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Health wizard What can you do to give your children the best chance in life? |
"THE CURRENT GENERATION IS THE FIRST GENERATION EXPECTED TO DIE BEFORE THEIR PARENTS!"
This is the finding of a recent health study, that expects a significant proportion of the current generation to die before their parents due to the reduction of the nations health. This indicates the severity of the state of health of the nation.
The decline in health is not however isolated to a specific country but is a global problem that is affecting millions. There are a number of factors that are responsible for the rapid decline in our general health, but most importantly is the devastating effect that this will have on our children and their future.
“Honey we are killing our children”
It is not only that this generation is predicted to DIE early, they will also inevitably suffer unnecessarily. It is the responsibility of every parent to teach our children about the health dangers that can lead to health problems such as cancer and serious disabilities.
There are many simple steps you can take to help save your children from suffering unnecessarily in life. Leading by example has always been, and still is a very powerful step you can take to help your children, but to lead by example you need to be informed. We hope the following information will help you to identify some steps you can take, STARTING TODAY. There are also links to more information that can help you to learn more about what you can do and the consequences of not taking action.
Some of the key factors contributing to the decline in health include:
- Poor nutritional content of convenience foods.
- Over use of unsuitable drug based medications.
- "Modern" farming methods that include extensive use of chemicals, pesticides, anitbiotics etc.
- Harmful food additives and colourants.
- Food with high salt content.
- Food containg Hydrogenated Fats & Oils.
- Misleading advertising. I.e. Promoting foods as healthy that contain harmful toxins such as aspartame.
- High cost of organically grown / produced foods.
- Parental and governmental apathy.
- Educational institutions that promote junk food and fail to educate in healthy living.
- Unbalanced nutritional diets.
- Allowing companies to advertise and sell junk food.
- Fruits and vegetables that are harvested before the optimun nutritional value is achieved.
- Food modifications, either in the genetics or during post harvesting processing.
- Drink and drugs.
- Smoking.
- Reduction of exercise.
- Allergies.
- Headaches.
- Hyper activity.
- Learning problems.
- Obesity.
- Abuse and antisocial behaviour.
- Lack of confidence.
- Asthma.
- Constipation and bowel problems
- Growth and developmental problems.
- Frequent coughs, colds and infections
- Ear and hearing problems.
- Longer term problems include strokes, heart attacks, cancer and organ failures.
- Etc.
We can all do something to improve this situation and give our children a better chance in life. If you are concerned about your health or the health of your family you can do a number of things. Firstly you need to take responsibility for your family and do what you can to improve their health. Do not hide behind an excuse like "I cannot afford to give my family the best", if you want to make a difference and are committed to doing it, there are ethical solutions you can use. Click here for a self analysis on how you can transform your life.
"Tomorrow", we may see fast food companies being sued for knowingly supplying addictive / toxic / harmful foods, just like the tobacco companies have been sued for supplying harmful, addictive cigarettes.
While National health and Medical insurance may be able to partly or fully cover some of the costs of any treatment required to address medical problems, this does not resolve the non financial issues, such as pain, mental trauma, long term problems, loss of mobility etc.
Prevention is always better than cure.
Most of the information provided below applies to any age group, and we invite you to read it for guidance on healthy eating and nutritional suppliments that will help the whole family.
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Health wizard Your health matters. |
YOU NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR HEALTH!
We can blame others for our health problems, but in many cases we only have ourselves to blame.
Health is a vast subject, and while ongoing research will continue to be conducted into new and currently unsolved problems, the current state of the art can address the majority of health issues.
Natural remedies are often thought of as just natural medications but natural foods are also natural remedies, they contain essential ingredients including vitamins and trace elements. For more information on natural suppliments Click here.
Natural remedies and so called "Complementary Therapies" or "Alternative therapies" are available for many health problems and often provide better long term results and fewer side effects than drugs.
Many people are only turning to these tried and tested remedies including natural foods and natural suppliments (many tested over centuries) as a last resort, when drugs fail or they are severely affected by so called side effects. The information included here is intended to help you to look at how to improve your health and why natural remedies and alternative therapies should be considered. There are places where drugs are the best solution, and I am not about to tell you that drugs should not be taken, the important issue is to use the best solution. Natural remedies can often prevent a health problem in the first place, prevention is always better than cure.
A growing number of people are now using natural remedies and complementary therapies. While many therapies are now recognised by medical institutions and governments, it is important to ensure that you get expert advice from a qualified therapist. We recommend you only deal with qualified experts; check the qualifications of any doctor, herarbalist, homeopath, nutritionist, therapist, acupuncturist, osteopath, chiropracter, hypnotherapist, massage therapist, healer etc. before any consultation. It is important that
We cannot expect good health if we do not look after our bodies, and that starts by taking responsibility for your health.
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We cannot just continue to blame others for our health, for example:
- Suppliers of Fast food, junk food, snacks or convenience foods.
- Alcohol, smoking or other drugs.
- Your state of mind.
- Your weight.
- Supermarkets and shops.
- Drug companies.
- Medical practitioners.
- Hospitals and clinics.
- Governments.
- Education system.
- Schools, colleges, universities etc. who supply or promote junk food.
- Advertising.
- National health organisations.
- Media.
- Your job, boss.
- Your commute into work.
- Your family, friends.
- The environment.
- Exercise.
- Our parents, children or friends.
- Society.
- Lifestyle and convenience buying.
- Etc.
You need to take personal responsibility for issues that affect you; in order to do this you need to know what is good and what is bad for you. There is no doubt that balance and moderation is a good start but we are all different and some people are more sensitive or allergic to some things, than others. This includes common foods, chemicals in foods, medication, cleaning products, makeup, deoderants, aerosols etc.
Food
Food is probably the first thing to look at. Most people buy their food in supermarkets, which are generally very convenient.
Despite the efforts of a number of organisations to have the ingredients of products listed, this is not universal and some ingredients do not need to be declared, production methods and processing is very rarely disclosed. As an example think of a typical hamburger and chips, what did they put in the roll, what is in the patty, what in in the sauce, how were the other ingredients produced. What is the total salt, fat, sugar, chemical content? If you knew the answer you would not buy another one. Do not think that changing to hotdogs, pizza etc. will help, adopt a policy of, if it does not tell you exactly what it contains and how it was produced, find something that does. Fast foods are not the only culprit, many processed products do not include a declaration of ingredients. In general you know a bit more about products that declare the full ingredients (not all do).
Changing to natural foods, is the first step in eliminating the health risks to you and your family of junk or processed foods (including tinned, packeted, bottled foods and ready meals), and improving your health. Cooking foods is not difficult and there are many good cookbooks on the market. If you are going to buy a cookbook, check it is based on cooking from natural products, if it mentions using any processed foods in the recipes (a tin of this or that) do not buy it.
Convenience, fast foods and junk foods, can be detrimental to you and your family, go natural, we are not designed to run on junk.
Misleading advertising is very common, items may say no sugar but include more harmful substitutes such as aspartame. This type of advertising is very common and frequently the public is mislead with advertising that would indicate the product is good for your health but has hidden (or in the very small print) ingredients that are harmful.
Many processed foods include products that you would not expect, which is a major problem to people with allergies, but it can also affect you.
Most people do not know what they are sensitive to, and are unknowingly eating products that are actually doing them harm, you may even see a sign but not realize what is causing it (lack of energy, headaches, skin problems etc.). Next time you go shopping have a look at how many products include artificial flavors and colors, for example (providing the fine print is readable).
Just recently a range of products have been removed from supermarket shelves across the country because they contain a harmful dye (1500 products were originally identified but the list is growing). The point here is that you may be have hundreds of foods in your home that can be affecting your health or the health of other members of your family.
Exercise
Even a moderate amount of exercise can make a big difference. Start today and ensure that you include a moderate amount of exercise every day. Get a Pedometer and progressively increase your daily target, the average person should be doing about 10000 counts (steps) per day. Read the instructions and get some advice if required.
Medication
If medication is not working for you, or you have been taking it for a long period, check that it is the right medication for you. Some medications effectively cover up problems, and often have significant side effects. We all know of medicines that have been prescribed for years, and then have been withdrawn because of major side effects (i.e. linked to an increased risk of cancer). Do not just accept that you need to spend a fortune on medication or accept the side effects. Find out what is causing the problem and do something that will fix it, if may be as simple as adding or removing something from your diet.
Nutrition
Nutrition is vital to your health. You need to ensure that your diet includes all the required elements. This will be affected by your age and gender. If you are part of a family it is also important to ensure that all the family members receive sufficient nutrients. This is not as complicated as it may seem to as nutritional suppliments can be easily be taken.
