Amazing tips, tools and information regarding natural nutrition allowing you the benefit of complete physical, mental and social wellness. Covering topics on everything naturally through healthy eating. Such topics include vitamins and minerals, causes of illness and disease, healthy eating, natural cleansing, juicing, hydrotherapy and natural cures.
The common cold can be caused by a variety of viruses that can infect the upper respiratory tract such as the nasal passage, sinuses and the throat. We are constantly exposed to dozens of viruses daily, but most people only catch a cold once or twice a year. The main reason we catch a cold is that our immune system becomes incapable of fighting off these viruses.
Most people who catch colds will experience a soar throat, a runny nose, fevers and headaches. Sometimes it may be difficult to distiguisg the difference between a cold and the flu. However, the flu usually starts off with cold like symptoms but then becomes more severe with higher fevers, an aching body and headaches that almost feel like migraines.
Keeping the immune system healthy is the primary way to protect yourself from colds, viruses and other infections. Here are a few ideas you can try if you should happen to catch more colds than the typical one or two per year.
If you happen to catch a cold, you can speed up the recovery time. However, once a cold has set in, there is no magic cure that will make you well in two days. Here are a few tips that can however, reduce the duration of the cold.
Get plenty of rest
Drink plenty of water 10 - 12 glasses (8oz) per day
Drink plenty of vitamin rich naturally made juices (see our juicing blog)
Take Vitamin C 500 - 1000 mg every two hours. However, try to consume the vitamin drinking homemade juiced vitamin c rich vegetables
Take zinc lozenges
Take echinaccea up to three times per day
Avoid sugar
These are simple and easy to do tips if you catch a simple or common cold. But again, the best way to avoid a cold is by making sure your immune system stays healthy.
Be sure to read our blogs on the immune system for more tips. As always, your comments and questions are welcomed and appreciated. To leave a comment or ask a questions, simply scroll to the bottom of this page. And, as always, we have added some resource links and videos for your enjoyment. Feel free to click on any of the links or banners provided to find products, tools and other resources.
The immune system protects the body against infection and against the development of cancer. Those who get colds and infections often are signs of a weakened immune system. There are ways to support the immune system naturally. Welcome to Part II of Naturally Supporting the Immune System, where we discuss other great tips and vitamins.
A person's emotional state has a huge impact on the immune system. Reducing stress and developing a positive mental attitude can greatly improve one's immune system. Other factors that can negatively impact the immune system are the abuse of drugs and alcohol, cigarette smoking, unhealthy diets and obesity. However, nutrient deficiency is the most common cause of a suppressed immune system. Our bodies require a certain amount of vitamins and minerals to function properly. If the immune system is not working well, this will cause a great deal of other unhealthy problems.
A naturally enhanced diet supports and strengthens the immune system and keeps us from being obese. Those who are obese suffer from more infections than those of normal weight. The white blood cells in overweight people were less able to destroy bacteria. This increases the levels of cholesterol and other fatty substances.
The best way to support the immune system and to strengthen it is by eating a well balanced diet which in vitamins and minerals. Yesterday, we talked about Vitamins A, E, and C. Moving on to Part II we continue with other great immune system supporting vitamins.
Vitamin B6 - A deficiency in Vitamin B6 suppresses both antibody and cell mediated immunity. A white blood cell count can determine whether a person is deficient in B6. A person can develop a deficiency to B6 by drinking too much alcohol and use of specific oral contraceptives. Foods rich in Vitamin B6 include:
This of course is a partial list, but should get you on your way to a positive change in creating a healthier immune system.
Vitamin B12 - Deficiency in Vitamin B12 comes from abnormal white blood cells and reduced white blood cells. B12 is the most common deficiency in the U.S. and had been shown to shrink the lymph nodes and impair white blood cell funtion. This makes it difficult to destroy infecting organisms in the body. However, there are foods rich in B12, allowing you to get the daily recommended dose naturally.
Liver
Kidney
Turkey
Chicken
Eggs
Hard Cheese
Lamb
Remember, it is about eating a balanced diet. Most people tend to go overboard by not eating certain foods at all, or by eating too much of other foods. Balance it out and create a menu that you can stick to.
As always, we look forward to your comments and questions. Be sure to check out some of the resource information and the videos at the bottom of the blog. There are great instructional videos on vitamins and minerals. The resource links are great for having a book on hand at all times. As a special surprise, we included some books specifically related to women and natural living.
