Tuesday 31 December 2013

45 Uses For Lemons That Will Blow Your Socks Off

Most people are familiar with the traditional uses for lemons to soothe sore throats and add some citrus flavor to our foods.

However the diversity of applications for lemons far exceeds general knowledge and once you read the following list, you’ll likely want to stock at least a few lemons in your kitchen 24-7.

1. Freshen the Fridge
Remove refrigerator odors with ease. Dab lemon juice on a cotton ball or sponge and leave it in the fridge for several hours. Make sure to toss out any malodorous items that might be causing the bad smell.

2. High Blood Pressure
Lemon contains potassium which controls high blood pressure and reduces the effect of nausea and dizziness.

3. Prevent Cauliflower From Turning Brown
Cauliflower tend to turn brown with even the slightest cooking. You can make sure the white vegetables stay white by squeezing a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice on them before heating.

4. Mental Health
Lemon water can also prep up your mood and relieve you from depression and stress. Long distance walkers and world travelers as well as explorers look upon the lemon as a Godsend. When fatigue begins, a lemon is sucked through a hole in the top. Quick acting medicine it is, giving almost unbelievable refreshments.

5. Refresh Cutting Boards
No wonder your kitchen cutting board smells! After all, you use it to chop onions, crush garlic, and prepare fish. To get rid of the smell and help sanitize the cutting board, rub it all over with the cut side of half a lemon or wash it in undiluted juice straight from the bottle.

6. Respiratory Problems
Lemon water can reduce phlegm; and can also help you breathe properly and aids a person suffering with asthma.

7. Treating Arthritis and Rheumatism
Lemon is a diuretic – assists in the production of urine which helps you to reduce inflammation by flushing out toxins and bacteria while also giving you relief from arthritis and rheumatism.

8. Prevents Kidney Stones
Regular consumption of the refreshing drink — or even lemon juice mixed with water — may increase the production of urinary citrate, a chemical in the urine that prevents the formation of crystals that may build up into kidney stones.

9. Keep Insects Out of the Kitchen
You don’t need insecticides or ant traps to ant-proof your kitchen. Just give it the lemon treatment. First squirt some lemon juice on door thresholds and windowsills. Then squeeze lemon juice into any holes or cracks where the ants are getting in. Finally, scatter small slices of lemon peel around the outdoor entrance. The ants will get the message that they aren’t welcome. Lemons are also effective against roaches and fleas: Simply mix the juice of 4 lemons (along with the rinds) with 1/2 gallon (2 liters) water and wash your floors with it; then watch the fleas and roaches flee. They hate the smell.

10. Anti-Aging
Lemon water reduces the production of free radicals which are responsible for aging skin and skin damage. Lemon water is calorie free and an antioxidant.

11. Fruit and Vegetable Wash
You never know what kind of pesticides or dirt may be lurking on the skin of your favorite fruits and vegetables. Slice your lemon and squeeze out one tablespoon of lemon juice into your spray bottle. The lemon juice is a natural disinfectant and will leave your fruits and vegetables smelling nice too.

12. Treat Infections
Lemon water can fight throat infections thanks to its antibacterial property. If salt water does not work for you, try lime and water for gargling.

13. Deodorize Your Garbage
If your garbage is beginning to smell yucky, here’s an easy way to deodorize it: Save leftover lemon and orange peels and toss them at the base under the bag. To keep it smelling fresh, repeat once every couple of weeks.

14. Keep Guacamole Green
You’ve been making guacamole all day long for the big party, and you don’t want it to turn brown on top before the guests arrive. The solution: Sprinkle a liberal amount of fresh lemon juice over it and it will stay fresh and green. The flavor of the lemon juice is a natural complement to the avocados in the guacamole. Make the fruit salad hours in advance too. Just squeeze some lemon juice onto the apple slices, and they’ll stay snowy white.

15. Purges The Blood
We consume a lot of junk food or food with a lot of preservatives and artificial flavors. This builds up a lot of toxins in the blood and body but daily consumption of lemon water helps to purify the blood.

16. Make Soggy Lettuce Crisp
Don’t toss that soggy lettuce into the garbage. With the help of a little lemon juice you can toss it in a salad instead. Add the juice of half a lemon to a bowl of cold water. Then put the soggy lettuce in it and refrigerate for 1 hour. Make sure to dry the leaves completely before putting them into salads or sandwiches.

17. Oral Health
Lemon juice also stops bleeding gums and reduces toothaches

18. Lighten Age Spots
Why buy expensive creams when you’ve got lemon juice? To lighten liver spots or freckles, try applying lemon juice directly to the area. Let it sit for 15 minutes and then rinse your skin clean. It’s a safe and effective skin-lightening agent.

19. Create Blonde Highlights
For salon-worthy highlights, add 1/4 cup lemon juice to 3/4 cup water and rinse your hair with the mixture. Then, sit in the sun until your hair dries. To maximize the effect, repeat once daily for up to a week.

20. Make a Room Scent/Humidifier
Freshen and moisturize the air in your home on dry winter days. Make your own room scent that also doubles as a humidifier. If you have a wood-burning stove, place an enameled cast-iron pot or bowl on top, fill with water, and add lemon (and/or orange) peels, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and apple skins. No wood-burning stove? Use your stovetop instead and just simmer the water periodically.

21. Clean and Whiten Nails
Pamper your hands without a manicurist. Add the juice of 1/2 lemon to 1 cup warm water and soak your fingertips in the mixture for 5 minutes. After pushing back the cuticles, rub some lemon peel back and forth against the nail.

22. Cleanse Your Face
Zap zits naturally by dabbing lemon juice on blackheads to draw them out during the day. You can also wash your face with lemon juice for a natural cleanse and exfoliation. Your skin should improve after several days of treatment. Lemon water is also a cooling agent, best way to beat the heat.

23. Freshen Your Breath
Make an impromptu mouthwash by rinsing with lemon juice straight from the bottle. Swallow for longer-lasting fresh breath. The citric acid in the juice alters the pH level in your mouth, killing bacteria that causes bad breath. Rinse after a few minutes because long-term exposure to the acid in lemons can harm tooth enamel.

24. Treat Flaky Dandruff
If itchy, scaly dandruff has you scratching your head, relief may be no farther away than your refrigerator. Just massage two tablespoons lemon juice into your scalp and rinse with water. Then stir one teaspoon lemon juice into one cup water and rinse your hair with it. Repeat daily until your dandruff disappears.

25. Get Rid of Tough Stains on Marble
You probably think of marble as stone, but it is really petrified calcium (also known as old seashells). That explains why it is so porous and easily stained and damaged. Those stains can be hard to remove. If washing won’t remove a stubborn stain, try this: Cut a lemon in half, dip the exposed flesh into some table salt, and rub it vigorously on the stain. But do this only as a last resort; acid can damage marble. Rinse well. Use These Lemons To Clean – Easy and Effective

26. Remove Berry Stains
It sure was fun to pick your own berries, but now your fingers are stained with berry juice that won’t come off no matter how much you scrub with soap and water. Try washing your hands with undiluted lemon juice, then wait a few minutes and wash with warm, soapy water. Repeat until your hands are stain-free.

27. Soften Dry, Scaly Elbows
Itchy elbows are bad enough, but they look terrible too. For better looking (and feeling) elbows, mix baking soda and lemon juice to make an abrasive paste, then rub it into your elbows for a soothing, smoothing, and exfoliating treatment. Rinse your extremities in a mixture of equal parts lemon juice and water, then massage with olive oil and dab dry with a soft cloth.

28. Headaches
Lemon juice with a few teaspoons of hot tea added is the treatment of a sophisticated New York bartender, for those who suffer with hangover headaches–and from headaches due to many other causes. He converts his customers to this regime, and weans them away from drug remedies completely.

