Thursday, January 28, 2010

Healthy Recipes - Boku Balsamic Vinaigrette

Yield: 1 cup

3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon raw honey
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 scoop BōKU®
¾ cup extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt and black pepper to taste

In a bowl, whick together the balsamic vinegar, honey Dijon, BōKU® and a pinch of salt; Let rest 5 minutes to full hydrate the BōKU®. Slowly whisk in the olive oil until completely emulsified. Correct seasoning.

Toss dressing with mixed greens, raspberries, pomegranate seeds, slivers of shallot, pecans and crumbled goat cheese as a suggestion.

Recipe & photo by Heidi Robb

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Treatment Tuesday - Snoring

About 40 million Americans snore, causing untold damage to relationships and plenty of lost sleep. When you snore, the fleshy areas of the throat, such as the uvula, vibrate. This vibration causes the buzzing, gargling, rattling, and wheezing sounds known as snoring. Snoring is twice as common in men as in women, but women and children also snore. The figures for men are surprisingly high: 20% of men aged 30 to 35 snore, with that number jumping to more than 60% by age 60.

The most significant drawback to snoring is not the bothersome sound it makes but the fact that oxygen flow to the lungs is being restricted, which can lead to manifold challenges.

What Causes Snoring?

Any number of factors, ranging from mild conditions to life-threatening diseases, can cause snoring. On the less serious side, many factors may lead to the annoying sounds of snoring:
  • Simple nasal or sinus congestion
  • Swollen tonsils or adenoids
  • Nasal polyps
  • Loose dentures
  • Eating heavy meals late in the evening
  • Alcohol, especially if you drink within a few hours of bedtime
  • Antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs, antihistamines, and muscle relaxant drugs may cause snoring because they cause the throat muscles to relax, thus reducing the width of airways.
Snoring

  • Age is associated with a high incidence of snoring because aging causes the throat’s skin and muscles to become flabby, which partially obstructs airflow.
  • Obesity
Some causes of snoring are more serious, such as obesity and heart disease. Sleep apnea reeks havoc with sleeping and can lead to strokes. High blood pressure also causes snoring, and should never be left untreated.

Treatments for Snoring

If snoring is a minor inconvenience, these tips might help cure the problem:

  • Sleep on your side instead of your back. Attach a small pocket to the back of your nightshirt and place a golf ball or large marble in the pocket. You will not sleep on your back.
  • Blow your nose to clear out congestion before you go to sleep.
  • You can try breathing oils, such as peppermint, spearmint, pine, and eucalyptus.
  • Develop a consistent sleeping pattern.
  • Avoid drinking alcohol close to bedtime.
  • Keep your room dust free, and don’t let pets sleep with you. You may want to take homeopathic remedies to counter mold, dust, and dander.
  • Nasal strips hold the nose open, allowing you to breathe easier through the nose.
  • Avoid eating mucus-producing foods like wheat and dairy, and any foods you are allergic to.
  • Use a humidifier in your bedroom if air is too dry. Or you can use an atomizer if your room is small enough. Add some marjoram oil drops to the water.
  • Avoid late meals and overeating. Losing weight also helps.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Here's Another Reason Why Chlorella and Spirulina Are Good for You!

Not only are both algaes bursting with protein, vitamins, minerals and tons of other nutrients that the human body craves, but they are practically essential cleansing the body of toxic metals (which it does not crave).

According to citizen journalist, Elizabeth Walling:

Spirulina has been shown as an effective chelating agent for removing toxins such as mercury, and radioactive substances from the body. It has also been used to remove cadmium and lead from waste water.


While some detoxifying supplements simply release toxins from cells and tissues, chlorella is particularly adept at binding to toxic metals and ushering them out of the entire system. Chlorella contains proteins and peptides which are designed to bind to these substances and carry them out of the body. The chlorophyll in chlorella also aids heavy metal detoxification.



Read the entire article here: http://www.naturalnews.com/027740_spirulina_chlorella.html

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Healthy Recipes - Keep it Green Sunrise Drink


This recipe is great for dinner too!
1-2 Scoop Boku
2 Tbsp Nutiva Coconut Oil
1 Tbsp Nutiva Hemp Oil
1 Scoop (Boku) Protein Powder
1 Organic Banana
8oz Organic Orange Mango juice

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Healthy Recipes - Resolution Smoothie

This super fruity smoothie will add some zing to your new year.


Ingredients:

resolutionsmoothie1/4 cup crushed pineapple
1 fresh apricot, diced
6 strawberries
1/2 banana
1 1/2 cups water or your favorite juice
1 scoop BõKU™ Super Food

Blend and Enjoy

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Treatment Tuesdays - Back Pain

The second leading reason for visits to the doctor in the United States is back pain. Almost 80% of the U.S. population will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. Many of them will end up on dangerous and potentially addictive pain medications and will eventually end up having surgery, steroid injections, and other invasive procedures—often continuing for years.

Research shows that most of the 25,000 back surgeries performed each year may not be necessary, and the condition often reappears in four years or less. Holistic medicine offers alternative options for curing back pain. Instead of just masking symptoms that often leads to failed results, chiropractic adjustments and other measures can be taken for successful treatment. Back pain can worsen over time, and prevention and maintenance of a healthy lifestyle are essential building blocks for aligning the body for optimal performance.

What Causes Back Pain?

