Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Essential Nutrients for our Furry Friends

For thousands of years, animals in the wild thrived on a diet of natural raw foods. These foods provided all of the nutrients, vitamins, organic minerals, trace elements, chlorophyll and antioxidants, as well as the beneficial bacteria and enzymes their bodies are designed to use. But today, whether animals live in our homes, on our farms, or are otherwise under our care, their diets are often dramatically different.

Many essential nutrients are heat sensitive; therefore, critical nutritional properties are destroyed by modern processing and storage methods. They are often replaced in animal feeds with synthetic minerals and vitamins, or vitamin isolates that do not provide the same benefits to the body that whole foods do. If these nutritional needs are unmet for an extended period of time, animals will develop an impaired immune system, evidenced by any number of symptoms, including allergies, dry skin, dull hair coat, and increased susceptibility to parasites.

There are supplement products that support your quest to find holistic, natural answers for the health of your animal. Our favorite products were originally developed for humans and offer superior nutritional support for animals. Supporting the health and immune system of your animals with high quality nutrition is the best and most cost-effective choice for their bodies.

For instance, this powdered alage blend provides both people and animals with nutritionally dense bluegreen algae, a full spectrum probiotic with an exceptional mix of probiotics and enzymes, antioxidant-rich wheat sprouts, and 700 mg of glucosamine per teaspoon for healthy joint support—all in a convenient shaker bottle.

Sound good? You can order these products online.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Multi Liquid Vitamin Smoothie that Actually Tastes Good

Do you have a hard time swallowing pills but still want to have a healthy nutritional supplement program? That's not a problem. I offer nutritional counseling to a lot of people who either don't like to swallow pills, or who actually physically can't swallow them. And yet we are able to get them all the nutrition they need ... with nary a pill having to cross their lips.

Enter the Multi Liquid Vitamin Smoothie

Smoothies have always been my medium of choice for delivering multiple vitamins, minerals, and trace minerals for people who hate swallowing pills. Not only are smoothies delicious, but when you add the right ingredients they are nutritious as well.

For instance, here's a great smoothie that I often recommend:
This multi liquid vitamin smoothie is not only nutritionally-dense but also darn tasty. Here's the run down of all the nutrition you get in this smoothie.

Smoothie Mix
This smoothie mix is made with premium ingredients, contains no preservatives, yeast, and artificial flavors or colors, and provides the benefits of bluegreen algae, all-natural whey for 22 grams of protein, sprouts and protein-digesting enzymes blended into every scoop.

Powdered Algae
Two kinds of bluegreen algae supplying essential fatty acids, proteins, complex sugars, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids

Powdered Algae Blend
Finally, the this blend provides nutritionally dense bluegreen algae, a full spectrum probiotic, and antioxidant-rich wheat sprouts in a convenient powder form. This remarkable blend was formulated to give humans and animals alike a superior combination of nutrients that help balance the body's internal ecosystem...naturally...by providing enzymatically active nutrition with key antioxidants, as well as probiotics and digestive enzymes for intestinal support.

Now that's a lot of stuff in a simple multi liquid vitamin smoothie, don't you think? Plus this smoothie is convenient and keeps you from having to swallow pills. Nifty!


Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/poldavo/691215368/

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

4 Natural Ways to Get Your Skin Ready for Summer

Despite the chilly spring that is still prevalent in some parts of the country, summer will soon be here, and there's no time like the present to get your skin ready for bikini weather! We've got 4 ways to help you do so!

4 Tips for Great-Looking Skin
Great looking skin is the result of excellent health inside and out. These four tips cover ways for you to ensure excellent health both inside and out.

Skincare Tip #1: Drink Plenty of Water
For you to have glowing healthy-looking skin, you need to drink plenty of water. Water flushes out toxins, increases circulation, and refreshes your entire body, including your skin. To stay healthy, you need to drink at least 64 ounces of water a day.

When you first start drinking a healthy amount of water, don't be surprised if it runs right through you. It may take a few days before your body really starts absorbing the water, especially if you haven't been drinking enough water recently.

Skincare Tip #2: Smooth on the Antioxidants
Great-looking skin is smooth and blemish-free, with an even tone all around. To get this quality of skin, it's important to "feed" your skin with antioxidant lotion. Antioxidants support skin health and can lessen the look of wrinkles, sags, and uneven tone. Luckily, there are many antioxidant lotions available on the market.

For instance, our favorite antioxidant lotion  has tons of high-powered antioxidants that really nourish the skin, including beta-glucan, blue-green algae, vitamin E and aloe vera. The beta-glucan protects your skin from sun damage, gives your skin an immune boost, and soothes any overactive histamine reactions. The algae provides each skin cell with tons of nutrients for repair and nourishment. Finally, the vitamin E and aloe vera replenish your skin's moisture content and soothes any inflammation.

Skin Tip #3: Sweat It Out
Sweat is the way your skin "breathes" and refreshes itself. Sweating also prevents clogged pores, pimples, blackheads, and other skin blemishes. As long as you drink plenty of water, sweating is one of the best therapies for ensuring healthy skin. Sweating literally "cleans" your skin from the inside out!

Skin Tip #4: Add Antioxidants to Your Diet
Since your skin is a mirror image of your internal health, to have great-looking skin you also need to be healthy on the inside. To ensure internal health, consider adding antioxidants to your daily regimen. For instance, wheat sprouts, coenzyme Q10, and grape seed extract are all great antioxidants that will increase internal health and help your skin really glow.

All of these tips for great-looking skin are easy to integrate into your daily life, so don't wait around for summer to arrive. Start working on the health of your skin today and you'll be ready when beach weather finally arrives!


Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pedrosimoes7/125686248/

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Antioxidant Capsules Sound Icky? Use Antioxidant Lotion Instead

Swallowing tons of antioxidant capsules can be unappealing, no matter how good they are for your health.

Luckily, if you can't stand popping a bunch of pills you can still get an antioxidant boost by using an antioxidant-rich lotion.

