March 09, 2007

What's All The Nonsense About Noni?

If you've been keeping an eye on the latest buzz in the natural health world, you've certainly heard about the new super-juice coming from Hawaii, Tahiti and other tropical regions. Like many natural products that have received a lot of attention for their health benefits (and claims), Noni has been the subject of a lot of controversy, including a series of FDA warnings regarding health claims made about the juice.

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February 14, 2007

Herbal Aphrodisiacs


Part Two: From the Amazon to Copacabana
Brazil is known for being a sexy place. From Copacabana to the sensual beaches of Bahia, it’s difficult to escape the sensuality of its people and landscape. What’s more, Brazil is blessed with the abundance of nature, from its many different ecosystems to the numerous varieties of fruits and nuts that grow wild, throughout the countryside. Avocados and mangos are so abundant, you can find them growing in public spaces just about anywhere in the countryside and even in some cities. Both of these, by the way, are considered to be aphrodisiacs—the avocado mostly for male potency and the mango for stimulating desire in both sexes. With all this natural stimulation available for the taking, it’s no wonder that Brazil’s sensuality exudes in its people, its music and its culture.

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January 29, 2007

Herbal Aphrodisiacs


Part One: Out of the Amzon
On a visit to the interior of Brazil, in a small market in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, I came across a basket full of small plastic bags, each with a different homemade mixture of herbs and spices from the region. Poking through the various baggies, I noticed one that claimed to be an aphrodisiac. Naturally, I purchased it and a week or two later, came across it in my bags and decided to try it out with my wife. She tells me that was one of the hottest nights she can remember sharing with me. The mixture? Catuaba powder, GuaranĂ¡ powder, Marapuama, and Noz de Cola, among other herbs and spices. All of these are plants from the Brazilian Amazon Region.

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Heart by http://www.everaldo.com/

January 18, 2007

Shopping List for a Clutter-Free Medicine Cabinet


There are so many products on the market claiming health benefits, immune system boosting and antioxidant prowess that it’s difficult to know how to make sense of it all. Here’s a no-nonsense summary of Best Practices for building an arsenal of healthy herbal and supplemental products. It’s not a complete list, by any means, and it does not cover food, but it's a good foundation for any health-oriented kitchen.

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Bottle photo by http://flickr.com/people/strph/

December 29, 2006

Going Nuts to Avoid Red Meat

Nuts and seeds are becoming immensely popular due to their health benefits. They provide a wealth of healthy fatty acids, which help to recude bad cholesterol. They are also full of vitamins and minerals and make a great alternative to meat. Here is a terrific recipe for a meatloaf alternative that you may like even better than meatloaf itself. And your body will definitely get a kick out of it.

It’s easy to make and you can use it for sandwiches or in any way meatloaf is used.


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Almond photo by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Koyaanis_Qatsi

December 09, 2006

The Healing Powers of Chicken Soup

Studies show that chicken soup, if made properly, does contain healing properties that help combat colds, flu, and general malaise. A healthy chicken soup has antibacterial and antiviral properties, boosts the immune system, builds energy, cleanses the blood, reduces mucus, provides healthy vitamins and minerals and helps reduce inflammation. Here's a recipe that will ensure excellent results and great taste:

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Inflammation, Fishing for a Cure


Did you know that inflammation is a major factor in numerous medical conditions and could very well be the primary cause of coronary disease? This natural body process is designed to protect tissues (especially skin and ligaments) from certain kinds of injury. But when inflammation is excessive, it can lead to a variety of problems, including...

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Fish photo by http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Jewgienij_Bal






December 08, 2006

Zero Plus Zero Equals Four...or Don't Trust Trans Fat Labelling

Canadian Law allows up to 2g of Trans fat per serving to be labeled as Zero Trans Fat
Do you ever wonder who creates these food laws and how they get written up? They end up being so confusing that most consumers would never be able to figure them out. One law refers to the second condition in paragraph 3 of another law, which applies when a third law is not in effect...it's a nightmare of double-speak that appears to be designed with confusion as its principal goal.

