Around the globe, tea holds an exalted place among beverages. Actually, next to water, tea is the most consumed beverage in the world. Among the different types of tea, Green tea is one of the richest natural sources of antioxidants. Green, oolong, and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis, but they are processed differently, which is what sets Green tea apart. The secret of Green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a very powerful antioxidant with many known health benefits, and how these antioxidants are preserved is by steaming the tea leaves (which creates Green and White teas) instead of fermenting the leaves (which produces black and oolong teas). The fermentation process causes the EGCG to be converted into other compounds that are not nearly as effective in preventing and fighting various diseases. Continue reading “Green Tea: Ancient Beverage, Modern Health Brew”
Seven Days to Better Health!
If you add one new healthy habit each day for seven days, you will be on the road to better health than you’ve ever experienced. Some of the simplest things in life work the best and this is certainly true of the health tips in this article. A healthy diet is not about restriction, it’s more about ‘crowding out’ bad foods and replacing them with good ones. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Just read on and see for yourself! Continue reading “Seven Days to Better Health!”
How to Avoid Toxic Sunscreens
After many years of tanning and sun-worshipping, reports came to light that said almost any amount of exposure to the sun would, and had resulted in skin cancer. Since then (several decades) we’ve been told that the sun is dangerous and we should cover up our skin anytime we go out. It was decided by experts that the use of sunscreen would prevent skin cancer and protect your health. This was recommended despite of a lack of any adequate safety testing of the chemicals in sunscreens. Commercial sunscreens popped up everywhere and a new billion dollar industry was born. Continue reading “How to Avoid Toxic Sunscreens”
The Human Body Clock
Every organ in your body has a repair/maintenance schedule to keep on a daily basis. Most of us in the West have never been aware of this, but Chinese and Ayurvedic holistic health practitioners have known this for hundreds of years. Continue reading “The Human Body Clock”
Get The Most From Your Exercise
Whether you are a gym rat or a beginner, wouldn’t you like to know if you are over-training, under-training, or wasting your time with certain exercises? It’s time to get the most from your exercise routine! When it comes to fitness, like everything else in life, there is a right way and a wrong way to do things. The following steps will get you moving and keep you healthy and active for years to come. Continue reading “Get The Most From Your Exercise”
What You Should Know: Swine Flu Outbreak 2009
While the flu is always being passed around the human population, it hardly ever reaches epidemic proportions; however, in the 20th century there have been three flu pandemics. What causes a flu pandemic to occur is when a new strain of the virus arises that most people have no immunity to. World health officials are vigilantly watching the ongoing swine flu outbreaks in Mexico and the U.S. to see if they might set off the next one. Continue reading “What You Should Know: Swine Flu Outbreak 2009”
How to Naturally Improve Your Fertility
Clinical studies show that in many situations, infertility can be effectively treated naturally with good nutrition and some lifestyle changes. Continue reading “How to Naturally Improve Your Fertility”
What You Need To Know About Progesterone Hormones
Progesterone is one of the many hormones produced that regulates and stimulates various functions in our bodies. While most of us are aware of estrogen, little attention is focused on progesterone. Progesterone is produced by the ovaries, the placenta when a woman is pregnant and also by the adrenal glands. It’s primary function is to prepare the uterus for implantation of the fertilized egg and to maintain the pregnancy. Continue reading “What You Need To Know About Progesterone Hormones”
Five Easy Ways to Reduce Your Cancer Risk
Small changes to your diet and lifestyle that can make a big impact. If you are not fighting your own battle with cancer today, chances are you know someone who is, or someone who has either already lost or won their fight. Continue reading “Five Easy Ways to Reduce Your Cancer Risk”
Depression and Anxiety on the Rise
Depression has become one of the prevalent problems in the world today and is becoming a major killer as well. It’s staggering that 15% of depressed people will commit suicide, and that statistic is so sad and so unnecessary. Depressive disorders affect approximately 18.8 million American adults or about 9.5% of the U.S. population age 18 and older in any given year. This includes major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and bipolar disorder–all of which can be effectively treated by properly-trained professionals. Continue reading “Depression and Anxiety on the Rise”
The Real Skinny on Dietary Fats
If a low-fat lifestyle is good for our health and for weight-control, then why are we a nation of chronically ill people who are overweight or obese? Continue reading “The Real Skinny on Dietary Fats”
Giving Is Good for the Soul
I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver. – Maya Angelou Most people have heard that giving and volunteering are “good for the soul” but they have little, if any, actual proof. In his book, “More Give to Live”, Douglas Lawson cites research that shows how helping others can lead to improved health and emotional well-being. What are those benefits of giving? Continue reading “Giving Is Good for the Soul”
Meditation Basics
Meditation has been defined as: “self regulation of attention, in the service of self-inquiry, in the here and now.” The various techniques of meditation can be classified according to their focus. Some focus on the field or background perception and experience, also called “mindfulness”; others focus on a pre-selected specific object, and are called “concentrative” meditation. There are also techniques that shift between the field and the object. Continue reading “Meditation Basics”
Fertility Awareness Basics
Fertility Awareness Method, or FAM, has been used for over 30 years as a natural method of birth control by thousands of couples around the world and is based on the charting and analysis of certain simple body signs that change with changes in a woman’s menstrual cycle. On the other hand, it is also a method that can be used for those trying to conceive by looking at the same information. Continue reading “Fertility Awareness Basics”
What is Integrative Medicine or CAM?