It turns out that 25-30% of our innate immune system is contained in our skin cells, so when you nourish and protect your skin you also boost your immunity.

That's a pretty simple solution for immune health. As a bonus, your skin will also look smooth and healthy.

Which Antioxidants Do You Need?
Antioxidants, which are beneficial substances that protect our bodies from damaging molecules, come in a variety of forms. To get the most effective protection from topical antioxidants, look for lotions and creams that have a variety of antioxidants.

For instance, here are some beneficial antioxidants:
  • Beta-glucan: supports skin health that is exposed to UV light, increases skin elasticity, supports DNA health
  • Coenzyme Q10: increases blood supply to the skin, decreases the look of fine lines and wrinkles, and boosts skin elasticity
  • Beta-carotene: supports blood supply to the skin
  • Vitamins C and E: Boosts skin elasticity, smoothes rough skin, supports DNA health
If you plan to use lotion as one of your main sources of antioxidant support, look for topical creams and salves that contain a broad spectrum of these kinds of antioxidants.

One of my personal favorites is this antioxidant lotion. This lotion contains WGP beta-glucan, vitamin E, beta-carotene and more, all in a whole-food form.

Want to know more? Read more about the vitamins and minerals that support skin health and total body health:

7 Vitamins for Great-Looking Skin from the Inside Out
Minerals for Great-Looking Skin from the Inside Out


Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sunshinecity/786584004/

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

How to Get Runner's High Without All the Sweat

If you're not an exercise fanatic then chances are that hearing an avid runner talk about his "runner's high" can be a real downer. True, the runner's high part sounds like great fun, but boy does it take a lot of work, unless ... you go straight for the molecule that causes runner's high, without all that silly running!

What the Heck is Runner's High Anyway?

Dedicated exercisers have described runner's high as a sensation of "floating" or "being free" or simply feeling "very happy." According to Daniel DeNoon in his article 'Is Runner's High a Cure for Depression?" this sensation is caused by phenyl ethylamine (PEA). It's a compound found in a very high concentration in chocolate (explains bingeing on chocolate, doesn't it?).

DeNoon says that PEA "is a natural stimulant produced by the body. It is related to amphetamines but without the long-lasting potentially dangerous effects." Wow, talk about a clean and legal "high." Runners have long had access to this legal high but now people not so fond of sweating can get it, too, since the cause of 'runner's high' is a natural compound.

On the flip side of the coin, studies show that depressed people tend to have low levels of PEA. This explains why exercise can have an anti-depressant action.

What's exciting about this discovery is that now people can get the mood support they need without all the grunting, sweating, and exercising. Says Hector Sabelli, MD, "If you give PEA to people with depression, about 60% show an immediate recovery--very fast, a matter of half an hour."

So where can you get some PEA for mood support when you've got the blue meanies?

Foods Rich in PEA for Mood Support
The two foods most noticeably rich in PEA are chocolate (no surprise there) and AFA blue-green algae. Author and researcher Michael Liebowitz, author of the popular 1983 book "The Chemistry of Love," stated that chocolate is loaded with PEA, which started a media flurry about the food. No doubt eating chocolate helps many people with mood, but chocolate has some unfortunate fatty side effects.

AFA blue-green algae is another rich source of PEA, and can help support one's mood without the side effects of weight gain or chocolate addiction! Some studies show that the PEA in blue-green algae is highly bioavailable, making it easy for the body to absorb and use. Plus, blue green algae comes in convenient capsule form, so you can get some mood support in just a single gulp. In short, AFA blue-green algae gives you the PEA boost without the sugar and guilt of chocolate!

There are also many forms of encapsulated PEA available on the market, however, studies show that PEA, by itself, is quickly metabolized in the body and thus doesn't reach the brain, where it can provide mood support.

So your two best options for a PEA kick in the pants are chocolate and AFA blue green algae. Go for both if you feel like it ... or choose the one that fits your diet plan best!


Photo credit:

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Swallowing Sunlight and Other Goodies

Being an avid consumer of AFA blue-green algae, I'm always interested in learning more about this incredible superfood, even though I already know so much about it. I am constantly amazed at what I discover.

For instance, just the other day I read that chlorophyll, a substance that is very dense in blue-green algae, is an invention of nature that allows organisms to capture sunlight and convert it to usable sugars and foods, which we humans need in our diet.

Swallowing Sunlight and Happy Moods
So basically, when I swallow a few capsules of blue-green algae, I am swallowing a little chunk of sunlight. True, chlorophyll converts that sunlight so that I am not actually swallowing light molecules, but I am swallowing a bunch of stuff that my body needs, including amino acids, sugars, vitamins, minerals, and trace minerals.

There are also parallels between the effects of being exposed to sunlight and the effects of eating blue-green algae. Many people, when exposed to natural sunlight, report that they are in a better mood, and that their nerves are soothed. This is because exposure to sunlight increases the production of endorphins and serotonin in the brain.

A similar effect is created when you swallow a capsule or two of blue-green algae. This algae is a strong source of phenylalanine, an amino acid that crosses the blood-brain barrier faster than any other amino acid. Once in the brain, phenylalanine acts as a precursor to tyrosine and other mood-elevating substances.

Voila! Swallow some sunlight in the form of blue-green algae and you end up in a better mood.

Bluegreen algae is also rich in trytophan, which has been shown to elevate mood, but only when accompanied by other vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Luckily, most of these are in the algae. Once trytophan arrives in the brain, it increases both endorphin and serotonin activity ... just like sunlight!

So swallowing blue-green algae is like swallowing sunlight, just without all the side effects like skin cancer, sun burn, and other skin nasties!

Gotta Lotta Nutrition in a Single Capsule
In addition to being an excellent source of mood elevation, AFA blue-green algae is also plain down-home good nutrition that happens to come in a capsule. Solomon and Passwater, in their book "The Next Generation of Superfoods," say, "... blue-green microalgae may be the most nutrient-dense food on earth."

