. Try this recipe for Grilled Salmon and Peach Salad below.

Make veggies a part of every meal. The benefits of eating more vegetables are too numerous to list, just know that your body will become healthier and leaner with each fibrous bite.

Fruits are a delicious source of fiber. Incorporate fresh, seasonal fruits into your daily diet.

Flat Abs Secret #4: Cut back on carbs

Notice I didn’t say to cut out all carbs, but rather to cut back on carbs. These diet tweaks are meant as lifestyle changes that you stick with long term. Cutting back on carbs is a realistic and very effective way to drop fat.

Always choose whole grain bread and pasta over white. Whole grains are less likely to be stored as fat than processed grains.

Eat half of the carbs you normally do. Eat your sandwich open-faced and reduce the size of your pasta serving.

Avoid carb-filled snacks between meals. Instead of crackers or chips, have fresh fruit and veggies.

Flat Abs Secret #5: Drink tons of water

Drinking plenty of water is another extremely simple way to promote fat loss. Chronic dehydration leads to false hunger signals and unnecessary calorie consumption.

Drink a large glass of water before each meal. This will prevent overeating.

Choose water instead of sugar-filled sodas and juices. Sugar-filled drinks are a huge weight-gain trap.

Carry a water bottle with you throughout your day. Keep water in the car and at your desk for constant hydration.

Eating right, coupled with challenging exercise, is the formula for a toned, lean body —so guarantee your results by teaming up with me.

Together we will come up with a fitness plan that is uniquely yours, one that fits your lifestyle and brings you promptly to your goals.

For more information, please contact fitness expert James Hazen at JamesaHazen@gmail.com

Food, Sex and Love for Men

aph-ro-di-si-ac :

noun; 1. An agent (as a food or drug) that arouses or is held to arouse sexual desire; 2. Something that excites. ^{(Merriam Webster Dictionary, 2010)}

An aphrodisiac is a substance that increases sexual desire.

The name comes from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of sexuality and love. Throughout history, many foods, drinks, and behaviors have had a reputation for making sex more attainable and/or pleasurable.

♥ Some people believe that aphrodisiac foods, such as bananas, oranges or oysters, gain their powers and reputation through their resemblance to sexual body parts.

♥ The same factor explains the trade in the phallic-looking horn of the rhinoceros.

♥ The magic of alcohol, especially champagnes and wines can best be attributed to their ability to lower one's inhibitions.

♥ Other animal-based aphrodisiacs gain their reputation from the apparent virility or aggressiveness of the animal source, such as tiger penis.

♥ And then there are other foods, such as chocolate, that just make us feel good.

In some cases it can be attributed to certain chemicals they release in our bodies, as chocolate has been proven to do. In others, it is that they excite many of our senses through a combination of taste, texture and appearance, and marketed to the masses on romantic holidays such as Valentine’s Day.

Scientifically speaking, testosterone and libido are clearly linked to levels of sex hormones in men, particularly testosterone. When a reduced sex drive occurs in individuals with relatively low levels of testosterone (e.g., post-menopausal women or men over age 60, testosterone supplements often increase libido.

Universally speaking, the belief that certain food and beverages have mystical properties that create sexual attraction between two people. Every culture has its own unique magical foods. In America, chocolate, oysters, and champagne lead the pack of favorite aphrodisiacs. But whether it's something inherent in the food or the power of the mind believing in the food's qualities is something science has been unable to prove conclusively.

In fact, many foods considered to be aphrodisiacs are really everyday items. Almost everyone, young, old, single or married, eats bananas. But bananas in a brown paper lunch sack most likely do not have the same powers to seduce, as a sweet, buttery, Banana Crème Pie does when served at the end of a romantic, candlelight dinner for two. That is exactly why context is so important, and maybe even more so than the foods themselves.

If you are setting the mood with romantic sexy colors, flowers, soft music, a bottle of wine, and candles, even a hamburger could become an aphrodisiac! Scientific tests have proven that some aromas can cause a greater effect on the body than the actual ingestion of foods.

Let’s look into the top love foods for men that have been used through the ages and act as aphrodisiacs.

♥ Alcohol

lowers inhibitions and increases confidence; however, over-indulgence has a sedative effect not conducive to a romantic tryst.

♥ Asparagus

three courses of asparagus were served to 19th-century bridegrooms due to its reputed aphrodisiac powers.

♥ Banana

due not only to its shape, but also its creamy, lush texture, some studies show its enzyme bromelain enhances male performance. The sap of the red banana is considered an aphrodisiac in Central America

♥ Caviar

is high in zinc, which stimulates the formation of testosterone, maintaining male functionality.

♥ Champagne

viewed as the "drink of love," moderate quantities lower inhibitions and cause a warm glow in the body.

♥ Chocolate

contains both a sedative which relaxes and lowers inhibitions and a stimulant to increase activity and the desire for physical contact. It was actually banned from some monasteries centuries ago.

♥ Figs

seasonal crops were celebrated by ancient Greeks in a frenzied copulation ritual.

