Anti-Aging, Health & Nutrition Facts

Author: Mats Ahlqvist

Article:
High Blood Sugar is no laughing matter. If left unchecked it can
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Lowering blood sugar level

Popularity: 35%

Green tea has been around for thousands of years and is more popular than ever. For centuries green tea has been a staple in the diets of many families around the world. And the benefits of this beverage are not just limited to a pleasant drinking taste. Numerous scientific studies have shown that green tea has numerous health benefits and that drinking it can improve your health.

The idea of health benefits related to green tea consumption has been discussed for years. Eastern medicine recognized the benefits of green tea thousands of years ago with Asian families passing down these beliefs through many generations. There are few beverages with such impressive health benefits as green tea. And now it seems the rest of the world has discovered this secret.

As discussed previously, the benefits of green tea are many and far-reaching. The potential health benefits of drinking green tea vary from preventing bad breath to protecting the heart to protecting against some forms of cancer. Many of the benefits attributed to green tea are largely due to its high content of antioxidants. The health benefits of green tea are varied in large part due to its chemical makeup, which has a positive effect on so many different bodily systems. Of course the most publicized benefits revolve around anticancer activities, cardiovascular benefits and even the potential of lowering LDL cholesterol levels.

Besides substantial health claims, green tea has been said to aid in weight loss efforts. It appears that much of the fat loss benefits claimed regarding green tea lies in its thermogenic effects. Whether searching for health benefits, weight loss, or both, some studies have recommended as many as ten cups per day to see benefits. Because green tea contains caffeine, this may pose a problem for some people. Decaffeinated green tea is available but that could cancel some of the thermogenic properties if weight loss is the goal. Health food stores also offer capsules as an alternative to drinking the tea although the health benefits may differ.

As with other types of food and drink, organic teas are becoming recognized as a healthy choice with consumers. Many believe that the organic versions are healthier options while providing environmental benefits. In grocery stores everywhere, the tea aisle has become an absolute joy for organic food shoppers. In addition, it is easy to find a variety of sources on the Internet of quality organic green tea.

Of course, health decisions should not be based on this information alone. It is prudent to check with a medical practitioner on the potential benefits of including green tea in the diet. A medical professional, an herbalist, or local bookstore can provide complete information about the proven and perceived benefits of green tea. As another resource, the Internet is loaded with information and resources on green tea.

Green tea is one of the most popular herbal supplements in the world. Adopting tea drinking as a new habit can be quite challenging but the potential health benefits could prove to be phenomenal.

Brad Bahr is the editor of many health related websites and publications. He has been testing and reviewing nutritional supplements for over 20 years. After trying hundreds of products, he recommends one supplement above all others for renewing health and energy: http://www.hgh-facts.com

Popularity: 9%

Recent dietary research has uncovered 14 different nutrient-dense foods that time and again promote good overall health. Coined “superfoods,” they tend to have fewer calories, higher levels of vitamins and minerals, and many disease-fighting antioxidants.

Beans (legumes), berries (especially blueberries), broccoli, green tea, nuts (especially walnuts), oranges, pumpkin, salmon. soy, spinach, tomatoes, turkey, whole grains and oats, and yogurt can all help stop and even reverse diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and some forms of cancer.

And where one might have an effect on a certain part of the body, it can also affect the health of other body functions and performance, since the whole body is connected. With these 14 foods as the base of a balanced, solid diet, weight loss gimmicks and other fly-by-night programs can become a thing of the past in your life.

Conversely, the ill-effects of an unbalanced diet are several and varied. Low energy levels, mood swings, tired all the time, weight change, uncomfortable with body are just a few signs that your diet is unbalanced. An unbalanced diet can cause problems with maintenance of body tissues, growth and development, brain and nervous system function, as well as problems with bone and muscle systems.

Symptoms of malnutrition include lack of energy, irritability, a weakened immune system leading to frequent colds or allergies, and mineral depletion that can trigger a variety of health concerns including anemia.

And since the body is connected, realizing that an unhealthy body will result in an unhealthy spirit only makes sense. When we nourish our body with these superfoods and complement them with other nutrient-dense and healthy fresh foods, our spirit will be vitalized and healthy as a direct result.

Many modern diets based on prepackaged convenience foods are sorely lacking in many vitamins and minerals, which can affect our mental capacities as well, and cause irritability, confusion, and the feeling of ‘being in a fog’ all the time.
Superfoods can be the basis of a sound, healthy, nutritious solution to curing many of these ailments and more.

