Ten Signs That You Are Resisting Being Happy

Are you missing out on happiness? Well, your subconscious may be getting in the way. Beliefs that are buried deep in your subconscious mind kick out knee-jerk responses to situations you experience, that block you from can  beliefs that make it impossible to experience happiness. These beliefs create resistance to happiness, even if your potential to be happy is great.

Resistance to happiness can become a psychological attachment, a pattern so familiar that it literally becomes a self-sabotaging a way of life. How can you tell if this is the case? You need to look at the signs!

Think of these as 10 signs as manifestations of something deeper within your psyche. The underlying cause is an attachment to something negative. Negative attachments form in childhood when you learn what is right and wrong. Sometimes, you learn that it is wrong, or not advantageous (or just plain pointless) to be happy!

They key to resolving these issues is to make them conscious, where conscious choice resides. Do any of the following apply to you?

1. When you feel happy, you feel anxious that it won't last: Many people believe that if they allow themselves to be happy, they are setting themselves up to get blindsided by something terrible.

2. When you feel good, you feel guilty: Some people feel guilty when they enjoy themselves, as if they were doing something wrong.


3. You don't express your needs: Ignoring your needs is a sign that fulfillment is not something you are seeking.
 
4. You are overly focused on the needs of others: Focusing solely on the needs of others at the expense of your own is a disservice to you and others.


5. You cannot enjoy the moment: If you avoid the here and now, you are avoiding peace and presence.
 
6. You attract emotionally unavailable or self-centered people: A sure way to NOT be happy is to attract emotionally unavailable or narcissistic people.
 
7. You expect disappointment: Expecting disappointment keeps happiness at a distance.
 
8. You don't know your purpose in life: Lasting happiness comes when you are in contact with a meaningful purpose.
 
9. You avoid intimacy: When you avoid close relationships or shy away from deeper connections with people, you miss out on this aspect of life.
 
10. You relive the bad times, but observe the good times from a mental distance: Happy people tend to relive happy memories up close and view upsetting memories as if from a distance, like a neutral observer.

 

Read the full story by Mike Bundrant here at Natural News. It's a fascinating and very useful introduction to self-defeating behaviour.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some Public Health Screenings May Harm More Than Help

The tests can potentially do more harm than good, according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent panel that recommends evidence-based treatments. Even though the screening tests are generally noninvasive, follow-up exams and procedures often are not, and can increase a person's odds of being injured or overtreated.

One of those questionable tests is carotid artery screening, which looks for plaque buildup in a neck artery that can cause a stroke. It's on the American Academy of Family Physicians' list of procedures to avoid.

With that test, "the patient is more likely actually to have a stroke because of the screening and subsequent testing and possible surgery than if they'd never been screened at all," says Dr. Glen Stream, who chairs the academy's board.

The problem, he says, is that many of the findings are false positives — in other words, things that may be abnormal but won't ever hurt you. But once you find something, he says, it's hard not to aggressively treat it, even when that's not the right approach.

Read the full story by Jenny Gold of Kaiser Health News at NPR SHOTS Health News

Nature and Healing

 

Medicines from Nature heal the body and mind; chemically derived medicines suppress the symptoms of illness. Sadly, drug manufacturers have, over past generations, moved Hippocrates' successors away from the healing powers of Nature

Nine pharmaceutical drugs that can cause chronic fatigue

There are many different factors and underlying health conditions that can affect energy levels from day to day, as well as trigger the condition that is now commonly known as chronic fatigue.

In addition to poor diet, irregular sleeping patterns, and preexisting health conditions, a common but unexpected cause of chronic fatigue is pharmaceutical drugs, which many people are likely unaware could be draining them of their energy and life.

Here are nine types of pharmaceutical drugs that are linked to causing chronic fatigue:

1) Blood pressure medications. Millions of people now take blood pressure medications like lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril) and furosemide (Lasix) to ease the overall burden on their cardiovascular systems in the hopes of preventing future health problems like heart attack and stroke. But blood pressure drugs also tend to depress the entire nervous system, as well as deplete the body of the vitamins and nutrients it needs to produce energy, which can be a major trigger of chronic fatigue.

