Health and Wellness Juice Diet – A Natural Treatment for the Flu

It’s cold outside and there’s not as much sun light. Do you know what time of the year it is other than the obvious? It is the dreaded flu season. For those that don’t like the pharmacological approach, they are always looking for a natural treatment for the flu. Personally, I do not blame them. Both protecting from and treating the flu via pharmaceuticals is like playing Russian roulette.

WHY YOU SHOULD NOT BOTHER GETTING THE FLU VACCINE

The flu vaccine does not give you 100% protection from the flu. At most it could provide you some protection for 3 to 4 out of the 150+ strains and subsets of the influenza virus. Have you ever gone to Las Vegas or Atlantic City or any other casino and placed a bet with odds like those? – I’m going to bet all my money on a 4 to a 150 chance that I will win. – Guess what? You have a great chance of losing. So if you wouldn’t gamble your money with those awful odds, why would you gamble your health with them?

But my doctor said… Yeah, Yeah! I’ve heard that before. Just because your doctor said to get the flu shot or nasal mist doesn’t mean you cannot choose a safer and more effective approach. The flu virus has been around for at least a 1000 years longer than the flu vaccine and people survived just fine using the abundance of natural medicines that are all around us.

You need to take a more active role in protecting your health and stop relying solely on what your doctor is telling you. Your doctor is going to tell you what the drug companies want them to tell you. Modern day western medical schools are funded mostly on pharmaceutical money and so are the policy makers. So if you are harmed by their recommendation guess what, the doctor is not liable. You get sick or worse and the doctor keeps on keeping on.

YOU MEAN I HAVE TO BE MY OWN DOCTOR?

When it comes to something as simple, easy to avoid and treat, yes you do! Now I know what you are thinking and no, you do not need to go to medical school to learn how to protect yourself from and treat yourself of the flu. Unless you you have been living in a bubble, you should already know that eating healthy with lots of fruits and vegetables can enhance one’s health and overall wellbeing.

Well that is the simple solution to not just avoiding the flu but also to help your body get rid of it once you get it, if you should get it. Do you like having all of those aches and pains, the weakness, the chills one minute and then the sweats the next? Do you like having a fever, the stuffy or runny nose, the sneezing, the coughing, and the mucus? Did you know that by trying to stop and/or reduce some of these, it will prolong your recovery?

The only way your body can naturally kill the virus within you is to raise the body temperature. When the immune system doesn’t have any natural outside help to fight the virus infection, it will raise your body temperature because high heat will kill the virus. The sneezing, coughing and runny nose is the body’s way of getting the mucus out of you since that mucus contains some of the germs that are making you sick in the first place.

3 TIPS TO STAY HEALTHY DURING THE FLU SEASON

Tip #1: First off you should be taking at the very least 2,000 IU and at the most 5,000 IU of vitamin D3 every day during the Fall and Winter months. Doing this alone increases your chance of not getting the flu in the first place. Why do you need to take vitamin D3 only during the Fall and Winter months? Because your body cannot produce adequate amounts like it does in the Spring and Summer months. A month’s supply of vitamin D3 will run you about $3-$5.00 depending on where you buy it and at what dosage. Make sure that it is NOT in a tablet form. Only use capsules or gel caps.

Tip #2: Secondly you also want to take at least 200mg of Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) every day. If you are diabetic then you will want to take at least 800mg a day, see my blog post on ALA. Alpha Lipoic Acid is a Super Antioxidant because unlike most nutrients that are either water soluble or fat soluble, ALA is both. Alpha Lipoic Acid can also recharge other key antioxidants that are also good for fighting the flu as well as fighting cancer, heart disease, and the aging process. Like vitamin D3, ALA is produced in the body from food without supplementation but at too low a quantity to have any therapeutic power. A month’s supply of Alpha Lipoic Acid will run you about $4-$8.00 depending on where you buy it and at what dosage. Make sure that it is NOT in a tablet form. Only use capsules or gel caps.

Tip #3: And finally the last tip is the most, tastiest tip of them all. That’s why I left it for the last tip, to get your mouth watering for it so to speak. For this tip you will have to spend the most money for it but it is oh, so worth it! You will need to go out and purchase an electric juicer and one that is powerful enough to juice the rind or skin of a pineapple or cantaloupe melon. Yes, you heard that right.

THE JUICEMAN JUICER

The best brand for this task, and there may be a couple others but this is the brand I have always used with great success, is the Juiceman brand. I have been juicing for 20 years and after the first 15 or 16 years it was time for a new one. I think that amount of time for one juicer being used every day and most times twice a day, is pretty darn good! So I again went out and bought another Juiceman because I loved the power and quality of the first one.

Because the style had changed a bit in 15-16 years I settled on the Juiceman JM400 electric juicer, which is also known as the Juiceman Jr. Don’t let the name junior fool you. It is quite powerful at handling every type of fruit and vegetable including the skin and rind.

THE SKIN & RIND HAVE NUTRIENTS TOO

There I go again! Talking about juicing the skin and rind of fruits and vegetables. Well I have a good reason for juicing that which we mostly avoid when eating them. You see there are many different micro nutrients within the skin and rind that are sometimes not present in the meat of the fruit or vegetable. So in order to get them into you in a way that your body can digest them you must pulverize it by juicing it.

Here’s an easy way to remember why getting all of the nutrients from fruits and vegetables are best when you can juice them instead of eating them. When you eat them you can’t always eat all of it. Can you see yourself enjoying a slice of juicy and sweet pineapple and then munching down on the prickly rind? I know I can’t. But by juicing it you can get the benefits of the whole fruit. Let’s look at carrots. Carrots are extremely beneficial for your skin, eyes and heart, among other things. But in order to be beneficial you would need to eat a pound of carrots. Can you see yourself sitting down to eat an entire pound of carrots, which is about 6 big ones? I don’t know of anyone who could or would. Even Bugs Bunny never ate that many carrots.

By juicing your fruits and especially the more dense vegetables you give your body and yourself a break. Your body’s digestive system doesn’t have to work overtime to digest the nutrients out of the solid food in your stomach. Plus you do not have to spend so much time to eat it all. You can drink it all in a matter of one minute or less. Plus when you can drink your nutrients they can get into your system way quicker than they can by you eating them. This is why many people experience a quick burst of energy shortly after consuming freshly juiced fruits and vegetables.

WHAT FRUITS & VEGETABLES ARE GOOD FOR THE FLU?

This is the easiest answer and the shortest paragraph on this blog post. What’s the answer? They ALL are good for the flu! For some great recipes check out bottom of my Food Choices page and you can always come up with your own juice recipes.

If you have any comments or questions please leave them below. I would also like for you to share any juice recipes that you may personally like that you may feel would be beneficial to other readers. You can leave them below as well. Thank you!

Alpha Lipoic Acid – It Will Cure Almost Everything

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Over the course of the past 100 years dating back to the early 1900’s Western Medicine has used the term “Miracle Drug” to explain a whole bunch of drugs that miraculously treat or cure certain illnesses. Nowadays the drugs which are pushed on our civilization by the drug companies do more harm than good with their negative side effects.