♥ Ginseng

increases the desire for physical contact.

♥ Perfumes

made of natural foodstuffs such as almond, vanilla, and other herbs and spices act as a pheromone to communicate emotions by smell.

♥ Puffer Fish

considered both a delicacy and an aphrodisiac in Japan. If the poisonous gland is not properly removed, the tiniest taste is deadly. The flirt with death is said to give a sexual thrill. Not recommended.

♥ Oysters

Some oysters repeatedly change their sex from male to female and back, giving rise to claims that the oyster lets one experience the masculine and feminine sides of love.

♥ Radish

considered a divine aphrodisiac by Egyptian pharaohs, most likely because its spicy taste stimulated the palate.

♥ Truffles

probably due to its rarity and musky aroma, it has long been considered to arouse the palate and the body. To sustain his masculinity, an ancient lover in lore was said to have gorged himself to death on Alba truffles during the wedding feast.

Please note

Anti-erectile dysfunction drugs, such as Viagra and Levitra, are not considered aphrodisiacs because they do not have any direct effect on the libido, although increased ability to attain an erection may be interpreted as increased sexual arousal by users of these drugs.

Hypothyroidism Lifestyle: Foods to Avoid, Essential Oils to Use & Activities to Do

If you are living with hypothyroidism or under-active thyroid—a condition that causes the thyroid glands to produce too few hormones, you may be living with reduced energy and increasing weight gain. Other symptoms may include depressive or irregular mood swings, slow heartbeats, cold sensitivity, and/or menstrual irregularities. The thyroid glands help to regulate the body’s metabolism (the rate at which food is converted into energy).

If you want to approach living with hypothyroidism in a natural way, follow the suggestions provided below.

Avoid Certain Vegetables, GMO’s and Nuts

Scientific studies have found that eating cruciferous vegetables, such as cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, turnips, cassava, soybeans, and mustard greens, may hinder thyroid functioning. Nuts provide healthy fats, protein and a variety of helpful nutrients, but stay away from peanuts, peanut butter and pine nuts, for they impair thyroid functioning, as well. Choose almonds, Brazil nuts, walnuts and seeds (hemp, flax and chia). Steer clear from any foods labeled GMO, especially soy product.

Processed or Enriched Carbohydrates

Processed or enriched carbohydrates, such as white flour and sugar, are foods that have lost valuable amounts of nutrients during food processing. Not only is refined foods null and void of vitamins and nutrients, they are considered to nutritionists as “dead food.” Processed foods bring about negative impacts on blood sugar, trigger mood swings, and are very acidic and inflammatory to the body (not good for people living with hypothyroidism, for it may lead to bloating and constipation). Too much gluten in the body from grains is also not the best for people fighting low production of hormones. Limit your intake of gluten (even the whole grain kind). Instead, replace your processed foods for fresh starchy vegetables, such as potatoes, squashes, sprouted grains.

Saturated Fats and Trans Fatty Acids

Saturated fats and trans fatty acids, or trans fats, are considered unhealthy fats that can increase the risk for high cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart disease. Limit and avoid saturated (animal fats and animal by-products) and trans fats (often found in fast food, fried foods, processed meats and cheeses as well as cookies, crackers and processed frozen foods) and increase intake of omega-3 fats from krill, flax, hemp and chia seeds and nuts, such as almonds and walnuts. You will see your immune system functioning and brain respond better!

What to Eat?

One of the most potent and powerful foods in helping the thyroid to function normally is sea vegetables and blue-green algae because of the high iodine content. I suggest eating these foods daily: Iodized sea salt, seaweed, sea kelp, and other sea vegetables, small saltwater fish.

Tyrosine and selenium

Tyrosine and selenium are also important for proper thyroid function—to increase your intake of these compounds, consume fish, meat, chicken, turkey, dairy, avocados, almonds, seeds, wheat germ, and beans.

Supplements

“Consider adding both a B-vitamin complex and a fatty-acid supplement (such as fish oil) to your diet (using capsules) to further regulate your body's production of hormones. Fish oil has been shown to positively affect thyroid function. To reap these benefits, consume 5 to 10 g of a high-quality fish oil in capsule form daily.” (EHow)

Also, check out the use of turmeric and curcumin for incredible benefits!

https://lyfebotanicals.com/health/turmeric-benefits/

Essential oils

For people who use essential oils, the following essential oils are natural, soothing, contain antioxidants, and supports healthy gastrointestinal function and maintain healthy digestion*

➣ 10 drops Clove essential oil
➣ 10 drops Peppermint essential oil
➣ 10 drops Lemongrass essential oil

Use in combination with Fractionated Coconut Oil along spine and bottoms of the feet 2 times daily or in veggie capsules (3 capsules. One capsule for clove, one for peppermint and one for lemongrass).