Today, most people's diets are deficient in essential nutrients. Modern diets simply do not contain all the vitimins, minerals and amino acids required to keep us healthy. Due to intensive farming, and modern food processing methods most "fresh fruit and vegetables" contain significantly less nutrients and more harmful chemicals. Children are very susceptable to poor diets and many development and learning problems can be directly linked to nutritional deficiencies. Click here for information on natural suppliments for healthy living.
Making a difference on big issues
You can make more of an effect on your current and future health than you may think, from simple steps such as changing your diet, or reducing stress levels, to the bigger issues. You can affect the bigger issues as well, you could for example do something as simple as telling a friend about this site so that they can make a difference to their life. Telling your friends can not only help others but can start to make bigger changes, you can help to send a signal to shops, supermarkets, food producers, governments, hospitals, the medical fraternity, drug companies, schools, businesses etc. that they need to take our heath more seriously and be responsible.
You can also be more proactive and help to highlight health issues with your local councillor, newspaper, supermarket, consider voting for a government that will do something and not use health as just a political issue. There are a couple of problems that you can assist with, firstly helping to inform others so they are aware of the problems, joining together with like minded people to highlight the problem. There is power in numbers.
You can be proactive and affect change by simply leaving unhealthy products on your supermarket shelves, eventually supermarkets will get the idea that unhealthy products do not sell, and you will get a better choice of heathy products.
What else can you do?
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You can click here and email us a contribution.
| INDEX |
1. Why did we write this article?
2. Heal your body, heal your mind
3. Mind over matter
4. Fight or flight
5. Worried about worrying?
6. Naked apes?
7. Is cow's milk good for you?
8. The increasing incidence of breast problems in the western world
9. Food for thought
10. To eat meat, or not?
11. The cholesterol factor
12. Sugar and the functions of the liver and insulin
13. Stop dieting, start eating
14. Some fats and oils are good for you
15. The benefits of olive oil
16. The process of digestion
17. Eating your way to good health
18. Food combining
19. The Mediterranean diet
20. How can your blood group link to a healty diet?
21. Candida Albicans - the enemy within
22. Help from a friendly bacteria
23. Acidity versus alkalinity
24. Are your hormones letting you down?
25. What's in the water you drink?
26. Allergies
27. Electromagnetic pollution
28. Atmospheric pollution
29. Think 'natural'
30. Keeping in touch
31. Join the tribe
32. Keep moving
33. The effect of exercise on your well-being
34. Time to start feeling better
35. Hands on healing
36. Binaural beats
37. Aloe Vera - the versatile wonder plant, has earned its reputation as the "Medicine plant".
DISCLAIMER
| 1. WHY DID WE WRITE THIS ARTICLE? |
From personal experience I was prescribed anti-histamine for an allergic skin condition (chronic urticaria) for a number of years. However, although it helped to control the problem it did not cure it, or address the fundamental cause, which continued to affect my quality of life. I was told that my allergies may eventually resolve themselves but after years, it was not getting any better. I was also told that allergy testing was unreliable and a waste of money, but I finally decided that my quality of life was so effected that I needed to find a suitable independent test. The result was a simple blood test, done in my own home, the results of which changed my way of thinking about my diet and lifestyle.
The test identified the cause of my allergies, which unfortunately included some of my favorite foods. However after making some changes to my diet, I was able to drastically reduce the dosage of anti-histamine and now I do not take any medication, as I am cured. Wow, what an improvement this has had to the quality of my life!. Probably the most important lesson to be learned is to find an expert who knows what they are talking about. I suffered needlessly for years by accepting what I was told by medical 'experts'.
I have been sharing my knowledge, which I have learned from renowned experts, with a number of friends who have encountered similar problems, and all have, without fail, had dramatic benefits. I am not about to tell you that I have the information to cure you, but I hope my experience will lead you to find out more about the root cause of your problems, and address the fundamental problem and not just to continue to cover it up, or to accept what you are told by a single individual or group. Even most experts will agree (when pinned down) that they are not always right.
After all if you have a problem with the engine of your car, giving it a new paint job may make it look shiny and bright but the problem has not been fixed and you are heading for a breakdown.
I would like to share the knowledge I have gained, so that others can avoid the problems I found in trying to find the right information. My personal experience has lead me to be more skeptical over the information provided.
It is hoped that this information will lead you to the cause of any specific problem, and that when correctly diagnosed can be addressed. We have provided links to additional information so that you can investigate any specific subject in more detail if you wish.
Visit our site. Tell a friend now. Natural suppliments for healthy living. More related information.
| 2. HEAL YOUR BODY, HEAL YOUR MIND |
There is no doubt that modern medicine is a wonderful thing and there are many amazing drugs that save lives and relieve suffering, but many illnesses can be prevented or treated naturally if we only realised what damage our modern lifestyles are doing to our bodies.
Where to start?
When considering health issues it is important to first mention severity, which obviously ranges from the minor to very severe.
Minor problems.
Minor problems can often go undetected for long periods of time, and generally gradually build up into a serious situation. When a problem develops over a long period of time it is often difficult to identify the root cause, and also when a problem starts as there is normally no sudden change.
Severe health problems.
Severe health problems that suddenly appear with little or no warning are most likely to be due to something that has happened recently (i.e. an allergic reaction to something eaten). If a severe problem develops over a period of time it may be the result of a more minor problem that has been slowly been building up over a period of time.
Signals
Our bodies send us signals to indicate there is something wrong, this can be things like:
- Feeling tired, run down, or lack energy.
- Skin irritation.
- Aches or pains.
- Coughs.
- Temperature.
- Shortness of breath.
- Abnormal urine or stools.
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| 3. MIND OVER MATTER |
Every tiny cell in the body is a separate entity, networking with its neighbours but with its own specific job to do. No cell is joined to another, it floats in a warm nutritious fluid, drawing in life maintaining nutrients and oxygen and releasing waste products to be carried away for disposal. Our bodies are a hive of industry, a beautifully orchestrated marvel of chemical reactions, exchanges of gases, responding to hormonal messengers, producing myriads of enzymes and tiny electromagnetic pulses. There is so much to go wrong and yet most of the time the body is in a state of homeostasis - maintaining a stable internal environment. We take everything for granted until something goes wrong, then if it causes pain or starts to interfere with our everyday lives, we usually visit a doctor or go to the pharmacy.
If you believe in the law of 'cause and effect' you may think about what has been going on in your life and ask yourself why you are feeling unwell. At the root of much illness is stress and tension. We were designed to live with a certain amount of stress. Stress can keep us alert and make us wary of danger. Stress motivates us and makes us tick. However, constant unresolved stress damages the body and compromises the immune system.
And if you accept that the mind and its complex emotions can cause physical illness, you will realise that the root of emotional problems frequently stem from childhood. As children we are unable to rationalise things that happen to us and our adult behaviour is often conditioned by these memories. We grow up with feelings of guilt, anger, worthlessness - and these subconscious feelings impact on us and our self-esteem. Such negative emotions cause stress and in time affect our health.
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| 4. FIGHT OR FLIGHT |
Early man had to be constantly on guard, to kill or be killed. Most of us are born with the 'flight or fight' instinct. Do we defend ourselves against our attacker or do we run for our lives? These days it isn't the threat of a sabre toothed tiger we worry about - it's the aggressive driver who is trying to cut us up on the freeway, or the bully in the office.
The trouble is, we can't burn off the adrenaline, which is coursing through our veins, ready to speed us away from harm. It races to our heart and muscles and delivers the extra strength and stamina to give the enemy an almighty blow, or to run for our lives. (http://freespace.virgin.net/jason.burgess/fear.htm) Instead our hearts are constantly being triggered into beating too hard and too fast and unhealthy cholesterol is building up inside our arteries.
Visit our site. Tell a friend now. More related information.
| 5. WORRIED ABOUT WORRYING? |
And what about worry and frustration? There is plenty of that around. How can we pay all the bills this month? How can we meet the deadline for that urgent piece of work, how can we continue to live in an unhappy relationship? Frustration and stress come from lack of control, and there are so many things we cannot control - other people's opinions and behaviour, and the fast moving world around us. The media have a lot to answer for as well. How many 'Good News' channels are there? How often do you hear about success stories and happiness? The papers are full of scandal and blame and the TV brings killing and hate into our homes. Imagine what this is doing to our children - what a distorted view of life they are getting.
No wonder that we turn to alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs. They change the brain chemistry and bring temporary relief. Food too is a great comforter. Eating nice things releases pleasurable hormones into the bloodstream, raises blood sugar and quietens a gnawing stomach. If we didn't eat we would die, and hunger and sex are the two strongest driving forces in all living things.