That means when you swallow a capsule of bluegreen algae, you are getting a big nutritional bang for your buck. This is good news for those of us who try to eat right when we can, but sometimes fall a little short of the goal line. Taking blue-green algae helps to cover all the nutritional bases in a very convenient form.

That sounds good to me ... a capsule of sunlight that also covers all the nutritional bases. Sound good to you?


Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kyz/ / CC BY 2.0

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

The Foods Mood Link: PEA Supports Happy Moods

You are what you eat.

At least that's how the old saying goes ... and it turns out to be true. What you put into your body has a lot to do with how you feel, how well you learn, and how well you adapt to the stresses and strains of life.

PEA and the Foods Mood Link

PEA, which is short for phenylethylamine, is a great example of the foods mood link. PEA is a naturally occurring substance in the human body that is linked to energy, mood, and attention.

If your body doesn't have enough PEA, then you may find it more difficult to:
  • learn new things
  • make quick decisions
  • form new memories
  • be in a good mood
  • find pleasure in life
  • stick to a diet
Are you beginning to see the foods mood link here? PEA is a vital part of your brain function and is responsible for feelings of pleasure as well as mental acuity. In one study, adding 10-60 mg per day decreased depression symptoms in study participants by 60%. In another study, PEA was shown to elevate mood and increase the quality of life. Sounds like pretty good stuff.

Foods High in PEA
While your body can and does make its own PEA, from the amino acid phenylalanine, sometimes your body can't keep up. That's why supplementing your body's natural reserves of PEA with foods high in this substance can really help support your mood and mental sharpness. Thus the foods mood link.

According to the Natural Research Council of Canada, two foods are quite high in PEA: AFA blue-green algae and cheddar cheese. Both of these foods contain about the same amount of PEA. AFA blue-green algae contains 0.15% PEA by dry weight.

Another food reportedly high in PEA, chocolate, has less than 10% of the PEA as compared to the blue-green algae or cheddar cheese. So, if you really want to follow the foods mood link and support your mood with food, go with AFA blue-green algae and cheddar cheese (though probably not at the same time!).

The good thing about eating blue-green algae is that in addition to significant levels of PEA, the algae is also rich in many vitamins, minerals, and trace minerals that our bodies need to function properly. So popping some capsules of AFA blue-green algae not only supports your mood, but also supports your body in ways that you may not even be aware of.

So take blue-green algae, add some cheddar cheese to your burrito, and you should be good to go in terms of PEA and the foods mood link!

Most of all, enjoy eating and enjoy life!


Thursday, February 25, 2010

Got That Fatigue Feeling? You Need to Feed Your Cells

For many people winter is the season of depression, low energy, or what some people euphemistically refer to as "the blue meanies." In other words, they've got that fatigue feeling. Ick!

If you feel slow and sluggish this winter, it may be the season but it may also be that your cells are running out of fuel.

Add more of the right kind of fuel to feed your cells, and voila, you'll have a bounce in your step again.

What Causes That Fatigue Feeling?
While many factors contribute to our energy level, at the cellular level our energy is determined by how well our mitochondria are working. The mitochondria are the "power houses" in our cells, and when not properly-nourished, can't produce cellular energy ... hence that fatigue feeling.

To be well-nourished, our mitochondria need a substance called adenosine troposphere, or ATP. ATP not only fuels the mitochondria in our cells, but is also important in numerous bodily functions, including muscle contraction and the production of protein.

To produce ATP, our bodies need coenzyme Q10. When we are young, our bodies produce plenty of coenzyme Q10, but aging, stress, and disease can all interfere with the production of this vital coenzyme. The result is low energy, which is the most common health complaint among people of all ages.

How to Fix That Fatigue Feeling
When your body stops making enough coenzyme Q10, the result is that you feel tired. Your heart and immune health can also suffer, as coenzyme Q10 plays a big role in both of these bodily systems as well. Luckily, you can bolster your internal supply of the coenzyme by taking it orally as a supplement. Coenzyme Q10 tends be very low in the average diet, and to get the levels necessary to boost your energy, you need to take it in a form that is dense and easily absorbed by your body.

My favorite source for coenzyme Q10 is this supplement which I believe to be one of the best on the market for two reasons:

1. It is mixed with nutrient-rich AFA blue green algae
2. It is emulsified in organic, cold-pressed flax seed oil

Research shows that in this form (oil-based rather than powdered), your body more readily absorbs the coenzyme Q10, which means you get more bang for your buck. Plus, both flax seed oil and AFA blue green algae are excellent sources of essential fatty acids which are crucial for not only a healthy body, but also a healthy mind.

Clinical studies worldwide demonstrate that coenzyme Q10 is essential for energy production at the cellular level, and strongly supports both heart and immune health. That's good enough for me ... and for anyone who regularly suffers from that fatigue feeling! At age 73, I take 4 gel caps of Q10 per day, and my doctor has confirmed that my heart health continues to improve after my open-heart surgery six years ago.

So if you want heart and immune health as well as the ability to beat that awful fatigue feeling, I've got two words for you:

Coenzyme Q10


Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mistermoss/ / CC BY 2.0

Thursday, February 18, 2010

A Convenient Natural Solution for Dry Itchy Skin

Whether you have dry winter skin, sunburn, mosquito bites, poison ivy or rash, itchy skin is a pain ... everywhere. If you don't want itchy skin to slow you down, try my favorite antioxidant lotion. This high-powered formula includes all these skin soothing ingredients:

WGP Beta Glucan
The ingredient from brewer's yeast that literally jump starts your body's immune response (and soothes that overactive histamine reaction).

AFA Blue Green Algae
AFA blue green algae is a nutrient-rich source of vitamins, minerals, and trace minerals, and nourishes each and every skin cell with pure nutrition.

Vitamin E and Aloe Vera
Both of these ingredients replenish moisture and soothes inflammation.