2) Statin drugs. Many people suffering from systemic inflammation take statin drugs to artificially lower their cholesterol levels, in accordance with their doctors’ orders. Besides all the other extreme negative side-effects of taking statins (http://www.naturalnews.com/statins.html), one major side-effect that is often overlooked involves the drugs’ tendency to inhibit muscle growth and the production of energy at the cellular level. As a result, many people who take statins experience a steady decline in energy levels over time, which can develop into chronic fatigue.

3) Benzodiazepines. Commonly prescribed to treat anxiety disorders, benzodiazepines tend to sedate or hypnotize patients in order to treat conditions like depression, insomnia, and severe muscle spasms. But it is this induced sedative effect that tends to elicit drowsiness, which often worsens as patients develop a tolerance to benzodiazepines and begin taking higher doses of these drugs. The end result for many taking benzodiazepines is a chronic lack of energy and drive, also known as chronic fatigue.

4) Proton pump inhibitors. Poor diet and a lack of vital nutrients tends to cause acid reflux and various other digestive disorders in many people. And while proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like lansoprazole (Prevacid) and omeprazole (Prilosec) can offer immediate relief from such symptoms, these drugs also tend to deplete magnesium stores from the body. And magnesium deficiency can lead to a host of severe illnesses, including extreme weakness and fatigue.

5) Antihistamines. Allergies are on the rise in modern society, and many people are obeying the television commercials they see that advise them to take drugs like loratadine (Claritin) and cetirizine (Zyrtec) to manage their allergy symptoms. But these histamine blockers often induce tiredness and drowsiness in patients as well, which over time can worsen and develop into chronic fatigue.

6) Antipsychotics. In mainstream Western medicine, serious behavioral disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder often call for harsh anti-psychotic medications. But because drugs like aripiprazole (Abilify) and risperidone (Risperdal) are powerful depressants, they tend to induce extreme fatigue, lethargy, and overall weakness in many patients. Anti-psychotics also tend to artificially lower dopamine levels in the body, which can also lead to chronic fatigue.

7) Antidepressants. At least 30 million Americans now take some type of antidepressant drug to manage anxiety disorders such as depression, as well as to treat chronic pain and other related conditions. And while common antidepressants like fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft) mask undesired symptoms in some patients, they also tend to trigger fatigue, especially during the first few weeks of treatment. By inhibiting the normal function of brain neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine, antidepressants also obstruct natural hormone levels, which in turn can lead to chronic fatigue.

8) Antibiotics. There are many reasons why taking antibiotic drugs is a bad idea, particularly because they destroy good intestinal bacteria and also trigger the emergence of antibiotic-resistant “superbugs” (http://www.naturalnews.com/superbugs.html). But another common, yet unsuspected, side-effect of taking antibiotics is that they often cause extreme fatigue and tiredness. Taking natural antibiotic alternatives like colloidal silver, oil of oregano, and garlic is much safer and more effective than taking antibiotic drugs, and these options will not cause chronic fatigue.

9) Diuretics. Many people who have trouble urinating or who have high blood pressure take diuretic drugs to help boost the elimination of water from their bodies. But diuretics also tend to draw out necessary electrolytes like sodium, potassium and chloride from the body as well, which can lead to severe mineral deficiencies. And it is these deficiencies that can bring about chronic fatigue, as the body struggles to produce enough energy due to a lack of proper nutrients.

SOURCE: Jonathan Benson, Natural News and Healthy Life

Four Foods that can Fight Depression

An estimated 1-in-10 Americans take antidepressants. That’s a shocking number of people relying on Big Pharma remedies for something that can be dealt with naturally. 

For many of these people, and those who are depressed but not taking anything for it, depression can be debilitating. But, it can also be managed with diet and lifestyle changes. Study after study has shown that by increasing physical activity, getting more sunshine, and changing your diet, you can alter your state of mind and beat depression without drugs.

Successfully conquering your depression begins by eliminating processed foods and drinks from your diet. These foods contain additives and unnatural ingredients that can alter your body’s chemistry and certainly your mood. Also, exercising regularly increases endorphins and blood flow to the brain, making it another good natural depression-buster.

In addition to these 5 natural solutions for treating depression, try adding these depression-busting foods to your regular diet:

1. Turmeric

A study published in Phytotherapy Research recently said that the bright yellow spice turmeric isn’t only good at treating depression, it may do it better than the antidepressant drugs being pushed down our throats. The antidepressant effects of turmeric were similar when compared directly with the effects of Prozac. But when you consider all of the side effects of antidepressants, turmeric was a clear winner.

