Sacred Eden - July 2011 Magazine

July 2011

Combine Foods Wisely, page 15

Summer smarts­­–

• Treat those Insect Bites and Stings • Quick Snacks for Kids • Keep Sunburn at Bay

Anti-Oxidants and Exercise: Today’s Fountain of Youth

Managing Diabetes through your Diet, page 17

Managing Diabetes through your Diet, page 17

The Top 10 Secrets of the Healthiest People in the World

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: The Lowdown

It takes more than just rest to battle this condition. The facts, inside!

Publisher’s Note

A

h, summer.

Sun, sand, picnics, long swims…summer is a season for everyone. If spring is about renewal, summer is about celebration. And boy, are people going to party these bright, warm months.

Making the Most out of

Your Summer

But nature finds a balance in everything, so summer also has its more sinister side. Skin cancer, insect bites, sunburns, and well, perhaps general exhaustion from all the revelry, are possibilities that can turn our sweet summer months into a sentence of illness. We hope this issue can be a gentle reminder of what to do to prevent the discomfort, and even the actual onset, of summer’s top health concerns.

The most obvious problems come from the reason we enjoy summer most: the sun. More than a million people in the United States are diagnosed with nonmelanoma skin cancer each year, and these numbers are on the rise. Nonmelanoma skin cancers comprise more than one third of all cancers, with basal cell carcinoma accounting for 75 percent to 80 percent of these.

This starts, however, with Increased sun exposure and artificial tanning contribute to this epidemic. While getting enough sunlight is essential to one’s health (vitamin D helps against bone loss), too much exposure to the sun’s UV rays can cause, at the very least, sunburn. It may be defined as an inflammation of skin tissue, but chronic sun overexposure and burning may cause the skin to become rough and wrinkled. Long-term excessive exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun may destroy the epidermis, or the outer layer of the skin and damage the tiny blood vessels underneath.

When the skin is burned, protein production in the skin may be hampered because of the blood vessels are dilate and leak fluids.

This condition may lead to Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) damage.

DNA contains are essential in the functioning of all known living organisms. Chronic damage in the DNA may lead to cancer. Heard enough? You’ll learn more on page 9.

Summer is a great time to enjoy other activities that are otherwise impossible in the other seasons, but one must also take great care that these don’t take toll on our already-stressed out bodies. In this issue, we have a feature on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (page 11), that all-too-real condition wrought by the pace and lifestyle of modern times.

Fatigue is omnipresent in many people’s lives today. Lack of sleep for busy parents, students, and others trying to find ways to fit all of their “to do’s” into one 24 hour period is simply something that modern man learns to deal with—throw in this mix the partying that happens during summer and what you get could result into a fatigue that cannot be remedied by a good night’s sleep.

The upsides to summer outweigh the downsides though: for families, this means more time with the kids (healthy recipes for them can be found on pages 4 and 19), garden meals with friends (check out the best way to combine foods on page 15), and trips to the spa, where the luxury of massages can be had (find out what massage you most need and why on page 5).

Summer may not be all about sunshine, but if you’re smart about it, this season can be your fullest, ever.

Here’s to more Wealth, Health, and Happiness.

The Sacred Eden Team

Table of Contents 4

1

Features

A Note From the Publishers

Regulars

Healthy Solutions

3

Natural Health Remedies for Insect Bites and Stings; Prepare Healthy Meals In Minutes; Summer Snacks Can Keep Kids Happy And Healthy; Tips For Maintaining Digestive Health; 4 Easy Health and Fitness Tips

Body

5

The Secrets to Anti-Aging and Weight Loss. The proverbial fountain of youth is not as elusive as you think.

It’s all about anti-oxidants and exercise—and their role in hormone production

6

The Benefits of Massage. Feeling a bit beat? Get a nice rubdown today and have your woes and aches literally kneaded away

Body>Beauty

7

Habits For Better Skincare. Don’t take your skin health for granted this summer. Go beyond buying the most popular products and nourish it from within

8

The Top 10 Secrets the Healthiest People in the World Know. You’re in the dark no longer! Read through and discover what you may have been missing out on your wellness regimens

19

The Wonders of Papaya. Ripe or unripe, raw or cooked, papaya helps prevent constipation and other health ailments

7

9

Sunburn: An Important Skin Issue Don’t let your summer be ruined by sunburn! Follow these tips to treat UVoverexposed skin

9

11

11

13

13

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: The Facts You Should Know If you’ve been feeling more than “just tired” for days—even months—at a stretch, you may have this condition

The Disturbing Truth About Diabetes You may not even know you have it, but once you find out, tailor your diet to manage it and its symptoms.

Here’s how

15

15

The Magic of Food Combining Eating is more than just putting food in your mouth—it takes thought and planning to fully utilize all nutrients involved

17

Keep Your Bladder Active and Bacteria-Free A simple healthy hygiene regimen can save you the pain and complications of full-blown UTI

17

HealthySolutions Natural Health Remedies for Insect Bites and Stings

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t’s summer! Don’t let those nasty insect bites get to you. Providing you aren’t overly sensitive to insect bites and stings, these natural solutions should get you through the discomfort:

. For a bee sting, stir a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda in a glass of water until dissolved; then use a cotton wool bud to dip into the solution wetting the area, and then place it directly on the sting securing it with sticky tape. . For a wasp sting, dip the cotton wool bud into vinegar; as with a bee sting, wet the area first, and then place it directly on the sting securing it with sticky tape. . If you have papaya onhand, place a slice on the sting area. Papaya has enzymes that bring down inflammation and swelling. . Garlic or onion rubbed on the sting site will do the job as well. . Crush an aspirin, adding to water making a paste, apply to the sting to reduce the swelling.

(WARNING: if you have an aspirin allergy DO NOT apply aspirin ever! And DO NOT use aspirin to treat children). . Applying sugar works just as well to bring down the swelling. . Try rubbing calendula cream to reduce itching or a few drops of lavender oil or tea tree oil.

Ticks If you take a walks through forests, woodlands, meadows or moors, be aware that ticks attach to your skin; and as the little vampire tick bites and feeds off your blood they may infect you with Lyme disease, a bacteria called “Borrelia burgdorferi” which must be treated by a doctor.

If you find a tick on your body, use tweezers as close to the skin as you can, gently pull until it free; try not to break the head or it will stay latched to your skin and cause infection.

Once the tick is free, apply an antiseptic.

What to do about those mosquito bites, flee bites and other biting insects: . Don't scratch. . Applying an ice cube to the bite will reduce itching. . Bites can be treated with essential oils. Apply a few drops of eucalyptus oil, clove oil or peppermint oil on a cotton wool bud. . Roll-on or spray deodorants are known to work--give it a try. . Check your toothpaste label; if it has peppermint, smear it on the bite.

How do you prevent these pesky parasite's bites and stings?

Eat a couple of cloves of garlic daily before and when you go outside. Your sweat glands release the garlic smell repelling most insects.

Don't like garlic?

You can use a repellent called Permethrin, a natural insecticidal property originally found in chrysanthemums. Permethrin is now sold in a spray can as a synthesized man-made insecticide.

Spray it on the clothes you plan to go out in and hang them to dry. Make sure they are not light, bright colored clothes as they will only attract the little varmints!

Tips For Helping To Maintain Digestive Health

D

id you know that over 70 million Americans suffer from digestive issues such as irregularity? According to a recent national study, one of the more common digestive issues--irregularity--affects about 26 million Americans. Irregularity can impact a person’s overall well-being and have a negative effect on his or her quality of life.

Symptoms of irregularity include bloating and heaviness, as well as pain and trouble going to the bathroom. These symptoms can become particularly problematic and inconvenient.

There are a number of ways to help deal with irregularity, including drinking water, exercising and eating high-fiber foods. In addition, probiotics, meaning “good for life,” are living microorganisms, which upon ingestion in sufficient quantities provide additional health benefits beyond basic nutrition.

Bifidus Regularisis clinically proven to help regulate the digestive system in two weeks, when eaten daily as part of a healthy and balanced diet.

“Irregularity is a source of true discomfort for many people who experience feelings of being heavy and bloated-a person’s entire day can be ruined by even a mild digestive problem,” said Michael Roizen, MD, Dean of the School of Medicine and Vice President for Biomedical Sciences at SUNY Upstate.

Try these additional tips for dealing with irregularity: Keep Moving Doctors say exercising just three times a week can help people’s digestive health. If you can’t make it to the gym, try to at least add more movement into your day. Take a quick walk at lunchtime and choose the stairs instead of the elevator. Every little bit helps.

