Natural Health » Superfoods

Raw Food Diet Detox

Natural Health — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 17:27:10 +0000

A diet comprised of 100% uncooked food when used for the purpose of detoxification of the body is referred to as a raw food detox diet. Detoxification or detox refers to the process of elimination of toxins - produced either internally from metabolic wastes or coming from external sources such food and environment - that get accumulated in the body over a period of time, giving rise to a host of diseases.

A raw food detox diet primarily includes vegetarian or vegan foods, though sometimes meat and fish may be allowed too if one can manage to eat them raw. Such a diet promotes the elimination of harmful substances from the body through the body’s excretory organs like kidneys, bowel and skin.

How a raw food diet detox works
The principle behind a raw food detox diet is the belief that food in its natural uncooked form has all the vital nutrients and enzymes intact, whereas cooking by conventional methods devitalizes the food due to breakdown of these substances. In a sense, raw food is a kind of living food, with a latent life force that under appropriate conditions facilitates germination and growth of a new plant from a seed.

Advocates of the raw food diet detox believe that when the body is fed with foods that are rich in life force, digestive enzymes, vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals, while at the same time being deprived of devitalized and toxin-laden foods, it gets into the self-detoxification and cleansing mode.

The problem with cooked foods
When food is heated to temperatures above 117 ºF (47 ºC) for more than a few minutes: (i) a substantial amount of vital digestive enzymes and nutrients get destroyed; (ii) proteins get denatured and coagulated, causing deficiency of many amino acids; (iii) fats when overheated result in the formation of carcinogenic substances.

When the food is cooked in water, the water-soluble minerals get lost due to leaching (even more intensely if one adds salt while cooking), unless one uses the leftover water for gravies or soups. In fact, scientific studies have shown that many of the vegetables lose their antioxidant benefits when boiled or microwaved.

It only gets worse when it comes to ready-to-eat commercially manufactured foods, which may even contain highly detrimental substances like acrylamides. It is for all these reasons that a
raw food diet has emerged as the favorite detox diet.

What constitutes a raw food diet detox
The following foods should be eaten while on a raw food detox diet:

Whole organic fresh fruits and vegetables(preferred over juices)
Herbs and wild greens
Sprouted grains, pulses and seeds
Nuts soaked in pure water for 12 hours * Sea plants like Nori, Dulse, Kelp, Algaes
Foods dehydrated at room temperature so as to preserve life force, enzymes and nutrients
Herbal teas, preferably organic

What to expect while on a raw food detox diet
There could be many health reasons for which people go on a raw food detox diet: e.g., weight loss, general health improvement, and chronic health problems arising from accumulation of toxins in the body (such as joint pains, headaches, chronic fatigue, constipation, etc.).

During the first two weeks of the raw food diet detox when the process of detoxification starts, initially one is likely to experience some negative detox reactions, such as nausea, headache, tiredness, coated tongue, foul breath, skin eruptions, depression, etc. This is because of the released toxins; it is very important to drink lots of water, take plenty of rest, and resist cooked food - otherwise, detox will discontinue. In the next phase, one starts experiencing the benefits of detoxification.

Benefits of a raw food detox diet
The following benefits are experienced after going on a raw food detox diet:

Feel rejuvenated and energetic with increased stamina
Improved digestion and stable blood sugar levels
Reduction in joint and muscle pain
Improvement in concentration

Conclusion
Sticking to a raw food diet detox plan is not difficult: a whole range of raw detox foods are available in health stores and farmers’ markets. And there is a wealth of information available
on the Internet, books/magazines to motivate and help you. Learn more about detoxification in my brand new free ebook at http://www.thedetoxspecialist.com

Author: Sandy Halliday
About the author: Sandy Halliday, a former nurse, is a nutritionist and health researcher with over 20 years experience with many different types of detoxification. She is passionate about the role of nutrition and detoxification for the prevention of illness and aging as well as the improvement of many health conditions.
Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/wiedmaier/138381828/

Natural Dental Health

Natural Health — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 21:39:08 +0000

We have all been indoctrinated from birth with the same message about oral health. Brush and floss religiously and avoid sugar and acids. Follow this recipe and you will have perfect teeth and if you do not end up with perfect teeth then you did not follow the recipe religiously enough.

