Category: Food

5 Myths About Sugar That Everyone Needs To Stop Believing

Photo credit: White, or brown sugar? Shutterstock

Every day we’re fed new and often conflicting information on our health and diets; what’s good for you, what’s bad, what to eat in moderation and what to avoid completely. As a result of poor education coupled with laziness, obesity rates are rising like never before. Obesity has doubled since 1980, and in 2014, more than 1.9 billion adults, 18 years and older, were overweight. Of these over 600 million were obese.

So are we totally to blame for our ever expanding waist lines? Or are we being subjected to a barrage of misinformation and misdirection in the form of health advice and advertising?

Those of us that try to eat balanced diets and watch their weight are likely to be limiting or removing sugar from their diets completely, switching to “healthier” options like cane sugar, artificial sweeteners and “sugar-free” options which are better for us. Right?

Wrong

Take a look at Business Insiders post debunking common sugar myths.

by Danielle Andrew | June 25, 2015

admin June 25, 2015 No Comments

Categories: Disease & Prevention Eating Healthy Folklore Food General Health Lowering Cholesterol Managing Diabetes Myths Organic Food Recipes Spices Sugars

Tags: Sugar Sweeteners

Baking Soda And Himalayan Salt, A Danger to the Pharmaceutical Industry ?

Image Courtesy of HealthyWildAndFree

Baking soda is commonly found in most homes around the world as a good all purpose scraping and cleaning powder, or to be used for baking purposes but there’s a good chance that you’re not fully utilizing the full potential of baking soda for your health and well-being. Baking soda is very cheap, only a few bucks and can be bought practically anywhere so to use baking soda like it can be used to treat ailments and health issues is information that the pharmaceutical industry does not want to get out.

The great thing about it is that it can be used in many different ways and to help reduce aches and pains, reduce symptoms or even reduce the chances of potential life-threatening issues by doing all that it does! So what does baking soda actually do to your body and health?

The first and probably the earliest use of baking soda medicinally was written in 1924 by Arm & Hammer to treat and prevent the cold and flu. They found that people who consumed baking soda in water prevented the flu and cold and those who had already caught the flu or cold could take baking soda in water and their symptoms would begin to dissipate.

Baking soda is also used for ulcer pain, instead of taking an anti-acid medication baking soda can neutralize the pH of the stomach helping to relieve the Ulcer symptoms. Reducing stress and having healthy lifestyle practices will ultimately reduce the ulcers in the first place, but supplementing with baking soda orally can help relieve symptoms on the spot.

Baking soda is slightly more alkaline than human blood and helps to deliver oxygen to the body as well as bring the pH level up if it is too low (too acidic). This means that any ailment, or medical condition that suffers from an acidic environment or lack of oxygen can be benefited by baking soda. Literally every cell in the human body could use more oxygen and alkaline support because of the acidic, chemically-laden and overuse of acids in our world today.

People have used and recommended baking soda for ulcers, arthritis, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease or any and all skin conditions ranging from sunburn to scars and acne. It is also very commonly used topically as a foot bath, a sunburn remedy, an addition to the bathtub for skin health as well as used in all natural aluminum free baking soda based deodorants like Primal Pit Paste which I personally use and love. Baking soda mainly oxygenates the body which allows your body to have direct access to more oxygen especially in cells that are suffering and need it, wherever they may be in the body. Secondly, it will alkalize your body and work to bring the pH into a more alkaline state, there is one issue with this however.

Based on my research I do not personally think that just swallowing baking soda and water throughout the day is the healthiest idea as most suggest. Why? Baking soda water is quite alkaline and that water goes right into your gut which is supposed to be an acidic environment in order to digest hard food. If you continuously bombard your gut with alkaline liquid without giving it some acids (which may not be an issue for some people) throughout the day you can actually weaken your gut and digestive system in general. This is why (and where) the second ingredient comes in, pink Himalayan salt.I’m sure you’ve heard of this salt before, it’s very mineral rich boasting a mineral content of 84 minerals as well as being rich in electrolytes which help the health of the cell, nervous system and entire body.

By mixing baking soda with Himalayan pink salt you are creating a mineral rich water (which provides more hydrogen and oxygen to your cells and entire body) that is pH balanced for the human blood which is going to supply your entire body. This is a drink that oxygenates, alkalizes and hydrates your body while balancing the pH of the blood which works to balance the pH of other individual organ as a carrier and modulator. This drink also balances and oxygenates the lungs which are responsible for balancing pH throughout the body as well as the kidneys with the many minerals and oxygen infusion. By drinking this you help your lungs and kidneys perform healthier which helps to supply a balanced pH and carry more oxygen and a balanced pH effect throughout the entire body.

Healthy human blood has a pH in the range of 7.35-7.45 and in order to optimize and enhance the health of your blood we’ll be ingesting something meant to do so as well as to balance the pH of your blood and get it back in the 7.35-7.45 range, or very close to it. The pH of baking soda in water is 8.2, slightly alkaline, The pH of Himalayan pink salt in water is right around 6.50 (depending on your water source) and if you put the two of these together you have something quite magical I discovered, You have a mineral and electrolyte rich drink that also gives you all of the benefits of baking soda, not to mention the pH of this drink will be right around a pH of 7.35-7.5 or so, this is right in the exact range of pH to balance the pH of your blood which runs through and gives your entire body nutrients, hydrogen and oxygen which are all vital to healing whatever is going on anywhere in your body.

Baking Soda + Himalayan Salt Drink Recipe:

1/2 tsp. of baking soda + 1/2 tsp. of Himalayan salt in a half glass of water (approximately 3-4 ounces of water) Simply add the baking soda and Himalayan salt to a half glass of water, stir and drink! You can drink this once in the morning and once at night.