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December 03, 2006

Lose Weight Naturally: Nature Lends a Hand


Losing weight does not have to be a struggle. Nature provides all kinds of herbs and foods that help you feel full, increase energy and metabolism, and process fats and sugars more efficiently. Here is a list of some of the best herbal supplements that you can add to a weight control program. Mix and match for best results, depending on your needs.

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Dandelion photo by BenHur: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:BenHur

November 26, 2006

Stuffed Grape Leaves: Healthy for Anyone, A Diabetic’s Delight

Walnut and Spinach Stuffed Grape Leaves
Here's a delicious recipe that is not just acceptable for diabetics, but actually helps combat diabetes and many side effects resulting from diabetes and high blood sugar. The combination of the antioxidants, live probiotic cultures and LA (lipoic acid) combats diabetes and helps maintain healthy immune and digestive systems. Garlic, onions and other ingredients help purify the blood, while walnuts, brown rice, and selenium sources work on the thyroid. But this is not just for diabetics. The health benefits from this dish are great for anyone.

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November 21, 2006

Do Big Soda Makers Hear Customers' Concerns for Better Health?

Coca-Cola introduces a natural “high” while Pepsi hopes to get your “calm” dollars
Following a trend in consumer health consciousness, extracts from natural ingredients are finding their way into mainstream beverage products by the Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo. Both companies, however, are refraining from calling their products “natural” or from even using the names of the plant sources of their “healthy” ingredients. Are they responding to customer cries for healthier products, or are they just after those dollars lost to the energy drink makers?


What’s your best guess?

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November 13, 2006

Treating with Tea

Whatever ails you, there's a tea treatment you can try
Tea time anyone? The varieties of herbal teas is astounding and so are their healing qualities. It seems there is a tea for nearly anything that ails you. The Chinese have known this for millennia. Their strange and wonderful herbal concoctions are carefully constructed to combat illness. Not to mention their daily consumption of green tea, which is a natural anti-inflammatory, antiviral and full of antioxidants. Here are a few other possibilities:

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Tea photo by: http://www.flickr.com/photos/david_wilmot/

November 07, 2006

Happiness Shake

A tasty way to cure the blues
Here's a recipe for a tasty chocolate smoothie that combats depression. The ingredients in this concoction are selected for their antidepressant qualities and for their ability to work together in this mixture. Here's what you'll need:


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Chocolate photo by
http://www.flickr.com/photos/whitewizard_studio/147401275

October 30, 2006

Carbon Activated Water (CAW): A Better Wetter

Remember Willard Water? Back in 1980, Dr. Willard appeared on 60 Minutes, demonstrating his special Catalyst Activated Water (CAW), which, he said, was water that had been altered on a molecular level (through a natural process) to be more absorbent...in lay terms...wetter water.


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Water photo by http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benutzer:W.J.Pilsak

October 12, 2006

Thyroid Imbalance: An American Epidemic

The number of Americans suffering from thyroid imbalance is reaching epidemic proportions. An estimated 15 million individuals are living with this imbalance, but the number is probably much higher. The most common imbalance is Hypothyroidism, which is an under-active thyroid. Symptoms include low energy, sensitivity to cold, slow digestion and elimination, weight gain, slow heartbeat, and even depression.

Sound like you?


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walnut photo by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Fir0002
Kelp phot by http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Lyzzy

October 07, 2006

Stop Colds Before They Start

Colds are caused primarily by inhaled germs and bacteria. These airborne molecules first come into contact with the tissues in your throat, which is why most colds begin with minor itching or soreness in the throat. From there, the bacteria grows and descends to your chest and lungs…or rises up to the mucus membranes in your nasal cavities. By then the game is over. You lose.

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October 03, 2006

Papaya for Blisters, Burns & Bites

Researchers have found that papaya pulp not only tastes good, but has curative powers for minor wounds like blisters, burns and bee stings. The powerful papain enzymes in the fruit have antisceptic properties while helping break down poisons in bee stings and bug bites. For burns, the pulp also cleans the burned area and hydrates the wounded skin tissue, ...