➣ Place 1 drop of Frankincense Oil under the tongue (intra-oral) daily
➣ Rub 2 drops of Frankincense Oil on throat/thyroid area
➣ Rub Balance Oil Blend on bottoms of feet, nightly
➣ One a day Multi-Vitamins daily
➣ Diffuse Myrrh essential oils in the air

➣ Mix 3 drops of some or all of the following oils in a capsule and take every other day; Rosemary, Lemongrass, Geranium, Grapefruit and/or Clove

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These suggested products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

Activities & Exercises

Aerobic exercises and strength training is very improves the metabolic functioning of the body, so light to moderate. Best exercises from Thyroid Guide recommends: rowing, swimming, walking, cycling, hiking and dancing—activities that get your heart pumping and cause you to sweat—as good aerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise strengthens the heart and lungs and burn calories. Exercising is a great body circulation promoter and natural mood elevator and antidepressant that can help the depression that often accompanies an under-functioning thyroid.

If you do not have time for a brisk 30 minute walk 5 days a week (recommended), then strength training exercises done at the gym or in the comfort of your home will also do the trick to protect the joints, tendons and ligaments and build strength for handling everyday activities such as carrying groceries. Practice lunges, leg raises and pushups or work with light kettle bells.

Additional sources: Livestrong, Thyroid-Guide.org, webMD

Optimal Nutrition and Healing Habits: What to Eat Post Surgery or Hospital Stay

An article from the Human Nutrition, Applied Nutrition Journal and US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health reported that individuals/patients on a surgical, a medical, an accident service and an elective orthopedic ward were...

...given foods that reflected a very low daily intake of iron and vitamins as compared to those recommended for healthy adults.

When I worked in hospitals and rehabilitation centers in Florida and in California, I noticed that people recovering from major surgery, those battling cancer, patients that were recovering from pneumonia and those in hospital beds for chronic illnesses were given white bread, canned (saturated with sodium) soups and canned (marinated in sugar water) fruits, and Jell-O.

I questioned many times to myself and to the dietary staff, as well as hospital/rehabilitation management how people (most of them seniors) were supposed to recuperate when we are feeding them junk food that was essentially “dead”?

I was never given more of an answer except, “these foods are easiest to digest” and “the patients chose them.”

After working many years in the healthcare industry, I did discover a spin to the marketing aspect of what management would tell to family members thinking about placing their loved ones in centers or a hospital of their choice.

They would use fancier words to dress up regular old dishes. Menus would be written in fancier fonts. And now patients, re-labeled “guests” would have options to what they were given to eat.

I had many opportunities to visit the kitchens of hospitals and rehabilitation centers and look at the ingredients of these upgraded foods. Just as I thought, however.

Even in the private pay, best of the best centers, most foods were still chock full of hydrogenated oils, trans fats, high fructose syrups, MSG and sodium.

Even the simple crackers and jam fruit spreads had these ingredients.

Forget even asking for organic and seasonally fresh produce. I found it sad that the most important ingredient in our functional and overall health, nutrition, was still lacking in so many aspects and no one questions it enough to make true change.

I later found out that when budgets are cut from hospitals and rehabilitation centers, be it public and insurance accepted or private/self-pay, the dietary department suffers.

✧ Prime cuts of meat are no longer available.
✧ Margarine will substitute for real butter.
✧ Herb and mixed green salads will now be iceberg lettuce.

Here’s to your health! Eat up.

I am not the only one that feels this way, even though my opinions and experience are voiced in this article.

Chef Marcus Guiliano, a “chef on a mission” talks about how unhealthy hospital foods really are. You can access his YouTube video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mR1plZZpNSw.

Three characteristics best determined the satisfaction of the hospital/rehabilitation consumer/patient when it came to food

According to an article published in the Journal of American Dietetic Association (1990)

1. taste
2. the temperature of the food at the time of consumption
3. presentation

There is very little regarding the nutrition of the food and how certain foods will aid in body recovery.

Is food nutrition not elementary enough for people to realize that we are exactly what we eat and that eating processed white foods with corn syrup and Trans fats will not optimize the well being of the not-so-well?

Though many resources suggest eating whole foods, whole grains, plenty of fruits and vegetables and lean, high-quality animal protein (which I disagree with) and drink clear liquids following surgery and cancer surgery recovery, most of these resources fail to mention the supplements to such “clean” eating.

The following are my suggestions for people in the hospital and recovering from most types of illness or hospital procedure that does not involve feeding tubes and stomach shrinking of re-routing.

Certainly, there are innumerable types of medical procedures that one could have experienced, so to be meticulous and name them all would be difficult. Take this list as a general guideline and get the flavor and gist of what I am suggesting.

While this list is not for everyone (every person should analyze and know their own tolerance, allergies, and list of current medications), following this list will aid in the body to best recover and get people on their feet again, feeling strong and whole.

Many nutritionists agree that certain amino acids seem to help wounds heal faster, and will suggest —especially after surgery, meals and snacks that include lean animal meats and proteins such as fish, chicken, eggs (especially the whites), and other great foods such as brown rice, walnuts, almonds, and sunflower seeds.