2. Green Tea

The health benefits of green tea are seemingly endless, from improved heart health to better brain function. So, it’s no surprise that it can help regulate moods. It contains something called L-theanine, an amino acid that can help in the creation of alpha brain waves. These brain waves have a calming effect and can improve focus. As Natural News reports, L-theanine is also easily absorbed, which makes its effects immediate.

3. Fish

A lack of omega-3 fats in your diet can lead to mood imbalances including depression. By adding fatty fish to your diet, you can correct any possible imbalances and reap the other benefits of omega-3 fats. Interestingly, this is backed up by research that shows world regions like Scandinavia and Asia with high fish intake have lower a incidence of depression.

4. Nuts and Seeds

Magnesium is a mineral found in abundance in certain nuts and seeds. It can boost your mood by increasing energy production and also stimulating the production of serotonin—one of the brain’s feel-good chemicals. Healthy fats also boost overall health and help stabilize blood sugar. Pumpkin seeds and brazil nuts are particularly good choices.

Despite what your doctor may tell you and despite how depression makes you feel, you do not need drugs to get better. In many cases, these drugs could make you feel worse. By changing your diet and your lifestyle, you can begin to feel immediate relief from the grips of depression.

SOURCE: Elizabeth Renter and NaturalSociety

Six Bodily Tissues That Can Be Regenerated Through Nutrition

It may come as a surprise to some, especially those with conventional medical training, but the default state of the body is one of ceaseless regeneration. Without the flame-like process of continual cell turnover within the body – life and death ceaselessly intertwined – the miracle of the human body would not exist.

In times of illness, however, regenerative processes are overcome by degenerative ones. This is where medicine may perform its most noble feat, nudging the body back into balance with foods, herbs, nutrients, healing energies, i.e. healing intention. Today, however, drug-based medicine invariably uses chemicals that have not one iota of regenerative potential; to the contrary, they almost always interfere with bodily self-renewal in order to suppress the symptoms against which they are applied.

Despite the outright heretical nature of things which stimulate healing and regeneration vis-à-vis the conventional medical system which frowns upon, or is incredulous towards, spontaneous remission in favor of symptom suppression and disease management, over the course of the past few years of trolling MEDLINE we have collected a series of remarkable studies on the topic…

Nerve Regeneration

There are actually a broad range of natural compounds with proven nerve-regenerative effects. A 2010 study published in the journal Rejuvenation Research, for instance, found a combination of blueberry, green tea and carnosine have neuritogenic (i.e. promoting neuronal regeneration) and stem-cell regenerative effects in an animal model of neurodegenerative disease. Other researched neuritogenic substances include:

– Curcumin
– Lion’s Mane Mushroom
– Apigenin (compound in vegetables like celery)
– Blueberry
– Ginseng
– Huperzine
– Natto
– Red Sage
– Resveratrol
– Royal Jelly
– Theanine
– Ashwaganda
– Coffee (trigonelline)
There is another class of nerve-healing substances, known as remyelinating compounds, which stimulate the repair of the protective sheath around the axon of the neurons known as myelin, and which is often damaged in neurological injury and/or dysfunction, especially autoimmune and vaccine-induced demyelination disorders. It should also be noted that even music and falling in love have been studied for possibly stimulating neurogenesis, regeneration and/or repair of neurons, indicating that regenerative medicine does not necessary require the ingestion of anything; rather, a wide range of therapeutic actions may be employed to improve health and well-being, as well.

Liver Regeneration

Glycyrrhizin, a compound found within licorice, and which we recently featured as a powerful anti-SARS virus agent, has also been found to stimulate the regeneration of liver mass and function in the animal model of hepatectomy. Other liver regenerative substances include:

– Carvacrol (a volatile compound in oregano)
– Curcumin
– Korean Ginseng
– Rooibos
– Vitamin E

Beta-Cell Regeneration

Unfortunately, the medical community has yet to harness the diabetes-reversing potential of natural compounds. Whereas expensive stem cell therapies, islet cell transplants, and an array of synthetic drugs in the developmental pipeline are the focus of billions of dollars of research, annually, our kitchen cupboards and backyards may already contain the long sought-after cure for type 1 diabetes. The following compounds have been demonstrated experimentally to regenerate the insulin-producing beta cells, which are destroyed in insulin dependent diabetes, and which once restored, may (at least in theory) restore the health of the patient to the point where they no longer require insulin replacement.