Ingredients needed:

1. Himalayan Pink Salt 2. Baking Soda (Some people and companies claim that most conventional baking soda contains aluminum in it, which is a toxic metal that you definitely do not want to ingest! I’m not sure if this is true or not but you can get an aluminum free baking soda by clicking here just to be safe, I’m not sure if these claims are true and the aluminum free baking soda does cost a bit more but still fairly cheap.) 3. Purified Water (Ionizer/Distilled/Reverse Osmosis) Tap water is dead water. It’s sanitized and toxic. Chlorine, fluoride, heavy metals, traces of pharmaceutical drugs and many other compounds are in our tap water. It’s not the healthiest water and has little to no vitality left in it.

I highly recommend looking into getting a water filtration system, whether it’s purified, ionized, distilled or reverse osmosis, whatever floats your water floating boat! This drink recipe above can be used for heartburn, to balance pH of the blood and body, to oxygenate the body. Boost your immune system to fight the cold and flu as well as any other infection or sickness/disease. It can also be used to treat ulcers, help the blood for diabetic patients and many more uses. It’s oxygen, mineral and electrolyte rich and does a great job at fighting candida, bacteria or fungal infections as well as keeping your cells and blood healthy. Try drinking it once or twice daily and go from there!

By David Benjamin – June 23, 2015

admin June 24, 2015 No Comments

Categories: Bone Health Cancer Cures Cleansing Cleansing Disease & Prevention Eating Healthy Food Himalayan Salt Information Kidney Health Lowering Cholesterol Natural Antibiotics Natural Cures Organic Food Personal Health Spices Well Being

Tags: Baking Soda Himalayan Salt

How To Grow 168 Plants In A 6×10 Space: DIY A-Frame Hydroponic System

Here’s an incredibly efficient system that grows 168 plants in a 6 X 10 space by using an A frame hydroponic system. It’s an effortless way to grow a lot of food in a small space.

This idea can be approached in several ways. Once you understand the basic concept you could swap in salvaged materials or adjust the shape. To get a good idea of how it works check out the horizontal A-frame hydroponic system below.
This system is a fantastic way to grow greens, herbs, strawberries, and more.

Sources:

http://thehomesteadsurvival.com/grow-168-plants-in-a-6-x-10-space-with-a-diy-a-frame-hydroponic-system/

http://www.offgridworld.com/a-frame-vertical-hydroponic-garden-grows-168-plants/

Cymantra Admin – June 20, 2015

admin June 21, 2015 No Comments

Categories: Eating Healthy Food General Health Herbs Hydroponic Growing Information Management Organic Food Personal Health

Tags: 168 Plants A-Frame Hydroponic

10 Proven Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin

Young Indian Woman Holding Spices Turmeric may be the most effective nutritional supplement in existence.

Many high quality studies show that it has major benefits for your body and brain.

Here are the top 10 evidence-based health benefits of turmeric.

1. Turmeric Contains Bioactive Compounds With Powerful Medicinal Properties

Turmeric is the spice that gives curry its yellow color.

It has been used in India for thousands of years as a spice and medicinal herb.

Recently, science has started to back up what the Indians have known for a long time… it really does contain compounds with medicinal properties (1).

These compounds are called curcuminoids, the most important of which is curcumin.

Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric. It has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant.

However, the curcumin content of turmeric is not that high… it’s around 3%, by weight (2).

Most of the studies on this herb are using turmeric extracts that contain mostly curcumin itself, with dosages usually exceeding 1 gram per day. It would be very difficult to reach these levels just using the turmeric spice in your foods.

Therefore, if you want to experience the full effects, then you need to take an extract that contains significant amounts of curcumin.

Unfortunately, curcumin is poorly absorbed into the bloodstream. It helps to consume black pepper with it, which contains piperine… a natural substance that enhances the absorption of curcumin by 2000% (3).

I personally prefer to swallow a few whole peppercorns along with my curcumin supplement, in order to enhance absorption.

Curcumin is also fat soluble, so it may be a good idea to take it with a fatty meal.

Bottom Line: Turmeric contains curcumin, a substance with powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Most studies used turmeric extracts that are standardized to include large amounts of curcumin.

2. Curcumin is a Natural Anti-Inflammatory Compound

Turmeric in Wooden Bowl

Inflammation is incredibly important.

It helps the body fight foreign invaders and also has a role in repairing damage.

Without inflammation, pathogens like bacteria could easily take over our bodies and kill us.

Although acute (short-term) inflammation is beneficial, it can become a major problem when it is chronic (long-term) and inappropriately deployed against the body’s own tissues.

It is now believed that chronic, low-level inflammation plays a major role in almost every chronic, Western disease. This includes heart disease, cancer, metabolic syndrome, Alzheimer’s and various degenerative conditions (4, 5, 6).

Therefore, anything that can help fight chronic inflammation is of potential importance in preventing and even treating these diseases.

It turns out that curcumin is strongly anti-inflammatory, it is so powerful that it matches the effectiveness of some anti-inflammatory drugs (7).

Curcumin actually targets multiple steps in the inflammatory pathway, at the molecular level.

Curcumin blocks NF-kB, a molecule that travels into the nuclei of cells and turns on genes related to inflammation. NF-kB is believed to play a major role in many chronic diseases (8, 9).

Without getting into the gory details (inflammation is extremely complicated), the key takeaway here is that curcumin is a bioactive substance that fights inflammation at the molecular level (10, 11, 12).

In several studies, its potency has compared favorably to anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical drugs… except without the side effects (13, 14).

Bottom Line: Chronic inflammation is known to be a contributor to many common Western diseases. Curcumin can inhibit many molecules known to play major roles in inflammation.

3. Turmeric Dramatically Increases The Antioxidant Capacity of The Body

Turmeric in Bowl and Spoon

Oxidative damage is believed to be one of the mechanisms behind ageing and many diseases.

It involves free radicals, highly reactive molecules with unpaired electrons.

