Health Picks

The All-Natural Omega-3 Fatty Acids Formula

A formula that I make sure I include in my diet is an omega-3 fatty acid bound to phospholipids including the complex EPA/DHA with hydrolyzed peptides (fish proteins).  While every function in the body can improve with omega-3 fatty acids, it does have a pronounced effect on heart, brain and eye health.  The reason I like this formulation is due to the phospholipids acting as a superior carrier of DHA and EPA to the cellular level.

All fish oils are highly processed with heat, pressure and chemicals.  This processing denatures and alters the molecular structure of fish oil to the…• • • • More • • • •

How To Winterize Our Body Against Cold and Flu

The immune system is a powerful mechanism to fight foreign invasion and to protect our body against bacteria and viruses.  The stronger our immune system, the stronger protection against cold and flu. Stress, refined carbohydrates, sugar, soft drinks, grains in general, and excessive alcohol and tobacco compromise the health and strength of our immune system. 

I find by supplementing my diet with blackcurrant, elderberry, probiotics, zinc, and selenium that my immune system keeps me healthy.  If I ever feel a cold or flu coming on, I would take a formula containing plant oils of ravintsara, bay, laurel, and thyme.  Plant…• • • • More • • • •

Why do you need Iodine?

You’ve probably heard of iodine and may have wondered why you need it. The answer is: for just about everything. Unfortunately, iodine has been a sadly neglected mineral in our diets since the 1940s, and it was considered only necessary for preventing goiter.

But research shows that all tissues of the body require iodine.  It’s pretty well known that iodine helps fuel the thyroid – our metabolism’s ‘gas pedal’, but it’s less widely reported that iodine also protects breast tissue and prostate cells, helps regulate hormones, and detoxifies dangerous iodine competitors like chlorine, bromide, and fluoride – all common chemicals…• • • • More • • • •

Two Herbs That Are As Effective as Celebrex

A combination of super absorption curcumin and boswellia have been studied in patients with osteoarthritis and was found to be more effective than Celebrex without side effects. 

Approximately 350 mgs of curcumin combined with 150 mgs of boswellia was a clinically studied dosage that proves to be effective.  If you’re experiencing joint pain or arthritis, it makes sense to use a safe, effective, side effect free combination of herbs rather than a drug, but always check with your doctor.

Why Wait Until the New Year to Lose Weight

So many people have a New Year’s resolution to lose weight, while this resolution only lasts about 30 to 60 days.  Why not lose weight for a lifetime?  Being overweight or obese is a major factor in the foundation of many chronic diseases. 

Being overweight or obese is not only being unfit, but being unhealthy.  No pill or tablet is going to help people lose weight without including a healthy diet and exercise or at least increased activity.  I would suggest investigating the ketogenic diet, www.ketogenic-diet-resource.com or at least the paleo diet. 

How to Remain Calm in a Stressful, Hectic World

Studies on two herbs have shown that they reduce stress, instill calmness and reduce anxiety and depression.  The herbs are rhodiola and ashwagandha.  They have both been clinically studied on humans.  The evidence to support rhodiola indicates that it reduces depression, creates a calm mind, and increases mental and physical performance. 

All herbs are not created equally due to the environment in which they are grown, the contents of the soil, quality of water, sufficient sunlight and a number of other factors, actually even the time that the plant is harvested creates the quality of the plant.  A study of…• • • • More • • • •

Do Your Eyes Feel Dry and Sandy?

Drugs are now on the market to treat dry eyes.  While there are some diseases and prescription drugs that can cause dry eyes, the majority of dry eyes are caused by weather, sun, contact lenses, central heating, air conditioning, and the continued use of computer monitors.  Therefore, it makes sense to include a dietary food supplement that can hydrate the mucous membranes. The mucous membranes cover our entire body (skin), and internally the mucous membranes are found throughout the digestive tract from one end to the other, as well as the eyes and vagina.  When these membranes dry out, they are…• • • • More • • • •

Pomegranate Seed Oil Could Possibly Replace Tamoxifen

Tamoxifen is usually prescribed to breast cancer survivors and women having a high risk of hormone related breast cancer.  An enzyme called aromatase converts androgens into estrogens increasing the risk of cancer.  Tamoxifen is prescribed as it has been shown to block the conversion so it’s known as an aromatase inhibitor. 

Pomegranate seed oil is at least 80 to 90% as effective as tamoxifen, but on a more positive side without side effects.  Studies have also shown that Tamoxifen becomes even more effective when used together with Pomegranate seed oil extract.  Even with a small dosage of pomegranate, the results…• • • • More • • • •

Do You Have Excessive Hair Loss?

It’s not normal for women to lose their hair or to have excessive hair thinning.  Yes, it’s common for men but highly uncommon for women.  When women lose their hair, it’s usually associated with a hormonal imbalance or a nutrient deficiency. 

The best way to support the health of the body to sustain hair growth and reduce age related hair loss is to take a combination of nutrients such as the essential fatty acids, biotin, horsetail extract, and millet seed extract.  A second important nutrient to prevent hair loss is iodine, 30 mg, preferably combined with 400 mg L-tyrosine to…• • • • More • • • •

Stress Can Kill

In fact, after inflammation being a main cause of disease and death, stress is number two. Stress can cause a breakdown of brain cells, your nervous system, and many organ functions. We can’t eliminate stress entirely but we can strengthen the resistance within that allows us to weather the storm of stress and cope with it more effectively.

Two of the most powerful herbs to reduce stress, anxiety, and fatigue, as well as improve energy levels, enhance sexual performance, and improve libido are rhodiola and ashwagandha. These two herbs, used in combination, can make a powerful difference.