Brad Bahr is the editor of many health related websites and publications. He has been testing and reviewing nutritional supplements for over 20 years. After trying hundreds of products, he recommends one supplement above all others for renewing health and energy: http://www.hgh-facts.com

Popularity: 3%

When you hear the phrase “Yoga Philosophy”, the mind can conjure up all sorts of images, But, one of the Yogi’s cardinal principles is the intelligent use of Nature’s greatest gift to mankind, ——WATER.

Water is one of the great means of maintaining normal health, but humanity at large, seems to have forgotten Nature’s Laws. Drinking water is one of the first rules of health. A large percentage of sick people are sick because of the lack of fluids which the body requires.

Who would think of depriving a plant of water? or the horse? Yet man will deprive himself of the life-giving fluid and as a result, will suffer the consequences.

There are many today who appear to have replaced water drinking with alcohol, beer, spirits and wines. Alcohol is pleasant to drink, but it dries the body out. Some will recognise this by the dryness of the mouth after a “session”.
The water has to be replaced and by water from the tap. Experts agree that man should drink three to four pints of water a day.

Water contains minerals, as we know, that are not only beneficial to man, but minerals that his body needs. Water pollution is a problem in many areas of the world, but, in the main, impurities are filtered out in most civilised areas of the world.

The beneficial properties of water can be seen in a case study of recent months - one where insufficient water intake was not enough to keep the body ‘going’.

As we get older, most suffer some aches and pains. A man (in England) was experiencing pain in his right knee, which became pronounced as he climbed stairs. He admitted to “not particularly liking water” and realised his water intake was pitifully low. He stepped it up and four months later he no longer experienced pain in his right knee and swears that it was his intake of water that had helped reduce the pain.
To prove the point, he cut down on his water intake, and back came the pain!

Water should be sipped throughout the day and not slurped down. A dry mouth indicates that we are thirsty, and slurping water, when that happens, wets the mouth, but does little to help the thirst.

Never try and replace the one or two pints of water the normal adult excretes a day through sweat and perspiration all at once. (Sweat is the word applied to rapid excretion and gathering in drops, whilst perspiration is when water is continuously and unconsciously evaporated from the skin.)

Chemical analysis of sweat and perspiration shows them to be loaded with the waste products of the system, the refuse of the body, which without a sufficient supply of fluids in the system would remain in the body, poisoning it and bringing disease.

People who drink insufficient fluids can be deficient in the blood supply and can be pale and anaemic looking.

Water is, indeed, one of the greatest gifts to living things. Don’t you think we should all take heed of the many warnings that we aren’t drinking enough water and start to give our bodies the chance to perform as they should?

Brad Bahr is the editor of many health related websites and publications. He has been testing and reviewing nutritional supplements for over 20 years. After trying hundreds of products, he recommends one supplement above all others for renewing health and energy: http://www.hgh-facts.com

Popularity: 3%

Fish and other seafood are excellent sources of protein while being relatively low in saturated fats and calories compared to other sources of protein such as fatty meats. This fact alone makes fish a worthwhile addition to one’s diet. However, there is an even greater benefit. Fish is one of the richest natural sources of Omega 3 essential fatty acids. Fatty fish such as salmon and trout in particular have high levels of Omega 3 fatty acids.

Many studies have shown that Omega 3 fatty acids provide protection against cardiovascular disease by lowering the levels of bad cholesterol and blood pressure. Other studies have also shown many health benefits ranging from prevention of asthma in children to reduced risk of prostate cancer. Omega 3 also prevents the onset of diseases such as macular degeneration, one of the most common causes of blindness associated with aging. It also helps diabetics maintain better control of blood sugar levels and has been shown to delay the onset of dementia and even Alzheimer’s disease. More recent studies which have focused on its impact on the nervous system have proven benefits in brain function and even in combating depression.

Omega 3 fatty acids do not occur naturally in cells of the body and must therefore be obtained through one’s diet. Clearly Omega 3 fatty acids have many health benefits but do they have to come from fish and seafood?

There are 3 main types of omega 3 fatty acids.
ALA - alpha-linolenic acid
EPA - eicosapentaenoic acid and
DHA - docosahexaenoic acid

ALA is found in tofu, soybeans, canola walnuts and flaxseed and oils derived from these products. However, alpha-linolenic acid needs to be converted in the body before it can be absorbed. The body is not very efficient at making this conversion and evidence that this conversion actually takes place is rather tenuous. As a result EPA and DHA become the most significant dietary sources of Omega 3 fatty acids and this is where fish comes into its own. They are one of the most abundant sources of DHA and EPA.