The immune system protects the body against infection and against the development of cancer. Those who get colds and infections often are signs of a weakened immune system. There are ways to support the immune system naturally.
A person's emotional state has a huge impact on the immune system. Reducing stress and developing a positive mental attitude can greatly improve one's immune system. Other factors that can negatively impact the immune system are the abuse of drugs and alcohol, cigarette smoking, unhealthy diets and obesity. However, nutrient deficiency is the most common cause of a suppressed immune system. Our bodies require a certain amount of vitamins and minerals to function properly. If the immune system is not working well, this will cause a great deal of other unhealthy problems.
A naturally enhanced diet supports and stregnthens the immune system and keeps us from being obese. Those who are obese suffer from more infections than those of normal weight. The white blood cells in overweight people were less able to destroy bacteria. This increases the levels of cholesterol and other fatty substances.
The best way to support the immune system and to stregnthen it is by eating a well balanced diet wich in vitamins and minerals. Some of the best vitamins for the immune system are shown below.
Vitamin A - Vitamin A plays a vital role in supporting the immune system. It maintains the surface of the skin, the respiratory tract, the gastrointestinal tract and other tissues. These are surface systems that act as a barrier to microorganisms. Some of the best Vitamin A rich foods are naturally specific vegetables and fruits:
Carrots
Kale
Sweet Potatoes
Spinach
Watercress
Mangoes
Apricots
However, the herb rich in Vitamin A might come as a shock:
Vitamin C is probably the most well known when it comes to stregnthening the immune system. Many people go overboard on the Vitamin C when they catch a cold or infection. However, getting your proper daily dose of vitamin C will keep the immune system strong and healthy. Vitamin C can enhance the white blood cell response and function. Vitamin C can help fight viral infections and cancer.
Vitamin E is a great immune system enhancing vitamin. Vitamin E has shown tremendous immune system enhancement in the elderly. Vitamin E enhances the cells and the antibodies. In addition, the skin benefits from Vitamin E in a major way. One of the best tips ever given to me was from an old woman who told me to use pure Vitamin E oil on my skin. Many people use all sorts of skin care products and various manufactured products to help fight aging, reduce acne and fight other skin problems. However, pure Vitamin E oil applied directly to your skin works better than anything on the market. Its natural and healthy. Using Vitamin E oil on the skin and ingesting it by eating foods rich in Vitamin E gives you that extra added benefit.
Foods Rich in Vitamin E (suprisingly, they are mostly nuts):
Pine Nuts
Brazil Nuts
Walnuts
Avocado
Sweet Potatoes
Almonds
Squash
Turnip Greens
Tomatoes
Wheat Germ
Well, this concludes the first part of Naturally Supporting & Stregnthening the Immune System. We will return tomorrow with the other vitamins that work well with the immune system. Be sure to leave comments or ask your questions below. We will gladly reply. Please be sure to review our other blogs as they contain great information related to the immune system and natural, healthy nutrition.
As always, we try to leave you with plenty of resources to get you on your way to complete physical, mental & social wellness. Be sure to check out some of the book resources we have provided for you. And, we are happy to announce that we have added extra resources specifically related to women's health and natural nutritional healing. Don't forget to watch our videos at the bottom of this blog, which contains lots of natural nutritious tips and instructions. Make a resolution for the new year to get control of your life and your health.
Welcome back to all who continue on this journey towards complete physical, mental and social wellness. We have covered quite a few topics and you are always welcome to subscribe or add this blog to your favorites so that you may come back at any time. As always, we welcome your comments and questions as we like this to be a fun and informative, interactive blog. Simply post your comments or questions in the form at the bottom of this page and we will reply.
Our last topic covered of our natural and healthy total detox blog. We discussed toxins, the various types of toxins and how each toxin affects your body. In addition, we discussed the liver detox process and how the liver works with our body. There were great tips, videos on juicing and resources available. Please feel free to go back and review any of my previous posts. A healthy body takes practice and time.
Today, we move forward with digestion and elimination, related to detoxification, a new topic that has become pretty popular. There are lots of sites and companies out there selling various products that promise complete body detoxification. However, our information and tips will focus on detoxing through natural and nutritional food sources. Many physicians believe that detoxing with nutritious food is the best choice because you know that what you are ingesting is healthy and pure.
Indigestion
Many people suffer from indigestion without ever knowing the cause. They take over the counter medicines for quick fixes, only to have it return often. So, although there are quick fixes, permanent fixes come from changing your eating habits and ridding the body of toxic acids. Indigestion can be caused by many things including increased secretion of acid, decreased secretion of acid, enzymes and other digestive factors.
