Archive for June, 2012

Health Benefits of Marshmallow

You may be surprised at the health benefits of Marshmallow.  I know I was!

Little known fact:  Marshmallow is an ample source of trace minerals, particularly chromium, iron, magnesium and selenium.

Modern research has discovered that Marshmallow improves immune system function.

It does it by enhancing the action of white blood cells against microorganisms.

Additional research indicates a possible reduction in blood sugar levels which could be of benefit to diabetics.

In the 17th century, European herbalist discovered that Marshmallow was effective in treating bronchial asthma,

bronchial congestion, dry coughs, fevers, hoarseness, pleurisy, shortness of breath and even wheezing.

Marshmallow increases the production of mucosal fluids.  It soothes inflamed tissues & stimulates expectoration of excess phlegm.

As a BONUS – It works to protect mucous membranes!

In the mid-19th century, Marshmallow was included in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia for treating colds,

diarrhea, dysentery, gastrointestinal problems, gonorrhea and hoarseness.

Marshmallow works to counteract excess stomach acid, gastritis, hiatal hernias and peptic ulcers.

It is even used to treat Irritable Bowel syndrome & other various intestinal problems.

Marshmallow is used to treat incontinence, frequent urination, painful urination and urinary tract infection.

So there you go!  Learn something NEW everyday.

And all this time I thought Marshmallow was only for making  smores!!!!!! (yummy)

What Are The Benefits Of Milk Thistle?

So what are the benefits of Milk Thistle and should you consider taking it?

Milk Thistle has been around for a long, long time.

  • It is a detoxifying herb.
  • It has been shown to help with psoriasis.
  • Protects the kidneys
  • Protects & even rejuvenates the liver from toxic damage & disease

Dr. Oz even spoke about how Milk Thistle supports our intestines, circulatory & lymph systems.

The Greek used it to cure poisonous snake bites.  They also used it for treatment if someone had obstructions in the liver or spleen.

One of the most well-known facts about Milk Thistle is its beneficial properties for the liver.

Did you know that the liver is your body’s toxic waste disposal plant?

(I never thought of it that way!)

With that being said….people that have abused alcohol or drugs have damaged their liver.

Milk Thistle can help in rejuvenating the liver when overcoming alcohol toxicity.

Milk Thistle can be used in the form of capsules, extract or tea.

Fight Hunger With Grapeseed Oil

Q:  Looking for something to suppress your appetite?

A:  Fight hunger with grapeseed oil.

Taking 2 teaspoons of grapeseed oil 2 hours before lunch will slow down the emptying process of the stomach.

Which means you will feel fuller longer!

Grapeseed oil is rich in linoleic acid which is an essential fatty acid.

Linoleic acid has been shown in studies to be effective in controlling hunger & reducing body fat.

It is able to do this because it promotes insulin resistance.

Cayenne Fights OFF Cravings!

Cayenne fights off cravings to aid you with your weight loss goals.

How?

It increases metabolism!

It contains capsaicin (the heat!)

It works as an appetite suppressant according to a study conducted by the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Research done in this study also showed that Cayenne (capsaicin) has pain-reducing properties & can be used to treat digestive problems.

Not into spicy foods?  No worries.  Cayenne (capsaicin) comes in a supplement form too!

 

Sage For Hot Flashes?

Who would have thought to drink a cup of sage tea for hot flashes?  The Swiss!

A recent Swiss study shows that Sage contains substances similar to estrogen that

actually helps stop severe hot flashes by a whopping 79% in eight weeks!

While keeping a mental note about the Swiss research – chew on this….

Researchers in Germany found out people can cut their perspiration (sweat) by 50% by drinking the 2 cups of sage iced tea.

Hey, I say it’s worth a shot.  What do you have to lose?

Try drinking 2 cups of sage iced tea a day.

Interested In The Dr. Oz Tea Diet?

Recently, Dr. Oz introduced his audience to the Fat Fighting Power of Tea!

People are reporting AMAZING results!  This comes to no surprise to Dr. Oz.  He made the statement, “If you drink the right tea at the right time, you can actually shrink fat cells”.  Sounds good to me!

Canadian natural health guru Bryce Wylde says he has seen people use the tea diet and lose up to 200 lbs !

So what is so special about the tea program?

  If you follow the program you will need to drink 2 cups of Pu-erh Tea within an hour of waking.  Pu-erh Tea fires up your metabolism!

How?  You ask……Pu-erh tea has a powerful effect on fat metabolism.

In other words, studies have shown that the tea actually helps your body shrink fat tissue.

Next up is White tea.  It’s mid-day/lunch time and it’s time to kick it up a notch!  White tea actually blocks fat absorption. (So COOL)!

How is that possible?  White tea contains the highest levels of l-theanine which is an amino acid.

That special amino acid blends with the caffeine and blocks the fat.

Okay, so you have made it through lunch and maybe you are feeling a little bloated.

Enjoy a cup of Chickweed or Dandelion Tea to knock out that afternoon bloating! 

Both types of tea are packed with potassium & magnesium that have both a detoxifying & diuretic effect. (Bye, Bye water weight!)

Last, but not least is dinner time.  While you are eating your healthy dinner, enjoy a cup of hot Cinnamon tea.

Cinnamon tea will kill those cravings! 

It gives you some extra strength to fight off those late night muchies! (They must have been thinking of me!)

I know that so many people prefer capsule/supplements over drinking teas, but drinking fluids helps keep the body hydrated.  So drink up!

Cholesterol A.K.A. The Stealth Health Factor!