Free radicals tend to react with important organic substances, such as fatty acids, proteins or DNA.

The main reason antioxidants are so beneficial, is that they protect our bodies from free radicals.

Curcumin happens to be a potent antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals due to its chemical structure (15, 16).

But curcumin also boosts the activity of the body’s own antioxidant enzymes (17, 18, 19).

In that way, curcumin delivers a one-two punch against free radicals. It blocks them directly, then stimulates the body’s own antioxidant mechanisms.

Bottom Line: Curcumin has powerful antioxidant effects. It neutralizes free radicals on its own, then stimulates the body’s own antioxidant enzymes.

4. Curcumin Boosts Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Linked to Improved Brain Function and a Lower Risk of Brain Diseases

Young Indian Woman Holding a Plate With Turmeric

Back in the day, it was believed that neurons weren’t able to divide and multiply after early childhood.

However, it is now known that this does happen.

The neurons are capable of forming new connections, but in certain areas of the brain, they can also multiply and increase in number.

One of the main drivers of this process is Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which is a type of growth hormone that functions in the brain (20).

Many common brain disorders have been linked to decreased levels of this hormone. This includes depression and Alzheimer’s disease (21, 22).

Interestingly, curcumin can increase brain levels of BDNF (23, 24).

By doing this, it may be effective at delaying or even reversing many brain diseases and age-related decreases in brain function (25).

There is also the possibility that it could help improve memory and make you smarter. Makes sense given its effects on BDNF levels, but this definitely needs to be tested in human controlled trials (26).

Bottom Line: Curcumin boosts levels of the brain hormone BDNF, which increases the growth of new neurons and fights various degenerative processes in the brain.

5. Curcumin Leads to Various Improvements That Should Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease

Large Wooden Spoon Filled With Turmeric Powder

Heart disease is the biggest killer in the world (27).

It has been studied for many decades and researchers have learned a lot about why it happens.

It turns out that heart disease is incredibly complicated and there are various things that contribute to it.

Curcumin may help reverse many steps in the heart disease process (28).

Perhaps the main benefit of curcumin when it comes to heart disease, is improving the function of the endothelium, which is the lining of the blood vessels.

It is well known that endothelial dysfunction is a major driver of heart disease and involves an inability of the endothelium to regulate blood pressure, blood clotting and various other factors (29).

Several studies suggest that curcumin leads to improvements in endothelial function. One study shows that is as effective as exercise, another shows that it works as well as the drug Atorvastatin (30, 31).

But curcumin also reduces inflammation and oxidation (as discussed above), which are also important in heart disease.

In one study, 121 patients who were undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery were randomized to either placebo or 4 grams of curcumin per day, a few days before and after the surgery.

The curcumin group had a 65% decreased risk of experiencing a heart attack in the hospital (32).

Bottom Line: Curcumin has beneficial effects on several factors known to play a role in heart disease. It improves the function of the endothelium and is a potent anti-inflammatory agent and antioxidant.

6. Turmeric Can Help Prevent (And Perhaps Even Treat) Cancer

Cancer is a terrible disease, characterized by uncontrolled growth of cells.

Turmeric Roots and a Jar of Turmeric Powder

There are many different forms of cancer, but they do have several commonalities, some of which appear to be affected by curcumin supplementation (33).

Researchers have been studying curcumin as a beneficial herb in cancer treatment. It can affect cancer growth, development and spread at the molecular level (34).

Studies have shown that it can reduce angiogenesis (growth of new blood vessels in tumors), metastasis (spread of cancer), as well as contributing to the death of cancerous cells (35).

Multiple studies have shown that curcumin can reduce the growth of cancerous cells in the laboratory and inhibit the growth of tumours in test animals (36, 37).

Whether high-dose curcumin (preferably with an absorption enhancer like pepper) can help treat cancer in humans has yet to be tested properly.

However, there is some evidence that it may help prevent cancer from occurring in the first place, especially cancers of the digestive system (like colorectal cancer).

In one study in 44 men with lesions in the colon that sometimes turn cancerous, 4 grams of curcumin per day for 30 days reduced the number of lesions by 40% (38).

Maybe curcumin will be used along with conventional cancer treatment one day. It’s too early to say for sure, but it looks promising and this is being intensively studied as we speak.

Bottom Line: Curcumin leads to several changes on the molecular level that may help prevent and perhaps even treat cancer.

7. Curcumin May be Useful in Preventing and Treating Alzheimer’s Disease

A Pile of Fresh Turmeric Roots

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease in the world and a leading cause of dementia.

Unfortunately, no good treatment is available for Alzheimer’s yet.

Therefore, preventing it from showing up in the first place is of utmost importance.

There may be good news on the horizon, because curcumin has been shown to cross the blood-brain barrier (39).

It is known that inflammation and oxidative damage play a role in Alzheimer’s disease. As we know, curcumin has beneficial effects on both (40).

But one key feature of Alzheimer’s disease is a buildup of protein tangles called Amyloid plaques. Studies show that curcumin can help clear these plaques (41).

Whether curcumin can really slow down or even reverse the progression of Alzheimer’s disease needs to be studied properly.

Bottom Line: Curcumin can cross the blood-brain barrier and has been shown to lead to various improvements in the pathological process of Alzheimer’s disease.

8. Arthritis Patients Respond Very Well to Curcumin Supplementation

A Plate Full of Turmeric Powder

Arthritis is a common problem in Western countries.

There are several different types, but most involve some sort of inflammation in the joints.

Given that curcumin is a potent anti-inflammatory, it makes sense that it could help with arthritis. Several studies show this to be true.

In a study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, curcumin was even more effective than an anti-inflammatory drug (42).

Many other studies have looked at the effects of curcumin on arthritis and noted improvements in various symptoms (43, 44).