Naturally, too much of anything can have negative effects and eating fish is no exception. One major negative of eating too much fish is the incidental and unintended consumption of contaminants which the fish have picked up in the waterways. While there are a variety of industrial contaminants that are of concern the primary problem is mercury. Due to differences in food sources mercury levels in fish vary depending on whether the fish are farmed or caught in the wild. However, in general larger fish, higher up in the food chain have a greater accumulation of contaminants including mercury. In normal circumstances the levels of mercury in most fish are not likely to cause serious concern to a healthy adult unless consumed to excess. However, infants, children and pregnant women may be more susceptible to harm at lower levels of mercury. It is therefore important to limit the intake of fish by persons in these categories. Mercury could damage the growing nervous systems of young children or the developing fetus and may increase the risk of miscarriage in pregnant women.

The preponderance of evidence however falls squarely in favor of eating fish. The health benefits derived from Omega 3 far outweigh the possible risks from contaminants. If consumed in moderation there is little doubt that fish can be extremely beneficial.

Brad Bahr is the editor of many health related websites and publications. He has been testing and reviewing nutritional supplements for over 20 years. After trying hundreds of products, he recommends one supplement above all others for renewing health and energy: http://www.hgh-facts.com

Popularity: 3%

When people decide to lose weight, one of the first changes many make to their diet is to add artificial sweeteners in place of sugar. We have been told by the government that artificial sweeteners are safe, but are there hidden dangers to this additive? Let’s take a closer look at artificial sweeteners, specifically aspartame.

Aspartame is made up of three components. Fifty percent is phenylalanine, forty percent is aspartic acid, and ten percent is methanol, or wood alcohol. Phenylalanine and aspartic acid are both amino acids. Amino acids are naturally found in the food we eat, specifically in the proteins. They are the building blocks for our bodies, and help us build tissue and muscles.

But, in nature, amino acids are not ingested singularly. Many types of amino acids are joined together to form protein chains, and that is what we ingest when we sit down to eat. In aspartame, Phenylalanine and aspartic acid are the only amino acids being introduced to the body. There is no protein chain, just singular amino acids. It has been found that aspartic acid (when not bound into a protein chain) enters the central nervous system in high concentration and causes the neurons to begin firing rapidly. Many times, it excites the neurons so completely, that the cell dies.

High levels of aspartic acid have been found to cause headaches, mental confusion, balance problems, and even seizures. And the rest of your body fares no better. Outside the central nervous system, isolated aspartic acid has been found to accelerate diseases such as cancer, coronary artery disease and arthritis. Fortunately, the effects are cumulative. So, if you stop ingesting isolated aspartic acid, then the continuing damage will also cease.

High levels of isolated phenylalanine can be quite dangerous as well. Research has found that excessive levels of this isolated amino acid cause a decrease in the amount of serotonin in our brains. Decreased serotonin often leads to depression and other emotional disorders. When phenylalanine is exposed to warm temperatures, or is stored for a long time, it breaks down into diketopiperazine (DKP), which is a known carcinogen. It is also important to note that in pregnant women, phenylalanine easily crosses the placental barrier, and in children under one, also crosses the blood-brain barrier. Infants exposed to high levels of phenylalanine during the pregnancy and later through their mother’s milk, have an increased risk of birth defects and irreversible brain damage.

The third component of aspartame is methanol. Methanol is commonly known as wood alcohol. It is a colorless liquid and is both poisonous and flammable. Long-term exposure to methanol causes blindness and death. Early symptoms of methanol poisoning include headaches, ear buzzing, dizziness, nausea, gastrointestinal problems, chills, memory lapses, and numbness in the extremities. One particularly scary aspect of methanol is that at cold temperatures it creates formaldehyde. The EPA considers methanol a “cumulative poison”, and recommends a limit of no more than 7.8mg per day. To put this in perspective, one liter of diet soda contains 56mg of methanol; over seven times the EPA stated limit. By combining several diet sodas, a couple of packages of aspartame in morning coffee, and consuming “diet” food during the day, most consumers are exposed to considerably more methanol than the 7.8mg per day limit.

With what we know so far, you may be wondering why the FDA would approve it if it wasn’t safe. Instead of giving you a straight answer, I’m going to outline just a few of the events that occurred during the FDA approval process of aspartame. In 1965, James Schlatter, a chemist at the G.D. Searle Company, stumbled across aspartame while attempting to create a new ulcer drug. It was initially approved for use in dry goods on July 26, 1974. But researchers questioned the practices of the G.D. Searle Company, and the FDA put the approval on hold pending further investigation.