A New Paradigm for Dental Health
Here is the problem. The recipe does not work. Virtually 100% of people in modern society have some form of tooth decay or gum disease. Tooth loss, dentures and bridges are considered a normal and inevitable part of growing up and aging. Is is possible that tooth decay and gum disease have a different cause than we always believed and therefore a different approach to treatment?

According to a growing group of natural health advocates, everything you have always been taught about dental health is wrong. They believe that your teeth and gums are an excellent reflection of your overall nutrition levels and overall state of health. Your teeth are not an island, simply reacting to sugar, brushing and fluoridated water.

Your teeth and gums are living body parts that respond to vitamins, minerals and fatty acids just as your skin, hair, muscles and organs do. Sugar harms your teeth by displacing vital nutrients rather than only having an exterior effect on your dental enamel as is commonly believed. True dental health comes from within your body and teeth via your nutrition levels and enamel hardness comes from the nutrients in your diet.

The majority of followers and researchers that subscribe to this line of thinking, are using the work of Dr. Weston Price as a starting point. Dr. Price made the observation that certain groups of people who lived primitive rather than modern lifestyles and never brushed or flossed, had perfectly healthy teeth with no gum disease or tooth decay. The common denominator he found in those with perfect teeth, was a primarily raw food diet high in quality fats, specific nutrients and the absence of processed foods.

“The world became his laboratory. As he traveled, his findings led him to the belief that dental caries and deformed dental arches resulting in crowded, crooked teeth and unattractive appearance were a sign of physical degeneration, resulting from what he had suspected —nutritional deficiencies.” Realmilk.com

While the primary cause of poor oral health is nutrient deficiencies, some other causes and risk factors for modern tooth decay and gum disease include stress, pacifier use, chewing aspirin, prescription drugs, sports drinks, low fat diets and other similar unnatural behaviors and dietary choices. Oral health is also caused by or a symptom of certain diseases and conditions, such as poor circulation, digestive ailments, allergies, diabetes and hypoglycemia.

Nutritional deficiencies have been proven to cause a number of dental problems. Periodontal disease for example, is linked to a zinc, iron, copper, potassium, magnesium or maganese deficiency. Sugar, alcohol and caffeine all make it impossible for your body’s nutrients to be in balance and therefore have no part in a regime for oral health.

Nutrition for Dental Health
Dr. Price discovered that all of the primitive societies he studied ate similar foods with a similar nutritional makeup. They received huge quantities of vitamins A and D from shellfish, fish eggs and the organ meats and butter from grass fed cows. It is interesting to note that these societies also used the exact same foods in very large quantities for optimal preconception, pregnancy and breastfeeding health. The same societies experienced tremendous increases in tooth decay and deformed dental arches when they adopted a “modern” diet.

Fats are crucial for oral health. If you want optimal health and oral health in particular, then you must eat lots of good, high quality fats such as cod liver oil, butter from grass fed cows and ghee. Skim milk will not work even if it is raw. Neither will low-fat butter even if it is organic. The best choice is organic, raw, full fat, non-homogenized, grass fed animal products such as dairy, cultured dairy and eggs if you can get them.

You cannot be afraid of animal products, animal protein or fat to subscribe to the research of Dr. Price. More than one non-sugar eating vegetarian with inexplicable cavities has switched sides much to their delight and continually improving dental health. Eating raw is very important for both overall health and dental health, but without high quality animal fats that contain A, D and K, your dental health will suffer tremendously. This should only be a problem for hard core vegans, because many vegetarians will still consume dairy and eggs.

One additive your body does not need however, is fluoridated water. Pharmaceutical grade fluoride does have some benefit in cavity protection when applied directly to the surface of the tooth (topically). Ingested fluoride does not provide any benefits to your teeth and is incredibly toxic to your body in a myriad of ways. The fluoride dripped in our water supply (without our consent) is a toxic, industrial waste product that has been scraped from the inside of smokestacks, that is too toxic to “dump” anywhere else so they drip it indiscriminately in our water supply and only those who can afford to buy filtered water can afford to “opt out” of this mandatory drugging. Have you ever wondered why “they” aren’t placing vitamins and minerals in our water supply if they care so much about our health?