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September 26, 2006

My Favorite Power Foods

There are many great foods that are high in nutrients, antioxidants, or other substances and they all deserve their day in the sun. But these are my all-time favorites, foods that are really special—not just for health, but for many reasons. Check up on these power foods:

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September 23, 2006

5 Things You Should Know About Liver Detoxification

  1. Everyone has gallstones! They are essentially hardened bile caused by too much cholesterol in the diet. They obstruct the normal production of bile in the liver and gallbladder, which results in impaired digestion, reduced ability to process fats and proteins, poor elimination, and poor blood health. They generally go unnoticed until they present a major problem. But the “minor” problems they cause include low energy, allergies, low immunity, weight gain, IBS, and other bowel problems.

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September 22, 2006

Masturbation is the Best Prevention

Research indicates that masturbation may be the single best preventative medicine for prostate disorders, such as infection and prostatitis, which can lead to prostate cancer. Not only will masturbation NOT make you go blind, it serves as the best and cleanest way to cleanse the prostate of toxins. Frequent ejaculation is known to enhance prostate health, since the prostate empties itself of fluids (including toxins) upon ejaculation.


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September 19, 2006

Best Practices to Boost the Immune System

With all the noise about the immune system and its importance to our health and longevity, it can be difficult to boil things down to the best practices, therapies and supplements for giving our immunity a bump and keeping it healthy. So I've compiled this little list of best practices to make it easier. Remember that these are just a few of the most noteworthy practices and supplements I've come across in my studies and that these should probably be done in concert to assist the immune system on various levels.

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September 17, 2006

Trans-Fatty Acids: There's no Debate

Margarine producers would love for you to think that the butter vs. margarine debate is still alive and well. But the debate was over some time ago. The discovery of trans fatty acids in margarine (which coat your arteries with fat deposits) delivered the final blow. Even if you once thought it was worth eating a semi-plastic hydrogenated oil (and all the poinsonous yellow dye added to it to mask its normally dark color) in order to save a whopping 3 grams of fat per tablespoon over butter, it should now be clear that since 2 of those 5 grams of fat in margarine are trans fats (responsible for all kinds of horrible stoppages in the body), you're better off just getting the flavor and fat of butter.


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September 16, 2006

Two Recipes for Reducing Heavy Metal Toxicity

Here are two great recipes that help to reduce heavy metal toxicity in our systems. They both use a generous amount of cilantro, which has been shown to have chelating qualities, meaning that it binds to heavy metals in our blood and helps carry them out. Other ingredients are chosen for their antioxidant-rich qualities (helping reduce damage from heavy metals) and other benefits.


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September 13, 2006

Cure for ADHD: Eliminate Dysfunction at Home

Scientific studies into the causes of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) remain inconclusive as to a neurological origin for the disorder. Although allergic reactions to environmental and food toxins continue to warrant study in their connection with ADD and other behavioral and cognitive disorders in children (and adults for that matter), there is still some mystery as to why some children exhibit ADHD symptoms and others do not. We remain with no conclusive evidence that food allergies or heavy metal poisoning actually cause ADHD.

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September 08, 2006

Coffee Drinkers Take DHEA to Combat Adrenal Depletion


Did you know that drinking excess caffeine can cause your adrenal glands to over-produce and wear themselves out? Excessive caffeine intake causes the adrenal glands to react much like they do with chronic stress – by producing adrenalin. If you don’t give your adrenal glands a break, you’re likely to require more and more coffee to get the same energy effects. In other words, you are in a state of adrenal depletion.

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September 07, 2006

Everyone Needs Antioxidants

Antioxidants are not just for older adults trying to slow the aging process. Antioxidants combat the negative effects of oxidation in your system -- a chemical process that occurs when your body converts food into energy. The negative effects include the production of free radicals, electrons that fly off of atoms and into cell walls, causing diminished cell functioning which leads to aging, sickness, heart disease, and countless types of ailments.

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