Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Natural Treatment for Osteoporosis

   
    or ( How to have Old Bones)

I bet you think this is going to be about milk and dairy products,well you would be wrong!  Sure they are high sources of calcium but they are also very acid-forming and their calcium-phosphorous-magnesium levels are way out of balance for proper human absorption and utilization. But my mum always said to drink plenty of milk for strong bones . Mind you I have since found other things that she told me weren't true either but that's another story!

 It is known from studies that retained acid in the bones is not good for a long term skeleton and that's what we are all aiming at having!

Acidosis has been associated with excess calcium in the urine and a negative calcium balance which impacts badly on bone mineral,  weakening it and contributing to osteoporosis.

Now we all know that fruit and vegetables have great benefits for all types of diseases, but in the osteoporosis field the interest is in the role that bone plays in acid-base balance.

Consider the skeleton as a source of "buffer" contributing to both the preservation of the body's PH and defence system against acid-base disorders.

There is a positive link between high consumption of fruit and vegetables and indices of bone health including density and strength.

So fruit and vegetables with their terrific alkalinity are highly beneficial to bone mineral .They act directly by providing alkalizing minerals,such as potassium, magnesium and calcium that buffer acid in the body , rendering it more suitable for all functions including bone maintenance. And as  an added benefit alkalinity promotes fat loss which will help the osteoporosis if those bones don't have to carry around so much fat.

Recommended daily intake of fruit and vegetables is between 5 - 10 serves a day. Very  few people can achieve this so this is where the handiest gadget in the kitchen comes in - yes the juicer!

Celery has calcium,potassium,magnesium,folate,riboflavin,phosphorous and manganese as well as vitamin A,C,K and B,making it great for neutralizing acid in the body and good for bone density.
Okay so celery needs something to jazz it up a bit so this is how I do it.

Recipe for Celeberry Juice
2 stalks of celery
1 carrot peeled
1 apple peeled
1/4 cup of frozen berries (blueberries or cranberries are best)
1/2 a lemon peeled
 Put 3/4 cup of water in first then the celery,then other ingredients.
Yummy and great for your bones and definately better than a glass of milk.

Yuri Elkaim in his book Eating for Energy explores the relationship between acid and PH balance and reveals the number one source of calcium for bone health.
If you have any signs of osteoporosis get this book now and follow his12 week meal plan guide for weight loss and healthy bones. It includes 120 fat-burning, health -building recipes.Click Here!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Is Your Biological Clock Ticking?

Do you want to get pregnant naturally ?

 Well I think we would all answer yes to that question but as we get older each month that it doesn't happen can be like a lifetime.
Before you go putting yourself through extensive and expensive infertility treatments why not try a holistic method of getting pregnant naturally that has been successful for over 10,000 women world wide. You need someone who has been through it and done all the research for you to point you in the right direction NOW instead of working it all out for yourself and costing yourself more valuable time.

 Tick Tock !

Medical practitioners don't always have all the answers and if you are sick of waiting you are probably too sick to be healthily pregnant,so let's take another approach.

In her book "The Pregnancy Miracle" Lisa Olsen describes how after trying for a number of years she finally gave birth to a healthy baby girl at 43. Imagine her joy after years of disappointment to finally hit upon the information she needed to succeed in becoming a healthy proud mother.

Of course a healthy pregnancy starts with a healthy body so diet and exercise are something that has to be investigated,not that you have to start running marathons or swimming oceans or lifting your own body weight,but gentle body moving exercises are vital for the health of all your major organs and your bone structure which is going to have to carry this wonderful new human being.

If you don't have any physical issues preventing pregnancy (such as blocked tubes or a vasectomy),then this programme is great and I firmly believe pregnancy can be achieved naturally when utilising Chinese Medicine and Supplements.

Lisa describes the combination of  the use of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs that helped her along with a diet and supplements in a succinct step- by -step method and with the help of a loving partner at 43 she became pregnant after only two months on the programme.

This programme helps you fix your internal problems, that are causing your infertility, in a natural way and help you regain your natural life balance,which let's face it you are going to need to be an effective parent.

So if you are dreaming of holding that perfect little "mini me" or "mini him" in your arms this time next year you need to get with the programme NOW.

Pregnancy is a Miracle but it sometimes needs a little help
Over 10,000 women worlwide have been helped by Lisa Olsen and she can help you too!

Please do yourself a favour and stop the clock ticking NOW.
Click Here!

A healthier you and a healthy baby the natural way will be your reward.

Friday, August 20, 2010

Spicy Quinoa Soup

I found this recipe to be very filling and great comfort food. Hope you like it too!
This soup is great for a cold night and we all know quinoa (pronounced keen-wa) is an excellent source of protein.
It is important to rinse the quinoa to remove the bitter coating called saponin.

