Category Archives: Health

Time to Heal

Time to heal

Can it be true that time heals all wounds? Sounds simple, but does it work? Is it time or is it what you do with this time that heals?

Cuts, scrapes, burns and broken bones will heal, often on their own – but what about trauma and emotional wounds? This damage can be caused by a variety of conditions and may involve a single experience or an ongoing series of events that completely overwhelm the individual’s ability to cope or integrate the ideas and emotions involved with that experience.

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Reactions to and symptoms of trauma can be wide and varied and differ in severity from person to person. A traumatized individual may experience a range of symptoms, leading to feelings of despair, loss of self-esteem and depression.

Healing from emotional and psychological trauma takes time and some basic steps towards recovery include:

1)         It is important to stay connected with others and to maintain relationships with friends and family.

2)         Many times, getting the problem out in the open can make it manageable.

3)         Forgive those involved. Forgiving does not condone what someone else did, it simply releases you from the pain of their actions.

4)         Most importantly, make a place for that event in your life and then put it away.

5)         It’s important to remember that it did happen and it did affect you. At the same time, it is in the past, much like a chapter in a book you have read and choose not to read again.

If you find yourself wanting to but unable to follow these suggestions, you may want to get professional help putting the past behind you.

Weight Loss Starts in the MInd

It takes the right attitude to commit to any important decision – nothing happens until you take that first step – until you make a conscious decision to initiate some of the changes. Any possible distraction or interference should be

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eliminated before starting on the journey of weight loss and periods of extreme stress, holidays, and upcoming social events should be avoided.

Once you are ready to make that commitment, get rid of everything not suitable or part of your weight loss program, restock your fridge with healthy foods and allow time for exercise and relaxation. Weight loss and a plan to accomplish your goals will have to take priority over everything else in your life and your lifestyle needs to be adjusted to accommodate these changes

Create a picture in your mind of positive images and improvements these changes can bring about and to re-enforce the desire to be slim and fabulous.

The right attitude will go a long way when temptations and opportunities to cheat present themselves. Try to eliminate situations that are focused on food and entertainment. Do not indulge in images of your favorite foods or allow yourself too many choices. Focus on the chosen plan, prepare the right foods and the right portions ahead of time, and stick with it.

The Natural Position

Since the introduction of the flush toilet more than 100 years ago, we sit, go and flush. The problem with sitting is that it doesn’t relax the kink in the lower bowel, and it is harder to remove waste in this position. The squatting position is a natural remedy to constipation as the

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entire weight of the upper body rests on both feet and presses against the thighs to naturally support and compress the colon which, along with gravity, enables waste to be expelled more easily.

Squatting protects the nerves that control the prostate, bladder and uterus from becoming damaged or stretched and securely seals the ileocecal valve, located between colon and small intestines. It relaxes the puborectalis muscle which normally encircles the rectum in order to maintain continence.

Studies show that when people use posture-changing devices to squat, they go more quickly. They also strain less and empty their bowels more completely than sitting on the toilet. By making it easier to poop, squatting might ease constipation and prevent hemorrhoids, which are often a result of straining.

Microbial Relationships

Microbes, especially bacteria, often engage in intimate symbiotic relationships with other larger organisms, either positive or negative. Some of these relationships are mutually beneficial (mutualism) while others can be damaging to the host (parasitism). If a micro-organism can cause disease it is known as a pathogen.

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These micro-organisms are microscopic (too small to be seem by the naked eye), mostly unicellular or live in a colony of cellular organisms. They include bacteria, fungi, archaea, protists, microscopic plants such as green algae and animals such as plankton and the planarian. Micro-biologists also include viruses, but they are considered non-living as their survival depends on a host cell’s genetic material to replicate as they adapt to their environment.

The ecology of microbes to one another and their surroundings is extraordinary with respect to the diversity of chemical and physical conditions that can be tolerated with regards to temperature, high concentration of salt or sugar, relative acidity and with or without the presence of oxygen.