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| 6. NAKED APES? |
Industry in the Western world is thriving on pandering to our wants and needs. The food, drink and cigarette industries are vast. Advertising convinces us that we need high fat, high salt and high sugar diets, it is romantic and pleasurable to be under the influence of alcohol and our youngsters are turning to cigarettes and drug abuse in their droves because of peer pressure.
There is much in our modern world that we cannot control but we can equip our bodies to cope better by looking after them. Think back to our closest cousins, the chimps, and it will give you a pretty good idea of the lifestyle we were designed for: foraging and climbing trees for food, eating raw fruits, seeds, roots and shoots, regular grooming and bonding sessions and the occasional energetic tussle with other family members.
It is true we are very different from chimps, but genetically we are extremely alike. Even though we have been evolving away from apes for millions of years, our body chemistry, digestive systems, immune systems, etc are very similar. Unlike most other mammals, chimps and humans cannot store vitamin C in their bodies and need fresh supplies every day. Vitamin C is water-soluble and is excreted in the urine. It is abundant in fresh fruit and vegetables but is lost in cooking. Whatever vitamins may be left after cooking, are poured down the sink with the water. There are many other vitamins, minerals and trace elements that are present in fresh food but destroyed or changed by processing.
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| 7. IS COW’S MILK GOOD FOR YOU? |
Have you even seen a chimp milking a cow? Many people are unaware that they have a sensitivity to dairy products. Often they will not have any real illness, just a catalogue of irritating symptoms such as stuffy nose, catarrh, indigestion, constipation, stiff joints, weight, or skin disorders. It is only if they have a food sensitivity test that they realise that milk may be one of the things that are contributing to their problems. (www.martinhealy.com)
Cow’s milk is meant to turn a 200 pound calf into a 2,000 pound cow. No wonder that so many milk-drinking people are suffering from obesity. The protein in cow’s milk is thought to damage the human immune system. Amino acids, the units that make up proteins, are building blocks for all living cells. When amino acids in our food are properly broken down by the digestive system into protein, it does no harm to the immune system. Protein from milk, however, is absorbed into the blood fully indigested, provoking an immune response. Repeated exposure to these proteins disrupts normal immune functions and may eventually lead to diseases.
And we are not just talking about drinking milk, there are many dairy products on the market which we all enjoy. In milk and cheese there are many strains of bacteria, which are immune to the 52 different antibiotics. And don’t forget, most animal products contain residues of antibiotics and hormones, used in their factory rearing.
Children are often most affected by milk allergies and we suggest you research this subject further if you are concerned. (http://www.askdrsears.com/html/3/T032100.asp#T032102)
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| 8. THE INCREASING INCIDENCE OF BREAST PROBLEMS IN THE WESTERN WORLD |
Fibrocystic breast disease is a common and usually benign condition peculiar to the western world. Symptoms include swollen/tender breasts, and/or one or more lumps. Frequently, symptoms worsen just before a woman's menstrual cycle, subsiding after menstruation. For the majority of women these symptoms are a temporary discomfort, which occur every month. However some women experience severe pain, which dominates their lives, causing problems in their relationships with their partners and spoiling their quality of life. Doctors often advise them to get ‘a firm supporting bra’ to ease the problem! This may exacerbate the problem. There is growing evidence that women with painful fibrocystic breast disease are more likely to develop breast cancer at a later date.
Going without a bra wherever possible and gentle self massage (whilst lying down) over the rib cage, under the arms and armpits and over the upper chest may help. Use a natural oil such as sweet almond oil, sesame seed or olive oil and pushing gently towards the armpits, neck and ears, where there are lymph glands to drain away the fluid.
Take extra care with deodorants. Some contain harsh chemicals, synthetic perfumes, aluminium chlorohydrate and alcohol, which are absorbed through the skin and get into breast tissue and lymph glands. Incidentally, the same applies to men, who can also have breast problems. There are natural products available which are based on mineral salts which will work just as well. (http://www.drivensnow.co.uk/index.asp?CatID=3&CatName=Toiletries&SubCat=24&paging=1&numberofprods=5) Whilst on the subject, if you suffer from asthma or other respiratory allergies, it is wise to avoid aerosol deodorants, as you are likely to breathe in airborne particles as you spray your under arms. The same applies to any chemicals you spray on your body. Many of them contain chemicals, which could cause you problems either now or at a later date when they build up in your body.
Two main hormones orchestrate the monthly menstrual cycle in women. Oestrogen is the female hormone that causes breast development in anticipation of pregnancy and lactation. It dominates the first part of the menstrual cycle. There are probably about 100,000 chemicals in use in the United States, with a similar number in Europe and some of these synthetic chemicals have oestrogen-like effects on the body (xenoestrogens).
Scientists now believe that xenoestrogens can cause fibrocystic breast disease and breast cancer. Chemicals that mimic oestrogen (xenoestrogen) (such as the contraceptive pill) are not the same as Natural Oestrogen.
In the States and Canada, synthetic oestrogens are routinely fed to cattle. This makes the cattle bloat and retain water, making the meat heavier and more tender. It causes fat to build up in the animals and marble through the meat. Dairy farmers get more money for their cattle because they grow quicker, the meat weighs more and is more tender.
When a woman, taking 'the contraceptive pill' visits her doctor with bloating, weight gain and tender breasts, the likelihood is that the doctor "doesn’t know why" she retains water and has fat build up around the hips. Doctors label this effect as Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS). There is evidence that synthetic oestrogens and progesterones build up in the fat and the body has difficulty in excreting it.
Oestrogen is fed to cattle and chickens to make them grow and mature faster. In a landmark study of 17,000 girls aged 8, 15% of these girls showed evidence of early puberty, sprouting breast buds and pubic hair.
The European Union has banned Canadian and United States beef from being imported, citing worries about increasing the rate of breast cancer in Europe.
As for diet, it is wise to limit products containing caffeine, such as coffee, tea and coca-cola as they can cause water retention. Chocolate has hormonal effects on the body too and cows milk may well contain hormone residues.
Another surprising discovery is that tight bras restrict the flow and drainage of lymph, causing congestion in the breast tissue. High fat diets cause weight gain and further stress on the breasts. Processed foods, which form a high percentage of our modern diet, contain trans fats (processed/hydrogenated fats which have been heated and passed through metal catalysts to preserve them). When fats and oils are transformed this way, their electrical weight is changed. This affects the fluidity, which causes cell membranes to "stiffen". These fats are toxic and the resulting body fat is very difficult to shed. Studies show there is a 40% increase in breast cancer in women eating hydrogenated oils.
Tap water can also contain oestrogen and other sex hormones. These cannot be filtered out during the water purification process. Tap water not only contains traces of the natural hormones we excrete, but also xenoestrogens from discarded chemicals - even the fish in our rivers and lakes are gradually all changing into females, due to hormones in the water.
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| 9. FOOD FOR THOUGHT |
It is not just what is missing from our diets that is doing us harm; it is what is added as well. Never forget that everything we eat is used to make and repair our bodies. During processing, food is tampered with to help to preserve it, mask its taste and change its colour. Think of a tin of stewing steak - cooked for long periods of time to break down the tough fibres, mixed with flavour enhancers and salt to give it flavour and laced with food colouring to make it look appetising.
Although food scientists say that these chemicals have been extensively tested, we don't know what effect they have on us at atomic, chromosomal or cell level over an extended period of time. Many chemical foodstuffs have only been in existence over a comparatively short period of time, and time is the only thing that can prove whether something is safe or not.
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| 10. TO EAT MEAT, OR NOT? |
Something else that is worrying is the way animals are reared for meat. Beef, chicken, pork and lamb are all pumped with antibiotics and hormones to keep them healthy and put on weight quickly. To our meat producers, time is money and they need to have a fast turnover of stock to make a good living. Keeping so many animals in confined spaces is very risky and without antibiotics disease would be rife and our farmers would be ruined. Scientists assure us that the antibiotics remaining in the meat after slaughter are harmless, but that is open to debate. We are becoming resistant to antibiotics because they are over-prescribed. However, more than half of the antibiotics used in the United States alone, are estimated to be used in animal feed for poultry, pigs, and cattle. According to Rebecca Goldburg, senior scientist with the Environmental Defence Fund: "This indiscriminate and non-essential use of antibiotics in agriculture dangerously increases the possibility that these antibiotics and other closely related ones will be ineffective when needed to treat people," she says. Between 40,000 and 50,000 pounds of tetracycline and streptomycin - both used to treat infections in humans - are sprayed to control bacterial disease among fruit trees, she says. It seems we are all at risk, whatever we eat. (http://www.twnside.org.sg/title/antibiotic.htm)
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| 11. THE CHOLESTEROL FACTOR |
Cholesterol is a natural waxy, fat-like substance which circulates in the bloodstream and is an important constituent of all body cells. It is used to help digest fats and strengthen cell membranes. It is vital to the normal functioning of the body, but producing too much of the wrong type can lead to health problems. It is an essential ingredient of vital body chemicals such as hormones produced by various glands eg the thyroid and ovaries. It is also a component of certain chemicals such as bile acids, which help in the natural digestive processes of fat taken in the diet. (www.indiana.edu/~health/cholesterol
When the level of cholesterol in the bloodstream is high, it becomes one of the causes of 'furring up' of the arteries of the body (a process more correctly called 'arteriosclerosis'). The arteries of most concern are those supplying blood to the heart, the brain and the legs, since these are the ones most likely to cause serious problems for the individual if they become narrowed or blocked.