Bottom Line: Arthritis is a common disorder characterized by joint inflammation. Many studies show that curcumin can help treat symptoms of arthritis and is in some cases more effective than anti-inflammatory drugs.

9. Studies Show That Curcumin Has Incredible Benefits Against Depression

Turmeric Roots and Powder

Curcumin has shown some promise in treating depression.

In a controlled trial, 60 patients were randomized into three groups (45).

One group took prozac, another group took a gram of curcumin and the third group took both prozac and curcumin.

After 6 weeks, curcumin had led to improvements that were similar to prozac. The group that took both prozac and curcumin fared best.

According to this (small) study, curcumin is as effective as an antidepressant.

Depression is also linked to reduced levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and a shrinking hippocampus, a brain area with a role in learning and memory.

Curcumin boosts BNDF levels, potentially reversing some of these changes (46).

There is also some evidence that curcumin can boost the brain neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine (47, 48).

Bottom Line: A study in 60 depressed patients showed that curcumin was as effective as prozac in alleviating the symptoms of depression.

10. Curcumin May Help Delay Ageing and Fight Age-Related Chronic Diseases

If curcumin can really help prevent heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s… then this would have obvious benefits for longevity.

For this reason, curcumin has become very popular as an anti-aging supplement (49).

But given that oxidation and inflammation are believed to play a role in ageing, curcumin may have effects that go way beyond just prevention of disease (50).

11. Anything Else?

If you want to buy a turmeric/curcumin supplement, then there is an excellent selection on Amazon with thousands of great customer reviews.

I recommend that you find one with bioperine (another name for piperine), which is the substance that enhances absorption of curcumin by 2000%.

Without this substance, most of the curcumin just passes through your digestive tract.

By Kris Gunnars

admin June 17, 2015 No Comments

Categories: Bone Health Cancer Cures Cleansing Cleansing Eating Healthy Energetic Healing Folklore Healthy Choices Herbs Information Kidney Health Life Lessons Managing Diabetes Natural Antibiotics Natural Cures Organic Food Pain Relief Personal Health Reversing Damage Reversing Diseases Spices Well Being Your Body

Tags: Curcumin Turmeric

You Can’t Fool Mother Nature: Butter is Better!

Fool me once shame on you; fool me twice shame on me! Is butter really bad?
Even back in the 60s and 70s sufficient scientific evidence indicated that butter was far better than margarine for your health. Nevertheless, the fake, chemically laced, processed food industry along with its partner in crime junk science relentlessly convinced millions upon millions of Americans to eat margarine instead, because it was “scientifically” proven to be superior to butter for health reasons. The establishment mantra repeated over and over again has been that saturated fats make you obese and sick and are the primary culprit behind the explosion in cardiovascular disease. But is it true?

Feeding high doses of fat and cholesterol to omnivores, like rats and dogs, does not produce atherosclerotic lesions in them …
In fact, it turns out that people who have highest percentage of saturated fat in their diets have the lowest risk of heart disease …
The last word on this subject should go to Julia Child … Enjoy eating saturated fats, they’re good for you!” [1]

The processed, food industrial complex successfully created an unholy alliance with Madison Avenue, the AMA, and the lame-stream media to con Americans into believing that margarine, a highly synthetic, plastic like, nutritionally devoid, additive laced substance made from cheap, low grade, refined oils was somehow superior to real butter from grass fed cows.

“Not only does butter taste incomparably better, it’s a natural product that human beings have been eating and cooking with for centuries without -damaging their health.” [2]

Fake Fat Damage

Partially hydrogenated fatty acids found in margarine damage arteries and blood vessels. They lower good cholesterol, and raise blood levels of triglycerides and lipoproteins leading to cardiovascular damage. They also raise C-reactive protein, an inflammatory and cellular dysfunction marker. Worse yet, they inhibit the utilization of essential omega 3-fatty acids as wells a prostaglandins, which eliminate blood clots. Additionally, a diet high in partially hydrogenated fatty acids has been linked to insulin resistance and type 2 Diabetes.

While the NY Times covers the negative health effects of hydrogenated oils, they are still promoting many of the myth based evils of saturated fat. In order to function properly, your lungs, heart, immune system liver, bones, hormones and cell membranes all require high quality saturated fats – in moderation of course. Fatty acids and cholesterol are needed for healthy cell membranes, hormone and vitamin D production, and the transport and utilization of important vitamins and minerals. The New England Journal of Medicine recently solidified the link between trans fats and heart disease. Even low levels of trans fats consumption (1%-2%) substantially increase heart disease.

Furthermore, many have now realized that it’s the trans fat found in margarine, vegetable shortening, and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils that is the true villain, causing far more significant health problems than saturated fat ever could! Still, despite the scientific evidence, the low-fat dogma remains a favorite among most government health authorities. Case in point: the most recent food chart issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in December of last year, recommends reducing your saturated fat intake to a mere seven percent of caloric intake—down from its previously recommended 10 percent…[ 1]

Five Solid Reasons to Eat Real Butter

• 1. Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) – Raw organic, pastured butter has loads of anti- tumor CLA. It inhibits the growth of cancer cells in the skin, colon, breasts and lungs. It’s anti-fungal and it stimulates muscle growth while preventing weight gain.

• 2. Butyric Acid – Butter contains 4% butyric acid – a short chain fatty acid that research indicates can inhibit tumors. It also signals the immune system into action when an infection is brewing.

• 3. Vitamin K2 – Raw, organic, pastured butter and cream contains vitamin K2 – a necessary co-factor in vitamin D synthesis. K2 also ushers calcium out of your bloodstream and into bone cells which increases bone density instead of calcifying arterial and heart tissue.

• 4. Fat–Soluble Vitamins – Butter is a good source of the fat soluble vitamins A, D, and E. It’s also an excellent vehicle for their assimilation.