Consciousness and Self-Awareness

If we look up consciousness in the dictionary, the definition is awareness of the world around us. We cannot be aware of something without interacting with it somehow in some manner. Anything we are aware of we are interacting with on some level, and this serves as the natural pursuit in the

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relationship from our perspective. As an example, we cannot be thinking of someone without their image directly interacting with our thoughts. When we interact with something we are sharing a relationship with it.

How do our thoughts become reality? Thoughts are sensations like smell, sounds, touch and taste and we interact, adapt to changes, sense variations in perception and we respond and evolve.

Consciousness may not be as mysterious a trait that supernatural intervention is required. It is essential a lucid awareness between the inside of a cell or live form and the outside, between it and everything else. Most micro-organisms are conscious and aware to this degree, which means that the origin of consciousness on this planet dates back at least three million years.

Sugar Cravings/Addiction

Are sugar cravings an addiction or just an unhealthy way of eating? Let’s look at the facts. The sugar industry has taken advantage of our inability to stop our addictions and cravings for sugar and sweets, blaming our lack of discipline on unhealthy weight gain.

Our bodies are designed to convert glucose or fats into usable energy, with sugars and carbs being dirty energy and fats being

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considered clean high efficiency energy. What happens when we eat sugar or carbs? There is an immediate boost in energy but needs to be replenished approximately every two hours. Our addiction to coffee and a bagel or donut is the perfect match to an unhealthy lifestyle.

Here is the simple truth. When you eat sugar, sugar containing foods or carbs that later convert to sugar the glucose goes directly into your body and blocks absorption of essential nutrients. In addition, once this supply of energy from glucose is exhausted your body is desperately looking for a new source, more coffee, more sugar and oversized portions of carbs to supply you with more energy and vitality.

Sweet Temptations

The more we give in to these cravings and the lure of sugary treats, the more we get addicted to the sweet taste and the temporary spike of energy it provides. There is a difference between being hungry and having an irresistible desire for some specific food such as sweet, sugary foods or chocolate.

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There is evidence that food cravings and addictions activate some of the same areas in the brain.

It is important to realize that after an hour or two the cycle begins again and the drop in blood sugar has you reaching for more of the same foods. And just like an alcoholics addiction to alcohol, the urge to consume more sugar is hard to resist.

The average consumption of sugar has increased steadily over the last century and it is estimated the be in the 150 to 170 pound range per adult annually in the developed  countries such as North America and the least affected areas being Asia and Africa.

What is a Leaky Gut

Leaky Gut

A leaky gut is exactly what it implies – intestinal permeability. Let’s imagine that you have a system that regulates what is beneficial to your health and what can do damage. This is our own immune system which is in the lining of the intestines.

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There are certain foods that will cause inflammation and tears in the lining such as wheat, alcohol and any type of NSAID (non steroid anti-inflammatory drugs) in addition to any food allergies.

When there are tears in the lining of the intestinal wall larger particles can slip through and enter the blood stream causing chronic inflammation and a poor immune response. Symptoms of leaky gut syndrome include gas, bloating, chronic diarrhea, constipation, food sensitivities, fatigue, brain fog, memory loss or skin problems.

The first step to healing a leaky gut is to remove wheat, alcohol, processed foods and any allergy causing agents and to add more fiber to your diet. Fiber feeds the good/friendly bacteria and promotes health and vitality.

The Ketogenic Lifestyle

The KETOGENIC LIFESTYLE  does not require counting calories, restricted portion sizes, maintaining a rigorous exercise regime or superhuman willpower to succeed.

The KETOGENIC LIFESTYLE offers an entirely different approach to weight loss and in the process many improvements to your health. Due to the use of ketogenic foods based on

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high fat, low sugar /carbohydrate, and an adequate amount of protein it changes the way your body burns energy changing burning glucose (sugar) to burning dietary fat.

The KETOGENIC LIFESTYLE has been practiced since the 1920’s and is based on a solid understanding of physiology and nutritional science. Many diet programs are popular for a brief period and then fade away without showing a long-term success. The KETOGENIC LIFESTYLE  has successfully worked for a high percentage of people because it addresses the underlying causes of weight gain, including hormonal imbalances with the emphasis on insulin resistance and high blood sugar levels.