I suggest more, if not all plant based recovery foods, including blue green algae and sea vegetables. Studies suggest that vitamin C and zinc can also help you mend; drinking Emergen-c powder is a great and delicious way for our bodies to absorb the vitamin c. Stay away from commercial orange juice as your form of vitamin c. Eat the daily recommended amount of fruit and produce (5-7) per day, especially kiwi, and the assorted berries, plus don’t forget about those dark leafy greens chock full of vitamin c. As a last resort, many of the fortified breakfast cereal will contain vitamins, too (so read the labels). I suggest a trusted brand of a daily multivitamin (such as Usana, Life Extension and Premiere Labs), but choose one that delivers B12 and iron, both of which aid bone marrow in forming new blood cells and take a Vitamin D3 tablet. I suggest taking a daily dose of 2000 mcg vitamin K (blood and bone builder) and black cumin seed oil—500 mg. Finally, consider supplements of one amino acid in particular: glutamine. A Harvard Medical School review of research on glutamine indicates that people who got the amino acid intravenously after surgery spent, on average, four fewer days in the hospital. Dosages on these supplements will vary depending on your health needs. Seek out your nutritional health professional for proper intake.

There are also some nutrients that have been recommended for a speedy recovery after surgery. These include Omega-3 fatty acids (found in oily fish like tuna, salmon and mackerel) and avocados, Omega-6 (hemp seed products, chia seeds and flax seeds), L-arginine (found in dairy products, meat, poultry and fish, as well as nuts, rice, whole-wheat, soy and raisins), L-glutamine (found in meats, fresh fruits, and vegetables), branched chain amino acids (found in meat, whey protein, egg protein and other dairy products), and nucleotides (found in organ meats such as liver and kidney, legumes and seafood). These nutrients have been found to boost the immune system, and allow for a faster recovery (Source: Oprah.com). Include a pure protein drink (iso pure is a great choice).

Here are additional tips to help with the nutritional process of healing well after your stay at the hospital or rehabilitation center:

Aside from what type of foods you are consuming during your recovery, pay attention to your food consumption by eating smaller meals. Your body needs the extra energy to heal, not expel energy digesting bid meals. Try to stay away from heavy animal protein focused meals, as well. Animal protein is difficult to digest and causes inflammation, slowing down the healing process. At most, following surgery, drink clear organic, low sodium chicken or beef broth (Vietnamese pho broth is a good example).

Add iron and mineral rich foods to your daily diet, which will assist in blood and immunity building. Examples include: green juicing green vegetables as a smoothie (kale, cucumber, parsley, spinach, mustard greens, celery lemon), spinach, blue green algae, black strap molasses, cherries, walnuts, pine nuts, red dates, sea weed, sea vegetables, black eyed peas, asparagus and chestnuts.

If you have had antibiotics in your system or are currently taking antibiotics, take a daily dose of acidophilus (probiotics), as this will help build a strong and flourishing intentional gut. Antibiotics tend to destroy the digestive and intestinal gut, and people who have had surgery tend to suffer from frequent yeast infections and have digestive problems.

Get regular sessions of acupuncture and massage. Research has shown that patients that have acupuncture and massage report less pain, more relaxation and faster healing. Try meditation and restorative yoga (once you are cleared by your medical professional to begin body moving and gentle exercise).  Take it easy and ease back into your daily routine. Don’t hesitate to ask for health and change your mind set to an optimistic and healing one. Your mind is a very strong tool that can help you heal. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me!

(Additional Sources: Get Living.CA)

Fibromyalgia and Pain: Natural Treatments

According to the American Chronic Pain Association, fibromyalgia is a medically unexplained syndrome characterized by chronic widespread pain and a heightened and painful response to pressure (allodynia). Fibromyalgia (fī'brō-mī-āl'jē-ə) affects more than 6 million people in this country. Most of them are women, but it does occur in men as well. Other core symptoms are debilitating fatigue, sleep disturbance, and joint stiffness. Some patients may also report difficulty with swallowing, bowel and bladder abnormalities, numbness and tingling (paresthesia) and cognitive dysfunction.

Fibromyalgia is a term that's been used only fairly recently. It is not a new condition. Previous to this, it was referred to as soft tissue rheumatism or fibrositis or non-articular rheumatism.

People with fibromyalgia may experience the following symptoms:

➮ Wide- Spread Aches and Pains
➮ Localized pain in the neck area
➮ Pain in the rib area
➮ Lower back pain
➮ Chronic Fatigue
➮ Tension Headaches
➮ Myofascial Pain Syndrome (means pain and inflammation in the body's soft tissues)
➮ Tender points in the thigh area
➮ Immune Deficiency Syndrome
➮ Depression
➮ Lethargy
➮ Sleep Disruption Problems
➮ IBS and related digestive problems
➮ Problems with concentration
➮ Irritability
➮ Anxieties
➮ Vulvar pain syndrome
➮ Nails and hair brittle and poor quality
➮ Weight gain
➮ Sugar cravings and a form of hypoglycemia

Many people live with pain for years before fibromyalgia is found as the cause.  A recent brain-scan study confirms scientifically what fibromyalgia patients have been telling a skeptical medical community for years: They're really in pain.