• 5. The Wulzen Factor – Raw, unpasteurized butter, cream and milk contain the “Wulzen factor” an anti-stiffness agent. It protects against calcification of the joints (osteoarthritis) as well as cataracts, and the calcification of the pineal gland. Pasteurization destroys the Wulzen Factor.

Raw, organic butter from pastured cows is a superfood that won’t make you fat if wisely consumed based on your nutritional needs, current health status and your body type. It fact, butter consists of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) and medium chain fatty acids(MCFA), which are not significantly stored as fat but easily used as energy.

So what should you be looking for? The Butter pyramid:

• At the top of the pyramid is organic butter made with raw milk from pastured, grass fed cows.

• The middle level is organic butter made with pasteurized milk from grass fed cows without rBGH, rBST, or antibiotics.

• The pyramid’s base is butter made from pasteurized milk from confined, grain fed, factory farmed, antibiotic and likely rBGH or rBST injected cows.

Amazingly, the butter at the bottom of the pyramid is still better for you than margarine! Margarine is merely a lab created plastic food-like substance, not by any means a real food. It’s cheap to make, lacks nutritional merit, and damages health. But it has a longer shelve life and a higher profit margin than real butter.

Could this finally be the end of the butter vs. margarine Mind-Wars?

by PAUL FASSA

Paul Fassa is a contributing staff writer for REALfarmacy.com. His pet peeves are the Medical Mafia’s control over health and the food industry and government regulatory agencies’ corruption. Paul’s valiant contributions to the health movement and global paradigm shift are world renowned.

admin June 16, 2015 No Comments

Categories: Disease & Prevention Eating Healthy Folklore Food Healthy Choices Life Lessons Lowering Cholesterol Myths

Tags: Butter Cholesteral Margarine

How To Ruin Your Life (Without Noticing)

Photo By: Erin Kelly

Understand that life is not a straight line. Life is not a set timeline of milestones. It is okay if you don’t finish school, get married, find a job that supports you, have a family, make money, and live comfortably all by this age, or that age. It’s okay if you do, as long as you understand that if you’re not married by 25, or a Vice President by 30 — or even happy, for that matter — the world isn’t going to condemn you. You are allowed to backtrack. You are allowed to figure out what inspires you. You are allowed time, and I think we often forget that. We choose a program right out of high school because the proper thing to do is to go straight to University. We choose a job right out of University, even if we didn’t love our program, because we just invested time into it. We go to that job every morning because we feel the need to support ourselves abundantly. We take the next step, and the next step, and the next step, thinking that we are fulfilling some checklist for life, and one day we wake up depressed. We wake up stressed out. We feel pressured and don’t know why. That is how you ruin your life.

You ruin your life by choosing the wrong person. What is it with our need to fast-track relationships? Why are we so enamored with the idea of first becoming somebody’s rather than somebodies? Trust me when I say that a love bred out of convenience, a love that blossoms from the need to sleep beside someone, a love that caters to our need for attention rather than passion, is a love that will not inspire you at 6am when you roll over and embrace it. Strive to discover foundational love, the kind of relationship that motivates you to be a better man or woman, the kind of intimacy that is rare rather than right there. “But I don’t want to be alone,” we often exclaim. Be alone. Eat alone, take yourself on dates, sleep alone. In the midst of this you will learn about yourself. You will grow, you will figure out what inspires you, you will curate your own dreams, your own beliefs, your own stunning clarity, and when you do meet the person who makes your cells dance, you will be sure of it, because you are sure of yourself. Wait for it. Please, I urge you to wait for it, to fight for it, to make an effort for it if you have already found it, because it is the most beautiful thing your heart will experience.

You ruin your life by letting your past govern it. It is common for certain things in life to happen to you. There will be heartbreak, confusion, days where you feel like you aren’t special or purposeful. There are moments that will stay with you, words that will stick. You cannot let these define you – they were simply moments, they were simply words. If you allow for every negative event in your life to outline how you view yourself, you will view the world around you negatively. You will miss out on opportunities because you didn’t get that promotion five years ago, convincing yourself that you were stupid. You will miss out on affection because you assumed your past love left you because you weren’t good enough, and now you don’t believe the man or the woman who urges you to believe you are. This is a cyclic, self-fulfilling prophecy. If you don’t allow yourself to move past what happened, what was said, what was felt, you will look at your future with that lens, and nothing will be able to breach that judgment. You will keep on justifying, reliving, and fueling a perception that shouldn’t have existed in the first place.

You ruin your life when you compare yourself to others. The amount of Instagram followers you have does not decrease or increase your value. The amount of money in your bank account will not influence your compassion, your intelligence, or your happiness. The person who has two times more possessions than you does not have double the bliss, or double the merit. We get caught up in what our friends are liking, who our significant others are following, and at the end of the day this not only ruins our lives, but it also ruins us. It creates within us this need to feel important, and in many cases we often put others down to achieve that.You ruin your life by desensitizing yourself. We are all afraid to say too much, to feel too deeply, to let people know what they mean to us.

Caring is not synonymous with crazy. Expressing to someone how special they are to you will make you vulnerable. There is no denying that. However, that is nothing to be ashamed of. There is something breathtakingly beautiful in the moments of smaller magic that occur when you strip down and are honest with those who are important to you. Let that girl know that she inspires you. Tell your mother you love her in front of your friends. Express, express, express. Open yourself up, do not harden yourself to the world, and be bold in who, and how, you love. There is courage in that.You ruin your life by tolerating it. At the end of the day you should be excited to be alive. When you settle for anything less than what you innately desire, you destroy the possibility that lives inside of you, and in that way you cheat both yourself and the world of your potential. The next Michelangelo could be sitting behind a Macbook right now writing an invoice for paperclips, because it pays the bills, or because it is comfortable, or because he can tolerate it. Do not let this happen to you. Do not ruin your life this way. Life and work, and life and love, are not irrespective of each other. They are intrinsically linked. We have to strive to do extraordinary work, we have to strive to find extraordinary love. Only then will we tap into an extraordinarily blissful life.

