Treatment Tuesday - Asthma

More young people under the age of 17 suffer from asthma than from any other medical condition. In adults, asthma is in the top ten leading causes of disease and hospitalization. Each year more than 5,000 Americans die from asthma related suffocation. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, feelings of suffocation, tightness in the chest, wheezing, and increased mucus in the lungs. Asthma attacks may also cause heart palpitations. Asthma may be either chronic or acute. Acute asthma causes severely restricted breathing and can appear suddenly, with little or no warning. These acute attacks often last only a few hours. Chronic asthma is often less severe than acute asthma, but it has constant symptoms.

What Causes Asthma?

There are two main reasons why the the bronchial passages may spasm and seize up. First, airborne allergens may enter the lungs (generally through the mouth, not the nose), and cause a systematic reaction. In concert with this, a poor immune system or hypersensitivity to certain allergens increases the chances that these allergens will affect the lungs. The specific causes listed below are all variations of these two ideas:

• Exertion: Heavy breathing through the mouth due to exertion can trigger the allergic reactions the cause asthma.
• Poor Nutrition: Without proper nutrition, the immune system cannot defend the body from allergens and other antigens that enter the body—especially through the mouth.
• Cold Air: Especially when inhaled through the mouth, cold air can cause constriction of the bronchial passageways.
• Stress: Another enemy of immune system, stress causes hormone imbalances that make us more susceptible to allergens and antigens that enter our bodies.
• Food Allergies: Specific foods can trigger allergic reactions, especially in the mucus membranes of the body.

Treatments

Asthma treatments take many forms, but they all tend to work in these basic areas:

• Strengthen the immune system: Since asthma is a type of allergy, a healthy immune system helps minimize its hold on the body. Try olive leaf extract (which can be found in Boku Immune Tonic), Spirulina (one of the primary ingredients in Boku Super Food), and other nutrient­ rich foods.
• Support the adrenal glands: Depleted adrenal glands throw the entire system out of balance—from hormone imbalances to general immune system functions. Supporting the adrenals is a key step in restoring health. Add 150 mg of adrenal tissue with pantothenic acid twice daily.

Take oxygenating supplements: Herbs that stimulate the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream help minimize asthma symptoms. Aloe vera gel (non-­rind variety) is a great drink, as it contains more oxygen than any other plant. Whole foods with lots of vitamin A/beta carotene (carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin) and B vitamins (beans, bananas chili peppers) all help with circulation and opening tiny blood vessels, allowing oxygen to be carried to all parts of the body. Many have gotten relief by drinking carbon activated water (CAW).

• Avoid irritating foods: Dairy and wheat products are two common food groups that exacerbate allergies, including asthma. The long­standing mainstream medical belief is that dairy products such as cow’s milk worsen asthma by increasing the body’s production of mucus, which then congests the nasal passages.
• Get relief with natural bronchodilators: Herbs, essential oils, and other substances can be used to open up the bronchial passageways, providing relief from asthma symptoms. Herbal teas containing theophylline­-like compounds are potent bronchodilators. Other natural bronchodilators include peppermint, spearmint, and pine essential oils. Chamomile essential oil may also help to relax bronchial spasms.

Other Considerations

Many people have gotten positive results from a white powder from Africa called yamoa, which is taken in honey or in capsule form. It takes about ten days of use to take effect and thousands of sufferers have reported remarkable results with improved breathing and diminished symptoms. It is also beneficial for bronchitis and hay fever.

Other remedies can be added to a regimen already set by your doctor. The combination of foods containing vitamin C (fruits) and B15 (legumes, rice bran) is purported to increase oxygen in the bloodstream.


Many people report that concentrated breathing techniques can help with asthma. These techniques focus on deep, relaxed breaths and an increased awareness of your breathing. In other words, pay attention to your breathing and use the power of the mind to help relax and breathe easier.