Caring for Your Skin Naturally
Your skin cares about what you feed it, whether it's nourishment from the inside out or from the outside in. With its powerful antioxidants and immune support, this antioxidant lotion helps provide natural plant-based topical protection from the challenging elements you encounter every day.

Along with a healthy diet, plenty of fresh water, and sufficient exercise, making this antioxidant lotion part of your regular routine gives your skin just the nutrition it needs. It's completely free of things you don't want on your skin--such as parabens, synthetics, and petrochemicals--and full of the food-grade nutrients your skin craves, like vitamin E, organic blue-green algae, and wholesome oils, all of which work together to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, stimulate the skin's immune system, and help protect against the effects of free radicals.

This lotion with WGP Beta Glucan is great for all skin types, and is particularly effective for dryer, damaged, or more mature skin. It includes NO animal ingredients and involved NO animal testing.

Give your skin a welcome break from the stressors of today's complex environment with this custom blend of all-natural, premium ingredients.

This formula is so useful and effective that it's even being used by veterinarians to treat dogs, cats, and horses with itchy skin. And they don't lie or fall under the "placebo effect"!


Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Dealing with Viruses: Go for the Big Guns of Natural Immunity

Have you noticed the amount of wiping, sanitizing, and germ and virus destruction that's going on all around us? Do you find it a bit mad that we have to wipe off every surface that's been touched before we can touch it, lest we catch the "deadly illness" from someone else?

I personally find it beyond ridiculous!

Working out at the gym has become more of a sprint to get away from germs and viruses than an exercise in cardio fitness. The way I see it, all that wiping and sanitizing might put your mind at ease, which is a good thing, but really doesn't do much to combat the actual germs and viruses.

Don't Be the Boy in the Bubble
We are surrounded by germs and viruses, and they don't just live on the hand grips of the grocery cart. They are flying through the air and we are breathing them in. In fact, if you read the book "Lives of a Cell," you'll discover that our cells are made of germs and viruses that have been incorporated into our genetic makeup over time. So what exactly are we running from? Ourselves? After all, we have germs and viruses in our cells, doing productive work.

So unless you are prepared to at least wear a face mask all the time, wipe down every surface, and refuse to shake hands (much in the fashion of Adrian Monk), I don't think that the "boy in the bubble" approach is really going to make life better for you. You won't necessarily be any healthier, and you might end up a whole lot crazier.

Instead of doing all this wiping and avoiding, I suggest you go for the big guns to fight harmful germs and viruses:

Your body's own immune system.

Your Body's Immune System is the Best Defense
The reason we get sick isn't because we come into contact with germs and viruses. Actually, we are in contact with germs, bacteria, viruses, and all sorts of unseen particulate beings all the time. We breathe them in. We touch them. We eat them.

Normally, despite being virtually bathed in a "germ bath" all the time, we don't get sick because our bodies have the ability to deal with them, escorting the harmful ones out before we become ill.

Nope, we get sick when our basic immune defenses become weakened by factors like excess stress, poor nutrition, poor digestion, and too little physical exercise. So if you truly want to fight viruses and other "germy" things with real firepower, focus on building up your body's immune system rather than wiping down every surface in site with an anti-bacterial wipe.

Boosting the Body's Innate Immunity: An Example
Here's an example of what I mean. A client I counsel about nutrition called me up one day asking for help. Her child had been catching every virus that came down the pike. She couldn't figure it out. They had tried antibiotics and numerous other medications, but to no avail. She asked me if I had any "big guns" in my arsenal to help kill off all these in viral infections.

After I questioned her about her son's diet, digestion, level of exercise, level of stress, and so forth, I realized that he was not getting enough basic nutrition to keep his body's immune system healthy. The many courses of antibiotics had killed off the healthy bacteria that were supposed to live in his gut. These healthy bacteria, like acidophilus and bifidus (also called probiotics), are the body's first line of defense against foreign invaders. They are also crucial for digestion, and produce B vitamins, which keep us calm and healthy.

In addition, her son had many food allergies, which meant it was difficult for her to get him to eat a well-rounded and healthy diet. He also had a number of environmental allergies, which made him more prone to being infected by viruses and other "germs."

I suggested that my friend immediately start her son on a daily regimen of oral acidophilus and bifidus to replenish the probiotics killed off by the antibiotics. I also suggested adding bluegreen algae to his diet, as this would help cover any nutritional "gaps" created by his food allergies. To combat his environmental allergies and susceptibility to viruses, I added a nutritional supplement called for immune system support, with WGP Beta Glucan, a known immune booster that has be lab-tested as strong enough to conquer even anthrax.

Within a few weeks on this nutritional regimen, the boy's allergies had subsided greatly, and he had not fallen victim to a single virus, despite a raging virus that was going through his school. In addition, his digestion vastly improved, thanks to the probiotics, which helped him feel a great deal more comfortable on a daily basis.

The Moral of the Story
The moral of the story is that when it comes to viruses, infections, bacteria, and other "germy stuff," we have the big guns to fight them off. Our bodies are built to withstand and handle all kinds of germy attacks, as long as we support our immune systems. The nutritional regimen discussed above actually boils down to a very simple formula of two products:

- 1 packet of algae, probiotics, enzymes

- 1 capsule of immune support supplement (WGP Beta Glucan)

This combination is simple to take and highly effective. If you are tired of constantly wiping, sanitizing, and otherwise de-germing your environment, you might want to give this formula a try!

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bratha/ / CC BY 2.0

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Natural Wound Care with Probiotics for a "Hole in the Sole"

I've always had a "gut feeling" that probiotics, the friendly bacteria that live in our guts, plays an active role in supporting our immune system. They do this by populating our intestines, and thus forcing out unfriendly invading bacteria that cause us harm. So probiotics, like acidophilus and bifiidus, are definitely good for our insides.

But are they also beneficial for the outsides of our bodies?