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| 12. SUGAR AND THE FUNCTIONS OF THE LIVER AND INSULIN |
One of our biggest cravings is for sugar. We need sugar (glucose) to power our brains, which use up to 20% of our blood sugar. Even at rest our hearts beat, we use muscles to breathe, carry on body chemistry, etc. However, consuming large quantities of refined sugar will make us ill and eventually kill us. Our bodies were never designed for sudden influxes of pure sugar into the bloodstream.
Normally the enzymes in the mouth and stomach are designed to cut up long chains of carbohydrates into small pieces, which are then able to slip though the intestine wall, and are taken up by the blood. Refined sugar (glucose) is already in small pieces (molecules) and is quickly assimilated into the body - it even passes through the lining of the cheeks.
Under normal circumstances, a hormone called insulin enables glucose to pass from the bloodstream into the cells, where it used as the body’s main form of energy. When a sugary meal or drink is consumed, the pancreas quickly releases large quantities of insulin to deal with the excess of sugar. The sugar must enter body cells before it can be used to make energy, and insulin is the "key" that allows sugar to enter cells.
The liver also plays an important part in supplying us with energy. When blood sugar is low, because we are hungry, it releases glucose into the blood stream, either by releasing its reservoir of stored glucose or by converting fat to glucose. Insulin is a key regulator of glucose release by the liver, and when it is absent, the liver will tend to release glucose, raising the level of blood sugar. Insulin reduces blood glucose levels in 2 ways: by causing body cells to take up glucose from the blood, and by preventing the liver from releasing glucose.
Having delivered glucose to our cells, the excess is quickly stored away in the liver and fat cells, causing a dramatic drop in blood sugar. Now, there is now too much insulin swimming around, with nothing to do but make you feel hungry again.
All this rising and falling of blood sugar will make you feel unwell, and will wear out your pancreas, but before that it will make you fat. Obesity is associated with insulin resistance so as you gain weight the pancreas has to work harder and harder. It is no wonder that the incidence of diabetes is rapidly increasing in the western world. It is best to bite the bullet and learn to live without such sweetness and artificial sweeteners are not a good substitute. They can trick to body into a rise in blood sugar and there is a big question mark over their safety, especially Aspartame, and we recommend you do your own research on this.
Aspartame turns into methanol and formaldehyde when ingested by humans. It can also precipitate diabetes and interacts with insulin, triggers lupus, birth defects, male sexual dysfunction - can trigger an irregular heart rhythm and interacts with all cardiac medication, damages the cardiac conduction system and causes sudden death, as well as behavioural problems, obesity, ADD, ADHD, depletes seratonin, triggering such things as bipolar disorder, suicidal tendencies, mood swings, insomnia, etc. and triggers memory loss, confusion and lack of concentration. There is a herbal substitute sweetener called Stevia, but you may have problems obtaining it. (www.sweetpoison.com/ ) (www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/)
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| 13. STOP DIETING, START EATING |
It is a fallacy that you should only eat every four hours to keep a trim figure. And starving yourself to lose weight can make you fat. Skipping meals causes fluctuating levels in blood sugar resulting in weight gain, headaches and depression.
Starving yourself makes your metabolism slow down and constant dieting trains your bodies to become better at storing fat. This is because your body releases an enzyme called Lipoprotein lipase, which promotes fat storage and it increases tremendously when you are not taking in enough food
You can compare it with a bank account, if you suddenly get a reduction in your regular pay, you will hang on to what money is left in the bank, cut down on any unnecessary expenditure and only spend out on vital things. You may even have to borrow from others to get by.
Your body, when faced with starvation will limit the amount of energy available to you, as the heart, brain and vital organs have to come first. You may lose quite quickly at first. This is because when fuel is scarce, the body first uses up stored sugar (glycogen) in the liver and muscles. Each glycogen is stored with a molecule of water, and this makes it relatively heavy. When they are metabolised, weight loss occurs, but this is mainly water, which is used to release stored energy in the liver.
In the first week of dieting skeletal muscle protein is also broken down for energy. (Remember banking - borrowing from others to get by). It is when stored fat is finally called upon for energy that metabolism slows right down and losing weight becomes slow and arduous. The body then shifts back and forth using muscle and fat tissue alternately. By now you will be feeling tired, cold and finding it hard to sleep. As you can see, the weight loss from most diets is mostly muscle and water. Muscle is the tissue that is the most metabolically active in the body, which explains why dieting can make you feel weak.
It is true that if you starve for long enough, you will lose weight (as well as vital vitamins and minerals) but you can NEVER return to your original way of life again or you will gain more weight than you started with. You will have programmed your body to grab and store everything, just in case there is another famine. Think of the bank account again. If you have been through financial hardship it will make you fearful and you will probably try to save money away, just in case ...
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| 14. SOME FATS AND OILS ARE GOOD FOR YOU |
There is much emphasis these days on how harmful fats are, and the food industry is now boldly marketing ‘healthy’ foods that are reduced fat or fat free. The incidence of cardiovascular disease (43%), cancer (23%), diabetes (2%), and other degenerative diseases is increasing rapidly, especially in Western populations.
Light, air and heat damage oils and turn them rancid and makes them toxic
However, some fats (Essential Fatty Acids or EFA’s) are an essential part of our diet and we could not survive on a fat free diet. Essential Fatty Acids help reduce cravings for sweet and fatty foods. If you cut out fat from your diet you may suffer from dry skin, constipation, low energy, digestive problems, tingling arms and legs – and there are many more sinister health problems that will present in time. (www.udoerasmus.com). They are required for all normal cell, tissue, gland, and organ function. They give energy, insulate us and help in the absorption of certain vitamins. We recommend that you do some further research, throw out the deep fat fryer, and start healthy living.
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| 15.THE BENEFITS OF OLIVE OIL |
Olive oil has a unique flavour and it may take time to become accustomed to it. Olive contains Calcium and iron, Vitamins A, C, D, E and K, mono saturated fatty acids, natural anti-oxidants and Omega-3 essential fatty acids.
It has long been known olive oil can help fight heart disease and reduce blood pressure by maintaining a level of High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol in the blood which has been shown to protect against blocked arteries. Olive oil has beneficial effects on all bodily functions including brain development, bone structure and the digestive system. The ratio of linolenic acids found in olive oil is similar to that found in human milk. Olives contain polyphenols, which are believed to help us to ward off cancer.
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| 16.THE PROCESS OF DIGESTION |
There is much publicity about high fibre diets these days, as we begin to realise how necessary it is to keep us healthy. As previously explained, food cannot get into the bloodstream without being broken down into tiny pieces (molecules). This process starts in the mouth with chewing. Saliva contains amylase (ptyaline), which helps to break down carbohydrates.
This process continues in the small intestine. It is interesting to note that horses, dogs and cats don’t produce amylase, which indicates that we were designed to eat carbohydrates (but certainly not in biscuit and cake form!). It is also interesting to know that enzymes typically only work between 37 and 40 degrees centigrade and at pH levels of 6.5 and 7.5 (1 is the most acid and 14 is extreme alkaline). Hydrochloric acid, at the top of the acidity range, is released in the stomach to help break down proteins and kill harmful pathogens. Fortunately the stomach has a thick protective mucus lining but when this is damaged acid causes stomach ulcers.
About 20 years ago, a link was discovered between an organism called helicobacter pylori, peptic ulcers and stomach cancer. The bacteria hides in the protective mucus lining, neutralising the stomach acid to protect itself, and multiplying, causing inflammation to the stomach lining. H. Pylori infections can be diagnosed with a breath test and can be cured by antibiotics. In some instances stomach cancer (caused by H. Pylori) can be cured by the administration of a cocktail of antibiotics.
Chewed food is pushed down into the stomach by rhythmic movement in the gullet, and there it is churned, mixed with acid, and continues on its journey into the small intestine. Further enzymes are added to the mixture to ensure that all nutrients are released for absorption into the bloodstream.