Today in this article I want to talk about a Miracle Antioxidant called Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA), sometimes also called just Lipoic Acid, and why and how it will cure almost everything. But first I want to explain to you how to hear, not see, why the majority of the population in the United States are some of the sickest people on the planet.

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS – THE MASTER OF DISASTER

Have you ever just listened to a drug commercial on the TV? Next time one comes on close your eyes or turn away from the TV and just listen to the commercial. If you watch the commercial the results will not be as effective because the sense of sight is more powerful than the sense of hearing. This is the reason why TV advertisement works better than radio advertisement.

All you have to do is just listen to all of the side effects of the drugs that the drug companies want you to take. I used to do this when the commercials would come on to the TV but now I just totally ignore them because the information they are providing is totally useless, especially since I know firsthand of many better and safer alternatives.

THE SIDE EFFECTS ARE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM

More often than not the side effects are worse than the condition the drugs are meant to treat. Because this blog post is about the miraculous antioxidant of ALA I will focus on the prescription drug Lyrica which is used to treat Diabetic Neuropathy or diabetic nerve damage.

If I had diabetes, Alpha Lipoic Acid for neuropathy would be my first choice as a solution. It is scientifically proven to be highly effective at a way lower cost and WITHOUT any negative side effects. But first the side effects of Lyrica.

Lyrica can cause: drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, high fever, swollen arms and legs, swollen hands and feet, weight gain, unsteadiness, confusion, change in the amount of urine, unusual bleeding and bruising, blurred vision, muscle pain, tenderness and weakness.

Wow! I don’t know about you, but I certainly would not want to take Lyrica for diabetic neuropathy when ALA can fix the problem without giving me any of those side effects. If you have diabetes and your doctor prescribed Lyrica, would you take it knowing these common side effects? Yes, I said common side effects. I didn’t even list the serious side effects and allergic reactions like swelling of the tongue and throat, trouble breathing, suicidal thoughts and attempts, just to name a few.

THE WAR ON DRUGS

We spend so much money in the United States on the “War on Drugs” but don’t do anything about the legal pharmaceutical drugs that are making this nation one of the sickest developed countries on the planet. The high cost of pharmaceuticals is one of the main reasons why healthcare costs so much. How about we stop spending all of that money to combat street drugs and go after the real drug pushers, the pharmaceutical companies who constantly advertise a new drug for conditions which are all of a sudden a disorder or a disease?

Instead of spending millions if not billions of dollars we do not really have on illegal street drugs, some like marijuana which actually has medicinal value, how about we go after the third leading cause of death in the U.S., prescription drugs? Better yet, how about we educate the population on the safer and all natural ways of curing ourselves of everything from the common cold and flu to cancer? It is all possible through natural means!

Oh wait a minute, I know why! Most of conventional western medicine is money driven and doesn’t work for the total healing and wellness of the people. I can hear Hippocrates, “the father of western medicine” rolling over in his grave at a 100 mph as to what western medicine has become.

I BELIEVE IN HELPING PEOPLE

Thankfully I am not one of those people that buy into the hype that their doctors dish out like candy to trick-or-treaters. I have told many former doctors to stick their prescription pads where the sun doesn’t shine because I know of a better way.

I believe in God and I seriously doubt God wouldn’t provide any natural cures for us to discover and use. Guess what? God has provided them and I have been using them for about 27 years now with great success. Plus my current doctor backs me up 100%.

I believe in helping people with honest and effective therapies, not just based on scientific results but on personal results. I always practice what I preach. That is why I started this website, to share what I know that works for not just me but hundreds of thousands of other people too.

THE WONDER NUTRIENT

Alpha Lipoic Acid truly is a miraculous antioxidant. All antioxidants are either water soluble (work in the liquid areas of the body) or fat soluble (work in the fleshy areas of the body). The reason ALA is so wonderful is because it is both water and fat soluble and can work its healing powers in every cell of the body.

Why is this important to you? Well in addition to being a potent antioxidant in its own right, ALA increases the levels and strengths of four other vital antioxidants: vitamin C, vitamin E, CoQ10, and Glutathione. No other antioxidant has that kind of power! This is one of the main reasons, and there are too many to list in this post, why ALA is extremely beneficial for treating diabetes, liver damage, cancer and so many other diseases.

Alpha Lipoic Acid even slows down the aging process because of how it protects the DNA structure of the mitochondria in every cell of the body. Overall aging always starts in the mitochondria of every cell, more on anti-aging below.

ALPHA LIPOIC ACID WILL HELP ALL DIABETICS

My father was diabetic and had cancer before the cancer treatment killed him at the age of 86. My oldest sister has diabetes but is almost cured of it because of the knowledge that I am sharing with you here which I have also shared with her. Even I was diagnosed borderline diabetic at one time and anyone who knows me knows that I reversed that within weeks.

What did I do? I started taking 800mg of Alpha Lipoic Acid every day, 400mg a half hour to an hour before lunch and another 400mg before dinner. My doctor said that alone reversed the problem but to make sure I started taking a 20-30 minute leisurely walk around the neighborhood every other day.

I also stopped consuming anything that wasn’t made with whole grain flour or wheat and stopping anything made with high fructose corn syrup. That was really hard to do as HFCS is in practically everything. Then I started to eat mostly big salads for dinner topped with broccoli, tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, ground flaxseed, and either crumbled blue cheese or feta cheese with just a little olive oil and vinegar.

When my oldest sister found out that I was borderline diabetic she started telling me of the treatments her doctor was having her do. I quickly reminded her that I already knew my plan of attack and it wasn’t going to be anything tied to the pharmaceutical approach.

Like I said to her at that time, why would I listen to your doctor’s advice when he prescribed you insulin for your type 2 diabetes? Giving insulin to a type 2 diabetic is like pouring gasoline on a fire, it just makes the diabetes worse. Insulin should only be used with those with type 1 diabetes.

ALPHA LIPOIC ACID TO THE RESCUE

After my diabetic condition was gone for good, thankfully my sister finally stopped taking the insulin and her diabetes started to go away. She then started taking ALA and eventually even more great things were happening to her health. One by one she was getting off several of the medications she was taking.

This is just one of the many success stories I have personally experienced with either me or someone I know who has taken ALA. But there is way more that this potent antioxidant can do. It can help people with hepatitis B and C, autoimmune hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver and even save the lives of people who are experiencing liver failure.

Alpha Lipoc Acid can also chelate heavy toxic metals out of the body, it protects DNA and stops cells that are genetically programmed to become cancerous, it increases apoptosis (cancer cell death), and gives a boost to other antioxidants that fight cancer. With an antioxidant that is both water and fat soluble, ALA can get at and into every cell in the body to either protect it or kill whatever is attacking the mitochondria.

I HAVE FOUND THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH

So how would you like to look and feel younger? Come on, I know you do, who doesn’t at some point in their lives? Look at my picture on my About Me page. Do I look 50 years old in that picture? Well I am and actually I just turned 51 in October of 2013. What is my secret? There is no secret because I have listed and promoted on this website 3 of the nutrients I take daily that all help to slow down the aging process at the cellular level.