Additional nutrients that natural dental health experts recommend are large doses of C0Q10 (300-500 mg daily) and Vitamin C. Other people take Vitamin E, calcium phosphates, monosodium phosphate, B complex (for stress), cranberries and fermented foods. Supplements are fine to take but the results will never match that of whole foods. You can spend time in the sun for your Vitamin D, but that will also not replicate the benefit of high quality animal fat. The company Standard Process makes products specifically designed on the principles of Dr. Price for dental health. You should also take colloidal minerals daily for both your overall health and your dental health.

Topical care for Dental health
Nutrition and dietary choices will keep your teeth healthy from the inside out, but what about keeping them clean on the outside? It is still important to keep your teeth clean even if you have an excellent diet. Avoid traditional toothpastes however. They are loaded with chemicals, sugar, additives and other no-nos. Stick with water, baking soda, salt or bar soap . Advocates of brushing with bar soap recommend Ivory, pure olive oil soap or any other bar soap from your health food store that does not contain sodium silicate or fragrance. Commercial toothpastes will leave a glycerin film on your teeth that will prevent remineralization, so even if you are eating the right minerals in your diet, they cannot help rebuild your teeth and using bar soap keeps your teeth really clean and film free.

Some other topical treatments people use for oral health are Tea tree, Neem, oil of oregano and Magnolia tree bark. You can also try increasing gum circulation with Bayberry root bark, Echinacea root, Peppermint oil or Cayenne pepper. Other dental care options include oil pulling and using a magnetic pulser.

Use un-waxed floss and rub it back and forth across your teeth like you are shining shoes to really clean the surface and leave it ready for remineralization.
Brush first thing in the morning before you eat anything.
Always drink fluids while eating. Water is ideal but milk or coffee will work fine as well.
Be sure to stay hydrated. Adequate saliva production is imperative for dental health. Avoid prescription drugs for the same reason. Over 600 have been proven to reduce saliva which in turn will lead to tooth decay.
Try Xylitol gum. Xylitol has been proven to halt and even reverse tooth decay. An important caveat; Please never, ever chew gum if you have any amalgam fillings. It will increase the rate at which your fillings leak mercury to dangerous levels. This is even more important during pregnancy.
Gum massage Massage your gums 3-4 times a day. This is required for excellent gum circulation and health. Raw vegetables and other foods that stimulate the gums are also excellent (as opposed to soft,chewy processed foods like cereals or breads).
Try using a Sonicare toothbrush with your bar soap and add some hydrogen peroxide in your Waterpik.

Bottom line: Keep your teeth clean and ready for remineralization. Eat lots of good fats so you can absorb the minerals you eat. Avoid processed foods that will displace minerals you eat. Eat high quality animal protein and colloidal minerals which will give you strong healthy teeth from the inside and also allow your teeth to remineralize and pinpoint cavities up to 2millimeters can reverse and remineralize.

Spry gum with Xylitol

Additional Resources:
Campaign for realmilk
Dental Supplement Chart
Purchase Standard Process Dental Supplements
3 Part video series; Cure Tooth Decay and Cavities
Good Teeth, Birth to Death

Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/missellie/210850207/

Organic Sprouting

Natural Health — Tue, 06 May 2008 07:10:37 +0000

“Have you ever heard of a vegetable which continues to gain vitamins after you harvest it? Sprouts do this. Sprouts are LIVING foods. Even after you harvest your sprouts and refrigerate them, they will continue to grow slowly and their vitamin content will actually increase. Compare this with store-bought vegetables and fruits, which start losing their vitamin content as soon as they’re picked and often have to be shipped a thousand miles or more in the winter.” Sprouts for your Health; Healingdaily.com

By: Joel

Sprouting has long been known to provide numerous health advantages to individuals that incorporate fresh, organic sprouts into their daily diet. Organic sprouting is the process of soaking seeds in pure water, properly draining and then rinsing with more pure water until they mature into sprouts. There are many varieties of seeds that can be sprouted for food. The following outlines a few of the most common:

Alfalfa
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Celery
Garlic
Mustard
Wheat
Peas
Radish
Soybean

Health professionals everywhere agree that sprouts are excellent for providing the body with key nutrients. These nutrients, such as various vitamins, proteins, important amino acids and minerals, are the building blocks of life for the various functions within the body. Furthermore, when sprouts are grown organically, the seeds are not introduced to any common chemicals. This means that when they are consumed, dangerous toxins are not introduced to the body.