The intestines are lined with millions of tiny ‘fingers’ rather like the loops on a bath towel. Villi are semi-permeable and contain their own blood supply. Nutrients are absorbed through the thin villi and taken up by the blood, to be circulated in the body.
With such complicated processes going on you may think that eating fibre would make things more difficult. Fibre consists of the indigestible cellulose produced by plants and when it is mixed in our food it slows down the release of nutrients, gives the intestines something to ‘push’ against and holds moisture. It bulks out food and prevents constipation. It rubs against the intestine lining, removing mucous and dead cells, a bit like a brush sweeping a carpet.
Low fibre diets (along with a deficiency of water) make digestion slow and sluggish. This gives partially digested food time to putrefy and ferment. The by-products of this bacterial and yeast invasion are toxins. These ooze through the gut lining and are carried away in the blood to all the major organs, causing allergies, brain fog, joint pain, memory problems and a host of other feelings of being ‘under the weather’.
The incidence of colon cancer is rapidly increasing in the western world and many other ‘modern’ illnesses can be linked to our poor diets. Salt, sugar, fats, food additives … they are all totally unnatural, and although we seem to thrive on them, we are now discovering the long-term damage that they are doing.
Waste products build up in our intestines and stay there for years. Clumps of undigested fat, yeasts, bacteria and intestinal worms cling to our insides. One in four people in America have intestinal worms, and it is probably a similar story in other countries too.
One way to clear out a build up of toxic material is to have colonic irrigation. It is well worth investigating and is not as uncomfortable as you imagine. It is a warm internal bath which cleanses the colon of accumulated toxic waste matter. http://www.freedclinic.co.uk/main.html
Following this treatment you may feel compelled to change your diet for good as you will probably be shocked by what has been lurking inside you for years.
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| 17. EATING YOUR WAY TO GOOD HEALTH |
It is far more natural to eat little and often – this will raise your metabolic rate. The second thing that raises one's metabolic rate is the increase in muscle tissue. So get exercising. Think of the chimps, how often do they sit down to a meal of steak and fries, followed by a calorific dessert. And they don’t tend to sit at a computer all day either. Snacking on healthy foods won't cause you to put on weight, in fact the opposite might occur, as your body will stop storing away calories in anticipation of a long wait for the next meal.
It is a good idea to have a food sensitivity test before you change your diet. Many people have low grade allergies which can cause a cocktail of symptoms from a runny nose, asthma, itchy skin, stiff joints, bloated abdomen ... and yes, weight gain. (http://www.martinhealy.com/intro.htm). We will tell you more about allergies later.
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| 18. FOOD COMBINING |
We are omnivorous and most of us consume food from four groups – Starch, Protein, Fruits and leafy vegetables. Each food type requires a different enzyme to break it down. In order for food to be absorbed through the gut wall into the blood stream it needs to be ‘cut up’ into tiny molecules, and just as you can’t cut up a pork chop with a plastic knife, you need the right enzyme for the job of digestion. Starchy foods require an alkaline enzyme (found in saliva) and protein foods require hydrochloric acid. (weightloss.about.com/cs/foodco...)
If you suffer from digestive problems such as bloating, indigestion, heart burn, constipation or diarrhoea it may be worth while finding out about the Hay Diet, first developed by Dr. William Howard Hay. You will soon learn which foods go together and it will become second nature.
Start the day with a small helping of complex carbohydrates such as wholegrain cereal with a milk substitute such as rice milk. Toasted wholegrain bread is also good but go easy on the butter. (Be aware that some people are sensitive to grains or gluten). Your metabolism is at its most efficient after a night of fasting and you need food to make you function efficiently.
Whether you go out to work or stay at home, take a minute or two to cut up some raw fruit and vegetables to take with you, and snack throughout the morning. Any raw fruit will do, but go easy on bananas, which have a high glycemic rating (causes blood sugar to raise too quickly). Sticks of raw celery and carrot, baby sweet corn, little florets of cauliflower, water cress … just nibble little and often and supplement with sunflower and pumpkin seeds and pine kernels. (www.glycemicindex.com) (http://www.mendosa.com/gi.htm)
The idea is to keep blood sugar stable and keep the stomach working efficiently. A steady movement of food through the digestive tract will encourage a good gut flora (friendly bacteria which help to break down food). Raw food is full of vitamins, digested more slowly and releases sugar more slowly. Its high fibre helps to push food through the gut and stops constipation. Just think about waste products sitting for days in the gut, slowly putrefying and releasing toxins into the blood stream, it is no wonder that we often feel bloated, headachy and under the weather. Seeds, such as pumpkin and pine kernels (which are high in protein) are brilliant for snacking and are completely natural. However they shouldn’t be combined with fruit as they require different enzymes for digestion. Pumpkin seeds are little bundles of stored energy, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and trace elements. Pumpkin seed oil contains both omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. Pumpkin seed is a high source of vitamin A, calcium and iron, containing small amounts of protein, B1, B2 and B3. Keep a small pot of mixed seeds to hand and add in a few raisins, sour cherries or cranberries. Nuts are good too - in small quantities though, as they are high calorie. Peanuts, which are not true nuts, are 26% protein, compared to 20% lean beef. Go easy on dried fruit though, as it can be high in calories and has natural yeasts which can cause bloating in the gut.
Don’t forget to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. Go easy on tea and coffee – there are many varieties of herb tea available and hot water is quite refreshing on its own, or with a squeeze of lemon. Fruit juice is fine but many are high in sugar (fructose), preservatives and colourings.
By lunchtime you won't be particularly hungry. Don't eat a meal until you feel ready to do so. Vegetable soup is ideal, filling and easy to prepare. Just cut up and prepare a variety of vegetables such as leeks, broccoli, onions, sweet corn, carrots, celery etc and boil them in a pint or so of water. When they are just cooked, blend them all together in the water you cooked them in, to save the vitamins. You can add a little salt for flavouring, or curry powder, aniseed, caraway seed, in fact anything that takes your fancy. This soup will probably last two or three days. Go easy with root vegetables though, they can cause the blood sugar to rise quickly (high glycemic index). (http://www.mendosa.com/gi.htm)
As the afternoon wears on, top up with some fruit. You should aim for about five different portions of fruit or vegetables a day, but not to be eaten together
Meat or vegetable protein, and at least two non-root vegetables such as broccoli, asparagus, onions, peppers, etc. are a good choice for an evening meal, again keeping things simple. You will be surprised how quickly your taste buds become sensitive to tastes and textures, which have been overwhelmed up to now, by additives and chemicals in processed foods.
Don't go to bed hungry or you won't sleep soundly. A light snack or bowl of cereal is ideal to tide you over the eight hours or so of fasting through the night.
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| 19. THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET |
It has long been known that people living in the Mediterranean area have a far lower incidence of heart disease and other chronic diseases, which are plaguing America, Canada, the UK and Northern Europe. Not only are they healthier but they have a longer adult life expectancy and enjoy better all round health.
Extensive research has narrowed this down to the Mediterranean diet, which consists mostly of pasta, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and olive oil Protein consists of moderate amounts of fish and cheese. Very little red meat is consumed. They also enjoy live bacterial cultures of yogurt, which we now know contain ‘friendly’ lactobacilis to aid digestion.
Olives and their oil are thought to be a key factor in maintaining good health, as already mentioned. (www.healthyselections.com/chefscorner/foodfacts/olives.htm)
Garlic is also readily available and used freely. Garlic can help prevent blood clots, lower cholesterol levels, and protect against cancer.
The Mediterranean diet also includes moderate amounts of wine. Some researchers think this may account for Mediterranean s' healthy hearts. For men moderation is two glasses per day, for women moderation is one glass per day.
A healthy diet needs four components (a square meal) namely, carbohydrates, protein, fruit and vegetables and water. In the Mediterranean diet carbohydrates consist of breads, pasta, rice, couscous, polenta, bulgur and potatoes. Protein is made up of moderate amounts of grilled and steamed fish, small portions of lean red meat with no visible fat, lean pork, goats meat and cheeses. Mediterraneans have a high consumption of fruits (3-4 pieces a day), legumes and vegetables. Olive oil is consumed with fresh vegetables and poured over salads.
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| 20. HOW CAN YOUR BLOOD GROUP LINK TO A HEALTHY DIET? |
You may think ‘What nonsense, how can your blood group affect what you eat, we are all the same inside’. Extensive research however has found that blood groups A and B evolved, as early man migrated from his roots in Africa. Our humanoid ancestors were all originally blood group O. They survived by hunting and gathering, i.e. eating flesh, nuts, fruits, shoots, roots, eggs, grubs and any other tasty morsels they came across. Carbohydrates in the form of cakes, biscuits, fries, bread etc. were definitely not on the menu. People with blood group O often don’t cope well with high carbohydrate diets, experiencing digestive problems, bloating and weight gain.