In fact, the study finds, people with fibromyalgia say they feel severe pain, and have measurable pain signals in their brains, from a gentle finger squeeze that barely feels unpleasant to people without the disease. The squeeze's force must be doubled to cause healthy people to feel the same level of pain—and their pain signals show up in different brain areas.

The results, published in the May issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism, the journal of the American College of Rheumatology, may offer the proof of fibromyalgia's physical roots that many doubtful physicians have sought. It may also open doors for further research on the still-unknown causes of the disease, which affects more than 2 percent of Americans, mainly women.

Now, more healthcare providers are aware of the condition. This means that it can be addressed sooner. And there is a growing list of treatments that may help.

According to sources such as the National Institutes of Health, American Medical Association, and American College of Rheumatology, little is known about the cause of this type of pain, but the central nervous system does play a role. Unfortunately for this progressive disease, there is no cure for fibromyalgia but there are treatments that can help. Many people have found ways to have a good quality of life in spite of fibromyalgia.

The following are ways to live a more comfortable life with fibromyalgia:

➲ Plenty of sleep

Nap any time that you can.

➲ Move your body

Keep active-walking and low impact sports are great examples.
Meditation helps tremendously. This allows you to separate the mind from the pain

➲ Magnesium and Malic Acid supplements

Consult the doctor or a nutritionist to have your Magnesium level checked. It is a simple painless mouth swab

➲ Epson Salt baths

Take 2-3 warm Epson Salt baths a week (Epson salt contains Magnesium and soaking in a warm tub helps the body to absorb the mineral into the body better. Magnesium aids the muscles in better utilization of oxygen. When body magnesium levels are low, cramps, spasms, and pain may augment.)

➲ Eliminate Sugar from your diet.

No more sugar–sweets, candies, syrups, etc. Instead, use Xylitol 'from birch bark' - sweet with no bitter aftertaste. Xylitol can also help prevent tooth decay. Instead of adding sugar or artificial sweetener to your beverages or food, use Liquid Stevia. Do not use any artificial sweeteners.

More traditionally, Neurologists, Rheumatologists, Chiropractors, Psychiatrists, and pain specialists will address the symptoms of fibromyalgia and focus on the pain aspect in terms of medications. Solutions such as massage, muscle relaxants trigger point injections, nerve blocks, steroid shots and braces as well as surgeries are most popular. More progressive treatments include biofeedback and acupuncture.

❖ Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is another alternative pain treatment that is one of the most commonly tried for fibromyalgia. The benefits of massage are hard to demonstrate in a clinical study, but it does seem to be helpful for many types of muscle pain, including fibromyalgia. Massage is generally safe. It may certainly relieve tightness and promote relaxation, but it is not likely to provide any long-term fibromyalgia help.

❖ SAM-e

This is a great item for natural joint support and mobility, AND for emotional wellness. This very important supplement is backed by over 20 years of research. It helps to support positive mood balance, joint and liver function. SAM-e is found naturally in every cell in the human body and increases levels of important neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. It also protects the liver from fat infiltration.

❖ Co-Q-10

Research indicates that CoQ10 may support heart health by supporting cellular energy production.

❖ Beta Glucans, with ImmunEnhancer

Beta Glucans gives your body a very powerful nutritional boost for natural cellular defenses. Beta Glucans activates NK cells and is helpful to the immune system and against tumors. For a stronger immune system, take one Beta Glucan tablet a day.

❖ Liquid Calcium Magnesium

Best used in the morning and right before bedtime. People often need more calcium and magnesium than any other vitamin or mineral because they are the primary building blocks of bones, teeth, and muscles.

❖ Source Naturals L-Lysine

This is an all-natural stress fighter and immune booster. It can help regulate your immune system response - especially when you are under extra stress situations. Take extra L-Lysine when exposed to crowds and during flu season.

❖ Emer’gen-C

This handy packet of 1000 mg of Vitamin C and 25 different electrolytes in the ascorbic acid form delivers 8 times more potassium than Gatorade and other sports drinks. When you add water to the Emer'gen-C powder, it immediately effervesces to a powerful, delicious, and healthful activator of your metabolic functions.

❖ Glucosamine Chondroitin plus MSM

This helps with inflammation. MSM is an excellent source of safe and substantial relief. This helpful relief comes from MSM's pain reducing, anti-inflammatory and increased blood-supply properties. Soft tissue inflammation responds well to minerals which improve blood flow.

❖ Vitamin D

Both vitamin D and magnesium levels have been found to be low in people with fibromyalgia, but as of yet, there is no evidence that taking vitamin supplements are an effective fibromyalgia treatment. Vitamin D, known as the sunshine vitamin, does have some effects on nerve and muscle function, and some studies have suggested that low levels of vitamin D may be associated with chronic pain of fibromyalgia. In a small clinical study published online in the In a recent issue of Pain Medicine, fibromyalgia symptoms improved in 30 women after 8 weeks of vitamin D supplementation. However, other researchers have failed to find any association between fibromyalgia and vitamin D levels.