What are they? Alpha Lipoic Acid, Resveratrol from either Red Wine or a supplement, and Ubiquinol CoQ10 which can be strengthened by ALA as stated above in this post. All three of these nutrients work at the cellular level to protect the mitochondria of every cell in the body. Since all forms of aging start in the mitochondria, any nutrient that works its antioxidant powers there, I want to take and do take on a daily basis for quite some time.

You maybe asking yourself, what exactly is the mitochondria? Well mitochondria (plural of mitochondrion) can be simply described as the power plant in the cells of our bodies. Everything about our bodies start and in some cases end at the cellular level. When the mitochondria become ill, they lose power. Just like a power outage at a power plant can disrupt a major cities proper functioning, so is true with a power outage within our own cells.

When the mitochondria is attacked by any type of free radical cells (damaged or cancerous) the DNA structure of the mitochondria can have bad effects to our health. This is part of the beginnings to disease and aging within our bodies. Because Alpha Lipoic Acid as well as CoQ10 can be manufactured in the body within small amounts, they both reside inside of cells to help the mitochondria work properly.

TAKE ACTION TO SAVE YOUR LIFE

All of this knowledge I am sharing with you I am sure you are amazed with and if you think I am making all of this up, well that’s your right to think that way. But I can say with 100% certainty that what I am sharing here does work and works for hundreds of thousands of people just in this country alone.

My doctor promotes and practices this approach to health and wellness and many world famous doctors of alternative medicine do as well. If it weren’t true do you really think these doctors would be able to keep their medical licenses from the American Medical Association and other associations from around the world?

The only way you will benefit from this knowledge is if you take positive steps to implement them into your lives. The first major step is to find a doctor that will work with you and that really isn’t as hard as it was when I first started on this journey 27 years ago.

There are several doctors who I follow online and on twitter like Dr. Julian Whitaker (he’s my favorite), Dr. Burt Berkson, Dr. Oz, and Dr. John Cannell, just to name a few. If you want to find a doctor in your area, check out my How to Find a Doctor page on this website. In the meantime, if you have diabetes or are borderline diabetic, 800mg (400mg twice a day) will definitely help you tremendously.

If you have any further questions or comments about anything I have covered here or haven’t covered here, please leave them below in the comments area and I will return with a response within 24 hours.

An Unhealthy and Fattening Diet – Resveratrol Can Help

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Foods rich with sauce and lots of butter and cream and pastries sweet with powdered sugar and having a texture that melts in your mouth. The French get to enjoy such a diet that many here in the United States would consider as an unhealthy and fattening diet. How can this be?

Many Americans think that eating like that would lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol and/or high blood sugar. Well it does but why don’t the French suffer from these conditions? The French have way lower rates of Heart Disease than any other country in the world despite their fattening diet. With the type of foods they consume, why are they not developing these same health conditions that we here in the United States experience?

FRANCE IS #1, THE U.S. #38

France, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is the healthiest country in the world with Italy being in 2nd place. The United States is ranked in 38th place.

The WHO ranks 191 member countries based on their health systems and yes, France is #1, Italy is #2 and the U.S. is #38. All of Europe is ahead of the U.S. and so is Canada, much of the Middle East and some of South America.

THE FRENCH PARADOX

But how can France be #1 with that high fat diet? It is because of what has come to be known as the French Paradox. What is that? It has been known for quite some time and research has resurfaced again a few years ago, that Resveratrol which is found in Red Wine has a protective effect against the dangers of a high fat diet. Red wine, not white wine or rose wine, only Red Wine.

The French drink a lot of red wine and pretty much every day. I also know the Italians drink a lot too. I remember staying with family in Italy and at every Lunch and Dinner there was always a bottle or two of red wine on the table. Everyone was drinking it, even some of the children, just not as much as the adults.

WHERE DOES RESVERATROL COME FROM

Resveratrol is a potent, naturally occurring, phytonutrient, antioxidant compound that is found in high concentration in the skin of Red Grapes. Resveratrol can also be found in smaller amounts in other foods such as Peanuts, Blueberries, Cranberries, and in Dark Chocolate (not milk chocolate, which is actually not healthy). However the most abundant source of Resveratrol can be found in the root of the plant known as Japanese knotwood (Polygonum Cuspidatum), which is the Resveratrol that is used in all of the supplements sold.

Most of the excitement around Resveratrol comes from its chemical makeup and its effects on Sirtuin enzymes in the body. These particular enzymes play many different roles in overall health and longevity. Sirtuin enzymes create DNA repair while maintaining genome stability. They also reduce inflammation and protects against oxidative stress, which is why Resveratrol is an antioxidant.

WHY IS RESVERATROL SO GOOD

It has been known since the 1930s that calorie restriction reduces age-related diseases and increases lifespan which happens because this will turn on Sirtuin enzymes. Resveratrol does exactly the same thing, even if you are eating a high fat diet like the French.

Being that Resveratrol can turn on Sirtuin enzymes, along with its antioxidant properties, it has huge health benefits to the body. Resveratrol reduces the risk of cataracts, kidney dysfunction, inflammatory bowel disease, strokes, heart attacks, bone degeneration, memory loss, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Resveratrol protects against metabolic syndrome, increases insulin sensitivity, improves the function of your lungs, stimulates fat burning, increases exercise endurance, and stops fat storage. Resveratrol also helps with type 2 diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.

Yes all of those benefits of Resveratrol are impressive and explains why the French are the healthiest nation in the world despite their high fat diet, aka the French Paradox. However Resveratrol has been discovered lately to be extremely beneficial against many types of cancer including colon, lung, stomach, esophagus, liver, pancreas, breast, ovary, cervix, prostate, skin, thyroid, melanoma, leukemia, and lymphoma.

HOW TO CONSUME RESVERATROL

But before you go out and buy bushels of red grapes and cases of red wine just know that if you have any of the above health issues, starting to eat red grapes and drink red wine now will not give you much of a protective benefit. That being said you should still start consuming them but make sure you do it for almost every meal you have. The benefits of Resveratrol come from a cumulative buildup of Resveratrol in the body which explains the health benefits of drinking red wine for almost every meal from such a young age in both France and Italy.

In order to get quick health benefits of Resveratrol you must take supplements while increasing your consumption of red grapes and red wine. If you should get to the point where you are eating red grapes and drinking red wine every day, then you could stop taking the supplements if you want.

If you have any questions or comments on Resveratrol as well as to where to buy it or what is the best way to consume it, leave your questions below in the comments section and I will get right back to you.

Natural Home Remedies As Medicine – Cures From Your Kitchen

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Have you ever realized that whenever you have a party or get together at your home with a bunch of people that there is always a group of people that end up hanging out in the kitchen? What is it about the kitchen that makes people want to hang out there? It could be a lot of reasons. You are closer to the beer or wine in the refrigerator, closer to the food and munchies or maybe you like that close quarters feeling of being able to talk to someone without yelling at them from across the room.