Bianca Sparacino

admin June 7, 2015 No Comments

Categories: Do's & Don't's Extraordinary People Folklore Inspirational Life Lessons Managing Self Limiting Thoughts Positive Mental Attitude Positive Outlook Psychology Reversing Damage Self Improvement Spiritual Awareness Superior State of Mind Well Being

What are the Best Cannabis Strains for Anxiety Relief ?

The relationship between cannabis and anxiety is a complicated one. For some, a small puff of cannabis provides unrivaled relief of worry, panic, stress, and other anxiety-related symptoms. Unfortunately others experience heightened paranoia and exacerbated anxiety with marijuana. This common reaction can be attributed to a strain’s THC content, but what many people don’t realize is there are many strains now that have little to no THC. These low-THC, high-CBD strains are changing the game for anxiety sufferers, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t strains rich in THC that can’t also help.

The first step to picking a good strain to combat your anxiety is recognizing your tolerance and sensitivity, and step two involves experimenting with new strains to determine which best suit your symptoms. This guide is meant to help you through the discovery process as it points out the nuances to look for the next time you visit your local dispensary.

Best Cannabis Strains for Generalized Anxiety

Many people prefer indicas over sativas because they relax the mind rather than supercharge it. For this reason we recommend Granddaddy Purple, which eases you into a peaceful mindset while urging your body to release all that stress and tension.

A high-THC sativa typically wouldn’t be our first recommendation for anxiety; they tend to have racy cerebral effects that tug at anxiety rather than help it. But Jack Herer is different in that its euphoria tapers in gently with calming effects that could possibly be explained by Jack’s relaxing parent, Northern Lights.

For the THC-sensitive, we recommend the high-CBD hybrid Cannatonic. This strain typically has a CBD profile that sizes up to its THC content in a 1:1 ratio, which helps blunt the anxious edge that a lot of anxiety-sufferers experience with cannabis. Cannatonic tends to also boast high levels of the terpene myrcene, which contributes to this strain’s deeply relaxing attributes.

“I’m not very good when it comes to marijuana with high THC contents as the effects give me anxiety. Cannatonic is high in CBD and low(er) in THC and is a great combination! It helps relieve stress and anxiety… without causing any!”

Best Cannabis Strains for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Girl Scout Cookies has numerous Cannabis Cup awards to back up its reputation for containing staggering amounts of THC. White this may seem like a panic attack waiting to happen, studies have shown that people with PTSD often have a deficiency of a naturally occurring THC-like compound called anandamide, which plays a role in memory. When we consider the fact that THC can replenish these compounds for therapeutic benefit, it’s easy to see why so many PTSD patients sing GSC’s praises.

“Great for PTSD-related symptoms. Vaped last night and slept really well (no night terrors) after a relaxed night with my partner. Felt equal and balanced the next day, with a much lower level of anxiety.”

Not everyone wants to get stoned every time their PTSD symptoms flare up. Luckily, there are high-CBD strains like Canna-Tsu to help you keep a clear head while you medicate. Canna-Tsu still has some THC, but it’s counterbalanced by CBD for a relaxing, functional effect.

Best Cannabis Strains for Social Anxiety

Social anxiety is tricky: you want a strain that keeps you alert and social, but nothing so stimulating that your mind races as you exude awkwardness. Strawberry Cough may be a sativa, but it manages to walk the fine line between energizing and calming, making it easy to converse without feeling overly paranoid.

“I usually shy away from going out in the public while smoking any bud. With this, it actually felt nice to be out while being medicated. I was able to hold constructive conversations.”

For more severe cases of social anxiety, a high-CBD strain might be better suited for you. ACDC’s cannabinoid profile can vary, but it typically contains about 20 times more CBD than THC so its psychoactive effects are minimal. This makes it easy to stay relaxed, clear-headed, and focused in what would normally be an uncomfortable social situation.

Best Cannabis Strains for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

The link between OCD and cannabis is not well understood, but based on user ratings and reviews it would seem that there are a few strains out there that help settle nervous fixations. A tranquilizing indica like Northern Lights helps slow the mind and body down, bringing them into a relaxed state where the organization of your Tupperware drawer doesn’t matter quite so much.

“Northern Lights won me to Team Indica. I suffer from OCD, social/generalized anxiety, arthritis and muscle spasms in my back. Most hybrids and sativas have made me paranoid as all hell. This might be my favorite strain so far. The overall effect was calm, relaxed, without racing thoughts, and a definite decrease in pain.”

White Fire OG, or WiFi OG, might have high levels of THC, but many OCD patients find solace in this potent hybrid strain. This could possibly be attributed to the presence of myrcene and/or limonene, terpenes that promote relaxation and stress-relief.

Best Cannabis Strains for Insomnia

Blackberry Kush is a heavy indica strain that inherits crushingly sedating effects from its Afghani parent and a sweet berry flavor from Blueberry. This may not be a strain you can indulge in throughout the day, but you’ll be more than grateful to have it at your bedside when insomnia rears its ugly head.

Another powerfully relaxing indica strain, Purple Urkle, annihilates the anxiety and stress that keeps you tossing and turning throughout the night.

By Bailey Rahn — 6/3/2015

admin June 5, 2015 No Comments

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The Truth About Coconut Oil: 9 Facts You Need To Know

Coconut oil is one of the few foods that can actually be classified as a superfood. There is such a hype surrounding the product that it really makes you wonder what the sudden ubiquitousness of this tropical plant is all about.

It contains a unique combination of fatty acids with powerful medicinal properties

Coconut oil contains what is known as medium chain fatty triglycerides, which are fatty acids of a medium length. Most are considered to be long-chain in fatty acids, but coconut oil is metabolized differently. They go from the liver to the digestive tract, where they are then used as a quick source of energy.