29. Chills and Fevers
Chills and fevers may be due to a variety of causes; never the less the lemon is always a helpful remedy. Spanish physicians regard it as an infallible friend.

30. Diptheria
Skip the vaccine for this disease. Lemon Juice Treatment still proves as one of the most powerful antiseptics and the strong digestive qualities of the fruit are admired around the world. With the juice every hour or two, and at the same time, 1/2 to 1 tsp. should be swallowed. This cuts loose the false membrane in the throat and permits it to come out.

31. Vaginal Hygiene
Diluted lemon juice makes a safe and sane method of vaginal hygiene. Though it is a powerful antiseptic it is nevertheless free from irritating drugs in douches and suppositories.

32. Forget The Moth Balls
A charming French custom to keep closets free from moths is to take ripe lemons and stick them with cloves all over the skin. The heavily studded lemons slowly dry with their cloves, leaving a marvelous odor throughout the closets and rooms.

33. Stomach Health
Digestive problems are the most common ailments but warm water and lime juice is the solution to most digestive problems. Lemon juice helps to purify the blood, reduces your chances of indigestion, constipation, eliminates toxins from the body, adds digestion and reduces phlegm.

34. Disinfect Cuts and Scrapes
Stop bleeding and disinfect minor cuts and scraps by pouring a few drops of lemon juice directly on the cut. You can also apply the juice with a cotton ball and hold firmly in place for one minute.

35. Soothe Poison Ivy Rash
You won’t need an ocean of calamine lotion the next time poison ivy comes a-creeping. Just apply lemon juice directly to the affected area to soothe itching and alleviate the rash.

36. Remove Warts
You’ve tried countless remedies to banish warts and nothing seems to work. Next time, apply a dab of lemon juice directly to the wart using a cotton swab. Repeat for several days until the acids in the lemon juice dissolve the wart completely.

37. Bleach Delicate Fabrics
Avoid additional bleach stains by swapping ordinary household chlorine bleach with lemon juice, which is milder but no less effective. Soak your delicates in a mixture of lemon juice and baking soda for at least half an hour before washing.

38. Clean Tarnished Brass and Polish Chrome
Say good-bye to tarnish on brass, copper, or stainless steel. Make a paste of lemon juice and salt (or substitute baking soda or cream of tartar for the salt) and coat the affected area. Let it stay on for 5 minutes. Then wash in warm water, rinse, and polish dry. Use the same mixture to clean metal kitchen sinks too. Apply the paste, scrub gently, and rinse. Get rid of mineral deposits and polish chrome faucets and other tarnished chrome. Simply rub lemon rind over the chrome and watch it shine! Rinse well and dry with a soft cloth.

39. Replace Your Dry Cleaner
Ditch the expensive dry-cleaning bills (and harsh chemicals) with this homegrown trick. Simply scrub the stained area on shirts and blouses with equal parts lemon juice and water. Your “pits” will be good as new, and smell nice too.

40. Boost Laundry Detergent
For more powerful cleaning action, pour 1 cup lemon juice into the washer during the wash cycle. The natural bleaching action of the juice will zap stains and remove rust and mineral discolorations from cotton T-shirts and briefs and will leave your clothes smelling fresh. Your clothes will turn out brighter and also come out smelling lemon-fresh.

41. Rid Clothes of Mildew
Have you ever unpacked clothes you stored all winter and discovered some are stained with mildew? To get rid of it, make a paste of lemon juice and salt and rub it on the affected area, then dry the clothes in sunlight. Repeat the process until the stain is gone.

42. Eliminate Fireplace Odor
There’s nothing cozier on a cold winter night than a warm fire burning in the fireplace — unless the fire happens to smell horrible. Next time you have a fire that sends a stench into the room, try throwing a few lemon peels into the flames. Or simply burn some lemon peels along with your firewood as a preventive measure.

43. Neutralize Cat-Box Odor
You don’t have to use an aerosol spray to neutralize foul-smelling cat-box odors or freshen the air in your bathroom. Just cut a couple of lemons in half. Then place them, cut side up, in a dish in the room, and the air will soon smell lemon-fresh.

44. Deodorize a Humidifier
When your humidifier starts to smell funky, deodorize it with ease: Just pour 3 or 4 teaspoons lemon juice into the water. It will not only remove the off odor but will replace it with a lemon-fresh fragrance. Repeat every couple of weeks to keep the odor from returning.

45. Reduce Asthma Symptoms
In addition to a general detoxifying diet, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice before each meal, and before retiring can reduce asthma symptoms.

Read more at http://www.realfarmacy.com/45-uses-for-lemons-that-will-blow-your-socks-off/

Monday 30 December 2013

8 Foods That Can Save the World

According to a study published by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Americans waste about 40% of all food produced in the United States. It is also estimated that 70% of all fresh water consumption in the US is attributed to the agricultural production; which means that food waste alone accounts for one quarter of ALL the water consumed within the US. Furthermore, given that the average farm requires 3 kcal of fossil fuel energy to produce 1 kcal of food (before accounting for energy requirements of food processing and transportation) wasted food accounts for roughly 300 million barrels of oil per year.

Once quantified, the reality of wasting food is a horrid scenario. So what can you do? Should you start demanding that little Johnny and little Susie make a ‘happy plate’ for every meal? Luckily, there is a much more feasible and realistic solution. Changing your buying habits to only purchase quickly perishable foods when you plan on cooking them before they spoil is a good start. But better yet you can buy foods with long shelf lives; no, not the cardboard boxes filled with refined sugars and hundreds of different corn derivatives, but actual whole foods.

Believe it or not, there are many whole foods that one can purchase which range in shelf life times of several months to indefinitely:

Winter Squash
For starters, winter squash (including acorn, hubbard, butternut, spaghetti, and even pumpkin) can last between 2 and 6 months when stored in a dark cabinet with little to no airflow.

Beets
Beets can last between 2 and 4 months in the refrigerator. First, cut off the greens if they’re still attached, and then store them in a perforated plastic bag in your vegetable crisper.

Cabbage
Cabbage, when wrapped in plastic and kept in the crisper can last for up to 2 months.

Onions
Stored in a cool dry area, onions can keep for up to a year. Even if left in the mesh bag on the counter top, onions can last a month or more and will usually start to grow more onions rather than rot.

Potatoes
Potatoes like temperatures near 40ºF and no light, kept within these parameters they will last between 2 and 4 months.

Rice
When stored in a dry place the shelf life of rice is nearly indefinite and will last well past the 20 year mark.

Kiwi
Believe it or not, if you keep kiwis stored in the refrigerator, away from other fruits that emit high levels ethylene, like apples, they can last for months.

Honey
The shelf life of this amazing super food is indefinite. Kept out of the light the and at room temperature the worst that can happen to the honey is crystallization.

Read more at http://www.realfarmacy.com/8-foods-that-can-save-the-world

20 Natural Pain Killers

1 – Ginger (muscle pain)
2 – Apple Cider Vinegar (heartburn)
3 – Clove (toothache)
4 – Garlic (earache)
5 – Cherries (headache / joint pain)
6 – Fish (stomach pain)
7 – Grapes (back pain)
8 – Yogurt (prevents PMS)
9 – Oats (Endrometrial)
10 – Salt (foot pain)
11 – Pineapple (digestive upsets)
12 – Peppermint (muscle pain)
13 – Turmeric (chronic pain)
14 – Flax Seed (breast pain / soreness)
15 – Horseradish (sinus)
16 – Tomato Juice (leg cramps)
17 – Blueberries (bladder infections)
18 – Honey (mouth sores)
19 – Water (injuries)
20 – Coffee (migraines)

Read more at http://www.realfarmacy.com/20-natural-pain-killers/

Is It Safe To Juice Non-Organic Produce?