As early man migrated to cooler areas he settled down and began cultivating grains and other crops. His diet changed and so did his blood group. He now possessed the enzymes and a digestive system which was better able to cope with grains and starches. (group A) Further migration to colder climes resulted in the evolution of the B blood group. For further research we recommend you read ‘Eat Right 4 Your Type by ’Dr Peter J D’Adamo’. (http://www.dadamo.com/knowbase/newbie/1.htm)
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| 21. CANDIDA ALBICANS - THE ENEMY WITHIN |
Candida can be the root of food sensitivity and allergies. There is a natural organism in the gut called Candida Albicans. Normally it does no harm, but under the influence of steroids (including contraceptives and HRT), antibiotics, yeast and sugar, it goes haywire, mutates and produces 'roots' which penetrate and damage the gut lining. When this happens, partially digested food leaks through the gut and gets into the bloodstream, where it is seen by the immune system as an invader.
Candida loves our western diet. It thrives on refined sugars, yeasty bread, hormones found in HRT and birth control pills and steroids. Antibiotics kill off the other friendly bacteria in the gut, which are in competition with Candida and it then has an opportunity to romp away, causing a cocktail of unpleasant symptoms, such as bloating, brain fog, achy joints, allergies, skin problems .. the list goes on and on. Surprisingly, the majority of the medical profession are unaware of this problem. Antibiotics are over-prescribed and strong steroids are given to people with allergies – exacerbating the problem and causing side effects. Certain types of arthritis, stomach problems, eye problems etc. can be cured by addressing the root of health problems, but many doctors treat the symptoms and not the cause.
A simple test for Candida is the saliva test. Simply spit a sample of saliva into a glass of water as soon as you wake up and before you have had a drink or brushed your teeth. The saliva should float on the surface. Watch what happens for the next 20 minutes. If you see fine threads growing downwards into the water, you may well have a Candida overgrowth.
If you are experiencing any of the allergy symptoms listed above, definite diagnosis comes from a simple blood test which you can do at home. A few drops of blood are all that is required. As Candida damages the gut wall and food particles get into the bloodstream, antibodies are produced to attack them. These antibodies can be detected with a food sensitivity test, which identifies which foods are causing allergic reactions. (http://www.martinhealy.com/intro.htm)
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| 22. HELP FROM A FRIENDLY BACTERIA |
Lactobacillus acidophilus is a 'friendly' organism which helps the body fight disease and restore health. Modern research has discovered that acidophilus kills the harmful bacteria strain of E. coli in the intestinal tract. Acidophilus breaks milk sugar down into lactic acid. And the bacteria which cause putrefaction and gas in the intestines cannot live in lactic acid. Acidophilus also has the unique ability to help the body synthesize, or manufacture all of the 'B' vitamins in the system. This makes it especially valuable since there is literally a host of agents which destroy B vitamins, namely antibiotics, birth control pills, eating sugar and refined foods and drinking coffee. A diet high in red meat will destroy the beneficial bacteria, due to the concentration of antibiotics and steroids given to the animals before they are slaughtered. Lactobacillus acidophilus has been used to restore normal oral, GI, and vaginal flora in those affected by antibiotics or by Candida and bacterial infections.
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| 23. ACIDITY VERSUS ALKALINITY |
It is worth looking into pH balance and blood acidity/alkalinity. Blood should ideally have a pH of 7.34 to 7.40, which is slightly alkaline. Acid conditions can make the body vulnerable to infections and even cancer. Processing food makes it acid, as do carbonated drinks. Conversely, fresh fruit and vegetables will make the blood slightly alkaline.
Poorly oxygenated blood causes an excess of carbon dioxide, again causing acidity. Shallow breathing, constant anxiety, stress, hyperventilation and lack of exercise can all lead to a build up of Co2. (http://www.therapure.com/yleo/eocancer.htm)
You have probably got an idea of a good diet by now. There are thousands of recipe books around so please do some research. A general rule of thumb is: stay off sugar and salt and eat raw or unprocessed food wherever possible. Moderation is the rule for most things.
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| 24. ARE YOUR HORMONES LETTING YOU DOWN? |
You may be on a perfect diet and really looking after yourself but still be feeling unwell. There are other factors which affect well being and if you are female you may have a hormone imbalance, especially if you are menopausal. (http://www.martinhealy.com/hormoneChk.htm)
Men too can have hormone imbalance and if you are at all concerned you should see an expert. The Petrochemical Products we are constantly exposed to can cause higher than normal levels of Oestrogen in the body which in turn cause a malfunction of the Endocrine System of the Body, creating a Hormone Imbalance. (www.testsymptomsathome.com)(Male hormone imbalance)
Whether you a man or a woman, it is normal to have both sex hormones, although the amounts will vary. Sexuality varies from one individual to another. You can have rough macho males or quiet, gentle men, and many in between. Women too, can vary between being very feminine to being ‘tom boys’. Some people are even a mixture between men and women and some feel they are in the wrong gender. If you have gender worries there are many experts in the medical profession so please don’t suffer in silence. There are also many help groups you could join for advice and support.
As women approach the menopause their hormone levels change, as the ovaries stop their monthly cycle (www.plannedparenthood.org) There is a wealth of information available if the menopause is getting you down, and it can be quite devastating, causing sleepless nights, excessive bleeding, sweating and general misery. However, did you know that waning levels of testosterone in women can also make them feel unwell?
Testosterone levels fall with age and in men and women and this affects muscle strength, cognitive function, body composition, and overall self perception of energy and vigour. Women, of course, only need a fraction of the male dose, and overdosing will cause the growth of facial hair and lowering of the voice, which is irreversible. It is applied in cream form to the shoulders and upper arms and MUST be closely monitored with blood tests. Testosterone replacement therapy enhances muscle strength and lean body mass, decreases body fat, and may enhance cognitive function, bone mineral density, and have positive effects on the cardiovascular system. Testosterone can be easily administered and monitored as part of a complete proactive health program.
We already know about the risks of cigarettes, alcohol and drugs. There are over 200 poisonous substances in cigarettes, including arsenic and tar our bodies work overtime trying to deal with these poisons every time we 'light up'. There is much help available to help you give up, but you do need to be really motivated. Likewise, alcohol has to be broken down by the liver, which gets damaged and worn out over the years.
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| 25. WHAT’S IN THE WATER YOU DRINK? |
In the western world we take it for granted that our tap water has been purified and is suitable for drinking. When we dispose of it through domestic toilets and sinks, it goes through a water treatment plant and is filtered and cleansed before being chlorinated and stored for re-use. However ‘non-point’ pollution, for example the pesticides and fertilizers which run off the fields into our rivers and lakes, is far more difficult to deal with. (http://www.umich.edu/~gs265/society/waterpollution.htm)
Polluted domestic water also contains endocrine-disrupting compounds which get into our rivers and waterways. These compounds act like hormones on fish. Scientists are finding that the 50/50 sex ratio of fish is changing, and there is a far higher incidence of female fish. If this continues fish species will die out. It is almost certain that humans too are being affected, as these chemicals are not removed by water treatment and it is a known fact that the sperm count in the western world has drastically reduced in recent years.
Some of the chemicals in ‘purified’ water are natural hormones that we excrete. Some of them are artificial hormones that we also release, for example the contraceptive pill and hormone replacement therapy. Other synthetic chemicals such as pesticides, detergents and additives used in the house and in industry mimic hormones and exposure to developing human embryos may eventually be devastating.
If in doubt, the safest water to drink is that which has come from rainfall, which has permeated through natural rock into springs and aquifers. This water is bottled and is sometimes naturally gaseous, may have CO2 added or may be still. You need to obtain this water from a reliable source and it often contains more bacteria than tap water. Water with added carbon dioxide is not good as it can acidify the blood.
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| 26. ALLERGIES |
Allergies occur when a foreign substance, called an ALLERGEN, enters your body via the nose, lungs, intestines or skin. Examples of common allergens include pet dander, dust, pollen, mould, and food. For those who do not suffer allergies, foreign substances do not cause any reaction and are eliminated from the body. However, when your body identifies an allergen white blood cells called Mast Cells come into play. They are concentrated in the lining of your nasal passages, lungs, skin, and intestines. The mast cells attack the allergen a substance called HISTAMINE is released. Histamine is a chemical that causes swelling and mucus secretion and this causes the allergy symptoms in your eyes, nose, throat or intestines.