Ingredients -Serves Four

3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 chopped onion
2 cups chopped cabbage
3/4 cup uncooked quinoa
1 sliced and quartered zucchini
4 little yellow squash quartered
1 440g can diced tomatoes or( your own equivalent)
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons dried basil
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon paprika
a glug of dry white wine
7 cups of vegetable stock
chopped chives for garnish

To Prepare

In a large heavy pot heat oil and saute onion,add cabbage and cook until cabbage has reduced by half.Reduce heat to low and add the quinoa,zucchini,yellow squash,tomatoes,tomato paste, all herbs and spices,stock and wine. Stir to combine,bring to boil and cover. Reduce heat to low and simmer for further 15 to 20 minutes,check taste to add salt if necessary. Serve garnished with chopped chives.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

How to Nourish Your Thyroid Naturally

One in ten people suffer from some sort of thyroid disorder and this can effect every aspect of their lives,even their sexual performance-now I've got your attention- so it is important to think about natural ways we can nourish our thyroids.

The thyroid is a gland located at the front of the neck,where it produces two very important hormones for full body health,t3 & t4. If you have an underactive thyroid this is termed Hypothyroidism. You may experience weight  gain, constipation, poor or foggy memory, fluid retention, depression and general lethargy. These are symptoms of  a lot of things I know so best to get your thyroid checked out  every so often.

Thyroid hormones are responsible for controlling activities in each cell of your body,they are like the marshals on the race track,they control how fast activities like digestion, metabolism ,growth and development occur,so if yours is underactive you end up with a traffic jam on your racetrack and that.'s not good.
This is where your diet comes into play. Your thyroid needs tyrosine,iodine and selenium in order to make its hormones.

-Tyrosine is an amino acid found in protein foods such as red meat, fish, poultry, bananas, and luscious avocados.

-Iodine is an element you can get from seafood and kelp and we are abundantly lucky here in Australia to have fresh fish available at all times.

-Selenium is a mineral found in brazil nuts, crab and salmon and it is very handy in fighting off antibodies which can attack your thyroid.

Now you know how every one is pushing" raw,organic food is best" well in the case of your under active thyroid guess what? Some raw foods are actually bad for you,such as broccolli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, radishes, cauliflower and kale, so always cook these foods.

 Oily fish such as salmon,sardines and tuna are great sources of fatty acids which reduce inflammation and support healthy thyroid cells. Extra-virgin olive oil is best for cooking and there is growing evidence that coconut oil can be beneficial as well. Vitamin D is also needed by a healthy thyroid and here in sunny Australia we can get plenty of that!

Here is one of my favourite dishes,full of thyroid track marshals waving green flags.
Lightly grilled tuna steaks  served with my sauted arame, spinach and carrot.
Arame is a mild sea-vegetable(kelp) and can be found in health food stores.

Place two tablespoons of olive oil in pan and cook two chopped cloves of garlic, add a sliced carrot and cook for further minute then add spinach leaves and arame Cook until just wilted then add two teaspoons each of rice wine and soy sauce. Serve the sauteed mixture on top of tuna or salmon steaks and your thyroid will thank you.

For more tips and recipes to nourish your thyroid do yourself a favour -  visit here

Click Here!

or here

Click Here!

How to Live with a Naturally Healthy Liver

Did you know that your liver is the most important organ in your body. Well it is -and it effects nearly every other aspect of your whole body health. Here in Australia we lead very healthy and natural lives and that's why I am going to introduce you to living with a naturally healthy liver.

  Now the first thing you need to establish is if your liver's health needs improving and in 33% of people it does as it is effecting your overall health. Are you overweight,suffering from high cholesterol,chronic fatigue,allergies,bad breath,sugar cravings and digestive problems such as bloating? These are all symptoms of a "fatty liver".

Your liver is the big filtration organ of the body and as such all the chemicals that you are exposed to end up there for processing. Now just like your dishwasher filter gets clogged sometimes so does your liver,causing a slow down in your metabolic rate,however when your liver is functioning at it's best your metabolic rate speeds up and this helps to maintain your healthy weight goals. Yes this is something all those diet books and exercise apparatus sellers don't tell you,fix your liver first and then all your plans to lose weight become much more attainable!

Most doctors are trained these days to manage our diseases in fact I like to say they work in our "sick care system" not our "health care system" and they will give you pills to swallow to suppress your appetite and these just mask the symptoms and don't really do anything to improve your liver's health in fact they can sometimes have dangerous side effects such as heart attacks or seizures which let's face it are not good.

I believe that natural remedies are best for our bodies as they usually have health boosting benefits beyond the immediate application and this is the case with increasing your liver's health. We must remember that nutrtional,herbal medicines are the traditional medicines that so much of Western medicine comes from in the first place. Nature is the best healer and I mean power to heal the body and not just cover up the symptoms.