MODERN KITCHEN

Have you realized that the kitchen is more than just a place to prepare and cook your meals? It is the room in our homes that give us nourishment to survive and thrive. But did you also know that it is the room that provides the best natural home remedies as medicine that we need to stay healthy? Hippocrates, often called the father of western medicine said “let food be thy medicine and let medicine be thy food.” He also said “to do no harm.” Yet modern western medicine totally disregards anything that Hippocrates has said. So why call him the father of western medicine because I’m sure he is rolling over in his grave at what western medicine has become.

That being said you need to adhere to what Hippocrates has said and let “food be thy medicine” because food and natural substances have powerful and effective and SAFE healing properties. Let me tell you of several that have been scientifically proven to work wonders WITHOUT any negative side effects. Many of these I have either tried myself or know of family and friends who have.

CINNAMON & VINEGAR FOR DIABETES

There have been many medical studies that have shown that taking 1-3 grams of cinnamon a day will decrease blood sugar levels by 10-29%. Cinnamon also helps to reduce cholesterol and inflammation as well as regulate blood pressure. As stated by Dr. Julian Whitaker MD in his December 2010 newsletter of Health & Healing, “Because compounds in the saliva can break down the active ingredients in cinnamon, I suggest that rather than eating it by the spoonful you add it to coffee or tea before brewing. Mixing it with hot water also helps eliminate some of the undesirable compounds found in whole cinnamon. Aim for a quarter to a half teaspoon two or three times a day.” – I personally add a half teaspoon to my cold or hot cereal in the morning.

As for vinegar, it also helps to regulate blood sugar control. It works by blocking the uptake of carbohydrates and especially works great when taken with a high glycemic meal which is bad for those with Diabetes. To help keep blood sugar normal, especially when you eat more sugary foods than you should, take two tablespoons of vinegar mixed with 8 ounces of water and some Stevia or Xylitol for sweetness before or with a meal or add it to a salad. Any vinegar will do but the best option is an organic Apple Cider Vinegar.

V8, CELERY & HIBISCUS TEA FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

I have mentioned a couple of places on this website that Low Sodium V8 Juice is an excellent way to keep blood pressure in the normal range. The reason for this is not just because it contains 8 different healthy vegetables but because it is high in potassium. An 8 ounce glass of low sodium V8 juice contains 840 mg of potassium and other nutrients like magnesium that help to lower blood pressure.

Celery like V8 also contains a lot of potassium which relaxes the arteries and brings down blood pressure. In order to get the benefits from celery you would have to eat a one pound bag of it every other day. I don’t know about you but that is way too much celery for me to eat. So again, the best and easiest way to consume a vegetable like celery is to juice it.

If you are not into eating or juicing your vegetables then try Hibiscus Tea. This tea has the power to reduce your blood pressure just as well as any high blood pressure medication but without any of the negative side effects. Three cups of Hibiscus Tea a day does wonders for your high blood pressure. If you combine that with an 8 ounce glass of Low Sodium V8 or 1 pound of Celery, you can forget about any high blood pressure medication.

BERRIES FOR URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS

Berries are a powerhouse of benefits. Not only do berries, especially cranberries, increase immune system strength and protect against many types of bacteria but they also can prevent and treat urinary tract infections. Blueberries have a unique protective effect on the brain. A placebo controlled study in 2010 discovered that older people who drank 2 and a half cups of blueberry juice every day for three months had an increase in improvements on tests of memory and learning. These blueberry juice drinkers also had lower rates of depression, more energy and better glucose control.

GINGER & PRUNES FOR GASTROINTESTINAL PROBLEMS

No matter what problems you have with your stomach ginger and prunes can cure what makes you feel ill. For nausea it’s ginger to the rescue. I remember as a kid my dad used to give us kids ginger ale or a ginger iced tea when we had an upset stomach. Ginger is good for easing the queasiness caused by pretty much everything from the stomach flu and seasickness to morning sickness and the bad effects of chemotherapy.

If you are constipated a time tested cure is still what was given to me as a kid, prunes and/or prune juice. Eight ounces of prune juice every day will help quite a bit with your problem, so will a handful of dried plums. Another great food for constipation as well as lowering cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar is ground flaxseed. I mentioned the benefits of ground flaxseed in an earlier blog post. A quarter cup of ground flaxseed a day will do wonders for your health.

If you have gas try chewing on some fennel seeds after a meal or make a tea with them. You can get fennel seeds at any grocery store in the spice isle. Fennel seeds are also good at getting rid of indigestion.

COFFEE FOR HEADACHES AND MORE

Coffee can boost your energy levels by making you more alert and focused. Coffee can even give you an endurance boost during exercise. If you have a headache coffee can also help by reducing the pain but if you drink coffee every morning, missing your morning cup can also cause a headache. NOTE: All of these benefits of coffee only pertain to black coffee and not coffee with milk and/or cream. Adding dairy to coffee negates many of its health benefits. The caffeine in coffee can also help to relieve an asthma attack because it is similar in chemical makeup to theophylline which is a drug that relaxes your airways. The caffeine in coffee should never be a replacement for asthma inhalers but it’s good to use if you have an asthma attack and do not have an inhaler available.

SUGAR AND HONEY FOR WOUND CARE

Yes you read that right. Healing a cut, scrape or an open wound with table sugar or honey has been used quite successfully for centuries. Both sugar and honey create what is known as a hyperosmotic environment and all bacteria cannot survive in such an environment. So because of this wounds heal quite quickly and usually without any scarring.

To use sugar and honey for an open wound, pack the wound with sugar or honey, cover with gauze and wrap with a bandage. Every three days remove the bandage and gauze, thoroughly clean out the wound with water and reapply the sugar or honey, gauze and bandage again. My doctor has used this technique on himself and with his kids, I even tried it twice and I would say that using sugar is better because it wasn’t as messy or sticky like the honey was, but they both worked great. Sugar or honey can also be used for burns.

SOME OF MOTHER NATURE’S OTHER CURES

– Aloe Vera is good for burns. If you have an Aloe Vera plant just break off a leaf, squeeze out the gel and apply it to the burns as needed.
– Eating pitted cherries will relieve the pain and inflammation of gout.
– Cayenne pepper sprinkled in soup or a drink will clear a stuffy nose. You can also dab it on a minor cut to stop the bleeding
– Baking soda can be used to get rid of kidney disease.
– Using a banana peel on warts will help to get rid of the wart.
– Drinking fresh carrot juice once every day will help to keep your skin from getting wrinkles.
– Eating tomato paste is a natural sunscreen that protects your skin from the inside out. It also helps to fight cancer of the prostate.
– Broccoli is high in vitamin C and is the strongest of the cruciferous vegetables at fighting cancer.