A task force was created to examine aspartame. The ultimate report from that task force found that there were serious deficiencies in the research done by the Searle Company. The task force recommended that G.D. Searle face a Grand Jury for further inquiry in their testing procedures. In 1976, a second task force was created, this time finding the G.D. Searle Company guilty of faulty and fraudulent product testing, and knowingly misrepresenting product testing and findings. Officials at the Searle Company turned to Donald Rumsfeld, who had worked with both the Nixon and Ford administrations, and elected him as chairman, hoping to smooth the way and avoid criminal prosecution.

In 1977, the FDA appointed U.S. Attorney Samuel Skinner to investigate Searle’s testing procedures. After a meeting with the Searle attorneys, Samuel Skinner left the FDA and accepted a position with Searle’s law firm. The FDA then appointed U.S. Attorney William Conlon to take Skinner’s place. Mr. Conlon sat on the case and did nothing, until he left the FDA in 1979 and also joined Searle’s law firm. In 1981, FDA Commissioner Arthur Hayes, Jr., approved aspartame for use in dry foods and as a tabletop sweetener.

At that time, three FDA scientists came forward to oppose the approval, based on their in-house studies of the additive. Hayes ignored these reports and aspartame was approved. Arthur Hayes then left the FDA and took a position as a senior medical consultant for the public relations firm for the G.D. Searle Company. Ultimately, the statue of limitations ran out on prosecuting the G.D. Searle Company for wrongdoing.

So, the question remains. Are there hidden dangers associated with the use of artificial sweeteners? I’ll let you decide.

Brad Bahr is the editor of many health related websites and publications. He has been testing and reviewing nutritional supplements for over 20 years. After trying hundreds of products, he recommends one supplement above all others for renewing health and energy: http://www.hgh-facts.com

Popularity: 13%

Do you have heartburn? Acid reflux? Nausea or other stomach ailments?

Instead of fighting a losing battle with pills and liquids from the drug store, why not give the body what it needs with something natural from the health food store?

Apple Cider Vinegar!

Most medications you can buy are antacids, which do exactly what they say — neutralize and diminish the acid in your stomach. But believe it or not, that’s not what you want to do!

Your stomach needs the acid to digest food. And in fact, when you experience heartburn or acid reflux, it’s not excess acid that’s the problem; it’s a lack of acid.

Antacid pills and liquids might appear to be helping, but in fact they are treating just the symptom and not the cause.

By taking Apple Cider Vinegar, you are mimicking the PH level of acid in your stomach, which helps you digest the food properly rather than suppressing the acid and temporarily treating the burn.

Acid reflux and nausea can be instantly stopped with a quick swig of Apple Cider Vinegar, commonly called ACV. It has even been known to ward off food poisoning in advance. People who took the ACV before the meal were fine, while those who didn’t ended up quite sick.

The most important thing about ACV is getting the right kind. Don’t just grab it off the shelf at the grocery store, because that ACV has been treated and pasteurized and is missing the most powerful part.

The best ACV is natural vinegar from the health food store, which still contains the “mother”. The mother can actually be used to make more vinegar out of apple cider, but it also has the most healing properties out of the entire mixture.

When you hold the bottle up to the light, the mother looks likes dirty parts or fungus floating around… which in a way it is, but it is not harmful at all. In fact, it’s the exact opposite.

It’s best to shake it up so you disperse the mother throughout, then you can take some vinegar with or without honey.

Many people say natural honey not only makes it taste better but boosts the power of the ACV even more, but it’s very powerful on its own too.

One way to take ACV is put a teaspoon or so in a glass of water and just sip it. Another is to put 1/4 ounce in the bottom of a shot glass, fill it with water, and down it in one swig. Either method can be combined with honey if preferred. For a hot drink which will mix the honey even better, use hot water, honey and a teaspoon or so of ACV, and sip it like a tea or hot cider.

The best course of action is to take ACV in your favorite method before every meal to aid digestion and stave off problems before they start. But it can also be taken any time your stomach doesn’t feel 100%, and should quickly bring you back around to normal.

And if you take ACV every day… you should keep the doctor away, at least for any more digestive complaints.

Brad Bahr is the editor of many health related websites and publications. He has been testing and reviewing nutritional supplements for over 20 years. After trying hundreds of products, he recommends one supplement above all others for renewing health and energy: http://www.hgh-facts.com

Technorati Tags - Apple Cider, Vinegar,
Heart Burn, Acid Reflux

Popularity: 3%

Any store gathers a community of like minded people. A feed store attracts the agricultural community, and an auto parts store gathers those interested in motor vehicles. People make political and social choices when they shop: they “vote with their dollars,” deciding who and what they will associate with and support.