The raw food lifestyle continues to grow in popularity as doctors and dieticians agree that it is safe and effective. When a person consumes the diet that consists of raw foods, they are less likely to experience various sicknesses, diseases, and similar conditions. Organic sprouts are a very successful component of a raw food lifestyle. Sprouts can assist in weight loss, preventing heart disease, as well as preventing many different kinds of cancers.

“In a nut shell (no pun intended) the main benefit of sprouting is that it takes a seed or nut in the dormant state and brings it to life. During the sprouting process new and higher quality proteins and other nutrients are produced. Tests have shown that the nutrients in seeds and nuts are anywhere from 50% to 400% greater after sprouting or soaking.” The Benefits of Sprouting; EZhealthydiets.com

Many people enjoy growing their own sprouts. When you grow your own sprouts you can create sprouts that you like for a fraction of the cost of buying sprouts in the store. To begin your own organic sprouting, you may like to try the Easy-Sprouter. With the Easy-Sprouter you do not have to have any experience and it requires no rinsing. The Easy-Sprouter is inexpensive and efficient and allows anyone to perform organic with NO experience.

The Easy-Sprouter creates an ideal environment for growing for a wide variety of seeds. There is no need to have a strong knowledge of sprouting and you can grow healthy sprouts with no experience. I believe, using this method of sprouting, you are saving yourself a lot of time and money and making a useful contribution to the environment.

If you are interested in reaping the health benefits associated with organic sprouting, there are many ways to do so. You can purchase these sprouts locally, at your local grocery store or simply grow your own. The growing process can be relatively frustrating if you have little or no experience, so, if you choose this method, it is best to use a sprouter. The Easy - Sprouter will make doing your own organic sprouting easy and convenient! Those who have no experience whatsoever in organic sprouting can greatly benefit from using this particular instrument. This will allow you to enjoy your food relatively cheaply, and share your creations with those that you are close to.

“More and more people are discovering the benefits that can be received by adding to the diet the condensed energy hidden within the seed and released in the form of sprouts. The Western Wisdom Teachings stress the importance of nutrition, not only for the health of the physical body, but also as an aid to one’s spiritual sensitivity. Therefore, anyone aspiring to the higher life should be aware of the healthful benefits to be obtained by the use of sprouts.” Sprouting for Health; rosicrucian.com

Purchase the Freshlife Automatic Sprout Grower
Purchase the EasySprouter

Article Source: http://www.uberarticles.com/articles

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What is Resveratrol?

Natural Health — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 03:26:05 +0000

Newspapers, magazines and TV over the last few years have been filled with news of the anti-aging, antioxidant and seemingly miraculous properties of red wine. Many believe that the proven benefits of red wine explain the “French Paradox” in which the French have lower rates of heart disease yet consume a high fat diet.

The primary health component of wine that researchers have uncovered is called resveratrol. It is a compound found in the skin and seeds of grapes and created during the fermentation process. Therefore if the juice is never fermented (as in grape juice) or if wine is made from juice concentrates that contain no skins (as in home winemaking kits), then you will not be receiving much of the incredible benefits of this tremendous antioxidant. In addition, white wine has lower amounts of resveratrol than red wine because the grape skins are removed earlier in the winemaking process.

Apparently, resveratrol exists in the skins as a protective mechanism for the grapes. It is a built in antibiotic to protect the plant against disease and infections and that protective ability carries over to our bodies when we consume it in the right form. Because colder climates have a higher incidence of fungus, grapes grown in colder climates have more resveratrol than their warmer grown counterparts.

Resveratrol is also found in a number of other foods and berries, such a peanuts and blueberries but grapes, particularly winemaking grapes such as Muscadine, are the clear winner. Resveratrol nutritional supplements are either made from the powdered and ground skin and seeds of grapes or more likely they are made from Japanese knotweed which contains a fairly high amount of resveratrol.

Researchers have studied the benefits of resveratrol extensively and found it to be a very potent antioxidant. Mice who take it live longer and essentially become olympic athletes without the training. It can prevent, slow or reverse coronary heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure and aging. According to Wikipedia, resveratrol has been proven in scientific studies to extend the lifespan of worms, mice, and fruit flies. The mice not only lived longer, but the resveratrol actually counteracted the effects of a high fat diet.