Have A Drink Dehydration can sometimes worsen or even cause irregularity. Doctors recommend people drink at least eight glasses of water a day. Try keeping a water bottle at your desk at work or carry one with you at home. Doing so can help you remember to drink throughout the day.

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Prepare Healthy Meals In Minutes

4 Easy Health and Fitness Tips

By Kevin Newman #1 Drink more water. All too often Americans are borderline dehydrated and so their bodies are working on the water starvation reflex and not flushing the toxins and junk out.

* Fresh fruits are an essential part of a healthy diet, and they’re easy to incorporate into your daily routine. Make a fresh fruit smoothie for breakfast instead of a sweet roll, or try a smoothie for an evening snack instead of ice cream, cookies or chips. * Soup made with fresh ingredients can make a light but satisfying entrée. Using a commercial-grade blender, you can create a variety of recipes in minutes--from a hearthealthy tomato soup to a delicious squash soup--and add more vegetables to your diet. * The USDA food pyramid recommends 5 to 8 ounces of grains per day, with an emphasis on whole grains. A commercial-grade blender cracks whole grains into flour for creating delicious cereals, pancakes and healthy homemade breads. * Offer fresh and healthy appetizer options at a party. Salsa or red pepper hummus on summer squash rounds are tasty ways to celebrate any occasion.

#2 Eat more often. I bet you thought I was going to say eat less. While it is true that to lose weight you need to eat less calories than you expend...you need to eat more often to get the metabolic furnace stoked up and burning right. Get it out of starvation mode. So start the day off with breakfast. Even an instant breakfast drink and a piece of fruit as we head out the door in the morning. #3 Move more. Depending on your physical condition you need to be moving more. Use the stairs rather than the elevator, park farther out from the office or the store, go for a walk around the block, go dancing, play with your kids. Make it fun. Running is not the only way to burn more calories. #4 Finally, determine your “Why”. Decide why you want to discard fat. Make your reason big enough to motivate you through the slumps that invariably happen.

Summer Snacks Can Keep Kids Happy And Healthy

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ummer typically means kids will be spending more time around the house. Idle time sometimes means kids will be poking around the kitchen in hopes of finding a quick and easy snack-often an unhealthy one.

To help keep kids healthy, be sure to keep the refrigerator and pantry stocked with nutritious snacks that kids will enjoy. Start with a wide range of choices from the milk, fruit, vegetable and grains food groups.

“Smart snacking is a great way to meet nutrient requirements that may be missed at mealtime,” said Andrea Garen, a registered dietitian at Dairy Council of California. “If chosen carefully, snacks can promote good health without adding too many calories.”

* Plan ahead and buy healthy snacks when you grocery shop for the week. * Pre-portion your child’s snacks into small plastic bags to grab on the go. * Keep healthy snacks in a specific spot in your refrigerator or cupboard, and let kids help themselves. * Combine snacks from two or more food groups, like raspberry yogurt, low-fat chocolate milk and a banana in a blender for a cool, refreshing treat.

Apple Bagel Sandwich Ingredients: 1/2 whole-wheat bagel (or bagel of your choice) 1 slice Cheddar cheese 1 apple (green is better) A dash of cinnamon Preparation: 1. Slice the apple so that you make a round apple slice. Next, put the slice of cheese on top of the bagel half. Place the apple slice on top of the cheese and sprinkle some cinnamon on top of the apple.

Garen adds that encouraging outside play, a refreshing dip in the pool and other physical activities are also part of the equation to keep kids healthy.

2. Bake on a cookie sheet in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes at 350 degrees, but watch to make sure you don’t burn it. It’s done when the cheese starts to melt.

Some snacking tips that make a parent’s job easier:

Total Preparation Time: less than 15 minutes. www.SacredEden.com

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The Secrets to

Anti-Aging and

A

Weight Loss

The proverbial fountain of youth is not as elusive as you think. It’s all about anti-oxidants and exercise—and their role in hormone production

nyone who has reached 30 and has tried to lost weight has realized that it gets harder and harder. They start exercising and don’t see any improvement. They eat less, and they still don’t achieve any significant change. What they don’t take into consideration is the aging impact on their body.

There are more than 20 theories about aging but the most researched one is the “Free Radicals” theory. Free radicals are atoms or molecules in which at least one electron is unpaired, causing an instability (a stable atom contains a balance of paired electrons which encircle the nucleus).

This instability causes the electrons to be very reactive--they bond easily with healthy molecules and damage them. According to the free radicals theory, this damage is what causes you to age and become vulnerable to certain diseases.

The most common free radical is an oxygen radical, which occurs in the mitochondria when an unpaired electron interacts with oxygen.

Mitochondria are your cellular power plants, the tiny structures in your cells that provide energy in the chemical form of ATP. This is your “fuel” for all your life functions. It helps your heart to pump and your lungs to distribute oxygen when you breathe.

When free radicals are formed in the mitochondria, they reduce the power of your cellular power plants to produce energy efficiently.

You are not running out of energy because you’re aging. You are aging because you are running out of energy. Free radicals gradually shut down your power as if you are slowly turning off a light dimmer.

Free Radicals and Energy Reduction are the Roots of Most Aging Problems Without energy, your metabolic rate drops, causing you to accumulate more body fat. You are losing muscle mass, bone mass, facial collagen and you are tired even when you have over-slept.

Energy reduction at the cellular level also decreases the hormone secretion in your glands.

The most abundant hormone in the body is DHEA. It is known as the “mother of all hormones”

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because it is involved in manufacturing of other hormones, especially the sexual hormones estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.

DHEA peeks at the age of 20 but afterwards declines sharply so at age 45 you have 50 percent of your high peak DHEA, and at the age of 65 you have only 10-20 percent of what you had at age 20. As the mother of all hormones DHEA represents a decline in other hormones as Human Growth Hormone, (HGH), Testosterone (in men), estrogen and progesterone (in women).

Studies show that as lower your hormone level is, as higher your tendency to accumulate fat.

Anti-Aging Can Support Weight Loss by Neutralizing Free-Radicals The most common way to fight free radicals is by increasing significantly antioxidants in your body. Your body produces antioxidants naturally or it gets it from food like fruit and vegetables.

Antioxidants are form of enzymes that attack free radicals by attaching to the unpaired electron and neutralize it. There are two kinds of antioxidants: The first type patrols the body, blocking the formation of free radicals.

The second type disarms the already existing free radical before they bind with healthy molecules.

Studies show that today’s fruit and vegetables are not rich in antioxidants as few decades ago.

It is impossible to get the recommended level without supplements as multi-vitamin, vitamin C, and vitamin E in the right dosages. But this by itself doesn’t make the difference. No one loses weight just by taking antioxidants.

You can increase your cells energy if you exercise regularly and supplement your food with energizers. Energizers are vitamins and minerals that increase the energy production in your cells.

Well-studied energizers are Lipoic Acid, Chromium Picolinate, Coenzyme Q-10, and others. Cardio training is the best exercise to boost your cellular energy. Cardio training is what you may know as aerobic exercise like jogging, cycling, rowing or other activities that ramp your heart rate.

Anti-Aging Can Support Weight Loss by Increasing Hormone Level and Accelerating Metabolic Rate An expensive and still questionable way to increase your hormones is Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Hormone replacement therapy must be recommended and supervised by a doctor. But criticizers recommend staying away and not messing with the side effect risks of hormones.

You can boost your hormone level significantly without a doctor and for free if you engage in resistance training like free weights, weight machines, bands, cables or even body weight.

Studies show without a doubt that resistance training stimulates secretion of HGH and testosterone. But that’s not all. Resistance training has many other benefits. It helps to gain muscle and reverses the aging damage of losing muscle.

The more muscles you have, the more fat you burn because muscle growth accelerates your metabolic rate.

Five Common Types Of Massage Have you ever wanted to go for a massage therapy session but didn’t know what type of massage to get? Massage therapy is a very diverse field of work and there are many types to choose from for achieving full-body stress relief to highly targeted methods that relieve muscular pain and dysfunction. Here are five of the most popular types:

The

Benefits of

Massage Feeling a bit beat? Get a nice rubdown today and have your woes and aches literally kneaded away

T

herapeutic massage is the use of massage to heal mental and bodily aches and strains. Also known as manipulative therapy, therapeutic massage provides physical and psychological benefits. Multiple types of therapeutic massage exist, utilizing various techniques and concentrating on various parts or problems of the body. Hippocrates is known to have said: “A physician must be experienced in many things but assuredly also in rubbing." Thus, the father of modern medicine confirmed his belief in the benefits of massage to medicine.