– Gymenna Sylvestre (“the sugar destroyer”)
– Nigella Sativa (“black cumin”)
– Vitamin D
– Curcumin (from the spice Turmeric)
– Arginine
– Avocado
– Berberine (found in bitter herbs such as Goldenseal and Barberry)
– Bitter Melon
– Chard (yes, the green leafy vegetables)
– Corn Silk
– Stevia
– Sulforaphane (especially concentrated in broccoli sprouts)

Hormone Regeneration

There are secretagogues, which increase the endocrine glands’ ability to secrete more hormone, and there are substances that truly regenerate hormones which have degraded (by emitting electrons) into potentially carcinogenic “transient hormone” metabolites. One of these substances is vitamin C. A powerful electron donor, this vitamin has the ability to contribute electrons to resurrect the form and function of estradiol (estrogen; E2), progesterone, testosterone, for instance. In tandem with foods that are able to support the function of glands, such as the ovaries, vitamin C may represent an excellent complement or alternative to hormone replacement therapy.

Cardiac Cell Regeneration

Not too long ago, it was believed that cardiac tissue was uniquely incapable of being regenerated. A new, but rapidly growing body of experimental research now indicates that this is simply not true, and there is a class of heart-tissue regenerating compounds known as neocardiogenic substances. Neocardiogenic substances are able to stimulate the formation of cardiac progenitor cells which can differentiate into healthy heart tissue, and they include the following:

– Resveratrol
– Siberian Ginseng (Eleuthero)
– Red Wine Extract
– Geum Japonicum
– N-acetyl-cysteine
Another remarkable example of cardiac cell regeneration is through what is known as fetomaternal trafficking of stem cells through the placenta. In a recent article we discussed the amazing process known as “fetal microchimerism” by which the fetus contributes stem cells to the mother which are capable of regenerating her damaged heart cells, and possibly a wide range of other cell types.

Cartilage/Joint/Spine Regeneration

Curcumin and resveratrol have been shown to improve recovery from spinal cord injury. Over a dozen other natural compounds hold promise in this area, which can be viewed on our Spinal Cord Injury page. As far as degenerative joint disease, i.e. osteoarthritis, there are a broad range of potentially regenerative substances, with 50 listed on our osteoarthritis research page.
Ultimately, regenerative medicine threatens to undermine the very economic infrastructure that props up the modern, drug-based and quite candidly degenerative medical system. Symptom suppression is profitable because it guarantees both the perpetuation of the original underlying disease, and the generation of an ever-expanding array of additional, treatment-induced symptoms.
This is the non-sustainable, infinite growth model which shares features characteristic of the process of cancer itself – a model, which by its very nature, is doomed to fail and eventually collapse. Cultivating diets, lifestyles and attitudes conducive to bodily regeneration can interrupt this pathological circuit, and help us to attain the bodily freedom that is a precondition for the liberation of the human soul and spirit, as well.

SOURCE: Sayer Ji – GreedMedInfo.com and UnderGroundHealth.com

Three of the Worst Foods for Bloating

Did you know that at any given moment, the bulges and rolls that are taunting you in the mirror are not excess body fat, but unnecessary bloat? Bloat affects everyone from time to time and it is not, as many people believe, excess water retention. In fact, bloating is caused by gas build up in the abdomen.

In addition to ruining the silhouette of your cocktail dress, bloating can be extremely uncomfortable. If you are looking to avoid bloating, there are three type of foods that you might want to consider avoiding: dairy, junk food, and carbonated beverages.

1. Dairy

 Dairy is delicious and part of a wholesome and balanced diet. However, eating too much dairy can cause uncomfortable and unflattering bloating. There is a substantial subset of the population that is lactose intolerant, but doesn’t realize it. These people are most likely to experience bloating after drinking milk, eating cheese, or enjoying ice cream. This is due to the fact that lactase, an enzyme present in all dairy products, irritates the digestive tract and causes gas.