Before the cultivation of wheat and other grains, humans had to rely on seasonal foods, experiencing feasts and famines and eating at regular intervals was not an option. The human body is designed to use glucose or fat for energy. In recent times there was a complete transformation with increased sugar consumption and carbohydrate-based foods.

Once a state of ketosis is reached the body can tap into our stored fat reserves and start using it for fuel and well-being.

Is MSG Addictive?

MSG (monosodium glutamate) is an additive in foods and is part of almost all commercially processed and packaged foods. It supercharges the taste of food in a way,  one would not suspect. MSG has a sinister effect on the brain making it believe that food tastes better, it is an excitotoxin and it over stimulates the brain causing the production of an excessive amount of dopamine.

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The drug-like rush provides a brief sensation of well-being and this highly addictive substance is causing consumers to indulge in eating excessive amounts of MSG-containing foods and is responsible for irresistible cravings for more.

Besides packaged processed foods you find on almost all supermarket shelves, beware of hamburgers, sausages, Chinese food, canned vegetables, soups, and processed meats, most bottled and canned goods, condiments, diet foods, and snacks.

After frequent consumption, the body develops a physical dependence. When this dependency is abruptly discontinued, symptoms of withdrawal can occur.

Healing and Relaxation

There is nothing more relaxing than a time set aside for a luxurious bath. The feel of soft bubbles and the aroma of a gentle fragrance is one of the most beneficial therapies of modern times.

Adding some natural ingredients such as Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda), Pink Himalayan Salt and Hydrogen Peroxide to the water has many health benefits.

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Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) is a natural product and does not contain fragrances or chemicals, it is colorless and odorless. Added to your bath will give you silky smooth skin, a feeling of relaxation and in the process, will adjust your skins acid/alkaline balance.

Pink Himalayan Salt – the purest form of natural salts is mined from ancient oceans deep in the Himalayan mountains. It contains 84 trace elements and minerals not found in other processed salt. Added to your bath it can be a rejuvenating experience for your body, mind and soul in the comforts of your own home.

Hydrogen peroxide (3%) brown bottle – available at most drugstores has detoxifying and healing properties and acts as a safe sanitizer for the body. It is helpful in clearing nasal congestion, relieving aches and pains, allergies and skin irritations.

Before bedtime fill your tub with warm or hot water (your comfort level). Add one cup of Baking Soda, one cup of Pink Himalayan Salt, one cup of Hydrogen Peroxide (3%) and a few drops of your favorite essential oils. Then soak for 30 to 40 minutes. – Simple, safe and affordable.

Loss of Appetite

Loss of appetite is a condition when foods are not appealing or a medical condition is present preventing you from eating normally. This is different then trying to lose weight and minimum amounts of food are eaten to accomplish a weight loss over a period of time.

Even on a low-calorie weight loss program, the foods allowed should always be enough to keep you from experiencing hunger and you should maintain a healthy appetite. Often supplements are recommended to ensure that levels of vitamins and minerals are provided when nutrients are lacking to prevent side effects and imbalances.

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If the loss of appetite is due to the use of prescription drugs and medications than this condition is most likely temporary and reversible. Other conditions can be far more serious and need to be evaluated by a health-care professional.

These include conditions such as depression, dementia, anorexia, metabolic problems, liver disease, kidney failure, heart disease, bacterial infections, diarrhea and the effects of underlying cancer, chemotherapy, pain killers and antibiotics.

Any persisting lack of appetite is a serious condition and needs to be addressed and the causes identified to restore healthy eating habits and the consumption of nutritious foods.

Why Me?

This is a question often asked by cancer patients and sufferers of other deliberating diseases. Does the condition run in the family, is it hereditary – are genes responsible?

The next question is then did they try hard enough to avoid known risks such as smoking, too much sun exposure or is an unhealthy diet or a sedentary life style to blame?

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What about people that have done everything possible to avoid cancer and other conditions either related to aging or exposure to toxins and environmental hazards.

New research suggests that random chance plays a large part in the process, when healthy cells make mistakes, when random copying errors occur. Gene mutation can cause cancer – what causes the mutations?