Physically, the effects of massage include injury healing, pain management and circulation improvement. The psychological aspects, through muscle manipulation leading to tension relief achieved by manipulating the muscles, are known to relieve stress. Therapeutic massage, through the application of manual and/or mechanical-aid pressure to the soft tissues of the body, eases much of the accumulated tension in the muscles. This tension relief is extremely helpful in situations when time is the best medicine.

For example, strained and pulled muscles will only cure after time and through patience; massage can be extremely helpful in making the former go by faster and the keeping the latter with you. Muscle aches and pains, which accumulate as a result of stress, are greatly soothed by massage. A continuous regimen of massage therapy can reduce the aches and pains in the long term as well as the short term. Bad circulation, which can be the result of many factors, can be increased through massage. Of course, a healthy lifestyle consisting of a correct diet and sufficient exercise is needed to maintain healthy circulation, but massage does stimulate the blood vessels near the skin, thus improving circulation nearest to the skin.

The range of therapeutic massage that exists is quite varied. For the athlete, there is the sport massage--the manipulation of muscles and tissues to keep them from tenseness and soreness--which reduces the risk of injury. For the injured athlete (or any injured person, for that matter), there exists the remedial massage, which concentrates on the injured area, and probably will include physical therapy to rebuild those muscles. Reflexology, derived from an Asian form, is massaging the meridian points through the feet and/or hands to achieve relaxation throughout the body, as points in our hands and feet are connected to points throughout our body. Swedish massage focuses on deep massage of the muscles in the direction of blood flow to the heart. This type of massage is both beneficial for muscles and the circulation system. These above-listed types are a few of the various methods of therapeutic massage.

Depending on personal needs and injuries, the specific therapeutic massage best for the specific need should be chosen.

1. Swedish Massage. This is the most common type of massage in the United States and perhaps the world. Swedish massage is known for its long gliding strokes, kneading strokes, friction strokes, and percussion as well as joint movements that feel great while improving range of motion. It’s most often thought of as a “spa” type of massage but it’s much more than that. Swedish massage is great for reducing stress, improving circulation, improving range of motion of your joints, and helping you actually feel better in your own skin. Swedish massage can range from light pressure to a heavier pressure depending on your comfort level.

2. Deep Tissue Massage. Right behind Swedish massage in popularity and availability is the Deep Tissue Massage. This massage shares some strokes and techniques with Swedish massage and is used to root out chronic tension in the deeper musculature and connective tissues that contribute to pain and loss of range of motion in joints. While some massage therapy practitioners use a heavier, sometimes uncomfortable pressure in Deep Tissue Massage, it should be noted that a more moderate pressure can reach deep tissues and achieve great results with little discomfort.

3. Hot Stone Massage. This type of massage is probably the most relaxing and luxurious massage being given today. Heated basalt stones are added to the massage and are used by the massage therapist to perform a mini heat treatment as well as gliding massage strokes that seem to melt away stress and tension.

4. Sports Massage. Just like it sounds, Sports Massage is geared toward athletes at every level from professional to the “weekend warrior” and those who strive for a higher level of fitness. Rather than a specific form of massage, Sports Massage is generally a combination of massage techniques tailored to the athlete’s needs. The Sports Massage might be applied to one area to relieve pain or might be more general in nature to assure overall performance.

5. Neuromuscular Therapy. Aso called “NMT” or Neuromuscular Massage, Neuromuscular Therapy is a well known massage technique for relieving muscular pain and muscle spasm throughout the body. Neuromuscular Therapy is effective with myofascial trigger points causing “referred” pain that originates from someplace other than where it’s felt. This technique uses very targeted compression and friction massage techniques, positioning, and stretching to release the myofascial trigger points in muscles as well as restrictions in tendons, muscular attachments, and sometimes fascia surrounding the muscle.

Beauty

Habits For Better

Skincare Don’t take your skin health for granted this summer.

Go beyond buying the most popular products and nourish it from within

M

ost people have the idea that having clear and healthy skin costs a fortune. This is misleading--you may use the most expensive skin care products money can buy, but these can't guarantee a blemish-free and clear complexion. Why? Because skincare does not start with the products you use or the skin treatments you undergo. Skin care depends on your habits and their effects on your skin. Below are some habits you can do to achieve better skin: Rehydrate your skin You can slather on jars after jars of moisturizers on your face but these won't do any difference on your skin if it is dehydrated internally. Not drinking at least eight glasses of water daily can dehydrate your skin and make it lose necessary moisture. Lack of moisture can make your skin lose its elasticity and suppleness. This can lead to a condition known as “elderly itch.” With this condition, your skin becomes rough and dry, hence, making it itch. This can lead to premature aging of the skin which can give it a leathery appearance.

Don’t touch your skin frequently Your facial skin is very sensitive compared to the skin on the rest of your body. Touching it frequently such as by picking, rubbing, or scratching can irritate it and cause breakouts. Your hands also come into contact with a lot of surfaces and can transfer bacteria on your skin, which can lead to cystic acne.

Use the right products Just because a product worked well on another person, does not mean that it will work great for you too. Choosing an inappropriate product for your skin type can worsen your skin's condition. For example, using an oil-based product for oily skin will make it oilier and prone to more breakouts.

Don’t wash your skin excessively

Opt for natural skin care

Ideally, your skin should only be washed at least once or twice a day. Washing your skin more than twice daily strips it off the necessary oils needed to maintain surface moisture. Aside from stripping your skin off its natural oils, overwashing can lead to irritation, dryness, and skin conditions like eczema.

Natural skin care and health products are often the best solutions because they usually do not contain harmful chemicals. A good ingredient to look for is aloe vera. Aloe vera is probably one of the most effective natural skin enhancers available.

It comes from the aloe vera plant leaf, which has a healing gel inside. Aloe gel is usually mixed with other ingredients to enhance its skin care and health properties.

Use sun protection For total protection, your skin needs at least SPF 30, moreso if you are going out between 10am to 4pm when the sun's rays are at their strongest.

Even if the day is cloudy, make it a point to wear sun protection since UV rays can penetrate clouds. Overexposure to the sun can cause skin discoloration, sunburns, dryness, and other skin conditions. Use sunscreen on your face, lips, and other exposed body parts. Additional sun protection like hats, sunglasses, and umbrellas also helps.

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Some all-natural products that contain aloe vera can be used to perform many tasks in one, such as cleansing, moisturizing, revitalizing, and nourishing the skin. They can also be used to protect the skin throughout the day from excessive sun exposure or other harmful elements. Even if using other skin care and health products, aloebased natural products can greatly enhance these to give you maximum skin health because they contain nutrients the skin cells require.

The Top

10

Secrets

You’re in the dark no longer! Read through and discover what you may have been missing out on your wellness regimens

the Healthiest People in the World Know

E

veryone desires to be in good health.

No one wants to suffer from sickness and disease. The fact is there are secrets the healthiest people in the world know that most people do not. Let's discover what the top 10 secrets are.

1. They eat organic fruits and vegetables.

The healthiest people in the world eat lots of fresh, organic, and raw fruits and vegetables. They also lightly steam their vegetables if they do not eat them raw. Eating four pieces of fresh, organic fruit and two big organic salads a day would be a good start for most people. Just doing these two things can help many medical conditions.

2. They use juice machines.

As most people know, the food supply is not packed with vital vitamins and minerals anymore.

While organic fruits and vegetables don't have all the necessary nutrients, they do have up to ten times the needed vitamins and minerals when compared to non-organic foods. Therefore, when organic fruits and vegetables are juiced, needed vitamins, minerals, and enzymes are consumed.

By Monique Hawkins

Drinking three to four glasses a day is best.

3. They eat lots of organic nuts and seeds.

4. They get lots of sunlight.

Sunlight has enormous health benefits for the body.

5. They eat organic fruit on a daily basis.

Organic apples are some of the best fruit to eat.

6. They use natural vitamin E. It is important not to use synthetic vitamin E products, but instead purchase all natural, full spectrum brands. Everyone is nutritionally deficit.

Taking vitamin E can prevent heart disease and alleviate depression. They also are many other benefits as well. The bottom line is supplementing with an all natural, full spectrum vitamin E product is a must.

7. They drink "miracle" juices.

There are fruits from certain parts of the world that can help heal many diseases. The fruits are typically are bottled since it is difficult to buy them

fresh and then juice them. These "miracle" juices are Noni, Mangosteen, Aloe Vera, and Acai Berry.