If you struggle with feeling bloated after eating dairy products, try going two weeks dairy-free. You will love how much trimmer and healthier you will feel when you aren’t bloated all the time.

2. Junk Food

We all already know that junk food is not a food group that we should consume on the regular. However, many people fall into the trap of allowing themselves to have small amounts of junk food each and every day. They justify this with the knowledge that, calorically speaking, their junk food habit is only a very small part of their daily intake.

Even if you are consuming only a very small portion of junk food daily, you could still be upping your risk for belly bloat. The sodium and sugar in junk food is a recipe for true bloating disaster, so choosing to snack on fruit, like watermelon or pineapple, instead will go a long way towards slimming down your silhouette.

3. Carbonated Beverages

As is the case with most things that are bad for us, we all know that soda should be forced out of our lives and refrigerators. A can of soda really is just 12 ounces of empty calories, but that does not stop millions of Americans from guzzling them down.

In addition to all the other nasty health risks, carbonated beverages are also a major contributor to bloating. The gasses in the drink build up in your digestive tract and can lead to that uncomfortable feeling that we all know so well.

And it isn’t just the full-calorie sodas that can cause bloat! Any form of carbonated beverage, including beer and seltzer, can cause bloating. You are far better off switching to iced tea or water.

Bloating happens to everyone, but for many it can be prevented by avoiding the things that cause bloating. If you are looking to turn around the way you look and feel about yourself and your waistline, cut out dairy, junk food and carbonated beverages. You will be amazed by the results!


Sources: Fiora Stevens and Daily Health Post

• http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/amanda-garbutt/foods-that-make-you-bloat_b_1938957.html
• http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/10-flat-belly-tips
• http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/amanda-garbutt/foods-that-make-you-bloat_b_1938957.html#slide=1601827
• http://www.marieclaire.com/health-fitness/advice/water-rich-foods-to-beat-bloat
• http://www.prevention.com/prevent/how-prevent-bloating
• http://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/2012/11/21/a-taxonomy-of-tummy-bloating

Patent confirms that Aspartame is the excrement of GM bacteria

In 1999, The Independent published an article entitled "World's top sweetener is made with GM bacteria," which revealed that Monsanto was knowingly adding aspartame to soft drinks in the United States - and that aspartame is made from GM bacteria.

This report, which remains one of the earliest disclosures on aspartame in a mainstream newspaper, received little attention after its publication - possibly because its implications were underestimated at the time - and it has long been forgotten.

Since 1999, the world has become a little more attentive to Monsanto and aspartame, but ignorance still abounds about the latter's genesis. While more and more people are starting to awaken to aspartame's destructive effects on our health, do they know how it is actually made? Fortunately, a 1981 patent for aspartame production, once confined to the drawers of patent offices, is now available online for everyone to see - and it confirms everything that Monsanto was happy to tell us in 1999 before their meteoric growth necessitated greater prudence.

The production process

The patent, which is entitled Process for producing aspartame and is credited to Bahl, Rose, and White, summarizes the process as follows:

"The artificial sweetener aspartame, a dipeptide with the formula Asp-Phe-me, is produced using a cloned micrcorganism [sic]. A DNA which codes for a large stable peptide comprised of the repeating amino acid sequence (Asp-Phe)n is inserted into a cloning vehicle which in turn is introduced into a suitable host microorganism. The host microorganism is cultured and the large peptide containing the repeating Asp-Phe sequence is harvested therefrom. The free carboxyl group of the large peptide is benzylated and then hydrolysed to benzyl Asp-Phe dipeptides. This dipeptide is methylated and then debenzylated to form aspartame."

This scientific jargon obfuscates (perhaps deliberately) a truly disturbing process:

1.) 'Cloned microorganisms' (which the patent later reveals to be genetically modified E. coli) are cultivated in tanks whose environments are tailored to help them thrive.

2.) The well-fed E. coli cultures defecate the proteins that contain the aspartic acid-phenylalanine amino acid segment needed to make aspartame.

3.) The proteins containing the Asp-Phe segments are 'harvested' (i.e. lab assistants collect the bacteria's feces).

4.) The feces are then treated. This includes a process of methylation (adding an excess of the toxic alcohol, methanol, to the protected dipeptide).