Places that eat coconut oil are considered to be the healthiest on the planet

Coconut oil is still considered to be an exotic food in our Western Society, primarily consumed by health conscious people. In some parts of the world, however, coconut oil is a dietary staple. In the South Pacific, they eat over 60% of their calories from coconuts, and they are the largest consumers of saturated fat in the world. They also have excellent health, not even a shred of evidence leading to heart disease.

Helps to control weight

One 2009 Study looked at the weight loss link between consumption of coconut oil and found that it reduced abdominal obesity. Coconut is easy to digest, and also protects the body from insulin resistance.

Good Source of Lauric Acid

The lauric acid in coconut oil can kill bacteria, viruses, fungi, and help stave off infections. When the oil is enzymatically digested, it forms a monoglyceride known as monolaurin. Lauric acid and monolaurin help to kill harmful pathogens like bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

They can reduce seizures

A ketogenic diet is a low carb diet that is very high in fat; this leads to increased concentrations in ketone bodies in the blood. For some reason, this type of diet can reduce the rate of seizures in epileptic children.

Ease Digestion

Many people suffer from digestive issues; those people should consider adding coconut oil into their diets. Coconut oil benefits digestive disorders including IBS and microbial stomach bugs. The fatty acids contain antimicrobials that have a soothing effect on bacteria, candida, and even parasites that cause poor digestion.

Helps to Manage Type 2 Diabetes

A recent study done by the Garvin Institute of Medical Research showed that coconut oil helps to protect against insulin resistance, thereby reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Cooks at high temperatures

Because of the medium chain fatty acids, coconut oil has a higher smoking temperature than most oils. You might find that you like it better than your usual olive oil, especially if you are cooking recipes that require a higher cooking temperature. Olive oil oxidizes when it reaches smoke point causing free radicals.

Slows Fine lines and aging signs

Coconut oil is not just for consumption, but it has many beauty benefits as well! It helps to keep the connective tissue strong, preventing wrinkles and skin sagging. Apply the oil directly to your face to soften the appearance of fine lines or use it daily to give a lovely moisturizing glow!

Sources:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/11/18/coconut-oil-uses.aspx

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-amazing-health-benefits-of-virgin-coconut-oil.html

admin June 4, 2015 No Comments

Categories: Cleansing Disease & Prevention Eating Healthy Food General Health Healthy Choices Immune System Information Lowering Cholesterol Managing Diabetes Natural Cures Reversing Damage

Scientists Find Vessels That Connect Immune System And Brain

Photo credit: Topic / Shutterstock.

It used to be thought that the lymphatic system stopped at the neck, but it has now been found to reach into the brain

In contradiction to decades of medical education, a direct connection has been reported between the brain and the immune system. Claims this radical always require plenty of testing, even after winning publication, but this could be big news for research into diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) and Alzheimer’s.

It seems astonishing that, after centuries of dissection, a system of lymphatic vessels could have survived undetected. That, however, is exactly what Professor Jonathan Kipnis of the University of Virginia claims in Nature.

^{Old and new representations of the lymphatic system that carries immune cells around the body. Credit: University of Virginia Health System}

“It changes entirely the way we perceive the neuro-immune interaction,” says Kipnis. “We always perceived it before as something esoteric that can’t be studied. But now we can ask mechanistic questions.”

MS is known to be an example of the immune system attacking the brain, although the reasons are poorly understood. The opportunity to study lymphatic vessels that link the brain to the immune system could transform our understanding of how these attacks occur, and what could stop them. The causes of Alzheimer’s disease are even more controversial, but may also have immune system origins, and the authors suggest protein accumulation is a result of the vessels failing to do their job.

Indeed, Kipnis claims, “We believe that for every neurological disease that has an immune component to it, these vessels may play a major role.”

The discovery originated when Dr. Antoine Louveau, a researcher in Kipnis’ lab, mounted the membranes that cover mouse brains, known as meninges, on a slide. In the dural sinuses, which drain blood from the brain, he noticed linear patterns in the arrangement of immune T-cells. “I called Jony [Kipnis] to the microscope and I said, ‘I think we have something,'” Louveau recalls.

Kipnis was skeptical, and now says, “I thought that these discoveries ended somewhere around the middle of the last century. But apparently they have not.” Extensive further research convinced him and a group of co-authors from some of Virginia’s most prestigious neuroscience institutes that the vessels are real, they carry white blood cells and they also exist in humans. The network, they report, “appears to start from both eyes and track above the olfactory bulb before aligning adjacent to the sinuses.”

Kipnis pays particular credit to colleague Dr. Tajie Harris who enabled the team to image the vessels in action on live animals, confirming their function. Louveau also credits the discovery to fixing the meninges to a skullcap before dissecting, rather than the other way around. This, along with the closeness of the network to a blood vessel, is presumably why no one has observed it before.

The authors say the vessels, “Express all of the molecular hallmarks of lymphatic endothelial cells, are able to carry both fluid and immune cells from the cerebrospinal fluid, and are connected to the deep cervical lymph nodes.”

The authors add that the network bears many resemblances to the peripheral lymphatic system, but it “displays certain unique features,” including being “less complex [and] composed of narrower vessels.”

The discovery reinforces findings that immune cells are present even within healthy brains, a notion that was doubted until recently.

June 3, 2015 | by Stephen Luntz

admin June 3, 2015 No Comments

Categories: Cleansing Disease & Prevention General Health Healthy Techniques Immune System Pain Relief Reversing Damage Well Being Your Body

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Atlas Orthogonal – Just What is it !!

What causes aches and pains in our back, neck, legs, arms, head and joints? What is the source of these problems that can become so detrimental to our quality of life? Why live with pain as so many of us do?