This is where the term ANTI-HISTAMINE comes from – an allergy medication that blocks the effects of the histamine. However minimizing exposure to allergens is a far better solution. For information of food sensitivity click here (www.martinhealy.com) And for more information on allergies click here: (http://www.mayoclinic.com/findinformation/conditioncenters/centers.cfm?objectid=0006F961-3891-1B32-82D780C8D77A0000) A rapidly increasing problem, especially in children, is Asthma (http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=E05029A1-9E99-427B-BE47BA91B7BD70B5) A common problem in adults is hayfever (allergic rhinitis) (http://www.nasaleze.com). There are ionizers on the market, some producing ozone, which can be used in a bedroom or living room. They give dust particles in the air an electronic charge, causing them to drop from the air and cling to furniture and walls. It is not a good idea to breathe in ozone for long periods of time as this can be harmful to the airways and lungs.
Many asthma and rhinitis problems are caused by dust mites, which feed on the dead skin cells we continually shed from our bodies. Their droppings contain enzymes which the mites have used to digest the skin dust. It is these enzymes which are the most important part of mite dust in causing asthma and other allergic diseases.
Dust mites thrive in warm damp conditions where there is plenty of food. It is said that a quarter of the weight of an old pillow consists of dust mite debris. These tiny creatures, related to spiders and ticks, hide in the stitching of our mattresses, in the filling of our pillows, in the dust in the carpet. If you have a severe allergy problem you will need to follow a strict regime to keep your sleeping and relaxing areas dust free. This means having easy clean flooring which can be wiped over daily, protective coverings on your pillows and mattress, removing all dust traps from the room and washing your bedding regularly at 60 degrees centigrade.
If you can afford it, there are anti-allergenic vacuum cleaners and air filters on the market. You can also spray your mattress regularly but this does not remove the problem as the droppings will still remain, and the mites will return on a regular basis. Be wary of pesticide sprays as they also carry health risks. There are also companies which will sanitize your mattress and remove dust mite debris.
If you have severe asthma we recommend that you join a support group as there is a great deal of information available to help you.
Irritable bowel, Chrohns Disease, Diverticulitis, Fibromyalgia, Glue ear, arthritis, eczema, mental illness, Attention Deficit Disorder … the list is endless. Allergies cause chaos in the body resulting in unpleasant and debilitating conditions.
Gastrointestinal tract irritation is very often the root cause of allergies as the first step to the immune system is in the lymphoid tissue (the immune system in the gut). Inflammation leads to swelling of the cells of the intestinal wall and overgrowth of the tissue. Some children have frequent ear infections. These are often related to food allergies, in the susceptible child – GI tract irritability causing a dysfunction in the immune system leading to ear infections, frequent colds, or diarrhoea.
Mental illness can be caused by toxic chemicals such as mercury, allergies to food, malfunctions of the thyroid gland and even deficiencies in the diet. Too often a sufferer will be incarcerated in a mental hospital and dosed with drugs without a thorough medical investigation. It is always worthwhile trying to find a practitioner who is prepared to look ‘outside the box’ to try to find a reason for mental problems. (http://www.forum-one.org/new-5052500-4342.html)
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| 27. ELECTROMAGNETIC POLLUTION |
Wherever a current of electricity is flowing through a wire or cable there is likely to be an electromagnetic field causing electromagnetic radiation. You can see this if you put a compass next to a power cable – the needle will swing at right angles to the cable. The use of electromagnetism for power and communications has produced an abnormal electromagnetic environment unlike anything that existed before. (http://tuberose.com/Electromagnetic_Fields.html)
All living things have natural currents of electricity flowing through them, the heart and brain being completely dependent on this current. This produces an electromagnetic field, which is sometimes referred to as the aura.
In the centre of our world is a magnetic iron core and it is in itself a huge magnet with North and South Poles. This creates a magnetic field all around the earth. We also receive electromagnetic radiation from the sun, although most of the harmful rays are filtered out by our atmosphere. Over millions of years we have grown and adapted to our mother earth from which we are made, and we are finely tuned to our environment.
It is worrying that we are subjecting ourselves to so many artificial forces – mobile phones, fluorescent lights, computer monitors etc. There is already evidence that living near power lines can be a risk to health, and we worry about the effect on children’s brains, of mobile phones. This is a vast subject and you may wish to carry out your own research.
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| 28. ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION |
The human race has been extremely successful in multiplying and populating the far corners of the world. We originated in Africa where the climate is hot and even, and our bodies only function efficiently at a temperature of 36-38 degrees. However we maintain a state of homeostasis by many automatic systems, which keep us at the right temperature, right balance of blood gases, PH balance, blood sugar, fluid density etc. By wearing clothing to keep us warm, constructing shelters to protect us from inclement weather, cooking food to break it down and kill off bugs … we have overcome all the limitations of hostile environments and are thriving to such an extent that we are beginning to overpopulate our vulnerable world.
Since the Industrial Revolution we have started changing our environment to suit us, at an alarming rate. Petrochemicals, which were formed from compressed rotting animal and vegetable matter, millions of years ago, are used to make amazing things, like medicines, fuels, fabrics, fungicides, pesticides, plastics and much more.
Carpets, furnishings, paint, cleaners, air fresheners, fly sprays, furniture polish etc are all essential items in our modern homes. We close doors and windows tightly, heat up our rooms with gas, oil and electricity and seal off all drafts to keep us warm and cosy in cold weather. This leads to sick building syndrome as fumes build up and get into our airways.
Scientific evidence suggests that respiratory disease, allergy, mucous membrane irritation, nervous system effects, cardiovascular effects, reproductive effects, and lung cancer may be linked to exposures to indoor air pollutants. Waxes, paints, polishes, cleansers, air fresheners, fabric protectors are but a few of the products we use regularly in our homes which are sources of various organic and inorganic chemicals. It is a little alarming to think that our very own homes and the products we use are contributing to our poor health.
We tend to stock our cleaning cupboard with a different product for each job when one or two would probably do for everything. To protect our world from further pollution we need to think about what we are using and discarding, either down the sink or onto our rubbish heaps. We are at risk from the many toxic chemicals we use – you have only to read the labels to see the dangers. Keep life simple, let fresh air into your lives and start living a healthier life. http://www.allergymatters.com/acatalog/Cleaning_Products.html http://www.ecos.com/ http://www.sunandearth.com/ http://www.thensome.com/cleaning.htm.
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| 29. THINK NATURAL |
You may by now be thinking 'What am I to do, I'm harming myself with everything that I do'. Ask yourself 'Is this natural?' Is it natural to throw a microwave dinner down your throat, swig down a can of beer and finish off with a cigarette? Is it natural to sit in one position in front of the TV for hours, stretching one group of muscles for long periods of time and allowing others to shorten and become stiff? Take yourself back in time and ask yourself what you would be doing if you were early man, hunting for fresh berries, nuts and roots, sipping water from a stream, and chasing through the trees after a wild boar! No need to go to extremes - don't beat yourself up for enjoying the comforts of modern living. Just put that processed meal back on the supermarket shelf and go for the fresh fruit and vegetables. Cut down on the wines and spirits and drink more water. Give up cigarettes or cut down and try to put up with mild headaches instead of reaching for the painkillers - the chances are that if you look after your body, there will be less rubbish poisoning you, and therefore fewer headaches.
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| 30. KEEPING IN TOUCH |
Having dealt with nourishing the physical body, we come to another vital part of human needs - that of companionship and touch. If a human baby is deprived of touch it will grow up very disturbed and unable to inter-act with other people. Touch is essential. We are gregarious by nature (think of the chimps). We depend on each other to survive.
Even you loners would not survive if someone didn't get food for you, prepare it, take it to the shops, sell it to you ..... And someone works the power stations to give you electricity, someone mans the hospitals, someone produces television programmes ... think about it, unless you are a hermit (and you wouldn't be reading this if you were) living in the woods and surviving on food you have caught yourself, you need other humans. We comfort each other with the touch of a hand or a hug. We greet each other with a handshake. Touch tells us many things about each other and is a way of non-verbal communication.
It is no wonder that in this busy world we go short on touchy feely activities. The skin is the largest organ in the human body and it is packed with millions of nerve cells - sensitive to warmth, pain, pressure and touch, and, having no fur, our skins are very sensitive. The skin and nerve cells come from the same source in the developing foetus and the skin and emotions are closely linked. We blush with embarrassment, turn pale with shock, come up in goose bumps when scared and sweat with anxiety.
We were designed to live in close tribal families, the men hunting and gathering together, children playing together and the women keeping family life together. Modern society has its equivalents. Sport is a tribal activity mainly for men to work off their adrenalin, although many women enjoy sport too. We have parties, family gatherings, we take our children to playgroups, have coffee mornings etc. We enjoy inter-acting together. We are naturally nosey about each other, that's why we enjoy watching Soaps.