While common sense dictates that this abomination doesn't belong anywhere near our bodies, the patent's authors made no secret about their belief that aspartame constitutes a safe and nutritious sweetener:

"Aspartame is not only sweeter than sucrose, but is preferable as a food to sucrose. While sucrose can provide the body with little more than energy, aspartame is composed of amino acids, the building blocks of body proteins, and like other proteins is broken down by the digestive enzymes in the stomach to its constituent amino acids thus providing nutritive value. [...] For these reasons, aspartame holds significant promise in replacing sugar as a sweetener."

So there we have it: An official document that not only reveals the shocking truth behind aspartame production, but also freely admits that it was intended for mass consumption as a sucrose substitute. Therefore, the next time someone claims that your reservations about this sweetener are unfounded, direct them to this patent - the truth behind aspartame is now in plain view.

SOURCE: Michael Ravensthorpe and Natural News

http://www.independent.co.uk

http://www.freepatentsonline.com

http://science.naturalnews.com

Healthy Eating or Illness

Health Benefits of Aloe Vera

 

Aloe Vera contains: vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin E, folic acid, copper, iron, sodium, calcium, zinc, potassium, chromium, magnesium and manganese,

The importance of a healthy digestive system for enhanced immunity

A healthy gut is a sign of overall health and well-being. Science has established that there is a definitive link between the brain and the gut, which is why the gut has been rightly named "the second brain".

Expressions such as "butterflies in my stomach" and "gut wrenching" are actually saying more than what we read on the surface. Whether one's tummy is in knots over a speech or one lacks the guts to undertake something, the fact remains: We think and feel with our guts as much as we do with our brains. Isn't it logical, then, that a strong and healthy gut will spawn a healthy body and strong mind?

[....]

A recent scientific study in Nutrition in Clinical Practice shows that the micro organism or gut flora living in the human intestines form a network of natural controls that regulate mood, appetite, body weight, nutrient absorption, stress and immune response. No surprise then that the human digestive tract is home to 70 percent of the immune system. Simply put, our every-day food can help or harm our mind-body health.


(Read the full story here .. it's an important one)

Beat irritable bowel syndrome naturally

[With thanks to NaturalNews.com]

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that involves spastic colon activity, bouts of constipation and diarrhea and abdominal bloating. IBS is on the rise with over 20 million Americans suffering from these symptoms on a regular basis. Beat IBS naturally with diet restrictions and superfoods.

The typical symptoms associated with IBS include chronic bloating, gas, constipation and diarrhea. The individual usually craves sweets, breads and/or caffeine/alcohol. They oftentimes have a history of antibiotic usage and may have unexplained joint pain and headaches. Chronic fatigue, lowered immunity and depression are often associated with IBS as well.

 

IBS and dysbiosis

The digestive tract is loaded with trillions of microorganisms that form a natural ecosystem commonly called the gut flora. This ecosystem is designed to be symbiotic in that it benefits both the individual and the microbes. Certain lifestyle stressors throw off the natural symbiosis and cause a rise in pathogenic microbes, chronic gut inflammation and damage to the gut lining.

When the gut flora is damaged from environmental toxins such as antibiotic usage, chlorinated water, industrial meat, processed food and drinks, etc., it allows for the pathogenic species to take control. This rise of pathogenic microbes is called dysbiosis or abnormal bacterial balance.

These pathogenic species eat through the intestinal wall and cause gaps in the gut lining. These gaps allow for large food particles, yeast, bacteria and environmental toxins to cross into the bloodstream. These things travel through the blood stream and lodge into joints, neural tissue such as the brain, the liver and other major organs.

 

Rebuild the intestinal wall

Rebuilding the intestinal wall begins by avoiding inflammatory foods. The most common food allergens include genetically modified ingredients, gluten, soy products, artificial food additives and flavorings, peanuts, eggs and pasteurized dairy. These foods should be avoided at all cost.

An anti-inflammatory diet that is rich in fermented foods and liquids and raw food-based nutrition is necessary. Fermented foods like traditional sauerkraut, kimchi, fermented veggies and raw cheese and amasai from 100 percent grass-fed cows should be staple parts of the diet. Fermented drinks like apple cider vinegar, coconut kefir, fermented herbal botanicals, kombucha and others should be used throughout the day.