❖ Acupuncture

Acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of treatment for chronic pain and is based on ancient Chinese medical practices. There have been several studies on the usefulness of acupuncture in fibromyalgia. Three studies support the use of acupuncture combined with a pulsed electric current, a treatment called electroacupuncture.

❖ Capsaicin Application

Capsaicin comes from pepper plants and is considered a natural pain reliever. It’s the active ingredient in a variety of over-the-counter sprays and lotions. When applied to a painful area of the body, it stimulates the release of a body chemical called substance P. As substance P is depleted, the pain sensation seems to decrease. Capsaicin has been used for chronic pain in diabetes, cancer, and cluster headaches. It may also temporarily relieve fibromyalgia pain.

❖ Biofeedback

Biofeedback is an alternative therapy that uses the mind-body connection to help you learn to control your chronic pain with the power of your mind. The feedback may come in the form of muscle tension, skin temperature, or brain wave measurements. Biofeedback is helpful for many painful conditions when it is used along with other therapies.

❖ Melatonin Hormone

Melatonin is a natural hormone found in the body, thought to be involved in promoting sleep. Melatonin in pill form is often used as a sleep aid, but it has also been used for depression, chronic fatigue, and fibromyalgia. The experts say there is not enough evidence to support its use for the chronic pain of fibromyalgia. However, many people do get fibromyalgia help from natural and alternative treatments despite the lack of research support.

Resources: everydayhealth.com, webmd, livestrong.com, naturalnews.com, niams.nih.gov

Stress - What it Does to Your Body

Stress is the body's reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response. The body reacts to these changes with physical, mental, and emotional responses.

Stress is a normal part of life. Many events that happen to you and around you —and many things that you do yourself—put stress on your body. You can experience stress from your environment, your body, and your thoughts. The human body is designed to experience stress and react to it. Stress can be positive, keeping us alert and ready to avoid danger. Stress becomes negative when a person faces continuous challenges without relief or relaxation between challenges. As a result, the person becomes overworked and stress-related tension builds.

Stress that continues without relief can lead to a condition called distress -- a negative stress reaction. Distress can lead to physical symptoms including headaches, upset stomach, elevated blood pressure, chest pain, and problems sleeping. Research suggests that stress also can bring on or worsen certain symptoms or diseases.

Stress also becomes harmful when people use alcohol, tobacco, or drugs to try and relieve their stress. Unfortunately, instead of relieving the stress and returning the body to a relaxed state, these substances tend to keep the body in a stressed state and cause more problems.

Consider the following:

✦ 43 % of all adults suffer adverse health effects from stress.
✦ 75% to 90% of all doctor's office visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints.
✦ Stress can play a part in problems such as headaches, high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, skin conditions, asthma, arthritis, depression, and anxiety.
✦ The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) declared stress a hazard of the workplace.
✦ Stress costs American industry more than $300 billion annually.
✦ The lifetime prevalence of an emotional disorder is more than 50%, often due to chronic, untreated stress reactions.
✦ Your body is hard-wired to react to stress in ways meant to protect you against threats from predators and other aggressors. Such threats are rare today, but that doesn't mean that life is free from stress.

On the contrary, you undoubtedly face multiple demands each day, such as shouldering a huge workload, making ends meet, taking care of your family, or just making it through the morning rush hour. Your body treats these so-called minor hassles as threats. As a result, you may feel as if you're constantly under assault but remember: you do not have to let stress control your life.

Understanding the natural stress response

If your mind and body are constantly on edge because of excessive stress in your life, you may face serious health problems. That's because your body's "fight-or-flight reaction" — its natural alarm system — is constantly on.

When you encounter perceived threats — a large dog barks at you during your morning walk, for instance — your hypothalamus, a tiny region at the base of your brain, sets off an alarm system in your body. Through a combination of nerve and hormonal signals, this system prompts your adrenal glands, located atop your kidneys, to release a surge of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol.

Adrenaline increases your heart rate, elevates your blood pressure and boosts energy supplies. Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, increases sugars (glucose) in the bloodstream, enhances your brain's use of glucose and increases the availability of substances that repair tissues.

Cortisol also curbs functions that would be nonessential or detrimental in a fight-or-flight situation. It alters immune system responses and suppresses the digestive system, the reproductive system and growth processes. This complex natural alarm system also communicates with regions of your brain that control mood, motivation and fear.

Stress Overload

The body's stress-response system is usually self-regulating. It decreases hormone levels and enables your body to return to normal once a perceived threat has passed. As adrenaline and cortisol levels drop, your heart rate and blood pressure return to baseline levels and other systems resume their regular activities.