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| 31. JOIN THE TRIBE |
There is much depression about these days from people who are isolated from the tribe. Many elderly people are on their own for hours each day, missing the comings and goings of family life and the touch of human kindness. Many people are too busy, inhibited or isolated to join in touching activities. Many people enjoy having their hair done, going dancing, going to a party, having a massage, having a hug - these are all grooming activities that occur naturally in chimp society. Even stroking an animal will reduce heart rate and blood pressure, and animals play a valuable part in our need for bonding and love.
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| 32. KEEP MOVING |
Now for the last part of 'going back to nature'. Having corrected our diet and become more tactile, the one thing we need to keep us healthy is exercise. Our bodies are agile and versatile, designed to run, climb, bend and stretch in order to survive. Along with our cousins, the primates, we have the widest range of movements out of all the animal kingdom. The muscles stretch and glide over each other to move the skeleton around. Joints slip and slide effortlessly as they are pulled and pushed into their desired position. However, if we spend hours every day, sitting in a limited series of positions and repeat this procedure for days, weeks, months and even years, we are asking for trouble. Muscles weaken from being stretched in the same position for long periods, while their opposing partners shorten and lose their elasticity. 95% of people in the west have experienced back problems. We sit badly at a desk all day, ride home in the car with all muscles tensed up, and then slump in front of the TV. The back is pulled permanently out of place, bones start to rub against each other, joints become dry and stiff and we begin to experience pain.
What we eat also affects our muscles and joints. Food sensitivity (often caused by 'leaky gut syndrome') causes allergic reactions and the by-products of this are deposited in joint and muscle tissue. There are many different types of arthritis, many of which can be relieved or even cured by a permanent change in diet.
Returning to exercise, what our bodies crave is a good overall and regular stretching of all muscle groups and a dramatic increase in blood flow on a regular basis to nourish muscles, flush away waste substances, exercise the heart, stimulate the brain ... the list is endless. It is no good jumping out of your chair though, and running round the block. A stiff body will suffer injury unless it is brought back to suppleness slowly. Walking is good exercise, as is swimming. Yoga and all related slow stretching exercise programmes are excellent. (www.sarahkey.com/ ) So take your first step to exercise, stretch over to the Yellow Pages and join a local group. Join the tribe, make new friends and invite your body to live longer and serve you better.
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| 33. THE EFFECT OF EXERCISE OF YOUR WELL-BEING |
Lack of physical activity and poor diet are the second largest underlying causes of death in the United States. Of course, the main causes of death are smoking related. As we age, and unless we are health conscious, we lose from 20% to 40% of our muscle, leading to weakness and debility.
Regular physical activity helps the circulatory system deliver oxygen and nutrients around the body and the removal of toxins and waste products. It also improves the condition of the skin, reduces the rate of bone loss, the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes.
Even regular moderate exercise helps elevate feelings of depression and anxiety, control weight and build and maintain strong and healthy bones, muscles and joints. Exercise stimulates the production of endorphins, chemical substances produced by the body that make you feel happy and exhilarated.
Many people find it difficult to take exercise. They get out of bed in the morning, drive a car to work, take the lift to the office, sit at a desk all day and when they get home they feel exhausted and only want to sit in front of the TV until bed time. There is no time or inclination for running, swimming, gymnasiums or exercise classes. After leading a sedentary life it is hard to start exercising. Muscles are weak, circulation is poor and body fat is heavy to move around. Nor is it easy to exercise on your own, it is boring and you need to be highly motivated to keep it up.
If you are unfit you should start exercise programmes very slowly, preferably after having a check up with your doctor. Try to find a partner to exercise with and if you can afford it join a fitness club, where your needs will be assessed by an expert. Failing that, you can buy exercise videos and books so you can exercise in your own home. Even an exercise bike will help, and you can watch TV at the same time.
Cycling and walking in the fresh air are good exercise. Try walking to the local store instead of taking the car, or getting someone to drop you off a mile from home so you can walk back. Use the stairs instead of the escalator or lift, even if it is only one or two flights.
Move your feet and ankles around as much as possible whilst at your desk. Flexing the calf muscles will pump stale blood back to the heart. And go for a few walks along the corridors of your office building if you can.
Do a few exercises when you come out of the shower and your muscles are warm and more flexible. Helping with the housework is good exercise, especially pushing the cleaner around. Go up on your toes a few times when washing up or cleaning your teeth, to keep your circulation moving. Move your head around whilst at your desk, look down and up as well, no-one will guess what you are doing.
Treat yourself to a massage from time to time too. It will tone up your muscles, encourage blood flow, drain toxins into the lymph system and help to relax you. Tension and stress can be killers, they raise blood pressure, weaken the immune system, cause stomach problems, diabetes, heart attacks and strokes. If you exercise enough to get really out of breath at least once a day you will be increasing your circulation, oxygenating all your tissues, improving your heart and lung function and stimulating your immune system. Above all, you will feel good about yourself.
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| 34. TIME TO START FEELING BETTER |
We have come full circle. You now recognise what may be going wrong and why you may be feeling ill or in pain. If you are ill and we sincerely hope that you find our advice helpful and your find your way back to health. If you have suffered emotional trauma in the past, stress may be a contributing to your poor health. The mind has a very powerful control over the body and often we are trapped in unhappiness. We subconsciously blame ourselves for past events and punish ourselves with ill health. Or constant unhappiness can weaken the immune system and open you up to low-grade infections.
If you have tried all the medical routes and feel that the side effects of drugs are causing more problems than cures, try the natural approach - eat natural foods, be kind to your body and learn to love yourself. Learn to relax and meditate too, it is a proven fact that people who meditate regularly reduce their overall heart rate, blood pressure and susceptibility to infections. You can meditate in your own home with the help of our CD. We have used many years of experience in this field to produce music conducive to reducing brain activity and calming the mind. (www.a2zIdx.com/?1) There are many organisations around to help you overcome your problems. When you feel ready, get in touch with them and give yourself a break. (www.taichiacademy.com) (www.pilates-method-exercise.com)
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| 35. HANDS ON HEALING |
Natural healing has been known and practiced for centuries, and while medical science has provided numerous cures there is a growing realization that there are measurable benefits to be gained from natural healing. So called 'Alternative Healing' methods are becoming more and more acceptable these days as people worry about the side effects of modern medicines and seek to ease the stress in their lives.
Many people have heard of Reiki Healing as well as many other types. Then there is spiritual healing, which has been around since the beginning of mankind. It has been mentioned many times in many religious records. Many imagine it to have deep religious connotations. In fact most of the people who have benefited from this form of healing have come from all walks of life and beliefs.
Those who have experienced healing often report a feeling of peace. Some feel a gentle warmth from the healer’s hands and many actually get relief from their condition – in some cases a problem which has been causing pain and discomfort for many years. Patients often ask for healing as a last resort, when all else has failed.
In the UK, Recent EU legislation has come into force and it will soon become compulsory for all types healers to hold a recognised qualification and relevant insurance. Generally a new patient seeking healing will be asked a few questions about their particular problem before being invited for a healing session. During spiritual healing there are usually two healers per patient and it will be explained to them how hands-on healing treatment will be carried out. There usually follows a period of about 10 minutes when the healers gently work on or around the patient. Many experience a feeling of deep relaxation. Relief often occurs either straight away or within the next few days.
Healing is a non-invasive and gentle treatment and is freely available in many countries. Unfortunately there are countries where it is illegal, but attitudes are slowly changing. Searching the web may help you find what you are looking for.
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| 36. Binaural beats |
Binaural beat recordings are specially generated sounds, designed to alter your brainwaves - bringing about states of happiness, creativity, or relaxation, for example. They're perfectly safe, non-addictive, and can be used as often as you like.
To find out how binaural beats can help you, click on one of the links below. The links are to binaural CD's to meet a specific need or provide additional information.
Information on binaural beat CD's.
FAQ on binaural beats
| 37. Aloe Vera - the versatile wonder plant, has earned its reputation as the "Medicine plant" |
Of the 240+ species of Aloe, "Aloe barbadensis miller" has been found to provide the highest nutritional benefits and is used in most commercial products with aloe content available today.
The nutritious gel contained inside the leaf of the Aloe barbadensis miller contains over 75 nutrients and 200 active compounds, including 20 minerals, 18 amino acids, and 12 vitamins.
Aloe vera has been used for thousands of years to treat an impressive array of ailments and is available today in a range of products including, nutritional supplements and drinks, skin care products, personal care products, sunburn products etc.
Please click here for more information on Aloe vera, its benefits, aliments that can be treated and advice.
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| DISCLAIMER |
The information provided here is intended to provide an objective overview of many health related issues. This information should not be used to diagnose any specific ailment or be used for the basis for any treatment without prior consultation with a recognised professional in the specific field.
Click here for fact sheets on health issues
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