These foods are extremely rich in enzymes, probiotics and key amino acids that help the beneficial microflora destroy pathogenic organisms in the body. These foods should be used as much as possible and a high quality probiotic supplements with 50+ billion CFUs are extremely beneficial.

Intermittent fasting for periods of 16-20 hours daily or weekly is very helpful in reducing inflammation and helping the gut heal faster. During the fasting period the individual should drink lots of clean water with anti-oxidant extracts such as lemon and light fermented drinks. Fermented ginger and oregano in an organic acid base with fresh squeezed lemon is an amazingly beneficial drink for one suffering with IBS.

 

Good fats, anti-oxidants and clean protein

The diet should be low in sugar and instead focus on phytonutrient-rich vegetables, low glycemic fruit and healthy fat sources like avocados, extra virgin olive oil and sprouted nuts and seeds. Grass-fed beef, bison, lamb, organic poultry and eggs and wild-caught fish offer essential fatty acids and other compounds that enhance hormone function and reduce inflammation.

Other great anti-inflammatory foods include coconut products, berries, and non-denatured whey protein from grass-fed cows. This protein source is loaded with L-glutamine and enhances cellular glutathione stores which are both necessary for rebuilding the gut and de-inflaming the body. Anti-inflammatory herbs such as turmeric, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, rosemary, and oregano among l-glutamineothers should be used as much as possible.

Consuming certain beverages will dehydrate the entire body

(From NaturalNews.com)

Beverages like coffee, soda and tea also typically contain caffeine. Caffeine is quite well known as a diuretic, which tends to pull water from the tissues of the body and sends it "express" through and out of the body, continuing the chronic body dehydration. Alcohol also shares the diuretic quality, so consuming beer and wine, though liquids, will accomplish the same dehydrating effect as the non-alcoholic beverages.

The average person loses about 90 ounces of water daily. Thus, the value to one's health of consuming half of their body weight in ounces of pure water daily is infinite. Here are just a few:

1. Water creates boundless energy in the body (throw away the energy drinks)
2. Water is the vehicle by which all nutrients are transported throughout the body
3. Water carries waste products away to the liver and kidneys for excretion
4. Water is a great preventer of constipation
5. Water works better than body lotion and baby oil at lubricating the skin
6. Water helps prevent PMS and some normal menstruation pains
7. Water can cut down food cravings and consequently reduce excessive eating
8. Water picks up toxic deposits throughout the body and clears them out
9. Water helps to maintain a normal sex drive
10. Water works to keep the body young and the skin supple and the mind fluid

(Full story)

The Vitamin D Guide

ENLARGED PICTURE URL: http://www.naturalnews.com/infographics/Infographic-The-Vitamin-D-Guide-1120.jpg

From NaturalNews.com

Eat Dark Chocolate And Live An Extra Year ... And Healthier

Eat chocolate and live an extra year | Mail Online

Did you know that a couple of squares of good-quality dark chocolate contain nearly four times the antioxidants of a plum or a handful of Brussels sprouts, writes Anthea Gerrie. Here is the latest research on the health benefits of chocolate with 70 per cent cocoa solids or higher.

For your heart
Research undertaken at the University of Aberdeen shows that flavanols, a form of antioxidant present in chocolate with a high cocoa mass, help prevent the activation of platelets in the blood, which contribute to heart disease.

Another study conducted in Dusseldorf and at the University of California at Davis suggests consumption of flavanols can even reverse some of the artery damage caused by smoking.

And last year Professor Carl Keen, of the University of California, reported that eating small amounts of chocolate could have as powerful an anti-clotting effect on the blood as taking aspirin.

For your brain
Chocolate is one of the richest sources of magnesium, a mineral essential for brain health, according to the Journal Of Medicinal Food.

Research at Cornell University in New York also found it contains an antioxidant called epicatechin that may protect against the amyloid plaques which cause Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases.

Research at the Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia suggests chocolate can also boost memory, attention span, reaction time and problem solving skills by increasing blood flow to the brain.

For your immune system

A Japanese study published in the British Journal Of Cancer last year states that phenolics, naturally occurring antioxidants found in chocolate, boost the immune system, and another 2009 report by the Cancer Research Society of Hawaii notes that a further distinctive ingredient, procyanidins, was credited with the same effect in animal studies.