And there are many more cures from natural wonders that may be lurking somewhere in your kitchen. You have to remember that all of these natural cures have been used quite successfully for hundreds of years. Just because the pharmaceutical industry now dominates most all of our health care system doesn’t mean that all of these natural cures do not work anymore. They still work great and in most cases work better and safer than the expensive and most times dangerous drug solutions. Many times drugs have a host of negative side effects. Cures from Mother Nature only have positive side effects.

With all of the many natural cures available that I didn’t list here, I really would like to know about more. So if you know of more “cures from your kitchen” that you can share with all of us, please leave them in the comments section below. Also share this post because most people would like to know these simple yet safe and effective remedies and cures that could save them a trip to the doctor.

Effective Ways to Avoid the Flu

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It’s October and the days are shorter, the temperatures cooler, and most importantly your body’s vitamin D production stops. When this happens, our defenses against the cold and flu become weak. Why is it that you do not get the cold and flu during the Spring and Summer? This is because your body is making 20-30,000 IU of vitamin D every day. Vitamin D is one of the many effective ways to avoid the flu and because you cannot get that protection from the beginning of October to the end of March is why many people get sick during this time period.

But if you are like most people and you do not want to get the flu vaccine which contains Thimerosal, an organo-mercury compound, then fear not there is a better, safer, and more effective way to protect yourself from the cold and flu viruses.

HOW TO GET VITAMIN D DURING THE FALL AND WINTER

The only way you can keep your blood levels of vitamin D up to where they were during the Spring and Summer is to take vitamin D3 supplements. It is physically impossible to get enough from food and from the sun at this time of the year. But just because your body makes 20-30,000 IU of vitamin D from the sun and then converting it to D3 every day during the Spring and Summer, does not mean you have to take that much every day during the Fall and Winter to be protected. Anywhere from 2-5,000 IU of vitamin D3 per day is sufficient, effective and safe.

However if you have diabetes, cancer, MS, fibromyalgia, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or any auto immune disease you will more than likely need to take much more than 5,000 IU per day. You shouldn’t make that decision on your own. Taking 5,000 IU per day is totally safe and effective. I take that much every day and if I should feel a cold coming on I double it to 10,000 IU per day until I do not feel the cold anymore and then I’m back down to 5,000. If you feel that you need more, then have your doctor perform a 25(OH)D blood test to determine how much more you need to take.

Studies have shown that 75% of Americans and even more of Canadians are vitamin D deficient. Simply put, the further away from the equator of the earth that you live the less vitamin D your body creates. Another factor in the lack of vitamin D production depends on how dark your skin is. So you must take vitamin D3 supplements during the Fall and Winter months for the best way to protect yourself from the cold and flu. Plus you will also get many other health benefits from taking vitamin D3. I get my 5,000 IU vitamin D3 from Puritan’s Pride, see why on My Reviews page.

IF THIS WERE A DRUG IT WOULD BE CALLED A MIRACLE DRUG

Another effective way to avoid colds is to consume an abundance of antioxidants. Though vitamin D3 is my top choice for antioxidant protection, there are hundreds of other antioxidants that can and should be taken. – After vitamin D3, Alpha Lipoic Acid would be your second best option. I have heard from a couple of doctors and researchers who have said that if Alpha Lipoic Acid were a drug it would be called a “Miracle Drug”. This is because of how effective it is at protecting the entire body from not just the cold and flu but also in its abundance of other health benefits.

We have all heard that vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant but Alpha Lipoic Acid is way more powerful than vitamin C. How is this possible you ask? All antioxidants are either water soluble, meaning they work their antioxidant powers in the liquid portion of your body or fat soluble by working in the fleshy fatty areas of your body. However Alpha Lipoic Acid is both water and fat soluble. Plus Alpha Lipoic Acid has the unique ability to recharge vitamin C and certain other antioxidants once those antioxidants lose their power to fight infections. It’s like adding a fresh tank of gasoline to your car once it is about to run out so you can drive further.

The only way to get therapeutic amounts of Alpha Lipoic Acid is through supplements, 300 mg per day will do the trick. Alpha Lipoic Acid, like vitamins D3 and C, is extremely cheap. You can get a 2-month supply anywhere from $7-$12.00 dollars, depending on where you buy it. There is no need to spend any more than that. Think about that. You spend $12 on one meal when going out to eat, yet you can get a 2-month supply of a potent antioxidant that will help you stay healthy for the same price or less. I buy my Alpha Lipoic Acid from either Vitamin World or Puritan’s Pride, which ever one has the better sale at the time I order.

EATING YOUR ANTIOXIDANTS

Next you will also want to get antioxidants into you from fruits and vegetables. The most potent of them all are any kind of fresh berries. Fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, cranberries,… and also melons since they can also act as a natural diuretic and help to flush toxins out of the body as well as provide you with antioxidants and fiber. Cantaloupe is the most powerful of melons and then Watermelon and next Honey Dew.

As for vegetables Carrots, Broccoli and Spinach are the top in antioxidant powers. However you should also eat a broad range of colorful vegetables such as different kind of red, yellow, orange and green peppers, other leafy greens such as parsley, kale and collard and other cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. Being that most people myself included, have a hard time eating so many vegetables, having a juicer is the best way to consume your vegetables.

By consuming antioxidants year round but especially from October to the end of March, by way of Vitamin D3 and Alpha Lipoic Acid supplements and eating berries, melons and vegetables, you will have a strong immune system to fend off any cold or flu virus.

OTHER WAYS THOUGH HARDER TO ACCOMPLISH

Other effective ways to avoid getting sick is to practice good hygiene. Always wash your hands after coming inside from a public place and if washing your hands is not an option, use a hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your face, though this is extremely hard to do, until you can clean your hands. You get sick by germs entering your body through the eyes, nose and mouth. Getting sick can be as easy as you touching a door handle that has been infected by someone who was sick and then you now have the germs on your hand. Then you have an itchy nose or eye, you go to rub your itchy nose or eye and boom, you have infected yourself.

Depending on how hard (forceful) a sneeze or cough is, germs from that sneeze or cough can travel 7-10 feet and linger for hours. Avoid people who are clearly sick when at all possible. This option is almost as hard as not touching your face because when people are sick they do not take the proper course of action and stay home in bed for 2-3 days until they are no longer sick. So they come out into the population to infect everybody else. If you are sick and you have to go out wear an N95 disposable face mask so you do not spread the germs to other people. Obviously no one will do this because they do not want to bring attention to themselves. My answer to that fear is, either you wear a mask and be a responsible citizen or STAY HOME!

If you have any comments, please leave them below and I will reply back in short order.

What is Turmeric? – The Spice of Life and Great Health

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The use of herbs in cooking and as medicine dates back more than 1000 years and it’s still as delicious and effective today. One of the many types of herbs that scientists have been studying a lot lately for a wide range of health benefits is turmeric. What is turmeric? Well it is the spice that gives curry its deep yellow color and contains curcumin.

Curcumin (Curcuma longa) comes from turmeric and can be found in great abundance in India, where the majority of the world’s supply is produced. Turmeric is a potent antioxidant in addition to being a major ingredient in Indian cuisine. Turmeric is also used quite extensively in some of the foods of the Caribbean and Jamaica. Any food item that has curry has turmeric and it is widely available at any supermarket. It is truly a great natural medicine that can be found in some kitchen cabinets, it is definitely in mine because I like to use it when I cook..