Most scientists agree that damage is caused by environmental factors, an assault to our DNA from the world around us and the exposure to cigarette smoke, over exposure of UV light from the sun and other forms of radiation, certain hormones, viruses, an unhealthy diet, obesity and lack of exercise.

The damaged cells then copy themselves, allowing important mutations to gradually build up over time. This is one of the reasons that the risk of cancer increases with age.

Physical Attractiveness Suggest Fertility and Health

Physical Attractiveness Suggests Fertility

Often physical attractiveness is a combination of many factors, and include universal perceptions common to all human cultures, as well as aspects that are culturally and socially dependent, along with individual subjective preferences. There are many factors which influence one person’s attraction to another, with physical aspects being one of them.

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Physical attractiveness is the degree to which a person’s physical traits are considered aesthetically pleasing or beautiful. The term often implies sexual attractiveness or desirability, but can also be distinct from the two; for example adults may regard children as attractive for various reasons.

Physical attractiveness is a characteristic that suggests fertility and health. These factors contribute to the probability of survival and reproduction for continuing life on Earth. Men, on average, tend to be attracted to women who are shorter than they are, have a youthful appearance, and exhibit features such as a symmetrical face, full breasts, full lips, and a low waist-hip ratio. Women, on average, tend to be attracted to men who are taller than they are, display a high degree of facial symmetry, masculine facial dimorphism, and who have broad shoulders, a relatively narrow waist, and a V-shaped torso.

In recent times, evolutionary psychologists have tried to answer why individuals who are more physically attractive should also on average be more intelligent, and have put forward the notion that both general intelligence and physical attractiveness may be indicators of underlying genetic fitness.

The Diabetes Epidemic

Diabetes worldwide is becoming a major issue with large numbers of individuals being diagnosed yearly and many living in a pre-diabetic state. In the US alone 28.5 million people are living with diabetes, that is a shocking 8.3% of the population and in addition there are 1.9 million new cases diagnosed every year and at least 7 million un-diagnosed with another 79 million being pre-diabetic.

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If you are living with diabetes then it is a never ending struggle to balance your blood sugar and diet. The money spent on doctor visits, needles and drugs is a staggering 245 Billion a year. The medications help deal with daily symptoms, but do nothing to get to the root of the problem. What happens if you should run out of your medication and unable to get more?

Click Here!“>Can Diabetes be prevented or cured?

Are Mosquitoes Attracted To You?

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Why do mosquitoes find some people more irresistible while others are being ignored? Could it be your blood type, your sweat, the color of your clothes or the foods you eat?

There are about 200 species of mosquitoes in North America, each with different requirements and biting habits to suck out your blood and to spread disease.

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Are your prone to more mosquito bites than your friends and family? It turns out that approximately 20% of the population are getting bitten more than the rest on a consistent basis. Research shows that there is a different factor of attraction in certain blood types, such as Type 0 seems to get bitten more often, while type A is bitten less often and Type B is somewhere in between.

Mosquitoes are also attracted to sweat and lactic acid, ammonia, carboxylic acid, and carbon dioxide. Bacteria and microbes found on your skin create your body odor and the more you emit, the more attractive you are to them. Larger people naturally emit more carbon dioxide than smaller people, which is one of the reasons adults seem to be bitten more often than children.

Most people turn to store bought insect repellents to keep mosquitoes away, but often these insect repellents contain a chemical called DEET, which should only be used with caution. Heavy exposure to DEET has been linked to memory loss, headaches, fatigue and is particularly toxic to children.

Fortunately, there are several natural remedies that can help in preventing mosquito stings and are easily available. A few drops of citronella, lemongrass and eucalyptus make a perfect remedy.

Preventing mosquito bites also eliminates the possibility of contracting several mosquito-borne diseases, such as malaria, encephalitis, Yellow fever and West Nile virus. Since there is no cure – prevention is the best defense. One of the best practices is to spend minimum time outdoors between dusk and dawn and to wear loose fitting clothing keeping skin exposure to a minimum and to eliminate any standing water around the house, since mosquitoes need water to breed.