For stress control
Eating 40 grams of dark chocolate every day for two weeks reduces stress hormones in those with moderate to high anxiety, according to a study published in the American Chemical Society’s Journal Of Proteome Research. . . .

And for longevity...

A study of nearly 8,000 Harvard graduates conducted over 18 years revealed that those who ate chocolate lived almost a year longer than those who did not. The bad news is they were all men – certain benefits of chocolate are believed to be more effective on males than females, for reasons no scientist has yet figured out.

A summary of the health benefits of good chocolate and a list of published scientific studies can be found in The Chocolate Therapist, by Julie Pech, Wiley, £9.99.

How to kick the soda habit for good

Original article at NaturalNews.com and reprinted with thanks. Author: Jonathan Benson

Millions of Americans are hopelessly addicted to soda pop
beverages, whether they be the sugary varieties loaded with
high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS), or the chemical varieties loaded with
aspartame and sucralose. Both are harmful, of course, and can lead to a
future filled with chronic pain and disease. But if you are one of the
many who feels unable to make it through the day without at least one
can of your favorite soda, there is hope for kicking the habit
completely. Here are some helpful ways to wean yourself off soda for
good:

1) Squeeze citrus fruit into fizzy water. One of the
most obvious, but often not considered, ways to end the soda habit is
to gradually start substituting healthy carbonated beverages in its
place. An excellent soda alternative is carbonated water mixed with
freshly-squeezed lime, lemon, or orange, for example. Not only will the
fresh citrus help stimulate your salivary glands and digestive system in
preparation for food, but it will also add an extra kick of
health-promoting vitamin C into your diet -- and it also tastes great!

If your taste buds have become so accustomed to the intense sweetness of
soda that this type of citrus-infused concoction tastes bland, try
adding some liquid stevia extract to help sweeten things up a bit. Over
time, you can gradually decrease the amount of added stevia until you no
longer have to add any at all, if you so choose. Or if you prefer, you
can safely continue to add as much stevia as you would like, as the
natural extract contains no sugar and will not negatively affect your
blood sugar levels.

2) Make homemade lemonade, iced tea sweetened with stevia or agave.
If carbonation is not a requirement for your beverage cravings, you can
also try making pitchers of homemade lemonade or iced tea, and carrying
it around in a glass or stainless steel bottle with you throughout the
day. Many people who try to kick the soda habit
cold turkey have trouble switching immediately to water, so iced tea
and lemonade can work well as transition beverages. Just be sure to
sweeten your tea or lemonade with stevia extract, agave nectar, honey,
or evaporated cane juice rather than refined sugar.

3) Blend green tea, yerba mate with fruit juice. Since caffeine is a major factor in soda addiction,
it is important to find an effective caffeine replacement, as cutting
out caffeine completely and abruptly may cause withdrawal symptoms. Try
mixing two parts club soda with one part green tea or yerba mate, and
add a splash of fresh fruit juice
for flavor. The caffeine content in both green tea and yerba mate is
far more balanced than it is in soda, and is accompanied by nutrient
cofactors that help modulate its effects on the body, so mixing it with
other blended soda alternatives can help quell the craving.

4) Start making fresh juice in the morning.
If you want a real energy kick without the jitters, you can eventually
phase out the caffeine altogether and stick primarily with fresh juice
out of the juicer. The fresh, enzyme-rich juice of beets, apples, and
celery, for instance, delivers an instant infusion of nutrients directly
into your system, which will help supercharge your day and make soda
seem like "chopped liver," so to speak.

Be sure to check out the
Health Ranger's living juice recipe to learn more about the energizing
and healing potential of raw juicing:
http://www.naturalnews.com/028100_self_healing_fresh_juice.html

5) Stick with 'natural' sodas made from wholesome ingredients.
If you find yourself still craving soda from time to time even after
experimenting with these recommended options, you can make the conscious
decision to buy only natural sodas made with healthier ingredients such
as natural fruit extracts and evaporated cane juice, a healthier and
more complete form of cane sugar. The Austin, Texas-based Maine Root soda
brand, for instance, is certified fair trade, and is made with organic
evaporated cane juice and contains no caramel color or other toxic
additives. And every flavor the company offers is made with real
ingredients and spices rather than artificial flavor chemicals (http://maineroot.com/).