The terms “integrative” or “integrated medicine” indicate combinations of conventional mainstream and alternative medical treatments which have some scientific proof of effectiveness. Dr. Andrew Weil, well-known American author and physician, is best known for establishing and popularizing the field of integrative medicine. He claims that the meaning and the mission of integrative medicine calls for restoration of the focus of medicine on health and healing and emphasizes the centrality of the patient-physician relationship. The combination of orthodox and complementary medicine with an emphasis on prevention and lifestyle changes is known as Integrated Health. Continue reading “What is Integrative Medicine or CAM?”
What is Alternative Medicine?
Alternative medicine is any form of practice that is outside the area of conventional modern medicine. It covers a broad range of healing philosophies, approaches, and therapies. Most of these treatments and health care practices are not taught widely in medical schools. Examples are naturopathy, chiropractic, Ayurveda, homeopathy, herbalism, nutrition therapy, osteopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, folk medicine and acupuncture. Continue reading “What is Alternative Medicine?”
Atkins Diet
The Atkins Diet involves the restriction of carbohydrates in order to switch the body’s metabolism from burning glucose (a simple sugar) to burning stored body fat. The process: when the body has no excess carbohydrates (its preferred fuel) to burn, it will burn protein for a few days instead. Since burning protein for very long is counter-productive to survival as it provides strength to our muscles, the body will switch to burning fat and weight loss happens. Continue reading “Atkins Diet”
Sally Fallon Diet
Nutrition researcher, community activist, journalist, chef, and homemaker, Sally Fallon is the author of Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats. This well-researched, thought-provoking guide to traditional foods contains a startling message: Animal fats and cholesterol are not villains but vital factors in the diet, necessary for normal growth, proper function of the brain and nervous system, protection from disease and optimum energy levels. Continue reading “Sally Fallon Diet”
Improving the Way We Eat
Our ancestors pretty much had a universal eating schedule. Everyone ate breakfast, lunch and dinner at about the same time everyday. And, there wasn’t all the snacking between meals that we have nowadays. Families sat down together to share a relaxed home-cooked meal usually at breakfast and dinner. It was quality family time when they discussed the news of the day and interacted while eating the same kind of food. Because the nature of our bodies is to “rest and digest”, the body likes to be relaxed, inactive and in a peaceful environment when assimilating food. Proper assimilation of the nutrients in food is essential to health, and if we want this assimilation to take place, we need to be calmer when we sit down to meals. Continue reading “Improving the Way We Eat”
Guide to Eating Naturally
In just a few generations, we have completely transformed what, when and how we eat. We get most of our food from supermarkets and those foods contain chemicals, additives and sweeteners. We eat that stuff along with fried and fast foods. We eat in our cars, at our desks and in front of the TV. We’re usually in such a hurry, we don’t chew our food properly, nor do we take the time to enjoy, smell or taste it. This is why a lot of people nowadays spend time at doctors’ offices complaining of upset stomachs, constipation and many other digestive disorders. It’s time we made this connection and start to remedy it. Better food, eaten in a relaxed atmosphere, equals better health. Continue reading “Guide to Eating Naturally”