But when the stressors of your life are always present, leaving you constantly feeling stressed, tense, nervous or on edge, that fight-or-flight reaction stays turned on. The less control you have over potentially stress-inducing events and the more uncertainty they create, the more likely you are to feel stressed. Even the typical day-to-day demands of living can contribute to your body's stress response.

The long-term activation of the stress-response system — and the subsequent overexposure to cortisol and other stress hormones — can disrupt almost all your body's processes.

This puts you at increased risk of numerous health problems, including:

⚠ Heart disease
⚠ Sleep problems
⚠ Digestive problems
⚠ Depression
⚠ Obesity
⚠ Memory impairment
⚠ Worsening of skin conditions, such as eczema
⚠ Lower gastrointestinal functions
⚠ Lower immune reaction -> higher risk for infections
⚠ Lower sexual functions

Sources: MayoClinic, WebMD, WomensHealth.com

Why Being in a Relationship May Be Making You FAT

Why Being in a Relationship May Be Making You FAT: Social Eating, Relationships and Weight Gain

Did you know that the average person will gain up to 7 pounds in the first year of a new relationship, and couples in a relationship will gain 21 pounds each after 10 years of matrimony? That is what a study published in the journal BioPsychoSocial Medicine discovered. In fact, research across several different countries attributed the relationship weight gain to emotional stability and spending less time exercising due to lack of time. As statistics and polls reveal, year after year, when people are in relationships, (especially new and happy ones), they tend to eat meals out more often and have trips to the cinema or movie nights at home regularly, so it’s easy to see how the pounds can creep on.

According to Women’s Health, new love is time-and mind-consuming, and people tend to skimp gym time and trade that for more snuggle time. Weight gain does not just happen in new relationships; married women fall prey to this phenomenon, too. Certainly, physical attraction plays a huge, initial part in relationships and compatibility – it’s one of the reasons why people are first attracted to each other in the first place. Typically, people “in the market” put more effort and energy into their appearance when they are beginning new relationships and first dating. But once those month and year anniversaries become too many to keep track of, chances are people become so comfortable in their relationship that impressing their partner is no longer the utmost first priority anymore.

Let’s take a gander and see possible reasons why.

1. Motivation, Where Did you Go?!

When people are single and looking for love, chances are they take more time and attention to their appearance by perhaps eating healthier and exercising more because they want to impress future love matches. Cooking healthy meals at home and going to the gym regularly may probably be on the agenda. Once they finally hook up and fall in love, however, people do not feel as motivated to look good because they already have their partners hooked. Love has a way of making you feel special, no matter how much weight you gain, especially if your boyfriend doesn’t acknowledge your body’s changes. And once you are married, other responsibilities may become more important –children, home, finances, career, expenses – and looking good takes a back seat.

2. My Partner Is Rubbing Off On Me

Friends and family can certainly tempt you to stray from healthy eating habits, and our partners are no different. Our social culture teaches us that eating with someone is always more fun, and we feel less guilty about indulging in fatty foods when someone else is right alongside us, too. If your partner is less of a health-conscious eater to begin with, you may start to inherit your partner’s fast food, pizza, and beer diet as a way to bond or because it is a convenient and easy solution to dinner. If your significant other is not regularly active, it might be difficult for you to get up for that run when he/she is pulling you back on the couch to cuddle. Remember it is always more of a challenge to remain healthy in the face of temptation.

3. I Don’t Have Time to Exercise!

New couples tend to spend a lot of time together, forgoing the activities they did when they were single (unless the gym routine or exercise program is part of both of your daily regimens). Your alone time becomes your couple time, especially if you have a busy schedule with work or other priorities. If you both skip a workout here and order some greasy takeout there before you know it, you will both have more than just butterflies in your stomachs—you will both have some bread baking on the side of your waistbands. Visits to the gym and those solo after-work walks around the neighborhood get put on the back burner in favor of spending time with your partner. Women are also (typically) the caretakers in the relationships, so they are more prone to put their needs, healthy and otherwise, last on the list. Women in relationships typically have more influence over a couple’s habits than the man. That is because women tend to do more of the grocery shopping and cooking, and tend to incorporate fresher, healthier foods into their diet in general. Couples that are married and busy with kids and other responsibilities may tell themselves that they do not have the time or the energy to even think about exercise!

4. Stress

Good stress, known as eustress, can actually fuel relationship weight gain. Even happy, euphoric feelings (unfortunately) can make people turn to the fridge in almost a celebration mentality. However, people will probably experience the bad kind of stress when relationships take a few hits down a bumpy road. One of the most common ways people deal with stress is to emotionally eat it away, which almost always, backfires.

5. You Eat Out...All the Time

When people are single, they are more likely to eat smaller, healthier foods at home. But once people are in relationships, dinner dates are followed by caloric brunches and co-late night snacking. Couples bond over food because it is a special ritual in their relationship. That is not good news for your waistline: A Men's Health magazine analysis of 24 national chains revealed that the average entree at a sit-down restaurant contains 867 calories. (And that does not include appetizers, sides, or dessert).