Healthy Recipes - Raw Oatmeal in a Drink

This recipe gives you the nutrition and fiber of oatmeal in a tasty, raw smoothie!

Ingredients:

1 c. oat groats – soaked overnight in water
1/4 c. almond butter
1-2 Tbsp. agave nectar
1/4c. regular unflavored almond milk (use as much as you want to get consistency you like)
1/4 raisins or any fresh or frozen fruit (fresh tastes better) such as blueberries, raspberries, peaches, melon
1/2 banana
2-3 scoops BoKU Super Food

Directions:

Blend to desired consistency in food processor and enjoy!

Treatment Tuesday - Diabetes

Diabetes is all too common in the United States. The American diet is high in sugars, carbohydrates, and fats that cause or contribute to high blood sugar. Excess caffeine can, indirectly by way of the thyroid, contribute to hormonal imbalances that cause diabetes. Some of the symptoms include:

• Frequent urination

• Thirst

• Blurred vision

• Weight loss accompanied by increased appetite

• Fatigue

• Erectile dysfunction

• Headaches

What Causes Diabetes?

Simply put, diabetes is caused by high blood sugar, or “too much glucose in the blood.” This is a problem with insulin, whose job is to carry blood sugar into the cells of the body. A lack of insulin or faulty insulin response by the cells results in too much glucose in the blood. Another cause of diabetes is simply too much sugar intake— especially fructose. Here is a summary of the causes of diabetes:

• Diet: Too much sugar. Too much fat. Too much caffeine.

•  Obesity: Often resulting from dietary problems, obesity can cause a loop of insulin and hormonal problems that can cause or worsen diabetes.

• Thyroid imbalance: Hormonal imbalances from thyroid and adrenal problems can affect insulin response and cause or contribute to diabetes.

•  Poor liver health: If the liver cannot cleanse the blood and process excess blood sugar, the result is diabetes.

•  Chronic use of steroids: These drugs can change your body chemistry and cause or worsen diabetes.

Treatments

A new set of dietary habits is the first line of defense against diabetes. Here is a summary of these dietary strategies, along with some other natural treatments:

• Avoid sugars: Sugars come in the form of sucrose (cane sugar), lactose (dairy products), fructose (fruit and corn syrup), corn starch, dextrose, glucose (usually glucose is converted by the body from other sugars), sorbitol, and malt.

• Reduce carbohydrates and starches: The body converts starches from carbohydrates into glucose. Avoid simple carbs, which include fruit, fruit juice, dairy products, honey, and sugars. Also avoid peanut butter, soybean oil, cheese, and processed meat. Keep complex carbohydrate consumption under control, including breads, pasta, beans, grains and fibrous vegetables (squash and eggplant, for example). Remember that whole wheat products are better than refined products. Better yet, replace wheat with other grains, such as oats, bran, rye, and barley.

• Eat more low-glycemic food: Healthy foods for maintaining good blood sugar levels include green leafy vegetables, potatoes, yams, whole grain breads, nuts, legumes, chicken, and fish. Raw foods have a lower glycemic level than cooked foods.

• Take herbs to help control blood sugar: Herbs that help include fenugreek, garlic, bilberry, ginseng, and olive leaves (or extract). Other helpful supplements for diabetes include chromium, vanadium, cinnamon, and bitter melon.

• Strengthen your immune system: Concentrate especially on getting enough antioxidants, as they help prevent free radical damage that causes many common diabetes complications (blindness and the necessity of limb amputation). Spirulina provides vitamins and minerals, while helping to balance blood sugar.

• Cleanse: If you crave sweets, you may be suffering from a lack of protein or you might have parasites in your system. Cleansing your liver and colon cannot only help with these cravings, but can help reduce your blood sugar levels by providing better nutrient absorption.

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Healthy Recipes - Samana Smoothie

Note: Samana is a Sanskrit name for one of the five main pranas (life forces) which are responsible for bringing nourishment and balance to all parts of the body.