Many of these problems can be associated with the imbalance of the spinal column. The spinal column is a tunnel of interlocking bones called vertebrae that protect the spinal cord. The spinal cord is an extension of the brain, together known as the central nervous system. There are spaces between each vertebra allowing nerves, which are extensions of the spinal cord, to supply and connect every part of the human body. Therefore, it is the nervous system that regulates and affects all body functions.

The nervous system can be likened to a major super highway. Without problems and all vehicles going the speed limit, travel is smooth and without accident. However, if there is a car crash, traffic slows down and even stops. The highway does not function as it was intended.

When the spinal column is misaligned and out of balance, the nervous system is unable to function as it was intended.

Many years of clinical research points to the fact that much of the problem associated with spinal misalignment and its consequences can be associated with the atlas vertebra, the top cervical bone in the neck.

This one bone can effect the alignment of the entire spine. The spine is like a chain—when the first link is twisted and turned, each link down to the last turns—thereby disrupting the rest of the chain. Consider the atlas the first and therefore the most important link in that chain. The human body is balanced when the head is positioned in the center of the feet. When the atlas is misaligned it causes the head to tilt. The spine then shifts to support the weight of the head, thereby creating biomechanical and postural stresses and strains. When the atlas bone is properly aligned, that is in the orthogonal—or neutral—position, the rest of the spinal vertebra come into better alignment allowing the body to heal itself. The delicate and complex connections of the nervous system allow communication between the systems of the body.

An examination of the anatomy of the atlas vertebra reveals that it weighs a mere two ounces and the human head weighs 9 to 17 pounds. Hence, the likeness to ATLAS, the figure in Greek mythology who carried the world on his shoulders. The atlas is located directly under the head, connecting the head to the rest of the spine.

The atlas supports the weight of the head most efficiently in the orthogonal, or neutral position. Atlas orthogonal is an engineering term referring to the position of the atlas being 90 degrees to the head and neck.

Trauma in one form or another is the primary cause of misalignment. When the atlas vertebra is subjected to stresses and strains, it may be pushed out of proper alignment. Trauma may include car accidents (no matter how minor and regardless of immediate symptoms), slips and falls, blows to the head, or sports related injuries. Repetitive micro traumas, such as bad sleeping habits, poor posture, incorrect lifting and carrying can also cause misalignment.

Once the atlas is moved out of its orthogonal position the body tries to compensate to maintain its center of gravity. It does this by keeping the head directly over the center of the feet. However to maintain the level position of the head the rest of the spine adapts and is thrown out of alignment.

The body alters its structure in such a way that the muscles contract to cause one leg to appear shorter. In most cases one leg is not actually shorter than the other, but is drawn short due to the body’s compensation for the displaced atlas.

The resulting misalignment may cause nerve pressure and inflammation causing a disruption of the normal functioning of the nervous system. This one dysfunction may play a role in a multitude of symptoms and pain in different areas of the body.

Besides directly impacting the neck, we can see other effects such as decreased curves in the neck, scoliosis, and changes in the alignment in the shoulders and pelvis. These changes in the alignment affect the structural integrity of the skeletal system. This in turn can result in a host of other symptoms and problems, especially headaches, neck, and facial pain.

An atlas orthogonist treats this condition through a system of examination and diagnosis that utilizes a detailed scientific and biomechanical protocol. Precise measurements of the angle of the atlas are the basis of the treatments.

An extensive evaluation of the patient condition is rendered by the doctor on the first visit. A complete and thorough history is critical in aiding the doctor in the proper diagnosis. This history includes asking a variety of questions pertaining to every aspect of the patients symptoms and injuries. The exam also includes orthopedic/neurologic, and postural assessment of imbalances in the spine that would lead to problems with the health of the spine and its related symptoms and pain. The first step of the diagnosis is to determine the degree in which the atlas is misaligned. Very precise x-rays are taken which show the doctor exactly how the atlas is displaced. The x-rays taken are invaluable in making the most precise atlas correction which is as unique to the patient as their own fingerprint. Following the diagnosis a specific treatment protocol is developed to align the atlas into the correct neutral/orthogonal position.

One of the most important post adjustment steps are post x-rays, which are taken immediately after the initial treatments. There is no guess work in this program. These three dimensional x-rays are taken and analyzed to verify that the best possible correction was rendered. The doctor may then show the patient the comparison between before and after x-rays. Post x-rays are an illustration of the exact change that has taken place because of the atlas orthogonal correction.

In order to treat this condition, Dr. Roy Sweat, the founder of the atlas orthogonal procedure, devised a method using a percussion wave, which is a vibration to re-position the atlas vertebra. Dr. Sweat is considered by many to be one of the foremost authorities in the world on the cervical spine. The history of treating the atlas goes back to the early 1900’s when Dr. B.J. Palmer, the developer of chiropractic, spent many years of clinical research in discovering that it was the atlas that controlled the position of the head and the resulting position of the rest of the spine.

Dr. Palmer taught to correct the atlas position using the hands with about 40 pounds of force. Dr. Sweat and Dr. John F. Grostic were taught by Dr. Palmer. In his extensive clinical research, Dr. Grostic found that much less force was actually necessary to correct the atlas into position. Dr. Sweat in his further research discovered that even less force was actually needed. Dr. Sweat invented and engineered a highly advanced instrument that without pain or pressure is able to accurately re-position the atlas vertebra. The procedure is non-invasive and gentle.

The results are often immediate and dramatic. However, the atlas may have been out of alignment for some time before symptoms actually appear. Without proper treatment the symptoms only get worse, and the problem becomes more difficult to correct. The longer the existing condition is without treatment, the more time and treatment it may take to heal.

admin June 3, 2015 No Comments

Categories: Atlas Adjustments Back and Neck Bone Health Disease & Prevention General Health Healthy Choices Personal Health Reversing Damage Well Being Your Body

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