These juices provide super nutrition as well as cleanse and detoxify the body.

8. They use whole food supplements.

The healthiest people in the world know it is important to avoid cheap, synthetic vitamins and minerals. They realize concentrated real food has nutrients and living enzymes.

9. They use collodials daily.

These supplements include spirulina, whole food herbs, dehydrated juices, chorella, and sprouts.

10. They use oxygen water coolers.

Everyone's body is deficit in oxygen. The healthiest people in the world know that increasing the amounts of oxygen in their bodies alkalizes it and creates a healthy environment where disease can't reside. A good way for people to get their needed oxygen is through an oxygenated water cooler and not by purchasing it in a store. Using oxygenated water helps people feel full of energy and vitality.

Sunburn: An Important Skin Issue Don’t let your summer be ruined by sunburn! Follow these tips to treat UV-overexposed skin

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unlight is essential in the improvement of one's health. An adequate amount of sunlight is one of the primary sources of vitamin D which, in turn, helps protect against bone loss.

However, overexposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays may cause certain skin ailments like sunburn.

Sunburn is an inflammation of skin tissue due to overexposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. Chronic sun overexposure and burning may cause the skin to become rough and wrinkled. In the long run, overexposure also increases the risk of skin cancer.

However, there are many skin care products that might be used to treat this skin condition. But before deciding to use these products, the causes, symptoms, and treatments of sunburn should be well understood.

Sunburn develops when a person receives excessive sunlight or other sources of ultraviolet rays. It occurs because the body is not able to make enough protective pigments that are designed to protect the skin. Less than 15 minutes of sun exposure may lead to sunburn for light sensitive persons. Long-term excessive exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun may destroy the epidermis, or the outer layer of the skin and damage the tiny blood vessels underneath. When the skin is burned, protein production in the skin

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may be hampered because of the blood vessels are dilate and leak fluids. This condition may lead to Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) damage. DNA contains are essential in the functioning of all known living organisms. Chronic damage in the DNA may lead to cancer. Sunburn may cause the skin to turn red and blister. Signs and symptoms of sunburn may appear a few minutes or hours after exposure. Severe cases of sunburn may be accompanied with vomiting, fever, and collapse.

exposed to the sun. Skin experts advice individuals to reapply this product every two hours.

Treatment for sunburn may include the following:

Re-apply waterproof sunscreen after swimming more than 80 minutes, after toweling off, or after perspiring heavily;

• Aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen can help combat pain • Anesthetic creams or sprays containing benzocain and lidocain provide temporary relief • Antibacterial and antimicrobial soaps and antiseptics help prevent infection • Aloe-based skin care products soothe and cool overheated skin • Moisturizers can help keep your skin from drying out and tightening up Sunburn and other skin ailments can be prevented with the use of water-resistant sunscreen which contains sun protective factor (SPF) and other skin care products. An ounce of sunscreen should be applied 15-30 minutes before getting

Other things that should be remembered to prevent sunburn may include the following: Limit sun exposure to 15 minutes the first day, even if the weather is hazy, slowly increasing exposure daily; Re-apply sunscreen every two hours (more often if sweating or swimming);

Avoid the sun between 10 A.M. and 3 P.M.; Use waterproof sunscreen on legs and feet, since the sun can burn even through water; and Wear an opaque shirt in water, because reflected rays are intensified.

Skin care these days has become an essential part of a health regimen because of the health threats to the skin like sunburn. Taking care of the skin is essential in preventing the development of skin ailments like psoriasis, skin cancer, and other skin conditions. Understanding proper use of skin care products and maintaining appropriate sun exposure is essential in maintaining healthy skin.

Sunburn Home Remedies Each of us most likely has at least one memory of nasty sunburn. Whether experienced personally, or by a close family member or friend, the symptoms are likely to include anything from red hot skin ñ either tender or painful to touch, to nausea, dehydration, blistering and flaking or peeling of the skin.

As anyone who has experienced bad sunburn will verify, the amount of time spent causing the sunburn, is largely disproportionate to the length of time that can be spent suffering the consequences of its effects. In this respect, and depending on the severity of burning, -- pain and discomfort can persist for several days after the event, as the body works to heal and recover from the unprotected UV exposure.

One of the best home remedies for sun burn is to apply cold water to the affected areas.

This can be done by simply placing cold compressions on the area for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. If you are looking for a more longterm solution, you can soak in a bath of cold water. This may be a bit uncomfortable on the rest of your body, but it will feel great on your sunburn.

Another sunburn home remedy that is easy to follow includes nothing more than drinking a lot of water. By loading up on water you will be fighting dehydration, and at the same time speeding up the healing process.

Unless the symptoms are severe, (in which instance you may need to consider medical treatment), here are nine simple home remedies that will cost you next to nothing, and which will assist in soothing the sting and pain of sunburn: 1. Cool baths: Soaking in a cool bath is one of the best ways to draw heat from the skin and soothe the pain and discomfort of sunburn.

(Avoid “cold” as this can cause the body to go into shock.) Here are some additional things to add to your baths for further relief: Add 10 drops of so of essential oil (chamomile or lavender) to the bath. Soak for 15 minutes or until relief is felt.

Adding baking soda (or oatmeal) to a lukewarm bath can also relieve sunburn pain. For this treatment to work best, try to make sure that all affected areas are submerged. Bath water can be poured over your body using your hands or a soft washcloth. Burned facial areas can be gently dabbed using the cloth, or alternately you can splash water directly onto your face. After soaking, lightly pat the skin dry with a soft towel (preferably cotton). If youíve take an oatmeal bath, let the light coating of oatmeal that clings to your skin remain.

Adding vinegar to the bath water will help in taking the sting out of sunburn.

2. Rubbing alcohol: Because it evaporates so quickly, dabbing on rubbing alcohol will quickly cool and ease the pain of sunburned skin.

3. Vinegar: Vinegar is an effective and cooling treatment for sunburn. Soak towels with it, and apply to the burned areas. Alternately you can fill a spray bottle and spray it directly on the skin as needed.

4. Egg Whites: If your burn is painfully hot, separating the white from the yolk of an egg, and then spreading the white over the affected area will help to cool the burning instantly. This can be repeated as often as needed.

5. Potatoes: Potatoes can also be used to relieve the pain of sunburn. Take 2 potatoes and wash them well. Cut them into tiny chunks and place in a blender to liquefy. (If the result appears too dry, add some water). Pat the affected areas with potato juice. Wait until dry, and then rinse off in a cool shower or bath.

6. Cool Milk Compresses: The fat and lactic acids in milk are known to have soothing qualities for sunburned skin. Soak a soft cloth or cotton gauze in cool whole milk, and dab carefully onto the burned skin. Do this for around 20 minutes, and follow by rinsing off with cool water. (Due to the importance of the milk’s fat content, it’s important that whole milk be used in this treatment).

7. Cool, sugarless tea: The tannin in tea is the active ingredient here, which helps to soothe and relieve some of the discomfort of sunburned skin. After brewing a big pot of tea, and allowing it to cool completely, slosh the affected areas with a soft sponge or washcloth.

As with the vinegar, you could also fill a spray bottle, and spray the tea directly on the skin.

And don’t throw away the used teabags. These are especially good for sensitive areas around the eyes ñ simply place the teabags over your eyes if they feel hot and tired. (If you have St. John’s Wort, consider using this as it contains cooling properties, which can help tone down some of the heat in your skin, as well as soothing the nerve endings damaged by the sunburn).

8. Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera is commonly used to treat sunburn. As well as providing soothing relief, it may also assist in the healing process.

Apply to the affected areas as needed.

Although the gel extracted directly from an aloe Vera plant works best, if you don’t have ready access to one, you may use an “over the counter” Aloe Vera Cream that contains the gel. For this to be effective, just ensure that the cream contains a high concentration of Aloe Vera than it does water or other solutions.

9. Water: When exposed to the sun, your body loses water and essential body salts.

Dehydration occurs when your body loses too much fluid, and begins to reabsorb fluid from the blood and other body tissues. To prevent the consequences of dehydration, increase your fluid intake to ensure you adequately rehydrate your body for optimum recovery and health.

Sunburn should of course be avoided where possible--particularly as its adverse affects not only include damage to the skin, but also the increased risk of skin cancer. Prevention and protection should always be considered the best treatment for sunburn, and will assist in ensuring your optimum long-term health!