As a cancer preventer, resveratrol is most effective in studies when it comes in direct contact with the cancer, such as skin cancer or gastrointestinal tumors. According to resveratrolnews.com, “Other new discoveries show it [resveratrol] does still more — repairs alcohol -damaged livers, slows bone loss (osteoporosis), boosts endurance, promotes hair growth, and re-energizes cells.” In addition, resveratrol also seems to have anti-viral properties and can enhance the benefits of retrovirals use to treat HIV, and has been proven to block the Herpes and influenza virus. It is unclear whether resveratrol needs to be taken orally or topically to enjoy these benefits.

The alcohol itself may offer heart healthy benefits as well, which are not exclusive to red wine.

Various studies have indicated that moderate amounts of all types of alcohol benefit your heart, not just alcohol found in red wine. Some heart-healthy benefits of alcohol include:

Raises high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the “good” cholesterol

Lowers blood pressure

Inhibits the formation of blood clots

Helps prevent artery damage caused by high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the “bad” cholesterol Mayclinic.com

Dr. Mercola has a different take on alcohol because he believes that alcohol is a neurotoxin which damages our brains and that it can easily disrupt our hormonal balance. He does not recommend alcohol in any amounts but suggests we should take our resveratrol in the form of grape skins. He also notes, that unless you know the source of your wine and it is organic, then it may not contain any resveratrol anyway.

If you are interested in adding resveratrol to your nutrition and supplement routine there are a number of great resveratrol products on the market but you might also consider purchasing organic winemaking grapes and making your own. You can also eat grape skins as Dr. Mercola suggests or if you enjoy having a glass of red wine with dinner, then continue to do so but do not start drinking a bottle a night looking for increased health benefits.

Can We Live Past 120?

Natural Health — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 02:13:38 +0000

About 15 years ago my friend, a self avowed health nut loaned me a tape based on a presentation by Dr. Joe Wallach extolling the virtues of natural healing and the alternatives available to us. His estimate is that we have the ability to live 120-140 years. Before you roll your eyes, let me give you some background information on Dr. Wallach.

Joe Wallach grew up on a farm in the Midwest and questioned the different way farmers cared for their livestock as opposed to how we humans cared for ourselves because he noted that livestock never came down with the same illnesses as humans because farmers always found ways to prevent disease with nutrition. Dr. Wallach went on to study agriculture and eventually became a Veterinarian. He worked in Africa with Marlin Perkins of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom for 2 years specializing in the treatment of rhinos and elephants. During that time, a special grant was setup to study the effects of the environment on animals at the St. Louis Zoo, and subsequently other zoos in the area. Over the next 12 years, Dr. Wallach performed 17,500 autopsies on animals and 3,000 on people that lived in the area.

His next stage in life was what he described as a “license to kill”, he became a Physician. In the course of his practice, he wrote seventy-five scientific articles, wrote 8 multi-author textbooks plus one on his own, 1700 newspaper interviews television appearances and the gamut of media, but his message of applying the same successful dietary knowledge of preventative nutrition used for animals to humans fell on deaf ears. That was in the 1960s, fortunately more people are listening today, and we generally call them liberals.

Dr. Wallach challenged conventional medicine and supported his hypothesis that the average lifespan of the population during his studies was 75.5 years of age while that of a medical doctor was only 58. In his studies, he learned that the main difference in longevity was that people who received their water supply from glaciers or had their fields flooded, both sources depositing and re enriching mineral depleted soil, received the essential nutrients, improving their health, and ultimately their longevity. The primary reason for the increased longevity in areas with mineral rich soils is because our bodies need about 90 nutrients and they are most readily available through plants grown in this wonderful soil. Most soil throughout the world is tremendously depleted so Dr. Wallach strongly recommends supplementing our diet, specifically with colloidal minerals (the only kind we can readily absorb)

Some of his conclusions were:

A senior that dies, after a fall in fact dies form osteoporosis

Arthritis can be cured by ingesting cartilage
Kidney stones are caused by a calcium deficiency.
A copper deficiency will cause grey hair, skin wrinkles and other aging symptoms
Diabetes, Cardio Myopathy, Alzheimer’s, cancer and even male pattern baldness are preventable through diet and nutrition

I deal extensively with seniors and quite often I am amazed when I ask health related questions and look at their lifestyles. Approximately half of them have the triple American whammy: diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol. Looking around at their environment there is an abundance of processed food, cakes, ice cream, white bread and the smell of grease, evidence of their cooking habits. They have obviously put their faith in the ability of their medications to keep them alive. As they get older, the dosages increase and their livers and kidneys need even more drugs to make them work. The other half of seniors I meet are remarkably disease free, have diets rich in fruit and vegetables and exercise on a regular basis.