In “Juicing 101: How to Get Started Without Going Broke,” I addressed a dilemma that most budget-conscious, green-juice swigging citizens have: what’s more important, that I get my green juice every day, or that I go broke to make sure it’s organic? While organics are obviously preferred, I argued that a budget-conscious person doesn't have to feel bad about juicing conventional produce. While several readers agreed, a handful strongly opposed.
Many researchers have attempted to analyze the differences between organic produce and conventionally grown (non-organic) fruits and veggies. Some studies claim there are minor differences in the nutritional content of both types; others give evidence that organic crops “contain significantly more vitamin C, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus” than conventionally grown crops. The results are endless, contradictory, and even bizarre — one study even shows that organic produce consumers are less likely to wear seat belts while driving.
We know that it's beneficial and highly preferred to juice organic, raw veggies. But what about those of us who can't afford to spend hundreds of dollars each year to juice organically?
What’s better: to juice conventional produce or not juice at all? Here’s what I found out.

1. Oxidation is the enemy of pesticides and enzymes.
We know that a cut apple exposed to air turns brown. This is called oxidation, and it destroys the enzymes in juice. In terms of juicing with conventional produce, a 2007 study demonstrated that most pesticides are degraded when they go through the oxidation process. On one hand, that’s great! Bye bye, pesticides. On the other, the very process that kills the pesticides is the one that destroys the life-giving enzymes and nutrients in your juice.
It's important to note that some juicers enable more oxidation than others. Unfortunately, juicers that maintain more enzymes and prevent oxidation are very expensive. The choice seems to become “expensive juicer” versus “expensive produce.” Even if you do use organic produce, a juicer that promotes oxidation (namely centrifugal juicers) will leech enzymes and minerals from the produce. However, there is one caveat — if you consume the juice immediately after pressing, you can take advantage of nutrients before oxidative damage occurs.

2. Organic foods are treated with pesticides, too.
A 2012 study from Stanford found that while “organic produce had a 30 percent lower risk of pesticide contamination than conventional fruits and vegetables, organic foods are not necessarily 100 percent free of pesticides.” From the outset, this risk difference demonstrates that those able to afford organic produce are only slightly more protected from pesticides. In the interest of presenting a balanced view, this risk difference has been criticized, as it refers to risk of pesticide contamination, not health risk.
In terms of your organic produce not being entirely “pesticide-free,” research demonstrates that half of the “natural” chemicals studied are just as harmful as those found in conventional crops. Take a look at the list of pesticides approved for use in organic farming.

3. It's difficult to ignore (and to avoid) the Dirty Dozen list.
Some have proposed that a solution for the budget-savvy foodie is to buy organic only for produce on the “Dirty Dozen” list, which is the Environmental Working Group's assessment of the foods that are likely to contain the most pesticide. The issue is that the majority of produce that we use to juice — including apples, celery, cucumbers, and spinach — are actually on the Dirty Dozen list.
This research is fairly conflicting, and for me, it feels like I have to choose between being budget conscious and health conscious. Still, there has been minimal research conducted comparing the pesticide levels, enzyme count, and safety of drinking fresh-pressed juices, and most studies refer to the juice you find on the supermarket shelf, which we all know is high in sugar and low in nutrients. With that in mind, I choose to still juice produce even if it isn't organic. I will always choose organic over conventional, but the budget-conscious foodie should not forgo their green juice just because it is not organic.
What do you think? Is it OK to juice with conventional produce … or better to not juice at all?

Read More: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-11970/is-it-safe-to-juice-non-organic-produce.html

Sunday 29 December 2013

What You Need To Know About the Side Effects of Garlic

Now that modern day research has supported historically primitive medicinal practices in which garlic (especially raw) acts as a powerful antibacterial supplement, more people are working it into their everyday diets. With the good, inevitably comes a balancing shadow causing discomfort in exchange for boosted immunity. We all know of it though most do not understand the scientific complexity lurking behind the scenes, nor what remedies exist to minimize the burden.

The price we pay for the natural sterilization of Campylobacter jejuni “The most prevalent cause of bacterial food-borne illness in the world.” (Xiaonan Lu) is something we despise in our friends and family yet seldom notice in ourselves. Don’t get too overwhelmed with fright. The villain referred to is no other than garlic odor! Simplicity solely lies in the solution as it goes much further beyond pieces stuck between your teeth or oil saturating your tongue. Garlic stench is a very real chemical side effect of ingesting one of nature’s best miracle drugs.

This smell actually occupies your blood after ingestion and is received by a disgruntled close encounter via your lungs, nostrils, mouth, and pores for up to several days. Studies interested in naturally neutralizing this odor explored the idea of cow’s milk as an ingestible deodorant. Research concurs that lactose has nothing to do with freshening your presence. Thankfully this time and money spent on researching such an obscure theory was not in vain.

Garlic is nature’s high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and cancer-risk reducer, not to mention its super-antibacterial abilities. Although dairy doesn’t cure the minute price-to-pay for this wonder drug, these milk obsessed scientists weren’t too far off. It was determined that drinking milk after ingestion did in fact reduce the presence of allyl mercaptan, diallyl disulfide, methyl mercaptan, and allyl methyl sulfide (the major volatile compounds responsible for garlic breath) in the nostrils and mouth. It was further determined that ingesting garlic mixed with milk reduced the presence of the aforementioned stench-causing compounds even moreso. Vigorous testing of isolated dairy characteristics indicated that lactose had little or nothing to do with these effects. Rather it was the water which makes up 80-90% of the volume in milk that did the trick. It was also noted that fat intake helps break down this odor so you stink less.

The study concluded that drinking plenty of water with your garlic intake will reduce odors significantly and furthermore that fat intake helps break down, in turn masking the more hydrophobic compounds such as allyl disulfide and allyl methyl disulfide which are also responsible for odor. In addition, scent-masking is more productive when water, fat, and garlic are ingested simultaneously, as opposed to water and fat intake post-garlic-ingestion, or a dose of garlic as an isolated part of your diet.

Read more at http://www.realfarmacy.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-side-effects-of-garlic

Studies show that reishi mushrooms fight cancer and diabetes

Reishi mushrooms have been used to treat countless ailments in the Far East for over 2,000 years. They are especially venerated in their native China, where they have acquired the nickname "The Mushrooms of Immortality" due to their extraordinary medicinal properties. Indeed, long-term consumption of reishi mushrooms - which are characterized by their red, kidney-shaped cap and their tough, "woody" texture - has been linked to reduced blood pressure, improved nerve function, enhanced stamina, weight loss and much more.

Two conditions that reishi mushrooms seem to particularly excel at treating, however, are cancer and diabetes - two of the most serious and common diseases in the United States today. Below is a collection of studies that prove their effectiveness at combating these diseases.

Reishi and cancer

According to Drs. Joann Lau and Sanda Zolj, two research scientists at Bellarmine University, reishi mushrooms contain important polysaccharides and saponins that decrease cell proliferation in cancerous lungs. The researchers discovered that this effect was due to apoptosis ("cell death") instigated by the mushroom's active compounds. They concluded that "detailed biochemical characterization of this ancient herbal remedy could hold tremendous promise for the treatment of lung cancer."

Lau and Zolj's research is reinforced by that of Dr. Teow Sun Soo at the MARA Institute of Technology in Malaysia. Soo, determined to understand the effects of reishi on various ailments, conducted clinical trials that required subjects to take reishi extracts at regular intervals. Soo found not only that the extract boosted the body's immune system to fight cancer but that it could also reduce the harmful side effects of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Soo admitted, however, that the results depended on the type of cancer and the severity of the condition. For treating cancer, Soo recommended taking six 500 milligram capsules, three times daily.