Photo by jeffreyw

DOES CURCUMIN PROTECT YOU FROM ALZHEIMER’S?

India has a population of well over a billion people, which is more than 3 times the population of the United States. In India Alzheimer’s disease is practically nonexistent yet in the U.S. it affects half of Americans over the age of 80. In fact India has the lowest rates of Alzheimer’s disease anywhere in the world. What is the major difference about their diet than any other place in the world? They consume the most turmeric/curcumin. Curry is used in practically every food and in some drinks as well.

NATURE’S BEST ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

There have been several scientific studies done on curcumin that have shown that it is very powerful at reducing inflammation. Whenever you experience pain in the body there is always some form of inflammation present . Inflammation is the body’s way of protecting a damaged area until healing is completed. Unfortunately inflammation can get out of hand and when there is too much inflammation in the body it can lead to many bad things. It is already known that a buildup of inflammation compounds in the brain will contribute to causes of Alzheimer’s disease.

Personally I can definitely say that whenever I have any type of pain, all I have to do is eat a spicy Indian (or Jamaican or Thai) curried dish and the pain goes away. This works for me every time. Fortunately I love spicy foods but if you don’t you can still enjoy the benefits of curried foods by taking turmeric supplements. By taking turmeric supplements every day you can help to reduce the pain of sore muscles and joints and avoid taking pain NSAID medications which all have negative side effects.

RESEARCHERS STUDY EFFECTS OF CURCUMIN

Since curcumin is known to have powerful anti-inflammatory properties, researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles conducted a study to see if it could give the same anti-Alzheimer’s benefits that NSAIDs give but without the negative side effects of gastrointestinal, liver, and kidney damage.

Middle-aged and older mice were fed either a standard diet or a standard diet that also contained curcumin for six months. Then all mice were injected with amyloid, which is a protein in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The mice fed the standard diet with the curcumin scored higher in maze-based memory tests and didn’t show any signs of Alzheimer’s disease.

At the end of the study when biopsies were done on the mice fed the diet with curcumin, it was found that they not only had significantly less amyloid but also other forms of inflammation in the brain. They also had significantly less oxidative damage which was caused by curcunin’s powerful antioxidant qualities,

THE MANY BENEFITS OF CURCUMIN

Curcumin from turmeric has a wide range of “Anti” benefits. It is an anti-inflammatory, an antioxidant, an antitumoral (inhibits the formation of tumors), an antimicrobial, an antihepototoxic (protection of the liver and helps in detoxification), an antihyperlipidemic (reduces cholesterol buildup), and an anticoagulant.

That is a lot of “Anti” powers from a spice that is very cheap in price and is widely available. I normally take Turmeric/Curcumin capsules every day, except when I have a curried dish at lunch or dinner, during the cold and flu months. Being a potent antioxidant and an antihepototoxic it strengthens the immune system and gives support to the liver which also plays a key role in protecting and curing us of cold and flu viruses. I can get a 2 month’s supply for only $19. That’s not that bad of a price for 60 days, especially when you consider all of the “Anti” benefits it has.

COLD FEET NO MORE

A good friend of mine, Bill, told me that his wife always complained about his cold feet, a problem he admits that he has. So I told him he should try turmeric/circumin capsules and he was like, okay, maybe I’ll try that. When I heard that I knew he wasn’t going to try it. So the next time we got together for dinner I suggested that we go and have some Indian food. His wife was very happy with my suggestion because she loves Indian food.

Bill had never had Indian food but was willing to try it, especially since he now had two people wanting to go and have Indian food. Well his wife and I helped him to order a curried dish that wasn’t that spicy but still had a fair amount of curry. Bill loved the taste of it and surprisingly ate it all. He almost licked the plate clean.

Then when his wife got up to go to the restroom he said to me, guess what? I was like, what? He said my feet feel warm. I could actually feel them getting warmer towards the end of the meal. I said to him, I bet you did because you just consumed a lot of turmeric and curcumin. I again told him that curcumin has been shown to improve blood flow. Bill said he definitely was going to try those turmeric/curcumin supplements I had suggested to him. Now he and his wife are happy that he no longer has cold feet.

If you have had any similar experiences, if you like curried food, if you have any questions, please leave them below. I would love to hear about it and will reply back to you.

Lower Cholesterol and Boost the Immune System

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THE BENEFITS OF GROUND FLAXSEED

After hearing and reading all of the ways ground flaxseed can help the cardiovascular system as well as strengthen the immune system, I had to try it out for myself. While at my doctors one day I asked him, where can I buy ground flaxseed? He replied, practically anywhere that sells healthy foods or you can get it online. So I purchased some and I LOVE IT!

After 26 going on 27 years of avoiding all kinds of prescription medications, I have come to know how great Mother Nature’s own medicines can be. One of my favorite healthy foods is ground or milled flaxseed. Because I am someone who always tries to eat as organic as I possibly can, I buy USDA organic ground/milled flaxseed.

GROUND MILLED FLAXSEED

Ground flaxseed has many benefits which include helping to keep your cholesterol levels in the normal range as well as your blood pressure and blood sugar levels. It also boosts the strength of your immune system by killing free radicals before they can damage healthy cells. The lignans in ground flaxseed are powerful free radical scavengers.

Other benefits include: support for healthy eyes, lubrication of your joints by reducing inflammation throughout the body, moisturizing the skin inside and out, support for weight loss, keeps you regular, and helps to sharpen your mind.

HOW CAN FLAXSEED DO ALL THAT?

Flaxseed is Mother Nature’s most abundant source of essential fatty acids (EFAs). I’m sure you have heard of essential fatty acids before. One of the main reasons why Fish Oil is so good for the heart and cardiovascular system is because fish oil is rich in Omega-3 EFA. Well flaxseed also has omega-3 EFA but it also has the other two omega-6 and omega-9 EFAs.

I remember when I was little, and maybe you do too, my mother used to give me that nasty tasting Cod Liver Oil. Yuck! But cod liver oil is just one of the many different types of fish that fish oil comes from. I still take fish oil from time to time but I normally alternate between it and flaxseed oil.

However I prefer ground/milled flaxseed over flaxseed oil because the oil kind does not contain lignans which boost immune system strength nor does it contain fiber. Since I am always taking, drinking and eating things that boost my immune system during the fall and winter months I will always use ground flaxseed over flaxseed oil.

FLAXSEED OIL

Another good reason to use ground flaxseed during the colder months is because of its fiber, which flaxseed oil does not have. Since most of us do not exercise as much during the colder months and tend to eat more, consuming the fiber in ground flaxseed will help to keep weight gain under control. The fiber in flaxseed helps to promote a sense of fullness to help curb over eating and appetite.

HOW DO I USE GROUND FLAXSEED?