Recently, I listened to a talk radio show and the topic focused on African Americans in the southern states, notably Georgia, who regularly ate small amounts of dirt. I have also read that poor Hatian people sometimes make cookies out of dirt that are duly baked and consumed, supposedly to stave off hunger. This is known as pica and originated in Africa, more as a dietary supplement. . This condition also occurs during pregnancy as the body’s way of getting needed minerals for the developing fetus. According to Dr. Wallach, our bodies will let us know to a large extent what we need, we just need to learn how to listen and that is where his conclusions are so important. We as humans have the ability to make choices (unlike the farm animals), unfortunately we seem to look for the easy path, not addressing the underlying causes.

You can learn more about the work of Dr. Wallach through this link or you can purchase his book, Dead Doctors Don’t Lie at Amazon.com.

Natural Ways to Lower Cholesterol

Natural Health — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 19:35:06 +0000

Have you been diagnosed with high cholesterol? Cholesterol is basically the fat component of your blood and is indicative of the modern, processed, Western diet. If you have been diagnosed with cholesterol readings over 200 or if you just want to take a proactive stance to minimize your own risk of stroke or heart disease then have a look at some natural ways to reduce your cholesterol levels.
By: Sophie Cosic

Cholesterol is a wax-like substance that is present in the cell membranes of body tissues and is carried in the blood plasma. It is a sterol; a combination of alcohol and steroid and is also called atherosclerotic plaque. The body requires cholesterol in order to form and sustain cell membranes, help with the production of bile and aid the metabolism of fat soluble vitamins.

Over time, cholesterol builds up on the artery walls and this condition is known as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis was thought to be an affliction of the elderly until the 1950’s when American pathologists were sent to Korea by the Pentagon to study the bodies of servicemen who died during the conflict. They autopsied around 2000 soldiers and found that approximately 75% had waxy, yellow deposits on the walls of their arteries; a shocking statistic considering the average age of the soldiers was 21. Their findings astonished the scientific community as it highlighted the onset of heart disease in the very young.

LDL and HDL Cholesterol
There are two different types of cholesterol; low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). HDL is commonly known as ‘good’ cholesterol and LDL is recognised as ‘bad’ cholesterol. LDL has been markedly linked with heart disease, whereas HDL is thought to reduce the chance of a heart attack. It has been estimated that approximately 25% of Americans are at risk from heart disease due to atherosclerosis, and around 10% have such high levels that doctors are left no choice than to prescribe cholesterol reducing drugs.

Foods that Lower LDL Cholesterol
There are a number of foods which are believed to significantly lower LDL cholesterol. Fiber-rich foods are said to be particularly beneficial and will not only lower ‘bad’ cholesterol, but also help the bowel to function properly, lowering the risk of colon and bowel cancer. There are many other foods that can help the body fight back against these dangerous deposits.

Fiber-rich foods, particularly oat bran, barley and wheat bran. They can be eaten as a cereal for breakfast and sprinkled onto other foods. Pearl barley can be added to soups. Apples and pears also have considerable amounts of soluble fiber and should be enjoyed on a daily basis
Beans and legumes are high in fiber and low-fat. They also contain lecithin, a nutrient that lowers cholesterol. Try to incorporate kidney, fava, borlotti and other dried whole-foods into your diet; there are many different types of lentils and legumes that are delicious in soups and stews
Avocado contains prolific amounts of monounsaturated fat, which helps to reduce LDL cholesterol and has many other health benefits including anti-cancer properties
Raw carrots are rich in a fiber called pectin that is renowned for minimizing cholesterol. There are a number of fruits that also contain pectin, including; apples, citrus fruits, strawberries, raspberries and other red or black berries

You will not find many (if any) medical doctors who believe that diet changes can lower cholesterol. They are trained and ingrained to prescribe Lipitor, Zocor, Pravachol, and Crestor. There are many possible side effects to taking these drugs and some believe while they may actually lower your cholesterol, they do not prevent heart disease. Isn’t that the point? Diet and cardiovascular exercise can reduce cholesterol levels. If you are still not convinced then go ask a vegan what their cholesterol level is.