Reishi and diabetes

According to researchers from the Institute of Vascular Medicine at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, reishi mushrooms can lower blood sugar levels in laboratory animals. For their study, which was published in the May 2009 edition of Phytomedicine, the researchers fed 0.03 and 0.3g/kg of reishi extracts to diabetic mice over a one-month period. The extracts lowered the blood glucose levels of the mice within a single week, leading the researchers to believe that the mushroom inhibits an enzyme used by the liver to produce glucose.

Another Chinese study, which was conducted by researchers at the Department of Pharmacology of Peking University in Beijing and published in the December 2006 issue of the Journal of Asian Natural Products Research, specifically looked into reishi's effects on diabetic kidney disease. After the eight-week trial period, the diabetic subjects exhibited noticeably reduced markers of kidney stress, as well as lowered triglyceride and blood sugar levels. The researchers concluded that reishi mushrooms can prevent or halt the progression of diabetic kidney complications.

Important: Unlike most other medicinal mushrooms, which can be eaten cooked, reishi have a tough texture that is difficult for our stomachs to digest. Therefore, if you're interested in utilizing reishi as a medicine, consider consuming it in extract form (like in the studies) for improved nutrient absorption.

Saturday 28 December 2013

5 Food Additives To Avoid

Our food is laden with additives, many times in order to preserve it. But some of the disadvantages of these substances outweigh the benefits. Here are the top 5 that made our list — we’ll let you decide if they’re worth it.

Nitrites

Summer is peak season for grilling up hot dogs, but their bright-red color is compliments of nitrites, which have been linked to cancer. You can also find this additive in bacon, cured meats, sausage, ham and smoked fish.
Read more about nitrites »

Olestra

Although this fat substitute found in chips tastes like the real deal, you’ll feel the unpleasant results after eating a few too many.
Learn all about olestra »

Artificial Sweeteners

Why fill your body with chemicals when there are so many other natural ways to sweeten your food? The artificial sweetener debate is a controversial one — where do you stand?
Weigh in on the sweet debate »

Sulfites

Sulfites are best known for their ability to preserve wine as it ages. Although considered “mostly” safe, sensitivities to this additive can develop at any age, and can vary from itchy skin to not being able to breathe.
Learn all about sulfites »

Artificial Food Coloring

The colors that make junk foods visually appealing have been linked to cancer, allergic reactions and hyperactivity in children. Many of these artificial colors are found in high-calorie processed foods that contain few nutrients. Is this really what you want to be putting in your body?

Read more at: http://blog.foodnetwork.com/healthyeats/2010/08/03/5-food-additives-to-avoid

Friday 27 December 2013

Warning: Scented Candles Could be Killing You

Scented candles are marketed to help regulate mood, remove unpleasant household odors and even evoke special memories. However, they may also be killing us.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has shown that compared to unscented candles, ones that give off a “pleasant” odor give off more soot. In fact, research shows that some scented candles’ smoke contains nearly the same amount of toxins as those from cigarettes. Just as startling is a study conducted by Dutch scientists who measured the air particles in churches where candles were burned for nearly nine hours straight. The results? The air in these churches contained 10 times as many free radicals as did the air next to a busy highway.
In addition to scent, the wick can pose a health risk. The EPA also found that candles with a cored wick, made with cotton wrapped around a metal or paper core, release the dirtiest soot which contains zinc, tin, lead and cadmium particles. Unfortunately, these particles can seep deep into our lungs, creating health complications and exacerbating existing ones, especially affecting those with allergies and asthma.
Suddenly that fireside hot chocolate or cotton candy breeze candle doesn’t sound so appealing, does it? While the names and colors of scented candles often seem good enough to eat or even conjure up vacation memories, it’s wise to choose healthier candle options.

Why Some Candles are so Dangerous

Many candles are made primarily with paraffin, which is from petroleum, a nonrenewable source that contains carcinogenic substances. Add fragrance to that, and we’ve got a double whammy. According to a study conducted by the EPA, chemicals in fragrance include ethanol, acetone and benzyl acetate, to name just a few. In fact, when the word “fragrance” appears in anything from scented candles to skin products, it’s thanks to a loophole in which most industries are legally allowed to use the word in lieu of the long list of harmful ones that can cause respiratory failure, kidney damage, central nervous system disorders and headaches.
As if this isn’t bad enough, the manner in which people use candles worsens the situation. Because they are often used for relaxation or ambiance purposes, candles are often lit in smaller spaces like bathrooms or nooks where ventilation is virtually non-existent.

7 Candle Safety Tips

  1. Choose unscented candles
  2. Select soy candles over paraffin ones. Soy candles are made from soybeans and unlike paraffin, are a renewable, non-toxic source. Not only do they burn cleaner, but they also last significantly longer.
  3. Look for wicks with a thin braid, not ones where metal or paper is used for support.
  4. Keep wicks trim. When the wick is long, the higher the flame, and the more harmful soot particles are released in the air.
  5. Light candles in a well-ventilated room. However, be sure it’s not extremely drafty, since too much draft can create up to 50% more soot.
  6. Get to the bottom of the matter. The American Lung Association advises not using scented candles or fragrances to hide odors. Instead, the Association urges people to “Figure out what is causing the odor, then clean that up and ventilate to add fresh air.”
  7. Does burning anything in your house not sit well with you? Check out flameless candles. Many look just as realistic as real ones and are safe.
Source: http://blogs.naturalnews.com/warning-scented-candles-could-be-killing-you/

Oreos Are Found to Be as Addictive as Cocaine

When you eat refined processed sugars, they trigger production of your brain’s natural opioids — a key ingredient in the addiction process. Your brain essentially becomes addicted to stimulating the release of its own opioids as it would to morphine or heroin.


This addictive nature of sugar and processed food has again been confirmed by a psychology professor and a team of students at the College of Connecticut,1, 2 who showed that Oreo cookies are just as addictive as cocaine or morphine.


The study, which was designed to investigate the potential addictiveness of high-fat/high-sugar foods, also found that eating Oreos activated more neurons in the rat brain’s pleasure center than exposure to illicit drugs did. According to professor Schroeder:


    “Our research supports the theory that high-fat/ high-sugar foods stimulate the brain in the same way that drugs do. It may explain why some people can’t resist these foods despite the fact that they know they are bad for them.”


The idea for the study originated with neuroscience major Jamie Honohan, who wanted to know how the high prevalence of junk foods in low-income neighborhoods might contribute to the obesity epidemic.


Indeed, it’s quite revealing to note that, in contrast to third-world countries, in the US the poorest people have the highest obesity rates. This seeming contradiction is, I believe, a clear indication that the problem stems from the diet itself.


Something in the cheapest and most readily available foods is creating metabolic havoc, and that’s exactly what researchers keep finding. As reported by Connecticut college:


    “…Oreos activated significantly more neurons than cocaine or morphine. ‘This correlated well with our behavioral results and lends support to the hypothesis that high-fat/ high sugar foods can be thought of as addictive,’ said Schroeder.
  

 And that could be a problem for the general public, says Honohan. ‘Even though we associate significant health hazards in taking drugs like cocaine and morphine, high-fat/ high-sugar foods may present even more of a danger because of their accessibility and affordability,’ she said.”


Please note that I do not agree with the comment that everything that is considered high-fat is bad for you. Oreo cookies and virtually every other processed snack are bad because they use highly processed omega-6 vegetable oils, the wrong type of fat. However it is possible to make a healthy high-fat snack using oils like coconut oil.