Chronic

Fatigue Syndrome:

The Facts You Should Know If you’ve been feeling more than “just tired” for days— even months—at a stretch, you may have this condition

T

Some of the frequent symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome include:

here is significant concern about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, also known as CFS. Receiving the diagnosis may be difficult for some patients because the guidelines for diagnosing are very specific. The fatigue must have been present at least six consecutive months and the corresponding symptoms must have developed after the fatigue. A clear definition of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, its symptoms, and treatment options will help sufferers get a clearer understanding of the syndrome.

What is Chronic Fatigue?

The basic definition of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome does not make sufferers feel much better. The syndrome is unexplained and is marked by weakness, fatigue, muscle pain, lethargy, trouble sleeping, and even fever and swollen lymph nodes. There is no known cause for the fatigue that is present in an individual that has no relation to over-exertion and is not rectified by rest.

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• Muscle Aches • Persistent Fatigue • Intermittent Fatigue • Depression • Tiredness • Headache • Swollen Lymph nodes • Depression • Memory Loss • Weakness • Difficulty Concentrating • Achy Joints Frequently Chronic Fatigue Syndrome begins during periods when individuals have been sick, under a tremendous amount of stress, or for no apparent reason at all. Many individuals have noted that after bouts with the flu, mono, a cold, bronchitis, hepatitis, and other similar illnesses, CFS arises. Unfortunately, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome persists for months, sometimes coming and going and other times constantly affecting the patient. Other illnesses begin to clear up after a few days or weeks, but Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sticks around with no clear cause.

Depression is one of the major probable causes of CFS. Some factors that may contribute to depression can be life-altering events that cause mental and physical exhaustion. Family problems like divorce, child care, and other issues may eventually cause depression. In addition to these factors, depressed individuals easily get tired because these individuals produce less cortisol, a hormone that is produced by the adrenal gland. Scientists found out that people with CFS sometimes produce less cortisol and probably affect the immune system.

Many medical studies show that individual who suffer CFS suffer from vitamin deficiency.

People need vitamins and minerals for good health, proper well-being, and energy. People with low vitamin levels tend to be tired, weak, and sometimes irritable.

Treatment Options The treatment options for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are varied and include alternative, as well as traditional, options.

Some of the alternative care management options for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Virgin Coconut Oil For Relief Of Chronic Fatigue include avoiding stress and undertaking light exercise. Other treatment options that work for some individuals include massage, aquatic therapy, chiropractic therapy, yoga, self hypnosis, tai chi, and even acupuncture. Psychotherapy has also proven helpful to sufferers of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome because it helps sufferers learn to cope with their symptoms.

Prescription treatment options for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome have not been approved by the FDA. There are, however, other prescription medications that are used to treat the symptoms presented with Chronic Fatigue. Frequently, the primary use of the medicine is secondary and its side effects are what benefit Chronic Fatigue sufferers. Medicines like antifungals, antidepressants, antivirals, cardiac drugs, antihistamines, immunoglobulins, corticoids, antiinflammatories, and anti-convulsants among others are frequently prescribed to CFS sufferers.

Individuals who suffer from CFS are encouraged to engage in active lifestyles and healthy food regimens. Exercise and other physical activities as part of a daily routine may promote the release of endorphins, which are chemicals released by the brain that are said to promote feelings of bliss and elevates mood.

Exercise may also improve blood circulation and oxygenation to various parts of the body and prevent CFS of developing.

Health specialists also advise these individuals to take B complex vitamins.

These vitamins includes a group of eight vitamins which includes thiamine (B1), roboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pyridoxide (B6), folic acid (B9), and cyanocobalamin (B12). These B-complex vitamins may help fight fatigue and is vital nutrient for the formation of red blood vessels. These blood vessels are linked to the human body's energy levels. These B-complex vitamins work by maintaining the energy levels high. They can also help prevent the development of some diseases because they may aid in the repair of nucleic acids and the immune cells.

Most people who take B complex vitamins notice increased energy immediately because this kind of supplementation converts carbohydrates into glucose, which is converted by the cells into energy.

However, individuals who want to include physical activities and vitamins in their daily routines should seek the approval of doctor, nutritionists, and other health professionals. Some exercise routines may not be appropriate for some individuals and B-complex vitamins may interact with other drugs and supplements and develop unwanted side effects.

For centuries, coconut oil has been considered a vital source of food for health and general well-being. In tropical countries where coconut palm trees abound, locals have long been benefitting from this so called “Tree of Life”. Research shows that virgin coconut oil, like mother's milk, is rich in lauric acid which is known for its antiviral, antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiprotozoal properties needed for good health and well-being. Like all things pure and natural, the virgin coconut oil is extracted from fresh coconuts unlike other commercial grade oil which came from dried coconut meat of copra. Virgin coconut oil has an important role in finding cure and remedy for many of the illnesses brought upon by unhealthy lifestyle and the refined diet of modern living.

According to research, coconut oil has the highest source of saturated fats and medium chain fatty acids which is necessary to increase metabolism and are more easily digested than fats found in other oils. And because the medium chain fatty acids in coconut oil are absorbed quickly by the tissues and converted into energy, people suffering from chronic fatigue would gain a great deal of benefit when they take coconut oil in their diet.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome used to be considered as an imaginary ailment. But nowadays, it has been affecting mostly women between their 30s and 50s and has become a problem of growing concerns among 3 million Americans and 90 million people worldwide.

Researchers are still in a quandary as to the cause of this condition. However, some quarters suspect that it could be caused by a virus called Epstein-Barr or human herpes virus-6 (HHV-6), though no definite viral cause has been identified.

According to research, CFS may be caused by inflammation of pathways in the nervous system. This inflammation seems to act as immune response. CFS may develop when a viral disease is complicated by a problem with the body's immune response. Different factors such as age, prior illness, stress, environment, or genetics may also play a role.

With coconut oil now considered as a functional food, modern medicine is looking at it as a powerful tool against disease of the immune system as well as CFS. Many research have been undertaken on its effectiveness, and further studies are currently underway on the outstanding nutritional value of coconut oil.

Chronic Fatigue vs.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Fatigue is an ongoing part of life for many individuals today. Lack of sleep for busy parents, students, and others trying to find ways to fit all of their “to do’s” into one 24 hour period is simply something that modern man learns to deal with. However, for some people, fatigue cannot be remedied by a good night’s sleep.

Chronic fatigue can be an early warning sign that something has gone awry with one or more bodily systems. Diseases and disorders such as depression, diabetes, hypothyroidism, and even certain cancers count fatigue as a primary symptom. For individuals who suffer from one of these diseases, fatigue is a result of the disease or disorder--fatigue is caused by the disease. For an even smaller group of individuals, chronic fatigue is an illness unto itself.

Unlike Chronic Fatigue, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is the illness, not merely a symptom. Although characterized by, and having extreme fatigue as its hallmark symptom, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome includes many other frustrating symptoms. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome sufferers find that they can include multiple mysterious symptoms such as flu-like symptoms and unexplained brain fog among their woes. For some individuals, the symptoms become incredibly disabling. Many individuals cannot function normally ñ at least for a period of time.

Because the symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are non-specific, medical professionals have difficulty diagnosing the illness. Even more frustrating for sufferers, many medical professionals continue to hold the belief that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is not a valid illness, but a psychosomatic disorder. Even with this built-in prejudice, it is still wise for an individual who believes he or she suffers from CFS to undergo a complete medical examination to rule out one of the underlying medical conditions mentioned above before receiving treatment for CFS.

The

Disturbing

Truth

About

Diabetes

You may not even know you have it, but once you find out, tailor your diet to manage it and its symptoms. Here’s how

E

ight-point-three percent of the population of the United States—that’s 25.8 million children and adults—have diabetes.

Among those, 18.8 million are diagnosed; while seven million remain undiagnosed.

Diabetes is a chronic disease and has no cure.

The most tragic thing about this disease may be that many people do not know that they have diabetes until they develop other life threatening conditions such as: heart disease, high blood pressure, blindness, kidney damage, nervous system damage, dental disease, sexual dysfunction, and a number of other complications.

Diabetes is the body's inability to use the sugar called glucose. Glucose is created when the body breaks down food for energy. The hormone insulin opens up the cells in the body to allow glucose to enter into the cell and be used as fuel. In diabetes the cell never opens up and the glucose flows through the blood stream, causing high blood sugar levels. With diabetes the body either does not make enough insulin or is resistant to its own natural insulin. High blood sugar can lead to very serious complications. Heart disease is the leading cause of premature death in people with diabetes. As infections are much harder to control in people with diabetes, they are at greater risk of complications (diabetes is the major cause of leg and foot amputations in Americans today).