Shitake mushrooms are widely used by the Japanese and include a compound called lentinan, which not only lowers cholesterol, but is also thought to be anti-cancerous and may help to boost the immune system
Garlic is a super food and is well known for its blood-thinning properties. It also contains a substance allicin which is thought to prevent the body retaining LDL cholesterol and research has shown that the equivalent of one clove per day can lessen ‘bad’ cholesterol by 10-15% in the majority of people
Root ginger has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries and has numerous health benefits. It can be added to stir-fry’s (using healthy sesame oil) and other vegetable dishes
Nuts are naturally high in omega-3 fatty acids and are known to significantly reduce blood cholesterol; walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts and almonds are especially beneficial
Sesame seeds are rich in phytosterols. These compounds are said to substantially lessen LDL cholesterol. Other foods containing phytosterols include; celery, lettuce, asparagus, spinach, tomatoes, ginger, squash and strawberries
Safflower, canola, soybean, and olive oil are monounsaturated and are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. Research indicates that they can decrease atherosclerotic plaque by up to 15% when eaten regularly
Salmon, tuna, sardines and mackerel contain considerable amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which have many health benefits and are essential for brain and eye function
Prunes are a wonderful source of antioxidants and fiber, which is known to reduce LDL cholesterol
Alfalfa sprouts contain a substance called saponin, which is thought to obstruct and inhibit the formation of atherosclerotic plaque in the arteries

If you have high cholesterol or a family tendency towards atherosclerosis it is best to avoid processed and prepared foods, fried food, food containing animal fats or animal products, high-fat dairy products and food containing either saturated fat or trans fats. Research has revealed the key to lowering LDL cholesterol is a healthy, balanced diet that incorporates plenty of soluble fiber and at least five portions of fruit or vegetables a day. This combined with regular cardiovascular exercise should help keep the heart healthy and provide numerous other health benefits as well.

Article Source: http://www.uberarticles.com/articles

In addition to the nutritional items mentioned in the article, there are a few more cholesterol busters that you must try if you are trying to lower your cholesterol naturally. The first powerhouse is Red Yeast Rice which has been shown to lower cholesterol more than dangerous statin drugs. Other cholesterol warriors are Omega 3s in the form of fish or flax oils, Plant Sterols, Oolong Tea, Aloe Vera and Apple Cider Vinegar. Check out www.earthclinic.com for the testimonials of those who use ACV regularly to lower their cholesterol. You should also take CoQ10 for the heart benefits that statins do not provide despite lowering your number or to replace what the statins stole while you were on them. Please visit the Natural Cholesterol Cures section of A Much Better Store to find all the products we discussed on this page.

About Author:
Sophie Cosic is the mother of twin girls and author of numerous articles on childcare, education, natural health, parenting and pregnancy. She is a European distributor of Colic Calm, the acclaimed Gripe Water available for babies with colic, infant gas and reflux. More information can be found at www.coliccalm.com or contact us if you have questions.

Buy the Book: Controlling Cholesterol the Natural Way

Why a Raw Food Diet Is Best

Natural Health — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 20:54:35 +0000

We are surrounded by different books and magazines that claim to know how we ’should’ be eating. It does not matter if we’re overweight or underweight, healthy or ill, there is a diet for us.

But the problem lies in the fact that there doesn’t seem to be one answer to our diet and health woes. However, the raw food craze seems to be stirring up the medical field and making people believers in what it can offer.

At its very basic sense, a raw food diet is one in which the food is organic, vegan (no animal products of any kind, except maybe honey), and unprocessed. The food is not cooked above a certain temperature point in order to allow it to retain its natural vitamins and minerals. It’s the benefits this kind of eating can provide that really has people thinking about making the switch.

First of all, the meat free diet is generally considered to be healthier than the typical nutritional style of adults. When you’re not eating meat, you’re not taking in cholesterol or the saturated fats associated with meats.