Danger of Popping Pimples

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In a world where beauty and perfection is desired, we often cannot resist the urge to pop a pimple. These nasty zits usually appear without warning just in time before a party, an important function or a date. They can ruin that perfect look by their presence of an accumulation of oils, toxins and bacteria.

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What are your options? Squeeze the pimple and risk infection and prolong the healing process or covering it with a layer of foundation and make-up products? The best option is to let it heal through its life span of 5 to 7 days if left alone.

But while worrying about beauty on the surface, the dangers of some practices and how they affect the area below the skin far outweigh the temporary appearance of the blemish. By picking and squeezing you may force the poisons and bacteria deeper into the body, below the skin where it can cause redness, inflammation, swelling and infection.

Popping pimples in the area known as “The Danger Triangle” of the face, which stretches from the bridge of the nose to the corners of the mouth and includes the upper lip, can result in vision loss, brain infections and paralysis.

So – hands off – let it heal on its own.

Kidney Stone Prevention

Kidney’s are located on either side of your spine in the lower part of your back. They filter approximately 18 gallons of blood every hour. They remove toxins from your blood and produce urine to eliminate the acid waste through the bladder.

Kidney problems are not always easily detected. Usually there are no symptoms of discomfort or pain unless suddenly you’re in excruciating pain with kidney stones.

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Kidney stones usually form when there are elevated levels of acid waste in the blood and the kidney’s get overworked trying to filter out the excesses. Eventually the kidneys can’t keep up and the waste material accumulates to form kidney stones.

The entire state of your health depends on a slightly alkaline environment in your body, a blood pH of about 7.365 to make all systems and organs work efficiently.

To keep your kidneys functioning at their optimum or to help them recover, there are a few things you can do to counteract the forming of kidney stones or the elevated levels of calcium oxalate.

Drinking lots of water (6 -8 8-oz glasses a day). Clean, fresh water – not tea or coffee, milk, sodas, juices, alcohol or other beverages. De-hydration can have dire consequences – don’t wait until you’re thirsty.

Eating a healthy diet with lots of fresh vegetables and protein is essential in keeping your kidneys functioning at their optimum levels and to minimize acid waste accumulation.

Pro-biotic supplements in the form of Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium infantis and Lactobacillus acidophilus are helpful in maintaining a healthy gut bacterium able to breaking down the elevated calcium oxalate levels.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

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Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD primarily affects people during the fall and winter season. It is a form of depression, with periods of being sad, angry or irritable and may leave you feeling more tired than usual.

The shorter days and the lack of sun light, especially in areas located far from the equator can disturb your internal clock and you may feel the need to sleep more than usual.

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Presumably, food was scarce during most of human prehistory, and a tendency toward low energy during the winter months would have been adapted by reducing the need for calorie intake. Hibernation is an extreme example, but even species that do not hibernate often exhibit changes in behavior during the winter months.

In the fall cravings for carbohydrates to prepare for the season ahead are common and weight gain is often experienced during these times of low energy and with less time spent outdoors it is getting progressively worse as the winter season continues.

Seasonal mood variations are believed to be related to light. Treatment with a light box (Bright Light Therapy) has been proven to be effective and should be started in the early fall and continued throughout the long winter months. Once the days get longer towards the spring and summer the symptoms usually fade away gradually and healthy eating and outdoor activities will prevent the weight gain to become permanent.

Treating the Whole Person

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It is often difficult to determine if a condition is physical or mental in origin. Many people will express psychological stress in physical ways, such as abdominal pain, headaches, migraines, nausea or pain in various areas of the body.

Anxiety and depression with associated insomnia can have serious effect on the immune system and puts a person at greater risk of infections if not adequately addressed. A weakened immune system is then unable to fight off infections and diseases.

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Stress, worry and fear can lead to a variety of health problems and just as mental and emotional issues can cause physical pain and suffering, the opposite is true. Disease, injuries and illness can lead to medication dependency and addiction with psychiatric side effects.

Psychological and social factors are just as important as biological symptoms and are interconnected and complex.  Even if we could determine whether the cause of a particular condition or disorder is mental/emotional or physical it is most beneficial to treat the whole person.