Read more at http://www.realfarmacy.com/oreos-are-found-to-be-as-addictive-as-cocaine

Thursday 26 December 2013

5 Benefits Of Kissing + Top 10 Reasons To Kiss

I’ll admit it, I have a beautiful professionally framed copy of “The Kiss” by Gustav Klimt hanging in my home. I was fortunate to travel a lot while growing up, and I spent a lot of time in museums. For some reason, I became fascinated with seeing paintings of people kissing.

Was it something that people did everywhere? 

I began to notice how open to PDA people were country to country in their kissing. I couldn’t stop watching.

By junior high, I remember asking my friends how often they saw their parents kissing and was surprised many said never. See, I loved seeing my parents kiss each other: It made them seem more real to me. I didn’t realize at the time, but there are actual Kiss Scientists who study kissing. They are called Philematologists and they have discovered a wide range of benefits of kissing such as:

1. Kissing lowers stress

It decreases the stress hormone cortisol and increases serotonin levels in the brain. Kissing has also been measured to lower anxiety and has similar benefits to meditation.

2. Kissing makes us happier

It improves our mood by increasing endorphins, which are our feel-good hormones.

“Happiness is like a kiss - it feels best when you give it to someone else.”  ~Author Unknown

3. Kissing keeps us healthy

It improves our immunity by releasing antibodies that kill bacteria. And kissing helps us prevent cavities by increasing saliva that washes our teeth. It has also been shown that our saliva secretes natural antibiotics when we kiss.

“Never a lip is curved with pain?That can't be kissed into smile again.”? ~Brete Harte

4. Kissing calms us down and promotes pleasure

It increases levels of oxytocin otherwise known as the "love hormone" which calms us. Kissing also reduces pain through our saliva which contains a kind of anesthetic and increases pleasure by releasing dopamine.

"Your hugs and kisses are like the stars that light up my life when things get dark." – Author Unknown

5. Kissing strengthens our relationships

It promotes togetherness and couples who kiss regularly live five years longer than those who don’t.

"A kiss seals two souls for a moment in time.”  ~Levende Waters

Top 10 Reasons To Kiss List:
  • Lowers blood pressure
  • Decreases cortisol stress hormone
  • Increases seratonin
  • Reduces pain
  • Increases oxytocin
  • Improves immunity
  • Fights off cavities
  • Increases dopamine
  • Improves mood
  • Lowers anxiety
There are plenty more benefits to kissing...but I am guessing that you already have your favorite reasons.  What’s my favorite kissing moment, you ask? When you can feel your partner smiling as you kiss each other. Kissing makes us smile more! 

Love yourself, love your day, love your life! 
 
Read More: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-7768/5-benefits-of-kissing-top-10-reasons-to-kiss.html

Is this one daily habit increasing your risk of cancer?

Bearing in mind that skin is the body's largest organ and absorbs substances readily, it's always a good rule of thumb to avoid exposing skin to anything we wouldn't ingest. And yet, a common routine is poisoning us on a daily basis - specifically, chlorinated showers and baths. Used in water treatment facilities to destroy harmful bacteria, viruses and fungi, chlorine is a potent disinfectant. But the darker side of water chlorination is rarely acknowledged, namely, that it causes serious harm to humans in ways which often remain unnoticed until major illness strikes.

Silent poison

A hot, steamy shower or bath is a great way to relax and unwind - or so we thought. In reality, we are exposing ourselves to an array of toxins with significant consequences. We would never suspect that we are bathing in an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified pesticide. According to the Global Healing Center post "Chlorine, Cancer, and Heart Disease":

"There is a lot of well-founded concern about chlorine. When chlorine is added to our water, it combines with other natural compounds to form Trihalomethanes (chlorination byproducts), or THMs. These chlorine byproducts trigger the production of free radicals in the body, causing cell damage, and are highly carcinogenic. The Environmental Defense Fund warns that, 'Although concentrations of these carcinogens (THMs) are low, it is precisely these low levels that cancer scientists believe are responsible for the majority of human cancers in the United States.'"

A case in point is a study involving women from Hartford, Connecticut, which found that those with breast cancer have much higher levels of chlorine byproducts (by 50 - 60 percent) than women who are cancer-free.

Likewise, research in Spain discovered a higher incidence of bladder cancer in people exposed to chlorine through bathing, showering, ingestion and swimming in pools.

Toxins are not only easily absorbed through pores opened by hot water but also through inhalation of chloroform - a toxic byproduct of water chlorination. In the article "Is your daily shower making you sick?," Chris Kresser, L.Ac, observes:

"While our bodies can filter out much of the chlorine from our drinking water, the THMs and other disinfectant byproducts we inhale during showers and baths may be much more harmful, since the chlorine gas we inhale enters directly into our blood stream. "

As stated by the EPA, chloroform exposure affects the central nervous system and liver. It can also provoke depression and irritability. Unfortunately, chloramine (ammonia combined with chlorine) is often added to the water supply as well, creating an even heavier toxic load.

Minimize risk

Short of swearing off bathing permanently, a few simple methods are effective in reducing contact with chlorine. Needless to say, a high-quality shower filter is the first line of defense. Bathwater filters are also available. However, most only remove chlorine - unless the filter specifically utilizes vitamin C for reducing chloramine as well. Ultimate protection from both chlorine and chloramine would entail a whole-house water filtration system. Budget-friendly options include:

  • Dissolving 1000 milligrams of vitamin C in bathwater to neutralize chlorine and chloramine (up to 99 percent)
  • Taking less frequent or shorter showers
  • Reducing the temperature of bath and shower water
  • Turning off water while lathering

Chlorine most likely won't disappear from our water supply anytime soon. As a seemingly cheap disinfectant, it's here to stay. But through awareness and proactive steps, we can substantially reduce exposure and lessen health risks.

Monday 23 December 2013

Black Rice: The New Cancer-Fighting Super Food


 Rich in antioxidant anthocyanins, exotic black rice is a whole-grain that competes with the antioxidant potency of fresh fruits. A study presented at the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Council confirmed that one spoonful of black rice bran—equivalent to 10 spoonfuls of cooked black rice—contains the same amount of antioxidants as a spoonful of fresh blueberries.

Researchers at Louisiana State University analyzed bran samples from black rice grown in the southern United States and found them replete with low-sugar, high fiber plant compounds that have been proven to prevent heart disease and fight cancer.

“Just a spoonful of black rice bran contains more [specific health-promoting antioxidants] than are found in a spoonful of blueberries, but with less sugar and more fiber and vitamin E antioxidants,” said Zhimin Xu, Associate Professor at the Department of Food Science at Louisiana State University Agricultural Center.

Forbidden Rice

Black rice was revered in ancient China as the most rare, nutritious and tasty of all rice.  In fact, the Chinese referred to it as “forbidden rice” only to be eaten by nobility.  Unfortunately, it fell out of favor through the centuries, and is now used in Asia primarily as food decoration and as a component of noodles, sushi and desserts.  It’s still a complete rarity in the West, although its new status as a super food that can fight cancer and prevent heart disease may bring it out of hiding and back into favor.

Bursting with Anthocyanins

Like many other super foods—including blueberries, acai and carrots—black rice is loaded with anthocyanins, the antioxidants that give these foods their intense colors.

Anthocyanin antioxidants deliver multiple powerful health benefits, such as…

  Eliminating harmful free radical molecules
  Protecting arteries from plaque buildup
  Protecting against DNA damage that causes cancer

The darker the rice the better.  White rice has been stripped of the healthful anthocyanin-rich bran that makes black rice so nutritive.  The bran of brown rice has been shown to contain higher concentrations of gamma-oryzanol antioxidants that lower LDL “bad” cholesterol and help prevent heart disease.  Black rice has all this and much more!