When you eat raw, you will also be avoiding things like trans fats that are found in processed foods as well as chemicals that are found in nearly every packaged food today. Without these kinds of ingredients, people on the raw food diet have reported:

Fewer cases of heart disease
Lowered cholesterol levels
Clearer skin
Lower weight
Stronger immune system
More energy
Better digestion

The raw food diet incorporates a lot of fiber which leads doctors to believe that it may help in the prevention of certain cancers and other digestive issues.

A raw food diet doesn’t require a lot of cooking, though the actual preparation of such foods can be time consuming due to chopping, dehydrating or juicing. Another benefit of eating raw is that you will be buying fresh produce that allows local farmers and growers to benefit instead of larger companies.

The raw food diet has many converts because it has stripped away the counting and the difficulties associated with other kinds of diets. It doesn’t require you to focus on the numbers, but rather on the quality of the food that you are eating. And in many cases, you can create similar tasting foods to those that you would eat in packaged form.

There are also a number of raw food stores and restaurants popping up to help make raw food something that you can follow for the rest of your life.

Eating raw foods takes a bit of time to get used to. The preparation and planning is more intense than popping a frozen dinner into the microwave. It is recommended that you gradually
introduce raw foods into your diet.

Author: Lynn VanDyke
About the author: Lynn VanDyke is a master trainer and fitness nutritionist. Her fitness site, is ranked within the top 1% of all websites. She has authored the wildly popular ebook, Melt the Fat . It is ranked as one of the best fitness and nutrition ebooks available.

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Garlic: An Herb for Many Common Health Problems

Natural Health — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 20:14:30 +0000

Garlic is an Ayurvedic herb that is truly multipurpose. Since prehistoric times, garlic has been used in treating number of diseases. Garlic is part of every Indian kitchen due to its healing properties. Garlic is supposed to be a divine herb and is a part of many classical Ayurvedic medicines. It is considered as one of the best herbs for maintaining the digestive tract to the optimum level.

Below are the some of the various applications of garlic.

· Cholesterol - Garlic is very helpful in lowering the cholesterol levels. It assists in lowering the LDL (low density lipoprotein). LDL is considered as the bad cholesterol as it deposits in the arteries that might lead to a condition known as atherosclerosis. Arthrosclerosis is a disorder in which plaque gets deposited in the arteries thereby blocking the normal flow of blood eventually leading to heart attack. Garlic is responsible for increasing the levels of HDL (high density lipoprotein). It is known as a good protein that helps in pacifying the affect of bad protein and helps in protecting us from major heart related troubles.

· Common cold and flu - Garlic is one of the best remedies for treating colds and the flu. It is a time tested remedy and has been used for this purpose for centuries. Garlic is highly potent and is a powerful agent that aids in suppressing any kind of infection present in the body. It improves the immunity of the body and is very helpful in protecting body from various ailments. It is also blessed with the properties that make it a mucolytic agent thereby expelling out the extra mucus that gets accumulated in the body.

· High blood pressure - Garlic is considered as the boon for people suffering from hypertension or high blood pressure. It is very helpful in maintaining the normal levels of blood pressure and also facilitates the proper circulation of blood throughout the body. It is also helpful in cleaning the plaque formation that occurs in the arterial walls in the body and is the root cause of heart attack. It is also very helpful in decreasing the increased lipid in the body their by manages triglycerides and cholesterol in the body.

· Natural mosquito repellent - Garlic contains a very peculiar smell that is due to presence of certain chemical agents that act as a natural repellent to mosquitoes. This property of garlic was widely used in India in ancient times to avoid mosquitoes interfering in the life of humans by causing disease like malaria, sickle cell anemia and various other disorders

· Powerful antibiotic - Garlic is well known for its antibiotic activities. Garlic is very helpful in suppressing any kind of infection present in the body especially in the blood. Though researches have also proved the action of garlic as aIn addition to being a broad spectrum antibiotic, garlic also has antiviral properties. In addition, bacteria will not become resistant as they tend to do with pharmaceutical antibiotics.

· Skin related ailments - Garlic is also helpful in treating the skin related problems as it is a good agent that curbs the infection in the body. It is also helpful in reducing any kind of pathogens in the blood and also improves the circulation. Due to this increased blood circulation the vital tissues and the skin gets fully nourished that leads to the good and glowing skin.

Author: Dr John Anne
About the author: Read more about the benefits of Holy Basil & Garlic - World’s Finest Portal on Ayurveda and Herbal Remedies

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