In other words, do the support our body's immune defenses when it comes to wound care, bee stings, and rashes? Definitely. And recent scientific publication support this idea.

Natural Wound and Skin Care with Probiotics and Other Goodies
For years patients whom I counsel about nutrition have been applying probiotics, like acidophilus and bifidus, to skin rashes, bug bites, and poison ivy with great results. Mix in a few capsules of enzymes and AFA blue-green algae, and the results are even more supportive of natural healing.

But why does it all work?

It turns out that probiotics, a word that literally means "for life," really support our body's natural immune response by warding off harmful bacteria and other foreign invaders, both inside and outside the body.

For instance, the lactobacillus acidophilus can actually kill off Candida albicans, a nasty fungus that can be very bothersome inside and outside the body, and also slows down the production of the E. coli bacteria. Acidophilus and other forms of probiotics also secrete antibacterial acids that are harmful to pathogenic bacteria in general. Finally, probiotics enhance our bodies' mucosal immunity, preventing the spread of the harmful bacteria and decreasing the risk of infection.

How Probiotics and Other Natural Supplements Support Wound Care
So that's how probiotics work inside and outside the body. When mixed in with enzymes and blue-green algae, the effect is even more supportive of natural healing. When enzymes are taken orally, they help our bodies digest food and also act as internal scavengers, digesting any harmful toxins. Outside the body, enzymes also act as natural scavengers, When applied to wounds, enzymes digest foreign bodies that inhibit our bodies' natural healing process.

Once this happens, the blue-green algae provides the building blocks our bodies need to repair and rebuild at the site of the wound. Blue-green algae provides vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, and the necessary amino acids.

In short, you could say that probiotics and enzymes clear away any inhibitors for natural wound repair, while blue-green algae supports active wound recovery. The combination of these three natural ingredients, mixed with spring water, makes for a wonderful wound-care support salve.

"A Hole in the Sole" Case Study
One client of mine developed an abscess in the sole of his foot. Despite repeated cycles of antibiotics, both applied topically and taken orally, this hole in his foot (measuring about an inch across and 3/4 of an inch deep) would not heal for almost 2 months. Finally, tired of the continuous bandaging and pain, he called me for some suggestions.

I immediately suggested the probiotic, enzyme, and blue-green algae salve. Being a straightforward fellow, he refused to use all three ingredients of the salve, claiming that the combination seemed just as complicated as his antibiotic regimen. He insisted on just one ingredient, so I suggested he dump 2 capsules of acidophilus on the wound daily.

He stopped using the antibiotics and did so, applying 1 capsule of acidophilus to the wound morning and night. Within a week, the wound finally closed over and the pain diminished. Despite this, he continued applying the acidophilus as a paste to wounded area. In addition, since he had most of the bottle of acidophilus left over, he took one capsule morning and night. Within two weeks, the entire wound had healed.

Now this may be surprising, but scientists are now saying that probiotics are useful, either in place of antibiotics or used in conjunction with antibiotics. For instance, once study cited in the European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology indicates that when probiotics are used in conjunction with antibiotics, physicians see reduced levels of infection, resulting in shorter hospital stays and fewer post-surgical complications.

Their conclusion is that probiotics play an active role in supporting the immune system, especially in cases where certain bacteria have developed an immunity to antibiotics.

Sounds pretty good to me. I'm not a big fan of antibiotics but I understand that there is need for them at certain times. But when and if they are used, I always suggest the us of probiotics as an immune enhancer, and as a wonderful natural aid to wound care. Being "natural" parts of our body's immune system, probiotics can't help but support the healing process.

Want to give it a try? Check out an online source where you can educate yourself about natural solutions to health issues, as well as purchase these products.

Prosperity Abounds


Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kryddle/ / CC BY 2.0

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Ten Healthy Habits for You and Your Children

Life just keeps getting faster and faster. Sometimes it can be difficult to slow down and figure out what's working and what's not.

If you barely have time to get the essentials done in your life, here are ten simple tips on how to keep you and your children healthy, naturally! Pick the ones you like and leave the rest.


1. Drink plenty of fresh water (opt for filtered or spring water).

2. Eat a well-balanced and as close-to-nature diet as possible (avoid overly refined foods and opt instead for whole, raw, or lightly cooked foods and for organically grown produce when possible and for meats that are free from hormones and antibiotics).

3. Never skip breakfast. This is the most important meal of the day-it fuels the body and boosts metabolism; your children should learn this early to optimize their health and avoid the pitfalls of continuing the practice of skipping breakfast.

4. Eat five or six small meals throughout the day (rather than three larger meals). This optimizes nutrient assimilation, and puts less stress on the digestive tract and less weight on the body in the form of fat.

5. Get moderate amounts of daily exercise (setting an example for your children to follow throughout life).

6. Take supplements including bluegreen algae to support a healthy body (it is difficult to consume enough food daily to provide sufficient amounts of absorbable critical nutrients, such as folic acid).

7. Though normal healthy children may not need digestive enzymes, there are those who benefit from them. Adults certainly benefit from supplementing with enzymes to support proper food digestion and nutrient assimilation.

8. Take probiotics (naturally occurring bacteria such as L. acidophilus and B. bifidus that foster good health by promoting the growth of 'good' bacteria).

9. Relax and de-stress (children have their own daily stresses).

10. Get plenty of sleep (at least seven hours a night for adults-children need more to support their growing bodies; naps are an excellent way of catching up on this overlooked essential to good health).


Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cesarastudillo/ / CC BY 2.0

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Having a Brain Fart? 3 Simple Ways to Reset Your Brain

Do you have days filled with senior moments and brain farts ... but you still have to get stuff done? Whether you have a "Duh!" moment or just a case of "scatterbrain," it can be a real bummer.

Luckily there are some simple natural ways to reset your brain.

In fact, these days even doctors and other healthcare practitioners are recognizing some of these methods, and prescribing them for their patients.