Because the anthocyanins in black rice are water soluble, they can reach areas of the body that fat-soluble antioxidants cannot, which is why numerous studies have linked diets high in these antioxidants to lower risks of heart disease and cancer, as well as a host of other health benefits.

Get Creative with Black Rice

Be inspired to get creative with implementing this purple-hued super food into your diet.  It has an intense, nutty flavor that unlocks a hint of fruit as you chew.  If the taste is a bit too earthy, then blend the rice kernels into a powder and sprinkle on fish, meat… even pancakes!  Experts advise that when purchasing black rice, you should look for “whole black rice” at the top of the ingredient list to ensure purity.

Read more at http://www.realfarmacy.com/black-rice-the-new-cancer-fighting-super-food/

A Strange (But Effective!) At-Home Cure For The Cold & Flu


Imagine this: It's a cold January day, and while at work you suddenly start feeling very sleepy. By 5:00 you notice your throat is sore, nose is running, head is pounding, and you're distracted by thoughts of being asleep at home.
When I first feel a cold coming on, I immediately start my vitamin regimen, stick to broth soup, plenty of water, and before climbing into bed I make sure to do the wet sock treatment. I swear by this and know many others who do as well.
You might be thinking, "Wet socks?! That doesn't sound comfortable at all!" But wait — it's not as bad as you think, and it's effective. Trust me. All you need are a pair of wool and cotton socks, and water. Then, let your body do the work.
First, let me briefly explain why the wet socks help. After putting on the socks, you'll climb into bed and drift off to sleep. While dreaming sweet dreams, your feet will be doing all the work. The vessels in your feet will constrict as your feet cool down, which sends all the good nutrients into your organs and tissues. These nutrients are needed to fight off infections and stimulate healing. Then your feet will start to warm up again, and your vessels will dilate to release the heat. This is when the junk in your tissues is dumped into your blood stream so that your body can dispose of it. The alternating of hot and cold creates a pumping mechanism that stimulates your circulation and lymphatics. The results are an active immune system and decreased congestion. By the morning, your socks will be completely dry. Have your kids try this hydrotherapy regimen too!
Wet sock treatment instructions:
1. Just before bed, put your feet in hot water for 3 minutes. You can place them in the bath tub under running water. The water should be as hot as you can handle it without burning your skin.
2. Wet 1 pair of thin, cotton anklets in cold water. Wring out well and put on immediately after hot foot bath. The water should be as cold as you can handle it. (Remember, your feet are very warm so the cold will feel OK)
3. Put on 1 pair of heavy wool socks over the ankles and climb into bed.
4. Cover well and sleep all night with socks on. Don't remove socks until they're dry.
5. Stay away from dairy and sugar, and drink plenty of water. Then notice how much more quickly you feel better when you use the wet sock treatment!
Let me know if you try it and what you think!

Read More: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-11994/a-strange-but-effective-at-home-cure-for-the-cold-flu.html

Walnuts Are Drugs, Says FDA

Seen any walnuts in your medicine cabinet lately? According to the Food and Drug Administration, that is precisely where you should find them. Because Diamond Foods made truthful claims about the health benefits of consuming walnuts that the FDA didn’t approve, it sent the company a letter declaring, “Your walnut products are drugs” — and “new drugs” at that — and, therefore, “they may not legally be marketed … in the United States without an approved new drug application.” The agency even threatened Diamond with “seizure” if it failed to comply.

Diamond’s transgression was to make “financial investments to educate the public and supply them with walnuts,” as William Faloon of Life Extension magazine put it. On its website and packaging, the company stated that the omega-3 fatty acids found in walnuts have been shown to have certain health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease and some types of cancer. These claims, Faloon notes, are well supported by scientific research: “Life Extension has published 57 articles that describe the health benefits of walnuts”; and “The US National Library of Medicine database contains no fewer than 35 peer-reviewed published papers supporting a claim that ingesting walnuts improves vascular health and may reduce heart attack risk.

This evidence was apparently not good enough for the FDA, which told Diamond that its walnuts were “misbranded” because the “product bears health claims that are not authorized by the FDA.”

The FDA’s letter continues: “We have determined that your walnut products are promoted for conditions that cause them to be drugs because these products are intended for use in the prevention, mitigation, and treatment of disease.” Furthermore, the products are also “misbranded” because they “are offered for conditions that are not amenable to self-diagnosis and treatment by individuals who are not medical practitioners; therefore, adequate directions for use cannot be written so that a layperson can use these drugs safely for their intended purposes.” Who knew you had to have directions to eat walnuts?

“The FDA’s language,” Faloon writes, “resembles that of an out-of-control police state where tyranny [reigns] over rationality.” He adds:


This kind of bureaucratic tyranny sends a strong signal to the food industry not to innovate in a way that informs the public about foods that protect against disease. While consumers increasingly reach for healthier dietary choices, the federal government wants to deny food companies the ability to convey findings from scientific studies about their products.

Walnuts aren’t the only food whose health benefits the FDA has tried to suppress. Producers of pomegranate juice and green tea, among others, have felt the bureaucrats’ wrath whenever they have suggested that their products are good for people.

Meanwhile, Faloon points out, foods that have little to no redeeming value are advertised endlessly, often with dubious health claims attached. For example, Frito-Lay is permitted to make all kinds of claims about its fat-laden, fried products, including that Lay’s potato chips are “heart healthy.” Faloon concludes that “the FDA obviously does not want the public to discover that they can reduce their risk of age-related disease by consuming healthy foods. They prefer consumers only learn about mass-marketed garbage foods that shorten life span by increasing degenerative disease risk.”

Faloon thinks he knows why this is the case. First, by stifling competition from makers of more healthful alternatives, junk food manufacturers, who he says “heavily lobb[y]” the federal government for favorable treatment, will rake in ever greater profits. Second, by making it less likely that Americans will consume healthful foods, big pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers stand to gain by selling more “expensive cardiac drugs, stents, and coronary bypass procedures” to those made ill by their diets.

But people are starting to fight back against the FDA’s tactics. “The makers of pomegranate juice, for example, have sued the FTC for censoring their First Amendment right to communicate scientific information to the public,” Faloon reports. Congress is also getting into the act with a bill, the Free Speech About Science Act (H.R. 1364), that, Faloon writes, “protects basic free speech rights, ends censorship of science, and enables the natural health products community to share peer-reviewed scientific findings with the public.”

Of course, if the Constitution were being followed as intended, none of this would be necessary. The FDA would not exist; but if it did, as a creation of Congress it would have no power to censor any speech whatsoever. If companies are making false claims about their products, the market will quickly punish them for it, and genuine fraud can be handled through the courts. In the absence of a government agency supposedly guaranteeing the safety of their food and drugs and the truthfulness of producers’ claims, consumers would become more discerning, as indeed they already are becoming despite the FDA’s attempts to prevent the dissemination of scientific research. Besides, as Faloon observed, “If anyone still thinks that federal agencies like the FDA protect the public, this proclamation that healthy foods are illegal drugs exposes the government’s sordid charade.”

Read more at http://www.realfarmacy.com/walnuts-are-drugs-says-fda

Friday 20 December 2013

After Reading This, You’ll Never Look at a Banana in the Same Way Again

This is interesting. After reading this, you’ll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars – sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes. But energy isn’t the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

 DEPRESSION

According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier. PMS: Forget the pills – eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

ANEMIA

High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

BLOOD PRESSURE:

This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit’s ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

BRAIN POWER

200 students at a Twickenham school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

CONSTIPATION

High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

HANGOVERS

One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

HEARTBURN

Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

MORNING SICKNESS

Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

MOSQUITO BITES:

Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

NERVES

Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.. Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

ULCERS

The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

TEMPERATURE CONTROL

Many other cultures see bananas as a ‘cooling’ fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature. So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has FOUR TIMES the protein, TWICE the carbohydrate, THREE TIMES the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals.. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, ‘A BANANA a day keeps the doctor away!’