The back is a complex mechanism. It has bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons; these are all held together by connective tissue called fascia. Soft tissue, nerves, skin, and collagen also play their part in the formation of the back. Imbalance or injury to any of these components can result in back pain. Some causes of back pain include:

  • Poor posture
  • Lack of exercise or physical activity
  • Muscular strain from exercise, excessive body weight, or sleep posture
  • Lack of movement and exercise
  • Liver disease or liver toxicity (including from drinking alcohol)
  • Misalignment of the spine, shoulders, and hips that can lead to a chronic condition
  • Inflammation of the fascia, joints or tendons from injury, medications, or deterioration of surrounding ligaments
  • Scoliosis (curvature of the spine) and other spinal problems

Treatments for Back Pain

Prevention is the best treatment for back pain—and a solid prevention plan includes staying in good physical condition, eating a healthy diet, and stretching frequently. Paying attention to movement and posture is essential. Be sure you have a firm and spacious sleeping arrangement, and that your back is supported in the car (most car seats are not good for the back) and at work. This is especially important if you are overweight. Also, abusing alcohol or prescription medications (including antihistamines) can cause back pain from liver and kidney toxicity.

For easing back pain, you first need to identify the type of pain. Sharp, pointed lower back pain is often a symptom of muscular imbalance. This can easily be cured with long, slow stretching exercises done on the floor. If stretching and movement make your pain more acute afterward, then your back pain may be related to spinal or tissue damage. Dull, aching back pain located in the lower and mid back may be related to the kidneys, and may require a cleanse of the kidneys and liver. Powerful herbs that may help include milk thistle (liver tonic and detoxifier), Devil’s Claw (back pain relief), boldo, and green tea and extract (diuretic and anti-inflammatory).

Next, focus on inflammation with the best anti-inflammatories available in the natural world: fish oil supplements, garlic, cinnamon, and tumeric supplements. Make sure to get enough calcium, magnesium, vitamin E and C in your diet through natural, whole foods in your diet.

Other Considerations

Herbs such as lobelia and cramp bark can be rubbed on the affected area to reduce pain, and other useful herbs include cat’s claw, feverfew, rosemary, wild yam, and yucca root. If your back pain is related to kidney toxicity, then massage is not suggested. Instead, use saunas and detoxifying treatments. Other options for treating back pain include:

  • Inversion therapy: Now accepted as one of the more successful treatments for certain types of back pain, inversion therapy involves hanging upside-down (at gradually increasing increments of time) on an inversion table. This helps your back muscles to completely relax and allows your spine to naturally correct itself. The extra blood flow to your head is another benefit of this treatment.
  • Acupuncture to increase blood flow to stressed muscles
  • Bodywork, including massage and deep tissue work, helps create balance and reconnect tissue.
  • Feldenkrais Method to correct posture and improve range of motion
  • Chiropractic to detect and correct spinal misalignments
  • Hydrotherapy that applies water, ice, and steam to restore health
  • Other alternative methods including oxygen therapy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Ayurveda.

Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy is a semi-natural treatment that stimulates the body’s production of collagen and consequently the growth of ligaments and other connective tissues. This has been useful in curing some back problems caused by ligament damage. The therapy involves injecting an irritant solution into the desired area. This causes an intense inflammatory response, which triggers a chain reaction of healing events in the body leading to the rebuilding of connective tissues. Some studies show that the new connective tissues are actually stronger than the original tissues. The treatment is generally repeated several times for full regeneration. 

Friday, January 8, 2010

How to keep Your 2010 New Year’s Resolution!

The top New Year’s resolutions are the same every year, most likely because people find them to just difficult to keep. Statistically, less than half of those who make a resolution will stick to it for six months or more. This is really a shame because many of the most common resolution have to do with getting healthier – lose weight, quit smoking/drinking, exercise more, eat healthier.




Here are some tips to help you go further:
  • Focus on only one resolution
  • Set specific goals
  • Break down into smaller steps with smaller, but measurable goals
  • Chart your progress with a journal, spreadsheet or goal bulletin board
  • Reward yourself for completing each step
  • Always think positively, don’t dwell on failures or negative consequences
  • Share goals with others to remind and support you
  • Take an occasional failure as a minor setback, not a reason to give up
Remember that Rome wasn't built in a day and  don't beat yourself up over minor slip-ups. Believe in yourself and think positively and you will be more likely to make your resolution a reality!

    Wednesday, January 6, 2010

    Article on How Cordyceps May Fight Cancer

    Natural News’ Mike Adams reports on how cordyceps mushrooms may have the ability to cease the spread of cancer. This is due to the fact that cordycepin (a drug extracted from the mushroom) has an effect on how cells make protein.

    cordyceps“For thousands of years, the mushroom known as Cordyceps has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat problems ranging from coughs and fatigue to impotence and cancer. And once Western scientists started considering that anecdotal reports of the mushroom’s curative powers might be something more than “folk tales”, research started accumulating that backs up many ancient claims about Cordyceps’ health benefits. For example, scientists from the University of Nottingham in Great Britain say they’ve documented how Cordiceps can fight cancer — and the new discovery could increase the effectiveness of mushroom-derived cancer treatments.”

    Read the rest of the article here: http://www.naturalnews.com/027869_cordyceps_cancer.html

    Research has shown that cordyceps may also protect the liver from damage and is known to have an anti-depressant effect.
    To read more on this:
    http://bit.ly/4zraGK
    http://ecam.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/nep201#SEC4