Gas
Nausea
Diarreah
Cramps
Poor appetite
Burping
and other sbdominal discomforts
Heartburn
Heartburn can be one of the most painful digestive symptoms out there. Many who experience it for the first time may confuse it with a heart attack. Others may not know what they are experiencing, only that they are going through severe pain in a dangerous area, the chest. Many hospital emergency rooms report mistaken self diagnosis from those rushing to the hospital thinking they are suffering from a heart attack. They also report almost just as many deaths from those mistaking a heart attack for heartburn and not going to the hospital. Heartburn though, is usually caused by over eating.
Chset Pain
Pain in the throat
Difficulty Swallowing
Food feeling like it is stuck in the throat
Detoxing to Eliminate Heartburn & Indigestion
We learned from our last blog that detoxing and cleansing the body can take care of many problems our bodies face. We also learned that indigestion and heartburn are normally caused by the various foods we eat, over eating and improper digestive functions. The good news is, detoxing can play a key role in the elimination of indigestion and heartburn. Eating better, healthier foods will keep our liver, kidney and digestive systems functioning properly. And, when you perform natural detox, you are cleaning your body out and getting rid of the junk. You are then replacing it with healthy fruits and vegatables full of the vitamins and minerals our bodies need to function at an optimal level.
Here are a few tips that will assist you in getting rid of indigestion and heartburn.
1. Perform a natual green juice fast.
The fast will allow your body to cleanse and sort of start with a clean slate. The green juice will provide your body with the nutrients you need while you are cleansing.
2. Incorporate solid, healthy food back into your system slowly.
Make sure that you don't go into a fasting shock and incorporate healthy foods back into your diet slowly. Take 2 weeks and add first your vegetables. Then incorporate the fruit into your diet and stay on fruit and veggies for an additional 2 weeks. And finally, incorporate healthy grains and nuts back in to your diet.
By following the aforementioned steps, you will feel a huge difference. You will no longer suffer from heartburn and indigestion. And, if you continue to suffer from these problems, you should consult your doctor immediately. This may be a sign of a more serious digestive problem.
Immediate Relief Tips
For those who are in immediate relief from heartburn and indigestion, here are a few tips that can assist you.
1. Drink Peppermint Tea
Peppermint tea is best for indigestion and works quickly. It allows you to expell gas, tastes great. The best tea to drink is a pure loose leaf tea. Take the tea and place it in a tea pouch and place the pouch in your cup. Boil water and pour it into the cup that your peppermint tea pouch is in. Let it steep for 10 - 20 minutes, depending on how strong you want it, and drink down immediately.
Peppermint is also easy to grow at home and readily available in most grocery stores. If you grow it at home, you can actually pluck a leaf and eat it.
2. Drink Lemon & Water Before a Meal
Another great trick is to squeeze half a lemon into a cup of water and drink it prior to eating. This works great if you expect to suffer from indigestion. and, because this is the day before Thanksgiving, this will be the perfect time to try this as we all tend to over eat on this particular holiday.
3. Eat an Orange
Eating an orange provides great relief because it relaxes the digestive tract.
4. Juice Fresh Ginger Root
Juice and drink fresh ginger root and then squeeze a little lemon into it to help with the taste. Ginger is amazing for ridding the body of indigestion and heartburn. However, ginger root juice has a super strong taste.
This concludes our section on natural cures for digestion problems and heartburn. We learned that by fasting, detoxing and cleansing our system, we can eliminate heartburn and indigestion. We also learned that there are great tips for immediate relief. The best thing you can do is to always keep peppermint leaves in your cabinet for those just in case times.
Be sure to see our videos below on growing your very own peppermint at home. We have also included a few sponsered links and banners that provide useful products and tips. Feel free to try any of them out and leave a comment about your experience.
Welcome back to all who continue on this journey towards complete physical, mental and social wellness. We have covered quite a few topics and you are always welcome to subscribe or add this blog to your favorites so that you may come back at any time. As always, we welcome your comments and questions as we like this to be a fun and informative interactive blog.
Our last topic covered the heart and cardiovascular system. We discussed and provided great resources for keeping your heart and cardiovascular system healthy through natural nutrition. One of the most informative tips in my opinion was that through eating healthy, you can also reverse damage.