It is very easy to use. Just use a quarter cup every day. I like the taste of ground flaxseed. It has a mild but nutty flavor to it and I add it to many different types of foods. I sprinkle some in my morning cold or hot cereal, scrambled eggs or pancakes, and into yogurt or cottage cheese. I will also add it to any vegetable juice or smoothie, sprinkle it on top of vegetables or a salad, add it to soups, and meat or turkey loafs. I don’t think there is much that I haven’t tried adding it to except fruit juices, but maybe I’ll try that someday. One of my favorite juices to add it to is Low Sodium V8 Juice. See my Reviews page for the great heart health benefits of that mixture.

WHOLE FLAXSEED

STORAGE

I buy my ground/milled organic flaxseed in vacuum sealed re-sealable bags. However I have found that the flaxseed will last longer and stay fresher if I store it in my refrigerator after opening it. This helps to preserve the beneficial omega EFAs and oils. If you buy whole flaxseed and only grind a quarter cup every day, then placing the non-ground flaxseed in the refrigerator is not necessary.

If you have any questions or comments about flaxseed or flaxseed oil, please leave them below in the comments section. I will get back to you with a response within 24 hours.

Is the Immune System Important

INCREASE IMMUNE SYSTEM STRENGTH WITH ANTIOXIDANTS

Your immune system works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by protecting you from viral and bacterial infections. It will also fix and cure you of other problems and disorders. Is the immune system important? You bet it is! Your immune system does so many things to keep you alive and functioning. However it cannot do all that needs to be done efficiently without help.

Look at it this way. – You are the only one inside a manufacturing plant operating the automation machines. It is your job to keep them running and feed them product to make. What would happen to the entire manufacturing line if one of the machines has a problem? Production would stop or other problems may happen further down or up the line. Manufacturing would have to stop until you could fix that one machine. The only way to fix the problem and get manufacturing going again would be to hire more people to help with the entire process.

HELP YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM TO BE STRONG

The same is true for the immune system. The white blood cells of the immune system cannot do it all by themselves. They need the help of other nutrients and antioxidants to share some of that workload, which in turn strengthens the immune system.

IS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM IMPORTANT

So the more help you give your immune system in fighting infections and diseases, the stronger your immune system becomes. Just like adding more workers to a manufacturing line, the more supportive nutrients that can be taken, the stronger the immune system will be.

HOW TO STRENGTHEN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM NATURALLY

There are many ways that you can naturally strengthen the immune system. Two different ways you can do right now. If you live in the southern most areas of the United States, you can do three different ways right now. They are:

• Light to moderate exercise. A 15-30 minute walk in the park is all you need. Or you can also put on some music and dance. You can go ride a bike. NO excessive exercise! This will actually harm the immune system.
• Get some deep restful sleep WITHOUT the aid of any type of sleep medications. These medications should be avoided at all cost!

If you live in the southern most areas of the U.S. and it is during the fall and winter months, you can also do the following:

IS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM IMPORTANT

• Get outside WITHOUT sunscreen and get some sunlight on your skin and I am not talking about sun bathing. When you sun bathe you should always wear sunscreen. Just wear some shorts and a short sleeve shirt and take a walk. Again 15-30 minutes of the sun shining on your arms, legs, neck and face will be enough to create 20-30,000 IU of vitamin D. NOTE: If you have darker skin than Caucasian you will need 30-45 minutes of sun exposure.

These are the easy and free ways to boost immune system strength. They cost you no money, they are free!

YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM NEEDS ANTIOXIDANTS TO HELP

Antioxidants help the immune system to become stronger. They do this by sharing a lot of the healing workload that the immune system has to do. Many of the antioxidants you have probably heard of. I’m sure that there are some you have never heard of too.

The best and easiest way to get antioxidants into you is by taking them in pill form. You can also get them from eating fruits and vegetables but the nutrient values are not enough for optimal heath. Besides, how many people actually eat 5-7 servings of fruits and vegetables every day? I know I try but almost always fall a little short of the mark. That is why taking nutritional supplements are the best and easiest way of getting your antioxidants. It is much easier and convenient to swallow a couple of pills than to sit down and eat 5-7 servings every day of fruits and vegetables.

IS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM IMPORTANT

Here is a list of key antioxidants for a strong immune system:

• Vitamin D3 (The BEST there is)
• Alpha Lipoic Acid (The 2nd BEST there is)
• CoQ10
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Alpha & Beta Carotene
• Selenium
• Turmeric
• Quercetin
• Rutin
• Hesperidin
• L-Glutathione
• Milk Thistle (80% Silymarin)
• Grape Seed Extract
• Green Tea
• Bilberry Extract
• SOD (Superoxide Dismutase)
• Zeaxanthin
• Lutein
• Lycopene
• Resveratrol
• Chlorella
• Spirulina
• Astaxanthin
• Echinacea
• Black Current
• Zinc + More

IS THE IMMUNE SYSTEM IMPORTANT

I know what you are thinking. You are probably saying, Wow! Do I have to take all of those? – No you don’t. But isn’t Mother Nature wonderful to offer us so many safe and effective options? I personally do not take all of them. Heck, I haven’t even tried some of them. But it’s nice to know about them should I want to try them.

Unlike prescription drugs, antioxidants can be taken with other antioxidants without risk of any serious negative side effects. If you were to try that with prescription drugs you would definitely end up in the ER or the morgue.

I have already settled on the ones I always use. But before I knew which ones they were, I tried a lot of other ones. All of them worked to some degree, some worked better than others. The point is, everyone is different and have different needs. You just have to try them until you find the ones (other than the commonly known ones) that you personally like best. Mother Nature has a lot to offer us.

As you can see from the listing above, I list my 1st and 2nd favorites. Though Alpha Lipoic Acid I have as my 2nd favorite it is almost tied for first with Vitamin D3. Why? Because unlike most other antioxidants, ALA is both water AND fat soluble which means it has greater impact than any other antioxidant. Plus it can be manufactured in the body, albeit in very small amounts. Give them a try. Unlike prescription drugs, the ingredients of antioxidants are from Nature not a chemical lab.

If you have any questions about any type of antioxidant, please leave them below in the comments section. I will get back to you with a response.

How To Increase Energy – One Nutrient Does It All And More

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REASONS FOR LACK OF ENERGY

Coenzyme Q10 or CoQ10 for short, is a fantastic antioxidant! Just like several other antioxidants, CoQ10 has many benefits. Do you want to know how to increase energy? Well not only does CoQ10 increase immune system strength but it mostly supports the energy of the heart muscle.

Do you or someone you know have high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol? Did you know that both high blood pressure and high cholesterol are not diseases per se? Simply put, they are symptoms and risk factors of Heart Disease. If you have high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol, you have Heart Disease.

CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE HAS IT WRONG

Conventional western medicine has got it backwards because it is built on selling prescription drugs, treating the symptoms and avoiding the causes when at all possible. I have two questions that I want you to ask yourself. Then answer the questions and see if it makes sense.

1. Would you rather take a high blood pressure and/or a high cholesterol prescription drug for the foreseeable future at a high cost to your finances and your quality of life? …OR…
2. Would you rather have your heart disease treated and eventually fixed so you will no longer have high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol?