Read more at http://www.realfarmacy.com/after-reading-this-youll-never-look-at-a-banana-in-the-same-way-again/

Soursop Fruit 100 Times Stronger At Killing Cancer Than Chemotherapy

The Soursop is a flowering, evergreen tree native to tropical regions of the world. It also contains a long, prickly green fruit which happens to kill cancer up to 10,000 times more effectively than strong chemotherapy drugs, all without the nasty side effects and without harming healthy cells.

According to Cancer Research UK, Annona muricata is an active principle in an herbal remedy marketed under the brand name Triamazon. The licensing for this product in the UK is not accepted due to its enormous healing effects on the body and potential loss of profits for competing pharmaceutical cancer drugs.

This tree is low and is called graviola in Brazil, guanabana in Spanish and has the uninspiring name “soursop” in English. The fruit is very large and the subacid sweet white pulp is eaten out of hand or, more commonly, used to make fruit drinks and sherbets.

Besides being a cancer remedy, graviola is a broad spectrum antimicrobial agent for both bacterial and fungal infections, is effective against internal parasites and worms, lowers high blood pressure and is used for depression, stress and nervous disorders.

Deep within the Amazon Rainforest, this tree grows wild and could literally revolutionize what you, your doctor, and the rest of the world thinks about cancer treatment and chances of survival.
Research shows that with extracts from this miraculous tree it now may be possible to:
* Attack cancer safely and effectively with an all-natural therapy that does not cause extreme nausea, weight loss and hair loss
* Protect your immune system and avoid deadly infections
* Feel stronger and healthier throughout the course of the treatment
* Boost your energy and improve your outlook on life

The source of this information is just as stunning: It comes from one of America’s largest drug manufacturers, the fruit of over 20 laboratory tests conducted since the 1970′s. What those tests revealed was nothing short of mind numbing…Extracts from the tree were shown to:

* Effectively target and kill malignant cells in 12 types of cancer, including colon, breast, prostate, lung and pancreatic cancer.
* The tree compounds proved to be up to 10,000 times stronger in slowing the growth of cancer cells than Adriamycin, a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug!
* What’s more, unlike chemotherapy, the compound extracted from the Graviola tree selectively hunts down and kills only cancer cells. It does not harm healthy cells!

The amazing anti-cancer properties of the Graviola tree have been extensively researched–so why haven’t you heard anything about it?

The drug industry began a search for a cancer cure and their research centered on Graviola, a legendary healing tree from the Amazon Rainforest.

It turns out the drug company invested nearly seven years trying to synthesize two of the Graviola tree’s most powerful anti-cancer ingredients. If they could isolate and produce man-made clones of what makes the Graviola so potent, they’d be able to patent it and make their money back. Alas, they hit a brick wall. The original simply could not be replicated. There was no way the company could protect its profits or even make back the millions it poured into research.

As the dream of huge profits evaporated, their testing on Graviola came to a screeching halt. Even worse, the company shelved the entire project and chose not to publish the findings of its research!

Where Can You Find It?

As far as the fruit goes, you may be able to find it at some grocery and health food stores in your area. There are several different soursop juice manufacturers, distrubutors and suppliers worldwide. Caution would be warranted in purchasing from any company unless you have researched their reputability and extraction methods.

Read more at http://www.realfarmacy.com/soursop-vs-chemo

Wednesday 18 December 2013

The Better Sex Diet

Want stronger orgasms and a higher libido? Start with your nutrition. No—you don’t have to eat oysters for three meals a day (they’re awkward to eat at your office desk anyway). But you can kickstart your libido and improve your sexual health with these meals… dessert included!

BREAKFAST: Oatmeal with Flaxseed & Nuts
Okay, so sensuously feeding your partner spoonfuls of mushy oatmeal doesn’t really paint a sexy picture (OR DOES IT), but it does contain avenacoside, a nutrient that keeps a healthy supply of testosterone—a libido-booster—in your system. Flax helps with testosterone levels too, and contains a rich supply of lignans to boot, helping combat vaginal dryness.
Add in walnuts, pine nuts, and almonds for an extra boost—they all contain l-arginine, an amino acid that increases blood flow to the genitals, enhancing arousal and orgasms.

DRINK: Coffee with Nutmeg
Whether you go regular or decaf, add a pinch of nutmeg to your morning brew—it’s said to be an aphrodisiac, stimulating nerve cells and blood circulation, which boosts sexual desire. (Psst, it’s also great in tea, egg nog, and hot chocolate.)

LUNCH: Salmon & Asparagus
Salmon is one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for good circulation—a must for maintaining erections and improving clitoral stimulation.
And asparagus on the side does way more than make your pee smell funny. It also helps your body circulate hormones like testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone, which help stimulate sexual responses like vaginal lubrication and clitoral swelling.

SNACK: Watermelon
The sweet fruit contains l-citrulline, an amino acid that helps dilate blood vessels, increasing blood flow to the genitals.

DINNER: Lobster
What’s sexier than wearing lobster bibs together over candlelight? Not only that, but lobster is also packed with zinc, which has been linked to a healthy male libido, and phosphorous, which boosts both male and female sex drives. Its concentration of fatty acids may also increase sensitivity in the sex organs.

DRINK: Fresh-Squeezed Orange or Grapefruit Juice
You know what they say, an apple a day keep the doctor away, and a grapefruit a day is good for the genitals! Oh, that’s not how it goes? Either way, citrus fruits are packed with folic aid, antioxidants, and vitamin C, all of which are great for men’s reproductive health.

DESSERT: Chocolate-Dipped Bananas
Their phallic shape is just a bonus—bananas are rich in potassium, an essential nutrient for muscle strength…which can mean stronger muscle contractions during orgasm. They’re also loaded with stuff good for the male libido, like B vitamins and magnesium.
Dip them in chocolate for double the fun—chocolate contains phenylethylamine, a compound that releases endorphins and leads to feelings of increased excitement.

Are Almonds The Next Gluten?


The China Study, you love all of Dr. Mark Hyman's books, Wheat Belly stands proudly in your bookshelf, and your latest obsession is Grain Brain. You're gluten-free and dairy-free, and you're hooked!
You're an avid wellness researcher. You've read

And you feel better because of it. You've dropped a few pounds, your mood and energy levels have bounced back and your eczema disappeared.

