NATURAL REMEDIES "Are they for You"

Natural remedies consist of certain substances or extracts closely derived from nature that may have some medicinal or therapeutic effect. Unlike drugs that mainly consist of 1 or 2 foreign (possibly toxic) components of a certain substance, natural remedies represent all the components of a single substance found in nature so you are benefiting purely from what nature has to offer instead of a man-made substitute full of side effects. Drugs have a very overpowering and even toxic effect on the body that can suppress one's immune system and lead to other dangers and side effects. Natural remedies, on the other hand, work alongside the body's immune system to help stimulate a healthy response or healing effect. Natural Remedies DO have positive effects for people. Whether or not they will work for a particular individual is hard to say. As with drugs, not everyone will respond in the same manner with natural remedies. Physiologically, some people's bodies may reject or "pass" on the benefits of a natural remedy. Much of this has to do with body chemistry and the body's protein receptors. By staying persistent and using natural remedies on a continuous basis, you greatly increase your chances of success and achieving certain health benefits along with a greatly reduced risk for side effects. You should always seek help from your local Pharmacist or a Physician of Natural Medicine.

CELERY SEED

Celery Seed is an excellent diuretic that promotes the flow of urine through the kidneys and increases uric acid excretions, helping to clear toxins from the system. This is especially good for gout, where excess uric acid crystals collect in the joints. Its diuretic action may also relieve bladder disorders, cystitis and other kidney problems including stones and gravel. Early herbalists used it as a cleansing tonic after the stagnation of winter, and herbalists in France today use the extract to relieve retention of urine. Celery Seed may support a healthy heart. Its diuretic properties help to rid the body of excess water through increased urine flow, including the release of fluid surrounding the heart, which helps to reduce the heart's workload.
Celery Seed is considered beneficial for easing the discomfort and degeneration of the body joints frequently associated with age. Its anti-inflammatory properties also appear to help those who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout and neuralgia, and its diuretic qualities help flush impurities (including uric acid and other toxins) from the kidneys, which frequently cause these ailments. Although Celery is said to be a stimulant (particularly in kidney function), it is also known as a sedative that will calm stressed nerves and promote restfulness and sleep.
Celery Seed is thought to have a calming effect on the digestive system, enhancing appetite, relieving gas and indigestion. Celery Seed is a popular folk remedy for promoting the onset of menstruation.

Getting Enough Vitamin D in the Winter Months

As evidence of the health benefits of Vitamin D continues to grow, running out and catching a few rays of sunshine has never felt healthier. However, here in the northern hemisphere the days of sunshine are fast diminishing and it’s time for Canadians to start looking elsewhere for their daily vitamin D fix. In the past, vitamin D was known to reduce the risks of osteoporosis, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes. Now there’s strong data to suggest it’s a formidable weapon in the fight against cancer. Avoiding overload, how much vitamin D is too much is debatable. You don't want to overdo it, because too much vitamin D in the body can cause vomiting, raise blood levels of calcium causing confusion, and cause heart rhythm abnormalities. Health Canada warns exceeding the recommended limit could lead to an overdose that can cause kidney stones as well as damage to the heart, lungs and blood vessels. Health Canada advises against more than 2,000 IU a day. But remember, six months from now (we hope), getting vitamin D from sources such as foods and lamps won't be a worry. We’ll be able to reap the sun’s benefits by simply going for a walk in the sunshine. One thing that won’t help you get your daily dose of vitamin D is standing outside in the winter time, you can’t make vitamin D in your skin in the winter time. A study involving Edmonton residents, for six months of the year, they were unable to make vitamin D in their skin. Stand naked outside from the time the sun rises until it sets, freeze every appendage on your body and you will not make vitamin D."

Ginger Root

Ginger root is a natural cure-all. It can ease numerous conditions including; muscle pain, queasiness and cold symptoms. New research has also shown it to be rich in antioxidants, which help soothe inflammation from migraines, menstrual cramps and arthritis. "It's a natural alternative to over-the-counter painkillers because it doesn't irritate the digestive-tract wall like ibuprofen and ASA do. Ginger can help relieve queasiness from motion sickness to morning sickness to hangovers. Ginger can help sedate the digestive tract and stimulate stomach acid production to aid with digestion. Ginger can help soothe arthritis, joint pain, general muscle soreness, menstrual cramps and migraines. The immune-boosting properties of ginger make it ideal for prevention and treatment

How to handle the cravings?

Many of the new diets restrict (or completely forbid) consumption of whole groups of foods. More often than not, those "illegal" items are exactly those that used to be our favourites, so it should not be surprising if we sometimes commit the one or another nutritional crime. If it is chocolate that you cannot live without, then it is still better to break this one law, than to give up on rules altogether. Namely, total deprivation of the past favourite foods is a common reason for giving up on dietary goals. Temptations are a part of our lives, and usually it is the illegal things that seem most desirable. In case of foods, very few of them should be given a lifelong sentence. Instead, just give them house arrest at night, and let them out when the sun is shining and you are ready to work off your guilt. And if you are going to commit a food crime, choose the one that you can get away with. For example, one jumbo scone has the same number of calories (700) as a bowl of oatmeal with peaches, plus a bowl of cornflakes with banana, plus an English muffin with jam, plus two pieces of toast with marmalade, plus two dishes of fruit. In other words, if there are two illegal food items you desire, then take the less illegal one. Or two of them, as long as their combination is still less illegal than the alternative. Basically, it is always advisable to try to avoid the nutritional electric chair. Try to find new favourite foods. And if the old ones are still irresistible, then throw in some exercise and you will still be able to have an occasional piece of chocolate.

THE DANGER OF FAD DIETS****

The "Energy Balance Equation" is the only universally accepted and proven theory whose simple message is that weight loss can only be achieved if less calories are consumed than burned. On the contrary, alternative diet solutions tend to pick a macronutrient that they classify as bad and then consequently discourage consumption of all foods rich in this nutrient. Low-fat diets, for example, limit consumption of meats, whereas low-carb diets limit consumption of potatoes and rice, among others. In exchange, low-carb diets allow boundless consumption of all other fat-rich products, claiming that the absence of carbs still results in weight loss regardless of the consumed quantities. This claim is partially true, but only in the first stage of dieting and only because of the side effects associated with this approach. When the body doesn't get enough carbohydrates, it starts to reduce the glycogen reserves in the liver. The body then starts to extract glycogen from muscle tissue, thus breaking it down and depleting water from the muscles at the same time. In the initial stages of the diet, the first seven to nine pounds a person loses are water, presenting a real danger of dehydration and mineral deficiencies. Regardless of the question of such diets' meaningfulness, you should never place weight loss above your health. Instead, make sure that your diet features varied menus and that it encourages eating fruit, vegetables and lean protein (reduced-fat dairy products, fish, chicken, and lean cuts of beef and pork) and whole and natural foods.

THE FATS THAT MAKE YOU LEAN

Ever since their discovery in the 70s, the omega-3 polyunsaturated fats have been the focus of many studies and clinical trials. They turned out to be essential to life and good health, and their role in protection against disease and treatment of illnesses is well-known. But what most of us don’t know is that they can contribute to weight loss as well. Exercise is one of the best ways of speeding up your metabolism. However, it also causes muscle inflammation, and this again (apart from increasing the risk of heart-disease) slows down your burn rate. Interestingly, one of the best medicines known to man against inflammation is – you guessed it, the omega-3s. So, instead of ditching exercising, just take a bite or two of fish, nuts, seeds, flaxseed, and fish oils, and you will have done something good for your waist and your health. And if you are not a seafood fan, you can also try eggs rich in omega-3s.