Yield: 2 large smoothies

• 1/2 ripe banana
• 1/4 ripe avocado
• 1/2 cup frozen mixed organic berries
• 1 scoop Boku Super Protein powder
• 1 heaping tsp. maca powder
• 1 tbs. msm powder
• 1/8 tsp. Aloe Vera 100 drink mix
• 1 scoop Boku Super Food
• 1 scoop Anti-oxidant Defense System Purple
• 1 pinch sea salt
• 1 dose of liquid Bone Support
• 2 cups or more cold filtered water

Combine all ingredients in a Vita-Mix or blender container. Sip slowly.

By Heidi Robb

www.heidirobb.com

Treatment Tuesday - Headaches

Probably the most common medical complaint in the Western world, just about everyone suffers from headaches at some point in their lives. Most believe their choices for curing themselves of this painful malady are limited to aspirin and non-aspirin pain relievers. But you have many alternatives in treating and preventing headaches that do not require traditional medicine.

Migraine headaches are particularly disruptive. They are characterized by a slow-growing throb in the head that often produces nausea and localized vision loss. Often the nausea and vision loss appear before the headache actually become acute. They can last for days.

What Causes Headaches?

Headaches have a variety of causes, including food allergies, environmental toxins, stress, eye strain, and sinus congestion. Premenstrual headaches are often related to hormonal imbalances.

Headache Treatments

Keep in mind that most non-aspirin pain relievers are immunosuppressant. That is, they weaken the immune system. Taking them once in a while may be okay, but prolonged and repeated use is definitely costly to your health. For a natural alternative, try white willow bark extract, the plant from which aspirin was originally discovered and made.

Allergy expert Dr. James Braly believes that 90% of all migraines are caused by either food allergies or allergic reactions to food additives. But it’s possible that any headache can be traced back to a food or substance allergy. Allergenic substances include food preservatives and colorings, caffeine, and chocolate. Try removing foods and drinks containing these products from your diet, one by one, for three to four weeks at a time, and notice if your migraine attacks lessen or disappear completely during that time. This process can take time, but is likely to produce results. Start with the typical offenders:

• Coffee, soda and caffeinated beverages
• Wine, beer, and alcohol products
• Cheese and dairy products
• Wheat and refined wheat products with gluten
• Other fermented products, including vinegar and any pickled products
• Sugar and high fructose corn syrup
• Food additives, dyes, and preservatives (particularly those in processed and dried meat), MSG, and sulfites
• Peanut butter and peanuts
• Soy products
• Shell fish

The other 10% of headaches are probably caused by a variety of things, but you can bet that environmental toxins are among the most likely culprit. Check your home and work environment for chemical out-gassing from carpets and wall coverings. Consider sleeping with a device that oxygenates the air in your room.

If you suffer from migraine headaches, products containing the artificial sweetener aspartame may be to blame. Aspartame triggers migraines in many sufferers.

Many headaches are caused by dehydration, and dehydration is as prevalent in winter as in summer. Drinking two large glasses of pure water will relieve the pain of these headaches almost immediately, without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional pain relievers.

Other Considerations

Massage under the two ridges on either side of the back of the skull until you can feel the contracted muscles relax. The two nerves there can be pressured by tight muscles in the region, causing headaches, including migraines. Once the headache subsides with this therapy, use your thumbs to stroke gently in opposite directions across the brow with lavender essential oil. This will put you or the person you’re massaging in a relaxed state.

Lavender has been used since the time of Cleopatra for stress reduction, headache relief, lessening of scars, and faster healing of burns. Some herbalists believe that quinine bark, feverfew, butterbur and magnesium are also an effective headache remedies. Other natural herbs that help control blood pressure and relax the vascular system include pure cocoa, olive leaf extract, mint extract, chamomile, passion fruit extract, bay leaves, chamomile, coriander, skullcap, turmeric, valerian root, and wild yam.