But something has shifted. You don't feel as good as you once did. You're pretty positive you've eliminated all gluten and dairy from your diet. You only use almond milk and you're religious about checking food labels for gluten. Could your body be relapsing or is there something else going on?
If you take a deeper look at your diet, how often are you eating almonds?
Below are the 12 most frequent sources of almonds I see in the food diaries of my gluten-free, dairy-free clients:

1. Green smoothie made with almond milk
2. Chia seed pudding made with almond milk
3. Smoothie made with almond butter
4. Almond milk latte
5. Avocado on gluten-free toast made with rice and almond flour
6. Raw vegan treats made with almonds
7. Paleo cookies made with almond flour and almond butter
8. Gluten-free crackers made with almond flour
9. Raw almonds
10. Kind bars
11. Vegetables tossed with almonds
12. Almond butter and fruit

If you're eating almonds twice or more a day, you're over-exposing yourself to almonds, much like we did with gluten. All over-exposure poses a risk for a food sensitivity and therefore chronic inflammation in the body. It's this inflammation that causes the deleterious health effects that have been associated with gluten.
Gluten is also very abrasive to the digestive tract, often initiating leaky gut, which is the starting point for inflammation. Almonds, too, are abrasive to the digestive tract. While no research has yet been done on almonds causing leaky gut, one could certainly infer that this could be the case. If we look at IBD and diverticulosis patients, they are advised to avoid nuts to reduce the incidence of flare ups. Ironically, these same patients are only now being advised to avoid gluten.
Almonds don't have gluten's dopamine and opioid-inducing properties, however, I'd hypothesize that almonds have moderately addictive properties. I know many clients who can't stop at one teaspoon of almond butter, much in the same way that they can't say no to a cookie that's presented to them. These same clients can't keep cookies in the house or almond butter otherwise it would be gone in three days. They seem to be fine with tahini (sesame paste), so it's not a nut-butter addiction!
Let's aim to not make almonds the next gluten. Let's become more savvy with our gluten and dairy-free options. Mix up your nut milks (try coconut, hemp, cashew, sunflower and hazelnut), substitute gluten-free packaged goods for vegetables (yes, vegetables—you don't need the bread or crackers!) and limit your vegan and Paleo treats to once per week.

Source: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-11967/are-almonds-the-next-gluten.html

Monday 16 December 2013

Cellphone Radiation Is Real. Here Are 5 Ways To Protect Yourself

Back in 1996, when the Federal Communications Commission set a legal maximum on cellphone radiation, Motorola was touting its tiny $2,000 StarTac, the first clamshell phone and an early adopter of texting!
Sixteen years later, cellphones—with 6 billion subscriptions worldwide and counting—have revolutionized how we communicate. The technology that powers them has changed just as dramatically. Today’s smartphones vibrate, rock out, show high-def movies, make photos and videos, issue voice commands, check email, go underwater, navigate with global positioning systems and surf the web in 3-D.
Yet those 16-year-old FCC rules still stand. Are they protecting the public from radiation coming out of those multi-tasking marvels and the networks that enable them?
We doubt it.
Studies conducted by numerous scientific teams in several nations have raised troubling questions about possible associations between heavy cellphone use and serious health dangers. The World Health Organization has declared that cellphone radiation may be linked to brain cancer. Ten studies connect cellphone radiation to diminished sperm count and sperm damage. Others raise health concerns such as altered brain metabolism, sleep disturbance, and behavioral changes in children.
These studies are not definitive, and much more research is needed. But they raise serious questions that cast doubt on the adequacy of the FCC rules to safeguard public health. The FCC emissions cap allows 20 times more radiation to reach the head than the body as a whole, does not account for risks to children’s developing brains and smaller bodies and considers only short-term cellphone use, not frequent calling patterns over decades.

The FCC’s safety standards for cellphone radiation safety were based on studies conducted in the 1980s. 
 
These studies have long since been rendered obsolete by newer research. Yet for years the FCC refused to update or even review its standards. Instead, the federal agency simply sat on its hands while cellphones became ever more powerful and ubiquitous.
The agency is finally moving to meet the realities of the 21st century and the Information Age. In June, FCC chairman Julius Genachowski circulated a proposal to his four fellow commissioners calling for formal review of the 1996 regulations. To advance, his plan must be approved by a majority of the commissioners. If they agree, the FCC could take the long overdue step of modernizing its safety standards. But the pace is likely to be glacial.
Americans need new, more protective cellphone standards that reflect the current science and society’s heavy dependence on mobile communications. Consumers need—now more than ever—real-world, relevant data on how much radiation their phones emit under various circumstances. The FCC does not require the cellphone industry to disclose these data. One important study showing that certain networks could expose consumers to 30 to 300 times more radiation than other networks was hidden from the public until the information was dated to the point of irrelevancy.
Given this appalling lack of information in the face of a cellphone market where just about anything goes, the Environmental Working Group is suspending publication of the EWG guide to cellphones until the FCC makes the responsible decision to require cellphone makers to generate and disclose data about device and network emissions under real-world conditions. We strongly believe that as cellphones become more powerful and ubiquitous, it is critical that people have a right to know how much radiation they can expect their cellphones to generate. As things now stand, the FCC’s cellphone safety rules are as obsolete as the StarTac.
In the meantime, here are 5 things you can do to protect yourself when using a cellphone:
 
1. Use a headset or a speaker.
Choose either wired or wireless. If you go wireless, make sure to take your headset out of your ear when you’re not on a call. Use your phone in speaker mode.

2. When in use, hold phone away from your body.
Why? The amount of radiation absorbed by your head and body decreases dramatically with even a small distance. Don’t put the phone in your pocket or clip it to your belt, even when using your headset.

3. Text more, talk less.  
Phones emit less radiation when sending text rather than voice communications.

4. Call when the signal is strong. 
Fewer signal bars mean the phone must try harder to broadcast its signal. Research shows that radiation exposure increases dramatically when cell phone signals are weak.

5. Don’t store your phone in your pocket (or under your pillow).
When a phone is on and not in use, it still sends out an intermittent signal to connect with nearby cell phone towers, which means radiation exposure is still happening.

7 Natural Ways To Beat A Hangover

As a nutritionist, drinking alcohol is definitely not something I recommend. There's no doubt that alcohol is not loved by the human body. Having said that, I do believe alcohol can be immensely pleasurable and aids relaxation (something so many of us need!) if you drink in moderate amounts.
If and when you do drink, it’s so important to take good care of the body … it needs your love! Here are some of my favorite hangover-kicking tips!

1. Hydrate.
Alcohol dehydrates the body. So drink up! Drink one glass of water after each alcoholic drink, and drink lots of water the day after, between 2-3 liters. Coconut water is fabulous for hangovers; it's high in electrolytes that replenish the body's water levels after dehydration. Add a pinch of sea salt and lemon juice to your water too to alkalize. Green juices would also be fabulous, as they're high in minerals and electrolytes.

2. Take your B's.
Alcohol depletes vitamins in the body. B-vitamins are responsible for many metabolic processes of the body — the liver detox pathways rely on B’s to detox effectively. I take 1-2 B-complex vitamins daily after drinking. This can work wonders.

3. Eat well before and after.
Most people think a hangover is a good excuse to grease it up with burgers and fries. Uh uh. This will make you feel worse. Enjoy your protein and good fats: eggs, avocado and spinach are fabulous breakfast choices.

4. Eat before you drink.
Always make sure your stomach is lined with food, which allows alcohol to be absorbed at a slower pace. This is a good time to enjoy slow releasing carbohydrates such as brown rice, sweet potato and quinoa. I love to enjoy some brown rice sushi before drinking. I suggest avoiding caffeine if you can, this is just an extra liver loader and can make you feel worse.

5. Sweat it out.
Exercise stimulates the lymphatic system to excrete toxins and gets the blood flowing. Enjoy a quick hard workout. Exercises also release endorphins, the feel good hormones! Yoga is also amazing for hangovers.

6. Go for a swim.
It just works magic. An ocean swim is even better.

7. Support your lovely liver.
The brassica vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, Brussels sprouts) contains enzymes that support liver detox, so load up on them. I also love to drink dandelion root tea, or I take it in a supplement form. Lemon water and apple cider vinegar are great for liver detox (1 Tbsp. in water, with ½ tsp. of turmeric). Eat grated carrots with lemon juice and sea salt and enjoy a green juice.
Go for the clear and clean alcohol options — gin, vodka would be the best choice WITHOUT the sugary mixers. Enjoy them with lemon juice and sparkling water. The sugary drinks make hangovers much worse.