Oral Magnesium Reduces Asthma

The aim of a recent study was to investigate the effect of oral magnesium on asthma morbidity for children and adolescents.  It was a randomized, placebo-controlled study that included 37 patients ages 7 to 19 suffering from moderate, persistent asthma.  One group received magnesium 300 mg per day for two months.  The second group received a placebo (fake pill).  All patients received medication prescribed for asthma.  The drugs were taken via inhalation. 

The conclusion of the study was that the number of days with asthma attacks and the need to use inhalers was significantly lower in the group that was…• • • • More • • • •

Do you Fear Getting Alzheimer’s Disease?

Curcumin, my top favorite medicinal plant has been clinically studied numerous times and found to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.  I just ran across a study from 2012 that indicated a higher vitamin D dietary level was associated with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease among older women.  Hypovitaminosis D is common among older adults affecting up to 90% of the elderly population. This is crucial in that results of epidemiological studies suggest the Hypovitaminosis D is associated with cognitive function and Alzheimer’s disease.

Vitamin D is a steroid hormone and not a vitamin that exhibits neurosteroid actions in…• • • • More • • • •

How to Eliminate Indigestion, Gas, Bloating, Acid Reflux and GERD Through Diet

The line, “We are what we eat”, continues to stay true.  We have better health when we eat a better, healthy diet.  We compromise our health when we eat an unhealthy diet.  The foods we consume that are the least digested cause the most harm.  Proteins are easy to digest as well as fats.  Simple carbohydrates, found in most fruits and vegetables, are easy to digest and cause little complications.  Starch (grains, potatoes, corn, yams) is the most difficult to digest and, in most cases, when left undigested becomes food for the harmful bacteria in our intestinal tract.  With an…• • • • More • • • •

Does Pain Interrupt Your Sleep?

Many times when we suffer from pain, we don’t sleep well.  The stress of not sleeping well generates new inflammation and new inflammation generates new, additional pain.  When we have pain, we don’t sleep well.  When we don’t sleep well, we have pain. The answer is to get a good night’s sleep. 

A good night’s sleep reduces pain, stress, and regenerates our body to produce healthy cells and hormone levels.  There is a disruption of hormones like estrogen and testosterone respectively in females and males that can have dire consequences.  We would all do better with 9-10 hours of sleep…• • • • More • • • •

The Amazing Plant, COMFREY

Comfrey is a healing herb that has been used for thousands of years to treat burns, wounds, bruises, strains, sprains and any form of blunt trauma.  In the history of comfrey, it has been known as bone-knit, bone-set, and knit wort (plant).  These age old terms were used because of the healing benefits.  It was used to knit bones back together again.  It was used to set fractures that would not heal, in some cases 50% faster.  And knit wort referred to the plant being able to knit the body back together again.  Comfrey fell out of favor for a…• • • • More • • • •

Does Stress and Anxiety Affect the Quality of Your Life?

Neuroscientists at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences have researched over 300 plant compounds in an effort to find a powerful, safe, and effective treatment for anxiety. They were surprised to find what they were looking for in an herb usually used for colds and flu—Echinacea!

However, not just any echinacea plant—the unique compounds in the plant that treat anxiety are only abundantly found in a single species grown in specific conditions and highly concentrated during the extraction process. This process yields a plant medicine that profoundly rebalances brain chemistry, which in turn, reduces stress and anxiety, calms a worried mind,…• • • • More • • • •

The Bees Know It, Why Don't We?

Propolis is used by the bees after they add beeswax and resin that forms a glue that they then use to seal the openings in their hive against bacteria and viruses. It's their natural antibiotic which protects the health of the hive. The bees collect the source of the propolis from the buds of trees and shrubs. You and I can also use Propolis as a natural antibiotic.

Science has now proven it's a natural antimicrobial. It can protect our bodies from bacterial, viral, and fungal infections. I just met a young man who had a staph infection on his…• • • • More • • • •

Black Cohosh for Menopause

The philosophy of most nutritional companies and consumers is that if a small dosage is effective, more must be better.  Researchers in Europe, especially in Germany, have made a science of botanical medicine. They have been able to determine exact levels needed to be effective with many botanicals. 

Researchers studied small dosages of certain herbs and slowly increased the dosages until they found a diminishing return of effectiveness. The research on black cohosh found an effective dosage to reduce hot flashes, night sweats and other uncomfortable feelings with 13 mg of black cohosh extract. Increasing the dosage beyond 13 mg…• • • • More • • • •

Do You Have Anxiety?

Recent research at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences in Budapest has discovered a unique form of echinacea, and through research discovered a set of phytochemicals that triggers the neurons in the brain for relaxation.  This is not the type of echinacea that supports the immune system when plagued with a cold or flu.  This echinacea is a special variety which triggers and targets brain neurons. 

Usually when echinacea is consumed, it is taken in significant quantities, but scientists in Budapest found the dosage to be different for this unique species, and only 20 mg of echinacea is required one or…• • • • More • • • •

Live Without Anxiety or Stress

Drugs are used to treat one intended indication because they are one single molecule.  Herbs and spices have hundreds of molecules that literally can treat many different conditions.  Some herbs have been researched to treat several different indications which sometime seems too good to be true.  Due to where the herb is grown, the geographical area, the water, soil, climate, and a variety of other factors, it can change the molecular composition of the herb.  Herbs, fruits, and berries, for example, that are grown in the Scandinavian countries, are more hardy than the same herbs, fruits and berries grown in…• • • • More • • • •