Finally, acupuncture and different forms of bodywork can be effective cures for headaches. Acupuncture may be able to move or change the energies in the body that are accumulating to cause headaches, and bodywork such as massage may be able to release the stress that causes some headaches.

BoKU Smart Car Poll! What's your Opinion?

Healthy Recipes - Boku Avocado-Lime Dip

A healthy green appetizer for St. Patricks Day!

Yield: approximately 1 cup

Ingredients

• 1 ripe avocado
• ¼ cup chopped cilantro
• 1 plump scallion rough-cut
• ½ serrano or jalapeno chile, seeded if desired
• Zest of lime
• Juice of ½ lime
• 1/4 cup prepared green salsa
• 2 scoops Boku
• Sea salt to taste

Directions

Place the cilantro, scallion and chile in a bowl of food processor fitted with metal blade and mince. Add the avocado and pulse to break up. Add the lime zest, juice, green salsa and Boku and process until a smooth consistency. Add sea salt to taste.

Recipe & photo by Heidi Robb

New Boku Super Protein Can Keep the Body Young

Current research demonstrates that as we age we tend to lose muscle mass, and the best way to avoid muscle loss is to increase our protein intake. Yet as people get older they often have trouble digesting high protein foods and supplements, this is mainly due to the high levels of saturated fat contained in the most common animal based protein sources.  So we at BōKU^® formulated one of the most hypo-allergenic and easily digestible protein powders on the market.

Most protein supplements are marketed toward bodybuilders and athletes as the only ones who specifically want to build muscle.  In reality, adequate protein intake is vital for everyone and plays a critical role in anti-aging, muscle mass retention, weight control, and even boosting our immune systems.

Loss of skeletal muscle begins between the ages of 30 and 40 in most people even those with good nutritional habits. In a 2008 study that focused on the optimal amount of protein intake in the elderly, R. Wolfe, et al. discovered that as one aged the recommended daily allowance of 0.36 grams of protein/lb of body weight (weighing 150 lbs. would require one to consume at least 54g or 2oz of pure protein) for adults became inadequate. The researchers found that “protein intake greater than the RDA can improve muscle mass, strength and function in the elderly. In addition, other factors, including immune status, wound healing, blood pressure and bone health may be improved by increasing protein intake above the RDA.”

The only difficulty noted is that as people age they may have a reduced appetite or trouble digesting foods with high protein content. This often leads them to “consume less than the protein RDA, likely resulting in an accelerated rate of sarcopenia.”

Digestion troubles, as well as allergies, bad taste and the protein needs of vegans and vegetarians are what prompted Rollé to develop the new BōKU^® Super Protein powder. BōKU’s Master Formulator, Dr. BJ Adrezin, come up with a protein formula that could be used by the greatest number of people possible. He formulated an organic, vegan, kosher, protein powder that is completely free of dairy, soy, wheat and gluten and yet contains 26 grams of pure vegetable protein in every 30 gram serving.  The high protein content comes from raw, organic sprouted brown rice, and it contains an enzyme blend so it actually improves digestion.

Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed

Boku Super Protein Launch!

Boku International is very proud to announce that the new BoKU Super Protein is now available for purchase.

Our new protein powder has 26 grams of protein in every 30 gram serving! The protein density comes from organic, raw, sprouted brown rice. It also contains coconut, vanilla bean and low-glycemic Vermont maple syrup to give it a mild flavor without added sugar. The taste is really very neutral so it takes on the flavor whatever beverage you put it in.

It is vegan, organic, kosher and completely dairy, gluten, wheat and soy free!

Our protein mixes great with our Boku Super Food for a nutrient rich meal replacement!

Boku Super Protein is available in 30oz eco-friendly pouches for $39.95 ($34.95 on auto-ship!) at:

http://shop.bokusuperfood.com/detail_PR30__23.html

You can also check out www.bokusuperprotein.com for recipies and more info!