 Fibre is very important in this process as it helps transport fat from your food into the intestine where it can then be eliminated via your bowel,however if you are constipated by not ingesting enough fibre the excess fat is less likely to follow this path and ends up getting stored you know where-hips,stomach,chin and even in the liver itself which is real trouble.
 An unhealthy liver can also lead to unstable blood sugar levels which means you crave sugar and junk foods and we all know they are not going to help in the weight loss stakes.

Fresh juices supply your body,thus your liver, with significant amounts of fibre,minerals,vitamins and enzymes and it's these enzymes that can contribute greatly to your liver's health by supporting chemical reactions in the whole of your body that break down the toxins that end up clogging your dishwasher-oops your liver. Vegetable and herbs combined in these juices give the best treatment for your liver.

 This one is my favourite. Peeled chopped fresh beetroot pieces,one pear,one lime (this really helps the flavour too) half a seeded red capsicum cut into pieces and a couple of basil leaves. Place together in juicer and down the hatch!

Of course here in Australia we have great fresh produce in fact I grow all my own herbs and vegetables here on our property on the north east coast that I use to help keep myself,my family and friends healthy. You should get into the habit of looking at your fruit and vegetable supplier as your liver's best friend.

I hope this helps you to think about your liver's health and see that to overcome a lot of other health problems you may be facing ,especially the inability to lose weight,you need to fix your liver first.

For the best diet tips for a healthy liver please do yourself a favour -  visit this site.

Click Here!

3 Tips for Having the Best Vegetable Garden Naturally

Let's save some money,and improve our health by growing our own vegetables!
If you have some space around you, you too can have a garden,even if it is in pots on the verandah. We all know the benefits of growing our own fruit and vegetables. They taste better and are healthier for you,being fresh and full of anti-oxidants,no transport involved which is good for the environment and you don't have to use chemicals or pesticides either.

Here are three tips for growing the best vegetables for you and your family.

1. Mulch -
Mulch is a protective covering that is laid on the top of the soil. It reduces the moisture loss from the soil by preventing evaporation . Mulch also prevents erosion by protecting the beds when it rains.

Another advantage of using mulch is that it helps to regulate the soil temperature. By regulating temperature mulch helps encourage plant root growth.  Healthy roots,healthy plants! Mulch reduces the need for other weed control measures because it effectively smothers weed seedlings, and prevents air-borne seeds from germinating.

Mulch has the added advantage of enriching the soil as it breaks down and releases nutrients back into the soil. Mulch that is not completely decomposed will encourage microbial organisms that are beneficial to healthy plants.

Common mulches include chipped hardwood bark, softwood bark, compost, straw, hay, rice husks, peat moss, sawdust, wood chip, peanut hulls and lawn clippings.

2.Natural Pest Control -
We have become too dependant on chemicals and these may not be good for our health instead interest in non-chemical pest control has increased in recent times along with the notion that natural is best!  All plants release different chemical agents which attract or repel insects, and either help, or discourage their growth and reproduction.  These chemicals are released, either above ground through leaves, or below ground from roots. Investigation into companion planting can be extremely helpful here.

There are a number of ‘natural’ sprays you can use to control or eliminate pests and diseases in your garden. For example, garlic, pyrethrum, chilli, wormwood, and rhuarb all make excellent sprays for different garden pests and diseases.

If you have an infestation of aphids, spray the infested stems, leaves, and buds with a very dilute soapy water, then clean water.

3 - Organic Fertilizers
There are many ways we can fertilise our garden and maintain its natural status.
Chicken,horse,cow and sheep manure can be added to the soil,before planting.
 One of the most effective fertilisers is to use worm castings. Liquid worm castings make very nutritious fertiliser. If you set up a worm farm it serves two purposes. You will have a ready disposal for your kitchen scraps. You will also have a seedling mix from the worm castings, and you will have liquid worm castings for fertilising your vegetables

A great fertiliser for young plants is one quarter liquid worm castings and three quarters water. For older plants the mixture can be stronger – about 50/50.

Before fertilising your vegetable garden make sure it has been well watered as this will help the plants to absorb the nutrients from the liquid fertiliser and prevent the risk of burning the plants roots and leaves.

There are some plants that do not like liquid fertilisers or even don’t like fertilisers.  These are root crops such as carrots, potatoes, turnips etc. A good rule to remember is that crops above the ground (leaf and fruit crops) like liquid fertiliser, compost and manures, plants that grow below the ground (root crops) dislike much liquid fertilisers, compost and manures.

Now if you are feeling inspired  and I hope you are go to Click Here!
to find out lots more great tips to start your own vegetable garden the natural way.