6. You Are Always in Bed or Sitting

A study last year in the journal Obesity found that couples who live together for two or more years are less likely to be physically active and the women are more likely to become obese. As positive as relationships can be, they also change your routine. People begin scheduling more couple's events and less “personal” time to themselves. The gym and other fitness choices seem to take a back seat to dinner and drinks with your new hottie.

What are some tips to avoid getting fat in your new or existing relationship?

1. Go On Fitness Dates

When your sweetheart suggests a Sunday matinee and early dinner, counter offer with an outdoor hike and a picnic packed with fresh fruits, hummus and other low-fat foods. Exercising together is one of the most motivating tools for weight loss, and also one of the most effective. Go for a walk after dinner, even just around the block. Just move your bodies together! It does not have to be in a big aluminum warehouse filled with big electronic machines.

2. Tell Your Partner to Stop Tempting You

It may be cute when your partner dangles a delicious piece of chocolate over your mouth and proceeds to devour it without gaining a millimeter in his/her waist or thighs, but if you cannot resist temptation, simply ask your partner to stop tempting you. Out of sight, out of mind just may help in your fight against relationship weight.

3. It’s Not a Competition! Don’t Match Bite for Bite

You resolve to order the low carb and fiber packed salad at dinner, but your partner goes for the burger or large pizza and finagles you into eating half of it. If you’re going to give into your main squeeze, at least go 60/40. Common mistake partners (especially women) typically make is splitting a meal down the middle. Ladies, remember that men have a higher caloric intake and can eat more without gaining weight. Just because your appetite matches him, doesn’t mean your portions should.

4. Eat In More Often

Cooking together can be intimate, because the food is very sensual, especially when couples take turns tasting it. Eating in allows people to control what goes into the food, including the fat and calorie content. When you do dine out, eat a healthy snack that contains protein and fiber a few hours before your meal. When people skimp on meals all day, especially when they are going to go out that night, their bodies are left so hungry that they end up overdoing it. Nonfat yogurt, a piece of fruit, a dollop of almond or nut butter or a small bowl of cereal with low-fat milk are all smart choices.

5. Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself: Weigh in Often.

It's great to accept your body and not obsess over every last calorie, but it's hard to feel good about yourself when none of your pants fit. To prevent eating habits from spiraling out of control, check yourself with regular weigh-ins on a scale and write it down in a journal or log. Studies show that once people pass the five-pound mark, weight gain can take off like a runaway train. Seeing the scale creep toward that mark and documenting the process can be a call to action.

6. Get Your Partner Involved

A study in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that women who exercised with a partner lost more weight than those who sweat solo. When people do something together, they are more likely to stick with it. Sign up and train together for a 5-K, go for a bike ride instead of watching a movie, or join the same gym. When you do not feel like going, your partner will be there to motivate you and do the same for your partner.

Sources: fitsugar.com, mayocinic.com

Tips for a Restful Night

Tips for a Better Restful Night

by Anna Dolopo and Dr. Nancy Lin

Sound sleep is the foundation of good health. Most people need 6-8 hours of sleep every night to recharge their batteries.

Practicing good sleep hygiene and keeping the body in sync with the rhythm of day and night can help the body cope with sleep deprivation and give it an opportunity to boost the immune system, get stronger and heal.

By implementing just a few of these suggestions, you should notice a great improvement in your sleep and how you function during daylight hours.

✾ Ambiance

Make your bedroom a sanctuary. Only sleep and make love in this sacred space. Do not work, as your brain will associate this room to productivity.

Keep it dark, cool, and quiet. Angle the clock faces away from the bed. If you get up to use the bathroom during the night, don’t turn on the light; use a nightlight to safely guide you.

The optimal temperature for sleep is 60 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

✾ When Hungry, avoid heavy meals, sugary or high grain snacks 2 hours before bed.

They will raise your blood sugar and make it difficult to fall asleep. Reduce nicotine, caffeine and alcohol use.

If you are hungry, eat a high protein snack a couple of hours before going to bed. Try probiotic yogurt, a banana with almond butter, a few egg whites with hummus or a few slices of turkey.

✾ Reduce Late Night Activity

Stop working at least an hour before you plan to go to bed. Let your mind relax. Limit television and computer use in the evening. Use blue light blocking glasses if you are on any electronic devices and no heavy drama Netflix series or news before slumbering, You can even try simple meditation practices before you lay your head down to rest.

✾ If you want to read in bed, avoid back lit devices as the light stimulates the brain.

Read a book or use a device that requires you to use a separate, soft light source.

✾ Bedtime Routine

Establish a relaxing routine as you prepare for bed. Try to go to bed and get up at the same time every day, even on weekends. This will help to strengthen and establish your circadian rhythm.

✾ Relax by taking a hot shower, practicing meditation, or try progressive muscle relaxation, starting at your toes and working up to the top of the head.

It is important to leave the day’s worries behind. Do not over-think your day while you lie in bed. Take a deep breath, clear your mind, and drift into a state of restful sleep.