I am someone who likes to use common sense whenever possible. Personally when I was asked those questions by my doctor many years ago I said yes to question two. It has always been my belief to fix the cause and not treat the symptoms and risk factors. If you were in a boat out in the ocean that had a leak in it, would you just bail water to maintain the least amount of water in the boat or would you try to fix the leak too?

HOW TO INCREASE ENERGY TO YOUR HEART

I addressed my heart disease through inexpensive and effective ways many years ago. I got rid of any elevated blood pressure levels by changing my diet, getting at least some exercise and taking certain nutritional supplements. These were not just antioxidants but they also work to keep your heart healthy as well.

COENZYME Q10

CoQ10 is one of those particular supplements. CoQ10, also known as Ubiquinone or Ubiquinol which is the more bio-active form of Ubiquinone CoQ10, works by giving energy at the cellular level. The power plants or engines of our cells are the mitochondria and CoQ10 acts like the spark plug for that engine. Also present in the mitochondria is Alpha Lipoic Acid which not only gives protection but also re-energizes CoQ10.

What part of the body benefits from CoQ10 the most? Your heart muscle does. CoQ10 basically energizes the heart muscle, it lowers blood pressure and it protects the heart against heart failure. Without adequate amounts of CoQ10 in you, your heart will start having problems, aka, heart disease. Congestive Heart Failure which simply put is your heart not having enough energy to beat, would and does respond very well to the use of Ubiquinol CoQ10.

UBIQUINONE. UBIQUINOL. WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

CoQ10 has been around since the 1950s when it was discovered. It has been known since the 1970s, when clinical trials confirmed, that people with all types of heart disease will benefit from CoQ10. I am currently starting to only take the Ubiquinol version of CoQ10, mainly because my body will absorb more of it and more efficiently. When you reach your mid-40s, your body will not be able to convert Ubiquinone into Ubiquinol as easy as it did when you were younger.

HOW TO INCREASE ENERGY TO YOUR HEART

Fortunately science has made it possible to synthesize Ubiquinol from Ubiquinone, So as soon as my Ubiquinone CoQ10 runs out, I’ll be making the switch. There have been many articles written and talked about by some doctors recently on CoQ10. I remember watching the Dr. Oz Show back in January 2012 and he was touting its benefits. There is an article on Ubiquinol CoQ10 on his show’s website.

I personally take 200 mg of CoQ10 a day for general maintenance as well as a boost in immunity and in overall energy. I have a friend who is getting his heart disease under control and his doctor has him taking 600-800 mg of CoQ10 per day.

A COQ10 WARNING!

If you are taking any kind of a Statin cholesterol lowering drug like Lipitor, Torvast, Lescol, Mevacor, Pravachol, Crestor, Zorcor, Vytorin,… YOU MUST supplement with at least 300 mg of Ubiquinol CoQ10. The reason is because whatever CoQ10 you get from food is being blocked from doing any good by the Statin drug. Statin drugs block the HMG-CoA reductase pathway in all of your cells. This pathway is critical for the manufacture of not just cholesterol but other vital elements as well. CoQ10 is one of those important life giving elements that is blocked from being produced. As is mentioned above, the heart muscle needs adequate amounts of CoQ10 to continue beating without problems.

If you have any comments or questions about Ubiquinol CoQ10, please leave them in the comments section below and I will get back to you with a response.

Do I need to take Vitamin D3 Supplements?

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DO I NEED TO TAKE VITAMIN D3?

It is very important to make sure you have enough vitamin D3 in your blood. There is widespread vitamin D deficiency all throughout America especially if you live in the top half of the country. Vitamin D deficiency is not just an American problem it is a world-wide problem. The simple reason is that the further away from the equator of the earth that you live, the less vitamin D3 you will have in your blood during the fall and winter months.

What is the difference between vitamin D and vitamin D3? Vitamin D3 is the active form of vitamin D that the body can use. When vitamin D enters the body either from the sun, food or supplements the body has to expend energy to break it down into D3. The question: Do I need to take Vitamin D3? The answer is a big Yes!

The best and easiest way to accurately determine you blood levels of vitamin D3 is to have your doctor perform a blood test called 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D or a 25(OH)D test. My doctor says that the optimum blood level should be in the 50-70 ng/mL range. Unfortunately many doctors either do not think it is necessary or just will not do it. If that is the case, demand that it be done and until it is performed take 2,000 IU of vitamin D3 per day. Do not worry, 2,000 IU is extremely safe to take every day. I personally take 5,000 IU every day during the fall and winter months and have been doing so for 10 years after my doctor did the 25(OH)D test on me. Since doing so I’ve never had the flu. Talk about a better option than the flu vaccine.

SO MANY HEALTH PROBLEMS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH LOW VITAMIN D

However there are way more reasons to take vitamin D3 supplements, especially during the colder months, than for the protection from the flu. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with a long list of health conditions such as: asthma in children, auto immune disorders, bone pain, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, fibromyalgia, hypertension, mood disorders, multiple sclerosis, obesity, osteoarthritis, osteomalacia, osteoporosis, psoriasis, and viruses. Every year scientists are finding even more diseases and disorders attributed to low vitamin D3 levels.

DO I NEED TO TAKE VITAMIN D3

Just looking at the list above and the fact that most Americans are vitamin D deficient, it is no wonder that so many Americans are sick. If you are too scared to get some sunshine on your skin that is not covered with sunscreen, then the only way to get enough vitamin D3 in your blood is to take a supplement. Take at least 2,000 IU because it is impossible to even get the low RDA amounts from food alone.

WHAT CONTRIBUTES TO VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY?

Do you have any of those disorders listed above? Well if you do and you smoke cigarettes and/or you have darker skin color than a Caucasian, then your vitamin D deficiency will be worse off. To make matters worse if you live in the top half of the country (north of 35 degrees north latitude) you definitely need to supplement during the colder months.

Everyone who lives in this area in the country regardless of skin color has low blood levels of vitamin D3 during the colder months. This is because of the sun’s angle and the fact that no UVB radiation makes its way down to the ground. At this time of the year it is impossible for your body to make 20,000-30,000 IU of vitamin D from the sun. Because of this stoppage in vitamin D production is the number one reason why the cold and flu season happens at this time of the year. All viruses, including the flu, are present and at the same strength all year round. The only reason most people do not get sick during the warmer months is because of vitamin D production.

Do I need to take Vitamin D3 supplements? After reading all of the symptoms of deficiency and why many people are deficient, what do you think? YES you should! In addition, get your blood levels checked so you will know how much more than 2,000 IU you will need. The optimum range of vitamin D3 in the blood should be 50-70 ng/mL. Remember, vitamin D3 supplements are extremely safe and will only be toxic if you should take 50,000 IU per day. Please don’t take that much. A little goes a long way to a strong and vibrant immune system.

If you have any questions about taking vitamin D3, please leave them in the comments section below. I will respond with an answer within 24 hours.