3 Simple Natural Ways to Reset Your Brain
When your brain goes on overload, you can reset it by rebalancing it, feeding it, or giving it helping it more easily "digest" information. Any of these methods work well alone, and done in combination can have a powerful effect on your ability to think.

#1: Rebalance Your Brain
John Paul Getty was a big fan of resetting his brain. How did he do that? By doing a simple exercise called cross crawling. Cross crawling is exactly what it sounds like: you just get down on the ground and crawl like a baby. But you have to do it right.

To cross crawl effectively, make sure your opposite hand and knee strike the ground at the same time. For instance, as you crawl, your left hand and right knee should land on the ground at the same time. Ditto for your right hand and left knee. This diagonal action rebalances the two sides of your brain, and helps you recover from those embarrassing "brain farts"! In fact, this same exercise has been successfully used to improve cognitive function in autistic children and children with learning disabilities.

Today, doctors are recommending a similar exercise. You simply hold your left earlobe with your right hand and your right earlobe with your left hand. Then you bend your knees into a squatting position before standing back up. This achieves a similar effect to cross crawling, and is a little easier to do when you are in an office setting or public place (although I have to add that John Paul Getty used to just close his office door and crawl around his desk!).

#2: Feed Your Brain
Our brains are made up of mostly fatty acids. More specifically, to function properly our brains need polyunsaturated fatty-acids, especially Omega-3 fatty acids. Studies show that brain tissues that are rich in Omega-3 have improved nerve-cell function. Studies (reported in Neuroscience) with lab rats demonstrate the power of this fatty acid to improve cognitive function.

Lab rats fed a diet deficient in Omega-3 showed impaired learning and memory functions. When these same rates were transferred to a diet supplemented with fatty acids, they showed a dramatic improvement in learning and memory.

Some of the richest sources of Omega-3 include blue-green algae, coldwater fish, and certain kinds of seaweed. Among these sources, the one densest in Omega-3 and least likely to contain contaminants is blue-green algae. In fact, The University of California at Berkeley Wellness Letter strongly recommends eating AFA blue-green algae as an alternative to fish oil supplements to avoid contamination.

#3: Help Your Brain Digest Information
It might surprise you, but when your brain goes into overload it is often because you (or your brain) literally can't "digest" all the information flying around. These days we are barraged with email, voice mail, tweets, and instant messages. That's a lot to digest. Plus, the ability to multi-task is no longer a plus, these days it is a "must." It's no wonder we have brain farts and feel just a wee bit insane.

To help your brain digest and process all this information, just take enzymes. This may seem odd, since people generally associate enzymes with digesting food. However, when you take enzymes without food, the enzymes roam freely around your body, digesting anything else that needs digesting. That includes helping your brain process this information.

While there are no clinical studies that prove this, many people have successfully used enzyme therapy to improve cognitive function. Taking 2-4 capsules of powerful enzymes between meals can help you think more clearly, especially when you feel overloaded.

Another option is to take herbs like Gingko Biloba. Herbs like these don't necessarily help your brain "digest" information, but they do improve circulation to the brain, which helps you think more clearly.

Solving the "Brain Fart" Problem Naturally
The three natural methods described in this article are simple, natural, effective, and have little or no side effects. To me, that sure sounds better than artificial methods to restart the brain, such as slamming caffeine, puffing on a cigarette, or taking medication. When my brain isn't working properly, that means my body is a little toxic or tired. I'd rather not try to restart my brain by adding in more toxins.

What about you? Give these natural methods a try ... you'll be pleasantly surprised at the speed and effectiveness of the results!


Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/carl_mueller/ / CC BY 2.0

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Wacky Weight Loss Idea: Can Holding Your Breath Help?

Winter time and weight loss are not always happy companions. Stews, hot cocoa, and sweets all add inches to the waistline and hips.

Luckily, there are some weird and wacky weight loss ideas that you can try for weight loss. Some of them I've tried (they work) and others I have not.

If nothing else, they'll provide you some interesting entertainment.

Wacky Weight Loss Idea #1: Hold Your Breath
The idea is that if you hold you breath for 30 seconds at a time, several times a day, you can shed a few pounds. The reasoning behind this is that most of us don't get enough oxygen in our systems through our ordinary breathing. This can be caused by shallow breathing, poor posture, spinal misalignments, or spending too much time indoors, where the air quality is poor.

If you hold your breath, your body can't get oxygen through your respiratory system. Instead, it starts pulling oxygen in through the pores of your skin. Since the total surface of your skin is up to 27 square feet, that's a lot of oxygen exchange. So you get more oxygen into your body, which in turn helps your cells work more effectively. More effective cells means that waste and toxins are moved out of your body at a higher rate.

This all makes sense, wacky though it is. Breathing exercises have long been used in various esoteric and yogic practices, so I believe in the validity in this exercise, with a few caveats. During the winter, you have to expose your skin so that it can "breathe," which might mean running around in your undies for a bit each day. Also, your pores have to be relatively clean or your skin won't breathe effectively. Bathing with Epsom salts can help with that. It's definitely a wacky weight loss idea, but kind of fun.

Wacky Weight Loss Idea #2: Castor Oil Packs on the Abdomen
Now this idea I have tried and it does work. Did you know that we can store up to 15 pounds, or more, of waste in our intestines? It's all indigested food that our bodies have not been able to process.

One simple way to start moving that toxic waste out of your system is by applying a castor oil pack to your abdominal area once a week for a month. This is an Edgar Cayce remedy and it works wonders. You'll be surprised at what comes out your back end, so to speak. You can buy complete castor oil pack kits at most health food stores or at the Heritage store online. Instructions are freely available online.

Wacky Weight Loss Idea #3: Enzyme Therapy
Actually, this wacky idea has recently gone mainstream, with more and more people starting to understand the many uses of enzymes. You can use enzymes to do everything from brush your teeth to stopping the itch of poison ivy. It's also great for weight loss.