There are several different types of diabetes--type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Type 1 is the body's inability to produce insulin. People with type 1 are insulin dependent for the remainder of their lives, and they must also keep close track of their diets. Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes. Pre-diabetes is a dangerous condition in itself--this is when the glucose

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level in the blood is not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes, yet damage is already being done to your internal organs. The body can not handle any unsafe level of sugar or glucose in the blood for any extended period of time.

Diabetes and Free Radicals Free radicals are very active in a person with diabetes (last month’s issue of Sacred Eden Magazine carries a full article on free radicals). They attack a number of cells at once because diabetes causes an abnormal immune function due to high glucose levels in the blood and organs. Free radicals are the reason you see so many different complications or side illnesses in this disease.

Science has proven that all diseases and illnesses are caused by free-radical damage and the vast majority have chronic inflammation as an accompanying ailment.

Free radicals can not be avoided; they are in the air and water, in the junk foods we eat, and are brought about by traumas and injuries. Free radicals even affect the aging process itself.

Anyone with diabetes or even pre-diabetes must re-think their diets, moving towards fresh and properly cooked foods, staying away from fast foods and anything with high sugar content. Taking in a large number of anti-oxidants everyday is essential to help your body recover and maintain better overall health.

There are also super charged, super powerful antioxidants in nature called xanthones. Xanthones have the power to defeat a larger number of free radicals at one time, due to strong carbon bonds that make the molecule stable. Scientists have found that xanthones are able to relieve a variety of problems and also help in the improvement of serious conditions. Two hundred xanthones have been identified in nature, and 41 are in the mangosteen fruit alone. The mangosteen fruit also contains 25,000 anti-oxidants.

Have an Artichoke!

Artichoke is a tuberous root with a top like a sunflower. This vegetable contains good amounts of potassium, a fair amount of calcium and some iron and sulphur, all of which are needed by the body for maintaining good health.

Artichoke is beneficial in the treatment of diabetes because of its high insulin content. A fully ripe artichoke is said to contain more than two percent of insulin. Ripe artichokes are generally available only during autumn or fall. The insulin is converted into sugar in winter. Artichokes are most effective when eaten raw in salads. It cooking is required; they should be boiled, unpeeled, in a small quantity of water for about 10 minutes. Artichokes can be effectively combined with other vegetables.

Diabetes and the Different Parts of Your Body Foods that Control Diabetes In 1550 BC, the famous Ebers Papyrus advised treating diabetes with high fiber wheat grains. Not much has changed since then.

Plant foods are the drug of choice for treating diabetes.

There are large numbers of scientific research findings to confirm the effectiveness of plant foods in managing this disease. Through the centuries, more than 400 plants have been identified, used, and prescribed as diabetic remedies.

Raw onions and garlic have been long been favorite anti-diabetic drugs in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. The vegetable bitter gourd and the herb ginseng have been widely used for treating diabetes since the ancient time in India and China. Common mushroom is widely used in parts of Europe to lower blood sugar.

Barley bread is a popular treatment for diabetes in Iraq. Other foods, used in different countries, in the treatment of diabetes include beans, cabbage, cinnamon, coriander seeds, cucumber, fenugreek seeds, Indian gooseberry and lettuce.

All these foods have antidiabetic properties. Scientific research has confirmed that most of these foods, or their compounds, either lower blood sugar, or stimulate insulin production. Some of the more important foods that help to lower blood sugar or stimulate insulin production in diabetes patients are discussed here.

Diabetes and Your Heart Diabetes is one condition that must be treated as soon as it is diagnosed, even though in its early stages it doesn’t hurt, or cause inconvenience, or create any worrisome symptoms. But ignoring it is a mistake, because the blood sugar imbalance diabetics live with can cause a variety of complications, and can even lead to other serious health conditions.

One major cause for concern is adverse effects on the hearts. Unstable blood sugar levels can cause poor circulation--a big step on the road to heart problems. Here are some things to watch for.

Hypertension Diabetes often goes hand-in-hand with high blood pressure, or hypertension. In fact, your doctor will tell you that diabetics must work to get their blood pressure down even lower than other people. While a systolic pressure (the top number) of 140 might be acceptable for the general population, we diabetics should aim for 130 or lower. It’s all part of the battle against possible heart disease.

Blood fats Cholesterol and tryglycerides, or blood fats, also need to be kept lower in diabetics. Lots of fruits and vegetables, fewer packaged or fried foods are your best bets for dietary blood fat control. Throw out that frying pan!

Blood sugar Blood sugar levels need monitoring too, as consistently high levels damage blood vessels and can lead to cardiovascular difficulties.

Weight level If you are overweight your heart muscle needs to work harder to pump blood through your system. This weakens your blood vessels, which are then more susceptible to damage from fluctuating blood sugar levels. It’s a vicious cycle you don’t want to create.

Your heart is the main engine of your whole body, so you need to do

everything possible to keep it in good shape. For the sake of a healthy heart, take control of your diabetes.

Diabetes and Your Feet Symptom If your feet are constantly cold, your legs are sore when you walk, or your feet hurt in bed at night, you may be suffering from poor blood circulation. This, in turn, can slow down the process of healing when you have cuts or other damage to your feet.

Prevention Staying physically active is one way to help improve your circulation. You also need to control your blood fat and sugar levels, as well as your blood pressure. And of course, don’t smoke.

Symptom If your feet are numb, or have a burning sensation on the soles of your feet or pins and needles in your feet, you have signs of possible nerve damage.

Foot nerves are the longest in our bodies and are therefore susceptible to damage by diabetes.

If these nerves are damaged, the feelings are lessened, so we could have the cuts or blisters that can lead to ulcers, and we wouldn’t even know about it.

Prevention Check your feet regularly to be sure there are no signs of injury. If you develop corns or calluses, have them treated immediately by a podiatrist. Wash and dry carefully between your toes, and keep your nails trimmed and smooth.

Diabetes and Your Eyes Cataracts These are often described as a clouding of the lens of the eye. They are treatable by surgery in most cases.

Glaucoma Our eyes are largely made up of fluid, and when the pressure of that fluid builds up too much inside the eye, you have glaucoma. Left untreated, it can damage the optic nerves, and even lead to blindness.

Diabetic retinopathy Lining the back of our eyes is light-sensitive tissue known as the retina. The retina contains very small blood vessels that can be damaged by diabetic retinopathy. Sometimes there are symptoms such as blurred vision, but often you won’t even know anything is wrong until the condition is well advanced. In the worse case, it leads to blindness.

Early detection is the key to battling all of these conditions, and the best diagnostic tool available is the dilated eye examination. This is a test in which special eye drops temporarily enlarge your pupils, allowing the doctor to see the back of your eyes. This test (which is painless) can detect cataracts, glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy in their early, treatable stages.

Eyesight is precious, so if you have diabetes do yourself a favor and make an appointment for your dilated eye examination.

And then do it again every year from now on.

The Magic of

Combining

E

Eating is more than just putting food in your mouth—it takes thought and planning to fully utilize all nutrients involved

ating is one of the many sources of enjoyment given to us by nature.

Though it was intended that this activity to be a source of nourishment for the body, most modern day dietetic innovations avoid proper food combining methods, and so eating tends to do the exact opposite.

In a traditional diet, everything is mixed together in every possible way. Ease of digestion is not the goal, but rather the excitement of the senses in one meal. Nature never produced a sandwich-a modern dietetic abomination. Such protein-starch combinations are of recent origin, and like most modern meals today, instead of feeding the body, they actually poison it.

Bad food combining creates indigestion, fermentation and gas. Food is ferments and putrefies in the intestines, which is one of the main causes of constipation, a clogging up of the bodily tissues.

Therefore, simplicity of a meal should be the goal when eating for health. This includes first and foremost, proper food combining principles, consuming the right quantity at a time, and eating only when truly hungry.

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Classification of Foods

Rules to Follow

Foods (when eating for health) can be classified as follows.

To avoid fermentation in the intestines, indigestion, water retention and toxicity, apply these simple techniques in eating for health:

Fruit: 1. Sweet Fruits: Tropical fruits, Bananas, Mangoes, Papaya, Dates, Dried fruits, Sweet apples.