Today, we move forward with detoxing, a new topic that has become pretty popular. There are lots of sites and companies out there selling various products that promise complete body detoxification. However, our information and tips will focus on detoxing through natural and nutritional food sources. Many physicians believe that detoxing with nutritious food is the best choice because you know that what you are ingesting is healthy and pure.
Toxins and the Body
The ability to detoxify is a major factor of a person's health level. It's estimated that 25% of the U.S. population suffers from heavy metal poisoning. Exposure to toxic food items, cleaning solvents, formaldehyde, pesticides, and other toxic chemicals can have a huge impact on a person's overall health. Toxins can also be produced by bacteria and yeast can be absorbed in the body and cause interuption of body functions. The liver is an organ that plays a key role in the metabolic process, especially detoxification and cleansing.
The liver detoxification process includes:
1. Filtration of the blood.
2. Formation of bile.
3. Phase I Detoxification Reactions.
4. Phase II Detoxification Reactions.
Additionally, glutathione is an important detoxification compound. It's produced in the liver and plays a ket role to the metabolic process. Glutathione levels can be raised by ingesting foods containing Vitamin C.
The Different Types of Toxins
A toxin is a compound that has a sever negative effect on cell function and structure. Some toxins cause minimal effects while others can be fatal. Here is a list of various toxins:
Heavy Metal Toxins
Liver Toxins
Microbial Compounds
Metobolic Protein Breakdown
Heavy Metal Toxins include lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, nickel, and aluminum. They accumulate within the brain, kidneys and immune system. These are one of the most common type of toxins that people have in their system. The reason these toxins are so common is because of the air we breathe and the levels of heavy metals in the air.
Liver Toxins primarily deal with the liver and come from things like drug usage, alcohol, solvents, formaldahyde, pesticides and food additives. This is also a common toxic playground for people, primarily because of the foods we eat and the harm that recreational drug use does, including tobacco.
Microbial Compounds are toxins produced by bacteria and yeast. The toxins produced by the yeast and bacteria can be absorbed and cause harm. Examples of these types of toxins are toxins from bacteria, toxic amines, toxic derivatives, and various carcinogenic substances.
Metabolic Protein Breakdown involves the kidney. The kidney is responsible for the elimination of toxic wastes. Drinking lots of water helps the kidney funtion properly as eliminate the waste as it should.
Now that we have a general idea of toxins and how they work to cause harm to our bodies, we can implement a few of the tips provided below to prevent damage.
1. Eating vitamin rich vegetables, fruits, grains and nuts.
2. Juicing with a homemade green drink (see our blogs on juicing)
3. Adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes exercise.
Many of these herbs may be prepared as a tea for drinking. Use approximately 20 ounces of water and bring to a boil, turn the pot down and add your choice of herb. Simmer for about 15 minutes, let the teak cool and pour it into a tea cup. Drink 2-3 cups of tea daily. Here are a couple of herbal tea books that we use. Primarily because they are simple, there are lots of recipes, the herbs are easy to find, and the recipes in these books are not time consuming.
In addition, drink a green juice which may be easily made at home. The green juice aids in detoxing the body as a whole, including your liver and kidney.
To make a green juice, you will need a juice extracting machine. There are various types on the market today, but you can find some at reasonable prices.
Start by washing your vegetables. Next, use about 2 leaves of kales, half of a cucumber, approximately 6 sprigs of watercress and a handfull of parsely. Throw it in your juicer and turn it on. The juice will extract into the juicer cup. Drink it immediately so the nutrients are not lost. Practice this twice a day for two weeks. You will notice that your body will expell the waste naturally. In addition, you will feel better, look better, and have more energy. This recipe is my own and I use it because of its ease in finding the ingredients, but at the bottom of this blog, you will find an instructional video in which you can try using other recipes and methods.
Here are a few great books on juicing that we highly recommend. They are packed with recipes and tips to get you started.
As we wrap up our session today, please note that the advise given here is not intended to replace that of a qualified Physician. You should see your doctor regularly for physicals and check ups. You should also discuss with your doctor a change in eating habits so that it can be monitored for progress.
Join us next time for upcoming topics on additional detoxing information, cleansing, fasting, natural remedies and natural nutrition. Be sure to leave a comments as are always interested in hearing your thoughts and answering your questions. Feel free to utilize any of the resources within this blog by simply clicking on various links and also by viewing the videos we provide as tutorials.
Complete Book of Juicing: Your Delicious Guide to Youthful Vitality
The Juicing Book: A Complete Guide to the Juicing of Fruits and Vegetables for Maximum Health (Avery Health Guides)