Since we mostly eat cooked and pre-packaged foods, especially during cold weather, we eat foods that don't have enough enzymes to digest themselves. Unfortunately, our bodies usually don't have enough enzymes either. The end result is the 15 pounds of toxic sludge that accumulates in our gut. Luckily, you can start cleansing that sludge out of your system by taking 2-4 high-potency enzymes with meals AND between meals.

The enzymes you take with meals ensure that the food you eat is fully digested, so you don't add more weight to the sludge already in your gut. The enzymes you take between meals go to work digesting the excess material in your gut and throughout your body. This promotes weight loss without a lot of effort. The convenience of this method is very attractive to busy people who don't have a lot of time to spend on other methods.

Weight Loss Ideas: Wacky or Right On?
I've been trying the "hold your breath" method for only a few days so I can't report on it except to say that it makes sense from a theoretical point of view. However, the second two approaches, enzyme therapy and castor oil packs, I can testify are effective for a great many people. They are a bit wacky, but also right on the money. They are also quite simple to do, so what have you got to lose except all that extra stuff around your belly?


Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/23232902@N05/ / CC BY 2.0

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Gut Check: How Many Hours without a Bowel Movement Equals Constipation?

Sorry I have to ask, but do you know?

A lot of people have no idea. The short answer is 24 hours. If you regularly experience 24 hours or more between bowel movements, then you have chronic constipation.

If that is true, then you are not alone. Here are some shocking facts, the "straight poop" if you will, that might shock you: Studies indicate that

- 60% of the U.S. population suffers from chronic constipation

- the average U.S. adult carries around 15-30 pounds of fecal material in their large intestine (wow, that's a lot of weight!)

Symptoms of Constipation
The straight poop on constipation is certainly shocking, and it also explains the "beer gut" or pot belly that many people carry around their mid-sections. Oddly enough, though, most of these people have no idea that they suffer from constipation.

For years, one of my friends thought it was perfectly normal to have a bowel movement once a week. Not so.

Aside from not "going" on a regular basis, other symptoms of constipation can include:

- bad breath
- a strangely-colored or dark-colored tongue
- sleepiness or lack of energy
- bloating and other digestive issues
- headaches and dizziness
- a feeling heaviness in the lower abdomen
- poor skin condition

None of those are too pleasant, either. Luckily, there are simple natural steps you can take if you do suffer from constipation, or any of its symptoms.

3 Natural Steps to Relieve Symptoms of Constipation
If you suffer from constipation, your main goal is to get your digestion functioning at a more healthy and active level again. Constipation is a sign that your digestion has a lot of accumulated fecal matter that not only adds extra pounds to your body mass, but also prevents normal digestion. The extra fecal matter prevents your body from properly absorbing nutrients from your food, and efficiently getting rid of waste.

To help restore your body's normal digestion, you need to take three steps:

Clean, replenish, and replace.

Step #1: Clean Your Digestive Tract
There are many ways to cleanse your body, but the simplest one I know of is to do a castor oil pack on your abdomen once a week for 4 weeks. Castor oil packs are an old Edgar Cayce remedy and they work really well to help your body get rid of any kind of waste. They work equally well on anything from clogged up intestines to unwanted bone spurs. Castor oil literally dissolves any kind of unnatural material in the body.

You can buy full castor oil packs (which include a wool flannel cloth, castor oil, and a heating pad) at most health food stores. You can also order these supplies online at the Heritage Store. You will also need to have some baking soda on hand for cleaning up after you have done the pack.

A short version of how to do the castor oil pack are as follows:

1. Soak the wool flannel with castor oil, and place the flannel in an ovenproof dish.

2. Warm the wool flannel in the oven, until warm to the touch. Meanwhile, plug in the heating pad and warm it. Also, mix the baking soda with water so it forms a paste.

3. Once the wool flannel is warmed, place it directly on your abdomen, and then place the heating pad on top. Leave the "pack" in place for 1.5 hours.

4. Once you are done with the pack, wipe your entire abdomen with the baking soda paste. This converts the toxins released by the pack into harmless salts that can be washed out of your body through the lymphatic system. This step is very important so don't skip it. If you do, your body will not be able to excrete the toxins released by the pack.

The castor oil pack, done for four weeks, will definitely help clean your digestive tract. The next step is to replenish.

Step #2: Replenish the Probiotics in Your Digestive Tract
Once you have started the cleansing process with the castor oil pack, the next step is to replenish the probiotics that live in a healthy intestine. Probiotics like acidophilus and bifidus are friendly bacteria that play a huge role in digestion, once food passes out of the stomach. But stress, excess fecal matter, chlorinated water, and eating too much of the wrong foods can all kill these friendly bacteria, which can lead to poor digestion and constipation.

The easiest way to replenish these friendly bacteria is to take them orally. The best probiotics are stored in refrigerators in health food stores (don't buy the ones that are stored at room temperature) or bought online from reputable health companies. Sometimes taking a powerful full-spectrum probiotic, which has more than just acidophilus and bifidus, for a month can do a fast job of restoring your friendly intestinal bacteria, and relieve symptoms of constipation quickly. Eating yogurt "beefed up" with probiotics can help, but to fully replenish your supply of healthy intestinal bacteria oral supplements are your best bet. Yogurt tends not to have enough density of probiotics to truly replenish.

Finally, the last step is to replace the enzymes that are missing from the food you eat.

Step #3: Replace Enzymes with Enzyme Therapy
Adding enzymes into your daily diet is the last step towards a healthy digestive tract and relief from constipation symptoms. Because many of the foods we eat lack the enzymes necessary for digestion, we have to take extra enzymes to help digest our foods. While raw organic foods usually have enough enzymes to digest themselves, so our bodies don't have to provide extra enzymes, most of the foods we eat are cooked, packaged, or otherwise enzyme-light.