A health food store first and foremost offers a community another way to make informed consumer choices. It can gather people from many walks of life around the issues of environment, agriculture, health, social justice and economy. It creates community health on many fronts. It recognizes the value of offering a community food with organic certification, high nutritional value, proven health benefits, and lower levels of processing, as well as foods which are necessary for special diets and produced relatively locally, providing environmental and economic stability.

Health food stores can support holistic health and healers through education and by helping people make connections. People shopping at health food stores make lots of connections. Perhaps most obviously, they connect the environment to farming, farming to food, and food to their own health. The accepted point of view is that ingesting vitamin and mineral supplements, super foods, whole and organically grown foods, and herbs and herbal preparations can positively affect one’s health.

A health food store can purchase more locally produced food and other items than a large grocery chain with greater volume needs, it can be more responsive to individual customers’ needs, and it can serve as a focal point for community education and activism on food related issues.

Health food stores can support an agriculture whose methods do not deplete soil, water, air, wildlife, or human community resources, as opposed to methods that rely heavily on petroleum products (like gasoline, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides) and/or exploited labor. In a time of political instability in the region where the greatest percentage of the world’s oil reserves lie, and at a time when the U.S. is realizing the implications of its illegal and exploited (farm, amongst others) labor force, health food stores can offer valuable markets to farmers who practice more sustainable methods.

Farmers markets can be supported and promoted by health food stores. Many of these stores do not offer produce themselves, but even if they do, it does not need to be considered a conflict of interest. On Farmers Market days, farmers can often sell their “leftovers” to the local groceries and health food store. If a farmers market is located within city limits, many businesses will benefit from the influx of customers on what otherwise might be a slow day or time of day. Tourists are also attracted to farmers markets.

The issue of food is closely tied to our environment, health, social justice and economy, and thus, a health food store can contribute to community health in many ways.

Brad Bahr is the editor of many health related websites and publications. He has been testing and reviewing nutritional supplements for over 20 years. After trying hundreds of products, he recommends one supplement above all others for renewing health and energy: http://www.hgh-facts.com

Technorati Tags - health food, health

Popularity: 3%

Hydrogen peroxide is the world’s most natural effective sanitizer. Why? Because it is the only anti-germicidal agent composed entirely of water and oxygen.

The chemical formula for hydrogen peroxide is H202, and the body produces it naturally when in a state of optimal health. When the body becomes weak or diseased, it is unable to produce the high amounts of H202 needed to kill off infection and when the body is unable to fight off infection, disease results.

H202 works by creating an environment of intensive oxidation, which can be described as a type of chemical reaction which causes the breakdown of organic substances. H202 is vital for maintaining the body’s natural health. In fact, the effectiveness of penicillin is related to its capacity to rejuvenate the level of H202 in the body. In essence, penicillin works by helping the body build up enough H202 to fight off bacteria and viruses. Most harmful bacteria are anaerobic, which means they can not survive in a highly oxygenated environment.

Newer research suggests that we need certain levels of hydrogen peroxide in order to facilitate normal chemical reactions and to maintain the proper balance of good bacteria in our system. Good bacteria are generally aerobic, which means they will function well in oxygen rich environments.

Aside from the health benefits of hydrogen peroxide, there are many other uses for this “wonder” compound. Anecdotal information suggests that hydrogen peroxide can be used all over the house, in the following ways:

1) To clean and sanitize the kitchen. Use a 3% solution to refresh counters and sanitize lunch boxes.

2) To clean vegetables and fruits. Add 1/4 cup of H2O2 to a sink of cold water. Add vegetables and fruits wash thoroughly and rinse with cool water. This will prolong the freshness and taste.

3) Wound care. Bathing or misting a wound with hydrogen peroxide will help clean it while it speeds healing.

4) For your toothbrush. Soaking your toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide between uses will keep it clean and prevent transfer of germs. This would be particularly helpful when your or someone in your family has a cold or the flu.

5) As an astringent. Dabbing hydrogen peroxide on pimples or acne will have you on your way to clearer skin.

These are just a few of the many ways you can use hydrogen peroxide in and around your home. There are many others. Some people swear that ingestion of small amounts of food grade, diluted hydrogen peroxide provides complete body cleansing. (But only do this under a doctor’s supervision). People also use it to help household plants grow, and to sprout seeds for new plantings. The variety and possible uses make hydrogen peroxide a “must-have” for a well stocked house.

No matter how you choose to use it, it’s clear that regular use of H202 will keep your house fresh and your family healthy.

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Brad Bahr is the editor of many health related websites and publications. He has been testing and reviewing nutritional supplements for over 20 years. After trying hundreds of products, he recommends one supplement above all others for renewing health and energy: http://www.hgh-facts.com
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Popularity: 3%