2. Acid Fruit: Citrus, Lemon, Tomatoes, Berries, Pineapples.

3. Sub-Acid Fruit: Most tart apples, Pears, Grapes, 4. Melons: Cantaloupe, Honey-Dew, Water Melon etc 5. Fatty: Avocadoes, Olives, Durian, Young coconuts Nuts and Seeds 1. Non-Starchy Foods:

1. Eat sweet fruits with other varieties of sweet fruits only. (They may be combined with sub-acid fruits.)

2. Eat acid fruits alone or with lettuce and celery. In little quantities they may combine with avocadoes or nuts and non-Starchy vegetables.

3. Avocadoes and olives are best eaten with nonstarchy vegetables.

4. Melons are best eaten alone.

Combinations to Avoid When practicing proper food combining as rule for eating healthier, these are some combinations you especially want to avoid.

Green leaves, Carrots, Fruit Vegetables e.g.

Cucumber, Bell Peppers, Zucchini

1. Starch and Acid (e.g., tomato and potato)

2. Starchy: Cooked Vegetables (roots), Grains (if necessary)

3. Sweets and Starch (e.g., maple syrup and rice)

3. Lettuce and Celery

2. Protein and Protein (e.g., avocadoes and nuts) You may also want to consider these other tips: 1. Never, ever eat fresh fruits with cooked meals, save for the avocado (and even then, sparingly!).

The Benefits of Maintaining Your Body’s Healthy pH Level

Staying Healthy With Organic Food

By Sylvain Deslongchamps

Organic food has been known to be superior in beneficial outcomes to the body than their artificial and processed counterparts. Here are the reasons why:

There are other things we should also watch on aside from sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol: your blood’s pH level.

Our blood’s pH level is perhaps the single most important measurement we should watch. A healthy blood pH is around 7.4, which is slightly alkaline; this level must be maintained in order for our body to function well. Functions that are affected with your pH level are blood flow, cell function, fat accumulation, and bone density.

The smoothness of our body’s blood flow is determined by the electrical charge that is coated on each individual red blood cell. Each red blood cell is assigned a negative charge so that they will not attract each other, similar to what two magnets with similar poles do when you put them together. When your blood’s pH level goes down, it means your blood has become acidic. What acidity does to your red blood cells is that it strips off that charge in each red blood cell; making the individual red blood cell stick together, forming clumps that make blood flow slower.

Slower blood flow means lesser oxygen going to your body, dropping your performance.

If your blood is acidic, its pH level is low, but if it is more alkaline, your pH level is high. If your blood has a higher pH level, that means you have a higher threshold of hydrogen ions. The presence of hydrogen ions halts muscle function, and the more that you have in your body, the more your muscle is bound to work slowly. Having a higher blood pH level means that your blood can accommodate more hydrogen ions before it begins to spread into the muscles and make it stop working. This means, that you can burn more energy while requiring less oxygen, allowing your body to tolerate the production of lactic acid more and enabling your body to perform things longer.

Hence, if you want you’re an athlete who needs a boost or just a normal individual longing to increase your body’s performance, it is important that you watch for your body’s pH level. You can do this by taking a simple saliva test that can be done with some acid paper strips which can be bought at local drugstores.

Acidity in your body also destroys cells and makes you fat. Your body reacts very defensively at the presence of acids, since, as I have said earlier, it affects how your body functions. Rising acidity is harmful to the vital information storage centers in your cells, the RNA, which if occurs makes it possible for mutations, toxicity or even cancer to develop. When this threat is apparent, what your body does is to coat your cells with fatty tissues just to shield it from rising blood acidity, making you need more fat. So the more your blood becomes acidic, the more you become fat.

Better Bowel Movement

2. Lettuce and celery combine with anything. Eat these raw.

3. Meat and Fish: Eat these substances in very, very little quantities, one at a time and with no/low starch vegetables exclusively.

4. Bread: Nature doesn’t produce bread, so if you must eat this item, eat as little of it as possible, and preferably toasted and with vegetables and fat only.

5. Grains: Eat as little as possible of grains and when consumed, combine them with vegetables only.

Mashed, avocadoes combine great with boiled potatoes!

Eating Guidelines 1. Never eat until you're hungry.

Here’s to know when you are in true hunger: -The stomach aspires.

-The mouth salivates even at the sight of plain lettuce.

-It happens usually after noon when the body is its building stage.

Rising blood acidity also lowers your bone density. The body tries so hard to regulate the body’s ph level that it releases buffers to counter that acidity. Releasing buffers into the body is a good thing, but, how the body does it is not good for the bones. Each and every time your pH level drops, which means rising acidity levels, the body uses the calcium in your bones as buffers to maintain that crucial level of pH 7.4! This eventually lowers you bone density making you prone to osteoporosis and weak bone structure.

2. Do not drink liquids of any kind with your meals. It only dilutes the digestive juices in your stomach, leading to indigestion and constipation.

It’s very hard to replenish calcium levels youíve lost through supplying buffers, that is why you need a good source of alkaline to help make your blood more alkaline and supply buffers for your body. Green vegetables and fruits are a good source of alkaline, while meat and processed foods are acidic. A healthy diet will consist of 80% alkaline foods and around 20% acidic foods. Supplements and other products are also readily available.

4. One truth regarding the conditions of the human blood found out by medical doctors is that acidity is a sign of disease.

This readily happens to the mixed eater when he fills his stomach daily with meat, starch, confectioneries and fruit all at the same time.

3. As a rule of thumb, don't drink anything but water an hour or two prior to and/or after eating your meals.

Organic food, which usually come in the form of fresh vegetable and fruit produce and organicallyfed animals contribute to a higher stability in bowel movement. For one, the fiber content of this fresh produce are still intact and almost undamaged.

This high fiber content or quality is able to absorb the fluids in the intestines and form a solid fecal mass, good for excretion. Think if these fibers as a broom passed through our intestines. The higher quality of the bristles, the better efficiency there is in sweeping away old fecal deposits in the intestinal tract. This therefore, allows better nutrient absorption on succeeding nutrient passes.

It Reduces Health Risks Pesticides and artificial drug enhancers used in regular food may still be embedded in the produce and may not be properly cleansed until cooking.

Organically prepared meat and produce are grown without the chemicals, pesticides and the like which would have been created to kill pests, thereby reducing the risk of unwanted illness. Common illnesses that occur with chemicals accidentally ingested are related to the gastrointestinal tract.

Contains Higher Nutrient Levels Organic foods retain the natural amount of nutritive value that they should ideally be containing. As opposed to artificially processed foods, these organic foods have not yet been subjected to the different processing methods which transform the original food product into several forms. Changing its structure, and applying heat to these organic foods, as well as with simple slicing, would cause a part of the nutrient value to disintegrate and be lost in the whole process.

The biggest offender is canned goods, which have passed through countless processing bins, and artificial flavorings to produce the replica of a supposed food product. Furthermore, the main harmful ingredient of canned goods is preservatives. Preservatives are chemical agents used to lessen the normal process of deterioration of all organic products.

Better Environment With the method of growing organic food products, ecological balance is maintained and results to a better living environment of the individual as well.

Keep Your

Bladder Active and

Bacteria-Free

A simple healthy hygiene regimen can save you the pain and complications of full-blown UTI

H

ave you ever wondered why we urinate? Urination occurs as a result of the removal of excess liquid and wastes from the blood in the form of urine. The liquids pass through the kidneys which are the organs responsible for the filtration of the said wastes from the bloodstream. Normally, urination is an easy, painless body function. But people who experience urinating with only very small amounts of liquid coupled with a burning sensation, the situation is really far from being normal. Chances are, these people are suffering from Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), the second most common type of infection in the body which affects the urinary tract.

Urine is normally sterile. It is usually free of bacteria, viruses, and fungi and only contains fluids, salts, and waste products. However, when bacteria gets into the bladder or kidney, these microbes multiply in the urine and causes a bacterial infection in the urethra, the short tube where urine passes from the bladder to the outside of the body. This is called urethritis.

Another type of UTI is cystitis which is a bacterial infection of the bladder. This is the most common type of UTI which causes minor discomfort and can be easily treated.

Without proper treatment, it may lead to the third and more serious type of UTI which involves infection of the kidneys, known as pyeloniphritis. This type of UTI makes a person experience back pain, high fever and vomiting.

Usually, women are more prone to UTI than men due to the differences in the shape and length of the urethra. Women have shorter urethras compared to men, where the opening is located closer to the rectum and vagina-parts were bacteria are likely to be found.