When was the last time you had your cholesterol checked?

What is your cholesterol number?

Do you know the difference between good and bad cholesterol?

It is estimated that 8% of Americans have no idea they have a cholesterol problem.

This puts them at high risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Cholesterol is found in every human cell in the body.

It serves as a protector for our body’s nerves and it plays a vital part in the

manufacture of vital hormones and vitamins that aid our bodies in digestion.

And all this time I just thought it was a number!

Our bodies produce about 75% of cholesterol, mostly in the liver.

The rest comes from food.

You have 2 types of cholesterol:

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) A.K.A. Bad Cholesterol

LDL (Bad Cholesterol) Values

  • Optimal – Less than 100 mg/dL
  • Near optimal – 100–129 mg/dL
  • Borderline high – 130–159 mg/dL
  • Risky – 160 –189 mg/dL
  • Very risky – 190 mg/dL and above

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) A.K.A. Good Cholesterol

HDL (Good Cholesterol) Values

  • Optimal – 60 mg/dL and above
  • Borderline – 40–59 mg/dL
  • Risky – 40 mg/dL and below

Check out the video below for an awesome demonstration given by Dr. Oz on cholesterol.

After viewing the video you will definitely want to visit your doctor and get your levels checked!

Click Here to see what Dr. Oz calls the “Stealth Health Factor”.

If you have high cholesterol, Dr Oz recommends taking 1200 mg  of Red Yeast Rice Supplements 2 times per day.

This stops the formation of cholesterol in the body and is an alternative to prescription therapy.

Also, since our bodies only make up about 75% of our cholesterol levels, we have to watch what we put into our mouths to make up the rest!

As a healthy alternative to cooking with  butter, you could try cooking with coconut oil.  Makes for a yummy stir-fry!

CLICK HERE to see an actual demonstration of what cholesterol does to your arteries!

More Natural Cholesterol Lowering Supplements:

Taking 500 mg of Niacin 2 times per day can help to lower cholesterol.

The Dr. has also referred to the health supplement Psyllium as an aid to lower cholesterol.

Studies have shown that 3 grams of Glucomannan a day can lower cholesterol by 20%.

Taking Guggul on a daily basis can naturally lower cholesterol.

Remember we are not doctors & everyone is different.

Always check with your doctor before experimenting with a new health regiment.

Guggul & It’s Many Benefits

Do you battle with Cholesterol?

What about weight loss or maybe even low metabolism?

If you are nodding your head in agreement with me then…..Guggul just may be the help that you have been looking for.

Guggul has been around for thousands of years & originated in India.

Guggul has been primarily used for reduction of cholesterol, but also has been used to eliminate blood clots.

Blood clots can lead to stroke.

Guggul  has the ability to increase the liver’s metabolism of LDL- cholesterol.

It also has the ability to increase the uptake of LDL-cholesterol from the blood by the liver.

It even stimulates thyroid function!  This stimulating effect is responsible for the supplement’s lipid-lowering activity.

What Does CoQ10, Magnesium & Chromium Polynicotinate Have In Common?

Answer is:  They were all featured on The Dr. Oz Show (6/6/2012) to aid in lowering High Blood Pressure the natural way!

Did you know that approximately 20% of North Americans have high blood pressure, or hypertension?

It accounts for more than 35 million doctor office visits per year!

High blood pressure or Hypertension causes increased blood flow exerts undue pressure and stress against the walls of the blood vessels.

(English PLEASE!!!)

Bottom line is…healthy arteries are strong and smooth.

Arteries effected by hypertension are not.

When you have high blood pressure, your blood pumps through your vessels at a powerful force.

Over time this rough treatment to your vessels will cause damage to the walls of the arteries.

So where they should be smooth and strong, they will develope rough spots in them.

This will make the arteries prone to fat and calcium build up which is called plaque.

Plaque will block the blood flow.

It just goes down hill from there…if you have plaque build up, then your body is deprived from good blood flow to all of your organs.

You are then put at risk of:

Heart Attack

Heart Failure

Kidney Failure

Stroke

etc….(I’m sure you are getting the picture!)

So here is some options from our beloved Dr. Oz :

CoQ10, Magnesium & Chromium Polynicotinate are 3 natural supplements that impress Dr. Oz.

First up is CoQ10 which is an antioxidant that helps lower blood pressure. If this is the option for you then take 200 mg per day.

Second option is Garlic.  Dr. Oz said that he ate 1 clove of garlic each day! I would prefer taking a garlic supplement (just my opinion)!

Next up was Magnesium.  The Dr. suggested taking  400 mg per day to get your blood pressure in shape.

Last, but not least was Chromium Polynicotinate,  200 mcg per day.

As always, check first with your doctor.

 

Suffer From Pain? Dr. Oz Recommends….

6/6/2012

A Few Of The Products Mentioned Today on The Dr. Oz Show….

Glucosamine & Chondroitin

Suffer from knee pain?

Today, Dr. Oz suggested his audience to try taking a combination of 1500 mg of Glucosamine with 1000 mg of Chondroitin one time a day.  This combination of natural supplements will allow the cartilage in knee joints to move properly.

Arnica Cream

For people that suffer with arthritis pain…try Arnica cream to give you some fast relief!

Arnica cream works as an anti-flammatory & is great for any type of sore muscles.

Devil’s Claw For Back Pain

How many of you suffer from a  stiff and tight back?

Dr. Oz recommends taking 500 mg of Devil’s Claw.  This is a natural alternative to OTC pain medication.

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