Taking enzymes with each meal with ensure that your food is properly digested in the stomach before it goes into your intestines. Taking enzymes between meals also helps with digestion, since these enzymes roam the body and "digest" toxins, extra fecal matter, and even proteins that have slipped into the bloodstream through the stomach wall.

Be sure to take an enzyme formula that has multiple kinds of enzymes, since each kind of food needs its own enzymes to fully digest. For instance, you need:

- amylase to break down starch
- invertase to digest sugar products
- lactase to digest milk sugar
- cellulase and pectinase to assist in the breakdown of fiber
- lipase to break down fat
- protease, bromelain, and papain to break down protein
- mycopepsin is a special enzyme characterized by its ability to break down proteins under acid conditions, which exists in the stomach

As you can see, there is no single enzyme that will break down every kind of food, so read the labels when choosing an enzyme formula to add to your daily regimen.

Constipation, and its symptoms, is no fun to deal with. Relieving those symptoms, however, are not difficult, especially if you follow the three natural steps outlined above. The cost of cleansing, replenishing, and replacing what's missing from your digestive tract is not expensive, and will save you tons in medical bills, not to mention give you the pleasure of a healthy body!


Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/andybutkaj/ / CC BY 2.0

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Food Allergy Symptoms: Natural Solutions for Relief

Food allergies are a bigger deal than most people think. Did you know that food allergies affect about 60% of the population? Listen to this:

"The incidence of food allergy is greater than the incidence of any other type of illness affecting mankind."

Wow, that's pretty powerful! The quote above is from James Breneman, former chairman of the Food Allergy Committee of the American College of Allergists.

Now here's the kicker: we make ourselves allergic to food. No kidding. Let me explain.

How We Develop Food Allergy Symptoms
We can become allergic to just about any kind of food. To keep it simple, I'll explain what happens with just one kind of food: proteins. When we eat protein, the act of chewing starts to break the protein down into component nutrients, a process which is continued in the stomach and then the small intestine.

According to researcher Karl Abrams, our normal healthy digestive process allows about 2% of these proteins to slip through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream. Once in these proteins enter the bloodstream, our bodies no longer recognize them as "food." Now they have become "foreign invaders" and the body jumps into an immune response. It produces antibodies to fight off these foreign invaders, and food allergy symptoms are often the result!

When our bodies don't recognize food particles in the bloodstream, we become allergic to them. The next time we eat this kind of food, our body immediately goes into a food allergy reaction.

Food allergy symptoms can include digestive upset, such as diarrhea, gas, and bloating; skin conditions like hives; and swelling of various body parts, such as the throat or hands and feet. In fact, if it goes on for a long period of time, the liver becomes affected, since this organ is responsible for filtering the blood of excess toxins. When the liver is affected, then we can develop long-term chronic conditions like psoriasis.

What's worse is that most people don't have healthy digestion. So while a healthy digestive system let's 2% of the proteins we eat to enter the bloodstream, a body under stress lets even more proteins cross the intestinal wall, which produces even worse food allergy symptoms.

Natural Ways to Prevent Food Allergy Symptoms
Now that you know how we develop food allergy symptom, the next thing is to discover how to prevent them. Luckily, there are three nutritional supplements that can relieve and prevent these symptoms:

- AFA blue-green algae
- probiotics like acidophilus and bifidus
- food enzymes

#1: AFA Blue-Green Algae
Blue-green algae has two important nutrients to help prevent food allergies: beta-carotene and chlorophyll. Studies show that these substances in AFA blue-green algae help "dramatically stimulate specialized cells around the intestinal walls to secrete lubricating material and thus help prevent this type of allergic reaction" (Karl Abrams). In other words, the beta carotene and chlorophyll in blue-green algae strengthen the intestinal wall, so proteins and other food particles can't slip into the bloodstream. No particles in the bloodstream equals no food allergies. Abrams notes that the omega-3 fatty acids in the algae help as well.

#2: Probiotics like Acidophilus and Bifidus
Probiotics are the "friendly bacteria" that live in our intestines and do the bulk of the work of digesting our food once it has passed through the stomach. Acidophilus and bifidus are among the most important of these friendly bacteria, and provide a barrier between the intestines and the bloodstream, as well as helping us fully digest our food.

Stress, drinking chlorinated water, taking medication, or drinking alcohol can all decrease the population of probiotics in our gut, leading to what is called "leaky gut syndrome," the phenomenon discussed earlier in which food particles slip into the bloodstream. Taking acidophilus and bifidus orally on a daily basis keeps our probiotic population at healthy levels, which creates good digestion and prevents food allergy symptoms. In my experience, eating live yogurt is not enough to prevent food allergies. One needs to take highly-concentrated acidophilus and bifidus in capsule form that are stored in refrigerators (keeps the bacteria healthy and active).

#3: Food Enzymes
Did you know that there are enzymes and co-enzymes that digest every kind of food we eat? What's more, organic raw foods contain all the enzymes needed to digest themselves. For instance, Eskimos eat enough raw fish in their diet that they don't suffer from poor digestion or heart disease. Their food has enough enzymes to literally digest itself, keeping the Eskimos healthy. In fact, the word Eskimo even means "he who eats raw food." So, enzymes are very important because they are key to healthy and complete digestion.

Here's the really good news about enzymes: if your digestion isn't perfect, eating enzymes with and between meals can support digestion and help with food allergy symptoms. When taken with food, enzymes help ensure proper digestion and prevent food particles from entering the bloodstream. When taken separate from food, the enzymes are able to pass through the intestinal barrier (just like the food particles) to digest the food particles in the bloodstream. This prevents the immune system from thinking that food is an invader, thus preventing the immune response that causes food allergy symptoms.

Adding these three simple nutritional supplements to your daily regimen--AFA blue-green algae, probiotics like acidophilus and bifidus, and enzymes--can do a lot to support your body's digestive process, and relieve food allergy symptoms.

Simple, effective, and convenient ... now that's what works for most people when it comes to nutritional supplements!


Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dan4th/ / CC BY 2.0