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UTI can also be caused by an abnormality in the structure and/or function of the urinary tract. One of the most common functional problems encountered is called vesicoureteral reflux, a condition in which some urine flows backward, or refluxes, from the bladder into the ureters and even up to the kidneys.

UTI is not contagious. However, during sexual intercourse, the bacteria in the vaginal area may be pushed into the urethra and eventually end up in the bladder, where urine provides a good environment for the bacteria to grow. For this reason, women who are sexually active often get UTI. Bacteria can also get through the urethra of women by wiping from back to front after a bowel movement, which can contaminate the urethral opening.

The use of contraceptives, such as condoms treated with spermicide and diaphragms, may also increase the risk of getting a urinary tract infection.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STD) like chlamydia may cause UTI-like symptoms, such as pain during urination due to the inflammation and irritation of the urethra or vagina. Unlike UTI, STDs are contagious and when left untreated, STDs may lead to serious long-term problems which includes pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.

There are several symptoms associated with UTI. Symptoms of bladder infections include: • frequent urination • burning or pain during urination • the feeling of having to pee even though little or no urine actually comes out • pain in the lower abdomen • pain above the pubic bone (in women) • a full feeling in the rectum (in men) • bloody or foul-smelling urine • mild fever • a general feeling of shakiness and fatigue

Prevention And Home Remedies For Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) becomes serious because many women do not follow the commonest protocol to prevent or minimize the chances of UTI.

With kidney infections, more serious symptoms involve:

• Drink 10-14 glasses of water to protect oneself from urinary infection. Drinking so much water flushes out bacteria and other microorganisms which contaminate the urinary tract.

• high fever • chills • nausea and vomiting • abdominal pain • cloudy or bloody urine • back pain just above the waist The moment you realize that you have any symptoms of a urinary tract infection, immediately consult your doctor. Ignoring the symptoms will only worsen the condition. Early treatment makes it less uncomfortable and faster to heal.

Avoiding Infection To prevent urinary tract infections, avoid holding urine for long periods of time. Keep the genital areas clean and dry. Women should wipe from front to back with toilet paper after every urination. Reverse the wiping directions after bowel movements to avoid spreading bacteria from the rectal area to the urethra. Change tampons and pads regularly during menstruation periods. Avoid bubble baths that can cause irritation of the vaginal area. Do not wear nylon underwear or wet swimsuits for long periods of time. Prolonged exposure to moisture in the genital area can cause fungal or bacterial infections. Choose underwear with cotton crotches. Skip using feminine hygiene sprays or douches which can irritate the urethra.

Sexually active people should visit the bathroom both before and within 15 minutes after intercourse. After the sexual intercourse, gently wash the genital area to remove any bacteria. Use a watersoluble lubricant such as K-Y Jelly.

Keep the bladder active and bacteria-free by drinking lots of water everyday.

Always bear in mind that urinary tract infections may be uncomfortable and often painful, but it can easily be prevented through proper hygiene.

• Do not suppress the urge to urinate, as it may have dire consequences on your health leading to a fullydeveloped urinary tract infection.

• Always wipe yourself from front to back, this stops the entry of the bacteria from the anus into the vagina or urethra. After having a bath or a bowel movement, follow this simple rule.

Safe Natural Cures For Urinary Tract Infections With commonly prescribed antibiotics becoming useless in fighting bladder infection, natural cures for bladder infections are a likely solution to a growing problem.

Agothosma betulina, commonly known as the buchu shrub, is mostly regarded for its healing effects on the urinary tract. It has some antiseptic properties, and when combined with its diuretic capability, it can kill and wash away any bacteria inhabiting your urinary tract, making it one of the most used natural cures for bladder infections. Buchu has also been shown to alleviate the symptoms of mild urinary tract infections and even help with irritable bladder syndrome.

Taking uva ursi is another great method for treating a bladder infection. This supplement has been commonly used for years to treat glandular and urinary infections, and is highly effective in curing bladder infections as well.

The antiseptic properties of the plant also ease swelling in the bladder to not only kill bacteria present, but also alleviate most of the discomfort associated with a bladder infection.

Uva ursi is one of the great natural cures for bladder infection, but should not be taken for a lengthy amount of time, as toxic side effects may occur.

Lemon balm, while generally used as a mild sedative, also has some antibacterial properties which could prove to make it one of the most effective natural cures for bladder infections. There are absolutely no side effects associated with using lemon balm, so it can be used as long as you wish.

Throughout countless years of use in Europe, St. John’s Wort has proven itself to be a great natural method for treating a bladder infection, among other things. It has rather powerful antibiotic compounds, which can be used either internally or topically, depending on the situation. When looking for natural cures for bladder infections, St. John’s Wort should top your list, as its potent antibiotic compunds will cure your infection without any major side effects.

• Take showers instead of bubble bath to prevent entrance of bacteria into the urethra which causes UTI. • Wash your genital area before and after a sexual intercourse. Also urinate before and after an intercourse.

This avoids the transference of bacteria from one partner to another.

• Douching and scented sprays can cause infection and irritation of the vaginal area. These do not help the cause of alleviating the Urinary Tract Infection problem.

• Drink good amount of cranberry juice as it one of the most simple and natural way of treating urinary tract infection. It prevents as well as heals the infection due to its medicinal properties.

• Stay away from caffeine.

• On the onset of urinary tract symptoms consume vitamin C supplements. It increases the acidity level of urine which helps to decrease the bacteria present in the urinary tract.

• If in pain, you can apply a warm heating pad or hot water bottle on your abdomen.

• Use of spices like cinnamon and tincture mixture of herbs like buchu, uva ursi and juniper berries can act as antiseptics to clean kidney and bladder.

• Drink one glass of water for every 10 hours of the day.

This will help you keep tab on the amount of water you drink.

• Avoid bladder irritants like citrus, tomatoes, aged cheese, chocolate, spicy food, caffeine, alcohol and nicotine. The irritants may differ for some individuals, but these are some of the common ones.

• Avoid tight underwear as it creates an ideal environment for undesirable bacteria to breed.

C

onstipation is a condition whereby the fecal matter traveling through your colon remains too long in your colon before traveling out of the rectum. You become aware that you are constipated if you have difficulty passing motion or take a few days to do one purge.

The

That said, if you are suffering from constipation, you have been advised to eat more fruits and vegetables to increase your fiber intake.

A certain fruit stands out, however, that you should consider as constipation remedy or including it as part of your regular diet: Papaya.

Wonders of

Papaya Ripe or unripe, raw or cooked, papaya helps prevent constipation and other health ailments

Vast Benefits

As a natural remedy, papaya not only aids digestion but also helps prevent constipation. It provides relief from piles and also has anti-cancer properties. Papaya has also been shown to lower cholesterol levels, prevents the formation of urinary stones, prevents intestinal infection by parasites and aids in the proper functioning of the body’s immune system. For lactating mothers, according to traditional beliefs, papaya also helps to stimulate milk production.

Papayas contain papain, an enzyme that helps digest proteins (especially food with gluten). Concentrated amounts can especially be found in unripe papaya. This enzyme helps prevent the accumulation of mucoprotein (partially digested protein) in the body and lymphatic system. In fact, papain has been extracted to make dietary supplements for digestion. Thus, the unripe papaya is considered to have more healing powers for constipation than the ripe one.

Papayas are a good source of fiber. Its fiber is able to keep cancercausing toxins in the colon away from the healthy colon cells. Those who are experiencing constipation or at risk of colon cancer should consider taking more papaya. PapayaĂ­s folate, vitamin C, vitamin A, beta-carontene and vitamin E have been linked with reduced risk of colon cancer.

Additionally, the antioxidant nutrients found in papaya have also been proven to reduce muscle inflammation and the healing of burns and wounds.

The papaya fruit is slightly sweet, with a musky smell to it. It is now mainly cultivated in the warm tropical parts of the world but can easily be found in many supermarkets.

Recipes

To prevent constipation and for all stated health benefits, here are three simple papaya recipes:

Papaya Milk Energy Drink Cut papaya and blend with milk in a 50/50 mix. Add honey if desired. Papaya milk makes a good energy drink for growing children.

Papaya Salad (Thai Style)

Shred green papaya and slice some tomatoes. For dressing, add chopped garlic, 2 tablespoon fish sauce, 1 tablespoon lime juice, cilantro, Thai basil, 1 teaspoon chopped mint, chili padi (optional) and sugar to taste.

Unripe Papaya Shake

Peel off skin and put in blender.

This recipe is especially good for the lymphatic system and after a meal that is heavy in gluten.